Gramaye, John Baptist

, an eminent antiquary, was a native of Antwerp, and born in the end of the sixteenth century. He studied at Louvain, where he took his master’s degree in 1596, and became professor of rhetoric and law in that university. He was afterwards historiographer to the Low Countries, and for three years employed himself in examining their records. He them travelled through the greater part of Germany and Italy, but, while proceeding from the latter country to Spain, he was unfortunately made captive by an Algerine corsair, and carried to Africa. How he obtained his release does not appear, but upon his return to his native land he was preferred by the archduke Albert to be dean of the collegiate church of Leusa, in Heinault, and afterwards by the same patronage was made president of the college at Louvain. Some years after he travelled into Moravia and Silesia, and

the latter province he was, by cardinal Dietrichstein, placed at the head of a college. He died at Lubec in 1635. He published many Latin poems, and theses on a variety of subjects; but his historical and topographical works have been found of most value. These are, 1. “Asia, sive historia universalis Asiaticarum gentium, &c.” Antwerp, 1604, 4to. 2. “Bruxella cum suo comitatu,” Brux. 1606, 4to. 3. “Arscotum Ducatus cum suis Baronatibus,” ibid. 1606, 4to. 4. “Thenae et Brabantise ultra Velpem, quse olim Hasbaniae pars,” ibid. 1606, 4to. 5. “Gallo-Brabantia,” 3 parts or vols. ibid. 1606. 6. “Antwerpise Antiquitates,” ibid. 1610. 7. “Antiquitates ducatus Brabantiae,” ibid. | 1610 4to. 8. “Taxandria,” ibid. 1610, 4to, 9. “Antiquitates Gaudenses,” Ant. 1611,4to. 10. Africa illustrata,“Torn. 1622, 4to. 11.” Diarium rerum Argelae gestarum,“Col. 1623, 12mo. These are his observations during his captivity. 12.” Respublica Namurcensis,“Amst. 1634, 24. 13.” Specimen Litterarum et Linguarum universi orbis," Athi. 4to. ¹