Gifttheil Ludwig Friedrich

Gifttheil Ludwig Friedrich, a native of Suabia, made himself a name in the 17th century by his fanatical denunciations of the State Church and its ministers. The date of his birth is not known, but he began to write during the Thirty-Years' War. Gifttheil not only opposed the religious institutions of his day, but also believed himself called to warn the governments against war and bloodshed. For this object he wrote to the king of England, in 1643-1644, Zween Brieffe, gerichtet an die Mächctigen in England, etc.; then, in 1647, his Eine neue Declaration aus Orient, etc. He continued his warnings also to Cromwell, and, among other things, called the protector "field-marshal of the devil, highwayman, thief, and murderer." After wandering over more than the half of Europe, he died at Amsterdam in 1611. See Arnold, Kirchens. Ketzerhist. 3:10; Böhme, 8 Bacher v.d. Reformation der Kirche is England (Altona, 1734, page 941 sq.); Herzog, Real-Encyklop. 5:155. (J.N.P.)