Brully (Brusly), Pierre

BRULLY, brü´´yî´ (BRUSLY), PIERRE (Petrus Brulius): The successor of Calvin in Strasburg; b. at Mersilhaut (Mercy-le-Haut, about 2 m. s.e. of Metz) c. 1518; burned at the stake at Tournai (14 m. e. of Lille), Flanders, Feb. 19, 1545. Educated for the Church, he became lector in the Dominican convent at Metz and was expelled in 1540 or 1541 for sympathizing with the Reformation. In July, 1541, he was in Strasburg and intimate with Calvin, in whose house he lived, and when Calvin was recalled to Geneva (1541) succeeded him in the pastorate. In September, 1544, he undertook a missionary journey to Flanders on the invitation of persons in Tournai who wished instruction in the Reformed faith; preached there and in neighboring cities with earnestness and success, but necessarily in secret, as to preach Protestant doctrine was forbidden. He was arrested at Tournai in November, condemned, and executed, notwithstanding efforts made to save him from Strasburg and by the Protestant princes of Germany.

Bibliography: C. Paillard, Le Procès de Pierre Brully, Paris, 1878; R. Reuss, Pierre Brully, Strasburg, 1879.