The pious pelican on the Bible page

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherhowse/6350660/The-pious-pelican-on-the-Bible-page.html

[The Telegraph] 20 Oct 2009--George Abbot, the Archbishop of Canterbury, went hunting one day in 1621 and an arrow from his crossbow wounded a gamekeeper, who later died. Abbot was distressed; his enemies rejoiced; and others declared him a "man of blood", whose functions as a bishop were thereby suspended.

William Laud, a future Archbishop of Canterbury, refused to be consecrated bishop by him, and a group of women who got in the way of his coach in the street in Croydon mocked him with the cry: "You had best to shoot an arrow at us." The crisis was resolved by James VI issuing a dispensation. Ever after, on Tuesdays, the day of the accident, Abbot in penance abstained from the meat pies that he liked to eat.

This memorable incident in the life of a stern and learned man illustrates the human background to a truly outstanding event in English history: the publication of the Authorised Version of the Bible in 1611.

That was the year Abbot had become archbishop. He had also been one of the 50 translators of the 1611 Bible – a member of the "company" (or committee as we'd say) responsible for putting into English the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles and the book of Revelation.

A magnificent Jacobean almshouse, Abbot's Hospital, that George Abbot founded still stands at the top of the High Street in Guildford, Surrey, opposite Holy Trinity church where he is buried. The seven couples and 12 single people who live at the hospital plan a double celebration in 2011: for their founder and the 400th year of the English Bible.

This is one of hundreds of events being co-ordinated by a new body called the 2011 Trust. Time is running short: it's only 440 days away, nearer than the Olympics.