APSEL (ABSEL), Wilhelmus van. — A Carthusian writer of piety, born at Breda (Holland) at the beginning of the 15th century; died at the Charterhouse of La Chapelle on 4 August 1471. He entered the Charterhouse of La Chapelle, near Herinnes-les-Enghien (Belgium), about 1430; and was prior of that of Bruges from 1462 to 1465. Most learned and of rare virtue, he also distinguished himself in the art of engraving. Arnold Beeltsens, in the Chronica domus Capellae, wrote: «Fuit vir magnae scientiae et egregius librorum ligator atque operarius in aere et lignis». He was the oldest engraver of the Flemish school; he engraved not only on copper, but also on wood.
Among his numerous manuscript works worthy of special mention are: Tractatus de amore Sponsi super Cantica Cantici; De amore Sponsae in Cantici Canticorum, in the Vatican Library (in Migne, Diction. des Manuscrits, II, cols. 1135-1222); Tractatus elegantissimus ad semper candidam coeli reginam Mariam; Opusculum de vera pace; Tractatus super oratione Dominica; Super Genesim, Psalterium et Canticum Canticorum.