DRUSIUS, JOHANNES, a celebrated oriental and exegetical scholar, was horn at Oudenarde, East Flanders, 28th June 155o. At the age of ten he was sent by his father to Ghent, to study Greek and Latin. Three years afterwards he went to Louvain. In 1567 his father was obliged to take refuge in England in consequence of his religion ; and the son followed him thither. Here Drusius met with an excellent teacher of Hebrew, who treated him kindly and took him to Cam bridge with him. When le Chevalier returned to his native land, Drusius remained at Cambridge for a time, whence he went back to London. In 1572 he became professor of the oriental languages in Oxford, and after remaining there four years went to Louvain to study jurisprudence, which place he soon left for London. In 1576 he re turned to his native land. In 1577 he became professor of the oriental languages at Leyden. In he went to Franeker as professor of Hebrew, and died there, 1616. Drusius was a very able scholar, as well as an upright and conscientious man. But his times were stormy. Theological disputes and acrimony prevailed. Peace-loving as he was he had many enemies, who embittered and disturbed the last sixteen years of his life.
His fame was deservedly great, and attracted num.
hers of young Protestants from most countries in Europe to hear his lectures. His principal work is his Annotations on the difficult parts of the 0. T., which the States-General commissioned him to write, and for which they agreed to pay him an annual sum, and to release him from the duties of his professorship by providing a substitute. He died before the work was completed. Indeed but a small portion was published in his life time. Commentarii ad Iota d ciliora Pentateuchi appeared at Franeker, 1617, 4to ; On Joshua, Judges, and Samuel, 1618, 4to ; on the twelve minor prophets, 1627 ; and on Job, 1636. They are all printed in the Critici Sacri. He is also the author of Alphabetzem Ebraicum veins. Interp. ex Ifienozzymo et Ensebio, etc., 1587 ; Veterum inter pretnin Groeorzem in Want veins Testanzenhon fragmenta, 1662, 4to ; A nnotationum in talon 7esu Christi Testamentztm, sive prerteritorzem libri decent, 4to, 1612 ; Ecdesiasticus Gnece et Latine, 4to, 1600 ; Liber Hasmonzeorum Gucce et Latina, 1600, 410.—S. D.