He was born about 1350 in
Breda, in the present province of
North Brabant (
Netherlands). He studied in various parts of Europe: in 1362 in Italy, between 1367 and 1375 at the Paris
Sorbonne university and
Orléans, where he studied canon and civil law. In 1371 he was already
subdeacon. In 1377, as Canon of the chapter of
Tongeren, he was granted the deanery of this institution by
Gregory XI. He entered in this position only in 1383. Meanwhile, he returned to Italy. In 1381 he was in Rome, where he was taught Greek by
Simon of Constantinople,
titular Archbishop of
Thebes (Greece). After 1390, he was replaced at Tongeren by a vice-dean. During this time, he joined the new
University of Cologne (founded in 1388), where he became
rector about 1397/1398. He made his last journey to Rome somewhat shortly before that date. In 1398 he returned to Tongeren, where he resumed his duties as dean of the chapter. He was dedicated to the maintenance of discipline during the disturbance caused by the
Great Schism of the West. He exerted himself especially for the reform of the liturgy. He was a protector and guide of the
Windesheim reform, as for instance at the
Corsendonck abbey. Several of his works date from this period, while his liturgical writings were mainly composed during his second stay at Rome. He died on 3 November 1403 and was buried in the St.-Mary monastery church at
Tongeren. ==Works==