JOHN, a famous and learned printer in the 16th century, was born at Hamelburgh in Franconia, and settled at Bafli. He had before studied in that university, where he acquired the reputation of being uncommonly learned; and now setting up a printing house in that city, was the first of the German printers who brought that admirable art to any degree of perfection. Being a man of great probity and piety, as well as skill, he was particularly choice in the authors he printed; and would never, for the sake of profit, suffer libels, or any thing that might hurt the reputation of another, to go through his press. The great character of this printer was the principal motive which induced Erasmus to reside at Bafli, in order to have his own works printed by him. A great number of valuable authors were printed by Frobenius, with great care and accuracy; among which were the works of St Jerome, Augustine, and Erasmus. He designed to have printed the Greek Fathers; but died in 1527, before he could execute his design. Erasmus wrote his epitaph in Greek and Latin.

John Frobenius left a son named Jerome Frobenius, and a daughter married to Nicholas Episcopius; who, joining in partnership, continued Frobenius's printing house with reputation, and printed correct editions of the Greek Fathers.