Albert, a celebrated German chronicler, was born at Hamburg about the middle of the fifteenth century. Having finished his studies, he travelled through Western and Southern Europe; and returning to Germany, he graduated at Rostock, and finally became rector of the university of that city. Being recalled to Hamburg, he was provided with a canonry in the cathedral, and divided his time between preaching and teaching theology. Elected syndic of Hamburg in 1489, he took part in the assembly of Wismar, where the interests of the Hanseatic towns were discussed. He was deputed to proceed to France in 1497 to conclude a treaty, and to England in 1499 to solicit assistance against the pirates who then infested the North Sea. In these different missions he evinced so much prudence, sagacity, and integrity, that John King of Denmark, and Frederick Duke of Holstein, chose him, in 1500, to terminate the dispute which had arisen between them on the subject of the province of Ditmarsen. Krantz, having been named dean of his chapter in 1508, laboured with great zeal to remedy the disorders which had been introduced into ecclesiastical discipline; but it is only by a forced interpretation of some passages in his works that Wolf, and after him Bayle, have endeavoured to make him be considered as one of the precursors of Luther. Krantz was witness to the first attacks of that reformer upon the Church of Rome, and warmly condemned them. He died Dec. 7, 1517. Krantz was a very learned man; and the historical works which he left behind him are useful, notwithstanding the errors by which they are disfigured. Some critics have accused him of plagiarism and of bad faith; but he has found numerous apologists, amongst whom may be mentioned Cisner, who places him in the first rank among the writers of his age for truthfulness, as well as elegance of style and clearness of method. His principal works are, his Chronica Regnum Aquiloniarum, Daniae, Sueciae, Norvegiae, Strasburg, 1546, in folio; Saxonia, sive de Saxoniae Gentis vetusta origine, longinquae expeditionibus susceptis, &c., libri xii., Colocog, 1520, in folio; Vandalia, sive Historia de Vandalorum vera origine, variis gentibus, credibis e patria migrationibus, &c., Cologne, 1519, in folio; Metropolis, sive Historia Ecclesiastica Saxoniae, Basil, 1548, in folio; and some other works of little importance.