, the brother of Erasmus de Surlet, lord of Chokier (one of the ablest
, the brother of Erasmus
de Surlet, lord of Chokier (one of the ablest lawyers of his time, who died in 1625), was born at Liege Jan. 14, 1571,
of an ancient and noble family. He studied law at the
university of Lovaine, and especially the Roman history
and antiquities under Lipsius. After taking the degree of
doctor in canon and civil law at Orleans, he went to Rome,
and was introduced to pope Paul V. On his return to
Liege, he received some promotion in the church; and
Ferdinand of Bavaria, bishop and prince of Liege, made
him vicar-general of his diocese, and one of his counsellors. Chokier was not more esteemed for his learning than
for his benevolence, which led him to found two hospitals,
one for poor incurables, and the other for female penitents.
He died at Liege, either in 1650 or 1651; but his biographers have not specified the particular time, although
they notice that he was buried in the cathedral of Liege,
under a magnificent tomb. Among his works, are, 1.
“Notae in Senecse libellum de tranquillitate animi,
” Leige,
Thesaurus aphorismorum politicorum,
seu commentarius in Justi-Lipsii politica, cum exemplis,
notis et monitis,
” Rome, Specimen candoris Heidemanni,
” Liege, Notae
et dissertationes in Onosandri strategicum,
” Gr. and Lat.
Aphorismi.
” 4. “Tractatus de permutationibus beneficiorunV 1616, 8vo, and afterwards Rome, 1700, folio,
with other treatises on the same subject. 5.
” De re numjnaria prisci sevi, collata ad aestimationem monetae presentis,“Cologne, 1620, 8vo, Liege, 1649. Another title of
this work we have seen is
” Monetae antiquae diversarum
gentium maxime Romanae consideratio et ad nostram hodiernam reductio.“He published some other works on
law subjects and antiquities of the courts of chancery, the
office of ambassador, &c. and some of controversy against
the protestants, and one against the learned Samuel Marets, entitled ff Apologeticus adversus Samuel Maresii
librum, cui titulus, Candela sub modio posita per clerum
Romanum,
”