Bayle's Dictionary Entry on Johannes Sturmius

I am only aware of a single (short) English language biography of Johannes Sturmius.  The French original appears in Pierre Bayle’s Historical and Critical Dictionary at least as early as the 1740 5^th edition.  An English translation also appears in the 1738 English language 2^nd edition (for whom no translators’ names are given) which suggests it appeared at least as early as the 4^th French edition.  The last French edition likely to have new articles by Bayle himself is the 3^rd edition of 1715  (he having died in December of 1706).

No mention is made of the 17^th Earl of Oxford Edward de Vere’s visit to the aging scholar in Strasbourg, in March of 1575, or of the Earl’s later support for him among the English church and Royal Court.  He was only one of a great many of the noblemen, ambassadors and scholars who availed themselves of Sturmius’ hospitality and assistance.

At least one attempt at an entry on Sturmius at an Internet site states as fact numerous items current in the early 18^th century that Bayle explicitly denies and corrects.  Judgment suggests that the Frenchman is probably the better source in each instance even after some 300 years.

There is a large amount of information on Sturmius spread throughout books and letters written during  his life.  Diligence makes clear that his reputation as a cloak-and-dagger English spy is without basis.  He did pass along information he thought might be of interest from his correspondence with many contacts throughout Europe to William Cecil and Francis Walsingham.  He was one of the few safe channels for payment between England and its roving operatives (including merchants, diplomats, travelers, etc.) in Germany.  He was a valued part of their network to that extent.  Many of the letters are preserved.  I will be expanding on Bayle’s biography, utilizing such materials, in the months ahead.

STURMIUS (John) was born at Sleida in Eifel near Cologne the first of October 1507. He studied first in his native country, with the sons of Count Manderscheid, whose receiver his father was. Afterwards he studied at Liege in St Jerom's college, and then he went to Louvain in 1524, where he spent five years, three in being instructed and two in instructing others; and his school-fellows were John Sleidan, Gonthier Andernac, Christopher Montius, Bartholomew Latomus, Andrew Vesalius, James Omphalius, and some others, who became famous, and had a great affection for him. He set up a Printing-house with Rudger Rescius, Greek-professor, and printed some Greek authors, beginning with Homer, and soon after he carried those editions to Paris in 1529. What Melchior Adam says, is not true, that he was familiarly acquainted with Conrad Goclenius at Louvain [Note A]. He was very much esteemed at Paris, where he read public lectures upon Greek

and Latin authors and upon Logic. He also married there, and kept many boarders ; but because he liked the new opinions, as they were called, he found himself in danger more than once, which doubtless was the reason why he removed and went to Strasburgh in the year 1537, to fill up the place the magistrates offered him. The year following he opened a school there, which became famous [Note B], and by his means obtained of the Emperor Maximilian II, the title of an university in the year 1566. He was a good Philologer, and writ Latin with great purity, and his way of teaching was very methodical. Upon this account the college of Strasburgh, of which he was rector, became the most flourishing in all Germany. His talents were not confined within the bounds of his school; for he was intrusted with several deputations in Germany, and into foreign countries, and acquitted himself in those employments with great honour and vigilance. He shewed an extraordinary charity to the Protestant refugees. He was not contented to bestir himself in order to help them in their misery by his advices and recommendations ; but he ran in debt and grew poor for them [Note C]. He published several books, and lived till the third of March 1589, that is, eighty-one years, five months, and two days. Tho' he had lost his fight, he minded the public good. He was married three times, and left no children behind him. He had many troubles in his life-time, the greatest whereof was his being exposed to the persecutions of the Lutheran ministers. When he came to Strasburgh he found a moderate Lutheranism, which he liked well enough, tho' he was of Zuinglius's opinion. The Lutheran ministers grew angry by degrees with those, who did not believe the Real Presence: he was displeased with their violent sermons, and it is said he abstained several years from the public exercises of religion [Note D]. He was pressed hard, and forced to declare himself, and was not the strongest, for they turned him out of his place [Note E]. I have mentioned in another place the encomium he bestowed upon Calvin's Institution [Note F].  I shall take notice of some faults in Moreri [Note G].

• Let the sky rain potatoes! December 16, 2017. "In fact, the sweet potato had only just begun to be a delicacy within the reach of splurging poets and playwrights and members of the middle classes at the time that The Merry Wives of Windsor (the play from which Falstaff is quoted) was written.  The old soldier liked to keep abreast of the new fads."
• Leonard Digges and the Shakespeare First Folio.  November 30, 2017.  "Upon receiving his baccalaureate, in 1606, Leonard briefly chose to reside in London. After that he went on an extended tour of the Continent which ended around the year that Shaksper died."
• Edward de Vere's Memorial For His Son, Who Died at Birth May 1583.  July 5, 2017.  "The brief Viscount Bulbeck being the son of the renowned poet and playwright Edward de Vere, we might have hoped to have the text of the father’s own memorial poem.  As far as traditional literary history is concerned, no such poem has yet been discovered."

• Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.