(Valens) would, in all probability, have been one of the greatest critics in these latter ages, had he lived longer to perfect those talents which nature had given him. He was born at Witteck, in Brandenburg; and having visited several academies in Germany, Italy, and other countries, where he was greatly esteemed, he afterwards took up his residence at Breslau, the metropolis of Silesia. Here he remained a considerable time, in expectation of some employment; but nothing offering, he turned Roman-catholic, and was chosen doctor of a school at Niefla. It is related, that about four months after, as he was following a procession of the host, he was seized with a sudden frenzy; and being carried home, expired in a very short time. But Thuanus tells us, that his excessive application to study was the occasion of his untimely death; and that his sitting up nights in composing his Conjectures on Plautus, brought upon him a distemper which carried him off in three days, on the 25th of May 1595, being just turned of 28. He wrote a Commentary on Quintus Curtius; also, Notes on Tacitus, on the Twelve Panegyrics; besides speeches, letters, and poems. His poetical pieces are inserted in the Deliciae of the German poets, and consist of epic verses, odes, and epigrams. A little piece, printed in 1595, under the title of Mulieres non esse homines, "That women were not of the human species," was falsely ascribed to him. But the fact was, that Acidalius happening to meet with the manuscript, and thinking it very whimsical, transcribed it, and gave it to the bookbinder, who printed it. The performance was highly exclaimed against, insomuch that the bookbinder being seized, he discovered the person who gave him the manuscript, and a terrible outcry was made against Acidalius. A story goes, that being one day to dine at a friend's house, there happened to be several ladies at table; who supposing him to be the author, were moved with so much indignation, that they threatened to throw their plates at his head. Acidalius, however, ingeniously diverted their wrath. In his opinion, he said, the author was a judicious person, the ladies being certainly more of the species of angels than of men.—Mr Baillet has given him a place among his Enfans Celebres; and says, that he wrote a comment upon Plautus when he was but 17 or 18 years old, and that he composed several Latin poems at the same age.