DRIEDO, JEAN. - Theologian, b. at Darisdonk (from which the name D. derives; his family name was Neys) near Turnhout in Brabant in 1478 or early 1479, d. at Louvain on 4 Aug. 1535. He first taught philosophy from 1499 to 1509, during which time he also became a member of the University Council for the Arts; having obtained the degree of Baccalaureus formatus in 1511, he was promoted to doctor of theology in 1512 by his teacher Adrian of Utrecht (the future Adrian VI). Professor and later dean of the theological faculty, in 1518 he was elected rector of the University (for a second time in 1533), and from 1520 he held a canonry in the collegiate church of St Peter.
He wrote: *De ecclesiasticis scripturis et dogmatibus* I. IV (ed. R. Tapper, vol. I), a treatise on introduction to Holy Scripture, notable for its hermeneutical rules and ideas on the authenticity of the Vulgate, which were adopted in the decrees of the fourth session of the Council of Trent; *De captivitate et redemptione generis humani liber unus* (ed. Tapper, vol. II); *De concordia liberi arbitrii et praedestinationis divinae liber unus* (ed. Tapper, vol. III); *De Gratia et libero arbitrio libri duo* (ed. Tapper, vol. III); *De libertate christiana*, left unfinished (ed. Tapper, vol. IV).
His theology rests upon Holy Scripture and the Fathers, among whom he especially favoured St Augustine, aligning himself with the Augustinian current of his time, which would continue at Louvain down to Baius and beyond.
A complete edition of Driedo’s works was prepared by R. Tapper, Louvain 1546, 1552, 1556, in 4 volumes.