MERSWIN, RULMAN. — Banker who exercised an ascetic influence, born in Strasbourg in 1307, died there in 1382.
The preaching of Tauler filled him with religious zeal; M. entered into relations with the “Friends of God,” to whom belonged Enrico Susone, Enrico di Nördlingen, Margherita Ebner, and Venturino da Bergamo. In 1377, having purchased the ruined monastery on the island of Grünes Wörth, he rebuilt it and gave it to the Johannites under the name of Altersheim; he himself lived there.
After his death, writings by M. were discovered in which, without naming them, he had transcribed passages from Tauler, Susone, Ruysbroeck, and others; he himself had added only alleged visions, stories of conversions, and vivid laments over the wickedness of his time.
As H. Denifle proved, the “Friend of the Oberland” is M.’s invention: he composed the work in order to lend weight to his directives among the Johannites. Mystical theology owes nothing to M., and the high regard in which he was held by Protestants (e.g., J. W. Preger) until Denifle’s research, because as a layman he censured the hierarchy, is unjustified. The “Friend of God’s” relations with Italy and his journey to Rome are inventions.