Lawrence Beyerlinck was a Belgian theologian and ecclesiastical writer who wrote one of the first encyclopedias.

Life

The son of a pharmacist, he prepared at Leuven

Leuven

Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...

 for the same profession but, deciding to enter the priesthood, he was ordained June, 1602. While a theological student he taught poetry and rhetoric at the college of Vaulx

Vaulx

Vaulx may refer to the following communes in France:*Vaulx, Pas-de-Calais*Vaulx, Haute-Savoie*Vaulx-en-Velin, in the Rhône département*Vaulx-Milieu, in the Isère département*Vaulx-Vraucourt, in the Pas-de-Calais département...

 and as pastor of Herent

Herent

Herent is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Herent proper, Veltem-Beisem and Winksele. On January 1, 2006 Herent had a total population of 19,218. The total area is 32.73 km² which gives a population density of 587 inhabitants...

 was professor of philosophy at a nearby seminary of canons regular

Canons Regular

Canons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common...

.

In 1605 he came to the ecclesiastical seminary of Antwerp, taught philosophy and theology and later became superior. In 1608 he was canon, censor, and theologian of the church of Antwerp; in 1614 he was made protonotary. Beyerlinck was a priest, a rhetorician, orator, and administrator, and engaged continually in preaching and writing.

Works

His works are mainly encyclopedic . He wrote, e.g. a second volume (Antwerp, 1611) of the Opus Chronographicum orbis universi a mundi exordio usque ad annum MDCXI (first volume to year 1572 by Opmeer), a collection of lives of popes, rulers, and illustrious men; and the Magnum Theatrum Vitae Humanae (Cologne, 1631, 7 vols; Lyon 1665-6, 8 vols; Venice, 1707, 8 vols), an encyclopedia of information on diverse subjects arranged in alphabetical order. Its scope ranges from theological dissertations to trivialities. It includes articles on beards, and on games. Much of its material was gathered by others, but Beyerlinck gave the work its final form. Other publications are listed in bibliographies.