LIFE

OF JOHANN WEYER.

He flourished around the year 1570.

Johann Weyer, called "Piscinarius."

GERMANY is divided entirely into Upper and Lower; the latter is called Belgium and Belgic Gaul. We have learned that JOHANN WEYER was born here—known among foreigners by the Latin surname Piscinarius original: "Piscinarius." This Latinized name refers to a "fish-pond," a play on the German name "Weyer" or "Weiher," meaning a pond., from a most honorable house. He was born to his father Theodor and mother Agnes around the year of Christ one thousand, five hundred and fifteen, in a town situated near the River Meuse at the borders of Brabant, The town of Grave called Grave. Devoted to letters from boyhood, he immediately gave outstanding evidence of his excellent character. He then came to the notice of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, whose instruction he admits to have used for some time; for he calls him both his teacher and his venerable master. H. Cornel. Agrippa, Weyer’s teacher. <em> Weyer, book 3 of On the Deceptions of Demons*, chapters 22 and 38. * He writes that while staying with him, he read part of the books of Trithemius’s Steganographia A famous and controversial 15th-century work on cryptography and angel magic. in manuscript, with figures and the names of spirits, and that he transcribed it without Agrippa's knowledge. However, what he thought of such things, Trithemius’s Steganographia. <em> Book 2 of On Deceptions*, chapter 6. * he indicates in that same place: they display deceptions, he says, not miracles; these things gain their effect not by the assistance of GOD*, but by His permission due to the unbelief of men, and through a pact with demons.*

Furthermore, just as all those who have excelled in learning have endured and achieved much, so he too, devoted to studies after laying their first foundations, betook himself to public universities, reflecting on that line of the poet Virgil, Georgics 3.8-9:

——— I must attempt a way, by which I too might

Lift myself from the ground, and fly as a victor through the mouths of men.

Weyer comes to Paris.

Thence to Orléans.

Therefore, departing Germany, he came to Paris original: "Lutetiam Parisiorum" and applied himself especially to medical studies. From Paris he went to Orléans, where he undertook the education of the two sons of Noël Ramard, the royal physician: Noël, who was Prior at St. Lazarus in the suburbs, and Jean, along with the nephew Jean Verret; and a little later, [he led] them back to Paris