Wilhelm Alard

Wilhelm Alard was born in Wilster on November 22, 1572. He was the son of Frans Alard, a notable confessor of the Reformed faith during the persecutions carried out under the Duke of Alva. Descended from a noble Belgian family renowned for several generations of classical and theological scholarship, Alard inherited a rich intellectual heritage that was later commemorated in the 1721 Hamburg volume Decas Alardorum Scriptis Clarorum.

As a writer, Alard achieved recognition through three collections of sacred Latin poetry: Excubiarum Piarum Centuria (1623), Excubiarum Piarum Centuria Secunda (1628), and Excubiarum Piarum Centuria Tertia (1630). These verses were held in high esteem by his contemporaries, with the initial volume running through four editions during his lifetime. Although his poetry eventually faded from widespread public notice, Archbishop Richard Chenevix Trench revived interest in Alard by featuring two selections in his Sacred Latin Poetry. These included the Communion prayer "Accessuri ad sacram Communionem Oratio ad Jesum Servatorem" and the guardian angel poem "De angelo custode," commencing "Cum me tenent fallacia." The latter piece was subsequently reprinted in W. J. Loftie's Latin Year and translated into English by D. T. Morgan in 1880.

During the final phase of his life, Alard ministered as pastor and superintendent in Krempe, located in Holstein. He held this office until his death on May 9, 1645.