Page:Schwenkfelder Hymnology.djvu/56

44 1564), whose court-name was Lambert Suavius, was an artist and copper-plate engraver. Among his patrons were Duke William of Cleves, Duke Frederick of Saxony, the Duke of Weimar, and two emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V. and Maximilian II.

Daniel Sudermann was born at Lüttich in the Netherlands, February 24, 1550. But little is known of his early years. In 1558 we find him in school at Aachen. The year 1568 marks the beginning of his long career as private tutor (Hofmeister) to numerous young counts and noblemen. This activity continued for a period of more than twenty years. In 1576 he was presented to the Emperor Maximilian, who "most graciously" furnished him with" an introduction to the newly appointed viceroy of the Netherlands. During these years he wrote many poems in praise of his high-born patrons and friends. In 1585 he assumed the charge of the instruction of the sons of the nobility at the Bruderhof in Strassburg. In 1594 he was made vicar of the Bruderhof, where he lived until near the close of his long life. As early as 1585, reprints and new editions of Schwenkfeld's works began to appear, issued under the direction of Sudermann, but not until 1594 did he announce his participation in the views of Schwenkfeld. He gives the following brief account of his own career:

"D. S. 1st geboren Anno 1550. Er ist Catholisch, aber bald Anno 1558 In der Caluinischen Schul gangen. Auch zu der Lutherischen predig mit gangen, Den Teüffern auch zugehört. Ist Anno 1594 zu erkantnusz der Warheit kommen, vnd hat Ao. 1624. disz vffgeschrieben seines alters 74. noch starck, frisch, vnd gesund, als lang der Herre sein Christus wil. bisz 1628. 1629. Gottlob. 1630. 1631."

His death occurred in 1631.

The earliest of Sudermann's poems which still exist were written in 1568. His poetic activity during the period 1572-1580, was limited for the most part to the production of motto-hymns and acrostic poems, the latter in praise of his patrons of noble