Background
Zerbolt was born in 1367 into a wealthy burgher family in Zutphen, then in the Duchy of Guelders.
Zerbolt was born in 1367 into a wealthy burgher family in Zutphen, then in the Duchy of Guelders.
His name has many variations, including "Gerardus de Zutphania", "Gerardus Zutphaniensis", "Zerbold van Zutphen", "Gerhard Zerbolt von Zutfen", "Gerardus Zerboltus", et cetera He got his first education in his hometown, and after attending one or more Latin schools elsewhere, he enrolled between 1383 and 1385 at the Brothers of the Common Life"s Saint Lebwin school in nearby Deventer. This school had been founded by Gerhard Groote (1340–1384) and in Zerbolt"s time was led by Florentius Radewyns (1350–1400).
Even in the Brothers of the Common Life"s community of "plain living and high thinking" Gerard was remarkable for his absorption in the sacred sciences and his utter oblivion of all matters of merely earthly interest.
He held the office of librarian, and his deep learning in moral theology and canon law did the brothers good service, in helping them to meet the prejudice and opposition which their manner of life at first aroused. In Radewijns" absence, Zerbolt assumed his responsibilities as rector.
They found refuge in Amersfoort until November. Here the legality of the Brotherhood was attacked regularly by the local clergy.
Soon after his return to Deventer, Zerbolt traveled to the Benedictine monastery at Dikninge in Drente to confer with its learned abbot Arnold about the attacks.
On his way home on December 3, Zerbolt and his companion stopped for the night at Windesheim, a small village just south of Zwolle. He felt mortally ill and died within a few hours, at the age of 31.