Josse Badius was born in the village of Asse (formerly Assche) near Brussels in Flemish Brabant in AD 1462.

[1] He was a scholar of considerable repute, studying in Brussels and Ferrara and teaching Greek for several years at Lyons, France.

[6] This introduced the subject of Roman comedy through a lengthy treatment of general theories of poetry and thorough discussion of its origins, development, and classifications.

[5] He frequently worked with or for Johannes Parvus (Jean Petit), the era's most important bookseller and publisher.

He was also the author of numerous pieces, amongst which are a life of Thomas a Kempis and a satire on the follies of women entitled Navicula Stultarum Mulierum.