Paul Speratus

SPERATUS, Paul. b. probably at Rötlen, near Ellwangen (now in Baden-Württemberg),13 December 1484; d. Marienwerder (now Kwidzyn, Poland), 12 August 1551. His original name was ‘Hofer’ or ‘Hoffer’ (‘hoper’), but in common with others at the time (cf. Johannes Scheffler*- Angelus Silesius), the name was Latinised to ‘Speratus’. He was educated at the University of Freiburg, and later in France and Italy: he is said to have held doctorates in three subjects, philosophy, law, and theology. He became a priest in 1512, working in Salzburg, first as a lawyer (1512), then as a parish priest (1514), and then as a cathedral preacher (1516). He was appointed town preacher at Dinkelsbühl in 1517, and...