Brandt, Gerard
, a learned ecclesiastical historian,*
*
was born at Amsterdam, July 2 5, 1626, and after having
| made distinguished progress in Greek, Hebrew, Latin,
philosophy, and divinity, he was invited to be pastor of a
church of remonstrants at Nieukoop, where he married
Susanna, daughter of the celebrated professor Gaspard
Barleus. In 1660, he came to Hoorn, and in L667 to
Amsterdam. He died Oct. 11, 1685, leaving two sons,
both excellent scholars, Caspar and Gerard. He wrote
in German, 1. “A short history of the Reformation,” and
of the war between Spain and the Netherlands, until 1600,
Amst. second edit. 1658, which has a continuation, in the
form of a chronicle, until that year. 2. Also in German,
“A history of the Reformation in the Low Countries, &c.”
4 vols. 4to, 1671, and following years, a work of which
the pensionary Fagel said to bishop Burnet, that it was
worth while to learn German on purpose to read it. The
English public, however, has been long acquainted with
it, in a translation in 4 vols. fol. 1720, & seqq. The
translator was John Chamberlayne, whom Foppen has converted intoRichardCumberland, merely that he may add,with
true Popish bigotry, that he was “pseudo-episcopus Petro^
burgensis.” Brandt’s history was also abridged in 1725,
in English, in 2 vols. 8vo, apparently from a French
abridgement. Ruleus or Ruillius, a minister of the reformed
church, having attacked some parts of his history, Brandt
published an apology. 3. “A history of Enkhuisen,” a
celebrated mercantile town. 4. “The Life of De Ruyter,” the celebrated Dutch admiral, Amst. 1684, fol.
translated into French, ibid. 1690. 5. “Historical Diary,”
with biographical notices of eminent men, Amst. 1689, 4to.
6. “Poemata,” Rotterdam^ 1649, 8vo. 7. “Poemata
sacra et prophana,” Amst. 1638, 4to, and 1726, in. 2 vols.
8. “Historia judicii habiti annis 1618 and 1619^ de tribus
captivis, Barnevelt, Hogerbeets, et Grotio,” Rotterdam,
1708, and 1710, 4to, with some other works, enumerated
by Foppen, and Adrian a Cattenburg in his “Bibl. Scriptorum Remonstrantium.” 1
His father, of the same names, was born at Midiileburgh, in 1594, was regent of the theatre at Amsterdam, and a passionate admirer of German poetry. He was also celebrated for his know ledge of mechanics, which induced Descartes to be a frequent conrespondent of his. He particularly excelled in the branch of clock-making. —Moreri.
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