ESCHIUS (van Essche), Nikolacs. - Ascetic-mystical theologian, representative of the practical Gerard (v.) Groot, b. at Oosterwijk in Brabant in 1507, d. at Diest (Belgium) on 19 July 1578. He studied at the school of the Brothers of the Common Life in ’s‑Hertogenbosch and at the University of Louvain. Ordained priest in 1530, he went to Cologne as tutor in the household of H. Herli and successfully devoted himself to the education of youth.
Among his pupils were L. Surius (v.) and S. PIETRO CANISIO, who was strongly influenced by him and spoke of him in terms of high praise (*Confessionum*, I, ed. Braunsberger, Freiburg 1908, pp. 17‑18).
Poor health prevented E. from entering the religious life and he had to be content with hospitality in a house of the Order. In 1539 he was appointed director of the Béguinage of St Catherine at Diest, of which he may be considered the second founder, and Cardinal Granvelle appointed him archpriest of that deanery.
He wrote works of ascetic and mystical theology, directed especially to those living in the world who wished to follow a higher ideal of Christian life: *Comme Plaidecium in laudem D. Dionysii Carthusiani*, in *Dionysii II. contra Alchioranum* (Cologne 1533); *Die grote evangelische Perle* (Antwerp 1542), Lat. ed.: *Margarita evangelica* (Cologne 1543); *Corte end heyligen regel van leves* (Lat. ed.: *Isagoga seu Introductio in vitam universalem*, Antwerp 1563, with the *Templum animae*); *Exercitia theologica mystica* (ibid. 1563); *Exercitia spiritualia, quae compendio hominem in Deum transformare queant, auth. D. N. Eschio magnae apud Brabantes existimationis et pietatis viro* (Rome 1612). Translated by G. Tualero: *Exercitia de vita et passione Salvatoris* (Cologne 1548, Antwerp 1537, 1565; the 1st ed. has appended: *Adiuncta sunt fere eiusdem argumenti alia quaedam exercitia prorsus divina, auth. D. N. Eschio*). In Italian trans.: *Meditazioni pie et divote di N. Giocanni Tanlero sopra la Vita et Passione Giesu Christo*. Translated into Florentine vernacular by the most reverend monsignor Alessandro Strozzi, Florentine patrician and bishop of Volterra. Together with certain exercises no less Catholic than learned by M. Nicolò Eschio, translated by the same hand (Florence 1572).