ABSTRACT
At least until 1530, Tremellius was living happily with his family in the Jewish community of Ferrara; by mid-1542, however, he felt obliged to flee Italy for northern Europe. The intervening years clearly constituted a crucial turning point in Tremellius’ life, but just as was the case in relation to the time that he spent in Ferrara, the surviving evidence is only fragmentary. Nonetheless, sufficient materials have survived to allow us to plot a basic trajectory during this turbulent period. Perhaps more importantly, it is possible to subject Tremellius’ spiritual development during these years to more detailed scrutiny. This is an aspect of his life that has until now received surprisingly little attention. Yet it is essential to appreciate the principal religious and intellectual currents to which Tremellius would have been exposed if we wish to understand what prompted his progression towards the Reformed faith. After all, while the religious journey which Tremellius made during these years was far from being a common one, one should not assume that it defies historical explanation.
