'Born at Dordrecht 19 August 1558, dead at Rostock 20 July 1607. (...) After the departure of Justius Lipsius from Leyden he temporarily observed the courses of Lipsius and on 8 February 1592 he was appointed first as a extra ordinary and later, on 15 November 1593, he became regular professor in history (...). Next to be a classicist, jurist and historian Merula practised other sciences such as geography (...) From 1597 on he was also librarian of the university'. NNBW II, 902-904. Haitsma Mulier, E.O.G. Repertorium van geschiedschrijvers in Nederland 1500-1800. Den Haag, 1990, 332