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OPVS EPISTOLARVM
DES. ERASMI ROTERO.DAMI

DENVO RECOGNITVM ET AVCTVM

PER

P. S. ALLEN, M.A.
COLLEGII MERTONENSIS SOCIV.M ET BIBLI0THECARIV3I

ET

H. M. ALLEN

TOM. IV

1519-1j21

OXONII
IN TYPOGRAPHEO CLARENDONIANO
MCMXXII
 OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
London Edinburgh Glasgow Copenhagen
New York Toronto Melbourne Cape Town
Bombay Calcutta Madras Shanghai
HUMPHREY MILFORD
Publisher to the University
 ;

PREFACE
SlNCE the third voliime of this edition appeared, the republic
of learning, worklwide and international, has been shattered into
fragments by a war more devastating than any of those which
disturbed the sixteenth century. Seeking, not for itself, that
knowledge which leadeth unto wisdom wisdom the worker of — '

all things which in all ages maketh men friends of God

', '
the '
—
republic seemed to exhibit a pattern for a larger commonwealth,
in which the nations of the world might willingly recognize the
rights of others and the duties of each one to all the rest. That
was the dream of Erasmus and he looked for its fulfilment to
;

a union of kings, leading after them the peoples they protected.

Now in the twentieth century a war is over once more the work ;

of reconstruction must be attempted, and the world is hoping for

a league of free nations, relieved, as are private men, from the
anxieties and suspicions which accompany the necessity of self-
defence. Nowhere more possible to begin welding up the
is it

fragments than in the sphere of learning which cannot abate its

;

international character without losing its inspiration. The task

is not easy, especially for those who have suffered grievously

but it will be undertaken, and with hope it will be carried

tbrough.
In most countries the material difficulties are great. The War
caused of necessity a great diminution of printing and even ;

—
now the costs of production papermaking and printing and
—
publishing remain much higher than they %vere. This is a
serious hindrance to all learned work ; for it profits little to
make researches, if the fruits cannot be multiplied and difiused
to long life and usefulness through the medium of print. On all
sides may be heard lamentations over work delayed or even
abandoned. There is therefore every reason for me to express
iny gi-atitude to the Delegates of the Clarendon Press for con-
tinuing this edition and allowing me to bring it further on its

way to completion.
These nine years which have elapsed, have cut olf from me
a 2
iv PREFACE
the aid of three friencls to whom I am infinitely indebted. It

is difficult to express the large share that Ingram Bywater took

in this work, especially in whatever concerned the history of
scholarship, the attention with which he considered the proofs,
and the frequent enrichment of the commentary which he supplied
from his great erudition, reinforced by the library which he had
himself collected, and the choicest books of which, many thousands,
he destined for and bequeathed to the Bodleian. It is impossil>le
to forget, though it is not easy to live up to, the standard of
severe and exact scholarship that he set as indispensable in an
edition of this kind. Charles Cannan, as Secretary to the
Delegates, gave me from my first beginning every encourage-
ment, At his side it was almost a pleasure to have difficulties
arise from the sure and certain sense which he always imparted,
:

not only that the difficulties were to be faced at once, but that
they would in the end be surmounted. A keen and penetrating
scholar, with the patience of a leader who is master of himself
and of those around him, he was rightly placed at the head of an
institution whose care it is to provide for the great aims of a
—
University sound education and useful learning. I am bound
also to mourn for William Osler, most brilliant and inspiring
of men, ttoXXc^v dvTa^io? ctXXcDv indeed Hhe Wellbeloved
; the ',

fire o£ whose enthusiasm warmed tbe hearts and quickened the

intelligence of those to whom he extended his very present help.

It is a matter of the keenest regret to me to be able to testify
my gratitude to them only at a distance.
To the names of the friends and allies mentioned in previous
volumes I am happy to add more, not without pleasaut recollec-
tion in many cases of charming hospitality :

in Belgium, Prof. Cauchie and his devoted secretary M. Isidore

Versluys in the College du Saint-Esprit, and Prof. De Vocht
(who has been especialJy generous in communicating to me
his latest discoveries, and above all, the Letters to Crane-
velt which he is about to publish) in the College du Pape,
at Louvain M. Paul Bergmans, Director of the University
;

Library, and Canon Claeys-Bouwaert of the Seminaire, at

Ghent and M. Henry Vercruysse at Courtray.
;

in France, M. Georges Gazier, one of the re-captors of Fort

Vaux, Director of the Bibliotheque Publique at Besan^on
M. Julien Feuvrier, Archiviste of Dole; M. Louis Polain
of Paris and M. Renaudet, now Professor at Bordeaux.
;
 PEEFACE V

in Holland, Dr. J. Berg of Amsterdam, Dr. A. A. J. Karthon

Heusden, Father Kruitwagen of Woerden, and Dr. J. A.

of
Vor der Hake, Direetor of the Public Library of Rotterdam.
in Italy, Monsignor XJgolini and Monsignor Mercati at the
Vatican, and Signor Marco Besso (f) of Rome.
in Switzerland, Dr. Bernoulli's able assistants in the Basle
University Library, Dr. Carl Roth and Dr. Philip Sehmidt
at the Basle Staatsarchiv, Dr. Rudolf Wackernagel and his
successor, Dr. August Huber ; and Dr. Ernst Stahelin of
Basle.
in this country, Dr. Hutton, Dean of Winchester and lately
Canon of Peterborough ; Canon Wordsworth, Librarian to
the Dean and Chapter of Salisbury; Mr. A. W. Pollard,
Keeper of the Printed Books at the British Museum, and
Dr. Henry Thomas of the same Department Sir John ;

Sandys and Mr. W. F. Smith (f) of St. John's College, Cam-

bridge Dr. William Hunt of Trinity College and Mr. C. E.
;

Freeman (f ) of Pembroke College, Oxford Mr. Thomas Love- ;

da}', jun., of Williamscote, Vice-Chancellor elect of Bristol

University ; the Rev. E. P. Gough, lately Vicar of Spalding ;

Mr. A. W. Reed ; and Mr. C. S. B. Buckland of the Public

Record I wish also to record my especial obligations
Office.
to Dr.Seebohm's family, who have allowed me the freest
access to his library at Hitchin, and prolonged use of some
of his books. Inter amicos bene actum est.
The only change of principle in the editing of this volume is
that I have decided for the future to discard notice of variants
—
usually mere lapses in the text of Lond. which have no authority
and which are cori-ected in LB. They afFord evidence of the care
taken with the Leiden text; but there are too many of them.
The comparatively few cases in which LB. repeats the misreadings
of Lond. are preserved : as supplying indisputable proof that
Lond. served as the basis of LB., perhaps in the same way as it

does for the present edition.

P. S. ALLEN.
23 Merton Street, OxroED.
22 January 1922.
 vx

BRIEF TABLE OF EDITIONS OF ERASMUS' LETTERS

[A fuller description ivill he found in vol. i, cipp. 7)

A = lani Damiani Senensis Elegeia. 4", Basle. J. Froben. Aug. 1515.

B = Epistole aliqnot ad Erasmum. 4". Louvain. Th. Martens. Oct. J516,
C = Ci C2
C^ = Epistole sane quam elegantes. 4°. Louvain. Th. Martens. Apr. 1517.
C^ = Idem. 4". Basle. J. Froben. Jan. 15 18.
D = Di D2
D^ = Auctarium selectarum epistolaruni. 4". Basle. J. Froben. Aug. 1518.
D2= Idem. 4°. Basle. J. Froben. March 15 19.
E = Farrago noua epistolarum. Fol. Basle. J. Froben. Oct. 15 19.
F = Epistolae ad diuersos. Fol. Basle. J. Froben. 31 Aug. 152 1.
Gr = Selectae epistolae. 4°. Basle. J. Herwagen & H. Froben. 1528.
H = Opus epistolarum. Fol. Basle. H. Froben, J. Herwagen & N. Epi-
scopius. 1529.
J= Epistolae floridae. Fol. Basle. J. Herwagen. Sept. 1531.
K = Epistolae palaeonaeoi. Fol. Freiburg. J. Emmeus. Se-pt. 1532.
L = De praeparatione ad mortem. 4°. Basle. H. Froben & N. Episcopius.
<c. Jan.) 1534.
M = De purltate tabernaculi. 4°. Basle. H. Froben & N. Episcopius.
<c. Feb.) 1536.
N = Ni N2 N3
N^ = Operum tertius tomus. Fol. Basle. H. Froben & N. Episcopius. 1538.
N2 = Idem. Fol. Ibid. 1541.
N3 = Idem. Fol. Ibid. 1558.
O =0^02
O^ = Vita Erasmi. 4". Leiden. T. Basson. 1607.
=
O^ Idem. 12". Leiden. G. Basson. 1615.
P = Pirckheimeri opera. Fol. Frankfort. J. Bringer. 1610.
Q = Epistolae familiares. 8°. Basle. C. A. Serin. 1779.
Lond. = Epistolarum libri xxxi. Fol. London. M. Flesher & K. Youiig. 1642.
LB. = Opera omnia. Tomus tertius. Fol. 2 vols. Leiden. P. Vander Aa.
1703.
NoTE. have printed at the head of each letter a list of the editions in
I
which it found, with the necessary references. The references to Lond.
is
serve also for H and N. Sources, printed or ms., other than the editions above
catalogued, are indicated, wlien necessary, by Greek letters.
In the critical notes any of these editions or sources which is not specified
by tho sigla must be understood to follow the reading of its immediate pre-
decessor. Thus, in Ep. 106. i, E stands for E, F, H, W, N^, N^, Lond. and LB.
Similarly, with the Greek alphabet this principle is generally foUowed but ;

occasionally, when the sources aro diverse or there is some special reason for it,
e.g. in Ep. 296, all the authorities are specified by their sigl-a.
The Corrigenda found in some of tlie volumes of letters have usually been
treatcd as the true readings of those editions ; but occasionally the uncorrected
text and the correction have both been given ; the latter following immediately
after the former.
The small superior figures attached to lotter-numbers refer to letters answered,
the inferior to letters answering.
Angular brackets ( ) denote additions by an editor, square brackets [ ] denote
omissions.
 TABLE OF LETTEES
[* Not in LB. ** Printed here for the first time. Autograph.
J
Letters indented are written to Erasmus.]

1519

993. Priccard. Sciebam . , I July 151 Louvain.

994. Beraldus. Ego . . I July (1519) Paris.
995. Campegio. Reuerende . . 4 July 1519 London.
996. Campegio. Reuerendissime . . 14 July 1519 Louvain.
997. Chapter of Metz. Ornatissimi . 14 July 1519 Louvain.
998. Lee. Quod a me . . 15 July 1519 Louvain.
999. Hutten. Quod Thomae . . 23 July 1519 Antwerp.
1000. L. Pucci. In tam . . 31 July 1519 Louvain.
1001. Spalatinus. Si quid . . 7 Aug. 15 19 Antwerp.
1002. Beraldus. Vt tribus . . 9 Aug. (1519) Antwerp.
1003. Hue. Agit hoc . . 9 Aug. (1519) Antwerp.
1004. Budaeus. Kai TroWtn . . <c. 9 Aug. 15 19 Antwei-p.)
1005. Zutpenius. Video . . 10 Aug. 15 19 Antwerp.
1006. Hochstrat. Antehac . . 11 Aug. 15 19 Antwerp.
1007. Leo X. Beatissime . . 13 Aug.15 19 [Louvain.]
1008. Hack. Allatum . . 13 Aug. 1519 Antwerp.
1009. Albert of Brandenburg. In tam • 15 Aug. 15 19 Antwerp.
^IOIO. The Reader. Me plane . . 1Sept. 15 19 <Bruge8 ?)
1011. Budaeus. 'Hfiu /not . . (Sept. 1519) Marly.
1012. Fevinus. Facit hoc . . 9 Sept. (1519? Louvain.
tl013. Tutor. Quemadmodum . . 10 Sept. 1519 Louvain.
(?660. Lister. Imo . . 11 Sept. (1519) Louvain.)
•1014. B. Rhenanus. lubet . . <Sept. 1519 Louvain.)
1015. Budaeus. Tt ^r/? ; . . 15 Sept. (1519) Marly.
1016. Poncher. Reuerendissime . . 2 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
1017. Grimani. Reuerendissime . . 2 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
1018. Flor. of Egmont. Clarissime . 2 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
a019. Lypsius. S. P. Crede . . <Oct. 1519? Louvain.)
**:1020. Bo. Amerbach. Videor . . 7 Oct. 1519 Basle,
1021. Slechta. Redditae . . 10 Oct. 1519 Kosteletz.
tl022. Gratius. S. lam . . 15 <Oct.) 1519 <Louvain.)
1023. Budaeus. Longolius . . 15 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
1024. Beraldus. Longolius . . 15 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
1025. Pace. Videor mihi . . 16 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
1026. Lupset. Triginta . . 16 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
1027. Dancaster. nos . . 16 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
1028. Mountjoy. Eximie . . 16 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
1029. Tunstall. Cum catalalis . . 16 Oct. 15 19 Louvain.
1030. Fisher. Eximie . . 17 Oct. 1519 Louvain.
VIU TABLE OF LETTERS
1031. Wolsey. Quod proximas . 1700^.1519 Louvain. .

1032. Guildford. Vides 18 Oct. 1519

. . Louvain.
1033. Albert. Salutem . 19 Oct. 1519
. Louvain,
**:1034. Carinus. Perge . <fOct. 1519?
. Louvain?)
*J1035. Lypsius. Mox vbi (Oct. ?I5I9 Louvain.) . .

*1036. Lypsius. Oro te . <Oct. ? 1519

. Louvain.)
*1037. Lee. En nunc (Oct. ?I519 .Louvain.) .

1038. E. de la Marck. lam plus <Oct. fin. 1519 Louvain.) . .

1039. Slechta. Ad prolixam i Nov. 1519 Louvain. . .

*1040. Lypsius. Quod ille <c. Nov. 1519 . Louvain.) .

*1041. The Reader. Rursus <c. Nov. 1519) Louvain. . .

1042. ? Quomodo ^Nov. 15 19) Louvain. . .

1043. Philip of Burgundy. Cum hiscc <Nov.) 1519 <Louvain.) . .

*1044. Doi-p. Miror 28 Nov. 1519

. The Hague.
.

*1045. Brixius. Heri <Dec.) 1519 . Paris.

.

1046. Robyns. Vir eximie . . Dec. 15 19

i Louvain.
1047. J. Turzo. Explicari . . Dec. 15 19
i Breslau.
1048. Lypsius. Charissime . . <Dec. ? ) 1519 <Louvain.>
1049. Lypsius. S. P. Tot . . <Dec.?> 1519 <Louvain.>
1050. Barland. Non libet . . <Dec. init. 1519 Louvain.)
1051.<Barland.) Nunquam . .
7 Dec. <I5I9> Antwerp.
1052. Lypsius. S. P., charissime . . <Dec. 15 19? Antwerp.)
1053. Lupset. Ex literis . . 13 Dec. 1519 Louvain.
1054. Nic. Praepositus. Vir . . 19 Dec. 1519 Louvain.
*1055. Hutten. Curaho . . <I5I9 Louvain.)

1520
1056. Lypsius. Vt ad
. . <c. I Jan. 1520? Louvain,
1057. Jod. Vander Noot. Ornatissime . . 7 Jan. 1520 Louvain
*1058. Beraldus. ne qnid . . <c. Jan. 1520 Louvain.
1059.<Latomus?>. Eximie . . <.Jan. 1520? Louvain,
1060. Wolsey. Nunc raeritas . . 1520
I Feb. Louvain
*1061. Lee. Eam statuo . . 1520
I Feb. Louvain.
1062. Campegio. Quoties . . 5 1520 Feb. Louvain,
**1063. B. Rhenanus. Hic adhuc . . 5 1520 Feb. Louvain,
*1064. Oecolampadius. se . . <c. 5 Feb. 1520 Louvain,
1065. Ant. de la Marck. Persuaserat 16 Feb. 1520
. Louvain,
1066. Budaeus. Cum multis . . 17 Feb. 1520 Louvain
*tl067. Wimpfeling. S.D P. Opto 19 Feb. i52oSchlettstadt. . .

1068. Fisher. Si tua . . 21 Feb. 1520 Louvain.

*1069. Lypsius. Mi Martine <c 22 Feb. 1520 Louvain.)
1070. Lypsius. Non queror <c. Feb. 1520 Louvain.) . .

*1071. Nic. of Luxemburg. Humanissime <Feb. 1520? Louvain.)

*1072. The Reader. Prodiit <Feb. fin. 1520 Louvain.) . .

1073. Budaeus. Heri 26Feb. <i52o> Marly.

. .

*J1074. Capito. Tandem erupit <Feb. fin. 1520 Louvain.) . .

1075. Volz. Difficile . . <c. March) 1520 <Louvain.)

1076. Gruntgen. Breuis 7 Marcli 1520
. Louvain.
.

*:1077. Berselius. Est hic 8 March<i52o)Louvain. . .

*1078. Herni.ofNeuenahr. Prodiit 14 March 1520 Cologne.

1079. Gigli. Reuerendissime . 15 March 1520 Antwerp. .

1080. Chieregato. Humanissime 15 March 1520 Antwerjj. . .

1081. Campegio. Reuerendissirae 15 March 1520 Antwerp. . .

*1082. Herm. of Neuenahr. Mirum <c. 15 March) 1520 Antwerp. .

*1083. Capito. Scripsi i^March 1520 Basle. . .

*tl084. Bo. Araerbach. Vide ig March 1520 Basle. . .

1085. Pirckheimer. S. P., charissime 19 March <i52o) Louvain. . .

*'1086. Lypsius. Hle quisquis <c. 25 March 1520 Louvain.)

 TABLE OF LETTEES
n087. More. Ecquid . . (March-April 1 520 Greenwicli?)
*1088. Jonas. S. Accepi . . 9 April 1 520 Louvain.
n089. Pace. Epistolio . . April (1520) Greenwich.
1090. More. Tametsi . . (April 1520 Greenwich '?)
1091. Algoet. Incidernnt . . 13 April 1520 Antwerp.
1092. Everard. Magnifice . . 17 April (1520) Antwerp.
1093. More. Sperabam . . 26Aprili52o Antwerp.
*il094. deHondt. Venerande Courtray. 28Aprili52o
tl095.Pirckheimer. S.P.Suum. 30 April (1520) Nuremberg. .

1096. More. Antimorus (May init.) 1520 (Greenwich ?)

1097. More. Non ignorabam 2 May 1520 Antwerp. .

1098. Henry viii. Serenissime (3 May) 1520 Antwerp,

1099. Foxe. Reuerende 5 May 1520 . Louvain.
.

*1100. The Reader. Quoniam (May 1520 Louvain.) .

1101. Albert. Subinde 15 May 1520. Louvain.

.

1102. Oecolamimdius. Vtinam 15 May 1520 Louvain.

1103. Botzheim. Hoc mihi 16 May (1520) Louvain. . .

1104. Vives. Quidte . (May ? 1520)

. Louvain.
*1105. P. Engentinus. Non 24 May 1520 Freiburg.
1106. More. De puero 26 May (1520) Canterbury. . .

1107. More. Nae ad . (June 1520

. Louvain.)
1108. Vives. Progresso 4 June (1520) Bruges, . .

1109. Busch. Conuenit 5 June (1520) Mainz. . .

1110. Sapidus. Miram (c. June 1520)

. Louvain,
.

1111. Vives. Subtristem (June 1520) Louvain,

. .

1112. Wolsey. Cum frequenter (c. June 1520) Louvain, , .

*1118. Melanchthon. S. P.
Sanctis . . (a. 21 June 1520) Louvain.
1114. Marlianus. Maiorem (a. 21 June 1520 . Louvain.)
1115. Halewin. Mihi vero 21 June 1520 . Louvain.
*1116. Kloster. Ornatissime (c. 21 June 1520 . Louvain.)
1117. Brixius. Dum curru 25 June 1520 . Antwerp.
1118. Pace. Sero mihi (c. 25 June?) 1520
, . Antwerp,
1119. Spalatinus. Alexander 6 July 1520 Louvain,
**1120. C. Frick & L. Esinger.
S. P. D. Animauit 12 July (1520) . . Freiburg,
*1121. Zasius. Quid censes 13 July 1520 . . Freiburg.
1122. Meyner. Felicitatem 30 July 1520 . . Louvain.
1123. Mosellanus. Redditae 31 July 1520 . . Louvain.
1124. Conrad of Thuengen. S. P.,
ornatissime (c. 31 July 1520
. . Louvain.)
1125. George of Saxony. Illustris-
sime . . 31 July 1520 Louvain.
1126. Busch. Miseret . , 31 July 1520 Louvain.
:1127. Platz. Vir eximie . . 3iJuly(i52o) Louvain.
*:1128. Lang. S. P., vir . . 2 Aug. (1520) Louvain.
1129. Fisher. Reuerende . . 2 Aug. (1520) Louvain.
*1130. Merliberch. Carmen . . (Aug. 1520? Louvain.)
1131. H.Hermann. Eruditissime (c. Aug. 1520) Louvain.
1132. Wolsey. Tanto . . 7 Aug. 1520 Antwerp.
1133. Budaeus. Amicorum . . 9 Aug. 1520 Antwerp.
1134. Rotenhan. Consuetudinis 13 Aug. 1520 Louvain.
*1135. Hutten. Audisti 15 Aug. 1520 Steckelberg.
1136. Leontius. Boni (c. . . 29 Aug. ?) 1520 Brussels.
1137. J. Turzo. Cur ita . . 31 Aug. 1520 Louvain.
1138. Burbank. Is demum . . I Sept. 1520 Louvain.
1139. Pirckheimer. Non deerant 5 Sept. 1520 Louvain.
*1140. Lyjisius. Si non . . (Sept. ? 1520 Louvain.)
1141. (Teldenhauer. Brugis . . 9 Sept. 1520 Louvain.
*:1142. Schirn. S. D. Nulla . 10 Sept, 1520 Milan.
 TABLE OF LETTERS
1143. Leo X. Tametsi . . 13 Sept. 1520
1144. Chieregato. Aniinum . .

1145. Cianevelt. Nonijossum. .

*1146. Brassicanus. Gratulor . .

1147. Manius. Mihi sane . .

1148. C. Frick & L. Esinger. Zasius .

1149. yillinger. Quod de . .

1150. Gattinara. Magnifice . .

1151. E. de la Marck. Salutem . .

+1152. Albert. S. P., reuerendissime .

1153. Rosemondt. Non arbitror . .

J1154. Artl. of Boskowitz. Salutem

1155. Reuchlin. Reuerend. . .

1156. Peutinger. Sciebam . .

1157. Jonas. Vir optime . .

1158. Oecolampadius. Epistolam . .

1159. Sbrulius. Parum . .

1160. Ritius. Libellus . .

*1161. Hutten. Male mihi . .

1162. More. Quae tibi . .

*1163. Barland. Non dubito . .

1164. Rosemondt. Inuitus . .

*J1165. Capito. S. P. Hollaudi . .

1166. ? Quo magis . .

1167. Campegio. Decretum . .

1168. Hegendorfer. Tam ego . .

1169. Scarpinellus. Tale iter . .

1170. Priccard. Eruditishime . .

1171. Schinner. lam videbar . .

1172. Rosemondt. Magnifice . .

1173. Cranevelt. Nimirum . .

*1174. Lypsius. Non dubito . .

1175. P. VergiL te . .

1176. Bedill. De Praesulis . .

1177. Knopken. Ex tribus . .

1178. Rhodus. Vt serius . .

1521
1179. Schinner. Nuper . .

*1180. Leo X. Dilecte . .

*1181. Gigli. Meretur . .

1182. Pirckheimer. S. P., ornatissime

1183. Artl. of Boskowitz. Vir . .
1184. Budaeus. En . .

1185. Beraldus. Quantum . .

'*:1186. Everard. S. P., vir . .

1187. L. Bartolini. Non semel . .

1188. Everard. Si Lutherus . .

*1189. Lypsius. Amice . .

*1190. Lypsius. Frater . .

1191. Louisof Flanders. Virnon . .

1192. Schweiss. Cognatus . .

*1193. The Reader. Impudenter . .

1194. The Reader. Saepe . .

1195. Marlianus. Ex amicorum . .

1196. Vinc. Theodorici. Est illud . .

1197. Gattinara. Praestantissime

1198. Marlianus. Quanti . .

1199. Marlianus. Insratissimus . .

 TABLE OF LETTERS XI

1200. W. Frederici. De iuuene . . 30 April 1521 Louvain.

**il201. Bo. Amerbach. lam vnus . . (May init. 1521 Basle.)
1202. Jonas. Hic iam . . 10 May 1521 Louvain.
1203. Ber. Eruditissime . . 14 May 1521 Louvain.
*1204. Barland. Nae tu . . <May? 1521 Louvain.)
1205. Warham. De animo . . 24 May 1521 Antwerp.
1206. B. Rhenanus. Quod scribis . . 27 May (1521) Louvain.
**:1207. Ba. Amorbach. Perbelle . . 30 May 1521 Basle.
1208. Max. of Hornes. Vir Anderlecht.
. . 31 May 1521
1209. Goclenius. Velim te . . 8 June 1521 <Anderlecht.)
1210. Pace. Ex ofEcina . 11 June 1521 . Anderlecht.
1211. Jonas. Quod tam . 13 June 1521 . Anderlecht.
1212. Guillard. Nae mihi 17 June 1521 Anderlecht.
. .

1213. Bombasius. Quod tam 18 June 1521 Rome. . .

1214. L. Hugenoys. Quae praeter 21 June 1521 Anderlecht. . .

1215. Harst. Bis igitur 22 June 1521

. .Anderlecht.
1216. Barbirius. Tandem 26 June 1521 Anderlecht.
. .

1217. Tlieologiansof Louvain. Reuerendi (June?) 1521 Anderlecht. .

J1218. Pace. S. Vtinam . 5 July 1521 . Brussels.

1219. Mountjoy. Quo syncerior <c. 5 July?) 1521 Anderlecht. . .

1220. More. Maiorem . <c. 5 July?) 152 1

. Anderlecht.
1221. TayspiL Reuerende 5 July 1521 Anderlecht.
. .

1222. Vives. Nunc primum 10 July 1521 Bruges. . .

1223. Goclenius. Equidem 12 Aug. <i52i) Bruges.

. .

1224. Thale. Quando desines 13 Aug. 1521 Bruges. . .

1225. Barbirius. Amantissime 13 Aug. 1521 Bruges. . .

1226. H. Froben. Mihi gratias 14 Au 1521 Bruges. . .

1227. Pace. De nostris . 23 Au. 1521 Bruges.

1228. Warham. Vbi cognouissem 23 Au 1521 Bruges. . .

1229. Lupset. Vt acerbus 23 Au <I52I) . Bruges. .

1230. Linacre. Non sine 24 Au, 1521

. Bruges.
.

1231. Wychman. Qui deplorare <c. 29 Aug.) 1521 Bruges. . .

1232. Nic. of Hertogenbosch. Omnes 31 Aug. (1521) Anderlecht. . .

1233. Budaeus. Cum proxime <c. Sept.) 1521 Anderlecht. . .

1234. Schudelinus. Gabriel 4 Sept. 1521 Anderlecht. . .

1235. Barlnrius. Aurula 23 Sept. 1521

. Anderlecht.
.

1236. Bombasius. Quid ego . 23 Sept. 1521 Anderlecht. .

1237. Bucho. Vir optime 24 Sept. 1521 .Anderlecht. .

1238. Everard. Si patriae <Oct. ?) 1521 Anderlecht.

. .

1239. G. Ofhuys. A studiis 14 Oct. <i52i> Anderlecht. . .

1240. Rescius. Ni tam . <Oct.?) 1521

. Anderlecht.
1241. Capito. Scripsi nuper 14 Oct. 1521 <Halle). . ,

1242. S. Turzo. Miro quodam <c 21 Nov. 1521 Basle.) . .

1243. S. Turzo. Vix superiores 22 Nov. 1521 Basle. . .

1244. Pirckheimer. S., ornatissime 29 Nov. 1521 Basle.

*J1245. P. Barbirius. Salue . 29 Nov. 1521 Vittoria. .

*:1246. Tatc. lam ad 4 Dec. 1521

. Richmond.
.

*tr247. Peutinger. Tuae 9 Dec. 1521 Augsburg. . .

1248. Schinner. Tandem ausus 14 Dec. 1521 Basle. . .

1249. Schinner. Sumus 14 Dec. 1521

. . Basle.
1250. Alciati. Eruditissime 14 Dec. 1521 Basle. . .

*tl251. Sapidus. Qui tibi . . 30 Dec. i52i<Schlettstadt.)

App. 14. Eppendorft''8 copy of the Epistolae ad diuersos (F) p.615
App. 15. The Heine Collection p.620
 xn

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS COMMONLY USED

(For A, B, C, . . . . Q, Lond., LB., denoting editions of Erasmus'
letters, see p. vi and vol. i, pp. 599-602.)

COLLECTIONS OF LeTTEES
AE. =
LeB correspondants d'Alde Manuce, 1483-15 14; par P. de Nolhac
(Studi e documenti di storia e diritto, 1887, 8). Rome, 1888.
Agr. E. — Epistolae Henrici Cornelii Agrippae ad familiares et eorum ad
ipsum pp. 681-1061 in Agrippae
: Operum pars posterior. Lugduni
. . .

per Beringos fratres, s. a. (c. 1601).

Al. E. = i. Lettres familieres de Jerome Aleandre, 1510-40; par J. Paquier.
Paris, 1909.
ii. Jerome Aleandre et la principaute de Liege ;
par J. Paquier, Paris,
1896.
Am. E. = Bonifacius Amerbach und die Reformation von Th. Burckhardt- ;

Biedermann. Basel, 1894.

BE.^ = Epistohxe Gulielmi Budaei. Paris, J. Badius, 20 Aug. 1520.
BE.^ = Epistolae Gullielmi Budaei posteriores. Paris, J. Badius, March
1522.
BE.^ = G. Budaei Epistolarum Latinarum lib. v, Graecarum item lib. i.

Paris, J. Badius, Feb. 1531.

BE.* = Repertoire de la correspondance de Guillaume Bude par L. Dehxruelle. ;

—
Toulouse Paris, 1907.
Bemh. E. = Petri Bembi Card. Epistolarum familiarium libri vi. Eiusdem
Leonis x Pont. Max. nomine scriptarum lib. xvi. Venetiis apud
Gualterum Scottum, 1552.
Bl. E, = Briefwechsel der Briider Ambrosius und Thomas Blaurer, 1509-
1567; bearbeitet von T. Schiess (Badische historische Kommission), t. 3.
Freiburg i. Br., 1908-12.
Boh. E. = i. Listaf Bohuslava Hasisteinskeho z Lobkovic ed. J. Truhlar. :

Praze, 1893.
ii. DvaListai;e Humanisticke: (a) Dra. RackaDoubravskeho, (b) M.Vaclava
Piseckeho s Doplnkem Listafe Jana Slechty ze Vsehrd ed. J. Truhlar. :

Praze, 1897.
(Sbirka Pramenuv ku Poznani Literarniho Zivota v Cechach, na Morave
a v Slezsku. Skupina Druha: Korrespondence a Cizojazycne Prameny,
cislo I, 3.)
BRE. = Briefwechsel des Beatus Rhenanus herausg. von A. Horawitz und ;

K. Hartfelder. Leipzig, 1886.

Bwjen. E.^Di: Johannes Bugenhagens Briefwechsel, 1512-58, herausg.
durch O.Vogt. Stettin, 1888.
Bu7i. E. = Petri Bunelli Galli praeceptoris et Pauli Manutii Itali discipuli
Epistolae Ciceroniano stylo scriptae, (Parisiis), H. Stephanus, 1581.
Calc. E. = Epistolicarum quaestionum et Epistohirum familiarium libri XVI,
pp. 1-217 in Caelii Calcagnini Ferrariensis . . . Opera aliquot. Basileae,
H. Froben & Nic. Episcopius, March 1 544.
 LIST OF ABBEEVIATIONS COMMONLY USED xiii

Calv. E. = ThesaurusepistolicusCaluinianus (i 528-64), ed.G.Baum,E.Cunitz,

E. Reuss (CR. xxxviii-xlviii). t. 11. Brunsuigae, 1872-79.
Cum. E. =loachimi Camerarii Bapenbergensis Epistolarum familiarium
i.

libri VI, a filiis editi. Francofurti, haer. A. Wecheli, 1583.

. . .

ii. loachimi Camerarii Pabepergensis Epistolarum libri quinque poste-

riores. A filiis editae. Francofurti, Palthen, 1595.
. . .

Cat. E. = Epistole Cataldi Siculi. Pt. i, Vlyxbone, (Val. Fernandez),

2 1 Feb. 1 500 Pt. 2, s. 1. et a.
;

CE. = i. Claude Chansonnette, jurisconsulte Messin, et ses letti-es inedites,

par A. Rivier (Memoires couronnes par rAcademie royale de Belgique,
t. XXIX). Bruxelles, 1878.
ii. Briefe des Claudius Cantiuncula und Ulrich Zasius von 1521-1533;
von A. Horawitz (Sitzungsbericlite der phil.-hist. Classe der kaiserlichen
Akademie der Wissenschaften, xciii, 1S79). Wien, 1879.
Cog. E. = Epistolae aliquot G. Cognati et amicorum t. i, pp. 295-322, t. iii, :

p. 207 in Gilberti Cognati Nozereni Opera. t. 3. Basileae, H. Petri,

1562.
DGE. = Damiani a Goes, equitis Lusitani, aliquot Opuscula. . . . Item
aliquot Epistolae Sadoleti, Bembi, et aliorum clarissimorum virorum . . .

ad ipsum Damianum. Louanii, R. Rescius, Dec. 1544.

EE. = Briefe an Desiderius Erasmus von Rotterdam herausg. von ;

J. Forstemann und 0. Giinther (xxvil. Beiheft zum Zentralblatt fiir

Bibliothekswesen). Leipzig, 1904.
EE.'^ = Briefe an Desiderius Erasmus von Rotterdam ; herausg. von L. K,
Enthoven. Strassburg, 1906.
EHE. = Helii Eobani Hessi et amicorum ipsius Epistolarum familia-
. . .

rium libri xil. Marpurgi Hessorum, C. Egenolphus, March 1543.

FE. = Caroli Fernandi Brugensis, musici regii, Epistole familiares. . . .

s.l. et a.
GE. = Roberti Gaguini epistole et orationes ; ed. L. Thuasne. t. 2. Paris,
1904.
GHE. = Georg herausg. von 0. Clemen (Archiv fiir
Helts Briefwechsel :

Reformations-Geschichte. Erganzungsband ii). Leipzig, 1907.

Gryn. E. = In libi'um octauum Topicorum Aristotelis Simonis Grynaei
commentaria doctissima. Adiectae sunt ad libri calcem selectiores
aliquot eiusdem S. Grynaei Epistolae. Basileae, Jo. Oporinus, Oct. 1556.
HE. = Epistolae Vlrichi Hutteni ed. E. Bocking. t. 2.
; Lipsiae, 1859.
Hor. E. = N. Horii Remensis praefecti auxiliaris Epistolarum liber ff. : Iz
(= k) v°-pC. Bk. 14 in Nic. Horii Opus, Lugduni, J. Sacon, 27 Sept.
1507.
Hos. E. = Acta historica res gestas Poloniae illustrantia, iv, ix. Card.
Hosii Epistolae, 1525-58, t. 3, edd. F. Hipler & V. Zakrzewski, Cracouiae,
1879-188S.
JE. =
Der Briefwechsel des Justus Jonas herausg. von G. Kawerau ;

(Geschichtsquellen der Provinz Sachsen, xvii). t. 2. Halle, 1884, 5.

La. E. = Lasciana; herausg. von H. Dalton. Berlin, 1898.
L^. = Dr. Martin Luthers Briefe, Sendschreiben
und Bedenken; herausg.
von W. M. L. de Wette. t. 5. Berlin, 1825-8.
LE.- = Dr. Martin Luther'8 Briefwechsel bearbeitet von E. L. Enders, ;

fortgesetzt von G. Kawerau. t. 16. Frankfurt am Main, 1S84-1915.

xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS COMMONLY USED
Lo. -E. = Epistolarum libri quatuor: ff. 65-163 in Christophori Longolii
Orationes duae. Florentiae, haer. Ph. luntae, Dec. 1524.
Ma. E. =
Briefe des Dr. Daniel Mauch von A. Naegele. Romische Quartal- ;

schriftXXV, i39*-l6i*, 203*-225*. Rom, 191 1.

Man. E. = loannis Manardi Ferrariensis Epistolae medicinales, Basileae,
M. Isingrin, March 1540.
Marin. E. = Lucii Marinei Siculi Epistolarum familiarium libri decem et
septem. Vallissoleti, A. G. Brocarius, 28 Feb. 15 14.
MaH. E. = Opus Epistolarum Petri Martyris Anglerii Mediolanensis. Am-
stelodami, Elzevir, 1670. (The first edition, Alcala de Henares, 1530, is

not readily accessible to me.)

Mas. E. = Briefe von Andreas Masius und seinen Freunden, 153S-1573,
herausg. von M. Lossen. Leipzig, 1886.
ME. = Philippi Melanthonis epistolae, praefationes, consilia, iudicia, schedae
academicae ed. C. G. Bretschneider (CR. i-x). t. 10. Halis, 1834-42.
;

MHE. = i. Michael Hummelberger von A. Horawitz. Berlin, 1875. ;

ii. Analecten zur Geschichte des Humanismus in Schwaben von A. ;

Horawitz. Wien, 1877.

iii.Analecten zur Geschichte der Reformation und des Humanismus in
Schwaben; von A. Horawitz. Wien, 1878.
iv. Zur Biographie und Correspondenz Johannes Reuchlin's von A. ;

Horawitz. Wien, 1877.

(ii, iii, iv in Sitzungsberichte der phil.-hist. Classe der kaiserlichen
Akademie der Wissenschaften, 85, 86, 89.)
MRE. = Der Briefwechsel des Mutianus Rufus ; bearbeitet von C. Krause
(Zeitschrift des Vereins fiir hessische Geschichte, N. F., ix. Supplement).
Kassel, 1885.
MRE.- = Der Briefwechsel des Conradus Mutianus ; bearbeitet von K.
Gillert (Geschichtsquellen der Provinz Sachsen, xviii). t. 2. Halle, 1890.
NE. = EiDistolarum
miscellanearum ad Fridericum Nauseam Blancicampia-
num libri x.
. .Basileae, J. Oporinus, March 1550.
.

OE. = Olah Miklos Levelezese kozli Ipolyi Arnold (Monumenta Hun-

;

gariae historica diplomataria, xxv). Budapest, 1875.

:

Oec. E. = DD. loannis Oecolampadii et Huldrichi Zuinglii Epistolarum libri

quatuor, Basileae, T. Platter & B. Lazius, March 1536.
Oec. E. ii. = Das Leben Johannes Oekolampads beschrieben von ; J. J.
Herzog, Basel, 1843, ii. 263-304.
P/, £". = Correspondance de Christophe Plantin, 1 558-1586; publiee par
M. Rooses <fe J. Denuce. t. 7. Antwerpen, 1883-1918.
RE. = Johann Reuchlins Briefwechsel herausg. von L. Geiger (Bibliothek :

des litterarischen Vereins in Stuttgart. cxxvi). Tiibingen, 1875.

Ra. E. = Religiosissimi viri fratris loannis Raulin, artium et theologiae pro-
fessorisscientissimi,EpistoIarum opuseximium. Lutetiae Parisiorum,
. . ,

A. Ausurdus expensis I. Petit, i Jan. 1521.

Sad. E. = i. lacobi Sadoleti Epistolae (pontificiae). Romae, 1759-
ii. lacobi Sadoleti Epistolae (familiares). t. 3 & app. Romae, 1760-7.
Sch. E. =
Korrespondenzen und Akten zur Geschichte des Kardinals Matth.
Schiner herausg. von A. Biichi. t. i (1489-1515), Basel, 1920.
;

SE. = Christoph Scheurls Briefbuch herausg. von F. vou Soden und ;

J. K. F. Knaake. t. 2. Potsdam, 1867-72.

 LIST OF ABBEEVIATIONS COMMONLY USED xv

Sep. E. = Epistolarum libri vii t. iii, pp. 71-3S9 in loannis Genesii

:

Sepuluedae Cordubensis Opera. t. 4. Matriti, 1780.

TE. = loannis Tritemii, abbatis Spanhemensis, Epistolarum familiarium
libri duo. Haganoae, P. Brubachius, 1536.
VE. = Vadianische Briefsammlung herausg. von E. Arbenz und H.
;

Wartmann (Mitteilungen zur vaterlandischen Geschichte, 24, 25, 27-30

6 parts and 5 supplements, s'-s^). St. Gallen, 1S90-190S.
Vi. E. = loannis Lodouici Viuis Valentini Epistolarum Farrago. . . .

Antuerpiae, G. Simon, 1556.

VZE. = Viglii ab Aytta Zuichemi Epistolae selectae ad diuersos t. ii, pt. l :

in C. P. Hoynck van Papendrechfs Analecta Belgica, Hagae Comitum,

.1743-
WE. = Epistolae . . . Georgii Wicelii, Lipsiae, Nic. Vuolrab, 1537.
ZE. = Vdalrici Zasii epistolae ed. J. A. Riegger. t. 2. Vlmae, 1774.
;

Zu: E. = Huldrici Zuinglii Opera, voll. vii, viii, Epistolae ed. M. Schuler ;

& J. Schulthess. t. 2. Turici, 1830-42.

Zw. E? = Zwinglis Briefwechsel ; bearb. von E. Egli, herausg. von G. Finsler
und W. Kohler (CR. xciv, xcv). t. 2 (1510-26!. Leipzig, 1911-14.

Othee Sources
ADB. = Allgemeine deutsche Biographie. t. 56. Leipzig, 1875-1 9 12.
^(//vc.^ = Rodolphi Agricolae opuscula; ed. Petro Aegidio. Anueiiiiae,
T. Martinus, 31 Jan. 15 11.
^r/Wc.'^= Rodolphi Agricolae lucubrationes, tomus posterior; ed. Alardo
Aemstelredamo. Coloniae, J. Gymnicus. (1539).
Agric^ = Unedierte Briefe von Rudolf Agricola von K. Hartfelder (Fest- ;

schrift der badischen Gj^mnasien). Karlsruhe, 1S86.

AHVN. = Annalen des historischen Vereins ftir den Niederrhein. Koln,
1855- .

Val. Amlreas = Fasti Academici studii generalis Louaniensis, edente Valerio

Andrea Desselio. Louanii, H. Nempaeus, 1650.
ANGB. = Acta Gei-manicae vniuersitatis Bononiensis
nationis ed. E. ;

Friedlander et C. Malagola. Berolini, 18S7.

Athenae Ca n tab. = Ather\ae Cantabrigienses, 1500-1609; by C. H. Cooper
and T. Cooper, and by G. J. Gray. t. 3. Cambridge, 1S58-61, 1913.
5rt?rtn = Monumenta Reformationis Lutheranae, 1521-5, collegit P. Balan.
Ratisbonae, 1884.
Balan ii = Monumenta saeculi xvi historiam illustrantia, edidit P. Balan.
Oeniponte, 1885.
BEr.^ = Bibliotheca Erasmiana, listes sommaires. Gand, 1893.
BEr.^ = Bibliotheca Erasmiana extrait de la Bibliotheca Belgica, publiee
;

par F. Vander Haeghen, R. Vanden Berghe, T. J. I. Arnold, et A. Roersch.

Adagia. Gand, 1897. Enchiridion militis Christiani. 191 1.
Admonitio etc. 1900. Moriae Encomium. 1908.
Apophthegmata. 1901. Ratio verae theologiae. 1914.
Colloquia. t. 3. 1903-7.
Bergenroth = Calendar of letters, despatches, and etate papers, relating to
the negotiations between England and Spain, preserved in the archives
at Simancas and elsewhere, 1485-1603: edited by G. A. Bergenroth, and
xvi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS COMMONLY USED
continued by P. de Gayangos and M. A. S. Hume. t. 21. London, 1862-
1899.
BN. = Biographie nationale (A-S). t. 21. Bruxelles, 1 866-1 91 3.
Boching = Index biographicus et onomasticus cur. E. Bocking (Ylrichi ;

Hutteni Operum supplementum tomi posterioris pars altera). Lipsiae,

:

1870.
Brerver = Letters and papers, foreign and domestic, of tlie reign of
Henry 1509-46; arranged by J. S. Brewer, and continued by
viii,
J. Gairdner and R. H. Brodie. t. 33. London, 1862-1910.
Brodie = Brewer i 2nd edit., by R. H. Brodie. t. 3. London, 1920.
;

Brotvn =
Calendar of State Papers and MSS. relating to Englisli afiFaii-s,
existing in the archivesand collections of Venice and in other libraries of
Northern Italy, 1202-1629; edited by Rawdon Brown and continued by
G. C. Bentinck, H. F. Brown, and A. B. Hinds. t. 23. London, 1 864-1 916.
Bulaeus = Historia vniuersitatis Parisiensis authore C. E. Bulaeo. t. 6. ;

Parisiis, 1665-73.
Biirchard= lohannis Burchardi Argentinensis, capelle pontificie sacrorum
rituum magistri, Diarium (1483-1506) ed. L. Thuasne. t. 3. Paris,;

1883-5.
Butzbach = Beitrage zur Gescliichte des Humanismus am Niederrhein und in
Westfalen von C. Krafft und W. Crecelius (Zeitschrift des Bergischen
;

Geschichtsvereins, vii, pp. 213-88, xi, pp. 1-68). Heft i, 2. Elberfeld,

1870, 1875.
Butzbach"^ — Zur Kritik des Joliannes Butzbacli ; von G. Knod (AHVN, lii,

pp. 175-234). Koln, 1891.

Butzhach ^ = Beitrage zur Geschichte des Humanismus in Schwaben uud
Elsass; von W. Crecelius (Alemannia, vii, pp. 184-9). Bonn, 1879.
^T^iS^. = Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden. t. 21. Haarlem,
1852-78.
Cahallero = Alonso y Juan de Valdes, por Don Fermin Caballero. Madrid,
1875.
Chevcdier = Repertoire des sources historiques du moyen age : Bio-biblio-
graphie ;
par U. Chevalier. 2^ edition. t. 2. Paris, 1905-7.
Ciaconius =
Vitae et res gestae Pontificum Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardina-
lium, opera A. Ciaconii; ab A. Oldoino recognitae. t. 4. Romae, 1677.
Clerval = Registre des proces-verbaux de la Faculte de Theologie de Paris
publie par A. Clerval. t. i (1505-23), Paris, 191 7.
Copincjer =
Supplement to Hain's Repertorium bibliographicum by W. A. ;

Copinger. 2 parts. London, 1 895-1 902.

CPR. = Das Chronikon des Konrad Pellikan herausg. durch Bemhard ;

Riggenbach. Basel, 1877.

CR. =Corpus Reformatorum. VolL 1-28. Melanthonis Opera ed. C. G. ;

Bretschneider et H. E. BindseiL Halis et Brunsuigae, 1834-60.

Voll. 29-87. Caluini Opera ; ed. G. Baum, E. Cunitz, E. Reuss. Bruns-
uigae et Berolini, 1 861-1900.
VoU. 88- . Zwingli's Werke ; herausg. von E. Egli und G. Finsler.
Berlin, 1904- .

Creighton = A history of the Papacy during the period of the Reformation;

by M. Creighton. t. 5. London, 1887-94.
(Vols. I and 2; new edition. London, 1892.)
 LIST OF ABBEEVIATIONS COMMONLY USED xvii

de Jongh = L'ancienne Faculte de Theologie de Louvain au premier siecle

de son existence (1432-1540) par H. de Jongh. Louvain, 191 1. ;

Delisle = Un Registre des proces-verbaux de la Faculte de Theologie de

Paris, 1505-33 par L. Delisle. Notices et Extraits xxxvi Paris, 1899.
;
:

(U Nolhac = Erasme en Italie par P. de Nolhac. 2"^ edition. ;

Paris, 1898.
de Reiffenherg = Histoire de 1'ordre de la Toison d'Or par le Baron de ;

Reiffenberg. Bruxelles, 1830.

DXB. = Dictionary of national biography. t. 69. London, 1885-1912.
DRA. = Deutsche Reichstagsakten, jungere Reihe. bearbeitet von A. Kluck-
hohn und A. Wrede. t. 4. Gotha, 1893- 1905.
Ducange = Glossarium mediae et infimae Latinitatis, conditum a Carolo du
Fresne, domino Du Cange ; ed. L. Favre. t. 10. Niort, 1883-7.
Eae. = Epistolae aliquot eruditorum, nunquam antehac excusae, multis
nominibus dignae quae legantur a bonis omnibus, quo magis liqueat
quanta sit insignis cuiusdam sycophantae virulentia, s. a. (See p. 210.)
Eev. = Epistolae aliquot ei-uditorum virorum, ex quibus perspicuum quanta
sit Eduardi Lei virulentia. Basle, J. Froben, Aug, 1520.
EHR. = The English Historical Review. London, 1886- .

Eor. = Epistolae obscurorum virorum, ed. E. Bocking. t. 2. Lipsiae,

1864-70.
Fredericq = Coiidus documentorum inquisitionis haereticae prauitatis Neer-
landicae, 1025-1528, ed. P. Fredericq. t. 5. Gent, 1889-1906.
Gachard = Collection des voyages des souverains des Pays-Bas ;
publiee par
L. P. Gachard et C. Piot (Collection de Chroniques Belges inedites).
t. 4. Bruxelles, 1874-82.
Gams = Series episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae ; ed. P. B. Gams. Ratis-
bonae, 1873.
GC. = Gallia Christiana ; opera D. Sammarthani, monachorum congrega-
tionis S. Mauri, et B. Haureau.
t. 16. Parisiis, 1715-1865.
GoethaJs = Dictionnaire
genealogique et heraldique des familles nobles
du royaume de Belgique par F. V. Goethals. t. 4. Bruxelles, 1849-52.
;

Hain = Repertorium bibliographicum ; opera L. Hain. t. 2. Stuttgartiae

et Lutetiae Parisiorum, 1826-38.
Henne = Histoire
du regne de Charles-Quint en Belgique par A. Henne. ;

t. 10.Bruxelles— Leipzig, 1858-60.

Herminjard = Correspondance des Reformateurs dans les pays de langue
franjaise (1512-44), recueillie par A. L. Herminjard. t. 9. Geneve,. . .

1866-97.
Herzog = Realencyklopadie fiir protestantische Theologie und Kirche
begriindet von J. J. Herzog. 3" Auflage ; herausg. von A. Hauck. t. 21.
Leipzig, 1 896-1 908.
Heumann = Documenta literaria varii argumenti in lucem prolata cura
lohannis Heumanni. Altorfii, 1758.
= Calendar of State Papers and MSS. existing in the archives and
fl^nuZs
coUections of Milan, 1385-1618 editedby A. B. Hinds. 1. 1. London, 1912.;

Horaioliz =
Erasmiana von A. Horawitz. Wien, 1878, 80, 83, 85.
i-iv. ;

v. Erasmus von Rotterdam und Martinus Lipsius von A. Horawitz. ;

Wien, 1882.
(in Sitzungsberichte der phil.-hist. Classe der kaiserlichen Akademie der
Wissenschaften, 1878, 79, 82, 84, 82.)
xviii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS COMMONLY USED
Jdnig = Liber confraternitatis B! Marie de Anima Teutonicorum de Vrbe ;

ed. C. Janig. Romae— Vindobonae, 1875.

Jocher = Allgemeines Gelehrten-Lexicon, herausgegeben von C. G. Jocher.
t. 4. Leipzig, 1 750-1.
Jortin= The life of Erasmus by J. Jortin. t. 2. London, 1758-60.
;

Knight = The life of Erasmus by S. Knight. Cambridge, 1726. ;

Knod = Deutsche Studenten in Bologna (1289-1562) —biographischer Index

zu den ANGB bearbeitet von G. C. Knod. Berlin, 1899.
:

Kraft = Briefe und Documente aus der Zeit der Reformation im 16. Jahr-
hundert herausg. von K. und W. Krafft. Elberfeld, 1876.
;

LB. i-x = Desiderii Erasmi Roterodami opera omnia; ed. J. Clericus. t. 10.

Lugduni Batavorum, 1703-6.

Lefranc = Histoire du College de France depuis ses origines jusqu'a la fin
du premier Empire par A. Lefranc. Paris, 1 893.
;

Le Glay = Negociations diplomatiques entre la France et TAutriche durant

les trente premieres annees du xvi® siecle, publiees par E. Le Glay (Docu-
ments inedits sur Thistoire de France premiere serie). t. 2. Faris, 1845.
:

Legrand = Bibliograpbie hellenique ou description raisonnee des ouvrages

publies en grec par des Grecs aux xv® et xvi® siecles; par Emile
Legrand. t. 4. Paris, 1885-1906.
Le Neve = Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae, by J. Le Neve ; continued by T. D.
Hardy. t. 3. Oxford, 1854.
Liic. liid. = Lucubrationum Erasmi Roterodami index. Louanii, T. Martinus,
IJan. 15 19.
Mazzuchelli = Gli scrittori d'ltalia <A-B), del Conte G. Mazzuchelli. t. 2.

Brescia, 1753-62.
JI/o?am<s = loannis Molani (1533-85) Historia Louaniensium, ed. P. F. X.
de Ram (Collection de Chroniques belges inedites).
t. 2. Bruxelles, 1861.
MSH. = Messager des sciences historiques. Gand, 1823- .

NAKG. = Nederlandsch Archief voor kerkelijke Geschiedenis. Leiden,

1829- ,

NBG. = Nouvelle biographie generale. t. 46. Paris, 1855-66.

Neve = Memoire sur le College des trois-langues a rUniversite de Louvain ;

par F. Neve (Memoires couronnes par TAcademie Royale de Belgique,

xxvill). Bruxelles, 1856.
Nichols = The
Epistles of Erasmus, from his earliest letters to his fifty-first
year,arranged in order of time. English translations with a com- . . .

mentary .; by F. M. Nichols.
. . t. 3. London, 1901-17.
NNBW. = Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek ed. P. C. Mol- ;

huysen and P. J. Blok. t. 4. Leiden, 1911- .

OED. =A new English Dictionary on historical principles. t. 10. Oxford,

1888- .

OHS. = Publications of the Oxford Historical Society. Oxford, 1885- •

Omont = Journal autobiographique du Cardinal Jerome Aleandre, publie

par H. Omont. Notices et Extraits xxxv Paris, 1895. :

Panzer= Annales typogi-aphici, opera G. W. Panzer. t. ii. Norimbergae,

1793-1803-
Fastor = The History of the Popes from the close of the Middle Ages from ;

the German of Dr. Ludwig Pastor. t. 12. (1-6 ed. F. I. Antrobus ;

7-12 ed. R. Kerr.) London, 1906-13.

 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS COMMONLY USED xix

Proctor = Index to the early printed books in the British Museum ; by

R. Proctor.
Part I, to MD: 4 sections, London, 1898, 9 and 4 supplements, 1899-1902. ;

Part II, MDi-MDXX: London, 1903- .

Renaudet — Prereforme et Humanisme a Paris, 1494-15 17, par A. Renaudet.

Paris, 19 16.
Renouard = Annales de Timprimerie des Alde ; par A. A. Renouard. 3®
edition. Paris, 1834.
Eenouard, Badius = Bibliograpliie des impressions et des oeuvres de Josse
Badius Ascensius par Ph. Renouard. t. 3. Paris, 1908.
;

Sanufo = 1 diarii di Marino Sanuto (1496-1533); pubblicati per cura di

N. Barozzi, G. Berchet, R. Fulin, F. Stefani, M. Allegri. t. 58. Venezia,
1879-1903-
Schmidt = Histoire litteraire de TAlsace (xv°-xvic) ;
par C. Schmidt. t. 2.

Paris, 1879.
Seebohm = The Oxford Reformers, John Colet, Erasmus, and Thomas More ;

by F. Seebohm. ^rd edition. London, 1887.

Stokvis = Manuel d'histoire, de genealogie et de chronologie de tous les
etats du globe par A. M. H. J. Stokvis.
;
t. 3. Leide, 188S-93.
Sweert = Athenae Belgicae, ed. F. Sweeit. Antuerpiae, 1628.
Tirdhosclii = Storia della letteratura italiana ; del Cavaliere Abate G. Tira-
boschi. 2^ edizione. t. 9. Modena, 1787-94.
Trith} = Liber de scriptoribus ecclesiasticis disertissimi patris domini
lohannis de Trittenhem. Basileae, Jo. de Amerbach, 1494.
Trith."^ = Cathalogus illustrium virorum Germaniam suis ingeniis exor- . . .

nantium domini lohannis Tritemii. (Moguntiae, P. Friedberger, c. 1495.)

Triih.^ = Disertissimi viri lohannis de Trittenhem de scriptoribus eccle- . . .

siasticis collectanea, additis nonnullonim ex recentioribus vitis et nomini-

bus. Parrhisius, B. Rembolt et Jo. Paruus, 16 Oct. 15 12.
Trith.* = Dn. lohannis Tritthemii de scriptoribus ecclesiasticis
. . . liber. . . .

. . Appendicum istarum prior (Trith.^) nata est nuper in Galliis

.

posterior nunc recens additur, authore Balthazaro Werlino Colmariensi.

Coloniae, P. Quentel, March 1546.
Trith.^ = Zusatze des Trithemius zu seinem Catalogus illustrium virorum
Germaniae aus der in der Wiirzburger Universitatsbibliothek befindlichen
Handschrift: in Johannes Trithemius, von I. Silbernagel, pp. 253-63.
Regensburg, 1885.
mn Heussen = Historia episcopatuum foederati Belgii ed. H. F. van ;

Heussen. t. 2. Lugduni Batavorum, 1719.

van Iseghem = Biographie de Thierry Martens d'Alost par A. F. van ;

Iseghem. Malines-Alost, 1852.

F/sc/ifiA- = Erasmiana von W. Vischer. Basel, 1876.
;

Zedler= Universal-Lexikon aller Wissenschafften und Kiinste. t. 64. Halle

& Leipzig, J.H. Zedler, 1732-50.
ZA^G. = Zeitschrift fiir Kirchen-Geschichte. Gotha, 1876- .

b2
 XX

ADDENDA
VOL. I

P. 32, ign. Prof. Preserved Smith points out that the second letter must be
LE'. 710, to Conrad Pellican, i Oct. 1523, which was printed in Erasmus
Alberus' ludicimn de Spmgia Erasmi (c. 1523-4).
Pp. 48-50. Two extracts from Erasmus' writings throw light on the course
of his education
'
Has naenias (the distinction between certain logical terms) didici . . .

non omnino infeliciter, natus annos tredecim hoc Sutore superior :

quod Aristotelem Graecum non semel euoluerim.' Appendix replying

to P. Sutor's Antapologia, Aug. 1526 (LB. ix. 810 a).
'Deplorat infelicitatem mearn quod in Sorbona non didicerim dialecti-
cam. Quanquam et Sorbonam vidimus, si ea dialecticum facit, et olim
pueri dialecticam didicimus.' A^wl. ad Sanctium Caranzam, 1522 (LB. ix.
402 de).
P. 81, Ep. 8. 21-7. This story is related by Pliny, HN. 8. 17. 61.

P. 91, Ep. 16. ]2n. A picture signed Erasmus p(inxit) 1501 and claimed
'
'

as his work, is now in America see an article by M. W. Brockwell in

:

Art in America, Dec. 1917, and a letter by W. Roberts in the Times, Lit.
Suppl., 24 Oct. 1918.

P. 122, Ep. 30. 48. Cf. Cic. Off. 2. 12. 43.

P. 168, Ep. 53 introd. Ten letters from Bostius' correspondence, 1475-98, are
printed from Bodleian MSS. in EHR. xxxiv, 1919, pp 225-36.
P. 174, Ep. 57. m. A copy of Vegetius, De re militcm, Utrecht, s. a. (e. 1473-4:
Proctor 8850), which belonged to Lord Mountjoy and was very likely
read by him under Ei-asmus' tuition in Paris, is now in the Library of
Univer.sity College, Oxford (X. 20. 11). It is inscribed Iste liber est '

mei Wyllelmi blount. domini de Mountioy' on the title on f. 4 v° ;

the name Mountioy is prettily painted in blue and gold, within a

framework of green lines and there are marginalia by Mountjoy on
;

ff. 5, 6, 10, 25.

The Vegetiusisbound upwith another early volume, Catullus, TibuUus,
Prnpertius, and Statius' Sihme. printed at Venice in 1475 (Proctor 4303).
On a fly-Ieaf at the end is written '
Sum lacobi Mowntioii Anno
salutis 1561 '.

P. 198, Ep. 71 introd. In an Appendix de scriptis Cliihouei, Aug. 1526 (LB. ix.
813 Erasmus mentions early mss. of the Be conscribendis epistoKs
b), :

'Sunt in Anglia qui habent archetypum mea manu descriptum ante

annos ferme triginta. Et apud me est exemplar ab amanuensi descrip-
tum ante annos viginti : vbi reperitur etiam altera pars deliniata.'
P. 239, Ep. 103. 18. For kissing as a recognized form of saluting English
ladies sco many interesting notes collected by Mrs. Henry Cust in
Gentlemen Errant, 1909, pp. 496-8, to illustrate tbe mentiou of the
custom by the recorder of Leo de Rozmital's journey to England in
1466 : also Cavendish'3 Li/v oj Wolsey, 1885, pp. 84, 229. Erasmus, iu
the Inst. Christ. Matrimonii, 1526, after describing tlie prolonged feasting
and dancing customary at weddings, continues (LB. v. 678 a) Cogitur :
'

ibi misera virgo cum ebriis . . iungere dextram, apud Britannos

.

ctiam oscula.'
 ADDENDA xxi

Ep. 104. In the British Museum is an illuminated ms. (Egerton 1651) of

ten leaves octavo, containing Ep. 104 prefixed to a number of poems, most
—
of which are by Erasmus the Hymns addressed to the Angels and to
St. Anne, the three poems to Gaguin and Faustus Andrelinus men-
tioned in i, p. 3, and the Expostulatio lesu and in addition four short
—
;

poems, which appear to be unpublished an epigram of Gaguin

inviting Faustus and Herasmus to come and visit iiim, two poems by
Erasmus in praise of Skelton (Ep. 104. 64), and In castigationes Vin-
centii contra Zlalleoii casiigatoris cleprauationes. Though the Ms. does not
contain the Prosopopoeia, it is veiy likely a special copy of some of
Erasmus' poems prepared for presentation to Prince Henry after the
visit to Eltham in the autumn of 1499.
The text of Ep. 104 in tlie iis. varies widely from that afterwards
printed, and is considerably shorter. For example, for the passage
'Quem (1. 29) cupias' (1. 47) the ms. reads: Quem quidem poetam
. . .
'

tam egregium preconem Achilli legitur inuidisse. Ab hac igitur tam

generosa, tam regia Allexandri mente cum perspexissem pulcherrimam
indolem tuam non abhorrere, .' For the niost part the variants are
.

unimportant but it may be noted that inll. 9, 17, 51, 56 (o^Jtbcs) the ms.
;

agrees with /3. In 1. 64 the reading Stelkonuni illustrates the character

of the copying and revision of the ms.

P. 261, Ep. Sixtin took his degree at Siena on 27-8 July 1510.
113 introd.
The University (11, f. 158: now in the Archbishop's Archives at
Piegister
Siena) describes him as rector seu archipresbiter in ecclesia Hac-
'

comben, in Anglia \
P. 275, Ep. The 'viculus' in which Erasmus spent the night of
119. 20.
I Feb. may
probably be identified with St. Just-en-chaussee, a small
town on tlie main road to Paris, 31 ms. from Amiens and 9 from
Clermont. With his indifiference to accuracy in trivial details Iie might
easily have remembered its name as St. Julien.

P. 299, Ep. 129 introd. An incident of Erasmus' life at Orleans is narrated

in his Apologia nd blasphemias Stunicae, 13 June 1522 (LB. ix. 372 e) :

'Olim quum agerem Aurelii, audiebam famulam culinariam rixantem

cum matrefamilias. Tandem famula prouocata sic Gallice respor.dit
dominae nescio quid obiicienti " Tu mentiris, salua tua pace ".' But
:

possibly after the lapse of 25 years he was recalling the episode of

Ep. 55 in the wrong setting.
Pp. 305, 364, Ep. 131 introd. In the Bodleian (90. c. 56) is a revised edition
of Aug. Vincenfs Vergil, s.a., 12", at the end of which is printed a
letter from him to Nic. Bensrott from Paris, 19 March
when Bensrott was his pupil (cf. Epp. 136, 156).
probably 1501, —
P. 337, Ep. 143. 94. For the protective value attributed to the Greek letter
Tau, arising partly from its resemblance to the Hebrew word of
Ezek. 9. 4, used for the sign put on the foieheads of the faithful, and
partly from its likeness to a cross, see T. Hugo in Archaeologia xxxviii,
1860, p. 133, and C. Dodgson in The Library iii, 1902, pp. 4-5, 9.

P. 356,Ep. 152 introd. Peter Gilles' Threnodia on the death of Maximilian,

Antwerp, M. Hillen, 1519, is dedicated to Tutor, praeceptori vnice '

obseruando ', and speaks of Tutors veneration for the dead Emperor.
P. 385, Ep. 174 introd. Greek ms. of the New Testament, except Revelation
A
(Evang. 90, Act. 47, P. 14 copied by Faber of Deventer, is now in the
,

Library of the Remonstrant Church at Amsterdam see Jortin ii. 712 :

and C. R. Gregovy X.T. Prolegomena, 1894, ii. 487. Faber's original was
a MS. written Ly Theodore of Hagios Petros in 1293 and he used also ;

Mss. lent to hiui by Wessel (cf. Epp. 504. 2, 515. 3-5J, and by the Warden
of the Recollets at Zirickzee.

P. 398, Ep. 180 introd.A reminiscence of a visit to Antwerp c. 1502-4 is

given in Erasmus' Responsio adu. febricifantis libellum, March 1529 (LB.
X. 1681 d) Hoc faetuni iiarrauit nobis Antuerpiae theologiae professor
:
'

—
Dominicanus nomine, si satis memini, loannes, luscus erat, furtassis
xxii ADDENDA
adhuc superest — aate annos ferme viginti sex in aedibus Nicolai Middel-
burgensis medici nominauit theologum Louaniensem vnde acceperat.'
:

P. 404, Ep. i8r. i8n. The date of Colefs actual assumption of the deaneiy
of St. Paul's must be later than 20 June 1505 for a ms. written by :

Peter Meghen (see Ep. 231, ^n^ and containing new statutes made by
Colet for the regulation of the ehantry-priests in the Cathedral, is dated
20 June 1506, 'et decanatus sui anno primo'. See a description of the
MS. by W. S. Siinpson in ArclMeologia lii, i8go, p. 164.

P. 406, Ep. 182 introd. Christopher Fisher is praised by Badius as vir heroica '

plane virtute etCiceroniana dicendi maiestate praeditus', in the preface,

15 Oct. 1509, to Bapt. Mantuanus' Georgius see Renouard, Badius, ii. 131. :

P. 414, Ep. 184. i^n. Jo. Theod. Harius died in 1532 as eanon of the Hague :

see BWN. His books were acquired by Charles v, who with them
founded the Royal Library at the Hague Ccf. Jo. Secundus, Opera,
Utrecht, 1541, f. 1*; and Arn. Buchelius' Biarium, ed. G. Brom and
L. A. van Langeraad, 1907, i>. 87) but they are said to have been ;

dispersed during the Spanish wars. One of them, a copy of Martens'

edition of Erasmus' Paraphrase on Romans, Nov. 1517 (Ep. 710), is now
in the Seebohm Librai-y at Hitchin.

P. 432, Ep. 201. 2n. The date of Marcus Laurinus' death must be 1540, as in
GC. V. 258, not 1546 as in BN. ; see the inscription on his tomb, in
J. Gailliard, Itismiptions funeraires de la Flaiidre, 1861, p. 159.
. For his
. .

—
brother Peter (7 Dec. 1489 27 Feb. 152^) see Ep. 1271. i22n.
P. 443, Ep. 211 introd. For an acquaintance that Erasmus made at Venice
witli the hi»»torian Bern. Ruccellai of Florence see Apophthegmata, viii,
Thrasea 2 (LB. iv. 363 e).

P. 449, Ep. 213. There seems to be no doubt about the reading of the ms.
I.
But M. de Nolhac'3 interpretation receives some colour from a passage in
Lond. XX. 2, LB. 1000 Dici vix potest quantum mali precer his bellis
:
'

per quae . Italia

. . excludimur.'. . .

P. 453, Ep. 216. 23. For the form quicpiam cf. Arnold of Tongres' preface to
his ArticuU, Cologne, Quentel, 28 Aug. 1512 Bocking pp. 78-9, .545. :

P. 457, Ep. 220. 9. Plinius] E}}. 3. 21. 3.

P. 467, Ep. 227. in. Erasmus' Missa Chri/sostomi was first pi-inted in the Clie-
vallon Latin Chrysostom, Pari->, 1536, vol. v, ff. 350-4.
The Pope's physician was a Proven^al Jew, Jaoob ben
P. 483, Ep. 240. 36n.
Emmanuel, known as Bonetus or Bonnet de Lates. He was appointed
to his office by Alexander vi and held it till 1515. See Renaudet
pp. 392, 499.
P. 488, Ep. 243. 6on.In the Bi*itish Museum (G. 1203) is an Oration on
Henry P. Gryphus, 'nuncius apostolicus ', pi'inted for him by
vii l)y
Pynson, with a preface to Ruthall (Ep. 192) dated 15 May 1509,
London. In consequence of the king's death, the Oration was never
delivered. A
poem on Lud. Sforza's captivity by P. M. Carrantus, Bologna,
J. A. de Benedictis, 1507, is dedicated to Gryphus.
P. 501, Ep. 255 introd. An account of Erasmus' conversation with Warliam
about his Aldington pensiou, earlier but shorter than that in the
Ecclesiastes, is given in the Apophthegmata, bk. iii (LB. iv. 156 bc).

P. 507, Ep. 256. i37n. A

somewhat difforent account of Erasmus' judgement
of Baptista Pius is given, as from a Declamation of Melanchthon in 1552,
in K. a&vifeXAev'' a Melanchthoniana imedagogica, 1892, p. 174.

P. 509, Ep. 259 introd. In a deed executed by Linacre 14 Jan. 1515 and now
(Kent, no. 1348) in the archivcs of Merton College, Oxford, John
Babham, son of John Babham, is named as ouf "f the executors, in
conjunction with Thomas More, 'gentihiian '. In Mareli 1526 Jo. Ba))ham,
'
stuard ', was one of tlie parties to a release of tlie nianor of Waterstock,
ncar Oxford Queen's College MS. 366, f. 38 v".
:
 ADDENDA xxiii

P. 510, Ep. 260. Melanchthon's appreciation of the De Copia is shown by two

prefaces that he wrote (ME. 653, 1214), one for an abridgement c. 1529,
the other for an edition of 1534.

P. 515, Ep. 263. 2in. The Bodleian has two volumes of Luther's works
(TL. 18. 10 and 15) presented to Mich. Hummelberg in 1522 (one on
II Nov.) by the Adelmanns of Augsburg the Vom Eelichm Leben,
:

Wittemberg, 1522, and Wirie)- den falschgenanten gaystlichen stand des Bapsts,
s. 1., 1522. Besides inscribing his name on the last leaf of each, in
the latter Hummelberg has copied a short letter to him from Thomas
Blaurer, 15 Sept. (1522?), which seems to be unpublished.

P. 528, Ep. 270. 6on. The Library of Queens CoUege, Oxford, possesses a
Biblia Latina, Paris, R. Stephanus, 1528 (252. C. 12), with the autograph
inscription * Thomas Lupsett twice on the title-page.
'

P. 533, Ep. 275. 5n. In the Library of Peterborough Cathedral (E. i. 17) is
a copy of Ovid's Mefamoi-phoses, Lyons, C. Davost, 22 Oct. 1504, which
belonged to John Watson.
P. 557, Ep. 291. 3u. On 6 Nov. 1525 Dr. Augustinus Aggeus was sent to England
by Charles of Gueldres as envoy to Henry vin : Brewer iv. 1746.

P. 563,Ep. 295. 25. Sir John Paston in 1473 (no. 725) considered a riall
enough to take a man from London to Calais.
P. 564, Ep. 296 introd. The Francis of Nj^megen to whom Erasmus showed
Ep. 296 very likely to be identified witli Gerard Geldenhauer (Ep.
is
487), who was a Crucifer at Louvain, and in 1517 beciime chaplain to
Philip of Burgundy, bp. of Utrecht Lypsius having made a mistake in
:

the Christian name, as Ei-asmus did so often (cf. Ep. 1054 introd.).
P. 608, i^n. Dr. A. A. J. Karthon of Heusden has made an important
discovery in the Library of tlie Prov. Genootschap van Kunsten en
Wetenschappen at Hertogenbosch of the source from which Leclerc
:

printed the 19 letters concerned with Erasmus' Gouda fi-iends, and,

in his vol. viii, Erasmus' early poems. It is a ms. volume written in
1570 by a hand which has not been identified and later it belouged ;

to Peter Scriverius. It contains 61 letters in two books, and of these

42 were printed by Merula in O^ As the remaining 19 are similar
in character to the i-est, it seems hardly likely that Slerula can have
had them before him. It may therefore be conjectured that he was
using for his volume, not this ms. of 1570, but the originals from which
it was copied, and that for some reason he overlooked the nineteen
further, that the ms. did not come into Scriverius' possession until after
—
the publication of O^ in 1615 though it should be noted that he did not
print the letters from the ms. which appear in O^.
Dr. Karthon has printed the results of his examination of the ms. in
Het Boek, 1916, 113-29 with two facsimiles, one of which proves con-
;

clusively that the ms. was in the hands of Leclerc or De la Faye for LB.
His collation shows that, apart from Leclerc's standard orthography, in
II out of the 19 letters there are no variants between the ms. and LB. ;
in the remaining 8 he i-ecords the following readings of the ms. :

Ep. 6. 7. negotius.
qui.
xxiv ADDENDA

VOL. II

P. 38, Ep. 316 introd. Lucas Paliuius was perhaps son of Michael Klett
of Giitingen in Swabia, who was Pellican's schoolmaster at Ruffach
c. 1487 (CPR. p. 7). Lucas' name is mentioned in ZE. 78, of 28 Dec.
1525, at wliich date he appears to have been still in Basle and his ;

praise is in Oporinus' preface to Saxo Grammaticus, Basle, Jo. Bebel,

1534-
Other books dedicated to him are the Opera of Constantinus Africanus,
Basle, H. Petrus, Aug. 1536 and those of H. Vida, Basle, B. Lasius
;

and T. Platter, March 1537. The auniversary of the death of his vvidow,
Dame Barbe, was celebrated on 29 Jan. see the Liher Vitae of the con-
:

fraternity of St. Michael at Porrentruy, in L. Vautrey's Jura Bernois ii,

1868, p. 259.

P. 45, Ep. 321 introd. In the Bibliothcque du College at Porrentruy is a

Terence, Strasburg, J. Gruninger, 18 March 1503, on the title-page of
which are some verses by Bebel. Against these is written in contem-
porary ms. Hic Bebell obiit vltima die mensis Marcii a". 1518, lio. 6\
:
'

mane '.

P. 63, Ep. 328. 38n. On f°. C* of Augustine's De miseria, Cambridge, J. Siberch,

(April) 1521, some verses by Jo. Duncellus Hammelburgensis
are
evidently the person mentioned here, since the place-designation connects
him with Froben. Erasmus had perhaps taken him to England with
the idea of sending him to Cambridge for hiseducation (cf. Ep. 457. 55-9) ;

but I cannot lind any trace of him in the University Grace-Books. For
a somewhat similar name to the form in Ep. 330. 21, see Ep. 1039 introd.,
of a printer at Nuremberg in 1531.

P. 132, Ep. 347. 196. Prof. C. H. Turner points out to me that the i-eading must
be not imperauisse but temperauisse, as in Jerome's preface to the Vulgate
Gospels.

P. 172, Ep. 374 introd. Caesarius' returu from Italy may be dated in 151 1 :

for he took the degree of M.D. at Siena on 12-13 Oct. 1511.

P. 183, Ep. 384 introd. Mr. H. F. Moule has indicated to me th;it the numer.a-
tion of the pages of Pt. ii of the Nouum Instrumentum, 1516, is faulty and ;

that instead of more than 1,000 pages' the correct number is 990.
'

P. 198, Ep. 388. i73n. For Jo. Clement in Italy in (1522) see Lo. E., f. 143. He
was M.D. on 30-31 March 1525, Mr. lo. Clemens Anglius, tilius
at Siena '

mri. Ruberti, in ar. et med. doctorandus' Univ. Register of Degrees iii,

:

f. 59 v°, in the Archbishop's Archives at Siena. For a ms. of the

Anthologia Palatina said to have been brought by him from Italy, c. 1525,
and presented to Sir Thomas More, see the Teubner editions of the
Anacreontea by V. Rose, 1890, pp. vi, xx seq., and by C. Preisendanz, 1912,
pp. v-vi. His possession of a ms. is recorded in a note written by
Gerard Falkenburg of Nymegen c. 1566 on the title-page of his copy of
the Anthologia, Florence, Junta, 1519, which is now in the Bodleian Auct. i

S. 5- 33). About Jan. 1568 he offered to lend his Octateuch and other
Greek mss. to Plantin for use in tlie preparation of the new Polyglott
(Pl. E. 102).

P. 211, Ep. 396 introd. Prof. A. Souter has discovered from Reisch's two letters
of 1513-14 (ti. II. 29. 151,2) that for tho Amorbach-Froben Jerome he
borrowed two mss. from the monastery of Echternach. near Treves : the
Hieronymian Martyrology and the Pseudo-Jerome (now Paris 10837 and
9525). The latter was priuted in vol. ix, Maj- 1516, which is the cditio
princeps. See Proc. of tli.e Brilish Acadvmy vii, 1915-16, pp. 282-3. For the
Chevallon edition oF Jerome, Paris, 1533-4, see Transactions 0/ the Biblio-
graphical Society xiii, 1913-15, p. 316.

P. 284. A facsimile of Ep. 404 is given in Ulrich Zwingli. Zum Geddchtnis der
Ziircher Beformation, 19 19, pl. 62.
 ADDENDA xxv

P. 241, Ep. 411. 8n. In Symph. Champerius' Symphonia Plafonis, Paris, J. Badius,
18 April 1516, is a letter from Marlianus to Champerius, dated 27 Oct.
1513, Ghent.
Alvar Gomez, De rehiis gestis a F. JCimenio, Alcala, 1569, f. 151 v°, states
that Marlianus was made bp. of Tuy against Ximenes' wishes.
Among the Mss. of Gi'oenendael (seevol. i, p. 590) in 1640 wasMarlianus'
Epistolae ad diuersos principes
'
eiusdem diuersa opuscula simul in :

vno volumine compacta, in folio' see A. Sanderus, Bibliotheca Belgica :

manuscripta, 1644, ii- ^31-

Marlianus' death took place on the night of lo-ii May 1521 see :

DEA. ii, 1896, pp. 903, 907.

P. 308, Ep. 447. 596n. For a suggested explanation of Erasmus' letter of
19 Jan. 1524 see Epp. 1295, 1410. «
Vol. i of Schinner's correspondence, 1489-1515, edited by Dr. A. Biichi,
has recently appeared in the Qitelkn sur Sclnveizer Geschichte, Basle, 1920
(Sch. E.).
P. 324, Ep. 456. 87^. On Aegidius of Delft there is a note with a full list of his
publications by Dr. B. Kruitwagen in Handelingen van het 9" Nederlandsche
Philologencongres, 1919, pp. 71-4: see also Renaudet.

P. 358. is in a volume of Hlustrium et clarorum

For Ep. 477 the best source
virorum edited by Daniel Heinsius for the Elzevirs,
Ej^^istolae selectiores,
Leiden, 1617, p. 362. Though possessed of a better text than Merula,
Heinsius has not reproduced it with accuracy. The foUowing readings
are important
I. 4. Berum tradideris. ; but read tradideris
I. 13. For ad me read meo.
After responso add sic odit, .

1. 14. For Respondi read Respondit : .

I. 34. A/ter habeam add quod Dorpio respondi, a te descriptum.

Erasm. Rot.
The following are noticeable :

Tit. Deleie Eeasmvs Roterodamvs.

I. I. Add S. P. before Matura.
I. 2. asscribendas.
1. 9. litteras.
I. II. prope diem.
II. 12, 15. Tonstallus.
1. 30. perisse.

The foUowing are clearly incorrect

I. 3. compingantur, & si.
1. 5. redditi . Supicabar
. . . . . Nusquam.
I. 7. Buslidum.
1. 9. Badio/or Budaeo.
1. 22. illorum /or illotum.
I. 23. loco/or ioto.
1. 26. seuiat/or saeuies.
I. 27. seuiat/or saeuias.

The reference in I. 34 to a letter to Dorp throAvs some light on Ep. 496.

P. 373, Ep. 482 introd. I owe to Sir John Sandys the information that the
Hexapolis Lusatica or Lausitzer Sechsstadtebund is a district n. of Prague
and w. of Breslau (cf. vol. iii, p. xxvi), comprisiiig the six towns ot
Kamenz, Bautzen, Lijbau, Giirlitz, Lauban, Zittau.
P. 407, Ep. 495 introd. Listrius may probably be identified with the i-ecipient
of the Licentia et doctoratus in medicina egregii artium et medicine
'

scolaris, D. magistri Gyrardi Listrii, ciuitatis Remensis', conferred at

Pavia, 8 April 1514 see some extracts from the Pavia archives printed
:

by E. Picot in Bull. philologique et historique, 1915, p. 68.

Two rare volumes by Listrius are :

Oratio habita in enarratione Diotnjsii Halicarnassei, Deventer, R. Paffraet, s. a. :

in the Rylands Library at Manchester.

De octo Jiguris constructionis, s. I. et a. : in the Colombina Library at Seville.
xxvi ADDENDA
P. 419, Ep. 502 introd. Copies of the lulius Exclusus were sold b}' John Dorne in
Oxford on 3 March, 8 and 25 Aug. 1520 : see nos. 455, 1004. 1135 in his
Day-book, ed. F. Madan, OHS. v, 1885, pp. 94, 113, 117.
P. 454, Ep. 529 introd. The Bp.'s name is found also as Ponchier. It is so
in the stonework of the tower he added to the Abp.'s palace at Sens.
One of 6aguin's poems, Paris, D. Gerler, 22 Nov. 1498, f. E', is addressed
to him as Stephanus Poncierus'. Egid. Delphus (Ep. 456. 87^) dedicated
'

a versification of the Epistle to the Romans, 1507, to him as Stephanus '

de Ponchier '.
The form Poncher occurs twice in Marcus de Grand VaPs Non tres siue cluae
Magdalenae, Paris, J. Badius, (15 19).

P. 470, Ep. 531. 415^. Lucas Walterus Conitiensis was one of the correctors
of Faber Stapulensis' edition of John de Sacrobosco'3 Sphera, Paris,
W. Hopyl, 12 Feb. 149* see Renaudet, p. 273^.
:

P. 495, Ep. 544 introd. Another

trace of Marian Accard, besides those given in
vol. iii, the dedication to him of a short work by Christopher
p. xxvi, is
Scobar Bethicus, describing him as auricularius to Eaynerius a Montoro,
' '

bp. of Cefahi in Sicily (1496-t 151 1 Gams p. 946) printed in the Ad

: :

artem litterariam Inlroductiones of Ant. Nebrissensis, Venice, Aug. de Zannis,

28 July 1512, f. 179.
P. 521, Ep. 561. 63^, Another book dedicated to Hartmann of Hallwil, is Oeco-
lampadius' Graecae Uteraturae dragmata, Basle, Cratander and Cruftanus,
Sept. 1518. The preface states that Hartmann had used this Greek
grammar so much that others were asking for it and shows that he
;

was reading Basil, Chrysostom, Origen, and Gregory with Capito.

P. 523, Ep. 563. 20. For Oecolampadius' admiration of Erasmus cf. his De risu
Paschali, Basle, Froben, 1518, p. 15, dated 18 March from Weinsberg :
'Erasmus noster, mortalium omnium quos ego viderim vel audierim
vnquam, facetissimus simul ac eruditissimus.'
P. 587, Ep. 570. Harenaceus has been identified with a John Vander Maude
Jo.
(Ammonius or de Harena), who was brother to LivinUs Ammonius (Ep.
1463). See BN. xiv. 83-4, based, without substantiation, on F. V. Goethals'
Lectures relatives d Vhist. des sciences . . en BeJgique, 1837, ii. iio-ii.
.

P. 588, Ep. 588. 25-8. Cf. GelL 9. 3. 6.

VOL. III

P. 12, Ep. 602 introd. Salisbury Cathedral Library has a copy of Froben's
edition of the Antiquae Lediones with the same colophon as the British
Museum copy but a title-page on which the preface composed in Ep. 602
does not appear so that explanation 2 seems to be correct.
:

P. 25, Ep. 610. 47n. A

letter from Ortuinus Gratius to T. Gravius, 21 July
1535, printed in F. Nausea's Sermones quadragesimales, Cologne, Quentell,
-A-1'g- 1535, f". A', praises highly Gravius' library, as rich in theology and

in Latin and Greek books.

P. 57, Ep. 635. 2on. In Oct. 1526 Seb. Munster dedicated to Jo. Erasmius Froben
his Latin version of Elias Levita's Capitula Cantici, Basle, Froben, 1527.

P. 59, Ep. 637. 5-8. This passage is quoted ahnost verbally by Nic. of Hertogen-
boscli in his notes on Erasmus' Lucian, Antwerp, M. Hillen, June 1528,
f.7 v°. His citation shows that Erasmus wrote 'Triglas in delitiis esse
Hecate atque illi sacras ', and that the scribe (Hand C)
. . . fell into an
easy error.
P. 66, Ep. 644 inti-od. The Library of the Royal College of Physicians in London
has a volume of the Script. rei rusticae, Reggio, 18 Sept. 1496, with an
autograph inscription by Linacre from whom it passed bj- presentation
:

successively to Tunstall, Sparcheford, and on 15 Jan. 1551 to some

persons named Langford.
 ADDENDA xxvii

In the Hereford Catliedral Libraiy is a copy of Erasmus' edition of

Aiigustine, 1528-9, presented by Sparcheford : but to whom is not clear.

P. 77, Ep. 656 introd. The Library of the Vicars Choral at Hereford has a copy
(II. 2. 13) of Erasmus' Cyprian, Basle, Froben, Jan. 1530 (see Ep. 1000)
Avith the name of Vannes inscribed inside the back cover, in bold
capitals.

P. 82. Ep. 660 should perhaps be transferred to 1519 : see vol. iv, p. 67.

P. 102, Ep. 681. in. Geldenhauer (Ep. 487) in his

de situ Zelandiae, Ejnsfola
(c. Feb. 1514), speaks of Jo. Becar of Borsselen and H. Cordatus as his
two friends at Middelburg praising the latter as
;
Moecenas meus '

liberalissimus, eruditione et modestia nemini postponendus'. His eighth

Satire. Louvain, Th. Martens, 13 June 1515, is dedicated to them jointly.
Verses by Cordatus appear on f°. a* of Jason Pratensis' De tuenda sanifate,
Antwerp, M. Hillen, Oct. 1538.
P. 109, Ep. 686. i^n. Luis Cabeza de Vaca was bp. of the Canaries a. 14 Oct.
1523-1530, then of Salamanca till May 1537, and finally of Palencia until
his death, 22 Nov. 1550 see Gams.
:

P. 124, Ep. 700 introd. Pirckheimer's Laus Podagrae, Nuremberg, F. Peyp, 1522,
is dedicated to Banisius see P. p. 204.
:

P. 141, Ep. 711. i6n. A Graduale presented by Maximilian to Margaret of

Austria in 151 1, and now in the Archives communales at Malines, was
written by Alamire: see G-. Caullet, Musiciens de la CoUegiale Nofre-Dame
u Courtrai, 191 1, pp. 46, 144.
P. 165, Ep. 735. in. For tlie use of triplets in sermons see tlie Eeclesiastes ii
(LB. V. 862 d) and cf. Ep. 121 1. 507^.
;

Ep. 735. 6. Baptista is evidently AIeander's brother of that name

who remained at Liege in the service of Erard de la Marck.
P. 171, Ep. 741. 8. Paraphronesin] Cf. Ep. 710. 30.
P. 172, Ep. 743. 8. For chrysis = a gold coin cf. BEE. 192.

P. 185, Ep. 750 introd. In 1915 Dr. J. A. Vor der Hake was good enough to
report to me the existence of the Codex Horawitzianus in the Public
Library at Rotterdam (Erasmus III. 102) ; and shortly afterwards he lent
it to the Bodleian for my
use. 1916-19. It is in Martin Lypsius' auto-
graph throughout. Examination showed that Horawitz, though dis-
carding the original spelling, liad on the whole done his work very well,
in printing the Jis. in Horawitz v. Out of the 28 letters to or from
Erasmus, only six were printed by himself ; and of these, four appeared
in vol. iii of this edition. In Ep. 750 p. i) the text of tlie Eotterdam MS.
'

agrees on the whole with D

a fact which suggests that Lypsius, having
:

copied the letter in an earlier letter-book from the document he actually

received, copied it a second time in a later book from the text as printed
in D. For Ep. 843 (p. 3), however, the sis. differs not a little from D^,
in a considerable number of quite unimportant variants. In Epp. 807
which Erasmus printed first in F, the Rotterdam
(pp. 27, 37), 897 (p. 2),
MS. agrees more or less closely with the Brussels MS. in Ep. 897 having ;

a few variants of no real importance. The text for the other two letters,
Epp. 1056, 1070, may be seeii in this volume.
In the letters in vol. iii for which the Brusseis and the Eotterdam MSS.
were the only authorities (Epp. 899, 901, 912, 921-2, 960) and the one
whicli is only found in the latter (Ep. 900), there are no variants of
importance to record between the Rotterdam MS. and Horawitz's text.
It remains to consider the relations between these two mss., whicli are
both in Lypsius' autograph throughout. The Brussels MS. is clearlj- the
earlior, .>ince it contains nothiug later than 1519 (Epp. 1048-9, 1052), or,
if Ep. 1130 is riglitly dated, tlian 1520: whereas the Rotterdam MS. has
nothing of Erasmus earlier than 1518 (Ep. 750) and goes down to 1525.
Another point of difference is in tiie arguments prefi.\ed to the letters
in the Brussels MS., with the design of elucidating their contents in :

the Rotterdam MS. there is nothing of the sort. To some exteiit the
xxviii ADDENDA
Mss. overlap, for ten letters are common to both. Why Lypsius should
have copied them twice over I am unable to conjecture.
Tlie Rotterdam MS. was at one time in the hands of the famous Belgian
antiquary J. F. Van de Velde (i 743-1823).
P. 187, Ep. 751 introd. John de Hondt (fa. 24 Nov. 1571) was already M.A.
and in holy orders by 1506. He contributed some verses to Eligius
Houcarius' Tradatus de Pmitentia, Ghent, 1513, styling himself 'canonicus
Phauopinus* see Bibl. Belgica. In 1514 he began to accumulate further
;

preferment, which included canonries at Bruges and Lille, besides that

which lie held at Courtray in connexion with Erasmus and P. Barbirius.
On 10 March 154I he succeeded his friend, Jac. de Thielt (pp. xxx, 243),
as Cantor. Throughout a long and active life he formed a good library,
which he bequeathed to the clmrch of Notre-Dame at Courtray. They
are enumerated in a deed which ]ie signed on 2 Sept. 1571 and many ;

of them still survive, with his autograph inscriptions, in St. Martin's

church at Courtray. See G. Caullet, Musiciens de la Collegiale Notre-Dame
a Courtrai, 191 1, pp. 92-103.
P. 191, Ep. 755. 32n. In Jo. Launoius' Regii Nauarrae gymnasii Parisiensis historia,
1677, i. 217, 219, the name of an Eleutherius Audacis is recorded as
a student in theology in 1484, and Doctor in 1495.
P. 236, Ep. 783. 22n. Erasmus' expectations must have been not, as suggested,
from Ximenes, who was now dead, but from the young King Charles.
P. 2.56, Ep. 802. 8n. Besides the Epistolae Hieronymi tres mentioned, there is an
earlier edition of three different letters, with Erasmus' text and scholia,
(Cologne, L. Hornken and Nic. Kayser), 24 July 15 17. The Peterborough
Cathedral Library has a copy of each volume, bound together (K. 6. 13).

P. 261, Ep. 807. 2n. The actual volume of Gregorj- given by Erasmus to
Lypsius was recently in the possession of Mr. P. M. Barnard of Tun-
bridge Wells who kindly lent it to the Bodleian for a short time in
:

Oct. 1917. See the Bodleian Quarterly Record ii, 1917-19, p. 61.

P. 281, Ep. 811 introd. I am indebted to Dr, S. Muller, Rijksarchivar of

Utrecht, for the information that Philip of Burgundy was at Duerstede
on 8, 19, 23 April 1518: dateswhich quite accord with a visit to Mechlin
c. 13 April and terminating on 17 April.

P. 29.5, Ep. 829. 27n. For the Colts at Netlierhall see an article in The Times,
Lit. Suppl.,26 Dec. 1918.
P. 297, Ep. 831 introd. There is a contemporary copy of this letler in the
ms. letter-book of Alexander Minutianus of Milan AD. xi. 31, f. 128 at :

the Brera Library in MiLan. Except for a few depravations and trifling
variations it follows the text of By, and, when 7 fails, of 13, against a
and the printed editions and may therefore be presumed to have been
;

made from the letter actually sent to Gjolier.

P. 310, Ep. 841. in. Clava's Herodotus is now in the library of Mr. G. A.
Plimpton, 66 Park Avenue, New York.
P. 368, Ep. 858. Passages of this are found. somewliat expanded, in the Rntio
printed in the New Testament of 1519: e. g. H. 257-65
verae t/ieologiae, as
on N.T. pp. 23-4, U. 233-6, 292-4, 305-10 on N.T. p. 27.
P. 388, Ep. 864. 17. Evangelista Tarasconio is the full form of the name : see
Pastor X. 335, 394.

P. 390, Ep. 866. For praise of Eicholtz see Th. Loher's preface, 4 Sept. 1536,
to an edition of Dionysius the Carthusian's commentary on tlie LHrri
Sapientiales, Cologne, J. Genepius, 1539.
P. 393, Ep. 867. 12. In the Moria Erasmus writes of quidditates, ecceitates ',
'

with the comment Haec sunt portenta verboium a recentioribus theo-

'

logis excogitata LB. iv. 463 a. 465 b.

' :

19. desidendum] sc. vsque ad multam noctem. Cf. tlie colloquy Diuersoria,
lir.st printed in Aug. 1523 LB. i. 717 g, 718 a.
:
 ADDENDA xxix

P. 394. Ep. 867. 36n. Cratanders eilition of Cicero, March 1528, is dedicated to
Varnbuler, with thanks for help in getting an Imperial privilege.

P. 395, Ep. 867. 5811. An edition of Bede's Homilies, Cologne, J. Gymnich,

1535, is dedicated to Matt. of Saarburg. with praise of his library.

P. 415, Ep. 877. lon. Prof. Preserved Smith suggests that the allusion is more
likoly to the summons to Luther to appear before Cajetan at Augsburg
early in October 1518.
P. 418, Ep. 881 introd. In June 1521 Longicampianus was tutor to -John,
a son of Duke William of Bavaria: see Oecolampadius' preface to his
translation of Greg. Nazianzen's De moderandis disputafionibus, Basle,
A. Ciatander, Sept. 152 1.
P. 420, Many details about Bathodius (matric. at Heidelberg
Ep. 883. i^n.
M.A. 1513, t6 April 1554) are given in J. Ficker and 0. Winckel-
1511,
mann's Uandschriftenprohen ii, 1905, no. 78.
P. 423, Ep. 886. 22-3. TunstalFs copy of the New Testament, 1519, on vellum,
is is now in the Library of York Minster.
no doubt that whieh It came
thither with the books of Toh. Matthew, abp. of York, and at one time
dean of Durham where he bought other books which certainly belonged
:

to Tunstall.

P. 445, Ep. 904. ign. Of Erasmus' action in preventing the publication of

Luther's works a trace is probably to be found in a letter of Beatus
Rhenanus to Zwingli, from Basle, 19 March 1519 (BRE. 97 = Zw.
E^. 66) Erasmvis
:
'
scripsit ad me literas quae libellum aequare possent,
. . .

de Lutherio et aliis rebus.'

Pp. 467-8, Ep. 910. The Bodleian hasnow acquircd a copy of Pezels volume,
1590 (a). In I. 9 its reading is SoAorex''»'', in 1. 22 Luther; the month-
date it gives as 9. lanuarii.
Pp. 471-2, Ep. 913 is reproduced by lithograph in the Autographic Mirror,
1864-5, ii- 141.

P. 487, Ep. 916. 258. ille] Pers. 2. 16.

P. 505, Ep. 925. i3n. For Berquin and the Sorbonne see the Registre des proces-
verbaux de la Faculte de Theologie de Paris, 1505-33 (Bibl. Nat. MS. nouv.
acq. Lat. 1782) printed in extract by L. Delisle in Notives ef Extraits
:

xxxvi, 1899, pp. 315-408, and in full by A. Clei-val, vol. i, 1917.

P. 534. That Ep. 941 had a similar signature to Epp. 913, 966 is shown by
a Paltnodia among Eurieius Cordus' Opera pottica, s. 1. et a., f. 79 v° :

Ipse Brabantino mihi scribit Erasmus ab orbe . . .

Seque ait ex animo, nec pudet, esse meum.

P. 551, Ep. 950 introd. Two letters from Jo. Schlechta, secretarius, to Conrad
Celtis, from Buda, 26 April and 3 Maj- 1498, are in Celtis' Letter-book
at the Vienna Hofbibliothek (MS. 3448, ff. 88 v°, 96).

P. 562, Ep. 957. 16. I owe to the late Mr. Bywater, ahd again to Prof. A. C.
Clark, the suggestion that by spirifosus Erasmus means the TrftvfiaTos
KoKoPoTTjs wliich Plutarch (Bem. 6j attributes to Demosthenes. He uses
the word similarly in the Ecclesiastes, bk. i (LB. v. 782 f) hominem :
'

spiritosum, exili voce, infirmis lateribus, haesitanti et impedita lingua ; '

where the Basle Opera, v. 653, change to spirituosum.

P. 590, Ep. 967. 97nn. Prof. Preserved Smith is of oi>inion that by the De
confessione JOrasmus meant Luther's Instructio pro confessione peccatorum,
which was probably printed in 1518. He also points out that the
Be j.oenitentia was printed by Grunenberg at Wittenberg in 1518. See
Luther's Werke, Weimar, 1883, i. 257, 317.
P. 598, Ep. 972. 29n. '
Dns. lohannes de Schoenroide, canonicus Traiectensis
et b. Marie Aquensis, Leodiensis dioc, ecclesiarum' was enrolled at
St. Mary's de anima Teutonicorum
'
' in Rome on 26 July 1512 : see
Janig p. 124.
XXX ADDENDA
P. 606, Ep. 980. 5411, Prof. Preserved Smith directs me to the mention of
a Fr. Jac. Proost as rector of the Brethren of the Common Life at
Ghent, in a document of June 1509 printed by M. Godet, La Congregation
de Montaigu, 1912, pp. 190, 193, 197.

P. 613, Ep. 986 intrpd. For a letter of Erasmus to Hutten e. 31 May (con-
temporary with Epp. 981, 985), which ought to have been delivered at
Frankfort in June by the bearers, Jonas and Sclialbe, see EHE. p. 289
(=HE. 135) and, for their movements, cf. Ep. 963. in.
;

P. 627, App. 12, 11. 10-12. The six letters in the Epislolae selectae 2)er Barlandiim
which are in F but not in E, are Epp. 605, 1106, 1107, 1122, 1159, 1160.
The two letters not found elsewhere are Epp. 646, 1163.

VOL. IV

P. 243, Ep. 1094. 46. I am

indebted to M. Henry Vercruysse of Courtray for
the gift of G. Caullefs Musiciens de Notre-Dame a Courtrai, la Collegiate
191 1 ; in which, pp. 57-69, there is much detail about lacobus de
Thielt. He received his canonry at Courtray in 1505 and liis life was ;

spent there in the discharge of many ecclesiastical duties. He enjoyed

the confidence of his fellow-canons, and was entrusted by them with
missions of importance. At his death, 7 March 154I, he left his books
to the church of Notre-Dame.

48-9. Soti was probably connected with Jac. Sothy, 'phonascus' of

Notre Dame, and subsequently canon (f p. 1547) see CauUet, op. cit. :

P. 552, Ep. 1223 introd. A

story narrated by More in his Confutation of Frere
Barnes^ Ckurch, 1532 {Workes, 1557, p. 768) shows that he took with him to
Bniges in Aug. 1521 his fool, Mr. Henry Patenson.

COERIGENDA
VOL. I

P . 418. 4-5. For the Adagia read Jerome

add Adag. 3401. :

Pp. 488, 206 introdd., ]. i. For 1522 read 1529.

436, Epp. 204,
Pp. 470, 471, 477. Ep. 237 answers Ep. 230, not Ep. 231.
Ep. 230 introd. For For . letter read This letter had not reached
. .

Erasmus by 5 Oct. ;

The notes on Epp. 230. 38, must be deleted. 231. i

Ep. 231 introd. Delete and Ep. 230. . . .

Ep. 231. 4n. proximis literis] Ep. 227.

P. 487. -j. For 243. 21 read 241. 23.
P. 522. For Epp. 306, 307 read Epp. 305. 39, 150, 307. lo-ir.
I.

P. 651, Ep. 288 introd., 1. 4. For probably 1514 read c. 1520-21:.

P. G05. 8. For 11 205) read 16 Sept. 1517 * (Ep. 66g).
. . .

n. 8. j- j. For are certainly read is only one letter in this hand (Ep. 692),
. . .

which can be.

P. 60S, n. 18. For eight . . . him read seven are by him and one to hira.
P. 611. 28. For Sopt. read March.
 XXXI

VOL. II

P. 76, Ep. 334. 116. For quidam read quidem.

P. 113, Ep. 337. 874. For ebus read rebus.
P. 224, Ep. 399. 6n. For Schletsttadt read Schlettstadt.
P. 308, Ep. 447. 59611. For July read March.
Delete 59711.
P. 361, Ep. 478, 38n. For 225 read 255.
P. 406, Ep. 494. 54cr.n. For 371 read zn.
P. 470, Ep. 531. 4i4n. For third read second.
P. 489, Ep. 541. 55 n. For Alfonso iii read Alfonso i.

VOL. III

P. 41, Ep. 620 introd. Delete askiiig at the same time . . . Epistolae. But.
P. 45, Ep. 622. 3in. For Lond. xiii. 26 . . . addressed to him read Ep. 1051.
P. 146, Ep. 715. 35cr.n. For H read F Corrig.
P. 344, Ep. 850. 21. For obturare read ob(sa)turare. Cf. Ep. 1047. 6.

P. 356, Ep. 855. 28n. For 837 read 832.

P. 392, Ep. 867 introd., 1. 9. For 190 read 184.
P. 419, Ep. 881. iin. For 13 read 43.
P. 487, Ep. 916. 267. hodieque stet,

P. 559, Ep. 954. 9n. For 14 read 8.

P. 562, Ep. 957. i6cr.n. DeUte ? spiritu paruo, E.

P, 601, Ep. 975. i^n. Belete and the notes.
P. 603, Ep. 978. 7n. Add in.
P. 616, Ep. 987. in. )
Ti onn -c • j 1 \ For 88 read 87.
P. 622, Ep. 991 introd.,
i.
1. 17 ^

P. 625, Ep. 992 introd. For July read August.

VOL. IV

P. 191, Ep. 1067. 2. Delete critical note.

Read solor.
P. 369, Ep. 1154. 26. For et read ac.
29. Read nostratis.
36. Read vite.
41. For At read Ac.
App. crit. 16. For cum read cu.

The secretary links many of his words together, especially prepositions mto :

the word following in 11. 12, 28, 29, 45, 47, 56, 60, 64 9, 64. adte 1 1. miruminmo- ; ;

dum ;
promerito 45. obhoc;
41. ;
62. interhomines 65. ame 67. anteoculos.
; ;

Also 17.idquod 24. proculdubio

; ;
42. Quodsi 46. quinirao 64. boniconsulas;
; ;

67. quoadpossum.

P. 579, Ep. 1233. i66n. For 1325 read 1328.

 XXXll

LIST OF PLATES
PA.GE
1. Medallion of Erasmus cast by Quentin Metsys at Antwerp, 1519 ;

from the bronze copy in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxforcl . 238

2. Drawing of Erasmus by Diirer, made at Brussels, Aug. 1520 ;

from
the original in the Louvre • 330

3. Painting of Colet, in the MS. of Erasmus' translation of St.

Matthew (see Ep. ^S^introd.) written by Peter Meghen 8 May
1 509 ; from the MS. in Cambridge University Library Dd. , vii. 3 516

LIST OF MANUSCRIPTS ABOUT WHICH INFORMA-

TION IS DESIRED.

A Erasmus to Antony Fugger, dated Freiburg, Aug. 22

letter of : sold by
Charavay among ¥illon's autographs, 1878.

A letter of Erasmus to George Agricola, dated Freiburg, 24 March 1533:

sold by List and Franke of Leipzig to Charavay, 1896.

A letter of Erasmus to a friend, 1533 : sold by List and Franke to W. Kanzel,

21 May 1S83.

The originals of Epp. 210, 217, 223, 251, 257, 681, 705, 1166, 1208.
 "2993. To Leonard Priccard.
Fairago p. 368. Louvain.
F. p. 459: HN: Lond. xi. 17 : LB. 442. l July 1519.

[For possible trace of an answer see Ep. looi. ^n.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS LEONARDO PRICCARDO, CANONICO APVD

AQVISGRANVM, S. D.
SciEBAM, eruditissime Leonarde, genus hoc hominum nusquam
cessare :summum illis praesidium in mendacibus linguis atque
impudentissimis sycophantiis positum est. Ego vero iam ad ista
occalkii tantum admiror homines professione pietatis insignes id
:

sibi permittere quod omnium maxime cum vera pietate pugnat, 5

Inexpiabile scelus haberi volunt, si carnibus vescantur et sanctum ;

est fratrem, etiam de ipsis bene merentem, linguae spiculis Tartareo

veneno tinctis confodere, cum nullum sit veneficii genus execrabilius.
Omnino diis manibus, vt poetice dicam, se deuouisse videntur, ni
bonas literas funditus extinxerint nec se credunt incohimes fore, si
; 10
bonae literae sint incolumes. Harum causam sibi persuadent meis
praesidiis sustineri. Nec vlli tamen odiosius blaterant quam qui
nostra prorsus non legerunt. Ignoscerem imperitiae, ignoscerem
ignorantiae, nisi id ipsum ingens esset scelus, re incomperta in famam
alterius debacchari. Nec video qua front6 possint inscitiam praetexere 1

qui se totius orbis magistros haberi vohmt.

De Anglo siue Scoto non omnino vanum est quod narrauit. Is est
iuuenis et aetate et suopte ingenio gloriae famelicus ad eam parandam :

haec via visa est illi cum primis compendiaria. Quanquam autem
ipse sibi de^^dvws nihil non tribuat, non tamen vsqueadeo perfrictae 20
frontis est vt dicat se melius scire Graece quam Erasmum. lactat
libellum nescio quem, at huius nuUi copiam facit, nisi quem cognorit
nobis male velle. Quiduis ab illo citius impetrari potest quam vt
mihi faciat inspiciundi copiam, in quem vnum scriptus est. Adeo
fidit suo libello, quem tamen nusquam non iactat. Vtcunque haec 25
habent, organum opportunum sese praebuit theologis quibusdam,
quibus iampridem male cogitantibus nihil deerat praeter occasionem,
iuxta Graecorum prouerbium. Imo sunt qui negant hoc opus esse
illius, sed potius omnium sycophantiarum centonem ac rhapsodiam :
huic tamen corniculae cessuram facti gloriam. Id mihi multis .^0

nominibus probabile videtur, quandoquidem paulo ante id factum

conspeximus in dialogo Latomi: titulus erat vnius, conflatura omnium,
aut certe multorum.
Anglum iam pene placidum rursus exasperarat quod in calce
20. tribuit H. 34. exasperarat E Corrig. : exasperat E.

17. siue Scoto] A

jest against the 61. 192, 1061. 338,9. Lee was of Kent.
Scotist theologians, which Erasmus 28. prouerbium] Cf. Ep. 778. 66.
could not repress cf. Epp. 58 introd.,
; 32. dialogoLatomi] See Ep. 934. 3nn.
 2 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [151

;<B Apologiao qua Latomo resi^ondeo, testatus sim esse quendam ex fucis
ac mendaciis conflatum, qui gloriae fame insanus nihil in me non
moliretur nec vllam addo coniecturam qua suspicio possit in quen-
:

quam recidere. Nihil enim aliud agebam quam vt eo schemate

deterrerem multos sibi male conscios at is post sic agere coepit
:

40 quasi eius elogii laudem caeteris inuideret. Nondnm homo prodiit

in harenam, et amici cordatiores mihi sunt autores ne digner illum
vnguibus meis, etiam si prodierit: non enim defuturos qui me
quiescente conficiant iuuenem famae ieiunio praecipitem.
Caeterum quod theologos aliquos habeam iniquiores, id ex falsissima
45 natum est suspicione. Persuaserant sibi Lutheri doctrinam me pro-
pugnatore niti, cum nec hominem norim nec libros illius vnquam
legerim. IntelHgunt tandem errorem suum, sed pudet agnoscere
adeo placet illis constantia vt nec in male coeptis velint TraXLvSpoixeh.
Et tamen huius veneni fons ex vno potissimum scatet qui nisi :

50 destiterit, breui omnibus omnium eruditorum literis celebrabitur, ac

toto notus cantabitur orbe.
Hactenus complurium cohibui calamum, vei-eor vt semper possim.
Mihi plane pestis quaedam fatalis videtur, quae contagio paulatim in
plures spargitur. Itaque gemina lue laboramus, et animorum et
65 corporum. Et tamen resipiscunt aliquammulti, praesertim qui nostris
legendis attenderint et spero fore vt tandem emicet ac vincat veritas,
;

quae, vt saepenumero laljorat, ita nunquam opprimitur.

Me vero leuius haec mouent, vel quod, vt olim Baal, his monstris
assueuerim, vel quod mihi bene conscius sim, sj^eremque Christo meas
60 vigilias probari, cui nostrum vtcunque desudat ingenium vel quod ;

conspiciam optimis quibusque nostrum placere studium. Illud mihi

molestum est, quod his sycophantiis inficiuntur liberalia studia,
quodque nonnullam bonarum horarum parteni cogar huiusmodi
n:ieniis vel audiendis vel refellendis impendere. Saepe me pudet
65 istorum nomine qui, cum semidei velint haberi apud vulgus, tumul-
tuentur vsqueadeo muliebriter, ne quid dicam acerbius. Meum quidem
ingenium ab hoc genere contentionis dici vix possit quam abhorreat
seduloque obnitor ne verus sit in me mimus ille, Furor fit laesa
saepius patientia. Video quid mereatur illorum nimium pertinax

48. adeo E : ideo N. 58. Baal E Balaam

: N.

35. Apologiae] § 120. Ep. 1029. 311.

37. conieeturam] Erasmus does not 51. cantabitur] Cf. Ov. Am. i. 3. 25.
liere deny the identification with Lee 52. cohibui calamum] Cf. Ep. 998. 66-
and thougli in the Apologia qua respondet 8. For Erasmus' restraint of his friends
(fo. D ;Jortin ii. 509) he declares that see Epp. 967. 75-8, 146-52, 165-7,
he denied it even to his most intimate 1029. i^n, 1033. 20-1, 1139. 99^01»
friends (cum ego vel inter familiaris- 1165. 22n : the Apologia qua respondet,
simos nogarem me de Leo sensisse, sed too, concludes with an appeal against
generali schemate voluisse deteri-ere abuseofLee. But cf. Epi>. 1083 introd.,
omne,s), there can be little doubt tliat 1085. 10-12, 1088. 3-10.
Lee was in his mind. Cf. his affecta- 55. resipiscunt] Cf. Epp. 971 introd.,
tion tliat Hutten's identity was con- 1002, 39, 1007. 18, 1016. 14.
cealed in the passage from the Spongia 58. Baal] Cf. i Kings 18. 26-9. The
quoted in Ep. 1033 introd. depravation inNmakesthecomparison
46. nec hominem norim] Cf. Ep. unintelligible.
939. 66. 68. mimus] Publ. Syrus ap. Gell. 17.
49. ex vno] Probably Atensis cf. ; 14; ct. Adag. 467.
993] TO LEONARD PRICCAED 3

malicia, sed reuocat Cliristiana lenitas. reuocat bonorum respectus 70 ;

quos nolim attactos videri, dum improbos merito taxamus. vt Nam

est multitudinis in malam partem prona interpretatio, periculum est
ne quod in paucos theologos hoc titulo indignos dictum fuerit, in
vniuersum ordinem detorqueatur ; et quod iure dictum fuerit in
paucos Praedicatores titulo. re sycophantas, toti ordini conciliet 75
odium, qui plurimos habet ab horum factis ac moribus longe discre-
pantes.
Quodtheologi decreuerint me profligare communi consulto, falso
Bene vale, vir optime, meque dominis meis, collegis tuis,
falsius est.
commenda diligenter. Louanii. Cal. luliis. Anno m.d.xix. 80

994ioo2 From Nicholas Beraldus.

Farrago p. 366. Paris.
F. p. 457 : HN : Lond. xi. 14 : LB. 322. I July (1519).

NICOLAVS BERALDVS ERASMO ROT. S. D.

Ego Guiliehnum Nesenum cum ob alia quaedam semper feci

plurimi, tum ob id vnice et deamo et laudo. quod eum animaduei'ti
semper esse tui studiosissimum. Quod etsi illi est cum multis aliis
commune, magnum tamen quiddam id esse puto, nec mediocri laude
dignum. Eum Louanium ad te proficiscentem non sum passus 5
literis meis vacuum hinc discedere, partim vt hominis desyderio ac
precibus satisfacerem, partim vt te quoque ad rescribendum inui-
tarem nam ternis meis literis, quarum binas Francisco Caluo ad
:

te dederam, postremas Nesenus ipse Louanium ad te pertulit, nihildum

respondisti. ic

Archiepiscopus Senonensis, Stephanus Poncherius, propediem de

rebus magnis ad te scripturus est cuius literas ad te fideliter per-
:

ferendas curabo, vel ipse istuc vsque perferam. Quid ad Dorpium

theologicae cuiusdam sodalitatis nomine scripserim, ex Neseno malim

993. 75. Praedicatores] For Erasmus' another hand.

feeling towards the Order see Ep. The present advent of Nesen to Lou-
1006. 4n. vain probably marks the date of liis
994. 8. binas] Cf. Epp. 925. zn, 989. settlement there his visit in March
;

2n. having perhaps been for tlie purpose of

9. postremas] Ep. 925 cf. Zw. E.^
: making preparatory arranjiements.
84, Paris,9 June 1519, which mentions 11. Arcbiepiscopus] Cf. Ep. 924. i^n.
a recent visit of Nesen to Louvain, de rebus magnis] Evidently the
whence he brought back copies of Eras- renewed proposals that Erasmus should
mus' Apologies about marriage (Ep. 916 move to France cf. Epp. 810. 360 seq.,
;

introd.) and against Latomus (Ep. 934. 896. 9on, 961. 5, 6, 1045. 95-102, 1080.
3n). Ep. 994 also was carried by 3. It apj^ears from Ep. 1117.2-4,29-
Nesen. It mu.st be noted that in 30 that Erasmus gave a conditional
answering Epp. 925, 994 in Ep. 1002. j^romise that be would come. For his
20-1, Erasmusspeaksof tlie latteronly change of outlookon thissubjectcf. Ep.
as brought by Nesen. But this may 1004. 145-6. See also Ep. 1129. 18-19.
easily be explained by supposing that 13. ad Dorpium] For this mtdiation
when Nesen arrived with Ep. 925, with Dorp on behalf of Erasmus cf. Ep.
Erasmus was absent from Louvain (cf. 1024. 2-3. The tlieological society for
Epp. 927 introd. or 955 introd.) so ; which Beraldus wrote, was probably
that the letter had to be forwarded by liberal in character : see Ep. 925 introd.
B 2
 4 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

15 te quara ex literis meis intelligere. Nouum Testamentum abs te

versum et elegantissimis doctissimisque annotationibus explicatum
nunc hic habent in manibus docti quam plurimi. atque in iis theologi
quoque magni nominis, qui te eo nomine tam nunc, pene dixerim,
amant immodice quam oderant prius inique. Multos certe noua
20 haec aeditio tibi iam concOiauit quosdam vero qui contumaces ac :

adeo propemodum deplorati videbantur,

refractarii diu fuerant atque
iam pene fregerunt Apologiae tuae. Vale. Salutant te Franciscus
Deloinus et Ludouicus Ruzaeus. Luteciae. Cal. luliis.

^"995995 From Lorenzo Campegio.

Farrago p. 382. London.
F. p. 46S : HN: Lond. xii. 2: LB. 443. 4 July 15 19.

LAVRENTIVS CAEDINALIS CAMPEGIVS REVERENDO DOMINO DES.

ERASMO ROTERODAMO, THEOLOGO ERVDITISSIMO,
TANQVAM FRATRI NOSTRO CHARISSIMO.
Revekende ac doctissime vir, salutem etc. Quum studiorum
tuorum suauissimus odor, quo Italia omnis ac Occidentalis haec
schola tota redolet, me quoque spiritus sui attractu pridem affecerit
indiesque apud me augescat, summo laboraui desyderio virum qui
6 tantam spirat eruditionem et doctrinam cognoscendi measque :

peregrinationes et longos errores, quibus pluribus iam annis confi-

cior, nihili habendas ducebam, seduloque accusabam, quod tot tantis-
que itineribus exhaustis Erasmum nondum mihi cognitum viderem.
Quod vt leuius ferrem, postquam coram te frui non dabatur, ilhid
10 enixe laboraui quod plerique amatorum solent quibus quum nulla ;

est amicae copia, in eius imagine vtcunque sese oblectare gestiunt.

cum praesentia tua et colloquio desyderio meo facere non
Itaque
possem satis, tuam saepe atque auide perquisiui efFigiem quae mihi :

primo in iis quae in Hieronjaiium sci-ipsisti occurrit dein in ;

15 Apologia illa qua tuam tutaris causam super illo Fsalmi versiculo,
Minuisti eum paulominus etc. vltimo demum loco in paraphrastico
;

sermone tuo in Epistolis Pauli.

Quibus veluti per gradus ad tui agnitionem deductus, cum maiori
desyderio inflammarer, vtpote dimidiatam et non ex integro tui
20 imaginem conspicatus, eius reliquum miro affeetu coneupiebam
quum nescio qua bona fortuna exactissimae eruditionis literae abs te
mihi deferuntur, quae eodem plane desyderio me videndi te labo-
rantem mihi dicerent quod certe tanta accepi iucunditate, vt minori
:

994. 17. iis E : his F. 095. 15. F : Apologo E. 23-4. minori valde E :

multo minoris H.

994. 15. N.Testamentum] SecEp. 864. sion for '

the western world', corre-
ai. deplorati] A
word used by Min. sponding to the western Empire, Occi-
Fel. and Lact. = desperati cf. Epi>. 843. : dentale Imperium. Cf. Ep. 810. 302,
682, 953. 40, 1005. 23, 1053. 526, 1136. 13. effigiem] Cf. Ep. iioi. ^n.
13, 1196. 107, 1260. i87,andi, p. 10. 23. 15. Apologial See Ep. 597. 32^.
995. 2. Occidentalis] A
large expres- Psalmi] 8. 6.
995] FROM LORENZO CAMPEGIO 5

valde amplissima regum munera mihi constent. Nam mea studia

quibus a puericia ad hoc vsque aetatis incubui, quanquam a tuis, 25
hoc est a sacris, literis maiori dia pason interuallo distant, ita tamen
tuis et huius generis reliquis lucubrationibus fauere. dulce et gratum
adeo habuere, vt nihil a paucis annis citra habuerim aut gratius aut
iucundius aut jjotius, quam aliqua in sacris literis vel audire vel
legere loqui enim vel scribere tanquam nouitius nequaquam ausim.
: 30
Quo factum est, dum tua vel quorundam antiquorum theologorum
scripta veluti per officii mei rationem sitibundus aueo et prosequor,
tanto iucundiores tuae mihi extiterint literae, quanto praecipuis meis
votis expectatae minus aduenere. Quibus quod primam et alteram tuas
in Instrumentum Nouum aeditiones adiunxeris, reliquum profecto con- 35
cupitae imaginis tuae mihi obtulisse videris, quo diutius et iucundius
tui desyderium tecumque colloquendi sustinere possim quod procul- :

dubio facturus es, quousque saltem hae tuae vigiliae et labores inter
—
manus meas erunt, erunt autem quoties a publicis laboribus ad
priuata haec solatia subterfugere dabitur. Qui quidem quod eorum 40
nouitate quibusdam stomachum moueant, hoc ventriculi eorum labor,
non ingesti vel apparati cibi noxia qualitas fecerit quo minus :

eorum ingenia mirari aut aegreferre debes. quo apertius tibi constat
sanissima etiam laboranti stomacho insuauia esse.
Ego ab huiusmodi offensione tantum absum, vt hoc ipsum Instru- 45
mentum tuum Nouum quod ad me misisti. propemodum sim vora-
turus neque enim minorem eruditione pietatem tuam censeo.
;

Quamobrem quicquid calumniae aliquorum insania vel iniquitas

impingere tibi studuerit, dum quae alii lieentiosius scribunt, ad te
referunt, nihil est quod cures. Satis enim in his quae publicato 50
nomine tuo profiteris, spectata est tua probitas quae tametsi est ;

magna, ea tamen minime effugere potest quae illustria saepe ingenia

non potuerunt, hoc est peruersa hominum iudicia et maleuolas
detractiones. Et quod ad Dialogum attinet, istud velim mihi nunc
credas, me nunquam hoc de te dixisse aut affirmasse, aut dubium 55
aliquibus reliquisse, te eius fuisse autorem. Potui fortassis, eam
opinionem secutus qua dicis quicquid libeDorum prodit hoc temporis
quod salem aut aculeum aliquem liabeat, tibi impingi, id intra me
cogitasse sed humanas cogitationes quis videt, aut censmam in
;

eis exercet? nisi qui cuncta videt et veluti ab ipso lapsa arguit. 60

24. constent £ habeantur: fl". 26. diapasonJB: q\i3im 5is 5ia vaawv H.
28. F Corriy. habueris E.
: 34. ininus expectatae fi. 38. inter F: in E.

34. primam et alteram] It is not but speaks lower down (1. 8i'i of 'a
clear what books Campegioreceived. book '. Erasmus, however, in Ep. 996.
The second edition of the New Testa- 31 uses the plural.
ment was in two volurnes the notes ; These inconsistencios may perhaps
completed on 23 Aug. 1518, the text in be explained by taking the hist utter-
March 1519. In Ep. 961. 8-9 and 66-7 ance as an oversight arising out of
Erasmus had written of sending the Erasmus' intention and by supposing
;

New Testament one volume unbound

: that Campegio is here making an in-
— evidently the text, as it had recently correct inference from the volume
come from Basle and the other to — which had reached him, namely, that
follow shortly, bound presumably the — the one promised to followwas not the
notes, if he could find a copy among the notes but the tirst edition.
booksellersofLouvain. HereCampegio 54. Dialogum] The lulius Exchisus :

thanks for the first and second editions, see £p. 502 introd.
 6 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15 19

Quai'e istud pro constanti tibi habe, me eum non esse qui de te
aut quouis alio male sentire multoque minus dicere velim. Quin
studiosis omnibus tibique praecipue omnem operam meam adeo
syncere et iucunde exhibeo, vt eorum ingenia et nomen pro viribus
65 semper prouehere nitar quod sedulo in gloriam tuam et doctrinae
:

tuae illustrationem facio, itemque facturus sum. Quamobi-em post-

hac me tui amantissimum habebis, et literarum officio hoc mutuo
iunctum, atque eruditionis tuae apprime studiosum cumque euenerit ;

vt in rem dignitatemque tuam aliquid efficere possim, sponte et vltro

70 non committam vt vllum a me officii genus desyderetur. Cum vero
pro enata occasione me monueris, omnium studia et diligentiam in
te ornando et iuuando superabo maximaque meae erga te beneuo- ;

lentiae accesserit charis et suauitas, si quoad iiic fuero quod diutius —

esse non potest —
me aliquando literarum tuarum lepiditate delecta-
,

75 ueris.
Caeterum aliquas gratias pro misso mihi munere tibi agere omnino
superuacaneum arbitror, cvim huiusmodi gratissimis officiis tuis
nullus verborum apparatus recte respondeat. Animum itaque
meum pro verbis et gratiis tibi addictissimum suscipies, vnaque
80 pignoris loco adamanta anulo inclusum, liis literis insertum, quem
mei mnimosynon tenebis. Nuncio vero qui librum ad me detulit,
nummos decem aureos pro viatico dedi.
Et bene vale ex Londino quarta lulii. Anno m.d.xix.

^95996. To LoKENZo Campegio.

Farrago p. 384. Louvain.
F. p. 469 : HN : Lond. xii. 3 : LB. 445. 14 Julj 15 19.

REVEKENDISSIMO DOMINO D. LAVRENTIO CAMPEGIO CARDINALI

ERASMVS ROTEEODAMVS S. D.
Eeverexdissibie D., quid j^osthac non libeat audere posteaquam
haec temeritas mihi tam feliciter cecidit ? Ego id modo ambiebam,
vt operi meo ob nouitatem apud quosdam inuidioso, si contingeret sic
in tuam bibliotliecam reponi, quemadraodum olim libri qui posteri-
5 tatis memoriam promereri viderentur, in ApoUinis templo colloca-
bantur, dignitatis nonnihil accederet sic enim futurum vt eruditissimi :

cardinales P. maximi Leonis oraculo subscribere viderentur. Neque

enim vlla cedrus fidelius seruat a carie temijorumque iniuria studio-
sorum hominum monumenta quam talium proeeruin autoritas. Nam
10 illud sane leuiter metuebam. ne quid apud prudentissimam erudi-
tionem tuam et eruditissimam prudentiam valeient impudentissimae

995. 61. habe ad\F. 72. F : boneuolentiae E. 76. gratias if tibi

:

ffratias E. 81. mnemosynon F. 996. tit. beveeendissimo domino d. oin. H.

I. D. £ domine
: H.

995. 73. charis] xa/)<y. Bodlelan Qrhj. Becord, July 1918. By his
Ep. 1025. 4n.
<liutiiis] Cf. last will he left it to Ju&tina Froben
;
anulo] This diamond nnjj'\vasin
80. whose husband, Nic. Ei^iscojjius, was
Erasmub' possession, 9 April 1534 see : one of his executors. See Q. p. 123.
996] TO LOEENZO CAMPEGIO 7

quorundam sycophantiae, quas rident atque exsibilant, si qui sunt ex

media plebe paulo cordatiores.
Hoc igitur cum agerem tantum, ecce quam ingens lucrum praeter
spem obtigit, quam ingentem praedam haec attraxere retia. Primum 15
tam insignem heroa et ecelesiae Christianae columen plenius nosse
contigit. Deinde tam eximium jDatronum atque etiam, si fas est
vsurpare quod offers, amicum mihi paraui. Ytcunque tui simula-
chrum mihi publica fama deliniarat, verum eflfigiem animi tui longe
plenius expressit Eicardi Pacei, qui sereniss(imo) Eegi primus est 20
a secretis, oratio. Nam is vt egregias tuas dotes propius inspexit, ita
non vulgaris est pingendi ai'tifex, homo nimirum non minus facundus
quam eruditus. Verum epistola tua ita te totum mihi repraesentauit
vt mihi viderer antehac tenuem modo vmbram excellentiae tuae
nouisse. 25
Magnum quendam et eximium vii-um descripserat.
ille Sed
immane quanto maiorem te tuae literae declarant praeter eruditio-
:

nem Pontificio legato dignam, praeter humanitatem eruditione

summa dignam, raram etiam vitae integritatem, sacrarum etiam
literarum studium spirantes. Nam illud imniodicae
amorem ac 3°
cuiusdam benignitatis quod eum qui libros aduexit, tot aureis
fuit,
oneraris, videlicet vt largius etiam potitaret addictissimus Bacchi
mystes, cum ego hominem iusto viatico instruxissem. Caeterum
anulus quem digitis tuis detractum ceu sacrum quoddam amicitiae
nostrae iJ.vrjfj.6<Tvvov, imo, si tuis verbis vtendum est, fraternae charitatis 35
pignus ad me misisti, adeo gratus est animo meo vt recusaturus sim
vnum illum vel cum vniuevsis Attali gazis commutare. Igneus auri
fulgor mihi tuae sapientiae prorsus Cardinaliciae symbolum semper
erit, et adamantis gratissima lux nunquam antiquandam nominis tui
gloriam repraesentabit. Denique si mihi posset vnquam talis patroni 40
obliuio obrepere, suffricabit memoriam quidque Champegio debeam
commonefaciet.
De nostro ingenio vere Batauo deque studiis nostris non fuit ingra-
tum quod tam erras amanter siquidem hic est oculus ille Euangeli-
:

cus puri candidique pectoris, alienas dotes ex sese metiens cum oculo 45 ;

prauo vitiatoque mala sint etiam quae sunt optima. Nihil igitui*,
inquies, profecit mea laudatio Profecit nonnihil, certe stimulos
'?

addidit, vt posthac alacrius enitar fieri quod me praedicas esse. Nec

enim arbitror vllam aetatem seram ad id, vt quis seipso melior
euadat. Quod prouehendis egregiis ingeniis fauovem propensum tam 5°
benigne polliceris, omnium nomine gratias ago, efficiamque pro virili
vt intelligant sese tuae celsitudini debere. Porro quod in ornando
iuuandoque Erasmo negas te eommissurum vt aliorum quisquam tibi
par esse videatur, nimirum exosculor istum animum tuum, meque
cum primis felicem hoc nomine iudico. 5.5

19. delinearat i^^'. 24. F viderem

: JE. 41. Campegio ii*. 46. sint F
Cbrrig. : sunt E. sunt F: sint E.

20. Pacei] ForErasmus'rccent meet- 43. Batauo] sc. crasso : cf. Erasmus*
ing with Pace see Ep. 968. 6n. interpretation of the adage Auris
35. tuis verbis] See Ep. 995. tit. Baiaita,&ndin Adag. 2001 {LB.ii. ti^i').
41. Champegio] For this lorm cf. 'HoUando, hoc est plusquam Boeoto.'
Ep. 990. II. See also Epp. 1238.U. 1331. 35 6.
 8 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

Haec tumultuanter effatiui verius quam scripsi, ne, quando significas

abeundum, meae literae R. D. T. non offende-
tibi celeriter isthinc
rent. Non ero contentus hoc argumento tuam in me benignitatem
et meum in te animum declarasse quod breui, vti spero, vberiore
:

60 magisque viuaci monumento docebimus. Bene valeat E. T. R. D. :

cui Erasmum, quantus est, mancipo dicoque.

Louanii. pridie Id. lulii. Anno m.d.xix.

997. To THE Chapter of Metz Cathedkal.

Farrago p. 304. Louvain.
F. p. 413 : HN : Lond. x. 4: LB. 444. 14 July 1519.

[Tho present application may have been suggested to Erasmus by Claudius

Cantiuncula ; for there is reason to suppose that they had met at Basle in the
summer of 1518 (Ep. 852. 77-81). I cannot find that the library yielded him
any manuscripts. He was perhaps inquiriug on behalf of Cyprian (Ep. 1000).
At Metz, as in the other sees of Lorraine, the Cathedral Chapter was presided
over by a Primicerius, who ranked above the Dean. The present holder of the
office vvas Nicholas Tussanus (+5 Aug. 1520, at Rome), who from Canon and
Almoner had been appointed Primiceriu.s, 22 Nov. 1505. The Dean was Olricus
des Hazards, who had been canon 17 Jan. 1509, dean 4 Nov. 15 14, and died
17 June 1527 (GC. xiii. 809, 813).
The see was at this time awakening under the advent of its youthful bishop,
John of Lorraine (9 April 1498-10 May 1550), a younger son of Duke Ren6 11.
Papal regulations required that a man should be 27 before he could be conse-
crated a bishop. But in 1500, in defiance of all propriety, John had been
appointed coadjutor to his uncle, the reigning bishop and when the uncle ;

died, 20 Oct. 1505, the see was kept open until John should reach an age at
which the Pope might be induced to relax the requirement. On 19 Oct. 1517
John was created Bishop of Toul, on his twentieth birthday he was admitted to
Metz, and on 28 May 1518 he was made Cardinal see Ciaconius iii. 418.9, GC. xiii.
;

792,3, and, for his patronage of men of learning, A. CoIIignon, Le Mecenat du

Cardinal Jean de Lorraine, 1910.]

EXIMIIS VIRIS D. PRIMICERIO PRINCIPALIS ECCLESIAE METENSIS,

D. DECANO TOTIQVE CAPITVLO ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.

Ornatissimi patres ac domini, vt quisque venatur quod amat,

nonnullorum praedicatione didici apud vos esse bibliothecam non
vulgaribus, sed eximiis ac venerandae vetustatis codicibus differtam.
Et quoniam ex Euangelica lege iubemur suum quisque talentum sic
5 in vsum publicum conferre vt vsuram appi-obet qui sortem credidit,
ego studium meum ad hoc appuli, vt vetustissimos autores aut in
lucem eruam et a blattis tineisque vindicem, aut deprauatos emen-
dem. Etenim vt grauis est iactura nobis interire quod tantis vigiliis
summi viri prodiderunt, ita non extare videtur quod extat sic mendis
10 vndique conspurcatum vt nec legi possit nec intelligi. Nec dubito
quin vestra quoque pietas publicae faueat vtilitati, nihilque minus

996. 57. R. D. T. E tuam : amplitudinem H. 60. E. T. R. D. £ : tua sub-

.limitas H. 62. idus H. 997. tit. E : erasmvs rotehodamvs collegio
CANONTCOHVM METENSIVM S. H.

996. 60. monumento] Erasmus cai-- Campegiohis Paraphraseon Ephesians

ried out this promise by dedicating to (Ep. 1062).
997] TO THE CHAPTER OF METZ CATHEDRAL 9

probet quam canem illum praesepi incubantem, dequo est iu Graeco-

rum prouerbiis; praesertim cum ita liceat istam vtilitatem aliis com-
munem facere vt vobis nihil deteratur.
Proinde vos oro ne grauemini bibliothecae vetetrae indieem ad nos i-

mittere, potissimum eos libros recensentem qui vulgo non habentur

aut habentur deprauati, id quod vsu venit in omnibus prope vetustiori-
bus. Ex eo deligam quos existimem maxime profuturos. Hac in re si
nostros conatus vestra pietas adiuuabit, primum rem faciet Christo
gratissimam, deinde splendidissimo coUegio vestro cum primis glorio- 2<

sam neque enim committemus vt vestrum officium ignoret posteritas.

:

Incolumes seruet vos omnes Christus Optimus Maximus, domini in

Christo plurimum obseruandi.
Louanii pridie Id. lul. Axxo m.d.xix.

998it,g^ To Edwaed Lee.

Fan-ago p. 396. Louvain.
F. p. 622: HN: Lond. xvii. i : LB. 446. 15 July 1519.

[Between the publication of Latomus' Dialogue 1. and the appearance of

47)
the Farrago (E) in Oct.-Nov. 1519 (see p. 119). It marks another attempt by
—
Erasmus later than the trickery mentioued in 1. i^n to obtain a sight of the —
notes on the Nouum Insirumentum of which Lee was openly multiplying and
circulating copies, but without allowing him to see. Interim vbi nullus esset '

neque modus neque finis iactandi trecentas annotationes, coepi odiosius ctiam
prouocare ad aeditionem, primum verbis, mox per epistolam aeditam, sed quae
sic haberet nonnihil aculeorum vt Leum extimulare posset, atrum facere non
posset Apologia qua respondet ff. B* v°, B^, Jortin ii. 501.
' :

Apparently it was not sent off at once for Lee says (Ep. 1061. 2,3) that the
;

Farrago was on sale at Louvain before the manusci-ipt reaclied him. In replying
to it in Ep. 1061, he reprints it section by section. For the greater part his text
agrees more or less closely, after allowing for the depravation incidental to
copying or printing, with that of E, even to the reproductiou of the inaccui-ate
name (cf. 1. ^n) but at the end, for II. 56-77, he gives a considerably shorter
:

form. This perhaps indicates that in the brief interval before sending the letter
to Basle to be included in E, Erasmus amplified the conclusion.
Epp. 307, 1006, 998 are the last three letters at the end of E but in F, which ;

reprints E and all the preceding volumes of Epistolae usually in strict order — —
their position is quite different. Ep. 307 is there printed twice over, first on
p. 472, where it raarks the end of E and is foUowed by 142 pages of new letters
(Lond. xii. 8-xvi. 18), and again on p. 615, where itis followed by Epp, 1006, 998:
after which come more new letters (Lond. xvii. 2-26). An explanation of this
unexpected arrangement may perhaps be found in a letter from Burer at Basle,
12 Nov. 1519. to Beatus Ehenanus at .Schlettstadt (BEE. 133) Erasmus . . :
'
.

epistolas duas sero post factum misit iam enim Farrago ab incude ijrodierat.'
:

Now in E Ep. 307 ends at the foot of a page, K^ v°, p. 388 ; after which come
Epp. 1006, 998, the two last lotters in the book, filling leaves K^-L. It is quite
possible therefore that the first copies of E ended with Ep. 307, the remaining
leaves of sheet K being occupied with the Jnde.c epistolarum and Index ternionum ;

and that when Erasmus sent Epp. 1006. 998. they wore added in copies printed
later. The Froben firm no doubt retained for its own use specimens of tlie
various books produced in its presses, and would thus naturally take one of E in
its first form. If we suppose that it was forgotten to replace this 'office-copy'

24. idus lulias H. m.d xix E Corrig. : m.d. xcix. E.

12. canem] Cf. Adag. 913 ; where inclusos diligenter adseruet, quos nec
Erasmus gives as an example of such ipse vnquam euoluat, nec aliis euol-
conduct, '
veluti si quis egregios codices uendi faciat copiam '.
 10 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

by tlie enlarged volume with the two letters added, aiid further that this 'office-
copy was talien as the basis for F, the variation in order is easily accounted for.
'

And the ^ame explanation serves, if we suppose that F was printed fiom a copy
of E revised bj' Beatus Rhenanus who of course received one of tlie earliest
;

copies of E. When the omission was discovered, during the printing of the new
portion in F, it was at once rectified but by a new oversight Ep. 307 was
;

printed over again, together with the two letters omitted.

Except for this second oversight, it might be suggested that Epp. 1006, 998 had
been deferred to the end (>f F as apoJogiae, a class of letter which Erasmus subse-
quently reeognizes (cf. i, pp. 26. 38-27. 3), and of wliich other examples are
—
found in close proximitj' Epp. 1053, 1175, 1196, 1217 = Lond. xvi. 14, xvii. 2, 3,
T9. But on the whole I incline to tliink the former explanation more probable :

ttiough I have not seen any copy of E with the two final letters missing.]

ERASMVS EOTERODAMVS EDVARDO LEO S. D.

QvoD a
nie dissentis alicubi, non admodum aegre fero ; semper hoc
incolumi amicitia. Quod istis rationibus rem tra-
licuit inter eruditos
ctas, demirabor si quisquam vir grauis probet, quando nec ipse probat
D. loannes Briareus Ateus, tui, vt par est, amantissimus. In tot mili-
5 bus Annotationum, in tanta sententiarum et ingeniorum varietate,
quid nouum aut mirum sicubi vidisses quod me fefellisset ? aut tibi
minus placeret quod mihi non displicuisset ? Quis autem probaturus
est quod subito ex amico factus hostis in absentem sci'ipseris ? cum nec
vlla lacessitus esses iniuria nec vnquam expostulasses cum praesente
10 quod in veterem aeditionem scripseris, cum scires adornare me nouam?
quod opus tuum per omnia monasteria sparseris, praesertim vbi scix'es
esse qui mihi parum bene vellent ? quod iis modo communicaris quos
noueras iniquiores Erasmo ? quod nunquam prouocari potueris, nec
Atensis autoritate, vt mihi voluminis tui faceres copiam, imo ne ad
15 hoc quidem, vt voce vel vnum proferres locum quem reprehendisses ?
quod virulentis conuiciis, imo mendaciis, opus passim asperseris (id
enim affirmant qai viderunt, neque recLamant paginae quas intercepi) ?
quod nusquam non praedicas ac iactitas sexcenta loca abs te repre-
hensa, nec vnius interim facis copiarn? Quaeso te, vnde istud
20 exemplum vel grauitatis vel animi Christiani?
Si prodesse vis omnibus, cur non aedis ? Si me docere vis, cur
solus non impetro vt legam ? Si tibi scripsisti, cur tam late volitat
hber ? Si diffidis operi tuo, cur sic vbique iactas ? Si fidis, cur tam
anxius es ne quis legat, nisi qui mihi parum sit aequus ? Ita dum

4. D. om. F. E : Atensis F.

4. Briareus Ateus] Possibly mere vestigando. Tentatus est scriba ille

misprints for Briurdus Atens. (for wliom tercius promissa pecunia. Coeperat
see Ep. 670 introd.) or perhaps an
; apud Atensem describi. Olfeceram, et
attempt at disguise (cf. Ep. 993. 37^), iam duas pagellas interceperam habi-;

which Erasmus could not trouble to turus et caetoras, ni ex meo colloquio

keep up (cf. I. 14). suboluisset Atensi scribam non sat
17. intercepi] In the Ai)ol. qna re- bona fide celasse rem. Id vbi sensit
sponclet {°. B^, Jortin 501, Erasmus
ii. Leus, ab Atensi repetit codicem.' But
makes no methods
secret of his Ego :
'
in Ep. 1053 1'^ is less explicit.
interim technisomnibus venor librum, 18. sexcenta] This term is only used
nulhis non tendens insidias, videlicet vaguely cf. Apol. qua respondet i". E*
:

quo paratior c-ssem ad respondendum \°, Jortin ii. 517. In Ep. 886. 72 the
si quando illu sua euulgasset. Sed figure isgiven as 200, in Ep. 1053. 7933
frustra omnia nam ille non paulo
; 300 cf. Ep. io6r. 102.
;

vigilantior orat in celando quam ego in 23. iactas] Cf. Ep. 993. 21-5.
998] TO EDWARD LEE 11

me traducis apud eos qui tibi iurati mihi male cupiunt, nec me reddis 25
meliorem et illos infieis. Quid quod interim nec tuae gloriae, quam
lioc tumultu venaris, satis recte consulis ? Si statim aedidisses opus
tuum, omnes admirati fuissent prodigiosam ingenii tui felicitatem,
qui pauculis mensibus tantum Graecitatis et Hebraismi deuoraris, vt
tuo iudicio nihil sapiat in Graecis Erasmus, in Hebraicis Hieronymus 30
(si tamen haec est illius translatio) nam id honoris gratia soles
:

addere, ne parum videare tribuere Hieronymo. Imo aiunt te mox

triduo posteaquam Hebraissare coeperas, multa damnasse in Capnione,
nonnulla etiam in Capitone. Et fieri poterat vt summus Pontifex,
admiratus istud ingenium pene diuinum, tibi tradita virgula totius 35
orbis censuram fuerit mandaturus nec iam vllus liber aut aederetur
;

aut legeretur, nisi Lei suffragio proljatus, nimirum totius rei literariae
Aristarchi.
Nunc plerique dictitant te hoc consilio premere praeclaras istas
Annotationes, vt me fatis functo tum demum aedas ip-i^jj.ri victurus, 4° ;

id est ingloriam victoriam reportaturus, cum nemo sit qui contra

certet. Alii praedicant interim vndique captare te quid quisque
calumnietur, nec tuum opus aliud futurum quam alienarum syco-
phantiaiaim rhapsodiam, in qua minima portio sit tui Martis. Ita
periculum est ne fiat vt, cum tibi speraris opimam laudem, minus ex 45
tuo libro referas gloriae quam Latomus rettulit ex suo illo frigido
Dialogo, in quo ferunt totam theologorum cohortem desudasse. Nec
dubito quin tibi valde nunc ai^rideant quae scribis sed caue putes ;

itidem omnibus arrisura, cum clarae luci sese commiserint. Quod

iuuenis gloriae fame stimularis, ignoscendum arbitror at quod ista 50 ;

via grassaris ad gloriam, qui non solum theologus ac vir bonus

verumetiam sanctulus haberi vis, nulla non improbabit posteritas,
etiamsi non desunt fortasse qui nunc applaudant. Atque hanc
fabulam iam ferme biennium agis et adeo dulcescit actio vt immori-
;

turus videaris. 55
Nec tamen ob istafacta adeo tibi sum infensus vt cupiam quenquam
tibi vel pilo minus amicum esse mea causa tantum abest vt grauius
;

alicjuod malum optem Sed res nusquam gentium non

accidere.
sparsa est :sic enim vndique volitant emissarii istorum qui nouo
exemplo simul et mendici sunt et tyranni, vt dictu sit incredibile. 60
Nec vlla est natio in qua meae kieubrationes non aliquot amiculos
mihi conciliarint at in Germania complures sunt qui mihi impensius
;

student etiam quam velim. Nec ignoras huius gentis animos ingenii-
que violentiarn. Nondum enim prorsus exuerunt natiuam illam fero-
citatem, quamuis assidue mitescunt humanis literis. Vides quibus 65
libellis confodiant eos a quibus sunt lacessiti. Equidem multorum
37. niinirum add. F. 65. mitescant 11.

29. Graecitatis] Cf. Epp. 607. 15. 906. 64. violentiaml Cf. Epp. 967. 76-7,
450-1, 912. 7-9, 972. 2, 1053. 292-3. 981. 4, 1155. 28 9, 1167. 9-10.
34. etiam] For this estimation of 65. miteseunt] Cf. Ep. 941. 10-12.
Capito above Reuchlin cf. Ep. 413. 14. 66. libellis] As specimens of tlie
46. Latomus] See Ep, 934. ^nn. attacks nuule sub^iequently on Lee from
59. istonim The fi-iars; whom Eras-
i
Germany may be cited Eae (.p. 201 :

mus frequently styles iTTa>xoTv pavvoi In E'liiardum Lceuin qnornndam e sodali-

(Epp. 1082. 13, H13. 38, 1 144. 21, 1215 1
tale literaria Erphimlien. Erasmici nominis
cf. Ep. 1053. 401 9. studiosorum Epigrammala, Erfurt, .J.
 12 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

stilum partim oratione, partim epistolis cohibui; cohibiturus etiam,

quantum erit in me. Sed audio quosdam his atrociora minari quod :

genus si quid accideret (id quod Deus auertat), nec ego possem tuo
70 mederi malo, et, vt est nunc prona hominum suspicio, inuidia facti in
meum quoque caput recideret. Ita ex tuo malo niihi dupiex incom-
modum nasceretur, primum ipse dolerem mea causa laesum esse cui
nihil tale velim accidere, deinde non deerunt qui suspicentur me
conniuente factum. lam, vt spero nihil huiusmodi futurum, ita
75 contra metuo ne quid accidat. Si nihil est periculi, amice timui sin ;

est, araicius praemonui, quo possis, si videtur, aliquo consilio occur-

rere quod tuae prudentiae videbitur esse commodissimum. Bene vale.
Louanii. Id. lulii. Anno m.d.xix.

9^«999. To Ulrich Hutten.

Farrago p. 329. Antwerp.
F. p. 432: HN: Lond. x. 30: LB. 447. 23 July 15 19.

[This letter, composed at Hutten's request, is the earliest biography of More.

Two years later Erasmus wrote a sketch of Moi-e's family to Budaeus (Ep. 1233 i

and again in 1533 he wrote to John Faber, bishop of Vienna (Ep. 386), describing
the household as he had lieard of it at Chelsea (Lond. xxvii. 8, LB. App. 426).
Tlie greater part of this letter to Hutten (down to L 297) is printed in J. Fichard's
Virorum illustrium Vitae, Frankfort, C. Egenolph, Sept. 1536, ff. 112-16, from the
text of F. Appended to it, with a short connecting passage, is the portion of
LB. App. 378 which deals with More. For all the details of More's life Sir
Sidney Lee's article in DNB is an invaluable source. I am indebted for some
notes and suggestions to a i'eviewer in the Athenaeum, 2 Jan. 1909.
It looks at first sight asthough, Epp. 1000 and 1007 notwithhtanding, Erasmus
might have been at Antwerp from 23 July to 15 Aug. continuously but in fact :

his movements at this time were rapid. As he probably met Pace not later than
25 July (Ep. loor. 53^), it seems likely that he went to Antwerp for the purpose
just at this time, and travelled back with Pace on tlie way to Mechlin, which
would serve also for his own return to Louvain. The phice-date of Ep. 1000 is
confirmed by Ep. looi. 3. Within a few days lie was in Antwerp again, having
visited Mechlin on his way (Ep. looi. 7) and he wasstill there on 15 Aug. (Ep.
;

1009). The place-dates of Epp. 1007,8 conflict cf. the introductions to Epp.
;

962, 965. If Louvain is not a mere oversight in Ep. 1007, it may be conjectured
that in writing on important matters to the Pope, Erasmus preferred to give his
liermanent address.
A letter of this character clearly was not composed during a hurried excursion
to Antwerp. The biographical part liad no doubt been thought out at leisure in
Louvain and was then taken to Antwerp on the chance of finding a messenger
;

returning to Germany, possibly someone in Pace's escort, through whom, when

thrown into epistolary form, it might be delivered to Hutteii. Mr, Nichols
liroposes (iii. 3B6-7, 401-2) to date this letter in 1517, arguing solely from a
calculation madefrom the figures of More's age (II. 56-8) —
a class of statements
in which Erasnms' memory is not to be trusted (cf. i, p. 2. 26n). In face of the

73. accidere add. F. 76. videtur E : videretur H.

Cnapp, c. 3 Junc 1520 (cf. Epp. 1123. also Ep. 1077. in.
19-20, 1128. in); HecriminatioIoan.Ger- 67. cohibui] See Ep. 993. 52n,
tophii, adidescentis Germani, aduersus 68. his atrociora] Lee {Annotationes,
furiosissimum nycophantam Edoardum ft'. CC v°, CC^) reports that in conversa-

Leum Anglum, qui aitsus est prinms Eras- tion he askod Erasmus the meaning of
mum candidissimum luto aspergere, Basle, the ' acriora stilo with which he is
'

A. Cartander, June 1520 and ; the threatened in tliis letter, and received
Hochstrufus onans (^Ep. 1083. 23^). Cf. the reply '
verbera '.
999] TO ULRICH HUTTEN 13

—
numerous indications of 1519 the relation to Ep. 986, the mention of More'3
—
second embassy, and of Hutten's Aula the change is quite inadmissible.]

ERAJ^MVS ROTERODAMVS CLARISSIMO EQVITI VLRICHO HVTTENO S. D.

QvoD Thomae Mori ingenium sic deamas ac pene dixerim de-

nimirum scriptis illius inflammatus, quibus, vt vere scribis,
peris,
nihil esse potest neque doctius neque festiuius, istuc, crede mihi,
clarissime Huttene, tibi cum multis commune est, cum Moro mutuum
etiam nam is vicissim adeo scriptorum tuorum genio delectatur vt 5
:

ipse tibi propemodum inuideam. Haec videlicet est illa Platonis

omnium maxime amabilis sapientia, quae longe flagrantiores amores
excitat inter moi'tales quam vllae quamlibet admirabiles corporum
formae. Non cernitur illa quidem oculis corporeis, sed et animo sui
sunt oculi ; vt hic quoque verum comperiatur illud Graecorum. €k tov 10
opai' ytyverat av6po)TroL<; t ipai: Per hos fit aliquoties vt ardentissima
charitate conglutinentur inter quos nec colloquium nec mutuus con-
spectus intercessit. Et quemadmodum vulgo fit vt incertis de causis
alia forma alios rapiat, ita videtur et ingeniorum esse tacita quaedam
cognatio, quae facit vt certis ingeniis impense delectemur, caeteris 15
non item.
Caeterum quod a me flagitas, vt tibi totum Morum velut in tabula
depingam, vtinam tam absolute praestare queam quam tu vehementer
cupis Nam mihi quoque non iniucundum fuerit interim in amici
!

multo omnium suauissimi contemplatione versari. Sed primum 20

01' 7rai'T09 av8p6<; i(TTLv omnes Mori dotes perspexisse, Deinde haud scio
an ille laturus sit a quolibet artifice depingi sese. Nec enim arbitror
leuioris esse operae Morum effingere quam Alexandrum magnum aut
Achillem, nec illi quam hic noster immortalitate digniores erant.
Tale argumentum prorsus Apellis cuiuspiam manum desyderat at 25 ;

vereor ne ipse Fuluii Rutubaeque similior sim quam Apellis. Ex-

periar tamen tibi totius hominis simulachrum dehniare verius quam
exprimere, quantum ex diutina domesticaque consuetudine vel
animaduertere licuit vel meminisse. Quod siquando fiet vt vos aliqua
legatio committat, tum demum intelliges quam non probum artificem 30
ad hoc negocii delegeris vereorque plane ne me aut inuidentiae
;

TIT. CLARissiMO EQViTi oni. H. 3. milii crede F. ii. yl-yvfTai E Corrig. :

yiveTai EF. t om. H. 15. caeteris non item «f(!rf. i^. 27. delineare i\'".

2. scribis] The letter is not extant. suggested contrast between refined and
But it must have been prior to Ep. 986 ;
vulgar enjoyinent. The idea in Eras-
cf. \. 302. mus' mind was perhaps sometbing of
4. mutuum] For this opening com- this. The ^('/ienaejoH reviewersuggests
parison cf. i, p. 27. 29-31. that Erasmus supposed them to be in-
10. Graecoi-um] A proverb quoted by different painters. But contemporary
Diogenianus cf. Adag. 179. : notes on Horace indicate them as
20. 3uauissimi]Evidently theepithet gladiators and of tliis interpretation
;

for More, whicli gives the note for tlie Erasmus can hardly have been igno-
whole sketch cf. 11. 11 1, 301. ; rant. He often uses the same figuie,
21. oi) navTuf\ Cf. Adag. 301. e.g. in the first prefacc to vol. ii of
26. Fuluii Rutubaeque] The gladia- Jerome, 1516, f. 3 v" (cf Ep. 326 in-
tors of Hor. S. 2. 7. 96, where their trod.): cum bubulcus interim aliquis
'

iiames occur in a comparison between nec Fului aut Rutubae manum ab

the work of the artist Pausias and Appellis aut Xeusidis manu sit discre-
pictures of gladiatorial shows with a ; turus.' Cf. also Adacf. 3401.
 14 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

incuses aut caecutientiae, qui ex tam niultis bonis tani pauca vel
viderim lippus vel commemorare voluerim inuidus.
Atque vt ab ea parte exordiar qua tibi Morus est ignotissimus, statura
35 modoque corporis est infra proceritatem, supra tamen notabilem
humilitatem verum omnium membrorum tanta est symmetria vt
;

nihil hic omnino desyderes. Cute corporis candida, facies niagis ad

candorem vergit quam ad pallorem, quanquam a rubore procul abest,
nisi quod tenuis admodum rubor vbique sublucet. Capilli subnigro
40 flauoi-e, siue mauis sujfflauo nigrore, barba rarior, oculi subcesii,
maculis quibusdam interspersi quae species ingenium arguere solet
:

felicissimum. apud Britannos etiam amabilis habetur, cum nostri

nigrore magis capiantur. Negant vllum oculorum genus minus in-
festari vitiis. Vultus ingenio respondet, gratam et amicam festiui-
45 tatem semper praeseferens, ac nonnihil ad ridentis habitum com-
l^ositus atque, vt ingenue dicam, appositior ad iucunditatem quam
;

ad grauitatem aut dignitatem, etiamsi longissime abest ab ineptia

scurrilitateque. Dexter humerus paulo videtur eminentior laeuo,
praesertim cum incedit: id quod illi non accidit natura sed assue-
50 tudine, quaha permulta nobis solent adhaerere. In reliquo corpore
nihil est quod offendat. Manus tantum subrusticae sunt ita dun- ;

taxat, si ad reliquam corporis speciem conferantur. Ipse omnium

quae ad corporis cultum attinent, semper a puero negligentissimus
fuit, adeo vt nec illa magnopere curare sit solitus quae sola viris esse

55 curanda docet Ouidius. Formae venustas quae fuerit adolescenti,

nunc etiam licet iK Trj<; KaXdfjLri<; coniicere quanquam ipse noui homi-
:

nem non maiorem annis viginti tribus, nam nunc vix excessit quadra-
gesimum.
Valetudo prospera magis quam robusta, sed tamen quae quantis-
60 libet laboribus sufficiat honesto ciue dignis, nuUis aut certe paucissi-
mis morbis obnoxia; spes est viuacem fore, quando patrem habet
57. vix E : non multum F.

34. statura] Beatus Rhenanus (iv. 55. Ouidius] A.A. i. 509 seq.
529-39, 545) expressly borrows some of 56. e/c rrjs fcaKd/xr}?] Cf. Adag. 3103,
the details of this description in por- quoting Hom. Od. 14. 214 and Arist.
traying Erasmushimself thus making : lihet. 3. 10.
the two friends comparable in height, 57. non maiorem] This statcment is
complexion, colour of hair and eyes, approximately correct, if More's birtli
expression of face, voice aiid clearness is phiced in 1477 (cf. Ep. 114 introd.) ;

of speech ; also for constancj' in friend- for Erasmus met him first in thc
ship (h loo-i) and suavity in address autumn of 1499 (i, p. 6 and Ep. 104
(1. iii). introd.).
barba rarior] Tbere is nothing
40. vix] The correction in F was
that can be called a beard in eitlier the perhaps made in the desire to bring
drawing or the paintiug of More by the estimate up to date. In July 1519
Holbein in 1527 so it must be inferred
: More was eitlier 41^ or 42^. ,

that More liad removed this since 61. patreni] .Tohn Moro(i453?-i53o),
Erasmus had List seen him in April butler of Lincoln's Inn. was called to
1517. The bearded portrait in LB., the Bar, and in Nov. 1503 was a
from anengravingmadeby Vorsterman serjeant at-hiw. By 1518. perhaps as
in 1631, is derived from a small panel a reward for his son's services, he had
in the Brussels Muscum (No. 641); been made a .Judge of Common Pleas,
wliich it is now recognized is not by and by 28 Nov. 1523 was promoted to
Holbein and cannot possibly be More. the King's Bench. In Ep. 1233 his age
See A. B. Chamberlain, Hans Holbein is ostimated considerably higher than
the yov.nger, 1913, i, pp. 304,5. tlic figure given above from DNB. On
999] TO ULRICH HUTTEN 15

admodum natu grandem, sed mire virenti vegetaque senectute,

Neminem adhuc vidi minus morosum in delectu eiborum. Ad iuue-
nilem vsque aetatem aquae potu delectatus est, id illi patrium fuit.
Verum hac in re ne cui molestus esset, fallebat conuiuas e stanneo 65
poculo ceruisiam bibens, eamqvie aquae proximam, frequenter aquam
meram. Vinum, quoniam illic mos est ad idem poculum vicissim
inuitare sese, summo ore nonnunquam libabat, ne prorsus abhorrere
videretur, simul vt ipse communibus rebus assuesceret. Carnibus
bubulis, salsamentis, pane secundario ac vehementer fermentato ii- 70
bentius vescebatur quam his cibis quos vulgus habet in deliciis
ahoqui neutiquam abhorrens ab omnibus quae voluptatem innoxiam
adferunt etiam corpori. Lactariorum et eorum foetuum qui nascuntur
in arboribus, semper fuit appetentior esum ouorum in deliciis habet.
:

Vox neque grandis est nec admodum exilis, sed quae facile penetret 75
aures, nihil habens canorum ac molle, sed plane loquentis est nam ;

ad musicam vocalem a natura non videtur esse compositus, etiamsi

delectatur omni musices genere. Lingua mire explanata articula-
taque, nihil habens nec praeceps nec haesitans.
Cultu simplici delectatur, nec sericis purpuraue aut catenis aureis 80
vtitur, nisi cum integrum non est ponere. Dictu mirum quam negli-
gens sit ceremoniarum quibus hominum vulgus aestimat morum
ciuilitatem. Has vt a nemine exigit, ita aliis non anxie praestat nec
in congressibus nec in conuiuiis licet harum non sit ignarus, si
;

kibeat vti. Sed muliebre putat viroque indignum eiusmodi ineptiis 85

bonam temporis partem a1)sumere.
Ab aula principumque familiaritate olim fuit alienior, quod illi
semper peculiariter inuisa fuerit tyrannis, quemadmodum aequalitas
gratissima. Vix autem reperies vllam auham tam modestam quae
non multum habeat strepitus atque ambitionis, multum fuci, multum 90
luxus, quaeque prorsus absit ab omni specie tyrannidis. Quin nec
in Henrici octaui aulam pertrahi potuit, nisi multo negocio cum ;

]ioc Principe nee optari quicquam possit ciuilius ac modestius. Na-

tura libertatis atque ocii est auidior sed quemadmodum ocio, cum
;

datur, hibens vtitur, ita quoties jjoscit res, nemo vigilantior aut 95
patientior.

66. frequenter aquam meram add. H. 73. qui F Corrig. : quae E. 89. re-
perias N.

24 April 1474 he married Agnes similar moderation the sketches of ; cf.

Graunger, who was tlie mother of his him inthe (LB. v. 811 B)anfl
SccZesiasfes
children ;see W. A Wright in Notes in the 1533 preface to Jerome (wrongly
and Qiceries, 17 Oct. 1868, reprinted in cited as ^rfa^ja in Ep. 188 introd.).
Seebohm, pp. 520-8. Erasrnus speaks 67. idempoculum] Cf. a passagenear
dcfiniteIyofthreeIaterwives(II. 193-5), the ond of the colloquy, 'Ayafios ydixos,
but the nanies of only two are known ;
first published in March 1529 p. Tum :
'

Mr.s. Bowes and Alice Clarke (t i544)j feratur lex ne quis cum alio poculum
nee More of Loseley, who from tlie habeat commune. G. Istam vix recipiat
change introduced into the text in F, Anglia' (LB. i. 830 d). Cf. also Adag.
must have succeeded between 1519 and 553.
1521. Tho other was perhaps .Johanna 70. secundario] Of inferior quality ;

Handcombe, whom Cresacre More madefrom theflour knownas'.seconds'.

gives, wrongly, as Thomas More's Cf. Hor. £p. i^^and Suet. ^Mg^. 76.
2. i.
mother. 92. in . . . aulam] Cf. II, 217-30 and
66. ceruisiam] Warham practised Epp. 597. 51 n. 2, 832. 35-9.
 16 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1519

Ad ainicitiam natus factusque videtur, cuius et syncerissimus est

cultor et longe tenacissimus est. Nec ille metuit TroXv<j>LXiav ab
Hesiodo parum laudatam. Kulli non patet ad necessitudinis foedus.
ico Nequaquam morosus in deligendo, commodissimus in alendo, con-
stantissimus in retinendo. Si fors incidit in quempiam cuius viciis
mederi non possit, hunc per occasionem dimittit, dissuens amicitiam,
non abrumpens. Quos synceros repperit et ad ingenium suum
appositos, horum consuetudine fabulisque sic delectatur vt his in
105 rebus praecipuam vitae voluptatem ponere videatur. Nani a pila,
alea, chartis caeterisque lusibus, quibus vulgus procerum temporis
taedium solet fallere, prorsus abhorret. Porro vt propriarum rerum
est negligentior, ita nemo diligentior in curandis amicorum negociis.
Quid multis ? Si quis absolutum verae auiicitiae requirat exernplar,
iio a nemine rectius petiei-it quam a Moro.
In conuictu tam rara comitas ac morum suauitas, vt nemo tam
tristi sit ingenio quem non exhilaret. nuUa res tam atrox cuius
taedium non discutiat. lam inde a puero sic iocis est delectatus vt
ad hos natus videri possit, sed in his nec ad scurrilitatem vsque pro-
115 gressus est, nec mordacitatem vnquam amauit. Adolescens comoe-
diolas et scripsit et egit. Si quod dictum esset salsius, etiam in
ipsum tortum. tamen amabat vsqueadeo gaudet salibus argutis et
;

ingenium redolentibus. Vnde et epigrammatis lusit iuuenis, et

Luciano cum primis est delectatus quin et mihi vt Morias Encomium
;

120 scriberem, hoc est vt camekis saltarem, fuit autor.

Nihil autem in rebus humanis oljuium est vnde ille non venetur
voluptatem, etiam in rebus seriis. Si cum eruditis et cordatis
maxime
res est, delectatur ingenio ; si cum
indoctis ac stultis, fruitur illorum
stulticia. Nec offenditur morionibus, mira dexteritate ad omnium
12; affectus sese Cum mulieribus feie atque etiam cum
accommodans.
vxore non nisi lusus iocosque tractat. Diceres alterum quendam
esse Democritum. aut potius Pytliagoricum illum philosophum, qui
vacuus animo per mercatum obambulans contemplatur tumultus
vendentium atque ementium. Nemo minus ducitur vidgi iudicio.
130 sed rursus nemo minus abest a sensu communi.
Praecipua illi vokiptas est spectare formas, ingenia et affectus
loo. ELB diligendo Lond.
: loi. fors EX^ : foris HN^. 103. reperit F.
104. in his F. 1 16. salsius adcl. H.

99. Hesiodo] Op. 713. i? ff-j unnumbered,

.it the end, with a

115. comoediolas] Roper (iiy;- 0/ J/ore, new colophon 13 Nov. 1506 Erasnius" :

ed. Hearno, 17 16, p. 3) records that portion bearing date i Nov. More's
More, when a boy in the household of work is dedicated to Ruthall (Ep. 192)
Cardinal Morton. would at Christmas
' with an undated preface (LB. App. 475.
tyd sodenly sometymessteppinami.ng quite wrongly ascribed to Erasmus)
the players, and never studinge for the which Ruthairs acceptanee
offers for
matter, make a parte of his owne there 'has in Graecis litteris studii mei pri-
presently amonge them, which made mitias '. See also Ep. 550 introd. and
the lookers on more sport then all the i,p. 18. 26-9.
players besid '. 120. fuit autor] The precise
value to
118. cpigrammatis] Cf. Ep. 635. 9-10. must be
be attached to this statement
119. Luciano] To the joint volunie of determined by comparison with Epp.
1506 (Ep. 187) More contributed tran^- 222. 1-18, 337. 126-39.
lations of three dialogues and of thc 127. Denioeritum] Cf. Ep. 222. 17,8.
ri/raH>iiCirfrt with adeclaniation in reply Pythagoricum] Cf. Diog. Laert.
(cf. II. 253 5 and E|>. 191 . These fill 8. i. 6.
999] TO ULRICH HUTTEN 17

diuersorum animantium. Proinde nulluni fere genus est auium quod

domi non alat, et siquod aliud animal vulgo rarum, veluti simia,
vulpes, viuerra, mustela et his consimilia. Ad haec si quid exoticum
aut alioqui spectandum occurrat, auidissime mercari solet atque his ; 135
rebus vndique domum habet instructam, vt nusquam non sit obuium
quod oculos ingredientium demoretur ac toties sibi renouat volupta- ;

tem, quoties alios conspicit oblectari. Cum aetas ferret, non abhor-
ruit a puellarum amoribus, sed citra infamiam, et sic vt oblatis magis
frueretur quam animo mutuo caperetur potius quam coitu. 140
captatis, et
Bonas primis statim annis hauserat. luuenis ad Graecas
literas a
literas atque philosophiae studium sese applicuit, adeo non opitulante
patre, viro alioqui prudenti proboque, vt ea conantem omni subsidio
destitueret ac pene pro aljdicato haberetur, quod a patriis studiis
;

desciscere videretur nam is Britannicaruiia legum peritiam pro- 145

:

fitetur. professio vt est a veris literis alienissima, ita apud

Quae
Britannos cum primis habentur magni clarique. qui in hoc genere
sibi pararunt autoritatem. Nec [temere] apud illos alia via ad rem ac
gloriam parandam magis idonea siquidem pleranque nobilitatem ;

illius insulae peperit hoc studiorum genus. In eo negant quenquam 150

absolui posse nisi plurimos annos insudarit. Ab hoc igitur cum non
iniuria abhorreret adolescentis ingenium melioribus rebus natum,
tamen post degustatas scholasticas disciplinas sic in hoc versatus est
vt neque consulerent quenquam libentius litigatores, neque quaestum
vberiorem faceret quisquam eorum qui nihil aliud agebant. Tanta 155
erat vis ac celeritas ingenii.
Quin et euoluendis orthodoxorum voluminibus non segnem operam
impendit. Augustini libros De Ciuitate Dei publice professus est
adhuc pene adolescens auditorio frequenti nec puduit nec poenituit ;

sacerdotes ac senes a iuuene prophano sacra discere. Interim et ad 160

pietatis studium totum animum appulit, vigiliis, ieiuniis, precatio-

133. et (MJi. F. i3i. EK^LB: vhieTa,N^ Loncl. 135. atque F aque £. 137. ac :

F-.iXtE. 142. atque£': ac F. 144. habereturF: haberet F. 149. pleranque

MS. ap. E Corrig., F : plerisque E.

133. domi] It is quite possible that ness caused by the frequent changes of
at this time More's home was still in subject in this sentence.
Bucklersbuiy. Inhermarriage-licence, 148. Nec temere] A conflation with.
2 July 1521, Margaret More (1. 174) is ' Nec temere habetur apud illos ea via
des»cribed as of the parish of St. . .maxime idonea '.
.

Stephen's, Walbrook within which ; 149. pleranque] The editors of E

part of Bucklersbury lies. From June found the reading of the ms. diflicult
1523 to Jan. 1524 More was the owner aiidcorrected it, recordingit, however,
of Crosby Place in the City of London; in the corrigenda the editors of F
:

but I cannot find any definite evidence restored it. For other citations of ms.
to connect liim with Chelsea before his originals in E Corrig. cf. Epp. 123.
purchases of land there in 1524. See i2n, 987. 32.3^^.
P. Norman, Crosby Place, 1908, p. 21. nobilitatem] Cf. Ep. 1053. i^on.
simia] A
story of More's ape and 153. schohisticas disciplinas] Pre-
weasel is told in the colloquy Amkitia, sumably at Oxford cf. Ep. 1002. 8-12.
:

first printed in Sept. 1531. P. Falk also 158. Augustini] This course of lec-
delighted in an ape seeEp. 450. 57-61.
;
tures was perhaps undertaken at the
144. abdicato]The technical term for request of Grocin for Roper (p. 3, ed.
;

'disowned', 'disinherited' : cf. Quint. Hearne) statesthat they weredelivered

' in the Church of St. Laurence iii the
7. I. 14, 4. II.
haberetur] The editors of F ould Jurye' where Gx"Ocin was Rector.
:

sought to remove some of the rough- i6i.pietatisstudium]Gairdner points

 18 LETTEES OF EEASMUS [1519

nibus aliisque consimilibus progymnasmatis sacerdotium meditans.

Qua quidem in re non paulo plus ille sapiebat quam plerique isti qui
temere ad tam arduam professionem ingerunt sese, nullo i^rius sui
165 periculo facto. Neque quicquam obstabat quo minus sese huic vitae
generi addiceret, nisi quod vxoris desyderium non posset excutere.
Maluit igitur maritus esse castus quam sacerdos impurus.
Tamen virginem duxit admodum iDuellam, claro genere natam,
rudem adhuc, vtpote ruri inter parentes ac sorores semper habitam,
170 quo niagis illi liceret illam ad suos mores fingere. Hanc et litei-is
instituendam curauit et omni musices genere doctam reddidit
planeque talem pene finxerat quicum lubuisset vniuersam aetatem
exigere, ni mors praematura puellam sustulisset e medio, sed enixam
liberos aliquot quorijm adhuc supersunt puellae tres, Margareta,
:

instituendam E instruendam H.
171. : 172. libuisset N. 174. tres F :

quatuor E. Margareta, Aloysia, Cecilia add. H.

out (EHR. vii. 713,14) that it was —

(1508 6 July 1570), whom he mentions
probably during this period that More in this connexion in Ep. 1233. 57>
made the acquaintance of .John Bonge, and whom More regarded as one of
Bownge, or Bunge, a contemporary of his own. About 1530 she married with
John Fisher at Cambridge, where they John Clement (^Ep. 388. 173^).
had been 'scoUers togethyr ', alsoB.A. 174. Margareta] (c. Oct. 1505-1544),
and M.A. bothe off on day
'
the latter
'
: More's eldest and favourite daughter.
degree in 1490, see Canibridge GraceBooks By Sept. 1521 (Ep. 1233. 53-4 cf. 1. ;

A. 214, J5, i. 26. Bonge became More's 13311)she was married to William Eoper
conft?ssor, christened two of his chil-
*
(1496-1578), a member of a Kentish
dren, buried his first wife and married family living at Well Hall, near Eltlaam
him to his second '. (cf. Ep. 104 introd.) but was still
;

164. sui periculo] A point on which dwelling, with her husband, in her
Erasmus always lays great stress : cf. father's house. At Christmas 1523
II. 67-71, Epp. 296. 34-6, 447. 138, 194, Erasmus dedicated to her some hymns
858. 495, 1158. 4-5, 1202. 220. of Prudentius, with a preface which
168. Tamen] This unexpected con- carries congratulations on the birth of
junction suggests that the three pre- their first child. He wrote to her
vious sentences (which are a character- again in 1529 (Lond. xxvi. 50, LB.
istic Erasmian sally) were added later 1075) and her autograph replj' is still
:

than the first composition. extant (Breshiu MS. Rehd. 254. 129
puellam] Jane Colt (c. 1487- LB. App. 352). Some of her father's^
1511 cf.
: Ep. 221. 3in), eldest letters to her are printed by Stapleton,
daughter of John Colt of Netherhall, Tres Thomae, 1588, in Latin, and are re-
near Roydon in Essex (see Ep. 829. produced in English by Cresacre More.
27n). Her marriage with More cannot JohnCoster (see Ep. 75ointrod.)inedit-
be dated later than c. Jan. 1505. From ing Vincentius Lirinensis' Pro Cathoticae
the initial simiharity of language she M. Julianus, 1569,
fidei antiquitate, Paris,
may be identified with the young wife cites (f. 47 from information received
:

from the eountry, married at 17, who from John Clement) an emendation by
at first found her husband's instruction her in Cyprian's Ep. 30. 3,>ie(«osformsi
irksome, but was brought by her father vos :which is the reading of Erasmus'
to happy compliance as described in
; editions. Mr. A. W. Keed has shown
the colloquy Vxor fxffnf/iyafios, first {Trans. of the Bibliographical Soc, n. s, ii)
printed in Aug. 1523 (LB. i. 704 D-5 c). that she translated Erasmus' Precatio
See The Times, Lit. Supph, 26 Dec. 1918. Dominica into English, in an edition
A story of More's docciving her with printed by T. Berthelet before 12 March
sham jewels is told in the Moria (LB. 152I. No copy is known but it was
:

iv. 451 cd). no doubt the same translation which

169. sorores] For these see Ph.Morant, W. de Worde printed, London, (c.
Hist, 0/ Essex, 1768, ii. 492. I Oct.) 1524. She is credited also by
174. tres] In writing quatuor in E, Stapleton, o^. cit., pp. 238, 242-3, with
Erasmus was doubtless thinking of a treatise De quatuor tiouissimis aud with
the adopted daughter, Margaret Giggs some declamations in imitation of
999] TO ULRICH HUTTEN 19

tAloysia, Cecilia, puer vnus loannes. Neque diu celebs viuere susti- 175
nuit, licet alio vocantibus amicorum consiliis. Paucis mensibus a
funere vxoris viduam duxit. magis curandae familiae quam voluptati,
quippe nec bellam admodum nec puellam, vt ipse iocari solet, sed
acrem ac vigilantem matrem familias quicum tamen perinde ;

comiter suauiterque viuit ac si puella foret forma quantumlibet 180

amabili. Vix vllus maritus a sua tantum obsequii impetrat imperio
atque seueritudine quantum hic blanditiis iocisque. Quid enim non
impetret, posteaquam effecit vt mulier iam ad senium vergens, ad
hoc animi minime mollis. postremo ad rem attentissima, cithara,
testudine, monochordo, tibiisque canere disceret, et in hisce rebus 185
cotidie praescriptum operae pensum exigenti marito redderet ?
Consimili comitate totam familiam moderatur, in qua nulla tra-
goedia, nulla rixa. Si quid extiterit, protinus aut medetur aut com-
ponit neque quenquam vnquam dimisit vt inimicum aut vt inimicus.
;

Quin huius domus fatalis quaedam videtur felicitas, in qua nemo 190
vixit qui non prouectus sit ad meliorem fortunam, nulhis vnquam
vllam famae labem contraxit. Quin vix vllos reperias quibus sic
conuenerit cum matre vt huic cum nouerca nam pater iam alteram —
induxerat vtranque non minus adamauit ac matrem.
;
Nuper
induxit tertiam hac Morus sancte deierat se nihil vnquam vidisse '95
:

melius. Porro erga parentes ac liberos soror^esque sic affectus est, vt

nec amet moleste nec vsquam desit officio pietatis.

175. loannes add. H. 185. tibiis X 194. induxerat F : induxit E.

Nuper . 196. melius add. F.
. . 197. vsquam E : vnquam N.

Quintilian and by Cresacre More, Life

;
John Oporinus, with a preface by
o/ilfoore, (1631), p. 189, with a transla- Grynaeus, Basle, J. Valder, March 1534,
tion of Eusebius. But none of these based in part on mss. brought by
have survived. Grynaeus from England. Nevertheless,
175. Aloysia] The name of More's on quite inadequate evidence, it has
second daughter, who became the wife been supposed that he was of weak
of Wm. Daunce, was Elizabeth as ; intellect. About 1529 he married Anne
Erasmus rightly has in his preface to Cresacre (151 1-77), and Cresacre More
the Kux. The inaccuracy here probably (1572-1649) was his grandson. See
ai'ose from confusion with her step- DNB. xxxviii. 447.
sister (cf. Ep. 1233. sSn) but as these ; 176. Paucis mensibiis] John Bonge,
names were not inserted until H, it was who was in a position to know (see 1.
not corrected like those in 11. 174, 211. i6in), says within a monythe after ' :
'

It appears also in Erasmus' preface to in a letter written in 1535 (EHR. vii.

Aristotle, 27 Feb. 1531 (Lond. xxviii. 714). Cf. Ep. 221. 3in.
13, LB. 1159). 177. viduam] Alice, widow of John
Cecilia] Afterwards the wife of Middleton (f c. 4 Oct. 1509), citizen and
Giles Heron. mercer of London, and merchant of the
loannes] (c. 1509-1547", More's —
Staple of Calais information which I
youngest child who in Sept. 1521 was
; owe toMr. A. W. Eeed. More married
about 13 (Ep. 1233.61). At Christmas her in 1511 (cf. Ep. 236. 47n); and
1523 Erasmus dedicated to him the after his execution she received from
poem A^^Ma;, attributed to Ovid. Besides the Crown an annuity for life.
that it is striking that the young man 178. nec bellaml Cf. Mart. i. 64. 4.
received the dedications of the second 187. familiam] By 1521 this included
editions of both Aristotle and Plato in also two of his daughters' husbands
—
the Greek the former corrected by cf. Ep. 1233. 720.
Grynaeus, with a preface by Erasmus 193. nouerca] See 1. 6in.
(Lond. xxviii. 13, LB. 1159), Basle, J. 196. sorores] Johanna, born 1 1 March
Bebel, 13 April 1531 the latter (with
; 147-5, ^"^ married to Rich. Staffreton ;

Proclus' commentariesj corrected by Agatha, born 31 Jan. 147I Elizabeth, ;

C 2
 20 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15 19

Animus est a sordido lucro alienissimus. Liberis suis semouit

e facultatibus quod illis satis esse putat quod superest, largiter ;

aoo effundit. Cum aduocationibus adhuc aleretur, nulli non dedit amicum
verumque consilium, magis illorum commodis prospiciens quam suis ;
plerisque solitus persuadere vti litem componerent minus enim hic :

fore dispendii. Id si minus impetrabat, tum rationem indicabat qua

possent quam minimo dispendio litigare: quando quibusdara hic
205 animus est, vt litibus etiam delectentur, In vrbe Londoniensi, in
qua natus est, annos aliquot iudicem egit in causis
ciuilibus. Id
munus vt minimum
habet oneris (nam non sedetur nisi die louis
vsque ad prandium), ita cum primis honorificum habetur. Nemo
plures causas absoluit, nemo se gessit integrius remissa plerisque ;

210 pecunia quam ex praescripto debent qui litigant siquidem ante litis :

contestationem actor deponit treis drachmas, totidem reus, nec

amplius quicquam fas est exigere. His moribus effecit vt ciuitati
suae longe charissimus esset.
Decreuerat' autem hac fortuna esse contentus, quae et satis haberet
215 autoritatis, nec tamen esset grauibus obnoxia periculis. Semel atque
iterum extrusus est in legationem in qua cum se cordatissime
;

gessisset, non conquieuit serenissimus Eex Heni-icus eius nominis

octauus donec hominem in auhim suam pertraheret. Cur enim non
dicam pertraheret Nullus vnquam vehementius ambiit in aulam
'?

220 admitti quam hic studuit effiigere. Verum cum esset optimo Eegi
in animo familiam suam eruditis, grauibus, cordatis et integris viris
differtam reddere, cum alios permultos, tum Morum in primis acciuit
quem sic in intimis habet vt a se nunquam patiatur discedere. Siue
seriis vtendum est, nihil illo consultius siue visuni est Regi fabulis
;

225 amoenioribus laxare animum, nuHus comes festiuior. Saepe res

arduae iudicem grauem et cordatum postulant has sic Morus discutit ;

vt vtraque j^ars habeat gratiam. Nec tamen ab eo quisquam im-

petrauit vt munus a quoquam acciperet. Felices respublicas si Mori
similes magistratus vbique praeficeret princeps Nec interim vlkim !

230 accessit supercilium.

Inter tantas negociorum moles et veterum amiculorum meminit et
ad literas adamatas subinde redit. Quicquid dignitate valet, quicquid
211. treis H: sex E.

born 22 Sept. 1482 andmarried to Johii drachmas] The correction

211. treis
Rastell (t 1536), the printer. Theirson made here H was perhaps pointed
in
William (c. 1508— 27 Aug. 1565), ad- outbyMore. I have adopted it because
hering to the old i'eligion, witlidrew it seems easier to suppose that Erasmus
under Edward vi to Louvain with John originally made a mistake, adding to-
Clement, whose daughter Winifred gether the fees paid by each side, than
(t 1553) l^e marricd. Under Mary he that treis in H is a mere lapse from sex
returned to Enghand, and edited More's of the earlier editions. I cannot find
English Works, London, 1557. Three any other evidence for the fees of liti-
weeks before Mary's death he was gants in thc Under-Sheriffs court.
made judge of the Queen's Bench ; but 214. essecontentus] Cf.Ep.388. 131,2.
shortly afterwards withdrew again to ai6. inlegationem] Cf. Epp. 388.94^,
Louvain, where he was buried bcside 623. 20 n. 2.
his wife in St. Peter's churcli. See 218. pertraheret] Cf. 11. 7on, 279.
Wright 6in),roprinted by Seebohm,
(1. 221. familiam] Cf. Epp. 855. 28n
p. 522 ; and DNB.
xlvii. 303-5. (where for 837 read 832), 917. iin,
206. iudicem] Under-Sheriff to ; 966,968-70,976,1004,1005.31-2,1028.
which officehewas electod,3Scpt. 1510. 1-2, 1031. 17-21, 1032. 17-23.
999j TO ULRICH HUTTEN 21

apud ampHssimum Regem gratia pollet, id omne iuuandae reipublicae,

iuuandis amicis impendit. Semper quidem adfuit animus de cunctis
benemerendi cupidissimus mireque pronus ad misericordiam eum 235 :

nunc magis exerit. quando plus potest prodesse. Alios pecunia sub-
leuat, alios autoritate tuetur, alios commendatione prouehit. Quos
alioqui iuuare non potest, his consilio succurrit. Nullum vnquam
a se tristem dimisit. Diceres Morum esse publicum omnium inopum
patronum. Ingens lucrum sibi putat accessisse si quem oppressum 240
subleuauit, si perplexum et impeditum explieuit, si alienatum redegit
in gratiam. Nemo iubentius collocat beneficium, nemo minus ex-
probrat. lam cum tot nominibus sit felicissimus, et felicitatis comes
fere soleat esse iactantia, nullum adhuc mortalium mihi videre con-
tigit qui longius abesset ab hoc vitio. 245
Sed ad studiorum commemorationem redeo, quae me Moro mihique
Morum potissimum conciliarunt. Primam aetatem carmine potissi-
mum exercuit, mox diu luctatus est vt prosam orationem redderet
moUiorem, per omne scripti genus stilum exercens. Qui cuiusmodi
sit, quid attinet commemorare praesertim qui libros eius semper 250
? tibi
halDeas in manibus. Declamationibus praecipue delectatus est, et,
in his, materiis adoxis, ingeniorum exercitatio.
quod in his acrior sit
Vnde adolescens etiamnum dialogum in quo Platonis
moliebatui-,
communitatem ad vxores vsque defendit. Luciani Tyrannicidae
respondit quo in argumento me voluit antagonistam habere, quo
;
255
certius periculum faceret ecquid profecisset in hoc genere. Vtopiam
hoc consilio aedidit, vt indicaret quibus rebus fiat vt minus commode
habeant respublicae sed Britannicam potissimum effinxit, quam
;

habet penitus perspectam cognitamque. Secundum librum prius

seripserat per ocium, mox per occasionem primum adiecit ex tempore. 260
Atque hinc nonnuUa dictionis inaequalitas.
Vix alium reperias qui felicius dicat ex tempore adeo felici ingenio
:

felix lingua subseruit. Ingenium praesens et vbique praeuolans,

memoria parata quae cum omnia habeat velut in numerato, prompte
;

et incontanter suggerit quicquid tempus aut res postulat. In disputa- 265

tionibus nihil fingi potest acutius, adeo vt summis etiam theologis
saepe negocium facessat, in ipsorum harena versans. loannes Coletus,
vir acris exactique iudicii, in familiaribus colloquiis subinde dicere
solet Britanniae non nisi vnicum esse ingenium cum haec insula :

tot egregiis ingeniis floreat. 270

Verae pietatis non indiligens cultor est. etiamsi ab omni supersti-
tione alienissimus. Habet suas horas, quibus Deo litet precibus, non
ex more, sed e pectore depromptis. Cum amicis sic fabulatur de vita
futuri seculi vt agno.scas iUum ex animo loqui, neque sine optima spe.
Ac talis Morus est etiam in aula. Et postea sunt qui putent Christia- 275
nos non inueniri nisi in monasteriis.

236. potest plus iV. 238. his add. H. 253. in add. N. 255. ant-
agonistam F: aut agonistam E. 272. Habet . . 274. spe add. F.
.

252. adoxis] paradoxical. Erasmus 13-15, 195. 4-8.

notes the same chai-acteristic in Colet 272. procibus] Cf. the anonymous lifo
Ep. 121 1. 388, 419-20, 512-13. (of 1599), i^rinted by C. Wordsworth
254. Tyrannicidae] Cf. 1. ii^n. from a Lambeth MS. in EcdeslasticdL
270. egregiis ingeniis] Cf. Epp. 185. Biographies, ii (1839), pp. 66 and 107,8.
 22 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

Tales viros cordatissimus Rex in familiam suam atque adeo in

cubiculum non solum adiBittit verumetiam inuitat nec inuitat modo ;

verumetiam pertrahit. Hos habet arbitros ac testes perpetuos vitae

280 suae, hos habet in consiliis, hos habet itinerum comites. Ab his
stipari gaudet potius quam luxu perditis iuuenibus aut mulierculis,
aut etiam torquatis Midis, aut insjmceius officiis quorum alius ad ;

voluptates ineptas auocet, alius ad tyrannidem inflammet. alius ad

expilandum populum nouas technas suggerat. In hac aula si vixisses,
2S5 Huttene, sat scio rursum aliam Aulam describeres, et misaulos esse
desineres: quanquam tu quoque cum eo Principe viuis vt integriorem
nec optare possis. Neque desunt qui rel:)us optimis faueant, veluti
Stromerus ac Coppus. Sed quid ista paucitas ad tantum examen
insignium virorum, Montioii, Linacri, Pacei, Coleti, Stocschleii, Lati-
290 meri, Mori, Tunstalli, Clerici atque aliorum his adsimilium ? quorum
quemcunque nominaris, mundum omnium virtutum ac disciplinarum
semel dixeris. Mihi vero spes est haud quaquam vulgaris fore vt
Albertus, vnicum his temporibus nostrae Germaniae ornamentum,
et plures sui similes insuam allegat familiam, et caeteris principibus
295 graui sit exemplo, vt idem et ipsi suae quisque domi facere studeant.
Habes imaginem ad optimum exemplar a pessimo artifice non
optime deliniatam. Ea tibi minus placebit, si continget Morum nosse
propius. Sed illud tamen interim caui, ne mihi possis impingere
quod tibi minus paruerim. neue semper opprobi"es nimium breuea
300 epistolas. Etiamsi haec nec mihi scribenti visa est longior, nec tibi
legenti, sat scio, prolixa videbitur id faciet Mori nosti-i suauitas.
:

Verum ne nihil ad postremam tuam epistolam respondeam, quam

prius excusam legi quam scriptam, clarissimi Principis Alberti
humanitatem ex ipsius etiam ad me literis intellexi. Sed qui, quae-
305 so, factum vt patera prius ad omnes peruenerit tuis literJs quam ad
me ? Certe per neminem certius mittere poteras quam per Richardum
Paceum, serenissimi Angliae Regis oratorem, siue me haberet Bra-

297. F : deliniatum £ : delineatuna Loiid.

285. aliam Aulam] Cf. Ep. 863. 3111. Master of the Rolls, and in 1523 he
286. Principe] Albert of Branden- was created bishop of Bath and Wells.
burg, archbishop of Mainz see Ep.
: See DNB.
661. Knight, pp. 220-1, identifies vvith
288. Coppus] See Ep. 986. 140. another John Clerk (f 10 May 1552%
289. Stocschleii] See Ep. 855. 43^. who had Icnown Pace (Ep. 211. 43^)
Latimeri] I do not know on wliat intimately in Italy(De jPn<c<M, pp.24-5),
ground Erasmus connects Latimer (Ep. became secretary to the Duke of Nor-
207. 22n) with the Court, unless that folk, and wrote an Opusmlum de mortuo-
he was for a time tutor to Eeginald rum resuiredione, 1545 : see DNB. But
Pole. in such company the bishop is perhaps
290. Clerici] John Clerk (fs Jan. more likely.
1541). He was B.A. at Cambridge 302, epistolam] Ep. 986. Foraletter
1499, M.A. 1502, and then began a of Erasmus to Hutten c. 30 May (con-
career of incessant ecclesiastical pre- temporary with Epp. 981, 985', which
ferment. At this time he was chaplain ouglit to have been delivered at Frank-
to Wolsey and dean of the Chapel fort by tho bearers, Jonas and Schalbe,
Royal, and thus was in froquent c. Juno mod., see EHE. p. 289 (HE.
attendance on the Court ; except when 135) and cf. Ep. 963. in.
he was sent on embassies, twice to 305. adomnes]Throughtheprinting
France and twico to Rome (cf. Ep. 1227. of Ep. 986.
5n). For a year, 1522-3, he was 307. Paceum] See Ep. 986 introd.
999] TO ULRICH HUTTEN 23

bantia, siue Britannia. Tu, quantum video, et calamo et ense gnauiter

belligeraris, nec minus tamen feliciter quam fortiter. Nam apud
reuerendissimum Cardinalem Caietanum audio te raagnam etiam 310
iniisse gratiam. Capnioni bene esse gaudeo. Francisci Cinglii nomen
non sinent emori literae, nisi velint ingratitudinis postulai'i.
De rebus nostris alias nunc illud tantum. Res hic sordidissimis
:

sycophantiis agitur quibus artibus vt imparem me fatear necesse est.

;

Si quis est isthic qui cupiat artem sycophanticam discere, indicabo 315
illi quendam huius disciplinae mirum artificem, quem huic rei plane

natum dicas. Minus bonus orator Cicero quam hic sycophanta et ;

repperit dociles multos apud nos. Nondum tempus est, verum breui
vobis hominem commendabo, vt, quo dignus est quodque misere
ambit, omnium eruditorum literis celebretur, portentum verius quam 320
homo. Bene vale.
Antuuerpiae. Decimo Cal. Augusti. anno m.d.xix.

1000. To LoRENZO Pucci.

Opera Cypriani f'^. a-. Louvain.
N. p. 1148 : Lond. xxviii. 6: LB. 448. 31 July 15 19.

[The preface to Erasmus' edition of Cyprian, Basle, Froben, Feb. 1520 (o).
This was possibly projected early in 1519 for on 9 April Faber Stapulensis ;

writes to Beatus Rhenanus, answering inquiries about the text of Cyprian and
mentioning a ms. (BRE. 105"). The first definite indica-
at St. Victor's in Paris
tion of thework in Epp. 975, 984 ; perhaps cf. also Ep. 997. On 3 Oct. 1519
is
Boniface Amerbach writes to Zasius that Erasmus is engaged with it (Am. E. i
cf. BRE. 133, 140, and 420 (Nov. fin. 1519)" at Christmas that the printers aro ;

hard at work and on 31 Jan. 1520 that it is nearly ready (^Basle MSS. C. VI*.
;

73. 330, 346 v°, 392 cf. BRE. 144).

; An index, of Sententiae, on two final sheets
was contributed by Conrad Pellican non sine magnis laboribus, qui nondum
;
'

sciebam artificium commodius indices colligendi (CPR. p. 76). Zasius received '

his copy from Boniface between 8 and 22 Feb. ZE. 19,20). Subsequent Froben (

editions of Cyprian's Opera with Erasmus' name appeared in Nov. 1521, ' ab
' iam tertium a mendis repurga-
innuraeris mendis repurgata (/3), Feb. 1525, '

tiora (7), and Jan. 1530, 'iam quartum accuratiori vigilantia a mendis repur-
'

gata (5) ; tlie last containing a treatise hitherto unpublished, Ad Fortunatum, de

'

duplid martijrio. Some criticisms on the first two editions are refiected in Epp.
1479, 1482.
A note appended to the introductoiy matter in 7 (f". b^ v°) states that for his
text Erasmus made use of three printed editions, Romanae . . ; cuiusdam '
.

alterius, cuius tituhis excidit et Badianae '. Tlie first is clearly that of
;

Sweynheym and Pannartz, Rome, 147 1 ; the second is shown by Hartel {Cypriani
Opera, 1868-71, pp. Ixxiii-iv in Corpus script. eccl. Lat.) to be Pafraefs, Deventer,
:

(c. 1480) (Hain 5894 Proctor 8954) the third is the Paris edition printed by
: ;

B. Rembolt and J. Waterloes, 13 Nov. 1512. The ground of this last identifica-
tion is that in producing the treatise De cardinalibus Chrigti operibus Erasmus says
(f°. b of a) that it was not in any of his manuscripts but that in aeditione '

310. reuerendissimum E : R. F : om. H. 311. Cinglii add. F : Sychnii H:

Sichnii N. 318. reperit F,

310. Caietanum] See Ep. 891. 25^. some of the forms which occur in
He had no doubt seen Hutten at Brewer ii, iii. For the present form
Augsburg in 1518. cf.Ep. 1166. 72.
311. Cinglii] The name of Francisof 313. hic] No doubt Louvain ; see
Sickingen (Ep. 582. 27^) is often cor- introd.
rupted: Seken, Sekyn, Sekkym, Sicken, 316. quendam] Clearly Leo.
Sykkynge, Sequinghen, Zekinghe, are 320. eruditorum literis] Cf. p. 210.
 24 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

Badiana separatum habebatur a reliquo volumine a description which does

'
—
not fit with the only other vohime in which it had hitherto appeared, the lUu-
strium virorum opuscula, Paris, A. Bocard, 28 June 1500 but which does agree with;

Rembolfs (see Hartel, p. Ixxvi), Badius is not known to have produced

Cyprian but as he had close connexion with Rembolt (see Renouard, Badius, i.
;

23, iii. 449), Erasmus' attribution of the 1512 edition to him is perhaps some-
thing more than mere conjecture.
Besides these printed texts Erasmus had the use of two manuscripts to ;

which, in contradiction of my inaccurate statement in Ep. 975, 13^, he makes

frequent allusion on f°. a^ of a. One of these, the smaller, was from Gembloux
(cf, Epp. 975, 984), and supplied bim with a new treatise, the De laude martyrii,
and with the third book of the Ad Quirinum, aduersus ludaeos (f. a* of a). The
other, wliich was the larger, Hartel identifies with tlie Paris MS. N. f. Lat.
12126 (x'^ or xi° Delisle), whieh he describes both as Corbeiensis' and San-
:
' '

germanensis' (p2). 1, 464) inferring (p. Ixxviii) tliat it was thence tliat Erasmus
;

derived Epp. 73, 74, 71, and the Senientiae Episcoporum, which also he printed for
the first time.
That Erasmus considered the third book of the Aduersus ludaeos to be new
and unpublished, probably indicates that he was using a copy of the Deventer
edition in which this treatise is lacking. Hain shows tbat when the treatise is
found, it is always on separate leaves, A-D. apart from the rest of the book.
A copy lacking these is in the Bodleian (Auct. Q sub fenestra ii. 4).
In Aug. 1544 Erasmus' Cyprian was re-edited (Cologne, P. Quentel see :

Migne i, pp. lxxiii,iv) bj' Henry Gravius, a Dominican of Cologne and perhaps
a kinsman of his old friend (cf. Ep. 610. 47^}. By this time the maniiscript of
the De duplici martyrio had disappeared, or at any rate Gravius had not seen it.
On internal evidencehe evolved the theorythat this othei'wiseunknown treatise
was a forgery by Erasmus and this view was followed by James Pamelius of
;

Bruges, in an edition printed at Antwerp in 1568, That Erasmus could nothave

lent himself to sueh fabrication clarius est quam vt sit admonendum
'
The '.

idea was soon discarded but moderu editors point out that on evident grounds
;

the work cannot be attributed to Cyprian. Either therefore Erasmus must have
read it through very hastily, or possibly he had not seen it at all. The edition
in which it appears (5) belongs to the Freiburg period and though there is much ;

revision of this preface, no doubt from Erasmus' own hand, he clearly cannot
have taken part in tlie actual production of tlie book. It is possible, therefore,
that, as their description (f, b^ v° of 5) suggests quem in vetustissima — '

bibliotheca repertum adiecimus' —

the Basle printers may have added the new
treatise on their own responsibility : as they did in 1535 with Hilary (Ep. 1334).
The dates of this preface are confirmed by those of the publication of a : cf. also
Ep. 999 introd. For Pucci see Ep. 860 introd. This preface is specially mentioned,
witli Epp. 180, 853, 1334, 1460, in Cai. Luc. (i, p. 39. 26-32) for inclusion among
Erasmus' letters. As was to be expected, N follows tlie text of S.]

REVERENDISSIMO PATRI AC D. D. LAVRENTIO PVCCIO, TITVLI SAN-

CTORVM QVATVOR CARDINALI MERITISSIMO, ERASMVS ROTERO-
DAMVS S. D,

In tam vasta clade, quae non soluin tot egregia

rei literariae
veteruni monumenta
deprauauit vel deti-uncauit, verumetiam
vel
innumeros scriptores immortali memoria dignos totos absorbuit,
lortassis ineptius videatur, reuerendissime Pater, vnius aut alterius
5 interitum deplorare ni Cyprianus vnus esset multorum instar haben-
;

dus, siue spectes eloquentiam, siue doctrinam, siue pastoris dignita-

tem, siue pectus Apostolici spiritus vigorem vbique fragrnns, siue
martyrii gloriam, Hanc autem iacturam haud scio an hoc modera-
tius ferremus, si totus nobis interisset. Nunc quoniam ex his
10 fragmentis quae nobis nescio quis casus superesse voluit, coniicimus
Tir. a : erasmvs koterodamvs lavrentio pvccio cardinali s. d. N. 2. vel
doprauauit vel detruncauit add. S. 4. reuerendissime a : R. N.
looo] TO LORENZO PUCCI 25

qualia fuerint illa quae perierunt, grauius etiam animo discrutiamur

quicunque thesaurorum huiusmodi sumus auari. Porro vt nunc in
obscuro sit quae et quam multa vir ille scripserit, operum claritas in
causa fuit quae et Hieronymo persuasit vt non duceret operae-
;

precium lucubrationum illius indicem texere, cum ipsius aetate et sole 15

clariores haberentur et publicitus omnium manibus tererentur non :

existimans fieri posse vt tantam lucem ac celebritatem vllus casus

obliuionis tenebris obscuraret. Quod idem malum nobis vsu venit
in TertuIIiano. Nam alius quispiam casus Oiigenicorum operum
catalogum nobis ademit, quem Hieronymus sese testatur attexuisse 20
in quadam ad Paulam epistola, in qua Iiuius Adamantii libros cum
libris Varronis confert quem et ipsum constat TroXvypafj^oTaTov
;

fuisse.
Caeterum cum Lactantius testetur a Cypriano admodum multa
fuisse conscripta, rectius perspicietquanta fuerit ea calamitas quae 25
caetera nobis ademit, qui reliquiis quas habemus, notha ac pseudepi-
grapha detraxerit. Etenim vt Cypriano cum caeteris scriptoribus est
commune, quod ipsius lucubrationibus multa sint aliorum admixta,
ita hoc fuit Hieronymo felicior, quod huius voluminibus multa sint
interspersa prorsus indigna lectu, Cypriano nihil asscriptum est nisi 30
doctum et a magnis viris profectum. Proinde nos adeo nihil semoui-
mus etiam huius generis, vtnonnullaex vetustis codicibus adiecerimus
neque enim protinus reiiciendum quod Cypriani non est.
lam ne quis in hac censura putet nos nihil aliud secutos quam
somnium animi nostri, Symbolum fidei, quod in euulgatis pariter ac 35
descriptis voluminibus Cypriani titulum hactenus possidet, inter
opera diui Hieronymi fertur Ruffini nomine. Liber De singularitate
clericorum habetur inter Augustini lucubrationes quanquam is an :

Cypriani sit dubito certe Augustini non esse praeter phrasim

;

arguunt ipsae sacrorum voluminum citationes. De caeteris con- 40

iecturam nostram suis locis annotabimus. Vitam apparet ex eo libro
decerptam, quem, vt testatur Hieronymus, conscripsit Pontius,
Cypriani diaconus, in ipso etiam exilio comes indiuiduus vsque ad
vltimi supplicii diem. Nec enim mihi verisimile fit hoc esse volu-
men illud egregium, cuius in vita Pontii meminit Hiei*onymus, cum 45
quod extat apud nos, ne libelli quidem vocabulum mereatur. Certe
coronidem de translatione corporis eius ab alio quopiani adiectam
esse clarius est vt sit admonendum, praesertim cum in ea Caroli
quam
Imperatoris mentio.
fiat
lam quod diuus Hieronymus memorat, octo tantum epistolas 50

14. et add. 5. i6. non a: haud quaquam 7. 28. sint a : sunt 5.

29. sint a : sunt 8. 37. Liber ... 40. citationes add. 7 (40. N^LB : sacrarum
y Lo)ul.). 44. mihi add. 5. 50. diuus a D. : X
15. indicem] Hier. Vir. ill. 67. that lie had befoi-e him N* or N'^, aud
ao. Hieronymus] Ep. 33. Lond.
24. Lactantius] Inst. 5. i. 24. 42. Hieronymus] Vir. ill. 68.
35. Symbolum tidei] This had been Poutius] Cf. Ep. 1260. 23^.
printed in Rembolfs edition, 1512 : 47. coronidem] A passage beginning
the De singularitate dericomm in all the 'Nos ergo, fratres, oremus .' at the . .

printed volumes used by Erasmus. end of Pontius' Passio Cijpriani, f. b* v°

40. sacrorum] A note made by of a ste Erasmus' annotatiuncula,
:

Leclerc in adopting this reading shows f ". b^ v°.

 26 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15 19

Cypriani ad Cornelium, Rhomanae vrbis Episcopum, extitisse, cum in

nostris codicibus vndecim, ni fallor, habeantur, fieri potest vt non
omnes ijeruenerint in manus Hieron^-mi aut, quoniam fit aliquoties ;

vt in iisdem diuersa tractentur argumenta, singulae quaepiam in

55 binas dissectae sint id quod nos in vna certe factum et deprehendi-
:

mus et indicauimus. Porro cum olim Africa i^ermultos aediderit

eloquentia doctrinaque celebres, inter quos sunt in primis Tertul-
lianus et Augustinus, tamen vix vlli contigit Rhomanae dictionis
germana puritas praeterquam Cypriano. De scriptoribus ecclesiasticis
60 loquor alioqui Lactantius in primis erat excipiendus.
; Nam Tertul-
lianus licet densus et argutus sit in sententiis, sermo tamen difficilis
est et obscurus atque etiam incomptior quemadmodum iudicat ;

Hieronymus in epistoh^ ad Paulinum, videlicet Lactantii iudicio

subscribens.
65 lam in Augustino subinde lectorem offendit perplexum nescio quid
et impeditum atque obscurum, quod in epistolis illi obiicit et Hiero-
nymus. At vterque Cypriano summas eloquentiae dotes tribuit sie ;

enim scribit Hieronymus in epistolaad Paulinum, Beatus Cyprianus '

instar fontis purissimi dulcis incedit et placidus '. Lactantius autem

70 in praefatione libri quinti De institutione religionis Christianae non
solum illi tribuit facilitatem, iucunditatem, perspicuitatem, copiam
'
ac nitorem, verum etiam vim ac neruos in persuadendo Erat enim :
'

inquiens 'ingenio facili, copioso, suaui et (quae sermonis maxima est

virtus) aperto, vt discernere nequeas vtrum ornatior in loquendo an
75 facilior in explicando an potentior in persuadendo quisquam fuerit.'
Atque vtinam diuus Augustinus, vt Afer Afrum. episcopus episcopum,
numero voluminvmi praecurrit, ita dictionis elegantia potuisset
assequi vtinamque linguam huius tam feliciter esset aemulatus
!

quam candide miratur ac praedicat ! Siquidem i.s libro De doctrina

80 Christiana quarto ex huius vohiminibus potissimum petit exempla,
quibus demonstret nullam eloquentiae partem in Christianis scripto-
ribus desyderari hunc cum Ambrosio subinde conferens, quemad-
;

modum Fabius Marcum Tullium cum Demosthene committit. Idem

in confiictationibus cum Pelagianis ac Donatistis multa cum reue-
85 rentia citat huius sententias.
Non possum equidem inficias ire quin olim inter orthodoxos
scriptores primas tribuerim Hieronymo verum vbi Cyprianum, :

quem prius et carptim et oscitans legeram, propius sum contemplatus,

prorsus animi dubius reddor vtrum vtri praeferam adeo suis vterque ;

90 virtutibus summus occurrit. Quod si hoc nomine iure praefertur

Demosthenes, quod propius accesserit ad verum illud ac naturale
dicendi genus et longius absit ab vmbra declamatoria, longe praecellit

59. De scriptoribus . 60. excipiendus

. . aclcl. 5. 62. iudicat a indicat
: S.
79. libro a LB : lib. : librum Lond. 83. Idem ... 85. sententias aclcl. 5.

53. vndecim] Hai-tel toohas eleven; 66. Hieronymus] Ejh112. 15.

but he marks two of them (nos. 49,50) 68. Hieronymus] Ep.58. ro.
as written by Cornelius tu Cyprian. 69. Lactantius] Inst. 5. i. 25.
56. indicauimus] on f». a^, of two 79. doctrina Christiana] 4. 21.
letters to Magnus on pp. 24, 132. 87. Hieronymo] Cf. Epp. 149. 62-4,
Hartel accepts theunification (no. 69). 844. 119 267 and for Erasmus' early
;

63. Hieronymus] Ep. 58. 10. interest in Jerome see Ep. 396 introd.
looo] TO LORENZO PUCCI 27

hac parte Cyprianus Hieronymum, magis vbique serius ac minus

affectans cum hic, quemadmodum et Tertullianus, in risu pene sit
;

immodicus, subindedesidens in expatiationibus, plurimum admiscens 95

ex prophana literatura quae dotes, si laudi dantur, non tam defuere
:

Cypriano quam vel spretae sunt vel neglectae. Nihil in hoc reperies
quod ad ostentationem ingenii videri possit ascitum, aut quod vllo
pacto vafriciem sapiat, quae non abest Hieronymo. Talis vbique
sermonis habitus est vt loqui sentias vere Christianum episcopum ac 100
martyrio destinatuni. Pectus ardet Euangelica pietate, et pectori
respondet oratio. Loquitur diserta, sed magis fortia quam diserta
neque tam loquitur fortia quam viuit, vt ipse meminit alicubi.
Huic nimirum personae magis congruebat dignitas quam lepos,
etiamsi locis aliquot declarat sibi non defuisse nasum, sicubi res ita 105
postulasset velut vbi salsissime ridet haereticum quendam qui nega-
:

bat Cyprianum habendum pi'o episcopo deinde cum refellit eos qui
;

non immersos sed aspersione aquae baptizatos in periculosis morbis,

non Christianos sed clinicos censebant appellandos. Nam hic praeter
perpetuam illam iucunditatem, sanguinis in morem per omnecorpus no
sparsam, iocis etiam ac dicteriis vtitur. In vna duntaxat epistola,
cuius initium est Bene admones, Bonate, nonnihil lusit apparatu
pompaque sermonis vnde et Augustinus comptae, iucundae splendi-
;

daeque dictionis depromit exemplum. Talem Ecclesiae doctorem,

talem Christianae pietatis athletam nobis dedit rhetorum schola, ne 1 1

quis sibi stolide placeat quod nihil rhetorices attigerit. Efferant alii
quantum libet eos quos nobis aediderunt dialecticorum ac Peripateti-
corum scholae, quos nec nos sane improbamus certe primas inter ;

orthodoxos patres Cypriano tribuit Papa Gelasiusin Decretis, i^dist.,

c. Sancta Bhoniana. 120
lam fortassis non abs re fuerit nonnihil attingere de dogmatiy
huius, a quibus hodie dissentit Ecclesia ; inter quae cum primis
iactatum est illud, quod existimaret haereticosab Ecclesiae consortio
semotos ac schismaticos nihil agere baptizando. Atqui haec senten-
tia non vni placuit Cypriano, verum plerisque omnibus Africae, 125
Numidiae Mauritaniaeque episcopis quod abunde perspicuum est ex
:

actis synodi Carthaginensis, quae nos adiecimus in hac aeditione.

Quin ipsum etiam Hilarium aliquando huius fuisse sententiae, vt ab
Arrianis baptizatos non reciperet nisi rursus ab orthodoxis baptiza-

94. quemadmodum et Tertullianus add. 5. iii. ac a : atque N. 122. dis-

sentit a dissentire videtur 5.
: 123. illud add. 5. 128. Quin ipsum . . .

147. receptum a (128. ipsum etiam Hilarium aliquando a : et Hilarium, Romanae

Ecclesiae diaconum 7. 129. Arianis 7.) Error erat simplex, non ex ambi-
:

tione malitiaue, sed ex haereseon odio et ecclesiasticae vnitatis amore profectus.

106. haereticumlThe reference seems 127. actis] The Sentmtiae Episcoponim:

to be to Steplien, a bishop ' qui haere- see introd.
ticorum causam contra Christianos ... 128. Hilarium] In the 1535 edition of
adserere conatur' (Cypr. ^pp. 74. i, 75. Erasmus* preface to Hilary (Ep. 1334.
25). 530-69)there isachangeof equalmagni-
108. non immersos] Cypr. Ep. 69. tude with that madehere in S. As the
12, 13. correction in each letter is based on the
III. epistohi] The Lc Graiia Dei. same passage of Jerome, it is clear that
113. Augustinus]jDod. C/tnV. 4. 14.31. bctween 1525 and 1530 Erasnius had
119. Gelasius] in Gratiani Decretum 1, made up his mind that the Hilary
d. 15, c. 3, § a. referred to was not the bp. of Poitiers.
 28 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [151

130 rentur, palam docet Hieronymus. Et tamen hoc itaplacuit Cypriano

vt, quemadmodum ipse quod optimum esse iudieabat sequebatur, ita
nemini praeiudicai'et quo minus quod ipsi videretur faceret, nec
putabat quenquam, si diuersum sentiret, ea gratia semouendum
a communione. Porro qui diuersam sententiam sequi maluerunt,
135 mihi quidem non tam argumentis videntur commoti quam fauisse ei
parti quae magis abhorreret a schismate Donatistarum, simulque
perspexisse quam non esset tutum eam aperire fenestram, si sacerdos
impius nihil agere crederetur qua tamen in sententia veteres quidam
:

fuisse videntur. Nam quantum habeant momenti quae diuus

140 Augustinus adfert de sacramento et effectu sacramenti, de characteri-
bus, de diuersa ratione baptizantis et i-emittentis peccata, prolixius sit
quam vt conueniat hic expendere. Certe Christus iisdem baptizandi
ius tradidit quibus mandauit absohiendi potestatem nec tamen pro- ;

tinus absohiit sacerdos quisquis in hoc nomen inuocat Trinitatis.

145 Quodsi res ab argumentis humanis penderet, et nisi concordia faviorem
vbique mereretur, potius haberi poterat quod sequitur Cyprianus quam
quod est receptum. Sunt et aha quaedam, sed hinc ferme profecta,
quae suis locis attingemus.
lam quod quidam (vt refert Lactantius) homo disertus sed impius
150 Caprianum pro Cypriano vocarit, hoc magis nobis placere debet vir
optimus, quod viro pessimo displicuerit, imo cui nihil in Cypriano dis-
plicuerit praeter Christianam pietatem. Satis enim declarat quid ille
de Christo senserit, qui doctrinam eius aniles fabulas iudicarit. Ad
haec, quod huic Hieronymus alicubi videtur absolutam sacrae Scri-
155 turae scientiam detrahere, nihil aliud sensit, opinor, quam persecu-
tionum procellis, quibus tum agitabatur Ecclesia, martyrioque prae-
peditum. non absoluisse in explanandis diuinis vohiminibus quod
egregie praestaturus videbatui*, si Hcuisset. Nam quae scripsit, fere
versantur in locis communibus vnde non pauca decerpit Hieronymus,
:

160 quoties in iisdem versatur quemadmodum, vt est verisimile, e Ter-

;

tuUiani libris multa mutuatus est Cyprianus. Quibus adeo delectatus

deditusque legitur vt, quoties ab amanuensi codicem posceret, dicere
solitus sit 'Da magistrum nihilo minus ob id ingenio tribuens, quod
' ;

Dum enim sedulo vitat lacus liaereticorum contritos horretque bibere aquam de
cisterna aliena, incautiore mali fuga in eum errorem inciderat. Nec ille repertor
fuit eius erroris, sed a maioribus acceptum tuebatur, haud dubie mutaturus
sententiam si melioribus argumentis veritatem fuisset cdoctus ;
quemadmodum
post episcopi caeteri priorem opinionem meliore sententia mutarunt. Nam
testimonia Scripturarum et rationes quibus illi fuerunt in eum errorem inducti,
eleganter refellit Augustinus in libris De baptismo contra Donatianos, prae-
sertim libris tertio, sexto, septimo 5. 154. alicubi a in epistohi quadam ad :

Paulinum S.

130. Hieronymus] c. Lucif. 21. itbetter to leave questions of dogma

146. potius haberi] This opinion of alone.
Cyprian, which in a Erasmus is only 149. Lactantius] Inst. 5. i. 27.
prepared to reject for the sake of unity, 150. Caprianum] The reading now
he definitely troats as an error in 5 : accepted is Coprianian, as from Konpia.
though at the same time allowing So Alciati, in 1530 (Lond. xxvii. 30,
himself toexpress some doubt (I. I22n) LB. 1143): but this form remains in
as to the view of the Church. all Erasmus' editions.
147. Sunt etalia] Witliin the limits 154. Hieronymus] Ep. 58. 10.
of a preface Erasmus evidently thought 162. legiturj Hier. Vir. ill. 5^.
looo] TO LORENZO PUCCI 29

ab Ecclesia sese submouisset, nimirum gnaxus vel e sterquilinio legere

aurum, et intelligens vbique bonum esse quod bonum est, ac vitans 165
propheticam imprecationem aduersus eos qui pro personarum varie-
tate vel pro suo magis affectu de rebus iudicium variantes, quod
bonum est, dicunt malum, quod dulce est, faciunt amarum.
Sed ne celsitudinem tuam pluribus morer, reuerendissime Pater,
prodit Cyprianus et emendatior multo, sublatis opera nostra mendis ; 170
et aliquanto purior. semotis iis quae illi falso tribuebantur et auctior, ;

adiectis aliquot ex vetustissimis exemplaribus, quae hactenus deside-

rata sunt. Postremo prodit opera Frobenii nitidior simul et augu-
stior. Prodibit autem et feliciter, si T. R. D. nostrae fauebit
industriae simul et consilio qui laborem hunc tuo nomini dicatum 175
:

esse voluimus, non ignari quantum ea laboret instaurandae religioni

Christianae. Quorum enim auspiciis magis conueniebat restitui
priscos Ecclesiae doctores, quam vestris qui nunc illorum praecipuas
vices geritis ? per quos potius oportuit asseri scriptorem Apostolis
proximum, quam per eos qui nobis summates Apostolos reprae- 180
sentant ? Quin et illud mihi probe visum est congruere, vt Cypria-
nus, cui primum locum tribuit sedis Apostolicae censura, tuis
prodiret auspiciis, cui meritissimo inter tot ordinis Cardinalicii lumina
primas tribuit Leo Pontifex, non minus cordatissimi quam maximi
tittdo clarus. Celebris est apud Ehomanos Hannibal Poenus, qui 185
cum Italis de Rhomano certauit imperio : hunc aequum est haberi
celebriorem, qui cum Rhomanis orthodoxis felicius quam Hannibal
de Rhomana certauit eloquentia. Ille cum Scipione conflixit armis,
hic cum Cornelio Rhomano Pontifice sic suscepisse pietatis certamen
videtur, vt ambos virtutibus pares eodem die, licet anno non eodem, 190
similis martyrii palma decorarit, eloquentiae gloria vicerit Cyprianus.
Mihi vero peculiaris etiam quaedam causa fuit vt hoc, quicquid est
operae, amplitudini tuae dedicarem ; quandoquidem non licuit alia
ratione testari animum memorem officiorura haud quaquam vulga-
rium, quae primum R. D. Antonius Puccius, nepos tuus, id temporis 195
legatum agens summi Pontificis apud Eluetios, mox tua celsitudo
Rhomae mihi largiter impendit quam j)recor vt Christus Opt. Max.
:

dignitati Rhomanae sedis et reipublicae Christianae iuuandae diu

seruet incolumem.
Louanii, An. m.d.xix. pridie Cah August. 200

169. reuerendissime a : reuerende 5. 174. T. R. D. a : tua autoritas 5.

200. An. a : Anno 5 : Anno a Chri.sto nato N. Augusti /3.

174.T.R.D.]tuareuerendadominatio. 186. huncJThe point ofthe compari-

184. primas] Pucci was now chief son lies in Cyprian's position as bp. of
penitentiary but his influence with
;
Carthage.
Leo was due rather to personality than 195. Antonius] See Epp. 855. 6-14,
to official pobition cf. Pastor vii. 83. 860.
viii. 113). 196- tua celsitudo] Cf. Ep. 865. 22-7.
 30 LETTERS OF EEASMUS

^^UOOl. To George Spalatinus.

Farrago p. 374. Antwerp.
F. p. 463 : HN: Lond. xi. 24: LB. 450. 7 August 1519.

[Between the Imijerial Election (1. 63) and the publication of the Farrago (E).'^

D. GEORGIO SPALATINO, THEOLOGO INCOMPARABILI,

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.

Si quid vaeat occupatissimo et si fas est theologo, audi quod rideas.

Adiit me Petrus Alamirus, homo non infestiuus, circiter Calendas
Augusti, anno m.d.xix Louanii, reddidit epistolium ex Aquisgrano
missum, sed affirmans sibi Antuuerpiae esse ingentes epistolarum
6 fasciculos a summatibus amicis de rebus haudquaquam vulgaribus.
Huius interim voluptatis dies aliquot kicrumfeci. Post decem ferme
confero me Mechliniam, salutaturus Episcopum meum, nempe Traie-
ctensem nam is forte tum aderat. 'Aya9rj tvxj] obuius est Alamirus
; ;

admoneo de epistolis, ait esse in proniptu. Condicitur locus in

lo teniplo, simul et tempus. Profert multis circunstantibus in templo
epistolas quinque, quasdam duplici tunica vacuaque obuolutas, omnes
item communi contectas inuolucro. Accipio, gaudio gestiens. Ac
tum quidem contentus ex opisthographia didicisse quinam essent qui
scriberent (nam aderant quibuscum erat quod agerem), ad prandium
15 me Nam condixeram apud loannem Robbinum, decanum
recipio.
eius templi,virum prudentia singulari, summa integritate, sed in-
genio perquam festiuo. Is est in quem Collegii Trilinguis praecipua
cura inclinata recumbit.
Inter epulas cum animaduerterem a conuiuis desyderari rerum
20 nouarum aliquid quo taedium discuteretur, promo meas epistolas
modo redditas resigno. Tua primum venit in manus, in qua flagitas
;

vt tuis literis aliquando respondeam, quas, vt apparet, illustrissimi

Ducis atque adeo publico Academiae nomine ad me scripseras. Eas
cum non accepissem, et tamen ad proximas Ducis tuasque literas
25 paucis ante diebus respondissem, demiror quid tibi velis. Tandem
inspicio subscriptionem, et reperio scriptam ex arce Aldenburgia,
Anno millesimo quingentesimo decimoseptimo, Idibus Nouembris.
Mox, vt par erat, ingens risus obortus pro thesauro carbones rep- ;

TiT. D. ovi. THEOLOGO INCOMPAKABILI 07/1. H.

H. 3. Louanii, scripsi : . Louanii
E. 7. me EN^ om. N^ Lond.
: 8. N: aderat 070^77 rvxv, obuius E. 15. F:
Robbium E, necnon in marg. 26. Aldenburgia E Adelburgia F. : 28. repe-
rimus Lond.

3. Louanii] See p. 12. earliest days (cf. iv. 8-1 1, Epp. 33

ex Aquisgrano] Perhaps in reply introd., 603. iin'; but it had been
to Ep. 993. strengthened by a more recent tie (cf.
6. decem ferme] See p. 12. Ep. 714. iin). See also Ep. 1141. 3-7.
7. Episcopum] Philipof Burgundy; 15. Robbinum] See Epp. 178. ^n,
see Ep. 603 introd. Dr. Muller tells me 805.
that Philip was at Mechlin 7 Aug., but 18. inclinata] Cf. Verg. Aen. 12. 59.
wasback in Duurstcde (Ep. 645introd.) 22. literis] Ep. 501.
by 20 Aug. 25. respondissem] with Epp. 979,
meum] Erasmus' connexion with 978 ; written not 'afewdays' but two
tlie diocese of Utreclit dated from his months and more before this incident.
looi] TO GEOKGE SPALATINUS 31

perimus, pro nouis vetera. ' Ibi frustratus aperio literas Pirkemheri
has comperio scriptas anno millesimo quingentesimo decimooctauo, 30
Calendis Octobrib. Maior etiam obortus risus. Resigno literas Ricardi
Sbrulii Foroiuliani, Caesarii poetae reperio scriptas anno item ;

decimooctauo, Idibus Nouembris. lam me suppudere coeperat. Soluo

epistolam Georgii Behem, canonici Nurenbergensis, scriptam decimo-
septimo die Februarii, anno decimonono. Vnus attulit omnes, et ita 35
reddidit quasi curriculo ex vltima Germania aduolasset. sed ita
mundas omnes ac si eodem die scriptae fuissent. diligentiam !

Posthac igitur huic mandabis, siquid epistolarum recte seruatum

velis siquid reddi cupies, mandabis alii.
;

Non dubito quin optimus ille lonas cum collega suo et literas et 40
animum nostrum fobis rettulerit. Male me habet quod nomisma quo
ilhistrissimi Ducis imago mire repraesentabatur, mihi periit vna cum
epistola. Cum enim sensissem reuerendissimum Episcopum ac
Piincipem Leodiensem vtriusque videndi percupidum esse, neque
tum forte haberem in crumena, et ille ad multam noctem tardaret 45
in intimis consiliis apud D. Margaretam, Maximiliani Caesaris filiam.
postridie summo diluculo Germaniam aditurus, tradidi cuidam qui
nobis vna cum Episcopo prandentibus astiterat pocillator, vt illi osten-
sum vtrunque mihi restitueret. Post dies complures ex medico disco
et iuuenem abisse cum caeteris in Germaniam. Nec adhuc Episcopus 50
sese in aulam nostram recepit e Germania reuersus. Mihi tamen
magis dolet epistolae iactura quam nomismatis.

29. Pirkhemeri ^". 32. anno om. H. 34. Nurebergensis H Nurember-

:

gensis iV. 43. reuerendissimum E R. : F : om. H. 46. D. om. H.

29. Pirkemheri] Not answering Ep. Exegesis of Irenicus (Ep. 877. in), f. 14
856 which Pirekheimer did not see
; v°. An
edition of John of Freiburg's
till it was in print (cf. Ep. 1095. 5-7^. Smnma Con/essorum, Lyons, J. Saccon,
Like the letters from Sbrulius and 9 Sept. 1518, is dedicated to him ;
Beheni, it is not extant. and he is associated with Flamming
32. Sbrulii] See Ep. 1159 introd. (Ep. 867. 56^) in the dedication of
His letter was probably written from Adelphus' Gregory Nazianzen. Apart
Augsburg. ffom the mention here nothing is
34. Behem] (c. 1461 1,2 June — known of his correspondence with
1520), of Nuremberg, a friend of Chr. Erasmus.
Scheurl. He matriculated at Leipzig 40. lonas] See Epp. 876, 963. in,
in the summer of 1482, and was B.A. 985.
1484,M.A. I48f. Subsequently he was literas] Ep. 978.
given a canonry in St. Mary's ad ' 41. nomisma] See Epp. 872. 26n,
gradus at Mainz, where c. 1509 he
'
978.6-9, 1119. 2n.
appearsasaidingin thefoundation of a 43. epistola] See Ep. 963. in.
new college and thence in Sept. 1513
; 44. Leodiensem] Cf. Ep. 978. 7-9.
hewaselectedProvostof St. Laurence's 47. Germaniam aditurus] Though
at Nuremberg in succession to Ant. not an Elector, the Bp. of Liege was
Kressen. See 6. Bauch and F. Herr- sent to Frankfort insupportof Charles'
mann in Arch. /. Jiess. Gesch., nf. v, interest; and was one of the signatories
1907, 99pp.Scheurrs life of
54, ; to the letter informing Pace of the
Kressen, Nuremberg, F. Peyp, 24 July result (Brewer iii. 338 written, 28
;

1515 (f' P- 354) ; ^^^ -A-' Wiirfel, Di- June, from Hochst, 5 ms. w. of Frank-
ptycha ecclesiae Laiirentianae, Nuremberg, fort, where the Elector of Mainz had
1756, p. 21 alsoSE. 60, 66, 71, 82, 115,
: a castle). Subsequently he returned
176, 209, 218. Behem's praise is in from Germany with Pace (Brewer iii.

HE, 64 ; in Jo. Schoner's Terrae totius 363, 392).

descriptio, Nuremberg, J. Stuchssen, 49. ex medico] Perhaps cf. Ep. 1038.
15 '5) f- 32 and in the Germaniae
;
^n.
 32 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

Ricardus Paceus, vir in vtraque literatura praeeellens, qui in

electione Imperatoris nomine serenissimi Angliae Regis legatione
55 fungebatur, reuersus isthinc dictu mirum quo pectore quaque facundia
mihi Federicum totum depinxerit, grauitatem viri, prudentiam, inte-
gritatem, eruditionem, quid multis? omnia magno Principe digna.
Is mea sententia maiore cum laude recus;iuit imperium quam quidam
ambierunt. Et tamen nemo melius gerit principatum quam qui
60 pondus eius penitus perspexit. In nos magni nominis sarcina de-
posita est. Superest precai-i superos vt nobis cum primis, mox toti
orbi Christiano, sit faustum ac felix.
Ad primum rumorem qui Carolo destinatum imperium nunciabat,
tota liaec regio sese in gratulationem et gaudium effundebat pene
65 immodice. Sed vt est rerum humanarum tempftratura, non deerat
huic voluptati comes dolor. A
pestilentia nusquam tuti sumus, quae
locis aliquot inclementissime saeuit. Ad haec magna manus, opinor
ex his militibus quorum opera profligatus est Dux Vuirtenbergensis,
obsidet nostra confinia, incertum quo duce, cuius iussu, aut quorsum
70 tendens hoc vnum facile coniectant omnes ingentem vim pecunia-
:

rum flagitari, Multos adhuc terret exemplum Asperae, ante bien-

nium internitione vastatae iamque poenitet clementiae qua superiores
;

exercitus dimisimus incolumes. Neque desunt qui suspicentur hunc

exercitum consilio principum ali, vt sit in promptu quo populum
75 premant, si quid grauentur audire iussis et iubentur vix ferenda.
;

Sed in his fata viam inuenient me miserae plebis miseret, et piget

:

quorundam plusquam Turcicae tyrannidis. Postremo video rerum

summam ad paucos cogi, paulatim antiquatis veteris democratiae
reliquiis. Siquidem in Hispania Saracenici imperii manifesta vestigia
80 licet hodieque cernere quorum tyrannidem aliquando passa est ea
;

regio. Vtinam illud principibus queat persuaderi, neminem Splendidius

regnare quam qui liberis ac felicibus imperat
Reuerendissimus cardinalis Albertus, princeps Maguntinensis,
humanissimis literis nos ornauit donoque luculento cohonestauit
85 quod ego vel hoc nomine plurisfacio, quod et a cordatissimo Principe
68. Vuirtebergensis : H
Vuirtembergensis N. 80. hodieque E. Cf. Ep. 916.
267, vM sine iusta causa emendaui. ,
quorum : E ,Nam Sarracenorum H.
83. Reuerendissimus cardinalis om. H.

53. Paceus] After the declaration of tricht.

the Emperor (Ep. 968. 6n) Pace went 68. Dux Vuirtenbergensis] Cf. Epp.
to Frankfort. He was there 3 July, at 986. in, 1030. 65^.
Mainz next day, at Cologne 8 July, at 71. Asperae] Cf. Ep. 643. agn.
Antwerp via Diest 22 July. Thence 72. clementiae] Cf. Epp. 825. 3 seq.,
he had returned to Mechlin by 27 July ; 829. 8 seq.
and he left next day for Calais. See 74. popuhim premant] Cf. Ep. 825.
Brewer iii. 351, 353, 363, 392, 398. 7,8.
Erasraus'meetingwithhim(cf. Epp. 76. fata] Verg. .4en. 3. 395, 10. 113.
1009. 52-8, 1074. 71-3, 1097. 9-12) was 82. liberis] Erasmus speaks freely
probahly at Antwerp see p. 12.
; on behalf of liberty and equality for
56. Federicum] ofSaxony. For his the people as a protection against the
refusal of the Empire cf. Epp. 1030. oppression of tyrants. in the Panegyric
53-64, II 19. 7-8. and in the Inst, principis Chrisiiani (LB.
67. magna manus] Cf. Brewer iii. iv. 546F, 574D). See also the ScamfteMS
363. 392 ; mentioning troubles of this {Ada(j. 2601) ; and cf. Ep. 1003. 30.
kind at Coblenz, and an army of 8.000 84. literis] Ep. 988.
footmen between Coh)gne and Maas- dono] See Ep. 986. 35^.
looi] TO GEOEGE SPALATINUS 33

et vltro missum est. Nam quae iudicio dantur, testimonia sunt verius
quam munera.
Edimus Cyprianum, emendatum non mediocri sudore, ita me
Christus bene amet. deinde auctum accessione libellorum aliquot,
quos ex vetustissimis codicibus adiecimus adiunximus annotatiim- 90 ;

culas aliquot sed paucas, notha semouimus a gnesiis, et huius generis

adeo nihil decidimus vt nonniliil etiam auctarii addiderimus.
Illustrissimo Principi me meaque studia commendabis, et soda-
litatem bonis literis adiuratam meis verbis salutabis diligenter. Amat
victoria curam. Bene vale. 95
Antuuerpiae, septimo Idus Augusti. Anno millesimo quingente-
simo decimonono.

925,904,9891002. To NicHOLAs Beraldus.

Farrago p, 367. Antwerp.
F. p. 457: HN: Lond. xi. 15 : LB. 327. 9 August (1519).

[1519, because Poncher is Archbishop of Sens ; cf. Ep. 924. i^n. In 1518, too,
Erasmus Avas at Basle in August.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS NICOLAO BERALDO, VTRIVSQVE

LITERATVRAE PROFESSORI EXIMIO, S. D.
Vt tribus epistolis tuis postremis vnica respondeam, huc est de
vna fidelia plures dealbem parietes, scio nie frequenter ad te scrip-
sisse, sed ita Aa/cwvi/cws vt tibi videar non scripsisse ita cogit, mi :

Beralde, studiorum moles, quibus obruor. Si rationem ineas quid

dandum sit pietatis officiis, quid somno, quo largiore vtar oportet sub 5
auroram redormiscens, quid valetudini, quid scribendis recognoscen-
disque libris, facile colliges quantulum supersit temporis quod tw
diTe-to-reAAeii' omnibus impartiam. Quanquam mea studia non eo
spectant vt Thomam aut Scotum e scholis publicis explodant vete-
reque possessione depeUant quod nec mearum est virium, et, si esset, 10
:

haud scio an sit optandum, nisi iam paratum videamus doctrinae

genus aliquod hoc praestantius. Quid alii moliantur ipsi viderint
ego nunquam futurus sum huius autor tumultus. Mihi sat est si
theologia magis sobrie ti-actetur quam antehac est tractata et subinde ;

petatur ex fontibus Euangelicis, quod antehac e lacunis non vndi- ^5

1001. 90. adiunximus F : adieciraus E. lOO^ tit. vtrivsqve . . , eximio

07«. H. 5. sub aui-oram redormisceiis add. H.

1001. 88. Cyprianuml Ep. 1000. 9. scholis publicis] This term maj-

93. Principi] Duke Frederick. be elucidated from theZ)eP/on!m<ia<io«e:

sodalitatem] the XJniversity of 'scbol;iequ;isol.omniunidisciplinaruin
Wittonberg ; cf. 1. 23. publicam professionem vulgusappellat
94» Ama^tvictoria] Cat. 62. 16. Vniucrsitates publicae scholae quas
' ;
'

1002.6. redormiscens] For Eiasmus' ambitioso vocabulo.vt dixi, iiuncappel-

difRculty in sleeping ef. Ep. 296. 18-19. l.mt Vniui i>itates (LB. i. 918 e, 9190).
'

8. non eo spectant] An interestiiig Cf. also Epp. 1211. 486, 512, 1220. 23 ;

indication of Erasmu.s' views is to and Ep. 1021. ii^n.

what was as yet practioalde in the re- 15. la<unis] A favourite figure with
form of university studics. Cf. Epp. Era.^mus ; cf. Epp. 384. 51, 529. 70, 805.
541. 60-145, 1003. 15-25, 1127. 12-16. 33, 1007. 19, 1033. 199, 1062. 41.
 34 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [151

quaque puiis solemus hauriie plerique. Xeque nihil hic profecimus,

quibusdam huc adductis, quibusdam etiam compulsis, vt magis serio
theologi sint. Ad laudes quas largiter effundis in me, quid aliud
respondeam quam te valde amanter hallucinari in Erasmo.
20 Atque hactenus quidem ad epistolam quam Luteciae scripseras
decimo Calend. April. nunc ad eam quam reddidit Nesenus,
;

amicus cum paucis fidus ac syncerus. Quid Caluo commiseris aut

quid ille mihi reddiderit, non satis commemini. Certe Basileae nec
vnquam me conuenit, neque quicquam ab illo redditum est. Louanii
2=, extorserat a me prolixam epistolam ad Grolierium, praefectum Insu-
briae, pollicitus montes vt aiunt aureos. Vides euulgatam epistolam ;

iactitat ille respondisse Grolierium, cum ipse nondum habeam certum

an Grolierio reddita sit epistohx. Ais breui magnis de rebus ad me
venturas literas ab archiepiscopo Senonensi, Stephano Poncherio.
33 Mihi quidem hoc ipsum erit niagnum, si vir tantus animoque meo
cum primis charus ad me scripserit alioqui nihil moror magnam :

fortunam cum onere pari coniunctam. Mihi semper animus fuit ocii
ac libertatis amans et a strepitu rerum abhorrens. Quid ad Dorpium
scripseris adeo mihi non indicauit Nesenus, vt ne hoc quidem ex eo
,^5 cognouerim, scripsisse te. Ante pauculos dies audiui literas illi
redditns abs te per Hermannum Phrysium, nescio quid cum illo
expostulantes. Si quid acerbius est, nolim, mi Beralde n.an Dorpius ;

si quid peccat, magis obsequendi facilitate peccat quam malicia desti-

nata. Quod theologi partim resipiscunt partim mitescunt, non perinde
40 meo vt ipsorum nomine gaudeo.
lam ne nihil respondeam ad eas quas attulit Hermannus Pluysius,
erat is adolescens mihi multorum literis commendatus, et quidem
diligpnter: quibus omnibus habeo gratiam, quod per eos contigerit
nosse ingenium tot modis amabile. Nihil ille petebat praeter collo-
45 quium et congressum neque maligne mei copiam feci, quatenus per
;

studiorum oceupationes licuit. Eum tibi vicissim commendo, quo

tuae in illum beneuolentiae nonniliil accedat mea causa. Bene vale.
Antuuerpiae. quinto Idus Augusti. [m.d.xviii.]

29. ELB: Senonen. /". 36. EN- LB : Hernianiim TZA'^. 48. m. d xviii aAZ. i7.

21. decimo] Tn spite of the diver- f. 148 In spite of the discrepancy

\°.
gence of date Erasmus clearly is re- of date seems possible that Gi'olier's
it
ferring to Ep. 925. letter found was the answer to Ep. 831 :

Nesenus] Cf. Ep. 994. gn. for he was sunimoned to France in the
25. ad Giolierium] £^.,831. summer of 1518 (BRE. 120; cf. BE.*
27. respondissel In May 1519 Alex. 24).
Miniitianus, tlie Milan printer, wrote 39. resipiscunt] Cf. Ep. 993. 55.
to Grolier that he had found 'earum 41. Hermannus] See Ep. 903. i2n.
literarum exemplum quas ad Erasmum The Jetter that he brought is probably
Parisiisscripseras tertio circiter abhinc Ep. 989, which must belong to this
anno, cum in Galliam processisti. . . . period, since it elicited Ep. 1003 : it
Descriptum ad te mitto' see his letter-
: was pcrhaps delivered later than Ep.
book in the Breraat Milan, AD. xi. 31, 994.
1003] 35

1003. To WiLLiAM Hle.

Farrago p. ni. Antwerp.
F. p. 462: HN: Loncl. xi. 22: LB. 326. 9 August (151 9).

[Contemporary with Ep. 1002. For Hue see Ep. 989. ^n. It appears from
Ep. 1185 that this letter elicited no reply.]

ERA^MVS ROTERODAMVS GVILHELMO HVEO, PARISIENSIS

ECCLE^IAE DECAXO, S. D.

Agit hoc miro conatu per litteras Nicolaus Beraldus, homo Gratiis
natus, vt nos committat. Quod si certamen foret eruditionis aut
eloquentiae, non poterat magis deterrere quam cum sic adhortatur
In hac ' inquit palaestra prouocari ahs te mauult quam te prouo-
*

eare vir alioqui in quouis scribendi g^nere non mediocriter antehac

; 5
versatus.' Cum inter pares semper impudentior habeatur qui lacessit,
quis diceret quicquam esse mihi vel frontis vel cordis, si Thersites
Achillem ausim lacessere ? Nunc cum nulli sua obstet fortuna con-
quo minus cum quamlibet magnis amore beneuolentiaque
ditioue,
modestior habeatur quisquis hic lacessit prior. non voritus
certet, et 10
sum tuo ac Beraldi animo morem gerere. His igitur literis lacesso
virum eruditissimum minime doctus, virum integerrimum non ad-
modum probus, sed tamen amandi vicissitudine non cessuius nec
posteriores laturus.
Audio non sine summa voluptate Parisiorum Academiam pristinis 15
suis studiis, in quibus hactenus haud dubie primam laudem possi-
debant ac etiamnum possident, propensis animis trium linguarum
addere cognitionem, et ad purissimos sacrorum voluminum fontes
subinde recurrere ; neque sentire cum istis aliquot sibi parum amicis
qui putanthas litteras cum vera theologia pugnare, cum nullae magis iq
omnibus honestis disciplinis famulentur. Id partim Gallici iiigenii
tribuo candori, partim eximii praesulis Stephani Poncherii sapientiae,
viri instaurandis optimis literis ac verae pietati diuinitus facti sed ;

in primis optimo Regi Francisco. Soli nos nondum hoc nomine

possimius nobis gratulari. Sed tamen spes est non pessima. 25
Faxit Christus Optimus Max. vt. quemadmodum principes passim
fauent fouentque recta studia, ita philosophiam amplectantur dignam
iis qui Chiisti vices gerunt: hoc est vt quam longissime absint a
barbarica tyrannide, neque per ambitionem labefactent orbis Chri-
stiani tranquillitatem simul ac libertatem et, quando suo fauore 30
;

prouehunt eas literas quibus principum gesta solent posteritatis me-

moriae tradi, ea gerere fctudeant quae mereantur omnium seculorum
suffragiis celebrari.

18. addere -V : amplecti E.

4. inquit] Ep. 989. 10-12. points out that Lascaris (^Ep. £69. 510)
15. Parisiorum Academiani] Lefranc had recently arrived in France. Cf.
{Collige de France, pp. 59 69) cites Zw. Ep. 1C02. 8n.
E.' 38 aud Ep. 925. 23-9 for the studies 24. nos] at Louvain,
of Paris University at this time ; and 30. libertatem] Cf. Ep. looi. 820.
D 2
 36 LETTEES OF EEASMUS [15 19

Bene vale, vir optime ; quem ego posthac inter Guilhelmos illo3
35 nieos fatales sum relaturus.
Antuuerpiae quinto Id. Augusti. [Anno m.d.xviii.]

915,987.0921004^011,^015 To WlLLIAM BuDAELS

Farrago p. 359. (Antwerp.)
F. p. 208 HN Lond. : : iii. 67 : LB. 494. (c. 9 August 1519.)
[The bearer of this letter (Ep. loii. 8n,; may in all probability be identified
with Hermannus Phrysius, who went to Paris in August, carrying Epp. 1002,3.
An approximate month-date may therefore be assigned a little later than that :

suggested in Ep. 992 introd. Ep. 101 1. i-ii shows that this letter did not reach
Budaeus till the evening of the day on which Longolius had left Paris there-
—
;

fore not before 19 Aug. (Ep. loii. 411) an inference which is confirmed by a
letter of Budaeus to Vives, 19 Ang. 1519 (BE.* 43), complaining that Erasmus
had not yet replied to Epp. 915, 992.
The Greek text here and in Ep. loii presents many points of divergence from
modern usage, which are repeated in one edition after another sometimes ;

variations in accent, in the use of short vowels for long or in the iota
ti-ivial
subscript, sometimes positive errors. Many of these are doubtless due to the
correctors, who with inadequate knowledge of Greek revised the proofs without
supervision by the author. But even the loremost scholars of the Renaissance
had much less mastery of Greek than of Latin : so that some of the irregularities
to be noted here are perhaps original.]

EEASMVS ROTERODAMVS GVILHELMO BVDAEO S. D.

Kai TToAXoi Trapa crov airayyiXXovai, (ftiXTaTe ^ovoale, Kal auros TpiTOv
rjorj oifxaL ypanj/as e7rto-Te/\A.cis, ov fjieTpLw; OavfJLa.c,eLv cre Sta tl too-ovtov
^ovov a-LOiTrya-a^ ov8ev a.woKpLvop.aL Trpos eiricrToXrjV crov, Ti/v ovTOi Trws ap-
)(Ofj.evr]v, Vidi enarrationem &. quam
Tovtov fxev lcrOi ov8ev aXXo fxoi
5 aiTiov eivaL, el p.r] otl Trfv ^iXtav t^v rjfj^eTepav ws KTrjfJLa TLfxtoTaTOv irepl
TToAAoC TTOLwv, pLciXXov 8e TTai^Tos a^Lav r]yovfxevo<;, fJLaXLcrT uv ev^aifjirjv Toiav-
TTjv ooKelv irapa. Tracnv oiroLav Trap' rjfuv dXrfOci)? eTvat Trdin) TreTreicrfxai, tovt*
ecTTLv aKepaiov Te kol elXLKpLvrj. Ov yap vofXL^u} Trpos to crvve)(^eiv Kal (tvv-
TrfpeZv Tr]v rjfxeTepav ofxovoLav helv ttcos Ao8o/3lkov Bi/3e'ws wa—ep KoXXacrTrfpo<;
1 o afxcfiOTepiov, aAAa p.aXXov eTTLcrToXwv )(apLeaTepov kol fxeTpLOTepov TraLt.op.evwv,
Lva Kai aXXois ovrw ^tAiKoJs e^etv Trpos dAA7;Xous boKwp.ev. Tw yap ifxavrov
ye Ovfxw ai TratStai' crov Ka\ aKwfxfxara, evioTe fxev ovSafxw'; aKVLcrcra dei Sc
Tratoetas fxecrTa, ovSefxi^av Sv(r)(epeiav ovTrwiroTe rrpocrecfiepov . Ovk d)(Oop.ai

1003. 36. Anno m.d. xviii add. H. 1004. 3. ovtojttqjs E LB : ovtojs Lond.
7. F : neneifj.ai. E. 10. fmaToKwv E : ypafJifxaTcuv H.

1003. 34. Guilhelmos") Cf. Epp. 534. (Erasmum) tuae quae suntin principio
32 seq., 957. 132-6, 1184. 2, 1191. 54, huius nouae Farraginis <Epp. 810, 896,
1224. I also Ep. 1005. i5n.
; 915)? me nunc, quum eas attentius et
1004. 1. TpiTov] TJiethirdletter,beside consideratius lego relegoque, vsqueadeo
Epp. 987, 992, is not extant. But, as non aliqua in re oflTendunt vt mirifice
his words suggest, Erasmus is perhaps me oblectent. In eandem sententiam
miscounting cf Ep. 1023. 2-3, and
: eundemque affectum adductus est et
Budaeus' figurcs in Ep. 101 1. 93-7. Erasmus ipse. Quocircasiqnid vnquam
3. iiTiaToKTfv'] Ep. 915. ad te de illis scripsi, ignosce, quaeso,
9. B(^«a)s] He continued to act as a mihi, qui tunc parum attentus eas per-
mediator between tho two friends curreram'.
writing to Budaeus from Louvain, 7 KoWaffTrjpos'] This word seems to
March (1520) (Goldast, Fhil. ep. cent., beunknown Greek butits
in classical :

1610, pp. 222-3), 'Epistolae illae ad sense is clear from Ep. 987. 3.
I004] TO WILLIAM BUDAEUS 37

AotSopiais Tats ets e/>(.e, dA.Aa (f)o/3ovfxai Trj <^^yu.?/ o-oi;, r/v Koi avrrjv ifxr]V cTvat

rjyovfJiai, e—ctSjy Travra Kotvot 17 <^tA.ta. AAAa /acv /<at atTos 6 BtySeiJS, 15
SetKvvo^avTos e/xoC tt^v eTrto-roAvyv o-oi», /xet^ova rpoTrov iOav/Jiacrev, ouSa/^ws,
<us e<^7/, TTtCTevcrwv TOtauTa ypacfyarjvaL BouSato) —pos Epao^p-ov, et //,7) avTO';
avTrj<; avToypatfiOV dvayvwcrTrys yevo/xevos.
Kat 8t/ etTre /AOt av Tts
Trpos tojv ^j^aptVwv, (SeXTio-Te BouSate, Tt airoKpivavT
Trpos Tota£'Ta, aKatws Kal e^^^pcoSws Xe^^^^vat 8oKOvvTa aXXa Kat 20
oiu /jlovov

dKaipw<; Kttt aTrpocrStovvCTcos, J)S eTros etTretv IIpttJTOv 8r) eyeypd^etv ttou ;

uvTeTrttrreAAcuv crot Travra Ttov Acjycov /cat yvw/xwv TvpovTTTa crot Kat Tvapa
)(^£paiv, ws 0ap,ev, etvat, Sv/XovcJTt evSaLfxovL^ojv cre t-^s re ev</>utas Kat jj.vi]jx-q<i

Tpts /u.aKaptas, r) cri; ye cr;roi;07)v Kat e7rt/Ae'Aetav tcTTjv 7rpocr^7/cretas. ToJro

€v/iei'ciJs Ae^^ev KUt UTrAws 8tacrTp€'</>ets cijcrTrep ets xl/oyov Kut v(ipLV pL<^9iv, 25

e/.toL' SifOev alvL^a/xevov tov BouSatov e^ v—o/JLvr]ixdT<DV Kal €Ae'y;^cov, ouSev

uAAo, Acjytov Kut TreTraLbevfxevov etvat.
IIpos TotVots €ts TTeStov Tt ot'K otSa Trws dTTorpaTrets, eyKaAets e/xe cf)06vov

tc Kat TupavvtSos, cos uTragdTravras ifxirohiC^ovTa koX KwXvovTa fxr] •^rjcrOaL rots
Twv TraAattuv avOeai, o/xcus 8r]fxo<TLOL<i ^Srf Kal tov kolvov yevofxevoL<;, i'7ro7rtd^cov 30
fxeTa^ To TTjs e/A^s Trapot/jttoAoytas TreptTTov. IldAiv aS^is epcoTw, Tt Trpos
TuvTU a7roKpLvaLfxr]v ^dv} J Avtc) ^acrt SetKwcrtv, a eyci) ets tov eTrutvtJV crou
yeypacfta, TavTu. cre 8Le(TTpafxfxevtx}<; Trpos v^pLV epfxrfvevearOaL. IIws 3e 8?)
<fiOovep<Jtj<; Kut /SacTKdvcos evo;^Aco TOts oTrcocroiiv ;^pco//.e'vots Tuts Trapot/Atats, <os

KcoAi;cov ev tt/ OaXdfTcrr]touto urTo toctovtous ttcjvous e^av- 35

uAteijetv, 6 ets

TAr/cras, cijcrTe /xdAAov KOtvus uTracri Kat Sr]fxoo-La<; yeveaOaL ; 1] Trtos ifXTToSwv
fXfXL TOts eK8tSo{5crt to. atiTcov oa^yypd/x/xuTa, 6 ttoAAous TroAAdKts eTrorpvvas

*7rt TOtauTT^v CTTrODSTjv Kut u/AtAAav ; evfievrfs tov ou fxovov Tol<; tv)(Ov<tlv dAAd

Kttt Tots imcrrffxoL^ Kat to 'EpaafXLKov ovofxa iTTLaKOTL^ovaLV, et rt ye Travrojs

ecrrtv ovofxa Tovfxov. IIoAii /SeXTLOv ovv e8o$e Trpos TaCra TrdvTcos aTrocrtcoTrdv, 40
•^ Trpos To €7ros aTTOKpLvofxevov fxaTTfv ipeOit^eLv tcrcos Kut e^opyt^eiv tov (fiL\ov,

7] ovSev Trpos cttos aTroKpLvofxevov ycAcoTa "TTapey^eLV TOts cf>LXo(TK<j}fXfxoa-L, Ta)(a.

Kev Kttl TovTo To ArffxovoKTOv^; ets T^p-ds KaTajSoXLaofxevoL^;, O /xev tov Tpdyov
ufxeXyei, u 8e to KCJcrKtvov vTroTiOr^aL.
OlfxaL ydp iXd)(LaT0v 8ta<^e'petv to kut' e/xe Trcjcras eft8ofxdSa<; rf /xvptdSas 45
CTcov fxep.eXeT7]Ka tu. vvv irap ifxov eVaAAr/Acos, cos ^tjs, cK8t8<j/xeva* et KUt

a(x(f)e<; kuI ^avepcjv ecm Tots c/AOt TrXqaLa^ovaL Kut oiko^cv eyvcoKocrt Tafxd,
oTt 7rdvi; ets OdTepov p.epo^ dfxapTdvo), irdvTa a)(e86v dfxeXrfTl Kut atirocr^j^eSta-
afxevo)^ eK)(e<i)v pdXXov r) tlkt(dv, dfxop(f>a eTL KUt areAT} ovtu, qyovv AeovTcov
Kut dpKT<j)v 8LKr]v. 'Ev TovTco Se fxepeL ovk iyu) ^ratSevroTepos d|^tco vofxiCeaOaL, 50
dAAd crc' <^7/p.t evTV)(eaTepov dfxa Kat (^povLfxoTepov etvat. Auros yup tcrtos

TrActovd crou ypd^co, dAAd kui ^etpova, auTos Odaaov iKTLKTO), dXX ov fxeTa
TToXv TeOvr]^<')fxeva' oirov av jBpa8vvrj fxev iv tco TiKTeiv, dAAd TiKTeL<; <xOavaTa.

19. aTtoKpivair^ scripsi: airoKpi.veT E, 23. (pap.(v E : (paoiv H. 24. irpon-

Orjcretas sciipsi : rrpoaeO-qafias E. 30. vrrcun-id^^cti' Lond. 32. dTTOKpivaijj.rjv
scripsi : dTrficpivaijxrjv E. dv addidi ; r/. ?;. 19. 34. ^aanaivojs E, sicut in Ep. 915. 50.
oTTcuaovv II : uiroaovv EX. 37. avTwv E : avTwv N. 39. eiVi^f : eiVi^c i', P
ef in »n(tr^. entiyf. 46. </)^y i' : (/jjjs F. 49. dfxofxpa scripsi : d(popp.a E.
KfovTOJV Kal E : rcui' A,eovTcov Kai tcui' //.

21. e7€7pd</)eii'] Fp. 906. 29 seq. 39. en-i<T«oTiXoucriv] Cf. Ep. 1107. 8n.
25. 5ia(TTp(</)eis] Ep. 915. 14-19. 43. Aj^^ovaKroi^s] Luc. 7itoZ)cm';?i.§afl:
26. €£i/7ro/.ii'r;/idTa;>'] Cf.El». 906.98- 100. <^t'. ,4(Zct(/. 251.

.28. €7Ka\ers] Ep. 915. 22 sec|. 45. e;35o/xd5as] Cf. Ep. 915. 58,9.
34. kvoxXw] Cf. Ep. 915. 50. 49. CKxewv] Cf. Ep. 935. 33.
 38 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [15 19

Ilept TOVTwv fj.€V ToaavTa' Trepi Se tov 'lepovi^/xov Kal 'ApeoTrayLTwv, tov
C5 IxvrjixiKov afxapTiqfxaTO^ (Tvyyvu)p,T]v Kal 8t8a)/xt dcr/x.eVto9 Kal e/cojv d7ro8e';;^o/xat,
/cara rr/i' TrapoL/jnav, lo^ov Law iirLf^(.povT6<i (tov' ei kol /cXott^? yevet Ttvt
aav(i(TLfjio<; ifv iKSLKrjo-L^ Traph. TOts TraAai, Sicnrcp kcll to vvv, ovS' dyvoets, ev
ot6 oTt, TTavTa KpLTTfv l(r)(rffiiaTLa-fj.iv(i}S ' ApeoTrayiTrfv Ka\e7.aOaL.
T(t ye Srf /xeTa Ta^Ta ttws ov
Xe^OevTa Bo^CTaL, ov fxovov dTOTrws J
TTLKpu)^
60 " Et Ttva ' ^T/s '' ev Tots e/xots tt^os Toi'i'o-Ta/\A.oi' ypd/xfxaaLv dTOTrojs Kat ovk
iv KOLpQ Xe^^Orjvai 8o/<et, {efeo-rt^ crot, tu> tu>v aTrdvTwv KpiTrj Te Kat BiaLTrjTTJ,
ifxovyf. iTriTpeif/avTO^, dAAd^at TavTa *<at iwavopOwcraL' " toito 87/Xoi'OTt
r7ratJ'tTT(oi', o.Tiva iKei eTratvets //.or, oi' cr7roi;87j o^ot ovS' e/c Ovfiov yeypdcf^Oai'
Kat To eKeivo iyKdjfxiov ovk eXaOev ip.\ fivKTrjpa<; Kal (TTpo(f>as «X^''"
ct AX\
6; tva or] dvtiTroKptVtos Ae'^oJ/xat, i-Tri<f>ave(TTaTe BovSate, Sicnrep rjBofiai iiraivov-
/ytevos Trap dvSpos eTratvwv d^iov, oiVoj crTeprjOeL<i ttojs tojv eyKOj//.t'ajv crou ot^K
av dorffjLovrjcraLfXL ovSe (T)(^eTXL(icraL/xL. Ato et /xaAAov
TaiVr/s evepyecTLa? r)

)^r]crT0Tr}T0<; fxeTavoLd cre elXrjcfiev, ov av aTroSovvaL Trjv oXrjv Saypedv.

fieXXoLfjLL
Opa oe orj (Ls dStKOJS, OTt 8ta tt/v fxeTpiOTrfTa ovk aTreSeidfxrfv To. irapd crov
j-o eyKoj/Ata, toBto crv oyKov Kai 8i;crKoAt'av epfxrfvevrf, KeXevcras KaTeveyKetv ifxav-
Tov, ct ooKet, €K Tou KoXo(f)(i)vos iv <i) crv S^^^ev ecrTT/Kets e/xe'. Kai Tts ttotc
dyavaKTCt TrapaLTOvp.evu), oTav Xiav Kal iTrL(f>06v(D<; iTraiveOfj Tt's oi' /xSAAov ;

TT/v (TO}(f>pO(Tvvr]v dyaTTa tov Ta 8t8(j/xeva ovk cTrtytvojtrKOVTOS ; Etra yvfxvo^

Epa(Tfio<;, Kal ovSev dXXb, ets tt/v <I>payKiav dcfnKvrjcrofxai, el trv to)V irraivoiv
^; (Tov KOCTfxov d.(f)eXfi<;.

EvTau^a 8e (/^r/s ovk otoa Tt virdp^ai iv to2s ypdfxfxaai ctov o tl iyw fxoXi-
potvos oAos ov (TvvrjKa. Tt tovto r/v ov SiVa/xat ctKa^etv, dAAa ixefxvrffiai CTe
Aoyots Travr cra(f>i(Ti yeypa<f)evai SeS('))(Oai crot TrarVacr^at Tor Trpdy/xaTOS,
dfX(f>OTep(i)v eveKa, crov tc Kat e/tov. TovTiJ ye Kat 6 AaOos 6 eV t^s Koj/A(i)8tas
So (rvvecretev av, ot/x,at. 0^8 eTt tcAos, dAAa Kat t^s di^aptcrTtas, KaKicrTov wdvTwv
eyKXr]fj.aTos, OiKrjv fxoi ypd(^ets* v^ tov Ata, OTt Trpos Ta oiVojs dcra<f>w<; iirrjy-
yeXfLeva. Kat, (Ls TVTrtiJ etTretv, KaT ovap fxovov drroSeL^^OevTa or^ev cracftes
drreKpiOrjv, 6(f>eiXwv fieTa^v Kat to. ei'ayye'Ata. EtCcrTtv, ot/xat, e7rtTpc'v//'(jVT0)v

vfxwv T-^s Trapov(Tr]<; TV)^r]s, et oiVojs 8oKet, dyaTrai', biroLa tis ovv vrrdp^^ei r/

85 vtrap^ei' fxdXiCTTa oirov 6 Tt irpdTTeTe, wairep irpdTTeTe ifjiov tv/v evfxeveiav T-qv
vfj.erepav drroSe^^^opevov, orVojs orrroJTroTe 8er/^evT0S e/xov r/ dvTi/3oAr/(ravTOS
TrpaTTCTC. O/^ojs yc fiefxvrffxaL Slu. ypafxp.dTwv vovOeTycras tva /tr/ (lyai' crrrov-
odcTr]<; tovto to Trpay/xa" V7ro(rr/p.at'vojv oVt c/tot ov At^iai' avrov peXeL. Kat
8tu Tt' /;teTa Tavra dyavaKTCts />tot

90 Kat TOVTOJV CTt TrLKpoTepd. icTTLV d C7rt(/)cpcts Trept tov dpovpaLov fxv6$, rrepl

54. 'lepaii'vf.tvv H. 60. <pf]s E : (p^s F. 61. f^eari addidi ; cf.v. 83.
62. «at 5i F.E : 63. F : aiViva £". 66. i\' : (TTef.pTjeeis E. 67. «t fl : ^i' .E.
72. (trrjvrfOfj E : eTrrjvrjOr/ F. 75. F £o)irf. : d(p(\^s EH. 76. if : ivOavTa E.
^pfjs E : (/117? F. vnap^ai saii^si : lirfjpiai E. 80. avvqcretev E. av add. F.
84. vfiiiiiv EN"^ : qfj.uv HN^. 85. F : vnd^ei E. 90. i^ : tovtov E.

54. 'I6povi;/iov] Cf. Ep. 915. 74 seq. long and short vowels are often due to
50. Trapoi^tiai'] Adag. 35 aiid 3567. the compositor, it seenis likcly here
60. Er Tii^a] Ep. 915. 84 seq. that Eiasmus niay have been thinking
70. epnTjVfvri'] Ep. 915. 88-93. of such Homeric fornis (cf. 1. 104) as
76. 0j7s] Ep. 915. 97 secj. dviaaifii (/?. 14. 209. Cf., however,
78. -fe-)pa(pevai] Cf. Epp. 568. 53 5. 1. 24.
744. 37n. dxapiaTiai] Cf. Ep. 915. 94-6.
80. avvtaeiev'] The form given in all 83. cua^^eAm] Cf. Ep. 915. 96-7.
theprinted editions iscom^Jarable with 87. •^pafipia.Tajv'] Not extant ; cf. Ep.
a 'forma barbara ', avvfjaas, cited by 778.4-7.
Stephanus. Butas confusions between 90. d «Tn^e/jeu] Ej». 915 100 seq.
1004] TO WILLIAM BUDAEUS 39

XO^V"^ T^? virep t6 Atar ijlol TrepL(T(Tivov(xr]<;, Kal ra^^a TeOvrj^ofjLivio, el fxi} (tov
Tr/v aXe^LKaKov KdOapaiv €is efxeTov Trapi^ovTo^i. TovTots opLOLov kui eKelvo
o ypa^ets, ''ovtws eOL^6fX€vo<; SifirovOev o-f/xTrat^eu' c/xot '' ws ciTOTrov oi'tos
Tov Tov "Kpacr/xov dvTLTraL^eLV Boi;8at'a), 7/ dis eyo) ot' ToXfxrjaaLfXL uv dvTi/x,i'^etj',
£t yu.7/ KaTo. fXLKpov eWL(Tfxevo<;. Tt aAyVo, Trpos Twi' fxovcrwv, Xe$eLev /3a(TLXev<; 95
Tts y craTpdTTrfS Trpos 8oi'/\.ov dAwvr/Tov Kat TavTa ctv ypd<j>eL<i (f>LXo<; Trpos
;

^t'Aov, TavTa ypd^eis auTos Trpo/caAeVas cts toCto 7re8tov" TaSTa ypd<^ets 6
^tAoTraty/xwv Kat (f)LXoaK(jjfifL(i)V Kal //.r/Sa/Aws Svcr^epatvwv to. ottojo^ovv dvTi-
CTKWTTTo/Aeva, Tai'Ta ypd^ets o TretpoKaAos twv tc ^^aptVwv fxv(TTr]<;.
ToiavTa 8r/ Trat^as Kat XL0o/3oXr]CTa<; ets e/xe', Kai Trpos Tas dTretAds fxera- ico
/SaLveLs, Adyots //.dAa /AetAti^t'ots OeXyoiv ifxrfv Ke<^aAr/v, oiItojs oe ypa<j6ets'
" Et op,otais eTi /tavtats 6 8aLfnov 6 cros KaKOS dyet (re Kai <f>epeL, ea, cTTpeij/aL

t6 to? KaXdfxov oLKpov Kal tov /3eXov<; aKfxrfv ets t6v fxovoypafxp.ov ^eoAcIyov
TToAAd KOKa crot /3vcrao8ofiLevovTa, ws O/Ai/ptKws Xe^o), Kayw iv tw fiepeL ei-oJ

/SeAwv </)acrt KaOrffxevo'; OedcrofxaL cre iKeLvio dvTayojvL^ofxevov, dTroAavcraji' 105

Or/AoV(JTt c/jtAoS <f>LX0V KUKWV ".

IIoAAd cnrovSrj ed> Aeyetv, ev ots ecTTtv u ypd^cts Trept toS AeAotvov Kat
Tov Pov^atov. Ou^ opw 8td Tt cf^LXoKoXaKa Trotets e/xe tov cv TOts fxaXLCTTa
^t'Aots iXevOepoL<; )(aLpovTa. Ov TrpeireL fxev Trj ^lXlci t6 KoAaKcvetv, t/ttov
8e TrpeTrei T(3 <^t'Aaj Aot8opt'ats ivTpv<f>dv. ETret 8e ets fxovov ifxe TOLavTa uo
7rat'^cis, 7) ^tAeis fxdXa otKctcos r) eVepdv Tt ctvat Sdferat. IIpos 8e Trdcrt tovtois
Kat T-^s cruKo^avTtas eyKXrjfxa. fiOL ctcreveyKcts, ort TOTrov Ttva €k tojv ypafx-
fxaTOiv CTOV 7rapaTL0eL<; ttov to "<f)-^s" eXt$a dvTi tov " </)r/cretas dv "* d)S S^^^cv
''
irapd 'F(x}fxaL0L<; ttoXv 8ta^€'poi'TOS ev t^ AoyoTrottu Trorepov <f>r]creLev Tis Aeyets
TovTo " 7} '' AecOts dv TOL'TO ". AiTO ydp toiJto icrr']fLa\L)vov, t6v Aoyov ov iji;

c/xot TrpocTTrotets, oi';^ dpfxot,eLV ifxoL.

TavTa Kat TOiavTa TroAAd avTos /xev dvaytvwcTKCDV ovSap.ws 8t'cr;^epatvco,

TrdvTa cv TiOefxevo<; rd dno <f>LXov' <f>o/3ovfxaL Se //.r/ Tts aTretpoKaAos Kat r/TTOv
otKetos Tw Twv xapLTOiV xopd Kat dXXrj Tpeir(i>v Ta V7r6 Groi' ^payKtKws
7rc7raty/A€va, ^^ctpova 17 cyojye {dv} OeXoLfxi Trepi BovSatou Xd/3r] yvoj/xr/v. 120
AiTos ydp ovT€ <f>o^ovp.aL ti o{'t€ Ktv8vvcv'o/>tat. Ol'koi)v c'/xoi, <)j dvopdJv
AoyioTaTC, /3eXTL(TTOV ecrecrOaL 8oKet, et Tavra cTTpocfxoSr] Kal /xtfo;^oAa Tratyvia
TrdrTOJS cdcravTCS, Tats fxovaai^ Kal Tats ;(dpicri tt^ tc ^tAtcx Kat </)tAoAoyia
TrpcVovra to va-Tepov ypd\f/o>fxev 7rp6s dAAr/Aovs-
ets E^rt TOtTots a/xi'r/crTta
ecrTo) To)V dyrdvTOJV 7rp6 tovtov d^rojcrovv elpqfLevo)v kcxl 7r€7rotr/p.evoji'. eppcoao. 125
NoN admodum mihi placuit quod in vna quapiam epistola tua
videris literarum causam velle deserere, posteaquani in aulam es
cooi)tatus. Imo mea sententia nunc maxime patrocinandum est iis

91. F Lond. : nfpiarevovarjs E

rrtpiaaevoCatts I^^.
: 92. rrapi^avTos U. 94. df
atW. i^. 98. i/ : oTToaow E. 102. Ei scripsi, c/. v. 67 : ^i' jK. iio. KoLSopims ;
E
sed cf. T. 14. III. 5of eraf £, SiCMi! i« r. 59 hoK-qaerai Corrig.
: F
112. avKo<]>nvTfias E.
113. (fifjs E. 115. tarifiavov E tvrj^xavov Lond.
: 119. dWi] E. 120. ai'
addidi : c/. rc. 80, 94. 124. -fpd-pofiev H.

93. 7pd</>«(s] Ep. 915. 109. Paris, June 1519 (Ep. 785. 1711; in ;

loi. 7/)(i</)fis] Ep. 915. 113-18. ^vliich Eudaeus ex(.-uses himself for
103. efoA(i7oi'] Lee. inaking only snmniary examination of
104. '0//r;pi/<aij] OJ. 17. 66. Linacre',s translation, on the ground
108. </.(Xo/co'A.a/ca] Ep. 915. 119.20. tliat he is busy with preparations for
112. «Tf/fo^/^aiTias] Cf. Ep. 915. 130 s(q. departure no doubt, as M. Delaruelle
:

126. epistolal ProViably a letter to points out, on liis mission to Mont-

Lapset (BE.* 36 : <c. March tiii. 1519) pellitr (Kp. 924. 1811), tlie course of
I.reli.Ked to Linacre's Mefhodus Medendi, which isindicated by BE.* 28-32.
 40 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [151

literis quas tu per omnem vitam et adamasti veliementissinie, et

130 coluisti sic vt vix alius diligentius, et fortissime defendisti. Dabit
hoc aulae dignitas, vt nunc magis prodesse queas honestissimis
studiis, praesertim merenti sub eo Principe, cui cum primis videtur
esse studio vt hoc studiorum genus quam honestissimum reddat :

fortasse nec ocium negabitur absoluendis eruditissimis lucubratio-

135 nibus quas ohm instituisti. An tu mediocre praesidium existimas
I^aratum nostris studiis, posteaquam Morus et Ricardus Paceus regio
famulitio sunt asscripti? Thomas Linacrus ocium ad aedenda quae
nunc partim vides aedita, quod domi desyderabat, in aula repperit.
Permagni refert in quam aulam immigres nunc video tales vt prae :

140 his ipsae etiam scholae frigeant. Tu modo fac paulisper assuescas,
non dubito quin mox futurum sit vt fatearis tibi calcar additum ad
culturaraMusarum. Neque multum negocii fuerit vt coalescas iis :

luctandum est quos tenues et obscuros accipit aula. Tu et clarus

imaginibus et re lauta et literarum stemmatis nobilissimus in aulani
145 venis, nec venis nisi rogatus ac pertractus. Quod si nobis esset aula
similis,non dubitarem me illi committere, quamlibet reclamante
valetudine atque etiam aetate. Rursum vale, Budaee charissime.
Vt Deloino me excuses qui non rescripserim, etiam atque etiam te
rogo Rusaeo respondi cum legatus ageret apud Leodios.
•

1005 To Peter Zutpenius.

Farrago p. 372. Antweip.
F. p. 461 : HN: Lond. xi. 21 : LB. 451. 10 August 1519.

[Tho date is confirmed by the reference to Ferdinand \l. 47).

Peter Zutpenius of Gassel, ne. of St. Onier ,^?), is described inthe index to H as
'oeconomus principis Adolphi Veriani '. It appears froni Ep. 952. 54-6 as if in
April 1519 Erasmus had only recently made his acquaintance. Barhu)d's t pitome
of the Adarjia (Ep. 1204) is dedicated to liim with a preface from Louvain,
4 .June (1521), which describes him as M. Petrus Cassiletanus, iureconsultus
'

et illustri Veriensium principi Adolpho a consiliis ', and sends greetings to him
from Dorp (Ep. 304), iam inde a puero tibi amiciis'. Barhind had been hos-
'

pitably received by him when on a visit to Veere in April 1521.

The name Zutpenius, here and in Ep. 952, is a hiter addition, made in H
(1529). It is presumably a surname derived from a place, accompanied in a
later generation by a second place-designation. Similarly John Butzbach styles
himself Piemontanus because his father lived at Miltenberg on the Main but ;

the family had evidently come earlier from Butzbach, n. of Nauheim.]

1004. 138. repperit i'A'3 : reperit N"^ Loncl. 143. accipit E : recipit N.
149. Ruzeo Lond. Ruzaeo LB.
: 1005. tit. zvtpenio add. H.

136. regio famulitio] Cf. Epp. 999. determination expressed in Ep. 809.
22in, 1005. 31-3. 127 seq., cf. Epp. 964 introd., 1005;
138. aedita] Cf. h i26n. 24-7, 1032. 17-23; and see Ep. 994. iin.
145. iKibisj in the Nethf-rhinds. Epp. 148. Deloino] Cf. Ep. 915. 120-2. He
948. 195, 969. 16, 970. 13-14, 1007. 107' answered Ep. 535 in the cour^e of 1517,
1094. 41, showhow keenly Erasmus fclt l)ut retained his letter for some time
Charles' absence. For liis view of the (Ep. 744. 53-4). By 22 Feb. 1518 it
Court see Epp. 1028. 2-3, 1148. 9-11, appears that Erasmus liad received it
1220. 44-8. iEp. 778. 31-3 ; so that it was no doubt
146. me illi committere] For tliis dispatclied with Ep. 744.
cliangeof outlook as compared with the 149. respondi] Ep. 928.
1005] TO PETER ZUTPENIUS 41

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS PETRO ZVTPENIO CASSILETAXO S. D.

ViDEo plerosque mortales in hac esse persuasione, vt felicitatis

aut infelicitatis causas e supernis corporibus petant. Ego vero non
arbitror vllum S)'dus affulgere cuiquam felicius quam s^mcerum ac
tuo accommodum ingenio amicum contra, nullum aduersius ac
;

funestius quam fucatum et insyncerum sodalem. Proinde stellas 5

obseruent alii, si lubet ego in terris quaerendum existimo quod
;

nos felices aut infelices reddat. Caeteri negocium auspicaturi anxii

consyderant qua figura Venus, lupiter et Mercurius sese contuean-
tur. Ego satius esse duco perpendere quibuscum agas. Sunt enim
quidam sibi tantum prosperi, caeteiis omnibus inauspicati. Itaque lo
vix vUo sermone consequi queam, Petre mortalium candidissime,
quam opimum lucrum mihi putem obtigisse, cum te nactus sum
amicum quo non alium optare poteram magis ad naturam mores-
;

que meos factum sculptumque.

Antehac abunde fortunatus mihi videbar vnico Petro Aegidio, 15
quem amicuhim ego nolim cum vllo Pylade commutare. Eam
felicitatemmihi congeminauit accessio tui. adeo similis illi vt
dubitem vtrum vtri praeferam. Nam omitto fortunam satis amplam,
omitto literaturam haudquaquam vulgarem, omitto vim ingenii ad
omnia negocia mirum in modum versatilis qui pectoris candor,
: 20
quae morum simplicitas, quae consuetudinis suauitas, quae modestia,
quae fides, quae in officiis jDraestandis promptitudo. Vbi sunt in-
terim qui temporum horum mores vt deploratos damnare solent,
quando tales animas habent aulae principum ? Olim non ferebam
ingenia literis ac Gratiis nata pertrahi in regum familias nunc 25 :

video vii-tuti rectisque studiis nusquam esse plus honoris quam apud
principes. Omnibus itaque qui studiorum sacra colunt. exjiedit tai
similes aliquot in aulis versari, ne non sint qui summates viros ad
fauendum literis ac probitati suis dictis infiamment, qui ad benigni-
tatem stimulos addant, qui submoneant quibus artibus nunquam 30
intermoriturum honestae famae decus paretur. Quanto studiorum
omnium bono in regia Britannica viuere credis Thomam Morum,
Thomam Linacrum et Ricardum Paceum ? in Gallia Guilhehiium
Budaeum? quorum felicitati gratulandum quod in tales principes
inciderint, officio habenda gratia si tales reddunt. 35
Scio tibi nihil esse dulcius ocio literario. nec deesse in aula,
praeter negociorum tumultum, quod offendat animi tui i^uritatem :

quae omnia hdc moderatius ferre debes, quod sub optimo principe
Adolpho meres, qui fauorem erga literas ac viros virtutibus ornatos,
a teneris vsque vnguiculis olim haustum e Batto praeceptore, in 40
hanc vsque aetatem retinet qui nos quoque non ob aliud diligit ac
;

tuetur, nisi (juod pei-suasum habet his rebus praeditum esse me

a quibus longissinie absum. Is intelligens quanti referat primam
aetatem principum optimo viro formandam committi, filiolum suum

15. Aegidio] The collocation of Zutpe- 32. regia Britannica^ Cf. Ep. 999. 92^.
nius with Gilles is piobal)ly based on 39. AdolphoJ See Epix 93 introd.,
tlie ideniity of Chiistian nanie cf.
: 932. 47.
Ep. 1003. 34n. 40- Batto] See Ep. 35 introd.
23. deploratos] Cf. Ep. 994. 21. 44. filioluni] Eit]ierAdolphus'eldest
24. non ferebam] Cf. Ep. 1004. i46n. son, Philip, born i Oct. 1512, or
 42 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1519

45 loanni Borsalo in gremium tradidit viro, vt compendio virtutes ;

innumeras complectar, Batti mei simillimo. Talis erat admouendus

Ferdinando nostro qua quidem in re demiror cessari a nobis, Midis,
:

opinor, quibusdam id agentibus. quibus expedit principes ex sese

nihil sapere. Ac vereor ne quis interim ingerat sese, qui prae-
50 ceptorem professus aucupem sacerdotiorum agat, ingenti totius
populi malo. Ambiunt hanc prouinciam theologi, et theologum esse
decet qui principem instituat sed vere theoloyum, nec auariciae nec
;

ambitionis morbo corruptum. Bene vale.

Antuerpiae, Quarto idus Augusti. Anno bi.d.xix.

1006. To Jacob Hochstrat.

Farrago p. 389. Antwerp.
F, p. 616 : HN : Lond. xvi. 19 : LB. 452. 11 Augast 1519.
[Since Sept. 1514 (RE. 192) Hochstrafc (Ep. 290. lon) had been at Eome
engaged in the affair of Reuchlin but in the sunimer of 1517 he had recently
;

returned (Ei^. 615. 10,11), the case having come to a standstill (ef. Ep. 622. 32n).
Ah-eady ia May 1517 he had tlireatened 'perseeution of Erasmus for the liouum "

Instfuinentum (HE. 51, § 7) and some report of this had perhaps reaehed
;

Erasmus' ears. They had never met (Ep. 856. 31-2) but Erasmus knevv enough ;

of Hochstrafs part in harassing Reuchlin to have been tempted often to inter-

vene with a protest (Ep. 856. 27-45 \ and to have strong feelings against him
(Ep. 877. 16-31). At length when the Desirudio Cahuk appeared (1. 74n),
publiclj' attacking the views on divorce expressed in the Nouum Instmmentum,
1516, Erasmus felt comi^elled to reply with what lie considered an apologia,
though of a friendly character (cf. Ep. 1022. 14-17), rather than a letter (cf.
p. 10), defending himself anevv, although he had already stated his opinions
more definitely (cf. 1. 20311). In replying to Lee, Annof. 12 (LB. ix. 138 e),
Erasmus refers to this letter as containing his vievvs on divorce.
By the middle of Oct. 1519 Erasmus had had no ansvver to this letter. Feeling
that there was still reason to complain of Hochstrafs attitude (cf. Epp. 1030.
i6n, 1040. 2-6), he made another attempt to apjjroach him through Gratius
(Ep. 1022). A passage in the Spongia (cf. Ep. 1078. 38n) shows that these
negotiations were successful. Later on they had two interviews at Louvain,
perhaps in Jan. 1520 after the death of Atensis for in explaining his action ;

Hochstrat sheltered himself behind Atensis' authority. After that some degree
of intimacy appears to have arisen between tliem for in Ep. 1342. 614-15 ;

Erasmus speaks of Hochstrat as vetus meus, si non familiaris, certe amicus '.
'

For the position of this letter in F see p. 9.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS EXLMIO T. lACOBO HOQCHSTRATO,

THEOLOGO, S. D.

Antehac legentimihi libellos quibus tumultus inter R.P.T. et Cap-

nionem continetur, saepenumero suasit vt ad te scriberem, primum
1006. TiT. Exmio r. om. H. i. R. I*. T. E : tc H. 2. suasit F mihi
: suasit E.

Maximilian, the second, born 28 July I cannot discover at what date Philip
1514 see J. Ermerins, Zeemvsclie Oud-
; died,
/tede/i, iii (1786), j). 132. Probably Maxi- 45. Borsalo] John Becar of Borsse-
inilian, for Becar vvas afterwards tiitor len see Epp. 291, 737. 8n, and for
:

to him atLouvain,i522 -7,anddescribes his present position Ep. 932.

liim tlien as primogenitus ', vvith 110
'
47. Ferdiiiando] See E(>. 917 introd.
mention of having hadan elder brother 1006. i. R.P.T.] reuerendani iiate.ni-
in liis hands (EE. 11, 61, 73, 77) biit ; tatem tuam.
ioo6] TO JACOB HOCHSTRAT 43

Christiana charitas, deincle studiurum communium professio. ad haec

peculiaris cjuidam fauor quo iam olim inde a puero vestrum pro-
sequor ordinem, postremo non vulgaris animi propensio erga te, 5

quem audio moribus esse commodis ac ciuilil)us. Kam literarum

nostrarum auidissimum esse te vel tua scripta palam clamitant, quae
cum nusquam non affectent politiem ac venerem orationis, dubitari non
potest c|uid de bonis literis sentias. Neque enim refert quam feliciter
hoc agas imo cum palam sit te sedulo ac pene dixerim anxie affe-
;
lo
ctare, quo minus succedit. hoc magis intelligimus animi tui pro-
pensissimum studium alioqui sermonis ornamenta videri poterant
;

vltro nolentem secuta.

Haec, inquam, mihi subiecerunt stimulos vt T. P. admonerem quae
et ad tuam dignitatem et ad ordiuis negocium et ad reipublicae Chri- 15
stianae tranquillitatem pertinere videbantur sed rursus hinc deter- ;

ruit non incompertum mihi mortalium ingenium, quorum admodum

paucos esse video quibus feliciter cedat quamuis amica admonitio.
Sacra quidem res est consilium, sed eadem periculosa. Yetus est,

Consultum male consultori pessima res est. 20

At ea nunc est morum corruptela vt bonum etiam ac verum con-

silium saepe damno sit bene consulenti. Hunc tamen scrupuluui
exemit animo meo R. P. SuffVaganeus Coloniensis, vir incredibili
morum comitate suauitateque praeditus. Quod si is mihi tui simu-
lachrum bona fide depinxit. non accipies in malam partem, quae 25
nos optimo atque amantissimo pectore nunc admonebimus.
lam olim Capnionis Apologiam magno cum aninii dolore legera-
mus, licet carptim nec eum dolorem dissimuh^uimus, scriptis ad
;

Capnionem literis, quod tam manifestis conuiciis tamque impotenter

in aduersarios debaccharetur, qualescunque essent nam ii mihi 30 ;

tum non minus erant ignoti quam Capnion ipse. Idem deplorabam
apud amiculos inter c|uos erant Cjui Capnioni studentes sic placare
;

conarentur aegritudinem animi nK-i, vt dieerent inuidiam omnem

iu eos conferendam qui, cum debuissent esse modestiue Cliristianae-
cjue lenitatis exemplum, tam virulentis tamque atrocibus insecta- 35
tionibus priores lacessissent aliociui Capnionis ingenio nihil esse
:

14. T. P. TT : te U. 23. R. P. E : eplscniius II.

4. piosequor ordineni] ThoughEras>- 19. Sacra] Ct. Adag. lo^-j.

rnus frequently writes of Dominicans 20. Consultum] Cf. Gell. 4. 5. The
both siiigly anct coUectively, •vvith verse here is transla-
x^rasmus' own
great tjitterness fcf. Kpp. 597- 56-8, tion, m
Adag. 114, of Hes. Op. 264.
694. 26-8, 784. 50, 808. 13 soq., 830. 23. ColoniensisJ PrubablyWichwael,
7-8, 872. 18-19, 948- 104, 145, 221, who is mentionedvvith couimendation
1033. 203-4. 249 52, 1 166. 25 stq.. 1 196 ,
i^ ^P- 4^3- 16,7. But as he died in
lie nevertheless on occasions expresses 1519, it is possible that his successor,
genuine respect for the Order (cf. Quirinus Wilich, is nieant.
Epp. 694. 32-3, 808. 9-12, 948. 146-7, 27. Apologiam] Cf. Ep. 290. 6n :

993. 74-7, 1173. 127-8, 1192. 74; on Ijocking xiii.

account of its comp.uative freedom 29. literisj Ep. 300 21-4.
from formalism (cf. Ep. 1196 For . 31. deplorabam] For Erasmus' atti-
friendly relations with iudividuals see tude in the matter cf. Epp. 636. 26-34,
Kpp. 718. 6-7, 1149-52 951. 41-3.
18. amica admonitioj Cf. Ei). 1076. 32. Capnioni studentes] Cf. Ep.
6u. 747.
 44 LETTEES OF EEASMUS [1519

placidius ac mitius. Dubitanti credere niox ingesserunt scripta

Pepericorni, scripta Gratii, scripta M. N. Arnoldi Tongreusis, aliaque
quae nunc non necesse est commemorare. De moribus tuis varia-
40 bant sententiae. Erant qui praedicarent ipsum te moribus esse satis
commodis sed quorundam instinctibus inflammari: rursus bona pars
asseuerabat tibi nullos esse magis in consilio quam ambitionem
et auaritiam, quod et plurimi fieri velles ob plusquam tyrannicam
ingenii ferocitatem, et ob inexplebilem habendi famem ludaeorum
45 facultatibus inhiares. Mihi sane semper hic mos fuit, vt in melio-
rem partem credulitate vergere mallem quam in deteriorem ac tum :

quidem non potui refellere omnia, lenii tamen pro viribus sermonum
atrocitatem.
Aliquanto post euenit vt et acta legerem totius causae, et tuus
50 libellus exiret in manus hominum, quo Benigni dialogum refellis ;

quem ipsum tamen non Vis dicam quomodo me

nisi carptim legi.
affecerit ? Eloquar inuitus sed verissime. Melius senseram de
E. P. T. priusquam te tibi patrocinantem legissem. Quoties illud
mecum inter legendum mussitabam, Vtinam hic se meis oculis
55 cerneret Non excutiam caetera quae meum animum illic ofifende-
!

rint, neque de tota causa quicquam attingo neque enim mea refert. ;

Certe plurimis in locis animi lenitatem moderationemque desydera-

bam, dignain homine Christiano, dignam theologo, dignam Prae-
dicatore. Quoties indului, quoties erubui tuo nomine, priusquam
60 praefationem illam perlegerem Quid hic mecum cogitarim, quid
!

aestuarim, quid stomachatus sim, placabilius opinor in sinum tuuni

eifundere, si colloquendi copia daretur,
Ante dies vero non ita multos casu nactus sum in aliena biblio-
theca iacentem libelluai quendam, habentem epistolas aliquot magna
65 libertate stomachantes in E. P. T. prima, ni fallor, erat Capnionis,
:

altera clarissimi Comitis a Noua aquila, tertia Hermanni Buschii,

quarta Hutteni. Harum omnium amarulentiam nullo pacto ferre
potuissem, nisi scripta prius ea legissem quibus ad hanc intemperiem
videbantur efferati. Eas igitur non simplici cum dolore legi, nunc
70 illorum, nunc tuam vicem ingemiscens, subinde metuens ne bonis
et aequis viris tam acerba conuicia non omnino in immerentem
contorta viderentur et tamen illos iudicabam indignos a quibus
:

eiusmodi scriberentur, et te cupiebam indignum videri in quem

scriberentur. Nam iDaucis ante diebus exierant libelli duo, quorum
38. M. N. om. II. Tongnri F. 53. E. P. T. £ : te //. 58. praedicatore
E Dominicano
: H. 65. R. Y.T. E : te H. 66. Ey"^ : Herniani i^.Yis.

38. Pepericorni] See Ep, 487. son. rium, Cologne, E. Ceruicornus, May
Gratii] See Ep. 526, 8n. 1518 containing RE. 251, 255, HE. 75,
;

Tongrensis] See Ep. 543. ^n. aletter from H. Busch toCt. Hermann,
39. variabant sententiae] Ep.
Cf. 12 Apiil (1518, Cologne), and a Ittter
856. 37,8 ; and for a specimen see Ep. from the Count to the reader, 13 April.
849. 21-30. See HE. pp. 20*, 21*.
50. libellus] Hochstrafs first Apo- 67. Hutteni] He demurred very
lo(jia, Feb. 1518 (Epp. 808. 6n, 889. muclitothispassage butCt.Hennann,
;

42n).: Bocking xxix. Er.ismus states, approved of the whole

Benigni diak^gum] See Ep, 680. h'tter, See Hutteu's Exposlinatio iiE.
2$-"] Boeking xxvi.
: 310, §§ 58,9) and Erasmus' Spongia
64. libellum] Epistolue trium illustrium (HE. 333, §§ 61-70 LB. x. 1637 E-38 d).
:

virorum ad Hermannum comitem Nuena- 74. libelii duo] Destrudio Cabale seu
1006] TO JACOB HOCHSTKAT 45

altero oj)pugnas Cabalisticam Capnionis, altero respondes iis qui 75

student Capnioni cuiiis phrasis tamen magis resipit Gratiuni.
;

Nihil hic rursus attingam vtrius causa niihi magis arrideat neque :

enim mihi mandata est haec prouincia, et, si mandetur. videor mihi
libenter recusaturus. Nec tantam mihi arrogo doctrinam vt existi-
mem me posse pronunciare de causis tam arduis, in quibus identi- 80
dem haereseos fit mentio. Siquidem in praesentia non ago nego-
cium Capnionis, tuum potius ago negocium et hactenus ago, vt ;

velim te magis in posterum dignitati tuae consulere ac decori memi-

nisse. Nec dubito quin ipse et perspicias et memineris sed haud ;

scio an quoque more hominum vsu veniat, vt impetus et ealor 85

tibi
contentionis oculos tuos auocet alicubi. Nam mihi iam non leuis
est fiducia te nostram admonitionem a fraterna dilectione tui pro-
fectam aequi bonique consulturum.
Primum de titulo, quem isti vehementer hicerant vt arrogantiae
plenura, me res non admodum mouet siquidem id videri poterat 9° :

opificum opera factum, ni constaret te tum Coloniae praesentem

fuisse. Illud minus potest exeusari, quod ad singula capitula repetis
et inculcas, Capnion praeco Cabalisticae perfidiae
' Vix enim '.

cuiquam persuadebitur hoc inscio te factum quod toto opere tam

subinde rej^etitur. Quisquis autem credet abs te factum, non dubi- 95
tabit quo animo sis in Capnionem. Atqui cum primis non solum
ad dignitatem tuam verumetiam ad causam tuam attinebat argu-
mentis duntaxat ac ciuiliter rem tractare, neque tam manifestam
odii significationem dare. Si Christianae pietatis esset in quenquam
conuiciis debacchari, in Celsum debacchatus fuisset Origenes nam 100 ;

isvniuersam Christi doctrinam simul ac vitam non ferendis conuiciis

lacerauit, aeditis etiam voluminibus. Et tamen in hunc nusquam
sic inuehitur Origenes vt tu passim in Capnionera qui, vt ne quid ;

aliud dicam, certe nondura daranatus est eorum sententia quorum

est pronunciare. Nec in hoc laborat Origenes, vt Celsi dicta in pessi- 105
mara partem detorqueat aut exaggeret quod tu mihi passim miro ;

calore videris facere, nihil interim non trahens ad haeresis causam.

At dices, '
Fungor oflicio meo
Laudo quod fimgeris. sed ea
'.

moderatione te velim fungi vt euidens sit omnibus te nihil aliud

quam Christi negociura agere, longissiraeque te subducas ab ea iio
si:)ecievt videaris defendendae fidei praetextu vel arabitioni seruire
vel auaritiae, vel ad priuatura odiura saturandura abuti. Quid enim
omnino tam circumspecte scriptum erit quod ab irato non possit
deprauari sinistra interpretatione ? Porro qui prae se fert odium
animi, protinus sibi fidem abrogat, in causa etiam iustissiraa neque 115 ;

dubito quin haec res in prirais obstiterit quo minus assecutus sis
quod, vt putant, venabaris. Inquisitio tibi mandata est, non ius
pronunciandi. Quoties autem de Capnione pronuncias, pi"aesertim
cum lis adhuc sub iudice pendeat, et sub eo iudice vnde negant
106. detorqueat E : torqueat H.

Cabalistice perfldie ab loanne Reitchlin Cap- 1519, with a preface to John Inge-
nione iampridem in lucem editae, Coloi^nf, winktl, 12 Aug. 1518 (Bdcking xxxiii).
Quentel, April 1519, with a prefaco to 93. Ciipnion praeoj etc.] Tliiscatcli-
Leo X. 7 April 1519 fBOcking xxxv ; word recur.y continually througliout
and^po%iasecMnda,(Cologne,Quentel,) the Destructio Cabale.
 46 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [151

120 appellari posse. An non satisfeceras officio tuo, posteaquam tot

annos tanto tumultu libellum nescio quem obscurum, nec vlli forte
cognoscendum nisi tu nobilitasses, insectatus eras ? posteaquara
Ehomanus Pontifex, intelligens eiusmodi causae genus esse vt magis
expediret obliterari quam longius exagitari, quiesci iussit? Si quis
125 error extiterit perniciosus Christianae pietati, primum eruditorum
disputatione diligenter est excutiendus, mox indicandus episcopo.
Id vbi factum est abs te, iam Inquisitoris officio functus es. Inuesti-
gasti, prodidisti quibus oportuit. Non est tibi necesse coelum mi^cere
terrae et tantas excitare tragoedias.
130 Vtinam eam operam, eos sumptus, eos annos praedicando Christi
Euangelio impendisses! aut plane me fallit animi praesagium, aut
maior esset lacobus Hoochstratus quam nunc est, et nomen esset
apud optimos quosque gratiosius, aut certe minus inuidiosum. lam
vero bona pars odii redundat in ordinem quem et antehac saepe ;

135 multis occasionibus graui inuidia laborantem non oporteliat nouis

odiis degrauare. Quin et illud erat tuae prudentiae, perpendere num
libellus ille Capnionicus haberet aliquid quod pestem aliquam
grauem religioni Christianae posset inferre. Nihil autem illic agitur
nisi ne quid praeter aequum patiantur ludaei. Quorsum autem
140 attinebat tanto spiritu agere vt ludaeos in odiuni adduceres ? An
quisquam est nostrum qui non satis execretur hoc hominum genus ?
Si Christianum est odisse ludaeos, hic abunde Christiani sumus
omues. Sunt qui cum alia permulta, tum illud in prirnis adducunt
in suspicionem, quod cum tot vbique libri scriljantur, in vnum
146 ilhim libellum inquisieris tam odiose. Nihil vsquam offendit animum
tuum in libris Augustini lustiniani, in libris Syluestri Prieratis, in
Thomae a Vio, nunc Cardinalis tt. s. Sixti : atque in his
libris F.
sunt pex'multa quae non mediocriter offendunt theologos Parisienses ;

nam ipse degustaui duntaxat. Negant igitur tibi ad Praedicatorum

150 errores oculos esse, ad vnius Capnionis aut eorum qui Capnioni bene
volunt, oculatum esse te.
Haec dico, non quo Capnioni patrociner, sed quo tibi tuisque
consulam : nam ille sic est amicus vt me causae non admisceam, quod
tu tamen videre suspicari. Siquidem hac gratia clarissimum Comitem

132. Ey^^LB: Hoochostratus F Lond.: Ilochstratus jS"^. 147. F. om. F.

Tliomae a F lacobi de E.
: nunc Sixti om. F, non liquef
. . . qiiare. 1^9.
praedicatorum E Dominicanos H.
:

131. praesagium] Cf. Ep. icxjg. 68n. accurate name (see crit. n.) needing
142. odisse ludaeos] A very fiaiik correctiou ; cf. p. 152.
utterance for Erasmus, wlio, in spite of a Vio] See Epp. 891. 25^, 256.
his virulence against individuals, is 45^.
usually free from prejudice against 153. sic est amicus] Cf. Ep. 1155.
classes and careful of his words about i8n.
them. It illustrates well the position non admisceam] For Erasmus'
of the Juws at this period. For other close concern in Reuchlin's case see a
conteniptuous expressions about them letter of Reuchlin, 21 Nov. 1514 '^RE.
in liis letters see Epp. 164. 27, i8r. 49, 198) Louanii fcrtur hoc aduersariis
: '

296. 82-3 541. 137 9, 694. 34-56, 697, esse constitutum, vt, si me oppres-
700-1, 703. 9, 20, 710.81, 713. 9. serint, Erasmum Roterodamum sint
146. lustiniani] See E]). 810 356^. aggressuri, et ita singillatim omnes se
Prieiatis] Seti Ep. 872. i6n. velle poetas (sic eriira bonarum litera-
147. Thomae] Another case of an in- rum studiosos appellant) eradicare'.
1006] TO JACOB HOCHSTRAT 47

a Noua aquila dictitanfc abs te plusquam odiose perstiictum iti 155

praefatione tua, nec alia de causa me quoque voluisse attingere in
libellis quos aduersus Cabalam aedidisti. Neque enim me magno-
pere subleuat ea ciuilitas, qua nomen Erasmi supprimis, cum et
operis titulum et locum exprefseris, ad verbum recitans quae illic
scripserim. Sed illud miror in primis, cur nos admiscueris ei 160
negocio quod et tu vis odiosissimum videri et a quo sum alienissi-
mus. Vtinam mihi tam propitius sit Christus quam ego Cabalae
sum parum propitius! Et ad huius rei mentionem non admodum
inuitabat disputationis cursus, sed obtorto collo videris affectasse ac
ceu pannum male cohaerentem intertexuisse. Deinde quam exacerbas 165
omnia, quam seditiose detorques quae scripsimus? Quod ego de
me meique similibus dixi, id tu perpetuo interpretai-is dictum In
Ecclesiam et vnum duntaxat adducis locum qui tibi videbatur ad
;

calumniam esse cum primis idoneus, cum ego compluribus locis

eius rei meminerim. Ex horum collatione deprehendi poterat quo 170
animo scripsissem quae reprehendis, Nam alibi testor me misere-
scere quorundam infelici matrimonio male eohaerentium ;
quos
tamen dirimas, spes non sit fore vt se eontineant a stupro. Horum
si
saluti volebam aliqua ratione consuli, si fieri posset ; nec id aliter
opto fieri nisi si in hoc consentiat Ecclesia. Non ego cuiquam 175
praeeo rem omnem ad Ecclesiam refero.
;

At non potest' inquis 'Ecclesia quod optas'.

'
Primum, non
ego definio quid possit Ecclesia quod si maxime constet non posse, ;

tamen a me nihil aliud audis quam votum charitatis. Non faueo

diuortio, sed miseret pereuntium et optat saepenumero Christiana
; iSo
charitas quae fieri non possunt. et saepe pium est optare quae tamen
non 1 ossis eflficere. Id ego cum paucis verbis admonuerim duntaxat
vt annotator, non vt dogmatistes, tu subinde dogmatis vocabulum
inculcas, quo mihi concilies inuidiam. Et adeo toto corpore con-
tremiscis, quemadmodum scribis, ad sermonem vt parum 1S5 meum
abfuerit quin prae horrore concideres, et annotatiunculam Ecclesiae
iudicio relictam totius Ecclesiae vccas suggillationem.
Huiusmodi iactis fundamentis. multum diuersis a nostra sententia,
in longum protrahis disputationem, nihil non adducens quo doceas
a diuortio non esse fas instaurare matrimonium : quasi vero nos 190

155. in praelatione tuaj To the first que, qui disiuncti seruari

fortasse
Apologia 1. 5on) : cf. Ep. 877. 2in. possent '. In 1522
381) he aclded
(p.
156. me quoque] Bk. ii, ch. 5, of the at another point in the sarae note :

DeA^r.Cafca/e is headed,' Contraqtiendam '

Miserebat me illorum quos videl^am
doctorem ostendit inseparabilitatem huiusmodi vinculis inextricabilibus
matrimonii non esse ex institutione implicatos: quos sciebam esse pluri-
Ecclesie' and over the page (f. dd
; mos, praesertirn apud Britannos, apud
v") follows ii passage of some length quos hoc opus primum deformabam*.
quoted from Erasmus' Annot. on Matt. 173. dirimas] sc. sine diuortio.
19. 8 (1516, ii, p. 276: withdrawn in 183. dogmatis] Destructio Cabale, f.
1519). On f°. qq* v" Erasmus is men- dd*.
tionod by name. 184. contremiscis] The next words
162. Cabalae] Cf. Epp. 967. 71, 1033. suggest that this quotation is verbal,
35-6. but it is only so at the end dictum :
'

171. alibi] In an Annot. on i Cor. 7. istud . nrtus meos metu perculit,

. .

39 addt d in 1519, p. 325) :

•
Videmus velut totius Eccltsie ferme pro se
autem tot hominura milia infelici con- ferens suggillationem ', Deslr. Cabale,
iugio sibi cohaerere, cum exitio vtrius- f°. dd*. 5,6.
 48 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

fugiat quid ]iac de re vel sensei'int olini doctores vel Ecclesia

decreuerit, Sed fieri potest vt non omnia semel aperuerit Christi
spiritus Ecclesiae. Et vt Ecclesia non potest irritare decreta Christi,
ita potest ad hominum salutem interpretari commode. quaedam
195 interim relaxans, quaedam astringens pro rerum ac temporum statu.
Optabat Christus omnes suos esse perfectos, inter quos nullum
incideret diuortium tentauit Ecclesia dogmatis Euangelici vigorem
:

ab omnibus impetrare. Qui scis an eadem, infirmorum quoque

saluti consulere studens, putet hinc aliquid esse i'emittendum ? Non
200 antiquatur Euangelium, sed ab iis quibus eius credita est dispensatio,
ad salutem omnium accommodatur. Postremo non antiquatur quod
Verum hic non est animus disputationis ingredi
rectius intelligitur.
labirynthum, praesertim cum in posteriore aeditione fere contraxerim
quicquid ad hanc causam pertinet, Videlicet annotans in epistolae
205 prioris ad Corinthios caput septimum.
Atque hic etiam, vir optime, cogor desyderare moderationem
tuam, qui putaris hunc locum exagitandum, cum non ignorares me
nouam aeditionem adornasse quam in priore fueram pollicitus.
:

Neque enim verisimile est te latuisse quod nemo nesciebat, etiam

210 multo antequam proxime reciperem me Basileam, nimirum huius
rei gratia.Proinde videberis aut anteuertisse carpendi studio, aut
quod iam conscripseras. Ergo, vt dixi, non ingredior
iioluisse perire
hic campum argumentationis —
neque enim id patitur epistola tan- ;

tum expostulo quod iniquius nos attigeris. Nam quod ego de com-
315 moda interpretatione meminerim, vide quam tu non commode inter-
quasi calumnier Ecclesiam Christi decreta antiquare
j)reteris, cum :

ego senserim nos, id est me meique similes, abuti dogmatum

Euangelicorum intei-pretatione, atque ita fieri vt vigor Euangelicae
doctrinae in nostris moribus obsolescat.
220 Christus, vt exempli gratia loquar, adeo voluit suos abesse ab
homicidio vt interdixerit omne conuicium, nec irasci permiserit.
Nos interpretamur irasci temere'. Hac interpretatione fretus saepe
'

qui irascitur ita sibi Wanditur Non temere est quod illi succenseo'.
:
'

Item Cliristus adeo voluit suos abesse a periurio vt prorsus inter-

225 dixerit iusiurandum. Id sic interpretamur, non iurandum temere.
Hoc interpretamento sibi blandiuntur qui passim quamlibet leui de
causa iurant. Ad eundem modum adeo voluit suos abesse a ludaeo-
runi diuortio, qui quamlibet friuola de causa repudiabant vxores,
vt diuortium in totum interdixerit. Quid hic possit interpretari
230 Ecclesia non pronuncio vellem posse, quo saluti multorum consu-
:

215. niemiiieram H,

194. commode]Cf. 1.21411. 214. commoda] See tlie ^nnoi. 1516,

203. contraxerim] In a lengthy dis- 011 Matt. 19. 8 (cf. 1. 156^"): Ex hoc
'

sertation, Annot. in N. T. 1519, pp. 325- potissimum loco lex inducta apud
34- Clirist lanos ne dirimantur matrimonia.
208. fueram pollicitus] See Ep. 809. Cum caetera Christi dogmata de non
6on. The statemont is repeated in iurando, de non resistendo, de in
ihi.' Apol. qua respondet yvith ihe siddiiion diein viuendo, de iuuandis ac dili-
of pulam (f°. A°' Jortin ii. 497).
: See gendis inimicis, atque id genus per-
also Epp. 1053. 292, 1074. 97- multa vel antiquare patiamur vel
209. nemo nesciebat] Cf. Ep. 1225 {scripsl : vt Annot.) interpretatione
init. and Apol. quu respondet, f°. A^ commoda prorsus abrogemus, solum
(Jortin ii. 497). vrgemus do matrimonio'.
 ioo6] TO JACOB HOCHSTRAT 49

latur. Et tamen aliquod diuortium admittit Ecclesia, et plures

quam Christus indulserit. Et distinxit
diuortii causas admittit inter
matrimonium consummatum et non consummatum illud non : pati-
tur dirimi, hoc intercedat votum quod nescio quare
patitur, si
vocent solenne. Horum nihil docuit Christus, sicut nec de casibus 235
quibus coit aut non coit matrimonium in quibus nec veteres con- :

sentiebant orthodoxi, et Ecclesia aut certe Rhomani Pontifices sua

decreta mutarunt.
Cum viderem Christi spiritum mii-e pro temi^orum ratione di-
spensare suos afflatus, et animaduerterem quanta sit autoritas Eccle- 240
siae, submonebam, si qua fieri posset, vt tot hominum pereuntium
saluti consuleretur. Nec hic quicquam statuo, sed decernendi ius
Ecclesiae defero, ipse nihil aliud quam monitoris officio functus.
Hic te quaeso, quid erat quod putares tam atrocibus verbis exagge-
raiidum ? Nam toties spargis in disputatione doctorem quendam 245
'
submurmui*are et 'stomachari' aduersus Ecclesiam, imo 'ream
'

peragere sacrosanctam Ecclesiam, secus dogmatizare quam sacro-

' '

sancta praedicet Rhomana Ecclesia et periculum esse ne praestetur

'
;
'

fomentum audacitutis in regimen Ecclesiasticum ', et in Ecclesiae '

consurgatur despectum ', et carnalia vitia in sui damnationem

' 250
impuderate sectentur' homines. Agnoscis, opinor, tua verba, quae
nemo non iudicabit seditiosius esse dicta quam aptiusaut moderatius.
Nam illa fortasse salsa videbuntur aliquibus, cum doctorem illum,
quicum agis, frigidum tractatorem eloquiorum Christi facis, i^^se
fortassis plus satis calidus cum illi nunc praeter phalerata dicta,
; 255
nunc praeter grammaticalem, vt vocas. sensum nihil tribuis cum ;

illum noctuam aut vespertilionem facis, teipsum, opinor, aquilam

esse sentiens. Equidem in rebus diuinis minus arbitror cernere me
quam cernat noctua, quae per tenebras etiam cernit et tamen si ;

liberet totum hoc ai'gumentum iusto studio tractare, videres nie 260
fortasse non vsqueadeo caecutientem quam tu videri vis.
Verum et res foret non vnius voluminis, et iam pleraque a nobis
attacta sunt in posteriore aeditione, quasi praesagientibus fore qui
locum eum labefactare conarentur. Quanquam nec illic quicquam
asseuero, sed Ecclesiae iudicio suam vbique reuerentiam et autorita- 265
tem defero argumentor, non decerno. Quod si dices nephas esse
:

quae iam recepta sunt, ea vocare in disputationem, quid faciemus

sacrosanctis doctoribus qui non verentur in disputationem vocare an

251. E, secunclum Hoechstratum : impudorate H.

234. votum] sc. castitatis ; of whicli stomachari] ihid. f°. dd* v°. ^.

there wei-e two kinds, alterum quod '

ream peragei e] ibid. f. dd*v°. ^.
solenniter fit ac certis ritibus in tem- 247. secus dogmatizarc] ibid. f". dd*
plo, alterum simplex quod absque v**. j.
ceremoniis eiusmodi peragitur'. See 249 fomentum] ibid. f. ff^ v". 17.
Erasmus' longdiscussionof this in the 250. dcspectum] ibid. f°. ff^ v°. 19.
Inst. Christ. matrimonii (LB. v. 634 b), carnalia vitia] ibid. f°. fP v°. 20.
citing the distinction of the canonists, 254. frigidum] ibid. 1°. dd*. 30,1.
'
Professio vitae monasticae dirimit 255. phalerata dicta] ibid. f°. dd^
ratum matrimonium, at consummatuin v". 4.
nequaquam '
646 b).
(il)id. 256. grammaticalem] ibid. ff. dd^. 4 ;

246. submurmui-are] Destr, Cabalc, ff. oc*. 19.

dd* v°. 10, ff ^^. 257. noctuam] ibid. f". dd^ v°. 12,13.

4(2.4 E
 50 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [151

Euchaiistia sacramentum ? an fornicatio simplex sit iDeccatum

sit
270 Leuiter autem me mouet
quod initio disputationis obiter me taxas,
(^uod e capite Matthaei decimonono scripserim legem inductam apud
Christianos ne dirimantur matrimonia bis videlicet tuo iudicio
:

peccans, et quod senserim lege humana inductum ne dirimantur

niatrimonia, et quod putarim ex eo loco sumptum, ciun ex quinto
275 eiusdem EuHngeh'stae capite potius sumptum appai'eat. Atque vt
praepostere respondeam, si vtriusque loci eadem est sententia, quid
refert ex vtro sumptum dicatur? imo probabihus erit ex decimonono
sumptum, vbi nominatim tractatur negocium diuortii, quanquam
ego non dixi locum eum qui est in codice, sed totum hoc argu-
2S0 mentum, vbicunque tractetur, locum vocaui alioqui nec ex quinto :

nec ex decimonono capite sumptum videbitur, sed potius ex Paulinae

eiDistolae ad Corinthios prioris capite septimo. Nam ilHc mulierem
quae digressa a viro nolit reconciliari, iubet manere innuptam.
Rursus hic vbi excipitur fornicatio, non videtur in totum adimi ius
2S5 diuortii, sed astringi magis, quod apud ludaeos aequo licentius
erat.
Deinde negari non potest extare Pontificum leges, quae vetent
diuortio diuulsos aliis iungi matrimonio, si modo constiterit verum
matrimonium intercessisse. Eas si hauserunt ex Euangelicis literis,
-'90 non video cur sim reprehendendus si scripsi legem extare quae vetat
dirimi matrimonia. Atque his etiam leuius est, quod cauillaris
mihi parum proprie dictum Mosen ludaeis concessisse diuortium, in
tam paucis verbis geminum errorem indicans. Permisit inquis, '
',

'
non concessit quasi quicqviam intersit inter permittere et conce-
' ;

295 dere, nisi quod iDermittit qui quocunque modo ius facit, concedit
qui de iure suo remittit aliquid vnde fit vt posterius verbum sit
:

ad hunc sensum accommodatius. Deinde Permisit inquis Moses, '

'
'

sed autore Domino quasi quod Moses iussu Dei praescripsit

' ;

populo, non recte dicatur iussisse, aut quod ex doetrina Christi

300 docuit Matthaeus, improprie dicatur docuisse.
Si stilum exercere cupis, quod mihi sane non paulo rectius esse
videtur quam quod quidam faciunt, alieno calamo scribere, malim
te in his argumentis versari quae minus habeant odii. plus fructus.
Aut si res poscit huiusmodi tractare quaestiones, ita totius negocii
305 phrasim habitumque modereris, vt non solum applaudant aliquot
ordinis tui sodales, sed eruditissimus quisque et cordatissimus lector,
atque ipsa etiam posteritas, agnoscat pectus vero theologo dignum.
Si causa seueritatem postulabit, absit tamen vbique saeuitia maxime ;

vero vitandum necubi suboleat ambitionis aut auaritiae venenum,

310 multo magis hypocrisis. Habet vera pietas aliquoties indignationem
suam, sed charitatis dulcore temperatam. Non est consultum irritare
quibus possis mederi, nec alienandi sunt quos possis lenitate reuocare.
Nomen haereseos quo magis est inuisum, eo magis ab hoc tempe-
randum quoad licet. Nunc nihil magis est in ore quibusdam. At
315 recte quidem distinguit tua prudentia haereticum ab haeresi, tum

270. initio disputationis] Deslr. witli tho aid of Gratiiis ; see Ep. 526.
Cabale, 1». dd v° ; cf. 1. 156^. 8n. It apj^ears from 1. 76 above that
293. inquis] ibid. f^. dd* v°. 14-15- Brasnuis suspected Hoclistrat of doing
302. alieno calamo] As Pfefferkorn tlie same.
1006] TO JACOB HOCHSTRAT 51

haeresim pro factionp impia, ab haeresi, errore qui pertinaciter

defensus faceret haereticum. Verum has subtilissimas distinctiones
non intelligit crassum liominum vulgus cum audit haereses huius :

aut illius. nihil ahud intelligit quam haereticos esse de quibus fit
mentio. Nec possunt imaginari quomodo bellum dicatur Gallorum, 320
cum ipsi bellatores non sint. Imo cum publice loquuntur, vbi me-
tuunt obseruari se, dicunt haereses Capnionis cum priuatim et inter ;

suae factionis homines, Capnionem vocant haereticum, obliti videlicet

eruditae distinctionis. Adeo viHs est istis ahena fama, qui suam
habent charissimam. 325
At te quidem video moderatiorem aliquanto in Hbellis posteriori-
bus, speroque futurum vt posthac magis ac magis hac Jaude teipsum
supei"es. Consulueris autem non ordini modo Praedicatorio verum-
etiam vniuerso theologico. si quorundam maledicentiam insulsissimam
autoritate tua reprimas, qui passim in publicis aut priuatis prae- 330
lectionibus, in disputationibus, in conuiuiis, in conciliabulis, in collo-
quiis, et. quod grauissimum est, in sacris ac publicis concionibus
virulentissime deblaterant in Hnguarum peritiam, in politiores
Hteras in harum inuidiam antichristos, haereses, et aHas id genus
;

tragoedias admiscentes. cum obscurum non sit quid Ecclesia debeat 335
viris Hnguarum peritis, quid debeat eloquentibus. Haec studia non
obscurant theologicam dignitatem sed iHustrant, non oppugnant sed
famulantur. Neque enim ideo protinus cum haeresi copulata sit
musica, si quis forte musicus huc prolapsus deprehendatur. Damnan-
dus est error hominis, studiis suus seruandus est honos. 340
At nimis proHxum sit referre quam ridiculas fabulas dequibusdam
audiamus quotidie qui dum conantur apud imperitam i^Iebeculam
;

traducere bonas literas, cordatis, doctis ac probis viris suam produnt

impudentiam parem stoHditati. Si theologia cohonestabit haec
studia, vicissim ab his decorabitur sin siiggillabit et calumniabitur, 345
:

metuo ne fiat quod ait Paulus, vt dum mutuis morsibus sese

conficiunt, inuicem sibi sint exitio.
Haec si puro synceroque animo a nobis dicta simiH animo acce-
peris, R. P., non dubito quin futurum sit vt olim mihi gratias
acturus sis pro consilio tum vero tum amico. Non indignaberis, 350
opinor, admoneri ab Erasmo, vt nihil aliud, certe natu, ni fallor,
grandiore, quando Moses lethro consilium non est aspernatus. Vale,
Pater eximie, meque refer in eorum numerum qui tuam ampli-
tudinem haudquaquam ficte diligunt. Maiorem in modum precor
vt me tuis sanctis precibus Christo commendare digneris, qui suo 355
niitissimo spiritu semper animum tuum moderetur,
Antuuerpiae. iii. Id. August. Anno m.d.xix.

328. praedicatorio E : Dominicano 77. 335. tragoedias £ : tragicas voces

349. R. P. om. H. 351- ni fallor add. F.

316. haoresi] See Destr. Caba!e,i°. \)h^. 936. 36 seq., 948. 36 seq., 990. ^n.
320. Gallorum] The allusion in tliis 341. fabulas] Cf. Ep. 950. 26-30.
illustration seems to be to the Swiss 346. Paiilus] Gal. 5. 15.
mercenaries in the French army sie : 349. R. P.] reuerende Pater.
Ep. 134- 3"- 352. Moses] Thiscomparison is used
333. linguarum] Cf. Epp. 934. 311, also in Epp. 1167.375, 1329. 17-18.

E 2
 52 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15 19

1007. To Leo X.
Farrago p. 354. [Louvain.]
F. p. 452 : HN : Lond. xi. 9 : LB. 453. 13 August 15 19.
[A further appeal to Papal authority against his opponents among the Louvain
theologians, with whom he had not jet come to a reconciliation (cf. Ep. 1016. i5n).
For prosecution of the appeal in other directions see Epp. 1033, 1060, 1062. The
date of time is confirmed by the Imperial Election (1. 106) but in view of the;

conflict with Ep. 1008 the place is perhaps only a permanent address (cf. p. la).]

LEONI X. PAPAE ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.

Beatissime Pater, exiit iamdudum in manus hominuni Nouum

Testamentum,' rursum a me non aestimandis sudoribus nouatum,
vna cum Annotationibus accessione non mediocri locupletatis. Exiit
autem felicibus, vt videtur, auspiciis, non modo Romani Pontificis
6 titulo verumetiam Leonis vocabulo commendatum, quo non aliud
nomen orl)i Christiano gratius. Antehac quotquot erant vera pietate
praediti, venerabantur vt tibi ceu numini consecratum nunc auidius ;

etiam amplectuntur vt summi Praesulis oraculo comprobatum.

Parum religiosum est non venerari quod dicatum est religionis anti-
10 stiti summae vero dementiae sit si quis homuncio tentet reiicere
;

quod amplectitur summus Christi vicarius, (vel) priuata temeritate

damnare quod approbat summus diuinae mentis interpres, cuius
autoritati debemus et quod Euangelio credimus. Nam ipse nihil hic
mihi laudis vindico praeter animum iuuandi studio nihil vigiliarum
15 recusantem. Tuum est quod opus auidissime rapitur ab eruditis
omnibus, tuum quod amatur, quod manibus teritur, quod per hoc
passim omnes inflammantur ad sacrarum literarum amorem. Quos
prioris aeditionis nouitas nonnihil offenderat, hi nunc resipiscunt
et errorem agnoscunt suum. Qui hactenus e putribus lacunis pertur-
20 batamquandam ac frigidam theologiam hauriebant, nunc e purissimis
fontibus Christi et Apostolorum haurire malunt.
Priorem aeditionem candidissimus quisque et eruditissimus am-
plectebatur. Poteram horura suffragiis esse contentus nam cui non :

satis sit praecij^uis placuisse, quando nulli adhuc mortalium contigit

25 omnium emeruisse suffragia ? Hanc mire consentientibus calculis
approbant omnes, exceptis perpaucis quorum alii stupidiores sunt
:

quam vt possint reetis rationibus coargui, alii superbiores quam vt

velint meliora discere, alii pertinaciores quam vt non pudeat in male
coeptis parum esse constantes, nonnulli natu grandiores quam vt
30 spei-ent se facturos operaeprecium, quidam aml)itiosiores quam vt
sustineant videri nescisse quicquam antehac sed omnes eiusmodi vt ;

non i'eferat talium ambisse suffragium. Siquidem non inscite dictum

est illud Senecae, quosdam esse tales vt pulchrius sit ab his vituperari
quam laudari. Et inter hos vix quisquam est qui nostra legerit.
36 Metuebant tyrannidi suae, quidam etiam quaestui, si mundus resipi-

II. , vel addidi : : E.

5. commcndatum] by Ep. 864. 19. lacunis] Cf. Ep. 1002. 1511.

6. nomen] Cf. Ep. 335. 130-58. 24. praecipuisl Cf. Hor.jE^^.i. 17.35,
7. consecratiim] by Ep. 384. 33. Senecae] Loco ignominiae est
13. Euangelio] Cf. Ep. 347. 231-2. apud indignos dignitas : p. 640 of
18. resipiscuut] Cf. Ep. 993. 550. Erasmus' edition, 1515 (Ep. 325).
 I007] TO LEO X 53

sceret. Quid sibi persuaserint nescio, certe rudibus et indoctis

persuadere conantur linguarum cognitionem bonasque quas vocant
literas aduersari theologiae studio, cum nullis disciplinis ea magis vel
ornetur vel adiuuetur.
Hi, vt sunt omnibus Musis et Gratiis iratis nati, sine fine bellige- 40
rantur aduersus studia sese nostris temporibus ad meliorem frugem
erigentia. Summa vero victoriae spes in meris sycophantiis illis est
sita. Si libris agant, nihil aliud quam suam traducunt stulticiam
simul atque inscitiam. Si rationibus conflictcxntur, nimirum superat
manifesta veritas. Tantum apud imperitam plebeculam ;itultasque 45
mulierculas vociferantur, quibus imponere facillimum est, praesertim
religionis praetextu, cuius simulandae miri sunt artifices. Praetexunt
horrenda nomina, haereses, antichristos iaetitant periclitari nutare-
:

que religionem Christianam, quam ipsi scilicet suis humeris sus-

tinent; atque his tam odiosis admiscent mentionem linguarum ac 50
politioris literaturae. 'Haec' inquiunt, horrenda dictu nascuntur '

ex poetica '
nam hoc vocabulo traducunt quicquid est elegantioris
;

doctrinae, hoc est quicquid ipsi non didicerunt. Huiusmodi naenias

non pudet etiam in sacris concionibus deblaterare, qui se praecones
EuangeHcae doctrinae haberi postulant. Abutuntur et Komani 55
Pontificis et Eomanae sedis nomine, videlicet apud nullos, ita vt par
est, non sacrosancto.
His technis, his cuniculis adoriri parant efflorescentes optimas
literas ac puriorem illam theologiam suos fontes resipientem. Nihil
non tentatum est, nullum calumniae genus non excogitatum, in eos 60
quorum opera vident haec studia gliscere inter quos me quoque :

numerant, qui quantum attulerim momenti nescio. Certe magno

conatu sum adnixus vt homines ab his frigidis argutiis, in quibus
tantum consenescebant, ad purioris pariter ac seuerioris theologiae
studium accenderem. Neque laborem hunc mihi prorsus frustra 65
susceptum esse vel hinc intelligo, quod quidam sic in me saeuiunt,
quibus aegre est quicquam in precio esse quod ipsi nec docere possunt
et erubescunt discere. Ast ego primum Christo teste, cui potissimum
meae vigilant Hterae, deinde tuae sanctitatis iudicio, ad haec recti
conscientia, postremo tot insignium virorum suffragio fretus, istorum 70
latratus semper neglexi.
Hoc quantulumcunque est ingenium semel Christo dicatum est.
Vnius hiiius gloriae seruiet, seruiet Ecclesiae Eomanae, seruiet
Ecclesiae Principi, praesertim autem sanctitati tuae, cui me plusquam
totum debeo. Poteram aHis argumentis tractandis ad opes, ad digni- 75
tates prouehi grauissimis testibus docere possum verum esse quod
:

dico. Hoclucrum mihivisum estpotius; Christi gloriae seruire malui

quam meae. Semper a puero mihi curae fuit ne quid aut impie scribe-
rem aut sj^^urce Quod si quid etiam olim per aetatem
aut seditiose.
hanc certe aetatem nihil decet nisi serium ac
licentius effutiuimus, 80
sanctum. Nullus adhuc meis scriptis factus est vel pilo nigrior, nullus
43. agant 2? : ? ngunt scribenclum.

37. linguarum] Cf. Ep. 934. ^n. 967. 181-5. Erasmus was doubtless
47. Praetexunt] Cf. Verg. ^Ie>t.4. 172. thinking, too, of the unacknowledged
80. licentius] In tlie Moria (Ep. lulius {Ep. 502). SeealsoEp. 1195. ^n,
222); cf. also Epp. 622. 21-2, 636. 4-5, 81. nigrior] Cf. Epp. 337. 59 seq.,
 54 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

minus pius nullus mea causa tumultus ortus aut oriturus. Hoc
;

animi decretum nulla vincet obtrectatorum improbitas.

Quid alii scribant ipsi viderint, ego seruum alienum non iudico ;

85 suo domino stat aut cadit. Doleo tamen maiorem in modum quo-
rundam amarulentis contentionibus labefactari tranquillitatem stu-
diorum ac rei Christianae. Neque res iam intra argumentorum
conflictationem consistit; atrocibusvtrinque conuiciis pugna crudescit,
dentatis lil)ellis res agitur, ac reciprocantibus maledictis tumultu3 in
90 rabiem
exit. Nemo non labitur alicubi, nisi qui homo non est. At
decet humanos lapsus, si tales sunt vt non oporteat ad eos conniuere,
Christiana lenitate corrigere. Nunc deprauant et quod recte dictum
est, saepe et quod non intelligunt. Amarulentis dictis exacerbant
quibus poterant Christiana mansuetudine mederi alienant saeuitia ;

95 quos comitate poterant retinere. Protinus haeresis vocabulum in ore

est, sicubi dissentiunt aut videri volunt dissentire si quid parum :

arridet, seditiose quiritanturapudcrassametindoctammultitudinem.

Haec aliquoties jDaruis initiis orta saepenumero vastissimum
gignunt incendium, fitque vt malum, quod initio ceu leue negligeba-
100 tur, i^aulatim auctum tandem erumpat in graue discrimen tranquilli-
tatis Christianae. Hac quidem in re multum laudis debetur optimis
monarchis qui autoritate sua dissidium hoc oriri coeptum sedarunt
velut Henricus eius nominis octauus apud Anglos, Franciscus huius
nominis primus apud Gallos. Apud Germanos, quod ea regio in
105 regulos complures dissecta est, non potest idem fieri apud nos, :

quoniam et nuper Principem habere coepimus, atque eum habemus

optimum quidem pai-iter et maximum sed ingenti semotum interualio,
tumultuantur adhuc impune quidam.
Proinde mihi videtur T. S. rem factura Christo longe gratissimam,
iio si contentionibus huiusmodi silentium indixerit, atque id praestet in
orbe toto Christiano quod Henricus et Franciscus iu suis vterque
regnis praestitere. Tua pietas summos reges redegit in concordiam :

superest vt per eandem et studiis sua reddatur tranquillitas. Id fiet

si tuo iussu homines qui loqui non possunt, desinant obgannire
115 politioribus literis. et ad benedicendum elingues desinant in lingua-
rum studiosos maledicere, sed suam quisque professionem gnauiter
tueatur citra contumeliam alienae. Ita fiet vt grauiores illae quas
vocant facultates, theologia, iuris prudentia, philosophia, medicina,
harum literarum accessione non mediocriter adiuuentur. Sine vt hoc
120 quoque beneficium debeant bonae literae, quae iam beatitudini tuae
nihil non debent quam in multam aetatem religioni suae instau-
:

randae propagandaeque tueatur Christus Opt. Max.

Louanii Id. August. Anno m.d.xix.

89. agitur £ : geritur F. 112. redigit F. 123. Idus J/".

950. 11-12. 1053. 385, 1061. 440 2, 106. nuperPrineipem] Cf.Ep.968.6n.

1139 49-50, 1171. 71, 1196. 271-2 ; and 107. semotum] Cf. Ep. 1004. MS"-
936. 16-18. 109. T. S.] tua sanctitas.
105. apud nos] In the NetherLmds. 112. redegit] Cf. Ep. 964. 32-5.
[oo8] 55

1008. To Christopher Hack.

Farrago p. 371. Antwerp.
F. p. 461 : HN: Lond. xi. 20: LB. 454. 13 August 15 19.
[The year-date is unquestionable for the letter is no doubt subsequent to
;

Erasmus' first relations with Erfurt in Oct. 1518 (Ep. 870 introd.) and is printed
in E.
Christopher Hack or Hacke of Jeiichow on the Elbe, n. of Magdeburg, matri-
culated at Erfurt in 1509 and was B.A. 1512. He was a friend of Eobanus (Ep.
874) and Cordus (Ep. 941), both of whom addressed verses to him. In Dec. 1517
he was preparing to lecture at Wittenberg on the Gospels (see a ms. letter cited
by Krause in editing Cordus' Epigrammata, 1892, p. xxvi). In the summer of
1518 he was travelliug with CeHarius (Ep. 877. 5n), and visited Hutten at Mainz
(HE. 104) and Reuchlin at Zell in Baden (RE. 261 = MRE^. 578) but returned ;

to Erfurt, where he took orders and became Euangelii minister'. ' Like many
other priests he married c. 1523 (EHE. p. 90; cf. SlE. 1647); but little else is
known of him. See Krause's Eobanus, i, pp. 146, 236, 299, 336. Camerarius,
Narratio cle Eohano, 1553, f. B^ v°, praises his skill in melicis carminibus ', '

The circumstances of this letter are explained by a poem of Cordus, Palimdiu

quod mortuum Erasmum scripserat wliich shows that Cordus heard a runiour of
;

the death of Erasmus (cf. Epp. 950. 28, 1021. 13-15 LE^. 172 and perhai^s EHE.
; ;

2>. 86, where Krause tlirows doubt on the date of Eobanus'4etter to Draco) and

wrote an elegiac poem addressed to Hack, deploring the event. The preface to
ihe Palinodia shows that on the suggestion of Draco (Ep. 871) the poem was
printed but that shortly afterwards, while it was still engaging public atten-
;

tion, Cordus received a letter from Erasmus (evidently Ep. 941) and learnt the
falseness of the rumour whereupon he composed the Palinodia, also addressed
:

to Hack. The Palinodia is printed among Cordus' Optra poelica but the former ;

poem is not known.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS CHRISTOPHORO HACO S. D.

Allatvm est huc carmen elegiacum, a quo scriptum incertum,

certe titulus ad te scriptum arguit eo, quisquis est, mortem meam
:

deplorat meque tandem inter diuos collocat. Agerem gratias liomini

pi"o suo officio, si nossem ; nunc tuum est illi meo nomine gratias
agere. Cuius animus sic in Erasmum propensus hoc mihi gratior est 5
quod haec tribuit sepulto nam viuum qui laudat, non solet abesse
:

prorsus ab assentandi suspicione. Sed quid imprecemur rabulis istis

qui me quotannis fere bis efferunt, idque, quo crudeHus sit, viuum,
coguntque toties me mihi superstitem esse? quid imprecemur miseris,
nisi mentem illis meliorem dari ? ne semper, quod hactenus faciunt, 10
viuant mortui. Etenim cum Deus sit charitas, atque is vita sit
animae, qui possunt haberi viui qui sic odere pi'oximum, adeo non
laedentem vt studeat de omnibus bene mereri, vt quem viuere
doleant, falsissimis istiusmodi rumoribus subinde sepeliant ? interim
imaginatione fruentes, dum re non licet tum ex eorum dolore quos 15 ;

tristibus fabulis exanimant, crudelissimam voluptatem capientes.

Nos, siue viuimus siue morimur, Domino viuimus ac morimur. Bene
vale, vir optime. Antuuerpiae. Id. Augusti. Anno m.d.xix.
2. quisquis est a(/f/. //. 18. Idus F Lond. : idib. A''.

8. efferunt] For previous rumours Soealsothis

introd., 479. 3, 854. 7-14.
of Erasmu3'death cf.Epp. 194.9-15,270 introd.,andEpp.ii42introd., 1208. 2n.
 56 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

3881009. To Albert of Brandenburg.

Parrago p. 358. Antwerp.
F. p. 454: HN : Lond. xi. 11: LB. 456. 15 August 1519.

REVERENDISSIMO IN CHRISTO PATRI AC PRINCIPI ILLYSTRISSIMO

DOMINO ALBERTO, RO. ECCLESIAE TT. S. CHRY&OGONI PRAES-
BYT., MOGVNTINEN. AC MAGDENBVRGEN. ARCHIEPISCOPO, SA-
CRI IMPERII PRINCIPI ELECTORI, PRIMATI ET ADMINISTRA-
TORI HALBERSTATEN., MARCHIONI BRANDENBVRGEN., ETC,
ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.
In tam immensis studiorum laboribus lassescenti nonnunquam non
modo calcar sed et robur addit adeo propensus tuae celsitudinis fauor,
cui in negocio cum per se omnium maximo (quid enim maius quam
orbi dare Caesarem ?) tum multis etiam difficultatibus transuersim
5 incurrentibus vehementer perplexo, vacauerit et nostras tam incondi-
tas literas legere et lectis non indiligenter i-espondere. Gratias agerem
celsitudini tuae pro tam singulari in hunc homuncionem ciuilitate, ni
magis gratulari liberet orbi Christiano, cui sapientissimorum princi-
pum, et in his tua praecipue, opera Carolus Imperator contigerit
10 vnus hac tempestate merito visiis idoneus qui cum tantam imperii
molem sustineat, tum Maximiliano succedat. Et fortasse minus erat
difficile reperire qui oneris magnitudini par esset quam qui Caesaris
demortui virtutibus responderet. Omnibus vero summa spes est
fore vt Carolus noster auita decora nobis referat aequetque non ;

15 enim ausim dicere 'superet', sed tamen ausim optare tacitus. Deinde
ea est Caroli felicitas vt imperii titulo, qui superioribus aliquot seculis
plus habuit iuris quam autoritatis, par responsura videatur potestas.
Nam complures magnos reddidit commissum imperium, Carolus ipsi
imperio dignitatem adiunget. Aliis imperii nomen adserebat ius
20 orbis, Carolus orbis principatum adseret imperio. Denique ea est
aetate vt propicii numinis praesidio spes sit fore vt sub eo Principe
quam diutissime floreat orbis Christianus. Et eiusmodi regnis irnperat
vt nemo magis sit formidandus barbaris Christianae religionis
hostibus.
25 Illud omnium votis optandum a superis, vt hanc eximiam virtutis
indolem quam nunc praesefert Carolus, et seruent et semper in
melius i^rouehant quo profligatis ab omni rei^ubiica Christiana
;

bellorum impiis tumultibus, Christi populus iugi pace tranquilloque

ocio laetus, honestissimis artibus ac pietatis studiis eximie floveat
30 aut certe, si les ita poscet, concordes nostrorum principum vires et
arma in Christiani nominis hostes conuertantur. Quod si quid etiam
Carolo gratulandum est, duplici nomine cum primis gratulandum
arbitix)r, et quod vestro iudicio sit ascitus, et quod Francisco Gallia-
rum rege tanto videlicet competitore sit imperii fastigium assecutus,
35 ipse promerens magis quam ambiens vt, quemadmodum olim :

Hectoris virtus AchiUis victoriam illustrauit, quemadmoduniTurnus

vir fortissimus Aeneae laudem auxit, ita summus Rex eiusdem hono-

TIT. E : EBASMVS KOT. ALEERTO CABD. MOOVNTIN. S. D. II. 30. ita N : ista E.
I009J TO ALBERT OF BEANDENBUEG 57

risaemulus Caroli gloriam reddiderit illustriorem. Mandatum est,

non venditum imperium, et mandatum est ei qui quam fortissime
possit obire mandatum est ei qui velit quam sanctissime admini- 40
;

strare. Nihil superest nisi vt summus ille Princeps, cui vni cor regum
omnium in manu est, et vestrum iudicium et Caroli conatum et
nostrum votum bene fortunet. Ad id omnibus pro sua cuique por-
tione est adnitendum, quando negocium agitur omnium.
Non poenitebat antehac libelli quo quod sit Principis munus 45
vtcvmque praescribimus quem libellum Ferdinandus noster, ado-
;

lescens virtuti natus, semper habet in manibus. Nunc etiam magis

gaudeo, quod sperem eam, si qua est, vtilitatem ad vniuersum orbem
peruenturam. Etenim quemadmodum plurimum laedit qui fontem
inficit vnde bibant omnes, ita latissime patet illius beneficium qui 50
pectus instruit omnibus imperaturum.
Eicardus Paceus, optimi Eegis orator optimus, non dubitabam quin
E. D. T. modis omnibus esset placiturus. Atque ille reuersus ad nos
dici vix queat quantopere sibi gratulatus sit, cui contigisset talem
Principem, non minus integritate morum quam imaginibus maiorum 55
aut fortunae dignitate clarum, et nouisse et vicissim innotuisse.
Quam ille gestiens, quam ardenti oratione plurima cupidissime jyev-
contanti totum te mihi depinxit
Ego porro quid dignitatis aut adiumenti possim adferre sacris
literis, alii viderint nobis certe propositum est hisce laboribus 60
;

immori: quos Christo non ingratos esse confidimus, vel hoc certe
nomine quod simplici animo in illius gloriam a nobis suscipiuntur.
Quid ni boni consulat hanc nostram sedulitatem, qui pauperculae
viduae quadrantem omnibus omnium diuitum muneribus praetule-
rit ? Aliis alii benefactis Christum demerere student nos, quando : 65
nihil aliud possumus, hac victima litabimus.
illi

lam vero vide quantum benignitati tuae et Hutteni nomine debeam

de quo sic mihi praesagit animus, hominem aliquando magnum
ornamentum nosti-ae Germaniae futurum, si modo et Dei praesidio
vita suppetat et tuae celsitudinis fauore non destituatur nam hanc 70 ;

ingenii lasciuiam, vt ita loquar, satis per se corriget aetatis accessio.

Quod nihil te commouet error eius qui dicato libello sedulo verius
quam prudenter studuit alteri gratificari, ea res mihi animum vere
excelsum et tanto Principe dignum arguit. Munus nondum est
allatum vbi redditum erit, mihi semper vt res quaepiam sacra 75
:

seruabitur, atque etiam ostentabitur, vt tui erga me animi pignus

tuique de me iudicii monumentum. Bene valeat E. T. D. cui :

semper commendatus esse cupio.

Antuerpiae. xviii. Calend. Septemb. An. m.d.xix.
53. R. D.T. E: tibi H. 56. aut om. F. 57. plurima H : iiiilii plurima E.
71. vt ita loquar add. F. 77. K. T. D. i? : tna sublimitas H. 79. xviii E :

XVII Lond,, quod sequihir LB. EX^ : Septembris HI\^.

41. cor regum] Cf. Prov. 21. i. added in F shows that this word is
45. Principis muniisl See Ep. 853. iiscd here withnoreprehen>ive intent.
47. in manibus] Cf. Epp. 917 introd., Erasmus was no doubt thinking of
943. 23-4, 970. 24-5. Hutten's recent publications men-
53. rcuersus] Cf. Ep. looi. 530. tiont-d in Ep. 923. 18-21, 29.
68. praesagit] Cf.Epp.990.20,1006.131. 72. error eius] Cf. Epp. 745 introd.,
71. lasciuiam] The qualification 976. 13-27.
 58 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

1010. To THE Reader.

Nouum Testamentum, 1519, tit. v» (a). (Bruges ?>
I September 15 19.
[A preface written for a separate issue of Erasmus' Latin version of the New
Testament, as printed from his original translation (cf. Ep. 384 introd.) in the
edition of March 1519 Nouum Testarnentum omne iuxta Graecorum enietidaia volumina,
:

inlerpraefe Erasmo Roterodamo, Louvain, Th. Martens, 1519, 16'' (Ghent Univ. Lib.,
Res. 1137). In the Apol. qua respondet (f°. D* v" Jortiu ii. 512) he describes this
;

issue as undertaken against his wishes and says tnat he added tliis preface
;

'
laaudquaquam in rem typographi in order to warn the reader not to accept
',

any text, not even that of Greek manuscripts, without critical examination. At
tliesame timehetestifios, as here, tliat hisdesire wasnot tosupersede theVuIgate,
but only by what lie considered a more correct translation to throw liglit on the
meaning of the Greek text :' cf. Epp. 809. 84-93, 860. 44-9.
The separate issue proved a success, and was quickly reprinted, eitlier complete
or the Gospelsonly, b^' Schumann at LeiiJzig 18 Oct. 1519 and 1520, by Cratander
at Basle Aug. 1520 and Marcli 1521, by Morhard at Strasburg Sept. 1520 and
1521, and by Anshelm at Hagenau 1520 (see BEri. pt. ii, pp. 26, 57). Unless
there is a prior Martens or Froben edition of 1520, Cratander's issue of Aug.
1520 is notable as containinga new piece by Erasmus the only case that I know — '
ot where Cratander printed any thing of his for the first time a noua praefatio :
'

to the reader— Qworf apud Matthaeum, without date —

which again disclaims any
,

intention of finding fault with the Vulgate, but otherwise is of little interest,
and therefore need not be included among Erasmus' letters. A Froben edition
of 14 June 1521 reprints this of Cratander's closely but in alater edition after
; —
—
Erasmus' return to Basle by Froben, July 1522, which has the text as slightly
modified in the New Testament of Feb. 1522, two new prefaces are substituted
for that of 1521, also addressed to the reader and without dates. The first,
Toties iam didum, repeats again his disclaimer hac versione non damnari mihi
•

vulgatam aeditionem qua nunc vtitur Ecclesia Romana, sed vt illa sit emendatior
magisque perspicua'. The second, Quanquam in rebus diuinis, which comes at
the end of the book, is of the nature of a Paradesis rather than a letter, and was
doubtless composed in rem typographi (cf. Ep. 43 introd. to fill the last eight
'
' )

pages. Neither is suitable for inclusion here. AII the three later prefaces
appear in Froben editions of Jan. and Oct. 1523, Nov. 1524, and s. a. but so far ;

as I can discover — there are Froben editions of 1521 ,8"' and 1532 which I have
not seen — this preface was not reprinted in any authorized volume.
,

After 1521 unauthorized reprints of Erasmus' Latiu version of the New Testa-
ment become very numerous, especially in Germany and Switzerland. Trans-
lations of it appeared, too, into German 1523, Flemish 1525, Bohemian 1533,
English 1538, Italian 1545, Polish 1552, Freneh 1554 see BEr'. jit. ii, N. Test. ;

Erasmus' movements at this time are not clear (Ej). 1013. 23^) but thei-e is ;

reason to suppose tluit about i Sept. he was at Bruges (Epp. 1012, 1025. ^n),
staying, no doubt, with his friend Mai-cus Laurinus, theDean of St. Donatian's.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMYS AEQVIS LECTORIBVS S. D.

Me plane reclamante factuni est, optime lector, vt Nouuni Testa-

mentum a me versum absque Annotationibus excuderetur typis, hoc
est nudum et inerme Zoilorum dentibus obiiceretur. Sed quando
vicit aliorum vel consilium vel quaestus, quod proximum est et vnuni
5 restat, admonitum te volo, ne, quicquid senseris a vulgata receptaque
translatione dissonare, protinus sic interpreteris quasi mea noua
veterem suggillet ac reprehendat. Nos quod in emendatis Graecorum
codicibus repperimus, sic vertimus vt aliquoties nostra Graecis prae-
feramus, nonnunquam ita conferimus vt lectori iudicium relinqua-
10 mus vtra sit potior Itctio. Certe docuimus, et negari non potest, in
nostris codicibus multa esse loca deprauata, nonnuUa vel obscure vel
ambigue vel barbare reddita, quaedam hactenus parum intellecta.
 icio] TO THE KEADER 59

In his si senseris tuo studio nostrani industriam adiumento fuisse,

gratiam habeto non milii sed lesu Christo, cuius praesidio geritur
quicquid recte geritur a nobis. Quod si quid offenderis quod prima 15
statim specie displiceat, ne sis praeceps ad calumniandum. Suspende
sententiam donec consulueris nostras Annotationes. Absit autem
vt quorundam inauditam impudentiam velis imitari, qui priuatim ac
publice damnant quod profitentur se non legisse in hoc vel ipso ;

Zoilo iniquiores, quod is in Homeri carminibus diligenter excussis 20

quaedam carpserit, et haud scio an recte, atque interim ea certe
comprobauit quae non attigit. Isti clausis oculis andabatarum ritu
impugnant quod non vident, damnant quod quale sit nec intelligunt
nec curant intelhgere. Atque, o mirum inscitiae sui^ercihum, quod
summus Pontifex inspectum et examinatum dignum censuit quod 25
legatur a studiosis omnibus, id isti non inspectum odiosis clamoribus
insectantur, praesertim apud imperitos. Vnde haec iniquitas, ne
dicani peruersitas, inter Christianos, imo inter hos qui professione
rehgionis haberi volunt insignes?
Sed cum his litigare non est animus. Te, lector, appello, qui ad 30
Christi doctrinam adfers animum vere Christianum. Si quid satis-
facit palato tuo, fruere tum aequior esto, sicubi prodesse studenti
;

parum successit pius conatus.

Calendis Septembribus. Anno m.d.xix.

ioo4]^011joge From William Budaeus.

Epistolae Budaei, 1520, f. 121 v° (a.). Maily.
F. p. 210 : HN : Lond. iii. 68 : LB. 455. (September 1519.)
Budaei Epistolae, 1531, gr., f. 5 v^ (bj.
Id. 1540, p.
30 (c) 1574, p. 40 (d).
:

[This letter was fiist printed by Budaeus with Epp. 1015, 1073 in BE'., Paris,
.T. Badius, 20 Aug. 1520 (a^ Bodl. B. 18. i6Linc.), corrected inahiter impression
:

bearing the sanie date (a^ Bodl. Byw. K. 9. 9) and it was again included, with
: ;

Epp. 403, 435, 493, 522, 583, and others of later date to Erasmus, in BE^., Feb.
1531 ('^)- It might be conjectured that F would have been printed from the
actual letters received by Erasmus but examination of its readings shows its
;

close dependence upon a. Such differences as there are between them are
—
mainLy rectifications of tlie iota subscript a matter in wliich the early printers
of G-reek were very uncertain, probably through the inadequacy of tJieir supply
of type tliere are a few necessary corrections (11. 31, 62, 109), and some degenera-
;

tions (11. 30, 43, 74, loi). As between a^ and a^, tlie readings of 11. 4, 17, 28,
44i 73- 117» 124 show unque.stionably that a^ was the archetype of F. This
inference is even more markedly evident in Ep. 1015, where some obvious inis-
prints which are special to a-, are faithfully reproduced in F.
It is clear therefore that Erasmus —
remembering perhaps Budaeus' notice
(Ep. 493. 45 seq.) of a misprint in Ep. 403. 149 as printed in B instructed the —
editors of F to follow Budaeus' published text with scrupulous care, leaviiig
them,however, free to eorrect undoubted errors in their original and furthor that ;

tliey used for the printing a copy of a^. This view of the facts supplies a further
and conclusive proof fcf. vol. iii, pp. 627-8 that Ep. 1206 is to be placed in 1521. It
may be noticed that in printing some of his own letters in BE^. (^b) Budaeus
ai. atquae a.

22. andabatarum] A
kind of gladia- 25. Pontifex] Leo's Brief, Ep. 864,
tor, whoise helmet had no eyeholes. is printed in Martens' present volume :
The figure is a tavourite with Jerome : also Ep. 384. For this appeal to Pa])al
cf. Adog. 1333. authority cf. Ep. 1007.
 60 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [151

appears to liave used iiot the rough-drafts butthe text pi-inted by Erasmus in
C^ see vol. ii, p. xx.
:

Thesection of Budaeus' Greek letters in b, of which tliis is one, aroused con-

tiuued interest throughout the century. Shortly before Budaeus' deatli (23 Aug.
1540) a young scholar, Wm.
Plancius or Plantius of Le Mans afterwards well- —
known for his translations from Plutarch, Hippocrates, and Galen, and for his
edition of the Pharmacia of his master, John Fernelius , asked permission to edit —
them again and Budaeus, readily assenting, lent his own copy of the letters
;

vvith further corrections and improvenients by himself. Plancius' volume,

6. Budaei graecae episiolae, ab ipso nuper iuni locupleiiores ium emendaiiores reddiiae,
Paris, C. Wecliel, 1540 (c^), represents tlierefore the final polish given to the
letters by their autlior. It is followed by two reprints issued by the Wechel
firm in Paris, 1550 (c^) and 1556 : the latter of which I have not seen. Later
Ant. Pichonius of La Chartre on the Loir, who in 1585 was Eegius Professor of
Greek at Tours, pioduced a Latin translation of the Greek letters, and at the
same time made a few corrections in tiie text, Paris, J. Benenatus, 1574 (d).
Finally in imitation of Tusanus* notes on BE^. and BE^. (Ep. 810. 45on), Clau-
dius Credonius Colaeneus published a volume of notes, grammatical rather than
explanatory, Paris, J. Februai-ius, 1579.
In the sigla a of course has the priority : for the sake of convenience I have
placed b, c, d after N, and have neglected the occasional, but unimportant,
variants of Lond. and LB. The corrections made in N- at 11. 30, 74 cf. Ep.
1073. 45n) perhaps imply that its editors had seen b, There is a ms. copy at the
British Museum (Harl. 1675, ff. 99 v"-io3 c. 1591); but it is incomplete and :

otherwise of no value, and probably was made frorn one of the printed volumes.
The month-date given for this letter in all the contemporary editions is
identical with that for Ep. T015, 15 Sept. Both letters answer Ep. 1004 ; but
this was written somewhat the earlier, and not long after the arrival of Ep. 1004
(Ep. 1015. 166-8). The correction required might be made in either letter. Thus
Leclerc dates this 15 Aug. ; or in Ep. 1015. 165 Nouembris might be read for Ociobris,
or Sepiimo for Septimodecimo. But as the postscript to Ep. 10x5 shows tliat this letter
was brought back and the two sent off at the same time, though by different
messengers, it seems easiest to suppose that the month-date was altered here,
perhaps by Budaeus liimself, to accord with that of the second dispatch. In any
case Longolius' movements (1. ^n) make Leclerc's coiTection impossible for ;

U. 3-1 1 show that by the time Ep. 1004 reached Budaeus, Longolius had
already left Paris. Ep. 1023. 2 also iudicates that when he left, Budaeus had
not yet written to Erasmus. The letters were not delivered quiekly ; for on
2 .Jan. 1520 Budaeus wrote to Vives (BE*. 51), in answer to a letter not extant,
'
Quod miraris me non scribere, velim vt scias Erasmi epistolae nouissimae
Graece et Latine rescripsisse '. By 2 Feb. he had heard that they had arrived
(BE<. 52).]
E0TAAI02 EPASMn ET nPATTEIN.
Hay
fjiOL Travu iyevero ra ypdfxixaTa. crov Xa/Jciv, irvy^avov yap e/c TroXXov

TOVTOv icfnijxevo^. Ov firjv 8e ovtws r)8ea fjiOL to. ypdfXfiaTa aiiTa dveioyfiieva,
To ye TTpoiTOV dvayvovTi, yeyove. EKeivr] fikv ovv 7]p.epa XpiorTO^opos 6
AoyywAtos, dvrjp ovk ets pLaKpdv VTrdp^wv Twv €7rt TratSeta evhoKLfxovvTwv, Sta
5 T^s dypoLKLa<s T^s ifJLyjs fxeTa(3e(3rjKeL, avv tlltl 8r) ;^a/3t'eo-iv dvSpda-LV ets BpeT-
Tavtav ttov" €7ri ye firjv Ti^ crvyyeveadaL crot Kat Aoofavtov 81) TroAtv oi//oyuevos
iv TTf oSoLTTOfHu., ws ye fLOL e(pao-Ke. Hepl SetAv^v ovv oij/Lav e^ovTL poL Trepl

2. c : dveojyfifva a. 4. a* : AoyyuXios a}h. 5. xapleiaiv a.

4. XoyywXios] His departure from 5. neTafieliTjKn'] The absence of

Paris cleaily is to be placed later than augment perhaps due to remini-
is
12 Aug. (BE^ 40); and, as he was scence of Hom. Orf. 12.312,14.483: cf.
going to Louvain (I. 6), presumably Ep. 1004. 8on.
he carried with him also BE*. 41-3, avhpaaiv'] M. Delaruelle poiuts
dated 16-19 Aug. out that Longcilius was accompanying
011« (Is /xaicpav ktX.] sc. mox inter Abbot L. Bartolini (Ep. 1187). •

eo3 futurus qui ... 6. Aoovdvtov] Cf. Epp. 1023,4,

loii] FEOM WILLIAM BUDAEUS 61

To. ttJs (^«XoAoytas aTr^yyeiXe Tts twv olkol vcavtCTKOV Ttvci Trcpt tt;v avXctov
Ovpav eaai, LTrr-o) iTroxov/J-evov. Kat Trapaxp^f^o. KaTa/3dvTt fxoL vcavtcrKO?
outos iTricrTr], fj.€Ta Sr] to Trpoo^etTrctv e/y.e, ypd/xfxaTa aTro tov Epao-//,ov koijllC,€lv io
<f>dfjL€VO's K-at Ttvos aXAoL' Twv cJ3l\(j)v. Tovtov TOLtn)v ovk oto d«poco/xei'os
OTTws VTTo ;^apas SLCKetfxrjv, //.eTa^v 8t^ ato"^avo/xei'os t^s Kapotas cittovo-t^s dva
Tois <f>piva^ ifi.d<;.

KofjLLadfievoi ovv avTa Kat dvot'^as, ws 'EXAr/vtcrTt cfyOeyyofxivrjv evOv? etSov

T7/V dp;(7/v, To driOiS 8r] rfydcrdrfv' etT' oiiuiS vtto o-Trovdrj'; 8te^te'vat dpfd/x€i'os, 15
fji€Taii' dvaytvwcTKwv €pv0p6<;, co;(pds, VTro/^tetStcov, crecTT/pdjs, Svcrxepatvcov ev
fiipei KOL evyvo) fjLOVois cri'yK€;)(v/A€vos, StairotKtAos, TravTOtos,
^X^^' 8taKe;^/x,€'vos,
Kat Tt yap ovk iyevofjLrfv, dTraWa^eLwv SrjOev Tovoe tov dytuvos ot€ p.ev, ot€
8e TrdAtv TroX€fxrf(T€L(j)v. MeTa 8e tovto, to 7rpay/ta ctt iftavTov crK€7rTo/i.€vos,
etT' iTTL/Spa.xv TaXavT€v6fJi€vo<; Trfv yvdifirfv, StaoTraivTtov S^^ev TT^oe KdKetcre 20
Tov XoyLCTfLov VT7€vavTLUiv TTaOihv dXXrfXoLS, ets cnWotdv Ttva KaOiaTrjKa dvfi.-

<f>LXo(TOcf)wv TeAevTwv aTro tov t^s 8tai'ot'as IrroppoTrovvTo?

ifjLavTij}' dxpL Srf

€771 To evdpecTTOv KaTipp€\f/a Kal €7rt€tKe's, ttjs ^tAtas S^/Trov^^ev e_>^c)/>tevos ttJs

dyav e/xot K€)(^apL(rfxivr]<;' ov toctovtcjv ye crov to iTriTLfxrjTLKov v7roAoytcrTeov

etvat dvafLLp.vrf(TKov(Trf<; fx€ TavTrfs, ocrov XP^'' TifidcrOaL to evp-eves Kat irpocr- 25
cfnXk? Trjs 4^VXV'^'
"Afxa Se Kal e^rr/et tovtc) /lot TT^vtKavTa iTrtcrK€\f/afxiv(a, eliroTi Tt KaTct tov
^lXlov Oeov TreTrXrffxfxiXrfTaL vtt ifxov {crvfx^aLrf ydp dv tol6vB€ Tt ttov ev Ttu
TratyvicijSet eK€t'voj r^s dA>/^ovs crvfx(3oXrf<; direiKOVLcrfxaTt, tw ev Tats e^rtcrToAats

rffxoiv^, TOVTO 8r/ iKirpLacrOat Setv c/xe tepo^tVo) Ttvt ov tw tvxoi^ti ovo' ojs av 30
TvxV L€povpyrjOii'TL. "Otl tolvvv ovS' ctv evt lepeto) tov TrXrffXfxeXovftevov Oeov
€vx^picrT€pov €^tAacrat'p.e^a ^Trep Trj tojv rffxapTrffxivoiv i^op.oXoyrfcreL re Kat
p.€TavoL(x, 6fxoXoyovfi€v6v icTTLV cv T7/>ttv TOtS ifJL(f>LXocro(f>ovcrLV Tots petots.
Totydp ovv, dvcp vpocrcftLXicrTaTe, cre /xev irpoKaXovfX€vov ifxi ets x^P'-^^'''^^^^
TLvd Kat <f>LXoirp€7r€crTipav twv d/i.ot^ai'ojv ypafxfxdToyv iSiav t€ Kal vTrcjpccrtv, 35
ovToJs d7ro8e'xop.at t^s tc evyvoj/xoovvTjs {eveKa} Kai, t^s fXLcr€yKXrfp.ovo<; if/vx^s,
ojcrT€ Trj v€vofxoO€Trffxi^nrf vtto crov dfxvrjcrTtcx Ko/xtSr/ t€ dpicrKOfxai, otaTeAecretv
T€ virtcrxyovfxat avTjj ivaTrofxivoiv. "IctOl ovv tov crov BovSatov e^ojv to d^ro
TOVTOV Tots (f>tXtas vo/At/xots irctOapxovvTa, et Kat dAAov Ttva St/ Toiv 8oKtfio)v
crov Kat i$r]Ta(rp.ivo)v (f>tXo)v. 4°
Ov fxrfv dXXd ovK oKvqcro) €ya)yc ovro) Trept ^tAtas <f)povo)v kol crov hiecrOat
fXLav hirfcTLV Tr^vSe, trv 8e hr) Tavrqv ot/zat ovk dv (SapvvOeLrfs atrov/xevci) /AOt

crvyxwpetv" tv' €$rj fxoL, dfxvrfaTMS ovS ortovv tc pLa^ofxivrf^

cro^^ofxivrf; Trjs

Trf<; T/crvxtas, t6 yc TocrovTOv fX€p.vrfcrOaL tojv TrapeAr/AvPorojv ocrov 0Lap.ap-

Tvp€crOaL ivavTLOV dirdvTO)v, dv t ixOpojv dv t€ <^tAojv e/jiaii' tc Kat croji', arr 45

dv 7^ Kat 07701 aTT dv S6$rf rd V7r €p,ov Trore 7rept crov re Kat 7rpos cre yeypa/A-
fxivcx T€ Kat elprffxiva, TavTa hrf yeyei^^crOaL dTro c^tAovetKtas /v.ev tcro)s, ovk
018' oirojs Trj
^f/vxfi TrapetcrSvtrr^s Kat tov Ovfxbv dK0vr]crdcrr]<;, tcrojs 8e' 7rov Kat

17. n^H : (vyvofjiuvajs a^. N : SuaKexvi^ivos a. 27. J^c : (nTjfi ab. 28. a'^
(ftXoi^ a^. 30. itpodvTw aX^b : UpobvTCi) FK^. 31. F Corrig. : IfpovyrjOevTi a.
33. F:
fifTavuia a. ac : fCTTt b. qnii' a v^rf c. : 35. b dfioiPoiaiv a.
:

ypafifxdrajv add. c. 36. 'iviKa coni. Credonius, p. 29. 37. F dfivrffTTia a.

:

43- ^: «£'7^. -^^ • clri ovJ' a. aN : ^ia^ojfievTji F. 44. ttjs rjavxiai add. C.
a^ : biafipTvptaOai a'. 45. ac* ivavTiojv c^. : 46. 7? b : ^ a. 47. re arfrf. c.
48. ab : dKovtadiTrjs X.

8. veaviaKov'] Doubtless Herm. Phry- 1002,3 also see Ep. 1002. 41-7.
; He
sius (Ep. 903. i2n) by whom Budaeus
; returned to Paris in March 1520.
endeavoured to send this reply (Ep. 12. aTTovarjs'] sc. diaaovar^s.
1015. 167). He wa-; the bearer of Epp. 34. npoKaKovfitvov] Ep. 1004. 121-5.
 62 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15 19

TrapeL(r<f}6ap€i(rrf<; dv to TfXcvTaiov (^oia (f^iXcL tou 6vfiov to. bpfx-qp.aTa tts

AO X*'P°'' c7rtT€tveo-^ai)* ouk cTt Se toi ctTro t^s Suo"€ptSos <f>L\ov€LKia<s Kal dyu.tAA7;s
Tjjs /caKovoi;, oi' /jia. t^^v <f>L\oao(f)iav, 7/s To ^«tov ly/jttv o^eTrTov Ti'yxav€t ov Kai
cre(Sii(rfj.LOV. Kat fikv 8r] Kal tovtov p.<j.pTvpa dva/<aAeto-^at Tryv aiToaAT^^etav
OVK av oKvoirjv avTos, ttjv twv ev (f>LXocro(f>ovvT(i)v 7rpoatp€0"tv KaTev^wovo^av
Kttt KapSiwv Twv r}fji€T€p(x)V t(f)opov. KatTOt OL'K dSeojs eycoye ovS OTC iTv\€
55 SLo/JLVv^rOaL €LwO(i}<;, ovSkv vvv, ws oi/iat, TTLcrTwcra^rOaL Tr;v ervotav r]p.wv cSed/UT/v,
€t /tT/ Ot (fliXoL OL (Toi, T(i)(a 8e Kttt Ot i)(^Opol OL rjp.€T€pOL, fjLaXXov Se ot T-^v
r)p.€T€pav (fxXoKoXiav 8v(r)(€paivovT€<;, TrurTwcraL /xk cTLyfj iSoKovv, Kal tovtovl
TOV OpKOV OpKWCraL' Svafl€V€Ldv TLVa BtfTTOV V(f>0pwfX.€V0L ev rjflLV TaVTTf T€
€(f>r]86fX€V0L, ii wv rfKpojBoXL(rdfJi€da irpo tov fL€X€Tr]TiKw<s.
60 2i! ye />ti?v, w Sat/Aovte, ei TOtdvSe ti Kat o"ot o^woto^^a €Lpya(rfx.€V(o, Trepi ye
T^s i(f>afjLiXXov TrjcrSe (^tXovetKtas t^s )(^wpov(rr]<; rroppw tov diro)(^pwvTo<; etSeirfi;

dv, et KaOapT€ov iarlv woi ttws Tas (f>p€va<; aov-

Kttt o^ot Ov yup av iv SeovTL
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€Ketva tuv cywye Tvy)(dvw TeOavfiaKw^ iv Trf afj iTTicrToXff, Seftais /tev Kat
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Xoyrffxevwv, w<; ye Srf vtto tov dvSpds dfxvrjcrTiav 7rapa)(prjfjia Trapetaoto-ovTOS.
ESet ydp TOt TrpaiJvTtKOU fjiuXXov Adyou Kat KaTaKrfXr]TLKOv, i(f> w t€ irapa-
(TKevdcraL fxe ireLOrfVLOv kcxl er/tevws tov vofxov ivBe^ofxevov tov croi'' eTret €t

avTos dyojvtoTTtKws e^wv TavTrj iTre^^eiprfcra Trj 8taStKao-ta iTre^Lwv OvfxoeiSel

"jo Trj yffV)(r] fLov )(apit,€(rOaL ifnraOecrTepov, ovk uv to irpdyfxa avTO Trepas ecr^^ev
ovSeTTWTTOTe' €LT €K T^s ciyav dfxiXXr]<; TT^o^Se Svolv <f>iXoiv 'lAtds Tts kuk^s
</)tAovetKias dv€(f>dvrj dv, eKUTepov SrjTrovOev to ot^Katov eavTw irepLvoLov fxevov
icraei, kol StKatws KdStKOJS.
Kat firfv eywye crvvrfSofLai /xot dvO wv avTos ifLavTOv e(f>Or]V etvat avTe^ot'-
75 o"tos,' do-a Kat Trj (f>LX6(f>povi (rov dfxvrfaTLu evyvwfxovw; iTravaTravaacrOaL,
iiTLeLKecrTepci uv hrfirov Kal Tavrr] yevofxevrf, et fLr] TavTrjv Trpds iyKXrffxaTLKf]
iK€Lvr] TTf iTTLCTToXfj €7reto"7/yay€S, TroXvTrpayfLovovcrrf ye Ta Kat Ta tlitt ifxov
rrapavevofxrfcrOaL Sokovvtu, vtto tov dcrvfXfxeTpov iv tw dywvi^ecrOuL. Ov ydp
e^apv6<; elfLL to kut ip-e vTratVtov, wcnrep ovS uv alcr^^vvOecqv dvuTiOecrOaL Tct

So icr(f>aXfxeva fxoL orrr] rrapeiKoi, (rvyyvwfxrfv t€ TrapaiT€l(rOaL wv e(f>Or]V Trotrycras

ovK iv 8e'ovTt. Ilpds 8e TOts dAAots Kat touto 8r] wvdfLrfv t^s SetvoTTyTos t^s
o"^S, OTt Tov vo/AO^eTOuvTa fLOL (f>ep€LV rfhrf KO(rfxiw<; t€ Kal TeTay/tevcDS iOicrOrj-

(rofxaL, Kal vovOeTovvTo^; evAa^ws dKpoucrOaL, fL€)(pL 8rf kol tov Kparelv SvcrKu-

OeKTOV TTaOrffxaTO^ kuX p,dAto"Ta tujv aTrdvTcuv Trpds Tdv XoyLcrfxhv d7ravOa8LaL,o-
Sn, fievov. Ov ydp tcrO dVt twv ttuOwv r/TTOv vTrrjKOvcre tov Xoyov, oiSe
8v(r)(epecrTepov itreLOdp^^r^ae ttj iyKpaTeiix, TTjaSe t^^s dvTaytovtcTTtKT/s 6pfLrj<;,

Kal TavTU 8La(f>LXoTLfxovfL€vr)<; Trept Tot; StKatoAoy^o-at 8oK€tv. 2o{} 8e 8r]

epyov ecTTat, w (f>LX6Tr]<;, koX irpovoiav TTOLrfaaaOai tov fii] SoKetv cre dv€7rt€tKe'-
arepov tovtov drraXXd^aL tov dyoivos' oTrou ye Kat atirds opiov ae irepX Tfj
90 (f>rjfJir] fLOv ocStoTa, ws e(f)r]<;, Trpds Toi; KaOr'fKOVTO<; 8r] tov ifLOV wrfOrfv elvai,
Kat OTj ooKT^trecos, dvTeTrt/AeAetcr^at t^^s ct^^s.

52. ab avTaXridfiav JV.

:
57. d : (rifrj a. 59. irpoTdvSe c. 60. F:
ilpyatTnevQ} a. 6r. Fc : (ISeiTis &b. 62. FCorrig.: KapOaTeov i\. H: w Se' ab.
67. b: KaraKriXiTiKov a. «</>' w scripsi : e<pa) a. 69. cOF: ravTr) n^.
71. ovSenunTOTf :\ oxihi- /nore
: e. tis add. c. 73. KqSiKws a^. 74. aA''^ : avvTj-
(iwfiai FN^. 75. F: dfLvijaTia a. 76. H: l-nieiKfaTfpa a. Kal ravTri acld. c.
H: y(von(vri a. TavTTjv om. c. 77. aitr^i' pos< tTrtffToXTj acW. c. J'
TroXvTTpayftovoiKjrj i\. 81. ab : H.
divaifirjv 83. a- : i/oi^^eTouToy a^.
87. liiKaioKoyeiaOai c. 90. Fc : dirjOrjv ab. 91. /cai owi. cl. 5?) a : ttjs c.

90. €</>»/?] Ep. 1004. 14.

 loii] FROM WILLIAM BUDAEUS 63

Tt ovv TT/Dos 6eov eo-rtv ocrrts twv kolvwv rjfjuv <^t'Aajv iv KaXiZ tovto
;

OijcreTaL, otl TpLwv vtt ifiov ypa^cio-oiv €<^e^s eTrtoroAojv, /xta /Aev fJLovov av
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•ye e;(OVTa TrdvTrj TravTws fteTLwv, iTnjTLaau), ovtw tol Trap€pfjLr]V€vara<; ws 95
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ctivoiKois €;(oi'o"atv oi'8' oAws ifivy](r6r]<; ouSeTrtaTroTe. Oi'8e ydp iKelvr] ye 17

TrepLffryLa, Tr]v TTLKpiav Te Kat dT07ri'av €7ravaKUKXoiJo-a ttJs e/x^s €Vto-ToA.7}s,

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<^tXtKa)S €;^ovT(uv ypafifLaTwv rf a—o(TnoTrr](rL<i rj crr] rrLCTTilicraadai fioL SoKet to. 100
Trept ^tAtas t^s €v(TTaOov<; t6 o-6v fiepo^. 2v ydp 6 auT^s det ctvat Ta Kard
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KaTeyvdjKws ;
EtTa TorTO Trotetv (fiOdcra^, dva7ret'o-etv otet tovs dAAous irdvTa cre

€v TiOecrOaL oTTOiCTTLOvv elprjcrOaL (f>OdcravTa ', Ilais ydp ; twv iyKXr]-

os ye Trj
fJiaTdiv 8t€co8(i) ivTpvcjiwv oetvoTCKws T€ Kat crfLLKpoXoyo)?, TrdvTUiv re twv vtt iftov 105
y€ypafjLfi.€VLOV e7rtAa/?(j/ievos diTpi^, dveTrtAr/^rrcjv tre TravTdiracrLV d^roSetKvuvat
eyK€;^et'p7/Kas. To9to p.€VTOL ov ^retcrets oro r/v Tretar/s, t6 toG KoifjiLKov.
Eydij /xev 87/, ai <^tAe, tt/v d/xapTt'av t^v e/x^v er^/^tos dvo/x,oAoyoi'/x€VOS
o"vyytvtij(rK€cr^at dttoi, et (SapvvOel^: Tr]v avcrTrjpdv (tov koll wepaKpt/S^ e7rt-

TifirfCTLV, hLoXov ye creavT^v d^wdjcravTOS, f-^XP'- '''ovSe -Trape^eTewa tov Xoyov' no

et Kat TrdvTcus ye 7re'7retcrp.at dAT/^iy cre (fiiXov etvat Kat evvotKcos €;(0VTa.
AfjLffno yap icrws ttou SeSeKacrfievrjv yvaj/cT/v vTro cr7rov8^S e^ofjiev t^s <^tAauTt'as
o)S eotKev i\ofJL€vr]^ ifnraOicrTepov, ola c^tAet Ta Ttuv dvOpwTrojv etvat. 'AAAd
/x^v ar^ts au Se^Sta /xt/ eAa^ov ttjv i7TLT€Tr]^€VfL€vrjv vir ifiov fieTavoLav
otaTapdTTOJV" (j) ydp fJLeTafiiXeL twv
ovtos et /a'^ ets tovttlov
r]fJL(f>Lcr j3r]Tr]fjL€Vij)v, i i
5
t6 Trapdirav dvaZvoLTo Ta ovk uv (f>OdvoL ^rept t6 ai'r6
tt/s dfjiff^Lcr/SrfTyjcrews,

TTTcacrfLa TrdAtv KaAtv8or'/xevos. TovvTev^ev ovv ^St/ dve^rtcrTpe^Trrcus /cera-

voovvrd /ce TrapixofiaL Kal ets a^rep dv /SouAt/ irpoOvfLOv KaX €VTp€TTrj, dAAoJS
re ouK d7rr]XXayfL€V(j)<; (f)vcr€L 8taK€t'/>t€vov r^s dcTTetore^pas re Kat y^apLecrTipa^
dfioL(3ri<;. ets o 8^ 7re8t'ov tru ye 77/Ads TTpoKaXfj, 6 rais ;(dpttrt cnjvTpo(j)o<;. 1 20
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rffJiWV TOJV d(ft€LfJi€V(DV €KaT€pO)0€V OTLOVV dvaV€U)TaL, OVTOS €7rt TCt) t:^v TTapa-
vofxia<; BiKrjv (f)€vy€LV, Kal Crffniav 8r] ov fjiLKpdv iTpocro(f)X€T(o, Tifv ToJv koivojv
<f)iX(DV €)(Opav hqXovoTL. 'I80V 87/ T^s vofLoOecria^; (rvv€7rtAa/c/Sdvo/xat' crot,
Kfxt crvv€TTnf/rj(f)i^o) Se t6 Soyfjia Kal crvv€7TLKvpo) r^s /3ovXrj<; ctov to Staypdi/^ov 125
T€, tus iX-Tris, Kat dvaLprjcrov Trdvra rd iyK€KXr]fX€va. OTrcos ovv fJivqcrOel^; 'jjv

cn; €icrr)yr]Tr]<; ye'yovas, 7ri^avov rtvos etSovs Kat KOfjnf/ov —poKaTdp^], oiov koX
Ttt TTpoy€y€vr]fjL€va KaAciJs OicrOaL.

Ev MapAtai'ci) rco r]fL€T€po) fiaLfi.aKTr]pL0)VO<; 7T€fX7TTr] eTrt SeKa.

Eppojcro, Kat btareAet ev rv^^ecrrara ^rparrajv. i^o

93. b /ita n.
: 94. 7? «'^frf. c. 99. iKfivcuv add. c. loi. crii ab cr^ i^. :

104. oTTojs Tinvv R. 105 a^ i^ : StefoScu a-. SctccoriKaijc. t€ add. c ante Kal.
106. ab : navranaaijjv 11. 107. Fc irei(Tris ah. 109. i^c :avcrrrjj^dv ab. :

113. 7/: in-naddaripov &. 115. et ^t^ ab tifii H. 117. a^ KaAii/So/uei/oy a^.
: :

ad /ifTaroCj/Ta c^.
: 119. re ac/r?. c awfe «ai. 120. o 5^ ifc oSt) ab. :

b: TrpoKaXTJ a. 122. d tKaripoBtv &. : 124. a^c trDifTrtAa^/Sofo^j aMi. :

125. 5€ acifZ. c. 127. fi'5oi'j ac?(/. c. F\) TtpoKardp^r] a.V^. 129. ac^ :

vfjifripq) b.

93. rpiwv] Epp. 915, 987, 992; cf. 98. iT(«p;'av] Cf. Ep. 1004. 59.
Ep. 1004. in. 107. KwniKuv] Ar. Pt. 600.
/.«9] Ep. 915. 120. TreSto»'] Cf. Ep. 1004. 28, 97.
 64 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

1012. To JoHN Fevinus.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 505. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 8: LB. 269. 9 September (1519 ?).
[The year-date added in H
has no value. In 1517 Erasmus was at Ant%verp on
this date, and had not reeently been to Brages. Either 1519 or 1520 is possible ;
for in eaeh year he visited Bruges during the summer (Epp. 1013. 23^, 1129.
in). But 1519, when at this date his visit was quite recent, is perhaps the more
probable see also 1. ^n.
:

•Tohn Fevinus (f 27 Nov. 1555) of Furnes was Dean of the Bachelors of Law
at Louvain (Val. Andreas, p. 2ro\ On 15 June 1510 he was appointed canon
at St. Donatian's, Bruges (J. Gailliard, Inscr. funer. de la Flandre, 1861, i. 135);
where he was an intimate friend of the Dean, Marcus Laurinus (I. 10), and also
of Cranevelt (Ep. 1145). Vives in 1522 praises him as a young man of great
promise (note on Aug. Ciu. Dei, xix. 21; p. 660). He performed the niarriage
ceremony, 26 May 1524, for Vivcs who presented him with two books now in
;

the Roj-al Library at Madrid (A. Bonilla, Vives, pp. 757-8). In March (1530?)
he wrote to Erasmus announcingthat he had been niade master of the Cathedral
schoolat Bruges (EE^. 71, 159). His relations with Erasmus were always cordial.
Above ninety of his letters written to Cranevelt exist in ms., and are being
edited by Prof. H. de Vocht of Louvain. One is printed in Geldenhauer's
CoUectanea, ed. J. Prinsen, igot, pp. 73-4. Adr. Barland's Inst artis oratoriae was
dedicated to Fevinus with a preface li-om Louvain, 13 Feb. 1535 but no copy of ;

the first edition is known {Bibl. Belgica).']

ERASMVS ROT. D. 10. FEVINO, CANOXICO APVD DIVVM

DONATIANVM BRVGIS, S. D.
Facit hoc cum multorum. tum tua praeeipue patruique tui Caroli
rara quaedam humanitas, mihi pauculis diebus degustata. vtet minus
quam antea placeat Louanium, et magis lubeat animo Brugis vitam
agere, si modo detur commodus nidus ac mensa digna philosophico
5 palato. Audio Carolo ferme idem esse pahatum quod Erasmo. Amat
epulas elegantes magis quam multas, et conuiuia lauta potius quam
longa. Nec locus deesse possit in Principis vacuo palatio, neque
non perspexi quam sit in nos affectus animus patrui nam de te nihil ;

interim dicam. Porro ne congerrones quidem deesse poterunt, vbi

10 adest praeter alios Marcus noster. Pi'oinde si videtur, hac de reagito
cum patruo, quando quidem id licebit nullius omnino fraude. Si
nihil obstabit alioqui, de precio inter nos faeile conuenerit : sin erit
quo minus id commodum sit, fac me per literas certiorem. ac bene
interim vale. Salutem dices humanissimo Carolo. ac Roberto affini
15 cum sua coniuge. Louanii. quinto Idus Septembr.
Saluta collegas tuos omnes, sed in primis D. Cantorem ac Nicolaum
Fistulam. [Anno m.d.xvii.]
TiT. D. 10. F : lOANNi H. 14. Affini F. 15. Septembr. FN' : Septem-
bres iV"''. 16. D. om. H. 17. Auno m.d.xvii arfc?.H.

I. Caroli] C. Hedenbault (f 28 Aug. would perhaps hardly have felt sosure

1527, of plague), sonof Fevinus'father's that thc palace was likely to remain
sister consierge of the Princenshof
; empty though it is described in the
:

(1. 7). See Gailliard ibid. and EE^. same words in EE^. 71.
71. 14. Roberto] R. Hellyn (f 15 Oct.
4. nidus] Cf. Ep. 1209. ^n. 1527), pensionarj' of Bruges ; husband
7. palatio] The now demolished of Fevinus' sister Eleonore (f 13 Oct.
Princenshof, a palaco of the Counts of 1526). Both died of plague. See Gail-
Flandors, in which the Archduke liard ibid. and EE^. 71.
Philip was born, 1478 towanls tho w. ; 16. Cantorem] I eannot identify ;
side of tlie town. In 1520, aftcr nor Fistula.
Charles' return from Spain, Erasmus
1013] 65

1013. To James Tutor.

Copeuhagen MS. G. K. S. 95. Fol., f. 194 (a). Louvain.
Officia Ciceronis, 1520, p. 3 (/3). 10 September 15 19.
N. p. 1201 : Lond. xxviii. 17 : LB. 457.

[Tlie preface to a new

edition of tlie De Officiis cf. Ep. 152. The best source is ;

an autograph rough-draft (a) in the Copenhagen MS. (^App. 13, in vol. iii). Of
the printed editions the iirst is probably that by M;irtens, rursus accuratissimo '

recognita,' Louvaiii, s. a. It is fully described in Le Bibliophile Belge, xvii, i86a,

p. 58 ;but copies are rare and I have not seen one. Other authorized issues are
by Froben, Basle, Aug. 1520 {^) reprinted in 1528 by Herwagen and Jerome
;

Froben, without any change in this preface, but with some revision of the notes
by Ei'asmus and witlx additions by Goclenius. According to Erasmus' wish (i,
p, 39. 26 seq. cf. Ep. 1000 introd.) this preface is included in N.
;

In a volume of the De Officiis, Louvain, John of Paderborn, c. 1483, bequeathed

to the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge by the late F. McClean (No. 332 in
C. E. Sayle's Caialogue, 1916J, are xvi''. ms. copies of tliis letter and Ep. 152. From
examination of the variants it seems probable that tlie copies were made from
one of the Froben editions, 1520 (;8) or 1528, or from Martens' undated Louvain
edition ; and that they have no independent authority.
The Gottingen Universitj' Library possesses a copy of /3, which was presented
by Froben to Goclenius and has the latter's marginal notes see J, C. Orelli's :

Onomasticon TuUianum, 1836, i. 344.

It may be mentioned here that in 1916 there came into my possession a copy
of Erasmus' earlier work, in an edition not enumerated in BEr.^ : a reprint of
Philippi's voluiue of 1501 (see Ep. 152 introd.), by Le Rouge for Denis Wm.
Roce, Et de nouo correcta et emendata,' s. «., with commendatory verses by
'

S. P, of Auxerre. Le Kouge was printing in Paris 1493-1517, and produced

books for Roce in 1513 see Ph. Renouard, Imprimeurs Parisiens, 1898, p. 238, and
;

Bodius, iii. 436.]

EHASMVS ROTERODAMVS ORNATISSIMO lACOBO TVTORI, INCLYTAE

CIVITATIS ANTVERPIENSIS PENSIONARTO, S. D.

QvEMADMODVM qui sunt a scorpiis icti, solent ab iisdem remeclium

petere, ita mihi conuenire videtur, lacobe iureconsultorum aerudi-
tissime, vt qui litteris sumus addicti, animi lassitudinem aut corporis
affectionem e studiis grauioribus contractam, ab iisdem studiis sed
amoenioribus recreemus, Etenim quivere studiosi sunt, per omnem 5
vitam nihilaliud agunt. quam diu licet illis suo arbitratu vitae cursum
moderari; nec tam intermittunt studia quam remittunt, et relaxant
aliquoties ingenium. cessant nunquam, Ociantur interdum, sed inte-
rim agentfs aliquid feriantur aliquando, sed sic vt ocii rationem
;

pulchre queant reddere, Et si libet, cessant etiam nonnunquam, sed 10

vt horuni ce.ssatio plus adferat bonae frugis quam quorundam negocio-
sissimae occujiationes. Sio nimirum fortis et gnauus miles (conferam
enim exemplum similius), dura in aestiuis aut hybernis agit. aut dum
induciae praestant vt necesse non sit in acie stare aut excubare sub
pellibus, tamen ita lusibus relaxat animum ac vires reficit, vt lusus 15
ipsi militiam sapiant. Pugnat ad pakmi, iacuhitur ad scopum, torquet
fundam, vibrat hastam, decertat palestra, concurrit Linceis, torrentem
natatu transmittit. armatus in equum insiHt. Denique sic feriatur
a belli muniis vt ad ea redeat vegetior, Aliter ludit ganeo, aliter
egregius princeps ; aliter scurra iocatur, aliter vir proljus et integer, 20
Ad hoc igitur exemplum cum nuper valetudo fiagitaret vt itigenii
TIT, ORNATISSIMO OVl. N. INCLYTAE . . . PENSIONARIO om. N. 2. iurisCOnSultO-
rum eruditissime ^. 21. cum a LB : non Lovd.
452-4 F
 66 LETTEES OF EEASMUS [151

corporisque vires diutinis atque immodicis studiorum laboribus

fatigatas instaurarem sarciremque, relicto Louanio per aliquot
Brabantiae Flandriaeque oppida circumuectus sum. quo simul et a
25 libris aliquantisper abessem et amiculorum eruditorum conspectu
fabulisque memet oblectarem. Neque sic taraen abesse potui ab
adamata bibliotheca mea, quin vnum aut alterum libellum itineris
comitem circumferi*em, vt siquando forte in vehiculo non contigisset
congerro sat commodus, non deesset tamen cuius colloquio temporis
30 tedium fallerem. In his erant Oflficia Ciceronis, Lelius et Cato, vna
cum Stoicorum paradoxis. Inuitarat autem vokiminis exiguitas,
haud multum additura sarcinulae ponderis. Ex huius lectione, nii
Tutor, geminum fructum coepi. Primum enim pristinae consuetudi-
nis nostrae, qua nihil esse potuit mellitius, memoriam sic mihi
35 renouauit vt incredibilem animo persenserim vohiptatem. Deinde
sic me totum inflammauit ad honesti virtutisque studium, vt iam
pridem nihil tale senserim, nosti-ates quosdam neotericos legens, qui
Christiani Christianae philosophiae mysteria profitentur, et iisdem de
rebus magna, vt nobis videtur, subtilitate disserunt, sed aeque
40 frigide.
Ego quid aliis accidat nescio, mihi quid acciderit ingenue fateor,
siue id illorum vicio iit siue meo. Sic subinde mecum inter legendum
cogitabam Heccine ethnicus scribit ethnicis, prophanus prophanis ?
:

At in praeceptis viuendi quanta aequitas, quanta sanctimonia, quanta

45 synceritas, quanta veritas, quam omnia consentanea naturae, quam
nihil fucatum aut somnolentum. Quem animum exigit ab his qui
gerunt rempublicam ! vt admirabilem illam et amabilem virtutis
spetiem ponit ob oculos quam multa, quam sancte, imo quam
!

diuinitus tradit de gratis etiam iuuandis omnibus, de tuenda amicicia,

!

50 de immortalitate animorum, de contemptu earum rerum quarum

gratia vulgus hodie, non dicam Christianorum sed theologorum etiam
ac monachorum, nihil non et facit et patitur. Pudebat interim
nostrorum morum, qui sacris libris edocti, qui tantis et exemplis et
praemiis prouocati, doctrinam Euangelicam profitemur, nec praesta-
5.=; mus. Describe nostris satraj^is talem principem aut magistratum
qualem describit Cicero, dispeream ni cum sua imagine vt delirus
ridebitur. Quis nunc rempublicam nisi spe lucri aut honoris gratia
capessit? Quis non ita gerit vt questum facere videatur, vt hostem
agat eorum quibus debuerat etiam vite suae dispendio consulere.
<')o Vbi reperias inter Christianos par amicorum ad hanc imaginem quam
proponit M. Tullius? vbi senes qui tam infracto animo ferant aetatis
incommoda ? vbi tam sancta senum cum iuuenibus colloquia ?
Nunquam antehac magis expertus sum verum esse quod scribit
Augustinus, ex ethnicorum benefactis acriores addi stimulos ad

43. Hiccine li. 47. illam et amabilem om. N.

23. relicto Louanio] Erasmus' move- 1025. ^n) ; and there are indications
ments cannot be closely followed. of a visit to Brussels (Epp. 1040. i,
About I Aug. he was at Louvain (Ep. 1041. 25), which may, however, have
loor. 3) ; c. 7 Aug. at Mechlin (Ep. been later (see p. iii).
looi. 7n) ; 7-15 Aug. at Antwerp 33. consuetxidinis] At Orlcans in the
(Epp. 1001-9), and perhaps longer. autumn of 1500; cf. Eijp. 133. 103-4,
Later he was at Bruges (Ep. 1012), 147. 47-8.
where c. 28 Aug. hemet Campegio (Ep. 64. Augustinus] in Psalm. 25. 14.
1013] TO JAMES TUTOK 67

virtutem quam cum subit animo quam turpe sit non id 65

iiostratium.
pei*spicere pectus Euangelica luce illustratum, quod perspectum est
iis quibus sola nature scintilla praelucebat non praestare nos, qui :

sub Christi vexillis militamus pietati, qui stipendium immortalitatis

ab eodem expectamus, quod praestiterunt ii qui nihil hominis a rogo
superesse aut suspicati sunt aut plane crediderunt. Et postea non 70
desunt crassi quidam, qui studiosos ab huiusmodi libris deterreant
<^u poeticis, vt vocant, et ad morum integritatem officientibus. Ego
vero dignos censens quos et omnibus in ludis praelegant adolescentie
litteratores et sibi legant relegantque senes, quos olim emaculatos tibi
dicaui, nunc denuo dico non solum purgatiores verum etiam auctario 75
cumulatos. Siquidem adiecimus libellum de Amicicia, alterum de
Senectute, tercium de Paradoxis, atque in omnes annotaciunculas
quasdam, breues quidem illas sed. ni fallor, haudquaquam incom-
modas in quibus hoc potissimum*agimus, vt quorundam morosam
;

in dicendo superstitionem retundamus, qui ad singulas pene voces so

i'eclamitant, Non est Latinum,' Non reperitur apud probos scripto-
' '

res '. Ad hec mendas aliquot prodidimus antehac a nemine, quod

sciam, animaduersas.
Superest vt quemadmodum mihi in hoc labore versanti Tutor
semper ob oculos versabatur, ita tibi, cum hec leges, Erasmus in 85
mentem veniat tui cum primis et amans et studiosus. Bene vale.
Louanii quarto Id. Septembr. An. sr.D. 19.
Louvain.
II September (1519).
[To this date should perhaps be transfen-ed Ep. 660. In favour of tlie change
are the allusions to :

1. Lister's proposal about the Enchiridion (Ep. 660. 12) for an edition by him ;

appeared in Oct. 1519.

2. The concordia (Ep. 660. 16) for on 7 Oct. 1519 such a settlement was made
;

(Ep. 1016. i5n), wliereas in 15 17 there had not yet been much effusion of
' virus '.

3. Lister's wife (Ep. 660. 24), who is probably newly married. In BRE. 193
^March 1520) Lister announces his marriage and the birth of a daughter.
In corroboration of the change it may be noted :

1. That Ep. 660 is printed first in F. If it belonged to 151 7, it woukl more

naturally have appeared in E.
2. That the year-date assigned to Ep. 660 in H is the same as that wrongly
assigned to Ep. 1012, which immediately precedes it in F and H.
If the change is accepted, the volume of Letters aunounced as fortheoming in
Ep. 660. 8, must be E and the iustum volumen to which it would be increased
;
'
'

by revision and the addition of new letters would be F.

On the other hand, the connexion of Ep. 660 with Epp. 634, 732 makes it easy
to understand these two volumes as C^ and C°.]

1014. To Beatus Rhenanus.

Basle MS. KA. C. (a). (Louvain.)
Schlettstadt MS. 246 (/iJ). (September 15 19.)

[The following extract from a lctter of Beatus to Bruno Amorbach, dated

is
Schlettstadt, 28 Sept. 1519 (BRE. 127) and may be included here as exhibiting
;

65, id scripsi : ea a. 72. et om. N.

74. olim] In 1501 : see Ep. 152.

F 2
 68 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15 19

Erasmus' relations with Froben and his other friends at Basle. Tlie Pamgyrici
vetereswereprinted by Froben in Dec. 1520, with a preface by Beatus (BRE. 187)
to Lucas Bathodius (Ep. 883. i3n). In addition to the coUection of FanegjTics
l)ublished at Milan (c. 1481 Proctor 5837^ Bruno's copy of whieh (11. 2-3) was
:

no doubt used by tlie printers, they contain, as Erasmus directed (11. 1-2), his
own (Epp. 179, 180) and Ausonius' also others by Hermolaus Barbarus to- ;

Frederick iir and Maximilian. delivered at Bruges, i Aug. 1486 by Pandulphus ;

Collenutius to Maximilian, at Innsbruck, (1494) and b}- (Teo. Saviromanus to ;

Charles and Ferdinand, c. i Feb. 1519, on Maximilian's deatb.

The autograph original of the letter from which this is taken is at Basle there ;

is also a copy at Schlettstadt, wliich I have not seen except as printed in BRE.
From the variant in 1. 4 it appears to have been made from Beatus' rough draft.
He writes
lubet Erasynus in suis ad me literis vt Frobenius Fanegyricos veteres excudat, ipsius
uddendo Panegyricum et Ausonianum ad Gratianum Caesarem. Dabis igitur codicem
tuum, quem in marginibus contaminaui, Frobenio, priusquam discedas. Et de hac re
Frobenium monebis : nam non veniebat in mentem vt id ei dicerem, cum hic nudius quartus
5 adesset. •

About a month Bruno's death, Beatus wrote again to Nepos, con-

later, after
veying Erasmus' message in very similar words (BEE. 191).]

""^lOlSioee Feom William Budaels.

Epistolae Budaei, 1520, f. 124 v°. (a). Marly.
r. p. 213: HN: Lond. iii. 69: LB, 458. 15 September (1519).
Budaei Epistolae, 1531, f. 61 v». (b).

[This letter, like Epp. loii, 1073, wasprintedbyBudaeus in BE.^ (a) before it
appeared in any of Erasmus' editions. The connexion of F with a, and specially
with a-, is shown conclusively by the readings in 11. xii, 112, 142 and 94, 96^
100. 106. For BE.3 (b) see Ep. 403 introd. Not being wholly in ftreek, this letter
is placed there in the Latin section, and therefore is not found in the later
issues of Budaeus' Greek letters mentioned in Ep. loii introd.
It was carried by one of the Gourmonts, probably the printer (seeEp. 263. gn)^
who chanced to visit Marly see BE.* 51.] ;

BVDAEVS ERASMO.
Tt <^7js ; To Trept iyKwfXLOv (tov to Trpos TotVcrTaA/\.ov ov XiXrjOe ae fX-VKrr]-

pKjjjLOV KoX a-Tpocjiyjv ^x^^ ' ®avfxdl,<a tolvvv eycoye crov aTeT^rws 8>/7rov o-avToC
KaTeyvcoKOTOS TOLavTrjv tlvo. crTpoffioXoyLav, iv ois vtt ifj.ov yeypaif/aL av Trpo-
Tepos eyKw/AtwSws. Viues tuus tibi testis esse potuit, cui epistolam ad
5 me scriptam ostendi ab homine naris emunctae (tametsi nomen
digito suppressi superposito) ; os virefJLvrja-i /u,e, otovet ovk alcr6av6p.evov
Tors KaOaTTTLKOv^ Adyous iv TOts a-vyypdfifiacri crov SLecnrapfiivov?.
crovs
Quanquam ipse non vidit iino-ToXrfv fxiav ets to avrb KadtfKovaav, diSpos
iTaXLWTov evboKLfiovvTO^ iv Tots fxdXLCTTa, ovK ifjLol fi€v eTricTTetAavTos, civSpt

1014. 4. quartus a : tertius /3. 1015. i. </>j)9 a^. ov ab : om. N. 3.

yiypaipat scripsi : yeypacpai a.

I. Trp()sToyi'(TTaA\oi'] Cf.Ep. 1004.60-4. for —

Erasmus commenting on Ep. 778,
4. Ep. 583. 155 seq.
«7«a;/uiaj5ais] which, like Epp. 571, 583, had recently
Viues] See Ep. 987. i. As he appeared in D^. Budaeus wrote to
carried that letter (Ep. 992), his visit More and Linaere 9 Scpt., to Pace 5
to Paris must have ended about the Nov. 1518 (BE.* 19, 20, 23).
middle of June. g. ^lraktwTov] Perliaps Bapt. Egna-
epistolam] Possibly from More or tius (Ep. 269. 52n), who had written
some other English friend whose — toGrolier in Paris,5 Jan. i5i§(Goldast,
name Budaeus might have wished to Phil. epist. ceni., 1610, no. 35), animad-
conceal from Vivesout of consideration verting severely upon Erasmus, in.
IOI5] FKOM WILLIAM BUDAEUS 69

^€ Tivt tCjv iavTOv yvojpt/xwv Kal ^tAwv' os 8ij to avToypacfyov eTre/j.il-e /.'.oi lo
evayyos. Et quum haec
huiuscemodi permulta silentio praeteimit-
et
tenda duxerim, atque etiam obliuione, tu niihi dolorem nunc re-
fricuisti ac pene opinionem ex suspitione fecisti nisi vero supradictis :

verbis exemplum in te ipse statuisse inficiabere, id de te existimandi

quod tibi in mentem venisse ais, vt de me eadem in causa existimares. 15
Neque ideo velim vt existimes non gratissimas mihi litei'as illas
tuas fuisse Graece scriptas quibus iam Graece respondi, sed tamen :

<ifJi.(f)L\a(j>rj jjLOL eveSwK-a? {'Tro^ecrtv tlvrtK-aTT/yoptas Tivos, jJ-rj otl ye d—o/\oytas.

Ilojs yctp ov ; os ye iravTa to. vir ifiov yeypa/x/jLeva dva/<t>K/\(JV, Trdaav 8r;
pr]TopLKy]v e7rt/i,e'XetoLV Te Kal Treptepytav VTrepTjKOVTLcra^, 6 — oXAa av ye cfjpaaas 20
cav /cat ixr] Ae'yetv tcov vtt ye av iv Trj ifjfj a— o-
ifxov 7re7rXr]/xfj.eXr]iJ.evon\ ifxov
Aoyia €7rtTr;Ses TroAAo, irapevTO';. Noui enim, noui ea fere transmittere
in mea defensione, in quibus proloquendis stiloque prosequendis aut
indignationem obrepsisse ingenio meo sentio, aut vehementiam con-
tentionis transuersum me rapuisse. Intelligo me nonnunquam im- 25
modicum atque eKTraOws haKeifxevov fuisse. Quare aequo animo castigari
me ab amico passus sum ; quod quidem ad ea loca pertinet quae
tractata mitescere nequeunt. Tu autem animum meum nondum
pertrectasse videre, si tamen ex sententia animi tui potius quam ex
alioi'um loqueris. .^°

lam primum quod dixi, Catapotia epistolae meae iam, vt spero, "

vornsti,' vide etiam atque etiam ne te commodius interpretari hoc

modo ego possim : amaras quidem literas meas fuisse (identidem
enim mihi irLKpiav obiicis et dTOTrtav), sed tamen me sperare concoxisse
te aut certe ita deuorasse omnem indignationem illam vt iam im- 35
memor esses iniuriae (si tamen iniuria est, vbi animus non fuit iniuriani
inferendi) praesertim cum et tu in me satis destomachatus esses, et
;

ex pagina postrema literarum tuarum viderere mihi amarulentiam

illam meam (sit enim sane, quando ita tibi videtur) placidiore animo
ferre et recordari nolle, quipi^e qui te dictitares ingenium meum 4°
iam nosse.
Deinde quam illud 8vo-4>opovvTd fxe Kal 8va-7ra6rj Siefte^vat putas, quod
TrafiaTpayioSwv crv Kal Oeov^ Kal avdpwTrovi €7rtKaAov/xevos toi^tov //-ot tov
Adyov 7rpo(fiepeL<; ws e(jivf3pLcrTov, Kal avVov ot/ ojcravet 6ecr7roTtKov poekvTTi]
Kal i^ovcrLacTTLKov, '
iocis scilicet mecum assuescens '. IIpos tt/s cfaXav- 45
^poj7rtas t^s cr^s, w (f^LXTaTrf fxoL Ke(f)aXif, Trpos t^s <^iAoKaAtas tt/s rfplv
ciy^(DfxdX(j}<s (5js olfxaL irepLcnrovSdcrTov, fxr] fxoL TrfXiKavTqv ho^av dAa^ovetas
7repLdif/r]s, cocTTe crvfX(f>epecr6aL ctol hoKeiv fxrf i$ lctov Kal ^tAoTrpcTToJs. Audi

II. ab : huiusmodi i/. 18. b: eveSoKas a. n-qoTi^e a. 19. 5?/

ab : Lond.
Se 21. kav H kav pte N.
: iav aCb26. ab : castigare Lond.
: 28.
nitescere b. 29. ab pertractasse H.
: 32. te commodius a commodius :

quum tu b. 35. indignationem scripsi, secunduni v. 24 et Ep. 810. 323 indigni- :

tatem a. 42. a^F Sv<T((>opovTa &-.

: F Sit^tvai 11. 43. F : napaTpayuSuiv ab.
:

44. avrbv Sjj add. b. b ^StKvTTrf a : fiSeXvnTr] Lond.

: 48. Fb Trepid-J/rf; nX. :

reference toEp. 648(cf. vol. iii,p.xxvii). for him to see.

It Avas through Grolier that Budaeus 21. edv'] Cf. Ep. 1004. 107.
rem^wedhiscorrospondencewitliEgna- 31. CatapotiaJ Ep. 915. 106,7.
tius in Nov. 1518 (BE.* 24) and as ; 34. mKpiav'] Ep. 1004. 59.
Egnatius' letter to Grolier contains eoncoxisse] Cf. Ep. 810. 323-5.
excuses for not having yet roplied to 44. TTpo(pfpeisj Ep. 1004. 92-5.
Budaeus, it may well have been sent 45. iocis] Ep. 915. 109.
 70 LETTERS OE ERASMUS [151

igitur interpretationem meam huius dicti. et aude post ea conqueri,

50 quasi ego non ex aequo tecum agam. Quoniam igitur tu immodicum
me esse iocorum saepe dixisti, etiam ex periculo petitorum, vt ita
loquar, et proxime contumeliam accedentium, quibus tu ipsis animum
adiicere non jDoteras (neque enim istius esse modestiae fortasse et
grauitatis videbantur), ego illis tuis literis grandioribus ita me con-
65 uerberatum iocis tuis sentiens ac lapidatum, nihil vt amplius dicere
potuisses aut certe sustinuisses, etiam si stomachi res fuisset, non
ioci, scripsi ego ea simplicitate qua soleo, iocis te iam mecum '

assuescere.' Religio enim fuit dicere tam te impudenter aut licenter

dicacem esse coepisse quam me esse conquerebare. Amabo te, relege
60 locum, et versa intellectum eius inuenies, vt spero, in me magis ;

quam in te dicacem me fuisse. Nisi vero non in me meumque caput

recidit, quod dixi aut significaui, ex tuo te ingenio migrasse contagio
literarum mearum et iocandi commercio. At tu id scelus prope
cothurnatum fecisti exclamatione tragica.
65 Porro autem quod plumbeum te coniectorem fecisse me criminaris,
ni vererer cicatricem obductam refricare, locum hunc explicarem ;
verum commonefacere te vno et altero verbo ouSets <ji06vo<;, ot/Aai.
Me/x.i/v^crat yovv, ore eVa twv TovXieXfiMV u^cnrepavel e^etpo8eiKTet9, otl eycoye
Trpdyfjia Kal oirolov hiaTrpa^iaSai aoi e/xeAXoj', quidque intej' nos conue-
70 nisset. Quem omnino ipsum nollem a te nominatum ; yap to}
Trpos
wTaKovaTrjs tov a.TrdvTon' KVpL€VovTO<; eivat tepos, eVt Ko.t iv dgtw/xaTt arTos
KaOeaTYjKev Kal Toifet Ttoi' ivSo^ojv. Kat twv TrpayfJLdTwv 8r] aTTTeTat toiv
eVoopei', tVa /tr/ craffiecrTepov <^^e'yya)/xat. 'Etti. Se ToiVots Kat twv 7rpocr(f>iXw^
i)(6vT0}v icTTlv oi'Tos TTpos e/Ac Kat CTToi^Sa^oVTOJV e/xot Te Kat a"0t'. Sed scilicet
75 pei'iculo meo res agebatur, non tuo quare tantum tibi pensi non ;

fuit. Quanquam nondum id attingo, in quo parum te acutum fuisse

iocatus sum, id est parum tui similem. Nam iila verba '
e'i' w Sta-
Trpd^aa-Oai ctol to vcf ^fp.m' TvpoaLpeOh' i-n-ey^eipovv '
non te intellexisse vix
credo ;
praesertim quum tu dicta mea ifxov crvvoTrTLKWTepov excipere
80 solitus sis, vt ex iis quae dixi liquet. Quod si tibi aivLTTeaOaL /xaAXov
1) ^pa^eti' SoKO) Ttt eTTtvevov^/xeVa, <^epe Srj, oto.v jSovXrjOyjs^, dp.aOicrTepov ipo>
Kttt cracjiecrTepov' dW ov8ev, oifxaL, Seopat.
Quod Trept quasi scilicet verens ne ojjeram
Twi' eriayyeXtwi' scribis,
aut studium ea in re nauata imputaturus sim tibi, iam te libeio illa
85 obligatione, si te auctoramenti pudet non etiam legibus amicitiae :

te soluo, quae per me licebit ipsa vt sit inter nos perpetua, atque
etiam per te, quoad tu ex tuo animo meum aestimabis, non ex aliorum
sententia, quantum argumentis coniicio et hominum relatione.
Age, aestima tecum ipse quam illud^tXtKoi', immo quam €'pacr/x,o-

49. a, Loncl. : postea N^h. 51. it;i ow. b. 68. ab ixffivrjaf: N LB:
M(fivT)ao Loncl. b : exeipoSiKTeis a. 69. irpa-ffia add. b. 72.
dfj scripsi sicut iii V. 19: 5« a. 76. ab : id nonduni N. 81. Fb :

PovK-qerjs a : PovKrjOTJ N. 82. F : (je4>eaTepov a.

51. iocorum] Cf. Ep. 906. 67 seq. 70. nominatum] in Ep. 778. 19-24.
65. criminaiis] Ep. 1004. 76-7. 71. ojTaKovariis] Cf. Epp. 522. 20 104,
66. cicatricem] Cic. Agr. 3. 2. 4 cf. ; 568. 10.
Ep. 906. 206. 77. iocatus sum] Ep. 915. 97.
68. «Va] Wm.Petit soeEp. 522. 1711.
; verba] Ep. 915. 98,9.
illa
Tujv TovKUKpLOJv'] Cf. Eji. 1003. 34n. 83. evayfeKiuv'] Cf. Ep. 1004. 83.
 IOI5] FEOM WILLIAM BUDAEUS 71

TrpeTres Kal SeAov Kal KOfjnj/ov, de mellitis epistolis Deloini et aliorum 90

nostratium, quod iniuriarum mecum agis quasi ^iAoKoAaKa te vocarim
vel esse significarim quum tamen tu omnium maxime libertate
!

gaudeas amicorum. 'Ew vvv i^eTdcdv tovto cit' dXr]6e<s iaTiv eiVc firj,
To ix.dXi(TTd (T€ ^^atpeiv Kai y]8ecrOai twv ^tAcor toi? iXevOepLaaTiKoTs- 'ETret
TTouev dXXoOev TrpocnKpovaafxev aAA>^Aot9 dixw<; ye Trws oi yu.aAto"Ta TrpoTepov 95
<^t'Aot etvat 8oKovvT€<i, el fMr] i$ ojv iXevOepidcras ttov Trjv dp^rjv ev Tats €7rt-
o-ToAats yeypaeia sane nunc verum et pro comperto habitum
; Sed sit ;

quid igitur ? Existimastine me tam commodis meis inimicum atque

etiam tam male propitium numen habuisse scribendo, w? Trpoa-Kpoveiv
Toi<; 7rpocrTV)^ovcnv ifXTrX-)]KT(D<; Te Kat TrpoTreroJs, Kai 8rj Kal ets avTov AotSo- 100
povfxevov <f>epecrOaL fxe Ttuv ^tAwv e/xwj' toi' Kopvc^ciiov, vtto r^s dyav iKeCvr]^
op/x^s €ts cre direpeL^ofxevrf^ ; Tt ovv ; Ovtcjs ecj>Or]v dKpaTrj^ etmt twi/ Ka-
OaTTTLKwv yeAotwv Kat o-KWTTTtKwv wo-T€ Kat dvSpa fxoL TrdvTUiv TTpocrcjiLXea-TaTa
hiaKeifievov tov Ai^AotVov, TrpoaeTL be Kat ctt dttwcretos ovra ou t-^s TV)^ovcrr)^,
icfivfBpL^Mv KoXaKa direKdXovv ; ov ydp cre orprov ^tAoKoAaKa aTroKaAetv r]8v- 105
vdfxrjv, fir] or;^t auros toOtov aTTo-vaAoJv KoAoKa, di pacTTa crv irpocfiepwv ifxol
OTL av croL TrapacTTy, OTrrjVLKU tolvvv TOidSe TrdfxiroXXa eVv^es o-wetAoYws
Ste^oStKWTara e^v iKeivr] Trj 'lAtaSi twv e/xwv dfxapTTffxdTwv, e^eWat o-ot e/toS
ye €V€Ka Kat Ta£'Ta hrf crvveipeiv pr]TopiKw<; iv Trj twv cftiXwv crov avvoSw,
aAAoDS re Kat toiv alTiwfxevwv Setvtos Tas cTrto-ToAas ep.as. Eit' t)v a^t' aKOT^o-at 1 10
Twv elpr^fxevwv avToi<; So^w, i)(6p.evov 8i]T7ov ecxTaL ttJs vtto crov TeOeLar]<;
dp.vr]crTLa<; dvTe^eTacrfxov tlvcx yevecrOai wv Tvy)(^dvw dvTL7re7rovOw<; vtto crov'
TovTov Se yeyevrffxevov, r]v lcrocrTacrLOL evpeOwcnv Kal irdpicroi al dfxoi/3ai, €7rt
i(rr]8r] Kal op-oui T^/xas StaAixo-^^at Trcpt twv dvTeyKeKXrffxevwv. Sic fiet potis-
simum vt facta pro infectis habeantur, nec tu in posterum huiusce- 115
modi causificari oratorie possis. '' IToAAa cnrovSr] iw Aeyetv, ev oTs eo-rt
Kat TovTo o ypac^ets cuni ne id ipsum quidem toGto ante quiescere
'
:

siueris quam ToiovTo feceris vt atrocis contumeliae instar esse videatur.

Itane vero, bone vir, id estorator, donare mihi te dices quod conseiiis
manibus retines et mordicus? et cum ius omne tuum cum i-amentis 120
tuleris, aequum et benignum litigatorem te praedicabis.
lam vero quod Trept t>}s crwox^^i rrj^ 6fxovoia<; r]fxwv SCribis ov 8eLv
crvyKoXXy]a-ovTo<;, quocunque id pertineat, existimes velim nemini
vnquam homini me verbum ea de re fecisse, nisi hactenus, vt dictarim
atque omni corporis animique habitu prae me tulerim, non ita mentes 1^5
nostras huiuscemodi velitationibus verborum esse commotas aut
emotas, vt hixari propterea confirmatae amicitiae compages ac dimo-
ueri possent sed tamen hanc simultatis imaginem ita ad verum esse
:

effictam vt amicorum studiis et hominum errore pro vera simultate

tandem exciperetur. In quo nihil ipse magnopere prouidendum 130

94. a}H : i\(vrepiaaTiKoh iv^. 96. i\}II .IXevrepiaaas a". F tou ab. 99.
nov :

F: irpocTKoveii' a. 100. a^H : TTpouaTvxowiv a'^. 101. /xe aclcl. h. 106. w

add. a.'^. F: (idaTa a. 107. LB : irapaaTrj a. iii. H: TeOtiaTis a.. 112.
H: dixetrjaTias a. 114. HN^ : iarj aN^. If : ijfxoia a. 124. dictitarirn b.

90. Deloini] See Ep. 1004. 107 and ; nius makes the first syllable short, an<l
cf. Ep. 915. 121. tlieaccent different but in Ep. 1066. ;

91. (piKoKoKaica'] Cf. Ep. 1004. 108. 28 lie follows Budaeus.

94. i\(v9(piaaTtKoii] Cf. Ep. 1004. 109. 108. 'lAidSi] Ep. 1004.
102. 6pfxfjs] Cf. Ep. loii. 86. 1x6. noAAd] Ep. 1004. ^°1-
104. ArjXoivuv] In Ep. 1004. 107 Eias- 123. avyKoWrjaovTos] See Ep. 1004. 9.
 72 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1519

mihi ante existimaui quam tibi cordi esse magis genus illud ludicri
certaminis sensi atque perspexi, quod praepilatis iaculis certiusque
innocuis editur. Non quod tibi metueres aut mihi, aut tibi a me
metuendum esset aut mihi f\ te, sed quod spectatores delectandos
135 magis duceres quam expectatione suspendendos tristioris exitus
cuius consilii rationem faeile mihi iorobasti, posteaquam attentius
rem animaduertere coepi.
Denique nullam inter nos animorum alienationem, et hua-raaiv
mtercessisse puto, oiav 8r] Kal 8iaAA.a"yi}s Seicrdai, ovx ottojs BiaWaKTOv.
140 AfxeXei To kot efj.€ ei Tt TroTe KaTa crov tlprjKa rj yeypacf^a KaKovpyw; ye /cat
SvcrvoLKw<;, quo commodis tuis officerem aut gloriam istam tuam -afx.-
fxeyeOq imminuerem, eKeZvo 8i] eirLTrjSevoyv TOts e(T^p.aTL(rfievoL<; Adyots, w?
eK fxeTewpov TrjaSe tt/s So^^tjs e/<7reo-ots, Deus me pari mactet infortunio.
Datum est aliquid stomacho, et humanitus nonnihil admissum est,
145 et incommode fortasse atque imprudenter de amicitia consultum,
dum iugulum existimationis mutuo petentium speciem piaebebamus ;

vt assolet interdum in simulaeris pugnae. dum concertationis impetus

extra praescripta ludieri et praeter legitimas vices ac constitutas
effertur. Id enim ipsi in septis accidere decursionum militarium
150 videmus aliquando, et veniam tamen mereri, cum blanda satisfactio
deprecatur errorem. Neque id inexpiabile est quod extemporale fuit,
nec vnquam vnum diem haesit animo. Ne tum quidem ita valuisse
stomachationem aut contentiunculam vllam affirmarim vt euaserit in
odium. Id quod vt de me affirmo, sic de te haud dubie coniicio.
iS.S Quid si mihi ne poenitenda quidem videntur quae scripsimus ? Quan-
tum est enim ad confirmationem amicitiae, ab acriore nos contentione
citra noxam discessisse ita vt vterque alterius animum periclitatus,
perspectum se habere pertentatumque confidat et laetetur.
Quod aulicum me factum cauillaris, et literarum vicem doles, quasi
160 eam causam receptam deseruerim aut prodiderim, ob idque magno
patrocinio literae bonae destitutae sint, materiam mihi tecum iocandi
praebebit. Graece tamen scribatn, vt liberius et simplicius acroama
praebeam expeditionis aulicae quae mihi hoc anno obtigit, haud scio
quam propitia prouidentia.
165 Vale ex eodem Marliano, Septimodecimo Calend. Octobris.
En tibi alteram exhomologesim optima fide factam. Post aliquot
dies quam literas tuas accepi, meas ad Hermauum tuum misi Graece
scriptas ;
sed vrbem iam exierat ob pestem. Ita ex vrbe relatae sunt
et has illis subdidi animi causa. Mirum est enim quantum delector
170 ad te scribens. Vtrasque tamen eidem homini non committam. vt
mihi in binarum vicem cedant. Vale rursus.

139. II biaWayrj a.
: H : StaWaKT^ a. 142. H : (axp-q^xaTiafievots ab.
146. mutuo add. b. 166.ab : exomologesim Lond. 167. ajV^b : Herman-
num N'^ Lond. 170. Vtraque b.

159. aulicum] Ep. 1004. 127-8. 1520 (^BE.^ 51), without the qualifica-
163. expeditionis] Cf.Ep. 1004. i26n. tions tliat follow here and it is made
;

162. seribam] Budaeus found him- to appoar that H. Phrysius actually

self too busy to carry this promiseout carriod Ep. 101 1. But the omission
sce Epp. 1066. 61-2, 1073. 66-9. cannot invalidate the definite state-
167. ad Hirmanum] This statement ments here added, and must be due to
is reiieated in a letter to Vives, 2 Jan. forgotful ness.
ioi6]
1016. To Stephex Po^THErt.
Becicliemi Praelectio, tit. v° (a). Louvain.
F. p. 504 : HN : Lond. xiii. 6: LB. 460. 2 October 1519.
[First printed in Marini Becichemi Scodrensis in C. Plinium Praelectio, Paris,
P. Vidoue, 23 July 1519 (a), edited by Nic. Beraldus. Though Jater by souae
months than tlie coloijhon of the book, it contained so exceHent a commeudation,
that Beraldus no doubt took the opportunitj^ offered by a bhmk verso to the title-
page, to include ic in copies not yet distributed. In printing it in F, Erasmns
inade some notable changes. His month-date is perhaps the more correct. fruin
its agreement witii tliat of Ep. 1017, which is evidently contemporary with tliis
letter. The year-date is confirmed by the mention uf the reconciliation with
the theologians of Louvain (cf. Epp. 1027-30, 1033^]

ERASMVS EOTTEr.ODAMVS REVERENDIS, PATRI D, STEPHAXO

PONCHERIO, ARCHIEPISCOPO SENONENSI, S. D.

KEVERENDissmE pater, cum nihil esset quod magnopere E.P.T,

scire vellem, tamen huius humanissimi Commendatoris praeter sj^em
oblata commoditas effecit vt vel salutatrice epistola dechirareni
animum tui memorem cui non ignoro quot modis debeam. Nos hoc
;

coelo tam incommodo vix tuemur valetudinem huius corpusculi. Et 5

tamen praeter temporis incommoditatem tantis tempestatibus pulsati
sumus, quas nobis excitarunt hostes bonarum literarum, vt ego nihil
vnquam in vita nec legerim nec audierim nec expertus sim molestius :
tanta fuit omnium in vnum Erasmum conspiratio. Kullis non
machinis adorti sunt, immo totum orbem, quantum in ipsis fuit, in me 10
concitarunt. Malum primum a paucis ortum paulatim ita serpsit vt
omneis fere denique corripuerit ego sola i-ecti conscientia fretus
:

libraui memet in tantis sj^cophantiarum insultilius, quod parum esse

Christianum ducerem conuicia conuiciis retaliare. Tandem resijDue-
runt et vltro mecum iniere concordiam, nescio quandiu duraturam ; 15
-certe per me non violabitur semel sarta pax.
Doleo Fabro negocium esse cum Episcopo Eoffensi, viro pio cum
primis et erudito, sed eo ingenio vt non facile desinat, vbi semel
incaluit in certamine. Vtinam in prioribus libris magis temperasset
a dicteriis adiecit alteros, hoc est idem argumentum denuo retexuit,
I 20
quos nondum legi. Quis genius malus turbat studiorum tranquil-
htatem huiusmodi contentionibus? Quanto pi-aestabat concordibus
animis in Musarum campis luderel lam vnis atque alteris literis
TiT. R. r. F : om. H. D. om. F. D. acld. F. i, Reuerendissime pater add. F
(Reuerende H]. magnopere, quod F. R.P.T. a ie H.: 8. nec legerim udd.
F. audiuerim H. molestius o simile F, post vnquam.
: 12. fere add. F.
19. Vtinam ... 21. legi F :
,
pio praesertim. Sed a.

2. Commendatoris] I cannot iden- is supplicd by Erasmus. De Jongli is

tify this person, with whose name verylikelyright (but cf. Ep. 1162. lo^n)
Erasmus was doubtless unfamiliar (^cf. ininferring(i)p. 211-2, 44*fin.)fromtho
Epp. 917, ii83> Ep. 1017 shows that statements in Epp. 1217. 120-1, 1225.
ht! was going on from Fi-ance to Italy. 137 that thc formal accord was not
The title is found in the Military madetill themeeting of the Faculty in
Orders of SiJain and Germany, for the CoIIegodu Faucon on Friday, ^Oct.
numerous high officials. 1519; but it had been arranged before-
5. coelo] For otlier complaints of hand, 13 Sept. (Ep. 1022. 241. On
the weathercf. Epp. 1025. 17, 1038. 1-2. p. 212 of de Jongh it is important to
14. resipuerunt] Cf. Ep. 993. 55^. correct the date of Ep. 1033 to 19 Oct.
15. concordiam] As to the details of 19. incaluit] Cf. Ep. 1030.7-8.
this thore is no evideuce e.xce^jt what libris] Cf. Ep. 1030. sn, ^n.
 74 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15 19.

Beraldus mihi minatur epistolam a R.D.T. ea certe mihi gratissima :

25 futura est, quocunque fuerit argumento. Quaecumque tellus^ habebit

Erasmum, habebit clientulum tibi addictissimum id ipsa i-e declarabo, :

si continget vel annum adhuc superesse. Scodrensis Adnotationes in

primum Historiae Mundi librum, Beraldi auspiciis in Gallia nuper
impressas, percurri verius quam legi. Mihi certe nihil non placet quid-
30 quid ad tanti authoris vel emendationem vel explicationem vsquam
gentium excuditur. Atque vtinam in ea re a tam multis elaboretur
vt aliquando nobis integer Plinius ipse renascatur Bene vale. !

Impudens sim commendem Commendatorem et Commen-

si tibi
datori velim esse commendator cuius opera spero me tibi fore com-
:

35 mendatiorem, cui cuj^io esse quam commendatissimus.

Louanii : Postridie Calen. Octobr. An. m.d.xix.
Copum medicum opto bene valere.

1017. To DoMENico Grimani.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 505. Louvain.
HN Lond. xiii. 7 LB. 462.
: : 2 October i 519.

ERASMVS EOT. CARD. GRYMANNO S. D.

Eeverekdissime D., iam anni sunt aliquot quod Paraphrasim

epistolae ad Romanos tui nominis auspicio in publicum emiserim,
idque meo iudicio satis feliciter, toties interim excusa est typographo-
rum formulis. Aiiebam scire num meum
officium animo tuo gratum
6 fuisset. Nec enim aliam mercedem ambiebam. Literae quas aiebat
Andreas Ammonius abs te scriptas, interciderunt : quare te rogo ne
graueris alteris literis testari num eo officio tuo iudicio satis fecerim.
lam crebris literis me interpellat reuerendissimus Archiepiscopu&
Cantuariensis vt vertam commentarios Origenis in Psalmos. Horum
10 exemplar si tua habet bibliotheca, non ausim rogare vt huc mittas:
tantum oro vt patiare describi meo sumj^tu. Non committam' vt in
eo opere frauderis portione tibi debitae laudis. Dedi negocium hoc
domino Commendatori, viro primariis virtutibus cumulato et ob has
1016. 24. a RD.T. a (R.T.D. F) : abs te H. 25. liabebit all : habet F.
27. Scodrensi.s . . . 32. rcnascatur om. F. 36. Postridie : i^ridie a.F Octobr
F: Noue. a. 37. aK: Coppum T^. medicum arfrf. //. 1017. i. Reue-
rendissimef : Reuerende if. 8. reuerendissimus 7" : Guilhelmus i/.

24. Beraldus] Cf. Ep. 994. 11-13. given reasons for thinking otherwise.
37. Copum] See Ep. 124. i6n. 9. Cantuariensis] Tliere is no trace
1017. I. Paraphrasim] See Ep. 710. of this request in Erasmus' correspon-
5. Literae] It seems that this must dence with Warham. He did not
refer to a letter about theiV^o!tMwlHs<r«- comply Avith it, perhaps from lack of
mentum in answer to Ep. 334, not to a mss.; but cf. Ep. 1140. in.
letter about the Paraphrase (Ep. 710) ;
Just at this time Bruno Amorbacli
forwhenthat was printed, Ammonius was preparing for a Basle edition of
was dead. A possible interpretation, Origen, and collecting notes of Greek
suggestcd by the similarity of phrase and Latin mss. Cf. a letter of Hedio
in Ep. 835. 10 to 11. 4, 7 here, is that about tho project, froin Basle, 21 Nov.
tlie Paraphrase was sent to Grimani in 1519 (Zw. E.^ 102) headds, Erasmus,:
'

ms., as soon as it Avas composed, c. June vt est omnipotentis ingenii, posset nou
1517, in timc for Ammonius to have modo interpretemagere verumet para-
been concerned in the acknowledg- phrasten, si modo vellet atque vtinam ;

ment but in Ep. 835. i^n I have

; volet olim !
'
IOI7] TO DOMENICO GEIMANI 75

suo Prineipi longe gratissimo. Bene valeat T.R.D. : cui quam com-
mendatissimus esse cupio. 15
Louanii. Postridie Calend. Octobr. An. m.d.xix.

1018. To Florence of Egmont.

Epistolae acl diuersos p. 498. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xii. 30 : LB. 461. 2 October 1519.

[The reference to Ferdinand (1. i6) iniplies that the question of his education
was recent so that the date given in tlie text may be accepted.
still ;

Florence of Egmont was a patron with whom Erasmus had had relations
during his early residence at Louvain (cf. Ep. 178. 44^). His only son, Maxi-
milian of Egmont (t 23-4 Dec. 1548), had been a student at Louvain since 1516 ;
for in a preface, dated 20 April (1519), to the first edition of Adr. Barland's De
Hollandiae principibus, Antwerp, J. Thibault, July 1519, he and his kinsmen,
George and Philip of Egmont, to whom the dedication is jointly made, are said
to have been attending Barland's lectures for nearly three years. The question
of providing a new teacher for him seems now to have arisen Arnold (I. 10) ;

being probably a tutor who lived with the boy but took no part in his studies.
As in an earlier case (Ep. 737), Erasmus declined the post for himself, but sug-
gested a friend as a substitute cf. also Ep. 1208. In 1521 the boy was still at
;

Louvain, and learning Homer by heart for 'repetition (Ep. 1192. 81-2). '

Maximilian became as mighty a warrior as his father, whom he succeeded in

the lordship of Ysselstein, sw. of Utrecht, and the county of Buren in sw. Guel-
dres, and, like whom, he was in 1540 Stadhouder of Friesland. In Oct. 1540 he
was created a Knight of the Golden Fleece by Charles' nomination (de Reiffen-
berg, p. 394). His most famous exploit was his march from the Netherlands
through Protestant Germany to relieve Charles at Ingolstadt in 1546. The story
of his ceremonious death is told in BN. vi. 488-90. His only daughter became
the first wife of William the Silent. See P. Kannengiesser, Karl v und Maximilian
Egmont, Grafvon Bilren, 1895.]

ERA&MVS ROTERODAMVS CLARISS. PRINGIPI ISELSTEYNO

FLORENTIO S. D.
Clabissime princeps, munusquod tua benignitas nobis donauit, non
vno nomine mihi fuit gratissimum vel quod a tali profcictum heroe vel
:

quod vltro delatum, nec promerito nec expectanti. Admonui filium

tuae celsitudinis, rarae cuiusdam indolis puerum, vt mihi in refei-enda
gratia sit auxilio. Sic enim videbor retulisse, si effecero vt ille in
5
bonis literis expectationi tuae respondeat. Recepit facturum, ac mihi
sane in hac aetatula iam nunc emicans eruditionis specimen maximam
spem praebet talem euasurum Maximilianum, vt non solum suo
generi verum etiam ipsis literis Jjonis sit olim ornamento futurus.
Arnoldus vt est pueri amantissimus, ita eum non minus diligenter 10
quam )>lande curat.
Est hic Conradus Goclenius, iuuenis vtriusque literaturae peritis-
simus, stilo cum primis felici, siue prosam orationem tractet siue
metri legibus astrictam, philosophicae rei non vulgariter doctus, mori-
bus incorruptis spectataeque integritatis. Quid multis? dignus vel ipso 15
Ferdinando discipulo. Id tibi meo polliceor periculo, quod si vide-

1017. 14. T.R. D. F: amplitudo tua 7/. lOIS. tit. clariss. . . .florektio F
FLORENTIO AB I3ELSTEYN // {H Lond. FLORENTiNO A'*).
: 12. H : Goclenius F.

lOlS. 12. Goclenius] See Ep. 1209. 16. Ftrdiiiaudo] Cf. Ep. 917 introd.
 76 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15 19

bitur hic filii familiae adiungendus, agam cum illo, et agam non
minore fide quam si filii mei negocium ageretur : sin minus, scito
Erasmum toto peetore tuum esse. Bene vale.
20 Louanii post. Cal. Octobr. Anno m.d.xix.

1019. To Maktin Lypsius.

Brussels MS. 4850-7, f. 149. (Louvain.)
(October 1519 '?>

[For the ms. see Ep. 296 introd. Lypsius' argument is Leus vacillans :
'

mittere velit Annotationes necne, aliquando missurum poUicebatur, subitoque

mutatus non missurum se scribebat, id adferens excusationis quod co-Angli sui
hoc dissuaderent. Tandem ob Nouum Testamentum donatum in Ciuo locos
l)lurimos correxerat, sciscitatum occultandumne esset ob sui securitatem, certum
reddit (Erasmus) F<ratrem) M(artinum).' In this last sentence I have writteu
sciscitatum for sciscitaius of the ms. taking the sense to be that, in ijursuance of
;

the intrigue to obtain a sight of Lee's notes (cf. Ep. 998. i^n), Lypsius had lent
Lee his own copy of the second edition of Erasmus' NewTestament (cf. Ep. 955),
and subsequently, in fear lest Lee should notice tlie numerous corrections made
in that edition and use them for further attacks on Erasmus, had enquired
whether he should endeavour to conceal the fact of the corrections and that ;

Erasnius assured him it woukl not matter.

No precise date is possible butas by 16 Oct. Erasmus was aware of theadvice
;

of Lee's English friends (Epp. 1026. 11-16, 1029. 10-151, this letter, which deals
with Lee's announcement on the subject, may be placed conjecturally earlier in
the month. For the course of Erasmus' controversy with Lee see pp. 108-11.]

S.P. Crede mihi, te ridet, et hoc nomine sibi videtur vafer et

Leus
catus. Nec hoc vt premat suas Annotationes, vnde sperat
agit
immortalitatem, sed vt instructiores aedat. De libro misso, ex me
nihil erit periculi nec video tibi periculum, etiamsi resciscat.
; Imo
5 si sciat omnia, mihi nihil sit ex Leo periculi: quanquam cum leone
rem habere malim quam cum tali vulpe. Bene vale.

1020. From Boniface Amerbach.

Basle MS. C.yi^. y^. 186. Basle.
7 October 15 19.
[An autograph one of Boniface Anierbach's rough-drafts, in the coUection >'f
;

them at Basle, MSS. C. VI'^. 54 and 73. The letters belong mostly to the years
1519-36» and number about 550 including more than ninetj' to Zasius, about
:

sixty each to Alciati and Erasmus, and others to well-known humanists, Beatus
Rhenanus, Hutten, Glareanus, Dor]^, Sadolet, Botzheim, besides his brother
Basil and some intimate friends. Seventy-five of them are printed by Th. Burck-
hardt Biedermann in Am. E., some nearly complete, others in brief extract
and there is a short description of the collection in the Transactions ofthe Bihlio-
fjraphical Society, xii ^1914),
i^p. 78-80.
The letter actually sent to Erasmus i^erhaps contained as a postscript (of which
there is no trace in this i-ough-draft) a i^roposal that Jerome Froben (Ep. 903. 2n)
should be put to study law under Zasius at Preiburg, as Boniface had done. See
a note from Zasius to Boniface (ZE. p. 483) Quod nuper ad magiutm Erasmum
:
'

scripsisti in calce literarum suiaer Frobenio, legere male oculatus non potui.
Itaque siquid officii dicto adolescenti per nie praestari poterit, declarato, et
paratum ad tua eiusque commoda inuenies '. If this conjecttire is correct, it
secms likely that .lerome carried this letter, together with BRE. 132.
The date of tliis letter is confirmed l)y Boniface's projected journey (L 540).]
1018. 20. post. F : postr. X.

1018. 17. agam] Ep. 1192. 81-2 shows that Erasmus fulfilled this promise.
io2o] FROM BONIFACE AMERBACH 77

ViDEOR mihi meo iiire facturus. vnicum seculi decus Erasme, si post
tantam atque adeo inuisam bonis SvcrwTrtai'. litteris nostris, immo
ineptiis, te compellauero, et hiis sane parcissimis. Non enim pluri-
bus debeo, vel omnium honorum studiorum causa, que iam pr(op)e-
modum cadentia tu tuis humeris ceu Hercules quispiam et fulcis et 5
sustines, adeo quidem vt prope de postliminio asserueris. Quo
iiomine vel populari actione conueniendus forem, qui hec tois (3aTTa-
pL(T/j.o'i<; interturbarem, cum semel omnium saluti, omnium commodo.
omnium emolumento prospiciatur. Quid quod tu non nisi castis et
puris reuerenter adeundus es ? quottusquisque enim est vel
doctissi- 10
morum qui te litteris compellare audeat Nimirum a cunctis tanti !

estimaris quanti veram virtutem estimari et par est et decet nec :

profecto abs re. cum is sit tue maiestatis candor, ea eruditionis

amplitudo, id eloquentie fulmen, vt facile vnus omnium quotquot
aetas nostra fert, luminibus, vt iuris verbo vtar, obstruxisse videare. 15
Verum quod ego, etsi vnus e pluribus, hoc splendore non deterreor,
facit summe tue eruditioni par eopulata humanitas, qua immerentem
etiam ita complexus es vt dubio procul omnium sim futurus ingra-
tissimus ni apud te vel ineptiis testatum relinquam.
Vide, magne heros, quid me ad scribendum seu verius nugandum 20
impellat, nempe mei purgandi ratio, si quid sinistrae suspitionis de me
longum silentium iniecisset dein singularis tua humanitas, cui quic-
:

quid temerita(ti)s mihi adscriptum fu(er)it. acceptum referam. Certe

temei'itatis notari maio quam ingratitudinis. Quemadmodum enim
iniuria apud iureconsultos primoi'ibus illata seuerius punitur, ita nullo 25
supplicio satis animaduerti posse crediderim in ingratos, presertim
qui ingrati sunt aduersus maiores gentium quorum in albo te ;

primum statuo. Ne igitur hac expendar nota, mee in te cum

obseruantie tum gratitudinis hunc gustum, hanc primam saliuam
habe. Me magno illi Erasmo ^a^eoj Kal lcroOew, quem omnes vno ore 30
proniineiant " AvOpMTrov (jiva-€(i><i a$Lov aOavaTov, —
me, inquam, illi omnibus
numeris adscriptum esse, me huic animam debere, me huic corpus,
nihil hoc apud me sanctius, nil relligiosius, nil quod magis suspitiam,
deuotius colam, venerer et obseruem quam hunc vnicum cuius :

surnmam eruditionem, summam humanitatem, denique omnia supra 35

etatem nostram summa, vbi vbi sum, quoquo pro^ciscar, predicare non
cesso etsi ineptus tuarum laudum preco, cum non nisi a rei litterarie
;

Augustalibus debeas exscribi, ceu Alexander ab Apelle quopiam vel

Pyrgotele. Si qui sunt tuarum rerum studiosi, dispeream si non
omnespieta(ti)s genuine red(d)itione vincam. Sed quod mea modi- 4°

2. Siaajwiav MS. 30. idOecu Kal I^oOki) MS.

propemodum] 'rhough premodirm.

4. lie writes to Basil, asking to have an
is not imcommiin with B"niface, e. g. '
Orarium Graecum vnacum Epiarram-
'praemochim doleo' in C. VI*. 73. 30, matis Graecis et interprctntione' sent
43, it can hardly be intendcd here. after him to Avignon (Basle MS. C.
More probably the form is due to hasty VI'\ 73. 47). The quotations here and
writing cf. II. 23, 40. 55.
; in 11. 66, 7 arc on ff. 218 v"., 200 v°. of
31. ' kvdfxo-rrov^ Anth. Pal. 7.327.4. Ihe Juntaedition.
Boniface had no doubt just acquired 40. redditiono] Cf. Ecchis. i. 29.
the Florilegium diuernorum Epigramma- The last five words
of tliis sontenceare
tum (Anth. Plan.), printed by the almost undeciphi rable, so that the
Juntas, Florence, 1519. 0ni3Julyi52o reading is doubtful. Tlie sense may
 78 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

citas iii te laudcando non assequitur, id amor aduersum te meus

supplet et adauget.
Sed de hiis quidem partius. Si enim omnia ad viuum resecanda
sint, non vnius diei spatio sed quietissimo otio opus fuerit. Hee
45 igitur ceu rudimenta mei in te amoris posita sint, quibus excusatam
volo taciturnitatem meam quam si in posterum seruare perrexero,
;

vt certe debeo, quoniam longe me maior, nihilosecius tamen tibi ws

cK TptTToSos indubitatum erit meam aduersum te obseruantiam puri
puti amoris perpetuum fore plenissimam. Tu modo, vt semel me in
50 tuam fidem recepisti, ita retineas velim, et tuo fauore, quod semper
fecisti, me aeternum prosequi non cessa cui me in totum do ;

consecroque.
Si de rebus nostris certior fieri cupis, pestis mitius hucusque nos
acceperat, sed in diem seuius incrudescit. Ego in breui Auenionam
55 profi(ci)scar, illic Andream Alciatum Mediolanensem auditm'us,
hominem in legali prudentia tantum quantum non memini alium.
Ex lucubrationibus recens Mediohmi editis hominem estimes licet.
Videbis summe iurium cognitioni vtramque linguam nimium quam
feliciter adiectam. Hunc et Zasium nostrum duo iuris presidia
60 dixerim, cum non solum in textuum emendatione, quamquam id
etiam, sed et in ipsa harena, in ipsis adytis versentur.
Disputationi theologicae apud Lipsenses suprema manus imposita

44. spatiu MS. 58. cognitionem MS.

be gatliered from a similar passage iii a 152 1 he wasat Lyoiis 011 his way
letter of Boniface to Bruno (? 26 Aug.) home his departure from Avignon
;

1518 Ne dubitet (Erasmus), si qui

:
' being dae to the plague (Ep. 1201. 4)
sunt qui ex animo ei bene volunt, and to Alciati's consequent return to
me ex illis pro modicitate mea esse Italy (Basle MSS. C. VP. 73. 411, 156,
vel antesignanum (Basle MS. G. II. ' 145, 13X, G. II. 13. 112 : in which two
13. 108 printed by Stintzing, Zasius,
;
MSS. about thirty of his letters and
P- 367)- rough-drafts of this period are pre-
53. pestis]For Erasmus' interest in served).
this a letter of Boniface to Zasius
cf. 57. lucubrationibus] Paradoxa, &c.,
«c. July 1519) Basle MS. C. VP. 73.
: Milan, A. Minutianus. 1518.
416) Scribit Erasmus noster Rot.,
:
'
62. Disputationi The report of the
|

mathemat(ic)is quibusdam id traden- disputations at Leipzig between Eck,

tibus, hanc (^sc. pestem) in quadrien- Carlstadt and Luther, 27 June-i5 July
nium duraturam et sua tyrannide 1519. Of this only two contemporary
totum orbem concussuram See also '. editions are known, both s.l. et a. The
Ep. looi. 66-7. first, whicli has a long title enumera-
54. Auenionam] Bruno Amorbach, ting all tliree debates, Bisputatio excel-
travelling to Marseilles, had found leiitium D. doctorum ., Knaake con-
. .

Alciati lecturing on law at Avignon ; .iectured {Luthers Werke, Weimar. ii.

and this news had fired Boniface to pp. 252, 3) to have been printed at
go and hear him. His plan, formed Erfurt c. Dec. 1519 under the super-
c. June 15 19, was to spend one year at vision of John Lang (Ep. 872, cf. LE.*
Avignon and then two at universities 255, 11. 7 '• For two issues of it see
in Italy. After delay because of the A. V. Dommer, Lutherdrucke auf der
plague in France, he decided to start Hambnrger Stadtbibliothek, 1888, nos, 79,
on I Oct. but, lingering on, wasover-
; 80. The other, with a shorter head-
taken by Bruno"s sudden death, 21 ing, Disputatio inter egregios et praeclaros
Oct. 15 19, and put off his journey till ciros ac doctores, loannem Eccium et
the spring (Basle MS. C. VI''. 73. 350, Martinum Lutherum in praesentia noiario-
306, 420 v»., 394, 405 ; cf. Ep. 1084. 41). rum Jiabita, was brought to light by
Starting c. i May 1520 iiearrived 011 O. Seitz, Der authentische Text der Leip-
the iith cf. ZE. p. 498.; On 24 April ziger Disputation, 1903, pp. 3-5, who
io2o] FKOM BONIFACE AMEEBACH 79

•est. Pronunciabunt de hac Parrhisienses. '12 Zev /Jao-iAei), rvys

Twv <^pevC}v.
AcTTTOTTjTos Eckius sibi similis est, vt vbique cupit videri
inuictus, magnos somniat triumphos. Si perget suo more agere, 65

jaei^ova Toi'Twt
eviacrdai TavTr]<; ov 8vva/xaL fJLavcrjv.

Prouocauit apologia Philip. Melanchtona, sed cornutam, vt opinor,

iDestiam.
Verum quid ego ad te haec, qui, ne interturberis, AaKwvt^etv vohii ? 70
jBene vale, orbis litterati lumen, Erasme ter maxime.
Basilee Eaurac. Non. octobi*. An. m.d.xix.

9^"10.21io39 From John Slechta.

Epistolae acl diuersos p. 547. Kosteletz.
HN : Lond. xiv. 20: LB. 463. 10 October 15 19.

[For Erasmus' relations with Slechta and the Bohemians at this time see my
Age 0/ Erasmus, 1914, pp. 281-98; and cf. Epp. 11 17 introd., 1154, 1183. For
other vievvs of them see Ep. 1260. After Slechta's death his son was sent,
apparently by guardians, to Wittenberg in July 1523 to complete his education
(ME. 247). Melanchthon was in correspondence with him in Oct. 1524 (ME. 295).
Portions of this letter and its answer are printed in S. Clementis Epistolae duae
ad Corinthios, ed. P. Colomesius, London, 1687, pp. 288-95.]

lOANNES SLECHTA KOSTELECIVS ERASMO

EOTERODAMO S. P. D.

Eedditae sunt mihi literae tuae tertio Idus Septembris preter

omnem spem. Nam cum
anno superiori literas meas per famulum
bibliopolae Lypsensis, qui Pragae libros impressos venundando agit,
ad te dederam, pollicitus est mihi bona fide literas ipsas ad te vsque
per certum tabellarium, vbicunque locorvmi esses, missurum, et 5
responsum allaturum. Quas cum sibi aceepta ab eo fide tradidissem,
•et per hunc totum annum responsum abs te diu expectatum nullum
accepissem, pro persuaso habui literas illas neutiquam ad te peruenisse,
sed vel deperditas vel ad aliquem in via detentas vel ab aliquo inter-
ceptas esse. Tanto igitur nunc mihi gratiores et iucundiores fuerunt, 10
quanto minus speratae venerunt, et quidem a tali amico qualem ego
nimirum inter charos et raros charissimum habeo. Gratulor autem
1021. 3. Lypsenses Lond. : Lipsiensis LB.

dates it Leipzig, c. 1520 Proctor : quickly, for on 25 July Eck replied

(10953) assigns it to Aug.sburg. But with his Excusatio (Ep. 910. an). Both
Boniface's statements in Am. E. i, were printed, doubtless at once, in
3 Oct. 1519, Acta disputationis Lip-
' undated issues at Wittenberg and
sicae excuduntur Lipsiae ', and here, Leipzig (Proctor, ii. 11849, 11308-10,
if correct, point to an earlier publica- 11478). For other utterances of Boni-
tion. face on the matter see Basle MS. C.
66. ntt^nva'] Cf. Anth. Pal. 11. 127. VP. 73. 157, 187. His,admiration for
3,4 ; and see 1. ^in. Luther appears in Am. E. i, 3 Oct.

68. apologia] MeIanchthon'sletter to 1519 : Duo vere thcologie Camilli,

'

Oecolampadius de Lipsica disputa-

' Erasraus ct Lutherius, bonos viros
tione (ME. 43 21 July 1519, Witten-
'
: laboribus Herculeis demereri non
•berg) must have reached Leipzig cessant '.
 80 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [151

imprimis prosperae cupioque vt aemuli

et integrae valetudini tuae,
tui de mortis tuae commentitio genere diu sic verum loquantur,
15 quemadmodum superiori et praesenti anno hic et apud vos fecerunt
vtque aetatem annosi Nestoris viuendo non solum adaeques verum
etiam superes.
Quod te autem quidam ecclesiasticorum et potissimum ex monachis
implacabili odio prosequuntur et canino morsu nonnunquam clam
20 impetunt, istud apud me mirum non est, cum virtus vicio et bonum
malo semper contrarium sit. Boni l)onos, scelerati sceleratos araare. et
simile simili amieum esse solet ; morum namque similitudo, vti nosti,
beneuolentiam gignit, dissimilitudo vero odium. Si non aliquando
vitamillorumhypocrisi ceupalliotectam, vt aliquisApelles,ad amussim
25 depinxisses, et Antisylenos Gnatonesque probatissimis argumentis
demonstrasses, si traditiones diuinas posthabere, et inuentis humanis
literaeque interfectrici, et non spiritui, adhaerere non probauisses,
amicus et frater charissimus esses. Nam cum veritas male consciis
auditu admodum molesta et amara est, nec aliud quam, vt comicus
30 poeta inquit, odium parit, inde hae inimicitiae et simultates ceu
e quibusdam scatebris liuentis animi erumpunt. Sed praestat talium
fucatam et inefficacem amicitiam longe abiicere et contemnere quam
ei veritate remota turpiter blandiri certum est enim quod nullius:

vita sine aliqua reprehensione cucurrit. Innocuum tamen et absque

3; aculeo stilum tuum esse quis ignorat ? cum vitia sola notas, carpis et
damnas, personis vbique parcis. Quis tibi igitur pro iis iuste succen-
ille qui sibi male conscius de se istaintelligere velit ?
sere poterit, nisi
Et hac causa maiore laude dignus es, quo animi sanctimoniam et
vitae synceritatem cum doctrina et sapientia coniunxisti ; luce sua
40 aliis lucem afferens, legendoque, scribendo, declarando et instituendo
fructus hactenus omnibus producens.
Sed nnlo de his plura scribere, ne videar eximias virtutes et
doctrinam tuam vitamque innocuam oratione mea sterili et ieiuna
velle comprehendere et clariora reddere, cum hoc aliud nihil esset
45 quam soli lumen et mari aquas addere. Testamentum Nouum, quod
multorum autorum praeclaris sententiis egregie ac vtilissime locu-
pletasti, allatum mihi est cum nonnullis aliis opusculis tuis pridie
Idus Maii. Omnes enim libros tuos, quoscunque scripsisti et Basileae
loanni Frobenio, viro docto et in arte calcographica Daedaleo ingenio
50 praedito, imprimendos dedisti, habeo, mirificeque lectione eorum
delector: meam non
quibus etiam magna ex parte bibliothecam
solum auctam sed et ornatam reddidi.
Pragae quamuis te nihil negotii habere cognoscam, libenter te
tamen cum multis aliis qui videndi tui magno desiderio tenebantur,
5.i et ipse vidissem conuenissemque. Sed cum id nunc partim occupa-
tiones tuae plurimae, partim vero studiorum perpetui et indefessi
labores non patiantur, oportebit vt id in tempus aliud magis oppor-

24. ceu H
seu F.
: 30. ceu H : seu F. 35. notes, cari^as et damnes H.
36. parcas H. 50. habeo H : omnes habeo F.

15. praesenti anno hic] Fora rejjort 27. interfectrici] Cf. 2 Cor. 3. 6.
ofErasmus' doath cuirent in Ceiitral 30. poeta] Ter. AmJr. 68 ; cf. Cic.
Europe in April 1519 cf. Ep. 1008 Amic. 24. 89.
introd. 34. Innocuum] Cf. Ep. 1007. 8in.
102 1] FROM JOHN SLECHTA 81

tunum et idoneum seponamus, vbi te, cum hic fieri non potuit, alio
loco et tempore, concedente Domino. conueniamus. Quod autem
patria nostra in alias pergentibus regiones certo comitatu et con- 60
ductoribus securitatis gratia indiget, mirari id, amice charissime,
desines, si ab omni parte arduis et in altum surgentibus montibus
vallatam, densissimisque syluis ac proceris arboribus late circumsep-
tam cognosces, quales in sylua Ercinia saepe multas videre potuisti
in qua frequentissimi grassatores delitescentes et aditus viarum 65
obsidentes saepe multa damna viatoribus minus cautis, maxime vero
mercatoribus inferunt, nonnullos vero non solum rebus sed et vita
spoliant. Et quamuis fere singulis mensibus ex vicinis vrbibus et
oppidis infinitos id genus latrones capiant, et vario supplicioi'um et
mortis genere disperdant. nunquam tamen tam perniciosum et noxium 70
seminarium et extirpari et radicitus euelli potest sed cum hi damnan-
:

tur et delentur, protinus alii succedunt ; haud secus quam fiebat circa
hydram illam Herculeam. cui adempta capita renascebantur.
Scribis mihi postremo non sine certa admiratione, quod attinet ad
dissidiuni illud fidei et religionis, quod a satis longinquo tempore 75
in patria nostra subortum durat quodque in tanto tempore nullus
;

inueniatur neque ex ecelesiasticis neque ex secularibus principibus qui

illud ad certam aliquam concordiam perduceret ; causamque huius
non aliam quam pecuniae studium arbitraris. Quali ego opinioni
tuae absque vlla controuersia subscribo. Quotus enim nunc quis- 80
que inuenitur, siue summumPontiticem, siue cardinales et episco-
pos, siue ahas ecclesiasticas personas, siue ipsos monachos spectes,
qui non potius ambitioni et lucris pecuniariis quam saluti animarum
proximoioim consulant. Si Saluatoris nostri vitam et doctrinam, qua
ipsos cohortatur et admonet vt bona ista temporaria, caduca, fragilia J^o

et nusquam consistentia contemnerent, religionemque, pietatem,

charitatem, misericordiam et reliquas virtutes amplecterentur, audire
et ilH obtemperare vellent, certus sum quod nuUa esset tam remota et
seposita gens vel regio, nulla tam grauis et laboriosa via, vt non eam
pro salute proximorum laeto et alacri animo susciperent sicut facere : f,o

solebat Pauhis et caeteri Apostoli, quorum se isti vicarios et succes-

scres falso tamen et inani titulo gloriantur.
Forsan autem ab re non erit si tibi et hoc obiter ostendero, cum sit
inter nostros tale in fide et religione dissidium, vt cognoscas quot et
quam variae sint diuisiones et causae ipsius. Nam
ne ludaeos et 95
Epicureos, qui animarum immortaHtatem negant, simiHter et quosdam
Nicolaitas —
commemorem ex iis enim omnibus non pauci apud nos
inueniuntur —
totus populus regni huius et Marchionatus Morauiae in
,

tris sectas diuisus est. Prima est eorum qui Romanum Pontificem
in omnibus sequuntur et obseruant, verumque vicarium Christi 100

71. ei av(e extiTpari add, N. 74. quodiV: quid f. &d add. N. 85.
H : temperaria F.

95. diuisionea] For the numerous receivo frequent mention in F. Pa-

religious sects in Bohemia during xv- Iacky's Oeschichte von Buhmen (1867),
xvi'^», and the varying namea applied bks. xii, xiii.
to them see the article on the Bohe- ludaeos] Cf. Ep. 1006. i^an.
mian Brethren in Herzog iii. 445-67. 97. Nicolaitas] The uame is derived
The religious troubles of the timo froni Rev. 2. 6, 15. k
 82 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [151

recognoscunt, quemadmodum faciunt Germani et caeterae nationes,

eidem ceu pastori caulae Dominicae adhaerentes. Et ex iis est maior
pars procerum, magnatum et nobilium. Sunt et nonnullae ciuitates
regiae cum monasteriis, olim opulentibus, nunc magna ex parte
'05 dirutis et despoliatis, variorum ordinum.
Alia secta est illorum qui Eucharistiam sub vtraque specie populo
dispensant. Cui ex proceribus pauci, ex nobilitate autem plurimi,
ciuitates vero regiae prope triginta adhaerent. Hi sacramenta Ecele-
siastica omnia tenent, similiter cerimonias ac ritus Ecclesiae, non
iio aliter quam ipsi Romani in solo autem vsu communionis differunt,
;

et quod in sacrificiis sacerdotes illorum Epistolam et Euangelium

lingua domestica canunt. Et huic vtrique consuetudini pertinacissime
adhaerent, assei-entes se vtrunque literis Concilii Basiliensis (quas
vocant pactionis) confirmatum et approbatum habere.
"5 Ad quod cum aliquando decem Magistros theologos studii Pragensis
iussu Imperatoris Sigismundi, tunc Regis Bohemiae, misissent, et pro
articulo illo de eommunione sub vtraque specie cum theologis Concilii
conflictati essent, ostendissentque communionem talem a Christo
esse institutam et a Paulo Apostolo Corinthiis traditam, ab omnibus
1 20 deinde priscis doctoribus tam Graecis quam Latinis ad annos circiter

—
mille et ducentos inuiolabiliter obseruatam quibus Concilium singu-
lis diligenter perspectis et rite examinatis, concessit eis praedictum
vsum et consuetudinem communionis ante memoratae his tamen ;

conditionibus, vt sacerdotes illorum praesentes et futuri Eucharistiam

125 populo communi ad hoc disposito sub vna vel sub vtraque specie,
prout quisque ex fide cuperet, exhiberent, hac prius protestatione
vtrisque facta, Vos qui sub vna specie communicaturi estis, non
'

minus vos accipere credatis quam sub vtraque specie et qui sub '
;

vtraque specie communicaturi essent, non magis eos accipere quam

130 eos qui sub vna specie —
in reliquis autem omnibus rebus Ecclesiae
Romanae et cerimonias legitimas obseruare et sequi polliciti sunt.
Similiter Pontificem Romanum cum successoribus suis pro veris
vicariis Christi haberent et recognoscerent, et dictis eorum absque
omni repugnatione obtemperarent, cum successoribus suis omnibus.
13.5 Quae se omnia et singula facturos et opere completuros bona fide pro-

miserunt qua ab ipsis accepta comprobauerunt eis communionem

;

ante memoratam literis Concilii, quas pactionis vocant.

Sed erant haec et ab Eugenio summo Pontifice, qui tunc Romanae
104. opulentisif. 115. studiiF: scholaeff. 131, et o»w. iY. 1^8. etom.N.

102. caulae] Cf. Aug. c. Pelag. i. i. 2. accepted for university. In Ep. 1033.
106. Alia secta] Tlie Utraquists. 116, Erasmus uses vniuersitas, perhaps
'l'hey sent envoys to the Council of foUowing Lutlier (cf. explan. n.), but
Basle in 1432-3 (11. 115 seq.), and in modifies itin F ibid. 255, he uses ac«-
;

Nov. 1433 a settlement was made, demia. Cf. Epp. 447. 97, 166, 1002. gn.
known as 'the Compacts (11. 113-14,
'
116. Sigismundi] 1368-1437 ; King
137)5 by which they were allowed to of Hungary 1387, Kingof the Romans
"iontinue, with some modification, the 1410, King of Bohemia 1419.
practice of their own ceremonials. See 136. comprobauerunt] sc. theologi
Creighton, vol. ii, bk. 3, ch. 5. Concilii (1. 117).
115. studii] The change in H was 138. Eugenio] Pope 1431-47. Forhis
])erhap8 made word that was
to avoid a quarrel with the Council and conse-
now becomingold-fashioned. It seoms quent refusal to ratify the Compacts
that as yet there was no word definitely see Creighton, bk 3, ch. 6.
.
io2i] FKOM JOHN SLECHTA 83

pi-aesidebat Ecclesiae, literis (quas vocant exequutoriales) confirman-

da et ratificanda qui huic Concilio imprimis autoritatem dederat. 140
;

Postea vero intellectis certis decretis in eodem Concilio contra se et

futurosPontifices conclusis et determinatis, aboleuit et abrogauit omnia
in eodem Concilio conclusa et determinata qua causa neque haec quae
:

Bohemis in eodem Concilio concessa et approbata fuerunt, literis suis

approbare voluit, ne videretur iam dictis decretis ConciHi autoritatem 145
dare. Qua causa neque hoc ab aliis Pontificibus Romanis hactenus
obtinere potuerunt qui cognita in hac parte tam obstinata et immo-
:

biliPontificum mente, qui ea quae Christus instituit et Ecclesia prisca

tenuit Conciliumque approbauit, confirmare nokierunt, nec eis etiam
obedire nec pro veris Christi vicariis et successoribus Petri habere 150
voluerunt.
Et vbi compromiserant maiores illorum, quod sacerdotes factionis
ipsorum communicaturi populum sub vna vel sub vtraque specie
alloquuturi erant populum his verbis quae ante praefati sumus, iam
illa omnia ceu falsa abiecerunt, neque aliter vlkim ex communi populo 55 1

quam su]> vtraque specie communicare volunt reprehendentes in hoc

;

vehementer maiores suos qui ad illud ConciUum missi fuerant, quod

tam stulti et temerarii fuissent vt tam falsis et iniquis conditionibus
a ConciHo oblatis assentire voluerint, cum apud doctores veteres Grae-
cos et Latinos apertissime inueniatur aUam gratiam dari accipienti- 160
bus corpus Christi, et aHam sumentibus sanguinem ipsius. Et cum
ibi donentur differentes gratiae, quomodo haec vera esse possunt, vt
percipientes sacramentum iUud sub vna specie non minus gratiarum
accipiant quam qui sub vtraque, neque qui sub vtraque sumunt, non
pkis sumant quam qui sub vna? Haec subdentes, si ista quae 165
commemorata sunt neque ipsi tractatores antiqui sacrarum Hterarum
doeuissent, tamen non erat altera pars saci-amenti salutaris populo
communi supra institutum Christi vHo modo subtrahenda, cum hoc
aHud nihil sit quam merum sacrilegium: neque plus sapere debue-
runt supra iHam priscam et sanctam Ecclesiam, quae hoc ad annos 1 70
prope miUe et ducentos inuiolabiHter seruauit. Et vbi nostri certas
causas et pericula quaedam adducunt, propter quae akera pars sacra-
menti communi populo adempta est, dicunt inde iHud inconueniens
sequuturum, vt isti sapientiores ipso Christo esse velint, qui nesciuit
et ignorauit pericuhi quaedam futura circa iHam partem sacramenti 1 75
emersura, quae isti inuenerunt et cognouerunt, et istud est supra
Christum scire et inteUigere. Haec et aUa longe plura in tractatibus
eorum contra communionem sub vna specie conscripta inueniuntur
quae commemorare sicut longum, ita et tediosum esset. Quis igitur
tantae dissensionis idoneus apud nos arbiter inuenietur? 1^0
Tertia secta est eorum quos vocant Pyghardos. Hi denomina-

i8x. Pyghardos] According to J. Du- ancestors of the presont Moravian

bravius, Hist. Boimiica, bks. 14 and 26, church. They were at this time under
ed. Basle, 1575, pp. 126, 250, this name the leadership of their bishop, Lucas
veas first applied to a sect which ap- of Prague {\ii Dec. 1528).
peared in Boliemia in xii*'. It is em- Slechta endorses a current deriva-
ployed here, according to the usage of tion of thoir name from a leader wlio
the time, for the Bohemian Brethren came from Picardy but the oppro-
;

(1. 95n) ; who were

the spiritual brious sense usually attached to the
successors of tho Taborites and the word probably indicates that it is
G 2
 84 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

tionem a quodam transfuga eiusdem gentis acceperunt qui huc ;

veniens ante annos nonaginta septem, eo tempore quo loannes Zyzka,

homo sacrilegus et sceleratus, bellum hic ecclesiasticis et omni clero
185 indixerat et bona eorum diripienda inuaserat, ei adiunctus infecit
imprimis ipsum ducem scelerum pestiferis doctrinis, et postea
totum exercitum eius, quem ex latronibus, liomicidis, proscriptis et
reliqua feee perditorum coegerat. Qualis seges durauit ad vsque
tempora Regis Vladislai, qui annis istis proximis vitam cum morte
190 commutauit, maximaque incrementa sub ipso accepit nam cum :

gubernacula regni Hungariae suscepisset, i:)lusque ibi quam in

Bohemia morae traxisset, parum curabat quid hic ageretur, dum
modo pace omnes subditi sui fruerentur.
Hi de summo Pontifice, cardinalibus, episcopis et caetei-is personis
195 ecclesiasticis non aliud sentiunt quam de manifestis Antichristis,
Pontificem ipsum nunc bestiam nunc meretricem illam Apocalypticam
appellantes et cum omnia contra doctrinam et traditionem Christi
;

faciant, quomodo possunt esse alicuius autoritatis et virtutis in ope-

randis sacris? sed quaecunque ab officio eorum prodeunt, neque esse
200 sacra neque sacramenta neque benedictiones, sed meras execrationes,
abhominationes et maledicta. Episcopos et sacerdotes ipsi sibi eligunt
laicos rudes et literarum expertes, vxores et liberos habentes, fratres
se et sorores inuicem vocant et salutant. Autoritatem tantum
Veteris et Noui Instrumenti ex Scriijturis recipiunt. Doctox-es omnes
205 veteres et neotericos et libros eorum contemnunt, nec doctrinae eorum
quicquam tribuunt. Sacerdotes eorum, cum officia missarum cele-
brant, absque vllis id vestibus sacerdotaHbus faciunt nec vllis circa ;

haec preeuhs vel orationibus vtuntur preter solam Dominicam ora-

tionem, qua panem fermentatum consecrant.
210 De sacramentis Ecclesiae vel parum vel prope nihil credunt et
sentiunt. Qui ad haeresim eorum accedunt, coguntur singuli rebap-
tizari in aqua simplici. Nec salem nec aquam benedicunt, nec de oleo
consecrato quicquam tenent. In sacramento Eucharistiae nihil esse
diuinitatis credunt, sed sohim panem et vinum consecratum, signis
2 5 quibusdam occultis mortem Christi repraesentantem affirmantes
1 et ;

propterea in idololatriam cadere omnes quotquot coram illo genua

flectunt et incuruant, vel ilkid adorant cum in alium finem a Christo
:

sacramentum illud institutum non sit, nisi ad memoriam passionis

ipsius recolendam, et non vt hinc et inde circumferatui', aut eleuatum
220 a sacerdote videndum ostendatur quoniam Christus ipse qui adoran-
;

dus et cultu iatriae honorandus est, sedet ad dexteram Dei patris,

sicut in symbolo Christiana confitetur Ecclesia. Suffragia saticto-
fidei
rum mortuis rem vanam et ridiculam arbitrantur ;
et orationes pro
similiter confessionem auricularem et poenitentiam pro peccatis a
225 sacerdotibus iniunctam. Vigilias et ieiunia fucum et tectorium esse
hypocritarum, festa diuae Virginis Mariae, Apostolorum et reliquorum

183. ZizkajfV. 185. ei N : cui F. 201. abominutiones fl". 219. hinc^:

hic F.

connectcd with the Beghards (Ep. leader of the Taborites from 1420 until
843. 62on). his death, 11 Oct. 1424.
183. Zyzka] (= ' the one eyed ') of 189. Vladislai] f 13 March 1516 (see
Trocnow a Bohemian noble, who was
;
Ep. 950. sn) King of Hungary, 1490.
;
io2i] FROM JOHN SLECHTA 85

diuorum, inuenta esse ociosorum affirmant dies tamen Dominicos, et :

festum Natalis Dominici, Paschae et Pentecostes celebrant.

Multa essent alia illorum portentorum pernitiosa dogmata com-
memoranda, si non rationem meliorum et grauiorum studiorum tuo- 230
rum haberem. Si tamen superiores duae factiones ad concordiam
reducerentur, posset et ista nepharia secta (quamuis iam sit phiri-
mum aucta, maxime vero propter vitam sacerdotum nimium disso-
lutam) oi^itulante Rege exterminari vel in meliorem fidei et religionis
formam reduci. 235
Sed de his iam diu superque satis. Rogo velis aequiori animo ferre
hanc meam tam immoderatam loquacitatem, qua erga te non alia
causa vsus sum, nisi vt factionum nostrarum multiplicium veram et
certam rationem acciperes. Literae istae citone te contingentprorsus
nescio, cum Mysnae tela Apollinea passim volitare dicantur. Quae 240
forte lodocus noster, rector Achademiae Erfordiensis, euitare volens,
ad quaedam sese loca remotiora receperit nam et literae tuae quas ei :

ad me mittendas tradideras, ad quatuor menses apud eum retentae fue-

runt, non tamen alia causa quam quod fidelem tabellarium qui huc
transiret non habuit. Cupio te, amice charissime, diu et optime valere 245
meque, vt coepisti, diligere, et cum tibi opportunum erit, nonnihil re-
scribere quod et ego me facturum recipio. Etiam vale.
;

Ex Arce nostra Kostelecensi x. Octob. Anno Dominicae incarna-

tionis. M.D.xix.

1022. To Ortuin Gratius.

Vienna MS. Pal. 9737 c. <Louvain.)
Horawitz i. i. 15 (October) 15 19.

[The manuscript is an original, in the Imperial Library at Vienna, autograph

throughout unfortunately it has suffered very much along its lefthand margin.
:

A satisfactory month-date is given by the single letter of it which survives and ;

from the correspondence of this period many of the gaps may be filled.
For the circumstances of this letter see p. 42.]

S. Iam pridem) in animo mihi fuit admonere te

vt ab amarulen)tis contentionibus verteres ingenium
ad ea que institu)isti studia. Nam stilus tuus
ostendit e)sse sat bonae spei, si malis
tantum m)oderato iudicio duci quam serui-
re rixis,m)ihi crede, nec litteris nec
Christiano homi)ne dignis. Alia via, plus ve-
reor ne res in dissidium traha)tur. Contentionum nunc
satis, vnde mihi nec metitur) nec seritur. Vbi interim

1021. 232. sit om. H. 236. his F: hiis N. 238. multiplicum i/.
240. Misnae N. 246. tibi om. H. 1022. 2. amarulentis] Cf. Ep. 1007. 86,
93 : vt ab istis coni. Horawitz. 7. Christiano homine] C/. Ep. 1006. 58.

8. dissidium] C/. Epp. 1007. 102, 1041. 44. 9. noc metitur] Cf. Ep. 1057. 14.

240. tehi ApoUinea] Cf. Hom. 11. i. in aula episcopali '.

42 seq. Lottor"3 Meissen Breviary, 14 241. lodocus] Jonas: seo Ep. 876and
Feb. 1520 (Proctor 11984), is described cf. Ep. 963. in. For his enthusiasm for
as printed there tempore pestilitatis
' • ErasmusatthistimeseeJE. 27-8,30-3.
 86 LETTEES OF EKASMUS [1519

To vitae et st)udiorum dulcedo ? dum mor-

tales mutuis in>t(e)ripsos vulneribus confici-
untur. Qu)od istis pugnis temet admisces
parum sapient)is est, quod negocium ad te non per-
tinet. Scri)psi his de i-ebus prolixam epistolam
15 M.) N. lacobo Hoechstrato, nec dubito quin
eodem ani)mo susceperit quo ego scripsi. Scripsi
enim) am(ici)ssimo.
Ex(o)rtae sunt et hic linguae
virulentae), que concordiam huius Academiae
lace)rant. Et res itidem erat in rabiem exitu-
20 ra,) ni magistri nostri ceterique huius Academiae
pr)oce(res) rem animaduertissent. Itaque ventum
es)t in colloquium, et facile discussa discordia pax
sa)rta est, nunquam vti spero distrahenda. Quod
ili)co fac(tum) est Id. Septembr. proximis, id Chri-
25 sto) l(on)ge gratius. Velim igitur et isthic et
vbique) fi(ne)m imponi eontentiuneulis istiusmodi su
perio)rum omnium amnestia.
Hec rai^tim
scripsi in)citante nuncio. Alias pluribus tecum
agam et liben)tius, praesertim si sensero te consilia
30 nostra, que te) littei-isque digna sunt, applicuisse.
Vale et Hoechs)tratum meo nomine salutato.
Louanii) I(d. Oct.) An. m.d. 19.
Erasm(us) Koter(o)d.
Honorabili viro M. Ortuino Gratio, vt fratri charissimo.

1023. TO WlLLIAM BUDAEUS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 508. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 16 : LB. 464. 15 October 15 19.

[The year-date added in H is correct, because of Colefs death, 16 Se^t. 1519.]

ERASMVS BVDAEO SVO S. D.

LoNGOLivs, homo impense

doctus mihique multis nominibus
iucundus, pro ad me tuis expostulationem attulit, quod duabus
literis
tuis epistolis proximis nihil adhuc responderim. Ex quo coniicio
postremas meas literas tibi non esse redditas, aut tum certe redditas
5 non fuisse. Literas ad Viuetem hodie ab illo accepi, sed nondum
1022. 10. vitae et] Cf. Epp. 1033, 1060. 28-g. 11. niortales mutuis] Cf. Ep.
1006. 17, 346-7. 18. virulentae Cf. Epp. 1042. 3, 13, 1062. 125.
j
26. superio-
rum] Cf. Epp. 1024.4, 1042. 2, 1217. 121.

epistolam] Ep. 1006.

14. stands by this a letter, now lost, wliich
Exortae sunt] Cf. Ep. 993. 44-8.
17. crossed Ep. 1004. The words may
22. pax] Cf. Ep. 1016. i5n. be interpreted more simply, of a verbal
1023.1. Longolius]SeeEp.9i4introd.; message such as Budaeus might well
:

and, for his departure from Paris, Ep. have been conteut witli, when his two
lori. 4n. He had now spont a long last letters (Epi). 987, 992) were still
two days (Epp. 1026. 4-5, 1029. 25-6) unanswered.
with Erasmus. 4. i>ostremas] Ep. 1004.
a. expostuh\tionem] M. Dehiruelle 5.ad Viuetem] BE.'' 43, dated 19
(3fj<se'e6eZ(jfe, ix. 1905, j). 338, n. 4) under- Aug. 1519.
I02 3] TO WILLIAM BUDAEUS 87

legi nec enim licuit per LongoLium, loannes Coletus, vir optimus
:

mihique certissimus amicus, Londini periit hydrope. Tu cura, mi

Budaee, vt quam rectissime valeas nosque, vt soles, ames.
Louanii. Idus Octobr. Anno m.d.xix.

1024. To NiCHOLAS Beraldus.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 509. Louvain.
HN Lond. xiii. 17 LB. 465.
: : 15 October 15 19.

[Contemporary with Ep. 1023.]

ERASMVS NICOLAO BEEALDO S. D.

LoNGOnvs ex Anglia reuersus tuas mihi reddidit literas. De

crabronibus nihil est quod metuas. Epistola illa tua felicissime
cessit Dorpius blandissime respondit.
; Theologi vltro mecum
egerunt de pace, et sarta est hac lege vt sit omnium superiorum
amnestia. Dorpius etiam edita oratione testatus est se mutasse 5
sententiam. Proinde de huius constantia plane confido. Cum
caeteris sic conuenit vt tamen obseruem quid agant. Dabo operam
ne mihi rupti foederis crimen possit impingi, sed excubabo ne
interoscitans opprimar. Scripsi ad te nuper per Augustinum medi-
cum Phrysium, per quem misi et Dorpii orationem, Saluta Ru- 10
zaeum, Deloinum et Euellium. Bene vale, doctissime Beralde.
Louanii. Idus Octobr, Anno m.d.xix.

1025. To RlCHARD Pace.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 506. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xiii, 11 : LB, 468. 16 October 15 19,

[Tlie year-date of this group of letters for England, Epp, 1025-32, is conclu-
sively confirmed by the reference, in all except the last two, to the death of Colet,
16 Sept, 1519.]

ERASMV8 ROTERODAMVS RICARDO PACAEO, DECANO APVD

D, PAVLVM LONDINI, S. D,

ViDEOR mihi dimidiatus viuere Coleto mortuo quem virum ;

Britannia, quem amicum ego perdidi Tibi gratulor qui in eius !

fortunaiu successeris. Aueo scire si quid allatum de libris tuis

1023, 9, Octobris H. Anno m.d,xix, add. H. 1024. 10, FN"- Phrysicum
:

H Lond. : Frisieum LB. 12, Octobris H. Anno m,d,xix add. H.

1024, I, literas] Not extant. 291. 3n, 511.

2. Epistola] Cf, Ep, 994. 13^, 11, RuelUum] See Ep, 346, iiu,
3, Theologi] See Ep. 1016, i^n. The appointment
1025. 3. successeris]
5. oratione] See Epp. 438, 1044. i6n, of Pace must have been very quickly
Tho warmth of his feeling towards made, if the news of it had reached
Erasmus at this time is still further Erasmus at the same time as that of
shownbyEp, 1044 : cf. Epp. 1029. 16- thedeathof Colet. Forsimilarrapidity
17, 1165. 41-3, in filling up a benefice seo Ep. 623
8. excubabo] Cf, Ep. 1029. i^n, introd,
9, Augustinum] Agge ; see Epp. libris] For Erasmus' interesi in
 88 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

noui. Reuerendissimum Campegium vidi Brugis nam me miro ;

B studio accersiuerat. Nihil vnquam vidi humanius aut syncerius.

Rex minabatur responsurum, et item R. Eboracen<sis), neque quic-
quam adhuc audio. Facito me eeiiiorem si quid est quod mea
referat scire.
Commigrat in aulam vestram suauissimae indolis iuuenis Antonius
jo a Grimberga, D. de Bergis filius, nec illiteratus, et ex animo litera-
rum ac literatorum amans. Non cupio vt ames adolescentem, tantum
nosse velis rogo cognitum amabis velis nolis, ea est morum et ingenii
:

probitas. Pater, vt scis, apud nos valet suo merito plurimum. E re

mea fuerit si is intelligat mihi istic cum filio suo amicos esse com-
15 munes, et tales amicos quorum conuictu talis euadat iuuenis qualem
impensissime cupit senex cordatissimus atque optimus.
Nos hactenus vix tutati sumus valetudinem, coelo tam incommodo.
Hybernis his mensibus reliquas Paraphrases absoluemus adiutore
Christo. Literas tuas iam pridem misere expecto. Bene vale.
20 Louanii. Postridie Idus Oetobr. Anno. m.d.xix.

1026. To Thomas Lupset.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 507. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xiii. 12 : LB. 467. 16 October 1519.

ERASMVS LVPSETO SVO S. D.

Triginta iam annis nullius mors mihi fuit aeerbior quam Coleti.
Percupio hominis memoriam posteritati consecrare. Sed hoc negocii
tu pro tua in illum pietate capesses, vt me instruas, praesertim si

102.5. 4. Keuerendissimum j^ Cardinalem i/. : 6. R. F Cardi. H Card. .V. : :

LB : Eboracen. F Eboracensem Lond.

: lo. D. de Borgis / principis Bergani H. :

20. Octobris H. 1026. tit. kot. thomae ante lvpseto add. H.

thereturn ofPace'sbooksfrom Italysee 1581, p. 46) ; and Brovvn ii. 1297. For
Epp. 30. i6n, 706. 3211, 732. 24, 887. 3-5. Erasmus' visit to Bruges see Epp. loio,
1025. 4. Campegium I have failed to ) 1012, 1013. 23^ and, for Pace's share in
;

determine precisely the day on whicli promoting the meeting, Ep. 996. 18-25.
he entertained Erasmus at Bruges (cf. 6. responsurum] Erasmus was
Epp. 1029. 26-8, 1031 2-3, 1062. 186). awaiting replies to Epp. 964, 967.
Earlyin Julyliewasexpectingto return 9. Antonius] See Epp. 760 introd.,
soon to Italy (Ep. 995. 73-4). On 15 Aug. • 1 106. in.
he took leaveof the Kingat Greenwich, 16. senex] Cf. Ep. 1031. 22. John
and on 17 Aug. left London (Brown ii. of Bergen (Ep. 737), being older than
1279). By 22 Aug. he was at Dover his brother Antony (Ep. 143), must
(Brewer iii. 433,4), having perhaps have been about 65 at this time. For
stayed with Fisher at Rochester on the other estimates of age cf. Epp. 1067,
way (cf. Ep. 1030. sn). On 24 Aug. introd., 1103. 2411, 1166. 2311, and i,

he reached Calais, whence he set out p. 12. 4-5.

on 26 Aug. for Brussels, no doubt 17. coelo] Cf. Ep. ioi6. ^n.
through Bruges c. 28 Aug. Thenturn- Paraphrases] For the series of
18.
ing back to France, he visited the Erasmus' Paraphrases on tlie Epistles
Court at Blois, 18 or 19-23 Sept., and sie Epp. 710,916, 956, 1043, 1062, 1112,
was at Lyons 1-3 Oct. From c. 22 Oct. 1171, 1179? 1181.
to 14 Nov. lie was resting at Bologna ;
1026. 2. memoriam]Thisproject was
and he entered Rome c. 27 Nov. See fulfilled by Ep. xaii cf. Ep. 1229. ;

Brewer iii. 439, 452, 454, 461, 533 (cf. In Epp. 1027. 8-9, 1030. 46-8 also
C. Sigonius, Vita L. Canipegii, Bologna, Erasmus announces his intention.
I02 6] TO THOMAS LUPSET 89

qua sunt quae putes mihi non esse cognita. Longolio pene totum
triduum dedi placuit omnibus modis, hoc vno dempto, quod ni-
: 5
mium Gallus est, cum sit nostras. Commigrat isthuc clarissimus
adolescens Antonius a Grimberga, filius cordatissimi herois D. de
Bergis, rara indole ac probitate, literarum ex animo studiosus, cui nec
inuisus est Erasmus. Valent hic tui Hermannus Phrysius ac
Nesenus cum Carino caeterisque. 10
Vesculus nunquam magis fuit in negocio quam nunc sed omnia ;

fucate. Mi Lupsete, si vis me tibi immortali deuincire beneficio, cura

quauis ratione vt liber ille ad me perueniat. Exemplar est isthic
apud tres aut quatuor, amici agunt vt prematur et interim hoc me ;

laedunt, quod hic quotidie reddit instructiores suas sycophantias. 15

Nihil enim minus sperandum est quam vt ille perpetuo premat.
Hoc officii si mihi praestiteris, reposce vicissim quicquid voles, nihil
negabitur. Magnopere gratum feceris si frequenter ad nos scripseris.
Bene vale. Louanii. Postridie Idus Octobr. Anno m.d.xix.

1027. To WiLLiAM Dancaster.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 507. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 13 : LB. 470. 16 October 1519.

[To 'Master Dancjister' Colet in his will, 22 Aug. 1519, left £6. 13S. ^d. 'to
supporte hym in hys vei-tue (S. Knight, Life of Cokt, p. 465)
' cf. Ep. 278. 8-11.
;

Hence J. H. Lupton, Life of Jolm Colet, 1909, p. 234 n, conjectures that he may
have been *a scholar of Colefs now studying for ordination '. On 23 Aug. 1521
Erasmus sent greetings to him through Lupset. He appears to have sided with
the King over the Divorce and in reward received the living of Ampthill in
:

Bedfordshire, 8 Aug. 1528, being then M.A. (Brewer iv. 3232, 4687. 8). Tlie
present rector of Ainptliill, the Rev. W. D, May, kindly informs me that a new
rector, Richard Byrdsall, was appointed on 20 Feb. i5|f the living being void
,

by death (Brewer iv. 6248. 20), presumably Dancasters.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS INTEGERRIMO D. GVILHELMO

DANCASTRO S. D.
Nos miseros, qui talem praeceptorem, talem patronum, talem
amiserimus amicum
Ploratur lachrymis amissa pecunia veris ;

hanc ego iacturam omni lachrymarum genere deplorandam censeo.

Sed quid conferunt singultus, quid eiulatus ? ille reuocari non potest, 5
nos illum breui sequemur. Interim Coleto gratulandum, qui iam
securus suo fruitur Christo, quem seniper haVjebat in ore, semper in
1026. 7. D. de T: a 11. 19. Octobris H.

1026. 4. Longolio] Cf. Ep. 1023. in. liim see Ep. 906. 448.
6. Gallus] For the question of 14. tres aut quatuor] Lee had sent
Longolius' nationality see Ep. 914 ras. copies of his book to Morc, Lati-
introd. mer, Fisher (Ep. 1061. 61-2"), and per-
9. Phrysius] See Ep. 903. i2n. haps to Tunstall (Ep. 1029. 29; but cf.
10. Carino] See Ep)). 920, 1034. Ep.io6i. 136-7). See also Ep. 1053. 344.
11. Vcsculus] Tlic accompanying 1027. 3. Ploratur] Juv. 13. 134.
letters show clearly that Lee is in- 5. reuocari] Cf. Ep. 1028. 15
tended. For a similar description of 7. Christo] Cf. Ep. 1211. 325, 329.
 90 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [15 19

pectore. Mandabo literis vitam hominis, si tu tuique similes

quaedam me docueritis, mihi fortassis incognita: quod vt facias
10 etiam atque etiam rogo. D. Gerardum oeconomum meis verbis
salutato diligenter ; erga quem adhuc ingratus esse cogor, sic obruor
vndique.
Cum theologis ictum foedus, ipsi vltro flagitarunt, postea quam
nihil ab illis non tentatum est in meam perniciem, et vident conatus

15 parum succedere. Si Christus pro nobis, quis contra nos? Bene

vale, mi charissime Guilhelme, meque Christo Opt. Max. tuis precibus
commendato. Louanii. Postridie Idus Octobr. Anno m.d.xix.

1028. To WiLLiAM Blount, Lord Mountjoy.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 507. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xiii. 14: LB. 469. 16 October 1519.

ERASMVS ROT. CLARISS. BARONI GVILHELMO

MONTIOIO S. D.

ExiMiE Mecoenas, vix mihi tempero quin inuideam aulae vestrae

tot eruditis diftertae, cum nostra praeter Midas nihil habeat, etiam si
res ipsa cogit nostros satrapas literarum habere rationem. Clariss.
D. Berganus. ex multis cognita synceritate vestrae aulae ac Regis Re-
5 ginaeque dotibus, non alio maluit emandare filium suum Antonium
dominum Grimbergae, iuuenem indole felicissima ac moribus plane
suo genere dignis cum primis autem literai'um ex animo studiosum
:

et, quod tecum habet commune, fauentem Erasmo. Hunc quid ego
tibi commendem ? cum et illum norim iis rebus praeditum quas tu
10 non potes non amare. Ducit secum praeceptorem suum Adrianum
Barlandum, virum haud vulgariter eruditum.
Quod non respondes meis literis, nihil aliud in causa suspicor quam
solitam tuam hac in re pigritiam. Mors Coleti tam acerba mihi fuit
vt nullius his annis viginti fuerit acerbior. Sed quis vsus querelarum
15 aut fletus? ille ad nos redibit nunquam, nos illum sequemur.
Cum theologis sarta pax, quam illi vltro expetierunt : quam sic
admisi vt nec meo vitio tamen vnquam
siin violaturus nec illis
fisurus. Nunquam audita fuit eiusmodi conspiratio ex vnius hominis
bili nata cuius etiam opera sarta est, cum videret et se imparem esse
:

20 tragoediae, et me recti conscientia fretum non cedere, imo tandem

etiam dentes aliquot nudare, saeuiturum si porro perrexissent.
1027. 10. D. om. H. oe conomum add. H. 17. Octobris f?. 1028. tit.
CLAKiss. BARONi 07)1. H. 2. fere ante nihil add. H. 3. D. F : princeps E.
19. esse om. N.

1027. 10. Gerardum] 'MaisterWilliam her see Epp. 296. 117, 855.30-2,948.
Garrard was Colefs stevvard, and one
'
221 9, 964 96, 968. 12, 976. 38-9.
of the executors to his will. See also 11. Barlandum] Cf. Epp. 760. i^n,
Ep. 1229. 1106. i5n.
13. foedus] See Ep. 1016. 150. 12. literis] Probably Ep. 965; cf.
1028. I. aulae] Cf. Ep. 999. 22in. Epp. 1025. 6n, 1031. 1-4.
a. nostra] Cf. Ep. 1004. 145^. This 15. redibit nunquam] This recalls,
condemnation is somewhat softened though not verbally, 2 Sam. 12. 23 cf. ;

in H. Ep. 1027. 5-6.

4. Reginaeque] For Erasmus' ac- 18. vnius hominis] Cf. Epp. 1029. 311,
quaintance with and admiration for 1125. i^n.
I028J TO WILLIAM BLOUNT, LOKD MOUNTJOY 91

Nos sat prospera valetudine sumus, nisi quod aetas semper aliquid
decerpit huius corpusculi neruis sed non recusarim immori Hteris ;

Christi gloriam illustrantibus. Si tu solitum in nos animum non

mutasti, fac tuis literis aliquoties Erasmum appelles, tuum vbi vbi 25
terrarum futurus est. Bene vale.
Louanii postridie Id. Octobr. Anno m.d.xix.

1029. TO CUTHBEKT TUNSTALL.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 512. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xiii. 24 : LB. 471. 16 October 15 19.

Er.ASMVS R0TER0DA3IVS CVTBERTO TONSTALLO S. D.

CvM ictum foedus, ipsis id diu flagitantibus nunquam

catalalis :

neque neque audita fuit eiusmodi conspiratio. Solus, vt ferunt,

lecta
Noxus ille fuit, qui et olim instigauit Dorpium et hanc totam
ti-agoediam excitauit id iam pridem suspicione collectum iam plane
:

comperi. Idem sarciendae pacis fuit autor, vbi sensit et me minari 5

ni desinerent, et alios ad bellum accinctos, et suam valetudinem ob
tumultum periclitari, et in suum caput recidere quod in meum
moliebatur. Scio tibi non placere meas Apologias sed tempori fuit ;

seruiendum, imo laudares meam lenitatem, si negocii nosses atrocita-

tem. Neque me clam est vobis autoribus fieri vt Leus premat suum 10
libinam nec aliud tamen interim mihi praestatis nisi vt ille opus edat
:

1028. 26. futurus om. Lond. 27. Anno ow. H. 1029. 4. iam anfe pridem
om. H. g. nosses : nosces F. H
1029.1. catalalis]TheLouvain theolo- de eo scripsi, illum ab omnibus esse
gians cf. Ep. 1016. 15^.
; For the word laudatissimum nec vnquam tamen sa-
cf. Rom. I. 30, where Erasmus trans- tis laudatum, hoc etiam ipsi theologi
lates oblocutores ' in 1516, 'obtrecta-
'
Louanienses cum risu legeruut lauda- ;

tores ' in 1519. batur enim quotidie solennibus en-

3. Noxus] The identification with comiis in schoia, tanquam Vicecancel-
Atensis (cf. Ep. 337. 373^) was con- larius eius Academiae. Mihi certe quod
temporarj- cf. Sbrulius' poem against
: ad ipsius naturam attinebat, non erat
the Louvain theologians (Ep. 1159. 6n;, iniquus, qui solus omnium autor fuit
< x- -j 1- 1 pacis cum theoloaris sarciendae. Doc-
isoxa quid
^ angelicum proscindere f a- 1 a h su- •

T^ ° n trina ludicioque longo interuallo

quaeris Erasmum
.

? u -u^^ *. ^- ™
perabat omnes : mihi moriturus etiam
». *.

A
k „ .

noxa tutus semper

^
T<.

Erasmus -j.
erit
>

,5
' denunciabatu • >.
pacem et amicitiam,
j- i.
quoda

with a printed noto in the margin ad ipsum attineret —

an amplification
'

'
M. N. Bruardus Atenais'. For Eras- of the similar passage in i, p. 22. 30-6.
mus' relations with Atensis cf. Epp. 8. non placere] Cf. Ep. 663. 43 seq.
670, 993. 49n, 1053. 296n, 1123. i^n, Apologias] See Epp. 597. 32n,
and especially the Spomjia (LB. x. 1649 670 introd.. 934. ^n.
A-c = HE. 333, §§ 167-8): 'Atensi^ 9. meam lenitatem] Cf. Epp. 906.
vir erat nec inhumanus nec iniquus 463, 931. 19,952. 24, 1042.20, 1139.43;
bonis literis, sed ingenio iritabili. and the Epistola de magishis nostris
Itaque per quosdam monachos ac theo- L(juanieiisHius,Z\\. E.^^p. 388. 11, 12. .So
logos protrusus est vt ageret odiosam also Listrius to B. Rhenanus in Eae.
fabulam. Et qui huc adegerunt homi- App. f». b', (c. April 1520) : 'Erasmus,
nem, eadem opera adegerunt in mor- cui saepe nocuit sua lenitas ' : where
tem erat enim imbecilli valetudine et
; Eev. p. 145, reprinted iu BRE. 193, has
irae impatiens, iniuriae insolens. Ac wrongly leuitas. Cf. the similar depra-
post huius mortem maxime coepit ea vation in Ep. 1053. 476 and i, p. 34. 33.
tragoedia incrudescere, vt intelligas For the qualitycf. Epp. 843. 530-1, 906.
illum multa moderatum. Porro quod 342-3, 946. 9, 947. 31-2.
 92 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1519

instructius, et me fortassis aut mortuo aut procul absente. Nihil

enim minus sperandum est quam vt ille perpetuo premat quod
quotidie retexit imo nunquam magis fuit in hoc negocio quam nunc
;

15 est. Mihi tamen non est animus cum vestra pugnare sententia.
Dorpius etiamlibello edito testatus est animum mutasse sese, ac
in rebus talem se praebet vt satis fidam.
caeteris Cum caeteris
initum foedus a me quidem non violabitur, et arma deposui
caeterum excubias non intermittam. Hac hyeme Paraphrases absol-
20 uam si Christus adfuerit. Coleti mortem inconsolabiliter deplora-
rem, nisi scirem nec illi nec mihi profuturas lachrymas.
Commigrat aulae vestrae Antonius a Grimberga, filius primarii
viri D. de Bergis, iuuenis natus virtuti, literarum ac literatorum
amantissimus, indole mansuetissima pudorisque plena: huic non
25 grauaberis declarare quantum faueas probitati. Longolius hic mihi
totum biduum absumpsit. Cardinalem Campegium vidi Brugis
coenaui cum eo, mira hominis humanitas. Placuere mores aperti
minimeque fucati.
Si fiei-i cuperem mihi fieri copiam eorum quae notauit Leus ;
possit,
30 nam adornant rursus terciam aeditionem ab ipso nihil potest :

extorqueri. De Roffensis animo nihil equidem addubito ; sed tamen

hoc sycophanta nihil nec dolosius nec improbius. Si quid me
iubebis facere, promptissimum ad omnia reperies. Bene vale,
Louanii postridie Idus Octob. Anno m.d.xix.

1030. To JOHN FlSHER.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 503. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 4 : LB. 474. 17 October 1519.

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS R. D. 10. EPISCOPO ROFFENSI S. D.

ExiMiE Praesul, perscripturus eram, vt tua iusserat reuerentia,

quae adnotaram tribus libellis quibus Fabri refellis opinionem.
Verum id sei-um arbitratus sum edito posteriori libro ;
quem sane
1029. 12. eb F : ac H. 23. D. de F: principis a i?. 25. faiieas H :

faueo F.

1029. 16. Dorpius] See Ep. 1024. sn. lena libri tres, Paris, J. Badius, 22 Feb.
19. excubias] Cf. a letter of Hedio to 1519 ; cf. Ep. 936. 7 seq.
Myconius from Basle, 10 Dec. 1519, 3. posteriori libro] Probably Fisher's
'Erasnius yprjyopu, vbi tempus erit, EuersiomiinitionisquamlodocusCHchtoKeus
amicis omnibus signum daturus. In- erigere inoliebaiiir aduersus vnicam Magda-
terim oportet non seuire stilo. Capi- lemm, Louvain, Tli. Martens, s.a. and
to quaedam pepererat, sed monente Sept. 1519. Fisher also jiroduced ^cf.
Erasmo supprimit hactenus': quoted Ep. 1016.20) a Con/utatio secimdae dis-
by Egli to illustrate Zw. E.* 107, which ceptationis per lacobum Fabrum StapuJen-
is to the same effeot. sem habitae, in qua tribus foeminis partiri
30. adornant] sc. Frobenius ot Amei'- moUtur quae totius Ecclesiae consuetado
bachii. vnicae tribuit Magdalenae, Paris, J. Badius,
terciam aeditionem] of Erasmus' 3 Sept. 1519 in the preface to which,
;

New Testament cf. Epp. 1030. 22-3,

; addressed from Rochester, without
II 74. i^n. date, to Campegio, then on the jioint
31. Roffensis] Cf. Epp. 908. 20-2, of leaving England (cf. Ep. 1025. ^n)
936, 1030. he speaks of quae iam tertio ad vnicae
'

1030. 2. tribus libellis] De vnica Magda- Magdalenae propugnationem admolitus

1030J TO JOHN FISHEE 93

nondum lecturus tamen propediem.

legi, Miseret me Fabri. viri
nimirum optimi. qui Luteciae non mediocri grauatur inuidia, prae- 5
sertim Pyaedicatorum. potissimum ob hoc quod dictus sit fauere
Capnioni. Optarim vt tua reuerentia contenta sit hac victoria quam
eruditorum suffragiis adeptus diceris. Opus emitur cupide. Quare
posthac quicquid voles committere. hibens recipiet excudendum
typographus nam initio mire difficilem sese praebuit, adeo vt vix 10
:

hominem quiuerim perpellere.

Cum theologis sarta concordia, ipsis vltro flagitantibus quod ;

vtinam illis prius venisset in mentem. et non laedere maluissent

quam reconciliari Nunc Dodonaei lebetes semel moti diu tinniunt,
!

praesertim autem monachorum quorundam mira virulentia et ad 15

insaniam vsque impudens calumniandi libido. lacobus Hochstratus
agit Louanii, profugus Colonia ob pestem vt alii suspicantur, :

extrusus a monachis inuidiam ab illo ortam depellentibus. Nihil

adhuc molitur, quid in posterum facturus nescio.
De Leo pudet queri precor vt Christus illi mentem inserat
:
20
digniorem et sacerdote et theologo. Nunquam magis f uit in negocio
quam nunc est, nec interim quicquam ab illo potest exculpi. Frobe-
nius minatur se rursus excusurum typis Nouum Testamentum
quare te obtestor, et per tuum sacrorum studiorum amorem et per
tuam pietatem episcopo dignam et per nostram amiciciam et per si 25
quid omnino apud te valet Erasmus, vt si totius libri copiam facere
non vis, quod tamen summopere volebam, saltem annotes ea
quae iudicaris alicuius esse momenti hinc, mihi crede, nulla :

nascetur tragoedia. Quod si tuae occupationes obstant quo minus

hoc officium mihi queas praestare, saltem Moro detur haec prouincia, 30

6. praedicatoium F : Dominicanoruni H.

sum '. Martens' volume therefore, at inuicem sese contingerent. Itaque

least in the undated issue, is jirobably necessum erat fieri vt vno quopiam
earlier than Badius' ; cf. also 1. lon. pulsato vicissim et omnes resonarent,
7. contenta] For Fisher's character sonitu per contactum ab aliis ad alios
in this matter cf. Ep. 1016. 18-20. succedente. Durabatque in longum
victoria] The Faculty of Theology tempus tiunitus ille, videlicet in orbem
at Paris pronounced against Faber in redeunte sono'.
Nov.-Dec. 1521, and his works on this 16. Hochstratus] One purpose of his
question were subsequently placed visit was to lay before the Louvain
upon the Index see Bibl. Belgica, J.
;
theologians, and invitetheircondemna-
Clicthove, pp. 129, 30. tion oi, a book of Luther's writings
ro. typographus] From the descrip- apparently Froben'spubIicationof Feb.
tions of Erasmus' negotiations with 1519 (Ep. 904. ign) and some others —
him, Martensisprobably intended here which had been condemned by the
rather than Badius (cf. 1. 3n) who ;
Faculty at Cologne on 30 Aug. He
had already printed for Fisher (I. 2nj presented it on i2 0ct.and theFaculty
and for other participants in the con- pronounced against it on 7 Nov. 1519.
test. Martens' reluctance was perhaps See the two Condemnations, prinled
on the ground of doubtful ortliodoxy : in Luthers Werke, Weimar, vi (1888),
or from general dislike of controversy pp. 175-80 and the Acts of the Faculty
;

(cf. Ep. 1163. lo-ii). (de Jongh, pp. 205, 43*-4*)- Fo''
14. Dodonaei lebetes] Cf. Adag. 7, Luther's reply see Ep. 1113. 33^ ;
and,
used of a man improbae atque impor-
' for a conscquence of Hochstrafs visit,
tunae loquacitatis '. An explanatiou Ep. 1033. a^n. By 28 April 1520 Eras-
is given from Suidas oraculum louis
:
' mus had sent a copy of the Condemna-
quod olim erat in Dodona, lebetibus tions to Hutten (LE.^ 300 = HE. 160;.
aereis vndique cinctum fuisse, ita vt 18. inuidiam] Cf. Ep. 877. 16 31.
 94 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1519

vel adiurato, si videtur. Illud certissimum est, Leum suas naenias

non perpetuo pressurum. Hoc agit, vt opus aedat instructius, et
tamen interim iactat passim se id dare amicorum voluntati meoque
honori, quod premit. Quod si me vita functo librum euulgarit,
35 vtriusque deterior erit conditio. Nam neque me docebit aut corriget,
et longe odiosius illi respondebitur quam si ipse respondeam. Hac
igitur in re, te quaeso, fac experiar animum illum in tuum, me quem
semper prae te tulisti.
Haee scripsi moerens ob Coleti decessum, qui mihi tam acerbus est
40 vt his triginta annis nullius hominis mors me discruciarit grauius.
Scio bene actum cum illo, qui exemptus ab hoc scelerato pariter
atque erumnoso seculo cominus fruitur suo Christo, quem viuus sic
deamabat. At ego publico nomine non possura non deplorare tam
rarum Christianae pietatis exemplar, tam singularem Christianae
45 doctrinae preconem priuatim autem meo nomine tam constantem
;

amicum tamque incomparabilem patronum. Quod vnum superest,

hoc illi parentalium vice persoluam officii: si quid mea scripta
valebunt, non sinam eius viri memoriam apud posteros intermori.
Dux Saxoniae Fridericus bis ad me scripsit, eidem meae respondens
50 epistolae huius vnius praesidio substitit Lutherus. Id ait se causae
:

dedisse verius quam personae. Addit non commissurum sese vt in

sua ditione opprimatur innocentia eorum raalicia qui sua quaerunt,
non quae lesu Christi. Ab omnibus delatum imperium ingenti
animo recusauit, idque pridie quam Carolus eligeretur : cui nunquam
55 contigisset imperii titulus, nisi Fridericus deprecatus esset, clarior
honore contempto quam fuisset adepto. Mox rogatus quem igitur
censeret eligendum, negauit sibi quenquam alium videri tanti nomi-
nis oneri sustinendo parem quam Carolum. Ob hunc insignem
animum a nostris oblata triginta floreil. milia constantissime reiecit.
60 Cumque vrgeretur vt saltem decera milia pateretur dari famulis,
Accipiant inquit si velint attamen nemo manebit postridie apud
'
'
'
;

me qui vel aureum acceperit' ac postridie conscensis equis subduxit

:

sese, ne pergerent esse molesti. Hoc mihi vt compertissimum retulit

Episcopus Leodiensis, qui Comitiis Imperiahbus interfuit.
65 Dux Vuirtenbergensis nuper profligatus bellum redintegrat, receptis
ahquot oppiduhs. Nos Carolum nostrum proximo vei-e reducem
operimur ex Hispaniis. Bene vale, R. Praesul, et Erasmum hoc
etiam magis amplectere, quod Coletus auulsus dimidiatum reliquit.
Louanii pridie lucae. Anno. m.d.xix.
31. suas naenias add. ir. 63. Hoc iZ^ : Haec J". 67. H.F: reueren-
dissime H.

36. respondebitur] Cf. Ep. 998. 66n. in) Duke Ulrich had sought external
47. si quid] Cf. Verg. Aen. 9. 446, aid against the Swabian League. On
Ov. Tf. I. 6. 35. 12 Aug. heagaininvaded Wurtemberg,
49. bis] Ep. 963, andtheletter there andcapturedStuttgart 15 Aug. Tubin-
mentioned in 1. 1 : both answering Ep. gen and other towns he failed to take ;

939. and after decisive defeat at Unter-

54. recusauit] Cf. Epp. looi. 58, turkheim 14 Oct., he once more fled
1 19. 6-1 1. from his capital isOct. See H.Ulmann,
64. Leodiensis] See Epp. 738 introd., FiinfJahre wUrtembergischer Geschichte un-
1038. ierHerzog Ulrich, 1867, pp. 178-81, 196-9.
Dux Vuirtenbergensis] After his
65. 66. reducem] For Charles' return see
expulsion from Tubingen (cf. Ep. 986. Ep. 1079. 9^> ^"<^ *^^- ^P- 1004. 145^.
1031] 95

1031. To Thomas Wolsey.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 508. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xiii. 15 : LB. 472. 17 October 15 19.

R. D. CARD. EBORACENSI ERASMVS S. D.

QvoD proximas literas meas K. T. D. non solum boni consuluit

verum etiam alacri laetaque fronte perlegit (nam id mihi Brugis
narrauit reuerendissimus D. Cardinalis Campegius), gratiam habeo
maximam quod nondum respondit, negociorum vndis imputo.
:

Mihi tamen maximi muneris instar fuerint celsitudinis tuae literae, 5

si promereax". Vt autem rursus interpellarem E. T. D., in causa
fuit hic Antonius Grimbergius, clarissimi cordatissimique Principis
Bergani filius, qui in regiam Britannicam commigrat, videlicet hoc
agente patre \t dignus euadat suo genere. Est autem adolescens
ingenui pudoris plenus, nec illiteratus, et literarum ac literatorum 10
amantissimus in summa, ea indole vt summam de se spem prae-
:

beat, si naturae felici par accesserit institutio. Hunc pater ob hoc

etiam tenerius deamat, quod omnium liberorum minimus veluti
posteritatis sacra sit ancora. Scit vir prudentissimus quantopere
referat inter quos aetas ea versetur, sic in biuio virtutum ac vitio- 15
rum consistens, vt leui momento huc aut illuc impelli possit.
Pei'suasum habet non aliam aulam esse incorruptiorem, quae
praeter Kegem huius aetatis facile integerrimum ac Keginam omnis
probitatis exemplar, tot habeat viros doctrina praeceUentes, morum
innocentia commendatos, grauitate venerandos, prudentia consilioque -;o
suspiciendos. Nec ignorat quibus illecebris aulae nostrae ad perni-
ciem lubricae aetatis sint instructae. Proinde cordatissimus senex
istam aulam ceu scholam vnicam delegit, quae iuuenem non literas
solum verum etiam mores bono principe dignos doceat. Neque
enim dubium est quin iuuenis hic magnis rebus natus, ad longe 25
maioi*a sit euehendus si vixerit. Nihil addubito quin ille sit vobis
summorum principum literis diligenter commendatus, vt plane
superuacaneum sit meam accedere commendationem. Tamen quando
id verecunde significauit verius quam petiit, visum est celsitudini
tuae paucis illius imaginem adumbrare. Quanquam eum nemo 30
commendauerit efificacius quam ipsius mores et ingenium cum primis
amabile, iis qui probitatem diligunt cum eruditione coniunctam,
quorum T. R. D. citra controuersiam antistes est ac princeps quam :

precor vt propicius Deus rebus humanis quam diutissime seruet

incolumem. Louanii pridie Lucae. Anno m.d.xix. 35

TiT. R. v. F THOMAE
: II.I. R. T. D. F : tua sublimitas H. 3. reucren-
dissimus D. o»». H. R. T. D. F eam H, ante rursus.
6. : 30.eum H :

enim F. 33. T. R. D. F tu H. : est F: es H. quam F : quem H.

I. literas] Ep. 967 cf. Epp. 1025. 6n, 1028. 12.

;

22. senex] Cf. Ep. 1025. i6n.

 96 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

1032. To Henry Guildford.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 506. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 10 : LB. 475. 18 October 1519.

ERASMVS CLARISS. HEINRICO GVILFORDO, REI EQVESTRIS

REGIO PRAEFECTO.
ViDEs, ornatissime Guilforde, virtute nihil amabilius, quae sic
omnium animos ad se pellicit vt nulla incantatio possit efficacius
siquidem fragrantia honestissimae famae, quae nusquam non di-
uulgat aulam Britannicam, praeter Regem omnibus absoluti prin-
5 cipis dotibus egregie cumulatum et huic simillimam Reginam, tot
insuper integris, eruditis. grauibus cordatisque viris abundare, D.
Bergensem, virum in primis prudentem, hoc est a tergo pariter
atque a fronte oculatum, excitauit vt Antonium natu minimum ex
liberis, quem natura videtur genuisse virtuti, non alteri scholae
10 tradendum iudicaret vnde redii-et non solum incorruptus ab his
;

vitiis quibus fere sunt obnoxiae magnatum aulae, verum etiam hiis
virtutibus instructus quae tam claris stemmatis tantisque nego-
ciorum molibus, ad quas haud dubie vocabitur. dignae sint. Nihil
agam si tibi iuuenem commendem. Ea est indoles, ea morum sua-
15 uitas, is pudor ac probitas, vt optimum quenque protinus in sui
amorem rapturus sit.
Atque hic quoque sentio mihi Rhamnusiam infensam. Ante com-
plures annos et Regis benignitas et R. Cardinalis Eboracensis
humanitas me ad aulae consortium non semel inuitauit, eodem
20 prouocauit Guilhelmi Monteiouii fidele semper et amicum consilium.
Sed mihi laeua mens erat, surdo canebatur fabula. Sciebam haud
vllam vsquam aulam ista esse incorruptiorem at quis diuinare ;

poterat pi"incipis domum tale Musarum domicilium futurum ? Nunc

id consilium sequar oportet quod dant aetas ac valetudo. Vobis
25 interim gratulabor istam felicitatem, quando meam infelicitatem
deplorare nihil attulerit fructus. Bene vale, \ir ornatissime.
Louanii. Natali S. Lucae. Anno. m.d.xix.

1033. To Albert of Brandenburg.

Epistola ad Card. Moguntinum, f°. A^ Louvain.
F. p. 473 : HN : Lond. xii. 10: LB. 477. 19 October 15 19.

[Some about the prmting of this letter are given by Erasmus in Epp.
facts
1153 162-7, 1167. iii-r8, 121 7. 20-5 writtenin 1520-iandpublished in F. But the
fuUest narrative is found in the Spongia, composed and printed in 1523 Ante :
'

annos aliquot scripseram epistolam ad Card. Moguntinnm contra clamores

theologorum Louaniensium in Lutherum. Eam misi tunica obuolutam cum
inscriptione ad quendam, qui nulli notior est quam Hutteno, mandans illi vt, si
videretur, reddcret, sin minus, vel flammis vel vndis aboleret existimabam :

TiT. HENRico H. F Lond. gvilefordo: N. i. ornatissime F LB : doctis-

sime Lontf. 6. D. F principem if.
: 11. hiis J': iis Lond. 18. R.
om. II. 20. H: Monteionii i*^ : Montioii Xo«d.

13. Nihil agam] Cf. Ep. 1031. 26-8. and cf. Ep. 966.
19. inuitauit] See Ep. 964 introd. ;
21. laeua mens] Cf. Ep. 1004. 146^.
1033] TO ALBEET OF BRANDENBURG 97

enim illum. qui viueret in familia Card. et illi, vt tum putabam, esset a con-
siliis, melius nosse sensum Principis. Quid factum est ? Aedita est epistola
vulgataque typis. nec reddita illi ad quem erat scripta. Ex hac re quum et
Cardinali grauis inuidia conilarctur apud Komanenses et mihi apud nostros
iam enim triumphum adornabant. gloriantes me teneri medium Moguntinus —
commotus exigit epistolam ad se scriptam, quae iam totos tres menses per omnium
manus volitabat. Tandem acriter flagitanti reddita est ea quam miseram, semi-
lacera ac typographorum atramento contaminata. Ea res, vt debuit, aegre
habuit Principem, mihique indignabatur. suspicans id mea culpa factum. Nihil
hic aflBngo. Ipse Cardinalis post suis literis raecum expostulauit hac de re.
Quas tragoedias excitasset Huttenus si quid eius generis commisissem in ipsum !

Primum prodita est fides in maudatis amici. Nocuit causae vulgata epistola,
quae secreto lecta prodesse poterat ; et amicum et patronum benemeritum
grauauit inuidia. Postremo mihi Principem tantumex amico reddidit inimicum
(LB. X. 1664C-E HE. 333, §§ 325-8). Subsequently, in revising Ep. 1152 for
;

republication in H, c. 1529, Erasmus inserted a brief statement to the same

effect. It is an example of his po-\vers of self-deception (cf. Epp. 936. 16-8, 950.
i2n) that in i, p. 28. 26-8. written in 1524, he considers, or affects to consider,
that Hutten alone would be able to detect who was alluded to in the passage
from the Spongia quoted above cf. HE. 364. 40.1 = LE.^ 792. 61,2.
:

The earliest issues of this letter are numerous, and all unauthorized. From
the nature of the case such publications appear without adequate indications of
time and place. and without the printer's name, so that it is difficult to deter-
raine their origin and sequence. From such examples as I have been able to
examine, the following order suggests itself ,
1. D. Erasmi Roterodami preshyteri thedogi ad E. Cardinalem Moguniinum epistola, in

qua de Luthero quid ipse sentiat dedarat (a}).

Colophon Impressum Coloniae (by Nic. Caesar). Bodl, TL. 86. 23, with
:

a contemporaiy ms. inscription detur hon(ora)biIi domino loanni Bruninck,

:
'

vice(praeposi)to tem(p)Ii Sa. Ca(therin)e virginis, Osnaburgis. Ex Colonia, &c.'

2. D. Erasmi Rotherodami presbyieri theologi ad E. CardiruUem Mogxintinum epistola,
in qua de Luthero quid ipse sentiat declarat. In qua obiter hoc Lutherianum explanatur,
peccata 7nortaJia nisi mani/esta non esse confitenda (a^).
Colophon : Impressum Coloniae secunda impressione, castigatione prima.
Bodl. TL. II. 153. On tit. v°. a preface to the reader describes the letter as
'
omnimodo candidam, hoc est Latinam puram atque simplicem, sine fuco oratio-
nis, sine vlla deprauata animi passione, ob idque verius et rectius de Luthero
et Lutherianee causee initiis sentientem '.
3.Desyderil Erasmi ad reuerendissimvm Moguntinensium praesulem atque illustrissi-
mum principem epistola, nonnihil D. Martini Lutheri negoiium attingens (^'). (Witten-
bei-g,M. Lotther.) Proctor 11894.
4. Erasmi ad reuerendissimnm Moguntinen. praesulem atque illusirissimum
Desiderii
principem episiola, nonnihil D. Martini Lutheri negocium aftingens (7' (Xuremberg),
.

F. P(eyp). Bodl. Antiq. e. G. 8.

With this may be enumerated an edition, s. l. et a.. (? Hagenau, T. Anshelm),
of which there is a copy in the University Library at Cambridge (Td. 51. 109^;.
It follows the text of 7^ very closely, reproducing not only the same words, often
exactly line by line, and the abbreviations almost invariably, but also many un-
usual spellings (e. g. 195 misttrium, 200 nae, 201 praesseiint, 259 cicius), and even
in many cases the contractions. And though it avoids some of the variants, mostly
lapses, of 7', and has some new blunders of its own, the connexion between them
is conclusively established by the oecurrence in both of some misprints which
are not found in any other text that I have seen 25 serta, 94 oporteri, 204 scelera-
;

tiones, zo^ausam, 222 iMas, 266 aeetemum. Which was derived from the other
I cannot determine.
5. The same m.d.xx. (7*).
title, (Augsburg, S. Grimm and M. Wirsung.)
Proctor 10920 ; Bodl. TL. 9. 102 and 89. 10,
6. The same title, f°. a''' in Luther's Lucubrationes , Basle, A. Petri, July 1520
(7*). Apreface by Petri to the reader states that he had seen the letter 'typis
excusam, Germanice quoque versam '.
7. D. Erasmi Eoterodami epistola ad Eeuerendiss. Archiepiscopum ac Cardiixalem
Moguntinum, qua commonefacit illius celsitudinem de causa Doctoris Martini Lutheri.
Selestadii in officina Schureriana. Sumptu Nicolai Cuferii, bibliopolae Selesta-
diensis. Anno h.o.xx. (5). Bodl. TL. 9. 103. On the verso of the last leaf in
— —
some copies in others the last page is blank is a letter from Wimpfeling to
98 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

the Bishop of Basle (ef. Ep. 598 introd.), i Sept. 1520, wishing that all the
bishops and nobles of Germany would unite to secure from the Pope favourable
treatnient for Luther. This edition was very hkely produced from a copy, ms.
or printed, left behind at Schlettstadt by Egranus (Ep. 872. i2n) in the summer
of 1520, at Beatus* request (BRE. 176).
a^ and a^ (designated together as a) are clearly connected. In a large number
of readings they agree together against all the other soui'ces, and differences
between them are few. The contents of the pages exactly correspond, though
the arrangement of the lines is not identical a condition which is frequcntly
;

found when a book is reprinted after a short intei*val of time, e.g. with N*, N*,
N^. Some of the obvious misprints of a} are corrected in a^ and are not shown
;

in the critical notes here. But a'^ has a few errors of its own, which have crept
into the text through aberration, in spite of the castigation ' announced in the
'

colophon. This pair agree, too, in printing Ep. 980 after tbis letter: according
to the text of the Farrago (E), and therefore not before Nov. 1519 (Ep. 1040
introd.). A possible indication of date may be found in anotlier point. The
colophon in both cases follows on to Ep. 980 at once, in the same line and in a-
;

theyear-dateofEp. gSohasbeen altered from m.d.xix to m.d.xx. Thissuggeststhat

—
the printers of a^ seemingly diflferent from those of a^, as the type is not tbe same
— took the date as applying to the book, not the letter. They probably knew when
a' appeared and, making this misconception, thought it suitable in reissuing the
;

pamphlet to change the date into accord with the actual year of reissue. Thus a^
and a" may be dated conjecturally in the end of 1519 and the beginning of 1520.
In Jan. 1520 a copy of the letter, apparently in ms., reached Wittenberg (LE.^
264), and Luther expected that it would soon be printed. But, as in April
Melanchthon sent to John Hess, canon of Breslau (cf. Ep. 11 13 introd.) a ms.
copy of it, corrected by himself (ME. 69), we may perhaps infer that he had not
yet seen it in print. Hutten, in passing through Bamberg about tho end of
April, showed the letter, perhaps in a^ or a^, to Crotus Rubianus, who, being
greatly pleased witli it, at once prepared to send a copy to Luther (HE. 160 =
LE." 300. 228-31). In view of the priority of these indications in tirae, the
Wittenberg issue (/3^) may have precedence of the others here. In June 1520
Pirckheimer from Nuremberg sent Epistolam Erasmi emendatam to Bernard
' '

Adelmann, who at once had it printed at Augsburg (Heumann, p. 199). These

—
two editions if the former was printed, not ms. (I. 45 shows a connexion between
7I and a^, the 'emended' a^) —
may quite well be 7* and 7''', which agree closely
together. They agree also with 7', and, according to the date, either of them
might have been the original used by Petri, for in his book the letter is on the
first sheet, which was probably one of the last set up. To 5 a date can be
assigned with very little doubt from Wimpfeling's letter. Except for a few
insignificant variations it follows 7, and may therefore be presumed to have been
printed from one of those originals. BEr* mentions editions at Louvain and
Erfurt, which I have not seen the latter no doubt owed its origin to one of
;

Erasmus' admirers there. In the Gotha MS. Chart. B. 20, ff. 19-24 there is a
contemporary copy (^^) which shows a great deal of degeneration, but on the
whole has distinctive connexion with /3'. The contents of the ms. suggest that
it was written by or for someone who had an interest in Breslau, perhaps John
Hess, in which case the connexion with jS' would be explained.
This is perhaps the letter sent by Zwingli to Oswald Myconius from Zurich,
6 July 1520, Erasmi epistolam preciosissimam ab exemplari descriptam, quod
'

ipsum improbe descriptum erat (Zw. E.^ 146)

' though for another possible
;

identification of that see Ep. 1120. i2n. As late as 3 Aug. 1520 Conrad Grebel
saw this letter in ms. at Zurich (VE. 207). Of the German version mentioned
by Petri, numerous contempovary editions are known.
IfHutten was responsibleforany of the texts enumerated above, it musthave
been for a^ ;but I cannot find there, nor anywhere else, the one specific change
— thc addition of noster after Luther's name — which Erasmus in Epp. 1 153. 165,
'

121 7. 25, alleges, on hearsay, that Hutten made in this letter before printing it.
The existence of so many unauthorized issues impelled Erasmus to print the
letter himself. It was a composition of some note. He realized no doubt (cf.
Ep. I041) the importance of making clear his attitude towards Reuchlin juid
Luther, whose names, for diflferent reasons, had now become a cause of anxiety
to the orthodox and so, while continuing the moderate support already mani-
;

tested in Epp. 939, 967 cf. also Ep. 1153. 110-16), he was careful to .issert his
1033] TO ALBERT OF BRANDENBURG 99

detachment fx"om them (Ih 34-42, 192-211). But this purpose was only secondary.
His main concern was to continixe in a new quarter (cf. Epp. 1007, 1060, 1062)
his protest against the attitude towards learning adopted by the reguLir orders.
The Archbishop (Ep. 661 introd.) was credited with wide sympathies, and his
friendliness towards Erasmus gave good hopes of securing his support against a
campaign of detraction which was likely to have serious results. Apart from
a single name (1. 80) there was nothing in the letter that Erasmus need wish to
conceal, except perhaps the allusions (11. 130, 223) to the traffic in indulgences,
from which the Archbisliop was already deriving large profits ; and, but for being
too late, it would probably have been included, like Ep. 967, in E. It was, in fact,
—
one of the first selected for the new portion of F only Epp. 299 and 645 precede
—
it and there is very little change in the text ; less than might have been
expected underthe circumstances. The agreement of F with /3 in many readings,
as against 76, may be remarked but though it seems probable that all the un-
;

authorized editions are prior in time to F, it is hardly likely that the Basle
editors would have used any one of them to print from.
The text of the Cologne editions is on the whole the best, especially as con-
taining what seems a more accurate month-date ; but, as Erasmus indicates, it
is not uniformly satisfactory. I have adopted it as the basis, but have discarded
some of its readings. In the sigla a-5 precede F. The year-date is amply con-
firmed by the contents. Egli notes several pa.ssages in the Epistola de magistris
nostris Louanieiisihus (Zw. E.* pp. 385-8), which evidently imitate this letter.]

REVEREXDIS. IX CHRISTO PATRI D. ALBERTO, CARDINALI ARCHIEPI-

SCOPO, MARCHIONI ETC, ERASMVS KOTERODAMVS THEOL. SALVTEM.

Salvtem plurimam, reuerendissime Praesul et idem illustrissime

Princeps. Redditum est mihi celsitudinis tuae munus, materia iuxta
atqueopere visendum et insigne, dignum quidem quod a tali Principe
mitteretur sed haud seio an dignus Erasmus ad quem mitteretur,
;

quem magis conuenit vitreis aut Samiis quani auro celatis poculis 5
bibere. Quod si calix vitreus missus fuisset, tamen mihi inter ea
quae maxime sunt in delitiis reponeretur vel ob id ipsum quod ab ;

heroe longe optimo profectus fuisset. Commendauit autem mihi

non mediocriter munus per se gratissimum Huttenus noster, qui
docuit appellari poculum amoris ceu Gratiis sacrum, ob id, opinor, 10
quod cum velut osculo committuntur, e duobus fiat vnum
sibi
addit eam inesse vim, vt qui ex hoc biberint, tenacissima quadam
beneuolentia conglutinentur. Huius rei periculum facere volens,
reuerendissimo D.D. Gulielmo Cardinali de Croy, cum hisce diebus
inuiseret bibliothecam meam, e tuo poculo praebibi, et ille mihi 15
vicissim. luuenis est longe felicissimus, et cuius indoles non videatur
indigna tanta fehcitate.
Sed doleo serius fuisse redditum. Nuper enim theologi Loua-
nienses mecum redierunt in gratiam, hac lege vt illi compescerent
obtrectatrices linguas quas excitassent, ego pergerem cohibere cala- 20

TiT. a om. /3
: reverendissimo sacrosanctae rhomanab ecclesiae tt. s. chryso-
:

GONI CARDINALI MOGVNTINENSI AC MAGDEBVRGEKSI ARCHIEPISCOPO, PRINCIPI ELECTORI,

PRIMATI ETC, ADMINISTRATORI HALEERSTATENSI, MARCHIONI BRANDENBVRGENSI, ERA-
SMVS R0TER0DAMV3 6 REVE. ARCHIKPISCOPO ET PRINCIPI MOGONTINO CARD. ERASMVS
:

ROTEROD. s. D. F iREVE. F ALBERTO H. :s. D. o»i. H). I. Salutem pluii-

mam add. fi5 S. 7^.
: reuerendissime a suspieiende H. : 3. quidem ay :

dignum/3*. 10. a^^ appellare 7'.

: 12. hoc/3 hisa. 14. reuerendissimo
:

D.D.om.H. a Guilhelmo/3'5 QuiIieImo7^.

: : de Croy 7^ de Croe a de Croii : :

05 Croio H.
: 18. ay^ Louonienses 7^.
: 19. )3 redierant a. 20. cohibere P:
:

prohibere a.

2. munus] Cf. Ep. 986. 34-9. 18. theologi] Cf. Ep. 1016. isn.
14. de Croy] See Ep. 647 introd. 20. cohibere] Cf. Ep. 993. 5211.
II 2
 100 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

mos meorum, quantum esset in me, In eo conuiuio nam hic nihil —

fuisset.
—
sacrum absque compotatione iDroduxissem tuum poculum, si mihi
Ex quo si bibissent singuli, fortasse felicioribus auspiciis
coiisset nostra concordia. Nune ex epistola nescio qua parum bene
25 intellecta et peius interpretata male sarta gratia sic dissiliit vt post
breuem tranquillitatem saeuior etiam tempestas coorta videretur. Nec
dubito quin haec omnia gerantur arfcificio Sathanae, cui nihil inuisius
est Christianorum inter ipsos concordia eoque modis omnibus :

conatur et vitae et studiorum tranquillitatem aliquo pacto turbare,

30 idque facit piefcatis praetextu, quo magis etiam noceat.
Qua de re, si R. D. T. per negotiorum vndas vacaret, sunt quae
mea refert illam scire ac fortassis ipsius quoque, certe bonarum
;

literarum interest, quibus aequum est optimos quosque aduersus pes-

simos fauere. Primum ilhxd praefandum est, mihi neque cum Reuch-
35 lini negotio neque cumLutheri causaquicquamvnquam fuisse. Cabala
et Talmud, quicquid hoc est, meo animo nunquam arrisit. Confli-
ctationes illae virulentae inter Reuchlinum et hos qui lacobo Hoch-
strato fauebant, mihi maiorem in modum displicuerunt. Lutherus
mihi tam ignotus est quam qui ignotissimus cuius libros nondum ;

40 vacauit legere, nisi quod cariitim degustaui quaedam. Si bene

scripsit, nihil mihi debetur laudis sin secus, nihil est quod mihi ;

imputetur. Illud video, vt quisque vir est optimus, ita illius scriptis
minime offendi non quod probent omnia, opinor, sed quod hoc
:

animo illum legant quo nos legimus Cyprianuni ac Hieronj^mum,

45 inio etiam Petrum Lombardum, nimirum ad multa conniuentes.
Libros Lutheri editos dolebam et cum cepissent primum ostendi;

libelli nescio qui, pro viribus obstabam ne edeientur, praecipue ob

hoc, quod vererer ne quid tumultus ex his oriretur. Scripserat ad
me Lutherus epistolam bene Christianam, mea quidem sententia, et
-,0 respondi, obiter admonens hominem ne quid seditiose, ne quid
in Romanum Pontificem. ne quid arrogantius aut iracundius scri-
beret, sed doctrinam Euangelicam animo syncero cum omni man-
suetudine praedicaret. Id feci ciuiliter, quo magis proficei'em.
Addidi hic esse qui illi fauerent, quo magis ad horum iudicium sese

22. compotatione 13 : potatione a. 23. felicioribus a F

: melioribus 7.
24. 07^ : coisset 7^. iiescio add. /8. 25. sarta 07^ : serta 7*. a^' :

dissiluit 7^ 27. ay^ :Satanae 0j^. 28. quam ante Christianorum

add. E. 29. vitae ^ : vitam 07.
31. R. D. T. a celsitudini tuae a". :

quae mea 07 que meam /32.

: 32. ^ referat a. ac add. ^.
: 34. fauere
ay F Corrig. fouere F.
: aF: est praefandum 7. 35. fuisseaJ': fuisse
commune 7. P: Cabula a. 36. a-y^5 Thalmud ^7^ F. 37. Hooch-
:

strato Ji'. 41. laudis/SJ': om.ay. 43. hoc a^ om. 0^. 45. 13: Lumbar- :

dum a. conniuentes a^^y^ conuenientes a- conenientes 7^.

: 47. ob hoc
:

om. 0. 49. 07* Luttherus 7^.

: 51. procacius ante in Romanum add. H.

22. compotatione] Cf. Epp. 447. 456, 36. conflictationes] See Ep. 1006.
643. 36n, 867. 112, 1170. 39. ignotus] Cf. Ep. 939. 66n.
24. epistola] Ep. 104 1. 44-5 sho\vs 40. carptim] Cf. Ep. 967. 79,80.
that tlie reference is to Ep. 980, which 47. obstabam] Cf. Epp. 904. ign,
was novtr in circulation (cf. Ep. 948 967. 92, 1143, 1167, 1195, 1217. Two
introd.) andevidently had just reached of Luther's books were reprinted by
Louvain through the agency of Hoch- Jorome Frobcn just at this tinie,
strat (Ep. 1040. 2-4). See de Jongh, during his father's absence at Frank-
pp. 209,10. fort. See LE.^ 278. i^n, 285. 17-19.
34. Reuchlini] Cf. Ep. 967. 69-71. 49. epistoLam] Ep. 933.
 1033] TO ALBERT OF BRANDENBUEG 101

accommodaret. Haec quidam stultissimi sic interpretati sunt quasi 55

Luthero fauerem cum istorum nemo hominem adhuc monuex*it,
:

ipse sohis admonui. Ego Lutheri nec accusator sum nec patronus
nec reus. De spiritu hominis non ausim iudicare est enim diffi- ;

cillimum, praesertim in partem peiorem. Et tamen si illi fauerem

vt viro bono, quod fatentur et hostes si vt reo, quod iuratis etiam ; 60
iudicibus permittunt leges si vt oppresso. quod dictat humanitas;

— si vt oppresso ab his qui simulato praetextu deuotis animis ten-

dunt aduersus bonas literas, quae tandem esset inuidia, modo ne
causae me admiscerem ? Postremo Christianum est, opinor, sic fauere
Luthero vt, si innocens est, nolim eum improborum factionibus op- 65
primi sin errat, velim sanari, non perdi hoc enim magis congruit
; :

cum exemplo Christi, qui iuxta Prophetae testimonium linum fumi-

gans non extinxit, neque baculum confractum comminuit.
Optarim pectus illud, quod videtur habere praeclaras quasdam
scintillas Euangelicae doctrinae, non opprimi, sed correctum vocari 70
ad praedicandam gloriam Christi. Nunc theologi quidam, quos ego
noui, nec admonent nec docentLutherum tantum insanis clamoribus ;

apud populum traducunt hominem. et virum saeuissimis et virulen-

tissimis obtrectationibus lacerant, nihil habentes inore praeter haereses
et haereticos. Negari non potest hic clamatum fuisse apud populum 75
odiosissime, ab iis qui libros Lutheri nondum viderunt. Compertum
est quosdam nominatim damnasse quae non intellexerant. Quorum
illud est vnum Lutherus scripserat nos non teneri ad confitendum
;

peccata mortalia, nisi manifesta, sentiens manifesta quae nobis

confitentibus essent nota. Id quidam Carmelita theologus sic inter- So

55. stultissime /J. 56. nemoa: nullus i/. 57. 07^: Luttheri 7I.
58. reus af : iudex P F. 59. si 07 : om. yS^. 60. etiam a5 : om. 7I : & ^^.
62. si vt oppresso a om. : /3: et obruto H. simulatae a. simulato :

deuotis animis P, cf. Epp. 1053. 520-1, 1097. 35, 1098. 15, 1128. 9, 1167. 26 et
saepixs deuotionis a.
: 64. me causae /3. est adcl. F. 65. eum add. H.
66. sin /3F: si 07. 68. extinxit a^^: extinguit a^. 70. vocari a^.
reuocari/3F. 71. praedicandam gloriam a praedicationem gloriae /3. 73.:

apud aF ad 7. : virum saeuissimis et om. 0. 74. lacerant aF latrant 7. :

hominem post lacerant add. /3: om. ay. 75. et haereticos a et haereticus :

B et haereticum 7 et haereticos et antichristos F haereticos, heresiarchas,

: : :

schismata et antichristos H. 76. iis a his /8. viderant /3. 79. mor-
:

talia a capitalia H.
: 80. confitentibus add. F. Carmelita theologus om. F.

58. reus] 'answerable for '. The 67. Prophetae] Is. 42. 3; cf. Ep.
reading of most of the unauthorized 939. 113.
editions can hardly be a corruption of 78. Lutherus scripserat] In the
the reading adopted in F, and is pro- Sermo de poenitentia, Wittenberg, J.
bably therefore correct. But cf. Epp. Grunenberg, 15 18, f°. A' x" (Weimar
1041. 34, 1167. 247. ed. i. 322): '
Primum
vt nullo modo
62. praotextu] Cf. Epp. 694. 40-1, praesumas peccata venialia,
confiteri
loi. 21. sed nec omnia mortalia, quia impossi-
64. fauere Luthero] The carefully bile est vt omnia mortalia cognoscas.'
measured support given here did not I owe this reference to Prof. Preserved
impress Luther, who wrote of this Smith. For Erasmus' treatnient of
letter as egregia epistola Erasmi . .
'
. this point in the CoUoq. Formidae, March
«Je me multum solliciti ., vbi me . . 1522, cf. Ep. 1301. 28-32.
egregie tutatur, ita tamen vt nihil 80. Carmelita] Cloarly Egmondanus
minus quamme tutari videatur ; siciit ''Ep. 878. i^n) cf. Zw. E.^ p. 384. 28
;

solet pro dexterit.ate sua' LE.'- 264. seq. Ep. 1 153. 41-3 shows that he took
19-23 : 26 Jan. 1520). umbrage at this passage. Hence, no
 102 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

pretans quusi manifesta essent quae palani essent admissa, voci-

feratus est miris modis in re non intellecta. Compertum est ab
his damnata vt haeretica in lil)ris Lutheri, quae in Bernhardi et
Augustini libris vt orthodoxa, imo vt pia leguntur.
85 Admonui eos initio vt ab huiusmodi clamoribus temperarent. sed
scriptis potius et disputationibus rem agerent. Primum non esse
publice damnandum quod non esset lectum, imo, quod non expen-
sum non enim dicam non intellectum. Deinde theologis indeco-
;

rum quicquam per tumultum agere, quorum iudicium oporteret

esse
90 esse grauissimum postremo non facile debacchandum in eura cuius
:

vita probaretur ab omnibus. Denique fortassis non esse tutum

attingere talia apud promiscuam multitudinem, in qua sunt multi
quibus valde displicet secretorum peccatorum confessio. Hi si
audiant esse theologos qui negent oportere confiteri omnia crimina,
95 facile arripient vnde concipiant peruersam opinionem.
Cum hoc idem videretur cordatissimo cuique quod mihi videbatur,
tamen ex hac amica admonitione conceperunt suspitionem libros
Lutheri magna ex parte meos esse, et Louanii natos cum in his :

nec apieulus vllus sit meus, aut me conscio aut volente editus. Et
100 tamen hac falsissima suspicione freti, citra omnem expostulationem
excitarunt hic multas tragoedias, quibus ego nihil adhuc in vita
vidi furiosius. Ad haec, cum theologorum sit proprium docere,
nunc video multos nihil aliud agere nisi vt cogant aut perdant et
extinguant cuni Augustinus ne aduersus Donatistas quidem non
; —
105 haereticos modo verum etiam saeuissimos latrones probet eos qui —
cogant tantum, non etiam doceant. Homines, quos maxime decebat
mansuetudo, nihil aliud sitire videntur quam humanum sanguinem.
tantum in hoc inhiant vt capiatur, vt perdatur Lutherus. Atqui
hoc est carnificem agere, non theologum. Si se inagnos theologos
iiovolunt ostendere, conuertant ludaeos, conuertant ad Christum a
Christo alienos, emendent publicos Christianorum mores quibus ;

nihil est corruptius, ne apud Turcas quidem. Quo pacto aequum

est vt rapiatur ad poenam, qui primum proposuit disputanda, de
quibus in omnibus theologorum scholis semper est disputatum, atque
115 etiam dubitatum? Cur affligi debet qui cupit doceri, qui submittit
se iudicio Apostolicae Sedis, qui se committit iudicio vniuersita-

8r. quae palam essent 07 : om. /3^. 82. est adcJ. H. 83. Bernardi S. et
Augustini a Augustinique : fi. 84. 07 :vt ante pia a F Corrig.
orthodoxo /3^.

et /3.86. et a ac j3. : esse 89. oporteret a'/3 (oporteret o^ i\'^ oportet 7'iV^) :
. . . :

per lapsum.
oni. a', 93. Hisia^^^F: Hiisi^^^: Nisi a'-'. 94. negent aS :
negant /3 F. ay" : oporteri 7I. 95. vnde )3 vt a. 96. videretur:

ay^S videtur /S^^.

: 97. tsimen a^^ F tum /S^^^ 100. citra aij8
: circa a'*. ;

omnem a vllani fi. : loi. ego nihil adhuc in vita a : adhuc in vita iiihil /3.
103. aut perdant et a : vt perdant, vt F. 104. ne aF: nec /3. 105. probet
aS : probat 7. 112. a^jS : Turquas a^. 114. atque etiam dubitatuni oon. fi,
115. se submittit /8. 116. apostolicae a : Romanae /3. vniuersitatum o :
scholarum quas vniuersitates appeUant F.

doubt, the excision in F cf. Ep. 1196. : burg, Louvain and Paris, in his inter-
27in. view witli Caietano at Augsburg, 13
83. Bernliardi] Cf. Ep. 1142. 45U. Oct. 1518: cf. LE." 112. 252-62, 464-5.
ri6. vniuorsitatum] Luthcr had In Aurifaber's printed text (,1556; of
offered this submission, to the Popo that htter, U. 435, 464, the word aca-
and to the Universities of Basle, Frt-i- di:mia is substituted cf. Ep. 1021. 1 150.
:
 1033] TO ALBERT OF BRANDENBURG 103

tum ? Quod si se non credit manibus quorundam qui illum mallent

extinctum quam probum, mirum videri non debet.
Spectandi in primis sunt huius mali fontes. Mundus oneratus est
constitutionibus humanis. Oneratus est opinionibus et dogmatibus i^o
scholasticis. Oneratus est tyrannide fratrum mendicantium qui ;

cum sint satellites Sedis Romanae, tamen eo potentiae ac multitu-

dinis euadunt vt ipsi Romano Pontifici atque ipsis adeo regibus sint
formidabiles. His cum pro ipsis facit Pontifex, plusquam Deus
est : in his quae faciunt aduersus illorum commodum, non phis 125
valet quam somnium. Non damno omnes, sed phirimi sunt huius
generis qui ob quaestum ac tyrannidem data opera illaqueant con-
scientias hominum. Ac perfricta fronte iam ceperant, omisso Christo.
nihil praedicare nisi sua noua et subinde impudentiora dogmata.
De indulgentiis sic loquebantur vt nec idiotae ferre possent. His ^;,°
et huiusmodi multis rebus paulatim euanescebat vigor Euangelicae
doctrinae. Et futurum erat vt rebus in deterius semper prolabenti-
bus, tandem prorsus extingueretur illa scintilla Christianae pietatis
vnde redaccendi poterat extincta charitas. Ad cerimonias phis-
quam ludaicas summa rehgionis vergebat. Haec suspirant et de- i35
plorant boni viri. Haec ipsi etiam theologi non monachi, et
monachi quidam, in priuatis colloquiis fatentur.
Haec, opinor. mouerunt animum Lutheri vt primum auderet se
quorundam intolerabili impudentiae opponere. Quid enim aliud
suspicer de eo qui nec honores ambit nec pecuniam cupit? De '4°
articulis quos obiiciunt Luthero, in praesentia non disputo, tantum
de modo et occasione disputo. Ausus est Lutlierus de indulgentiis
dubitare, sed de quibus ahi prius nimis impudenter asseuerarant.
Ausus est moderatius loqui de potestate Romani Pontificis, sed de
qua isti nimis immoderate prius scripserant quorum praecii^ui sunc ;
'45
tres Praedicatoi'es, Aluarus, Syluester, et Cardinalis S. Sixti. Ausus
est Thomae decreta contemnere, sed quae Praedicatores pene prae-
ferunt Euangehis. Ausus est in materia Confessionis scrupulos
aliquot discutere, sed in qua monachi sine fine illaqueant hominum
conscientias. Ausus est ex parte negligere scholastica decreta, sed '5°
quibus ipsi nimium tribuunt, et in quibus ipsi nihilo minus inter
se dissentiunt ; postremo quae subinde mutant, pro veteribus re-
scissis inducentes noua.
aH: malent F.
117. n8. quam a F virum 7. 119. n^0
: mali :

huius a^. 121. Oneratus est OJM. jP. 125. illorum a eorum )3. 128. :

Ac perfricta fronte aF: ovi. y. omisso Christo aF ovi. y. 130. 07^ : :

loquebatur 7^ 131. huiusmodi ay : eiusmodi ^ F. 132. semper in deterius

0. 134. a7^ : reaccendi 7I. 135. et a ac /3. 138. 07^: se auderet ^2_
:

143. 07*: imprudenter 7^. aH: asseuerauerant ^ jV. 144. moderatius a,

f/.Ep. II 13. 23 : immoderatius F Corrig. 145, nimis 07 : om. /3^. 146. a^fiy^ F :

Siluestera^7^. 147. praedicatoresa : dominicani i/. 148. confessionisa A'^ :

professionis JV^. 149. aliquot a A'^ : aliquos i3 JY^. 151. tribuant iV. ipsi «nfc
nihilo add. N. 152. quae a')3 (q : qa^ (quam). proadd.fi. /3: recissis a.

130. idiotae] Cf. Ep. 1153. 17111. 34^. But Erasmus is wrong in calling
135. ludaicas] Cf. Ep. 296. 83. liim a Dominican.
144. modoratius] The reading of the Syluester] See Ep. 872. 1611.
unauthorized editions is corroborated S. Sixti] Caietano see Epp. 256. :

by F. 45n, 891. a^n.

146. Ahiarus] Pelagius : see Ep. 575. 148. Confessionis] Cf. Ep. 967. 9711.
 104 LETTEES OF EKASMUS [1519

Discruciabat hoc pias mentes, cum

audirent in scholis nuUum feve
155 sermonem de doctrina Euangelica, sacros illos et ab Ecclesia iara
olim probatos authoi^es haberi pro antiquatis: imo in sacris con-
cionibus minimum audiri de Christo, de potestate Pontificis, de
opinionibus recentium fere omnia totam orationem iam palam
;

quaestum, adulationem, ambitionem et fucum pi*e se ferre. His

160 imputandum, opinor, etiam si qua intemperantius scripsit Lutherus.
Quisquis fauet Euangelicae doctrinae, is fauet Romano Pontifici,
qui huius primus est praeco, cum caeteri episcopi sint eiusdem
precones. Omnes episcopi Christi vices gerunt, sed inter hos
praecellit Eomanus Pontifex. De eo sic sentiendum est, quod nulli
165 rei magis fauet quam gloriae Christi, cuius se ministrum esse
gloriatur. De hoc pessinie merentur qui per adulationem illi tri-
buunt quod nec ipse agnoscit nec expedit gregi Christiano. Et
tamen nonnulli qui mouent has tragoedias, non faciunt studio
Pontificis, sed huius potestate ad suum quaestum suamque tyran-
170 nidem abutuntur. Habemus, vt arbitror, Pontificem pium. Sed in
tantis rerum fiuctibus plurima sunt quae ille ignorat quaedam :

etiam si velit, non potest obtinere, sed, vt inquit Maro,

Fertur equis auriga, nec audit currus habenas.

Huius igitur pietatem adiuuat qui exhortatur ad ea quae maxime

175 Christo digna sunt. Obscurum non est esse qui illius sanctitatem
incitent aduersus Lutherum, imo aduersus omnes qui audent ad-
uersus illorum dogmata mutire. Sed maximis piincipibus magis
spectandum quid velit perpetua voluntas Pontificis quam obsequium
improbitate extortum.
180 lam quales sint authores huius tumultus possem verissime de-
monstrare, nisi metuerem ne, dum vei'idicus esse pergo, videar
maledicus. Multos noui familiariter, multi quales sint editis libris
ipsi declararunt, nec in vllo speculo magis relucet imago mentis ac
vitae. Atque vtinam isti qui sumunt sibi censoriam virgulam, qua
185 quos vehnt eiiciant de senatu Christianorum, penitus imbibissent
doctrinam et affectum Christi Ea non eontingit nisi animis ab
!

omni cupiditatum huius mundi sorde defecatis. An isti tales sint,

is mox experietur qui cum illis agat de re quae ad quaestum aut
gloriam aut vindictam eorum pertineat. Vtinam possini insinuare
190 animo celsitudinis tuae quae super his rebus et perspecta habeo et
comperta nam me decet meminisse modestiae Christianae
!

Haec eo liberius dico quod modis omnibus sum a Reuchlini

Lutherique causa alienissimus. JSec enim ipse velim eiusmodi
scribere, nec eam doctrinam mihi arrogo vt ab aliis scripta velim

154. fere nuUum

0. 155. et om. 0. 156. concionibus ay conditionibus
:

0". 159. adulatioiiein add. F. et a : ac 0. i6o. qua quae a.

:

162. sint 07" sunt 7^

: 163. 07: vicem F. 164. praecellit /3 : excel-

lit a. 165. faueat 0. esse om. 0. 167. nec ipse a5 : ne ipse 7 :

ne ipse quidcm /3 f 168. nonnulli arf;?. J". 175. sanctitatem iHius /3.
177. illorum a : ipsorum J'. 180. sint a5 B\\ni0F.
: 183. ipsi add. H.
ac a : et 0. 184. a^ censoria a^
: 187. orani omniuni a.
: 188. is
scripsi: id a. 189. pertinet )3, /85: possem a^^ 192. sum /3 : sim a.
193. 078 : Lutherii 7'5.

173. Maro] G. 1. 514. 183. imago mentis] Cf. Ep. iioi. ^n.
 1033] TO ALBERT OF BRANDENBURG 105

tueri sed niihi non tempero quin illud mysterium aperiam, istos 195
:

longe alio tendere quam ore prae se ferant. lampridem niale habet
eos efflorescere bonas literas, efflorescere linguas, reuiuiscere veteres
authores, quos antehac exedebant tineae puhiere opertos, mundum
ad fontes ipsos reuocari. Timent suis lacunis, nolunt videri quic-
quam nescire, nietuunt ne quid maiestati ipsorum decedat. Hoc 300
hulcus cum diu presserint, nuper tamen erupit, dolore vincente
dissimulationem. Antequam exirent libri Lutheri, iam magnis
studiis hoc ageb.int, maxime Praedicatores et Carmelitae quorum ;

vtinam non essent sceleratiores quam indocti! Vbi libri

plui-imi
Lutheri prodiissent, vekit ansam nacti ceperunt linguarum, bonarum ^05
literarum, Capnionis ac Lutheri, imo et nieam causam eodem fasce
complecti, non solum male offerentes verum etiam male diuidentes.
Primuni enim quid rei bonis studiis cum fidei negotio ? deinde quid
mihi cum causa Capnionis et Lutheri? Sed haec arte conimiscue-
runt, vt comuni inuidia degrauarent omnes bonarum literarum jio
cnltores.
Porro rem non syncero animo geri vel ex hoc licet coniicere :

cum ipsi fateantur nullum esse neque veterum neque recentium

scriptorum, in quo non reperiantur errores, etiam haereticum facturi
si quis defendat pertinaciter, cur ceteris omissis in vnum tantum 215
aut alterum inquirunt tam odiose? Non inficiantur in multis
errasse Aluarum, in multis Cardinalem sancti Sixti, in multis
Syluestrum Prieratem. De his nulla mentio, quia Predicatoi-es
sunt. In vnuni Capnionem chimatur, quia linguas callet in :

Lutherum, quem isti putant nostris literis praeditum, cum eas .'20

tenuiter attigerit. Multa scripsit Lutherus imprudenter magis

quam impie quorum hoc istos habet pessime, quod Thomae non
;

multum tribuit, quod niinuit quaestum veniarum, quod ordinibus

mendicantium parum tribuit, quod scholasticis dogmatis non tan-
tundem defert quantum Euangeliis, quod negligit humanas dispu- 225
tatorum argutias. Hae nimirum sunt haereses intolerabiles. Sed
his dissimulatis praetexunt inuidiosa apud Pontificem, homines
tantum ad nocendum et concordes et callidi.
Olim etiam reuerenter audiebatur haereticus, et absoluebatur si
satisfaciebat sin conuictus perstitisset, quod extrema poena erat,
: 230
non admittebatur ad catholicam et ecclesiasticam communionem.
Nunc alia res est haereseos crimen, et tamen ob quamlibet leueni

195. quin a8 qutim : 7. 196. ore ay om. 35.

: prae a-y^ om. 7'.
:

habet a^- liabe /3'.

: 197. eos 07 : istos /3 F. linguas a Hbonas linguas
:

3^7 bonas liguas /3^.

: 198. ay"8 : opertas 7^ ^ 200. maiestati ipsorum
a eorum maiestati /3
: : 201. erupit a'^
ipsorum maiestati H. eripuit a-. :

/3: vincenti a. 202. magnis F Corrig.

magni P. : magis a
203. prae- :

dicatores a Dominieani i/.

: 205. prodissent F. 207. offerentes a f"
infcrentes ^37^ inferentes 7^
: 208. bonis 0F: om. ay. 209. et a : ac /3.
.210. ay'^ commune 7'.
: 214, scriptorum a : autorum P. 215. perti-
naciter defendat )3. 218. predicatores a Dominicani H. :219. quia 07^
quid 7I. 07 liguas /S^. : 222. istes ay" istas 7'. 224. dogmatibus /3.
:

. 229. et o»n. /3. 230. quod 7' om. ay^. :

199. lacunis] Cf. Ep. 1002. 15^. seems to be required, perhaps covferen-
207. offerentesj Neither reading is (es.

easy : some antithesis to diuidentes 222. Thoniaf] Cf. Ep. 1126. 262^.
 106 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

causam, hoc statim habent iix ore, Haeresis est, haeresis est '. '

Olim haereticus habebatur qui dissentiebat ab Euangeliis, ab arti-

235 culis fidei, aut iis que cum his parem obtinerent authoritatem.
Nunc si quis vsquam dissentiat a Thoma, vocatur haereticus imo ;

si quis a commenticia ratione, quam heri sophista quispiam in scholis

commentus est. Quicquid non placet, quicquid non intelUgunt,
haeresis est. Graece scire haeresis est. Expolite loqui haeresis est.
240 Quicquid ipsi non faciunt, haeresis est. Fateor graue crimen esse
vitiatae fidei, sed non oportet quiduis trahere in quaestionem fidei.
Et qui tractant fidei negotium, debent ab omni specie ambitionis,
quaestus aut odii vindictaeque procul abesse.
At quid isti prae se ferant, quo tendant, quis est qui non videat ?
245 quorum cupiditati si semel licentiae frena laxentur, passim incipient
saeuire in optimi cuiusque caput postremo minitabuntur ipsis
:

episcopis atque ipsi etiam Romano Pontifici. Quod non recusabo

quo minus falsum videatur, nisi iam a quibusdam fieri videmus.
Quid ausit ordo Praedicatorum, vt ne quid aliud adferam, Hierony-
250 mus Sauaronella et Bernense facinus admonere nos debet. Non
renouo ordinis infamiam, sed admoneo quid sit cauendum, si illis
successerit quicquid temere tentarint.
Quicquid adhuc diximus, extra causam Lutheri est. De modo
tantum ac periculo disputamus. Causam Capnionis Romanus Pon-
255 tifex ad se recepit. Lutheri negotium delegatum est Academiis.
233. a-y^ : statim hoc /33. , 235. iis a : his ^.
haeresis est
ovt. P. 236.
vsquam aFLB: vnquam 240. Quicquid . . est add. ^F: om. ay.
Loncl. .

esse a : est 0. 241. vitiatae ay^ vicium 7^ 243. vindictaeque ay vinetaeque

: :

/32, 244. quo tendant owi. /3. 248. ay videamus fi F. : 249. praedica-
torum a^ paedicatorum a', per lapsum, sine duhio, fijpographi Dominicanorum H.
: :

a^0 Heronymus a^.

: 250. Sauaronella a Sauanorola ^ Sauonarola H.
: :

ai/3 Bertiense a".

: 253. Quicquid ay^ Quid 7^. :

250. Sauaronella] The recui-rence of incentive to orthodoxy in the matter.

this and a similar form in Epp. 1173. Bernense facinus] In 1507-9 the
130, 1196. 237 probably implies that Dominicans of Berne, in order to de-
Erasmus was using it at this time. feat the Franciscans in a theological
Except for the assimilation of F to /3 dispute, made a series of bosus appari-
hei-e,the acceptedform doesnotappear tions to a certain John Jetzer, and in
in any of the three cases till or N. H the end tried to poison their credulous
Savonarolaof Ferr.ara (21 Sept. 1452 dupe. After reference to the Pope
23 May 1498) was Prior of St. Mark's four Dominicans, including the Prior,
at Florence. For the part that his were burnt at Berne, 31 May 1509, for
fellow-Dominicans took in his over- this crime. Bocking cites four printed
throw and martyrdom see Creighton, editions of a contemporary narrative,
iii, pp. 226 seq. But Erasmus, like three in Latin and one in German,
Reuchlin (RE. 253), regards the matter and gives some extracts, Nic. Basell,
from tlie Papal point of view, as a case in continuing Nauclerus' Chronicle
of signal disobcdience meeting with (Ep. 397 dismisses the subject briefly.
,

the punisliment it deserved. At a on the ground that so much had

later dato the Reformei-s claimed already been written about it. K. R.
Savonarohi as their own. Luther Hagenbach, Hist. of tlie Beformation, tr..
edited some of his works, Wittenberg, E. Moore, 1878, i. 258-62, refers to the
J. Grunenberg, s.a. (c. 1523), de- full record, probably of an eye-wit-
scribingthemas' Meditationossanctas ness, given in Valerius Anshelm's
huius sancti viri (Weimar ed. xii,
' i^erwe»' ryoor»'/., publislied by the Berne

1891, pp. 243-8) ; see also Geiger, Hist. Verein, iii (18881. 48-166.
Reuchlin, pp. 150,1, If this spirit was 254. Capnionis] Cf. Ep. 622. 32^.
already manifosting itself, it doubtless 255. Academiis] Cf. 1. ii6nand Ep.
supplied Erasmus with an additional 1030. i6n.
 1033] TO ALBEET OF BRANDENBUEG 107

Quicquid hi pronuntiabunt. citra meum periculum fuerit. Ego

semper caui ne quid scriberem obscoeni. ne quid seditiose. ne quid
alienum a doctrina Christi. Nec vnquam sciens ero vel magister
erroris vel author tumultus omnia passurus citius quam seditionem
;

excitatvu'us. Haec tamen certis de caussis volebam esse nota E.D.T. : 260
non vt illi consulam aut praeeam, sed vt, si conentur aduersarii
bonarum literarum abuti praetextu dignitatis tuae, certius possit
hisce de rebus quod optimum sit statuere quae, mea sententia, quo :

magis abstinebit ab hac caussa, hoc rectius consulet suae tranquilli-

tati. Methodum celsitudini tuae dicatam recognoui et auctario non 265
mediocri locupletaui. E. D. T. incolumem ac florentem ineternum
seruet Christus Optimus Maximus.
Louanii decimoquarto Calendas Nouembris. Anno m.d.xix.
Erasmus Eoterodamus E.E.T.D. addictiss.

1034. To Louis Carinus.

Dunn MS. (Louvain ?)
(October 1519 ?)
[An autograph donatory inscription in a volume of Pliny's Epistolae, Venice,
Aldus, Nov. 1508, at one time belonging to the late Mr. George Dunn, of Woolley
Hall, near Maidenhead. who kindly allowed me to print it. Being in the form
of a letter, and similar in character to Ep. 405, it may suitably l)e inchided here.
It may be placed at any period of Erasmus' at-quaintance with Carinus, while
the latter was still a student that is from the time when he was at school at
;

Basle under Glareanus (Ep. 920 introd.) to his residence at Louvain as a pupil
of Nesen (cf. Ep. 1026. 10). It is noticeable that the Pliny was printed whilst
Erasmus was at Venice, and may therefore have been presented to him there.
Above the inscription Erasmus has written :

'
Maro (G. 2. 272).
Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est.
riapoi/iia (cf. Adofj. 2402).
"Ep^a Vioiv ^ovKal Se (lictcxiv evxai Se ffpoVTOiv '.

From the testimony of Melanchthon this Greek proverb seems to have been
a favourite with Erasmus see CR. x. 304
: and K. Hartfelder, Mekmchfhoniana
Paedagogica. 1892, p. 176.]

EPvASMVS LVDOVICO CAEINO.

Perge qua instituisti, mi Ludouice, ea vitae praesidia tibi comi^arare

quae ne tum quidem deserunt possessorem cum ipsa deserit vita.
Istam aetatem optimis rebus dicato, memor et tenacissime haerere
quod rudibus annis imbiberis, et nuUam aetatem aeque docilem esse.
Bene vale. •

256. hi af^^F : hii /3-3, 257, sediciosi 0^y desitiosi 0-. 258. ero a
: :

fui post tumultus ^, 260. R. D.T. a: celsitudini tuae H. 265. auctario /3 :

autliario a^ : authorio a-. 266. R. D. T. 268. Novembris ay (R. D. T. a Te H.
. . . :

decimoquarto om. 0. Nouemb. ^* Nouembribus //; : om. /8^, Anno add, H,

:

M.D.xix, add. F. 269. Erasmus . addictiss. /3 (E. R. T. D. /3>7 : E. R. D. /3') :

. .

ow. a H.

265. Methodum] The FMfio Verae Froben'.s edition of Feb. 1520; see Ep.
Theologiae, which was enlarged for 745 introd., and cf. BRE, 147, 153.
 108 LETTEES OF EEASMUS [151

1035^036 From Martin Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 79. (Louvain.)
Horawitz v. 36. (October ? 15 19.)
[The opening words suggest that these letters were exchanged not long after
Nesen*s arrival at Louvain in July 1519 (Ep. 994. gn'. The person and the
business alluded to can only be conjectured possibly Dorp and the letter from
:

the theological society in Paris (cf. lipp. 994, 1002, 1024), or one of the Univer-
sity officials and the trouble about Nesen's lectures (Ep. 1046 introd.). In the
former case the date would be about the end of July, in the latter perhaps
October.]

MARTINYS LYPS. BRVX. DES. ERAS. S. D. P.

<M)ox vbi ad nos venit Nesenus, sermo de N. haberi coepit

multaque auditu molesta mihi narrauit. Vellem nos coram loqui
posse. Literis agerem, sed opus est vt te quoque audiam, quo
videlicet pacto tecum egerit quidue responderis. Oro certiores nos
5 reddas an nunc post meridiem ad nostras edes venire vacabit.
A meridie circa secundam horam tempus erit mihi oportunum quod :

tamen anticipare vel protelare pro tuo arbitratu poteris. Eecte

valeto.

i'^3n036. To Martin Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 79. (Louvain.)
Horawitz v. y]. (October ? 15 19.)

DES. ERAS. MARTINO SYO S. D.

<0)ko te, mi Martine, ne quid seras dissidii inter Nesenum et

N. Sine eos vtcunque amicos esse, neue te rebus huiusmodi ad-
misceas. Veniam ad te si nihil aliud inciderit. Caeterum, si' quid
sit arcani quod ad me pertinet, ne committas cuiquam, sed scribas

5 per hunc. Bene vale et nos ama.

1037. From Edward Lee.

Annotationes Leei, Paris (1520), f*'. a v» (n). (Louvain.)
Annotationes Leei, Basle, 1520, p. 3 0). (October ? 15 19.)
[The preface to Lce's Annotationes in Annotationes Xoui Testamenti Desiderii Erasnii,
Paris, (Conr. Resch), s. a. (a). Pretixed to the book is a letter of Lee to the
students of Louvain, 29 Dec. (1519), which forms the first item on the title-
page, Apologia Edouardi Li-ei conira quorundam calumnias and at the end of all
;

comes Lee's letter to Erasmus (Ep. 1061) of i Feb. 1520. The letter to Louvain
is on four sheets signed aa-dd. The Annotationts begin on sheet a, and the letter
to Erasmus follows, beginning 011 f°. k*. This arrangement shows that the
Annotationes, which are the substantive part of the volume, with this pi-eface on
the verso of the title, were printed first, ending on k^, witli k* perhaps blank
that then the letter to Louvain was added on new signatures and that finally ;

Ep. 1061, or at least the later part of it, was appended. The priuting was
executed by Gilles Gourmont (cf. Ep. 1074. 87) for Conrad Resch of Basle (cf.
Epp. 1061. 505^, 1083. 1-3), the connexion with Basle being shown by an
ornamental border on the title-page to the Annotationes (f°. a) bearing the

1035. 4. tecum egcrit] Perhaps ef. Ep. 1024. 3.

f°37] FROM EDWARD LEE 109

initials of Vrs Graf and the Basler Stab, also the date 1519. The book perhaps
appeared 15 Fcb. 1520
c. for by 17 Feb. Erasmus had heard at Louvain that
;

it was out (Ep. 1066. 88-90), though on 21 Feb. he had not yet seen it (Ep. ro68.
14-17). By 27 Feb. More had seen copies at Greenwich (Eev. pp. 81,2 Jortin ;

ii. 659,60). But these were perhaps sent in advance, for the book seems not
to have reached Basle till c. 14 March (Epp. 1083. i, 1084. 66-7: cf. Zw. E.^ 124,
BRE. 159 and Basle MS. C. VI\ 73. 298, 397) and it was at Cologne about the
;

same time (Ep. 1078).

By the appearance of this volume Erasmus' long embroilment with Lee was
brought to a head. The controversy tills an inordinate space in his correspon-
dence, and no doubt occupied his thoughts also at this period to a very lar^e
extent. The case has been sufficiently stated by the two combatants from their
diflferent points of view : by Lee in his letter to the Louvain students and in
Ep. 1061 by Erasmus in Epp. 1053, 1074, and more fully in three apologies or
;

replies, the first of which, Apologia nihil habens neqiie nasi negiie dentis neque stomachi
neque vnguiutn, qun respondet duabits inuectiuis Eduardi Lei, Antwerp, M. Hillen,
(c. March) 1520, is not reprinted in his works (cf. i, p. 22. 18-21), but may be
found in Jortin ii. 496-528.
The pointsof the dispute need not be examined here in detail, but the chrono-
logy of the various incidents may be given briefly. When Erasmus firstmet Lee
(Ep.765 introd.) on coming to settle at Louvain in July 1517 (cf. Ep. 1074 and Lee's
Annot. f°. AA^), he was already aware that the young Englishman had attacked
him (Ep. 1074. 17-23 ; cf. Ep. 973. 7). During the following autumn and winter
Lee made some criticisms on the Nouum Instrtimentum, and spoke of producing
some notes. These Erasmus asked to see, but for some reason onlv a few
actually reached him at first (cf. Ep. 750 introd.). Then, just beforehe went to
Basle in May 1518, a larger collection was forthcoming (cf. Ep. 886. 58-78^,
which he answered in detail (Ep. 843). On his return to Louvain in the autumn
there was talk of more, and these he tried to secure, first by a personal inter-
view (Ep. 1581 later than 22 Oct., cf. Ep. 886. 73), and then even by under-
:

hand methods (cf. Ep. 998. i^n), but without success. After some weeks of
wrangling, recourse was suggested to the judgement of friends. Lee's notes
were sent first, without Erasmus having been allowed to see them, to the Vice-
Chancellor of the University, .Jo. Briardus Atensis (cf. Epp. 998, 1061. 666-7,
794, 1074 ; and Lee's Avnot. f
bb r°. and v".), who, however, after keepiiig
.

them for a month or two (cf. Ep. 1061. 780 ; Apol. qiia respondet, P. G^, Jortin
ii. 526), —
declined to act to the great relief of Erasmus. who had not much
confidence in his impartiality (Apol. qua respondet f". B, Jortin ii. 500 cf.
;

Epp. 1029. 3n, 1053. 296n). A sentence from a letter of Erasmus to Lee at this
pcriod, preserved in tho Iatter's Annot. f°. bb^, 'Quod agere destinaueramus, alias
aj^etur per ociuni ', is expressive of his satisfaction. Lee states (ibid.) that this
was about the period when Erasmus was sending off to Basle the final 'copy'
for the second edition of the New Testament (cf. Apol. qua respondet, f°. B^^, Jortin
ii. 500), therefore about the end of 1518 (cf. Ep. 864 introd.).

By this time Erasmus was seriously annoyed with his critic (cf. Epp. go6.
448-66, 912). The ostensible question debated between them subsequently was
about the production of Lee's notes, Erasmus averring that Lee had withheld
them in spite of his repeated requests (cf. Eev. pp. 86,7), Lee stating that Erasmus
and his friends had received with such contumely those that were shown to
them that he \vas justified in withdrawing from the field. But this issue is too
paltry to account for the extreme acerbity shown on both sides. A more
plausible explanation may be conjectured in a mutual antipathy between the
young aspirant for lionour in the world of theology and the mature and suc-
cessful scholar, high on a pinnacle of fame, almost dictator to the admiring
circle round him. More, writing to Lee in May 1519, describes hirn as olim '

non admodum aequum in Erasmum (Eae. f°. D' v°. Eev. p. 67 Jortin ii.
' ; ;

653), words which suggest that in entering the lists Lee may have been led by
a desiro to lower his antagonisfs pride (cf. Ep. 1074. 18). Such personal
feeling, doubtless easily recognizable, mightwell havo rendered criticisms, whiuh
were otherwise inoffensive, extremely unwelcome to the older scholar, and have
moved him to conduct the controversy without moderation, which in such
cases he always found difficult. Quite likely, too, thei-e was ground for the
suggestion (cf. Epp. 973. 7-10, 993. 28-33, 998.42-7) that Lee was encouraged by
some of the orthodox theologians at Louvain, which Erasmus repeated freely
110 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

(Epp. 1074. 80-82, 1097. 6, 1098. 18 cf. BRE. i7o)even after liis recoiiciliation
:

with them in Oct. 1519(01". Ep. 1016. i5n) ; having come to suspect (Ep. 1097.
26-7) that there was a wide difiference between Lee's original ms. notes and tbe
book actually published. Indeed, in 1525 he confidently declared (Ep. 1581)
that very little of this was Lee's own handiwork.
Lee next proposed, in March 1519 (Ep. 1061. 692-4), that Fisher should beasked
to judge between them, and for this purpose he sent his book to England. So
he wrote to More on 10 April (Eae. f°. B* Eev. p. 56 Jortin ii. 646) but
; ; ;

imniediately afterwards appeared Erasmus' Apology against Latomus', dated

'

from Louvain, 28 March 1519, and printed by Thibault at Antwerp, s.a., with
a passage in which Lee, with good reason, considered himself lampooned (cf.
Ep. 1061. 2iin). On 20 April he wrote again to More stating that he was com-
pelled by Erasmus' violence to print his book and appeal to the public verdict.
Erasmus' friends in England did their utmost to constrain their countryman to
silence. In March Fisher (cf. Ep. 936. 90), More on i May (Ep. 1061. 603^),
Colet (cf. Apol. qua respondet, i°. G^ v°., Jortin ii. 525), and Pace (Ep. 1074), pro-
bably about the same time, all wrote to protest against his conduct, no doubt
in response to appeals froni Erasmus (cf. Eev. p. 80). Before these letters
arrived (Lee's Annot. f°. cc r". and \°.) Lee attempted to carry out his intention
of publishing. Betaking liimself to Antwerp in April or May, he tried first
Thibault (?) and then Hillen, but neitlier would undertake the book. This
failure he ascribed without hesitation to Erasmus' intem^ention, a suspicion
which may have had no ground but this, that they were in Antwerp together,
and indeed travelled back to Louvain on the same day, perhaps 6 June 1519
(Ep. 1061. 593n).
The letters from England mentioned above, which reached Lee about this
time, mitigated his vexation possibly, too, his patron Foxe may have responded
;

to Erasmus' urgent entreaty (Ep. 973), and so in July (Ep. 1061. 690-6) he was
inclined to say he would not publish (cf. Eev. p. 80). He commuuicated this
resolve to Pace at Antwerp (cf. Ep. looi. 53n), and even entered into a definite
agreement on the subject (Ep. 1074. 1^~3 ^f. Epp. 1090, 1097). But on returning
5

to Louvain from Antwerp at the end of July 1519 he was irritated by finding
the Dialogus Trilinguimn (Ep. io6r. 505^) in circulation and a further attack
;

was made upon him by public placards (Ep. 1061. 50511). His good resolution
quickly disappeared, and he proceeded to Antwerp agaiii in October or November
(Ep. 1061. 6o8n) to find a printer, this preface being perhaps ah-eady written.
A second negotiation with Hillen was unsuccessful, again, as he alleges, by the
action of Erasmus though it inay be noticed that in October Erasmus was still
:

eager to obtain a sight of Lee's notes, whether in print or otherwise (Epp. 1019,
1026, 1029, 1030). Later on, the appearance of Ep. 998 in the Farrago (cf. Ep.
1061. 2 and Ep. 1040 introd.) incensed Lee still more, and in turning over
;

that volume he may have lighted upon other unwelcome references to himself
(cf. Ep. 1061. 586n). So towards tiie end of 1519 he sent his book to Paris,
—
where it was published (c. 15 Feb. 1520) 243 notes on the first edition of
Erasmus' New Testament and twenty-five on the second. Within three days of
seeing it Erasmus replied in detail to Lee's letter to Louvain aud Ep. 1061, with
his Apologia qua respondet, written before the end of February (Ep. 1072. 4-5) and
printed, no doubt, in March 1520 (cf. Epp. 1077, 1086) and then with two Eespon.
;

siones he combated Lee's Annotationes in April and May (cf. Ep. 1092), all three
volumes being published by Hilleii, though Martens would gladly have had
them (Ep. 1077).
The quarrel cost Erasmus forty (Ep. 1098. 27-8) or fifty days (i, p. 22. 21,2
cf. Epp. 1117. 27, 1134. 25-6, 1139. 41), but suddenly came to an end. Early in
May 1520 he was still apprehensive of a further attack, and wrote to even more
powerful patrons to avert it (Epp. 1097-9). ^^^ before the end of the month
Froben produced at Basle, upon Erasmus' instigation (cf. BRE. 166), a volume
{0) wliicli was a visible sign of i^eace concluded between the two combatants.
—
AIl the bitterest parts of the controversy had been omitted Lee's letter to
Louvain and Ep. 1061, and Erasmus' rejoinder, the Apologia qua respondet (cf. i,
p. 22. 18-21). There remained the merely critieal portions, Lee's Annotationes
with this preface (Ep. 1037), ^^<i Erasmus' two Rcsponsiones with a preface (Ep.
1 roo) written ostensibly in a better state of feeling. It seems probable, how-
ever, that Erasmus only consented to this nevv edition in deference to sug-
gestions from his English friends (cf. Epp. 1090, 1097) for the series of letters
;
I037] FROM EDWARD LEE 111

cited in Ep. 1118. 6n, some of which were written when the book must have
been in the press, shows that Erasmus was still feeling sore. Of thepreparation
of Eev., published in Aug. 1520, Erasmus was perhaps not cognizant : see Ep.
1083 introd. The combatants met at Calais in July 1520, with a show of amity
(Ep. 1132. i8n). But after that Lee disappears for a time from Erasmus'
correspondence, until in 1525 the attacks made on the critical scholar by estab-
lished orthodoxy encouraged Lee, who was now in contact with Spanish theo-
logians, to renew the conflict. For Erasmus' opinion of Lee by that time, cf.
Ep. 1581. A
very full account of the whole controversy is given by A. Bludau,
Die beiden ersten Erasmus- Ausgahen des Neuen Testaments, 1902, pp. 86-125.
For the defence of Erasmus by liis friends see Epp. 998. 66n, 1083 introd. ;
and for original copies of Lee's book and Erasmus' Apologia qua respondet see Ep.
1095 introd.
A precise date is not possible for this preface. It may have been composed as
early as April 1519, when Lee made liis firstendeavours tohave the book pi-inted
at Antwerp, but it may equally well be assigned to the later date, when the
book actually appeared.]

EDOVARDVS LEEVS DESIDERIO ERASMO SALVTEM.

En nunc demum habes, Desideri Erasme, nostrarum Annotationum
librum, quem
tantopere efflagitasti opus, spero, cum primis tibi ;

gratum et iucundum, si non quod nostrum sit, tamen quod tuo

nomine nuncupatum et te annum iam totum hortante emissum vel :

forte eo potius nomine quod inde orbi nostra prodetur ignorantia,

quam tu nullis non modis studes propagari, vt omnes cognoscant me
talem esse qualem tu pingis. Mihi vero quicquid euenerit, nec male
nec infoeliciter cadet. Nulla est sortis iactura quam non expecto.
Vale,

1038. To Erard de la Marck.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 49S. (Louvain.)
HN : Lond. xii. 29 : LB. 372. (October fin. 1519.)
[From the description of the cup sent by the Archbishop of Mainz this letter
clearly is contemporary with Ep. 1033 from the mention of the attitude of the
;

leading Councillors it must be of the same period as Ep. 1040.

The events alluded to here and in Ep. 1040 may therefore be explained as
follows that the Bishop of Liege, on his way to Brussels, had recently passed
:

through Louvain (shortly before 17 Oct. cf. Ep. 1030. 63-4), and that Erasmus
:

had visited him there, V>ut had omitted to go again and take leave before the
Bishop's departure that subsequently Erasmus heard from a friend among the
;

theologians at Louvain, perhaps Dorp, of the reports spread about him at

Brussels by Hochstrat, and accordingly judged it expedient to pay a visit to
Court (Epp. 1040. I, 1041. 25) to dispel unfavourable impressions. It may be
conjectured that at the same time he went on to Antwerp, and appeared there
in time to upset Hillen's second agreement with Lee (Ep. 1061. 6o8n), which was
made in October or November. The expedition must be placed either before or
after i Nov. (Ep. 1039), imd tti*^ letter evidently precedes it, Epp. 1040-1 follow
it. As Epp. 1040- 1 cau hardly be dated before the second half of the month, it
seems better to place Erasmus' visit to Brussels and Antwerp in November
rather than in October.
It may well have been on the occasion of Erard de la Marck's presence in
Louvain in October that the theologians sent three Masters to inquire whethei-
it were true that he was favourably inclined towards Luther, as stated by

4. nomini 0.

4. annum iam totum] In the Apol. praefatione scribit (Leus) toto anno
qua respondet f°. G', Jortin ii. 526, Eras- librum a me flagitatum, quem toties
mus bases an argument upon this In :
• inculcat apud me fuisse.'
 112 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [15 19

Eraslnus in Ep. 980. 36-7, which had ju.st reached their ears (Ep. 1033. 2411):
The Bishop declared on the word of a priest, Lutheri librum sibi non visum '

neque lectum, tantum aberat vt rei pericuiosae et ignotae faueret '. See
J. Latomus' preface, 31 Dec. 1520, to his Articulornm Lutheri damnatorxim Ratio,
Antwerp, M. Hiilen, 8 May 1521 (f. A of his Opera, Louvain, 1550), and
de Jongh pp. 212-13, 1°*-
The tone of easy assurance in this letter seems to imply that Erasmus had
made his peace with Erard at his own interview in Louvain indeed, the form ;

of the Bishop's reply to the theologians has such a resemblance to Erasmus'

utterances about Luther in Epp. 939, 961, 967, 993, 1033 that the words might
almost have been put into his mouth.
It was perhaps at the same iaterview that Erard showed to Erasmus a letter
he had received from Aleander at Rome, bringing Ep. 980 to his notice and
making reflections upon Erasmus see Epp. 1482, 1496.]
:

ERASMVS ROTEROD. REVERENDO D. D. ERARDO, PRAESVLI

AC PRINCIPI LEODIENSI, S. D.
Iam plus triduum isthuc iturientem me iugis quaedam ac scelera-
tissima nebula domi alligat. Pensare volebam quod liinc nobis
insalutata discesserat tua celsitudo. Medicus tuus in causa fuit, qui
confirmarat te totum illum diem nobiscum futurum. Insignis ille
5 heros Albertus, Cardinalis Mogontinensis, cuius diuinas dotes tu
nuper cominus es admiratus, mihi poculum dono misit, cum amplum
et graue, tum opei"e spectandum. Addit se id dare mihi ipsum
fugienti, maiorem experturo benignitatem si mei fecero copiam.
Dignum nimirum munus quod a tali Principe mitteretur sed Erasmus ;

10 dignior qui Samiis bibat. Quin et nomen indidit. Ait vocari

'
poculum amoris ', opinor quod e duobus paribus velut osculo
commissis fiat vnum, quoties libet ex quo qui biberint, protinus
:

beneuolentia mutua conglutinari. Si vera sunt haec, vtinam theologi

Louanienses ex eo poculo mecum potassent ante annos duos
15 Horum opera compertum habeo, D. N. et N. Principum Bergens.
et Comitis Hoechstratensis animos nonnihil a nobis alienatos. Hos,

TiT. KEVERENDo D. D. 0111. H. 15. BergeFi. H.

2. nebula] Cf. Ep. 1016. ^n. 23^), can hardly be intended, for he
3. Medicus] Perhaps the magnus '
seems to have been still in Switzer-
Adamus', who was Erard's physician hind.
in 1515 (Al. E. ii. 10, 11, 17, 32) and Hoechstratensis] Antony de La-
16.
accompanied him on his travels. Or laing —
1480 2 April 1540) had been
(c.
he possibly to be identified with
is chamberlain to the Archduke Philip,
Adam, son of J. Bogardus (Ep. 932. whom he accompanied to Spain 1501-
54n), who was M.D. at Louvain 25 3, writing a narrative of the journey,
May 1512, became a Franciscan23 Nov. which is printed by Gachard, i. 121-
1525 on his wife's death, and died 23 340. Margaret, as Regent, retained his
Mareh 1550. See Val. Andreas, pp. services, and he became chamberlain
230-1. to Charles. In 1516 he was elected a
6. cominus] At Frankfort ; cf. Ep. KnightoftheGolden Fleece(deReiffen-
loor. 47n. berg, p. 308), and in June 1518 the
poculum] Cf. Ep. 986. 34-9. barony of Hoogstraeten, n. of Turn-
15. One of these was no
Bergens.] hout, which he had received with his
doubt John of Bergen (Epp. 737, 952. wife, IsabeUa of Culerabourg, was
62 cf. Epp. 1025 &c., 1040), the other
; raised by Charles to a county. In Feb.
perhaps tlie Abbot of St. Bertin's (Ep. 1522 he succeeded Henry of Nassau
143), of whose good opinion Erasmus (Ep. 829. i2n) as Governor of Holland
shows himself careful in Ep. 739. and Zeeland. By this time he luid
John's nephew, Maximilian (Ep. 953. become Margarefs trusted adviser and
1038] TO EKAKD DE LA MAKCK 113

si inciderit oportunitas, admonebis vt pro sua prudentia magis

credant reconciliatis quam iratis. Vt in me coorirentur, falsissimae
suspiciones illis fuerunt in consilio, et hoc totum vnius iracundiae
datum est. \t autem vltro prouocarent ad amicitiam, in causa fuit 20
res attentius perpensa. Illud tumultus fuit, hoc iudicii. Quod si
hoc non impetras, saltem ne pronuncient aduersum me ni parte
vtraque audita. Si rem omnem pernossent, melius etiam sentirent
de Erasmo quam antehac senserint. Bene vale.
[Anno M. D. xviii.] 25

10211039. To JoHN Slechta.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 551. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiv. 21 : LB. 478. i November 15 19.

[This letter is important, as indicating in detail Erasmus' views of moderate

reform in the Church just at the time when it was becoming plain that
;

Luther's call for reform could not be stifled. Erasmus made no secret of what
he had written, but published it in his next volume of Epistolae (F). Some years
later it was translated into German and printed, Nuremberg, S. Tunckel, 1531 ;

tlie title showing that it was regarded as exhibiting die eynigen waren Mittel
'
. .

durch welche gegenwertige Zweyung in vnserm heyligen Glauben mochten

fruchtbarlich liingelegt werden '. Of this a contemporary Ms. exists in the
Town Archives at Strasburg (Epist. eccl. saec. xvi, ii. 206) with annotations by ;

Bucer and a later addition, perhaps by the original hand, in which the letter is
described as durch Johann Froben von Andernach ausz dem Latein getreulich
'

verteutschet '.
As a result of the present correspondence with Slechta, a powerful noble,
Artlebus of Boskowitz, was moved to communicate with Erasmus in 1520 and
further invite his sympathy for the movement of progress with which Bohemia
had been so long associated see Epp. 1154, 1183. For a visit paid by repre-
:

sentatives of the Brethren to Erasmus at Antwerp, also in 1520, see pp. 291 -i..
To the theme of ecclesiastical unity Erasmus retvirned in 1533, with his Liber
cle sarciencla Ecclesiae concordia.'^

ERASMVS ROT. lOANNI SLECHTAE BOHEMO S.

Ad
prolixam epistolam tuam, optime Slechta, paucis in hoc tantum
respondebo, vt intelligas eam mihi et redditam fuisse et perlectam ;

nec enim aliud in praesentia sinunt occupationes meae. Ad obtrecta-

torum voces, quando beneficiis etiam efferantur, iam pridem ob-
surdui. Antehac existimabam me rerum humanarum mediocrem ,

tenere peritiam, qui diuersis regionibus cum variis hominum generi-

bus egissem consuetudinem sed huiusmodi beluas inter Christianos
;

repperi, vt nuuquam fuerim crediturus, ni magno meo malo compe-

rissem. Verum posteaquam illi sui dissimiles esse non possunt, nos
nostri similes esse studebimus neque desinemus pro nostro talento
;

benemereri de omnibus, quod quidem in nobis erit. Fortasse sic Deo

visum est, vt hoc modo luamus commissa nostra, quibus ilhim
frequenter oftendimus. Ignoscam illis, vt hic vicissim ignoscat
1038. 25. Anno M.D.xvm acld. H. 1039. 8. reperi N^. 13. hic F : ille H.

the most influential member of her 19. vnius] Cf. Ep. 1029. ^n.
CounciL See BN and cf. Lond. xix.
; 20. adamicitiamj Cf. Ep. 1016. 150.
115, LB. 747, 2 .July 1525. 22. pronuncient] sc. principes.
1038. 18, coorirentur] sc. theologi. 1039. 13. hic] sc, Deus.
 114 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

mihi nam vitae sanctimoniam, quam mihi tribuis oratione, vtinam

:

15 aliquando sua benignitate mihi tribuat Christus, omnis autor sancti-

moniae
Quod nostris lucubrationibus oblectas ocium tuum, facis tu quidem
amice, facturus etiam vtiliter, si modo nostra legas cum iudicio
neque enim dogmata scribimus deinde si tum denique sumes in
;

20 manus Erasmum, cum non adest meliorum voluminum copia. At

sane totam istam regionem nobis admodum graphice depingis, vt
plus prope videam in oratione tua quam conspecturus fuerim si isthic
annos aliquot egissem.
Quod vestra Germania passim latrociniis est obnoxia, partim
25 opinor in causa esse reliquias priscae feritatis partim quod regio
;

dissecta est in tot ditiones ac minutos principes, quorum nemo velit

alteri concedere ;
partim quod nulla gens crebrius belligeratur
stipendio conducta. Ita latrociniis exercendis bello se parant, et
bello defuncti belli reliquias exercent. lam cum nulla res sit tam
30 incommoda quin alicui sit commodo, quibus ex deducendis hospitibus
aut negociatoribus quaestus est, hi nonnunquam procurant ne tutum
sit iter, ne ipsorum auxilio non sit opus. Ac mea sententia consultius
esset huiusmodi mahs occurrere prudentibus consiHis ne committe-
rentur, quam punire commissa. Qua commeatus esset frequentissi-
35 mus, via liberari posset arborum densitate, ac vicis, villis et arcibus
communiri. Profecto non parum indecorum mihi videtur non idem
praestare Germanas vrbes ac principes in suis regionibus quod
Eluetii praestant in sua, populari consilio freti. Sed his malis
fortasse medebitur Carohis noster Princeps, vt summus, ita iusticiae
4° cultor maximus.
Caeterum quod ad fidei dissidium attinet, leuior esset calamitas,
mea sententia, si idem error haberet omnes. Nunc bona pars non
solum dissidetis, vt aiunt, ab Ecclesia Catholica, verum etiam variis
erroribus inter vos digladiamini. Nam quod ludaeos habetis ad-
45 mixtos, id fortasse commune est cum Itahae Germaniaeque reliquae
partibus, sed praecipue cum Hispania. Quis autem crederet adhuc
superesse qui stulticiam Epicux'i profiterentur, negantes animas
nostras superesse post obitum? Passim et hic videre est qui sic
viuant quasi non credant superesse quicquam a morte sed nemo
;

50 tam demens qui huius doctrinae vel dux esse velit vel comes.
Quemadmodum et Nicolaitas reperias permultos, quibus vxores sint
cum multis communes sed huius dogmatis nulla est professio,
;

etiam Plato, nobilis autor, ab hac sententia non abhorruit.

si Sed
obsecro te, mi Slechta, an istos non pudet appellari haereticos?
55 Nihil hoc nomine probrosius, quo tamen ipso videntur indigni. Quid
enim credit qui negat immortalitatem animarum? Quid tribuit
Euangelio qui vult vxores esse promiscuas ?
Illud mihi mirum videri solet, nihil excogitari posse tam prodi-
giosum quin suos reperiat sectatores. Pythagoras interdixit mortali-
60 bus esum fabarum, et reppex*it qui abstinerent. Fuere qui docerent
esse pium vt filii parentem necarent longaeuum, et inuentus est
populus qui id soleimiter faceret. Fuere qui dicerent impium esse
quicquam possidere suum, et exorti sunt, quemadmodimi testatur

60. reperit Lo7id.

I039J TO JOHN SLECHTA 115

diuus Augustinus in Catalogo haeresiarcharum, qui iu ocio degentes

mendicato viuerent ac caeteros velut impios a suo consortio semoue-
: 65
bant, qui suis laboribus pararent vnde vxores alerent ac liberos.
Erant qui ludae proditori ferrent acceptum orbis redempti salutem,
nec defuerunt discipuli qui illum pro summo diuo colerent. Fuere
qui totos dies ore sonarent psalmos innumeros, nec interim quicquam
aliud agentes nec defuerunt huius insaniae sequaces.
; Fuere qui -o
dicerent impios eos qui caste colerent matrimonium, iis etiam scelera-
tiores qui postulabant vxores esse communes et hi titulum suo
;

gregi dare potuerunt. Fuere qui suaderent pium esse si parentes

liberos suos viuos exurerent, et inuenti sunt quibus i^ersuaderetur
dogma tam impium. Adeo credulum est genus mortalium et tanta 75
est ingenioxum varietas. Equidem opinor, si quis exoriatur nunc
qui doceat religiosum esse si viri nudi cum foeminis nudis saltent in
foro, non defore sectae suos discipulos ac patronos. Quo niagis est
circunspiciendum iis qui autoritate pollent, ne quid doceant insti-
tuantue quod non quadret ad Christi regulam. So
Sed huiusmodi portentis, vt par est, omissis, demonstras totum
Bohemiae regnum atque etiam Morauiae Marchionatum in tres sectas
esse diuisum. Vtinam, mi Slechta, pius aliquis artifex ex ista triade
monadem faceret Sed dum quisque priuatim suis studet commodis,
!

nec publica bene habent, nec priuata, neque fere quisquam ingeniosus 85
inuenitur, nisi ad ea quae sunt philosophiae vulgaris quae, vt ferunt, ;

moderatius apud Turcas habent quam apud nos. Non loquor de

articulis quos ad fidem pertrahimus, sed de iis ex quibus ceu fontibus
scatet Euangelica pietas, videlicet e contemptu pecuniarum, e con-
temptu honorum, e moderatione affectuum, irae, odii, inuidiae 90 :

quibus cupiditatibus si quis seruiat, quaeso quid confert fidei

professio? Si plus apud nos valet auaricia, si plus ambitio, si libido
odium saeuius, si liuor nocentior, si obtrectatio vene-
sceleratior, si
quorsum attinet profiteri Christum, in hoc factum hominem
natior,
vt ab his rebus nos auocaret ? Haec mihi dicenti qui succensere 95
volet, succenseat lacobo apostolo, qui diligenter ac pluribus verbis
haec disserit in Epistohx sua.
Sectam igitur quam tu pi-imo loco recenses, sic velim esse primam
vt vnicam esse cupiam. Quid enim magis accedit ad imaginem
coelestis hierarchiae quam vt digestis ordinibus summa redeat ad 100
vnum? aut quae res vtilior ad excludenda mundi dissidia? Si
princeps quispiam tyrannidem moliatur, precibus, hortatu, doctrina-
que et autoritate Romani Pontificis componetur. Tyrannum agit
episcopus aliquis, erit vnde subsidium imploret populus. Existit
aliquis qui daemoniacam inuehat doctrinam, supererit Romanus los
pastor, qui e puris Euangelicae philosophiae fontibus depromat
digna dispensatore et Vicario Christi. Quod sicubi non lespondebit
summus ille Praesul, primum fieri non potest vt qui omnibus prae-
sidet, satisfaciat omnibus deinde nostrum est, quantum licet, omnia
:

in bonam partem interpretari. Praeterea bonam partem eorum quae no

fiunt, non ipsi Pontifici, sed iis quibus ipse necessario fidit, imputare
debemus. Ad haec meminisse conuenit illum hominibus px-aesidere,
sed hominem ; neque diu constare posse mutuam concordiam,

64. Augustinus] Hatr. 40, 57 : of the Apostolici and Euf-liitae.

I 2
 116 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1519

nisiquemadmodum illius lenitas nobis obsequundat in multis, ita

115 nos vicissim illi pro tempore morem geramus, praesertim cum id
habeat Apostolica doctrina, vt improbis etiam ac morosis principibus
obtemperemus, quatenus licet incolumi pietate.
Atque hac in parte, mea sententia, magis peccat secunda factio,
quod odiose reiicit iudicium et consuetudinem Ecclesiae Romanae,
i2oquam quod existimat pium esse sub vtraque specie sumere Eucha-
ristiam. Atque vtinam hic Eugenius maluisset indulgere concordiae
jjublicae quam suis priuatis affectihus si tamen vera sunt quae
I

refert epistola tua. Quanquam hic Bohemis, si me in consilium

adhibuissent. autor eram futurus vt, tametsi probabilis est hac in
125 parte illorum opinio, tamen obtemperarent potius quam contenderent,
praesertim cum ab hac consuetudine staret maxima pars orliis
Christiani. Tametsi, vt dicam ingenue quod sentio. demiror cur
visum sit immutare quod a Christo fuit institutuni, quum causae
quas adferunt non admodum graues videantur.
130 Pori-o factionem Pygardicam longius abesse a regula pacis Euan-
gelicae minus mirandum est, quum, vt scribis, ab autore scelerato
profecta sit. Nam si ideo Antichristus est Pontifex Romanus, quod
aliquando contigit Pontifex impius, aut si ideo meretrix est Ecclesia
Romana, quod aliquoties habet cardinales aut episcopos aut alioqui
1.^5 ministros improbos, eadem opera nullis episcopis, nullis pastoribus,

nullis regibus obtemperaremus vt ne dicam interim, quod hac

:

fenestra aperta, vt cuique hic aut ille esset inuisus, ita impius
haberetur. Quanto probabiHor est Augustini sententia, ministri
moriVais non vitiari donum Dei, quod nobis per sacramenta confertur ;

140 etiam si grauissimas poenas illi daturi sunt sacerdotes, si moribus

impiis efficiant vt inter idiotas et infirmos male audiat nomen illud
adorandum Domini nostri lesu Cliristi. Quod si illi refractis omnis
pudoris repagulis pergant palam esse scelerosi, vt aliqua ratione
coercendi sunt, ita neque cuiuslibet est illos incessere nec armis rem ;

145 geri placet, ne semel admissum exemplum violentiae saeuiat et in

innoxios.
Quod sibi sacerdotes et episcopos eligunt, non abhorret a consuetu-
dine veterum. Sic electus est S. Nicolaus, sic Ambrosius, sed nondum
aedita formula electionis canonicae quemadmodum olim et reges
;

150 a populo designabantur. Deinde crebri tumultus populares effecervmt

vt res paucorum arbitrio transigeretur. Caeterum quod indoctos
eligunt et literarum expertes, tolerabilius esset si vitae pietas
pensaret eruditionis inopiam. Nunc gemina calamitas est populi, si
non minus impii sunt quam indocti.
155 lam quod se vicissim fratres ac sorores appellant, non video cur
debeat reprehendi. Atque vtinam eadem appellatio mutuae charitatis
perseueret apud omnes Christianos, sic vti mores non dissentirent
a verbis Quod minus tribuunt doctoribus quam diuinis voluminibus,
!

hoc est plus deferunt Deo quam hominibus. recte sentiunt sed quod ;

160 horum autoritatem vbique reiiciunt, tam iniquum est quam si vbique
reciperent. lam tametsi non abhorret a vero Christum et Apostolos
145. et 0111. N. 159. {ilus F Corrig. : minus /'.

116. Apostolica] I Ptt. 2. i8. 138. Augiistini] in Psalm. 10.6.

I039J TO JOHN SLEOHTA 117

in quotidiano vestitu consecrasse, tamen impium est contemnere

quod non absque salutari consilio post a Patribus est institutum.
Ceremoniae sunt, sed his ceremoniis commendantur populo diuina
mysteria. Et si nihil aliud, quorsum attinet in ea re dissentire quae 165
citra negocium potest obseruari ? nisi Pontifex Romanus hoc illis
permitteret, vt ad antiquitatis memoriam suis ritibus vterentur,
quemadmodum Graecis et Mediolanensibus suos eoncedit ritus a
nostris multum diuersos. Quod si istis tantopere placet Dominica
precatio, ea et nostri sacrificii pars est. Vt stultum est nihil ad- 170
misceye sacris praeter vnam j^recationem, ita non recte faciunt qui
quaslibet quorumlibet naenias admiscent.
lam quae de sacramentis sentiuut, absurdiora sunt quam vt aures
piae ferre possint ;nisi quod e tantis malis hoc boni possumus
excerpere, ne nos rebus bene institutis ad quaestum aut inanem 175
gloriam aut etiam tyrannidem abutamur. Vigilias ac moderata
ieiunia demiror qua fronte cont^mnant, quum ea nobis toties Apo-
stolicis verbis commendentur quanquam ad haec malim hortatu
:

duci homines quam imperio trahi.

Porro de festis diebus non muitum abest istorum opinio a seculo 180
Hieronymi. Nunc in immensum accreuit festoram turba, quum
nullis diebus pkis scelerum committat vulgus et, quod est inhuma- :

nissimum, coguntur esse ociosi totos dies, qui non aliis reditibus
alunt vxores ac liberos, fortassis etiam parentes, quam opera diurna.
His indicere ferias nec dare quicquani, quid est aliud quam eos ad 1S5
famem adigere ? Sint crebra festa, sed in templis ad quae diuitibus ;

liceat accedere, sed ita vt pauperibus liceat viuere. Saltem illud

concederetur, vt peractis sacris redeant ad sanctos labores. Quid
enim sanctius quam manuum hibore prospicere liberis ac familijie ?
Nunc ad cuiuslibet superstitiosum affectum instituitur festus dies, 190
imo fere videmus hoc studio esse quibusdam episcopis, vt singuli
singulos festos dies addant calendario, quo vel hoc monumento suum
nobihtent episcopatum. Verum vt est obedientiae popularis obser-
uare quod a proceribus Ecclesiae praescribitur, ita horum erat pru-
dentiae non temere constitutionibus huiusmodi vel grauare populum 195
vel male consulere moribus pubhcis.
Hactenus e tuis literis morbum cognouimus nunc vtinam medi- ;

cina fidelis et efficax possit excogitari Et arbitror posse, si modo boni

!

grauesque viri huc totis incumbant studiis praesertim cum Carolum

;

habeamus Caesarem, ad ea quae sunt Christianae religionis toto 200

pectore propensum, cum Leonem habeamus in primis mitem et
exorabilem. Pulchre coibit concordia, si pars vtraque nonnihil
concesserit alteri. Fortasse finitimarum regionum querelae faciunt
vt plerique istorum abhorreant a dominatu Pontificis Romani, quod
se clamitent inclementer expilari premique saeuitia eorum per quos J05
geruntur Pontificia negocia. Sed aut ego plane fallor, aut facile
impetrabitur ab ingenio Leonis clementi iuxta ac pio, vt et perplexas
superiorum temporum rationes omittat, et in posterum etiam quam
minimum ab illis exigat, praesertim si sese syncero pectore illi ceu
194, praescribitur Fy : proscribitur N'^ Lond.

168. Mediolanensibus] Tliti Ambrosian ritc, still in us<- throughout the

province of Milan.
 118 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1519

210 patri crediderint. Satis amplum lucrum esse ducet si propulsato

dissidio pacem concordiam parauerit. Adiunget sese ad hanc rera
et
Caesaris autoritas quem monarcham, opinor, agnoscit et Bohemia.
:

Caeterum quod attinet ad ordinationes et sacramenta, nullo modo

oportet a reliquis orthodoxis dissentire. Et fortassis de recentiorum
215 definitionibus remittentur aliqua. De ritibus facile condonabitur
aliquid, etiamsi magis probarim vt omnes vbique Christiani et ritibus
precibus iisdem vterentur.
et Nunc immodica varietas est, dum pro
suo quisque affectu haec comminiscitur, et alius ahquid addit repertis.
Quin et illud, mea sententia, complures populos conciliaret Eccle-
220 siae Romanae, in quam nunc velut in caput quoddam colliguntur
omnes. si non passira quaelibet sic definiantur vt velimus ad fidei
negocium pertinere sed ea duntaxat quae euidenter expressa sunt
;

in sacris literis, aut sine quibiis non constat ratio salutis nostrae.
Ad haec pauca sufficiimt, et pauca citius persuadentur pluribus.
225 Nunc ex vnico articulo sexcentos faciraus, quorum aliqui tales sunt
vt citra periculum pietatis vel nesciri possint vel ambigi. Atque sic
est raortalium ingenium, quod serael definitum est, tenemus mordi-
cus. Porro philosophiae Christianae summa in hoc sita est. vt
intelligamus omnem spem nostram in Deo positam esse, qui gratis
230 nobis largitur omnia per Filium suum lesum. Huius morte nos
esse rederaptos, in huius corpus nos insitos esse per baptismum, vt
raortui cupiditatibus huius mundi ad illius doctrinam et exemplum
sic viuaraus, vt non solura nihil adraittamus mali verumetiara de
oranibus bene mereamur et, si quid inciderit aduersi, fortiter tolere-
;

235 mus, spe futuri praeraii quod oranes pios haud dubie manet in aduen-
tu Christi vt ita semper progrediamur a virtute in virtutera, vt nihil
:

taraen nobis arrogemus, sed quicquid est boni Deo transscribamus.

Haec potissimura sunt anirais horainura inculcanda sic vt velut in
naturara transeant. Quod si qui volent circa naturam diuinam aut
240 circa hypostasim Christi aut saci'amenta quaedam abstrusiora rimari,
quo magis attollant mentem in sublime et a rebus humilioribus
abducant, hactenus liceat, vt non statim quod huic aut illi visum
fuerit, cogantur omnes profiteri. Queraadmodura ex loquacibus
syngraphis citius nascitur controuersia, sic ex plurimis definitionibus
245 nascitur diffidentia. Neque pudeat nos ad quaedam respondere,
'
Deus nouit quomodo id fiat, mihi satis est quod credo fieri.' Scio
Christi corpus et sanguinera purura pure a puris esse suraendum ;
qui hoc sacrosanctum signura ac pignus esse voluit et suae erga nos
charitatis et Christianorura inter ijisos concordiae. Excutiam igitur
250 meipsum nura quid sit in quo raihi raale conueniat cura Christo,
num quid sit cum proxirao dissidii. Caeteruni quomodo illinc sint
decem praedicaraenta, et quoraodo transsubstantietur panis verbis
mysticis. et quoraodo corpus idem possit esse sub tantilhi specie ac
diuersis locis, meo iudicio haud raultum conducit ad profectum
255 pietatis. Scio rae resurrecturura hoc enini oranibus proraisit
;

Christus, qui primus omuiura resurrexit. Caeterura quale corpus

futurura sit, aut quomodo possit idera esse quod toties in aliud atque
aliud redactum est, vt non iraprobera suo tempore raoderate vestigai-e,
ita minimum conducit ad veram pietatera in his multum operae

215. F Corrig. : condonabit F. 258. iniprobarim i7.

I039] TO JOHN SLECHTA 119

ponere. Nunc his atque id genus aliis innumeris argutationibus, 260

quibus se iaetitant quidam. auocantur hominum mentes ab iis quae
sola faciunt ad rem. Denique plurimum habebit momenti ad orbis
concordiam stabiliendam, si prophani principes, sed praecipue Roma-
nus Pontifex. absint ab omni specie tyrannidis et auariciae. Nam
facile resiliunt, cum vident paratam seruitutem, quum intelligunt se 265
non inuitari ad pietatem sed captari ad praedam. Si nos innoxios, si
nos beneficos senserint, facillime sese credent nostrae fidei.
Ignoscam. vt rogas, loquacitati tuarum literarum. sed si tales saepe
miseris ;nam assueta faciHus ferimus. lodocus lonas hoc ipso
tempore mecum erat cum Academiae silffragiis rector designaretur 270 ;

quo viro vix aliud quicquam vidi melius. Bene vale, vir egregie.
Louanii Cal. Nouemb. Anno m. d. xix.

1040. To Maetix Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 45. (Louvain.)
Horawitz v, 10. (c. November 15 19.)

[Contemporai y with Ep. 1030, because of Hochstrafs presence at Louvain, and

in close connexion with Ep. 1038 ; but scarcely before November, since the
suggestion is, both here (1. 4) and in Ep. 1041. 23-4, that the Farrago (E, contain-
ing Ep. 980; is already published. The arrival of that volume at Louvain cannot
be dated mucli before the end of November for on 25 Oct. the printing was not
;

yet finished (Agr. E., p. 757), and on 10 Nov. the book had only just appeared at
Basle (BRE. 129, 133, 136 see also Ep. 998 introd.).
; A
copy reached Zasius at
Freiburg c. 13 Nov. (ZE. 12, 13) in Jan. Erasmus was distributing others in
:

Brabant (Epp. 1056,7). But he had perhaps now seen clean sheets of the first part
of E (which would include Ep. 980), such as had been sent to Beatus at Schlett-
stadt on 30 Sept. (BRE. 128;. The book sold with astonishing rapidity for by ;

17 Feb. Erasmus had heard from Basle that the copies were subito distracta ", '

and that a new edition was called for (Ep. 1066. 83-6).]

D. ERAS. ROTERO. D. MART. LYPS. BRVX.

(Q)voD ille significauit, merurn est somnium nam Bruxellae rem ;

odoratus sum. Hoechstratus adest Louanii. Is nactus est rneam ad

Luterum epistolam eam jiutat idoneam ad conuincendum me quod
:

faueam Lutero cum ipse in hoc ediderim, vt testetur nihil mihi esse
;

rei cum Lutero. Et si faueam, quid esset prodigii ? Egit ille apud 5
aulicos, praecipue D. Bergensem sed erant qui rem melius intel-
;

ligerent. Suspicor tamen conspirasse quosdam, Briselotum, Hoech-

stratum et Suffraganeum Cameracensem vna cum Egmondano, non
tam aduersus me quam aduersus Luterum. Me pituita grauiter

1039. 265. resiliunt] sc. homines. lite, Adrian Arnoldi (fNov. 1536), a
1040. I. ille] Perhaps Lee. Belgian who made his profession at
Bruxellae] See p. iii. Bruges in 1483, was B.D. 1507, D.D. at
2.ad Luterum] Ep. 980; which Paris 1515, and on 18 Sept. 1517 was
Hochstrat had no doubt found in appointed provisory Bp. ot Risano, ou
either the Leipzig or tlie Augsburg the Guif of Cattaro in Dalmatia. See
edition (see Ep. 948 introd.^. Bibliotheca Carmelitana, 1752, i. 1-2;
5. ille] Hochstrat. Gams, p. 415; Le Glay, Cameracuni
6. D. Bergensem] SeeEp. 1038. i^n. Christianum, p. 85; and Dom U. Ber-
7. Briselotum] See Ep. 597. ^n. liere. Les evtqiies auxiliaires de Cambrai et
8. Suffraganeum] Briselot's succes- de Tournai, 1905.
.sor in this office was also a Carme- Egmondano] See Ep. 878. i^n.
 120 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [151

10 discruciat. Pro munusculo gratiam habeo. De amicicia nihil est

quocl dubites, mi Martine. Vtinam liceret te visere Noua Colloquia
!

sunt sub prelo. Bene vale.

1041. To THE Reader.

Colloquiorum Formulae f°. h^ v°. Louvain.
(c. November 1519.)

[A letter appenclecl to Martens' enlarged edition of tlie CoUoquionun Formulae

(c. Nov. 1519) (Ep. 909 introd.), and described on the title-page as Contestatio '

aduersus seditiosas calumnias'. In order to contain it, the last sheet, h, is

extended to six leaves so that it was perhaps written at the very end of the
;

printing, and should thus be dated rather later than Ep. 1040. But the
numerous points of resemblance in 11. 33-45 to Ep. 1033. 24-5, 57-68, 192-3,
show that in date this cannot be far distant from 19 Oct. In the Apologia qua
respondet {{", F* v" Jortin. ii. 520) Erasmns states that he was not present when
;

the book was printed perhaps being away at Brussels or Antwerj) ;cf. p. 11 1).
;

In writing this letter his purpose evidently was to keep himself from beijig
involved in the still undetermined controversy about Reuehlin and the troubles
which Luther was raising cf. Ep. 1033 introd. To what extent he writes
:

iugenuously is not clear. With regard to Ep. 713 it may be pointed out that
the form given by both authorities is Christianisfes, not Christiajiista, and that
there are several small changes in from the text of a but it may be ciuestioned :

whether Erasmus would have resorted to quite so narrow an equivocation. If

he is given the benefit of the doubt, it follows that the words to which he
objects were not in Ep. 713 as he wrote it, and that the text of that letter was
otherwise changed. As to Ep. 980, his denial of the mention there of the
Bishop of Liege only amounts to saying that the name is not found in E and ;

therefore probably does not invalidate the unauthorized text. But the sugges-
tion in nescio qui euulgarunt (1. 23% as compared with Ep. 1040. 4, tliat he was
*
'

not cognizant of the publication of E, may be taken only as part of his habitual
affectation of modesty in the matter ; cf. App. 7. In any case it is to be
noticed that he does not deny the general authenticity of either letter.]

ERAi-MVS IIOTEROD. AMICO LECTORI S. D.

RvEsvs extitisse doleo, lector amice, de quo malui vel intempe-

stiuiusadmonere quam errare quenquam. Prorsus inciuiliter factuni
quod typograpborum temeritas Epistolis ad Reuchlinum iam olim
euulgatis nuper adiecit quasdam nostras, liaudquaquam in hoc scriptas
5 vt ederentur sed inciuilius est quod in his quaedam odiose mutarunt.
;

Nullam enim recusaro mulctam, si in autographis quas ad Reuchli-

num scripsi, deprehendantur haec verba, non Christianus, sed '

Christianista ne quid de caeteris dicam. Scio Reuchlinum virum

' :

l^rudentiorem quam qui

pateretur haec fieri nec dubito quin hoc ;

10 inscio commissum sit ab

iis qui Reuchlino sedulo magis quam pru-
denter fauent a quibus iisdem additi sunt odiosi tituli Reuchlini-
:
'

starum et Eiasmi suis diuinis scriptis Reuchlinum vbique defen-

' '

1040. II. Noua Colloquia] See Epp. citum pagina inuenies niox sequenti.'
909, 104 1. On i°. a.^ at the head of the list of
1041. 3. Epistolls] The lUustr. virorum Reuchlin's defenders is Erasmus qui '

Episi. of May 1519 ; see Ep. 300 introd. Capnionem suis diuinis operibus vndi-
6. ad Reuchlinum] Ep. 713. 2,3. que purgat ac defendit '.
II. tituli] The titie-i)age of lU. vir. For the word Beuchlinisia cf. HE. 46,
Epist. ends : ' Reuclillnistarum exer- 50. 4, 51. tit., 53. i.
io4i] TO THE KEADER 121

suri'. Ego nec Reuchlinista sum nec vllius humanae factionis. Ista
dissidii nomina detestor. Christianus sum et Christianos agnosco
Erasmistas non feram, Reuchlinistas non noui. Cum Reuchlino 15
praeter ciuilem amicitiam nihil intercedit. Porro patrocinium illius
nec ego suscepi vnquam nec ille desyderat. De causa eius viderit
summus ille in terris iudex, qui extremae sententiae negotium in se
recepit.
Quin et in illis prudentiam desydero, qui litteras ad quemlibet 20
familiariter scriptas in vulgus edunt, praesertim mutatis quae viden-
tur. In ej)istola qua respondi Lutherio, addita est mentio Episcopi
Leodiensis at ea non est in eadem epistola, quam nescio qui euulga-
;

runt Basileae. Quemadmodum et in epistola Eckii ad la. Hoech-

stratum, quam quidam Bruxellae circumferebant, sublata erant 25
quaedam satis petulanter scripta in illustrissimum quendain Ducem
etiamsi in hanc sane partem peccari malim. Non me pudet respon-
disse Lutherio qui prouocatus responderem et Turcae. Bonis illius
;

faueo, non malis ; imo Christo faueo, non illi. Et sic respondeo vt
illum de multis admoneam. Admonui ciuiliter, quod ita plus profici ?,o
sciam. Sic, opinor, illi fauent permulti, quemadmodum Cyprianus
fauit Tertulliano, multi Lactantio, plui*es Origeni. Quod tamen citra
fraudem Lutherii dictum velim. Ego illius nec accusator sum nec
patronus nec iudex. Viderint ii quibus hanc prouintiam nominatim
delegauit Rhomanus Pontifex. Quanquam quae tandem inuidia sit 35
extra causam fauere primum viro bono (quod fatentur et hostes),
deinde pectori quod, etiamsi iustis de causis exasperatum plus iusto
incanduit, tamen alio vocatum j^ossit esse egregium organum Christi,
qui non extinxit linum fumigans, sed excitauit longe dissimilis
;

istis qui perdere malunt quam mederi, oppi'imere quam docere. 4°

Permittit legum seueritas etiam iuratis iudicibus vt faueant reo.
Dictat humanitas vt faueatur oppresso.
Haec loquor et a causa Lutherii alienissimus, et ab omni genere
dissidii, vt si quis alius, auersus. Porro epistolam, quae parum bene
intellecta et peius interpretata dedit occasionem huic suspitioni, et 45

14. dissidii nomina] Scheurl ijrob- dialissimis amicis cum magna gloria
ably liad this passage in his mind when ostendit, qujim etiam multi lacobitae
he wrote to Melanchthon, I April 1520 (the Dominicans) excopiauerunt '

(SE. 214) :'Erasmus se integrum ser- reveal both why and liow the letter
uat, odit ista sectionum nomina sicut passed into circuhxtion. Sec also L a^n.
vere odienda, quod omnes Christi 25, BruxellaeJ See jx m.
sumus.' 27. malim] Erasmus proceeded to
16. nihil intercedit] Cf. Ep. 967. act on this principle himself cutting
;

72,3. out in F the disparaging remark of

23. Leodiensis] Cf. Epp. 980. 3611, Mosellanus about Duke George (Ep.
1038 introd., 1 143. 43-50. 911. 59,60), also made in connexion
24. epistola Eckiij dated 24 Juiy with the Leipzig Disputation.
1519, Leipzig. It deals with the ques- 28. Turcae] Cf. Epi>. 1167. 193, 1192,
tions raised in the Leipzig Disputation 1202, 1219, 1255 introd.
(Ep. 1020. 62n), and mentions Dukc 34. iudex] Cf. Ep. 1033. 58^.
George of Saxony, but, as is implied nominatim] First Caietano and
here, without derogation. It was then Miltitz (Ep. 1188).
printeds. a. e<i. (Wittenberg, J.Grunen- 39. linum] Cf. Ep. 939. 113.
berg: Proctor 11850); and the words 44. epistolam] Ep. 980, wJiicli liud
—
which follow the title 'quam ille been published first without Erasmus'
tanquam preciosum thesaurum cor- sanction cf. Epp. 1033. a^n, 1042. lon.
;
 122 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

ipse Lutherius aeditam dolet id quod proximis suis ad me literis

;

liquido testatur. Velim igitur, qui libros edunt, vt abstineant ab

istiusmodi sediciosa licentia, nec abutantur arte sua, iuuandis studiis
ac moribus reperta, non turbandae tranquillitati reipublicae Chri-
50 stianae. Quod si horum temeritas cohiberi non potest. meum tamen
animum tibi, lector, hoc chirographo testatum esse volui. Bene vale.
Louanii.

104.2. To .

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 498. Louvain.

HN: Lond. xii, 31: 16,358. (November 1519,)
[Not much later than the reconciliation vvith the Louvain theologians and ;

probably (cf. 1, lon) about the same date as Epp. 1040,1.

The person addressed clearly was a physician conceivably .1. Bogardus ;

(Ep. 932. 54n), who was now in orders.]

ERASMVS CVIDAM OBTRECTATORI S. D.

QvoMODo sis abusus lingua tua ante instauratam concordiam, non

me clam fuit ; sed post pactam omnium superiorum obliuionem
audio te conuiuia tua singula condire virulentissimis obtreetationibus
in fortunam ac vitam famamque meam. Vt sim is in quem ista
5 merito dicantur, tamen non ignoras quam foedum sit vlcisci sese
obtrectatrice lingua, idque in conuiuiis et interim praebere perni-
;

ciesum exemplum tuis conuictoribus, praesertim in re in qua nihil

intelligis, Praestabat, dum ista garris, euoluere Hippocratis canones,
vt haberes quod respondeas aegrotis consultoribus. Scio istam
10 suspicionem natam ex epistolip. duabus pessime intellectis: quod
facile doeebo, si cui sit sanum cerebrum. Quid autem agas cum
furiosis ?
Sed haec explicare sit prolixius, Vt paucis dicam, si ab ista viru-
lentia linguae temperaris, rectius consules dignitati tuae, Ego per-
15 multa passus sum, ne quid tumultus mea causa nasceretur et adhuc ;

pacem instauratam mordicus teneo. Ego Lutherum nec accuso nec

defendo. Sic esse res ipsa docebit. Quare nolim me horum negociis
admisceri, Et id demonstrabo veris ac solidis argumentis, Quod si
tu perges ista petulantia famam meam incessere, vide ne mea quoque
20 lenitas victa efficiat vt tu post mille annos inter virulentos syco-
phantas, inter gloriosos nebulones, inter malos medicos decanteris.
Sed absit vt hoc eueniat, Mihi Christiana magis placent, et ad ea te
prouoco, Bene vale. Louanii. [Anno m. d, xvin.]

1042. 6. // : obtrectatrici F. 23. Louanii, Anno si. d. xvin add. H.

1041. 46. literis] Not extant but : 1042. concordiam]Cf.Ep. 1016. 15^.
i.

scarcely a reply to Ep. 980. It appears 10. epistolisduabus] One of these is

to have bccn conciliatory in tone. For certainly Ep, 980 cf. Epp. 1040. 2-4,
;

traces of other correspondence between 1041. 22-4, 44-5. The other is perhaps
them in 1520 see Epp. 11 13 introd., 1 141. Ep. 948, which was printed and circu-
i5n, 1166. 9on. but no letters survive lati-d with it.

tili 1524. 20. ienitas] Cf. Ep. 1029. ^n.

 123
1043J

1043. To Philip of Burgundy.

Paraphrasis ad Timotheum etc. p. 3. (Louvain.)
Lond. xxix. 75 : LB. vii. 1031. (November) 1519.
[The prefaee to the Paraphrases 011 the shorter Pauline Epistles dated, ;

thoiigh perhaps not -written, before Ep. 1062. The firs.t edition was by Hillen at
Antwerp (Ep. 1061. 618), and had perhaps reached Zurich by 4 Jan. 1520 (Zw. E.^
113) but no copy is as vet known. It was reprinted by Froben in March 1520
;

(a), for the progress of which see BRE. 153 and there are later Froben editions
;

of March 1521 ($), reprinted in July ; of Feb.-March 1522. folio (7) ; of 1522,
octavo (5), followed by the folio of 1523-4; of 1523 octavo (e) ; of 1532, folio (C;,
followed by the octavo of 1534 ; and of 1540 and 154 1, foho (??).
The date can be determined with some precision from Lee's statement
(Ep. 1061. 617-22) that this was the book given by Erasmus to Hillen, in order to
hinder him from undertaking Lee's Annotationes, at the second attempt made by
Lee about the beginning of Nov. 1519 (Ep. 1061. 6o8n). If, as Lee suggests, it
was thrust hastily upon Hillen, the preface may have been composed while the
printing was proceeding, and this view i^ corroborated by the resemblance
between the opening sentence and Ep. 1053. 523 but iu any case it can hardly be
;

later than Nov. 1519. In the Apol. qua respondet ^tf. E* V.F Jortin ii. 518) Erasmus ;

states that he expected the printing to take 12 days, and that he gave it to
Hillen because Martens was short of workmen also that he was at work on;

the Paraphrase 40 days before Christmas, and long before he had formed any
idea of writing Ep. 1053 (ibid. ff. B', B* v" pp. 502,3). ;

For recent intercourse betweeu Erasmus and the Bishop of Utrecht see
Ep. looi. 7-811.]

EEASMVS ROTERODAMVS OPTIMO PKAESVLI ET EIDEM CLARISSIMO

PRINCIPI TRAIECTENSI, PHILIPPO A BVRGVNDIA, S. D.

CvM hisce mensibiis arua passim nuda steriliaque iaceant, ornatis-

sime Praesul, literaria tamen seges nunquam non aliquem fructuni
aedit nec est vlla tam rigida bruma quin ex studiorum agris pro-
:

uentus aliquis redeat. Mihi porro visum est aequum vt hinc nonnulla
portio decideretur episcopo, velut huius agricolationis principi. 5
Etenim cum rem Euangelicam pro nostra virili adiuuamus, aliqua ex
parte in vices tuae solicitudinis succedimus. Id autem eo feci liben-
tius, quod argumentum etiam ipsum ad hoc inuitaret. Explicauimus
enim paraphrasi Epistolas diui Pauli ad Timotheum duas, ad Titum
vnam quibus adiecimus, ceu coronidis vice, quam scripsit ad Phile-
:
10
monem, ne sola reh'nqueretur, cum sit vltima, licet argumento dis-
simili quanquam in Paulo nihil est quod non pertineat ad episco-
;

pum. Siquidem in tribus superioribus mire depingit ac repraesentat

imaginem germani vereque Christiani praesulis, et quibus dotibus
praeditum oporteat ad tam arduam prouinciam adcisci, et quibus 15
officiisobire munus delegatum. Nam quam sit ardua res inculpatum
episcopum agere, quanta rursum pernicies sit humanae vitae parum
syncerus custos Dominici gregis, vel ilhid arguit quod non alia de
re Paulus vnquam instantius ac magis anxie praeceperit. Quoties
enim identidem inculcat et infigit eadem Quoties obsecrat, obte- 20 !

statur, adiurat per omnia sacra nunc blandiens, nunc poUicitans,

I

nunc territans, nunc suo, nunc Christi exemplo prouocans.

lam cum Paulus sic metuat iis quos ipse sua doctrina formarat.
I. ao: ornatissimae 7. 8. ipsum tjosMioc «dd, ^'. 14. o5 : vcrao<juo 7.
15. adsci*ci €. 23. iisa^t,': his /3e.
 124 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [151

quos suis ipsius manibus impositis ordinarat, quorum tidem et inte-

25 gritatem tot modis perspectam et exploratam habebat, quanto plus
hodie periculi est tam difficile munus cuiuis temere credere Olim !

singulis ciuitatibus singuli praesidebant episcopi atque in his ipsis :

sane quota portio erat Christi religionem profitentium ? Vt ne dicam

quod illis temporibus feruebat adhuc in pectoribus hominum Christi
?,o sanguis, vt recens effusus, ardebat adhuc ignis ille coelestis qui dabatur
a baptismo quorum vtrumque nunc, nescio quomodo, refrixisse
:

videtur in moribus nostris. Has ob res episcopus non solum paucio-

libus praesidebat verumetiam vltro parentibus. Proinde mihi non
paulo difficilius videtur hodie praesulem fidum et incorruptum agere,
35 non tantum ob hoc quod vnus tot oppidis praesideat, verum multo
magis quod plerique praeter dispensationem Euangelicae doctrinae,
quae praecipua ac pecuharis est episcopi functio, prophanae quoque
ditionis administratione sint onerati.
At dictu mirum quam aegre inter sese cohaereant mundus et Chri-
40 stus, quam difficile conueniat coelestibus curis ac terrenis. Cumque
multo difficiliimum sit alterutrum praestare, vel bonum episeopum
vel salutarem principem, quantum negocii fuerit vtroque districtum
sic moderari negocium vt nec religioni desis nec ditioni, sic satis-
facere principi mortali vt Principem immortalem non offendas, sic
45 placere aulae vt non displiceas coelo Olim quisquis suscipiebat
!

episcopatum, huic statim ad omnes persecutionum procellas praepa-

randus erat animus. Sed haud scio an horum temporum tranquil-
litas, si tamen haec tranquillitas est, phis habeat periculi quam illorum
tempestates.
50 Quanquam autem pro mutato rerum statu fieri non potest vt per
omnia sit eadem gerendi episcopatus ratio, neque ]:)rotinus damnandum
quod ab illius aetatis exemplo dissidet nec sinunt rerum humana-:

rum aestus id semjDer impetrare praesulem quod optimum iudicarit,

quemadmodum peritus etiam ac vigilans gubernator nonnunquam
55 frustra clauo assidens vndarum ac ventorum arbitrio rapitur tamen :

minus aberrabit ab iHa syncera perfectaque boni praesulis imagine,

quisquis hanc Pauli formam ceu scopum quendam semper habebit
prae oculis vt egregius nauclerus, licet nonnihil a recto cursu
;

cogatur deflectere, tamen a Cynosura non dimouet oculos, ne toto,

60 quod aiunt, coelo contingat errare. Si Paulum assequi non licet, est
tamen ahquid illum vtcunque sequi. Ad optima nitenti non deerit
Christi praesidium cuius vices gerit tua celsitudo, et sine cuius ope
:

frustra est omnis conatus mortalium. Bene vale. Anno m.d.xix.

1044. Fro:si Martin Dorp.

Basle MS. G. II. 13^ 40 (a). The Hague.
Dorpii Oratio, March 1520, p. 51 O). 28 November 1519.
[The Ms. (a) is eurly xvi=, but iiot autograph ; its siglum niay be divided
for the copyist (a^) and a corrector (a"^), who
appear.s to be coutemporary. For ^
see 1. i6n. The year-date is confirmedby the date of that edition.
Dorp's position among the theologians of Louvain was at this time undergoing
marked «•hange. From being closely unitcd to tliom and to some extent their
30. vt n : vtpoto C- 39- ^'"''^' " = ^6 7;.
I044] FROM MARTIN DORP 125

mouthpiece (Epp. 304, 337. 3730, 347', he had hacl a reconciliation with Erasmus
(Ep. 438) and then again a rupture (Ep. 474. i^n). But tlie breach had been
healed again (cf. Epp. 627. 16, 852, 946, and BRE. 121) and now, reacting ;

towai'ds humanistic studios, and yielding perhaps to external pressui"e (cf. Ei^p.
994. 13-15, 1002. 33-9), he had recenth' printed his Oration (1. i6n'i, in evidence
of his changed point of view, and for a time was even inclined to take an
interest in Luther (cf. Zw.^ E. 124, LE.^agi). From this he retired later but ;

his sympathy with humanism remained unimpairod. and parted him from his
former allies.
contra Lxdlierum.
—
See de Jongh, pp. 162-5, 45* 4^* and cf. Acta Acad. Louanien.
;

The purpose of his present visit to the Hague is not known. He liad just
resigned tiie Presidency of the Coliege du Saint Esprit at Louvain, pcrhaps not
altogether willingly (seo I. i6n;, and liad been succeeded by Ruard Tapper, 21 Nov.
(de .Jongh. pp. 181.44*). It seemsfrom I. 81 thatlie wason businessand was not
quite his own master. It is evident, however, from de Jongh, p. 46*, that his
severance from Louvain was only temporary cf. Epp. 1 103. 25-6, 1165. 26-7,
;

and EE. 11.

This letter is the last that survives of his correspondence with Erasmus ; but
their friendship now renewed (cf. 1. 49^) lasted till Dorp's death in 1525.]

M.\RTINVS DORPIVS CLARISSIMO DOMINO ER.\SMO ROTERODAMO

SALVTEM D. P.

MiROR vehementer, eriiditissime domine, quid aceiderit istis vt ita

sursum ac deorsum omnia versent, vt eximios aliquot sic de studiis,
sie de re Christiana meritos male vexent. Polliceor tibi et Domino
Deo, me non habebunt turbae istius eonsortem. Quanto Christianius
est recteomniaae sane intelligere et in meliorem partem interpretari ! 5
Secus qui faeiunt, nonne ipsi makim inferunt doctorum virorum
lucubrationibus? Queso te per gloriam Christi, mi Erasme, omnis
eruditionis princeps, vt ne animo frangaris ob quorundam et paucorum
et inermium ineptissimam simul et stultissimam importunitatem.
Magis te consolentur tot eximiorum tum principum tum episcoporum. 10
tot eruditissimorum toto orbe virorum amicissima de te tuaque
eruditione iuditia, eaque quum verissima timr eonstantissima.
Hic certe ita ex animo fauent tibi, ita admirantur, ita predicant
opera tua insignia, vt non credam simile contigisse euiquam mortalium
omnibus retro seculis, neHyeronymo quidem ipsi. Non fingo hoc, 15
teste Deo, mi Erasme. Omnes eruditi gratulantur mihi de Orationis
meae editione. quod animum sententiamque meam ingenue testatus
sim sine vllo fueo. Magnificus idemque eruditissimus iurisconsultus
4. istius turbae /3. 17. quod n-' : quot a\

I. The orthodox theologians.

istis] As a result, Froben produced a later
Orationis] See Epp. 438, 1024.
16. issue of the same edition, March 1520,
1029; and cf. Am. E. 3. It had been with this letter appended : to Dorp's
delivered in 1516, but had only regret (BRE. 166) —
for, in spite of the
rccently been printed, Antwerp, discreet omission at I. 40, the publi-
M. Hillen, 27 Sept. 1519, with a preface cation was sure to increase his difficul-
to Beatus Rhenanus (BRE. 126). Dorp ties at Louvain ; cf. a lctter of Jerome
no doubt .sent it to Baslc, for Froben Frobon, ^Feb. i52o(Zw.E.*ii8),report-
reprinted itinJan. 1520 (cf. BRE. 143 ;
ing that Dorp had been 'a factione
Zw. E.'- ii8) but it appears (II. 56-8)
: theologica summa oborationem editam
that he had not yet received any contumelia, eimulque ex suo
afifectus
iiitimation of Froben's intention, and eiectuscollegio,acnunc totusagit Eras-
so appealed for Erasmus' intervention. micum'. See, however, Ep. 1165. 26-7.
 126 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

D. Nicolaus, praeses Hollandiae et ceterarum prouintiarum, ita

20 amplectitur vt numquam letius prandeat quam de te cum est prolixa
et in primis honorifica mentio, eaque de causa magno fauore me pro-
sequitur. Quidam domini consiliarii omnibus modis student bene
mereri de me, quod audierint, et in Oratione aperte legerint, me ex
animo tuum esse. Omnes scholae, omnia eruditorum conuenticula,
25 omnis magnatum corona Erasmum predicat inter quos precipuus ;

est magnificus idemque illustris ac doctus dominus de Assendelft,

qui tuis monimentis vnice delectatur, ea in manibus habet pene
assidue, quum vacat.
Me
student hic inaurare. Non desunt passim eximii viri religiosi
30 qui te, vti par est, summis in coelum efferunt laudibus. Inter quos
duo precipue me hortati sunt summo studio tuus vt essem, quum
hortatione non foret opus. Alter est Gardianus Mechliniensis, vir
cordatus, rerum experientissimus, idem eximie doctus. Proximus
Amandus, Grece Hebraiceque doctus, quem nosti, opinor. li sic

23. ex animo me 29. eximie 31. tuus a^ : tum a^.

19. Nicolaus] Everard see Ep. 1092.

; who was Warden at Mechlin and is
26. de Assendelft] Hugo (3 Nov. biiried there. He was first Provincial
1467 — 21 July 1540) of Assendelft, 10 of Lower Germany, 1529 and wrote ;

ms. NE. of Haarlem. In his missal. De curis et anxietatibns Guardia-

•

now at C. C. C, Oxford (MS. 462 see : norum and De ruina Obseruantiae

' '
',
EHR. xxxiii. 225-34), he has recorded now lost.
many faets of his March
life. On 31 See F. Gonzaga, De origine religionis
1478 he saw the enthronement of Franciscanue, 1587, p. 999 ; Wadding,
Maximilian at Haarlem and he was ; Script. ord. Minonmi, 1806, p. 133 and ;

present, 3 Feb. 1483, at the death of BN. Sanderus, CJwrographia $acra

his great-uncle Hugo, founder of the Brabantiae, iii (1727), p. 187, gives
Cistercians at Heemstede. He was Bonaventura Vorsel as ByPs ^ire-
M.A. at Louvain, 3 April 1487. and decessor.
Lic. inLaw, i Feb. 1497. On 13 Mareh 34. Amandus] of Zierikzee ;t 8 June
1497 he was ordained deaeon at Liege, 1524), of the Franciscan house at
and on 24 March priest but returned; Louvain. His Chronica mundi was
to Louvain to celebrate his first mass. printed at Antwerp, S. Cocus, May
30 April. He was then appointed ^534 ;
with a preface by Franc.
vice-curate at Haarlem, under Nic. Titelmann, 6 May, which contains al-
Ruistre (Ep. 177). and took part in most all that is known about him. This
Philip's enthronement there, 24 .June credits him withprofieiency inllebrew,
1497. He received a canonry at the Syriac, Greek, history and divinity,
Hague, 15 March 1507 but was at
: and praises his sweetness of character
Haarlem, 16 Aug. 1508, when he wel- and humility and patience in long
comed Maximilian with an oration. suffering. Hecomposed commentaries
On 20 July 1509 he became consul at on Genesis, Ecclesiastes, and Job, and
the Hague and thcre the remainder
; wrote other theological works also :

of his life was spent. In 1525 and '

De Sophi, rege Persarum, hoste Tur-
1530 he appears as taking part in the carum 1518. ',

suppression of heresy (de Hoop Wadding, op. cit., p. u, gives the

Scheffer, Gesch. d. Kerkherv. in Nederl., date of his death from the obit-book of
PP- 393) 590)- See also Ep. 1 166 introd. the Franciscans at Louvain, but con-
29. inaurare] Perhaps to give him jectures that it should be 1534,
some post in connexion with the because the Chronicle goes down to
Government of HoHand at the HagTie : that year : so also BWN. i. 239.
such as might be in the gift of de Titelmann, however, speaks as though
Assendelft (1. 26n). Amandus had been dead some time ;

Gardianus] Franciscan Wardens

32. so that 1524 may be accepted. The
were transferred so frequently that it continuation of the Chronicle may
is not certain who is meant here probably be attributed to Titelmann.
possibly John Byl (also Bilhemius or bringing it tip to date before pu)i-
Bylken.s) of Louvain (f 2 Nov. 1540), lishing it.
I044J FROM MARTIN DORP 127

fauent tuis sanetis laboi-ibus vt ne suis quidem niagis queant. In 35

Germania, in Anglia. in Francia, quot sunt chiliades mortalium sic
ex animo fauentium Erasmo vt ne aris quidem ac focis impensius
et o me dementem, qui non semper nisus sim nianibus ac pedibus ne
nasceretur de me pessima suspitio, quasi is ego essem qui tali viro
aduersarer, staremque ab nescio quibus etc. 40
Cur non ab initio id palam testatus sum ? Cur tam diu distuli ?
Malo fato actus fui, mi Erasme sed prestat recurrere quam cursum
;

male institutum pei-gere. Quam gaudeo me Orationem illam edidisse,

quo omnibus constet quam repugnante animo meo facta fuerint quae
contigerunt! neque enim vnquam mihi placuerunt que moliebantur. 45
Sed in hoc errorem meum ingenue confiteor tibi, mi Erasme humanis-
sime, quod non aperte explicuerim quid sentirem. Id si denuo
futurum est, male peream, quantus quantus suni.
Queso te vt aliquo in loco, quum erit opportunum, mei mentionem
facias amicam, quo intelligant omnes pulchre inter nos conuenire : -q
hoc mihi gratius facere non potes. Non desunt epistolae quaedam
ad me tuae et meae ad te harum si que erunt idoneae que impri-
;

mantur, per illas fieri poterit quod peto. R. D. Edmondensis amice

sentit de te. vir pius et qui natiua bonitate dissidia ista odit. Apud
eum apud omnes nihil cessabit Dorpius tuus, neque id clam habe-
et 55
bit. Orationem meam, etsi ineptam ac indoctam, mire tamen cupio
Basileae impressum iri typis Frobenianis. Id tu si voles, factum
est quid enim tibi neget vel Rhenanus vel Frobenius ? Cum scribis
:

ad Morum, ad Paceum, ad Rhenanum, ad Huttenum, ad Budeum,

facito, queso, amicam Dorpii tui mentionem. 60
Pater meus, vir senex ac pene octogenarius, plurimam salutem tibi
ascribi iussit. Fortasse non meministi vnde te norit. Collocutus
est tecum suauissime annis abhinc paulo pkis duobus in Collegio
Atrebatensi. Magister lacobus Mauritius, consiliarius, qui olim fuit
pensionarius Goudensis, toto pectore tibi addictissimus, iubet te c-

40. nescio quibus etc. a' : nes. a*. 41. sum o : fui )3. 42. mi a : o mi )3.

44. a' : fuerunt a'/3. 64. Mauricius /3.

etc.] The usualsignof omission

40. ;
opinion of Dorp). Beatus passed on
cf. Epp. 368. 8, 423. 58n, 424. 83. The the request to Capito and Hedio also
passage omitted evidently contained (BRE. 156), Zasius to Zwingli, Oswald
reflections upon the theologians at Myconius and Vadianus (Zw. E.* 129,
Louvain cf. 1. i6n.
; 136, 145). See also Ep. 1109. 33-5.
42. recurrere] Cf. Ep. 659. 22. 51. epistolae] Of the nine still extant
49. mei mentionem] Erasmus replied only two (Epp. 304, 337) had as yet
to this request with characteristic been published by Erasmus, and one
generosity and alacrity, and wrote no (Ep. 438) by Dorp, with this Oration,
doubt to all the persons named, bid- no doubt in pursuance of the wish ex-
ding them welcome the penitent. His pressed here. Two more (Epp. 536,
letter to Beatus survives (Ep. 1063) ; 852) had been included in E but of ;

and he wrote also to Hutten (cf. HE. this Dorp evidently was unaware.
164) and Oecolampadius (Ep. 1064). 53. Edmondensis] Meynard Mann;
His friends complied on all sides see Ep. 304. i6in.
More (Jortin ii. 668,9), Beatus (BRE. 58. Rhenanus] Cf. Ep. 732. in.
156), Hutten (HE. 164), Zasius (ZE. 61. Pater meus] Nothing else seems
21,22), Botzheim (ibid. cf. Ep. 1103),
; to be known of Dorp's fatJier.
Bo. Amerbach (Am. E. 3, 19 March ;
64. Atrebatensi] The foundation of
cf. Ep. 1084 and Basle MS. C. VI*. 73. Nic. Ruistre see Ep. 177 introd.
;

392, 31 Jan. 1520, with a very different Mauritius] See Ep. 176.
 128 LETTERS OF EKASMUS [15 19

saluere meis verbis. Rapior liic a viris doctrina fortunaque prae-

stantibus. Earo prandeo domi, non quod amem conuiuia. sed vt
confabulemur.
Lutherio, quod nuper scinjDsi tibi, mirifice hic fauetur. Est vir
70 quidam nominatae doctrinae magno ingenio ac studio indefatigabili,
vii'enti etiamnum aetate, qui Louanii olim summa cum laude erudi-
tionis vixit. qui in eius defensionem scripsit, explicans defendensque
vniuersa solidis Scripture locis. Ipse libellum legi, et afferam mecum ;

ita vult ipse, vir magno animo ac diues,

enim
75 Saluta, queso, D. Neuium et ora vt veterum turbarum ne memi-
nerit. Scio si rem penitus nosset, nunquam admodum egre me ferret.
D. Berselio, Reschio et ceteris meo nomine plurimam dicito salutem.
M. loannes Coecmanus, pater sanctae Agathae, vir pius et doctus.
tuorum operum helhio, qui tecum prandebat vna apud me Louanii,
80 sese comendabat tibi. Bene vale, et si comodum tibi erit, responde ;

uam hinc nondum licet emigrare.

Ex Hagha comitis die hme post Catharinae. m.d.xix.

^201045. Feom Germanus Brtxius.

Antimorus f'^. I* vo. (a). Paris.
(December) 1519.
[The verses with which More had mocked the French, in reply to Brixius'
Chordigerae Conflagratio (Ep. 212. in), did not at first attract notice. But when
Bi-ixius heard of them, apparently before the publication of More's Epigrammata
(cf. Epp. 620. 29n, 1117. 61-3), he wrote an elaborate poem of rejoinder,
Antimorus. In printing the poem, Paris, P. Vidoue, 1519, he appended Ep. 620,
which he had seen for the first time in the Farrago (see Ep. 1040 introd.), and
this letter Avhicli he had composed to answer it.
This letter may therefore be ijlaced between tlie arrival of the Farrago in Paris
(perhaps Nov. fin. cf. p. 119) and Easter i5j§, which isthe latest date to which
;

the printing of the Antimorns can be stretched. As More did not reply till well on
into the spring (cf. Epp. 1087, 1090^ it may be conjectured that Brixius' book
was not published until some time after the turn of the year (cf. LE.* 284, from
Paris, 14 March, announcing its appearance, and Zw. E.^ 124 and BRE. 159, 17
and 19 March, reporting its arrival in Basle also Basle MS. C. VP. 73. 298. 397)
;

but this letter, which is concerned with Erasmus' defence of More, was probably
wi-itten immediatelj' on perusal of Ep. 620.]

GERMANVS BRIXIVS DESIDERIO ERASMO S. D.

Heri quum Budaeum meum, quod frequens

forte fortuna inuisissem
mihi Epistolarum tuarum volumen, recens isthic
facio, ostendit ille
typis excusum, atque in eo lectam iam a se, vt dicebat, tuam ad me

66. fortunaque ;3 : fortuna a. 70. quidam a^ : quidem a^ magno a'

magni a^. 74. vir a : & vir ^. 77. a^ Bersclielio a^.
: 78. Coecmanus
scripsi : Coelmanus a. 80. erit tibi /3. 82. Haglia /3. m.d.xes. add. a* 0»«. P. :

69. vir quidam] Perhap» Cornelius 78. Coecmanus] The corroction is

Ilocn ; cf. Ep. 1166. necessary ; see Ep. 504. 26n. A Jac.
75. veterum turbarum] Cf. Epp. 696, Coelman, M.D., is mentioned as Dean
838. 7-10. of Andorlecht in 1510 see Gestel,
;

77. Berselio] See Ep. 674. Hist. archiepiscopatiis Mechlinien. 1725, ii.

Reschio] Soe Ep. 546. 53.

I0451 FEOM GERMANUS BEIXIUS 129

epistolana quani verisimile est te prius tabellario cuipiam ad nos

:

perferendam quam typographo excudendam dedisse verum ea certe ; 5

nunqiiam reddita, per Budaeum tum primuni nobis oblata est.

Dicerem placuisse, nisi id seorsum de singulari aliquo Erasmi scripto
a me dictum superuacaneum iudicarem sunt enim in vniuersum
;

Erasmi scripta omnia Germano grata ac sane quam epdcriJiia.

Quod ad Thomam Mwrum attinet (iam enim primo loco respondere 10
placet ad id argumentum quod tu postremo in epistola coUocasti).
scribis audire te nescio quid dentati libelli
'

— vtar enim eo verbo quo

'
—
ipse vteris, licet inuidioso "aduersus illum me moliri ; et quod '

'vtrunque nostrum pari amore complecteris ', id ipsum ne faciam

hortaris 'expedire et publico bonarum literarum nomine harum
: 15
mystas inter sese conuenire, postea quam tam odiose conspirant qui
Musas auersantur.' Agnosco. mi Erasme, animi tui candorem per-
quam egregium. Agnosco fidem amoremque in me tuum non vul-
garem. Agnosco singularem quandam in politiores literas earumque
cultores beneuolentiani, charitatem, studium. Quae ipsa per se sin- 20
gula tantam certe apud me vim, tam magnum pondus optinent, vt
nihil quicquam esse prorsus queat quod Erasmus vel solo nutu non
perfacile a nobis impetret. Verumenimuero ita mihi Musae ipsae
adsint, siquando illarum praesentia opus sit, vt iam Antimwrus mea
(id enim syluae in Mwrum nomen est) in manibus typographi erat, 25
magna ex parte formis excusa : cuius rei testes mihi esse possunt tum
Budaeus tum Beraldus, quibus ego Antimwri editionem iam aliquot
ante diebus indicaueram. Est autem tibi, arbitroi", eorum vterque
tam spectatae ac probatae fidei vt vel vtriuslibet testimonium ad
causae huius probationem apud te facturum satis existimem. 3°
Porro autem Antimwrum ipsam, quam ad te mitto, vbi legeris
(legere autem ne pigeat obsecro, etiam si te non nisi excultissimis
atque elegantissimis quibusque legendis scribendisue operam dare
non dentatum esse, quod auguraris, libellum,
sciam), fateberis i>Iane
quinimo prorsus edentulum, vtpote in quo mordeam quidem sed 35
absque dentibus, in quo iocer sed absque calumnia, in quo rideam sed
citra conuicium, in quo ludam sed citra maledictum, in quo com-
monefaciam sed sine obiurgatione, in quo erudiam sed sine ferula.
Nam Mwrus tametsi i:>robris etiam atque execrationibus me et inco-
gnitum, quod ais, et commeritum nihil, quod arbitror, vltro insectatus 40
est, Cyclopis videlicet barbariem imitatus, qui apud Homerum, dum
se videt in Vlyssem nauem iam ingressum aliter saeuire non posse,
illiprae stomachi rabie imprecatur tum suam tum sociorum perniciem,
ac propterea poteram ipse iure quodam duelli pari telorum genere
armatus cum aduersario in harenam descendere tamen facturum 45 ;

me multo apud omnes commendabilius atque adeo modestius iudi-

caui, si Mwri maledicta iu lusus, conuicia in risus, probra in iocos.
execrationes in ironias, diras in scommata conuerterem. Id quod
a rae factum feliciterne mihi an secus successerit, tum tuo tum alio-
rum qui syluam legent iudicio relinquo. Hoc vnum plane reoi', nisi 5°
me meum fallit praesagium, futurum vt apud caeteros qui vtriusque
12. denfcati correxi, secundum Ep. 620. 29 : detetati a. C/. etiam v. 34

41. Homerum] Od. 9. 513 scq.

K
 130 LETTEES OF EKASMUS [15 19

causam aequo exarnine perpenderint, neutri nisi pro causae meritis

fauentes, nequaquam sim male auditurus, quod Mwro, quem equidem
nullis vnquam neque scriptis neque dictis lacessiueram, ac ne laces-
55 sere quidem in animo haberem, vitro tamen prouocanti responderim ;

atque ita sane responderim vt eundem ipsum erratorum mille penitus

pudendorum, et quae diutius circunferri absque insigni authoris
traductione ac perpetua quadam ignorantiae nota non poterant, amice,
beneuole, fideliter, id quod facio, commonefecerim.
60 Quo nomine non video certe an altei'i magis debere quis possit.
Nam quod ad iudicium tuum spectat, Erasme doctissime, tametsi
hortatus es, idque re quidem non integra, ad libelli suppressionem
(qua ex re aperte declarasti quam cupias amicorum tuorum animos
in vnum consentire), tamen libello iam euulgato authorem, arbitror,
65 nequaquam editionis damnabis, nisi tibi ipsi prorsus aliud ius dicere
velis Apologia in Fabrum edita, aliud mihi Antimwro emissa quum ;

ipse in hac perinde atque tu in illa non nisi lacessitus adorientem

hostem defendam, tametsi non perinde depugnans, vt qui non pari
armorum genere instructus sim siquidem in Apologia totus ipse
:

70 armatuscominus tamacriter digladiaris quam ego in Antimwro inermis

eminus iocose ludo. Verum vt tibi quadrare illud potuit Christiane
pietatis adsertorem agenti, ita mihi hoc quoque conuenire potest
poeticam modo personam representanti. Magna vero, si diis placet,
Mwri esset praerogatiua, magna item dominatio, si illi libere ac temere
75 potius in alios scribere liceret, aliis in eum rescribendi locus abro-
garetur, concessa illi, praesertim apud nos quidem Galliae incolas,
non Vdepotiae insulares, scribendi tantum, non etiam proscribendi
facultate.
Proinde Mwrus tametsi prior lesit, incognitum innocentemque me
So vltro insectatus, sumque ego adductus hominis contumelia, non mea
ipsius improbitate, ad tragoediae huius actionem tamen posteaquam ;

personati ambo in proscenium prodiimus, ac suas iam pro virili vter-

que partes egisse visus est, ille prouocantis, ego defendentis, estque
Mwrus alioqui, quod scribis, amore meo dignissimus per me modo :

85 non stet, si illi ita videatur, quominus tragoedia haec tota, te authore
ac veluti choragum agente, in comediam desinat, ac dextris inuicem
iunctis Erasmo patrepatrato foedus feriamus animisque vtrinque
coeamus. Qui si tragoediae ipsius exitum spectare mauult, nihil
item moror quominus ea ad postreraum vsque actum deducatur vt ;

90 cui Mwri hypocrysis tam non est admirabilis vt me a proscenio deter-

reat, nec vires item vsque eo formidabiles vt, si manus conserere
maluerit, congressum detrectare debeam, modo ille suis, non vt
Patroclus Achillis, armis concertaturus in palestram descendat, et
mihi ab eo ante conflictum tuba insonet.

66. Apologia] See Ei5. 597. 3211. a printed note in tlie margin of f". B
77. Vdepotiae] It appears that defines Vtopia as remp. quae nusquam
*

Brixius was translating the earlier extat'.

form (cf. Epp. 461. i, 467. 14, 474. 30, Budaeus had already given Vdepotia
477- 5> 4^^- 62) of tlie name as tliough as an alternative form, in his letter to
it wero Nanquama; for on f*'. (t^ of Lupset, 31 July (1517), prefixed to the
thQ Antimorus he writes 'Vdepotiarri,
: Paris edition of tlio Vtopia, G. Gour-
non Vtopiam, si quid volebat Graece mont, (1517): BE.* 12.
recte formare, appellare debuit.' But 84. scribis] Ep. 620. 32,3.
I045] FEOM GERMANUS BEIXIUS 131

Quod ad alterum epistolae tue argumentum pertinet, verbis equi- 95

dem explicare non possim quam mihi gratum foret si qua adduci
posses ad Galliae nostrae contubernium, siue Eegis huius authora-
mento ac promissis longe amplissimis, siue amicorum, quos hic
multos habes, et eos quidem non vulgares ac plaebeios sed summates
atque illustres viros, iucundissima tibi futura consuetudine ; qui ico
vtique omnes Erasmum iampridem fania ad nos aduentantem, vt
tandem reipsa adueniat coramque adsit. votis omnibus exoptant.
Tibi ego, Erasme eruditissime, nequaquara mentiar amicus optimus
:

— —
amico item falli me non puto optimo. Mortalium nemo sane
vsquam viuit cuius gloria fauorabilior ac fama plausibilior apud hos 105
omnes elegantium literarum mystas circumuolitet quam tua vnius.
Atque equidem maximam tibi ipsi, maximam item omnibus nobis
Erasmi conspectum, complexum, colloquium tam auide coneupiscen-
tibus iniuriam facturum te arbitramur, nisi tu omnino ad nos adeas,
si non contubernii ac conuictus perpetui, at saltem peregrinationis iio
atque hospitii (quanquam contubernii malim) nomine. Hosj^ites
autem tametsi omnes tibi adesse cupiunt, teque vnusquisque, quod
video, in aedes suas proprias, vbi adueneris, excipere certat, tamen id
vnum abs te vehementer etiam atque etiam peto ac precibus omnibus
contendo, ad me vt diuertas, apud me tibi hospitium vt deligas, 115
futurum sane hospitem tam gratum tamque liberalem vt fortunas
omneis meas communes habiturus sis. Quae etiam si non longe
amplissimae sunt, tamen ambobus nobis, quod satis erit, victum,
vestitum, famulitium, equitatum et crumenulam insuper nunquam
non aere grauem suffecturae sunt vt hic omittam hortulum, quem
: 120
domi meae habeo, tam mhercule amoenum, tam voluptuosum, tam
oculis gratum et arridentem (id quod Lutetiae habere quammaximo
aestimari non nescis) vt eum incolere vel Musas, opinor, ipsas non
tederet.
Porro facit vetus nostra amicitia Venetiis primum inita, mox 125
Patauii confirmata, vt te etiam tam familiariter, ne dicam temerarie,
ad hospitii foedera mecum sub tuguriolo hoc ferienda inuitem potis- :

simum vbi olfaciam a non paucis hic tibi Moecenatis hortos et Lucul-
lianas plane aedes apparari, in quibus illa ipsa quae dixi foedera
splendidius multo ac magnificentius inire possis. Sed video Appol- 330
lini placere magis Musarum conuictum vel simplicem quam louis
lautissimas dapes ad quas ille, si quid Homero credimus, accedere
:

non solet, nisi ab loue aduocatus, cum eo in deoi'um corona anxia

aliqua de re, quae vel ad Graecos vel ad Troianos spectet, querente
interim lunone consultaturus. 135
Superest vt apud te hic de typographo tuo expostulem, qui dum
nomen meum illustrius reddere se putat, excusa per eum altera nostra
ad te epistola idipsum obscurius reddit. Quid enim aliud est Brixiana
scripta Erasmicis connectere quam vel rosae anemonam vel auro
plumbum assuere? Quanquam in eo malignitatem non damno, 140

98. promissis] Cf. Ep. 994. iin. 128. LucuUianas] Cf. Epp. 435. 137,
123. aestimari] For a 'hanging 480. 156.
garden at Paris see Beatus Rhenanus'
'
132. Homero] Cf. II. i. 602-4.
Res Ge.rmanicae, Basle, Froben, March 136. t}'pogi-apho] Froben, who had
153I) P- 183. printed the Farrago (E).
125. Venetiis] Cf. Ep. 212. in. 138. epistola] Ep. 569.

E 2
 132 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [15 19

alienae potius famae incuriam demiror. Nam ea epistola tametsi

poenitenda omnino mihi non est, tamen si eam editum iri existi-
massem, curassem mediusfidius vt cultior ac venustior de manibus
nostris in hominum ora prodiisset. Nunc quandoquidem quam tu
145 ad nos scripsisti, nostrae huic argumentum dedit, visum est eam per
te isthic iam euulgatam et hic quoque formis excusam nostrae ante-
ponere, vt ea perlecta, si qui forte erunt qui et nostris manus admo-
uere non perhorrescent, in huius intellectu minime haereant. Bene
vale, et me, vt soles, ama.
150 Lutetiae. m.d.xix.

1046. To JOHN ROBYNS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 516. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 31 : LB. 480. i December 1519.

[The researches of the late Prof. de .Tongh ehicidate this letter in a mos
interesting manner. The diffictilties of the professors of Busleiden's eollege and
of external teachers in genei"al were not ended by the settlement of 20 Sept. 15 19
(Ep. 991. 39n\ In accordance with the requii"ement of the University Rescius
(Ep. 546) had supplicated for incorporation, and tlierewith for licence to teacli ;
but finding himself without colleagues, the Latin and Hebrew chairs being
temi^orarily vacant (11. 28, 29nn), he applied on 29 Nov. to have the considera-
tion of his case deferred. The Arts Faculty, too, foUowing the example of the
Theologians, were raising difficulties about unmatriculated students as well as
about unincorporated teachers and Nesen (Ep. 329), Avho had recently arrived
;

in Louvain with his pupils (Ei^p. 994. ^n, 1026. 9-10, 1034), was forbidden to
proceed with a course of lectiires on Mela (1. 23^) which he had announced to
be given publicly at the Austin Friars.
According to modern standards such control by the University seems reason-
able ; but in an age of fluid and irregular conditions the requirements appeared
arbitrary and tyrannical, especially as thej^ conld be represented as aimed
against the new studies of humanism. In consequence among some of the
students, feeling against the University and the Faculties ran high. On the
night of 29 Nov. between 9 and 10, four men armed rang at the house of the
Rector, John Calaber, and one of them, coveriug his face with his gauntlet,
thrust into the hand of the astonished servant a letter threatening violence to
the Rector and the Vice-Chancellor, Briard, unless the inhibition on Nesen
were immediately removed. Their letter delivered, the men ran off. But one
of them had been recognized and next day the Rector had Rescius arrested.
;

This action was appi-oved by the University on i Dec, and at the same time
Rescius' application for incorporation whichhe wishedto withdraw, wasbrought
forward and granted in his absence.
Evidently Erasmus had been moved to invoke the aid of the Dean of Mechlin,
who, as intimately concerned with Busleiden's college (Epp. 805, looi. 15-18)
might be expected to protect one of its profcssors. There is some reason to suppose
that the arrest of Rescius was wrongful, and that he may really not have had any
hand in the nocturnal visit to the Rector for when Calaber's half-year of office
;

was over, Rescius brought an action against him. The Uuiversity decided to
support their officer but as thej' could hardly do otherwise, their decision does
;

not throw much light ou the rights of the case. The issue of the suit is not
known.
See de Jongh pp. 200-3, i4*-i6*, 25*-6* and, for the subsequent develop-
;

ments of the contest within the University, Epp. 1057 introd., 1240.]
1046] TO JOHN KOBYNS 133

ERASMVS EOTEROD. lOAXXI BOBINO, DECANO

D.

MECHLINIEXSI, S. P.

ViR eximie, vides humanae vitae scenas. Quid facias? Non

aliter constat haec fabula. Paukis gloriatur se vinctum esse
lesii Christi. Eutgerus gloriari potest se vinctum esse Collegii
Trilinguis. Dissimulent quantumlibet, hoc collegium illos pessime
habet. Atque haec auguria mihi portendunt olim florentissimum 5
futurum. Sic natum est Romanum imperium. Sic creuit Hebraeo-
rum gloria sic orta, sic propagata. sic constabilita Christiana
;

religio. Nulla res egregia nisi difficillibus initiis nata est. Argu-
mentum omne cognosces ex Bartholomeo, qui fuit non modo spe-
ctatorverumetiam affinis periculo. Vt sunt res humanae non vsque- 10
quaque purae, etiam si quid commissum esset, tamen humanitatis
vestrae fuerat aliquousque fauere Professori. Nunc et tali et inno-
centissimo multo minus debetis deesse. Doctior an inueniri possit
nescio, certe diligentiorem ac moribus puriorem vix inuenias.
Vtimur eadem mensa, et inter pocula quiduis garrimus. Ille tot 15
modis fuit lacessitus— hunc enim studio expetunt, ne quid offendant
magis masculos —
nec vnquam tamen audiui ilhmi quicquam
•
;

impotentius loquentem.
pectus vere Christianum Modo cum Paulo contuli Rutgerum !
;

qui hac certe j^arte vincit, quod qui Paulum affligebant, errabant, 20
nimirum alieni a professione Euangelica ; hi proceres Christianae
doctrinae, prudentes, de composito haec designant. Inhibuerunt
et Nesenum, aggressum Geograpliiam Pomponii Melae qui si domi ;

suae lupanar aliquod instituisset, tolerandus erat. sanctam Aca-

demiam, si cum ahis conferatur sed dignam aliis quorum arbitrio 25 I

temperetur. Mihi multis modis videtur hoc mereri Rutgerus, vt

illi salarium, quod iam aliqua portione est auctum, augeatur vsque

ad octodecim libras. De Professore Latino prosj)ectum est, ni fallor,

ex animi vestri sententia. De Hebraeo non possum iudicare, sed
consulam eos qui sine dubio possunt. Excellentiam tuam incohimem 30
seruet lesus optimus maximus.
Louanii calend. Decembr. Akxo m.d.xix.
9. Barptolemeo H : Barptoleniaeo N^ Lond. : Barptliolomaeo N^.

2. Paulus] Eph. 3. I, 4. I ; 2 Tim. tured on him at Louvain in Feb. 1522:

I. 8 ; Pliilem. i, 9. see EHR. xxii. 747.
9. Bartholomeo] Perhaps Bart. Gra- 28. Latino] Goclenius (Ep. 1209) had
vius, who was afterwards Rescius' just beeuappointed to succeed Barland
partner in printing, and who took his (cf. Epp. 1050, i).
degree at Louvain. See BN. v. 112. 29. Hebraeo] Matt. Adrian (Ep. 686.
Bart. de Wessem (Ep. 1051. 8u) is ^n) had been succeeded by an English
possible but lesslikeiy for in his case ; Hebraist, Robt. Wakefeld, who only
some title miglit have been expected. held his chair forfourmonths, i Aug.-
Wlioever it was, appears to have been i Dec. 1519 and arrangements were
;

concernedin thepresentaffairwith tlie now necessary to fill his place. The

Rector. successor appointed, Robt. Shirwood,
17. magis masculos] For Rescius' re- also an Englishman, letired in- •

tiring character Ep. 1237. cf. Lloriously' after a month. See VaL
23. Nesenum] Cf. Epp. 1104. 25-8, Andreas, pp. 283-4, Neve, and DNB.
II II. 61-2. Campensis was the first to liold tlie
Melae] Vives subsequently h:c- ehair for any length of time.
 134 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

«43i047ij3^ From John TuPvZO.

Munich MS, Lat. 965, p. 352 (a). Breslau.

^" P' 559 ' HN : Loncl, xv, i : LB. 479. i December 1519.

[For the ms. see Ep. 850 introd. : the copyist of this letter also is Hand B.
As shown ah-eady, the Munich MS, has excellent authority but like Ep. 850, it ;

was probabJj' copied from a rough draft among Turzo's papers at Breslau, whereas
F obviously was printed from the letter actually received, Accordingly the ms.
cannot be given invariable preference.]

EEASMO ROTORODAMO S. P. OPTAT.

ExPLiCAKi nequit, Erasme doctissime, quantum me tue litere

oblectarunt, licet vix septimo tandem mense ad me peruenerint
quibus saue vt antea nihil mihi fuit optatius, ita reuera nec acceptius
quicquam euenire poterat, Proinde eas ipsas obuiis, vt aiunt,
5 manibus excepi, exceptas et legi cupide, et lectione earum etiamnum
obsaturari neutiquam possum, Fuerunt, fateor, sepissime magne
nimis tum admirationi tum delectationi Erasmi doctissimi ad alios
scripta doctissima, formulis literariis alienaque manu excusa iam :

vero voluptati et gaudio nihil reliqui factum est, vbi authographum

10 eruditissimi ac omnibus dotibus ornatissimi viri conspicatus sum.
Erunt itaque liec tue litere mihi selectissimi et preciosissimi muneris
loco, tuique recordationem nulla obliuione abolendam perpetuo
exhibebunt.
Non autem, ornatissime Erasme, quod meas lituras verius
est
15 quam tantopere collaudes
literas noui egomet me, atque intra :

meam perquam libenter me pellicuLam contineo. Veruntamen quani

inhumanus optimo iure valeam iudicari nisi tibi pro ea etiam re
gratias agerem, tam essem impudens si tuas predicationes agnosce-
rem, At tu quomodo tibi non iniurius videri possis, qui hiudes
20 quibus te vniuersus propemodum orbis verissime prosequitur,
nimia, ni fallor, hac in parte vsus modestia, tantum abest vt ad-
inittas, vt contra maxinie auex-seris declinesque ? Debentur profecto
tibi longe maiora, presertim cum tui vnius patrocinio omnium
honestissimarum disciplinarum nitor, nuUo iam barbariei situ et
25 squalore obtenebratus, resplendescat tum syncere illius quoque ;

theologie puritas et sanctissima studia prope ad interitum redacta,

te parente, te duce, veluti renata toto orbe reflorescant,
Quod ad me attinet, tue nimirum litere totque tui vigilantissimi
iuxta ac sanctissimi labores me tibi obstrictum efficiunt, atque nullo

MS.
TIT. lOANNES TVFZO EPISCOPVS VRATISLAVIENSIS ERASMO ROTEROD. S. D. F.
:

6. Fuerant 7. niuiis il/S,

i^'. admodum F, 10. F erudissimi ifS,
: 11. :

hec om. F. et MS. ac F. 12. tuique ... 13. exhibebunt om. F.

: 14. or-
natissime 3IS. charissime F.
: litui-as MS. literulas H. 16. F: Verunta- :

men n iV/S. quam MS, iV^: quoniam F. 21. vsus ifS. huius iY, 24. :

nuUo MS, : multo J'. f' : barbarici 1/S. 25. quoque illius /'.

2. septimo] This reply was six states that tlio box of presents reached
monthsonthe journey ;cf. Ep. 1137. 3. Erasmus at Autwerp (p. 291).
Lond. XXV, 26, LB. iio3,3oMarch 1530, 16. pellKuhmi] Cf. Adag. 592.
I047] FEOM JOHN TURZO 135

non momento tui ingerunt memoriam quantumuis nihil prorsus : 30

mei apud te sit quod huius mortalis recordationem vicissim tibi
l>ossit afferre. Ergo igitur vt amoris et obseruantie meae singularis
in te studium tibi etiam atque eciam magis fiat cognitum, interim-
que ob oculos obuersetur Tursonis tui memoria, munus tibi mitto,
non magni sane precii quatuor horologia inquam, vitreis vasculis
: 33
exigua, puluisculoque paulatim delabente horas dimetientia quorum ;

vsus, opinor, clepsj^dram nostro seculo equat. Hec sane crebro

trac(ta)tu atque obuersatu te nostri in horas poterunt admonere.
Adiunxi preterea auri puri natiuique quatuor i:>articuhas siue ramenta
e subterraneis specubus adeoque ex ipsis terre visceribus in ditione 40
mee dioceseos. qualia vides, nuper eruta, nempe vt auri viuax vis
te immortalitate dignissumum declaret : ad hec tegumentum sacro
tuo capiti ex murium Ponticorum exuuiis, quas nostrates Sebellinas
pelles etiam dum vsurpata voce cognominant. Debebunt equidem
hee pelles, dum caput tuum et grata mollicie demulcebunt et foue- 45
bunt caloris temperie, meum in te amorem aut testari aut com-
probare.
Ego adeo hec tibi mitto, te, qui regum et potentissimo-
non quia
rum principum muneribus exornaris cottidie, similibus longeque
prestantioribus carere arbitrer sed vt amoris mei et propensissime
; s^
obseruantie studium, quemadmodum pi-emonui, tibi fiat compertius.
Verum quicquid est huius quod raitto, vt lubens et grato animo
accipias vehementer Id quod futurum confido, si animi mei
oro.
beneuolentia profusissima in te propensione, non precio,
atque
munusculum estimabis. Nam si pro tuis meritis ornandus sis, vix 55
ceite totius orbis opes et copie, nedum dynastae cuiuspiam facul-
tates, tue dignitati satis sunt facture. Quod superest, charissime
Erasme, maxime omnium opto, me, vt cepisti, amare pergas, Jjeneque
ac foeliciter valeas.
Datum WratisL Kh deeembr. Anno M.n.xix. 60
lohannes Thurzo, episcopus Wratislauieii.
manu propria.

31. mortalis MS. liominis F.

: 32. Ergo nm. F. 33. interimque MS. :

atque interim F. 34. Turzonis F. F muniis MS. :35. F magne :

MS. quatuor add. F. inquam horologia F. 38. tractu atque obuersatu

MS. obuer.satu atque tractatu F.
: F poterint MS. : 41. dioeceseos
H. nuper add. F. 42. F imortalitate MS.
: dignissimum
F. tegmentum i^. 43. F: exiuiis 3fS. Sabellinas J'. 44.
etiamnum H. 45. liae F. hoc x><jst caput add. F. 46. F temporie
:

MS. 48. MS. H : potentissimis F. 55. aestimaueris F. ornandus F

ornatus MS. 56. certe add. F. F : Dynoste MS. 59. felicissime F.
60. DatumF: Vale. JJfS. Vratislauiae f'. 61. loannes Turzo J'. Vrati-
slauiensis F. 62. scripsit post propria add. F.

41. nuper eruta] It was perhaps a 43. Sebcllinas] For a present of

result of this discovery that Turzo had sables from .John Lasky to Boniface
obtained froin Maximilian by 1513 the Amerbaeh, sent from Poscn in 1526,
right to mint a gold coinage sce W. C.
: see La. E. 9, and Lond. xxx. 43. LB. 827.
Hazlitt, Coinarje of ihe European Continent. 45. hee] For similar forms see p. 97.
suppL, 1897, p. 20. 5T. premonui] Ep. 850. 44,5.
136 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

1048. To Martin Lypsius.

Brussels MS. 4850-7, f. 153 (d). (Louvain.)
F. p. 596: HN: Lond. xvi. 6 : LB. 488. (December ?) 15 19.

[In a Lypsius prefixes this argument Has misit literas per ministrum suum
:
'

M. loannem Houium, in quibus obiter tangit tragoediam i^er theologos potissi-

mum excitatam. Quam certe vicit mira patientiaet diuersisartibus excogitatis.'
For the three letters, Epp. 1048, 1049, 1052, there is no decisive indication of
date. The visit to Ant\vei-p may be that of Dec. 1519 in which case Epp. 1048, :

1049 must be phiced between Epp. 1046 and 1051, of i and 7 Dec.]

ERASMVS ROT. D. MARTINO BRVXELLENSI S. D.

Charissime frater, aceeptis tuis literis non respondi protinus.

Decreueram visere te veruni semper nouis occasionibus sum pro-
;

hibitus. Oro te ne quid animum tuum discruciet haec tragoedia

plane fatalis tuus dolor mihi prodesse non potest, obesse potest
;

certe tibi. Omissis huiusmodi neniis oblecta te sanctis studiis et

philosophia Christi, que gaudet bonis et tolerat malos.
Puto me habiturum Vetus Testamentum Hebraicum Antwerpiae.
Si non mutasti sententiam, curabo vt ematur: syn secus est animus,
describe quid velis fieri. Bene vale in Domino, mi Martine charissime.
Anno m.d.xix.
Erasmus.

1049. To Martin Lvrsius,

JSrussels MS. 4850-7, f. 153 (d). (Louvain.)
F. p. 596: HN: Lond. xvi. 10 : LB. 486. (December ?> 1519.

[Lypsius supplies the foUowing argument in a Missa fuit ad concionatores

:
'

Louanienses, quos Praedicatores vulgus appcHat, epistola vlrulenta incerto

aiithore, quae e diui Martini collegio profecta dicebatur. Suspicio )uultoi'um in
Icannem Fagium, virum senem, ferebatur ob calumnias quasdam quibus Erasmi
nomen, cum vulgo sentiens, asperserat.']

ERASMVS ROT. D. MARTINO BRVXELL. S. D.

S. P. Tot obruor laboribus studiorura vt, si maxime cupiam, non

yacet adire te. loannes Hagius abiurat se esse autorem famosi libelli.
Ego suspicor Leum autorem esse, aut certe instigatorem, ni me mea
1048. Trr. add. F (d. anie martino om. H). 10. anno m.d.xix add. H.
II. Erasmus om. F. 1049. tit. add. F (d. ante maktino om. H). i. s. v. am. F.

1048.5. sanctissludiis]Erasmusgives this time see ME. 19 and Ep. 1200. n.

Ihis advice to Lypsius repeatedly see : Later Erasmus lielped Lypsius to a
Epp. 750. 4, 38, 807. 5-7, 843. 683, 901. Greek Bible (Epp. 11 74, 1189).
33-4, 1049. 6, 1056. 8-9, 1174. 1049.2. Hagius] Boyond thementions
7. Vetus Testamentum] Peihaps hore nothing seenis tobeknown of tiiis
Bomberg's Biblia Rabbinica (Ep. 456. .aged canon of Val St. Martin. Ep. 1052.
t)2n), the most recent edition of tl>e 2 corroboratos this form of his name as
ilebrew Bible :see also Epp. 1049, that given in Lypsius' intro-
.•igainst
1052. For prices of Hebrew Biblos at duction in the ms.
1049] TO MAETIN LYPSIUS 137

fallit diuinatio. Res leuiter me niouet, mihi ipsi bene conscium ;

sed possim certum scire qui sit, liet vt sit aliis exemplo, quisquis
si 5
est ille Satanae organum. Tu fac te sacris litteris oblectes absque
contentione quae tuam tranquillitatem turbat et meis negociis non
;

multum adfort momenti.

Cras eo Antwerpiam, empturus Hebraicum volumen, nisi quid
variat animi tui sententia. Bene vale, Martine charissime, aetate 10
fili, sacerdotio frater, et istos homunculorum tumultus magno animo

despice, nixus coelesti Christi pi-esidio. Anno m.d.xix.

Erasmus tuus.

1050. To Adeian Barland.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 496. (Louvain.)
HN : Loud. xii. 27 : LB. 367. (December init. 1519.)

[Probably shortly before E^). 1051 : after Goclenius' election on i Dec. and
before Erasmus had left Louvain _cf. 11. 6. 9-10" for Antwerp. The year-date
added in H has no value.]

ERASMYS ADRIANO BARLANDO SVO S. D.

NoN quod quidam aiunt, te nescio quid et stomachari

libet credere
et maledicere in Goclenium neque enim hoc tui candoris est, neque
:

meiiti illius. Est vir egregie doctus, nec minus integer quam doctus,
nullius gloriae inuidens. Postremo conuenit hoc tempore crvyKpr]TL(uv
qui colunt bonas literas, barbarorum phalangibus sic sese vndique 5
condensantibus. Non me fugit esse quosdam in hac schola qui
morbo naturae pessime loquantur, et de his a quibus nunquam
fuere laesi, imo quorum beneficentiam experti sunt. Qui si sanari
non possunt, tu tamen, mi Barlande, tui similis esse pergito, nec
horum consuetudine te coritamina. Bene vale: cum voles, confa- ic

bulabimur copiosius. [Anno m.d.xviii. ]

1051. (To Adrian Barland.)

Epistolae ad diuersoB p. 513. Antwerp.
HN : Lond. xiii. 26: LB, 346. 7 December (15 19).
being in F, cannot be later than 1520. It clearly is addressed to
[Tliis letter,
some i^erson who had been
disappointed by the election of Goclenius to an
office which from the date is no doubt tlie Latin Chair in Busleiden's college
;

at Louvain.
In Ep. 622. 3in Val. Andreas' statement that Ceratinus had competed with
1049. 12. Anno M.D.xix ac(d. If. 13. Erasmus tuus ow. F. lO-oO. 11.
Anno u.D.xviii add. H.

1049. 10. aetate fili] Cf. Ep. 807. 8; among thcmselves: cf. Adag. 11, quot-
quoting Hier. Ep. 105. 5. iiig Plut. Phil. 19. 490B. Erasmus uses
Goclenium] See Ep. 1209.
1050. 2. the exprossion frequently see Epp. :

To combini> against
4. avyKp7)Ti^ttv \ 620. 38, 930. 9, 947. 20, 1066. 76, an<l
a common a practice for which ihe
foe, Zw. E.^ 107, where it is porhaijs ro-
Cretans were famed, when combatants peated from him.
 138 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [151

Croclenius foi- the Chair, led me to suggest that it was he who vvas the object
of Erasmus' indignation here. He certainly was a candidate against Goelenius.
But he cannot be intended hei-e for P. Nannius exj^ressly states {Fimehris
;

oratio pro Goclenio, Louvain, S. Zassenus, 1542, f°. B^) thatinthe election Erasmus'
whole support was given to Ceratinus, and further dilates on Erasmus' candour
in accepting Goclenius when duly appointed. Eppendorft-s identification with
Barland (App. 14) may thereiore be talien as correct for though Eppendorff ;

was not in Louvain at this time, it can easily be imagined that while living
with Erasmus at Basle in the summer of 1522, he may have asked questions
about the enigmatic descriptions and allusions which lic found in his newly
acquired copy of the Epistolae ad diiiersos (F).
The identification seems to sliow that Barland's appointment to the Latin
Chair in 1518 (cf. Ep. 492 introd.) was only provisional and that now, after ;

little more than a year, he liad been obliged to give way to Goclenius. Under
tliese circumstances it may be conjectured that Ep. 1050 was written whilst
Erasmus was still at Louvain, when he had heard the first report of Barland's
attacks on Goclenius Ep. 105 1 hiter, when fuU details of what had been said
;

had reached him. Epp. 1163 and 1237 sliow that his indignation with Barland
was not lasting.]

ERASMVS CVIDAM A0YPOrAnTTni S. D.

NvNQVAM tani nmle de te sensurus erara, nisi teipsum adeo palam

declarasses ; toties tibi dixi id quod res est, rem in mea manu non
fuisse, nec integra re te mihi locutum de professione. Sed finge
quod non est, executores totum negocium meae fidei concredidisse,
5 meque te praeterito Goclenium vt magis idoneum praetulisse quid ;

erat cur sic in me debacchareris, perinde quasi auum tuum ferro

necassem ? Haec me quidem leuiter commouent, sed tui me miseret.
Si quid fuisset spei, non defuissem officio. Sciebam executores nullo
pacto propensos in te, etiam si de tuo addidisses duodecim libras.
10 Hoc tibi nolebam indicare quid enim erat necesse? Crede mihi,
;

ista tua improbitate multorum animos abste alienas homines illici ;

volunt, non cogi. Nimirum isti sunt mores ob quos Abbas tam
parce tecum agit. Non, vt opinor, antehac sum male de te meritus,
si nihil bene meritus. Etiam nunc te admoneo vt in posterum
15 rectius sapias, et sapias tibi. Nam minimum est in quo me possis
laedere. Bene vale.
Antuuerpiae. Px'idie conceptae virginis matris. [Anno m.d.xviii.]
17. H : Pridiae F. Anno m.d.xviii add. H.

8. executores] To this charge Bus- 9. duodecim libras] Apparently an

leiden had appointed Adrian Josel, attemjit to purchase the post ; with a
canon of Antwerp ; Nic. de Nisi^en, sum which, from the proposal in Ep.
secrctaiy to Robert Croy, bp. of Cam- 1046. 27-8, must have been about as
bray ; and Barth. de Wessein, canon much as a year's salary.
of Malines, Besides these, Stercke or 12. Abbasl Perhapssome patron
Robyns (Ep. 1046), if the new collegc who had contributed to Barland's sup-
should be founded within either St. port as Henry of Bergen (Kji. 49 in-
;

Donatian's or the collego of Arras. trod.) had to Erasmus'. Barland's

Josol did notact. SeeNeve, pp. 49-51, tutorship to Charles of Croy, abbot of
382. To these was afterwards added Afflighom, seems not to have begun
Ant. Sucquet cf. de Jongli pp. 13*, 17*.
; till later.
[052] 139

1052. To Maetix Lypsius.

Brussels MS. 4850-7, f. 153 v'. (Antwerp.)
(December 1519 ?)
[The following argiiment is given by Lypsius in the manuscript : 'Ab Ant-
werpiensi oppido subiectum misit eiiistolium cum omnibus Chrysostomi operi-
bus, inscribens ea non, vti solebat, fratri M(artino), sed toti collegio. Indicaram
enim illi quod affectu multo a nostro Suppriore desyderarentur. Author de
quo rursus agit, nunquam deprehensus est.' The date is cleai-ly not loiig after
Epp. 1048,9.]

S. P., charissime frater. Emi Chrysostomum. De Hebraeo vohi-

mine curabimus vt primum licebit. Quod Hagius non subscripsit
nomen, non est mirum nam si subscripsisset et esset laicus, ageretur
;

de capite ilHus. Est enim non sohim hbellus famosus verum et

seditiosus. Tu vide an sint argumenta quibus possit reuinci. Bene
vale cum tuis omnibus.

lOSSjQg^ To Thomas Lupset.

Epistolae eruditorum virorum p. 29 (a). Louvain.
F. p. 623 : HN : Lond. xvii. 2 : LB. 481. 13 December 1519.

[It is clearfrom Ep. 1061. 637-40 and from two passages in the Apol. qua rcspondet
(ff. C v°, D v" Jortin ii. 505, 510), that this letter was iirst printed by Martens
;

:it Louvain. shortly after it was written, and when Lee had already sent his

boolc to Paris and Ep. 1061. 626-7 shows that Martens' issue was eompleted on
;

14 Dec. 1519. the day after this lettei-. A further iudication of the date of thls
separate publication is that to the points made here Lee rejDlies in his letter of
I Feb. (Ep. 1061) having evidently seen them in print, not in manuscript. In
;

reprinting Eae. p. 2to) in Eev., Aug. 1520, Froben preidxed this letter taking
( ;

his text no doubt from Martens' issue. Subsequently it was included in F

with very little change but in H Erasmus revised it somewhat, polishing away
;

the marks of rapid composition. No coi^y of the first issue is known to the
Ghent bibliographers in its absence Froben's must serve' as the archetype.
:

In the Apologia qua respondet (f°. B* v° Jortin ii. 504) Erasmus rather loftily
;

declare.s that a letter like this could be written in half a day. It amounts
almost to an Apologia, and a» such is placed next to Epp. 1006, 998 in F (cf.
p. g . The selection of Lupset for recipient of it was perhaps suggested by
the fact that he was Lee's countryman, and by the warmth with which, on a
visit from Paris to Louvain during 15 19. he had espoused Erasmus' cause
against Lee (Eev. 76-8).]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS THOMAE LVPSETO SVO S. D.

Ex magni cuiusdam amici, .sed qui idem Leo non sit

literis
inimicus, cognoui isthic late sparsum esse rumorem, et ita sparsum
vt plaerisque fidem quoque fecerit, hic m.ea meorumque opera fieri
quo minus Eduardo Leo Jibruni suum, quem iam olim aduersum me
parturit, ahquando j^arere liceat, et typographis obstetricantibus 5

10.53. xrr. svo om. H.

1052. r. Chry.sostomum] Probably the 1053. i.amici] Probably More cf. 11. ;

most recent edition, Froben's of 15 17 360-4. where his name is substituted

(cf. Ep. 575. 360; : in Latin. iu H for a similarly vague expression.
 140 LETTERS OP ERASMUS [151

aedat in lucem : imo nos minis territare hominem ne quod scripsit

ausit euulgare. lam non debeo. quibus
ista toC ttoXc/xou Keva mirari
vt pene cottidianis iampridem oportuit assueuisse. lUud admiror,
quinam sint istius omnium impudentissimi rumoris autores, Non
10 enim adduci possum vt credam Leum, qualis qualis est, vsque adeo
perfrictae frontis esse vt ista sustineat affirmare, nimirum ipse sibi
probe conscius rem longe secus habere. Neque enim tam stupide
creduhis sum vt milii quisquam vel persuaserit vel persuasurus sit
Leum perpetuo pressurum egregias illas suas vigihas, annis iam
15 aUquot desudatas, spem immortalitatis suae et vnde potissimum
famam suam voluerit auspicari. Compertum habebam eum harum
rerum parciorem esse quam vt passurus sit tantum operae atque olei
sibi perire. Nec intantum sum obesae naris, etiam si minime
suspicax phaneque simi^hcis ingenii, vt mihi non suboleret quid
20 ageret ille. Et si meus stupor hoc minus potuisset deprehendere,
tamen non deerant qui submonerent, primum hoc venari Leum, vt
si quid mihi accideret humanitus aut si quis casus in regionem
longinquam auocaret ahquo, tum demum ille non tutius modo
verum etiam felicius aederet suas notationes.

25 rA.VK€t 6~wpa (f)vXaKo<; cKAeAotTroTos.

Nouit verum esse quod vulgo dicunt, non remordere mortuos.

ille
Fortassis et apud Quintilianum legit (nam videtur et bonas hteras
ahquando degustasse), si quis mentiri veUt, in neminem id posse fieri
tutius quam in vita defunctos. Deinde non ignorat, tametsi stimu-
30 latur famae gloriaeque siti, quam ingens ipsi foenus haec dilatio sit
allatura. Siquidem dum interim vndique captat quid quisque
calumnietur, in conuiuiis aut in conciliabulis, quid suggerant Prae-
dicatores aut Carmehtae, quid notarint Baccalaurii Theologiae candi-
dati (nam his datum erat negocium ab his qui post non fraudabuntur
35 sua laude), quid Licentiati, quid Magistri nostri, si qui sunt qui mihi
parum aequi videntur, arroserint dum subodoratur quid ego aut
:

ahus pro me respondeat, dum inter relegendum quaedam dispheent,

quae primus ille scribentis calor nimium commendarat autori dum :

animus ac foitassis odium identidem nouum ahquid indicat quod

40 calumnietui", quando dolor non sohim eloquentes verum etiam in-
geniosos facit, et, iuxta Satyricum, absoluit indignatio versum. queni
natura negat: postremo dum ex quotidiana lectione subinde non-
nihil adiicit auctarii, nimirum fit vt opus exeat non sohim locupletius
atque instructius verum etiam emendatius. Nam ipse mihi fassus
45 est in proximo colloquio se totum fere opus a capite, quod aiunt,

13. vel anfe persuaserit «rf(Z. i''. 25. F: l«X«Ae«7roTos a. 32. praedicatores
a: dominieani i7. 33. Baccalaurei iontZ. 34. his a : istis if.

7. Tov TToXtnov Kfva] Cf. Adag. 1919: 255-6; and Z\v. E." 107. The leaders
<De inani suspicione aut pauore sine of the Fuculty of Theology at Louvain
causa oborto ; with quotations froni
' had no doubt giveu an iuformal com-
Polyb., Cic, Plut., Curt. mission, that Erasmus' works should
18. obcsao] Cf. Hor. Epud. 12. 3. be examined in the same way as
25. T\vK(T'] Cf. Adag. 3392, quoting Luther's (cf. Ep. 1030. i6n) but no ;

Plut. Amat. 5 (752A). eondemiiation followed. For similar

26. vulgo] Cf. Phit. Vif. Pomp. 77 ])roposals eariier cf. Epp. 481. 41-54,
(660) and Adag. 2541.
: 505. 8-14.
34. negocium]Cf. Epp. 1059. 3-6, 1126. 41. S.ityricum] Juv. i. 79.
I053] TO THOMAS LUPSET 141

vsque ad calcem retexuisse, niulta resecuisse, vt iam a posteriore

Noui Testamenti aeditione superuacanea, tum pleraque mutasse, in
nonnullis a seipso dissentire re diligentius pensitata.
Porro quod ista facit postea quam decretum est belligerari, nec
admiror admodum nec indignor magnopere. Suum agit negocium 5° ;

fortasse ius belli permittit vt nihil non machineris in eum quem

velis opprimere. Verum in hoc illius prudentiam nonnihil desidero,
quod in eo de quo modo dixi colloquio, serio mihi fassus sibi totum
opus retexi, tamen vrgebat vt sibi crederem asseueranti nunquam
futurum vt librum eum euulgaret. Hoc scilicet consilio sumpserat 55
operam in retexendo, vti retextum premeret. Veritatis vt simplex,
ita constans est oratio nec vllis frequentius accidit a-cjidXfxa ixvyj/xiKov
;

quam his qui non loquuntur ex animo nisi forte non fuit ille
:

memoriae lapsus. sed meus stupor hanc illi fiduciam addidit, vt

existimarit me protinus crediturum primum rem tam incredibilem, 6o
deinde tali autori.
Proinde cum mihi persuasum esset omnino futurum vt ille quod
scripserat euulgaret, et adeo persuasum esset vt nec hi mihi diuersum
persuadere potuerint vnquam, quibus ego nihil non soleo credere,
atque hac vna in re dissentirem ab his quibuscum libentissime con- 65
sueui sentire. neque nescirem quantum illi commodi, rursum mihi
quantum incommodi foret allatura mora, imo quanto meo periculo
quantaque illius spe prorogaretur opus. quis non desideraret in me
sanam mentem si, quod isti iactitant, modis omnibus obniterer ne
iiber exiret inmanus hominum ? Mihi semper fuit eadem et mens 70
et oratio, vt optarim quam primum euulgari quicquid esset operis.
Si proferre possunt vllam epistolam in qua secus sentiam, si proferre
qui me secus loquentem audierit, vicerunt.
Sed huiusce rei non possum alium magis idoneum testem adducere
quam Leum ipsum. In primo congressu. cum a proxime relicta 75
Basilea venissemus in colloquium, idque in aedem diuo Petro sacram,
quemadmodum rebus parum pacatis belli duces solent in locum
aliquem vtrisque tutum conuenire, atque ille iactaret plusquam
trecenta loca sibi notata quae nemo posset diluere, ne res exiret in
rabiem et in contentionem cum Chi"istianis omnibus, tum vero prae- 80
cipue theologis indecoram, proposui vt e tribus vnum eligeret.
Primum vt (quod maxime dignum esset animo Christiano, quodque
dignum nostra vetere necessitudine, in qua professus esset se talem
fore vt, tametsi nouus amicus, nulli tamen veterum fide atque officio
cederet) communicaret suas annotationes. Nam eam voluminis 85
partem quae nostras Annotationes complectebatur, licet esset excusa
typis, nondum tanien aeditam esse, nec futurum vt aederetur nisi
toto opere absoluto. Adhuc integrum esse mutare chartas aliquot.
non illud quidem iam absque iactura pecuniae, sed mihi longe
chariorem esse famam meam ac publicam studiosorum vtilitatem 90

57. ixvrjnovtKov voluit LB : sed cf. Ep. 1061.691. 58. his a : iis F. 72. pro-
ferre ante qui a : producere H.

75. coiigressu] At Louvain in the 86. Annotationes] The colophon to

autumn of 1518. For the renewal of theso is dated 23 Aug. 1518 ; but the
tlie controversy at that time cf. Epp. vohuTie of the text was not ready till
886. 58-78, 906. 448 seq. Maroh 15 19 : see Ep. 864 introd.
 142 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

quam pecuniam. Proinde si quid indicasset quod alicuius esset

momenti, me sarturum, seditavtnihil interim mihi suffurarer alienae
laudis ingenue testaturum cum honorifica nomenclatura Leici no-
;

minis cui fructum illum deberet lector.

95 Hanc conditionem (adeo aequam vt his quoque probaretur quos
tum suspicabar, post comperi mihi neutiquam aequos esse) cum ille
toto corpore renueret, ad id quod esset proximum descendi. In rem
praesentem vtrique veniremus, et collatis vtriusque voluminibus
rem viua voce transigeremus ita nihil fore scrupuli cur timeret
:

100 exemplari suo. Quod cum nec ipsum placeret, coepi pi'ouocare vt
opus suo meoque periculo publicaret nihil enim aliud superesse, :

quando iam liber ipsi propemodum esset aeditus, mihi non item,
cum in exemplaria non pauca propagatus legeretur a coniaratis
duntaxat, et me rumor per illum illiusque fautores iactatus magis
105 etiam grauaret quam si fuisset aeditus iiber vt semper auget fama :

quod dissipat, praesertim si quid sit affine malis. Quod si ipsum

vel sumptus vel opera deterreret, me meopte impendio meoque
periculo curaturum vt excuderetur. Ad haec si quid addubitaret de
anea fide, sibi seruaret antigraphum, quo mox coargui possem, si
iio quid esset a me vel additum vel omissum vel immutatum.
Haec, opinor, sic esse gesta Leus ij)se non inficias ibit. Alioqui
vel illud arguerit me nihil fingere, quod Leus aliquando amicis
communibus, simulatque iam gustum operis coepissent, magnopere
deterrentibus ab aeditione, per literas questus sit se per me prouo-
1 5 catum ad aeditionem. Theodorico Alustensi semper suasi vt, si
Leus traderet exemplar, excuderet me volente id facturum. Cum
;

comperissem illum Antuerpiae egisse cum duobus typographis de

publicando libro, nec processisset, norunt omnes quam indigne
tulerim quod institutum erat, ad nihilum recidisse. Mox accito
120 typographo, quanto possum studio ago vt pactionem instauraret
sed Leus mutata sententia sese iam subduxerat. Rumor sparserat
ab illo volumen esse missum Coloniam, vt ilhc aederetur. Scripsi
duobus amicis, sinerent aedi, tantum curarent vt mihi mature fieret
vohiminis excusi copia nam ilkid ab iis iactabatur qui Leo fauent,
:

125 sic excusum iri librum, vt inter mihi male volentium manus voHtans
post annum demum a me deprehenderetur. Et multis coniecturis
adducor vt id verum esse credam eas alias fortasse adducam. lam
:

producere possum quibus testibus receperim me effecturum vt

Theodoricus librum excuderet, quo possit ipse Leus praeesse castiga-
97. esset a erat H.
: 99. rem a negocium H.
: 102. ii>si a : ipse H.
115. Theoderico ionrf. 129. aN^: Tlieodericus i^A"^

103. exemplaria] Cf. Ep. 1026. i^n. Apologla says that Lee applied to Hil-
115. Theodorieo] Mai"tens, len first but Lee's narratives in his
;

117. typographis] The Apol. qua re- letter to Louvain and in Ep. io6r are
spondet (P. B^ .Tortin ii. 502} identifies
: obviously tlie better authority.
thesc with Hillen (1. 133^) and a 122. missuniColoniam]Tliisisdenied
French printer, ? Thibault or Tlieobald, in Ep. 1061. 680-1. In Ep. 1074. 85 and
who had printed recently for Erasmus the Apol. qua resp., f. C (Jortin ii. 504)
(Ep. 934. 311) and Barland (Ep. 681. Erasmus alleges Bonn where, how- :

in). In Lee's Annot. f. CC \° and cver, no printiing is known till c. 1543.

Ep. 1061. 606-7 it is stated that the two 123. amicis] Probably Ct. Hermann
in question were tho only i^rinters in of Neuonahr (cf. Ep. 1078) and Jo.
Antwerp able to ijroduce Greek. Thc Caesarius (cf. Ep. 610. 42,3).
I053] TO THOMAS LUPSET 143

tioni. Appellent qui volent Galfredum, Lei fratrem, per quem 130
velut 'Epfj.TJi' aliquoties mecum collocutus est, quoties per
quempiam
hunc prouocaui vt aederet. Postremo iam dicebatur transegisse
cum Michaele typographo Antuerpiensi nihil esse in mora nisi ;

quod dubitaret quo animo essem id laturus. Eespondi vt matura-

rent :mihi vehementer probari. Haec literis mea manu scriptis 135
docere in promptu est. Et post haec quae tandem impudentia est
dissipare vanissimam fabulam, me modis omnibus adniti ne liber
euulgaretur ?
lam de minis quoque paucis dicam, in quo non solum demiror
impudentiam verum etiam insignem ingratitudinem istorum. Sen- 140
seram quosdam mihi impensius etiam quam ipse cuperem fauentes,
nescio quid submoliri, vt in Leum atrocibus libellis inueherentur,
atque etiam, si pergeret, non calamo tantum sed fuste rem gererent.
Quorum vtrunque vti ne fieret, cum quantum in me fuit obnixus
essem, inimicitias denuncians ei qui rem tam barbaricani et literis 145
indignam mea causa fuisset aggressus, non tamen ita fisus sum
illorum ingeniis ac promissis, quin Leum quoque super hac re
commonefaciendum esse putarem, ne quid accideret incauto, quod
pariter et illum offenderet et bonarum literarum cultores inuidia
grauaret. Nam quod ad me pertinet, puto neminem esse qui vel 150
mea legerit vel mecum aliquam egerit consuetudinem, quin per-
spectissimum habeat me nihil aeque detestari quam exempla libelli
famosi aut violentiae. Itaque sic mecum reputabam si quid esset ;

pericuh, amicemonui si nihil est, amice timui. Nec dubitabam

;

quin hanc admonitionem esset boni consulturus. Quod si hoc offi- 155
cium meum secus interpretatur, malo tantisper hoc officii perisse
mihi, quam illum scire quantum mihi hac sane in parte debeat.
Proferat epistolam quam illi proxime scripsi ea docebit quod ;

simpliciter et amanter monui, eadem docebit me illum ad aeditionem

145. ei H : his a : iis F.

130. Galfrednm] Lee, whose parents More's actual successor, Thos. Audley.
were connecttd by ties of close friend- 133. Michaele] (c. 1480 22 July —
ship with More's (cf. Ep. 1139. 56), 1558), son of JoJin Hillen of Hoog-
had more tlian one brother (cf. Ep. straeten. He became a burgess of
1126. 6: Eev. pp. 59. 64; Jortin ii. Antwerp in 1508-9, and about the same
648, 651). Wilfrid had been much in time began printing, with a Flemish
Louvain 'cf. Ep. 1074. 88 and Apol. : service-book. In 1519 he was one of
qua rcspondet, f°. D, Eev. pp. 56, 69, 78, the leading printers in Antwei-p so :

79 ; Jortin ii. 509, 646, 654J and in ; ihat Erasmus entrusted to him one of
1533 Erasmus writes of him with regard his Paraphrases (Ep. 1043), the Apologia
as 'mihi olim amicus, adeo vt in con- de In principio erat sermo', andthethree
^

flictu quem habui cum Leo, palam a me rcplies to Lee (p. iio\ c. March-
steterit : nec vllam habt-t nobilitatem, May 1520. He produced three reprints
nisi quod est in iure consultus, vnde of tUe Colloqnioruni Fonnulae ini^ig {aee
apud Anglos omnis fere nata est nubili- BEr.'^) and printed also for Latomus,
;

tas <cf. Ep. 999. 149-50). Natus est Dorp, Vives, and Barland in 1519-20.
in vico '. See a letter printed by T. In 1546 he handed over his business
Wierzbowski, Materyabj do Bzicjow Pism. to his son-in-law, John Steelsius. See
Polskiego, 1900, p. 43, and by C.
i, BN ; and for a bibliography of his
Miaskowski in Commer's Ja/<>-6./. P/a7o- publications, Bidl. du bibliophile belge,
sovhie, XV, 1901, p. 326. Erasmus' state- 2nd series, x-xi, 1863-4.
ment therc that W. Lee had succecded 148. commonefaciendum] Cf. Ep.
More as Chancellor is perhaps based 998. 68.
on a misapprehension of the name of 158. epistolam] Ep. 998.
 144 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [15 19

160 operis prouocasse, non deterruisse. Imo non ob aliud in illum

tantopere stomachabantur amici mei, nisi quod tam insolenter vbique
iactaret suum librum, nec aederet tamen.
Neque vero me fefellit qua techna hic Leus sit vsus. Cum nondum
esset satisinstructus ad aeditionem, voluit hoc interim gloriae
165 lucrifacere, quasi in gratiam meam premeret opus. Rursus vbi iam
gestiret animus aedere, sibique videretur vtcunque adornatus, quiri-
tari coepit se per me prouocari ad aedendum, ne quid offenderet
suos amicos qui tantopere deterrebant ab aedendo. Proinde si quos
posthac audieris eadem garrientes, dic illis meis verbis eos aut
1 70 vehementer falli aut impudentissime mentiri. Denique si cui haec
quae dixi nondum persuadent, in promptu est experimentum.
Etiam nunc tradat Leus librum, et nisi curaro vel Basileae excu-
dendum, idque nullo ipsius sumptu, credant omnes me hactenus
obstitisse quo minus aederetur.
175 Atque vt manifestum mendacium fortiter reiicio, ita quod verum est
ingenue fatebor. Cum facile suspicarer futurum vt hoc opus asper-
—
sum esset variis contumeliis, vel quod scirem Leum, vtcunque
affectus est, prorsus inimico animo negocium hoc suscepisse,
nunc
id quod, vbi res postulabit, chTrissimis argumentis euincemus vel ;

180 quod ipse saepius eflflagitanti atque vrgenti, cur tantopere caueret ne
liber quem in me scripsisset, mihi omnium vni nollet communicare,
cum eius copiam faceret tam multis, tandem respondit inesse quae-
dam quae mihi bilem essent motura quasi vero non indignius esset,
;

si aliisde me scriberet, quae mihi coram non auderet proferi-e vel ;

1S5 quod vna atque altera annotatio, quam mihi forte contigit intei-ci-
pere, satis declararet quale futurum esset reliquum opus admonui — ,

vt argumentis, non contumeliis, rationibus, non conuiciis rem ageret

ita tum illi fore simplicem in scribendo laborem, tum mihi in re-
spondendo. Nunquam enim ofifensum iri me, etiam si mille locis
Kjo a me dissentiret: imo gratiam habiturum quod nostram industriam
sua industria adiuuaret. Sin admisceret conuicia, geminum vtrique
fore tum laborem tum incommodum siquidem illum in periculum
;

venturum, ne vir parum modestus ac grauis habeatur, me rursum

gemino malo constrictum iri, qui si responderem conuiciis, viderer
icf^ illi non dissimilis, sin minus, fortasse plaerisque viderer agnoscere

quae ille in me congessisset.

Opinor hoc consilium nulli probo non videri et prudens et amicum.
Et tamen hoc animo seniper fui vt, qualis qualis esset liber, quam
primum exire in lucem optarem, quiduis passurus citius quam
200 quorundam insulsissimas gloriolas. Nec enim sum tam iniquus
Leo quam quidam existimant. Scio quid possit gloriae stimulus,
quam violentum calcar habeat ambitio laudis, quid valeat iuuentae
calor, praesertim in eo qui nunc primum famae stadium sit ingressus.
Ad quid enim non adigat nominis immortalitas, cum non fabulosum
205 sit quod de Erostrato proditum legimus? Adest ingenium non

181. nollet communicuro a : communicaietur//. 189. N LB : offensurum a

Lond.

185. intercipere] Cf. Ep. 998. 17U. of Diana at Ephesus iu order to make
205. Erostrato] who burnt the teniple his nanie famous.
I053] TO THOMAS LUPSET 145

aliter auidum gloriae quam naphtha flammae nec deerant exempla ;

quae, iuxta Flacci prouerbium, oleum adderent camino.

Nam vt ne commemorem vetera, videbat quantum si non laudis,
certe famae, sibi nuper parasset Ortuinus Gratius ex vna aut alteru
qualicunque conflictatiuncula. Intelligebat esse verum quod scri- 210
psit Pindarus, bello nobilitari viros, et quos tranquillitas obscurat,
tumultus illustrat nec fugerat illum, opinor, illud Graecorum pro-
:

uerbium, 'Ev 8e Si^^oo-Tacrir/ KavSpoK\ei6r]<: 7roA.e/Lta/D;^er. Perspiciebat

et longam et difficilem esse viam ad parandam gloriam, scribendis
libris innotescere mundo, nec admodum dissimilem Hesiodiae illi. 215
Vidit aliam magis etiam compendiariam ea quam tibicen ille apud
Lucianum indicat discipulo, nimirum vt artis suae specimen prae-
beret his qui iam omnium iudicio probati tibicines haberentur sic :

enim compendio fore vt horum sufl^ragiis commendatus quorum

iudicio plurimum tribueret vulgus, per vniuersam Graeciam illustris 220
euaderet. Honestam sane viam indicauit ille tibicen, sed quae non-
nullis nondum satis compendiaria videtur. Malumus insynceram
gloriam quam quae verior, sed serius, contingat. Qui taxat aliena
scripta, primum vno statim anno tantundem nominis assequitur
quantum ille multorum annorum vigiliis sibi parauit. Deinde 225
vulgo doctior habetur qui i'eprehendit. Postremo non desunt qui
adrnisso subdant calcar, qui currentem incitent, qui acclament, qui
mellitissimum illud ev ye succinant, qui applaudant, qui medio
' '

in cursu frigidam suffundant, qui

Crescentem tumidis inflent sermonibus vtrem. 230

Haec faeiunt vt, etiam si quid iuuenilius scriptum esset a Leo, non
admodum aegre laturus sim, modo ne nimium diu torqueat nos ista
parturiens, pollicitans, iactitans, minitans, obtrectitans, et rem ad
seditionem vocans. Quod si meo consilio parens meminerit vbique
modestiae Christianae, magisque spectarit quid ipso dignum sit quam 235
quid cupiant quidam qui alienis ingeniis abutuntur ad laedendum
subolescentia meliora studia, non solum apud studiosos verum apud
me quoque gratiam non mediocrem inibit. Cur enim mihi turpe
ducam si in tot milibus locorum. quae vel restitui vel explicui, cernat
aliquid quod meos oculos alio properantes suffugisset, aut deprehen- 240
dat in quo a me dissentiendum putet ? Non hac lege seripsimus
Annotationes, vt caeteris ius esset tidemptum vel addendi, si quid
praeterea queat aliquis animaduertere, vel corrigendi, sicubi nos
essemus hallucinati. non solum homines, verum etiam et ingenio
perquam exiguo et eruditione vix mediocri. Id etiam si non essem 245
testatus, tamen nemini debebam vsque adeo videri arrogans vt, cum
ipse non dubitem locis aliquot a probatissimis doctoribus, Ambrosio.

212. illustrat a ? illustrare.

: 218. his a : iis 2^. 227. F acclamaut a.
:

236. if: laedenda a.

207. Flacci] S. 2. 3. 321. 217. Lucianuin] Harm. 2 (853).

209. Gratius] Cf. Epp. 526. 8n, 622. 230. CrescentemJ Cf. Hor. S. 2. 5. 98.
211. Pindainis] Py. 2. 115-21. 246. testatus] Inthe-dpofo^iaprefixed
212. proqerbium] Cf. Adarj. 1191 ; to tho New Testament (1516,^". bbb*.
quoting Plut. Vit. Nic. ix (530) and 7 - v". 4 1519, p. 64); also in the
:

Phil. 479*. Capita Argumtntorum added in 1519.

215. Hesiodiae] Op. 289-91. I>. 69, §§ i, 2.
 146 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1519

Augustino, Hieronynio, Cypriano dissentire, caeteris praeseribam

legem ne quis a me dissentiat. Nunc clara voce testor me velle hoc
250 ius primum mihi ipsi integrum esse, deinde alios ad hoc studium
prouoco atque inuito, tantum abest vt deterream.
Atque haec fortassis non legerat Leus. Nam memini cum in
colloquio quodam me grauiter admoneret vt testarer ahcubi in
praefatione me non hoc animo aedidisse Nouum Testamentum, quod
255 nollem a Graecorum lectione vsquam dissentiri, moxque respondissem
iamdudum id mihi non semel testatum esse in prologis, aiebat sese
praeteritis praefationibus ad rem properasse. Atqui si idem in-
'
'

quam faciant caeteri quod tu, quid retulerit fuisse testatum?'

'

Illud mihi videor meo iure sumpturus, neminem ante me vel plura
260 vel diligentius annotasse. Vt ne dieam interim quod in eo opere
non profiteor me quicquid est scitu dignum annotaturum, sed ea
duntaxat quae ad lectionis synceritatem faciunt. Quod si cui vide-
bitur diuersorum generum annotationes complecti, non continuo me
vicerit, nisi in eodem argumento se praestiterit copiosiorem. Et
265 tamen sic faueo piis studiis, vt non a Leo tantum verumetiam ab
omnibus vinci cupiam. Ad Christi gloriam, ad publicam vtilitatem
eorum qui deamant sacras literas, hoc quicquid est laboris desudaui
cur repente mutatus inuiderem iis quorum gratia tantum vigiliarum
exantlassem ? imo cur mihi ipsi inuideani, si quis suo sumptu me
270 velit docere vel plura vel rectiora? Quaeso, quid hic est quod vel
mihi Leus indignetur vel ego sim illi iniquior ? Si non probat argu-
mentum susceptum, cur ipse vohiit in eodem argumento versari ? Et
cum res fei-e tota pendeat a Graecae Latinaeque linguae peritia, cur
mihi non concedat vtriusque linguae aliquanto, opinor, peritiori quam
275 ille sit, quod ipse sibi permittit, nuper Graecae linguae rudimentis
initiatus, nec eo progressus adhuc in lingua Latina vt mecum, opinor,
dedignetur vti iure communi? Deinde cur mihi non permittat in
Nouo Testamento, qui sibi nihil non permittit in Veteri, idque nuper
degustatis Hebraeorum literis ? praesertim cum a me stet tot probato-
280 rum exemplarium consensus, tot orthodoxorum autoritas, ille praeter
hodie vulgatos Hebraeorum codices et lexica quaedam nuUis pene
praesidiis nitatur. Postremo cur mihi ius non sit hoc facere, hor-
tante et approbante Leone Pontifice Maximo, quod ipse sibi sumit
autoritate propria ?
285 Neque vero haec dico quod parum comprobem Lei industriam, sed
quo declarem neutri causam esse cur alteri vel inuideat vel indigne-
tur. Etenim qui contendunt nefas esse quicquam immutare in
vulgatis nostris codicibus, pi-orsus insaniunt vt abunde docuimus
:

in Apologia qua Nouo Testamento praefati sumus. Sin quaedam in

290 opere meo non probat. quorsum opus erat hac belli specie, quorsum
tot oblatrationibus, tot susurris, tot sycophantiis, tot obtrectatricibus
epistolis ? cum ego vltro prouocarim ad hoc officium, priusquam Leus
249. ius hoc F. 276. opinor add. H. 291. oblati-atibus F.

275. nuper] Cf. Ep. 998. 2911. 289. Apologia] Cf. 1. 24611.
278. in Veteri] Cf. Ep. 1061. 751 2 292. prouocarira] Erasmusevidently
Ascham states (Ep. ii. 17, ^c. 1544 means in his first edition of the New
iin. )) that Lee left at his death a com- Ttstament (cf. Ep. 1006. 2o8n) : for
mentary on tiie Pentateuch in ms. It Lce was at work on Greek in July 15 17
has never been printed. '
Ep. 607. 15).
I053] TO THOMAS LUPSET 147

attigisset Graecas literas, aut suspicarer futurum etiam vt attingeret.

Non sum tam impudens vt factura improbem ad quod prouocaui
viam modumque facti nullus, opinor, cordatus aut grauis homo pro- 295
baturus est, quando nec illi visus est hacin parte Leus aequum facere,
cui nihil non aequum videri solet quod bonis literis et Erasmo
aduersetur.
Quod si rectam rationem maluisset adhibere in consilium quam iram
aut odium aut liuorem aut ambitionem aut alium his similem affectum, 300
neque me laesisset dux et organum factus sycophantis, qui nunc
nescio quo fatali sydere regnant, et sibi gloriam peperisset, vt vberio-
rem, ita etiam veriorem.
Primum enim, cum difficillimum sit prodesse, laedere facillimum,
ab illo potius quani ab hoc debebat parandi nominis auguria sumere, 305
Nunc cum audito Lei nomine, antehac obscuro, rogabunt hospites
'
Quid hominis est Leus iste?' Respondebitur 'Is qui primus omnium
extitit Erasmomastix '. Vt ingeniosius, ita plausibilius est nouum
aliquod opus gignere quam in alienis libris ingeniosum ac doctulum
velle videri : praeclai*ius est autorem esse noui cuiuspiam operis quam 310
in alienis operibus Momum quendam agere, etiamsi
repre- Momus
hendit duntaxat, non etiam calumniatur, liber verius quam con-
tumeliosus. Quis autem ferat eum conuiuam, qui in epulo accumbens
magna cura grauique sumptu apparato dissimulet si quid lautum sit,
ac tantum degustatis omnibus damnet et exprobret conuiuatori, si 315
quid deprehenderit quod panim palato respondeat? Quanto ciuilius
sit conuiuatoi'em illum vicissim domi tuae lautioribus epulis accipere !

Proinde si rem ingenue, si Christiana lenitate gessisset, nemo pro-

bus non probasset hominis industriam. Egissem et ipse gratias ac
laudibus applausissem. lam si vel ingenii vis vel aetatis calor ad 320
bellum pertraxit, proximum erat ingenue bellum gerere virtute, non ;

technis viribus, non insidiis ; aperto Marte, non dolis. Qui caedem,
;

incendium, qui interuitioiiem moliuntur hosti, prius missis foecialibus

expostulant, rem repetunt, conditiones praescribunt, quae si praesten-
tur, arma non recusent deponere. At Leus coram amicum nulli 325
cessurum professus, subito factusest inimicus, nec laesus vnquam nec
expostulatione facta. Imo cur in odium mei factus est amicissimus iis
de quibus antea pessime et loquebatur et sentiebat ? Id si inficiabitur,
est in promptu quo possit redargui. Deinde cur in praesentem mutus,
in procul absentem ferox ac formidabilis esse coepit ? cur captato etiam 330
tempore ad laedendum magisaccommodo. cum sciret hic exulceratam
rem ob quorundam conspirationem, in eo hulcere velut vnguis extitit,
ac ceu noxius humor buboni sese adiunxit ? Cumque cerneret linguae
morbum apud nostrates iTriSrjixeLv, cur primus impulit Dodonaeum
lebetem amicus nemini cessurus, princeps et autor tinnitus perpetua 335

315. F: exprobet o. 325. recusant i^ Con-igr.

296. Ep. 998. 2-4 shows unmis-

illi] thore had lieen trouble over the Emo-
takably that John Briard 'Aterisis' mium Matrimonii (Ep. 670 introd.) and
'Ep. 670) is intcnded here. Though the negotiations with the Theologicil
he had formerly expressed satisfaction Faculty at Louvain (cf. Epp. 1016. 15^,
with Erasmus' explanations of the 1029. ^n).
New Testament, the negotiations over 302. fatali] Cf. Ep. 1060. 5n.
Lee (p. 109) had aroused all Erasmus' 327. amicissimus] Cf. Ep. 1061. 761.
suspicions again and more recently
; 334. Dodonaeum] Cf. Ep. 1030. 140.

L 2
 148 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15 19

reciprocatione in orbem obambulaturi ? Cur veterem aeditionem

calumniatus est, cum sciret me nouam emittere ?
Aberam hac de causa Basileae. Nunciabar, vt eram, aegrotus ;

fortasse rumor, vt solet, rem auxit et mortuum esse sparserat. Hinc

340 subito fortis Leus totam hanc regionem ac suam Angliam sexcentis
illis locis implebat. Quod si haec simplici animo facta sunt, cur
reuerso non exhibuit quod sine fine iactitat apud omnes ? Si me mihi
voluit ostendere (sic enim ille loquitur), cur vni non fit legendi copia ?
Si sibi scripsit, cur in tot exemplaria propagatus liber per multas
345 etiam prouincias volitat inter manus coniuratorum ? apud quos esse
tantum fidei demiror in re sycophantica, cum hodie vix vsquam
reperias qui in re quamlibet honesta fidem praestet. Si scripsit
omnibus, cur non aedit ? Si decreuit premere, cur sic vbique iactitat,
cur tam multis impartit ? denique cur retexit toties ac recudit ? Si
350 verum erat quod antea praedicabat, nihil esse cui posset responderi,
cur non vel in pauculis locis ausus est periculum facere ? Cur nunc
a seipso in multis dissentit ? Si fidit libro suo, cur totus est in hoc,
ne veniat in manus meas ? Si diffidit, cur tot fumos vbique spargit ?
Si cupit aedere, cur tam anxie celat ? cur non vtitur conditione
355 toties delata? cur quiritatur apud suos quod ad aeditionem prouo-
eem? Quid sibi vult ista perplexa inconstantia, 'Volo, nolo, nolo,
volo ' ? Si simpHci puroque aninio haec fiunt, cur his potissimum
ostendit, quos nouit mihi male velle? quibus hic non videtur ob
aliud bene velle nisi quod mihi male vohmt. Cur his solis negat
360 quos scit mihi certos amicos esse ? Sic enim ipse mihi percontanti
cur Thomae Moro non faceret copiam sui libri, respondit eum mihi
synceriter amicum esse. Et tamen is est amicus communis, licet Lea
quoque, in quo videlicet ille 7rA.eov€KTer. Adeo satis idonea
o^oTraTpts
causa visa est illi negandi, quod mihi ex animo esset amicus.
3f'5 Sed interim locupletat et emendat opus suum. Non improbo sed ;

interim quod verum est ingenue fateatur. Ne fingat se premere in

gratiam meam, quod in suum commodum differt. Ne simulet se a me
prouocatum ad aedendum cogi, cum ipse id facere gestiat? Sed
interim tamen non perspicit quod, dum auget opus suum, imminuit
370 operis gloriam. Si statim aedidisset satis iactatum opus, nemo non
credidisset rem ipsius Marte gestam. Nunc periculum est ne plaeri-
que clamitent prodire cornicem Aesopicam plumis alienis sese vendi-
tantem, vt etiam si quid praestiterit, minima gloriae portio sit ad
ipsum reditura.
375 lam mihi vide, quaeso te, quam nec illic sibi recte consulit. Ex-
pectat vt casus aliquis me toUat e medio. Quid ? An vir fortis tum
demum prodibit in aciem ? et opima spolia feret ? ouationem ac
triumphum aget ? ac non metuit potius ne, quod est turpissimum.
dicatur et ipse cum laruis luctari ? Quid vnquam laudis retulit
380 o iprifji]] vi/cTya-as ? Sed esto, uialuit iste tutam quam gloriosam vi-
ctoriam. At vereor ne hoc quoque in diuersum illi cadat. Nec enim

339. llinca: Hie //. 353. ne a K LB : nec H Lo)id. 357. his a : iis i^.

361. Tlioniae Moro7i : illi cuidam a.

338. aegrotus] Cf. Ep. 844. 2930. 998. 1811.

340. srxcentis] Cf. 11. 78-9 and Ep. 344. «-xeniplaiia] Cf. Ep. 1026. i^n.
I053] TO THOMAS LUPSET 149

dubito quin pro vno Erasnio plures sint exorituri qui Leo respondeaut
inclementius quam ego fuerim responsurus qui tot contumeliis hinc ;

atque hinc lacessitus, nondum ab instituto vetere potui depelli, quo

decretum est non committere vt quisquam meis scriptis fiat ater, .^85
etiam si non defuerunt qui me libris aeditis petulantissime pro-
sciderint.
Ab aliis repertum est nouum genus libelli famosi. Conspiratum
est agminatim ab his qui se deuouerunt diis manibus, ni funditus
perdant et bonas literas et veterem theologiam, vt nusquam non .^,90

blaterent in Erasmum, in compotationibus, in foris, in conciliabulis,

in pharmacopoliis, in curribus, in tonstrinis, in fornicibus, in priuatis
ac publicis iectionibus, in scholasticis diatribis, in sacris concionibus,
in arcanis colloquiis, in secretis admissorum confessionibus, in biblio-
poliis, in tabernis pauperum, in aulis diuitum, in palatiis regum, apud 395
superstitiosos senes, apud crassos Midas, apud indoctam plebeculam,
apud stultas mulierculas per quas, serpentis illius exemplo, aditum
:

sibi i^arant ad fallendos viros, nusquam non penetrantes, nihil non

mentientes, quo me videlicet de omnibus benemerentem in publicum
odium vocent. 400
Ad hoc sanctum negocium alunt suos emissarios, non minus dili-
genter instructos ad inficiendos animos simplicium et imperitorum
et constabiliendum regnum diaboli, quam Christus suos discipulos
instruxerat ad praedicandum regnum Dei. Ad hoc munus Euan-
gelicum Euangelicis viris potissimum sunt vsi, quos hodie mundus 405
simul et mendicos alit et tolerat tyrannos. Quod ego sane nolim in
communem vllius ordinis inuidiam rapi, sed in eos duntaxat reci-
dere qui sibi tyrannidem quandam vsurpantes opprimunt bonos ac
mansuetudine Christiana praeditos. Asciscunt et auxiliares copias
eorum qui vel frusto panis ad quoduis facinus conduci possunt. 410
Quem non subornarunt ad agendam hanc fabulam ? Cuius ingenio
aut morbo non sunt abusi? Et huius fabulae sunt autores, qui de
sarcienda pecuniae iactura tam superstitiose disputant, nec diffitentur
grauiorem esse iacturam ereptae famae quam pecuniae. Siquis ausit
mutire in sophistas theologos, si quis in Carmelitarum aut Praedica- 415
torum superstitionem tentet verbum facere, protinus coelum terrae
commiscent. Vociferantur periclitari Ecclesiam Christi, superos
atque inferos inclamant. Ipsi cum tanta malicia, tanta pertinacia,
tanta conspiratione mentiantur aduersus eum qui studet omnibus
prodesse, laedere neminem, sanctuli videlicet sibi videntur et pii. 420
In famosum libellum capitalis est actio. Isti talium sibi conscii
non dubitant protinus illotis animis ad sacrosanctam Christi mensam
accedere. Et satis esse credunt si suis viciis vtcunque blandiantur :

quasi vero desit sicariis et parricidis, quo sibi sua facinora vtcunque
excusent. Age, conferamus, si videtur, quantum horum scelus absit 425
a libello famoso aut etiam ab homicidio. Quisquis autor est famosi

384. atque hinc add. F. 389. his a : iis i^. 390. vti/: et a. 391.
aH: blaioraui F Corrig. 401. F: emissorios a. 413. F: diffidentur a.
415. Praedieatorum a Dominicanorum
: //. 416. facere a iacere F Corrig.
:

423. F Corrig. blanditur a.

:

382. plures] See Epp. 998. 66n, 1083. 397. serpentis] Gen. 3.
385. ater] Cf. Ep. 1007. 8111. 401. omissarios] Cf. Ep. 998. 59-60.
 150 LETTEES OF EEASMUS [1519

priiiium vnum hominem sceleie contaminat

libelli, isti tot faciunt :

autores alienae infamiae. quot hominum linguas inficiunt et infectis

abutuntur. llle suo periculo scribit hi quoniam praetexunt sancti-
:

430 moniam, laudem etiam sibi venantur ex maleficio. Ille quoniam

palam profitetur hostem, in totum fere sibi fidem abrogat: isti cultu
venerandi, in locis sacris pro doctrina Christi spargunt venena linguae
in immerentem. Ad haec libello famoso, etiam si incertus est autor,
tamen quoniam certa crimina obiicit, responderi potest quod a :

435 Caesaribus aliquot etiam factitatum legimus. Hi quoniam et multi

et sparsim et fere clanculum obtrectant, nescias quid cui respondeas,
et vuhius sentis, nec licet autorem vuhieris dej)rfhendere. Quod si
quando deprehenduntur, ibi in promptu est status inficialis, etiam
si nunquam didicerunt Non dixi, non ista dixi, secus
rhetoricen :

440 relatum est quam dixi.

lam vt maxime deprehendjis omnia, quis possit cum tam raultis
delitigare ? Quid quod vix vlhis Hbellus tam h^te spargi potest quam
istorum calumniae, qui sic per orbem terrarum obambulant, vt olim
non aeque Apostoli ? quibus nullus est thahamus tam abditus in
445 quem non penetrent qui non aliter permixti sunt toti mundo quam
;

sanguis et succus per corpus vniuersuni diifusus. Quid quod infamiae

libenum nonnunquam excusat necessitas? nimirum vbi territatur
tyrannus quem obiurgare nulli sit tutum. Isti vociferantur in eum
qui cunctis obuius et expositus paratus est omnibus rationem reddere.
450 Nihil cuiquam charius est quam sua vita. Et tamen bonis viris hac
quoque charior est fama, qui vitam eripi patiuntur, famam eripi non
sinunt. Hanc mahcia eripit, nonne nocentior est
igitur qui destinata
sicario aut etiam venefico ? Sceleratissimiim homicidii genus est
venenum in lingua, non in pyxide, circunferie.
455 His iniuriis cum hactenus nunquam perpelli quiuerim vt obliuis-
cerer modestiae Christianae, imo ne ad hoc quidem, vt de studiis
bene mereri desinerem, non erat quod vereretur Leus, etiam si quid
scripsisset procacius aut iuuenilius. lam istarum rerum non sum
insolens, et pulchrius atque etiam fortius arbitror alienam petulan-
460 tiam ferre quam referre. Nec interim desunt tamen qui mihi pro-
cacitatis morbum conentur impingere. quod alicubi attingam com-
munes hominum mores, quod a probatis ac receptis autoribus alicubi
dissentiam, quod cum stomacho quaedam reiiciam. Si dissentire
contumelia est, quis vnquam scripsit qui non alicubi dissentiat
465 a caeteris ? Si contumelia est taxare in genere mortaUum vicia, cur
in publicis concionibus depingunt et euulgant arcanorum Hagitiorum
raysteria? quod a rae tamen nusquam est factum. Porro sicubi
videor stomachantior, expendere decuit vnde stomachus ille nascere-
tur. Saeuit in Turnum Aeneas ; sed pietati datur quod saeuiit.
470 Pallantis occisi baltheus vicit natiuam Aeneae clementiara. Videbam
sacrosanctos Ecclesiae doctores partim pro antiquatis et obsoletis
haberi, haberi deprauatos, confusos, conspurcatos. Videbara Euan-

429. hi aNLB: hii F Lond. 432. F : spergunt a. 435. KiaNLB: Hii

FLond. 461. H: attingo a. 470. F: Palantis a.

438. inficialis] Cf. Quint. 3. 6. 15, 32. Eji. 1126.272 seq.

447. excusat] For the use made of 470. baltheus] Cf. Verg. Acn. 12. 940
this passage later by an opponent sec seq.
1053] TO THOMAS LUPSET 151

gelicain doctrinam peiie obrutam commentatiunculis hominum, et

huius libros mendarum vei^ribus ac zizaniis obsitos. Nimirum hic
non ingenium, me vehementem fecit. A tani profundo lethai'go
l)ietas, 475
non poterat leni placidaque voce mundus expergefieri. Si quid igitur
hic stomachatus sum, non admodum me poenitet. Vbi vero videor
immoderatius incanduisse, quoties priuatam iniui-iam a me depello ?
Malim hoc animo praeditus esse quam istorum adsimilis qui, ad
Christi iniuriam lenes et placidi, tantum non insaniunt, si de priuato 4S0
lucro, si de gloria, vel vnciolam detrahas.
Haec pluribus ad te scripsi, vt hac epistola, ceu clypeo quopiam,
impudentissimas istorum naenias facile propulses. Sed quis tandem
erit istiusmodi sycophantiarum aut modus aut finis aut pudor?
Quando desment huic excetrae nimium foecundae sua repullulare 485
capita ? Quis noxius daemon, quae Erinnys, quis malus genius
pestem hanc inuexit Christianorum studiis ? Nam mihi plane
videtur fatale quoddam esse malum quod tam late grassetur. Dicas
Alecto, quae paulo ante principes ac populos impiis bellorum tumul-
tibus miscebat, sese vertisse ad studiorum exitium. Bellatur inter 490
eruditos pene pernitiosius linguis et calamis, quam hactenus inter
principes bellatum est ferro. Et o Deum immortalem vbi interim I

Musae sorores ? vbi harum sodales simplices Gratiae? Parum erat

si lues haec prophanas duntaxat disciplinas corripuisset. In ipsas
etiam inuasit literas, quae nos solae potei'ant docere Christianam 49
concordiam, quae nostros animos ab omni cupiditatum tumultu
tranquillare. Hic vnicus portus nobis erat relictus, in quem nos
ab hisce rerum humanarum vndis ac tempestatibus reciperemus.
Quis nescit quam variis malis tota hominis vita sit obnoxia? Ab
his quo nonnunquam refocillari liceret, patebat nobis diuinae Scri- 5°°
pturae paradisus. Hic dabatur per amoena vireta rej^tare ociosis.
Hic e purissimis fontibus lassi iDectoris aestus refrigerare. Hic aura
liberiore respirare, hic dulcissimos animi fructus vnde libet decerpere.
Hic gratissimos flosculos vngui spiritus demetere. Sed vnde serpens
ille noxius huc etiam irrepsit, ac foelicissimum ocium veneno dis- 505
cordiae corrupit? Quis salubribus herbis noxium aconitum admis-
cuit? Quis limpidissimas scatebras malo toxico viciauit? Quis
salutiferas arbores letalibus sorbis adulterauit? Pro charitate, pro
modestia, pro lenitate, pro candore Christiano, liuor, odium, ira, con-
tentio, ambitio studia temperant. At intei-im vbi purus ille et Euan- 510
gelicus oculus, vbi iudicat liuor? Vbi charitas, quae de malis etiam
bene mereri studet, quando, dictaturam gerente odio. qui bene meren-
tur, pro officio reportant maleficium? Quis sano iudicio locus est,
vbi bilis dittat, exequitur furor. vrget temeritas, absoluit caecitas?
Porro quis malorum finis, vbi litem ex lite serit, malum ex malo pro 515
pagat contentio ? Quomodo vincet veritas, vbi summam rerum
versat ambitio? Quid autem recte dictum erit illi qui iratus, qui
inuidens, qui corruptus hoc animo librum sumit in manum, vt vene-
tur quod carpat? mio qui praeiudicans sibi, prius damnauit quam
legeret. Et video rem plane a conspiratis ac deuotis, imo plusquam 520
gladiatoriis, animis geri.

476. leni H leui a.

: 482. ceu a : aeu Loml. 501. a N virecta F Lond.
:

504. spiritus NLB spiritu H Lond. : om. a.

: 505. veneno a : vento //.
515. ex ante malo o e F.:
 152 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [151

Itaque pene in animo est. absolutis Paraphrasibus in Paulum, quod

aspirante Christo facturus sum his hibernis mensibus, in posterum
mihi canere et Musis, imo Christo magis. Descendat alius qui volet
525 in harenam, ego cum huiusmodi monstris satis mihi videor luctatus.
Expedit nonnunquam deploratae maliciae cedere, cum nec officii
fructus est vllus et irritati mali grauius laedunt.
Sed nos quei*elae finem faciamus oportet, cum illi suae vesaniae
nullum faciunt finem. Illa querela iustissima mihi tecum communis
530 est, quod mors ademit loannem Coletum,mihi syncerissimum amicum,
tibi singularem patronum, praeceptorem ac potius parentem. O verum
theologum o mirum Euangelicae doctrinae praeconem
! Quanto !

studio vir ille imbiberat philosophiam Christi quam auide hauserat !

pectus ac spiritum diui Pauli Vt coelesti doctrinae totius vitae

!

536 puritate respondit Quot annos ille gratis populum docuit, et in hoc
!

suum Paulum referens Nunquam mihi tam familiare aut non

!

serium cum illo colloquium fuit, quin ab eo discederem meliox', aut

certe minus malus. Quo magis tibi, Lupsete, adnitendum vttantum
praeceptorem, quicum tot annos domesticam consuetudinem egeris, et
540 eruditione referas et pietate. Bene vale.
Louanii. Natali. S. Luciae. 15 19.

1054. To NiCHOLAS Praepositus.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 513. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 25 : LB. 482. 19 December 1519.

[The year-date is confirmecl by the mention of the Collectanea antiquitatum

(1.in) ; to vvhich Schoefifer i^ut the colophon in March 1520.
I cannot identify the person addressed. He evidently Avas expected to know
something of Maiuz ancl its antiquities, so that he hacl probably at some time
been resident there. The second part of the letter indlcates that he v?as
head of a community vi^hich had control of a honse near the Chapter school
at Antwerp of which Nicholas of Hertogenbosch (Eji. 616. 1411) was now
:

master.
It is possible tliat Erasmus was iutending James Probst ;,Praepositus) of
Ypres for wliom see Ep. 980. 54^. Mistakes in Christiau names occur not infre-
:

quently in Erasmus' lettei-s (cf. Epp. 966 tit. nn, 1006. 147, 1057 introd.. 1162. 153,
1200 tit., 1281. 5-7), especially of persons with whom he was unfamiliar. Of
Probsfs antecedents befoi'e 1518 uothing seems to be known but at this time ;

he was head of the Augustinians at Antwerp. Their convent since 15 14 had

been situated a little distance to the south of the cathedral, but withiu its
parish (J. C. Diercxseus, Antuerpia CJiristo nascens, iii, 1773, pp. 279,80 cf. de ;

Decker in MSH, 1883, pp. 374,5), so that they might quite well liave owned
a house which was near the Chapter school. Probst is knowu to have been
intimate subsequently with Nicholas of Hertogenbosch, beiug iuvolved in the
same persecution by the Inquisition. If Erasuius had written his local desig-
nation Ipano ', it might conceivably havc beeu misread at Basle fi-om his
'

rough draft as 'Edano': for iu contracting iJt/- he not infrequently curls the

529. faciant f. 535. in om. F. 541. 15190: An. m.d.xix i''.

522. Paraphrasibus] Cf. Epp. 1043, tice Ep. 296. 135), and therefore for
i^cf.

1062. his meauiug here, see Ep. 233. lon.

526. deploratae] Cf. Ep. 994. 21U. He repeats hispoint twicein Ep. 1211.
535. gratis] For Erasmus' owu prac- 282. 344 cf. also Ep 260. 23-4.
:
I054] TO NICHOLAS PRAEPOSITUS 153

down stroke of the p up and round to form tlie cross-stroke, in a way that gives
it something the appearance of a d.]

ERASMVS EOTERODAMVS EXOIIO D. NICOLAO

PEAEPOSITO EDANO.
ViR eximie, scribit ad me bibliopola quidam Moguntinus sibi
excudi nescio quid libelli de antiquitate agri Moguntini, in quo prae-
dicat visi moleni quandam quae vocetur Drusiana. De ea siquid
habes, aut in commentariolis tuis aut in memoria, maiorem in modum
te rogo vt nobis impartias. Bene vale.
Louanii. xiiii. Calend. lan. An. m.d.xix.
Erasmus.

AvDio vacare aedes quasdam vicinas scholae, et in tua manu pro-

pemodum esse situm cui debeant cedere. Neque nescit tua prudentia
quam incommode habitet D. Nicolaus Busciducus, quantaque felici-
tatis portio sit bene habitare nec est necesse hominem vobis orani-
;

bus notissimum commendare. Rogo itaque. si citra tuum incommo-

dum potes optimo viro commodare, vt tui similis esse velis eodem ;

officio me quoque tibi deuincturus. Rursum vale.

Anno. M.D.xix.

1055. To Ulrich Huttex.

Weimar MS. Spalatinus 4", f. 461. (Louvain.)
HE. 150: ME. 57. <i5i9->

[The continuance of Erasmus' friendly relations with Hutten (cf. also Ep. 1030.
i6n) may be illustrated by thefoUowing extract from a letterof Hutten to Melanch-
thon, 20 Jan. 1520. It refers probably to the controversy with Lee, in which
Hutten subsequently took part with a letter to Lee, 19 May (1520) (HE. 166),
printed in the appendix to Eae. To Melanchthon he writes :

Curabo Erasnii qitoquc negocium ibi, qui magnas mihi tragoedias de suis aemulis
scrihit. Primum conc iliandas nohis Ferdinandus vst ; quo de Franciscus bene mereri
gestit. Post facile erit exagitare improbos.
Active intervention on Erasmus' behalf had perhaps been expected from
Hutten; fur after mentioning Erasmus' threatsof verbei-a from Germany (Ep. ' '

998. 68n) Lee states {Anmtationcs P. CC^) that he liad been warned to leave
Louvain, for fear lest nobilis quidam et doctus iuuenis' should come to punish
'

liim (cf. Ep. 1083. ign).

For Erasmus' letter no precise date is possible.]

1054. TiT. ExiMio D. om. H. s. D. X)ost EDANo add. 11. 7. Erasmus

F : APPENDix H. 10. D. 0);*. U. 15. Anno. m.d.xix. om. N.

1054. i. Moguntinus] Jo. Schoeffer, then 100 ft. high.

who was just producing the Collectanea Busciducu.s] Sce Ep. 616. i^n.
10.
antiguitatum in vrbe atque agro Moguntino 1055. i. ibij At the castle of Land-
repertarum see Ep. 919. 12, 5onn.
; stuhl, belonging to Francis of Sickin-
3. Drusiana] The Eigelstein, out- gen see Ep. 582. 27^.
;

«ide Mainz, said to have been erected Ferdinandus] Hutt«n proceeded

2.
in honour of Nero Claudius Drusus to address to him a book which he had
(+ 9 B.C.). A
sketch of it is given on recentlyfound at Fulda, De vnitafe Eccle-
f,°. C of the Collect. antiquitatum i\. in) ; siae conseruanda, Mainz, Jo. Schefter,
and a note on the v° states that it was March 1520 (HE. 155").
 154 LETTEKS OF EEASMUS [1520

1056. To Maetin Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 46 (n). (Louvain.)
F. p. 518: HN Lond. xiii. 34 LB. 369.
: : <c. i January 1520 ?)

[Perhaps contemporarv with Ep. 1057, "1 whieh a copy of the Farrago (E)
is sent as a present. Lypsius' may have been intended as a New Year's gift
{strena).']

D. ERAS, ROTEROD. D. MART. LYPS. BRVX.

Vt ad vti'unque tuum
ei^istolium vnico respondeam, miror te
solum Erasmo, cuius nomen per omnes etiam tabernas
nihil audire de
obambulat. Epistolarum volumen dono tibi mitto. Leeum tentasse
neque tua, mi Martine, neque mea referebat. An tu putas Chri-
5 stianam charitatem, quae niliil non complectitur, finibus vsqueadeo
angustis esse sepiendam vt non possis Leeo amicus esse, ni mihi
amicus esse desinas ? Hi tumultus plane fatales nihil ad te perti-
nent quo mihi videris felicior.
: Proinde tu te sacris autoribus
euoluendis oblecta.
10 De recognitis Prouerbiis non est quod labores nam pauca quaedam ;

loca duntaxat castigauimus, quae tu facile describes in tuum volumen.

Et liber fortasse post annum exibit. Bene vale. [Anno m.d.xviii.]

1057. To JoDocus Vander Noot.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 517. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. ^^ : LB. 381. 7 Januaiy I5|f.
[Between Nesen's arrival at Louvain in July 1519 (Ep. 994. gn) and the
publication of F at the end of 1521. That the year-date niust be 15^ is shown
by the troubles between Busleiden's professors and the University, whioh called
this letter forth. Again, as in Ep. 1046, we are indebted for much light to the
work of the late Prof. de Jongh see his pp. 202-3, i7*-ai=^. :

Nesen being prohibited from lecturing ;Ep. 1046. 23^) had announced that
he would take part in an opposition on 7 Jan., the date of this lettei*. The
'
'

University promptly applied to the Council of Brabant, and obtained confirma-

tion of its right to require incorpoi-ation and armed with this, its officers pro- ;

ceed to stop Nesen's opposition '. Meanwhile one of BusIeiden'sexecutors, Ant.

'

Sucquet, had intei-Aened on behalf of the College with such success that on :

12 March 1520 an agreement was made, tlie Univei'sity recognizing the CoUege

TXT. D. om. F. D. om. H. lyps. om. F. brvxellano s. p. F. 3.

Leum 7''. 6. heo F. 8. videre -F. 10. na.m om. F. 11. duntaxat
a: modo J'. 12. Et liber . . . exibit otn. F. Anno m.d xviii. add. H.

3. Epistolarum] E : see Ep. 1040 had perliaps just arranged (cf. 1. 12),
*
introd. contains only 21 adages more than
tontasse] with an attack in sup- that of 1517-18: which ho had prob-
port of Erasmus. ubly presented to Lypsius earlier. The
8. sacris autoribus] Cf. Ep. 1048, 1520 title-page has tlie words Qui : '

511. nouam aeditionem emunt, lucrum fa-

Prouerbiis] The
10. new Froben edi- ciunt ;
qui veteribus contenti sunt,
tion of Oct. 1520, for which Erasmus corte nihil faciunt damni'.
I057] TO JODOCUS VANDER NOOT 155

and accepting its professors already appointed, witliout requiring from tliem
the formality of supplication (cf. 1. ^n). For external teachers in general the
requij-ement was still enforced and thus Vives obtained it on 3 March. Nesen,
;

however, seems never to have applied for it, being doubtless indignant at his
treatment over this matter. In April he was away at Erfurt, probably in quest
of employment under more liberal conditionS (Ep. 1088. 10) and he perhaps ;

visited Pirckheimer also at Nuremberg (Ep. 1095 introd.). By 31 .July he had

gone ofif to Frankfort (Ep. 1126. 356-7).
As in Ep. 1046 Erasmus' inHuence was again exerted on behalf of the College
with which he was so much in sj^mpathy. For Nesen he had no strong personal
feeling and with his conservative instincts he might have been expected to side
;

with constituted authority. But authority in this case was coincident with his
opponents, and the jDresent contest was only another form of the struggle that
he was continually waging for the freedom of liberal studies. So he was glad
enough to appeal to a member of the Council of Brabant before which the ;

question had been brought.

Of the person whom he addressed nothing seems otherwise to be known. A
Jodocus de Nooth of Brussels entered at Bologna on 26 Jan. 15 16 as a student
(ANGB. p. 280) but he could hardly have been a member of the Council of
;

Brabant four years later. Possibly Erasmus had the Christian name wrong (cf.
Ep. 1054 introd.) and was intending the ChanceIlor's brother and successor,
Adolphus or he may have been thinking of Josse Laurens, who was a member
:

of the Council, and wliom he couples with the Chancellor in lettei-s of 14 July
1522.J

ERASMVS ROTEROD. ERVDITO D. lODOCO NOTIO, CONSILIARIO

BRABANTIAE, S. D.
Ornatissime lodoce, si clarissimus simul et prudentissimus D. Can-
cellarius fauebit in hac causa libertati studiorum, maxime faciet ex
sententia Regis nostri, qui haud dubie cupit suara Aeademiam quam
maxime florere honestis disciplinis. Quod obiiciunt de supplicando,
merum commentum est, et huius quosdam iam pudet, quanquam 5
alioqui satis perfrictae frontis. Res per paucos coniuratos acta est,
qui sua doctrina contenti magis student augendae rei quam literis ;
nec curant quantum i3i-oficiant iuuenes, modo ipsi Louanii suo regnent
arbitratu. Nusquam est Academia quae modestiores habeat iuuenes
minusque tumultuantes quam habet hodie Louanium. Horum boni- 10
tate iamdiu abutuntur isti, et ingenuos iuuenes habent pene pro
emptitiis mancipiis. At illi consul consul non erat, cui ipse non esset
senatoi'. Si quid murmui-is aut tumultus est, ab ipsis est, non a
iuuenibus. Mihi hic nec seritur nec metitur. Ipse nec lego cuiquam
nec audio quenquam a nemine colligo quicquam, do nonnullis. Sed 15
:

tamen mouet me publica causa studiorum. Nezenus hospes est, et

Trr. ERVDiTo D. om. H. koetio 7/. eraeak. H. i. D. om H.

16. Nesenus H.

I. Cancellarius] Evidentiy .Terome of Erasmus' residence at Louvain,

Vander Noot, Chancellor of Brabant. throw doubt upon the statement whicli
4. supplicando] sc. pro venia legen- has been sometimes made, I cannot
di ; cf. de Jongli pp. 14*. 3, 20*. 6, 9. discover upon what evidence, that he
12. illi] This is a saying of Crassus, lectured in Busleiden's college. For
related by Cicero, de Orat. 3. r. 4 the ; such work he always had a strong
consul being L. Philippus. Cf. also Cic. distaste, even in the time of his poverty
Phil. 2. 5. 10. I owe these references (cf. Epp. 171. 13, 172. 9, 233. 8-10, 245.
to Prof. A. C. Clark. 4-7) f^o it seems unlikely that now,
'•

14. nec lcgo] Theso w^ords, though v/hen he was above want, he should
not necessarily applicable to the wholo hnve returned to the schools.
 156 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

linguae nosti^atis imperitus : quo magis fauendum est viro alioqui

docto, integro ac modesto.
Mitto tibi dono volumen Epistolarum, quo, cum erit ocium, fallas
20 horas aliquot. Bene vale, meque magnifico D. Cancellario commenda.
Louanii postridie Epiphaniae. Anno m.d.xix.
Erasmus ex animo tuus.

1058. To XicHOLAS Beraldus.

Apologia qua respondet f'\ C (a). (Louvain.)
^ortin ii. 504. <c. January 1520.)

[The following extract is tVom Erasmus' first Apoloyia against Lee, Antwerp,
M. Hillen, (c. March) 1520 (see p. 109). The date of the letter mentioned can he
established with some precision from the printing of Lee'.s book (pp. 108, iio), to
which it refers. Erasmus, of course, is the speaker.]

Taxbem litteris e Lutetia redditis intelUgo illic cxciidi volimen. Pro-

tinus et illuc Jego quendamad Nicolaum Beraldum, admonens
ciim litteris
ne quid ob id facturi essent molesti cuiquam Anglorum mihi cum :

vno Leo rem esse, caeterum gentem esse charissimam ad haec ne ;

5 quis stilum acueret in Leum, conuiciis iUum aggrediens, etiamsi non

dubitarem quin liber illius scateret conuiciis tantum curarent vt
;

mihi cum i>rimis vohiminis fieret copia.

1059. To (James Latomus ?).

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 517. (Louvain.)

HN : Lond. xiii. 32 : LB. App. 508. (January 1520 ?)

[The hist line shows that the person addressed was at the head of some society,
very likely the Theological Faculty at Louvain, with which he was expected to
have weight. He may therefore be identified very probably with Latomus (Ep.
934. 3nn), who fromEpp. 1113. 12-14, 1123. 16-19, ajipe.ars to have taken the lead
among the theologians after Atensis' death (8 Jan. 1520). OtherpersonsiJossible
are Vianensis (Ep. 650. ^n cf. Ep. 651. 21-3) or Nic. Coppin (Ep. 1162. io8n).
;

A date may be assigned conjecturally not long after Atensis' death. For re-
newed attacks on Erasmus by the theologians at that time see Ep. 1063. i.]

EUASMVS ROTEllOD. THEOLOGO CYIDAM S. D,

ExiMiE vir, miratur Homerus mortalibus nullam esse belli satie-

tatem, cuni rerum caeterarum omnium sit saturitas: at ego magis
derairor nobis nullam esse tumultuandi satietatem. Audio denuo

1057. 20. D. om. H. 22. Erasmus . . . tuus oui. H. 1058. 3. facturi

scripsi : factum a.

1067. 19. Epistolarum]Tlie fana^o (E). cf. 19. 221.

1058. 3. Anglorum] Cf. Ep. 1083. 33^. 3. denuo] Since the reconciliation :

10.59. I. H<Mnerus] II. 13. 633-9 '•

'^^it for which see Ep. 1016. i^n.
I059] TO (JAMES LATOMUS ?> 157

magno quosdam nescio quid moliri in me, et inquirere ia

studio
libros quod nunquam istis venit in mentem, nisi cum irati
meos ; 5
cupiunt vlcisci. At sperabam Atensi mortuo studia fore tranquil-
liora, nec sperabam fore vt hac in parte Helias ille suos haberet
Helizeos. Tu fac eum praestes quem es pollicitus. In Epistolis,
licet ante concordiam aeditis, nihil est quod cuiusquam laedat famam,
nisi se prodat. Bene vale, et tranquillitati studiorum consule quod ;
ib
magis in rem vestram est quam meam.
Erasmus tuus.

1060. To Thomas Wolsky.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 496. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xii. 28 : LB. 384. i February i
s^f.

[This letter may be compared with Ep. 1062 : with which it is evidently
contemporary.]

R. D. D, tho:mae card. eboracensi ekasmvs

ROTERODAMVS S. D.

Nvxc meritas do poenas stulticiae meae. Qui poteram isthic inter

eruditos amicos et suauiter et cum dignitate viuere, si benignitatem
regiae maiestatis ac tuae E. D. vltro oblatam fuissem amplexus, nunc
cogor cum
ingratis quibusdam et impudentissimis sycophantis confli-
Vt sunt fatales corporum morbi, ita video et animorum fatales
ctari. 5

quasdam esse pestes, vndecunque proficiscuntur siue ab astris, siue ab :

ipsis corporibus aliter atque aliter affectis, siue quod magis reor, ab
humani generis hoste, qui nulla re magis gaudet quam nostra dis-
cordia. Quis enim alius tantum veneni studiisinuexit, etiam saeris?
a quibus pendet tum incohimitas tum dignitas Christianae religionis. 10
Tam amaris odiis nunc passim inter sese decertant etiam theologi,
tara virulentis libellis inuicem sese proscindunt, publicis apud popu-
lum concionibus sese mutuo lacerant, vt mea sententia praestiterit
hortum colere quam literas.
Atque hac in re nulli peccant impudentius quam ii qui sub mendi- 15
citatis professione tyrannidem meditantur. Complures eruditissimi
viri ex toto orbe mihi gratias agunt pro Nouo Testamento iam bis
recognito, inter quos et aliquot episcopi sunt, atque adeo summus ille
omnium Leo, eius nominis decimus. Et istos non pudet, nondum
lecto opere, seditiosis clamoribus apud populum traducere bene me- 20

1059. 12.Erasmus tuus om. H. 1060. tit. r. d. d. om. H. 3. tuae

R. D. i^ : tnam H. 13. vt om. N. 15. ii F : hi A'.

1059.4. in librosmeos] Cf.Ep. 1053.34. loo-].8in.

8. Epistolis] Doubtless the Farrago lOGO. i. poteram] Cf. Ep. 964 introd.
(E) : for though it was not actnally 5. fatales] For Erasmus' view of fate
published before the reconciliation, as an element in human life cf. Epp.
Erasmus' part in it must have been 777. 2^-3, 785. 8, 786. 19, 794. 84, 848.
completed in Aug. 1519. 11-12, 1053. 448 see also Ep. 1102. 6n.
:

9. laedat famam] For subsequent 15. ii ] The friars; whom Erasmus

modification of this opinion see Ep. frequently designates as TTToixorvpavvui
1123. 7-8; and for Erasmus' self-decep- (cf. Epp. 998. 59^, 1053. 405-61.
tion about his own writings cf. Ep. 17. ex toto orbe] Cf. Ep. 950 introd.
 158 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

rentem. Quales et hic extitere quidam, et isthic quendam audio

fuisse, qui in concione frequenti vociferatus sit me corrigere voluisse
Euangelium loannis, quod pro verho verterim sermonem quasi loannes :

scripserit Latine, aut quasi non ante me Filium Dei pro verbo sermo-
25 nem appellarint Cyprianus, Hilarius, Hieronymus, cumque his in-
numeri aut quasi sermo non melius exprimat Graecam vocem logos
;

quam verbum. Quid stultius dici potuit apud doctos? at quid apud
imperitam multitudinem seditiosius? At vbi interim illa dulcedo
studiorum quam narrat Hieronymus ? vbi ilhid in campo Scriptu-
30 raruni sine dolore nostro ludere? Quid quod interim bona pars
fructus perit vtrisque ? nam et illi dum sacris concionibus, quae
pi*aeter Christum nihil sonare deberent, admiscent suos affectus,
minus commouent populum ad pietatem et nostri libri vel a paucio- ;

ribus vel minore cum fructu leguntui', viciata per istos imaginatione,
35 quae vbique valet plurimum adeo vt si quis Augustini librum legat,
:

persuasus esse Pelagii haeretici, minimum fructus sit reportaturus.

E. D. T. succurrit isthic bonis literis, apud nos adhuc cum veteris
inscitiae patronis belligerantibus. Vtinam dignetur et sacrorum
studiorum tranquilHtati consulere, non solum apud Britannos verum-
40 etiam toto terrarum orbe Id facile fiet, si R. T. D. Romanum
!

Pontificem literis suis admoneat vt sua autoritate coherceat hanc in-

cessendi licentiam suam quisque professionem ornet citra contu-
;

meliam alienae, quemadmodum Paulus suum glorificat euangelium,

non obscurans tamen euangelium Petri. Quod si dissentiunt alicubi
45 ingenia, res Christiana modestia peragatur, non diabolica virulentia ;

argumentis decertetur, non seditiosis clamoi*ibus, vt et victor discedat

gloriosior et victus eruditior. Rem magnam praestiterit tua celsitudo
de republica Christiana optime nierita fuerit, si studiorum tran-
et
quilHtati dignabitur, vt facit, autoritate sua consulere. Scripsimus hac
50 de re nonnihil S. Domino N. Leoni. Sed quantukim nos homunculi
possumus
Absolui Paraphrases in omnes Epistolas diui Pauli germanas ;

opus, ni fallor, victurum, et adeo felix vt illis quoque probetur qui-

bus nihil placet Erasmicum. Vtinam mihi liberum esset huic operi
55 tui nominis facem praetendere Sed vt magnis interuallis, non vno!

impetu, perfectum est, ita parteis laboris diuersis inscripsimus. Sed

quaeretur aliud aeque victurum quod tuae celsitudini dicabitur
certum est enim his immori laboribus, etiamsi sentio me indies reddi
segniorem, non tam aetate quam studiorum laboribus irrequietis,
60 imo taedio contentionum magis quam laboribus per se iucundis.
Bene valeat R. T. D. Louanii CaL Fel)r. An. m.d.xix.

28. At Caeterum H.
J^: 37. R. D.T. F: Tua autoritas II. 40. R. T. D.
om. H. 41. tuis admoneas H. 49. vt facit add. H. 50. S. Domino N. F:
summo pontifici H. 55. vt om. N. 61. valeat R. T. D. F : vale H.

21. quendam] Standish; cf. Epp. 49. Scripsimus] Ep. 1007.

608. i^n, 1072 introd., 1126. 52. Paraphrases] Cf. Ep. 1062 introd.
25. Cyprianus] Testim. 2. 3 ; Domin. and 175^.
orat. 28; Vnit. eccl 21. germanas] except Hebrews : Ep.
29. Hieronymus] Ep. 82. i. 1181.
37. bonis literis] Cf. Ep. 967. 26n. 57. quaeretur aliud] This promise
43. Paulus] Gal. 2. 7 scq. was quickly redccmed see Ep. 11 12.
:
io6i] 159

938,10531061. From Edwakd Lee.

Annotationes Leei, Paris, (1520), f. 132 (a). Louvain.

I February 1520.

[A letter printed in the volume to whicb Ep. 1037 is preface. Besides con-
testing Ep. 998 almost sentence by sentence, it replies to Ep. 1053, wbich Lee
had doubtless seen in Martens' edition of (c. 14 Dec. 1519) : this second portion
beingperhaps composed later. It may be noted that the citation of Ep. 998 is far
fromexact. Erasmus' reply is the Apology cited on pp. 109, 156, and frequently
referred to elsewhere in this vohime as tbe Apologia qua respondet. The year-date
of this letter needs no confirmation.]

EDOVARDVS LEEVS DESIDERIO EEASMO SALVTEM.

Eam statuo esse cominodissimam rationem, Desideri Erasme, qua
respondeatur illi epistolae tuae, quae nuper Basileae excusa antea

apud bibliopolas prostaret quam ad meas manus tota peruenerit vt ;

eius periodos, cola ac commata singilatim excutiam, praepositis

primum ipsis verbis tuis, subinde nostra statim satisfactione appo- 5
sita. Sic fiet vt et ordinem tuae epistolae sim seruaturus, nec multa
etiam omissurus quae admodum ad rem i)ertinea(n)t. Sic ergo ordiris.
Era. Qnod a nohis dissentis alicubi non admodiim aegre fero; semper
hoc licuit inter eruditos incolumi amicitia. Quod istis rationihus rem
fractas, demirahor si quisquam vir grauis prohet, quando nec 'ipse prohat 10
D. loannes Briareus Ateus, tui, vt par est, amantissimus.
Edo. Si dissentire licuit incolumi amicitia, cur has tragoedias
moues, nulla prorsus alia causa nisi quod dissentiam ? Porro quibus
rationibus tracto rem, quas nec probet Atensis, non agnosco, nec
credo illum agnoscere, Nam quae postea in hac epistola contra nos 15
exageras, suis locis diluemus. Sed quod Atensem mei, vt par est,
dicisamantissimum, ego certe ne tantum adhuc ab illo meritus sum
vllo officio vt me vel vulgariter amet
meo quum contra illi a me ;

debeatur, nec minus a te ipso, quod tam candide vtriusque nostrum

hortatu susceperit prouinciam conferendi meas Annotationes cum tua 20
secunda aeditione id quod perfecturus erat, si per te licuisset.
:

Era. Ifi tot milihus Annotationum, in tanta sententiarum aut ingenio-

rum varietate, quid nouum aut mirum sicuhi vidisses quod me fefellit,
aut tibi minus placeret quod mihi non displicuisset?
dicis, nihil nouum aut mirum
Edo. Plane, vt et eo magis miror : 25
te, imlla prorsus sis re ofifensus, tam odiose contra me ferri.
quum
Era. Quis autem prohaturus est quod tam sichito ex amico factus hostis
in ahsentem scripseris ? quum nec lacessitus esses iniuria, nec vnquam
expostulasses cum praesente.
Edo. Erasmo nec adhuc quidem hostis sum tot iniuriis lacessitus. 3°
Hostibus tuis tam sum infensus vt exterminare cupiam, si quo modo
possim hoc est erratis tuis. In absentem non scripsi. Nam prius-
:

quam concederes Basileam vt denuo emitteres opus, Annotationes

8. nobis a : me E. 22. aut a : & E. 23. fefellit a fefellisset E.
: 27.
tam add. a. 28. nec ante lacessitus a, ad finem versus: nec vlla E.

2. Basileae] In the Farrago (E), Oct. 21. secunda aeditione] of the New
1519 : for the date of its publication Testament.
see p. 119. 33. concederes] In May 15 18.
 160 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

meas ad calcem ijroduxi id quod teipso nemo melius nouit, qui ante
:

35 discessum hinc tuum omnes videris. An vlla fuerim lacessitus

iniuria, viderit aequus quiuis qui nostram lecturus est Apologiam.
Et tamen animus non erat par pari referre, nec adhuc est. Cum
praesente expostulassem, si vacasset verba prodigere nani quis nescit :

Erasmum posse nigra vertere in candida ?

40 Eea. Quod in veterem aeditionem scripseris qinim scircs mc adornare
nouam : qtiod opiis tuum per omnia monasteria sparseris, imiesertim vbi
scires esse qui miJii parum hene vellent : qiiod iis modo communicaris
quos noueras iniquiores esse Erasmo : quod nunqiiam prouocari potueris,
nec Atensis authoritate, vt milii voluminis tui faccres copiam, imo ne ad
45 hoc quidem, vt voce vel vmim profcrres locum qiiem reprehendisses : qiiod
virulentis conuiciis, imo mendaciis opus passim asperseris id enim —
affirmant qui viderunt. neque reclamant paginae quas intercepi : quod
nusquam non 2>t"aedicas ac iactifas sexcenta loca ahs te rcprehensa, nec
vnius facis copiam : queso vnde istud exemplum vcl grauitatis vel animi
50 Qhristiani?
Edo. Ego in veterem aeditionem scripsi, id est veteris aeditionis
quae mihi videbantur errata annotaui non factvirus nisi ad hoe ipse
:

nec semel tantum miris praestigiis me incantasses. Aedere nunquam

institueram, nisi tu sic vrgeres. Nullum orbis monastei'ium exem-
55 plum habet, quod sciam, praeter duo. Alterum sic habet vt aut nulli
aut non multis communicet alterum vt mihi, sicuti mea ornnia quae
:

in illius fide sunt, seruet. Nam sic homines sumus vt et nugas

nostras exosculemur, nec sinamus perire. Nulli communicaui quem
scirem tibi iniquiorem esse aut tibi male velle: imo vero, vno Atense
60 excepto et aliquot notariis, his tantum aut qui amici tibi sint aut qui
te ne de facie quidem noscant. Nam Morus et Latimerus amici sunt,
et Roffensis tuo consensu volumen habuit. Nec erat cur Atensis
authoritate vel cuiusquam alterius prouocari debuerim vt volumen
meum traderem, qui praeter meas insidias nihil cogitasti.
tibi Vt
<>5 dixi, animus non
erat aedere. Etiam si aedere voluissem, nulla tum
libri erat facies, nihil edolatum exasciatumue, nihil concinnatum,
perfectum nihil in toto opere erat. Quod si volumen in tuam pote-
statem fuisses nactus, mihi integrum postea non fuisset demutare
quicquam, imo in tuo iam fuisset arbitrio rude ac deforme opus publi-
70 care quum velles. Itaque me, quod nulla non arte parabas, symiam
fecisses ac fabulam vulgo.
Voce quidem ac scriptis multas Annotationes impartisse me, non
satis miror tam impudentem esse quum apud me
te vt inficiari possis,
sint responsiones tua manu scriptae. Et quid non ostendissem, nisi
75 tu egre tulisses amicam monitionem ? Atque id quidem testabuntur

40. adornai-e me E. 43. esse add. a. 49. vnius a, adfinem versus:

vnius interim E. queso a : quaeso te E.

55. praeter duo] Evidently Winch- to apply to him. For in view of his
eombeand St. Mary Overey; see 11. 150, subsequent relations with Lee and of
i52nn. Lee's connexions with Kent and Lon-
Alterum] This description is don, Southwark rather than Winch-
given later for Linsted of St. Mary combe would be likely to serve Lee as
Overey (1. 152^); but the alternative a place of deposit.
description here might also be taken 66. exasciatumue] Cf. Plaut. As. 360.
io6i] FROM EDWARD LEE 161

aliquot responsiones tuae. Reliquarum vero, quas ipse non niisi,

factam tibi copiam a meo proditore ipsius proditoris, epistola ad te
raissa, sed quae nunc in manibus meis est, apertissime probabit.
Sed scio cur inficieris te quicquam vidisse. Id prorsus caues, ne vel
iota i)er me profecisse videare. Et tamen hac parte contra te re- 80
clamabit aliquot locis secunda aeditio tua. Nam et hic verecundiam
exuo, vt mea tum agnoscam tum repetam quae mea esse tam in-
;

gratus homo non agnoscis.

Virulentis conuitiis nullo loco vtor. Si paulo liberior sum alicubi
quam tu velles, non sine exemplo id feci, quum res sie vrgeret. 85
Nec puto Christum conuitio sed castigatione vsum, quum Pharisaeos
vocat ypochritas ac sepulchi*a dealbata, nec Pauhmi, quando Ananiae
dixit Percutiet te, paries dealbate ; nec Polycarpum, loannis
'
'

Apostoli discipulum, qui Marcioni perconctanti an se cognosceret re-

spondit Cognosco primogenitum Satanae '. Paulus iubet peccantem 90
'

coram omnibus coi-am omnibus increpari. Et tamen ego nusquam hoc

mihi sumo vt Libere moneo quid me offendat. Alicubi
te increpera.
volui te reuocare ob oculos tuos, qui mihi tui ipsius oblitus videbare.
Sed quod mendacia obiicis, insanum fuerit mentiri in opere quod
orbis leget. Et quanquam tu id facis, non inde mihi sumam exem- 95
plum. Imo quod coniectura tantum videbar consecutus, sub specie
coniecturae et non certae cognitionis profiteor. Si deprehenderis vel
vno loco mendacium fecisse (nara mentitum non esse certo scio nec ;

tamen tam sum semper mei compos vt nihil possit mihi excidere),
monitus recantabo. Nam certe hoc foedissimum est, publice mentiri : 100
quod miror te aliquoties faeere, hominem et theologum et monachum.
Nusquam iactitaui sexcenta loca a me
reprehensa. Hoc fingis, vt
caetera. Exemplum mei ex saeris literis. Si peccauerit
facti accipio
in te frater tuus, corripe eum inter te et ipsum. Si te non audierit,
adhibe vnum vel duos testes. Si nec illos, dic Ecclesiae. Hunc 105
ordinera adaraussim obseruaui vt nune frustra tentatis duabus
;

prioribus viis, tertiam cogar inire, Ecclesiae dicturus.

Eras. Si x»'odessc vis omnlbus, cur non acdis?
Ed. Vtinam ea mea esset felicitas vt prodesse possem certe !

vellem. Sed quominus liceret, quum vellem et tentarem, idem qui iio
nunc vrges vt aedam, bis obstitisti. Primura interturbato negocio,
quum iam characteres essent compositi ad primum praelura deinde :

ita fascinato altero tj^pographo, quicum raihi postea conuenit, vt qui

primo de ea re sermone videbatur ambire opus, postea tradita illi abs
te Paraphrasi ad Timotheum nullas velletaequas conditiones recipere, 115
ne quidem eas quas nntea ipse sua quidem sponte obtulit. Si tant-
opere cupiebas Annotationum nostrarum aeditionera, quura scires cum
hoc typographo iniisse me tractatura, imo et iam pactum esse de qui-
busdam articuhs, cur Paraplirasim ob[s]trusisti, et illi typographo
quicura antea nulla tibi erat consuetudo quin vero cui antea, vt 120
:

77. proditore] Lypsius ; cf. 11. 88. Polycarpum] Cf. Iren. c. Haer. 3-
401-3. 3. 4-
epistola] The reference is pos- 90. Paulus] r Tim. 5. 20.
sibly to Ep. 900. 10,11; but more 103. sacris literis] Ct.Matt. 18. 15-17.
likely to some letter wliich has not 112. compositi] with Thibiiult ? cf. ;

survived. 1. 536 and Ep. 1053. 116-19.

86. Pharisaeos] Matt. 23. 27. 113. altero] Hillen.
87. Ananiae] Acts 23. 3. 115. Paraphrasi] See Ep. 1043.
 162 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

aiunt, non satis faueras quod domini lacobi Latomi Dialogum typis
suis emiserit. Si tibi tam cordi erat liber meus, cur mihi bis clausisti
officinas ?Ego prorsus decreueram nullo sumptui parcere quo aedere-
tur nec te credo sumptui peparcisse quo reiiceretur siquidem non
: ;

125 puto tam negligentes esse sui compendii tyi^ographos vtgratis tantum
lucri vellent amittere.
Eras. Si cnr solus non impetro vt legam ?
nie docere vis,
Ed. Ego omnes veluti cum imperio doces, et corni-
te docebo, qui
cum, quod dicitur, oculos configis?
130 Ekas. Si tibi scripsi(sfi}, cur tam late volitat liber?
Edo. Imo vero magis tibi scripsi quam mihi. Nam meum commo-
dum uullum est nisi quod nunc pro cotidiana plusquam semestri
opera odiosissime abs te infamor. Tu quantum inde commodi assecu-
tus es, indicabit secunda aeditio quantum praeterea potuisses iudi-
:

135 cauerit lector. Liber non late volitat: nam qui ante aeditionem vide-
rint, in toto orbe non sunt viginti qui exemplaria habuerunt extra
;

manus meas, ne quidem quatuor.

Era. Si diffidis operi tuo, cur sic vhique iactas ? Si fidis, cur anxius
es ne quis lcgat, nisi qiii tnihi parum sit aequus?
140 Edo. Lectoris iudicio librum permitto. Ego nec vsquequaque
diffido ojjeri nec tamen mihi ipsi satis fido, neque tanti aestimo opus
;

vt vbique iactem. Nunquam hactenus tam placui mihi quin voluerim

aliorum subire censuram. Idem si ipse fecisses, non iam ageremus
hanc tragoediam.
145 Era. Ita dutn mc traducis apud eos qui tihi iurati miJii male cupiimt,
nec me reddis meliorem et illos inficis.
Edo, Non ego te traduco apud eos qui mihi iurati tibi male volunt.
Atensis, quum meum librum haberet, tibi amicus erat postquam :

sensi resilire te a censura, librum e manibus illius reuocaui. Roffen-

150 sis nec mihi iuratus est nec tibi male vult. Vvinchelcombensis
134. iudicabit a : correxi. 138. anxius a : tam anxius E.

121.Latomi] See Ep. 934. ^nn. pointed witli Fislier to attend the
128.cornicum] Cf. Ep. 456. 2in. Lateran Council (Ep. 252 introd.). A
150. Vvinchelcombensis Eicbard of I
letter from him. Aug. 1514, congratu-
KidderminsterenteredtlieBenedictine lating Wolsey on preferment to York,
Abbey of Wiuchcombe in Gloucester- is in a very sei-vile tone (Brewer i.
shire at the age of 15. Four years 5355 cf. iii. 668). In 15 15 he led the
;

later he was sent to study at Gloucester opposition of Convocation to the Act

Hall in Oxford ; and after three and a about the punishment of clerics by
half years returned tobecome 'scholar' lay tribunals, and was confronted by
or 'pastor' of the Abbey. In 1487-8 Standish (Ep. 608. i^n). He possessed
he was elected Abbot in succession to enough influence with Oxford Univer-
John of Twyning. His interests are sity to obtain concessions for monastic
shown by an intimate letter written to students tliere in 1521 and c. 152I,
;

him by Colet (c. 1498) about studies in when Henry viiiinvitedtheUniversity

St. Paul see S. Knight, Life of Colet,
: towi-iteagainstLuther, Richardhui*ried
1724, pp. 311-14. In 1500, being then into Oxford, though only just recovered
D.D., he spent ayear in Rome; preach- from serioiis illness, and contributed
ing sundry times before the Pope (cf. a book De Veniis, which seems not to
Brewer v. 327^ In .Tan. i5o§ lie havebeen printed. See the University
created a monk from Canterbury D.D., Letter-book, Bodl. MS. 282, f. 46 r" and
apparently iii Oxford see lleg. Oxf.
: v°. Antiquarian tastes are shown by
Univ., ed. Boase, OHS. (1885), p. 40.
i collections made for the history of his
In March 151 1 he was Court Preacher Abbey in 1523; in the preface to which
at Greenwich (Brewer ii, p. 1449) and ; he describeshow by his own encourage-
in Feb. 1512 (ibid. p. 1454) was ap- ment to * sacrae literae' Winchcombe
io6i] FROM EDWARD LEE 163

nemini niale vult. Te credo nunquam vidisse et certe est summo- :

rum ingeniorum et bonarum literarum admirator. Oueriensis meus

nulli communicat. An
ex nostris laboribus melior eifectus sis, id est
profeceris, viderit lector. Cei"te per me nemo infectus est, id est
deterius de te sentit quam merearis. Nam vbi ego a te dissentiens 155
bene sentio, cur non sentiant eruditi mecum ? At si a te dissentiens
male sentio, non tam Suffenussum vt velim mecum sentire quenquam
eontra te. Mihi semper lucro fuerit doceri.
Era. Quid quod interim nec tuae gloriae, quam lioc tumultu venaris, no,%
satis recte consulis? Si statim aedidisses opus tuum, omnes admirafi 160
fuissent prodigiosam ingenii tui felicitatem, qui pauculis mensihus tantum
Graecitatis ei Hehraismi deuoraris, vt tuo iudicio niliil sapiat in Graecis
Erasmus, in Hebraicis Hicronymus [si tamen haec est illius translatio) :

nam id honoris gratia soles addere, ne parum trihuere videare Hicrongmo.

Imo aiunt te mox triduo postquam Hebraissare coeperas, multa damnasse 165
in Capnione, nonnulla etiam in Capitone.
Edo. Si gloriam sitissem, proxima ad eam via erat a te non dis-
seutii-e, sed comice ludere, Ait aio Negat nego. Hoc est quod
; : ;

immortalitatis patronus primo nostro colloquio et item postea, nec

tantum semel, poUicebare, redditurum te meum nomen immortale, 17°
si te in hoc opere iuuarem. Id quuni ego interpretarer si ingenue, '

quum res moneret, dissentirem ', tu contra si adblandirer et admi- '

rarer quiduis abs te dictum, nee vUo pacto conuellerem '. Quod me
stupidum fefellit alioqui iam habitus essem tuo albo suffragio
:

immortalitatis. 175
Id vero scilicet mire prodigiosum fuerit, si potui pauculis mensibus

159. non add. a. 164. videare tribuere E, 165. posteaquam E.

hiid becoine 'altera noua vniuersitns, .Jerome's Vitae Pairum, 'Lyons,'N. Wo]tY,
tametsi exig\ia', and recommends it as 28 April 1502 (MS. Rawl. Q. d. 12) witli
an example to nostrae tempestatis
' an inscription of his ownership, and
monachi, qui putant praeter vniuersi- ms. notes, a few of whicli are perhaps
tates nullum esse eruditionis locum '. in his autograph. See Dugdale ii. 299
See A. Wood, Hist Univ. Oxford, ed. .J. A. Wood, ^//(eHae Oxon. i, i8i3,pp. 61-4 ;
Gutch, ii, 1796, pp. 20,1. D. Royce, Landboc de inchelcumha, ii, W
About 9 Nov. 1525 he resigned his 1903, pp. xxxiii-v Miss R. Graham in
;

abbacy, andcontinued toliveasamonk V. C. H., Gloucester, ii, 1907, p. 71 ; and

at Winclicombe. In 1527 he wrote DNB.
upon the Benedictine Rule a book ; 152. Oueriensis] Barth. Linsted or
v?hich Longlond, then bish"p of Lin- Fowle. Since 26 .Jan. 1513 he had
coln, wished to see in all Benedictine been Prior of St. Mary Overey, a house
houses in his diocese. In return Long- of Austin canons in Soutliwark the ;

lond dedicated to him some sermons, cliureh of which now

the cathedral.
is
London, R. Pynson, (c. 1528?), which lu Juno 1518 he appealed to the eliap-
he had delivered before Henry virr in ter of his order at Leicester for the
151 7. In 1531 Heuiy proposed to enforcement of stricter observance of
associate Richard with Warhani as tlieir rule, but met with little response
judges about the Divorce styling liim ; (Brewer ii, App. 48). He was fre-
'
a man of notable lernyng in diuinite, quently engaged, 1526-9, in forwarding
and great experience and knowlege ', money to Lee, who was then ambassa-
*to aged to be moued from the ryglit <h)r in Spain (Brewer iv, v). He sur-
eyther for feare or loue (Brewer v. 6,
'
rendered liis liouse at the Dissohition,
327). The hast trace of him is in a 27 Oct. 1539 (Brewer xiv. ii. 401) and ;

letter froni him to Cromwell, 3 Nov. was still living, on a pension, in 1553.
O531 ?)> which speaksof greatage and See Dugdale vi. 169.
sickness ibid. 510). 157. Suffenus] Cf. Cat. 22. 17.
The Bodleian possesses a copy of 168. comice] Cf. Ter. Eun. 252.

M 2
 164 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

adeo profecisse vt iudicare licuerit haec verba Graece sic haberi vel
non haberi, id quod tantum mihi sumo. Sed id parum nimium tibi
visum est, quod toties moneo te contra fidem exemplaris tui annotasse,
180 oscitanterne an de industria alii viderint.
Erasmum nunquam sensi parum scire Graece, imo tantum quantum
omnibus meis fortunis non grauatim redimere vellem. Nec est
tamen quod egre feras si sint qui quosdam tibi praeponant aut saltem
aequent. Nec id tamen arrogo mihi vt iudicare possim, sed sic
^^^5 quorumdam fert opinio. Nec tamen de hac re digladiabor.
Nec vnquam dixi Hieronymum nihil sapere Hebraice. Insanus
plane essem si sic dicerem. Certe non inficiabor dixisse me olim
quum variis de i'ebus confabularemur in templo diui Petri
tibi,
Louanii, videri mihi toto diameti*o alicubi distare a veritate Hebraica
190 quod in templis canitur Psalterium, et non satis mirari me si Hiero-
nymi esset. Hic si quid peccaui, monitus ab Hebraice docto paratus
sum dare manus. Et quam Christiani pectoris hoc est, quod non
male nec arroganter dixi, calumniae miscere Si ego par pari vellem
!

referre, credis te nunquam in sinum meum

effutisse quod nolis
'95 publice spargi?
Sed quod narras nescio quibus authpribus (nam 'aiunt' dicis) me
mox triduo posteaquam Hebraissare coeperam, multa damnasse in
Capnione, multa in Capitone, miror si quisquam tam perfrictae frontis
sit vt id, pene omnibus quibuscum cotidie versor notum mendacium,
^°° tibi potuerit referre. Ego Capnionem Capitonemue damnem ? Quid
omnium magis alienum sit a meo iudicio quam vt praeceptores meos
in lingua Hebraica, quos nunquam satis veneror, damnem ? illum ceu
parentem linguae Hebraicae apud Christianos, hunc vt felicissimum
Hebraicae grammatices concinnatorem, vtpote qui rudimenta tam
-05 generose ti-adiderit ac tam scite redegerit in ordinem vt nihil mihi
desyderetur. Horum alteri, si consummate doctum requiro, pluscu-
lum forte tribuerim quam cuiquam alteri alterius ingenii felieitatem
:

saepe admiror, qui cum optimis Hteris, id est sacris, trium linguarum
peritiam non vulgarem coniunxerit.
210 Sed facile agis quod semper soles agere. Haec fabula tibi perpetuo
tractatur, vt mihi inuidiam facias apud omnes doctos viros. Bis iam
depinxisti me tanquam trium linguarum hostem, quum nihil minus
sim nunc obiicis procacitatem in doctissimos viros, quum nihil sit
:

minus verum. Testes adhibeo conuictores meos. Ecquid his rationi-

^'5 1 )us videri vis me docere Christiani hominis officium, qui nec syco-
phantiis parcas quo meum nomen doctis viris odiosum etficias ? Vbi
hoc exemplum grauitatis aut Christiani pectoris, bone Erasme ? Ego
si quid tibi certo obiecturus sum, nisi non dubia pertulero eorum
quae dicturus sum testimonia, succubui. Literas tuas et chartulas
2-0 qui)>us respondisti et aliaforte quaedam non ancipitis fidei argumenta
producam. Indiciis et coniecturis non cupio plus credi (si quae alla-
tui'us sum) quam ipsa per se nomina merentur. Nec sycophantiis
' acturus sum tecum, nec incertis fabulis.

204. gramniatices] Cf. Ep. ^sgintiod. enemies oi' tlic Muses (ff. a', b* v°) a*
211. Bis] Lee (^Mwo/a^/owes, f". CC V*') Plithonidos pallidus, macilentus'
: •

rffer.s for this to the Dialorrus trilin- (cf. Ep. 906. 448), *risum habens sar-
fjidum (1. 505n), where he is twice donium' (cf. 1. 341), 'X«ros wcTTre^^xri^oj',
introduccd unmistakably among the '
caudam longam trahit (cf. 1. 35011;.
'
io6i] FROM EDWAED LEE 165

Era. Et jieri poterat ti summus Pontifex, admiratus istud ingenium

pene diuinum, tihi tradita virgida totius orhis censuram tibi fuerit manda- 225
turus ; nec iam vllus liher atit aederetur aut legeretur, nisi Leei suffragio
probatus, totius rei literariae AristarcM.
Edo. Sic tibi placet (quod eonsuesti) ridere me. Ego qui conscius
sum mihi quam nihil sum, me hoc honore non dignor, vt sim a ct)n-
siliis Pontifici. Scio quam sit mihi curta suppellex. At quis nescit 230
teipsum has tibi partes vel tua sponte iam olim praesumpsisse, vt
totius rei literariae sis Aristarchus, qui nec veteribus nec neotericis
parcas qui censuram in omnes veluti cum imperio ae eathedratus
;

agas ; qui damnes etiam ea quae vix vnquam gustasti ; qui veterLim
dogmata conuellas, qui nec Ecelesiastica decreta patiaris esse inteme- 235
rata ; qui haeretieorum deliriis in specie non mihi tantum videaris
patrocinari qui quasi ius tibi in theologiam vendices
;
qui praeter te ;

omnes contemnas id quod mihi exploratum est de quibusdam in

:

theologia, ni fallor, doct(i)oribus te ipso. Ego sic insanio vt ambiam

hunc locum, quando tu sic praeoccupas? Semper colui doctos. 240
NuUum vel triuiale opus cuiuslibet authoris vnquam spreui. Nec
tuum certe sperno, etiam si aliquoties dissentio. Studium tuum in
hac re nunquam improbaui. Tantum in te desydero pluscuhim
diligentiae ae modestiae, et forte in quibusdam loeis iudieii. Satius
fuisset non facere quam tumultuarie ac praeeipitanter dormitanterque 245
facere. Opus orbi scribebatur, et opus, ni par esse posses, peri-
culosum : vt impium prope fuerit non omnibus oculis vigilasse, nec
tuis solum, sed et alienis.
Eea. Nunc plerique dicunt te hoc consilio premere praeclaras istas
Annotationes, vt me fatis functo tum demum aedas ; Iprjjxr] victurus, id 250
€st ingloriam victoriam reportaturus, quum nemo sit qui contra certet.
Edo. Nihil mihi eum vmbra tua, quae, cum Deus volet et saluti
tuae hora sit commoda, per me quiescet in paee. Certe ego mortem
tuam non optarim quin vero Deum superosque obtestor vt bonis
;

literis multos annos supersis si tamen is esse velis quem expetunt 255
:

tum haec aetas, tum praeter Christianum officium duplex hie qui in
te est ordo.
Eras. AUi praedicant interim vndique captare te quid quisquc calum-
ni<;tur, tuum opus alind futurum quam ali{en)arumsgcopJiantiariim
nec
rhax)sodiam, in qua minima portio sit tui Maiiis. . 260
Edo. Si quis in meis Anuotationibus suas plumas agnoscet, licet
repetat. Ego ne vnum quidem locum didiei ab vllo theologorum.
Si secus sit, sim apud istos mendax. Nee puto tam felices esse
nostras Annotationes vt certare de his quisquam volet.
Era. Ita pericxdum est ne fiat, quum tihi speraris opimam laudetn, 265
minus ex tuo lihro referas gloriae cpiam Latomus retttdit ex suo illo
frigido Bialogo, in quoferunt totam theologorum cohortem desudasse.

225. tibi an(e fueiit add. a. 226. Lei E. 249. dicunt a dictitant E.
:

250. fpTjfiy E. 251. quum a : cum E. 259. alienarura E aliaium a.

:

265. quum a vt cum E.

:

230. suppellex] Cf. Pers. 4. 52. selves from seculars by the duplicated
245. tumultuavie] Cf. i, p. 3- 6-11. title 'Canonici regulares'. Cf. 11. 65,6 ;

256. duplex . . . ordo] The Austin Epp. 447. 189-90, 718. 4-5, 838. i and ;

Canons; who liked to distinguish them- t}ie Colloquy, Peregrinatio (LB. i. 7760).
 166 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Edo. Sic mihi aequa doctorum virorum iudicia contingant, vt

laudem ex liac re non spero nisi forte eatenus quatenus prodesse
:

270 volui. lam tu vrges vt experiar aleam. Scio quibusdam probata iri
nostra, contra quibusdam tua. Forte neuter satis opimam laudem
referet ex hoc certamine. Mihi minus infeliciter cadet sors quod
propiciam aleam non expectem quanquam hoe meis rationibus
:

ponnihil prodesse debet apud aequos rerum existimatores, quod

275 inuitus trahor in harenam.
EjtAS. Nec dubiio qiiin tihi valde nunc arrideant qiiae scrihis ; sed
mueptdes itidem omnihiis arrisura, qiium clarae luci sese commiserint.
Edo. Mihi fausta erit alea si posthac arridebunt arridel>unt autem
:

si doctis arriserint. Adhuc certe non arrident. Stultum fuerit

280 praeiudicai-e tibi sententiam, si orbi scribas.
Eras. Quod iuuenis gloriae fame stimularis, ignoscendum arhitror ;
at quod ista via grassaris ad gloriam, qui non solum theologus ac vir
bonus verum etiam sanctulus haheri vis, mdla non improhahit posterifas,
etiam si non desunt fortasse qui nunc applaudant.
?J5 Edo. Gloriae quidem fame quam non stimulor, Erasmus idoneus
testis est, qui gloriam mihi immortalem non rogatus obtulerit, nec
acceperim, imo ne gratias quidem egerim. Vtinam sim vir bonus
Sanctulum nescio cur dicas, nisi id te forte male habeat quod ofiicia
quae vocant horaria, cotidie persoluo reliquum ferme diem dorni
:

290 raihi viuo et literis. Nulla prebeo foras indicia sanctitatis, nec
sancti nomen vnquam ambiui. Mihi sane satis sit donec viuam, si
Christianus sim. Atque vtinam certe sim Nam multa quae in me
!

non agnosco, complectitur veri Christiani nomen. Et tamen cona-

bimur esse aliquando quod semper esse debemus.
295 Eras. Atqiie hanc fahidam iam ferme hiennium agis ; atque ifa-
dulcescit actio vt etiam immoriturus videaris.
Edo. Quin vero Erasmus egit nam Leeus nunquam egit quicquam
:

nisi prouocatus ab Erasmo. Vtinam licuisset tibi oculis in praecordia

mea penetrare vt videre posses quam grauatim, quoties tu pungeres,
!

300 reli[n]querim praescripta studia mea, vt tuis votis responderem.

Quuni ego altum quiescerem, beatum me putans quod fruerer meo dulci
ocio ac, vt mihi videbatur, securo, in nec opinantem, sed quae paeis
sunt magis cogitantem, subitaneum ex tua pharetra missum fuerat
telun^, et id quidem iam quater quod non me solum sed et meos
;

305 commoueret, et vniuersum tumultum pareret, vt iam diu Erasmo

»>reeone nullus sit sermo habitus apud Louanios et fere apud meos
Anglos nisi de Leeo. Vtinam non tibi dulcior sit haec actio quam
mihi !Sic nunquam res eo tumultus processisset. Nee sum in hac
fabula immoriturus. Nam postquam nunc votis tuis satisfactum
310 est, vt ignorantia nostra orbi prodatur, forte posthae narraturus sis
fabulam surdo. Si per te lieuisset, iam aliquid forte essem in
Graecis et Hebraicis literis. Infelix prorsus ego cui talis obuenit

277. quum a: eum E. sese E: lese a. 281. fame E: famji a.

285. fame scripsi: fama a. 295. atque ita a ct adeo E.
: 296. vt etiam
a yt E.
: 310. posthac scripsi postg^ liac a
: posthuc a corrig.
:

304. quater] In 11. 504-7 Leo men- Scealso twopassages in the newedition
tions five places in which he con- of the CoUoquiorum Formulae (\.\. 334,
sidercd that Erasmushad attacked hini. 367^^).
io6i] TEOM EDWARD LEE 167

occasio qua toties cUuellerer a dulcissimo ocio ad odiosissimam

palestram, nunquam antea doctus certare, et quidem certaturus tecum
vno omnium pugnacissimo ac callidissimo bellatore. ^15
Eras. Nec iamen ita tibl stim infensus vt ciipiam quenjnam amicum
tibi vel pilo mea caiisa; tantum abest vt grauius
minus amicum esse
aliquod malum Sed res nusquam (jentium sparsa non est.
ojptem accidere.
Edo. Mirum vero id quo pacto audeas dicere, qui nullis non modis
totum doctorum orbem prouocas in meum caput, et aliquot amicos 320
in Anglia contra me conimouisti. Imo iam zizaniam seminas inter
me et optimos ac doctissimos quosdam viros: qui tamen pro sua
prudentia obsurdescent, spero, ad hanc tuam incantationem. Et
quod grauius malum cuiquam optes accidere quam vt nomen eius
raacules apud omnes? id quod de me nullis non modis studes 325
efficere. Sed quod hic ais, non dissimile illi est quod quodam loco
de te ipso tam sancte profiteris, putare te neminem esse qui vel tua
legerit vel tecum aliquam egerit consuetudinem, quin perspectissimum
habeat te nihil aeque detestari quam exempla libelli farnosi aut
violentiae. Id scilicet probe testantur duae illae virulentissimae ac 330
sycophantisissimae criminationes quas euomis in me in Colloquiis
Familiaribus quae adolescens aedidisti, sed senex haud ita multo
;

pridem plusquam iuueniliter insano hoc auctario et pene solo nobili-

tasti. Ascribam ipsa CoIIoquia :

'
AvGVSTi. Quid si vnam aut altei-am vmbram adduxero? 335
Chbisti. Licet, modo ne nigras vmbras adduxeris.
AvGVSTi. Quid si N. adduxero ?
Chkist. Scotistam illum ?
AvG. Imo Scotum, si lubet.
Chr. Age: admittetur, modo domi relinquat gryphos sophisticos, 34°
matheologias, sycophantias. supercilium. virulentias, risum sardo-
nium, glorias Thrasonicas, philautiam.
AvG. Citius caudam reliquerit.'
Orbis agnoscat ex his verbis suum theologum, suum censorem,
suum monachum, modestum suum simplicem illum simulque illum
; 345
Erasmicum pudorem, grauitatem, verecundiam, honestatem. Quid
est, si hic libellus famosus non est ?
Sed Vbi sonat hic nomen tuum ? inquis. Hic satis est vnde
'
'

facile sit augurari quem i^erstringas. Quid tibi hic cum caudis, '

316. ita a ob ista facta aJeo i7.

: quepiam amicum a : quenquam iT. 318.
non sparsa E. 341. mateologias Coll. Furm. CoU. Foim.: sardonum a.

327. profiteris] Ep. 1053. 150-3; cf. Martens' edition of the Colloquiorum
Ep. 967. 77,8. Formulav {c. Nov. 1519: soe ]}. 120),
331. sycophantisissimae] This form f. d^ v". Lee was quite likely correct
isperhajjsanother example of the inad- in liis conjecture that he was the per-
vertent substitution of s for c which son intended.
occurs not infrcqucntly at this period In Erasmus' next revision of the
in both France and England. Cf. Ep. CoU. Fonn., Basle, Froben, March 1522,
673. 6n. In Pynson's volume of Long- the whole of this passage and most of
lond's sermons (L i^on) the form iri- the next 11. 368-73) wero expunged.
sesimus occurs in the head-lines more ThespeakersareErasnins'Parisfricnd3,
than 80 times, more often, indecd, Augusline Vincent (Ep. 131) andChris-
thixix tricesimus. tian Northoff (Ep. 54', for whose use
334. Colloquia] Thepassageto which the Coll. Form. were first written (cf.
Lee here objects, had been added in Ep. 130. 92^).
 168 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

350 bone vir?' Num te pudet tam puerilis ac ridiculi scommatis in

gentem Anglicam non male de te meritam ? quum etiam probe scias
rem secus habere. Si haec tua modestia est, A'tere ea erga alios ego :

talem modestiam non opto. Mihi paulo satius fuerit aliorum

improbitate lacessi quam tali modestia demulceri. Non potuisset
355 ipsa procacitas procaciora dixisse. Quod si vellem pari modestia
tecum certare, quum non desit occasio, minus forte deesset materia.
Sed non imitabor te. Nihil acturus sum extra causam, quum non
sit mihi tecum de conuitiis certamen, sed de sacris. Nec tamen
destituor viribus quibus virulentias tuas tuorumque superem. Nam
360 pi*orsus contemnam nec est cur pili faciani quod iam prope vulgo
:

iactata sit prouerbii loeo Ei-asmica modestia in rabulam qui furiis

quempiam ac dicaeitate lacessit. Quin et fide passim carent crimina-
tiones tuae, quod omnibus sit exploratum odium parum vera loqui.
Et tamen sunt qui te honestius excusant quod rethoricaris.
365 lam puderet proferre alteram criminationem, quod tam spurca sit
tanque foeteat podicem olens, nisi quod haec alterum specimen
praebeat Erasmici pudoris. Haec igitur est huiusmodi
'(AvG. ) Quid emolumenti afferunt literae inanes ?
Chri. Podicitergendo[sunt]vtiles,scombrisobuoluendisidoneaeetc.
370 AvG. Equidem noui quendam cuius lingua malim ad hoc abuti.
Christ. At ego noui [quendam] cuius lingua nihilo tutius sit
abstergi quam aconiti foliis.
AvG. Iste igitur dignus est qui aconitum edat ardeleo.'
lam rogo te, Erasme, heccine sunt verba te digna? qui videri vis
375 solus theologus ac censor orbis. Quid potuit dici spurcius, odiosius,
virulentius? Aut quis rabula, quis scuna. quis mimus, quis latrinarius,
tam foeda expurgasset in quemquam ? Vt caetera omittani quae non
tam contemptini haberi oportuit, vel huius sacerdotii ratio fuerat
habenda tibi, quo ne me christum domini ipse etiam christus domini
3S0 tam sordide foedares.
Sed me magis miseret tui quam vt lubeat quicquam grauius in te
retorquere, quando tu teipsum vel indice prodis, fingis pingisque tuis
ipsius coloribus. Absit vero a me id quod semper abhorruit a meis
moribus, vt quenquam publicitus traducam. Nam quod toties
385 virulentiae me reum facis, id certe facis nimium suspicionibus

377. expurcasset a. Haud secus, in Annot. Bh*, expurcatum.

350. scommatis] Medieval tradition is repeated in (Hutten's?) Hochstmtns

in France asserted that Englishmen ouans (cf. Ep. 1083. 23^), § 82 cf. also
:

were tailed (cou^) see 0. H. Prior's

: BRE. 162. For an investigation of tho
edition of Caxton's Mhrour of ihe World sources of the legend, which is traced
(EETS. cx, 1913, pp. xviii, xix), trans- back to xii<', see G. Neilson, Caiidatus
lated from the Image du Monde. The Anc/licus, 1896 reprinted from Proc 0/
:

story is in the original, but is omitted Glasgoio Archaeological Soc, 21 March

by Caxton for the credit of his nation. 1895.
Leeinhis.4nnota<iowes(f°. CCv^^speaks 367. liuiusmodi] This extraet, like
of the jest as vulgatum sed ridicu-
' the prcccding (1.334n),is taken mainly
lum '. Its character can be gauged from Martens' second edition of the
from Erasnius' reference to this point CoU. Fonmdae, ff. b* v°, c: where the
in the Apologia qna respondet (ff. F^ v", words scomhris obuolue)idif< tinc\ 11. 370-3
F^ Jortin ii. 520). He asserts there
; appear for the fir.st time. In March
that it must have been inserted in the 1522 (cf. 1. 334U) they were expunged.
Coll. Form. by someone else. The jest 373. ardeleo] Cf. 11. 414-15.
io6i] FKOM EDWAED LEE 169

indulgens, nullo certo argumento nec testimonio. Imo nec vnum

testem proferre potes qui vnquam audiuerit rae, extra argumentum
huius disputationis de Nouo Testamento tuo et defensionem meam
contra calumnias, in te quicquam temere effutientem. Christus
retundens calumniam respondit daemonium se non habere. Et 3«jo
Paulus Petro restitit secundum faciem quia non recte ambulabat.
Et cur non mihi liceat his exemplis hinc calumnias depellere, hinc
fratrem errantem ingenue monere? Haec faciens si te offendi, nulla
niea culpa est, sed tua, qui quod aequum est non patiaris in te fieri,
quum nunquam cesses quae iniquissima sunt facere. Quod si quid 395
paulo amplius iusto excussit mihi calor, dum me pui-go, non id tam
graue erat vt non nisi impudentissimis ac mendacissimis crimina-
tionibus in publicum efflatis potuerit vindicari. Vnum illud quod
memini te mecum expostulasse, quod in literis ad amicum te faciam
calumniatorem literarum sacrarum, nec admodum inficior nec plane 4°°
certus sum an sic scripserim. Forte paulo liberius effutiui quippiam
ad amicum quendam non verum sed fucatum, nec meum, vt sero
nimis sensi, sed tuum, imo mei apud te proditorem. Is quum
vtrinque nimium officiosus mihi proderet quae partim ex te, partim ex
tuis audisset, mihi non satis grata, quum non admodum vacaret 405
rescribere, et tamen vrgeret vt i-esponderem, nescio si quid feruidius
in illo aestu emurmuraui.
Verum esto, ita sit vel si taie quid etiam ad alios amicos scripsi,
:

postquam tu me iam traduxeras non paucis in locis, non est adhuc

hoc tam capitale, quando id iam negocii agitur, vt hoc probem. Quod 4'°
ni probauero, cecidi a causa. Nec extra causam est, si hoc dixi. Sed
rogo te, sum ego tibi circunforaneus, leuis, inconstans, per momenta
in noua mutatus, nullis non negotiis errabundus Vlysses ?
illectus, et
vt me ardelionem voces, sed elemento pi*imo a fine mutato, quo ad
nostrum nomen magis alludas. Eisi certe humanitatem tuam quum 4'.^
primum hoc legerem, qui me omnibus ornamentis tuis decores, vt
nihil prope tibi reliqui facias. Possem, si vellem, hoc in te aptius
retorquere sed non faciam, nec admodum opus fuerit.
; Nam
Erasmus probe notus est. Porro illud quam sapit modestiam tuam,
quod me in epistolis ad amicos quodam loco virulentam bestiolam, 4^0
alicubi portentum verius quam hominem, alicubi insignem syco-
phantam vocas? At illud quam nihil ad rem pertinet, nisi vt pus
nusquam non excrees, quod me homuncionem, pallidum, macillentum,
o quam inoffenso stomacho, nominas Si mihi etiam liceat paululum
!

ineptire, proceritate tecum certo, quin verius te despecto. Crassior 4-5

aliquanto me es. Palloris et maciei pene aequa sorte sumus, nisi
quid plus tu tum j^ertinaciore studio tum aetate non paulo grandiore
contraxeris.
Verum succurrit mihi quid tibi blandiatur. Sunt qui te nuncupent

389. Christus] .John 8. 49. \°, E^ v°, pp. 501, 517.

391. Paulus] Gal. 2. 11. 414. iu'dolioneni] Cf. I.373.
403. pro(litorem]Evideutly Lypsius; 420. in epistolis] Cf. Epp. 906. 444,
cf. Epp. 912 introd., 922. 30-4, 960. 1-6, 448, 455, 999. 315-21.
1074. 105-8, sind 11. 76-8 supra. Froni 425. proceritatej These lines contri-
the Apol. qua respo7idet, P. C^ v", Jortin bute sometliing to our knowledge of
ii. 507, it is clear that the traitor was Erasmus' personal appearancc ; cf. iv.
an Austin canon cf. also ibid. ff. B-
; 529 seq. and Ep. 999. 34n.
 170 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

430 magnum Erasmum hoc titulo. Sunt et qui maxi-

: feliciter fruere
mum : homuncio sim, tu mihi sis Atlas
et his accedo, vt, si ego tibi
qui coelum creditur sustinere, quum non sustineat. Sed hoc quan-
tum spirat Christianum pectus tuum et illam Erasmicam charitatem,
quod quodam loco in Farragine Epistolarum nuper Basileae emissa
435 ad reuerendum Roifensem primum scribis, videri tibi me natum esse '

ad sycophantias deinde sic, Ego si mihi conscius essem minimae

'
:
'

portiunculae tot sycophantiarum, non auderem ad Christi mensam

accedere Sycophantiae
' !
'
sycophantiarum sycophantias mire ',
'
',
' '

tibi placent, vt nihil tibi sit magis in vsu. Cur tibi excidit quod
440 alibi iactitas,ex tuis scriptis neminem vel pilo factum esse nigriorem'?
*

Hic ego numquid per te saltem voto factus sum nigrior, quando
famam meam denigrare summa vi conaris ? Nam quid magis impium
queas impingere quam quod sordidus adhuc et tot sycophantiarum
mihi conscius audeam accedere ad Cliristi mensam, vt reus sim
445 corporis et sanguinis Domini ? Certe si non sum factus nigrior,
non id tuae modestiae sed lectorum prudentiae fuerit ascribendum,
qui nihil tibi credant tali authori. Sed o homo, tu quis es qui iudicas
alienum seruum domino suo stantem aut cadentem ? Noli iudicare
vt non iudiceris.
4£o Hic ego si vellem, possem te remordere : sed reprimo me. Nam
nec quae dixi plane dixissem, nisi vt modestiae tuae quam tantopere
ostentas veluti simulachrum deliniarem, quo ne ex nudis verbis glo-
riam reportes, quum facta nequaquam respondeant. Sed quod rem
nusquam gentium sparsam non esse scribis, id tuis et tuorum literis
455 factum est, non meis. Ego tantum ad aliquot amicos in Anglia de hoc
tumultu scripsi, et eos quidem communes ac paucos. Tu vt vbiuis
gentium amicos habes, ita vbiuis spai'sisti rumorem, nec satis vere.
Eras. Et nosti impotentes Germanorwn animos ingeniique violentiam.
At in-his x^lurimi sunt qiii mihi plus fauent quam velim. Literis meis
460 stilum quorundam cohihui, et cohibeho, quod qiiidem erit in me. Sed
audio quosdam minari atrociora. Quod genus si quid accideret {quod
Beus auertat), nec ego possum tuo mederi malo, et, vt est nunc prona
hominum suspitio, inuidia facti in meum quoque caput recideret. Vt
spero nihil tale futurum, ita metuo ne quid accidat. Si nihil eueniet,
465 amice timui : sin eueniet aliquid, amice praemonui, vt si videtur aliquo
consilio occurras malo, quod tuae prudcntiac videhitur esse cominodissimum.
Ed. Non facile adducor vt credam hanc rem cordi esse militibus
Germanis : illis nihil cum balneo. At eruditos Germaniae, quorum

458. Ep. 998. 59. sic enim . . . 62. conciliarint om. a. Et nosti impotentes
Germanorum a : Nec ignoras huius gentis E. plurimi a Gormania
459. liis :

complures plus fauent a

E. : impensius student etiam E. Ep. 998. 64.
Nondum ... 66. lacessiti om. a. Literis meis stiliun quorundam a: Equidem
multorum stilum partim oratione, partim epistolis E. 460. et cohibebo, quod
quidem a: coliibiturus etiam, quantum E. 461. minari atrociora a: his
atrocioraminari £. quod an<e Deus a id quod l^. 462. possum a pos- : :

sem E. Ep. 998. 71. Ita ... 74. factum om. a. 463. Vt a lam vt E. 464. :

tale a huiusmodi E.
: ita a ita contra E. eueniet a est periculi E.
: 465. :

eueniet aliquid, amice a est, amicius E. vt a quo possis E.

: 466. occur- :

ras malo a occurrere E.

:

435. scribis] Ep. 936. 32-5. 1007. 8in.

440. iactitas] Ep. 950. ir-12; cf. Ep. 448. Noli iudicare] Cf. Matt.
io6i] FKOM EDWAED LEE 171

ex literis, quarum hodie principes sunt, metior probitatem, nihil minus

cogitare possum quam ad turpe seelus praecipites fore. Nollem ego 470
sic notare meae Angliae viros doctos vt tu notas Germanos. Imo quic-
quid dicas. persuadeo mihieruditos Germaniae hominesesse, qui nihii
affectibus decernant, qui in causa rei literariae sententiamgladiis non
pronuncient. Si eo ventum est vt ferro res decernatur, solus sedeat per
me licet Erasmus in sua cathedra, impune quiduis praescribat. Ego 475
pugnare gladiis non didici. Et tamen vtinam dignus sim qui gladiis"
occumbam in tam pia causa Si minantur acriora stilo, quis eos in
!

me concitauit, nisi tu ipse qui nihil non dicis vnde me ledas ? Quis
tam' ferus est vt seuiut sua sponte. nulla ratione prouocatus ? imo
quid tam graue vnde irritari potuerint? Quin etiam si vera essent 4*^0
quae contra me non minus falso quam virulente torques in hac epi-
stola, num tantum sceleris hic est vt non nisi gladio vindicari possit ?
Plane si verum sit quod oblique veluti sub aliena persona mihi mina-
ris, grauiora de me eifutisti quam scribis. haec leuiora sunt Nam
quam vt aliquem bene sane stomachum ad fustes commouere possint. 485
Et vbi nunc Christianum pectus tuum, quod nunquam spirat nisi
charitates, modestias, facilitates et simplicitates? Tantumne tibi places
his vocabulis? Siccine summam statuis Christianismi, vt si verbis
queas adumbrare, nihil non audenduni sit sceleris, vt et tutus sit qui
crimen molitur, si in aliorum qui forte nihil conscii sunt, caput possit 49°
reiicere ? Quin vero, age aliquando, aut exhibe te eum virum quem
toties ostentas, aut exue personam, vt orbis cognoscat te qualis sis.
Disputationem de literis sacris, qui alicubi videri vis patronus pacis,
misces cum fustibus et gladiis? De me nihili homine vt niliil sit
iacturae, praecogita tamen tecum quid Ecclesia Dei passura sit, si in 495
eam te authore hoc exemplum irrepserit, vt de sacris literis dissidium
quoties occurret, ad sicariorum examen res reuocetur. Et certo crede
fore vt posteritas habitura sit Erasmi nomen tanquam pestilentiam,
luem aliquando et execrationem : siquidem posteritati plus obfuturus
es, etiam si moriar, quam mihi. 5°°
Nec vero quicquam mali hac de causa mihi
sic fide fucis tuis, si
acciderit, vt etiam si sacra omnia prophanaque iures, al) huius sceleris
infamia queas elabi. Si quis mihi insidiatur, Erasmus plane author
est. Stilum vt cohibueris, docent Apologia ad dominum lacobum
Latomum etDialogus Triling(ui>um, et infamatoriae scedulae valuis 505

505. Latonuin a : correxi.

504. Apologia] See Ep. 934. 30. Ep. . brought the first copies with him from
993. 34-40 aud n. shows that Lee had Germanj-, when he met Lee at Antwerj)
good reason for considering that a in July 1519 (cf. Ep. loor. 53^) ; but
passage in § 120 was directed against declares tliat he had only seon tlie work
hiniself. in England, presumably ufter his retnrn
505. Dialogus] Eruditi adulescentis (Eev. p. 87). Lee {Annotoilones, f*. CC
CliotiradiNastadiensisGermanidialogussane v")found it in circuhition at Louvain
({uam festiuus bilinguium ac trilinguium, Avhcn he returncd from his intorview
siue de /unere Calliopes. Sub scuto Basi- with Pacc tlieroforc c. xVug. 1519. By
;

liensi vcnale comperies. s. l. et a. As the tho ond of 8o])t. it had bton sont from
scutum Basiliense was the sign of Basle to Beatus lihenanus at Schlett-
Resch's shop in Taris (cf. Renouard, .stadt(BRE. 128, 133), and by 15 Oct.
Badius, i. 41-2, ii. 254) the book was tu Adelmann at Augsljurg, who on
without doubt piinted for him, But i Nov. agreed with Pircklieimei' in
the date is not so clear. Pace mcn- attributing it to Erasmus i^Houmann
tions a Louvain report that he liad p. 177 = HE. 143). But there is no-
 172 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

templorum Louanii affixe, ac demum Epistolae ex officina Frobeniana

nuper emissae, et epistola ad Lupsetum. Ego non tam stupidus sum
vt hos tuos fucos non persentiam. Omnia agis, et nihil vis videri
agere. Hostis es, et tamen amici personam induis. Sic fabulam agis
510 quasi spectatores haberes lapides, et te solum putas posse praestigiis
vti quae nerao praeter te sapiat. Vtinam vere is esses quem vis
508. fuccos a.

thing to show whether it was in i»riiit nents. In tlie Apol. qua respondet (f°. D
as yet or in ms. certainly it is short
: v° ; Jortin ii. 510) Erasmus uses much
enough to invite copying by hand. equivocation, but makes no definite
Indication of date is given, however, denial of authorship ; so, too, in
witli some pi"obability, by a ms. in- defending himself to Bucer in 1532
scription, 'Oct. 1519', on tlietitle-page (cf. Ep. 495 introd.), ' De dialogo
of the copy from wliich Haupt re- trilingui, vt largiamur quod tu su-
printed tlie dialogue in his Wilhehn u. spicari videris, non illic ad Euan-
Conrad Nesen, 1843, pp. 77 seq. and ; gelii persuasionem adhibetur fucus
the copy sent by Conrad Grebel to tametsi quid fuci est vbi nullum appo-
Vadianus, 6 Oct. 1519, from Melun, s. nitur nomen ? But a letter from
'

of 'Paris (VE. 170) was very likely in Boniface Amerbach to Zasius (Basle
Resch's edition. Besides the first MS. C.VP. 73. 380(0. Sept. 1519, just
edition (12330 aa. 55), the British Mu- when this dialogue was beginning to
seumhas alaterone (12314 aa. 57) with be circulated)) seems almost con-
the year-date 1520, and on the title- clusive :
' Adiecimus hiis iu Erasmo-
page, '
exactissime ad autoris arche- mastygas Subodoraberis
dialogum.
typum recognitus ' : which Proctor auctorem. Non enim Lucianus festi-
(11980) ascribes to Laz. Schiirer at (ui)us lusisset'. I cannot think of
Schlettstadt. Van Iseghem mentions any possible author, familiar also to
a copy of another edition (no. 128), Zasius, for whom Boniface was likely
which he believed to be by Martens, to be so discreetly reticent, other than
at Louvain. Copies of the Bialogus the master to whom he was so devored
were sold by Jo. Dorne in Oxford, (cf. Ep. 1020), thetranslator ofLucian's
25 Aug. and 13 Sept. 1520 : see nos. dialogues. But the truth is perhaps
1134 and 1274 in his Day-hook, ed. F. to be found, as with Lystrius' soholia
Maclan, OHS. v, 1885, pp. 117, 121. In on the Moria (see Ep. 495 introd.) and
the Eccius dedolatus attributed to Pircli- Faber's Consilium (Ep. 1149), in joint
heimer, 1520, the pseudonyms of the authorship that Nesen composed and
;

characters in tlie dialogue are inter- Ei"asmus polished, as Zwingli indeed

preted, Phtlionides being identified seems to suggest (Zw. E.^ 113). Cf.
with Lee (cf. 1. 2iin) ; see Hutteni Op,, also a note on Erasmus' letter to Gocle-
ed. Bocking, iv. 535. nius of 6 Feb. 1522.
Steitz, in Archiv f. Frankfurts Gesch., L. Geiger, Viert. f. KuU. u. Litt. d.
N. F. vi (1877), pp. 74-8, foUows Simler's Renaissance, i(i886),pp. 247-50, ascribes
edition of Gesner, 1583, p. 170, in the Dialoyus to Erasmus and men-;

ascribing the dialogue to Wm. Nesen tious a copy in his own possession
(Ep. 329 introd.) witli the suggestion
; which he believes to have been pre-
that he used his brother's name be- sented by Erasmus to Adelmann, with
cause Conrad, being unknown in Lou- an autograph inscription bj' Adelmann
vain, would be safe from any disagree- declaring that Erasmus was the author.
able consequences. Having come re- 0. Clenien in Arch. f. Reformationsgesch.
cently from Paris (Ep. 994. ^n) Wm. 1, 1904, pp. 355-64, maintains the
Neson would probably have con- authorship of Conr. Nesen.
nexions with Resch. But though Pace 505. infamatoriae] Cf. Eev. p. 88. In
(Eev. p. 88) judged the work too his Annotationes (f°. CC*) Lee describes
puerile to be by Erasmus, and though these as printed. For other occasions
in style and construction it is not on which this mothod was used see
really like the Colloquies, tliere is Epp. 1077. 3, 1168.
nevertheless some ground for the sus- 506. Epistolae] the Farrago (E). Be-
picions of Lee and Adelmann which; sides Ep. 998, addresscd in no friendly
were shared by Zwingli also (Zw. E.* spirit to Lee, it contains damaging
113). The dialogue represents Eras- references to him in Epp. 906. 448-66,
mus' point of view (cf. Epp. 761. 63, 936. 31-5. 993- 17-43, 999- 315-31.
794. 75) and makcs fun of liis oppo- 507. ad Lupsetum] Ep. 1053.
io6i] FROM EDWARD LEE 173

videri Sic nullum mihi tecum dissidium foret.

! Sic felicius ac
paeatius haberent res Ecclesiae. Nam si pergis vt cepisti, vt in
literario campo si quisquam tecum non eat, tales concitaturus sis
tumultus, aut alii itidem facturi sint tuo exemplo, vtinam non satis 515
recte praesagiam fore aliquando vt his factionibus Ecclesia sancta
misere afflictetur Ego si multis annis minor natu exhortatione vellem
!

ai^ud te vti, forte contemneres. Paulus te doceat quiduis magis

sustinere quam vt Ecclesia Dei per te scandalum patiatur quem si :

sequeris magistrum, tum tibi bene consulturus es, tum Ecclesiae. 5-0
Ego vero tam iuratus, vt forte tu putas, hostis sedulo Deum preca-
bor vt bonae mentis et pacis spiritu te inspiret. quo teipsum possis
cognoscere et captiuare intellectum tuum in obsequium Christi, in
Ecclesiae aedificationem, non in destructionem quo sic veram illam ;

ac solidam gloriam tum a Deo tum ab hominibus nancisci queas. 525

lam quia non libet tam bonum ocium tam male perdere in hoc
genere certandi, quod quum neutri nostrum futurum sit honorificum,
tum pio lectori ingratum, quaedam capita epistolae ad Lupsetum, qua
voluisti animos omnium ante iibri nostri aeditionem praeoccupare,
nec citatis huc, quod in priore epistola fecimus, verbis tuis, confutabi- 530
mus. Et quoniam vehementer laboras vt lectori persuadeatur te
nihil impedisse vt liber noster aederetur, cogis nos quod saepe dixi-
mus. iterum ab ouo, quod aiunt, repetere, et apertius cumulatiusque
exj^licare.
Primum igitur id prorsus affirmo, obstitisse te quo minus liber noster 535
aederetui". Indicia haec sunt. Vesperi pridie quam typographus iam
habens characteres primae formae paratos ad praelum, indicauit mihi
non ausum se progredi, quod opus contra te foret, famulus tuus
aquodam meo visus est ingredi domum typographi. Deinde, quum
mane a sociis illius sciscitarer quidnam illic vesperi ageret famulus 540
Erasmi, alter respondit intellexisse a magistro eum illic fuisse et
secum collocutum, sed quid habuisset colloquii ignorare se. Ego
statim accurro ad typographum. Percontor illum nam certe non- :

nihil doli suspicabar esse in foribus, et res nostra lente processerat.

Ille non tantum contentus inficiari famulum tuum apud se fuisse, 545
etiam iusiurandum addidit. lam mihi suspecta erat hominis fides.
Tacitus tamen meeum rem considerabam, et praesagiebam quod
euenit. Vix altera hora peragitur, quum ille prorsus recusaret
operam. Postea voluit nouasse paetum, sed satis inique nam qui :

antea, quum opus ambiret, spopondit daturum se mihi triginta 550

exemplaria, iam pacisci contendit vt ducenta ab eo meo impendio
sumerem. Et huic etiam conditioni accessissem, nisi mihi iam dubia
hominis fides fui.sset. Nam crede non latuisse me quid ipse molire-
ris, vt quaterniones statim a praelo per typographum tibiproderentur,

537. praelium a : correxi. 551. pacisci scry«i : pascistia: paehti a cairig.

518. Paulus] Cf. I Cor. 9. 12. (l.sS^iprcceded tlieanivalofthelettiTS

528. epistolae] Ep. 1053. from Fisher, CoJot, Pace, aud More (cf.
536. typograph\is] ? Tliibault cf. Ep. ; 1. 60311 aiid p. iio), and Lco'3 meeting

1053. 11711. Lee's letter to Louvain witli Paceat Antwerpiii July(Ep. looi.
CC
(.Annot. f°. and V) siiows that
1° 5311) : they must therefore he dated ia
these nogotiations with liim and HilUri April or M:iy 15 19. See also 1. ii2n.
 174 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

555 vt tibi liberum esset, si res admodum vrgeret, sistere cursum in

medio impetu aut si forte opus procedere patereris, tantum inter-
;

missionis impetraturus esses, quo respondere inlerea potuisses, vt

simul in publicum aederetur cum meo opere etiam tua responsio.
Ipse fassus es mihi subridens, etiamsi perrexisset typographus,
560 fuisse tamen rem protrahendam in tertium mensem. quum is mecum
transegisset vt in tertiam ebdomadam prostaret. Vnde non obscu-
rum est te dolum struxisse mihi. Nec etiam desunt qui putant
allatam ad te primam chartulam furtim excusam. Cuius rei duo
mihi fidem faciunt alterum quod t^-^pographus, postquam retrocessit
:

565 a pacto, monitus a me vt characteres a retinaculis in cellulas suas

statim meo quodam spectante distribuei"et (nempe et has technas ipse
tum praesensi), noluerit id facere, quum alioqui nulla esset idonea
causa cur facere recusaret, nisi vt quaternionem furtim excusum tibi
proderet ; alterum quod e tuis quidam primi illius quaternionis quan-
570 dam annotationem audiente quodam meo recitauerit. Quin et typo-
graphus ipse hanc praetexuit excusationem, e sociis quendam voluisse
tibi chartulas statim a praelo prodidisse, et propterea desciuisse se a
pactione, ne alieno scelere hac labe spargeretur. Et tamen quicquid
ille nunc raentiatur, certum est seipsum concinnasse hunc dolum, sed
575 abs te pellectum.
Huc accedit quod, quum postea in quodam nostro colloquio in
templo diui Petri Louanii negassem fuisse me traditunmi t^^pographo
librum, nisi ipse monuisses id tibi gratissimum fore, plane inficiabaris
te vnquam id dixisse. Sed nisipremi posset rumor, dicebas maluisse
580 te aedi quam premi lil)rum. At iam adest quiddam certius indicio.
Possem nominare cui dixisti iam poenitere te quod aeditionem libri
impedisses. At nihil minus credo quam voluisse illum quicquam
fingere contra te nam ex his est qui te obseriiant.
:

Postquam hic iam reiecisset rem, Hillenium postea tento et is ;

585 prope ambiens rem, diem dicit Mercurii futurum ad auspicium operis.
Vix iam praeterierat horula, quum alia esset sententia, dubio procul
abs te et tuis aut peeunia corrujitus aut minis deterritus. Et tamen
rethoricaris indigne tulisse te quod res ad nihilum reciderit, et mox
accito typogiapho egisse vt pactionem instauraret, sed me mutata
59° sententia meme iam subduxisse. Ecquid non pudet impudentis
mendacii ? Ego post reiectum opus Sabbato hora decima ante-
meridiana mansi Anteuerpiae Sabbatum totum et Dominicum
totum, vsque ad Lune seiDtimam antemeridianam. Nec tamen
interea quisquam ad me accessit. Irao ne te rediens fallerem,
595 diligenter obseruans quid ego agerem, proximo cuitu secutus es
currum meum a Mechlinia vsque Louanium nec sic contentus, quo ;

certior esses me esse in curru, descendisti et inspexisti in meum

580. indicio sc»/^:«, c/. l. 134 : iudicio o. 584. Ilillenium a : correxi.

581. cui dixisti] Possibly Nic. of April ; seo 1. 593^.

Hertogenbosch (Ep. 616. i^n) who ; LuneJFrom thedatesofEiasmus'
593.
took part in thesc negotiations (Apol. movements in the spring of 1519, it
(jua respondet f°. B^; .Jortin ii. 502). seems that 6 June is tlie only Monday
584. luc] Tlie first printer cf 11. 112, ; on which he could have returned from
536. Antweip to Louvain imless perhap-- :

585. Mercurii] Perhaps i .Iiine, or 27 2 May (cf. Ep. 965 iutrod.).

io6i] FEOM EDWARD LEE 175

currum, nieis videntibus et id mihi postea referentibus, quum ego

alio tumintentus essem. Hoc scit monoculus ille tuus Petrus, gloriae
tuae preco, qui te tunc comitatus est. Ego mutata sententia sub- 600
duxi me? Imo vehementer mihi doluit quod re infecta redissem
domuni. Nam rumor iam sparsus erat quod aeditionem libri molii'er,
ita vt puderet repulsae. Quod si Mori literae iam noua cogitantem
non me praeuertissent, non sic cessassem. Et nunquid ipse fassus
es mihi, postquam intellexisses etiam Hillenium mutasse sententiam, 605
dixisse te lam res salua est. Alii non sunt hic typographi j^raeter
:
'

hos duos qui habent characteres Graecos.'

Sed et iam secundo quis in causa erat quominus successit res apud
Hillenium ? Sic tractasti rem vt proditis tibi in dies singulos singulis
chartulis potuisses ex arbitrio tuo opus, quum velles, reiicere e prelo, 610
vt ego sic ex te penderem, tuo nutu oleum perditurus et impensam.
Porro quod Hillenio dubitanti quo animo esses laturus,si librum meum
excuderet, dicis te respondisse vt maturaret nam id tibi vehementer
'
;

probari scio quibus atfirmasti respondisse nec inhibere velle te quo-

',
'

minus faciat, nec item hortari vt faciat'. Haec responsio erat6i,:;

ancipitis animi, et in eam partem magis propensi vt ne faceret. At
quo animum tuum hunc esse amplius testureris, statim ad illum mittis
Paraphrasim in Epistolas ad Timotheum et Titum, quum alioqui
scires me iam transegisse cum illo id quod hic confiteris.
; Itaque
parum tecum constas, imo te ipsum palam redarguis. Si tam cordi 6jo
fuisset tibi aeditio libri mei, nihil debuisses intermiscere quo inter-
turbaretur negocium.
Sed quis tam lapis est vt non perspiciat quibus artibus aggressus
es hanc rem? Postquam statim a pacto Antuuerpiam venisses,
typographus qui in omnem horam antea paratus erat pro meo 625
libro, distulit rem ad duodecimum diem ante natalem Dominicum,
hoc est in quadragesimum prope diem, post eum qui praestitutus
erat. Quis hic non videt, praesertim successum rei spectans, tantum
temporis in rem tuam fuisse prorogatum, tum vt Paraphrases
absolueres, tum vt concinnares ac emitteres hanc tuam epistolam, 630
quo fucis istis ac mendaciis omnium animos praeoccupares. Nempe
.scibas id tua plurimum interesse, quod primis quaerimoniis plus
aequo plerumque soleat deferri. Et tamen non omisi ad diem
destinatum fratrem meum mittere Antuuerpiam. Quem vt primum
vidit Hillenius, dixit Paraphrases tuas habere se in manibus. Postea 635
tamen vbi, vt consentaneum est, tuos consuluisset (nam tu iam
Louanii eras, concinnans forte hanc epistolam), illum ipsum diem
designauit ad auspicium operis,quo primum haec epistola ad Lupsetum

605, 609. Hillemnm a : correxi.

599. Petrus]Meghen: seeEp.231. 4n. beginning of the printing, nearly 40

603. Mori literae] of i May 15 19 days (1. 627) before 14 Dec. w;is
(Eae. ff. B*-F
; Eev. pp. 56-75 ;
c. 6 Nov.
Jortin 646-58), replying to two
ii. 618. Paraphrasim] Ep. 1043.
from Lee dated 10 and 20 April. In 624. a pacto] Lee's agreement wilh
Eev. the date of More's letter is alt«red Hillcn ; cf. 1. 6o8n.
to 20 May (?2"). venisses] See Ep. 1038 introd.
608. seciindo] From 11. 626-8 tliis 626. duodecimum] 14 Dec.
sccond proposal of Lee to Hillcn must 630. epistolam] Ep. 1053.
have been made late in Oct. or early in 633. diem deatinatum] c. 6 Nov.
Nov. 1519; for the date fixed for tlie 637. diem] 14 Dec. ; cf. 1. 626.
 176 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

apud typographum Theodericum Louaniensem e prelo mittebatur ac

040 prostabat. Vt vel caeco appareat non alio consilio procrastinatum
esse, nisi vt priusquam meus liber sub prelo esset, tu iam omnium
oculos noua hac fabula perstringeres, quam ceu oraculum ol>truderes
ignaro adhuc rerum lectori simulque videri posses me vrgere ad
;

promulgandum opus, quasi inde cupias fidem esse factam lectori non
645 te impedisse euulgationem operis, quod tam impense ambis vt
euulgetur.
His praestigiis et tam fluenti calamo fisus, nihil non polliceris tibi
posse te persuadere, sed stupidis forte et his qui in rem ipsam non satis
penetrent. Mihi nunquam persuadebis, etiam si tibi stupidus sum.
650 Nam quasi quouis trahere posses me in tuam sententiam, sic rethori-
caris, nimirum ipse sibi satis conscius rem longe secus habere, quum
non sim mihi conscius. Quin vero tu tibi conscius es rem longe secus
habere quam dicis. Et qui etiam tibi a secretis sunt, sibi conscii sunt,
apud sese taciti, mendacii, nihil dubita, te redarguentes. Necdesunt
6.S5 qui arbitrantur non alio tendere quod per tuos quosdam superiore
estate a Germania et Lutecia prohibitus sum, si vellem saluti meae
consultum, quam vt ne his locis liber meus excuderetur nam hie :

certo scibas omnes typographorum officinas per te mihi esse praeclusas.

Hoc est principale caput illius epistohie, quod videor mihi absci-
''160 disse. lam ad reliqua. Nunquam mihi vel verbum fecisti de
Theoderico, quum alioqui nulla spes esset vt is tibi tam iuratus satis
ex fide ageret meum negocium. Nec vnquam dixi treeenta loca mihi
notata quae nemo posset diluere. Dixi forte quaedam esse quibus
non satis esset procliue bene respondere. Quuni conditiones narras
665 abs te mihi propositas, quaedara immisees nunquam mihi audita.
Quod omnium aequissimum erat taces, videlicet quod domini loannis
Atensis censurae vtriusque nostrum consensu res permittebatur et ;

illud item, quod hanc censuram subterfugeras. Sed et de oeio ad

quod me reieceras, ne verbum quidem facis. Nam haee contra te
670 faciunt, vti latius est videre ex nostra Apologia. Et vt summatim
dicam, haec sic vt tu dicis esse gesta Leeus inficias it.
Ad aeditionem prouocatum me abs te non nego. Et tamen homo
versipellis alio videbaris niti. Nam si per te licuisset, orbis iam diu
habuisset librum. Quod dicis ab his iactatum qui rnihi fauent, sie
f»;:; excusum iri librum vt inter tibi maleuolentium manus volitans post

annum demum abs te deprehenderetur, an quisquam tam insanus est

vt eredat tibi haee dieenti? Quis typographus non omnibus et auide
eonmiunieat libros a se emissos? Et mihi phine decretum fuerat
—
quod sunt qui testari possunt librum statim ad te mittere, postquam
680 ad meas manus excusus peruenisset. Sed de mittendo libro Coloniam
nihil prorsus erat cogitatum. Non suscepi negocium inimico animo.
Nihil vnquam sincerius egi, et id quidem vsque hunc diem. Caete-
rum quod a te abah'enatus sum, id tuo vitio factum est, non meo.
Nunquam tamen fui hostis, nec adhue sum.
68.-, Illud non memini dixisse me tibi, quum primum Nouum Testa-
mentum tuum in manus suscii>erem, praeteritis praefationibus ad
rem properasse me. Et illud item me dixisse prorsus inficior, mo

661. Theoderico] Martens : cf. Ep. 671. inficias it] Cf. E]). 1053. iu.
1053. 115. 674. dicis] Ep. 1053. 124-6.
662. trecenta loca] Cf. Ep. 1053.78-9. 686. praeteritis] Cf. Ep. 1053. 257.
io6i] FEOM EDWAED LEE 177

multa resecuisse vt iam a posteriore Noui Testamenti aeditioue super

uacanea quam nec tum in illo proximo colloquio videi'am, aut, si vide
:

ram, non contulerum adhuc cum meis Annotationibus. Nec est quod (jqo
obiicias mihi crcfxiXixa fxvri^.LK6v, quod vtrumque dixerim, et retexuisse
me opus et etiam nunquam futurum vt librum euulgarem ? Etenim
alterum feci in Martio, quum te consentiente librum ad reuerendum
Eoffensem essem missurus et hoc quidem tempore secunda aeditio
:

tua nondum prostabat. Porro alterum dixi postea in lulio, vbi mul- 695
torum amicorum literas ad concordiam nos hortantes accepissem. Hoc
volui dare voluntatibus amicorum. Et phine tum habebam in animo
quod dixi, modo reuerendus dominus Eoffensis censuram dignaretur
suscipere. nec tu amplius pungeres ad aedendum.
Nihil hic fuisse factum nisi simplicissimo aninio, Deus scit qui et ;
700
scit quantum abhorruerim ab hoc certamine, quam et dulce mihi
fuerit illud meum ocium cum literis Graecis et Hebraicis. Quod tu
toties interturbasti, nulla prorsus a me iniuria lacessitus sed {quod;

vero simile est) aut opimam tibi laudem aut grande mihi malum
pollicitus ex hac pugna, aut etiam forte aliud in pectore habens, aliud 705
in ore. Nam et rumoribus fuerat satisfaciendum, qui tua culpa
sparsi sunt, non mea. Ego tantum partes meas tutatus sum contra
calumnias. Tu nunquam cessasti apud pueros, apud laicos, apud
essedarios —
nam et in essedo intellexi te quaedam effutisse vt in — :

hoc Dodonaeum es verius sis quam ego. qui vbique ac perpetuo tin- 710
nieris, nec vnquam quieueris ab illo die quo primum te hortante
hanc operam ingressus sum nimirum quiduis aequiore animo ferens
;

quam amicum monitorem, praesertim qui idem sit ingenuus ac ex

animo moneat, qui mos est synceriter amicorum.
Sed quod tam sitientem gloriae facis me vt vel scelere vel impu- 715
dentia velim eam mihi parare (nam me Herostrato similem facis et
nescio cui Ortwino Gratioj, non videris mihi tecum satis constare,
qui me simul et gloriae cupidum facias et prorsus insanum. Plane
plusquam insanirem. si tam paratam habens gloriam ex tuo pollicito,
et tam leui opera, vt in tuis erratis caecutirem adblandirerque, alia 720
via quaererem cum laboriosa ac ancipiti, tum etiam multis nominibus
periculosa. Tua illa iam praesens mihi erat, si sic vellem, vt iam
omnium ore cantarer Leeus Erasmi ac Musarum omniumque bona-
*

rum literarum amicus '.Ex dubio hoc certamine si quae expectetur,

serius tamen veniet, nec satis grata quod cum multis molestiis ac 725
perieulis sit coniuncta, nec satis solida quod semper erit multorum
Erasmeorum latratui obnoxia. Sed ea est tua modestia vt semper
mihi tribuas quod tibi peculiare est qui vt gloriam tibi parias, velut
;

censoria virgula de omnibus sententiam fers, antiquitati non cedis

imo qui videri visplus vnus videre quam viderint omnes illi Ecclesiae 730
sanctae sapientissimi heroes. Ego vni tantum tibi et tot modis
vrgenti, etiam si paulo liberius forte quam tu velles, nihil tamen
plus iusto aliquoties obstrepo.
Sed quod factum meum incendiarii exemplo nobilitas, viderit
aequus quiuis vter nostrum incendiarium magis referat, egone qui 735

688. resecuisse] Cf. Ep. 1053. 44-7. 713. mouitorem] But cf. Ep. 1076.
691. obiicias] Ep. 1053. 57. 611.
710. Dodonaeum] Cf. Epp. 1030. 1411, 715. facis] Ep. 1053. 201 seq.
1053. 334-5. 722. Tuii illa] sc. gloria.
452.4 N
 178 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

pio zelo coner liberare sacram lectionem et Ecclesiastica dogmata a

calumniis (vtinam quam velim tam par esse queam !), an tu qui tot
calumniis impetas qui foedata ab haereticis exemplaria in orbem
;

cures propagari, vnde periculum sit et veram ac germanam lectionem

740 aliquoties contaminari qui etiam non semel patrocinium videris
:

suscipere haereticorum, vt, si quis alter, tu maxime ignem suscitare

videaris, non facticiae dee templo, exemplo Herostrati, sed Ecclesiae
lesu Christi quam redemit sanguine suo, exemplo forte Arrhii et
aliarum pestium et talem ignem qui vix restingui queat si, qua
;

745 coepisti, perges.

Argumentum abs te susceptuni nunquam improbaui. Nec vnquam
arrogaui mihi vt possem Graece aut Latine soluere, quod aiunt, corri-
giam calciamenti tui. Nec certe cupiam par esse tibi, nisi et alia
accedant quae desunt Ego quantum calamo possum, iam primum
tibi.
750 experior, et sentio me Et tamen vtcunque balbutiendum
nihil posse.
est, quando tu sic pungis. Plus tibi permittis in Nouo quam ego
mihi in Veteri Testamento. Nam in Nouo sic notas quae tibi displi-
cent, vt doceas ego tantum labilis memoriae meae subsidiarium
;

compingo volumen, adhuc reptans, non gradiens. Nam non pro-

756 cliue fuerit progredi inolfense in Biblia Hebraica, nisi primum
Hebraicorum vocabulorum radices collegeris. Haec mihi summa
laboris est, vt memoriam iuuem, non vt doceam. Certe si per hos
tumultus licuisset, iam rem vtcumque perduxissemus ad calcem.
Illud vero quam praeferat simplex, modestum ac Christianum pectus
760 tuum, quod zizaniam moliaris seminare inter fratres, quando scribis
me in odium tui amicissimum factum his de quibus antea pessime
et loquebar et sentiebam. Nihil dubito prudentiores esse quos innuis
quam vt tibi tali authori credant. Veneratus sum semper hunc
ordinem. Arctae in nos amicitiae nullum hactenus erat argumentum.
765 Praeter vnum et alterum forte vix nominatim adhuc salutare possum ;

nec mihi vlla vnquam cum his fuit consuetudo. Nunquam eorum
—
quenquam instigaui contra te sini 'apud eos mendax si vnquam
feci nec vnquam de eis minus quam par erat honorifice
; aut locutus
sumaut sensi.
770 Calumniaris quod sparso rumore quod mortuus esses Basileae, ego
tum demum faustam occasionem, vt videbar, nactus, totam hanc
regionem et meam Angliam sexcentis illis locis impleuerim. Ille
rumor ad aures meas nunquam increbuit. Postquam iam redisses
ex Basilea, ac nescio quo morbo laborans decubares in domo Theode-
775 rici Alustensis, memini semel mihi nuntiatum a Matthaeo Adriano
Hebraeo desperatum prope esse de tua salute. Nunquam bene valeam
nisi statim illi responderim vehementer dolere me si id verum sit
nam facturas bonas literas magnam in tua morte iacturam.
Impudens essem si iactitassem sexcenta loca mihi collecta, quando
7S0 liber apud Atensem erat vno aut altero prope mense vt tibi niearum ;

Annotationum copiam faceret si velles. Itaque praeter notam quam

738. ab haeieticis] In the introd. to 752. in Veteril Cf. Ep. 1053. 278^.
his second liesponsio against Lee (LB. 760. soribis] Ep. 1053. 327-8.
ix.123,4) Erasmusrehearsesspecimens 764. ordinem] The Dominicans ; cf,
of the heretical opinions with which Ep. 1006. ^n.
he was charged. 770. Calumniaris] Ep. 1053. 338-41.
747. corrigiam] Cf. John i. 27. 774. decubares] Cf. Ep. 867. 193-249.
io6i] FROM EDWARD LEE 179

incurrissem vani hominis apud Atensem, tui ipsius oculi vanitatem

meam redarguissent. Si tota haec regio et mea Anglia exemplaribus
repleta sit, alterum sequi necesse est aut te nec hic nec in Anglia
:

amicos habere, me vero magno numero fidos Achates ; aut te simu- 7S5
lasse tantum cupere librum habere, nec cupisse tamen, at me viam
fecisse quo haberes, qui tam late sparserim. Nam qui posset fieri vt
tuas ac tuorum manus tamdiu euaderent, si tam late propagata fuis-
sent ? Hic nemo cui vel cor sit tibi credat vnde et metiri est qualis
:

sis et in reliquis. 790

Et eiusdem farinae est quod dicis me solis his negasse quos scirem
amicos, et perconctanti tibi cur illi cuidam non face-
tibi certos esse
rem copiam mei libri, respondisse me eum tibi synceriter amicum
esse. Louanii praeter Atensem ex theologis vidit nemo qui tum erat ;

amicus tibi, nec adhuc hostem credo. Notarii qui desciupserant 795
exemplaria vtri nostrum melius velint, mihi incertum est, nisi quod
vnum ex his sciam meas tibi Annotationes prodidisse. In Anglia
viderunt tres amici tui, reuerendus Eoffensis, Morus et Latimerus ;

et qui inimicus sit tibi, quod sciam, nemo prorsus vidit. Nec praeter
hos in Anglia conscius sum mihi ex omni sorte quattuor vidisse. 800
Sed quod dicis me respondisse 'propterea non ostendisse me illi
cuidam librum, quod synceriter fuerit tibi amicus ', sic respondisse
me plane inficior. Mirum vero cur non nomines illum quendam.
Sed haec. vt cetera, quo fidem captes a lectore sed quem spero toties :

deprehensus non amplius falles. S05

Sic iam praeterquam expectaram, duabus his epistolis coactus sum
respondere. Nam quum putassem nostram Apologiam ad omnes
prorsus diluendas calumnias iustam satis ac plenam satisfactionem
complecti, noua contra nos et specie certiora quippe multis tuis
phaleris instructa ingerunt hae duae epistolae quae consilium non ;
810
videbatur praeterire, ne videremur agnoscere. Quod si plus satis
quibusdam respondi, nimium occasioni indulgens, ad id extimulauit
me eadem res repetita his duabus epistolis. Et hortante loco, quae
antea non memineram, et tamen ad rem videbantur pertinere,
memorie succurrebant. Porro si toties et etiam acerVje stimulatus 815
paulo vehementius videbor retorsisse telum, veniam mereor quod
prouocatus id fecerim nec tam mea causa quam Ecclesiae, cuius
:

zelus interdum nonnihil mihi excussit. Deus scit me non multum

dedisse affectui, etiam si non potuerim vbique mihi imperare qualem
tu forte cuperes temperantiam. Simpliciter ac aperte dixi quod sensi. S20
Non sum vsus fuco, nec odio vnquam habui, a consilio. Et tamen vt
ingenuum videbatur reiicere crimina quae non agnosco, ita graue erat
ac permolestum tecura digladiari, homine tam vbique celebrato et
mihi aliquandiu habito amico, imo tot communibus amicis non vul-
gariter amico. Sed praestare non debeo quod vitare non possum. 825
Mihi prorsus Tlecretum erat silere et ocio meo fi'ui, si per te licuisset
nam nihil mihi vnquam contigit molestius quam hoc certamen.
Vale Louanii. Calen. Februa. An. M.D.xx.

791. dicis] Ep. 1053. 359-60. lacking iu the editions whicli Loe had
797. prodidisse] Cf. Ep. 998. i^n. seen but is given in H.
;

801. illi cuidam] JVIore ;cf. Ejj. 1053. 807. Apologiam] See Ep. 1037.
•
360-2. 818. zelus] Cf. Ps. 68. 10 (69. 9),
803. non nomines] More's name is John 2. 1 7.

N 2
 180 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [isif

1062. To LoRENZo Campegio.

Paraphrasis acl Ephesios p. 3. Louvain.

Lond. xxix. 74 : LB. vii. 967. 5 February 15^.

[The preface to the Paraplirase on Ephcsians (cf. Ep. 996. 6on) see also ;

1. i75n. As Erasmtis was at Louvain, it is probable that, liko the earlier Para-
phrases (Epp. 710, 916, 956: biit cf. Ep. 1043), this too made its first appearance
from Martens' pi'ess. No copy seems to be known but Martens' editions were :

—
perhaps sniall of Corinthians (Ep. 916) only three copies are known to me, of
Peter and Jude (Ep. 1112) two, of Hebrews (Ep. 1181) one, of James (Ep. 1171)
only a trace —
and thus this may liave disaj^i^eai-ed. If there was a Louvain
,

edition, it cannot be dated later than Feb. 1520 for on i March 1520 Boniface ;

Amerbach writes to Zasius, Scito omnes in totum Paulimi Paraphrases ab

'

Erasmo absohitas tibi communicaturus sum posteaquam excusae fuerint

:

(Basle MS. C. VI*. 73. 286). Froben's first issue of this composition (a) is dated
in the same month as Boniface's letter but Erasmus seems to have been quickly
;

dissatisfied with his preface, for in Froben*s next edition, March 152 1 (/3), he
materially transformed it, and made considerable additions, some of which closely
—
resemble passages in Ep. 1167 a letter which he wrote to Cami^egio just about
the time when he must have been revising this j^reface for /3. Of the later
Froben editions enumerated on p. 123, the folio of 1532 (e) whows some marks
of revision and the octavo of 1523 (7), the folio of 1523-4 (5), the octavo of 1534
;

(p, and the folios of 1540-1 (»;) have a few, probably inadvertent, variants.
The texts of a and 13 for this preface are so diverse that it is not possible to
fuse them satisfactorily. I liave therefore adopted the text of j8 in all points,
and have recorded the variants of a in the critical notes. A few lapses in Lond.,
which LB. corrects, are disregarded here.
Erasmus used the opportunity offered, to address to Campegio an appeal on
belialf of good learning such as he had alreadj- sent to the Pope and the Abp. of
Mainz (Epp. 1007, 1033) and quite i-ecently to Wolsey {l&p. 1060) continuing to :

connect the two Cardinals togetlier in his mind, as he had done during
Campegio's residence in England (cf. Epp. 968. 12, 969. 9, 970. 15-18J. Ep. 1183.
19 mentions a reply from Campegio, wliich is not, however, extant.]

REVERENDIPSIMO IN CHRISTO PATKI AC DOMINO D. LAYRENTIO

CAMPEGIO, S. E. S. TT. S. THOMAE IN PARIONE CARDINALI,
ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.

QvoTiES inconstantiam rerum humanarum intueoi', Laurenti, car-

dinalicii ordinis non infimum decus, videor mihi prorsus Euripum
quendam quid Euripo instabilius
videre aut si adeo vicibus irre- :

quietis sursum deorsum voluuntur ac reuoluuntur, nec possunt

5 eodem in statu diu consistere. Cum ad summa ventum est, recurri-
tur ad relicta, donec rursus eo veniatur vt a fastigio iam intolerabili
cursum deflectere cogauiur: porro si quis mari conetur obsistere aut
huius cursum aliu deriuare, nunquam id fecerit sine gr^ui discrimine

CAMPEGio ow. a.
TiT. s. R. s. ^3 s. R. E. « s. E. R. a. rARioNo a.
: : :

I. Laurenti ... 2. decus reuerendissime pater a. : 3." quendam /3 quem- :

piam a. aut instabilius otn. a.

. . . 4. sursum deorsum /3 susque deque a. :

ae reuoluuntur om. a. 7. cursum deflectere cogamur /3 cogamur cursuni :

reflectei'e a. 8. discrimine rerum, ingenti^iue )3 rerum discrimine ac a. :

Tit, R. s.l Eomanae Scdis : in a, Ecclcsiae Romanac.

1062] TO LORENZO CAMPEGIO 181

renim ingentique tumultu. Sic olim Romanorum monarchiam

excepit democratia aut certe oligarchia quae et ipsa tandem eo ; 10
licentiae processit vt triljunis plebis ac dictatoribus foret opus, niox
etiam imperatoribus quorum potestas in immensum euecta fecit vt
:

rursus pristini i-eipublicae status desiderarentur. Sed intinitum

fuerit ad hunc modum conferre singula rerum genera, surgentium
vicissim ac cadentium, florentium, iac^tium, ac denuo reflorescen- 15
tium, nouaque subinde specie repulhilantium. Ilhid magis mirum,
sacris etiam studiis, quae maxime deceliat sibi constare, suas esse
vices aestuarias.
Olira credebatur philosophia Christiana, non disputabatur et pia ;

simplicitas hominum sacrorum vohiminum oraculis erat contenta : 20

nec egebat variis praescriptis vltro prompta charitas, omnia credens,
nusquam haerens. Mox theologiae patrocinium capessebant humanis
instructi disciplinis, sed ferme his quas hodie rhetorieas vulgus
appellat. Paulatim magis ac magis adhiberi coepit philosophia,
primum Platonica, mox Aristotelica coeptum quaeri de multis ; 25
quae vel ad mores vel ad coelestium rerum speculationem pertinere
videbantur. Quae res primum visa est propemodum necessaria
at sensim eo succreuit vt plerique, neglecta linguarum ac politioris
literaturae peritia, imo neglectis diuinis voluminibus, in curiosis,
superuacaneis et immodicis quaestiuncuhs velut ad Sireneos seopulos 30
consenescerent. lam ars esse coepit theologia potius quam sapientia ;

theatrica verius quam ad veram pietatem accommoda. Hanc praeter

ambitionem auaritiamque viciarunt et aliae pestes, adulatio, contentio
ac superstitio.
Quibus rebus vbi tandem eo ventum est vt Christus ille purus 35
propemodum esset obrutus humanis argutationibus, ac limpidissirai
quondam Euangelicae doctrinae fontes, Pliilistaeorum scrobe oppleti,
diuinaeque Scripturae certissima regula, nunc huc nunc ilhic detorta,
nostris seruiret affectibus niagis quam gloriae Christi, quidam pia
certe mente conati sunt orbem ad pristinam studiorum simplicitatem 40
reuocare atque a lacunis iam fere turbidis ad viuas illas ac i^urissimas
scatebras reducere. Eam ad rem conficiendam hnguarimi ac bona-
rum, vt vocant, literarum cognitio visa est in primis conducere,
quarum neglectu videmur huc prohipsi.
Atque hic protinus ingens tumultus in ipso rerum confinio, dum 45

10. aut certe oligarchia o»i. a. 11. tribunis plebis ac owj. a. 12. im-
peratoribus /3 regibus a.
: 13. pristini desiderarentur y3
. . . democratia
:

desideraretur a. 14. surgentium ... 16. Illud om. a. 17. sacris eon- . . .

stare 13: et studiis a. 19. pliilosophia li: doctrina a. 20. sacrorum

vokiininum oraculis;3: sacris voluminibusa. 21. Nec egebat ... 27. videban-
tur /3 Mox adhibitis disciplinis humanis quaeri coeptum de multis, multa in
:

controuersiani i-api a. 28. neglecta 29. voluminit)US /3: neglectis diuinis

. . .

libris a. 30. superuacaneis et immodicis H ac superuacaneis a.

: 31. lam
ars . . 44. prolapsi ^ '33. auaritiamque (
. auariciam ^): Vbi ventum esseteo vt
:

Christus illo coelestis hominum argutiis pene esset obrutus, quidam conati sunt
ad pristinam studiorum orbem simplicitatem reuocare, et a lacunis iani nimium
turbidis ad fontes purissimos retrahere. Ad eam rem vidcbatur peritia lingua-
rum ac Vjonarum, vt vocant, literarum cognitio cum primis conducere a.

10. democratia] For Erasmus' in- 37. Philistaeorum] Cf. Ep. 858. 182.
terest in this cf. Ep. looi. 82. 41. lacunis] Cf. Ep. 1002. i^n.
 182 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [15^
altera pars nimium mordicus tenet ea quibus assueuit, altera vio-
lentius irrumpit, hosti quam hospiti similior. Ita vtriusque malo
peccatur vtrinque. Sic olim Euangelicae doctrinae niustum auersa-
bantur ludaei, veteri vino Mosaicae legis assueti, et contumeliam
50 interpretabantur quo prior illa lex et perficieljatur et ornabatur ac :

nouitatem habebant inuisam, cum potius ad priscam vetustatem

reuocai'entur. Porro sic fitj>vt beneficium vertatur in disjiendium,
cum et medicus inclementer atque incommode admouet reniedium,
et aegrotus saluti consulentem pro hoste ducit. Conueniebat magis
55 vt qui profitentur has literas, quae vulgo laborant inuidia nouitatis,
cum sint antiquissimae, ciuiliter irreperent potius quam hostiliter
irrumperent ; neque statim veluti sexagenarios de ponte depellerent,
sed paulatiin coalescerent noui hospites cum veteribus colonis.
Neque enim in hoc adhibentur literae politiores, vt aboleantur disci-
Oo plinae, quae cum maximo genei is humani bono traduntur in publicis
scholis sed vt purgatiores sint magisque sobriae quam hactenus
;

fuerint apud quosdam. Sit sane regina theologia, sed nulla regina
tam potens quae i:)edissequarum i'ecuset officium. Ab aliis admonei'i
se patitur, ab aliis comi et ad suam gloriam pertinere credit, si
;

65 famulas habeat quam honestissimas.

Quod si qui bonarum literarum praesidio veterem eruditionem
student ornare, comiter et placide suum adhiberent oflScium, et ii
qui in pristinis studiis consenuerunt, nec sibi nec iunioribus inui-
derent, sed nouos aduenas in ciuitatis suae consortium humaniter
70 reciperent futurum esset vt vtraque res alteri sit tum ornamento
;

tum vsui futura, nimirum duplicato lucro mutua commutatione

bonorum. Nunc dum nos inuicem luto conspergimus, imo dum
inuicem nos lapidamus, perit vtrisque suus fructus, et vtraque pars
magno cum malo discedit. In libellis, quibus alteros alteri lacerant,
75 plus est conuiciorum quam ai'gumentorum. In scholasticis diatribis
plus est dentis quam eruditionis, pkis conuicii quam iudicii, pius
studiorum quam In sacris concionibus Euangelica do-
libertatis.
ctrina, quam oportebat esse purissimam, humanis affectibus vitiatur.
Peccant qui odiose vociferantur in hactenus recepta studia, licet
80 infantia sed grauius peccant qui conscenso suggestu, vnde solet
:

audiri tuba Euangelica Christi gloriam personans, seditiose clamitant,

'
Arcete libei'os vestros a Graecis literis, hinc nascuntur haereses.
Ne tangite libros illius et illius', neque enim a nominibus tempe-
— —
rant qui corrigit Precationem Dominicam, qui castigat canticuin
*

46. nimium om. a. violentius ... 58. colonis fi (51. potius acld. «. 57. velut
t]) : mauult a fastigiosemel depellere quam paulatim deducere a. 59. in hoc
adhil>entur;3 ita : aboleantur.
sunt adhibendae a. 61. magisque /3 abolea- . . :

tur scholastica di.sciplina, sed vt purgatiores sint ac magis a. 62. Sit sane . . .

72. bonorum /3 (67. ii /3 hi 5) Quod si qui in illis consenuorunt, eas ciuiliter am-
: :

l)Iectantur, atque harum professores illis sese vicisaim accommodent, futurum

est vt vtraque ros alteri sit tum vsui tum ornamento a. 75. scholasticis om. a.
76. plus studiorum quam libertatis 07n. a. 79. in hactenus ... 80. grauius /3 :
.scholasticas et infantes literas nihil habere bonae rei, sed e diuerso a. 80.
feuggesto €: c/. Epp. 1164. 25, 1167. 34, 1196 bis. 81. (i euangelica tuba o. :

seditiose om. a. 8a. Arcete . . . 83. temperant Ne sinite liberos vestros :

discere Graecas literas ex his nascuntur haeresos et Antichristi. Est quidam a.

:

84. qui castigat ... 85. emendat;8 ac Magnificat, vt vocant, qui castigat a.
:

57. irrumperent] Cf. Ep. 1167. 14. Ov. F. 5. 634 and other sources.
de ponte] See Ada/j. 437; citing 84. Precationem] Cf. Ep.948. 108, 114.
1062] TO LORENZO CAMPEGIO 183

Magnificat, qui emendat Euangelium sancti loannis. Adeste prae- 85

fecti,succurrite ciues. Tantam pestem arcete rebus humanis '.
Quae quum dicuntur apud imperitam multitudinem, quid fi^ngi
apud eruditos et cordatos viros dicantur, quid
possit seditiosius ? si
insanius? Et tamen qui haec publice faciunt, haberi volunt Chri-
stianae religionis columina. Nec interea perpendunt, quod Christi 90
doctrinam profitentes, dum incessunt famam benemerentium, aut
certe studentium benemereri, ex diametro dissident ab eo quod
profitentur. Praeterea non cogitant interim operae suae fructum
magna ex parte perire, cum ipsis tum populo, dum hisce rebus sibi
fidem abrogant apud auditores. Quis enim credat odium et simul- 95
tatem j^rae se ferenti ? E diuerso lucubrationes eorum qui suis
vigiliis et studiis et verae pietati pro sua virili consulere student,
minore cum fructu leguntur nisi parui referre putamus, integro
:

animo librum sumas in manum an inimica persuasione aut certe

imaginatione occupato. Postremo pro semine Euangelico pessima 100
zizania seritur dissidiorum atque odii quae vbi semel occupauit, ;

hominum animos, haud facile reuellitui*.

Nec facile quis credat e quantLiHs scintillis paulatim gliscentibua
quam ingens incendium saepe nasci soleat. Nihil est autem in
rebus humanis tam florens quod non vertat in perniciem discordia. 105
At eam nusquam magis vitatam oportuit quam in studiis, praesertim
sacris quorum autoritate praecipue tumultus humanarum cupidita-
;

tum sedari par erat. Quid enim aliud quam pacem docet, qui
Christum docet? Quod si contigerit salem esse insulsum, quid
supererit quo condiantur insulsa ? Si lucem Euangelicae philosophiae iio
cupiditates obscurant humanae, quid erit quod discutiat animi nostri
caliginem ? Quis autem nescit bonam religionis nostrae partem
pendere a studiorum ratione ? At nunc hanc quoque vitae nostrae
paradisum sic suo veneno vitiauit veterator ille serpens, vt mihi
non paulo prestabilius videatur quemuis hortulum colere quam 115
literas, videlicet cepis et caulibus plus allaturis fructus cultori suo
quam ad hicernam vigilatis noctibus.
Sed iam dudum obmurmurat mihi tuus animus, Quorsmn tandem

85. Adeste . . . 13 humanis

Succurrite ciues, adeste praefecti a.
86. : 87.
quum dicuntur dicantur a. : quid fingi possit )3 nihil a.
si 88. erudi-
:

tos et /3 doctos ac a.
: dicantur quid /3 niliil a. 89. qui haec /3
: haec :

qui a. 90. interea /3 interim a. Christi doctrinam profitentes ovi. a.

:

91. aut certe studentium benemereri om. a. 92. ab eo 95. auditores a . . . :

doctriua Ciiristi quam prolitentur, et bonam fructus partem perdunt, sibi quoque
lidem abrogantes apud populum a. 95. et simultatem om. a. 96. E
diuerso . . 100. Postx-emo
. atque a. 100. pessima zizania seritur
: pessimam :

serunt zizaniam a. 102. animos, haud studia, non a. : 103. Nec faeile
. . . 104. soleatowt. a. 104. autemow. a. 106. .Ateam/3 quama. vita-
:
,

tam 0: seruatama. 107. quorum ... 118. Sed vnde pendet bona pars
:

Christianae reipublicae. At nunc videmus rem propemodum in rabiem exisse,

vt si ad liunc pergatur modum, praestal)iiiu3 videatur ortulum coluisse quam
literas. Scio a. 118. tuus animus ... 119. Videlicet T. R. D. Quid haec :

ad me ? aut quid ad paraphrasim ? Nimirum a.

85. Magnificat] Cf. Ep. 948. 97, 108, found in all the authorized editions.
1x5. 115. hortulum] The unaspirated
Euangelium] Cf. Ep. 1072 introd. form is lound in a. Cf. Ej). 270. i6a.
109. insulsuml Cf. Mark 9. 50. where the aspirate is not inserted un-
113. hanc] This unusual gender is til N.
 184 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15-if

haec tam multa? Videlicet vt tuo tuique similium admonitu Leo

i2onoster p. m. circulum immortalis suae gloriae, quem feliciter orsus
absoluat.
est, lampridem rem diuinam praestitit orbi Christiano,
qui reges ac populos impiis bellis inter se tumultuantes in concordiam
redegerit fortasse non minus insigne beneficium praestaturus. si
;

studiis quoque suam restituat tranquillitatem. Res enim tam amaris

125 odiis, tam virulentis linguis, tam cruentis conflictationibus agitur,
vt mihi nondum liqueat maiorene malo constiterit humano generi
illetumultus armorum an haec dissidia studiorum. Quod serenissi-
mus Angliae Rex Henricus, eius nominis octauus, vna cum Achate
suo R. D. Thoma cardinale Eboracensi, nec dubito quin te quoque
i?,o consultore, praestitit suae Britanniae, id Leo praestare debet orbi
terrarum cui i^raesidet, Christi vicibus fungens, cui nuHa res magis
cordi fuit quam concordia. Non opinor cuiquam veterum regum aut
imperatorum titulum speciosiorem erectum fuisse quam hunc nostro
Leoni positum, vt ferunt, Leoni x ob pacem orbi Christiano '

135 restitutam '.

Quid quod haec res non solum generali quadam ratione ad ilUim
pertinet, ad quem pertinet quicquid ad i-eligionis ac pietatis negocium
pertinet ? sed peculiariter etiam illius refert, ne quiduis quibuslibet
liceat in linguas ac bonas Hteras, quibus ipse suo grauissimo iudicio
140 tantum tribuit vt tantis impendiis suis conducat vndique qui Romse
profiteantur ; sic existimans, Vrbi tot ornamentis indytae non me-
diocre decus hinc etiam accessurum. Nimirum perspicit pectus
illius oculatissimum linguarum cognitionem nonsohim ad disciplina-
rum professionem esse necessariam, verum etiam ad Christianae
145 ditionis pomeria vel propaganda vel stabilienda. Quod enim vnquam
regnum aut coaluit aut diuturnum fuit absque linguarum commu-

119. Leo . , . 120. gloriae /8: S. D. N. Leo x puleherrimam laudem a. 120.

quem 7 : quam aliS. 121. lampridem oni. o.
Christiano om. a. 123. insigne
beneficium ow.a. 124. Res 127. ille /3 Nam mihi sane nondum liquet vtru
. . . :

res raaiore malo constiterit humano generi. illene a. 128. a/85 Heinri- :

cus 7. eius nominis oin. a. 129. D. Thoma otn. a. nec 130. con- . . .

sultore /3 (consulto ow. a. 130. debet 134. Leoni x /3 (133. hunc $

=
hic . . . :

est f. 134. positum H: positus e) potest orbi. Quod si fecerit, tum demum :

plenam laudem habebit longe pulcherrimus ille titulus, Leoni PP. x a. 136.
Quid . . . 152. gloria om. a.

122. inconcordiam] By theTreaty of 134. Leoni] A colo.ssal statue of Leo

London for universal peace, 2 Oct. by Domenieo Ami had recently been
1518 : see Brewer ii. 4469. erected in Rome on the Capitol
see :

quoque] Erasmus liad

124. studiis Pastor viii. 352-3, citing Rodocanachi,
directly invokcd Leo's protection in Capitole, 1905, pp. 167,8. The inscrip-
Ep. 1007. tion is given t)y W. Roscoe, Life of Leo
Res enim] With this and tlie nexr, X, cli. 14 tin., and by V. ForceHa,
paragraiili, Avhich appears first in ^, Iscrizioni 'klle Chicse . . di Eoma, 1. i86g,
.

cf. Ep. 1167. 16-25. p. 32does not contain the words

: it

128. Angliae Rex] For tlie recent liere tontatively reportod by Erasmus.
jirogress made at Oxford and Cam- Since 1876 the statue has been phiced
bridge in thf study of the classical in S. Maria in Aracoeli.
Janguages see Epp. 229 intrud., 456. 140. conducat] For Leo's patron-
228 seq., 457. 55-9, 965, 967. 26n, 990 ; .age of learning, and especially tlie
.ind, for Henry's sympatliy with it, foundation of the College of Greek, in
]-]](. 948. 183-219. 1513. with John Lascaris (Ep. 269.
130. coubultore] Cf. Fpp. 961 introd., sm) at its lie.ad, see Creighton v.
990. ir. 173-4, Pastor viii. 259-78.
io62j TO LORENZO CAMPEGIO 185

nium glutino ? lam ipse iudica quantopere illius intersit, si Nouum

Testamentum, quod illius hortatu suscepi, quod eiusdem hortatu
denuo recognoui, quod Christo et ipsi dicaui, licebit cuiuis rabulae
indocto apud indoctos traducere. Me sane mei nominis iactura 150
Jeuiter commouet, modo Christo suus constet fructus, Leoni sua
gloria.
Quod si ratio sarciendae concordiae quaeritur, ita rem confici
facillime posse arbitror, si per illius oraculum aedicatur vt suam
quisque professionem ornet efferatque citra contumeliam alienae, vt 155
vtrinque coherceatur linguae calamique rabies, potissimum ab his
quos magis decet haec moderatio. Quod si quid dissentietur vt est —
frequenter, quemadmodum in pahitis, ita et in ingeniis quoque
dissensio —
omnis contentio intra ciuilem conflictum consistat, in
,

rabiem ne exeat. Porro si quid ad fidei synceritatem magnopere 160

perlinebit (neque enim huc obtorto collo pertrahenda sunt omnia),
primum res agatur per eos qui vere norunt fidei mysteria deinde ;

qui non sint tales vt sub praetextu tidei suum agant negocium ;

postremo vt res moderatis iudiciis, non seditiosis clamoribus agatur.

Neque enim omnibus fortasse libet quorumlibet arbitrio Christianos 165
esse.
Haec non dubitabam quin persuasurus essem, cuius tibi facile
eruditus candor et eruditio candida non nescius quam abhorreat sum
ab omni virulentia. Nec difficile T. R. D. persuadebit S. D. N.
Leoni, siue quod is te ob eximias dotes tuas optimo iure facit 170
maximi, siue quod ipse suopte ingenio ad pacem et concordiam
mire propensus est. Huius opellae quam petimus, si parum iustum
videtur praemiiim quod omnibus seculis tota literatorum cohors
Laurentii Campegii nomen laudibus vehet, en addo et ipse meo
nomine qualecunque auctarium, Paraphrasin in quinque Paulinas 175
Epistolas, quas ex omnibus illius germanis reliquas hoc impetu
proximo absolui. Neque enim ordine labor hic mihi peractus est,
nec eodem tempore, nec eodem impetu. Ita factum vt alias partes
aliis dedicarim. Mihi bona spes est hoc certe victurum opus, vt
pote quod probatur et ab iis qui vehit ex professo nostra omnia iSo
solent arrodere. Simul autem visum est fidem meam E. T. D. ob-

Quod si
153. 154. oraculum ^
. . Porro ratio cuncordiae sic facile constabit,
. :

si per illius oraculuni miniis licebit sycopliantis quibusdam et omnibus a.

155. ornet efiferatque /3 efierat atque ornet a. : vt vtrinque 157. moderatio . . .

om. a. 157. dissentietur 166. esse P ^159. dissensio 6

. .
dissentio /3) dis-
. : :

senserint inter sese, vt fit, ingenia, intra ciuilem conflictum consistat contentio a,
167. tibi /3 et tibi a.
: 168. et eruditio candida um. a. 169. /3 ab omni :

virulentia abhorreat a. T. /3 tua a. 171. maximi a;3 plurimi f

: 172. :

opellae quam petimus & operae a. 173. 13: praemium videtur a.

: omni-
bus . literatorum /3 vniuersa literaria a.
. . : 174. Laurentii Campegii /3 j35
Compegii 7) : tuum a. en addo et ipse : addo et a. 176. quas ex ... 182.

147. Nouum Testamentum] Cf. Epp. Erasmus was not now thinking of
384, 446. 53seq., 864. him their open conflicts did not be-
:

175.quinque] Besides Eph. the gin until 1525. Probably he had liis
volume contained also Phil., Coh, and opponents araong the friars, Egmon-
Tliess., without prefaces. danus (Ep. 878. i^n) and Vincent
180. iis qui] A note, 'Tum dormie- Theodorici (Ep. 1196), in his mind cf. :

bat Bedda', added in the margin of Epp. 1153, 1 164, 1 167. 39-44, 1182. For
* ,1532) at tliis point, show tliat the position cf. Ep. 1060. 53-4.
 186 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15^
strictam aliqua saltem ex parte liberare. Neque enim excidit et
quantum debeam inauditae tuae humanitati, et quid illi per literas
sim pollicitus. Hunc
igitur arrabonem boni consules, donec corra-
185 sero vnde summam
quoque resoluam.
Brugis a coena bac oratione, memini, dimisit me R. T. D. quae- ,

cunque aula habitura esset L. Campegium, confiderem illic esse

amicum ex animo bene volentem Erasmo. At ego vicissim, quae-
cunque tellus habitura est Erasmum, illic R. T. D. credat esse man-
190 cipium sibi deditissimum. Bene valeat E. R. T, D.
Louanii. Nonis februarii, Anno. m.d.xix.

1063. To Beatus Rhenanus.

Basle MS. Ki. Ar. 18=^. 176. Louvain. '

5 February 1520.

[A copy, perhaps only of an extract, in Beatus' handwriting possibly made :

to be sent from Schlettstadt, where Beatus was at this time, to Basle with BRE.
156, to Boniface Amerbach, 5 March 1520. For the circumstances see Ep. 1044.
49n. The date is confirmed by the death of Briard of Ath on 8 Jan. 1520.
A packet of Erasmus' letters sent to Basle shortly before this time, had been
lost through the carelessness of the messenger, perhaps Livinus Algoet (Ep.
1091) see Zw. E.' 118.]
:

EEASMVS EOT. BEAT. EHENAXO SVO S. D.

Hic adhuc conspirant vt nunquam odiosius. Et tamen Dorpius

sic
constantissime se gerit ita vt confidam fore perpetuo sui similem.
:

Extimulabis igitur Zasium, Bonifacium et alios, si poteris, vt illi

scribant amanter et honorifice. Saluta Sapidum, Volzium et Vuim-
5 phelingium. Atensem periisse opinor te scire. Bene vale, mi
Beate. Louanii. Nonis Febr. An. m.d.xx.

1064. To JoHN Oecolampadius.

Nuremberg MS. (Louvain.)
Heumann p. 189. (c 5 February 1520.)

[An epitome given in a letter from Bernard Adelmann to Pirckheimer,

Augsburg, 4 March 1520. From subsequent letters of Adehnann, 28 April and
13 May, Heumann pp. 192 (HE. 159) and 197, there is no difficulty in identifying

liberare /3 (181 ;35 : R. D. T. 7) : quam vno et hoc proximo impetu absolui, simul vt
meam fidem aliquaex parte liberem a. 183. per literasoi». a. 184. Hunc igitur
3 Sed hunc interim
: a. 186. Brugis . . . 190. deditissimum om. a. 190. E. R,
T. D. R. T. D. e
/3 : : R. T. D. , cui quam commendatissimus esse cupio a. 191.
Nonis februarii /3 : Non. Februar. a.

1062. 183. per literas] Cf. Ep. 996. 3. Extimulabis] This sentence is

59-60. quoted by Beatiis in BKE. 156.

186. Brugis] Cf. Ep. 1025. ^n. 4. Sapidum] See Ep. 323.
1063. I. conspirant] sc. theologi in : Volzium] See Ep. 368.
s])ite of the reconciliation in the au- Vuimphelingium] See Ep. 224.
tumn(Ep. 1016. i5n). Cl.Ep. 1053. 34^. 5. Atensem] See Ep, 670.
1064] TO JOHN OECOLAMPADIUS 187

'
noster theologus with Oecolampadius, who was at this time preacher in the
'

Cathedral at Augsburg. The date may be assigned approximately from Ep.

1063 which must have been delivei-ed about the same time, since an extract
;

from it is communicated by Beatus Rhenanus in a letter dated 5 March 1520

(BRE. 156).
Dr. E. Reicke in 191 1 very kindly collated Heumann's text for me with the
original in the Nuremberg Town-library, and sent me some corrections.]

Erasmus scripsit nuper nostro theohgo se Paraphrasim in omnes

Epistolas germanas Pauli absoluisse, Atensem ac Coletum obiisse,
Dorpium ex animo sibi esse reconciliatum, Hochstradium bis apud
eum Louanii fuisse, ac culpam, quod contrarius sibi fuerit, in
Atensem reiecisse. Et ni magnates aulici sibi patrocinium prae- 5
stitissent, iam dudum a factione ista monachorum ac scholasticorum
lapidatus fuisset. Conqueritur maxime de quodam Carmelitano ac
Eduuardo, qui et in sex Positiones Lutheri scripserit.

1065. To Antony de la Marck.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 567. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xv. 11 : LB. 386. 16 February 15^
[This letter is clearly later than Ep. 956 and, as it appeared in F, only 1520
;

and 1521 are possible. The jear-dates added in have little or no value but H ;

in default of other guidance this one may be accepted. For the circumstances
see Ep. 956 introd.]

ERASMVS ROT. CLARISS. IVVENI ANTONIO A MARCA,

ABBATI BELLI LOCI, S. D.

Persvaserat mihi ille quem nosti, me initurum haud mediocrem

gratiam apud tuam celsitudinem, si eam aliqua parte studiorum
dicata prouocassem. Sed, vt video, res in diuersum exiit hoc ipso ;

videor alienasse quo conabar deuincire. De ingenii tui candore, fide

constantiaque non libet suspicari. Nescio vtrum idem ille gratiam 5
officii mei corruperit, qui ad officium instigarat, an opus ipsum tuo
iudicio parum arrideat.
De promisso non grauo pudorem tuum. Volens atque vltro
pollicebaris mihi nec postulanti nec expectanti
ego vicissim vltro ;

volensque fidem tuam libero. Non expostulabo quod res tentata 10

non successerit ex animi tui sententia, modo id praestes quod prae-
stare tibi in manu est, vt Erasmum tui studiosum redames. Nunc
ipsa res me docet bonam felicitatis partem esse nihil magnopere
10G4. 4. Louanii scripsi : Louoniae MS.

1064. I. Paraphrasim] Cf. Epp. 1060. famous 95 Theses posted at Wittenberg

52, 1062. 175-6. 011 31 Oct. 1517 also called Conclusiones
:

Atensem] f 8 Jan. 1520. and Dispnfafiones. I do not know of

Coletum] t 16 Sept. 1519. any other evidence for an attack on
3. Dorpium] Cf. Ep. 1044. Luther bj' Leo.
Hochstradium] See p. 42. 1065. i. ille quem nosti] Probably
7. Carmelitano] Egmondanus ; see Pasch. Berselius ; cf. Ei). 956. 4.
Ep. 878. i3n. 3. dicata] See Ep. 956.
8. Eduuardo] Lee. 8. promisso] Apparently anattempt,
PositionesJ One of the names which wasunsuccessful, tosecure some
regularly used by Luther for the preferment for Erasmus.
 188 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15A2

mirari. Si anxie pependissem a tuis promissis, iam discruciarer

15 fi-ustratus; nunc vt leuiter sperabam, ita minimum sentio doloris
adempta spe. Rex ipse mihi longe maiora detulerat quam tu audebas
polliceri. Tantum autem abest vt tibi succenseam qui non prae-
stiteris quod receperas, vt gratiam etiam habeam quod o^^taris, quod
conatus sis. Bene vale, vir clariss.
20 Louanii xiiii. Calendas Martii m.d.xix.

lon, 10151066^,^,
TO WlLLIAM BUDAEUS.
Epistolae ad diuersos p. 214*. Louvain.
HN : Lond. iii. 70: LB. 387. 17 February 15^.

[Ep. 1073. r,2 shows that this letter was delivered by two Germans on 25 Feb. ;
but it had been brought from Louvain by a servant of Erasmus (perhaps
Livinus Algoet, Ep. 1091), who alsD carried back Ep. 1073 (see BE.* 67).

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS ORNATISSIMO GVLIELMO BVDAEO SVO S. D.

CvM multis nominibus mihi displiceat ilJa bis maledica ejiistola,

vel quodKa/cdis eXXqvL^ovaa, vel quod, vt tibi quoque videtur, pro-
cacior, tamen hoc certe nomine placet, quod vna duas extuderit
a Budaeo non minus eruditas quam copiosas. Ad quas ne respon-
5 deam, etiamsi tu non vetuisses, tamen in praesentia sane per studio-
rum tumultus verius quam oceupationes nequaquam licebat. Adeo
vero me non oftendit, quod cum in priore epistola, quae tota sic
Atticeloquitur vt non Lutetiae sed Athenis nata videri queat, veluti
iusta iam talione repensatis commissis in te meis iusseris posthac
10 Kvpiov eTvai rov Tr]<; uyu.i'7;crTtas vo/xov, rursus alteram adieceris semi-
graecam ac semihxtinam non paulo superiore iurgiosiorem,> vt hoc
lucri mihi magnopere gratuler. Itaque ius tibi facio vt, si quid
etiam posthac tibi venerit in mentem quod putabis expostulandum,
tuo arbitratu eftundas, incolumi lege quam inter nos sanximus.
15 Tt Sk Set eVi i^ofxoXoyelv Tdfxa d/xapT^^fxaTa, cro?} orj ra rwv d/x<^OTe/joji'
i$OfxoXoyrj(TavTO<;, Kal /xdXiara rdfxd. i^e^ofxai rrfv iiofxoXoyrjatv Kal aTro-
Xv(j} rov dTToXvovra, tv iv iffxiv ycVoiTo to tov Iu/cw^ou, " Efo/AoXoyetc^e
d/\XT//\ots To. 7rapa7rTOjyu,aTu, Kai ei'^eo"^c virep d/\Ar/Xojj', oTroj? laOrjre '
.

©etov eo-Ttv, ovk dvOpwTTLvov, ovSl TTojTroTc dfxaprdveLv. Ingenii, doctrinae

20 et vtriusque facundiae hxudem quid ni tibi lubens cedam ? qui hisce
de rebus non soleam cum quoquam in certamen descendere, nedum
cum Budaeo, huius aetatis Milone quodam, vt ita dixerim, in palae-
stra litteraria. Candoris et humanitatis laudem, in qua certe par

10G5. 20. Martii i'^: Mar. if: Martias.V. :si.v.xix. udd. H. 1066. tit.
ORNATissiMo 01)1. H. procatior F.
2. H : lo. toc F : ruv H. afivrfaruas F.
vofiuv F Corrig. perperam, quod ex Ep. 1073. 17 liqnet.

1065. 16.Rex ipse] wiieu leaving for mus' literary undcsrtakings at this
Spain ; Epp. 596 introd., 809. 127,8.
cf. period see Epp. 844. 255^, 1056. lon,
Or perhapsearlier cf. Ep. 475. 411.; 1062,1072, 1082, 1100, and 11. 83-7 //)/;« :

1060. I. epistola] Ep. 1004. ])erhaps also Epp. iiio, 1112.

3. duas] Ejtp. loii, 1015. 10. diJvr]ffTias] Cf. Ep. ioji. 37.
5. studioruni tumultusj Fny Eras- 17. 'laKwliw'] 5. 16.
1066] TO WILLIAM BUDAEUS 189

haberi cupiebam, non perinde volens cedo. Sed tamen hanc quoque
violentus extorques, adeo nusquam nou inuictus es, w yevmSa?. 25
Ac caetera quideni etiam ?) ofxoXoyui rj crvy^^wpS) aoi ws Ka\o}<; Kal
8iKaiU)<; Xi)(Oei'Ta. Tovto [xovov i^aipu) o ypae^ets iv ttJ SevTipa iTricrToXrj
Trepi Tov .\y]Xo'Lvov, ov yap olS ottws TrepaLVT], oVt ovk ''
-^Swao-o (^tAoKoAa/ca
dTroKaActi' €//,€, /X7; ov)(i avTos tovtov d/roKaAwv KoAaKa '
. ^vcfirjfxa cjiwveL,

BovSatc" lepbv yap 7] <^tAta, ov ^e/i,ts to. aKLvrjTa Ktvetv, Ov;^ orrojs fiaLVOfjML 30
ojo-re dv8pos TOtoiVoT; TOtdSe ypdif/aL fj-e rj vorjaai.
Trept Relegi Graecam
illam meam epistolam ; nihil illic video vnde possit colligi quod
ais, certe nulla cogitatio magis abfuit ab animo meo. Quid enim
obfuit quo minus et ^iAoKoAa^ sim, et tamen neminem habeam
KoAaKerovra? Proinde demiror, mi Budaee, qui tibi isthuc in animum 35
inciderit. Neque si quos habeam, continuo necesse sit illum esse
in quem huiusmodi suspicio nullo pacto cadere possit.
At quod in literis ad Tunstallum tuis strophologiam subesse non
negas. atque idem in me retorques, quid tu velis agnoscere ipse
videris ego non prius de me fatebor quam quisquam mortalium
: 40
reperiatur qui vel in liberrimis illis colloquiis, quibus apud con-
gerrones quicquid in buccam venerit eifutimus, vel inter pocula,
cum frequenter et dicenda et non dicenda prorumpunt, audierit
Erasmum secus loquentem de Budaeo quam scripserit aut si quen- ;

quam amicum passus sum vnquam, non dicam obtrectantem Budaei 45

gloriae, sed huic aequantem aut praeferentem me, cui non acriter ac
serio repugnarim.
lam vero nescio quanti sit apud te interpres ille nimium o^i;SepKr;s
qui tibi ceu parum oculato commonstrauit quaedam non
'lTaAtojTr;s,
simpliciter a me scripta. Apud me certe talibus officiis nullus inierit 50
gratiam. Quomodo tibi successerit expeditio, quemadmodum vocas,
auliea, partim ex tuis ad Lodouicum Viuem literis intellexi, nimirum
adeo venustis, adeo doctis. adeo iravTaxoOev felicibus, vt homo vix
hostibus inuidere soHtus inuiderim homini cum i^rimis amico. Is
nunc declamat, sed ita me Deus amet, incredibili felicitate. Dices 55
rem nec hisce regionibus nec hoc seculo natam esse nec hidicram ;

aut vmbraticam esse pugnam, sed veram ac seriam. Ingenio mihi

semper satisfecit, in phrasi desidera])am nescio quid aliquanto mol-
lius. Nunc ita numeros omnes praestat vt non videam his tempori-
bus qui in hac palaestra queat illi palmam praeripere, pace omnium 60
dixerim. Graecam illam tuam epistolam quam polliceris, non desinam
efflagitare donec expressero.
Fabulam quam hic sine fine agunt coniurati quidam aduersus
trihngue collegium et vniuersas bonas literas, et pudet et piget tibi
scribere, mi Budaee. Si quid huiusmodi natum fuisset in vrlje 65

25. yfvvdSrjs F. 40. quisquam F: quibpiam H. 45. sum F : sim H.

63. quam : F
qua N. 65.natum huiusmodi K.

27. t ypn<t>eis'] Ep. 1015. 103-6. 52. litoris] BE.* 43, igAug. 1519; in
32. epistolam] Ep. 1004. wliicli Budaeus expresscs his disgust
38. ad Tunstallum]Cf. Ep. 1015. 1-3. with Court lifo and his longing to ro-
Erasmus is here con-
49. 'IroAttuTjys] turn to tho country.
fusing together the two letters men- 55. declamat] Cf. Ep. 1082. 24-45.
tioned in Ep. 1015. 4,9nn. 61. polliceris] Ep. 10 15. 162.
51. expeditio] Cf. Ep. 1015. 163. 63. Fabulam] Scc Epp. 1046, 1057.
 190 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [isif

Roma, qua non alia pluribus abundat ornamentis, tamen et Cardi-

nales et summus ipse Pontifex summis tum fauoribus tum honoribus
prosequerentur, et ornatissimae ciuitati non niediocre decus iudica-
rent accedere. At isti rem et munificam et ad tam insignem omnium
70 vtilitatem, ad tam ingens ornamentum et Principis et totius huius
ditionis j^aratam, sic abominantur, sic horrent, vt olim Romani non
aeque formidarint Gallos vrbe iam capta Capitolio insidiantes. Magis
autem indigneris si scias huius tam pudendae fabulae tres aut quatuor
esse coryphaeos, tam stolide stupidos vt indignos iudicaturus sis
75 quibus caules tuos curandos crederes. Et tamen vincunt impudentia,
improbitate et nescio quo nouo syncretismo. Quod si hi sapiunt,
insanit Rex vester, qui sua munificentia conducit qui linguarum
professione ornent regnum Galliarum ; insanit Leo decimus, qui
tantis impendiis accersit in vrbem suam qui linguas ac politiores
80 doceant literas insanit cum aliis innumeris Angliae Rex, cuius
;

benignitas inuitat harum rerum professores in vtramque suae ditionis

Academiam.
Opinor te vidisse Farraginem Epistolarum, sed indiligentissime
aeditam. Rursus efflagitant vt exemplar recognitum mittam. Nam
85 subito distracta sunt exemplaria, vt saepe maxime vendibilis est liber
pessimus. Si quid iudicabis omittendum aut mutandum, admone :

nam ad eum laborem nunc cogor accingi.

lam portum optabam, lassus huiusmodi sycophanticis digladia-
tionibus. Sed audio libro Lutetiae aedito me palam reuocari in
90 harenam. Primum illud in votis erat, me accepta rude in ocium
secedere, proximum vt mihi contingeret honestus antagonista nunc :

is contigit de cuius ingenio non libet meminisse.

Maiorem in modum te rogo vt Deloino et Ruseo multam ex me
salutem dicas, et si quid offensi sunt, eos mihi reconcilies quan- :

95 quam arbitror nihil opus. Bene vale cum tuis omnibus, patrone
magne et amice incomparabilis.
Louanii xiii. Cal. Mart. Anno. m.d.xix.

1067. From James Wimpfeling.

Leipzig MS. Schlettstadt.
EE. I. 19 February 1520.

[An original letter, autograph throughout : the earliest in the great collec-
tion at Leipzig University Library (MS. 0331™), which was first edited by
•T.F. Burscher in his Spicilegia, 1784-1802, aud then by Forstemann and Gunther,

71. N : abominamur, sic horremus i=^. 75. cauletum tuum curandum iZ.
77. qui anie sua F dum : H. 78. qui F dum
: H. 93. FX^ LB:Ruzaeo
JV^: Ruzeo Lond. 95. nihil J': nil iV.

75. caules] A
figure which Erasmus 78. Leo] Cf. Ep. 1062. i^on.
had had in mind
in Ep. 1062. 115-16 ;
80. Angliae Rex] Cf. Ep. 1062. i28n.
cf. also Ep. 1060. 13-14. 83. Farraginem] See Ep. 1040 introd.
syncretismo] See Ep. 1050. 411.
76. 84. recognitum] Seo Ep. 1206 introd.
77. Rex vester] See Hist. riu CoHege de 89. libro] Lee"s Annotationes, which
France, by A. Lefranc, 1893; and cf. appeared jnst about this time .sce Ep.
;

Ep. 1080. 3n. 1037 introd.

1067] FEOM JAMES WIMPFELING 191

1904 (EE). The manuscript date may be accepted,

in the absence of any reason
to doubt it. This letter
allvided to in Ep. 1075.
is
The last trace before this of Wimpfeling's correspondence with Erasmus is in
1517 (Ep. 612. lon). He then considered himself very old, but even now he was
scarcely 70 (cf. Ep. 1025. i6n). Since 15 15 he had been living in his native
Schlettstadt the years;had done little to cool his impulsive tempex-ament, which
was still unable to brook gainsaying (cf. 1. 3n).]

S. D. P. Opto Herasmum meum fore longeuum, vt nouos indies

fetus pariat et veteres, vti solet, augeat quibus meipsum soler in ;

aduersis, que ab eis quibus semper bene volui, perpessus sum. Sed
hec est mundi huius remuneratio cuius pertesus sum, sperans me
:

propediem ex his procellis ad portum quietis lesu duce emersurum. 5

Tu vale foelicissime, vnicum solatium ; sepe enim me in meum
Enehiridio tuo et Compendio iucunditate afficis.
Ex Esto mihi An xx.
Schletstadio.
Tibi deditissimus lacobus Vimphehngus Sletst.
Domino Desiderio Herasmo Roterodamo, summo theologie Chri- 10
stiane professori, preceptori omnium obseruandissimo.

1068. To JOHN FlSHEK.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 494. Louvain.

HN: Lond. xii. 24: LB. 389. 21 February 15-!^.

[Between the publication of Fisher's second attack on Faber Stapulensis

(1.5n) and the appearance of Lee's book (Ep. 1037 introd.).
In 1. 3 Erasmus speaks of three letters recently received from Fisher, all
perhaps subsequent to Ep. 1030. None of these has survived but some extracts ;

are preserved in the Apologia qua respondet.

I. [f°. C r° and v° Jortin ii. 504,5] 'Antequam de Parisiensi aeditione
;

rescissem, redditae sunt milii litterae a R. patre Episcopo Roflfensi, quibus aperit
vir optimus prudens quidem et amicum consilium, atque etiam salutiferum, si
in tempore fuisset datum. Et quod ad me sane pertinebat, in tempore datum
erat nisi litterae illius diutius hesissent in manibus negociatorum. Id erat huius-
:

modi: '-Ne periret fructus mei laboris, quo de Christiana Ecclesia optime" vt
aiebat ille "meritus essem : sibi videri consultum vt Leus persuasus ab amicis
mihi faceret copiam sui libri. Deinde res ita temperaretur per.aliquos idoneos
vt et eius Annotationes exirent citra mei nominis iniuriam, et ego vicissim ita
temperarem responsionem vt ne quid lederem famam Lei. Nam rumorem esse
tam late sparsum, ipsa etiam re, vt fit, atrociorem, vt expediret magis euulgari
quam premi quae scripserat Leus".'
The date of tlie arrival of this at Louvain is given a fevv lines below as after
the publication of Ep. 1053. which took place (c. 14 Dec. 1519) :

'Sed paucis ante diebus quam haec reddita est epistola, mea iam ad Thomam
Lupsetum exierat in vulgiis, et ante hanc aeditam Leus suum librum miserat

2. pariat MS.

3. perpessus sum] e. g. from Sapidus in foro, in templo', . 'Nam non

.

(Ep. 323), whom he had reproved in potest pati Vuimphelingius vt quis-

Jan., tlireatening him with 'dela- quam contra cerimonias loquatur'
tionem ad inquisitorcs haereticae (Zw. E.^ ii4 = BRE. 144).
prauitatis' for thefreedom with which, 5. portum quietis] Cf. Ep. 1075. 11.
in Beatus' words, he ' veram doctri- 7. Compendio] The Ratio Verae Theo-
nam depredicat in conciliabulis, , . . logiae ; see Ep. 745,
 192 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15^!

Lutetiam.' Cf. f. D v°, p. 510: Leo dlxi me non editurum fuisse epistolam
'

ad Lupsetum, si Roffensis epistola fuisset in tempore reddita '.

2. [f°. C*, p. 508] D. R. Roffensis suis ad me litteris non ditfitetur librum
'

apud multos haberi '.

3. [f. B* v°, p. 504] 'Amicus quidam scripserat ex Anglia de rumore
formidabili vndiquaque sparso, non sine periculo meae opinionis apud multos,
qui crederent Annotationes Lei longe quam essent 5fivoT(pas\']

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS R. P. D. lOANNI EPISCOPO ROFFENSI S. D.

Si tua R. D. suspicatur me quicquam offendi, vel quod responderis

Fabro, vel quod non miseris librum Lei, nondum nouit Erasmum.
Et tamen iiac de re iam ternis literis nescio quid significas quod, ;

mihi crede, nihil est. De animo in me tuo non magis addubito quam
5 de meo ipsius. In priore libelli tui aeditione, crebrius et, vt videba-
tur multis, aculeatius iocabaris in ecclesiam Fabri. In posteriore vt
stilus est cultior, ita minus est stomachi. Tantum demirabar te tam
anxie laborare vt hoc negocium perti-aheres ad causam fidei ; qua re
valde grauatur Faber: quem subleuari malim, praesertim cum ille
10 te et suspiciat et veneretur.
De Nouo Testamento iubeo te bono esse animo. De rumore sparso
apud monachos et indoctos miruna non est, cum Leus velut ad hoc
natus nihil aliud agat. Et agit per monachos. Nouit optimos huius
rei satellites. Sed vbi prodierit ille iam diu iactatus liber, parturie-
15 rint montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Non adeo delirat mundus vt
ad Lei iudicium sit tumultuaturus. Tantum prodeat liber quod ;

arbitror breui futm-um. Cum Leo mihi concordia fuerit, si aediderit

suum librum, quem iampridem parturit. Nam ille nunquarn erit sui
dissimilis. An illi displicueris nescio, mihi certe nulla in re non
20 magnopere placuisti. Videre mihi prorsus ignorare Leum, si illius
vel ira vel amore tantillum commoueris. Me non offendes, etiamsi
libris aeditis a me dissentias. Quare te rogo vt si quid huiusmodi
suspicatus es liactenus, suspicionem omnem penitus ex animo eiicias,
et Erasmum tibi persuadeas eum semper erga te fore quem esse decet
25 memorem clientulum erga patronum optime meritum.
Bene vale Louanii .ix. Cal. Martias. m.d.xix.

TiT. R. p. D. o>w. H. I. R. D. F i pietas II. 14. parturient H.

1. suspicatur] From Erasmus' re- (Ep. 1030. 3n) : which was perhaps
marks about Faber in Ep. 1030. 1-8. iHsued with the Be V7iica Magdalena pre-
2. librum Lei] A
ms. copy of Lee's fixed. Cf. Ep. 1016. 17-21.
criticisms on Erasmus ; cf. Ep. 1026. 6. aculeatius] Erasmus had already
i^n. made this criticism to Fisher Ep. :

5. pi'iore , . . aeditione] Kenouard, 936. 9-18. See also Ep. 1016. 19-20.
Badius, ii. 443-4, shows that there are in ecclesiam Fabri] See if. 50.51
twoisHweHoHFisher^sDevnicaMagdalena. of the Be vmca Magdalena.
22 Feb. 1519 (Ep. 936. 7n) but they ;
In posteriore] See 1. ^n.
are of the same date and identical in 11. De Nouo Testamento] Fisher
matter, witli only tritling diflferences had perhaps expressed a fear that
in arrangement. So that in using Erasmus might already be contem-
j)rior, Erasmus apparently meant to plating a new edition. Cf. Ep. 1056
distinguisli that book from Fisher's lon.
socond reply to Faber, the Confittatio 14. parturicrint] Cf. Hor. A. P. 139.
 1069] 193

1069. To Martin Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 44. (Louvain.)

Horawitz v. 8, <c. 22 February 1520.)

Shortly before Ep. 1070. Precise dates may be conjectured for it appears
I
;

that Erasmus had now seen Lee's book, but had not yet made up his mind to
reply. On 21 Feb. the book had not reached him (Ep. 1068. 16-18) by the end :

of the month the statement that he had replied iu three days (Ep. 1072. 4-5)
was in print.]

D. ERAS. ROTE. D. MARTI. LYPS. BRVX. S.

<M)i Martine, nihil est quod apud me quidem metuas a Leeo, ne

ab N. quidem. Parum niihi tribuis si iudicas plus esse fructus ex
meis scriptis quam ex Leei qui nec omnibus scripsit nec vtilitati
;

publicae, sed suae gloriae. Nec spectabis, opinor, Erasmum cum

Leeo congredientem : non deerunt alii qui cum illo congrediantur. ,

Bene vale.

1070. To Martin Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 45 (a). <Louvain.)
F. p. 596: HN : Lond. xvi. 9: LB. 485. (c. February 13^^-}

[This letter may be dated near Epp. 1079, 1081, in which there is mention of
Charles' expected return from Spain also not long after the appearance of Lee'3
:

Annotationes (p. 109J. It may be conjectured that Erasmus, WiUiting a change,

was preparing togo and stay with Gilles at Antwerp (ef. Ep. 1077. 17-20), and
that while there, he gave the Apologia qua respondet to Hillen to print (p. no).]

eras. marti. lyps. brvx., canonico apvd martinenses

LOVANII, S. D.

NoN queror quod mihi parum tribuas sed lioc nomine parum ;

tribuis, quod Leeicis annotationibus meas praefers: quasi vero ille

scripserit annotationes. De Lutero mouent stultam ac perniciosam
tragoediam. Id postea sentient, non quod Lutero, sed quod Chri-
stianae faueam tranquillitati. Vtcunque scripsit Lutherus, certe hic ;

tumultus nulli cordato placet. Sortem tuam merito ferres grauiter,

nisi cuique mortalium vbique satis esset quod ferat. Commode

1070. TiT. LYPS. o»i. F. CANONico . . .LoVANii adJ. F om. H. : 1. F : qm^iur

a. a. Leicis F. quasi ... 3. annotationes add.F. 5. Vtcunque
... 6. placet add. F.

1069. 2. N.] Perhaps Egmondanus 6 Sortem tuam] It appears that

«ee Ep. 878. i3n. Lypsius was dissatisfied with his posi-
5. non dcerunt alii] Cf. Ep. 998. 66n. tion at Val St. Martin, and wished to
1070. I. parum tribuas] Cf. Ep. change to another house cf. Ep. 1075 :

1069. 2. introd.
 194 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [i5i§

ferendo facillime lenies necessitatem, quae vitari non potest: nam

seruitutem mutare, fortasse duriore, non est consilii.
lo Non desero vos, sed fatigatus studiorum immodicis laboribus ob-
ambulabo, at non procul a Louanio, ne me conficiat quadragesima.
Spero Regis aduentum his pudendis tumultibus finem impositunira.
Roga nostrum Lutzenburgum vt cras ad prandium veniat familiariter,
et tu vna cum illo, si possis : nam velle sat scio. Bene vale, charis-
15 sime Martine. E museo nostro. Anno m.d.xix.

1071. TO NlCHOLAR OF LUXEMBURG.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 45. (Louvain.)

Horawitz v. 9, {February 1520?)

[Lypsius' letter-book does not seem to be arranged chronologically ; and thus

affords no indication of date. The letter may be placed at this point for no
other reason than to bring it into connexion with Ep. 1070 which mentions ;

—
a similar occasion the only other trace that I can find of Nicholas of Luxem-
burg. The Cardinal in question is perhaps Croy (Ep. 647 introd.) for whose :

communications with, if not presence at, Louvain about this time see de Jongh
pp. 19*, 20*. Cf. also Ep. 1082. 57.]

DES. EEAS. ROTE.NICOLAO LVTZENBVRGO, MARTINENSIVM

SCHOLASTICORVM PRAECEPTORI VIGILANTISSIMO.
<H)vMANissiME Nicolae, num erat tibi aditus ad me aperiendus
misso vino ? Tuus conspectus fuisset multo gratior nam vini nobis ;

est afFatim. Rogarem te cras ad prandium, sed liodie promisi Cardi-

nali. Si voles coenare, venies gratus conuiua. Si mauis colloqui
5 tantum, fac hodie te videamus. Bene vale.

1072. To THE Reader.

Apologia cle In principio erat sermo. (Louvain.)

(February fin. 1520.)

[Erasmus had becn attacked for his altcration of verbum (John i. i) into scrmo
in the second edition of the New Testament (cf. Ep. 384. 46^) by Standish :

(Ep. 608. i4n'i in London, and Egmondanus (Ep. 878. 13^) in Brussels. He
defended himself with an Apologia palam re/ellens quorundam seditiosos clamores apud
populum ac magnates, quibus vt impie fadum iactifant, quod in Euangelio loannis verterii,
Jn principio erat sermo, Louvain, Th. Martens, Feb. 1520. Of this the only copy as
yet known is in the Royal Library at the Hague but in the library
; of Queen's
College, Oxford, is a contemporary reprint, s. o. et l.
The date of this preface can be fixed very closely siuce on 21 Feb. Erasmus ;

had not seen Lee's book (Ep. 1068. 14-18), and by the end of the month this
Apologia was out.
The first draft of it was short, filling only a few qiiarto pages. But later on,

3070. II. at a: verum F. 15. E museo . . . m.d.xix add. F.

1070. 10. studiorum] Cf. Ep. 1066.50. 1520.

II. quadragesima] 22 Feb -
7 April 13. Lutzenburgum] See Ep. 1071.
1072] TO THE KEADER 195

in connexion with Froben's edition of Eev., Aug. 1520 p. 2io\ which was
attached to the Eesponsiones against Lee, May 1520 (Ep. iioo\ Erasinus con-
siderably enlarged the Apolofjia at tlie same time altering the title slightly and
;

withdrawing this preface.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS LECTORI S.

Prodiit repente liber Eduardi Lei. Qualis sit, ipse, quando in me

scriptus est, nihil pronuncio prudens lector ex re iudicabit. Illud
:

interim ab omnibus impetratum velim, vt tantisper suspendant sen-

tentiam donec mea prodeat responsio. Apologiis illius hoc triduo
respondi rem difficillimam conatus, vt conuiciis absque conuicio
; 5
responderem. Nunc ad Annotationes illius accingor. Ei rei dabun-
tur dies decem ad summum, cum ille plusquam biennium insumpserit
licet olim patrono plures soleant infundi clepsydrae quam actori.
Vale, lector, et alteram aurem mihi seruato integram.

1060]^ 073. From William Budaeus.

Epistolae Budaei, 1520, f. 128 v° (n). Marly.
F. IX 215*: HN: Lond. iii. 71 : LB. 390. 26 February (1520).
Budaei Epistolae, 1531. f. 63 v° (,ti).

[Like Epp. 101 1. 1015 this is printed first by Budaeus. Here too it is notiee-
able that F adheres closely to the text of a. For /3 see Ep. 403 introd. Erasmus'
servant, who carried this letter back (see Ep. 1066 introd.), had not reached
Louvain by 7 March when Vives wrote to Budaeus,. Erasmus resalutat te ;
:
'

non scribit, quoniam tuae nunc sunt scribendi vices' Goldast, Pinl. ep. ceniHria,
1610, p. 222}.]

GVLIELMVS BVDAEVS ERASMO S.

Heki circiter tertiam vigiliam noctis venerunt huc Germani duo,

literasque tuas mihi reddiderunt ad lectum iamiam ituro. Lucubra-
ueram ad horam vsque nonam, quod ieiuniis tantum soleo : nam
post cibum nihil lego, nisi summa coactus necessitate. Nec tamen
statam horam dormiendi habeo quare matutino saepe obdormisco, :

vt qui annis iam quatuordecim noctes treis, vt opinor, vacuas capitis

dolore non habuerim, tantum abest vt summo illo bono fruar voluptua-

1073. I. tertiam a : secundam /8. 5. statam a : statim 13. 7. a;3 :

voluptariorum H.

1072. 4. Apologiis] Ep. 1061, towhicli Germani]I cannot identify.

Erasmus replied witli the Apologia qua 3. ieiuniis] Lent began on 22 Feb.
respondet: see p. iio. 6. capitis dolore] For this illness,
7. dies decem] The Responsiones to from which Budaeus sufifered for many
Lee's notes cost Erasmus much longer years, see L. Delaruelle, Bnde, pp. 84,
thanthis: sce p. iio. 85; also BE.* i, 2,52 and Ep. 435. 123-6.
1073. I. tertiam vigiliam] Thislasted In BE.* in M. Delaruelle points out
from midnight to the middle point tliat Budaeus' calculations about this
between thenand sunrise. The mean- often vary for example, in BE.* 52,
:

ing here is probably about midnight '.

'
written three weeks earlier than this
The variant in is perhaps nearcn- to lettor, it is said to have been going on
the facts. for fifteen years.

O 2
 196 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

riorum philosophorum, doloris vacuitate. Mane igitur haec ad te

scripsi, ne tabellarium morarer quando ita orabat me Beraldus, qui :

10 ei comitem cum epistolio dedit.

IIpwTOV fJLki' ovv, oj avepTrpoa<^iXi(TTaT€, TOi? CTrorpavtots ev^^o/JiaL Tracn koI
Trao-ais, oo-t^v eiVotar £;^ajv iyw SiaTeXui o"Oi, Too-ai^Trjv VTrdp^ai p.OL Trapd crov'
Ittci^' oirep icTTL p.dXL(T6' VTrep rnxiov Trj<; tc rj/xiTepa^ evo-e/8eias Te Kal Sdf»;?,
TovTO TrapacTTrjaaL tov 0eov rjpuv. Toiito o eo-Ttv ov fiovov ttjv evvoLav lcrrjv

15 dXAr^Xots ciTroSoCvat, dAAci Kat tt; dfJivrjcrTLCL ttj TeOeLcrr], ws TrporjprjTaL Kal
ftejSovXrjTaL i^/xwv eKaTepo?, ovtojs eva7ro/>teVctv. Kat TavTa yitev ovto) TreTrapoi-
"Eo-tw 8^ 6 d/xvT/OTtas vd/xos TrdvTjf TrdvTCos
hrfcrOoi ev(f)rjfjiLa'i SrjOev eveKa.
Kvpio<;, <i)s 8^ Hac certe lege stare mihi certum
eKKXrf(TL(x TpiTrj KeLfxevo<;.
est tanquam trinundino perlata.
2o Itaque obiectis non respondebo quoniam hanc excetram alia
ratione ineluctabilem esse inter nos'satis conuenit nisi hoc inficiabor,
— —
quod tu de strophologia inquis me non negare. Quem locum epistolae
meae vide etiam atque etiam vt satis intellexeris. Deinde quod
testificaris te nihil vnquam oblocutum, per me licet vt verum sit, nec
25 necesse habeo vicissim itidem contestari: cum id satis superioribus
epistolis actum sit, si semel agi potuit. Quod si qui tuorum mihi
obtrectauerunt, vt eos fecisse literatis testimoniis credidi, non tam
improbus sum vt etiam si id causa tua instituerunt, tu illorum prae-
stare debeas aut stultitiam aut studium inconsultum. Atque vt
.^0 stomachum antehac aloe fortasse immodice temperata perpurgaui,
sic etiam aureis aceto posthac eluere statui, ne quemuis obtrectationis
aut querimoniae nuncium non excussum admittant. Saepe enim in
fraudem nimia simplicitate incidi. Id quod tibi accidisse credo de
epistolis tuis, quas tu maledicas appellas, ego immodice salsas: quae
?,5 tamen a te aceto postea et tunc etiam tinctae, nmltum remiserunt
muriae et salsuginis.
Quod mihi et ingenii et doctrinae palma eedis et laude, non accipio
quod das. Non id agebatur nostra illa controuersia quam ita ipsam :

decisam esse volo, nihil vt inde mihi accessisse videatur, ne non

40 gratuita sit. Et alioqui nunquam ea de re contendere litigiose iu
animum inducam, cuius acerba odiosaque disceptatio est tranquillita-
tisque interpellatrix. ludicium autem fere posthumum esse solet,
duntaxat incori*uptum quanquam satis compertum habeo eam tibi :

suspitionem praecordiis aliquando haesisse, ds ye, w yrf Kal Oeoi, ovk

45 ('')Kv>^o-as etTretv rroTe, " Tt 8^ jiovXrjTaL 6 Bov8atos ', E^cVTr/v tc rfSrf avTw,
Kat v£iv 8rf 7rapa)^u)pw twv TrpcoTctojv twv KaTci Trfv TratSctav. ^Apd ye Kal

15. /3 : TTporipriTai a : vpoflprfTai H. 18. H : (KKX-qaia a. 36. muriiie F

Corrig.: iniuriae a. 45. 0ov\riTai a N^ : fiovKeTai N- 0. e^iaTiv 0. 46:
ay3 : iTpoT('i(x}i' F.

12. ewoiai/] In letters of this time faciendo '.

to Vivo.sBudaeus writes with great 22. inquis] Ep. 1066. 38-9.
admiration of Erasmus BE.^ff. 26v°, : 24. testificaris] Ep. 1066. 40 seq.
83 = BE * 51, 66. 31. aureis] i.e. aures.
trinundino] Cf. Rutil. ap. Macr.
19. 34. nialedicas] Ep. 1066. i.
.S. 34 quae trinundino die pro-
I. 16. '
36. muriae] Cf. Hor. S. 2. 8. 53.
posita, a singulis atque vniuersis facile 37. cedis] Ep. 1066. 19-20.
noscebantur on three markct-days.
'
: 45. tlnfTv ttotc'] I do not know where :

20. alia ratione] A noto is addod presumably in writing to one of

in j3 sc.
: quam finem rescribendi
' Budaeus' friends.
10 73] FROM WILLIAM BUDAEUS 197

Trapacnrelv ot ovtosi/jie a^ioi " Egon' 60 insolentiae venerim vt aliquid

;

eiuscemodi animo agitauerim ? egone, si antistiti quidera tuo esse

mihi contigisset fortunarumque auctori ? Tu ista inconsulte rumi-
gerulis credidisti. Quibus iam certe suspitiunculis abstergendos 50
vtrinque animos nobis esse censeo.
Verum mira sunt illa quae scribis de illis eruditionis ingenuae
hostibus. Profecto tui me iam coepit miserescere, cui in eam arenam
descendere nunc necesse sit, aut patrocinium deserendum instituti
honestissimi vltimaeque voluntatis illius antistitis, qui legatum me- 55
morabile vberrimumque reliquit ad studia alenda hominum ingenio
praeditorum. Hic aequioribus omnino vtimur sacrae philosophiae
defensoribus. Quare si istinc paululum concederes, vt statuisse te
rumor tuarum rerum iactura istiusque prouinciae commodorum
est,
ingens, vt opinor, compendium laboris molestiaeque factitares. Hac 60
in vrbe omnino, si non ample, certe honorifice et commode cum viris
existimatissimis agitur primariaeque commendationis in literarum
lautiorum professione.
Tu rationum tuarum summam melius nouisti, quas etiam, vt
arbitror, cum amicis iuratioribus subducis ego cum scribendi argu- 65
:

mentum requirerem, haec epistolae addidi. Nam de aulica expe-

ditione mea non est quod fabulam mox a me expectes nunc etiam :

in seriis occupatus, huiuscemodi nugis non vacas, et me hilaritas

cum ocio deficit. Nam his diebus literas Eoma, Venetiis, ex aula
aliundeque simul accepi quibus cum respondere coepissem, tuae 70
:

superuenerunt. Est et alia commentatio, quae sibi quadragenarii

ieiuniimagnam partem vendicabit, si auspicari vacabit. Huc tan-
quam in securitatis domicilium me transtuleram sed curae et nego- ;

cia vmbra sequaciora me comitantur quoquo gentium locorumque.

Haec ad te tantum scribere Hcuit ante sacrum matutinum, quoniam
dies festus erat. Vale. Ex Marliano nostro, Quinto Calend. Martias.
Viuem tuum verbis raeis salutabis, cui non fuit ocium vt scriberem ;
et alioqui nihil erat quod scriberem, nisi si mactum esse iuberera ea
ingenii industriaeque claritate quam tu testificare. Scripsi ei ad
Calend. Februarias, aut postridie Calend. "Eppwcro, oj iTravopOwTo. Kal 80
apfjMCTTa. Tu>v KoAwv <TvyypafJ.fJidT(i}v, Kal btaTcAet touto ttolwv Kai evTV)(wv.

52. scribis] Ep. 1066. 63, 88-90. identifies this composition, which is
55. antistitis] Jerome Busleiden. .illuded to also in BE.* 43, 48, 50, 60, 61,
58. istinc] For Erasmus' thoughts of 62, 82, 83, with Budaeus' Be contemptic
leaving Louvain see Epp. 1078. 63^, rerum Jhrtuitarum, which was printed
1079. 8n. by Badius, s.a. ; but with the mark
69. literas] On 21 Feb. Budaeus had which is first found in July 1520
received a packet containing lettcrs (Renouard, BacZms, i, p. 44), and there-
from Sadoleto at Rome, from Bembo fore presumably about that time. Cf.
and Longolius at Venice, and from Ep. 1184.
Eicholtz (Ep. 866) at Cologne ; which quadragenarii] Cf. Ep. 1070. iin.
he answered 22-24 Feb. with BE.* 55-8. 76. dies festus] 26 Feb. 1520 was tlie
See also BE.* 54, 59, 60. first Sunday in Lent.
71. commentatio] M. Dehxruelle 80. posti-idie Calend.] BE.* 52.
 198 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

1074. To WoLFGANG Fabkicius Capito.

Basle MS. Ki. Ai-. 25 a 99. (Louvain.)
Hess ii. 545. (February fin. 1520.)

[An original letter, among the Churcli Archive.s at Basle,

(,'apito'.s paper.s iii

now in the Univeraity Library: autograph throughout, and very rapidly written.
It fills eompletely two folios of thin writing paper a tliird, or perhaps more,
;

with tlie signature and address have been lost.

An approximate date can be assigned for Erasmus evidently is writing just
:

after the appearance of Lee's book, which he had not seen byai Feb. fEp. 1068),
but which must have reached Louvain by the end of tbe month (cf. Epp. 1037
introd., 1069, 1072). Capito's reply is perhaps Ep. 1083, rather than his letter
of c. 14 March (Ep. 1083. i) : for the passages which he cites from Erasmus in
Ep. 1083, may qiiite well have been on the missing page of this letter.
For a letter of Erasmus to Capito in the autumn of 1519 see Ep. 1029. ign.l

Tandem erupit Britannica vipera. Prodiit Eduardus Leus, laudate

insule dedecus eternum. lam sesquiannus est quod iaetauit suas
*
sacras Annotationes '. Totus orbis expectabat rem eruditam. Et
ecce prodit libellus vndique scatens, imo insaniens, rixis et conuiciis
5 muliebribus que si detrahas operi, dii boni, quam nihil est, quam
:

friget id quod superest! Describerem tibi portentum, sed iliud

vereor, ne postei-itas creditura non sit talem bestiam humana spetie
natam fuisse vnquam. Nulla meretrix irapudentior, nullus leno in
mentiendo perditior. Contemnit et suam et alienam conscientiam.
10 Atque hic tantum dicas illi esse ingenium et tamen non tantum ;

habet ingenii vt niendacia sua connectat. Totus pugnat secum, in-

sanit in gioriolas, atque has venatur miseris modis. Vult videri
theologus, vult videri trium linguarum peritus, vult videri religio-
sulus, et ob id versatur apud Cartusienses, apud Minoritas, apud
15 alios probate religionis monachos. Donat nonnunquam aliquid,
emens etiam quod gratis oblatum debebat recusari.
Is cum male sensisset de Erasmo, antequam vidisset Erasnium,
iam tunc inuidens illius apud suos giorie nam antequam vidisset —
Nouum Testamentum aut Grece sciret, dixit cuidam se non dubitare
20 quin in multis posset carpere Nouum Testamentum Erasmi commi- — ,

grauit Louanium. Eodem cum venisset et Erasmus, insinuauit se in

illius familiaritatem. Ille, vt est facillimis moribus, oblitus veteris
obtrectationis, recepit hominem in familiarem consuetudinem. Cepe-
rat tunc diseere rudimenta Greee lingue, iam tum parans se ad desti-
35 natum calumniandi negocium. Qua in re Erasmus illi fuit auxilio,
nihil etiam suspicans mali. Aliquanto post admissus vsque ad secreta
cubiculi, videt illum adornare posteriorem editionem Noui Testa-
menti. lam enim opus erat propemodura absolutum priusquam Leo
ostenderet.
30 Leus timens ne non caperet gloriolam quam venabatur fucus ex

1. laudate insule] This eulogistic Enghmd.

doscription may be contrasted with 21. Erasmus] In July 1517.
Ep. 899. 14, 15. 22. veteri.s] Evidently, before meet-
2. sesquiannus] An undor-estimate: iug Lee, Erasmus had alrcady lioard of
see p. 109, and cf. Ep. 998. 54. hi.s hostility.
20. commigrauit] Probably from 24. Grece] Cf, Ep. 607. 15.
I074] TO WOLFGANG FABRICIUS CAPITO 199

alieno opere, incipit et ipse legere Nouum Testamentum prioris

editionis ; iam enim propemodum didicerat legere Grece. Aliquanto
post fretus Erasmi candore fatetur se quoque nonnulla annotasse.
Erasmus rogat vt communicet. Mittit dimidiatam pagellam, nec
addit alteram nisi illa remissa. Mittit autem diuerso ordine, nunc 35
ex Mattheo, nunc Marco, nunc ex Epistolis Pauli fortasse timens ne ;

describeret. Vbi vidit Erasmum non magni

facere —nam ipse iam
totum opus semel atque iterum recognouerat, ac fere omnia mutarat
que deprehendit Leus nam ex illius annotationibus vix due aut tres
;

profuerunt, et hactenus duntaxat profuerunt vt locum diligentius 40

relegeret conferretque —
deinde male habuit hominem gloriosulum
,

quod Erasmus illi non per omnia assentiretur, cepitque suos vene-
natos aculeos paulatim aspergere. Vbi Erasmus asscripsisset illius
chartis Memento quod hominem mones, sed homo ', offensus stul-
'

tulus desiit mittere. Erasmus ea re neglecta, imo propemodum 45

—
gaudens quod esset ab illo liberatus nam olfecerat fucum illum in-
sidiari sue glorie, nec illa que scribebat scribere sibi, ni dimidium
totius operis illi furcifero cederet —
repetit Basileam, ab(s)oluit opus.
Vix abfuerat triduum, Leus spargit per Angliam, per Louanium, quo
non?, se habere trecenta loca nota(ta) aduersus Erasmum. Applau- 50
dunt Angli quidam. Erasmus reuersus, vbi rem cognouit, expostulat
cum homine. Respondet ille meracissimas nugas, quemadmodum
potes ex ipsius epistola coniicere.
Tandem Leus prouocat ad iudicem Atensem. Atensis, vbi sensit
ingenium hominis videtque rem exituram in tragoediam, recusat 55
arbitrium. Interim Leus minatur editionem operis, nec facit copiam
Erasmo, imo nec voce voluit vnquam proferre vel vnicam annota-
tiunculam, sepe ab illo prouocatus. Interim nusquam non iactitat
suum librum suasque ' sacras Annotationes sic enim ait vocatas
' :

a quodam Abbate. Scribit sexcentas epistolas mendaciis differtas, 60

que non minus habet in promptu quam aranea filum. Nusquam
non spargit virus in Erasmum ; nihil enim illa lingua pestilentius.
Curat describenda exemplaria. Ea circumfert per monasteria, per
cubicula, nulli non osteutans quem putaret parum amicum Erasmo.
Mittit in Angliam sed mire interim cauens ne possit in meas manus
; 65
venire. In hoc erat totus.
Tandem docti quidam amici videre librum apud Anglos. Nulli
non displicuit, vel quod virulentus, vel quod ineptus et indoctus.
Scribunt acerrime ad iUum tei-ritant minis, vt premat insulsum
;

opus toti Britannie dedecori futurum. lubent vt cum Erasmo redeat 70

in gratiam. Venit huc Ricardus Paceus, tum orator Regis Anglorum
apud Electores imperiales. Is presens tum egit quod ante per litteras
egerat. Agitur de pace, his legibus vt Leus premeret librum, cum

49. tridu /uu MS.

44. sed homo] Cf. Apcjl. qua respondef, of only oiie remembering perhaps at
:

i".A*, Jortin ii. 498 ; and Ep. 1039. ^^3- intervals that the hitter was a Prior.
48. repetit Basileam] In May 1518. 67. apud Anglos] Cf. Ep. 1026. i^n.
51. reuersus] In Sept. 15 18. 71. Paccus] In July 1519 cf. Ep.
;

53. epistola] Ep. 1061. icx>r.53^.

60. Al)bate] Either Winchcombe or 72. presens] Pace, writing to Lee. 21
Southwurk (Ep. 1061. 150, i^ann) cf. ; March (1520), describes this interview:
Epp. 1097.23, 1113. 7. In Epp. 1126. Eev. pp. 86-7.
11-12, 1139.95, ashere,Erasmu8 speaks 73. his legibus] Cf. Ep. 1090.8.
 200 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Erasmus maxime cuperet edi. Tandem cum non esse(t) finis iactandi
75 atque obtrectandi, Erasmus prouocat eum ad operis editionem. Ille
fingit se velle edere, cum tamen non haberet in animo. Nam conscius
sibi volebat frui hac vsura glorie, vt vide(re)tur opus premere in
gratiam Erasmi et amicorum communium, et interim orbis suspensus
expectaret ex montibus parturientibus proditurum ridiculum murem.
80 Mox conuicio cuiusdam acerbiore prouocatus coepit insanire, pre-
sertim addentibus animos Anglis quibusdam ac fratribus haud sane
in rem ipsius instigantibus hominem. Antwerpie non ausus est
edere, timens ne responsio prius esset parata quam ipsius opus abso-
lutum. Hic vide prestigium hominis. Spargit de industria rumorem
85 opus excudi Bonnae vltra Coloniam. Eo mittit Erasmus et sumptu
sex florenorum discit esse somnium. Id finxerat vt auocaret eum
a suspicione et interea liber excudebatur apud Gourmontium, quo
;

fratrem suum emiserat. Tandem prodiit opus declarans quale sit

portentum et tamen miser, cum natus sit ad maledicendum, in
;

90 nouis Annotationibus et in posteriore Apologia rhetoreulum vnum

atque alterum conduxit, et tamen ipse sibi vindicat [sibij nitorem
quendam ac mundiciem, vt vocat, Erasmicam. Gloriosulus nebulo !

lam mihi vide quot techn(is) conatur ahquid laudis ad se pelli-

cere !Mendacium mendacio ceu linum lino connectit. Aduersus
95 su(i) ipsius et multorum conscientiam mentitur, Erasmum non sus-
cepturum fuisse castigationem Noui Testam(enti) nisi hic fatuelus
monuisset cum ille id poUicitus esset etiam in priore editione, et
;

statim reuersus a Basilea post primum editum opus id ageret toto

studio, primum Antwerpie, mox Bruxelle, deinde Brugis multis
100 testibus, antequam Leum vnquam vidisset. Nec pudet homuncionem
quauis muliere vaniorem ob suas gloriolas tam impudenter mentiri.
Audet dicere quod Erasmus habuerit totum opus iilius, anteaquam
iret Basileam iterum editurus ; cum Erasmus nunquam sciret esse
descriptum ab eo a quo fingit illi factam copiam, nisi nuper ex ipso
105 Leo, cum iam Lei opus esset in manibus typographi. Nec metuit
conscientiam illius qui opus hoc primus omnium descripsit quem ;

proditorem vocat quod Erasmo vnum aut alterum ipsius ad se episto-

lium ostenderit. Affingit impudens Erasmum quibusdam Anglis
ostendisse librum Lei in cubiculo suo. O perfrictam et plusquam
iio meretriciam frontem Sensit Erasmum omnibus viis venari librum,
!

et ille e diuerso totus erat in celando, et tamen mentitur opus apud

illum fuisse. Nunc quicquid recte mutatum est, hoc fingit ipso
monitore mutatum. Mira autem inconstantia in mentiendo Nunc !

scribit ideo se nolle communicare suum librum Erasmo, ne ille

115 ederet incastigatum, nunc ait illi semper fuisse exemplar. Nunc
optat illi longeuam vitam, vt possit prodesse Ecclesiae, nunc ait illius

91. sibi seposui, in initio versiis. 93. teclinis, etc. His tribtis versihus desunt
fines, charta lacerata. 106. quem ... iio. frontem add. Erasmus postea in margine.

79. montibus] Cf. Hor. A. P. 139. Bruxelle] Oct. 1516 to Feb. 1517.
85. Bonnae] Cf. Ep. 1053. i22n. Brugis] In June 1517; cf. Epp. 596
88. fratrem] See Ep. 1053. i3on. introd., 597. i6n.
90. Apologia] Ep. 1061. 103. Basilcam] In May 1518,
97. pollicitus] Cf. Ep. 1006. 2o8n. 107. proditorem] Lypsius : cf. Ep.
99. Antwerpie] In 1516-17. 1061. 403^.
I074] TO WOLFGANG FABRICIUS CAPITO 201

libros esse pestem Ecclesie. Negat se sparsisse rumorem de libro, et

tamen fatetur sexies fuisse descriptum Louanii. Fatetur in Anglia
lectum a multis. Fingit se dixisse quod non dixit. Negat se dixisse
quod dixit. 120
Idem facit de Erasmo. mira impudentia
Mira facilitas, Promi- !

serat trecentas annotationes, profert sexcenta conuicia. In re friget

et ineptus est, in maledictis feruet, imo furit, nec vnquam satisfacit
animo suo rabiosulo. Et tamen hic ipse liber non est totus illius
Marte conscriptus. In postrema inuectiua adhibuit conductum rhe- 12.:;

torculum, item in nouis Annotationibus nam que ipsius sunt, satis

;

se produnt elegantia Leica et frigore. Subest venenum, sed promere

non potest nisi aliena lingua. Et postea iactat se triobolaris nebulo,
quasi mundus sit crediturus hominem loqui. Tanta cum autoritate
monet, tanto supercilio censet, tanta austeritate verberat. Ita se 130
venditat cornicula phimis alienis, ita fingit omnium leuissimus histrio.
Nec cogitat quanto cum risu lecturi sunt hec Angli docti grauesque,
qui norunt homuncionis ingenium, qui norunt Erasmum quam sit
alienus a fucis, quam non soleat se vestire plumis alienis, imo potius
suis alios conuestire. Nullus Orestes scribere posset insanius ; et 135
tamen gaudet stultuhis ille quod vtcunque sibi famam nactus est.
Ignosci poterat quod percitus immodica ira effutiuit. . . .

1075. To Paul Volz.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 499. (Louvain.)
HN : Lond. xii. 33 : LB. 490. <c. March) 15!^.

[An approximate montb-date may be assigned from the refereuce in 1. lo to

"Ep. 1067, which must bave reacbed Erasmus in Marcb so that tbe year-date
:

added in H can be accommodated.

It appears tbat Volz -vvas wisbing to leave bis monastery, perhaps for some
sucb retirement as Cbristopher of Utenbeim had formerly contemplated (cf. Ep.
598 introd.) see also Ep. 1070. 6n. Or he may ah"eady have been drawing
:

towards tbe Reformers, with wbom be later tbrew in his lot : see Ep. 368
inti-od.]

ERASMVS ROT. INTEGERRIMO ABBATI PAVLO VOLTZIO S. D.

DiFFiciLE mihi sit tibi dare consilium in ea re in qua nescio qua

parte pedem tuum torqueat calceus. Si quod vitae genus nosti quod
eam praebeat tranquillitatem quam animus tuus, vt auguror, huma-
norum tumultuum pertesus suspirat, indica mihi, iungam me tibi.
lamdudum enim satur sum omnium, quae video geii veluti fato
quodam. Sed vereor ne in omne vitae genus sequantur nos mo-
lestiae. Quare si durare potes in isto vitae genere, malim te
tranquillitatem istam ab animo petere potius quam aliunde. Si non
potes, precor vt Christus Opt. Max. velit esse faustum ac felix

1075. TIT. INTEGEBRIMO ABBATI OW. H.

1074. 125. postrtma inuectiua] Ep. longing for retirement is expressed in

1061 : cf. L 90 supra. two letters of tbis period to Oecolampa-
1076. 4. iungam me tibi] similar A dius, Epp. 1102, 1158.
 202 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [isif

lo quicquid agis. Molitur et Oecolanipadius fugam. Et Vuinphelingus

portum suum spectat, vt scribit. Ego solus relinquor in his fluctibus.
Ooletus praecessit.
Christus addidit mihi Satanam eximium, qui rebus omnibus
omissis totus in hoc est, vt orbem in me concitet, natus ad sedi-
15 tionem. Et taraen mihi interim laborandum est ne vapulet. Mi
Volzi, nunquam eram crediturus tantum veneni esse in pectoribus
humanis. Et tamen sacrificat frequenter. Minatur exitium omnibua
qui audeant bene loqui de Erasmo etiamsi de ipso nihil loquantur
;

mali. Bene vale, R. P. et amice in Christo charissime. Anno m.d.xix.

1076. To Henry Gruntgen.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 538. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xiv. 9: LB. 497. 7 March 1520.

[I cannot confirm the year-date ; but as this is in the new portion of F, either
1520 or 153 1 is probable.
H. Gnintgen (f 20 Nov. 1547) of Calcar was Dean of Emmerich about 32 years ;
his predecessor having died 6 Oct. 1515 (van Heussen i. 286). He appears to
have suggested some correction in one of the historical works edited by Erasmus,
perhaps Suetonius and the Eist. Aug. Scripfores (Ep. 586) or Curtius (Ep. 704).
I cannot find any correction ascribed to him iu the later edition of Suetonius :

of Curtius there is no second issue by Erasmus.

A copy of Torquemada's Summa de Ecdesia, Rome, E. Silber, 27 A.pril 1489,
presented by Gruingius, while Dean, to the Observant Franciscans without the
walls of Emmericli, is in the Bodleian.]

ERASMVS D. HENRICO GRVINGIO, DECANO EMBRICENSI, S..D.

Brevis epistola tua paucis me non pauca docuit in primis virum :

esse te melioris literaturae non vulgariter peritum, deinde singulari

modestia atque humanitate praeditum, postremo bene volentem
Erasmo, quem admoneas tam amice, neque male de ipso sentientem,
5 qui tani simpliciter admoneas nirairum intelligens eura multum
;

abesse ab ingenio vulgarium horainum, quos oifendere solet officium,

quo vix aliud praestari potest araicius. Quare posthac nomen tuum
raihi scribetur inter selectos amicos.
De loco mutato plane tuae subscribo sententiae, et prirao quoque
10 terapore sartietur, non sine honorifica tui raentione. Res agebatur
turaultu. Nec vacabat in tara vasto mari historiarum excutere
singula. Debeo tibi, vir optirae ; plus etiara debiturus, si quod facis,
facias frequenter. Bene vale.
Louanii Nonis Martiis. Anno M.D.xx.

1075. 16. Voltzi Lond. 19. R. P. i^ : pater H. Anno m.d.xix add. H.

1076. TiT.D.F: EOTERODAMVS i7. II. tumultu F : per tumultum i7.

1075. 10. Oecolampadius] This infor- 15. no vapulot] For Erasmus' attempts
mation had probably beencommunica- to restrain his friends at first see Ep.
ted in a reply to Ep. 1064 cf. Ep. 1139.
; 993. 52n.
112-13. For his flight from the world 1076. i. epistola] Not extant.
see Ep. 1095. i73n. 6. officium] For Erasmus' readiness
Vuinpheliiigus] Ep. 1067. 5. to welcomc friondly criticism .see Epp.
12. Coletus] -f 16 Sept. 1519. 180. 12-17, 182.55-61, 1140. 7-8 and ;

13. Satanam] Lee. cf. Ep. io6r. 712-14.

I077] 203

1077. From Paschasius Berselius.

Breslau MS, Rehd. 254. 26. Louvain.
EE.* 3. 8 March (1520).

[An original letter, autograi)li througliout, but without year-date evidently :

1520, for Lee's book has appeared. and Erasmus' replies are expected ; cf. Ep.
1037 introd. His visit to Antwerp was no doubt in connexion with these, for
he corrected all the proofs himself (i, p. 22. 22). For Berselius see Ep. 674
introd.
From comparison with Ep. 1076 Erasmus' departure to Antwerp may be dated
7 or 8 March : his return to Louvain was between 15 and 19 March (Epp. 1081,
1085).]

I). ERASMO SVVS BERSELIVS SALVTEM.

Est hic epistola in Leum studiosis missa ex Gandauo. Curaui dili-
genter Theodrici formis excuderetur. Eam legunt multi magna cum
voluptate. Affiximus in Lei dedecus phisquam decem locis. Ea
mellis loco omnibus habetur, Leo et caudatis suis visa est pus atque
venenum. Tragediam audies breui non illepidam. Tu interim quod 5

facis, facias diligenter. Omnes responsionem tuam expectamus.

Theodrici praela conquiescunt faceres illi rem gratam, si tuis
;

Apologiis strepere illa iuberes. Dabis illas huic puero, si videatur

commodum absoluentur paucis diebus. Nihil enim magis Theodri-
;

cus desyderat aut cupit quam aliquid excudere quo Leus inuidia vel lo
furore potius contabescat et rumpatur. Tu bene vale, mi Erasme, et
si quid me facere voles, fac sciam. Curabo id probe et diligenter.
Da veniam quoque quod tam neggligenter scripserim tam non
neggh'gendo domino et patrono meo obseruandissimo. Iterum atque
iterum vale. ^5
Louanii. viii idus martias.
Si non est tibi molestum, dic Petro Egidio meis verbis salutem
non vulgarem.
Domino Erasmo Roterodamo, viro vndecunque doctissimo.
Antuerpiae. 20

1078. From Hermann, Count of Neuenahr.

Epistolae eruditorum virorum p. 27 (a). Cologne.
Jortin ii, 372. 14 March 1520.

[The first letter in Eev ; see p. 210. The year-dtitc needs no confirmation.]

1. epistola in Leum] This ephemcral which Lco compLnins in Ep. ro6r. 505-
coniposition, probably because printed 6. In the preceding year an offensive
by Martens, was not included in Eae paper had been fastened up on Lee's
or Eev, and seems to have perished. door cf. Apologia qua respondef, f. B^,
;

It was perhaps the work of Ant. Clava Jortin ii. 502.

or Robt. de Keysere. 4. caudatis] Cf. Ep. 1061. 35on.
2. Theodrici] Martens. pus] Cf. Hor. -S. i. 7. i.
3. AfBximusJ Probably on the church 6. responsionem] The Apologia qua
doors, as on the previous occasion of respondet : see p. 1 10.
 204 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1520

DOCTISSIMO EKASMO KOTERODAMO THEOLOGO HERMANNVS

NVENARIVS COMES S. D.

Prodiit tandem laruatus iste Leus, non leo, sed asinus ille
Cumanus, cuius rugitus toto biennio studiosis hominibus magnum
minabatur periculum. Sed nunc demum minus nobis incussit
terroris illius ferox conspectus quam qui de illo sonitus ferebatur.
5 "^O yap Aeros ovtos, ov 77/x.ets ws ayptov re koI /AtiAa Ov/xoXeov^^Tay k<^o^iq(Tafx.ev,
ovh' 6vv)^a<i ouSe KpaTos e;(et, /xovov 8e Kai tw (rT6fj,aTL afjLeTpLO^ wv, avaOXo^
Ktti TTttw yeXoros 7r/3os T^i/ p.axV^ Adnota-
elaeTrrjSrjo-ev. Haec sunt illae
tiones coelum atque terram, si diis placet, obturbaturae ? hic ille
triumphus de quo tantam tragoediam praeluserunt apud nos atrati
loquidam? Quod si sic triumphatur Leo ac suis plausoribus, nihil
aliud his optamus quam perpetuo vt agant triumphos.
Cum primum huc perlata sunt exemplaria Leicarum Adnotationum,
coepimus conferre loca Gerardus noster et ego, anxii interim ne id
esset Leus quod dicebatur. Sed vidimus statim rem in tuto esse :

15 nihil enim nisi meram inuidiam et odii fraterni seminaria continet

haec seditiosa charta. Caecus ira odioque non intelligit quid loqua-
tur, sed fundit sine mente sonum. Apologiam illius ideo nolui
perlegere, quod videbatur mihi Christianas aures ferre vix posse tam
contentiosam obiurgationem, quae parum contineret eruditionis,
20 multo minus vtilitatis, prorsus vero nihil charitatis. Nunquam mihi
sic displicuerunt sophistica haec ingenia, etsi displicuerint semper illa,
quod ad excitandas in i-eligione Chi'istiana turbas seditionesque et ad
publicam pacem peruertendam nata. Si hoc est sacras profiteri literas,
quem non pudeat Christianum dici ? Si his artibus ornatur theologiae
25 studium, quid non esse malim quam theologus? Est enim temperantiae
quaedam ratio, quam ne vulgus quidem mortalium facile transgreditur
sed haec adeo nihil obtinet loci apud quosdam qui se theologiae
ornant eVt^eVo), vt incidere in latrones quam in horum manus
praestare videatur. Expertus haec Capnion uoster vix etiamnum
30 respirat. Hoc ego malum sensi eadem te sors manet, o Erasme. ;

Me nihil aeque pudet quam non tacuisse i'equiro nunc meara ;

modestiam sed quis non aliquando limitem excedat temperantiae,

:

nimirum tantopere prouocatus? Tu vero germanum veri theologi

animum geres, nec acceptam dissimulabis nec agnitam atrocius
35 vlcisceris iniuriam, vt salua tibi maneat theologicae et gi-auitatis et

7. ye\iios a : corr. Jortin.

6. draOXos] Cf. Luc. Culumn. 12. 1529 (Ep. 442 introd.), which speaksof
12. exemplaria] in print perhaps : their working together at Horace. In
about the end of February (see p. 109). 1532, the Count being then dead,
13. Gerardus] Episcopus cf. Ep. Gerardus was a fiscal officer at Treves,
1082. 60) of Enscheringen in Luxem- and married (_Knod p. 672).
burg perhaps the person who matri-
: 17. sine mente sonum] Cf. Verg. .4eH.
culated at Cologne, 27 Oct. 1488. He 10. 640.
matriculated with the Count at Bologna 28. incidere] Cf. Luke 10. 30, 36.
in 1509 as liis 'famulus' (ANGB. p. 30. Hoc ego] For Ct. Hermanu's part
271), and developed into a confidential in the Eeuchlin controversy see Epp.
secretary and chaplain cf. the ^nnaies
: 808. 5-7, 877. 21-2, 889. 40-42. It
(ed. J. B. Menckenius in Script. rer. bogan with his preface contributed to
German. ii, 1728, p. 602' of Spalatinus, the Defensio Eeuchlini (Epp. 680. 26n,
who met him at Cologne on 28 Sept. 919. 5on).
1520 and the Counfs preface of Dec.
; eadem te sors] Cf. Ep. ico6. 153^.
1078] FEOM HERMANN, COUNT OF NEUENAHR 205

modestiae palma. Neque quid egerit ille curandum tibi est, sed quod
te deceat, quod bona studia promoueat, quod nos ornet.
Haec, cum mihi monitor esses nuper, tu ipse sentiebas, et erat
sane digna te sententia, qua meae modestiae consultum cupiebas:
nunc inuicem moneri a me, et quidem tuis verbis, non feres grauate, 40
KULTOL 7rp€o-/3uT7;s vTTo viov. Augcbit fiduciam atque spem .x. Leonis
Pont. patrocinium, sub quo quantum incrementi bona studia cepeiint,
nemo tam stupidus est qui non intelligat. Porro pro Caesare Maxi-
miliano ortum est nobis sydus Carolinum, in quo paternus et auitus
adhuc splendor relucet, imo, si dicere licet, in quo parentum radii 45
velut in sole quodam luculentissimo deficiunt. De Germanis nostris
polliceor tibi faustissima, tot habet haec natio principes, satrapas,
ciues plebeios in bonis artibus versatos et candidos vt alia nulla.
Pauci adhuc restant tttcdxoi koXoloI kol /xeXaves avSpes illa filix nullo ;

mansuescit aratro. Sunt qui putent ab iis subornatum esse Leum, 50

quo ad hoc negocium perficiendum velut emissario abuterentur,
interim ipsi in suis culinis satis tuti. Quod hominum genus quo
pacto nobis exemplum patientiae exhibeat Christi, satis exploratum
tibi credo nam et ipsos suis coloribus depinxisti. Leus vero hoc
;

nunc agit quod in apologo, 17 /xkv ovos iv Tots TrL6rjK0L<;. Sed caueat sibi 55
ne reliquum fabellae absohiat priorem enim partem satis infeliciter
;

lusit. Apologiam tuam auide expectamus fac vt exeat breui, et

;

clamosas istas obtere ranas. Qua in re si quid est quod ipse tibi
praestare queam, non deero me semper fidum experieris Achatem.
;

Satis felicem me puto si ab hoc hominum genere persecutiones 60

SUStineam ; yap t^s dxa/ctas (ZKoXou^os TToOC).
€?vat
Aduentum tuum ad proximum ver expectamus. Nulla hic pesti-
litas grassatur qua absterreri debeas tantum huc aduola, et inter
;

nemora Bedburtina miscebimus prolixiorem de nostris rebus sermo-

nem. Nam multa adhuc dicenda restant. Vel si libebit inuisere 65
nostrum Principem, accedes mecum, facturus illi pi'oculdubio rem

49. irToxot KoKooti a : coit. Jorlin.

38. nuper] Cf. Ep. 703. 21-4. But explains this as vbi quis incidit in
'

there had been a more recent occasion, homines nasutos et contumeliosos, ipse
perhaps as a consequence of Ep. 1006 : stolidus, a quibus impune rideatur'.
' Quum ComesaNoua Aquila me literis 57. Apologiam] qua respondel; see p.
consuleret an deberet simultatem re- iio.
niittere Hochstrato, hoc tum promissa 58. clamosas] Cf. Epp. 1082. 24, 31,
palinodia arabienti, dedi consilium vt 1136. 18.
animo Christiano remitteret iniuriam. 62. Aduentum] For expectations of
Atque is, quum me virulentissime Erasmus' return to Basle in 1520 see
impetisset Leus, meum mihi consilium BRE. 162, 166, 176, Zw. E.'^ 131, 133, 140,
ingessit, admonens vt quod ipse meo 142 cf. Epp. 1073. 58-9,
: 1085. 13-14,
suasu fecisset in Iloclistrato, nunc iioi. i, 1102.10, 11 19. 22-3. A party
facerem in Leo ', Spongia, LB. x. 1639E of Z\vingli's friends, iucluding the
= HE. 333, §82. 8ee also Ep. 620. 3on. Administrator of Einsiedeln (cf. Ep.
49. iTTuxoi KoKoioi] A contemptuous 11 20. i2n), was prepared to gather at
reference to the monks cf. Ep. 1082.
; Basle to greet him (Zw. E.^ 146).
13, and Adag. 621, 'graculus inter postilitas] Cf. Ep. 867. 62n.
Musas'. 64. Bodburtina] See Ep. 867. 74.
niXava av^pi{\ Cf. Plut. de lib. educ, 66. Principem] Hermann of Wied :
17, and Hor. S. i. 4. 85; also 1. 9 supra. see Ep. 829. i^n. It was not till 1528
filix] Cf. Pers. 4. 41. that Ct. Hermann succeeded in per-
52. culinis] Cf. Ep. 163. 6. suading Erasmus to write to the Abp. :
55. inapologo] In Adag. 441 Erasmus Lond. xxiv. i, LB. 945.
 206 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

gratissimam. Fauent tibi in illius aula primarii, ipse quoque

Princeps de te honorificentissime sentit, ac itidem factitant illius
germani fratres. Breuiter nobilitas Germaniae ad mentem redit,
70 incipit nunc odisse barbariem. amplecti candorem. Meus frater cum
tota familia et cognatione te obseruant. Vale felicicer.
Coloniae. xiiii. Martii. Anno. M.D.xx.

1079. To Sylvester Gigli.

Epistolae ad diueisos p. 500. Antwerp.

HN: Lond. xii. 34: LB. 499. 15 March 1520.

[Contemporary with Ep. 1080 because of tlie diploma ; with Ep. 1081 because
of Charles' expected return froni Spain.]

ERASMYS R0TER0DAMV8 R. P. SILVKSTRO, EPISGOPO

VYINGORNIENSI, S. D.

Reveeendissime Praesul, expectabam vt T. R. D. me vocaret

ingratissimum, quod pro veteribus tuis in me officiis nullam retulerim
gratiam. Nunc, o inauditam humanitatem, etiam pristinis tuis in
me meritis sane cumulatissimis nouos adiicis cumulos. Redditum
5 est mihi exemplar diplomatis. Magnopere placuit. Nihil fingi
potuit amantius aut magis ex animi mei sententia. Sed hac de re
ne quid ad me mittatur amplius, donec scripsero quo velim mitti
nam spero futui'um vt ipse Romae sacras istas manus tuas deosculer,
idque breui, nisi Caroli nostri reditus adferat nobis noua consilia.
10 Et scio et memini quid debeam celsitudini tuae. Sed si ea nosset
quibus rerum procellis obruar, non solum daret veniam verumetiam
misereretur nostri. Si vixero adhuc annum, testabor me scire
quantopere tibi sim deuinctus. Bene valeat R. T. D. cui me totum, ;

vt debeo, ita dedo dicoque. Antuuerpiae Id. Mart. An. m.d.xx.

1079. TIT. R. P. Om. H. SYLVESTRO H. VVIGORNIENSI EN^ VVIGORNENSI S^. :

I. T. R. D. om. H. vocares H. 13. R. T. D. F tua sublimitas E.

:

1078. 69. Gerraaniae] Cf. Ep. 998.62-5. 1073. 5^, 1078. 63^.
70. frater] Gumpert iv of Neuenahr, 9. reditus] Charles' return had long
1500-46, who married Amoena, heiress been expected (cf. Ep. 1030. 66-7") but ;

of Hohea-Limburg see Stokvis iii,

: though he reached Santiago in March
pp. 50, 92. and Corunna before tlie end of April
1079. 5. diplomatis] Probably a per- lie did not sail till the middle of May
mission to eat meat in Lent, sent in (Brewer iii. 419, 708, 771, 803). After
draft, the original to follow cf. Ep. ; visiting Englaud 26-31 May (ibid. pp.
1080. 2-4, and Erasmu.s'letterto Zasius, Ixvi, he hmded at Flushing
Ixvii)
(23 March) 1523 (ZE. pp. 301,2). It i June (Ep. 17 introd.). Cf. also Epp.
was renewed in 1525 by Clement vii 1081. 6, iioi. 2-3.
(Vischcr p. 32). 10. quid debeam] See Epp. 447 in-
8. Romae] The same hope is ex- trod.. 521, 567 and cf. Ep. 1080. 9.
;

pressed in Epp. 1080,1. For Erasmus' 12. testabor] For the redemption of
thoughts of leaving Louvain sce Epp. this promise see Ep. 1181.
io8o] 207

1080. To Francesco Chieregato.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 500. Antwerp.

HN : Lond. xii. 36: LB. 498. 15 March 1520.

[The year-date is confirmed by the publication of Lee's Annotationes (p. 109),

and by Erasmus' reply.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS ORNATISS. DOCTORI FRANCISCO

GIREGATTO, PROTOGRAPHEI APOSTOLICO, S. D.

HvMANissiME Chiregatte, si frater esses mihi, quaeso quid posses

amantius? Diploma milii vehementer placet. Sed nunc incertum
an hic sim diutius commoraturus nam vocor in Galliam. Itaque
;

ne quid huc mittatur, nisi literis meis significauero. Et fortassis

intra menses paucos adero Eomae interim cura vt te offendamus
: ;

alacrem. Eduardus Leus emisit in me librum plenum conuiciis, non

sine dedecore meo, sed maiore suo. Ei nunc respondeo, sed absque
conuiciis. Id in causa fuit vt tibi scriberem tam parce. Bene vale.
Scio quantum debeo reuerendo D. Syluestro, patrono tuo. Non
ero ingratus, qua licebit. Kursum vale.
Antuuerpiae. Idibus Martiis. Anno m.d.xx.

1081. To LoRENZo Campegio.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 500. Antwerp.

HN: Lond. xii. 35 : LB. 500. 15 March 1520.

[The year-date is confirmed by the sending of the Paraphrase (1. 1) to

Campegio.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS R. D. CARD. LAVRENTIO CAMPEGIO S. D.

Revebendissime D., mitto libellum R. T. D. dicatum, qualecunque

grati in eam animi documentum. Quid facerem? Non dabatur
occasio commodior. Sed in posterum, vt spero, dabitur. Nunc mihi
cum monstris compluribus res est, non Herculi, sed semihomuncioni.
Spero fore vt ante paucos menses Eomam olim adamatam reuisam, 5
nisi si quid noui consilii Caroli nostri ex Hispania reditus adferat.
Faxit Deus vt eos incolumes offendam quos maxime cupio. Bene
valeat E. R. T. D. Antuuerpiae. Id. Mart. Anno m.d.xx.

1080. TiT. oRNATiss. DocTORi oM. H. cHiRECiATro H. 8. tam parce F

parcius If. 9. debeam S'. D. F: praesuli 17. 1081. tit. k. d. om. H.
I. R. T.B. F: tuo nomini H. 2. eam F: te /liS" me JV^. : 6. si add. 11.
8. valeat E. R. T.D. F: vale /7. Idus H.

1080. 3. in Galliam] For the con- the roference to the CoUege de Franee
tinued endeavours to attract Erasmus in Ep. 1066. 77-8.
to Paris see Epp. 489, 522 &c., 810. 1081. i. libellum] See Ep. io6a.
360 seq., 896. gon, 994. iin and f ;
' 6. reditus] See Ep. 1079. ^n.
 208 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1520

1082. To Hermann, Count of Neuenahr.

Viuis Declamationes Syllanae, tit. v° (a). A.ntwerp.

(c. 15 March) 1520.

[A letter which appears at the begiuning of Vives' Dedamationes SyUanae quinquef

Antwerp, M. Hillen, April 1520: followed by a dedication from Vives to Prince
Fei-dinand (cf. Ep. 917 introd.) dated from Louvain. It is noticeable that for a
subsequent edition, which I have onlyseen as reprinted in his Opera, Basle, Nic.
Episcopius, Aug. 1555, Vives rewrote his dedication; adding the date 1520 and
stating that the book was published at the suggestion of Erasraus and other
friends.
This letter is to be dated shortly after the appearance of Lee's book (see Ep.
1037 introd.), for Erasmus expects the Count to have seen it but it neither :

ans.wers nor is answered by Ep. 1078, in which the Count gives his opinions on
Lee and his notes. It would appear, therefoi'e, that the two letters erossed, and
that this replies to one which is not extant. A
fairly precise raonth-date may
be assigned frora the place.
As a result of his new connexion (see Ep. 1053. 133^) Hillen seems to have
taken advantage of Erasmus' presence in Antwerp to request a letter of com-
mendation for a friend's book that he was about to print. The repetition of
some sentences alraost word for word from the praise of Vives in Ep. 917 iraplies
that Erasmus raust have had that letter before him in composing this ; cf. also
Ep. 1066. 52-61.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS CLARISSIMO D. HERMANNO, COMITI

A NOVA AQVILA, CANONICO COLONIENSI, S. D.

MiRVM ni superi omnes te diligunt, ornatissime Comes, cuius

stemmatis, cuius opibus istum addiderint animum, vt nihil prius
habeas quam vti genus ac fortunam probitatis et litterarum veris
aeternisque ornamentis condecores. Sed iterum atque iterum foelix
5 es, cuius egregiis conatibus sic modis omnibus faueat c^epwv avefjLos re
Koi vSojp. O ax'cem Apollinis domicilium, o nemora Musis dicata in !

quibus ad Plinii nepotis exemplum assidue venaris, sed non absque

libellis vt si parum fauerit Delia, tamen fauente Philologia non
;

sine lucro redeas domuni. Prorsus inuiderem tibi istam plane deorum
10 vitam, ni charior esses quam vt quicquam bonae rei tibi possit
obtingere, quod non idem aeque meum esse ducam.
Porro quod vicissim scire cupis quid hic rerum agatur, feruet
etiamnum rj 7rT(o;)^oTv/)avi/o^iAo^oDcro/ia;^ta. Sexquipedale verbum,
inquies imo perbreue dices, si cum i'e conferas ; nam isti nullum
:

• 5 omnino finem faciunt oblatrandi studiis optimis. Sed tu, inquis,

quid interim ? Ego vetus ille patronus praecoque pacis ac tranquilli-
tatis nunc TrwKTeuo), VTroTnd^uiv kol {i7ro7rta^o//,£vos ev Tw fxipci. Scio iam
exclamas, '12 TpiardOXun' atqui magis istuc dicas si noris oiw fxe Tepart
!

(TvyKaOdpiev 6 Sat/i,w)'. Sed hoc ipse te docebit liber, quo nullus

20 adhuc exiit multis retro saeculis nec indoctior nec virulentior.

5. (^tpwv] Hom. Od. 3. 300. Erasmus' view of this conflict between

6. arcem] Bedburg : see Epp. 867. the friars Ep. 998. sgn) and the
(cf.

74n, 1078. 64. humanists see Ep. 1033.

7. Plinii] Epist. i. 6. 19. libor] Lee's Annotationes see Ep. ;

13. irToixoTvpavvoipiXoiJiovaofiaxLa'] For 1037 introd.

io82] TO HEEMANN, COUNT OF NEUENAHE 209

Martinus Dorpius, tui nominis cum primis studiosus, vere theologum

agit: nam extricatus ab istis factionum tumultibus suauissime
fruitur oj^timis studiis.
Lodouicus Viues, dum alii clamant, gnauiter declamat, veteris
exempli nouus autor scis enim hanc eruditionis partem hactenus
: 25
etiam in Italis fuisse desideratam. Hoc decus Viues noster suae
instaurat Hispaniae. Habuit illa quondam cum aliis in rebus, tum
in hoc genere praecellentes, cum primis Senecas et Quintilianos, sed
habuit Eomae. Eam hic laudem suae vindicat Valentiae, vt sit quo
praeter nominis consortium Eomanae vrbis aemula videri queat. Vt 30
facillimum est clamare, ita longe difficillimum arbitror declamare, et
ita declamare vt hic declamat, si quid meo iudicio tribuendum putas.
Agit enim hoc tanta dexteritate vt, si titulum adimas, putes rem nee
huius regionis nec huius esse saeculi, sed e felicissimis illis M. Tullii
Seneceque temporibus relictam. Versatur in argumento ficto, sed 35
ita vt rem seriam agi credas. Tractat vtramque partem, sed tam
probabiliter vt videatur sibi persuasisse prius quod suadet. Artis
obseruantissi(mus> est, sed, quam scis esse bonam partem artis, sic
artificium dissimulat vt neges rem adumbratam agi. Nusquam
desidet in locis communibus, nusquam a causa digreditur. Credas 40
hominem pro amico de capite periclitante ad clepsydram dicere.
lam acumen in reperiendis ac tractandis probationibus minus
admiror, cum in omni pene philosophiae parte sit diu felicissime
versatus vsque adeo valet illi, vbiubi intenderit, ingenium mire
:

versatile. 45
Cum in subtilibus quidem sed infantibus disciplinis versare
illis
tur, nemo disputabat acrius, nemo magis agebat sophistam. Nunc
totus in mansuetioribus litteris versatur, et sic versatur vt hoc
saeculo vix alium norim quem ausim cum illo committere siquidem, :

vt demus esse qui Viuem aequent eloquentiae viribus, non video 50

tamen in quo reperias tantum eloquentiae cum tanta philosophiae
cognitione coniunctum. Ingenium felix, sanum ac vegetum memo- ;

ria nihil esse potest felicius ; studium indefatigabile, etas virens

etiamnum. Quibus ex rebus nobis magnum aliquid minimeque
vulgare pollicemur. Spero posthac fore complures qui pulcerrimum 55
hoc exemplum sequantur an assequuturi sint nescio. Si bene
;

cupis reuerendissimo D. Card. Croio, —

quod quidem facis, si modo
bene vis iis qui ex animo fauent optimis litteris, nimirum hunc —
illi gratulaberis studiorum moderatorem.
Gerardum Episcopura meis verbis saluere iubeto ; cui precor vt 60
aliquando sit quod audit quotidie.
Antuerpiae. Anno. m.d.xx.

43. peng o. felicissim^ a.

21. Dorpius] For his position at this Sol. i. i ; cf. Serv. on Aen. i. 273.
time and the renewal of his relations 33. tanta dexteritate] Cf. Ep. 917.
with Erasmus see Ep. 1044 introd. and 26-8.
49n. 37. Artis] Cf. Ep. 917. 30,1.
24. clamant] Cf. Ep. 1078. 58. 48. vt hoc saeculo] Cf. Ejx 917. 23,4.
veteris exempli] Cf. Ep. 917. 25. 53. etas virens] Vives was just 28.
30. nominis consortium] For Valen- 57. Card. Croio] See Epp. 647 iutrod.,
tia as tho old Latin name of Rome, 1071. 3.
translated by Evander into Greek, see 60. Gerardum] Cf. Ep. 1078. i^n.
210 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

1083. From Wolfgang Fabricius Capito.

Epistolae aliquot eruditorum, f°. F* («). Basle.
Epistolae eruditorum virorum, p. 141 (/3). 17 March 1520.

[While Erasmus was completing his reply to Lee, with his Apologia and two
Eesponsiones (pp. 109, iio), Hillen, who had printed these at Antwerp, published
also a pamphlet expressingthe views of some of Erasmus' friends Epistolae aliquot :

eruditorum, nunquam antehac excusae, muliis nominibus dignae quae legantur a bonis
omnibus, quo magis liqueatquantasitinsigniscuiusdam sycophantae virulentia, s. a. (Eae).
This consists of eight letters referring to the controversy two (this and Ep.
:

1084) which had recently been received by Erasmus ; three addressed by Lupset
(cf. Ep. 1053) from Corpus Christi College, Oxford, 30 March-i April 1520, to
Lee, Paynell, and Nesen at Louvain, and two letters of More also communicated
by Lupset (Eae, f°. B^ v° ; Eev, p. 53) ; and finally Nesen's reply to Lupset,
20 April {1520), which, as standing second in the book indicates a date of
publication early in May 1520. Epp. 1085, to88 show clearly that Erasmus was
cognizant of the undertaking, and, if not actually the promoter, gave it full
encouiMgement, when once he had consented to it ; and even without such direct
evidence, his complicity might have been inferred from the insertion in each
portion of Eae of lelters addressed to him. From the facts of composition Steitz
is clearly right {Arch. f. Frankfurts Gesch., nf. vi, 1877, pp. 102-3) io supposing that
Nesen edited the pamphlet (cf. Ep. 1088. 10). There are two copies of it in the
British Museum (1009. c. 32 and G. 1568).
Later in the year Hillen brought out another issue with an Appendix Epistolarum
quibus eruditi viri detestantur Edouardi Lei virulentiam, 011 new signatures, a and b.
Tliis contains four new letters, one from Listrius to Beatus Rhenanus (BRE. 193),
one from Hutten to Lee (HE. 166), and two more addressed to Erasmus (Epp.
1095, 1109) ; the latest being dated 5 June. For this again Nesen was no doubt
responsible. His own copy of it is in the Town Library at Fraukfort on the
Main (Steitz, op. cit, p. 103).
Finally in August 1520 an enlarged edition of the collection was printed by
Froben with the title, Epistolae aliquoteruditorumvirorum,exquibusperspicuumquanta
sit Eduardi Lei virulentia (Eev). It contains fourteen new ktters two (Epp. 1078,
:

1053) prefixed four inserted in the body of the woi-k

; —
three from More and
Pace to Lee, dated in Feb. and March, and one of Marquard of Hattstein (Ep.
1109. 29n) to Colet, from Mainz, 26 Api-il 1520; and at the eud eight two
written to Erasmus (Epp. 1089, 1105) and six which evidently were contributed
—
from Schlettstadt and Basle, including BRE. 168, 170 the latest letter being
dated in the last days of August. It is noticeable that in this edition the dates
of three of the letters in Eae, and of one in the Appendix, have suffered change ;

probably through mere degeneration. A

letter which might have been included,
is one from Mutianus Rufus to John Lang of Erfurt written in scathing con-
;

demnation of Lee's book, which he had just seen, 24 May 1520 (MRE. 634 =
MRE.2 590).
This tinal volume clearly was concocted by Erasmus' friends in England and
at Basie, and possibly without his knowledge. For after the attempted recon-
ciliation in the summer of 1520 (Ep. 1037 introd.) he may well have wished the
controversy at an end and have done what he could to check it (cf. Ep. 1139. 99-
102). Only three letters (Epp. 1078, 1089, 1105) of those added in Ekv carae from
his unprinted correspondence ; and these were quite likely contributed by the
writers (cf. Ep. 1089 inti'od.). In November he endeavoured to withdraw the
publication altogether (Ep. 1157).
Copies of Eae were sold by John Dorne in Oxford on 25 and 30 Aug. 1520, and
of the Appendix on 31 Aug. and 9 Sept. see nos. 1133. 1179, 1180, 1183, 1244 in
:

hin Day-book, ed. F. Madan, OHS. v, 1885, pp. 117,18.

This letter, which perhaps answers Ep. 1074, appears in Eae its year-date :

needs no confirraation. For Capito's opinion of Leo see also Zw. E.* 132.]

GVOLPHANQVS CAPITO ERASMO ROTERODAMO S. D.

ScRTPSi proximis litteris, opinor nudius quartus, de libro Eduardi

1083] FEOM WOLFGANG FABRICIUS CAPITO 211

Lei, quem Conrardus

bibliopola Parisiensis, Frobenio affinis, suo illic
sumptu excusum huc attulit. Si pateris vt Capito consilium det
Erasmo, hoc est sus Mineruae, praestiterit rem totam vt inane fulgur
ex vitro, quod aiunt, negligere ridereque secure. Non est enim quod 5
metuas ne liber tam insulsus, ne dicam rabiosus, apud graues et
eruditos viros noceat existimationi tuae. Verum hoc ambit glorio-
sulus, vt tecum videatur fuisse congressus. Si teipsum satis nosti,
non dignaberis illum hoc honore. Nemo non perspicit Leum ad
tantam impudentiam extimulatum nominis et famae desiderio. Post- 10
quam extorquere non potuit vt sui memoria extaret in Annotationibus
tuis, tentauit vel suo periculo noscitari. Dolet ingenio gloi-iosulo
quod quicquid habes eruditionis, ipsi non tuleris acceptum. Famam
sitiit misellus,habebit quod sitiit vsque ad satietatem
et nam ;

reddemus illum etiam Erostrato nobiliorem, si quid poterunt stili 15

Germaniae. Mihi blanditur etiam laudatiuncula fucata adeo nos :

iudicat ebetes vt non odoremur tales technas. Habeat sibi suas

laudes nemo Germanus feret talem praeconem. a quo laudari
:

turpius sit quam vituperari. Blanditur etiam Hutteno et Capnioni

stultulus iste. Nos, credo, pro stipitibus habet, non pro hominibus 20 ;

a,t sentiet homines, non fungos. Tractabitur cornicula vt meretur,

nec hac poena erimus contenti, vt illi plumas non suas detx'ahamus.
Audio Hutteni stilum esse in opere. Oecolampadius, tametsi mi-
tissimus est ingenio, tamen ad tam insignes sycophantias inirum
quam excanduerit, homo vere Christiani pectoris. Eximius Caesarei 25
iuris Professor Zazius non potest satis admirari in homine tam
indocto tantum arrogantiae, in sacerdote tantum diaboHci veneni.
Quod bis iam admones, faciam quantum potero nam quod suades :

vt nihil omnino respondeam, non possum imperare animo meo.

Porro quod proximum concedis, vt si quid respondeam, modeste .^0
respondeam, facturus sum quatenus illius patitur immodestia: quan-
quam ille magis eget medico quam redargutore, si satis ex illius scriptis
ingenium colhgo. Certe genti parcetur, vt iubes, et aequum iubes

2. Conradus /3. 4. vt a : & /3. 11. vt a : vt & y3. 15. etiam a :

& 0, 23. esse a : iam esse 0. 28. Quod a : De eo quod /3. 31. im-
modestia a : modestia 0. 32. /3 : m^dico a.

2. Conrardus] Resch ; see Ep. 330. affords some slight ground for attribu-
i^n. ting to Hutten the Hochstratus ouans, in
4. fulgur] Cf. Adag. 1690. which Lee is severely handled see :

II. memoria] For an example of

sui Ep. 1165. 22n. Steitz, op. cit., p. 103^,
the eulogies given by Erasmus to his mentions a printed copy presented by
patrons and friends see his note on Nesen to Carinus (Epp. 920, 1034) and
I Thess. 2. 7 Nouum Instr. ii, pp. 553-6.
: by Carinus later to Spalatinus on the :

15. Erostrato] Cf. Epp. 1053. 205^, title-page of which SpaLatinus has
io6r. 716. written the date 1520,
16. laudatiuncula] See Ep. 1061. 26. Zazius] For his opinions see Ep.
200-9. 1084. 74-97, quoting ZE. 22 from :

Hutteno] I can find no definite

19. wbich, however, tliis is not a verbal
mention of Hutten in Lee's book so ; quotation.
that this passage gives reason for 28. admones] First in the letter re-
identifying him with the much-lauded ferred to in Ep. 1029. ipn and tlien, ;

'nobilis quidam et doctus iuuenis' of perhaps, in the missing portion of E11.

Ep. 1055 introd. io74'
Capnioni] Cf. Ep. 1061. 200-7. 33' genti] the Euglish ; cf. Epp.
23. Hutteni stihim] This statement 1058, 3, 1088. 4-5, 1129. 17-18.
 212 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

nihil illa commeruit: non magis quam hortulus in quo sub-

enim
35 oriatur aconitum, alias optimorum holerum ferax. lam nunc ad te
misissem operis mei gustum, si certus aliquis obtigisset. Non aedam
tamen nisi recognitum aut approbatum a Rhenano, ne mihi nouitas
inuentionis imponat. Lei libellum nondum perlegi totum illud :

video, si ademeris calida conuicia et mendaces indices, reliqua esse

40 frigidissima.
Plura scripturus eram, sed vltima nauis iam hinc abit Francfor-
diam. Properandum erat. Agam amici partes fidelissimi. Res ipsa
declarabit breui.
Yale Basileae. xvi. cal. April. An. m.d.xx.

1084. From Boniface Amerbach.

Basle MS. C. Vla. 73. 329 (n). Basle.
Eae fo. G (/3»): Eev p. 89 (fi^). 19 March 1520.

[There are three sources of prime importance firstly Boniface's autograph :

rough draft (a) secondly (/3^) Eae (p. 210) and thirdly Eev (/S^). The two last,
; ;

from their close connexion, may be jointly designated as /3. The letter from
Zasius to Boniface (16 March Basle MS. G. II. 32. 17 ZE. 22), which is quoted
: ;

at the end (7), shows that Boniface sent him a copyof a, and in deference to his
criticism omitted the translations of the Greek which are shown in the critical
notes. As /3 represents the letter actuallj' sent and received, I have given
preference to its readings though retaining the spelling of a.
;

This letter was very likely sent with Ep. 1083. The news which Boniface
gives, clearly indicates that he had not written to Erasmus since Ep. 1020.]

MAGNO EEASMO ROTERODAMO BONIFACIVS AMORBACCHIVS S. D.

ViDE nunquid verum sit quod Graeci dicere solent, vnicum saeculi
decus El^asme, otl rj ajxaOua Opaar^L';, OKvrjpov^; 8e to XfXoyLcrixivov aTrepyd-
^eTai, Quousque tua humanitate abutor ? Scio quantae in maximis
verae theologiae studiis sint occupationes tuae. Scio quam haec te
5 velut dXettKaKov Herculem continuo implorare soleant, quamque pro
illis indefatigabili excubes animo nec tamen interim meis nugis te ;

molestare cesso. Verum si quid temeritatis ea in re incurro, nemini

acceptum referas velim nisi summo meo in te amori, qui cum semper
solliciti timoris plenus sit, quo plus scribo, hoc minus mihiipsi
10 satisfacio : quippe vel nolentem trahit vel inuitum cogit, vt animum,
studium in te meum nouis subinde, velim nolim, litteris declarem.
Qua de causa si forsan tibi molestior sum quam me deceat et magna
1083. 41. Frakfordia 0. 1084. tit. magno add. P^. erasmo s.n.add. 0^
. . .

(amorbachivs ^^). 2. (hoc est, inscitia temerarios, eruditio vero trepidos

facit) post dwfpya^fTat add. a : om. P. 5. (id est, omnia mala depellentem) post
aKe^tKaKov adcl. a : om. j8. 6. /3 : meis nugis interim a. 10. animi, /3^.

12. me a£i- : om. P^.

1083. 36. operismei] EpistolaW. Fahri- I have not becn able to find a copy.
ciiCapitonis,quasepurgatde sKspicmieLeici vltima nauis] Canying books
41.
fauoris, appended to an edition of Eras- for tlie Frankfort fair, and therewith
mus' thrce ^po%iaeagainst Lee, Mainz, letters cf. Ep. 1084. 45^.
;

.T. Scheffer, June 1520 (BEr.> i, p. 14). 1084. 9. solliciti] Cf. Ov. Her. i. 12.
1084] FEOM BONIFACE AMERBACH 213

tua paciantiir studia, non grauaberis quicquid id erit in meliorem

interpretari partem. Esto tuo fauore sim indignus, habeasque alios
amicos eruditionis nomine insignes ; quae tamen tua est humanitas, 15
non auersaberis hominem tibi toto pectore addictissimum. Certe vt
omnibus eruditione sum inferior, ita studio et amore in te meo nulli,
quisquis ille fuerit, cessurus sum vnquam.
Quare ne semper longo
verborum paratu tibi aequo molestior sim, breuiculo hoc rursus
animum meum testatum volo, eum fore quem a tuorum dedi- 20
tibi
tissimo expectare et conueniet et par est.
Quod felix faustumque sit, audio Martinum Dorpium resipuisse,
nuncque a tuis doctrinis, immo a verae theologiae stare praescriptis.
Id cum omnibus apud nos, tum maxime Dn. Vh-icho Zasio, maximo
iureconsulto, summae voluptati fuit. Gratulatus sum homini per 25
litteras, licet inuitus, nempe alieno stomacho, compellente huc me
Zasio et sacramento suo adigente. Cui cum nihil denegare debeam,
certe hac in parte morigerari volui, praesertim cum Dorpius tuus
factus sit quo quid poterat nobis euenisse optatius ? Felicem te et
;

vere magnum, qui non sokim optima studia in integrum restituis, 30

sed in debellandis etiam barbarorum copiis, ex sophistis homines, ex
mathaeologis theologos facis.
De rebus nostris quid attinet dicei-e? Ni fallor, quam misere
preteritus annus nos acceperit, tenes. Brunonem fratrem peste
iugulatum non sine spirantibus lachrimis amisimus. Cuius obitus 35
quin tibi vulnus inflixerit haud dubito non enim nobis tam san- ;

guine, quam tibi summa deuotione erat coniunctissimus, qui tua

adorare, te complecti solebat relligiosissime. Sed mortuus est quem
viuum cupiebamus decessit qui nunc primum litteras adiuuare
;

poterat obiit non sine summa nostra iactura. Ego Basileae hucusque
; 40
ob fratris mortem me continui. Vere tamen ineunte ad Auenionam
proficiscor, cepta studia prosecuturus, et ordini iuridico, si e re mea
videbitur, nomen daturus tametsi nesciam si quid minus possim :

quam linguam habere venalem verum aliud vitae institutum erit. ;

Dn. Vh'icho Zasio principum quorundam negociis inuoluto nunc 45

scribere non fuit integrum. Proximo tamen nuncio ad te et ad
Dorpium litteras dabit, interim omnia fausta tibi adscribi iussit.
18. ille 3 : is a. sum a^S^ : sim /S^. 21. 13 : expectari a. 22. Marti-
num Dorpium a/B^ : om. 0^. 24. cum a : tum /S^. Dn. a : D. iS. Vlrico
/3*. 28. 0: morigerarea. Dorpius a/S^ : ille syncere yS^. 29. : nobis
poterat a. 32. a0^ Mataeologis 0^. : 33. /S^ : fallar a^^. 36. tibi
0: tibi etiam a. haud /3 non a. 39. : /3^ : cupieramus a/S^. 41. coii-
tinui /3 : contineo a. ineunte /3 : nunc ineunte a. 42. et . . . 43 daturus
add. 13. 43. possim a/S^: possem 0^. 45. Dn. a^'^: D. 0^.

22. DorpiumjCf. Ep. 1044. i6n. face, 6 March 1520: 'negociorum tamon
36. litteras] The rough draft is ex- mole hoc temporis articulo, quo ad
tant at Basle (MS. C. Vl\ 73. 158 Am. : nundinas Francofordias literae mit-
E. 31 dated, like this, 19 Mai-ch 1520,
; tendae sunt, ita premor vt prope de-
from theday of dispatch,thetwoletters ficiam. Sunt enim compluria michi
being sent by the same messenger. consilia principibus et item Sueuiae
34. Brunonem] fzi Oct. 1519 ; and facienda quae ita simul me onerarunt
:

cf.Ep. 1085. i3n. vt cui prius lucernam addidero, non

41. Aueiiionam] Cf. Ep. 1020. 54^. satis integrum sit '. And he entreats
In another letter of 19 March (C. VI*. Boniface to take care ne Francofor- '

73.411) he says he will start'ad kls. diensesabeant '(BasIeMS. G.II. 32. 16).
Maias '. Cf. Ep. 1083. ^in.
45. principum] Cf. ZE. 21, to Boni- 46. ad Dorpium] Cf. ZE. ar, 22.
 214 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Sed heus tu, quisnam iste et re et nomine Aaios, qui in tuas in

Nouimi Testamentum annotationes non tam sinistre quam sophistice
50 cauillare pergit ? deploratum ingenium, quam eximium insignis
suae stoliditatis specimen prebuit Caue quicquam me tuis auribus !

dare putes ex animo loquor. Quae, malum, impudentia est friuolis

:

nugis vera et inexpugnabilia oppugnare Vnde homini tantum !

licentiae, ne dicam amentiae Quam valide pugnat conuiciis, quam !

55 pueriliter, imo stulte, rationibus ? Siccine a sycophantiae morsu

nihil vspiam tutum est. Bene ab Apollonio dictum est, sapienti
maius periculum imminere ab inuidia quam vel nauiganti a tem-
pestate vel prelianti ab hostibus. Quanquam quid culex contra
elephantum ?
60 Sed quid ego ad te haec maioribus occupatissiraum ? Deus opt.
max. te omnibus nobis et bonis studiis longaeuum foueat atque con-
seruet. Salue et vale feliciter, orbis literati lumen, Erasme, Boni-
faciumque te quammaxime amantem, colentem et obseruantem tuo
fauore prosequi, quin et redamare non cessa.
65 Basileae. Kauracorum decimoquarto Calen. April. Anno m.d.xx.
Paucis abhinc diebus, cum quedam mihi Zasio scribenda fuerant,
inter cetera etiam de nouis Lei annotationibus facta est mentio.
Dum haec seribo, is mihi ad omnia respondit, nescio tamen si ad vlhi
vel verius vel elegantius quam ad istud Lei attentatum facinus.
70 Haec, quoniam ad te pertinere videbantur, nolui committere quin
his meis subiungerem litteris, quo doctissimi illius viri de Leo
iudicium vel eo certius deprehenderes, quod ad alium haec, non ad
te, scripsisset. Sed audi.
'De sophista Eduardo Laeo quid scribis? Quam bene maiores
76 nostri dicere solebant, in fatis aliquando esse vt ad perniciem ad-
curratur velut ad brabium Quod nisi esset, non tentassent gigantes
!

oppugnare coelum. Quid enim aliud sophista ille quam coelum,

quam omnium diuinarum humanarumque litterarum praesidium
oppugnare aggreditur? Tantum laborum heros ille incomparabilis
80 exantlat, semper ad novios labores integer, vt post Hiei'onymos, post
48. iste /3 : ille a. (id est, laeuus, sinister. Laeus Latine cognomine ille
qui contra Evasmum Aaios add. a om. 0.
scripsit) 49. a/3^
'post sinistrae 0^. : :

50. a/32 : cauillari /3^. 52. impudentia est P est ista impudentia a. 54. :

Quam valide . . . 55. rationibus add. P. Siccine /3^ Sicne a0\ /3' syco- : :

phante a/S^, 58. Quanquam . 59. elephantum add. /3. 60. ad oni. ff^,
. . m
fine lineae. 62. feliciter Erasme P doctrinarum princeps et monarcha a.
. . . :

65. Basileae . . . m.d.xx /3 (decimoquarto jS^ xiii (i"^) Basill. Raurac. a. : 67. :

inter)3: in a. nouis /3 nouis illis a.

: 68. vUa j3^ que ajS^. 69. velverius :

vel verius
: & a. 70. /3^ videbatur ajS^.
: 71. his litteris (his . . .

j8i
: hiis 0^) : ad te mitterem a. Leo /8^ : te a/32. 72. alium haec : alie-
num a. 73. sed audi . . . 99. monarcha add. /3. (74. opjunpa; L^o ^'
Eduardo /3"^-/. 78. praesidium /3 Verum louem 7. Tantum 92. : 79. . . .

Leus /3 Nam cui alii nisi loui aequipararim Erasmum, siue ille summus deorum
:

nominetur siue a iuuando nomen mutuetur ? Cum enim dii sint, testante ])ro-
pheta, et filii excelsi omnes quiqui optimis literis ad hominum salutem vtuntur,
quomodo non Erasmus deorum summus sit? qui (si post Hieronymoset Cypria-
nosquisquam) fidei causam, theologiae maiestatem vnusegregie, eleganter, docte,
fundate, immo diuin§ adserit, tuetur, pi-ofert. luuisse autem mortales quis vn-
quam abhinc quadringentis et amplius annis alius compertus est maiore cum
fructu, si ab Erasmo discedas ? 7. 80. vt post /3^ vt nobis post /3^. :

66. scribenda] The letter is not ex- from tlie arrival of Lee's book in Basle
tant. Its date may be conjectured (p. 109).
 1084] FEOM BONIFACE AMEEBACH 215

Cyprianos theologiae maiestatem nobis adferat, applaudentibus diis

atque hominibus quotquot aut adest eruditio aut mentis sanitas et :

exoritur e suis tenebris iste vermiculus, qui tam eximiam segetem

nobis arrodat, ipse nullo litterarum genere conspicuus. Si gram-
maticam requiras, soloecissat subinde si rethoricam, balbutit et 85 ;

battalum agit si dialecticam, pistillum esse iures, aut si quid magis

;

etiam abest ab acumine. Philosophiae nusquam vllum sese exerit

specimen. Theologicam supellectilem his modis tractat, vt ipsa res
clamitet ei quod adfert ab aliis suggestum esse. Et huiusmodi
nugones audent libros scribere hoc saeculo tam erudito, et audent 90
scribere in Erasmum. Quis enim non ausit posthac, postquam ausus
est Leus iste ? Veh tibi, sophista infelix, veh matri quae te peperit,
veh vtero, veh syderi quod tibi praesidet. Ineptias tuas cum viderint
Germani, viri doctissimi, quid credis futurum esse ? Quam tu misere
tractaberis Quam tu infame tradueeris ! Mille modis et te et 95
!

tua lacerasse non erit satis, nisi vsque ad exitiosum interitum

concerparis.'
Hactenu^ Zasius noster. Denuo vale bonis auibus, omnis erudi-
tionis princeps et monarcha.

1085^095 To WlLLIBALD PlRCKHEIMEE.

Pirckheimeri Opera p. 277.
'
Louvain.
0-. p. 178 : Lond. xxx. 34: LB. App. 472. 19 March (1520),

[As in Ep. 407, P produces an anomaly by i5i-efixing the address to the letter ,

which in this case had not even a formal heading, but only the short greeting
common in hastily written notes (cf. Epp. 602, 653, et saepius). The absence of
heading is the more common when, as in Epp. 640, 642, there is a signature. It
may, therefore, be inferred with probability that the editors of P were printing
from tlie originals ; which, being mostly brief, were no doubt autograph.
The year-date can be supplied indubitably from the appearance of Lee's book
(1. 4) ; see Ep. 1037 introd.]

S. P., charissime Bilibalde. Adiit me Antwerpiae iuuenis singulari

indole, tuae sororis maritus, et mihi tuo nomine salutem dixit,
simulque officium suum mihi attulit.
Prodiit tandem liber Eduardi Lei, quo nihil vnquam natum est
neque virulentius neque mendacius neque sediciosius, addo neque 5

1084. 83. suis /32 sui /3'.

: vermiculus 0^ : Gurgulio /3^. 88. ipsa yS^: ipse
/31. 92. iste o»n 0^j. 95. et te /3 : te 7. 96. laceras, /3^: lacerari 7.)
1085. Pro t.itulo bilibaldo svo erasmvs add. 0*.

1085. I. Antwerpiae] Soe p. 203. at Neuhof, thrcc hours' ride n. of

2. maritus] Martin Geuder of Nuremberg, whither Pirckheimer had
Heroldsberg, one of the chief magis- retired because of the plague. The
trates of Nuremberg, who had married, description of Geuder as iuuenis is pcr-
as his second wife, Pirckheimers sister haps jesting : for he had sons old
.Juliana see the preface, i Sept. 1521,
: onough to be students at Bologna in
to Pirckheimer's translation of Plato'3 1513-15- See P. pp. 36. 233-4, 265,
Axiochus, Nurembcrg, F. Peyp, 1523, 331, 397-8 Knod pp. 156-7.
;

written from Geuder's country house But possibly filiae should bo read for
 216 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

stultiusneque indoctius et tamen homo sibi placet, et inuenit quod

:

in(docti> applaudunt. Respondimus ex tempore illius inuectiuis:

ad quas si conferantur scripta Hoechstrati et Pefercorni, nihil sunt
nisi merum mel. Nos, quod ad rem attinet, satis strenue nos
10 gessimus in refellendo. Ceterum quomodo monstrum hoc natum
in perniciem bonorum studiorum, sit a vobis expediendum, ex
amicorum litteris cognoscetis, quibus hoc negocii dedimus.
Nisi pestis nos deterrebit, fortassis hoc vere toti commigrabimus
in Germaniam. Interea cura vt quam optime valeas, amice magne
15 et patrone incomparabilis. Louanii 14. Calen. Aprihs.
Erasmus ex animo tuus, raptim.
Clarissimo D. Bilibaldo Pirckheimero, amico incomparabili.

1086. To Martin Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus IIL 102, p. 47. (Louvain.)
Horawitz v. 11. <c. 25 March 1520.)

[Between tlie Apologia qua respondet and the first Responsio acl Annotationes Lei,
which Hillen piinted in (March) and April 1520 (pp. 109, 1 10). As Erasmus cor-
rected the proofs of these (i, p. 22. 22% it seems clear that wlien this letter was
written, he was about to start for Antwerp to see the first Responsio through the
press. His visit to Antwerp for the printing of the Apologia is to be dated c. 8-15
March (Ep. 1077 introd.). The second Responsio was in the press there ou 17 April
(Ep. 1092) and he was already at Antwerp on 13 April (Ep. 1091). For the
;

printing of the first Responsio therefore an intermediate date seems probable so :

that the Tuesday fixed for his departure (1. 7) may be taken conjecturally as
27 March. On 9 April Erasmus was at Louvain again (Ep. 1088), and preparing
lor his third visit to Antwerp on this business cf. Ep. 1094. lo-ri.];

DES. ERAS. RO. D. MART. LYPS.

fuit Carmelita, scuri*a quouis fuit instructior

(I>LLE quisquis
infacetis Mitto ad te libelkim Apologiae qua Leeo re-
facetiis.
spondeo. Mox habebis Responsiones ad Annotationes, in quibus
apparebit quam non respondeat Leeus suae famae. Si Nazanzenus
5 est adhuc apud te, inspice carmen genealogicon et vide an alicubi

1085. 7. indocti scripsi: in ** P. 13. toti corr. LB, cf. Ep. 597. 25:toto P.
16. Erasmus . raptimPiB om.
. . : O^. 17. Clarissimo . . . incomparabili om. 0*.

sororis. A son-in-law of Pii-ckheimer very informing letters from Alb. Burer

visitedHolland early in 1520 (Heu- toBeatus (BRE. 124, 125, 128, 129, 133).
mann p. 48 = HE. 174) probably : 14. Gei-maniam] Cf. Ep. 1078. 62n.
Jo. Imhof (t 1526), who by 1521 was 1086. 4. Nazanzenus] Cf. Ep. 807. 2.
married to Felicitas Pirckheimer (see Lee {Annot. 39 on Erasmus' note on
Zedler xiv. 581). Luke^.^^^ had cited Gregory's De CJtristi
12. dedimus]Erasmushad consented geneaiogia, IL 30-32, to the effect that
to— or may even have suggested Ep. (cf. Joseph had two fathers, as here stated.
999. 318-20) — avolumeof lettersagainst Erasmus in his first ResjJonsio, Annot. 39,
Lee, such as shortly came into being as brushed Gregory's authority aside : no
Eae (p. 210). Of the letters therein doubt as the result of Lypsius' reply to
only one, More's to Lee of i May 15 19, this quostion. HisoriginalnoteonLuke
could now liave been seen by Erasmus : 3. 23 stands unchanged in all later edi-
most were not yet written. tions of his Ayinot. in N. T. The name,
13. pestis] For the ravages of this at as copied here by Lypsius, is found in
Basle in the autumn of 1519 see some the Aldine edition (Ep. 352. 3in).
1086] TO MAKTIN LYPSIUS 217

scribat loseph habuisse cluos patres, lacob naturalem et Heli

adoptiuum, ac locum notatum ad me mittito nam die Martis ; mane
est abeundum. Bene vale.

1087. From Thomas More.

Mori Lucubrationes p. 429 (a). (Greenwich ?)
Lond. Mor. i Jortin ii. 384.
: (March-April 1520.)

[First printed, with many inaccuracies, in More's Lucubrafiones, Basle, Epi-

scopius, 1563, 8°, with the marginal note ' et haec nunc primura edita following '
:

More's letter to Dorp (LB. App. 513), which was also 'nunquam antehac
edita'. Apparently written very soon after More had seen the Antimorus
(Ep. 1045), probably about the same time as he composed his reply to that,
Thomae ilori Epistola ad Germanum Brixium : qui, quum Morus in libellmn eitis, quo
contumeliosis mendaciis incesserat Angliam, Itisissei aliquot epigrammata annis abhinc
plus septem, iam intra sesquimensem in summa Anglwmn Gallorumque concordia, suh
ipsum conuentum principum aedidit aduersus Morum libeUum, qui et ineptis et virukntis
iurgiissuum infatnat authorem, Loudon, Pynson ,(ApriI) 1520 (cf. Ep. 1096. 103-5).
The Antimorus no doubt arrived in London about the third week in March (cf.
p. 128, and Ep. 1096. i) so that this letter may be dated in the end of March
;

or the beginning of April. A

comparison of its postscript with that to Ep. 1096,
about More's anticipations of seeing Erasmus at Calais, also indicates that this
is the earlier of the two.J

THOMAS MORVS D. ERASMO ROTEROD., VIRO OPTIMO ATQVE

DOCTISS., S. P.

EcQviD vidisti vnquam, Erasme optime atque doctissime, suauiorem

quenquam quam sit hic noster Brixius? qui simulatque ipsi quic-
quam dissimulare libet, reliquos idem mortales omnes satis (c)ela-
tum putat. Nam quando homo quantumuis stupidus non sentire non
potuit quam esset absurdum, odiosum, infame, sine causa quenquam 5
iurgiis et conuiciis impetere ; iterum atque iterum narrat, infigit,
inculcat, epigrammatibus meis prouocatum se defendentis tantum
partes obtinere, vt diris et execrationibus impetitus, non nisi iocis
contra, salibus et facetiis repetat aduersarium. Caeterum de petu-
lantia, mendaciis, probris, quibus omnem prius prouocarat Angliam, 10
verbum interim nullum vt nec de eo quidem, quod quae simultas
;

olim inter nos agitata fuit in mediis belli tumultibus, eam ille iam
olim mortuam nunc demum in summa pace redintegrat. Et sic agit
homo Phormiana confidentia, vt quum suam causam facile sentire
possit nuUi non esse damnatam, qui quidem rem pernorit, tamen 15
velut eam bene ac dOucide quibus oportuit iudicibus ai^probasset, iam
suo iure scihcet quiduis debacchetur in me, et totam pectoris sui
sentinam lepidus et facetus exhauriat qui postquam vnum atque
:

alterum epigramma scriptum ioco statuit habendum esse pro diris,

tanquam dixisse modo foret onmibus prorsus persuasisse, simul per- 20
suasit sibi rem se plausibilem facturum, si paucos versus et aduersus
petulantissimum eius libellum et in bellico tumultu ludentes olim,
nunc denique tot annis post factam ac firmatam pacem, in quanta

1087. 3. celatum Jorlin.

 218 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

nunquam fuit vllorum populorum concordia, libro virulentissimo

25 rependeret sperans videlicet neque tam oculatum fore quenquam vt
;

id posset cernere ad quod ipsi libet conniuere, neque tam importune

saeuerum iudicem vt aliud exigat probamentum quam narrantem
Brixium, praesertim suae causae aequitatem tanta cum fiducia
iactantem.
30 At mihi certe visus esset aliquanto minus impudens, si has ad
populum tantum phaleras exposuisset in quo reperire potuisset ali- ;

quos quibus res adhuc esset incognita, multos quibus alteruter no-
strum, quosdam quibus vel inique placent rixae ac non hoc pacto :

bos eiusmodi sese iactaret ephippiis apud te, qui non tantum proram
3r puppimque certaminis (nisi non legisti Chordigeram ; nam caetera
legisse te scio) verumetiam certatores ipsos intus, quod aiunt, et in
cute nosti tum cui sciat eiusmodi rixas, etiamsi quae iusta sint exor-
;

tae causa, tamen pro tui ingenii candore atque humanitate odiosas
inuisasque esse, nedum hanc illius ineptissimam, iniustissimam,
40 inhumanissimam, et quam abs te vidisset epistola ad se missa velut
praeiudicio damnatam, adiectis etiam tuae sententiae causis : altera in
honorem vtriusque ciuiliter magis excogitata quam vere, quasi nos
essemus hi quos literarum intersit concordes esse ; altera certe iustis-
sima, quod quae olim flagrante lusimus bello, ea nunc facta pace
45 conueniat obliterari. Ex his causis illam quae ciuilior erat quam
verior, quanquam de me contemptius admittit, de se tamen candidus
atque modestus agnoscit alteram illam quae tam vera fuit vt negari
:

non posset, dissimulanter praeteriit, ac rursus ob oculos fundit pro-

uocationis puluerem, qua se lacessitum a nobis et prius praedicat et
50 hostiliter.
Et profecto si Brixius, vt totus est in metaphoris comicis, ab epi-
grammate meo velut ab epitasi iubeat hanc auspicari fabulam, negare
non possum quin ipse prouocauerim. Sin communi more patietur
addi suo loco protasim, non erit, opinor, ambiguum quod nihil habeat
55 comicum illius turbulenta catastrophe. Nam primum quis non ad-
miretur insignem impudentiam toties occlamantis prius lacessitum
se, quum sciat interim suam passim prostare Chordigeram ? quam
non fuissem prosequutus epigrammate, nisi nostram gentem totam
mendacibus impetisset conuiciis. Qua in re quid comminisci potest
60 quod isti praetendat cahmmiae ? an quod epigrammata mea praeces-
serint eius libellum, quum non ad aliud quam ad eius libelli ludant
inscitiam, furta, mendacia? Aut, vt est acutus rhetorcukis, contendet
in Chordigera nihil esse conuitii? At idem quantumuis impudens
non negabit in pi'imo limine Choi'digerae nos foedifragos vocare se,
65 et petulanter appellare periuros. Et tamen audet praefari oliuam

53. quin Joriin : quem a. 64. nos Jortin, vt in U. 94, 183 : omnes a.

35. Chordigeram] See Ep. 212. in. poems on the affair of the Cliordigera in
caetera] More's own epigrams ; More'3 Epigrammala, Basle, Froben,
cf. 1. 5in. March 1518, pp. 242 6. Cf. 1. i35n.
36. intus] Pers. 3. 30. 52. ah cpitasi] in the middle, instead
40. epistola] Ep. 620. of at tho bcginning : the epitads being
47. agnoscit] Ep. 1045. 10-20. the central part of the play, led up to
49. prius] Ep. 1045. 79. hy iYiQ protasis.
51. epigrammatc] There are eight 64. foedlfragos] Cf. Chord. 11. 17,18.

l
1087] FROM THOMAS MORE 219

sese mediis in armis gessisse, homo nimirum sic aifectus erga men-
dacia vt periurium quoque et foedifragium habeat in blanditiis. An
nihil ad me pertinuisse censet, mendaciis et calumniis ab illo laces-
sitam patriam, quod ipse non attingarnominatim? nam id videtur in-
nuere quasi non hac ratione, atque adeo eadem praeclara [ojratione, 70
:

latroni liceat in ius vocare viatorem, a quo sit fortasse repulsus in-
clementius, quod non illum impeteret sed insidias tentaret pecuniae.
At fortassis etiamsi non in illum prius, saltem scripsi acerbius
est enim et in vlciscendo modus. At ego Polyphemi barbariem imi- '

tatus prae stomachi rabie Brixium, alterum videlicet Vlyssem, diris 75

et execrationibus insectatus sum'. Ita sane disputat, nihil habens
pensi quam falso. Xam
eo solatur se, quod sperat fore multos qui-
bus, cum rem totam non didicerint, ista facile persuaserit, atque ita
sine pugna vicerit apud te vero et si qui sint conscii, satis habet si
:

consequatur id laudis genus, ' Ni causam nossem. putarem vera hunc 80

loqui '. At ego aut veritate rae tuebor, aut vinci potius volo quam
iudicis ignoratione vincere. Quamobrem non imitabor hac sane parte
Brixium, qui versus meos in Abyngdonium (quos per iocum effuti-
ueram vt cuiusdam asininas auriculas demulcerem, quod ei nihil
placeret absque consonantiis rhythmicis) in extremo limite insanae 85
Syluae suae collocauit, ademptis duobus epigrammatis meis in idem
argumentum, quibus illorum iocus versuum aperiebatur. Qua re
nihil eflficere potuit magis sycophanticum. At ego certe contra faciam.
Nam et Chordigeram curabimus excudendam, et Epigrammata nostra
subiungemus. Quin adiiciemus et Syluam eius, ne quid causetur 90
ademptum atque hoc pacto spero me facturum ne sit arduum atque
;

accliue literatis omnibus iudicare an tam bonam habeat causam quam

habere se iactat atque gloriatur Brixius.
Nam cum nos periuros appellasset ac foedifragos, cum totam rei
seriem in suorum gratiam ac nostrum probrum, vt ipse voeat, fictio- 95
nibus, vt res vere habet, impudentibus inuertisset mendaciis, eadem-
que omnia tam absurde tractasset vt nihil vnquam quisquam tractarit
absurdius. ita versibus obuestiuisset alienis, vt Valeriae Probae te
putares legere centonas, nisi quod eos illa concinne coaptauit, Brixius
ita consarcinarat inepte vt commissura tanquam cicatricosum vulnus 100
extet in noduni, aut velut arida siti tellus hiulcet ego non aliud ;

illis epigrammatis, quibus se queritur tam capitaliter offensum, quam

in ea quae dixi vitia hisi, et certe nihil, opinor, acerbe eoque vehe- :

menter admiror in quo meorum Epigrammatum reperiat illas diras

atque execrationes, quas homo lepidus, vt iactat, conuertit in iocos, 105
An illud execrationes appellat ac diras, quod in vno meorum Epi-
72, quod scripsi : quum a, 99. eos Jortin: easa. 100. commissurascnijsi:
commissurae a. loi. nodum scripsi : modum a.

74. modus] Cf. Hor. S. i. i. 106. don (f i Sept. 1497), succentor of Wclls
Polyphemi] Cf. Ep. 1045. 39-43. Cathedral 24 Nov. 1447, and cantor of
83. versus meos] An epitaph in the Kin.G;'s Chapel May 1465: both of
rhyming versc, p. 232 of More's Epi- wliich offices he held until his death.
gramntata. Tlie most grotesque line in He was also master of St. Catherine's
it is, '
Praeter et hacc ista fuit optimus hospital at Bristol 1478. None of his
orgaquenista'. Brixius reprinted it works survive. See More's verses
on f°. H'v° of the Antimortis c{.t°.D*. : upon him (1. 83^), and G. Grove in
It is preceded and followed by other Dictionary of Music, 1879.
verses on Abyngdon. 98. Probae] See Ep. 32 introd., and
Abyngdonium] Henry of Abing- 3711.
 220 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

granimatum, per iocum excusans eius mendacia, quasi nemo rediierit

e Chordigera domum, qui rem vt erat gesta doceret eum, adieci
dignum fuisse Brixium qui fuisset in ipsa naue, vt suis oculis rem
110 videret quam esset scripturus ne ad eum modum tam turpiter
:

mentiri cogeretur, et falsa pro veris commendare memoriae ? Extra

hoc vnum certus sum nihil vnquam reperturum Brixium, in quod
possit tendere vllam vel dirarum vel execrationis calumniam.
Quanquam in hoc ipso aut calumniatur egregie, aut certe quid
115 execratio, quid dirae significent, egregie sese declarat inscium. Erit
fortasse quimordaculum putet {et tamen idem si Brixii expenderit
parum Chordigeram, spero non difficulter ignoscet) execrationes aut
:

diras haud sane quisquam erit qui vocet, qui quidern Latine sciet
vtpote ad quas nec illud quidem Martialis nostro tam longe morda-
120 cius accedit in Theodorum vatem, Brixio vati fortasse non absimilem :

de quo poeta magnum fuisse facinus ac deorum crimen exclamat.

quum Theodori penates ignis absumeret,
Non arsere simul quod domus et dominus.
Ego vero, etiamsi dignum duxi Brixium qui, quo vitare tam impu-
125 denter mentiendi necessitatem posset, in media fuisset Chordigera :

non optaui tamen istud ei, nec ignem imprecatus sum, quem effuge-
runt etiam multi qui fuerunt in naue. Neque enim quisque statim
imprecatur ea cuilibet, quibus illum censet ac pronunciat dignum.
Nam et Brixius, opinor, fures dignos ducit suspendio, dignos ducit
130 adulteros, dignos hauddubie periuros ; a quibus haud ita multis ab-
sunt parasangis mendaces nec tamen, reor, vsqueadeo immitis est
:

vt iis omnibus, tantae nimirum parti mortalium, semel imprecetur

interitum. Quod voti genus vt inclementissiraum fuerit, ita nec
ipsi fortasse Brixio satis tutum.
135 At praeter illud epigramma supersunt nouem, quorum in primo
id quod etiam verum est —
admoneo simpliciter ademptum iri scri-
ptoi*ibus omnibus fidem, si assuescant ipsius exemplo non ex fide sed
ex affectu scribere. Duobus in id ludo, quod Herueum fecerit tam
prodigiose pugnantem. Vno iocatus sum in Brixii et iactantiam simul
140 et incogitantiam, qui praeter alia multa perquam vehementer absurda
finxerit Herueum de ipso vaticinantem, velut akimno Phoebi, et, vt
id fieri posset, fecerit illum in mediis flammis diu concionantem
tanquam in summo ocio porro quod cum seruati sint ex vtraque
:

naue multi, succurrentibus nostrorum nauiculis aliquot, ille maluerit

145 vniuersos prorsus exurere, quam relictum esse quenquam a quo
videri potuisset audiuisse quae scriberet. Vno allusi ad eos versus
quos Brixius effinxit in cenotaphium Heruei. Duobus ad id lusi,
quod Brixius Chordigeram suam veterum poetarum furto surreptis
versibus exornasset. Duobus ostendi me mentis et ingenii plusculum
150 in Chcrdigera cum in inuentione rerum tum in dispositione requirere.

109. dignum] Epigr. p. 242. j.X' t^*^^'"P Cliordigeni, who is the liero
119. Martialis] 11. 93. 3, 4. of Brixius' poem (Ep. 212. in), and
135.nouem] This {igure is reached who perished in the action of 10 Aug.
(cf. 5in) by including two extracts
I. 1512. Another conteniporary poet,
from the Chordigeru Epigr. p. 243.
: Humbert de Montmoret, celebrated
138. Herueum] Herve Portzmogucr him with a Herueis, Paris, s. a, See
or Portimoger, the Brcton captain of NBG. xl. 870.
1087] FROM THOMAS MORE 221

Haec cum scripserim et lacessitiis et turbulentis temporibus et

vere, tamen nunquam vel edidi vel ostendi sola, sed ita coniuncta
cum aliis, vt lectoris cogitatio vel plurimum auerteretur ab illis, vel
non tota certe detineretur in illis cum eius Antimorus contra nihil
:

profiteatur aliud quam in meum nomen non minus delira quam con- 155
tumeliosa conuitia. Postremo cum accepissem id agi vt excuderentur
Epigrammata mea Basileae, scis ipse quid egerim vt ea quae in
Brixium scrij^seram, vna cum nonnullis omitterentur quod quaedam :

milii non satis saeuera videbantur. etiamsi procul absint ab ea ob-

scoenitate qua ferme sola quorundam epigrammata video commen- 160
dari quibusdam. Et simul neminem volebam quantumuis iusta de
caiisa tantillum a me perstringi nominatim.
Qua in quod ad Brixiuni attinet, meum conatum frustratum
re,
esse vehementer gaudeo adeo se declarat dignum in quem longe alia
:

scriberentur. Nam in illis quibus non minus crebro inculcat quam 165
falso, se prouocatum prius, et tot probris, tot conuitiis, tot maledictis.
tot diris, tot execrationibus offensum capitaliter si ea quae recenset
;

inuenerit, quanquam vt tum res erant et illius merita, meum factum

potuissem omnium gentium iure defendere, tamen agnoscam profecto
Cyclopis illam Polyphemi barbariem quam mihi Brixius impingit. 170
Quod si contra non inuenerit illic ea quae causatur, tune aequum
censeo vt agnoscat Brixius eum locum quo de diris obiicit atque
execrationibus. ab ipso fictum totum, vt esset sedes in quam Poly-
phemum vastum sane gigantem posset admittere quando adeo illi :

tam lepida blandiebatur inuentio, vt potius quam cogeretur exchidere, 175

fingendum quippiam duxerit in quod posset aliquid facete dicere.
Verum ni caecior esset ipso Polyphemo Brixius, facile profecto cer-
neret eam rem non admodum multum illi parituram gloriae, si dis-
simulanter praeteriens quod in eum dicitur, alia contra se subornet
ipse, quae commode possit vincere. 180
Scripseram epigramma in quendam nostratem, qui ridicule, cum
nobis bellum esset cum Gallis, in Gallicos mores totus abierat. Alio
loco, quoniam Brixius nos appellarat foedifragos atque periuros,
tetigeram obiter nostram causam in Gallico bello fuisse piam et
officiosam in Ecclesiam Christi, cuius Vicario sumus opitulati: 185
Gallorum contra, quod fouerent schisma et oppugnarent Pontificem.
Quod ipsum neque nunc disputo rursus, neque olim me volente
prodiit. Et tamen si finxisset Brixius (cui tam impense placet
fingere) commotum illis locis fuisse sese, potuisset homini fortassis
ignosci facilius: vt cui videretur imposuisse falsa quaedam honesti 190
species, nempe amor importunus in patriam, quo videretur vel vere
in eam dicta non perpeti, vel certe foederibus condonata vendicare.
Nunc vero stupidissime delegit eam causam, in qua et eosdem habet
obices quos haberet illic, nempe ipsum scripsisse prius, praebuisse

158. omitterentur Jortin : emitterentur a.

157. egerim] There is no trace of 182. Gallicos] Epigr. p.

this in More'3 correspondence, so far
as it survives.
158. nonnullis] Evldently the lighter
verses ; which are more suittd to
Mai'tial than to More.
170. Polyphomi] Cf. 1. 74.
 222 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

195 occasionem, impegisse falsa, litem esse iudicatam, imo peremptam

atque abolitam foederibus publicis.
Sed et hoc praetereo turpissimum, quod, quum publice prior
laeserit, priuatim sese sic offensum queritur. Quomodo, non potest
docere sed diras et execrationes in se ingestas a me ipse a se finxisse
:

200 conuincitur. Quamobrem cum prior scripserit in nos, eaque etiam

falsa, cum ego tantum epigrammata contra, in quibus ea scripsissem,
quae si neget esse vera, nihil assequetur aliud quam vt eum intelligant
omnes bis fuisse mentitum non solum potuit honeste desistere,
;

verum debebat etiam. Atque adeo fecisset, scio, nisi maluisset

205 omnibus declarare quam insigniter esset impudens qui quae pec- :

casset ante, quum

donari vel iuuentae eius potuissent, vel imputari
temporibus, nunc tot annis elapsis, in tanta pace, in tanta concordia.
atque in ipso ferme duorum Principum hospitio (nam id nunc
adornant) deintegro renouet omnia, et epigrammata pauca quae in
210 illius librum lusimus, virulentissimo libello retaliat: in quo cum
nihil inueniret quod respondere posset pro se, totus in me conuersus,
nihil eifundit aliud praeter meras calumnias et plus quam furiosa
conuitia.
Primum, quicquid vsquam fere vel cessatum est ab operis Frobenii,
215 vel ab ipso quisquis exscripsit exemplar, id omne obiicit mihi quum ;

videat nullum vnquam librum tam foeliciter excusum esse vt nihil

insit errati, et illic nullum legat erratorum indicem, Et tamen in
illis ipsis plerunque foelicius errarunt illi quam castigat Brixius.
Quam seditiose calumniatur me lacerare parentem Principis quum !

220 ipse tantum commemorem quae mala Princeps, dum auspicaretur

imperium, incomparabili gloria correxerit, qviibus aliquot ante annos
afflictabatur respublica nonnullorum perfidia quibus huius Eegis
;

parens nimium credidisset, impar aliquandiu ipse rebus admini-

strandis per aduersam valetudinem, alioqui vir omnium regnandi
225 prudentissimus. Et tamen Brixius, quum ea mala quae aliorum
contigere malicia, ipse improbe vertat in Eegem, mirum qiiani
virulenter ibi debacchatur in me vt pugnos, vt colaphos, vt exilia
:

congerit Et tanquam velut carcere stringeretur metro, ne tam

!

libere quam libebat liceret excuriere, addidit vipereas glossas in

230 margine, quibus in ea loca duceretur lector, si quis fortassis parum
esset attentus ad carmina.
Atque hoc pacto cum demonstret insigniter nihil sibi ad nocendum
defuisse praeter vires pares virulentiae, tamen homo lepidus gloriatur
se dixisse facete, dum risum ridet Aiacis. Nam vt is abiudicatis
235 armis insaniens, cum appensas verberaret pecudes, effuse risit in-
terim, et earum gemitu mire plausit sibi, vt cui furor persuaserat eas
Agamemnonem esse atque Vlyssem, in quos cupiebat vlcisci : sic
Brixius improbum interpretamentum suum insectans, et ad perniciem
vsque exagitans, suauiter arz'idet sibi, duni jjrae mentis inopia non

208. hospitio] See Ep. 1106. 9311. actually piosented to Henry, is among
220. commemorem] J.n a congratu- the Cotton MSS. at the British Museuni
latory ode addressed to Henry vni on (Tit. D. iv). For Brixius' treatment
his coronation, 24 June 1509 (Epigr. of it in tlio Antimorus, f°. B' \°, cf.
p. 185). I cannot find that it was Epp. 1117, H33 his marginal note is
:

time ' Mori impudentia, dum filium laudare

printed at the but an illu-
:

minated ms. copy, perliaps the original instituit, patrem vituperantis '.
1087] FKOM THOMAS MOEE 223

aduertit omnes, imo omnes prorsus homines quibus vlla scintilla aut 24°
boni pectoris aut sensus insit communis, in hoc Brixiano risvi non
minus animum gladiatorium detestari quam deridere dementiam.
Atque haec quum ita se habeant, tamen tanquam ista Coroebo
cuipiam scriberet aut Mai-gitae, non Erasmo ; tanquam ipso conni-
uente ad suam petulantiam, qua pidor debacchatus est in nos, omnium 245
simul sic eruisset oculos, vt quod ipsi cernere non liberet, idem nemini
pi'orsus liceret aspicere tanquam iam vicisset me lacessisse prius,
;

quem res docet posterius scripsisse tanquam adhuc hostilia durarent

;

tempora, vt ei liceret olim iactata verbula eademque prorsus innocua,

nunc demum venenatis vindicare calumniis, quum vterque Princeps, 250
quum totus vtrinque populus ita coaluit in concordiam, vt milites
obliuiscantur etiam vulnerum, quorum cicatrices adhuc gestant in
corpore ; tanquam ipse acerbiter essem inuectus ac diras omnes
imprecatus in illum tanquam ille vicissim meros iocos, meras
;

facetias, meros sales afFudisset, ac non insana conuitia deblaterasset 255

in me ac plus quam virulenta deliria: operaeprecium est videre vt
securus ac certus spondeat sibi non veniam tantum velut necessariae
responsionis, sed laudem etiam clementiae, qui videlicet impetitus
diris et execrationibus (quae nusquam extant), quum illi fas esset
paribus armis in certamen descendere, mira tamen indolis benignitate 260
atque admirabili dexteritate ingenii mordere se iactat absque dente,
iocari sine calumnia, ridere citra conuitium, ludere citra maledictum,
commonefacere sine obiurgatione, erudire sine ferula ; imo adeo mea
maledicta in lusus, conuitia in risus, pi"obra in iocos, execrationes in
ironias, diras denique in scommata conuertisse. 265
An non videatur belle perorasse Brixius, si quis haec forte legat,
qui nihil omnino cognoscat de causa ? Nam
si quis lector inciderit
qui Chordigeram eius, qui mea Epigrammata, qui moricum eius
Antimoron inspexerit (si quis forte sic abundet ocio vt ei vacet bonas
horas tam male perdere), quum in illis Epigrammatis meis neque 270
maledicta neque probra neque conuitia neque execrationes neque
diras inueniet ;
quum apud illum contra nihil inueniet aliud praeter
meras sycophantias, maledicentiam et virulenta iurgia quum dentes ;

videbit, sed fractos in coticula, ferulam videbit, sed absque literis

quum videbit hominem sic admonere vt stultissime carpat quod non 275
intelligit, sic erudire vt calumnietur improbe si quid intelligat: is
quanto risu ridebit eos risus Brixii, qui Brixium reddant ridiculum
Quibus scommata, quae multo scommate redeant in authorem Quos !

ei iocos exhibebit ita iocans Brixius, vt se videre putet saltantem

camelum ! Quantam praebebit ludendi materiam tam inepte ludens 2S0
Germanus, vt germanus videatur Aesopici aselli, qui non multo
minus absurde imitatus lasciuientem caniculam quam Brixius aemu-
latur poetas, lutosos et corneos pedes impegit in heriles humeros,
fustibus inde retrusus in stabulum! Denique quam lepidis ironiis
eludet ironias Brixii ! quippe tam illepidas, vt lectorem admoneant 285
pictoris cuiusdam, omnino talis qualis Brixius est poeta qui cum ;

leporem atque canem depinxisset ita similes vt internosci non possent,

tandem vter canis esset, vter lepus, subscriptione solers indicauit.
261. iactat] Ep. 1045. 35-8. in 1. 581 ; cf. Adag. 1801, and Moit's
268. moricum] Peihaps an epithet Epistola ad Biixium, f°. d*.
based on the Sicilian proverb quoted 278. Quibus] sc, risibus.
 224 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Ita Brixius eiusmocli fere ludit ironiis vt misere metuat sibi ne

290 quas velit accipi per iocum dictas laudes, eai*um plerasque multi
agnoscant pro veris cuius periculi non aliud vidit effugium quam
:

vt (IpMveveiv se protestaretur marginali glossemate. Nimirum homo

cautus ita cauit sibi, ne sua teneretur syngrapha, quasi me laudasset
ex animo. Vno loco tantum putauit non necesse esse vt marginali
•295 nota nos admoneret ironiae suae, adeo fidebat eius loci elegantiae
quum in indice, vt ille vult videri, meorum erratorum, vt res indicat,
calumniae atque inscitiae suae, meminit. Ridet in Vtopia mea
dialogum in quo fraterculus cum morione disceptat: 'in quo' inquit
Brixius, dialogo enarrando exornandoque Morus ingenii sui acumen,
'

300 phraseos vim ac iudicii integritatem facile explicat.' Equidera,

Erasme doctissime, non vsqueadeo contemno Brixium, aut mihi tam
impense placeo, quin facile fatear neque elegantem fraterculoruni
phrasin neque acutas morionis argutias tam belle vnquam me potuisse
exprimere, quam ad verum ac viuum potuerit expressisse Brixius.
305 Adeo efficax res est talibus orationis delitiis assuescere, et ad morio-
nem non nomine (quod tam ciuiliter tam saepe Brixius concedifc
mihi) sed natura (quo illum suo sibi iure vendicat Antimorus)
accedere.
Porro, quod de iudicio dicit, quo nimirum significat absurdum
310 esse barbaram fratrum phrasin ei libello inserere, quem cupias esse
Latinum (vt omittam interim et Graecos Latinis barbaros esse, et
Latinos Graecis, quorum serraonem cum laude quoque Romano
sermoni scriptores oranes tara frequenter interserunt), non expecto
vt, non dico mea oratio (in qua Brixius vndique tam raanifestarios
315 soloecismos ac barbarismos, sed manifestaria sycophantia, manifestaria
deprehendit inscitia) sed nec ipsius Bx-ixii (cui Veneres oranes atque
oranes prorsus Gratias putat affusas Brixius) ad Latinitatem aKquando
sit peruentura Plautinam qui nec absurde tamen sibi facere visus
:

est, nec Romanum sermonem dehonestare, quum in coraoedia Latina

320 Poenura interdura faceret loquentera Punice. quo exemplo non A
multum, opinor, abest, si quis in eo scripti genere quod prope
accedit ad comicura, fratrera id genus producat in j^rosceniura lingua
loquentem sua, hoc est Latino-barbara. Et tamen scis ipse, mi
Erasme, quam non valde mihi placuerit ille dialogus, quaraque
325 libenter fuerim oraissurus, nisi supra quam dico placuisset illis, quos
neque neque iudicio quisquam (qui quidem literas habeat ac
literis
iudicium) non tam longe anteponat Brixio,
Quantus ad aethereum patet hinc suspectus Olyrapum.

306. quod tam Lond. : quod iam a. 307. quo a : ? quomodo.

292. glossemate] Antimorus, S. B^ 296. indice] Antimoms, f. E", Tko-

v°,B^ V, C v", D^. mae Mwri lapsus inexcusuhiles in sylla-
294. Vno loco] Antimorus, . D^ f : barum quantitate : i". F^ v", Mojrt soloe'
Haud tamen iniicier genus esse Epi- cismi ac barbarismi aliquot foedissimi.
grammatis in quo, 297. Vtopia] pp. 72-8, ed. Lupton
Si quisquam vatum de grege, Mwre, who shows that thegreater part of tlie
vales ;
story was expunged by the Index ex-
referring to the verses on Henry of pvirgatorius.
Abingdon (I. S^nn), which in his com- 298. inquit] Antimorus, f°. G^ v°.
mentary Brixius describes as ' Mwri 306. nomine] Cf Ep. 1045. lo seq.
ridiculum epigramma ' (f". H^ v°). 328. Quantus] Cf. Verg. A. 6. 579.
1087] FKOM THOMAS MORE 225

Quorum aliquos hic quoque commemorarem, nisi quod et frustra

commemorarem conscio, et non est animus viros cum honestos tum 330
etiam honorabiles obiicere inuidissimi viri lati-atibus qui aliena ;

laude sic intabescit, vt plane pereundum homini fuerit, nisi ahquid

i-abiei suae deblaterasset in Beatum Rhenanum, aemulatus Aeschinis
odium a cuius eruditione non minus abest quam ego absum a
:

Demosthenis, cuius gloriae (ita) inuidit Aeschines vt Ctesiphontem 335

quoque, quia laudauerat, accusaret publice, et ei machinaretur exilium,
quod merito mox in ipsum recidit. Ita quoniam Epigrammata mea
Rhenanus Bilibaldo, doctissimus doctissimo atque optimus optimo,
laudatione sua commendauit, mirum quam insanit Brixius, quam
virulento animo, quam infirmis viribus ebetem phimbei gladii 340
cuspidem stringit in Rhenanum adulatorem vocat, aut, nisi hoc :

agnoscat, inscium, indoctum ac plane caecum, qui non viderit meos

versus tales esse quales visi sunt per inuidiae conspicilla peruidenti
Brixio. Sed frustra inuolat in elephantem culex. Nam Brixius .

cuiusmodi sit, declarat ipse. 345

Rhenanum laudare ego nec, vt nunc res habet, volo, ne illud
audiam Mutuo muli scabunt' nec certe si vellem, satis possem, vt
*
;

<iUo (quod omnes norunt, fatentur ac praedicant) tot foelicium in-

geniorum ferax Germania nihil habeat, si linguam spectes, elegantius,
si disciplinas, eruditius, si mores, melius. Verum demiror hercle 35°
cur in vnum furit Rhenanum Brixius. An eius vnius iudicium de
meis studiis dissentit a Brixio? quasi nihil honorifice de me scri-
psissent (vt omittam te ac Petrum Aegidium, quibus videri possit
amor nonnihil imponere) Buslidius, Huttenus, Paludanus, Nouio-
magus, Viues, Graj)heus, Zasius ac Budaeus quibuscum eo tempore ;
355

333. deblaterasset scripsi : ablaterasset a oblatrasset Jorlin.

: 335. ita
addidi. in fine versus. inuidit scripsi innidet a.
: 343. coiispicilla
Jortin conspicilia a.
:

339. commendauit] In a preface to in Vives' notes to Augustine C. D.

tlie Epigrammata, BRE. 72 cf. Ep. 845.
; Basle, Froben, Sept. 1522 (ii. 7, p. 41).
341. in Rhenanum] J.ntimoriis, f°. H Grapheus] Corn. Grapheusor Scri-
v" : but Beatus not mentioned by
is —
bonius (c. 1482 igDec. 1558) of Alost,
name. Cf. II. 367-74. a man of lively temperament. Inter-
352. scripsissent] Busleiden, Palu- esting himself in nmsic, poetry, and
danus, Nouioniagus, and Grapheus had painting, as well as in the classics, he
all made complimentary contributions travelled widely in Italy ;and had
to thc first edition of the Vtopia, Bu- recently settled at Antwerp and mar-
daeus to the second see Lupton'3
: ried. His first publication seems to
edition, 1895, pp. Ixv-viii. have been a small collection of devo-
353. te] Erasmus wrote apreface for tional verse, Androtheogonia, Louvain,
Froben's edition of the Viopia Ep. 635. : Th. Martens, 6 Feb. 1514 (? 151I) and
;

Aegidium] He wrote the pre- Martens produced twosimilarvolumes

face to the first edition addressed to : for him about tho same time (van
Busleiden, i Nov. 15 16. Iseghem, nos. 78, 82, 83). Compli-
354. Huttenus] For his praise of mentary versos by him, of which
More cf. Ep. 999. 1-3. More is no doubt thinking here, appear
Nouiomagus] Geldenhauer : see also in Martens' edition of Viopia (Ep.
Ep. 487. 461 introd.). He was appointed one
355. Viufs] Icannot findanyprinted of the secretaries of the tovvn of Ant-
eulogy of More in the works of Vives werp and was concerned with the
;

which had as yct appeared. This is celebrations there both on Charles'

perhaps an editorial insertion (cf. Ep. election to the Empire in 1519 nnd on
663. 105) based on the praiso of More his return from Spnin in June 1520.
 226 LETTEES OF EEASMUS [1520

adeo non arnicitia contracta est vlla, vt nec litera quidem vlla inter-
cesserit : at neque cuni ipso Ehenano, vt omittam plurimos eruditione
non incelebres. Quod si Brixius fingat hos omnes adulari mihi,
multum debeo qui tam magnum virum me facit. Sin caecos,
ei
360 inseios atque indoctos omnes pronunciet, quoniam sic ab ipso dissen-
tiunt, vt quem ille toties stultum vocat, toties appellat insanum, ei,
vt nihil recenseam amplius, aliquanto certe plusculum tribuant pru-
dentiae quam adhuc audio, praeter Brixium, quenquam tribuisse
Brixio nemo ei tam absoluta potestate dictaturam detulit, vt eius
:

365 vnius sententiam ita ratam esse oi^orteat, quin ad populum saltem
supersit prouocatio.
Nam quod hoc ita moleste fert, quod Ehenanus Epigrammata mea
Marulli et Pontani praetulerit, debebajt aliquanto pressius Ehenani
laudationes expendere : qui etsi multo mihi tribuit amplius quam
370 meus pudor possit agnoscere, tamen ea parte qua potissimum Brixius
offenditur, non adeo efifusus est in laudes meas vt Brixius inuidere
debuerit. Neque enim me Pontano aut Marullo vndecunque praefert
Rhenanus aut confert. Natura tantum comparat, non Graecarum
literarum peritia ne sit opus vt ita stomachetur Brixius Graeco
:

375 conferri Britannum. Etenim natura quid impedit etiam Graeco

parem quempiam,
Veruecum in patria crassoque sub aere nasci?

358. Quod si Jortin : Quasi a.

For the former he composed a broad- Peter Gilles, an EncJnridion principts ac

sheet, for the latter a congratulatory magistratus CJiristiani in 1543 a Para-
;

poem, Biui Caroli . . desyderatissirnus

. phrase on Ps. 123 and he published
;

reditus both printed by Hillen. He

: numerous little volumes of verse. In
quickly became attracted by schemes 1540 his secretaryship vvas restored to
of moderate reform in the Church. In him ; and he wrote elaborate descrip-
1520-1 he edited two works by John tions of the ceremonies observed on
Gochius ; and Durer {Tagehuch, ed. F. Cliarles' institution of the Senate at
Leitschuh, 1884, pp. 76-7, 89) received Antwerp in 1540 and on Philip's re-
from him a copy of Luther's Capt. Baby- ception there in 1549. An epitome of
lonica (Ep. 1153. 146^) in June 1521. Olaus Magnus' Hist. de gentibus septen-
Soon after the arrest of Nic. of Herto- trionaUbus is his work
though printed,;

genboscli (Ep. 616. i^n) Grapheus was Antwerp, C. Plantin, 1558, without
arrested on 5 Feb. 1522 at the order of his name. Erasmus writes of him with
Egmondanus and Hulst, and under praise in two letters of 14 July 1522,
pressure made an abject recantation in and thought of leaving him money in
April. His life was spared but in ; his tinie of need and their relations
;

spite of a piteous appeal, 18 Nov. 1522, were always cordiah

to John Carondelet (Ep. 803. lan), in See F. Pijper in BEN. vi, 1910
which lie gives some account of him- OE., with some epitaphs composed by
self, he was detained at Brussels and Grapheus for Erasmus ; Foppens ;

not allowed to return to Antwerp till Durer's Literary Remai7is, ed. W. M.

Nov. 1523 (EE. 19). A letter thence to Conway, 1889, pp. 115, 123, 130; and
Diirer, 23 Feb. 1524, shows the caution O. Clemen, Joh. Pnpper von Goch, 1896,
to which for the rest of his life he was pp. 269-75.
bound, in speaking of religion. 355. Zasius] In the preface to his
He remained at Antwerp and slowly Lucubrationes (Ep. 862).
re-establislied hisreputation byliterary 367. moleste fert] Antimorus, f°. H
work. In 1528 he dedicated to Caron-
delet tlie De Sculpiura of Pomponius Rhenanus] BRE. 72.
Gauricus of Naples in 1531-2 he com-
; 368. MaruUi] Cf. Ep. 385. 5n.
posed somo Colloguiorum Formulae out Pontani] Cf. Ep. 337. 339»«
of Terence in 154 1, with his colleague
; 377. Vervocum] Juv. 10. 50.
1087] FEOM THOMAS MORE 227

Quanquam ipse neque tani superbus sum neque tam nescius mei, vt
quae mihi tribuit Beatus Rhenanus, agnoscam qui me, quod dixi, :

talibus viris natura confert, vtilitate vero praefert hactenus, vt 380

censeat plus frugis adferre lectoribus si quid affero salubrium senten-
tiarura, quam quicquid illi chartis illinant obscoenitatis ac nequitiae ;

ac plus iuuare putat quae simpliciter ac aperte cano, quam Marulli

delectant aenigmata. Qua in re quid aliud Rhenanus quam, si quid
est virtutis in me, id illorum praefert vitiis ? 3S5
Quod laudis genus quum nihil obstet quo minus eorum virtutes
meis possint, vt certe faciunt, longe antecellere, non debuit ad
inuidiam vsque videri benignum quum interim, vt praeteream
:

reliquos, Budaeus vnus, vir non minus publicae rei peritus quam
literariae (in qua plane principatum quendam obtinet), quae de me 390
scripsit eiusmodi siut quae —
sicuti nunc hominis candidissimi ciuili-
tati tribuo, non aliter (quam) quae in Brixii Chordigeram prae-
fatur eruditissimus Aliander —
ita longe magis optem esse vera
,

quam Pontanum aut Marullum superare carmine, aut vtrunque

simul vtraque lingua vincere. Et tamen mirum est quam subito 395
mutatus Brixius incumbit in famae meae curam etiam ipse, vtpote
cuius non nisi fauore ac studio tot erratorum meorum me tot millium,
tam pudendorum, amice, beneuole, fideliter commonefecerit vide- ;

licet vt ipsiusopera subducantur clanculum, quae cii'cumferri diutius

absque insigni traductione mea ac pei'petua quadam ignorantiae nota 4°°
non poterant: quo nomine censet tantum etiam debere me tam
amicae eius industriae, quantum alteri quisquam debere possit.
Hoc tam elegans ac bellum schema tam vehementer arrisit Brixio,
vt quod nemo non irrisit quum legeretur in Antimoro, nunc velut
repetit serio oblitus interim illorum versuum, quibus miro ingenio
: 405
comminiscitur, qua arte nunc verisimile sit me tantae mederi
infamiae, nempe hac, vt omnes libros qui iam excusi sunt vsquam,
curem vndique reportatos ad me, atque ita repurgatos post emittam
denuo. Et tamen hoc ipsum ita veretur Brixius, ne videlicet emissis
in omnes vndique terras plus quingentis legatis, omnia exemplaria 410
recipiam, vt minetur se facturum vti apud se atque aliquot etiani
alios (quod nisi emissis in id vicissim legatis difficile, opinor, fuerit)
corrupta exemplaria extent, quae meos errores (quorum nunc id me
admonet vt tollantur clanculum, ne quis posthac possit exprobrare)
sic omnibus essent exhibitura, vt nec Oceani fiuctus omnes sordes 415
mihi possint abluere.
Eiusdem vei memoriae vel constantiae etiam illud est, quod cum
in ista epistola ad te neget Antimorum suam dentatam esse, vt in
qua mordeat sine dente tamen in hendecasyllabis (quos ita belle
;

concinnat, vt in vnum versum interdum sj^llabas intrudat tredecim) 420

ait suos elegos se meo cruore oblinere. Et plane quemadmodum non
minus ridicule poetas imitatur quam hominem simia, nec minus
inepte dissimulat quam aut mugil aut cuniculus, qui simulatque
caput in glebam condiderit, totum corpus satis occultatum putat ita ;

393. Aliander] Acomplimentarylet- Paris.

ter by hira praising the pocm and the 418. epistola] Ep. 1045. 34.
dedication to the Queen is prefixod to 419. in hendecasyllabis] Antimorus,
the Chordigera: and datedagDec. 1512, f°. E'^ v°.

Q 2
 228 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

425 nulhis lupus vnquam fuit deteriore memoria, nulla pluma, nullus
ventus magis constanter inconstans.
lani quod ait se tuo consilio fuisse pariturum, nisi liber iam tum
fuisset in raanibus typographi demiror admodum, quum tantam
;

vim obtineat apud illum vel solus nutus Erasniicus, tam leue pondus
430 habuisse monitoriam epistolam, vt potius suam famam pergeret
infamare tam furioso libello, praesertim siticulosus gloriae, quam
perderet pauxillum pecuniae: homo cui, vt ipsius verbis vtar, non
victus aut vestitus modo, sed famulitium quoque atque equitatus
insuper, et crumena denique semper aere grauis abundet cui domus ;

435 sint et hortuli, in quos Apollo ac Musae omnes, nisi Brixius pessulum
obdat hostio, cupiant relicto Parnaso prorsus immigrare. Et tamen
miror si tibi fuisset pariturus, qui re adhuc integra toties admonitus,
neque Budaeo neque Beraldo neque Lascari neque Deloino parere
voluit, neque reuerendissimo Cardinali, qui nuper obiit in Grallia.
440 Caeterum vt bonitatis fuisse iudicat quod Antimori dehortareris
editionem, ita nisi probaris editam, plane iam te censet iniustum:
qui aliud ius illi nunc dicas in me, aliud in Fabrum olim statueris
tibi. Nec dubito quin sibi videatur acutus admodum Brixius, et
peritus iudiciorum, qui te tam graui stringat praeiudieio, vt ni videri
445 veh*s iniustus, aduersus eum pi'onunciare non possis.
Ego, mi Erasme, (quod sicuti apud omnes profiteor, sic apud
neminem libentius profiteor quani apud te cuius animuni hac sane
;

parte comperi penitus conspirare cum meo) lacobum Fabrum sic

obseruo, suspicio, veneror, quomodo virum debeo quo non aliquot
450 ante saeculis extitit quisquam literis ac virtute venerabilior : qui an
plus adnisus sit, vt praeter sacrarum literarum studium, in quibus
illustrandis vtiliter est versatus, scholas aliquando ab inepta ista
garrulitate atque absurdis argutiis ad sobriam ac seueram philoso-
phiam atque ad neglectas iamdiu disciplinas traduceret, ambigo.
455 Quae res adeo in confesso est, vt ii quoque perquam honorificis
calculis illi attestentur in summa, qui ab eo longissime in vno atque
altero interdum dicto dissentiunt nec alia re prouocati tamen,
;

quam quod Faber quaedam, vt videtur multis, quae dicta ac disputata

moderatius offendissent neminem, nimis aliquanto fortiter asseueret,
460 ac maiore quam par sit contentione definiat ita bonos viros plerun-
:

que longius pius quidam feruor abducit.

Verum quam nihil habeat simile tua defensio cum istac absur-
dissima querela Brixii, nemini potest esse dubium, nisi cui res
prorsus erit ignota. Quamobrem consilium non est hunc explicare
4^>-, locum, et causam cum causa, libellos cum libellis conferre, quasi non

438. Baraldo a.

425. lupus] As the type of ingratL- Fecamp 1505 ; Councillor of the Par-
tude : Adag. 1086.
cf. liament at Rouen 1507 Abp. of ;

427. quod ait] Ep. 1045. 20-6. Bourges 1515 Cardinal t April 1517
; ;

432. verbis] Ep. 1045. 118-24. t 27 Nov. 1519, at Blois. See GC. ii.
437. admonitus] On f. C* v" of the 94, 359, xi. 153, 213. A memberof his
Antimorus Brixius appeals for support household was the future poet, Salmou
to the authority of Budaeus, Deloynes, Macrin, who w.as intimate with Brixius
and Lascaris. and contributed some verses to the
439. Cardinali] Antony Bohier of Antimorus see BE.* p. 88n.
:

Issoire in Auvergne ; Abbot of St. Ouen 440. iudicat] Ep. 1045. 14-20.
at Roueu 1492-1515, of Issoiro 1499, of 442. aliud ius] Cf. Ep. 1045. 65-6.
1087] FKOM THOMAS MOEE 229

aliter patere possit neque in initio quicquam, neque in toto rei

progressu, Brixii vesaniam cum tuo facto congruere: ne vel rem
clarissimam facere controuersam puter, vel sopitum atque obrutum
ignem importune videar suis eruisse cineribus, vel Fabrum, quem
toto colo pectore, aliqua cogar offendere vel tuum iudicium, apud
; 470
quem nunc causam dico, tentare credar, et fauorem conciliare
blanditiis. Hoc vnum certe (nisi quod ludere se posuit pro furere)
alioqui dicit non omnino falsum, te videlicet cominus pugnasse,
quum ipse rem egerit eminus. Nam vt tu rem non gladio quidem,
vt ait Brixius (qui te videtur gladiatorem fingere) sed acu prorsus 475
attigisti ; ita ille deliriis tantum velitatus eminus, et eiaculatus
conuitia quae vel anus ebria effutire potuisset in quemlibet, et quae
in ipsum commode competebant plurima, ad rem nunquam pro-
fecto quiuit accedere aut si fors attingit aliquando breuiter, tum
;

quemadmodum solet in duriore solo infirmis viribus emissum telum, 4S0

protinus aut praeteruolauit aut excidit. Itaque eminus sic commissa
pugna hactenus plane profecit, vt ediderit specimen posse quidem
sagittam sese non incommode prorsus emittere, si quis tantum
quem in locum eius sagitta ceciderit, eo scojjum semper officiose
transferat ; et belle posse iurgari, si quem uactus esset in quem illa 485
competerent, quae ipse ex inexhausto probrorum suorum puteo
posset haurire quibus quando deest in quem haereant, quid aliud
:

interim quam ipse perfundit sese?

Verum aliquando tandem velut tuis literis permotus incipit esse
placatior, ac, si mihi videatur, i^osteaquam vterque in proscenium
'
49°
prodiit, vt ait, personatus (sic enim prodire solebant pugnaturi) ac
suas pro virili partes egisse visus est, —
ego videlicet epigrammatis
aliquot, Brixius integris voluminibus ; ego prouocantis, ille respon-
dentis (nam hoc, ne quis alioqui non credat, accurate repetit)
non recusat tandem quo minus dextris inuicem iunctis Erasruo patre 495
patrato (qui mos olim fuit peculiaris histrionibus) feriamus foedus ',
praesertini cum tu me sentias illius amore dignissimum. Caeterum
ne pax tam facile impetrata fieret aliquanto contemptior, aut mihi
inde surgerent cristae, ita rem temperauit, nusquam suae maiestatis
immemor, vt 'si tragoediae ipsius exitum spectare malim, nihil item 500
moretur quo minus ea ad postremum vsque actum deducatur: vt-
pote cui mea hypocrysis non sit tam admirabilis vt illum a proscenio
deterreat, nec vires item vsqueadeo formidabiles, vt si manus con-
ferre voluerim, detractare debeat, modo meis, non vt Patroclus
Achillis, armis concertaturus in palaestram descendam, et ante 505
conflictum insonet tuba '. Vt miris artibus istam conflictatiunculam,
qua ferme duntaxat ipse pugnat secum, exornat Brixius atque
aTToaefjLvvveL! Nam velut histriones nos committit, comicos, tragi-
cos, palaestritas, bellatores et miruiu est quanto cum artificio haec
:

inter se tam diuersa commisceat, quam concinne pugnantibus aptet 510

personas, mimis scenicis arma, et adhibito patre patrato inter impe-

468. clarissimam Jortin charissimain a.

: 478. nunquam Jortiii inquam a.
:

479. attingit scnpst attinget a attingat Jor<«H.

: : 494. accura.te Jortin accur-
:

rate a. 507. eiornat Jortm exornet a.

: 510. aiytet scripsi aptat a.
:

472. ludere] Ep. 1045. 7^- 474- gladio] Ep. 1045. 1°'
491. vt ait] Ep. 1045. 81-94.
 230 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

ratores histriones feriat foedera. Vt dimicantes producit in prosce-

nium, bellatores in palaestram ! denique scita i7nfj.ov-f] tam belle
persistit in metaphora, vt in tribus fere versibus conficiat nobis
515 comicotragicopolemon.
Quod ad hoc foedus attinet, Erasme charissime, noli laborare.
Neque enim tam ingens instat rei literariae periculum, si congre-
diantur hinc Morus, homuncio perpusillus, hinc generosa illa palma,
palma non altior vna, Brixius, vt Erasmo sit opus patre patrato qui
520 faciat pacem nisi literai*um proceres similiter affectos reddat huius
:

duelli cura, quomodo apud Homerum sollicitos habet superos Giganteo

bello formidabilior illa ^aTpaxofJivo[jiaxia. Nam quod me scribis esse
illius amore dignissimum, tuam bonitatem agnosco, qui vndique
studes paci. Verum ego, mi Erasme, me tali non dignor honore vt
525 inter amicos sati'apis tam potentis adnumerer cuius nunc vtcunque :

respondi Antimoro, non sat fortasse reuerenter pro tanta viri digna-
tione, sed pro re certe, vt censent nimis aliquanto modeste. alii,
Tu vero, mi Erasme, quid sentias, scire. Nam quod tam cupio
propere curaui excudenda quae scripsi, quae tutius fortasse fuerat
530 per ocium polire, praesertim obiicienda tam oculato aemulo, vt et
ibi cernat mendum vbi mendum non est: malui ei ossa multa
relinquere in quibus exerceat dentes, fatiget, aut frangat denique,
quam mihi diu talibus nugis occupare pectus. Et profecto non
fuissem tam insanum libellum responso dignaturus vllo, ni mihi
535 visum esset amicorimi quorundam obsecundare consiliis, suadentium
vt me tuerer aduersus hominis absurdissimas calumnias. Quae res
vna mihi scopus fuit, non commutare conuitia, ac paria vieissim in
illum spargere. Alioqui, si statuissem non respiciendum potius quid
me deceret dicere quam quid illum conueniebat audire, quantumuis
540 magnifice meum contemnat stihim Brixius, tanquam imbellem,
eneruem, nihilque masculum effecissem saltem vt intelhgeret quam
;

verus sit ille Nasonis versus,

In causa facili cuiuis licet esse disertum.
Nunc vero quum ille non in ingenium tantum ac mores meos
545 debacchatus sit, verumetiam in perniciem meam, quoad eius fieri
l^otuit, sit grassatus ; in literis vero in me nihil intactum reliquerit
quod non arroserit ego contra nihil illius attigi praeter illa ipsa
:

volumina, quibus aut ipse petor aut patria. In vniuersum vero

quid praestare jDossit, neque pronuncio neque excutio. Scio enim
550 quam leue pondus habiturum sit de Ulo iudicium meum quod ;

tamen etiamnum magis benignum est in illum quam sit multorum

519. altior scripsi, cf. Liicr. 4. 414, Juv. 13. 173 : aliter a. 524. tali non
Jortin, injine versus, cf. Verg. Aen. i. 335 t:im o. : 546. me scrijJsi : eu a.

518. palma] In some verses preeed- magna pondera imponas ae tam gra-
ing the Antimorus, f°. A* v°, Brixius uiter vrgeas oneresque vt magnitudo
had written : oneris sustineri non queat, non deor-
Vt si palmam
oneres premasque, sum palma codit nec infra fiectitur, sed
contra aduersus pondus resurgit, et sursum
Haec obnititur altiorque surgit. nititur recuruaturquo '. More uses the
Cf. Adag. 204, citing Gell. 3. 6 Ar- :
'
same figure in his Ejnstola ad Briximn,
bori palmae peculiare quiddam inesse, f°. f* v".
quod cum ingenio fortium virorum 522. scribis] Ep. 620. 32,3.
couueniat. Nam si supor eius lignum 542. Nasonis] Tr. 3. 11. 21.
1087] FEOM THOMAS MOEE 231

quos ille minus offendit. Veruni enimuero neminem adhuc audio

tam candido calculo suffragantem Brixio, vt non idem sentiat nihil
hactenus ab eo prodiisse tam magnificum, quod respondere possit
hominis iactabundi gloriolis dum nunc iactat idem esse poeticen
;
555
sibi quod TreSiov iTnrw, hoc est equo suum campum, nunc se gloriatur
cum antiquitate certare, nunc ipsam clauam vi eripere Herculi, dum
fulmen denique satis impudenter sese minitatur efflaturum. Has
hominis glorias alii quoties cum eius conferunt poematiis, ingenium
censent non insanum tantum sed etiam insanabile. 560
Ego vero, quanquam Brixius in me tam atrocem non modo iudicem
sed et augurem quoque praebeat sese, vt non solum quicquid hactenus
vnquam scripsi damnet, verum etiam pronunciet nihil posthac scriptu-
rum quod possit esse dignum lectu tamen mitius aliquanto de illo
:

sentio, coniecturam potissimum cum ex Chordigera faciens, tum ex 565

Antimoro quam in me scripsit iratus, quando vel hoc ipsum mihi
spem adhuc aliquam facit, austeram illam indolem posse aliquando
mitescere, quod cum tam inepta scribat nunc id aetatis habens,
hominem esse video non tam praecocis ingenii quin adhuc durare
possit ac maturescere alioqui. Plane si sentirem ad statum iam ac 570
robur peruenisse atque, vt Graeci vocant, aKfji-^v, aliud expectare non
possem quam vt cuius ver lethargus est, aestas ira tam impotens,
eius autumnus sit omnino furor.
lam quod meam hypocrisin negat esse tam admirabilem vt eum
e proscenio deterreat, fateor certe nil nec habere me nec prae me 575
ferre quod absterreat quenquam. Neque negare possum quin hypo-
crisis Brixii tantum terroris inuehat secum, vt non modo me
homuncionem pauidulum, et quem facile terruerit personae pallentis
imago, sed spectatores omnes prorsus e theatro possit spectris
expauefactos abigere si modo veri sint ii versus Brixii, quos in 580
:

Antimorum M(upi)(ov /x(iip6Tepo<; inseruit

Haec mihi dictanti astabant Dirae auribus omnes

Et Furiae, infernis concita turba vadis,
Alecto, et sacris caput irretita colubris
Tisiphone, et terrens ore Megaera truci. 5^B

Quod si personas istas plus satis tragicas deponat Brixius, certe

reliqua honiinis hypocrisis non habet quicquam tam admirabile vt,
velut Medusae caput, quenquam reddat attonitum neque vires eius
;

experior tam formidolosas vt aut Patroclo, aut Thersitae certe, prae-

sidium petendum sit ab Achillis armis aduersus Hectorem talem. Sin 590
Brixio penitus decretum est (non) factitias illas Furias verum furorem
suum proferre in proscenium secum, si certum est illi totis intonare
tonitribus, si fuhnen illud terrificum vibrare statuit, quod sibi ab
ore iactat cadere, quoties secum videlicet Offensus grauius dignas
loue concipit iras histrionicam suam sohis per me licebit exerceat, 595
:

ego aduersus tam ominosa spectra silentio memet velut amuleto

lustrabo. Existet lamen fortassis Hercules aliquis uA.e^iKaKo?, qui
suetus eiusmodi portenta subigere, clauam quam ei Brixius vi

574. negat] Cf. 1. 502. 581. Mupixov'] C{. Adag. 1801, and Ep.
578. personae] Cf. Juv. 3. 175. 1144.24.
580. versus] Antimorus, f°. B* v°. 594. dignas] Cf. Ov. Met. i. 166.
 232 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

eripuit, vicissim eripiat Brixio, ferula nimirum armatus aut flagro.

600 Nam aduersus rov Bpt^tou^ySpovr^v non dubitau<er)it vel ^7pe\j/La.8q<i
rr/v
dvTaiTOTrapSeiv. Porro fulmitiis praestigium belle compescat Cacus,
talium terriculamentorum peritus artifex: qui si minus calleret
artem, tamen quibus armis vtendum Caco fuerat aduersus tale
fulmen, ipsius Caci nonien admoneret. Etenim potius quam fulminis
patulum, trisulco hiulcans
605 afflatu miseri mortales perierint, in os illud
fulmine, non tantum meiere fas est.
Spero, mi Erasme, fore vt te in Regum conuentu simus visuri
Caleti ; qui venturus hauddubie sis vtrique Regum gratissimus.
Alioqui fuerit impudens si nos amiculi tui vel exigamus vel expecte-
610 mus vt nostra causa subeas laborem tanti itineris, quorum potius
officium fuerit ad te venire id quod, ni te illuc Regum cura per-
:

traxerit, a Principe impetrata in dies aliquot venia faciemus. Tu

interea, vale, ac nihilominus quam soles amicus Brixio,
mi Erasme,
Morum simul qua soles charitate complectere cui tu tam charus :

615 es vt nec ipse sibi sit charior. Lupsetus noster magno auditorio
summa cum laude sua, nec minore scholasticorum fruge, bonas
literas in vtraque lingua profitetur Oxoniae. Successit enim loanni
Clementi meo nam is se totum addixit rei medicae, nemini ali-
;

quando cessurus, nisi hominem (quod abominor) hominibus inuiderint

620 Parcae.
Iterum vale ; ac meo nomine Dorpio, Neseno, Viueti, viris in
re literaria primariis, salutem plurimam nuncia.

1088. To JODOCUS JONAS,

Gotha MS. chart. A. 399, f. 231. Louvain.

Horawitz ii. 3. 9 April 1520.

[This letter vvas first printed, from the Gotha MS. described in Ep, 872 introd.,
by Steitz in his life of Nesen (Ep. 329 introd.), pp. 96,7 using a copy communi- ;

cated by Pastor Krafft of Elberfeld. Horawitz printed it later from the same
source. Kawerau (JE. 37) refers also to a ms. copy at Hamburg (58, f. 20 v°),
which I have not seen.
The year-date is confirmed by the mention of Atensis' death (8 Jan. 1520) and
of Erasmus' reply to Lee (Ep. 1037 introd.).]

600. dubitaueri t Jorim. aTpiiprjdSrjs a corr. Jortin. : 601. fulminis Joriin

fluminis a. 606. meiere Jortin me ire a. :

601. uvTairoTiapdtTv] Cf. Ar. iV«6. 293. Lyons, S. Dolet, 1541, p. 45, Ego u '

604. Caci nomen] sc. a cacando : mea Angliam profectione, quo tem-
in
Jortin. pore quartumdecimuni paulo minus
605. afflatu] Cf. Obseq. 50. agebam annum, duobus annis cum viro
606. meiere] Cf. Juv. i. 131. doctissimo Tlioma Lupseto, qui nescio
608. Caleti] Sec p. 296. quot abhinc annis mortuus est, in
615. Lupsetus] Cf. Ep. 967. 26n. Corporis Christi Collegio Oxoniae habi-
He succeeded Clement (1. 6i8n) about taui '. Lupset held office till 1523,
the end of 1519, and was lodged in when he was succeeded by Vives.
Corpus (cf. p. 210). During his resi- 618. Clementi] He had been ap-
dence there Gentian Hei-vet of Orleans pointed WoIsey's Reader in Humanity
was his pupil see Hervefs Opuscula,
: at Oxford c. Nov. 1518 cf. Ep. 907.
;
1088] TO JODOCUS JONAS 233

EXIMIO D. lODOCO lONAE ERAS. ROTERODAMVS.

S.AccEPi postremas literas tuas amantissimas. Leo responsum

est, vt ille non liabeat posthac quod hiscat, nisi velit conuicia
congerere quod in promptu est et meretricibus. Nunc superest
;

alter actus, vt amici scribant literas censorias in Leum, sed ita vt

laudent et doctos et principes Angliae doctis fauentes, Leum vnum 5
onerent et hunc magis rideant vt stultulum, vt gloriosulum, vt
;

fucatulum, quam vt insectentur. Cuperem colligi multas epistolas

tales, quo magis obruatur. Colligantur a doctis et ad me mittantur
per certos homines ipse recognoscam et curabo aedendas.
; Sit in
his magna varietas. Dedi Wilhelmo Neseno quo vos instituat. ic

Nolim scire Praedicatores qualem amicum praestiterim Luthero.

Haec Academia concepit immedicabilem insaniam. Periit Atensis,
sed odiosius agunt Edmondensis et Latomus, alter lippus, alter
claudus. Saluta amicos omnes, et si quid ama(n)t Erasmum, hunc
Leum tractent vt dignus est. Bene vale. li

Louanii postridie Paschae. Anno 1520.

Erasmus tuus.

1089. From Richard Pace.

Epistolae eniditorum virorum p. 155. Greenwich.

Jortin ii. 377. April <i52o>.

[For the source see p. 210. Tlie omission of the precise month-date in Eev
perhaps indicates that the letterwas printed from Pace's i-ough-draft, communi-
cated from England, rather than from the actual document received by Erasmus.
The year-date is indubitable.]

PACAEVS ERASMO SVO.

Epistolio mihi signifieasti te Lei respondisse Apologiis. Legi
ipse versum, imo
perlegi ufj.vcrTl a capite ad calcem, pellectus admira-
tione illius qua vteris vbique modestiae : quod nunquam in tali re
credidissem te praestare potuisse, nisi vidissem. Res mirifice arridet
eruditis auribus. Cauebunt, opinor, in posterum alii ne te impetant 5
conuitiis, qui tam modeste et sancte mordere nosti. Quod Germani
fi'endent in Leum, sicut non miror, ita vehementer doleo. Non
miror idcirco, quod conetur Leus coronae Germanorum preciosissimam
conspurcare gemmam doleo quod frendendi ansam in conterraneum
:

meum et amicum nacti sint. ic

Vale ex Grennico. ApriL

1088. II. praestiterim iCraiTi! : praestiterint IfS. 14. amant Horaivita.

1088. 4. literas] See Ep. 1083 introd. Annoiationes (Ep. 1037). Cf. also Ep.
5. laudt-nt] Cf. Ep. 1083. 3311. 1085. 10-12.
10. Ne.seno] See Ep. 1057 introd. 11. praestiterim] e.g. in Ep. 1033:
By 20 April he had returned (Eae f°. and see Ep. 1038 introd.
B^ : Eev p. 53). 14. claudus] In a marginal noto to
quo vos instituat] Perhaps a Sbrulius' Cartnen (Ep. 1159. 6n) as
copy of Ep. 1053 in Martens' edition, printed in the Flores, Latomus is de-
to show his Erfurt friends how he scribed as 'loripes cf. also Lond.
'
;

wished the case stated and Lee's ; Viv. 6, LB. 615 of 19 Jan. 1522.
 234 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

1090iog7 From Thomas More.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 544. (Greenwich ?)
HN : Lond. xiv. 15 : LB. 553. (April 1520.)

[An approximate date may be assigned from Ep. 1097.]

THOMAS MORVS ERASMO SVO S. D.

Tametsi mihi nunquam fuit obscurum, Erasme omnium dulcissime,

quanto interuallo iudicium tuum antecellat meum, nunquam tamen
illustrius inclaruit quam in hoc consilio, quo tibi Leoque suasimus
vt libellus eius perpetuo premeretur: te censente contra vt tum
5 potius aedere sineretur, dum expectabatur assidue, vt aliquando
posset ea finiri fabula, quam sopita fama paulisper post exiret tamen,
noua suscitata tragoedia. Itaque perpulimus verius quam persua-
simus, vt in ea pacta concederes ; quae, quum tu te neges infregisse,
Leus sancte sese seruasse deieret, interim tamen perpetuo fere rumpe-
'o bantur. Per vtrum vero, quando res me tam procul agente gereba-
tur, altero in alterum congerente regerenteque vicissim omnia, certo
diiudicare non possum dolere tantum cogor illud consilium tantum
:

apud vtrunque valuisse vt pax iniretur, quod valiturum non erat vt

seruaretur. Maluissem enim tum libellum aeditum quum minus
"^5 irritatis animis poterat aedi mitius, quam vt nunc demum adauctis

odiis emitteretur acerbior. Prodiit enim, sed amarior aliquanto

quam vel sperassem vel in rem fuisset studiosorum in quibus ;

desideratur ea modestia quam vel idiotas inuicem non praebere

pudesceret. At tibi certe, mi Erasme, conuenit, si causas quas allegat
20 habuit, non mirari si amarulentius aflfectum suum tam insigniter
offensus effuderit sin elusus est aliqua figura veri, sic quoque con-
:

uenit ignoscere. Neque enim nos quicquam segnius credita mouent

quam cognita.
Non es vel admonendus, opinor, vel hortandus, vt exhibeatur abs
25 te vere Christiana modestia, cuius labor in tota re vni desudat
Christo, qui tibi solus ob oculos debet obuersari a quo solidiorem :

tanto referes gratiam, quanto magis hic referre mundus neque ingratus
curat neque gratus potest. In cuius immensa commoda quum tot
incommoda perpessus sis, quum tot laboribus valetudinem detriueris,
30 vt bona promoueres studia, tamen apud inuidos, eosque tibi prope-
modum vni debentes quicquid habent literarum, si quid liabent
bonarum, mala jjro bonis referas, eo similior es Christo quem non :

aliter possis imitari fidelius quam si maledicta retalies benedictis,

sicut incitasti benefactis. Vale, Erasme animo meo charissime.
35 Tuus, vt suus, T. Morus.

6. H: possit F. g. H: rumpebatur F. 35. Tuus . . . Morus om. H.

8. ea pacta] The settlement at- for las notes (cf. his letter to Louvain,
tenipted in the summcr of 1519: see ^mho<. f". AA*), and the abusive attacks
p. iio, and cf. Ep. 1074. 67-74. mado upon hini (ibid. ff. CC. v°, CC^ :

19. causas] The contempt shown cf. Ep. 1061. 319-509).

logi] 235

1091. To LiviNUS Algoet.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 568. Antwerp.

HN: Lond. xv. 13: LB. 502. 13 April 1520.

[Only 1520 and 1521 are possible for by April 1519 Carinus (Ep. 920 introd.)
;

had not yet come to Louvain with Nesen (cf. Epp. 994. ^n, 1034). But beyond
this I cannot confirm the year-date. No corroboration is obtainable from the
place ; for in 1521 Erasmus was again at Antwerj) just at this time (Ep. 1199).
For Erasmus' three visits to Antwerp in March and April 1520 see pp. 203, 216.
His intention was now, after supervising the printing of his third book against
Lee, the second ResjMnsio which Hillen produced in May (p. iio), to go on into
Holland (Ep. 1092. i). But tho dates of his letters signed from Antwerp show
such short intervals that the visit to Holland can hardly have been carried out
(cf. Lond. xvii. 6, LB. 604, of October 1521). Between 3 and 5 May he returned
to Louvain (Epp. 1098,9).
Livinus Algoet (f 25 Jan. 1547) of Ghcnt (Index to H) entered Erasmus'
household as a servant-jjupil c. 1519, and remained with him for nearly seven
years ; frequently carrying his letters. At Louvain he was a pupil of E. Rescius
t,OE. jj. 200), and became proficient in Latin and Greek : ' adeo . vt non
. .

habuerimus apud nos illi similem', if he is the messenger of Zw, E.^ ii8(cf. Ep.
1063 introd.). In Sept. 1524 Erasmus, who was not altogether satisfied with
him (0.'p. 8), sent him to study medicine at Louvain (OE. p. 352), and pro-
posed that he should work there with a young kinsman of Wolsey (Lond. xviii.
50, LB. 686; ; at the same time, on the suggestion of Marcus Laurinus (EE. 27 :

cf. II. 25-7 j, trying toarrange that his Courtray i^ension (Ep. 436. ^n) should pass
to Algoet at his death (Lond. xx. 46, xxi. 31 ; LB. 783, 822). But the young
man was disinclined to study, and in 1525 was still carrying letters (EE.^ 30
Horawitz v. 77, 80 LB. App. 330). In 1527 he was in Paris (EE. 71) ; but
;

Erasmus was disappointed in him (OE. p. 352), and did not, as Laurinus
wished, make i)rovision for him in his will. Continuing to hang about in quest
of court service, Algoet obtained temporary employment with Corn. Scepperus
at Augsburg (EE. 131) ; and at length attached himself to Nic. Olaus, who in
^531-2 procured Ijim, with Erasmus' aid, a small post in the household of Queen
Mary of Hungary (OE. pp. 174-6, 196, 225J. On 6 Aug. 1532, being still a
dependant, Algoet married agranddaughter of Ant. Clava (OE. pp. 219, 224) and :

continuing with Olaus, was appointed in March 1534 to teach Queen Mary's
young pages (OE. pp. 477, 515). For the year 1532-3 he enjoyed the income of
Erasmus' Courtray pension (Basle MS. C. VF. 71, f. i). In Dec. 1538 he received
a present from the Queen for composing a genealogy of Charles v by 1543 he ;

vvas king of arms for Flanders. In Erasmus' later years Algoet regained some
of his confidence, and often acted as messenger to him. See the detailed notes
in EE. E. Boehmer {Sibl. Wiffeniana, i, 1874, p. 93) mentions a rare volume,
narrating the proceedings of the Diet of Augsburg Pro religione Christiana, wliich
Algoet received an imperial privilege to print, 6 Nov. 1530.]

ERASMVS LIVINO ALGOTIO SVO S. D.

Incidervnt nonnulla praeter spem, quae reditum nostrum in dies

complusculos remorantur. Itaque quod iter ingressurus admonui,
visum est rursum inculcare literis. Vide ne committas vt absentia
nostra te segniorem ad studia reddidisse videatur, quae potius debuit
acuere. Nimirum quo plus tibi vacat temporis ab obsequiis quibus 5
praesenti soles inseruire, hoc par est attentius incumbere literis.
Hac certe spe te reliqui Louanii, magis tuo commodo consulens quam
meo. Dabis igitur operam ne me haec fallat ratio, ac modis omnibus

TiT. Ai.aoTio acld. 11. svo om. H. 4. debet Lond.

 236 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

cauebis ne quid reuersus offendam quo reditus meus minus laetus

10 esse videatur. Nosti illud Terentianum, Ita vt fit, domini vbi '

absunt itera illud, Malo coactus qui suum ofificium facit, tantisper
' :
'

cauet dum id rescitum iri credit si sperat fore clam, rursus ad

:

ingenium redit \ Illud te dignius est Is quem beneficio adiungas,

:
'

ex animo suum officium facit, praesens absensque idem erit '. Mihi
15 semper placuit liaec Mitionis ratio tuae partes erunt adniti ne me
;

huius animi poeniteat.

Non aliter quam pestem fugito quorundam consortia, in quos vere
competit illud Menandri, 'POupovcnv rjBrj XPW^' ofiLXiaL KaKai Carini A
latere digitum latum ne discedito. Is annis quidem haud ita multo
20 maior est te, sed ea morum integritate, tanta siti literarum, vt vix
alterius conuictu queas euadere vel melior vel eruditior. Natura dedit
ingenium felix quo nomine vt tibi gratulari possumus, ita laudari
;

non debes, ni naturae bonitatem veluti solum felix tua excolas

industria, dedecus ingens reportaturus, si tute tibi defuisse videaris.
25 Neque te clam est quid abs te expectent parentes optimi, neque nescis
quid debeas Marco Laurino, qui te mihi prorsus affectu paterno
commendauit. Vt ne commemorem interim quid mihi debeas, qui
te semper habuerim non famuli sed filii loco, certe auget hoc quoque
expectationem multorum, quod cum Erasmo familiariter conuixeris.
30 His omnibus non potes nisi summo studio respondere et nunc aetas ;

est vtmaxime docilis, ita laborum patiens, Alios a studiis arcet

nummorum, librorum aut praeceptorum inopia tibi cum : nihil
horum non suppetat ex amicorum benignitate, nisi talem te reddi-
deris qualem oportet, ndri erit quod praetexas, culpa omnis in te
35 vnum recidet.
Haec tam multa cum satis, opinor, inflamment te ad studium
egregiae probitatis atque eruditionis, tamen hoc quoque calcar addere
debet animo non degeneri, quod Louanii vides tot pueros, tot adole-
scentes non minus feliciter quam ardenter ambire laudem literaturae
40 bilinguis. Postremo par est vt gentis paternae cognomento respon-
deas, ne, quod abominor, existant aliquando qui TrdyKaXov per iocuni
vertant in -n-dyKaKov vnius elementi deprauatione ex omnibono (nam
;

id sonat gentile cognomen) omnimahmi facientes. Quin huc potius

manibus pedibusque connitendum, vt hoc cognominis non fortuito
45 sed numinis alicuius consilio tibi contigisse videatur. Haec tam
diligenter admoneo, non quod diffidam ingenio tuo, sed quod iis
quibus vehementer ex animo bene volumus, etiam tuta timei*e
soleamus.
Si quid isthic allatum est literarum quas intelligas non esse magni
50 momenti, eas seruato in reditum meum. Sin quid erit quod proro-
gari non expediat, nec continget per quem certo mittas, ipse Iiuc
aduolato. Bene vale. Antuuerpiae Id. April. Anno m.d.xx.

28. lioc om. N. 49. intelligis H. 52. idus Aprilos H.

10. Tereutianum] Eun. 600. 13. Is quem] Cf. Ter. Ad. 72,3.
11. Malo] Cf. Ter. Ad. 69-71. 18. Monandri] ap. 1 Cor. 15. 33.
1092] 237

109.2. TO NlCHOLAS EVERA.RD.

LB. App. 315 (a), Antwerp.
Gudii Epistolae p. 380 (/3). 17 April (1520).

[This letter and Ep. 1 188 were first printed by P. Burmann in 1697 in the same
volume as Ep. 949 from the collection of autograph letters belonging to Ant.
;

Vivien (1661-1707% a memberof a Dordrecht family, who hadsettled as a lawyer

at the Hague (see NNBW. ii. 1503 and Burmann's preface, f°. **' v"). The correc-
;

tions made by Leclerc show that he too had the original manuscript before him :
though he does not mention Vivien in his preface. His text both here and in
Ep. 1188 is so much better than Burmann's that it must be placed first but in ;

spelling and form of date Leclerc allowed himself such freedom that I have
preferred to follow Burmann.
The year-date can be assigned without hesitation from the mention of Erasmus'
replies to Lee (11. 4, 11), the second and third of which were printed by
Hillen at Antwerp in April and May 1520. In consequence the year-date, Anno
1521, which appears in a, may be attributed to the editors.
—
Nicholas Everardi or Everardus (c. 1462 9 Aug. 1532) of Middelburg was
a native of Walcheren. After studying at Louvain under Arnold de Beka and
Peter of Tirlemont he was LL.D. 11 June 1493 and, continuing there to teach ;

law, was Rector 1504. He also becanie Chancellor to Erasmus' patron, Henry of
Bergen, bishop of Cambray (cf. his consilii(.m no. 24). For a time he took
orders, and was appointed Dean of St. Guidon's at Anderlecht in 1498, and
Dean of St. Gudule's at Brussels in 1506. But shortly afterwards he returned
to civil life, married, and served as a member of the Grand Council of
Malines. In 1509 he was made President of the Council of HoIIand, Zeeland,
and Friesland and in 1528 President of the Grand Council in succession to
;

•Tosse Laurens.
He wrote Topicorum seu de locis legalibus liber, Louvain, Th. Martens, Feb. 15 16,
addressed to John le Sauvage (Ep. 410), and with a preface by Remaclus Arduenna
(Ep. 411), who had been his pupil. This was reprinted at Bologna, Jo. Bapt.
Hectoris, 27 Jan. 1528 and a new edition with his final corrections appeared
;

after his death, Louvain, S. Sassenus, 1552. His sons, Everard, Nicholas, and
Adrian, also printed a volume of his Consilia, Louvain, 1554 which, as giving ;

details of the cases submitted to him for opinion, serve, like those of Zasius, to
illustrate the life of the times. In the seventeenth century his works were con-
sulted and several times reprinted. A
translation of Lucian's De non o-edendo
calumniae by Rumoldus Stenemola, (Antwerp, M. Keyser, 1530), is dedicated to
him. One of his younger sons was .Janus or Joannes Secundus (1511-36), author
of the Basia, who made some reputation as a poet.
See Val. Andreas, pp. 40, 177-8 ; C. van Gestel, Hist. archiep. Mechlinien., 1725,
ii. 14 ;Sweert ; NNBW. iii and for his feeling towards Erasmus cf. Ep. 1044.
:

18-22.]

EXIMIO DOMINO D. NICOLAO, VTRIVSQVE I. DOCTORI, PRAESIDENTI

HOLLANDIAE DIGNISSlMO, ERASMVS ROT. S. P.

Magnifice domine Praesidens, visam hac aestate Hollandiam,

nisi quid aliud inciderit. Interea mitto celsitudini tuae i^luml^eum

TIT. NICOI.AO EVERARDO, PRAESIDENTI IIOLLANDIAE, S. D. DESIDERIVS ERASMVS /3.

1. HoIIandiam] Cf. Ep. 1094. lo-ii, on the ground of Erasmus' letter to

und p. 235. Botteus, 29 March 1528 (Lond. xix. 43,
2. plumbeum Erasmum] Cf. Epp. LB.954), speaking of 'eflBgiem moi . . .

iioi. 8-9 (bronze), 1119. 5 (bronze), quam Quintinus Antuerpiao fudit

1132. 18 (lead). Thedescription in Ep. aere '. Erasmus cun be traced at
iioi makes it easy to identify this with Antwerp frequently during the months
the medal, dated 1519 and commonly of April to Aug. 1519, and again in
(nodoubtrightIy)attributedtoMet3ys, Nov. and Dec. For copies struck at
 238 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

Erasmum, ab artifice non vulgari effigiatum, nec mediocri sumptu.

Mitto duos libellos, quibus respondeo Leo Anglo quo nebulone nihil :

5 adhuc produxit orbis nec arrogantius nec indoctius nec virulentius.

Ipsa Anglia suum foetum execratur. Audio et isthic esse Praedica-
tores qui stolidissime deblaterant apud indoctam multitudinem et
popuhim ad Japides prouocant quorum improbitati nisi principes:

obsistant, res tandem exibit in seditionem. Praedicent sacras literas,

10 et taceant de rebus hisce quas non intelHgunt.
Tertius liber excuditur is breui veniet isthuc, nisi i>rius continget
;

te Louanium reuisere id enim accepi ex filio tuo, qui nuper coenauit

;

apud nos Antuerpiae. Is mihi visus est non veste tantum sed et
animo candidus. Salutabis caeteros amicos, quibus nunc non vacat
15 scribere, Sasboutum, Carolum, Mauricium, Bernardum Decanum ;

et, si adsunt, heroes quibus ego debeo plurimum, Nassauwen et

Venensem. Bene vale.
Antuerpiae xv. Cal. Maias.
Erasmus ex animo tuus.

4. Leo a : Leoni ;3. 16. heroesa: homines /8. 17. Y eriensem scripsi
Veriensis a, fortasse pro Verien., cf. Ep. 291, 13, wcnon Ep. 247. 17, 19, vbi Baiocen.,
Narbonen., Bononien. EFHN, Ep. 1094, 15, 31, 47, 48 : Vecicnsis P. 19.
Erasmus ex animo tuus om. 0.

Nuremberg in 1523-4, with perhaps respondet and the first Respcnsio : see
some modification in the reverse see p. IIO.
Lond. XXX. 30, LB. 646, of 8 Jan. 1524. 11. Tertius liber] The second Re-
Geo. Agricohi states (De precio metal- sponsio to Lee: see p. 11 o.
lorum, Basle, Froben, 1550, p. 299) that 12. filio] Peter, the eldest, a Prae-
he had seen an example in silver monstratensian or White Canon,
vreighing a Ib. probably of their abbey at Middel-
As early as 1521 a woodcut of the burg; LL.D. at Louvain, 22 May
medal was produced, which appears 1520, and parish priest of Flushing.
on the title-pages of three parts of See Molamis p. 544 and Val. Andreas
John Eberlin's Die ij Bundesgenossen p. 182. There is an epitaph on him
{Basle, P. Gengenbach). There is a in the Opera of his brother, Joannes
gbod plate, showing both sides, in F. Secundus, Utrecht, 1541, f°. G* v°.
van Mieris' Hist. d. Nederlandsche Vorsten, 15. Sasljoutum] Jodocus Sasbout (4
1733» ii- 94)5 also in a Dresden dis-
: —
March 1487 14 Nov. 1546), a Dr. of
sertation, 1752, by A. Grenzius, who Laws, who since 1515 had been a mem-
discusses the medal fully and states ber of the Council of HoIIand, over
that the Dresden copy, apparently that which Nic. Everard presided. In 1543,
of Ep. II 19. 5, was first silvered and when Gueldres became Imiierial, he
then gilt. was appointed its Cliancellor. He
Tlie present reproduction is from the con-esponded with Erasmus in 1532-3 :

copy (bronze) in the Ashmolean Lond. xxiv. 17, LB. 1219 and EE.'^ 112.
Museum, Oxford. There are also See NNBW. ii. 1265.
copies in the British Museum (lead) ; Carolum] I cannot identify.
at the Basle Museum, reproduced by Mauricium] See Ep. 176 introd.
J. R. Haarhaus in Zs. f. bildende Kunst, Bernardum] See Ep. 1237 introd.
NF. X (1898,9), p. 48, and by A. 16. Nassauwen] See Epp. 147. 58^,
Machiels in Gazette des Beaux-Arts, Nov. 829. 12, 1192.
1911, p. 349 and elsewhere.
; 17. Veriensem] Adolphus : see Ep.
4. duos libellos] The Apologia qua 93 introd.
 Meclallion of Erasinus bv Metsvs, 1519-

P. 238
1093] 239

1093io96 To Thomas More.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 579. Antwerp.
HN: Lond. xv. 15 : LB. 503. 26 April 1520.

ERASMVS ROT. THOMAE MORO S. D.

Sperabam meas literas aliquid ponderis habituras fuisse apud

Brixium. Sed ecce prodiit ac prostat hic Antimorus eius. Qui liber
vellem autoris ipsius causa, cui faueo ob animum eius vel in bonas
literas, vel in me, quod eius declarant scripta, propensum, aut per-
petuo latuisset, aut certe Brixius fuisset imitatus tuorum epigram- 5
matum modestiam ac ciuilitatem. Quae et ipsa tamen optassem
nunquam potius essent aedita quam vt hic tumultus tragicus inter
vos fuisset excitatus, non sine dispendio bonarum literarum quas :

non video posse consistere, nisi aduersus tam pertinacem barbarorum

conspirationem illas defendat eruditorum numerus, iunctaeque vm- 10
bone phalanges. Verum quando fieri non potest vt quod factum est,
fiat infectum, cupio vehementer vt malum germen, quod parum
faustis auibus enatum est, opera nostra curetur, vt si radicitus euelli
non possit, saltem ne serpat latius. Quod vt ego, mi More, cupiam,
non Brixii tantum causa, cui valde faueo, me mouet, verumetiam cui 15
multo adhuc magis faueo, tua. Non quod arbitrer esse pericukim ne
Antimorus eius quicquam officiat famae tuae, quae vtinam non plus
nocuisset ipsius: sed quod plane metuam ne, si tu respondendo
talionem in illum regesseris, fiat vt quod nunc de illo sentiunt
omnes, idem posthac de vtroque sentiant. 20
Scio quam difficile sit ad tam aculeatum vndique libellum respondenti
temperare a conuiciis: et tamen si quid eam in partem pecces tu,
nemo qui te norit tam facile putabit ignoscendum tibi quam ignoscet
Brixio. Nam vt niliil interim de vtriusque eruditione dicam, tua
certe conditio, tua dignitas ac rerum vsus exigit vt eiusmodi rixas 25
non minus ineptas quam virulentas negligas potius, quam vt conuicia
conuiciis accurate retalies. Audio quotidie quid post aeditum libellum
eruditi loquantur de Brixio: quae vt de illo non libenter audio, ita
de te multo minus audire velim. Quamobrem quum sentiam quam
arduum sit tam virulento attemperare responsum 3°
libello lacessitum sic
vt nihil indulgeas afifectibus, oj)timum certe censeo si rem totam, ita
vt meretur, negligas atque contemnas.
Neque vero hoc tibi consulerem, optime More. si quicquam esset in
Antimoro quod tibi sic labem aspersisset vUam, vt operaeprecium sit
eam cui"are abstergendam. Sed omnia plane sunt eiusmodi vt inter 35
legendum quisque respondeat sibi. Nam omnes vident Brixium id
in te reprehendere, quod tam temere tamque praepropere aedideris

3. faueo add. N. 18. quod om. II. 26. conuicia om. H.

1. literas] Ep. 620; wbich Brixius 7. aedita] Cf. Epp. 550 iutrod., 634. 4.
saw for the first time when it was 10. defendat] Cf. Juv. 2. 46.
printed in the Farrago (E). 22. teinperare] Cf. Ep. 620. 3on.
2. Antimorus] Seo Ep. 1045. 25. diguitas] Cf. Epp. -jSo. 45^, 908.
5. epigrammatum] Cf. Ep. 620. 2911. 1611.
 240 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

tua epigrammata, quae tu nec adhuc aedidisti cum pleraque tiln :

ante annos plus viginti scripta sint, omnia ferme ante annos decem.
40 Vident illum vellicare pro erratis tujs, quorum alia sunt excribentis,
alia typographi, et in his pleraque talia vt nisi damnatis summis
autoribus reprehendi non possint. Vident epigrammata tua quae
feceras in Chordigeram, iam olim esse scripta flagrante bello nec ;

fuisse causam Brixio vt nunc tot annis post initam et confirmatam

45 pacem bellicum tumultum renouaret. Vident Brixium in epitaphio
Abyndonii ludere, manifesta calumnia dissimulantem quod dissimulari
non potest, illic opera data affectatam carminis ineptiam. Caeterum
qua parte insectatur id carmen quo tu gratularis auspiciis regnum
ineuntis Principis, vsque adeo nemo doctorum in Brixio non desiderat
50 animi calamique moderationem, vt ego non pessimus, vt scis, ami-
corum patronus, haud alium inueniam colorem illius excusandi quam
quod ita senserit Britannicarum rerum ignorantia quas si compertas :

habuisset, neque scripsisset ea, et vel iratus fuisset fassvis Regem abs te
laudibus vere regiis magnifice laudatum esse.
55 Haec, mi Moi-e, cum omnes et sentiant et fateantur, quid restat
causae cur te torqueas respondendo, hoc est rem. quod aiunt, actara
agas, non alio fructu quam vt venias in periculum, ne famae iacturam,
quam nunc solus apud eruditos patitur Brixius, tibi facias aliqua ex
parte communem si forte (quod haud facile vitai'e possis, vbi calamus,
;

60 vt fit, incaluerit) respondeas inclementius et conuicia repenses con-

uiciis. Non minima portio tuarum laudum est ingenii lenitas per-
petuaque morum suauitas, vnde nolim ego quicquam decedei-e. Sin
tibi decretum est diuersa ingredi via (nam audio librum tibi aduersus
eum iam in manibus esse), velim te excuses tantum, et maleuolentiae
65 crimen prouocatoriaeque petulantiae sic abs te depellas vt in aduer-
sarium non regeras, ac ratione pugnes, non iurgiis, illius inuidiam
tua cumulaturus modestia tamen, vt sic quoque rem geras, multo
:

certe malim tacere te, vtque tota res obliteretur silentio. Quod vt
ilico fieri non potest, ita paulatim poterit, te, vt spero, volente.
70 Scripseram Brixio vt Antimorum, quam tum audiebam eum medi-
premeret: et si fuisset in tabellario diligentia, pei-suasissem, si
tari,
vera scribit Brixius. Vei'um (quod ex eius responsione vides) liber
iam erat sub prelo, priusquam meam videret epistolam. Abs te
vero, mi More, mihi plus profecto quam a Brixio polliceor : cui cum
js^ videam persuasurum fuisse me, si meae ad iHum literae venissent in

tempore, dubitare non debeo quin abs te facile sim impetraturus vt

mea causa tantum impetres ab affectibus tuis, ne eum qui et me amat
et vicissim amatur a me, magis etiam oneres nouis libellis. Ab
alterutro proficiscatur oportet huius contentionis finis, nisi litem
So alterna reciprocatione perpetuam esse velis. Et tua dignitas tuique
mores hoc postulant, vt abs te potius sit huius rei initium. Crede
mihi, mi More, tametsi Brixius hac in re ita se gessit vt nunc fortassis

46. dissimulantem F Corrig. : dissimulans F. 66. non ndd. H : om. F, in

fine versus.

43. Chordigeram] See Ep. 212. in. 63. Uhrum] M.ore's Epistolaad Brixium;
46. Abyndonii] See Ep. 1087. 83^. seo p. 217.
48. carmen] See Ep. 1087. 22on. 7°- Scripseram] Ep. 620. 28-40.
62. suauitas] Cf. Ep. 999. son. 72. Brixius] Ep. 1045. 4-6.
1093] TO THOMAS MOEE 241

etiam ipsum poeniteat, et, non sit facturus

si res esset integia,
neque enim quisquam tam omnibus horis sapiat
felix est vt tamen
is est, quem si nosses propius, hominis tum ingenio tum literis
— ,

85
delectareris neque quenquam alium facile reperies quem iudicares
;

amore tuo digniorem. Neque debes ab omnibus tam sedatos aflfectus

exigere, quam omnes ferme pro caeteris factis tuis proque spectata
iam diu prudentia prorsus expectant abs te. Brixius quanquam in
Chordigera sua quaedam scripserat, in quae tu lacessitus prius iure 90
potueris acerbius etiam, praesertim vt tum res erant, rescribere ;

tamen postquam epigrammata tua lepore quodam omnibus adblan-

dientia, omnium risus excitassent in iUum, mii'ari non debes si iuuenis
natura vehemens famaeque appetens, aliquantulum a consideratione
sui facti dolore quodam animi totus in tuos versus auersus, sibi putauit 95
iniuriam fieri, quam se non animaduerteret neque merito nec idoneo
tempore vindicare.
Scio te non tanti facere paucula illa epigrammata quae lusisti in
illum, quin pati possis vt in meam gratiam aboleantur qui nisi ;

monuisses sero, hoc tua sponte curabas olim, quum totum librum 100
non libenter audires proditurum in publicum. Igitur efficiam vt e
tua vohmtate, cum posthac excudetur liber. omittantur illa, atque
vicissim ne propagetur Antimorus. Ita tiet vt si nihil accedat
alimenti, ignis iste paulatim emoriatur. Quod si tam obfirmato
animo decreuisti litem hanc persequi, tamen per amicitiam nostram 105
neque nouam neque vulgarem, precor etiam atque etiam dispicias vt
rem tractandam putes. Ego, si detur optio, te, vt dixi, tacere malim,
ac rem plane contemnendam contemnere. Id si fieri non potest, quod
proxirnum est optarim, vt quod et hactenus abs te cui-atum est,
eruditione tantum et causa, non etiam maledicentia vincere pergas; uo
vt quoniam alterum amicum habere me video nonnihil hoc infelici
casu mutihim, alterum saltem, qui mihi sic est charus vt vnum
omnibus habeam potiorem, possim perpetuo seruare integrum, felicior
futurus, si vtrunque hceat. Etenim quum nihil sit homini praeciosius
fido bonoque amico, par est nullius rei iacturam quam amicitiae 115
ducere grauiorem.
Haec scripsimus in mediis turbis, in quil)us nos non ignoras
versari. Bene vale, amicorum syncerissime.
Antuuerpiae vi. Cal. Maii. Anno m.d.xx.

103. accedat F Corrig. : accidat F.

100. olim] For the first edition of of Erasmus and More, Basle, Froben,
More's Epirjrammata, Basle, Froben, Dec. 1520. The predilection of the age
March 1518. for controversy is illustrated by the
loi. efticiam] This pi-oposal for fixct that at this very time Erasmus
iipcaceful settlement was frustrated was being urged by his friends to
by the publication of More\s Epistola a simihir comijosition with Lee see
:

ad Brixium (1. 63). In consequence Epp. 1037 introd., 1078.3811, 1090, 1097.
tlie epigrams against Brixius remain 117. turbis] The printing of his last
in the only later editiou of More's E^pi- reply to Lee cf. Epp. 1086 introd.,
;

grumrnata printed during the lifetime 1092. 11-12.

 242 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

1094. From John de Hondt.

Leipzig MS. Courtray.
EE. 2. 28 April 1520.

[An original letter, autograph throughout in the Burscher collection at

:

Leipzig (see Ep. 1067 introd.). The handwriting is crabbed and difficult; but
the year-date is clear, and may be accepted.]

Venerande et humanissime domine, humili recommendacione

premissa recepi, effluxis nunc aliquot diebus et posteaquam Tornaco
:

reuersus essem ex synodi celebracione, litteras vestre humanitatis

beniuole ad me datas, de data diei Mercurii in Paschalibus nouissime
5 transactis, eisque inclusam syngrapham vacuam, inscribendi gracia
acquittan(ciam) termini natiuitatis beati lohannis Baptiste proximo
affuturi, me inter cetera requirendo quatenus (modo facultas sup-
peteret, modoque michi non est incommodum) pecuniam tei-mini
eiusdem instantis vestre reuerencie per Michaelem nuncium ti'ans-
10 mitterem qua in re eidem vestre reuerencie, quam j)roximis diebus
;

abfuturam intelligo et forte in remotis agituram, complacuisse

nouerim. Vt itaque peticioni honeste satisfecisse videar vestreque
reuerencie eo melius sim commendatus, mitto eidem, iuxta petita,
summam integram eiusdem termini affuturi, videlicet sexaginta
15 quinque florenorum Renen<sium) communiuni maiorem summe :

eiusdem partem in bona vsuali moneta, stuferis videlicet, et residuum

illius in auro boni et iusti ponderis. Syngrapham ipsam vacuam iam
conscripsi, nichil in eadem inserendo quod vestre reuerencie preiu-
dicium aut grauamen generare possit imposterum, sed fidei commisse
20 fidelitatem seruando.
Verum tamen, venerande mi domine, non est subticendum quantum
periculi latuerit cum Tornacum adhuc agerem, decanis Christianitatis
ibidem pro tunc reddentibus eorum compota more vsitato ; eo vide-
licet quia noster Barbirius non transmiserit litteras Significamus
25 nuncupatas, que alias dicuntur littere attestacionis residencie et
famiharitatis sue in curia Regis Catholici cuius obliuio (nisi iteratis
;

vicibus et instantissime apud dominos officiarios reuerendi domini

Toi'n<acensis) intercessissem) quasi effecit quod fructus ecclesie

3. synodi] of rural deans; cf. 11. 22-3. confirming the new beneficiary in
4. Mercurii] 11 April 1520. The possession. Aspecimen is given by
letter is not extant. L. Rockinger, Briefsteller u. Formelbikher,
5. synsrapham vacuam] The receipt 1863, p. 585. But it is not clear why
due by Ei-asmus for the pension paid such a letter should have beeu needed
to him twico a year by de Hondt out every j'ear (11. 34-5). Possibly what is
of the prebend at Courtray (1. sBn). intended here is a certificate, required
Erasmus had forgotten the precise in the case of an absentee beneficiary,
form (cf. Ep. 913. 9-13), and sent a to attest that he was still alive, before
sheet for do Hondt to fill in and return the income of his benefice could be
to him by the messengcr for signature. paid to him.
II. abfuturam] From Louvain see ; 28. Tornacensis] Louis Guillard ;

p. 235. see Epp. 360. 1811, 1212.

in remotis] In Holland ; cf. Ep. fructus] Froni this passage, in
1092. I. combiuation with Epp. 436, 443, 751,
22. Christianitatis] See 1. 6in. 913 and EE. 3, 141, EE.*77, it api^ears
24. Sygfm|^camMs]Theopeningformula that Erasmus' Courtray prebend car-
of a letter issued by a bp. on the re- ried with it the three benefices men-
quest of his vicar-general, announcing tioned here and that in making the
;

an appointment to a bcnetice and exchange for a pension he arranged

.1094] FEOM JOHN DE HONDT 243

parrochialis sancti Egidii Wasie et diiarum capellaniarum, sancti

Nicolai Wasie et Gandensis, iam erant confiscati et memorato domino 30
Tornacen(si) affecti. Obtinui tamen precibus, vt dixi, quod nichil
ex hiis deperditum est, modo intra hinc et festum natiuitatis beati
lohannis proximum ego ostendero et fidem fecero eisdem dominis de
litteris huiusmodi Significamus. Scripsi satis antehac quod annis
singulis adueniente festo Pasche expediret illas transmittere ; quid 35
cause adfuit, cur littere eedem hucusque non applicuerunt, nescio.
Ceterum, domine venerande, quia de beneficiis, que Barbirius ipse a
me obtinet, dimittendis et pensione per capellanum alterum domini
de Chieruia assignanda scribitis rem totam arbitrio ipsius Barbirii
commisisse, modo eam comprobem si Barbirius predictus cum 40
:

Rege iam diu desiderato venerit, secum quod honestum erit con-
tractabo, nec interero negocio vbi vestre reuerencie offensum aliquid
aut preiudicium afferens practicabitur quinymmo causam illius haud
;

alias ac si propriam tuebor. Absit enim vt alius inueniar apud

vestram reuerenciam quam alii eidem de me predicai'unt. 45
Dominus meus honorandus, magister lacobus de Tielt, cantor et
canonicus Curiracen^sis) et secretarius reuerendi domini Torna-
quemdam honestum iuuenem, cui nomen lohannes
cen(sis), mittit
Soti,de Ardemburgo oriundum, paupereni, excellentis ingenii, (quem
pluribus annis ob ingenii excellenciam litteris grammatice et arte 50
musicali iam satis edoctum enutriuit), Louanium in collegio Lilii in
artibus liberalibus instruendum: ad maiora tandem ipsum promo-
turus, si, prout cepit, studium suum continuauerit. Is idem dominus,
vestre reuerencie salutem plui*imam dicens, eaudem exorat, dignetur
iuuenem ipsum apud Regentem collegii iam dicti habere commen- 55
datum. Bene valeat interim vestra V. D., cui totis viribus dies et
noctes morem gerere cupio.
Ex Curtraco die vicesimaoctaua mensis Aprilis anno 1520.
Eiusdem vestre reuerencie seruitor
lohannes de Hondt, canonicus Curtrac(ensis) 60
et eiusdem loci Christianitatis decanus.
Venerando et humanissimo domino, domino Erasmo Roterdamo,
sacre pagine professori excellentissimo, Louanii in pedagogio Lilii
residenti.
Louanii. 65
46. canotor MS.

that Barbirius sshould receivetlie bene- 39. Chieruia] See Ep. 532. 270.
fices (cf. 11.37-8; EE. 3; EE.- 77, while 41. desiderato] Cf. Ep. 1004. 145U.
de Hondt held the canonry. The pen- venerit] Cf Ep. 1079. gn.
.

sion was charged on both sources ^,Ep. 46. lacobus] of Thielt, n. of Courtray,
751. 12-15) ; but the whole sum vvas vicar-general of the bp. of Tournay.
paid to Erasmus by de Hondt, in part In Nov. 1517 de Hondt was living with
for himself and also as agent for liim at Courtray see J. A. Clerval,
:

Barbirius (Ep. 751. 4-6; EE.^ 77). Clichtouci vita, 1894, pp. 27, 35.
29. Wasie] A district forming the 49. Soti] His name is not known to
HE. of Flanders, and w. of the Scheldt me otherwise. His birthplace, Aar-
see Ant. Sanderus, Flandria illuslrata, denburg, lies ne. of Bruges, near the
ii (1644), 538-53. St. Nicholas lies mouth of the Scheldt.
midway between Antwerp and Ghent, 55. Regentem] Nevius; see Ep. 298
with St. Giles to the n. of it. Bar- introd.
birius subsequently ceded St. Giles to 56. V. D.] veneranda dominatio.
his brother Nicholas (Ep. 613) see
; 61. Christianitatis] In the notes
Ep. 1245. EE., p. 373, this is explained as ruralis
38. capellanum] I cannot identify. as opposed to the decanus tapituli.
R 2
 244 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

'1139

Nuremberg MS. PP. 33 (a). Nuremberg.

Eae. fo. a'' (i3i) : Eev. p. 149 (/3^). 30 April (1520).
F. p, 478: HN : Lond. xii. 12: LB. 561 and 504.

[There are two texts of this letter one in Pirckheimer's autograph rough-draft,
;

preserved in the Town Librai-y at Kuremberg (a), the other printed in the Ap-
2)endix to Eae (/3^) and then in Eev (^S^) from the letter actually sent and received,
and subsequently rejjrinted in F and later editions. The relation of these
clearly is that a is prior in composition to /8' and /S'^ ( = 0) ; but as these represent
the actual letter dispatched, that is to say the text finally adopted by Pirckheimer,
they must have precedence of a. Accordingly I have taken /3^ for the text here,
and have placed the variants of a in the notes not, however, reproducing :

divergences of spelling or order. The variants recorded are quite sufficient to

illustrate Pirckheimer's practice, at any rate in his rough-drafts, of writing
many words with single instead of double consonants. It may be noted that
some of the vigorous expressions of a are toned down in 0. The text of a was
lirst printed by Goldast in P. p. 402, not very accurately and from tliis source ;

Leclerc reprinted it as LB. 561, with a note that its substance is the same as LB.
504 (based on /3). For F it might have been expected that P^, as a Froben volume,
would serve as the original but seemingly not, for when ^^ and ^S^ vary, F
:

alniost always follows jS^ (cf. Ep. 1109).

The year-date can be assigned from the appearance of Lee's Annotationes (Ep.
1037) (c. Feb. 1520), which Pirckheimer has seen and from the inclusion of ;

the letter in Eev, Aug. 1520.

A point of iuterest is that in o Pirckheimer has written hastily against the
—
heading evidently a remark that suggested itself, to be added the words — :

'Guielmus Nesenus tibi Lei scripta misit '. The Bodleian possesses a volume
(Mar. 869) containing Lee's Annotationes, Paris, Gourmont, (c. Feb. 1520), and
Erasmus' Apologia qua respondet, Antwerp, M. Hillen, (c. March) 1520 (Ep. 1037
introd.), and, bound between them, Erasmus' fir st Besponsio, ibid., April 1520:
the binding being perhaps contemporary. On the title-page of Lee's book ai'e
two autograph inscriptions by Resch and Nesen at the foot Ex dono Conradi :
'

Resch. Ad Guielmum Nesenum ', with the second clause subsequently erased ;

and at the top Nesenus clarissimo Bilibaldo '. On the title-page of the Apologia
'

qua respondet is written in Nesen's hand 'Doctissimo Bilibaldo Pyrchem(ero)

Nesenu(s) ', in two lines with the ends shorn off in binding. It seems clear that
this is the volume of which Pirckheimer was thinking. If so, tibi in his note
must be interpreted as the Ethic Dative.]

EPI. CLARIS. VIRI BILIBALDI PERCKHEYMERI, f^E^TATORIS

NOREMBERGENSIS.
S. P. officium facit affinis iste meus, Erasme amicissime, quod
SvvM
te colit ac subinde meo nomine salutat : probe enim nouit qua te
prosequar beneuolentia. Poterimus eius opera in mittendis litteris
vti, quae nescio quo fato aut tardissime redduntur aut etiam penitus
I intercidunt. Diu enim nullas abs te accepi, quamuis ipse aliquoties
scripserim, et nisi ex Epistolarum tuarum Farragine te mihi

TIT. B^ F NORiCNBERGENSis ^-;

(PEUCKKVMERi F. EHASMo a, vhi SBCimda vtanus
: :

BILIBALDVS addidit BILIBALDVS PERCKEMERVS ERASMO ROT. S. D.

: (PEKKHEYMERVS H
JV" piRKHEYMEKvs N^).
: I. S 2. salutat {i.S.F. H^F: Salutem P. 0-
om. H) S. Recte fecit necessarius ille meus quod te Antweri^ie conuenit et meo
:

nominc salutauit a. qua 18 quanta a.

: 3. eius : et oius a. 4. red-
duntur aut etiam : consignantur aut a. 5. abs : & a. ipse aiM. 0.
: aliquociens a. 6. inihi meis a. :

6. Farragine] containing Ep. 856.

 I095] FROM WILLIBALD PIRCKHEIMER 245

respondisse deprehendissem, ne nunc quidem id scirem. Quani vero

meae tibi redditae fuerint, vel Alamiri nostri diligentia
fideliter et
satis declarat. Caeterum insulsissimam inuectiuam Eduardi Lei legi,
imo verius vidi quis enim sustineat legere librum tam sine mente, lo
:

sine fronte, sine litteris, sine omni dote humana ? Legi et tuam Apo-
logiam, quae tamen pollicetur responsionem ad illius Annotationes.
Scire cupis quid sentiam ? Vellem omnino tacuisses, aut ita homini
vt dignus erat respondisses. Sed pericukim erat ne silentio obiecta
videreris agnoscere? Quasi vero optimus ac doctissimus quisque non 15
confestim intellecturus fuerit, cuncta quae ille furiosus et impotens
sui euomuit, mei'as esse sycophantias et impudentissima mendacia.
Habet suam faciem veritas. Et iste rabiosulus adeo apud se non est
vt ipse frequenter prodat seipsum. De improbis vero et mendicis
nulla tibi debebat esse cura. Quanquam qui inter hos sunt paulo 20
minus stolidi, sentiunt ac damnant hominis prodigiosam arrogantiam,
inscitiam ac virulentiam quam execrantur etiam ii qui tibi parum :

bene volunt, et indignantur propugnatori laeuo magis quam Leo, qui

eausam suam tam infeliciter egerit vt satius fuerit quieuisse. Vtinam
igitur posteaquam tibi non esse silendum censueras, ementitae et 25
fictae modestiae immodestissime respondisses, et cuncta rhetorices
spicula contra tam purulenta ac tartareo veneno tincta conuicia
scelerati capitis distrinxisses
Sed volebas modestiae memor esse, nec malum pro malo reddere :

sanum profecto propositum et a nemine bono non laudandum. 30

Verum si ita perpetuo feceris, quid tibi ab emulis expectandum sit
cogita, si viderint cuiuis audaci ac stolido impune esse Erasmo
maledicere et capiti tuo illudere. Quare te per tuam gloriam ac per
nostram amiciciam obtestor, ne posthac quemuis rabulam responsione
tua dignum censeas aut si omnino respondendum duxisti, non per ;
35
teipsum sed per coquum quempiam aut stabularium respondeas.
Agnosce teipsum, qui maior es quam vt cum talibus in eam palestram
descendas ex qua victor etiam nil nisi ignominiam referre possis.
:

Quod ni ita feceris, sycophantarum turba tandem obruare necesse est.

8. vel /3 plane : a. 9. satis declarat /3 : ostendit a. insulsissimam . . .

12. annotationes : inuectiuam Angli illius nec non responsionem tuam legi a.
13. Vellem /3 : Vellem vt
silendo a. a.
15. viderei-is 14. silentio :

agnoscere )S agnoscei'es a. vero add. /3.

: 16. iutellecturus fuerit j9 intel- :

ligeret a. quae ... 17. euomuit j8: hec a. i8. Habet ... 19. seipsiim
add. H. mendicis ineruditis a. 20. tibi debebat esse j8
: habenda erat :

a. Quanquam 24. quicuisse add. /3 (22. \i 0^ F

. . hii /3^),
. 25. postea- :

quam /3 : cum a. non esse : haud a. censueras : censebas a. 26. et

/3 : ac a. 27. purulenta foeda a. : tartareo veneno tincta /8 : teterrima
a. 28. scelerati capitis add. /3. voluisti tui 29. volebas modestiae :

a. 30. profecto iJropositum /3 equidem consilium a. 31. perpetuo feceris :

/3 facere perges a.
: 32. si viderint . . Erasmo )3 cum impudentissimo . :

cuique impunc tibi a. 33. licebit post ilhidere a otn. /3. Quare . 34. : . .

rabulam /3 (33. aa^^ F: & /3^; Tc igitur hortor ac ob aniicitiam nostram obtestor :

ne dehinc vnumquemque nebulonem a. 35. duxisti /3 videatur a. : 36.

teipsum quempiam /3 te sed coqum quendam a.
. . . respondeas : . . . 37. es
5 id fiat. Maior tu es (etiamsi illi molestissime laudes tuas ferant) a.
:
39.
Quod /3 Etenim a.: /3 sycophantorum a. /3 obruaris a. est /3 : : : erit a.

7. respondisse] to Ep. 747. p. iio. Thepromiseof a further reply,

8. Alamiri] Ct. Epp. 711. i6n, looi. to Lee's notes, occurs at the end, ff. G'
9. inuectiuam] Soe Ep. 1037 introd. v", G* (Jortin ii. 527).
II. Apologiam] qM.a respondet : see 23. laeuo] Cf. Ep. 1084. 48n.
 246 LETTERS OF ERASMUS •

[1520

40 Nunquam enim quiescunt isti, sed assidue contra optimuni ac

doctissimum quenque necnon veritatem ipsam debacchantur. Nec
mirum quo pacto enim benedicerent, qui nil nisi maledicere
:

didicerunt? Quorum animus, ingenium, mores eiusmodi sunt vt

longe praestet ab illis vituperari quam laudari, maleque quam bene
45 audire.
Caeterum cum sint infantes ipsi, vt animi veneno desit oratio,
cum sint vt nolint interim abesse a suis voluptatibus,
inertes,
postremo cum metuant ne minus colligant caseorum, indies accre-
scente aduersus eos orbis odio, non mirum si querunt talem histrio-
50 nem qualis est Leus, qui personatus et instructus alienam agat
fabulam, et infamem gloriam praemii loco ferat. Hunc oportet nec
frontis habere quicquam nec cordis, sed tantum linguam effrenem ac
meretriciam procacitatem. Quo quidem in genere Leus iste vincit
omnes quotquot antehac prodierunt in proscenium, quos tamen
55 aliquot spectauimus insigniter impudentes. Quis enim non intelligit
a quibus consutus sit iste calceus? Sed Leus induit, actums pro
multis fabulam, hoc est orbi exhibiturus teterrimum monstrum ex
inscitia, arrogantia, vanitate, virulentia impudentiaque conflatum in :

summa, tale quale depinxisti in libello quo respondes Latomi dialogis,

60 mira quidem breuitate, sed vt nihil fieri possit absolutius. Quencun-
que contemplabaris animo cum illa scriberes, certe tua descriptio
aptissime congruit cum imagine operis Leici. Et in hoc vno visus
est mihi aliquid humanae mentis habere, quod agnouit imaginem
suam. Scio te non imperitum esse pictorem. Sed nemo poterat
65 Leum exprimere rectius quam expressit seipsum. Totus ille sibi
placuit et se totum expressit. Quod si tu praedicasses hominem ad
insaniam vsque gloriosum, vsque adeo sibi placentem vt miretur non
verti in rosam quicquid calcauerit, se vnum admirantem, sibi
pulchrum, sibi doctum, sibi sanctum, cum nulla omnino re bona sit
70 praeditus, nec quicquam habeat in pectore praeter venena,
quam verissima dixisses, tamen fortassis non omnes erant tibi
quan- —
credituri. Nunc ipse Leus se talem expressit.
Ego, mi Erasme, plurimum fido tuae simpiici
probitati. Vix
tamen eram crediturus tantum stultitiae, tantum arrogantiae, tantum
75 fuci, tantum stoliditatis, tantum maliciae esse in vllo pectore humano :

si tamen iste Leus homo dicendus est, ac non potius teterrima belua.

40. Nunquam isti /3

. Tot enim ac tales sunt aKaaTopis illi vt nec vnquam
. . :

quiescere valeant a. assidue /3 : semper a. ac doctissimum add. /3. 41.

necnon /3 ac a. ; Nec mirum . 44. praestet /3 : Quapropter longe praestat
. .

a. maleque )3 ac male a. : 46. Caeterum ... 84. Capnionem ^ (76.

est fi^^F om. 0^)
: ad tacendum sint impotes, ad loquendum vero penitus inepti.
:

Quid mirum igitur si tandem hominem iuxta cordis sui desiderium inuenerunt,
qui perditam eorum improbitatem ac detestandam loquacitatem teterrima nuga-
rum coluuione ac nephando verborum lenocinio fucaret? Quis enim tam in-
sulssus esset ae hebes qui non cernei-et venerandos Magistros nostros calceum
hunc consuisse, probum vero illum virum induisse ? vnde non imerito maiori
excandescit indignatione cum egregios illos Magistros aliquantisper durius tractas
quam cum Scripturam sanctam (vt illi volunt) peruertis. Et hoc facit caritas
illa non ficta que sul) religionis et modestiae praetextu etiam lenonibus turpiora
audet. Et tu obiter miraris inueniri qui insanienti 'Euge illud accinant? cum '

48. caseorum] Cf. Ep. 877. 23. 1061. 504^.

59. depinxisti] See Epp. 993. 32^, 68. in rosaml Cf. Pers. 2. 38.
1095] FROM WILLIBALD PIKCKHEIMER 247

quisquam insanior. hunc sil)i dele-

Si quisquam fuisset nequior, si
gissent huius prouinciae, quamiam pridem agunt, proconsulem.
Neque enim nouum est quod agunt. Vetus hoc istis studium est,
insignium virorum famam contemerare, et optima conantibus obsi- 80
stere. Nam vt vetustiora praetereamus, quae pars orbis ignorat
quam peruersis, quam sycophanticis, quam sceleratis machinationibus
vexauerint inclytum et optime de Germania, optime de litteris
meritum Capnionem? vt interim sileam spurcissima conuicia, quae
in eximium illum ac vere generosum Nouae Aquilae Comitem, que 85
in nobilem Huttenum, denique in me et omnes Capnionis amicos
euomuerunt. Quid non moliti sunt in optimum lacobum Fabrum ?
Nam quae aduersus Lutherum iampridem machinantur forsitan
tacere praestat ne me quoque, quod iam diu egere, sub amiciciae
;

illius praetextu in ius rapiant, ac de crimine haeresis causam dicere 90

cogant. Verum illud nullus ignorat, eo temeritatis illos progressos
esse vt et Pontifici summo, ad quem praecipue huiusce rei cognitio
spectat, negocium hoc, quod eum tum in manibus habere sciebant,
extorserint, et priusquam ille sententiam tulisset, haereseos condem-
nauerint autorem. 95
Caeterum per Gratias, quid aliud tot sycophantiis, probris ac con-
uiciis effecere quam quod suam stoliditatem parem maliciae traduxere,
seque Deo pariter ac hominibus reddidere inuisos ? Siquidem eo res
illorum culpa deducta est, vt iam nihil magis placeat bonis omnibus,
quam quod istis maxime displicet, isque optimus esse videatur de quo 100
ipsi pessime sentiant. Macte igitur virtute, qui dignus sis visus
quem impurissimi sycophantae per sceleratissimum histrionem Leum
virulentis suis maledictis incesserent. Haud enim maiori laude
extolli poteras quam vt talium ornareris vitupei'iis, nec vnquam bonis
et eruditis placeres, nisi Leo Leique similibus indoctis hypocritis 105

ego maiori admiracione ducerer ni multos sui similes ac eiusdem farinae reperi-
ret. Nam per imortalem Deum, cui bono nebulones isti vnquam peperceruiit?
et vt vetustiora praetercamus, quis ignorat quam peruersis technis et sceleratis
macliinationibus optimo et doctissimo Capnioni illuserint ? a. 84, spurcis-
sima : probra et a. 85. eximium illum ac vere adcL 0. que in nobilem
add. /3. 86. denique in add, /3. 87. euomuerunt P eructauerint a. :

Quid non 89. egere /3 Quinimo inuidia exagitati nec a siii ordinis abstineant
. . . :

hominibus. Nam preter cetera quid intentatum reliquere vt diuam Mariam

Magdalenen assertori suo Fabro eriperent et cum turpissimis scortis in olidum
lupanar detruderent ? cum tamen potius deceret in re tam dubia eam sequi opi-
nionem que ad pietatem accederet propius. Quae vero contra Lutherum ausi
sunt, forsitan tacere praestat, ne nos quoque a. 91. Verum illud nullus
illud )3 Id N)
: id enim iam pridem machinati sunt.
: Verum hoc nemo a.
93. negocium hoc quod )3 causam quam a. : 94. tulisset /3 tulerit a. hae- :

reseos B de heresi a.
: a/3 - condemnauerunt /3i.
: 96. gratias P imortalem :

Deum a. ac /3 et a. 97. suam stoliditatem parem maliciae P

: semet :

ipsos a. 98. seque /3 et a. inuisos /3 odiosos a.

: : 99. iam nihil . . .

100. isque /3 non solum

: vulgo preclarum tlieologiae vocabulum ludibrio
habeatur, sed et theologi ipsi (de personatis loquor) quibusuis scurris et nebu-
lonibus improbiores censeantur, ac is a. loi. scntiunt H. sis 103. . . .

incesserent /3 visus es in quem impurissimi halucinatores spurcissima sua

:

effutirent maledicta a. 104. extolli /8 affici n. :vt talium ornareris

vituperiis tan sceleste vituperari a.
: 105. Leo 106. displiceres /3
. . . :

tam indoctis et pcssimis his displiceres hipocritis qui et optimum Capnioncm:

85. Nouae Aquilae] Cf. Epp. 877. 21- 87. Fabrum] Cf. Ep. 1030. 4-6.
2, 889. 42-3. 90. haeresis] Cf. Ep. 1182. 4U.
 248 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

tlispliceres. Ne quid igitur, Erasme, commouearis, si inuidi et vere

miseri homines seipsos torqueant, et suo fungantur officio, idque
faciant quod nunquam non faciunt. Talia enira verae virtutis tibi
iacta sunt fundamenta, talem probitatis et eruditionis consequutus es
iio existimationem, vt eam nullus liuor, quamuis edax, valeat abolere.
Tantos denique ac tales vndique tibi conciliasti amicos, vt etiam
tacente te defendere et a sceleratorum rabularum iniuriis et con-
tumeliis vindicare possint et audeant.
Sed te laudare desinam, ne Leus rumpatur inuidia cui precor ;

iislentum ac longum exitium, quo dignissimus est si tamen prius :

commemoraro a quo crimine te nuper defenderim. Conueneramus

plerique, ac inter caetera de te sermo incidit. Cumque nonnulli te
tuaque summis extulissent laudibus, sanctissimus quidam qui tum
forte aderat, ex mendicorum genere theologus, laudes tuas admodum
i2omoleste ferebat, ac subinde concutiens caput nescio quid secum
cornicabatur. Id sentiens, rogo nunquid esset quod in te minus
probaret. At ille vultu ad grauitatem composito, multa esse respon-
dit quae quis merito in te reprehenderet. Cum adigi non posset vt
vnum proferret, tandem importunitate mea subactus Tametsi de- '

125 creueram' inquit 'silere, tamen quando me vrges, ne quis me putet

inuidia stimulatum dixisse quod dixi, Erasmus ille vester et quem
tantis effertis preconiis, libenter comedit gallinas idque non aliorum :

relatu, sed cum hominem Basileae cognouissem, duobus hisce oculis

conspexi '. Tum ego, Furtiuasne an emptas ? Emptas ait ille.
'
' '
'

130 'Longe' inquam perniciosior est vulpecula illa scelestissima quae

'

mihi quotidie e corte gallinas rapit, nec vnquam persohiit precium '.
Rogabam num vesci gaUinis poneret inter fiagitia. Maxinie inquit '
'

longe magis virulentis ornarunt conuiciis quam si eum vel ad coelum vsque
contumeliosissimis suis extulissent laudibus a. io6. quid add /3. com-
mouearis y3 : optine, mouearis
107. idque . 108. enim j8 : quodque
a. . .

semper facere consueuerunt, assidue faciant. talia a. 109. vt illa nec Nam
liuor ipse euertere qneat post fundamenta a om. /3. iio. nuUus edax /3 : : . . .

nec omne aeuum a, iii. conciliasti /3 peperisti a. vt aF: tot $K :

112. tacentem a.
: 114. Sed te . . 117. nonnuUi /3 (116. /S^i^: commemoro .

/32) : Quemadmodum nuper a me factum memini. Cum enim

multorum in
doctiasimorum conuentu tui mentio incidisset, ac plerique a. tum a/S' 118.
om. 13^ F. 120. caput j8
119. forte . . . : aderat theologus ex mendicorum et
eo ordine qui vulgo perdocti liabentur, sibi ipsis vero nil videntur ignorare, ad-
modum moleste has laudes ferebat ac quassato capite a. 121. cornicabatur
/3: submurmurabat a. Id sentiens rogo /3 : Tum ego quesiui a. 122.
grauitatem /3 seueritatem a. : 123. in te add. 13. Cum 124. proferret 13 . . . :

inter caetera vero pessimo et haud ferendo flagitio te esse obnoxium. Cumque
ego vehementius instarem vt tam horrendum scelus elicoi-em, ille vero perti-
naciter negasset, forsitan vt detractoris culpam euitaret, a. 125. decreue-
ram 126. dixi /3 (125, inquit add. /3^
. . , 'silere' inquit F) : tacere inquit 'ac :
'

tam imane facinus ocultare constitueram, cum tamen ita me vrges, haud vltra
silere sed veritatem dicere compellor a. 126. ille 127. preconils add. 13. . . .

128. didici post relatu a om. P. duobus hisce oculis /3 gemino lioc obtutu a.
: :

129. 'Furtiuasne . . 130. perniciosior jS . Suffuratusne aut coemptas?' At iHe :

'

'Emptas' ait. Longe igitur' inquam deterior a.

'
131, e corte fi ox '
:

villa a. 132, Rogabam 135. omni /8 Sed ad hoc rosponde, obsecro, Num
. . . :

inter peccata censetur galinis vesci Et ille Maxime cum a deuotis fit homi-
'?
'
: '

118, quidam] I cannotidentify. He 127. comedit gallinas] For this, as an

liad met Erasmus at Basle (1. 128). example of rich living, cf. Eov. i. 44 :

121. cornicabatur] Cf, Pcrs. 5. 12, 'cum multis gallinis el bonis rebus '.
1095] FEOM WILLIBALD PIRCKHEIMER 249

•
nam cum assidue et deuotis com-
est gulae vieium, et eo grauius
mittitur Adieci, Forsitan diebus quibus fas non est '.
'. '
Non ', '

inquit, sed nos sacros viros ab omni epularum lauticia abstinere 135
'

decet '. Atqui, bone Pater, ni fallor ', inquam haud farre aut
' '

hordeo tantum saginasti aqualiculum nam obesior erat et si '

— — ;
'

gallinae quibus ventrem farsisti, adhuc pipare possent, vel exercitus

ac tubarum strepitum vincerent '. Vide quam strennue impiam ac
nefariam defenderim 6pvi6o<f>ayLav. 140
Sed tu me forsitan nugas agere existimas ego tibi etiam per :

sanctam hypocrisim me vera scribere paratus sum deierare. Sed ne

cuncta tua laudare videar, habes quae et ego non iniuria reprehen-
dam nempe quod Leo tam diuino viro fueris impedimento quominus
:

semestri tempore, somniando seu potiuspastorisillius instar bibendo, 145

litteras Hebraeas et Graecas omnes deuorarit, O felicem Ecclesiam,
si illi suum dulce ocium reliquisses Nunc, opinor, habet quod agat !

in extremam vsque senectam. Sed oportet nos esse fauentes homini,

quibus nonnihil laudis alicubi visus est aspergere. Quod nisi
agnouerimus, vereor ne nos omnes appellet mortalium omnium 150
ingratissimos. Quare nostrum erit quotannis Leico nomini aliquo
panegyrico gratificari, donec fateatur officium hoc esse satis abunde
repositum.
Quod in superiorem Germaniam te venturum esse significas, multis
de causis probo consilium. Nam praeter quani quod hic minus 155
a talibus vespis, qualis est Leus, infestari poteris, non sine ingenti
animi oblectatione conspicies quales quantosque vndique tibi con-
ciliaueris amicos. Inuitarem te vt primum ad nos accederes nisi hic ;

pestis recrudesceret, egoque fugam circumspectarem. Sed breui

desituram spero ; nam summa diligentia occurritur malo. Sub Caroli 1 60
Regis aduentum te expectamus interim lues grassari desinet — — :

ex veteri enim instituto primus noui Regis conuentus hic celebrari

nibus, idque assidue'. Forsitan diebus prohibitis' intuli.

'
'Imo et concessis'
respondit. 'Sacrum enim virum ab tanta o. 136. haud . 137. saginasti . .

/3 nec farre nec ordeo talem sagnasti a.

: 138. adhuc add. P. vel exercitus
ac /3 (/31 F excercitus P"^) : etiam timpanoram et a.
: 139. vincerent /3 : mul-
titudine sua exuperarent a. Vide . 140. 6pvi.0o<payiav : Risere qui aderant
. .

quod tam strenue opviOocpayiav defendissem a. 141. ego j3 : Ego vero a.

143. deierare /3 : iurare a. Sed /3 : Caeterum a. 143. aut nimis tibi tri-
buere posnaudare a : om, 0. quaeetego^: etiam que a. iniuria /3 iniuste a. :

144. Leo tam diuino ^ tali o. 145. semestri :154. Quod litteras . . . :

Grecas et Hebreas tantum non somniando aut pastoris illius instar bibendo
hauserit ac Magistris nostris operam nauando, tametsi conuiciando longe nielius
pessimas horas collocauerit. Quod vero a. esse 155. consilium . . . :

polliceris laudo a. 155. hic . . 156. poteris /3 : minus ibi a theologicis

.

infestaberis vespis a. 158. primum add. ^. 159. recrudesceret 3 : gliseere

inciperet a. egoque . . . 160. desituram /3 <£uam tumen breui deseuituram a.
:

Nam . . . 162. serenissimo Rege nostro, quem indies expe-

enim /3 : ita vt cum
ctamus, secure ad nos venire possis. Nam ex veteri Caesarum a. hic 0:
Nuremberge a.

145. pastoris] See Adag. 687,quoting 161. aduentum] Cf. Ep. 1079. ^n. For
Theocr. 16-17.
9. the preparations made in Nuromberg
149. alicubi] See Lee's .4nno<., f». cc'-. for his reception see SE. 213, p. 103.
159. pestis] Nuremberg had becn 162. instituto] of Charles iv in the
free of plaguo for some time (cf. SE. Goldcn BuU of 1356, cap. 28 § 5.
213, p. 107): but it returned in 1521 Charles v on his electionhadpromised
(Ep. 1085. 2n). to carry this out cf. SE. 213, p. 107.
:
 250 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

consueuit. Ostendi Alamire aliqua nostra cubicula, quibus te acci-

piam, non inamoena ipse regia esse dicebat. Quin et hoc polliceor,
:

gallorum me abunde
165 vltra gallinas gallos gallinaceos, filios ac filias
appositurum. Tu interim bene vale, Erasme amicissime. Etiam
atque etiam memineris te longe feliciorem esse contumeliis inuido-
rum quam laudibus amicorum, quas nunquam tam aegre ferrent isti.
nisi certo certius cognoscerent te eruditione ac probitate immortali-
170 tatem etiam viuentem induisse.
Iterum vale Norenbergae prid. Calen. Maias.
Tuus Bilibaldus Pierckheymer.
Cum haec scripsissem, certior factus sum Oecolampadium nostrum
.xxiii. Aprilis raonachum esse factum, in monasterio Seruatoris
175 iuxta Augustam, ordinis S. Brigidae, in quo mulieres primas tenere
consueuerunt. Vtinam sibi rectius consuluisset

10931096. Fkom Thomas More.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 581. (Greenwich ?)
HN : Lond. xv. 16 : LB. 555. (May init.) 1520.

[Besides the ordinary editions this letter is found in More's Luciibrationes, Basle,
1563, p. 476 (see Ep. 1087) which contains also Epp. 388, 623, 684, 688, 706,
:

999, 1087, 1090, 1106. A

collation of the variants in these shows that the text of
the Lucubmtiones almost always agrees with that of N^ ^. In consequence it may

163. Alamire
a, cf. Ep. 711. 16 Alamirae )3*: Alamiro F.
: aliqua nostra /3 :
nostro a. accipiam non inamoena excipiam luculenta a. 164. esse
:

add. j8. 165. vltra 166. appositurum 3

. . non solum abunde galinas me
. :

tibi apositurum, sed et illarum sobolem, filios ae filias, necnon gallos galinaceos
et de omni genere musico cuncta que manducari solent volatilia coeli a. ami-
cissime fi : optime a. Etiam atque etiam j8 ac iterum a. 167. longe :

feliciorem ^ foelicem a.
: 168. quam . . isti ^ qui nunquam laudes tuas . :

tam moleste ferrent a. 170. etiam 0: et quidem a. 171. Iterum . . .

176. consuluisset add. )3 (171. )3* J': Nurenbergae .6^, 172. Pierckheymerus jS^:
Pierkheymer F. 174. .xxiii. iS^ J^ : .23. /8^: vigesimotertio fi". April. F).

173.Oecolampadium] The decision to but the letter is not extant.

retirefrom his preachersliip at Augs- Some doubt is thrown on
174. .xxiii.]
burg Cathedral to the quiet of Alto- thisdate by aletter of Bern.Adelmann,
miinster was made without consulting dated Augsburg, 28 April, and stating
many of his friends cf. Heumann p.
; that Oecolampadius had entered the
192 = HE. 159, and see aIs.o Zw. E.^ 140, monastery xiridie Heumann p. 192.
:

BRE. 166. Capito, who mistrusted monasterio] Altomiinster, be-

asceticism (ME. 73), and did liis ut- tween Augsburg and Freising belong- ;

most to resist his friend's action, gives ing to the reformed Augustiman order
this account (Oec. E., f. ^* v") : founded by St. Bridget ot Sweden
*studiis suis et fidei libertatem ab illis (f 1373). Their houses were joint, for
stipulatus est quod his verbis ante
: men, at first under a prior, and women
"
contestatus est, " Etiamsi sexcentis under an abbess, the latter having the
inquit " iuramentis me obstrinxero, superior rank but before long the
:

nequaquam ea seruare potero, si prior was roduced to a confessor, and

quando vtilis ministerio verbi futurus the womon predominated. Oeeolam-
sum ". Eam
conditionem non reiicie- padius (see his life by J. J. Herzog, i,
bant monachi, sed confirniabant, priui- p. 139) describes the men as relieved
legiumque suum monstrabant, quod ad from any necessity of contact with the
concionandum exire possint, sicubi world. For the Brigittine houses in
liaereses pullulent'. Erasmus was Bavaria see a monograph by G. Biuder
only informed after the step was takcn in Verhandluncjen d. hist. Vereins der
(cf. Epp. 1102. 1123. 12, 1139. 112-15); Ober]}fah und Regenshurg, xlviii, 1896.
1096] FKOM THOMAS MOEE 251

be inferred tliat the variants which occur in Ep. 1090. 9, Leo saucte se, and in
this letter, 72, producat in iudicium ; 166, literarum gratia vel tua (cf. Ep. 706.
33,4 printed on p. 466 of the Lucubrationes) ; 190, Caletum, are merely fortuitous
:

and do not represent a fresh examination of the original manuscripts and :

further that the dates ' Grenuici, mense Maio ', which are added in tho Lucu-
brationes before the year-date here, are purely conjectural, the month-date being
easily assigned from Ep. 1093.]

THOMAS MORVS ERASMO, VIRO OPTIMO ATQVE DOCTISSIMO, S. D.

Antimorys, mi Erasme, Brixii iam diu Londini fuerat priusquam

tuae ad me literae peruenirent. Mirabar aliquantulum, quam rem
tam valde velles, cur de ea tam sero scriberes nisi aut Antimorus
:

forte serius aliquanto peruenit isthuc aut ideo fuisti segnior, quod
;

donec accepisses me libellum parare contra, putasti fore vt eius 5

librum, vtpote autori potius quam mihi noxium. neque plane dignum
eui responderetur, mea sponte contemnerem. Id quod ego profecto,
mi Erasme, fecissem, nisi amici quidam et doctissimi simul et pru-
dentissimi suasissent aliter ; quibus Brixius etsi magis irrisus est
quam inuisus, tamen haudquaquam ita charus erat quam est, vt 10
video, tibi.
Nam ego iam ferme biennium, quum audiuissem eum moliri talia,
atque in animo haberem ad eum ipse scribere, idque quam potuissem
amantissime, simulque ea consulere quae magis aliquanto in rem
ipsius fecisse fuerat, quam quae nunc intemperanter fecit intellexi 15 ;

interea nunciis e Lutecia certissimis adeo hominem in abruptum

ferri suis affectibus, vt nuUis amicorum suasibus potuerit cohiberi,
non Beraldi, non Lascaris, non Budaei (vides qualium virorum)
consiliis retrahi non Deloini demum, viri tanti, non reuerendissimi
:

CardinaHs, qui nuper illic obiit, autoritate commoueri. Sic inta- 20

bescebat vlciscendi libidine et, tanquam Narcissus, amore quodam
suorum ipse versuum deperibat misere quos tamen quotidie nouos
:

velut e cunis exceptam sobolem in mensam nunc Deloini, nunc

Cardinalis circumferebat exosculans nec semper inde laetus referebat
;

domuni, quum a viris doctis et grauibus audiret interdum talia qualia, 25

si sapuisset, ipse dixisset sibi. Quorum mihi multa cum alii scrip-
serunt illinc, tum loannes quidam, natione Graecus, homo Latina
lingua iuxta doctus ac sua, probis moribus et indubitatae fidei,
plurima retulit coram: quibus quum sentirem Brixium impotentius
abripi quam vt attrectari pateretur, mutaui consilium, atque a 30
scribendi vohintate destiti.
Simul cogitabam, etsi hactenus indulgeret animo, ne penitus vellet
tacere, tnmen quoniam in eam rem tam multum studii, tam multum
imi^endebat temporis, in quo non erat absimile veri primum illum
animi calorem ac velut impetum quendam, qui subitis rebus imponit, 35
spacio et mora deferuere, iocis eum lusurum ac salibus a iurgiis ;

vero, conuiciis et calumniis omnino temperaturum sibi, ne merito

iudicaretur importune maledicus, si acerbius in pace laederet quam

12. biennium] The Antimorus had 27. loannes] Of this Greek who
been long projected ; cf. Ep. 620. 28 came from France to England and
seq. visited More, I can find no other trace.
17. amicorum] Cf. Ep. 1087. 437^. Hardly Lascaris(l. 18); thoughhewas
20. Cardinalis] See Ep. 1087. 439^. intimate with Brixius.
 252 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Tum quoniam ante annos septem Chordigeram

laesus esset in bello.
40 eius legeram, quae tametsi multis et inuentionis, oeconomiae et
sermonis viciis abundabat, prae se ferebat tamen specimen eius
ingenii, quod annis posset (quos nunc accessisse videbam) aliquando
maturescere sperabam eum doctum aliquid atque excussum aeditu-
;

rum, quod me quoque in quem aedebatur, oblectaret quem iocus ;

45 aliquanto liberior non admodum solet offendere.

At vbi prodiit praeclarus iste Brixii partus Antimorus, Mor^^cho
plane moroteros, veneno quouis virulentior et indoctior ipsa Chordi-
gera, nihil aliud quam, vt par erat, irrisi, illud interea mecum viro-
Xpva-bv IrjTVJv evpov avOpaKas.
TovOopit^oiv, Et hercle quemadmodum
50 Aetnae carbones exusserunt Empedoclem, ita carbones isti similem
captantem gloriam vstularunt Brixium ac reddiderunt carbone quouis
atriorem eoque nec omnino quicquam respondere statueram. Verum
;

aliis aliter visum est, quorum ego iudiciis in meis rebus magis
fidebam quam meo. Hi quanquam faterentur neminem esse litera-
55 tum vsquam, cui non factura sint nauseam tam insulsa, tam virulenta
deliria, calumnias eius censebant, etsi perabsurdas atque ineptas, ad
haec nec obscuras, si quis attendat satis proram puppimque negocii,
non fore tamen satis liquidas multis, qui fortasse legerent eius Anti-
morum, quum neque Chordigerae neque meorum epigrammatum
60 facultas futura sit. Suaserunt igitur vt haec omnia in vnum librum
cogerem et lectoris pariter subiicerem oculis tum vt meo scripto :

negocium nonnihil illustrarem, sic vt legenti nihil requii*atur amplius

nisi iudicium suum.
Vides, Erasme charissime, quid nos ad rescribendum compulit.
65 Quamobrem non necesse habeo tuis respondere rationibus quando ;

nisi alio me perpulissent alii, fuerim ipse tibi semper 6/xoi//r;</)os. At

quod tibi video persuasisse Brixium, neghgentia tantum tabellarii
tui contigisse quo minus effeceris vt ille perpetuo presserit Anti-
morum suum, vehementer, mi Erasme, demiror id sic acceptuni
70 tanquam probatum tibi. Quid ni credam ? inquis,
' quando '
'

Beraldum atque Budaeum, vtrunque tam spectatae fidei testes,

producit in iudicium.' Producit, Erasme, non nego, fidei tantae
viros duos vt vtriuslibet fides in quantauis re facere fidem possit.
Quid obstat inquis, ergo quin quod ait Brixius, vicerit ?
'
' ' Hoc '

75 vnum, mi Erasme, quod quum duos testes producat, vtrunque

producit auritum, oculatum vero neutrum, quum pkis in iudiciis
valeat oculatus testis vnus quam auriti decem. Quid enim aliud
possunt testari Beraldus ac Budaeus quam sese ex ipso audiuisse
Brixio Antimorum illo aut illo die fuisse sub praelo? Hoc enim
80 significat Brixius, quum se dicit illis aeditionem Antimori indicasse
aliquot ante diebus quam tuam legisset epistolam. Ergo tu Beraldo
credes et Budaeo sed cui interim credent illi ? an non ipsi Brixio ?
;

Videsne nunc, Erasme, speciosum istud testimonium,

'Quemne ego heri vidi ad vos adferri vesperi?'

58. tamen F Corrig. : tam F. 59. quinn N quam

: F. 60. facultas FN :

facilifcas F Corrig. 84. vos N : nos F.

39. Ohordigeram] Cf. lEp. 212. in. 72. producit] Ep. 1045. 26-30.
49. Xpvcrdv'} Cf. Adag. 830. 84. Quemne] Cf. Ter. Andr. 768-70.
1096] FROM THOMAS MORE 253

vt exiret denique in suffarcinatam Cantharam ? Vt illud omittam 85

interim, quod nullos vnquam testes potest producere, non ante sibi
lectam epistolam tuam quam vidisset excusam. quum potuerit ac-
ceptam dissimulare, vt ista causa post apud te liceret vti integra.
Praeterea quum Antimorus eius constet quaternionibus non plus
octo, qui totidem diebus solent excudi, nec dimidium ex Brixii verbis 90
colligitur peractum esse qiium tuas literas legeret, in angustum sane
compingit illos aliquot dies, quibus ait se Beraldo et Budaeo indi-
casse aeditionem. At cur inquis, 'fingeret istud Brixius?* Adeo
' '

tibi mirum videtur si vel animi causa fingat homo poeticus? Quan-
quam suberat etiam causa cur fingeret. Nam quum vterque frequenter 95
admonuisset ne tam ineptum libellum ac muliebriter iurgiosum
aederet, volebat fortassis experiri an eodem animo accepturi forent
quum fecisset, quo tam saepe consuluissent ne faceret. Accidit enim
nonnunquam vt quod ne fiat obsistimus acriter, dum res est integra.
id vbi in eum locum venit vt non possit corrigi, patiamur, et vicium, 100
quoad licet, verbis integamus.
At ego, mi Erasme, quo vere videre possis quanto verius Morus
tibi paratus sit obtemperare quam Brixius, quanquam quum tuae ad
me venirent literae. liber non quidem sub prelo esset, sed totus esset
excusus (atque id docere possim non duobus auritis testibus qui ex 105
me audierint, sed oculatis plusquam decem qui suis viderint oculis ;

imo testibus, opinor, oculis ipsius tuis, vtpote ad quem librum ante
hanc epistolam peruenisse non dubitem) quanquam ad eius aedi-
;

tionem tot amicorum consiliis vrgerer, tamen vbi tuas literas ac-
cepissem, cuius vnius apud me sententia omnibus omnium calculis "o
praeponderat, non sum imitatus Brixium cui quum sit, vt scribit,
:

crumena semper aere grauis, tamen tanti fecit monitionem tuam,

cuius, vt ait, nutus obseruat, vt non sustinuerit tantillum sumptus
impendere, quo libellos illos vniuersos coemeret atque in ignem
semel coniicei-et vt tantas eius ineptias, nomen illud Brixii, cuius 115
;

illustrandi desiderio nimis quam misere sitit, infamaturas, omnium

8u)>duceret oculis. Ego vero, mi Erasme, praeter eos duos, quorum
alterum iam ad te miseram, alterum ad Petrum Aegidium, atque
alios quinque quos vendiderat typographus (nam quum primum
prostarent ac coepissent auide flagitari, tua commodum interuenit 120
epistola) coemi vniuersos, eosque clausos adseruo, vt priusquam

89. non plus octo] Tliere are nine produced Henry vin's Asseriio septem
sheets :A-I. ^acramentorum (Ep. 1227. ^n). His last
90. totidem diebus] An indication known book is dated i8.Tune 1528. See
of tlie ordinary rate of printing at this E. G. Diifi"s Centiiry of the English Book
time. Trade, 1905, pp. 126,7.
nec dimidium] This understates In 1513 he printed the first edition
Ep. 1045. 26, magna ex parte
'
'. of one of Erasmu^s' translations from
iir. scribit] Ep. 1045. 119-20. Phitarcli (Ep. 268 ; cf. vol. iii, p.
113. ait] Ep. 1045. 22-3. xxiv).
119. typographus] Richard Pynson 121. coemi] More's actionisadequate
(t c. Jan. 1530 a Norman, who in 1464
, to account for the rarity of liis volume
was a student at the University of for which see p. 217. Thcre is a copy
Paris. After learning the art atRouen, in the British Museum (714 b. 13). On
he settled in London c. 1490, and ^s.JuneErasmusbelieved thatMorehad
became one of the most famous of its madenopubIicreply(Ep. 1117. 115-16);
early printers. In 1508 he was ap- in A"gust, after seeing it at Calais (Ep.
pointod Printer to the King, and thus 1184. 20 22). he was hoping to per-
 254 LETTEKS OF EEASMUS [1520

aliquid innouetur ex me, possimus, imo possis potius ipse tecum,

statuere quid a me velis fieri.
Quamobrem tute nunc, mi Erasme, etiam atque etiam dispice in
125 eius amiei causa quid statuas, qui quicquid statues obtemperare
constituit. Nam quod suades, vt quicquid in Brixium scripseram
omittatur, quum Epigrammata mea denuo continget excudi, atque vt
Antimorus Brixii vicissim non propagetur ami^lius : ego, mi Erasme,
quod ad Brixium pertinet, multis mihi videor coniecturis colligere.
1 30 magis tenerum eius in suos versus animum quam vt abduci patiatur

ab eo studio se, quo charissimae foeturae suae, quoad eius fieri potest.
procuret aeternitatem. Mea vero Epigrammata nunquam admodum
animo placuerunt meo, id quod et ipse mihi, Erasme, conscius es :

cui et quibusdam aliis nisi liber ille arrisisset amplius quam ad-
135 blanditus est mihi, nusquam fortassis extaret hodie. Nunc vide vt
rerum vices inuei'sae sunt. Si conditione cautum esset inter nos
vt ex epigrammatis meis tibi liceret quaecunque velles transfigere.
modo ne ius in pauca quaepiam sit quae mihi liberet excipere, iam
quos in versus solos tu ex pacto ferrum stringeres, eos ego solos
140 exceptione defenderem. Adeo mihi coeperunt adblandiri, postquam
eos video multis commendari virulenta atque inepta versificatione
Brixii. Nec tamen istud dico quo minus tibi quiduis liceat in mea,
cui quiduis etiam licet in me.
lam quod ais eum esse Brixium, quem si pernossem intimius, eum
145 sentirem talem quo nemo sit amore meo dignior equidem, mi :

Erasme, non ego me pro tanto viro gero vt tam tenui quenquam
conditione videam, quem indignum censeam amore meo, modo ne
sit improbus qui non amari debeat a quoquam eoque Brixium facile;

assentior non indignum esse qui maiorum sit amore virorum dignus
150 quam ipse sum. Nam omnino videtur aliquanto plus habere, non
dico superbiae, sed plane generosi cuiusdam spiritus et magnificentiae,
quam vt ad pusillam hanc atque humilem indolem meam possit
vsquequaque congruere, nisi in amicitia tam male copulari vellem

Quam male inaequales veniunt ad aratra iuuenci.

155 Nec tamen eam, mi Erasme, te consulente recusem, qui me vel ad
parendum praestantioribus facile possum componere. Certe quod ad
eruditionem eius attinet, studiosum esse credo, et non omnino stu-
pidum, tum quem aliquando alium reddet vsus. Caeterum in his quae
aedidit hactenus, vt vere dicam, id quod etiam docere possum, neque
160 soloecismis caret neque numeris satisfecit, et ingenio frequenter
magis labitur quam vt puero concedi possit. Et tamen qualis qualis
est, non tanti memet facio vt me illi posse censeam eruditione
conferri, quum tu, mi Erasme, vel amore caecutiens, vel (quod verius
certe puto) quadam erga me ciuilitate, praeferas. Et vt ingenue
165 dicam, adeo illum non odi, vt postquam animo nunc defecatiore sum
adamem etiam literarum gratia.
factus,
Verum in causa quid fieri velis, expende diligentius priusquam

122. aliquid i^ : aliud Jf. 146. egoom.fi. 161. qualis qualis J^JV^
qualis J^ '.

suade More to suppi-ess it altogether 134. liber ille] See Ep. 550 iutrod.
(Ep. 1131. 14-16). 154. Quam male] Cf. Ov. Her. g. 29.
1096] FROM THOMAS MOKE 255

imperes. Nam plane si non respondero, putabor multis huius

ineptissimae rixae praebuisse causam, et nihil quicquam prouocatus,
tamen probris, diris et execrationibus insectatus illum quod non : 170
minus fuisset inhumanum, quam nunc falsum esse docui, si tu librum
patieris exire. In quo quod secundo loeo mones, vt si omnino
decretum sit emittere, curandum mihi sit vt (quod hactenus me
praestitisse dicis) eruditione tantum videar et causa Brixium, non
etiam conuiciis vincere ego, mi Erasme, vt eruditione contentus
; 175
sim si Brixio compar sim, ita causa non dubito quin longe sim
superior, quantumuis suam Brixius asserat bonam, facilem, vincibi-
lem quod principium ex arte solet adhiberi ad defendendam noxiam.
;

Conuiciis profecto facile me vinci patiar, quo armorum genere

nunquam pugnare statui. Et tamen fieri potest vt quod mihi mea 180
facit iniuria nihil acei-bum videri, idem alius cui non idem rei sensus
est, iudicet esse mordaculum. Quod si fors acciderit vspiam, non
adeo reuerebor aequitatem lectorum, quin et in me quoque, mi
—
Erasme, quantumcunque grauem personam tuus nobis imponat
amor, qui magna de me fingit omnia tamen dum adhuc inter ; 185
mortales versor, nonduni plane relatus in diuos, vt in re ridicula
rideamus, non verebor, inquam, quin aliquid et in me condonaturus
sit humanus lector humanis, quos hominum nemo prorsus excussit,
affectibus. Vale, mi Erasme charissime.
Quum Caletium venerimus, quo Rex propediem adornabit iter, 190
spero fore vt coram his de rebus commentemur plenius. Nam
omnino in hoc Eegum conuentu te expecto, atque ita Brixium nam :

et Regina Gallorum aderit, cui cum sit a secretis Brixius, non poterit,
opinor, abesse. Ita quod ad me attinet, facile rem compones ex
sententia tua. Nam etsi nulla de causa sic egit in me vt plane 195
declarauerit nihil ad meam perniciem praeter vires defuisse sibi
tamen quando tu, mi Erasme, plus es mihi quam dimidium mei,
plus apud me valebit in Brixio quod sit amicus tuus quam quod
inimicus meus. Iteriun vale. m.d.xx.

losf-lOQ/. To Thomas More.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 544. Antwerp.
HN: Lond. xiv. 16: LB. 505. 2 May 1520.

[Contemporary with Epp. 1098,9.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS THOMAE MORO SVO S. D.

NoN ignorabam, optime More, consilium istud vestrum, quantum-

libetincommodum mihi, ab animo amantissimo proficisci, atque ideo
non potui non boni consulere quanquam interim saedulo testatus sum
:

vos Leo consulere, non mihi. Perspectum erat hominis ingenium,

1096. 187. aliquid FN^ : aliud iV^ ». 199. m.d.xx add. H.

1096. 190. Caletium] See p. 296. 14 Oct. 1499 —

20 July 1524.
193. Kegina] Claude of France, 1097. 4. Lio consulere] Cf. Ep. 973. 17.
 256 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

5 huiusmodi tragoediis natum. Satis ardebat sua sponte, et tamen

habebat qui quotidie oleum adderent camino. Ae saepenumero
mecum admiratus sum vobis non itidera animaduersam Lei naturam,
qui familiarius cum eo vixeritis. Nec vnquam eam pacem aecepi, imo
cum pacificus ille Pacaeus, optimo quidem animo sed consilio mihi
10 parum felici, reuersus e legatione Germanica conaretur nos in gratiam
redigere, pertinacissime reclamaui, testificans eam pacem nullum
alium fructum adferre nisi quem ego maxime fugerem nec enim :

alia re magis offendi a Leo quam rumore libri aduersum me scripti,

quem ille cum sine fine iactaret, nimquam tamen aederet, paucis
15 tantum communicans, quo sic me vocaret in inuidiam, vt
iuratis
interim nec me doceret quicquam nec ipse posset refelli.
Nec alia mea fuit oratio apud ipsum Leum quam fuerat apud
Pacaeum. Sed quum perspicerem vobis concordi consilio sic esse
decretum, malui non seruire meis commodis quam pugnare eum
20 animis vestris. Etenim quum nunc talis prodierit liber, vt iis etiam
modis omnibus displiceat, qui hactenus illi fauebant, vt hoc organo
in meam
perniciem abuterentur quos hidos nobis praebuisset sacer
:

hber, qui per paucos iuratos amicos et crassos Abbatulos circun-

ille
ferebatur, nec ostendebatur nisi initiatis, quum hic in quo non ah
25 vno adiutus est, tot ineptiis scateat? Cuius rei si libet facere
pericuhim, confer haec quae aedidit orbi, cum iis quae scripsit selectis
amicis. Sed haec sera iam sunt.
Caeterura quod hortaris vt meminerira Christianae modestiae, sane
memorem raones etiara si non dubito futuros qui modestiara hanc
:

30 vel ignauiara vel formidinera vel aliud quiduis interpretentur. lam

dudura aggressus sum illi respondere. Exiit operis aliqua pars ea, ;

ni fallor, docebit me Leura magis vincere raoderatione animi quam

eruditione. Vt hic mundus mihi gratiara referat, nec anxie postulo
nec adraodum expecto. Verum adrairor quorundam dementiam, qui
35 posthabitis rebus oranibus vnum illud deuotis animis agunt, vt quam
minimum fructus e meis vigiliis ad studiosos perueniat. Atquehunc
vitae suae fructum optimum esse ducunt, si commodis omnium
obsistant. Bene vale cum tuis omnibus, vir iramortalitate dignissime.
Antuuerpiae postridie CaL Maias. An. m.d.xx.

1098. To Henry VIII.

Epistolae acl diuersos p. 501 (451). Antwerp.
HN: Lond. xiii. i : LB. 531. <3 May) 1520.

[It is clear that in the clate, exaltaiae (14 Sept.) must be corrected to inueniae
(3 May) ; for this letter is no doubt of the same epoch .as Epp. 1097,9. This
inference may te corroborated by thc estimate of time in 11. 27-8, forty days

37. optimum F : opimum N.

Ep. loor. 53^.

10. reuersus] Cf. spondet :ind the first Responsio : see Ep.
20. iis] The Louvain
theologians. 1037 introd.
23. Abbatulos] See Epp. 1061. 150, 38. tuis omnibus] For letters written
I5ann. 1074. 6on. to Erasmus by Moro's ' school' about
31. aliqua pars] The Apologia qua re- this tirae sce Ep. 1233.
1098] TO HENRY VIII 257

instead offilty as in i, p. 22. 21,2 though it is not safe to lay much stress on
:

Erasmus' figures (cf. i, p. 2. 26n), especially when, as here, he is writing of the

same event at different times. The libellus (L 24) may be identified with
Erasmus' second reply to Lee. the first Responslo, which Hillen published in
April 1520 (p. iio).]

EEASMVS ROTEEODAMVS SERENISS. ANGLORVM REGI

HENRICO S. D.

Serenissime Eex, cum non minima pars vitae ac felicitatis humanae

sita sit in bonis quo magis impetuntur hoc tempore a stoli-
litteris,
dissimis quibusdam, hoc magis subleuandae sunt fauore praesidioque
principum, erga quos non sunt ingratae futurae praecipue vero :

fauendum iis studiis quaeconducunt ad pietatem Christique Principis .^

nostri gloriam. Hac in re vtinam animum maiestatis tuae caeteri

quoque reges ac proceres imitarentur quanquam sunt qui id faciant,
!

et spero breui futuros complures tuae pietatis a«mulos. Minimum

esse fateor quod ego possum in literis. At tamen ita Christus sit
mihi propicius vt ego quicquid adhuc scripsi aut scripturus sum, 10
in illius gloriam et scripsi et scripturus sum. Certe hactenus in-
dustriam nostram probant optimi quique, et in his summus ipse
Pontifex. Conspirarunt tamen aliquot, quibus nimium assuetis veteri
vappae non placet nostrum mustum. Pauci sunt et stolidi, sed
tamen deuotis animis coniurarunt, adeo vt vel periculo suae salutis '5

cupiant extinctas bonas literas, quas dolent vbique tam feliciter re-
florescere.
Ab his suspicor instigatum Eduardum Leum
vt in nos debacchare-
tur. Cum ipsi in proscenium, iuuenem gloriae
non auderent prodire
cupidum et sibi placentem subornarunt, vt pro ipsis fabulam ageret. 20
Qui vtinam aut aliter scripsisset aut Anglus non esset Eduardo !

nihil debeo, sed tamen animo Christiano melius illi volo quam ipse
vult sibi. Angliae debeo quantum non alteri nationi. Mitto celsi-
tudini tuae libellum quo illi respondeo, sed absque conuiciis quem :

si vacabit inspicere, videbit quam res ipsa Lei pollicitis non respondeat. 25
Non redibit ad conuicia, si suo volet honori consultum. Argumentis
non arbitror vnquam responsurum. Ea in re perdidi dies ferme
quadraginta. Quod temporis vtinam collocare licuisset in opus ali-
quod quo vel tuam egregiam virtutem posteritati commendassem vel
Christi gloriam pro mea virili illustrassem ! 30
Precor vt Christus Opt. Max. generosos iuxta ac pios conatus
maiestatis tuae suo fauore semper in maius meliusque prouehat ;

mihique tantum velit aetatis superesse vt aliquando liceat declarare

quantopere sciam me debere benignitati tuae vere regiae quae :

dignabitur Erasmum extremum clientulum suum solito fauore 35

prosequi.
Antuuerpiae festo crucis t exaltatae. Anno m.d.xx.

21. vtinam aut N: aut vtinam F. 29. F LB commendarem

: Lond.
 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

1099. TO RlCHARD FOXE.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 492. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xii. 20 : LB. 506. 5 May 1520.

[The dates are confirmed by the coiirse of the controversy with Lee ; cf. Ep.
1037 introd. Erasmus had now returned to Louvain after the printing of the
tirst Besponsio. For anearlier appeal to Foxe against Lee see Ep. 973.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS R. P. RICARDO, EPISCOPO

WINTONIENSI, S. D.

Reverende Praesul. Quod Eduardus Leus tam manifestis con-

uiciis debacchatus sit in famam meam, dici non potest quam dis-
pliceat probis omnibus. Nec enim tam mihi nocuit quam omnibus
bonarum studiosis literarum, quorum vtilitati desudat hactenus
5 nostrum ingenium. Tot amicorum literis, tot monitis meis non
potuit deterreri quo minus suae non minus quam meae famae
maculam inureret. Exiit liber malis auibus nonnulio detrimento ;

nominis mei, sed multo maiore ipsius. Ad conuicia respondimus

moderatius quam vellent quidam. Ad argumenta sic respondimus
10 vt ille nunquam sit responsurus, sat scio, et tamen vbique tempero
a conuiciis.
Nec his contentus Leus adornauit, vt aiunt, alterum libellum
multo etiam virulentiorem, quem misit Lutetiam excudendum,
Non audit amieorum sana consilia, nec vnquam finem facturus est
15 nisi tua autoritate coherceatur. Atque vtinam id esset factum ante-
quam hoc incendium erupisset Subornauit Londini Cartusiensem
!

quendam, opinor nomine loannem Batmanson, iuuenem, vt e scriptis

Trr. KICHARDO E. 16. jF Coing. : Londiniu F,

8. Ad conuicia] With the Apdogia On 16 March 150I JohnBatemanson,

qua respondet. LL.D., an advocate in the Court of
9. Ad argumenta] With the first Canterbury, was present as a formal
Responsio. witness at the election of Wm. Salyng
12.alterum libellum] If this rumour (Ep. 624. 6n), Prior of Merton ; see
had any foundation, it may be conjec- A. Heales, Records of Mtiton Priory, 1898,
tured that Lee suppressed his second p. 312. In Sept. 1509 he was sent as
book as a condition of the agreement a commissioner to Scotland to attest
indicated by Froben's joint volume (see the oathof James iv, and wasemployed
p. iio). later on the Scottish marches (cf. Bod-
17. Batmanson] In 1491-2 .John Bat- leian MS., Engl. mise. c. 33, no. 3) and
manson, M.A., was incorporated at in the suppression of piracy. He also
Cambridge on his Oxford degree, and gave assistance with the Lady Mar-
in March 149J was admitted to incept garefs will. See Brewer i and ii. On
in Civil Law. On 15 March 149I, being 20 June 1517 he was present at St.
then LL.D., he was an arbitrator in a Cross, by Winchester, when Foxe gave
case between King's College and Trinity his statutes for Corpus Christi College,
Hall and in the same year he con-
: Oxford Bodleian MS., Laud misc. 621,
:

tracted a debt of 20S. pro scholis iuris

'
p. 130-
ciuilis which the University had not
' In 1523 John Batmanson (t j6 Nov.
yet recovered in 1523-4. In 1511-12 1531) was Prior of Hinton Charter-
he was sent to London on University house in Somerset and in 1529 Prior
;

business {Cambridge Orace-Book B, ed. of the London Carthusians. He is

M. Bateson, 1903-5, pt. i, pp. 36, 58, 72 : credited by Bale {Index Britann. Script. ,

pt. 2, pp. 2, 120\ ed. R. L. Poole and M. Bateson, 1902,

1099] TO RICHARD FOXE 259

apparet, prorsus indoctum. sed ad insaniam vsque gloriosum. Quod

si Leum ab his furiosis tumultibus compescuerit autoritas tua, non
meis tantum studiis consulet, sed etiam Eduardi ; qui nunc et suum 20
perdit oeium et meum. Bene vale.
Louanii .m. Nonas Maias. An. m.d.xx.

1100. To THE Reader.

Annotationes Leei, Basle, 1520, tit. V. (Louvain.)

<May 1520.)

[The preface to Froben's reprint of Lee's Annotationes, Basle, May 1520 (see
p. 1 10) undertaken, evidently at Erasmus' request, to ruark tlie settlement of
;

the controversy. A letter of Erasmus to Froben announcing his approaching

return (cf. Ep. 1078. 6211) had perhaps just arrived in Basle on 17 May 1520
(Zw. E.« 140).]

ERASMVS CANDIDO LECTORI S. D.

QvoNiAM multi desiderabant ea quae sci-ipserat in nostras Annota-

tiones Eduardus Leus, et codicum esset magna paucitas, curaui opus
excudendum denuo, sicut ab ipso fuerat aeditum, nec addens nec
detrahens quicquam praeter inuectiuas quibus opus Annotationum
interclu-serat propterea quod arbitrarer illum iam poenitere tantae
;
5
petulantiae, certe sciebam etiam apud Anglos optimo ac doctissimo
cuique summopere displicere. Idque feci eo libentius, quod, vt
aliquantulum fructus redeat ex Aunotationibus illius nostraque
Responsione, e rixis illisnulla ventura sit vtilitas ad lectorem.
Bene vale, lector. ic

1101. To Albert of Brandenburg.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 511. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xiii. 22: LB. 508. 15 May 1520.

[The year-date is confirmed by Charles' return from Spain and the meeting of
Henry and Francis at the Field of the Cloth of Gold.]

pp. 181,2) with commentaries on lists, Cologne, P. Quentel, Sept. 1532,

Scripture and homilies, and with Th. Loer, vicar of the Carthusians at
having written
Ep. 11 13. 11)
(cf. Cologne, bespeaks the King's favour
against Faber's De Magdalmis (Ep.
tribits for Batmanson : apparently having not
766. 22n), Erasmus' Annotations on yet heard of his death (cf. Ep. 1109.
N.T., and Luther. See DNB. apn)- Tliis was before the persecu-
If, as seems quite possible, these tion of the London Carthusians ; but
tbree persons were one and the same, from the commencement of the
'

Erasmus' suggestion of youth, here and divorce cause they had espoused in-
in Ep. II 13. 9, was perhaps not a mis- stinctively the Queen's aide' (Froude,
take but merely an atti-mpt to annoy. Hist. of England, ch. 9).
In dedicating to Henry vm, 14 March 1100. 6. apud Anglo.s] Cf. Epp.
1532, the commentaries of Dionysius 1026. 14, 1029. lo-ii, io68)ntrod., 1074.
Rikel, the Carthusian, on the Evange- 67-73, 1089, 1x03. 13-17.
S 2
 260 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

ERASMVS ROT. R. P. ALBERTO CARD. MOGVNTINO.

SvBiNDE motis alis isthuc aduolaturio, E, D. ac Princeps longe
clarissime, sed semper aliquid oboritur quod hic me alliget. Ex-
pectatur indies Carolus noster. Adornatur sub Calend. lunias
congressus duorum regum, Galli et Angli. mirifico sane apparatu
^ admoneor ne desim, Interim vmbram Erasmi mitto nam tuae ;

celsitudinis effigies apud me est. Minimum igitur abfuerit quin

totum habeas Erasmum. Potiorem imaginem mei, si quid tamen
mei probum est, habes in libris expressam. Corporis effigiem insignis
artifex expressit aere fusili. Etiam si quid adhuc superest Erasmi, id
ro totum sibi suo iure vindicare poterit tua R. D. cui sum et semper ;

futurus sum addictissimus, quaecunque corpusculum hoc habitura est

regio. Eam florentissimam quam diutissime seruet Christ. Opt. Max.
Louanii. Decimo octauo Calen. lunias. An. m. d. xx.

1102. To JoHN Oecolampadius.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 511. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 21 : LB. 509. 15 May 1520.

[Answering a letter from Oecolampadiu'*, wljicli is not extant, anuouncing

his entry into Altomiiuster cf. Epi). 1095. 173-411, 1103. sSn. The year-date is
;

amply confirmed by the contents.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS lOANNI OECOLAMPADIO SVO S. D.

Vtixaini tibi contingat quod expetis, optime Oecolampadi ! Id si

scirem. haberes me comitem sed vereor ne te sequatur hoc taedium.
;

Sic est vita mortalium, ab animo petenda est tranquillitas. Index

in Hieronymum iam nimium nos torquet expectatus. Yaletudini
5 tuae etiam nunc succuiTi potest, quando aetas est integra mihi his ;

laboribus immoriendum est cui si fuisset vel paulnlum fortunae

:

1101. TIT. K. P. 07)1. H. ALBEKTO udd. JI. MAGVXTINO N. J. R. D. F :

reuerende praesul //. 10.R. D. F; celsitudo 7/. 12. Eam F Eandem H. :

1102. TiT. svo om. H. 5. tuae add. H. etiam nuuc F etiamnum R.

:

1101. I. jsthuc] in response to the Huroinjmi (Ep. 396) cum iaterpretatione

iuvitation conveyed iii Ep. 986. 32-4, 'nominum Graecorinn et Hebraeorum per
37 g. Cf. also Epi^. 1102. 100, 1161. 1 1911. loan. OecrAampadium theologum in ordinetn
3. Carolus] See Ep. 1079. gn. digestus, Basle, Froben, May 1520 with ;

4. cougressus] See Ep. 1106. 92^. a preface by Capitodated x8 April.

5. ne desim] For Erasmus' visit to 6. fortunae] For Erasmus' concep-
Calais see p. 296. tion of liimself as habitually unfor-
vmbram] Cf. Ep. 1092. 2n. tunate, cf. Epp. 232. i, 237. 60, 240.
6. Probably on a coin. For
effigies] 22-9, 248. 5-10, 281. 20, 296. 231-2,
n similar case cf. Ep. looi. ^in. 388. 21,412. 27 9. 421. 5-6,423.50,451.
7. Potiorem imagiuem] Cf. Epp. 1-2, 455. 12, 483. 6, 505. i, 551. 15-16,
871. 22-4, 875. 17-18^953- 5-13. 981. 22; 552. II, 632. 7-8, 865.28, 891. 13-13^893.
al30 995. 12-17, lo.^S- 182-4. Grrtn- 1-3.1136.19-20,1178.19-20,1196.438-
zius {Kp. 1092. 2u;i refers to Ov. M. 15. 9. Of his friends Batt (Ep. 80. 79^),
875,6. Ammonius (Epp. 248. 17-20, 505. i ,

1102. 2. comitem] lu monastic re- More (Ep. 999. 190), and Budaeus (Ep.
tirement. 421. 5), he had a very dififcrent view.
3. Index] in fomos omnes operum diui See also Ep. 1060. 5U.
 1102] TO JOHN OECOLAMPADIUS 261

cum hoc animo coniunctum, non impune sic imponerent mundo isti
nescio quid addam. Seditionem non amo. Caetera praestabo pro
viribus.
lam adessem in Germania sed remoratur me Regum conuentus.
; lo
Expectatur indies Carolus. Rex Anglus et Gallus adornant collo-
quium in litore Caleti sub Calendas lunias. Monet Cantuariensis vt
adsim. Lutheri libri pene arserant in Britannia. Nec erat reme-
dium. Attulit remedium amiculus quidam humilis, sed in tempore
vigilans. Non sum is qui possim iudicare de Lutheri scriptis. 15
Sed hec tyrannis mihi nullo pacto placet. Bene vale, charissime
Oecolampadi.
Leo respondi tribus libellis intra menstruum fere tempus. Et
obiter alia sunt acta. Nunc aggrediar. imo aggressus sum, Paraphra-
sim in duas Epistolas Petri hoc malo quam rixari cum rabiosulis.
: 20
Taedet me horum Christianorum, imo Pharisaeorum ego malim :

esse publicanus mihi displicens.

Louanii. Decimooctauo Calend. lunias. Anno m.d.xx.

1103. TO JOHN BOTZHETM.

Epistolae acl diuersos p. 499. Louvain,
HN: Lond. xii. 32: LB. 248. 16 May (1520).

[In response to Erasmus' appeal to liis friends to write coneiliatory letters to

Dorp (cf. Ep. 1044. 49n), Zasius 1. 24) stimulated Botzheim to write to both
Erasmus and Dorp letters which were on their way by 6 March 1520 (ZE. 21).
:

Further encouragement came from Urbanus Rhegius (1. 2). This, which is
—
evidently Erasmus' first letter to Botzheim in the three inaccuracies in Eotz-
heim's name F probably reproduces Erasmus' rough-draft or a copy made froni
it by a secretary — therefore his reply to Botzheim's advance.
, is
The year-date added in H
can be corrected from Pace's succession to Cole
(t 16 Sept. 1519).]

8. nescio] For this periphrasis cf. cf. 1193, 1197). On 12 3Iay 1521
Ep. 732. 43. Luther's books were publicly burned
10. Germania] Epp. 1078. 62n,
Cf. at St. PauFs Cross (ibid. 1273.4) ^iid;

iioi.i. Just aVjout this time Erasmus at the same time mandates were sent
seems to have received an invitation to out to the bishops to collect them and
teach at Leipzig cf. Luther to Spala-
; transmit them to London (ibid. 1279).
tinus, 31 May 1520 (LE.- 308), Lip- '
See P. Smith in EHR. xxv. 657,8.
senses anxii pro retinendis scholaribus Capito reported to Aleander, 29 Marc-li
iactant Erasmum ad se venturum '. 1521, apud Anglos (Lutherii) nomen
'

Enders notes that after the Leipzig mire siquidem nemo bonus vel
frigere,
Disputation (Ep. 1020. 62n) many legere dignatur tam atros affoctus '
.-tudents had migrated from Leipzig to see P. Kalkoflf, W. Capilo, p. 135. The
Wittenberg. sermon preached by Fisher at the
11. Carolus] See Ep. 1079. 9"- burning was transhited into Latin by
12. Caleti] See Ep. 1106. 92^. Pace; who sent it in ms. toLeo x witli
Cantuariensis] Cf. BRE. 166. a letter from Richmond, i June (Bahm
13. penearserant]Cf. Ep. 1113. 16-20; no. 98). Later it was printed by
where Erasmusclaimstohaveprevailcd Siberch at Cambridge, <c. i Jan.) 152*.
with Wolsey against this step. When 14. amiculus] It appears from Ep.
urged to it from Rome, Wolsey replied 11 13. 17-20 thatErasmusmeanshiniself.
at first that he had not the requisite 18. Leo] See p. iio.
powers (Brewer iii. 1210); but later, 19. Paraphrasim] Ep. 1112.
under pressure, hecomplied (^ibid.i^s^; 22, publicanus] Luke 18. 10.
 262 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [^520

ERASMVS ROTERODAMYS ORNATISS. I. V. DOCTORI lOANNI

BOTZEMO, CANONICO CONSTANTIENSI, S. D.

Hoc mihi iucundior tua fuit epistola, vir clarissime, quod noui
lucrum amici cum veteris recordatione copulauit. Vrbanum iampri-
dem amabam Abstemium libenter agnosco. Fortunae tuae
; gratulor
non aliter quam si esset mea. Caetera placebant omnia.
S Caeterum quod scribis isthic circumuolitare Apologiam, in Pacaeum,
vt suspicor, male discruciat animuni meum. Vtcunque illi hoc
excidit de Constantia, scio non dictum malo animo. Eodem in
libello multa iocatur et in me, quae nollem scripta ob quosdam nihil
non detorquentes ad calumniam. Noui Pacaeum intime. Nihil
10 illius ingenio candidius, nihil integrius, nihil amicius. Simplicitas
haec est, non maleuolentia. Eruditus est sed eum librum, id quod ;

res indicat, effudit ex tempore. Et curatum est a nobis ne rursus

excudatur, nisi ab autore recognitus. Ego in hoc odiosissimo rerum
tumultu, quem praeter Praedicatores ac theologos excitat Eduardus
15 Leus, quo vno nihil vnquam adhuc terra produxit nec arrogantius
nec virulentius nec stultius, sum Pacaeum expertus talem amicum vt
nemo fratri frater posset esse amicior. Est cum summatibus omni-
bus, tum optimo Regi longe charissimus. vSuccessit nuper in dig-
nitatem loannis Coleti, decani apud diuum Paulum, prouehendus
ao haud dubie ad summas dignitates. Quare velim vt si quid animo
conceperis irae in ilhxm, penitus eiicias, vel mea causa. Non enim
poteris me vllo officio demerere magis. Ego vero posthac Botzemum
in amicorum fastis vel inter praecipuos scripsero.
Ad Zasii mentionem exilii. Vtinam egregius iile senex nobis
35 diutissime supersit Dorpio nostro literae tuae fuere longe gratis-
!

simae. Erat responsurus amicis, sed in praesentia deerat ocium.

Propediem respondebit omnibus. Optimo patrono meo vrbanissimo
Vrbano plurimam ex me salutem dicito ; item Oecolampadio, si
ornatissimo loanni Fabro.
isthic adest, et
30 Haec scripsi pkisquam occupatissimus, scripturus ahas accuratius.
Vale Louanii. xvii. Calend. lunias. [Anno m.d.xvii|.

TIT. ORKATISS. I. V. DOCTOEI om. H. F Gorrirj. : BOTZENKO jp. CAKONICO CON-

STANTiENsi ojw. if I. iociindior //. 3. Abstemium i^ Comgr. : Astenium F.
14. praedicatores J' : Dominicanos /f. 22. H Botzenum : JP. 31.
Anno M.D.xvii adcl. H.

2. Vrbanum] V. Regius ; see Ep. 386 1521 (BI. E. 37), ' Zasius autem, cum
introd. sit iam capularis senex habeatque
5. in Paeaeum] Cf. Ep. 887. 6,7 nn. alterum pedem insepulchro, .' See . .

I cannot find that the Apohgia was ever also ZE. 40 and cf. Ep. 1025. i6n.
;

printed. 25.Dorpio] Cf. Ei). 1044. 49«.

8. in me] Cf. Epp. 776. ^n, 783. 17, 28.Oecolampadio] Apparently Eras-
787. 2-3. 800. 28-9. mus did not know the position, perhaps
16. talem amicuin] Cf. Ep. 1089. not even the name, of the monastery
18. Successit] Ct'. Ep. 1025. 2-3 : in which Oecolanipadius had entered (cf.
Ep. 1118. 3 Erasmu« still regards this Ep. 1102). The date of Ep. 1139
as '
noua dignitas '.
suggests that Ep. 1095 had not yet been
34. senex] Ct Ep. 1121. 37, and Zw. delivered.
E.* 113. He was now about 59 : but cf. 29. Fabro] See Ep. 386 introd. He
Ph. Engelbrecht to T. Blaurer, 17 Dec. was now at Constance as the Bp.'s vicar.
1104] 263

1104. To JOHN LOUIS VlVES.

Opus Epistolarum p. 824. Louvaiu.
N. p. 787 : Lond. xxi. 20 : LB. 489. <May ? 1520.)

[This letter is not easy to date. The reference to Nesen seenis to indicate
that it must be near in time to Epp. 1046, 1057. But comparison with Epp.
rio8, II ri suggests that it was written in the following May, in reply to a letter
from Vives sent off immediately after his arrival in Paris (Ep. 1108 introd.) ;

for the opening sentences may be taken to refer to Vives' warm reception by the
Parisians in spite of his attack on their schools (cf. Ep. 1108. 7-23) and there ;

are similar mentions, as in Ep. rrii, of Faustus' lectures and of the controversj-
with Budaeus.
If this view is correct, it appears that the information about the treatment of
Nesen at Louvain, of which Vives must already have been well aware (cf. Ep.
II ir. 6i-2!, was intended for the enlightenment of Parisian readers. to whom
Erasmus no doubt expected that the letter would be shown.
The year-date in the text, having only the authority of H, has no value.]

ERASMVS ROT. LODOVICO VIVI S, D.

QviD te felicius, eruditissime Viues? qui gratiam ineas etiam

maledicendo, quum nos et benedicendo nobis odium et inuidiam
conciliemus. Conati sumus verae pietatis ac religionis aperire fontes,
adnixi sumus rem theologicam, plus satis prolapsam ad argutas
magis (Juam necessarias quaestiunculas, priscae maiestati pro virili 5
restituere et sic in me debacchantur monachi quidam, quasi sacri-
:

legium admiserim quum tu tam gratos et commodos experiaris

;

sophistas, iritabile, vt vulgus existimat, hominum genus. Proinde

postea quam res tibi tam feliciter cessit, perge qua coepisti, studiis ad
meliora reuocandis inuigilare. Parisiensis Academiae candorem ac 10
ciuilitatem iam olim sum admiratus, quae tot annos Faustum tulerit,
nec tulerit solum verum etiam aluerit euexeritque. Cum Faustum
dico, multa tibi succurrunt quae nolim litteris committere. Qua
petulantia solitus est ille in theologorum ordinem debacchari Quam !

non casta erat illius professio I Neque cuiquam obscurum erat qualis 15
esset vita. Tantum malorum
Galli doctrinae hominis condonabant,
quae tamen vltra mediocritatem non admodum erat progressa.
Huius Academiae proceres non ferunt Trilingue Collegium, gratis
adiuuans publica omnium studia, gi"atis ornans non solum hanc
scholam verum etiam vniuersam Principis ditionem. Non ferunt 20
professores moribus inculpatissimis, professione casta, doctrina longe
Faustinae praeferenda, Parisiensis Academia certe in hoc litterarum
genere, quod sibi proposuit, semper primas tenuit ; et tamen gaudet
vndecunque sibi contingere litteraturae politioris accessionem. Datur
locus quiduis quacunque mercede profitentibus. Hic Guilhehno 2:^
Neseno Pomponii Melae Geographiam profiteri gratis aggresso nihilo
remissioribus studiis obstiterunt quam si parasset totam hanc vrbem
incendio miscere, Ante annos non ita multos frigebat haec schola ;

nunc bonarum litterarum commendatione facta celebrior, mirum

quas cristas erigit, quod attollit superciUum, quam nieditatur tyranni- 30

u, Faustum] Andrelinus see Ep, 84 iutrod.

:

26. Neseno] Cf. Epp. 1046. 22-3, iiii. 61-2.

 264 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

dem. Sed hoc quicquid est tragoediae, duobus aut tribus acceptum
ferimus. Quos, etiam si non queant mitescere, tamen obruent
tandem indies magis ac magis inualescentia rectiora studia, praesertim
si tu te in hoc bello Camillum quendam praebeas.
.'.5 De Budaeo tametsi nihil noui praedicas, tamen hominis amicissimi
verissimis laudibus sum vnice delectatus. Ille vero nunquam
Erasmum ab se alienabit, etiamsi atroces inueetiuas in nos scripserit
tantum abest vt illa litterarum velitatio queat animos Gratiarum
nodis coniunctissimos diuellere.
40 Habes epistolam laconicam sic enim soleo pro LucuUianis coenis
;

Diogenicum reponere conuiuium. Verum hoc non animo sed occupa-

tionibus imputabis. Bene vale Louanii. [Anno m.d.xix.]

1105. From Philip Enqentinus.

Epistolae eraditorum viroruru, p. 155. Freiburg.
Jortin ii. y]"]. 24 May 1520.

[For tlie source see p. 210. Tlie year-date needs no confirmation.]

ERASMO ROTERODAMO THEOLOGO PHILIPPVS ENGENTINVS S. D.

NoN possum non scribere ad te, Erasme candidissime, praesertim

cum ad manus nunc sit qui meas tibi commodissime reddere potest.
Intellexi autem Zasium nostrum et Bonifacium Amorbachium idem
facturos. Vnde piaculum arbitrarer, si, literariae militiae, quan-
.T quam forte satis infeliciter, eodem sacramento astrictus, ex hoc
munere me subtraherem. Quanquam non sim nescius te esse in
bonis amplificandis longe occupatissimum, vt ad te scriljentium
literis
quantumuisl)reues epistolas vix legere queas, tamen, vt tibi veteris
conuictus memoriam refricem simulque admoneam me esse tui
10 nominis studiosissimum, nolui committere vt absque meis literis
tam opportune oblatus nuncius ad te proficisceretur. Atque eo
nomine minime gi-auari debes poteris enim tantillum temporis
;

suffurari tuis negociis vt citra nauseam quasi hidendo mihi nonnihil

impartias. Neque a tua humanitate ahenum fuerit, si candidum
15 meum in te animum meliori calculo comprobaueris quod si feceris, :

exilii mei perpetuam molestiam subleuare videbere, quod vsque adeo

me fregit pene, vt etiam post reditum ad nostra studia vix mihi ipsi
constem. Exulauimus autem mensibus decem ob inclementem aeris
intemperiem, quae multas centurias hominum, imo chiliadas absor-
20 psit. Eo tamen gratior fuit mihi isthaec absentia, quod publico
Senatus nostri literarii decreto decenter abesse licuit.

1105. 3. idem facturos] Tliis seems to 9. conuictus] At Basle in 1515 ; see

refer to private letters, now not extant Ep. 344. 52n.
for against Lee BoniJFace had already 18. Exulauimus] at Constance see ;

written (Ep. 1084). Zasius, too, wroto VE. 155.For the cause of his exile
latei' ; to Beatus, 5 June. though on 4 cf. Ep. 1085. i^n. By 5 March 1520 he
June he had not read Lee's book (BRE. liad returned to Freiburg (Zw. E.^ 123).
164, 168 where piobably one of the
; 21. decenter abesse] The question
dates needs correction\ whether it was right to fly before the
 1105] FROM PHILIP ENGENTINUS 265

Interim a quibusdam accepi esse quendam qui, egregie cordatus

homo, si diis placet, contra tuas in Nouum Testamentum Annota-
tiones ingentem pai-arit Iliada, Erant qui summo desiderio talem
censuram expectare videbantur, vt vel ea nomenclatura eleuaretur 25
in Erasmo summae eruditionis autoritas. At rursum qui te extra
omnem ingeniorum aleam positum venerabantur. in hoc tantummodo
nugas dicebant, vt viderent quam nouitatis speciem
effiagitare eas se
camelus Bactriana esset allatura. Hic vero eandem audiuimus
cantilenam, accessione tamen facta autoris, qui in te superciliose 30
talia meditatur quem in postrema tuae Farraginis epistola satis
;

luculenter expressisti, (et) amicius admonuisti ne in eam harenam

descendat. Statim partum istum addiuinabam, non qui alicubi a te
dissentiret, quando hoc semper inter eruditos licuit, vt interim
homini ignoto eam doctrinae gloriam condonemus sed coniecturam 35 ;

faciebat felix illa tardidiscentia, qua tantum intra paucos menses

Graecitatis et Hebraismi deuorauit, vt tanquam ad Lesbiam regulam
omnis earum literarum vsus ad hunc vnuni deuolui debeat. Qua
potissimum ratione eam foeturam anxie expectamus, vt ea nouitas
mirifice suis gratiis nos oblectet et fortassis pariet quod nunc ad 4°
;

biennium non sine laboribus parturiit, nisi elephantum conceperit.

Apologiam autem contra istum tuam nunc animo fingimus—
neque enim tibi deesse poteris qua ita aduersarium conficies, vt eo
:

nihil vnquam miserius futurum ducam habebit enim Marsias suum ;

Appollinem. Quanquam ex mediocriter ilhs eruditis nullus vnquam 45

sit dignus cui tu respondeas, merebitur tamen hoc quorundam
colhmies, qui ex tua taciturnitate ampHssimum sibi triumphum
sperarent: scis enmi quale sit hoc hominum genus, quod sub eximia
religionis specie tyrannidem exercet impudentissimam vtcunque ;

ferendam, nisi in bonas quoque litei'as debaccharetui-. Tale quoddam ,50

portentum nuper ad plebem rudere audiuimus, non sine risu, nam

plerumque excogitat
Grande aliquid, quod pulmo animae praelargus anhelet

plague was much debat-ecl see Ber's let-

: aemulatione, reiectis caeteris authori-
ter of 1551 (Ei:». 488 introd.), Z>epcste, a« bus, quam maxime possum, represen-
et quatenus Christiano homini sit fugiev/la. tare nitor. Quem nunc seculi nostri
In 1519 Burer protests that nothing principem non ab re omnis intonat
shall induce him to leave Basle (BRE. Germania ;c^uo etiam absente vtor
128, p. 177 med.). But doctors were vnico preceptore, scripta sua velut ore
beginning to recommend fiight (BRE. liaustasacrariorecondens, acquelucrum
203) ; cf. Ep. 1085. sn. ex re vendita captum indens chriso-
22. quendam] Lee. stecae '.
37. venerabantur] For an example of 31. epistola] Ep. 998.
this aee a, Congratulatio cessatitis intcrregni, 37. Graecitatis] Cf. Ep. 998. 29^.
about the election of Charles v. by Jo. 46. Cjuorundam] Evidentlythefriar^;
Kiieflner Ratembergensis. s.L, 15 June cf. Eji. 998. sgn. For severe criti-
1520. His preface, dated in ilay, says : cism i»f the Dominicans at this time by
'
Factus sum autem plane miles Eras- the Strasburg Carthusian, Otho Brun-
mianus, lucrubrationibus eius non ad fels, see BRE. 158. About 17 May
solem modo verum et ad lucernas Bruufels, who was now a diligent
quoque cxcubatissime pei-uigilans, nec reader and staunch defender of Eras-
militare sed literarium premium de- mus, wrote to him (BRE. 176); but on
uictis fusisque liostibusex bello referre i Aug. had received no answer. The
cupiens. Hunc archiducem sequor, letter is not extant.
hunc effingo atque inuidiosa quadam 53. «jrande] Cf. Pers. i. 14.
 266 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

quod vbi introspexeris, cum Euangelicis doctrinis nihil habet

55 commune.
Tu macte ingenio, Erasme, theologiae maxime antistes, tuorum
laborum pensum, vt facere soles, nunquam intermitte plane enim ;

persuasum est omnibus eruditis ad infelicia monstra conficienda te

natum esse Herculem. Nemo ex hoc fastigio te deiiciet, quando tua
60 omnia Christum Deum opt. max. feliciter spirant. Salutat te frater
meus Antonius tibi addictissimus, qui nunc Spirensis Ecclesiae
Suffraganeum agit Episcopum. Vale, optime Erasme.
Ex Friburgo Brisgoico. Nono Calen. lunias. Anno. m.d.xx.

1106„o- Feom Thomas More.

Epistolae selectae, 1520, fo. M'^ (a). Canterbury.
F. p. 520: HN: Lond. xiii. yj : LB. 433. 26 May (1520).

[For the earliest source see App. 12, in vol. iii. The year-date is easily
assigned from the public events mentioned.]

THOMAS MORVS ERASMO S. D.

De puero cuius causam commendasti mihi, iam ante cuni patre eius
egeram quam tu scripsisti. Rogarat enim pridem me per literas
puer ipse, quod sibi persuaserat apud illum meam sententiam
momenti aliquid ac ponderis habituram. Tractaui rem diligenter ;

5 quid profecerim haud satis certo scio. Respondit mihi pater eius non
1106. TiT. THOMAS acld. F. T>. aH : r. F.

1105.61. Antonius] Engelbrecht (fc. returned to the Catholic side, and

1556-7) of Engen, after studying at settled in Cologne ; but ini542 hewas
Leipzig c. 1503 and taking orders, still on friendly terms with T. Blaurer
matriculated at Basle in the summer and Hubert.
of 1517. In 1520, being baccalaureus '
See F. X. Remling, GescJi. d. Biscliofe
formatus' in Theology, he was nomi- -u Speyer, (1854), pp. 250,1 ; and
ii

nated Suffragan Bp. of Spires, with the Urkundenbuch, ii (1853), pp. 496-8 :

title of Bp. of Termopoli and there- ; also BI. E. and VE. 758. specimen A
with parish-priest of Bruchsal. About of his handwriting is given by J. Ficker
1524 his Bp. sought to remove him, for and 0. Winckelmann, Handschri/ten-
sympathy with the new movement for proben des sechzehnten Jahrhunderts nach
reform but his parishioners petitioned
;
Strassburger Originalen, ii, 1905, pl. 54.
that he might remain. In April 1525, 1106. i. puei-o] Perhaps Ant. of Ber-
during the Peasants' Revolt, he fled gen, the younger (Epp. 760, 969 ; cf. Ep.
from Spires with the Bp. but was in- , 737. 3) ; the description of whom in
vited to return (BI. E.93). He settled, Epp. 717. 22-3, 1025. 9-16, agrees with
however, at Strasburg, as preacher at that here. Therc is no letter to More
St. Stephen's, and in Sept. 1526 his in the packet which he carried to
bpric. was given to another. He England in Nov. 1519 (Epp. 1025 etc.)
became more and more advanced in but Erasmus' coinmendation to More
his views, and married c. Nov. 1533 may have been in connexion with
(BI. E. 377, 396). But before long the Ajitony's return to England in 1520.
Straaburg Reformers found him an open Antony perhaps wrote then to More
enemy of their Ohureh, and expelled (II. 2-3), as he had written to Wolsey

him from his position though to the;

(Brewer iii. 598).
profound regret of the citizens (see a patre] On the .ibove identifica-
letter printed by A. Hegler in hia would be John of Bergen (cf.
tion this
Beitr. z. Gesch. d. Mustik in d. Reforma- Ep. 737 introd.), whom More would
timszeit, 1906, p. 34). By 1536 he had havc had many oppoi-tunities to meet.
1106] FROM THOMAS MOEE 267

omnino duriter et tamen (vt noui hominem ad rem attentum)

;

opinor respondisse tam commode. magis pudore quodam aduersandi

mihi quam quod ex animi sui sententia loqueretur. Summa erat, de
filio se vsurum consilio meo sed interim non obscure significabat
;

eum se nummatum malle quam hteratum. At puerum ipsum sic lo

aiiimatum video. vt non rem paternam tantum, sed ipsum etiam
patrem citius relicturus sit quam se diuelH patiatur a literis nimi- ;

rum dignus cuius indolem talem foueant omnes atque omni ope pro-
moueant.
Louaniensem illum scholasticum ita collocaui vt non dubitemquin 15
tibi perpetuo sit Eruditio eius perplacet hero
habiturus gratias. ;

qui quum audiuisset eum mihi commendatum abs te, rogauit vltro
vti iuuenem ipsi permitterem qua in re ego non grauatim illi sum
:

gratificatus, vtpote quod alioqui destinaueram petere. Nam apud

me pluribus ministris non vacabat locus. 20
Is dum primis illis diebus esset apud me, ostendit mihi opera
quaedam Lodouici Viuis, quibus neque magis elegans neque magis
eruditum quicquam iam diu vidi. Quotum enim quemque reperias,
imo adeo quem vnum ferme reperias vsquam, qui tam virente
aetate (nam tu eum virente etiamnum aetate scribis esse) tam 25
absolutum ciclopedias orbem absoluerit ? Pudet me profecto, mi
Erasme, mei meique similium, qui vno aut altero libellulo, eoque
fere inepto, venditamus nos. cum Viuem respicio tam iuuenem tam
multa, tam excussa, tam diserti sermonis, tam abstrusae lectionis
aedidisse. Magna
linguarum alterutra pollere ille se probat
res est ; 30
vtraque peritissimum. Maius quiddam ac fructuosius praeclaris im-
butum esse disciplinis at quis vno Viue se ostendit aut pluribus
;

instructum aut melioribus ? Multo vero maximum est sic bonas artes
imbibisse discendo, vt in alios easdem possis rursus docendo trans-
fundere ; at quis illo docet apertius, dulcius, efficacius ? Non 35
possum satis quas in Declamationibus eius tu
admirari virtutes illas
et acute perspexisti et expressisti luculenter potissimum vero (quod ;

in declamando potissimum est) non modo illorum hystorias tempo-

rum tam exprompta memoria complecti quam non quiuis suarum
lerum meminit, verum hominum tot olim saeculis functorum fato 40
affectus tam praesentes induisse. vt non e libris hausisse quae dechi-
mat, sed vidisse, sensisse, in parte fuisse rerum vel prospere vel
secus cadentium videatur consiha denique non ex aliena conditione
:

languidule, sed feruenter admodum ex suo ipse metu, spe, periculo,

foelicitate metiri. Quodtantum parte praestaret, esset 45
si in alterutra
tamen admiratione dignum. Nunc
vero talem se probat in vtraque
vt chamelionta putes, verso solo simul mutasse colorem.
Vtinam expergiscantur. Ex*asme, atque ad istud Viuis exemplar
coraponant sese quidam qui nimium ambitiose vohint haberi pro

26. cyclopedias f" Comjf. cyclop^dias A'.

: 38. historias F Comsr. 45.
foelicitate f
felicitatem if.
: 46. piobat a, c/; i. 30 : prebet F. 47. cha-
maeleonta FCorrig.

15. schoiasticum] Oji tlie same sup- 21. opera] The Declamationes SyUa^iae;
position this would be Adr. Aelius see Ep. 1082.
Barlaud ^ee Epp. 760. 14U, 1028. lo-ii.
; 25. scribis] Ep. 1082.53-4.
16. hero] I have no clue. 37. expressisti] Ep. 1082. 24-56.
 268 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

50 disertis idque eo magis titulo quod alia omnia contemnant, quam

!

quod vel assequantur vel rite consequantur eloquentiam, vtpote qui

ne per somnium quidem concipiant vllani rhetorices imaginem. Hi
cum coeteras artes negligant, quonam studiorum nomine cohonestari
postulant? Oratorem pi'ofecto vel rhetorem nemo iure vocabit euni
55 qui neque veras agat causas neque declamet fictas, Quin poeta per-
quam tenuis fuerit atque exanguis, cuius poema nullis philosophiae
monitis, nullis rhetoi'um praeceptis, nullis disserendi exercitamentis
formetur. Viues quum in rhetorica talem se praestiterit qualem
haud ferme iam quisquam qui nihil profitetur aliud. tamen caetera-
60 rum artium omnium quae quidem dignae sunt scitu, nullam reliquit,
in qua non ita versatus est, vt in ea sola aetatem omnem contriuisse
censeas.
Itaque vt nihil est illius quod non mirum in modum delectet
omnes, ita me profecto quae scripsit in Pseudodialecticos peculiari
65 quadam voluptate jjerfundunt non ideo tantum (quanquam ideo
:

quoque) quod illas ineptas argutias lepidis cauillis eludit, validis

argumentis oppugnat, ineuitabili ratione a fundamentis eruit atque
subuertit, sed et praeterea quod ibi video quaedam iisdem fere tra-
ctata rationibus, quas et ipse mecum olim. quum nihil adhuc Viuis
70 legissem, collegeram. Quae mihi nunc non eo nomine placent in
iibello Viuis, quod meae rationes ante arriserint mihi (solet enim
placere, si quid afferre alios videmus quod nobis ante in mentem
venerat) sed quod mihi plaudo quando quod ante suspectum habueram
ne parum aj^te diceretur, nunc confirmor haud inscitum esse, post-
75 quam Viui quoque video placuisse. lam illud me capit ac delectat
maxime, quod quum videam idem argumentum vtrique nostrum
animum et cogitationem occupasse, tum sic vtrique tractatum, vt
quanquam et fusius ab illo et elegantius, tamen in nonnullis non
tantum res easdem afferamus, sed propemodum eadem etiam verba,
So sic mihi libenter blandior, quasi cognati quippiam syderis animos
inter sese nostros occulta quapiam vi et conspiratione conciliet.
Hoc illi gratulor quod tantum habet locum apud reuerendissimura
Cardinalem suum. Spero fore vt illius numinis fauor iniquitateni
fortunae corrigat quae solet in eos esse pessima quicunque merentur
;

S5 optima, et tanquam litteris ac virtutibus inuidens, indoctos fere

atque improbos beneficiis suis euehere. Verum Cardinalis (cui beandi
quemuis tam facilis fere quam ipsi fortunae facultas est) homini tali,
quem inter penitissimos adsciuit, cui tantum eruditionis eximiae
(qua nunc haud paulo clarius quam ipso dignitatis fulgore splendet)
90 acceptum fert, non insigniter esse benificus neque pro insigni sua
bonitate volet, neque sine insigni apud posteros quoque traductione
potest.

51. aH: consequentur i^'. 54. H : vocabat a. 71. F: solent a. 72.

afiferre alios H : afferat alius a. 82. reuerendissimum om. H. £6.
euehere F : inuehere a. 89. splendet H : splendore a.

64. in Pseudodialecticos] See Ep. paragingly of the schulastie philoscphy.

1108. 7n. Cf. also LB. App. 513, 18970-990,
69. ipse mecum olim] More was and his March (1518) to
letter of 29
doTibtless thinking of such passages as Oxford University (Jortin ii. 662-7).
that in the Vtopia (pp. 61-3, ed. Froben, 83. Cardinalem] Wm. Croy seo Ep. ;

March 1518), where he speaks dis- 647 introd., nnd ef. Ep. 1108. i.
iro6] FROM THOMAS MOEE 269

Vale, mi Erasme charissime quem ego spero fore vt Caleti prope- ;

diem praesens praesentem in hoc Regum congressu complectar.

Hodie appellit Imperator. Cras summo mane Rex in occursum 9:
prodibit, imo fortassis hac ipsa nocte quae iam nunc appetit. Non
credas quanto gaudio, non dico Regis ac procerum, sed populi quoque.
sit acceptus nuncius per quem constabat Imperatorem huc appellere.
Iterum vale e Cantuavia pridie pentecostes.
Quiddam est, mi Erasme, de quo si mihi notus esset Viues, ad- 100
monerem illum. Nunc quoniam haud certus sum quo animo accipe-
ret ab ignoto tam importunum officium, ipse potes per occasionem
submonere, esse in Aedibus legum atque item in eius Somnio (quod
alioqui multorum superat peruigilatas vigilias) abstrusiora quaedam
quam vt pateant nisi doctissimis quum fuerit in rem litterariam ;
105
vtile illius omnia quam plurimis intelligi. Ei rei vel explicando vel
adiectis in margine breuissimis scholiis facile mederi fuerit. Addet
item plurimum lucis Declamationibus, si breuibus historiae summam
complexus vel vna pagella praeponat.
Iterum vale. [Anno m.d.xix.]

11^61107. To Thomas More.

Epistolae selectae, 1520, f». W \°. (n). (Louvain.)

F. p. 522 : HN : Lond. xiii. 38 : LB. 496. <June 1520.)

[It is easy to assign an approximate date from Ep. 1 106, and the indicatioii
of Erasmus' illness (1. 13).]

EEASMVS ROTERODA. THOMAE MORO SVO S. D.

T^AE ad istius exemplum peruersissimo iudicio videmus esse patrum

vulgus. Corpori liberorum anxie prospiciunt, animi possessionibus
neglectis cum frustra, imo cum suo malo, possideant opes qui
:

nesciunt vti. De puero nec ago gratias, nec tu noui quicquam fecisti,
cum nunquam non sis tui similis.
De Lodouici Viuis ingenio gaudeo meum calculum cum tuo con-
sentire. Is vnus est de numero eorum qui nomen Erasmi sint
obscuraturi. Nec aliis tamen aeque faueo, et te hoc nomine magis

1106. 108. aFCorrig. : hystoriae F. 109. Anno m.d.xix adcl. H. 1107. 2.

animi a H : animae F. 3. possideat F. 4. nesciat F. 8. aliis a :

alii H. aeque a : om. F : magis F Corrig.

1106. 93. Caleti] Henry crossed to On 14 July Charles set out for Bruges
Calais 31 May for the meeting with and Ghent, and Heiiry soon afterwards
Francisat theFieldoftheClothof Gold, returned to England. For Erasmus'
7 June see Brewer iii, pp. Ixvii-lxxvi.
: presence at Calais see p. 296.
At first his head-quarters were at 95. Imperator] Cf. Ep. 1079. ^n.
Guines but on 25 June he moved into
; 103. Aedibus legum] One of the later
Calais to prepare for a meeting with items in the Opusaila varia (Ep. 1108.
Charles. On 10 July the Emperor ^n).
arrived at Wael, where Henry met him. Somnio] See Ep. 1108.20211.
The night was spent at Gravelines, and 108. Declamationibus] See 1. 2in.
next day they rode together into Calais. 1107. 8. obscuraturi] A favourite form
 270 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

amo, quod huic tam candide faues. Est anirao mire philosophico.
10 Hei'am illam cui sacrificant omnes, litant perpauci, fortiter contemnit.
Et tamen tali ingenio, talibus litteris non potest deesse fortuna.
Non magis idoneus qui profliget sophistarum phalanges in
alius ;

quorum castris diu meruerit. Adero Caleti, si valetudo suppetet, vt

amicis omnibus extremum complectar ac vale dicam. Bene vale,
15 amice incomparabilis. [Anno m.d.xix.]

1108ji„ From John Louis Vives.

Epistolae acl diuersos p. 639. Bruges.

HN : Lond. xvii. 10: LB. 610. 4 June (1520).

[The yeai--<;late is given by Ep. iiii. Vives' arrival in Paris must be dated
between 2 May 1520 (BE.* 67) and c. 14 May for by 17 May Budaeus had ;

reached Ardres (BE.* 69'. He stayed on after Budaeus' departure, left Paris
c. 30 May, and then after five days on the road reached Bruges on 3 June.]

10. LOD. VIVES DES. ERASMO ROTEROD., PRAECEPTORI

SVO, S. D.

Pbogresso mihi cum Card. Croio ad fines ditionis nostri Principis,

Erasme mi longe doctissime optime, libuit proximam ingredi
et
Franciam, et paruis paucisque itineribus Parrisios ire vt et eos ;

inuisei"em qui ex vetere mea familiaritate atque amicitia illic

5 supersunt, et nouos mihi asciscerem amicos, quibuscum praesens
verbis coniunctioneque vitae et absens suauissime literis oblectarer,
Ilkid perincommode rebar accidisse, quod eo tempore aduersum
Pseudodialecticos scripsissem, eosque nominatim Parrhisienses vnde ;

non dubitabam quin multos illius notae homines quos modo sophistas
10 appellant, animo parum in me propitio sensurus essem. Verum re
ipsa longe aliud sum expertus quam ipse mihi nimis profecto
meticulosa et suspicaci cogitatione confinxeram.
Venio Parrhisios de via non fessus sed oblectatus, et amicis per
famulum significo me adesse. Conuolant ad me frequentes, salutant
15 officiose, gratulantur aduentui. Ducunt et illi ad me alios postridie

1107. 12. phalangas f 15. Anno n.D.xix add. H. 1108. 6. H : oble-

ctarem F.

of compliment with Erasmus cf. Epp. ; 13 Feb. 1519 (? I5|^) f^om Louvain.
605. 34, 646. 12, 903. 11,905. 21-2,935. Aftorexpressingregretsatbeingunable
61-2, 967. 46-8, 1004. 39, 1146. 22, to come to Paris as he had hoped, Vives
1159- 37? II75- 15- quotes the opinion that the barbarous
1107. 13. Adero Caleti] See p. 296. sophistries still reigning in the Uni-
valetudo] Probably an indication versity are largely due to tlie Spanish
that he was already ill ; cf. p. 283. students there, qui, vt sunt honaines
'

1108. I. Card. Croio] See Ep. 647 inuicti, ita fortiter tuentur arcem
introd. ignorantiae From the suggestion here
'.

4. vetere mea familiaritate] In the and in Ep. 1106. 64 seq. that the letter
years c. 1509-14 see Ep. 927 introd.
: wasa recent composition, and from its
7. aduersum Pseudodialccticos] Tlie place at the end of the book, it seems
last item in the Opuscida varia, Louvain, probable that the date of publication
Th. Martens, s. a. in the form of a
: must be 1520, and not, as proposed in
letter to .John Fortis (1. i8n), dated Ep. 927 introd., 1519.
 io8] FROM JOHN LOUIS VIVES 271

ac reliquis diebus maximi nominis sophistas. Inter colloquendum,

vt fit, mentio statim de illorum studiis, mentio de meis. Ego
dissimulare sedulo et occultare epistolam ad Fortem et aderat —
quidem ipse —
quam infaustis nimis auibus putabam prodisse mihi.
,

Ibi Fortis de epistola ad se mea tacere diutius non potuit. Arrisere

omnes, et non solum se illam fassi sunt boni consulere, sed habere
quoque mihi gratiam non paruam quod id operae in ridiculis dementiis
confutandis locarim: ingenia Parrhisien<sium) longe aliter nunc
sapere quam quum ipse ibi studerem philosophiae tametsi nonnulli —
fabulae se adhuc et consessui accommodant, nec exuere omnino vel
audent vel sustinent personam pridem tam fauorabilem et actionem
adeo plausibilem esse inter Hispanos qui sui exemplo magnum ad
:

res meliores momentum afferant loan. Poblationem totius mathe-

;

seos esse callentiss(imum), studuisse et politioribus literis feliciter

idem fecisse Franciscum Mellum, idem Gabrielem Aquilinum ; idem
se facturum pollicitum esse loan. Enzinam, iuuenem omnium acerri-

29. & politioribus H : expolitioribus F.

Fortem] John Fuertes, orFurtes,

18. Nevertheless he is probably not the
of Aragon was a student in Paris under same person as Jo, Martinus Siliceus,
John Dolz of Aragon in 151 1 see ; of the diocese of Badajoz, who was a
Dolz's Syllogistni, Paris, H. le feure, 15 pupil of Vives' teacher, John Dullardus
Dec. 151 1, f°. m^, and Discepfationes, (t 10 Sept. 1513), and who, c. 1514,
ibid., 16 Feb. isrf, fo. U^ v". He was dedicated to Al. Manrique, then bp. of
contuhernalis with Vives; who introduces Badajoz 11499-1516), an Arithmetica,
hini as one of the speakers in his Cliristi which Vives praises in the De trad.
lesu Triumphus, Paris, J. Lambert, .June disciplinis, bk. iv. Siliceus also pro-
(1514 ?), and dedicated to him an duced anedition of Swyneshed's(l. 74^)
edition of Hyginus, ibid., s. a., with a Salamanca, Jo. de Porres,
Calculationes,
preface dated 31 March 1514 (?i5i|), 24 April 1520 see Bonilla, Vives, pp,
:

and the Pseudodialectici (1. ^n). 418, 679. Later he became tutor to
28. Poblationem] Jo. Martinus Po- Philip n, and then bp. of Murcia and
blacion wrote De vsii astrolabi compen- abp. of Toledo, +31 May 1557.
diiim, Paris,H. Stephanus, s. o. In the 30. Mellum] A
Portuguese noble
notes on Aug. Ciu. Dei, Basle, Froben,. —
(1490 27 April 1536), who had been
Sept. 1522 (xxii. 22 ; p. 774) Vives sent to study in Paris, and was especi-
praises his skill in medicine as well as ally interested in mathematics see :

mathematics. In May 1522 he went the preface, i June (1515), to Gaspar

with Charles to England (Brewer iii. Lax of Aragon's Aritkmetica, Parls, H.
p. 969). In 1529 he was physician to le feure, 18 Dec. 1515. On return to
Al. Manrique, bp. of Seville see the ; Portugal he was appointed tutor to the
preface to Vives' De Pacificatione, Ant- King's sons, and continued his mathe-
werp, M. Hillen, 1529. His book on matical studies. Some of these writings
thc Astrolabe is commended in Vives' survive in ms. ; and some orations de-
De tradendis disciplinis, ibid., July 1531, livered by him on court festivals, 1525-
bk. iv. He is commonly said to liave 35, have been printed. He was vvith
been professor of mathematics in the the Court at Evora, when Clenardus
Collfege de France but Lefranc, Eist.
: arrived there in 1534 (Clen. E. pp.245-
p. 131, shows that he was only attached 6). See Barbosa, Bibl. Lusitana ii, 1747,
to the Court as physician to the Queen. 197-8 and Herculanos, Dicc. hibl. Por-
At the same time, c. 1530, he was tuguez iii, 1859, 8-10, xi. 343.
naturalized. In 1532 he produced a Aquilinum] I cannot ideutify.
Spanish translation of Cebes, made 31. Enzinam] No John of this name
from the Greek printed at Paris by
: seems to be known in Paris at this time.
S. Colinaeus. P. J. Olivarius dedicated In view of the frequent errors that are
to him an edition of the Somnium Sci- found in Christian names (cf. Ep. 1054
pionis,Poitiers, Marnef, 1535, as lo. '
introd.) it is possible that the person
Martino Siliceo Poblacio, Christianis- intended here is Ferd. de Enzinas of
simae reginae Pranciae primario Valladolid, author of many works on
medieo\ logic which appeared in Paris betwoen
 272 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1520

inum, vt in comnientis illis, disputatorem mille huic artes, si quis :

similibus congi'ediatur armis, impetendi, mille repetendi, totidem

euadendi, elabendi, eludendi. Dixerunt multa, vidi ipse plura in
35 D, Martino Lusitano, propinquo sui Regis. cuius merita mentio totam
sibi epistolam postularet qui gustato illo sophismatum amarore ita
:

saporem illum exhorruit, vt natiuae huic et vere humanae eruditioni

se totum. tradideritne dicam an immerserit? hoc credo, quo melius
amarorem illum e palato elueret isto dulcore. Magnos habet in istis
40 disciplinis progressus in quibus quod suspicabatur me aliquid valere,
;

mirum qua me beneuolentia, quo animo, quo fauore prosecutus sit.

Longum esset enumerare qui homines et quos honores mihi habue-
rint ob eandem de ingenio meo opinionem: nec solum principes
nobilesque viri, qui vitae ac generi congruas disciplinas suspiciunt et
45 consectantur, sordes relinquunt sordidis, sed etiam praecipui illius
Academiae theologi. Vix enim credas quantus sit illorum candor.
quanto interpretentur melius omnia quam multi quos nosti, Igno-
rant aliquid, dolet hoc eis scientibus non inuident, discentes etiam
;

excitant.
50 Conuiuatus sum cum
istis, et quidem frequenter et suauiter. Ad
mensam verbo sermo statim de te varius, multus etiam sublatis
tertio
mensis. mi Erasme. dicerem omnia, si patereris te in epistola ad
te laudari, Vtinam ad alium scriberem! Tacendum itaque erit
inuito quid illi dicant de Hieronymo tua opera sibiipsi restituto, quid
55 de Nouo Testamento suae integritati reddito, labore longe Christianae
pietati vtiliore quam quae sunt intra mille annos in scholis clamata
quantum admirentur Paraphrases, i(i est Paulum apertius diuina illa
sua eloquentem sensa quantum AdagiiS; Copia et aliis prophanis
;

operibus tuis delectentur et proficiant vt Moria sit omnibus in ;

60 deliciis, neminem of^endat, nimirum quod maiestas illorum theologo-

rum durior et fortior est quam aliorum. O me rusticum et inciuiiem
quod de his taceam, te durum qui iubeas Sed erit locus in quo non !

parebo tibi.
Illud nunc feres velis nolis, nulla te illos ex parte spectare, vnde
65 non occurras summus, admirabilis, absolutus. Possum tibi plures
quam decem ex hominibus ordinis illius nominare, qui suam tibi
omnem operam, diligentiam, fauorem, studium pollicentur et de-
ferunt nihil se tua causa non facturos, suas esse tibi apertas domos,
:

si illuc iueris, paratas facultates, familias, opes, amicos, Precantur

70 te atque hortantur vt pergas, nihil indoctorum obgannitibus expaue-

35. D. om. H. 37. vere N^ : verae FN^. C/. Ep. 1115. 6«.

15 18 and 1526, witli dedications, dated Nationale at Paris and Nic. Antonio.
;

from the College de Beauvais, to tlie Bihl.Hispana nouu, 1783, i. 375-6. The
Dominican, John of Toledo, son of tlie Bodleian also has a collection of three
Duke of Alva (Ep. 1256. 32^). By (.8°. M. 10 Art).
1528 he was dead, immatura morte'
'
35. Lusitano] A young member of
(Alvar Gomez, De rebnn geslis Fran. the reigning family of Portugal. Jo.
Ximenii, Alcala, 1569, f. 222 v°) so : de Cehiya dedicated to him an Expositio
that he may liave been iuuenis at
' ' in librus prio)-um Aristotelis, Paris, H. le
this time, For his books, which are feure, s. a. (c. 1516).
now rare, see the catalogues of the Regis] Manoel i (3 May 1469
Colombina at Seville and the Bibl. 13 Dec. 1521), king of Portugal 1495.
1108] FKOM JOHN LOUIS VIVES 273

scens, de Christiana religione bene mereri, et in vniuersum de

studiis omnibus ; se dare operam ne in concertationibus theologicis
nugentur disputantes. Et ita se res habet. Si quis argumentum ad
Sorbonam afferat de Suisetiis contextum araneis, corrugant protinus .

frontem et reclamant spectatores, atque explosionibus reflant reii- 75

ciuntque e schola. Quin et in altercationibus philosophicis, si quis
aenigmatistes instructus veniat pronunciato multis syncathegorematis
onusto et quod Ethrusco indigeat coniectore, re alias mire ad pullatam
scholasticorum turbam gratiosa, is nunc clamoribus, sibiHs, explo-
sionibus, pertumultuose ex diatriba eiicitur. Non dubito quin his 80
gaudeas, pro amore in bona studia tuo, quae profecto mihi iucundo
fuerunt spectaculo. Quanquam i^es illa publica nondum potuit genus
illud sphingum a se auex-tere.
Et haec quidem quae dixi omnia, pertinent ad oblectamentum, ad
voluptatem animi mei quam cepi Parrhisiis non exiguam. Illud
; 85
certe non ad eam solam sed ad fructum quoque peregrinationis meae
vel maximum facit, quod Budaeum iam olim tuum, nunc meum,
imo vero nostrum, videre mihi et alloqui contigerit. Pro Christe,
hominem cuiusmodi siue quis ingenium spectet, siue eruditionem
!

siue mores siue, quod postremum in illo homine est, fortunam quae : 90
quum in eo sit splendidissima, minima tamen et obscurissima est, si
cum magnitudine caeterarum dotium claritateque conferatur. Natus
est loco nobili in primis, estque in ordine suo honestissima dignitate,
ab vltima stirpe gentis ad eum deducta, tum etiam opibus instructus,
quae natalibus non sint pudendae. Caeterum hac parte censendus 95
ille non est nam caetera illa, vt solaria quaedam sydera, stellam
:

hanc fortunae generisque obscurant.

Gaudeo me ad te scribere et de Budaeo. Nam huius laudes exerta
et clara voce praedicant Hbri quos aedidit, et ipse admirari celebrare-
que non cessas hominis virtutes quas maHm multo de te audire 100
;

quam ipse narrare. Quam multa legit et quam multum multa I

Omnia quae in hunc diem scripsit abunde ostendunt, quum nihil ilH
sit non lectum, nihil tamen iUum legisse nisi accuratissime. Memo-
riam quis non admiretur? BibHothecas medius fidius dicas hominis
pectus, non pectus. Ita sunt iUi omnia in numerato, historiae, fabulae, 105
antiquitates, res omnes, verba orania. Latine sic scribit, sic loquitur,
vt non sit cur magni nominis non haberetur aetate Ciceronis, si tunc

87. fecit Lond. 88. Proh H.

74. Suisetiis] Roger or Richard of f°. M

v°, includes Swyneshed in a list
Swyneshed (hence Suisetus, Suiset, or of medieval grammarians for whom he
Suiseth) in Lincolnshire, was a Fellow has little respect cf. Suiseticae quis-
;
'

ofMerton College, Oxford, in 1349: see quiliae' in Vinc. Theodorici's preface

DNB. His Calculationum
liber waa &ist to Petrus de Palude (see Ep. 1196
printed at Padua 1477 (Proctor 6805)
c. introd.).
cf. also 1. 28n. His philosophical 78. Ethrusco] For the eminence of
works remain mostly in ms., but De these soothsayers cf. Gell. 4, 5. 5.
insolubilibus was printed at Oxford nunc meum] Vives had made
87.
c. 1483 :see F. Madan, Early Oxford Budaeus' acquaintance and paid him
Press, OHS. xxix (1895), p. 3. Thiswas two calls when he went to Paris in
perhaps the 'liberdiu optatus' which June 1519 see Epp. 987, 992. i, 2.
:

Casaubon found when he visited the Budaeus' subsequent letters to him

Bodleian in 1613 (M. Pattison, Casaubon, (BE.* 43, 51, 52, 66, 67) and this second
1892, p 363). Vives in the Pseudodial., visit clearly had established intimacy.
 274 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

vixisset : Graece vero, vt profiteantur Graeci ipsi posse ab illo doceri

se linguam suam. Philosophiae quum esse illum peritissimum
iio clamant volumina quinque De Asse, tum vero quantum teneat nemo
facile crediderit, nisi qui eum propius spectarit et ex interiore, quod
aiunt, vita norit. Quemadmodum sit in autoribus versatus nolo
quisquam sciat me dicente, sed magistris Annotationibus in Pande-
ctas iuris et libris De Asse. Quod opus eius Hermolaos omnes,
115 Picos, Politianos, Gazas, Vallas, cunctam Italiam pudefecit ; ita vt
non minus prudenter illud quam vere scripserit Tonstallus, homo
doctissimus, fore vt derisui habitus esset Budaeus, si opus De Asse
antequam aederet, professus fuisset se scripturum. OrS' eKeivos il/ev8-^'i,
M.w/X7](7a(r6at Tavra paov icmv 7] fiLiJi-qo-aa-OaL ". Quid egO
'
ocTTts iTreypaij/e '

120 de moribus loquar? Quid non est in eo summum

et suspiciendum,
facilitasne et humanitas, tum etiam aequitas? an pietas in diuos et
mortales? Aditus patebat homini ad amplissimam fortunam aper-
tissimus, si vel latum vnguem sustinuisset ab exactissima illa et suis
omnibus numeris perfecta virtute discedere. Hanc praetulit omnibus
125 fortunae promissis, omnibus blandimentis. Nunquam splendore
opum perstrictus ab aequo sanctoque oculos deflexit.
Scis tu haec omnia esse vera, et eloquentia tua non maiora illa
quam sint facis. Nescio an posses, ita iam ad summam peruenere
sed certe ornas, et sic rem se habere persuades. Diligis tu atque
130 adeo amas Budaeum. Est tibi vnus ille in his Cisalpinis terris quem
perpaucis Italorum non praeferas. Sic de illo sentis, sic colis
venerarisque ingenium et studia eius. Ille vicissim te, non quo
gratiam referat sed quod ita sentit, principem te literarum huius
aetatis praedicat, in fastigio locat eruditionis. Ingenium, doctrinam,
135 monumenta tui religiose colit. Faraae ac nominis tui studiosissimus
est. Pergite vos amare mutuo, vos colere, vos admirari. Duo estis
corpora sed in iis vnicus est animus.
; Quo spectaculo potest esse
gratius aliquod studiosis omnibus aut iucundius? Nam
quod tecum
epistolis lusit paulo, vt videbitur forsan qui vos non norunt, iis
140 acerbius et contra id quod vestram amicitiam decebat, multa, vt tum
ex vtroque vestrum, tum etiam ex re ipsa intelligo, in causa fuerunt.
Primum quod vterque occasionem quaeritabat prolixe ad alterum
scribendi, nec semper de laudibus. Nam id perpetuum longumque
non potest esse aut si potest, est tanien suus cuiusque rei modus.
:

145 Quumque eloquentia ipsa sine aliquo velut antagonista iaceat, libuit
initio vos leuibus quibusdam stimulis inuicem pungere. Quid enim
est orator, si vel solus dicat vel non ab alio sollicitetur atque
excitetur? torpeat necesse est langueatque. C. Erucium scribit
Cicero negligentissime Roscium Amerinum accusasse, quod neminem
150 suspicaretur fore qui responderet.
Itaque primum de operibus vestris iniecta mentio, campus dicendi
non angustus nam scripsistis plurima et eruditissima, et quae sunt
:

118. H: ypfvSis F. 126. perstrictus J': ? prestrictus te(/e«dMm. Cf. Epp. ^i-j.

32, 319. 3. 137. Quo FLB Quod

: Lond.

116. Tonstallus] Ep. 571. 87-92. 14 Oct. 1516.

119. Ma)fj.iiaaa9ai] This inscription 131. perpaucis ... non] sc. plerisque.
appears on the title-page of the second 144. modus] Cf. Hor. S. i. i. 106.
edition of the De Asse, Paris, .T. Badius, 149. Cicero] Rosc. Am. ai. 58, 59.
iio8] FROM JOHN LOUIS VIVES 275

in nianibus studiosorum omnium frequentia. Dumque alter ab

altero cur quicque fecerit rationem poscit, ac vterque consilia scriptio-
num explicat, leuiter vel a se auertit vel in alterum reiecit quod 155
alter si non improbabat, certe ita factum esse mirabatui", hinc
prima origo concertationum. Puduit vtrunque non approbari alteri
per omnia. Et dum longius repetitis consilia et consiliorum causas,
prodiit tua ad Fabrum Apologia, quae velitationem paulo magis
accendit dum tu Budaeo nimius videris, aut certe videri fingeris, ne 160
;

pergas aliis scriptis Fabrum impetere, tibi contra nimis quam paucus
modicusque existimare.
Hinc progressum est ad iila quae quidam iam nimia, iam atrocia
et intolerabilia iudicarunt, quum tibi, quod vnum Budaeus satis sibi
esse putat, nunquam amicitiae claustra videantur excessisse ac ne 165 :

mihi quidem rem totam attentius perpendenti nam et libere vterque

;

est locutus. confisus simplicitati amicitiae. Et ioci illi qui extraneis

armati ac dentati existimantur, amicis inermes sunt, non vulnerant,
non mordent, ac vix etiam pungunt, sed titillant solum. Nam et
animus quo dicebantur, nihil minus cupiebat quam laedere et ipsa 170 ;

dicta, si non mel, certe nec fel habebant. sed salem et lusus, quales
ipsa quoque dictat amicitia :etiam non ex vulgari nota, sed ex *
praecipua illa et germana, cuiusmodi inter Ciceronem et Atticum
Brutumque fuit, qui sese plerunque non absimilibus epistolis
lacessebant. 1 75
Certe de Budaei erga te animo, tametsi eimi tibi exploratissimum
perspectissimumque esse sat scio, tamen nihil non ausim tibi polliceri.
Ostendit ille mihi literas ad se a furiis —
quibusdam nam sic melius
quam homines nominaro — scriptas, qui diuidere vestros animos et ex
vnico duos facere moliebantur, suspitiones afferebant sinistre detortafc, iSo
et semina iactabant discordiarum ex ipsius Alectus sinu petita.
Dixi quae mihi pro tempore videbantur, vt Budaei animus, si quid
forte ex tanto veneno acerbius eoncepisset, leniretur ac placaretur.
Sed nihil mea oratione opus erat. Nam ille quum erga alios omnes
tenacissimus est susceptae amicitiae, nec facile ab amicitia etiam 185
lacessitus iniuria discedit. tum vero te ita in animo suo amoris ac
venerationis radicibus defixit. vt nulla inde vi reuelli queas. Spondeo
tibi pro illo, vt illi pro te feci, amicitiam vestram perpetuam fore,
quae literis, quae studiis omnibus haud dubie gratissima semper
futura est ac vtilissima. Nec huiusce rei auderem sponsor esse, nisi 190
vos tali prudentia praeditos esse scirem, vt rebus ipsis sitis semper
magis credituri quam rumusculis, quam obtrectatoribus, quam amicis
consulentibus, idque prauo aliquo inductis affectu. Sed his de rebus
satis. Spero vos tam feliciter fausteque fundamenta iecisse vestrae
amicitiae, vt vi sua stet perpetuo, nec dirui aut labefactari machinis 195
vllis possit.
Redeo ad peregrinationem meani. Putarunt amici grande piaculum
fore si quindecim dies cessarem a praelegendo ; ita mecum agex'e
coeperunt vt et Parrhisiis aliquid clamose nugarer. Placuit. Ac ne
quid esset serium, Somnium delegimus, in quo si dormitassem, non 200
viderer discedere a decoro. Itaque iacens ac subinde dormiens
Somnium illis somniaui Scipionis ; a quo excitatus parabam
159. Apologia] See Ep. 597. 3211. is to a book which Vives pnblishcd al
202. Somnium] Thereferenceclearly this time, consisting of a 'Somnium'
T 2
 276 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

confestim digressuni. Multa me illine auocabant sed retinuerunt ;

aliquandiu amici tam veteres quam noui, moleste officiosi, qui mihi
205 tot conuiuiis, tot comessationibus cruditatem iam pepererant. Et
fuisset res longius progressa, ni reddita mihi peropportune fuisset
a Cardinale epistola, qua subito reuocabar. Ea lecta iussi illos cum
suis ientaculis, prandiis, merendis, coenis, cum suis pintulis et
artocreis paruis magnisque quam optime valere dieque postquam :

210 illinc discessi quinto, qui diuae Trinitati fuit saoer, perueni Brugas
essedo vectus, postridie haec ad te scripsi.
Vale etiam atque etiam et sahie, mi praeceptor.

1109j^j26 From Hermann Busch.

Epistolae aliquot eruditorum, App. f'\ b^ (o). Mainz.
Epistolae eruditorum virorum p. 148 O). 5 June (1520).
F. p. 483 : HN : Lond. xii. 14 : LB. 513.

[The last letter in the Appendix to Eae see Ep. 1083 introcl. It is noticeable :

* that, as in Ep. 1095, F follows a rather than, as might have been expected,
Froben's reprint, Eev (/3). Theyear-date can be assigned beyond doubt from the
appearance of Erasmus' replies to Lee (Ep. 1037 introd.) ; the month-date in
Lond. is a mere degeneration.]

ERASMO ROTEKODAMO SVO HERMANNVS BVSCHIVS.

CoNVENiT me Moguntiae famulus tuus, e Basilea reuersus ac con-

tinuo abiturus a quo intellexi me absente Apologiam tuam cum
;

litteris Spirae mihi redditam, aduersus Eduardum Leum, hominem

leuissimum, hoc est improbissimum qui hoc ista egregia aeditione :

5 sua consecutus est, vt vniuersis, quibus saltem aliquod hominis est

cerebrum, maximo sit ridiculo et in prouerbium venerit ; non minus
quam scarabeus ille, qui maximo suo malo aquilam quesiuit. Bis
terque habeo gratiam, doctissime Erasme, quod me tuo isto elegantis-
simo munere dignatus es. Ytinam possem tam vlcisci nebulonem
10 istum carnificem tuum, quam te amo, Erasme Videres procul !

dubio ex ipsa scriptura non vulgare Buschii odium aduersus hanc

furiam, nuUa certe alia quam tui causa. Sed o diis graciae, quod

1109. TiT. sro om. H. 7. a F : aquilam quaesiuit malo 0. 8. aF:

isto tuo /3.

about Cicero's Somnium Scipionis ; then addressed to the students of Louvain

Cicero's text and finally a Vigilia
;
' so that Vives was not giving the
about it, with a commentary, Antwerp, Parisians anything new.
J. Theobald, s.a. the preface toErard
: 1108. 208. pintulis] Perhaps drink-
de la Marck (Ep. 738) being dated from ing cups: see Ducange s. v. pinta '. '

Louvain, 28 March 1520. This year- 209. artocreis] Cf. Ep. 761. 20.
date cannot be interj^reted as 152^, 210. Trinitati] 3 June 1520.
according to the old style (cf. 1. ^n) ; 1109. i. famulus] Perhaps Hovius
for by May 1520 Moro had seen the (Ep. 867. 177^) or Livinus Algoet
;

book (Ep. 1106. 103), and moreover (Ep. 1091).

there isa Froben edition of March 7. scarabeus] Cf. Adag. 2601, and
1521. Tho introductory 'Somnium' is Ep. 575. iin.
1109] FROM HERMANN BUSCH 277

tu non Buschii sed nec cuiusuis alius copiis ad tui defensionem

indiges, satis superque vnus domesticis auxiliis toti barbarorum
factioni, nedum vni Leo, futurus. Christus te nobis sospitet, vir 15
clarissime, publico omnium studiosorum bono natum quod etiam !

ita facturum eum tam certo mihi polliceor, quam ille maledicorum
omnium certus erit vltor, et maxime eorum qui sub nomine ac specie
i'eligionis nihil magis quam vnum id agunt, quo veram omnem
religionem euertant. 20
Duos priores libros tuos iam legeram, forte apud Vuangiones
repertos ex quibus animaduerti te tercium adiecturum.
; Legam
igitur auidissime cum domum rediero, et ideo quoque non paulo
maturius reijetam domum. Ex tempore haec scripsi, alioqui nec
meditatus satis probus scribendi artifex quamobrem hic, quaeso, 25 ;

censuram remitte. Vale athletice, in Lei omnium bipedum nequis-

simi pudorem : si modo ingenuitatis tantum is habet vt pudere
possit.
Moguntiae, ex aedibus domini Marquardi de Hattstein, viri nobi-
lissimi, omnium studiorum studiosorumque, et imprimis tui ac 30
Capitonis, amantissimi qui me rogauit vt quam accuratissime suis
;

tibi verbis salutem asscriberem, seque tibi non secus ac summo cuipiam
pontifici reuerenter commendat. Saluta etiam isthic Nesenum mihi
et Martinum Dorpium quem totus nunc amo, postquam intellexi
;

totum te amare. Sed iam satis est ineptiarum. Vale iterum. 35

Datae nonis lunii ante exortum solem.

1110. To JoHN Sapidus.

Antibarbari p. 3. Louvain.
Lond. xxxi. 53 : LB. x. 1691. <c. June 1520.)

[The preface to book i of the Antlbarhari for the coniposition and subsequent
:

fortunes of which see Epp. 30. i6n, 37. 9 seq., 732. 24-6, 887. 3-5, 1210. 18-19,
1227. I and fin. As the Antiharharl is among the volumes reijresented in

21. aF: Vangiones /3. 25. hieaF: his iS. 29. Hattstein )3 : Hutten-
steinaf. 36. lulii Lo/id.

21. priores libros] The Apol. qua during that period Faber Stapulensis
respondet and the first Responsio, of April addressed a letter to him in Liber trium
1520 : see Ep. 1037 introd. viroruni, Paris,H. Stephanus, June
apud Vuangiones] at Worms. 1513. In June 1516 he matriculated
23. domum] Seemingly Spires 1. 3. : at Bologna, but left next year (ANGB.
26. omniura bipedum] Cf. Cic. Dom. pp. 280,1; Knod p. 187). His only
18. 48, Plin. i'^;. I. 5. 14, Apul. il/6<. 4. 10. published work is a letter to Colet
Zasius uses the phrase for Pestis pacis ' (Eev p. 139), written from Mainz 26
Lutherus (ZE. 57).' April 1520. seven months after Colefs
29. Hattstein] This form of the death (cf. Ep. 1099. i7") J protesting,
narae has the more, authority but I ;
like Busch here, against Lee's book.
cannot establish identity.
its local In Nov. 1521 he welcomed Erasmus
—
Marquard (1489 13 June 1522) was a at Mainz and helped him on his way
kinsman of Hutten (HE. 25, iio) and ;
to Basle (Ep. 1342). At his death he
was canon of Mainz in 1509. He was was aged nearly 33.
B.A. at Paris 1513, M.A. 1514 ; and 34. nunc amo] Cf. Ep. 1044.4911.
 278 LETTEES OF EKASMUS [1520

Metsys' portrait of Gilles (Ep. 584. 6 cf. Ep. 684. 14U;, it is evident that
;

shortly after Erasmus' arrival at Louvain he had already recovered the Ms. of
—
book i (cf. Ep. 706. 32n) whicli was based (cf. 11. 47-8) on the draft originally com-
posed at Halsteren (see vol. i, p. 588) —
and had formed the design of printing it.
,

On I Jan. 1519 he was still desidei'ating the ms. left with Pace in Italy (1. sgn) ;
see Luc. Ind., where among nondum aedita et imperfecta he mentions 'Anti-
'
'

bai'bari : quod opus pene puer coeperat, mox mutato arguraento vertit in dialo-
gum. Denique duos libros Bononiae recognouit ac locuijletauit. Exemplar bis
descriptum deposuit apud amicum qviendam, vnde nondum potuit recipere '.
But as nothing more reached him, he proceeded to print book i separately, with
the title, Antiharharorum B. Erasmi Rohrodami liher vnus, quem iuuenis quidem adhuc
lusit, caeterum diu desideratum, demum repertum non iuuenis recognouit et velut postliminio
studiosis restituit. Ex
quo reliquorum, qui diis propiciis propediem accedent, lector con-
iecturam facias Basle, Froben, May 1520 (a). By 1523 he had acquired the
licebit:
beginning and end of hook ii, the ibrmer from England, the latter from Bruges
(i, p. 34. 11-13). But his subsequent researches seem to have been without
success : at any rate he published nothing more of the work. That a part of
book ii should have come to him from England is in accord with the existence
of a much more complete ms.. which Ascham saw at Cambridge in 1550 : see his
letter (iii. 13) to Jerome Froben, 10 June (1551).
The work itself was delivered to the Frobens in Basle c. April 1520 (Zw. E.^
131 :cf. BRE. 165). But this preface is probably to be dated later than the
colophon ; for by 25 May it had not arrived in Basle, though the rest of the book
was set up (BRE. 166) ; and even on 22 July all was not yet rcady for publication
(Zw. E.* 148). This inference is corroborated by the composition of the first
sheet (A) where the verso of the title is blank, the preface fills only ff. A^, A*,
and f°. A* again is completely blank, the book beginning with sheet B au —
arraugement which implies that sheet A
was set up later, and also in some
haste, without any attempt to fill the vacant pages with subsidiary matter.
Copies of the book had been sent to Schlettstadt for Beatus Rhenanus aud Sapidus
before 1 1 Aug. (BRE. 174) ; and by 26 Sept. Alciati had seeu it at Aviguon {Chidii
Epistolae, ed, C. Burmann, 1697, p. 80). At first it sold so well that Froben
reprinted it, without chauge iu this prefiice, in Dec. 1520 ; but the only other
authorized editions by the Froben firm are of Aug. 1535 (/3), and iu vol. ix of the
Basle, Opera, 1540 (7). BEr.^ deseribes also unauthorized issues at Deventer,
Cologne, and Strasburg. From Erasmus' statement here (11. 48-51) that he had
taken the book in hand in order to anticipate publication by others, it foUows
that the Cologue edition of 1518 reported from the Bibliotheque Mazarine, but
not now discoverable (see BEr.*), must be a flgmeut : arising perhaps from a
misreading of the colophon of the edition of 1523.
For criticism of the book from the side of the orthodox theologians see Ep.
ii66. 26n.]

EEASMVS ROTERODAMVS lOANNI SAPIDO SVO S. D.

MiRAM quandam esse naturae vim atque ivepyeiav vei hinc coUigo,
Sapide charissime, quod cum me puero prorsus exularent ludia
literariis bonae literae, cum deessent librorum ac praeceptorum
subsidia, cum nullus honos adderet ingenio calcar, imo cum passim
5 omnes ab his studiis deterrerent et ad alia compellerent, me tamen
non iudicium, quod mihi tum per aetatem esse non poterat, sed
naturae sensus quidam ad Musarum sacra velut afflatum rapiebat.
Inuisos habebam quoscunque noueram humanioribus studiis infensos ;

adamabam quos eadem delectabant qui in his aliquid opinionis sibi

;

10 parassent, eos ceu numina quaedam venerabar ac suspiciebam. Huius

animi ne senem quidem adhuc poenitet. Non quod aliorum studia
daranem, quae mihi non perinde placuerunt. sed quod intelligam
quam frigida, manca caecaque sit eruditio, si quis Musarum detrahat
praesidia. Caeterum dictu pudendum quam hanc longe optimam

I. energiam H. 5. me om. 0.
iiio] TO JOHN SAPIDUS 279

doctrinae portionem stolide contemnant quidam, poetriam appel- 15 '

'

lantes quicquid ad vetustam ac politiorem literaturam pertinet. Hi

cum mihi puero satis odiose facesserent negocium. meque a meis
amoribus depellerent, institueram vlcisci me calamo sic tamen vt :

nullius nomen perstringerem.

Nondum annum vigesimum attigeram cum hoc operis sum aggres- ^o
sus. Pauculis deinde post annis visum est idem argumentum in
dialogum retexere, quo lectio minus haberet taedii. Operis summam
in quatuor libros digesseram. Primus refellebat ea quae quidam, vel
superstitiosi vel hypocritae religionis verius quam religiosi, solent
nobis in os iacere. Secundus subornata persona, qualis est apud 25
Platonem Glauco, summis eloquentiae viribus vituperabat elo-
quentiam, totamque rhetorices panopliam ex intimis illius arma-
riis petitam in ipsam rhetoricen expediebat adeo vt felicis :

memoriae loannes Coletus, simulatque librum eum legisset, serio

mihi dixerit in familiari colloquio. Plane liber tuus mihi per-
' 30
suasit negiectum eloquentiae Cumque monerem suspenderet
'.

sententiam donec audiret eloquentiae patrocinantem, negabat a me

posse dilui quae intendissem. Tertius refellebat secundi volu-
minis argumenta verum id nondum absolueram. Quartus agebat
;

separatim causam poetices mihi puero tenere adamatae. Hunc 35

nondum digesseram sylua tantum ingens erat congesta operi
;

futuro.
Primum librum locupletaram Bononiae, iam meditansaeditionem ;

secundum emendaram. Eelicturus Italiam deposui apud Ricardum

Pacaeum, virum omni virtutum et ornamentorum genere cumulatum. 40
Apud hunc vterque periit, eorum videlicet culpa quorum fidem vir
syncerissimus e suis moribus aestimabat. Prioris libri iactura me
sane leuiter mouit, quod nimium resiperet ingenium puerile et in :

hunc crassissima quaeque congesseram. Caeteros malebam superesse

sed aliter visum est fucis istis, qui cum ipsi nihil praeclari moliantur, 45
insidiantur ahenis laboribus.
Louanium vbi commigrassera, comperi primum librum, vt olim
a me scriptus erat, latius esse sparsum quam vt premi posset parum :

enim abfuerat quin iam euulgatus fuerit a quibusdam, qui sedulo

magis quam prudenter fauent Erasmo. Id nequando fieret, ipse 50
recognitum librum typographis commisi. cum alioqui perpetuo sup-
pressum maluissem praesertim cum hac de re prodiderit opus
;

eruditum, acutum et expolitum Hermannus Buschius, cui titulum

fecit Vallum humanitatis. Sed tamen a nobis vtcunque recognitum

15. poetriam] Cf. Epp. 1126. 335, and 1227, also i, p. 34. g. On leaving
1153. 2i5n, 1196. 450, 559. Ferrara Pace distributed some of the
19. perstringerem] Cf. Epp. 936. papers to friends (cf. Epp. 66, 244), but
16-18, 950. 10-12. took the remainderwith him to Rome:
quatuor] This revision must be
23. ultimately leaving them bchind there
subsequent to Ep. 37. 11, where only (cf. Ep. 1210. 15-19). For hisdifficulty
two books are contemplated. in recovering them ef. Ep. 732. 24.
29. Coletus] This conversation must Ascham (Ep. iii. 13, 10 June (1551))
be placed in 1499 or 1505-6; since it describesthe.i4n<t7)ar6a>ias 'olimRomae
preceded Erasmus' visit to Italy. The Richardo Paceo surreptos'.
laterdateisperhapsthemoreprobable. 47. vbi commigrassem] in.Tulyi5i7.
39. deposui] at Ferrara, with otlier 54. Vallum humanitatis] See Ep.
compositions, on his way to Rome in 830 introd. The copy pi-esented by
the spring of 1509 see Epp. 283. 169
: Busch to some friend at the Frankfort
 280 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

55 exire nialui quam sic vt erat descriptus, nempe deprauatissime.

Addetur secundus, si licebit nancisci. Reliquum operis addetur
e pectore nostro, nisi penes quos lateant nostri commentarioli,
maluerint esse boni viri quam alienarum vigiliarum fui*unculi.
Quibus haec pars, quae totius operis deterrima est, non omnino
60 displicet, aduigilent vt caetera quoque peruestigentur. Eo libentius
dabimus et alia quae nobis adhuc in schedis sunt indolata, velut opus
De conscribendis epistolis. Interim tibi dicabitur hoc fragmentum,
eruditissime Sapide, qui tuae ciuitatis iuuentutem non minus diligen-
ter instituis bonis moribus quam bonis literis. Constanter perge
65 quod neque conquiescito donec omnem barbariem pro tua
coepisti,
virili e Germania nostra profligaris. Satis diu nos ipsos ignorauimus,
pene pro beluis habiti iis qui sibi nihil non tribuunt. Bene vale.
Louanii.

"osilll. To JOHN Louis VlVES.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 643. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xvii. 11 : LB. 611. (June 1520.)

[The year-date, which has no better authority than H or N^, can be corrected
from the inhibition of Nesen from lecturing (11. 61-2 cf. Epp. 1046, 1057) ^^^^ ; 5

month-date is indicated by Ep. 1108. In connexion with this letter must be

read Ep. 1104 which appears to have been wrjtten after the reception of the
;

first news of Vives' arrival in Paris. The present letter treats the same subjects
more fully,]

ERASMVS ROTEROD. 10. LODOVICO VIVI, rHILOSOPHO

ABSOLVTO, S. D.

SvBTRisTEM me ac lassulum mihique non nihil displicentem tua

me mirum in modum exhilarauit epistola, Lodouiee doctissime, quae
felicissimum istud tuum
depinxit atque ob oculos posuit vt
iter sic
mihi tecum viderer peregrinari. Nae te prospero quodam sydere
5 natum esse oportuit, cui tam feliciter successerit quod perfuga veli-
tatus sis in veteres commilitones tuos sophistas praesertim Lutetiae, ;

vbi, quod huius disciplinae veluti regnura et arx quaedam esse vide-
batur, periculum erat ne lapidareris aut crabronum aculeis confode-
reris. Profecto gratulor publico successui studiorum sed priuatim ;

10 etiam gratulor Academiae Parisiensi ob pristinam consuetudinem

illic annis aliquot non insuauiter actam. Qiiid autem posthac non

1110.59. dcterrima /3 : teterrima a. 66. ea: a 7. 1111. tit. PHiLosorHO

ABSOLVTO om. H. 4. H : perigrinari F.

fair, isSept. 1518, isnow inthe Britlsh cf. Epp, 112. ii, 321, 10-
ity in culture
Museum (819. f. i). 11,569.57-81,880.5-6,1165.45-7,1187.
1110.62. De conscribendis] See Ep. 6; BRE, 76, 102, 197, 210; LE.^ 87,
71. 90, 98. 46 and see my Age of Erasmus,
:

63. tuae ciuitatis] Schlettstadt : see pp. 264-8,

Ep. 323 introd, 1111. i, lassulum] This no doubt
non tribuunt] For North-
67, nihil marks the beginning of Erasmus' 111-
crn, and ospecially German, sensitive- ness ; for the course of which see Ep,
ness towards Italian claims to suijerior- 1 1 12 introd.
III i] TO JOHN LOUIS VIVES 281

sperandum, posteaquam Sorbona spretis leptologiis solidam ac veram

theologiam amplectitur? Gaudeo reuocari Musas antehac prorsus
exules a publicis gymnasiis. Quas tamen sic recipi velim vt bar-
bariem ac friuolas tricas tantum discutiant, non etiam obruant 15
disciplinas cognitu necessarias atque ad has perdiscendas conducent
:

etiam, tantum abest vt officiant. Neque enim solis bonis literis

vacandum, quod quidam apud Italos nimis ethnice faciunt qui ;

posteaquam louem, Bacchum, Neptunum, Cinthium, Cyllenium

versibus aliquot infulserunt, absolute docti sibi videntur. His literis 20

tum demum suus est honos quum aliis disciplinis gi-auioribus veluti
condimentum admiscentur.
Caeterum illud saepe mecum admiror, quum omnes ferme totius
orbis Academiae vehiti resipiscentes ad sobrietatem quandam com-
ponant sese, apud solos Louanienses esse qui tam pertinaciter ob- 25
luctentur melioribus literis, praesertim quum nec in hoc sophistico
doctrinae genere magnopere praecellant. Narrauit mihi ante annos
tres R. P. loannes episcopus Roffensis, vir vnus vere episcopus, vere
theologus, in Academia Cantabrigiensi, cui Cancellarius est perpetuus
— sic enim illi vocant summum ac perpetuum scholae antistitem 3° — ,

pro sophisticis argutationibus nunc sobrias ac sanas inter theologos

disputationes agitari, vnde discedunt non solum doctiores verumetiam
meliores. Oxoniensis Academia monachorum quorundam opera non-
nihil obluctata est initio sed R. Card. ac Regis autoritate coerciti
;

sunt qui tantum bonum clarissimae ac vetustissimae scholae inuide- 35

bant. De Itah'a quid attinet commemorare ? in qua semper regnarunt
haec studia, sed pene sola, si medicinam et iuris peritiam excipias.
Academia Complutensis non aliunde celebritatem nominis auspicata
est quam a complectendo linguas ac bonas literas cuius praecipuum :

ornamentum est egregius ille senex planeque dignus qui multos 4°

vincat Nestoras, Antonius Nebricensis. In Germania tot fere sunt
Academiae quot oppida. Harum nulla pene est quae non magnis
salariis accersat linguarum professores. Coloniae nescio quo fato
nunquam in precio fuerunt mansuetiora studia, quod illic, vt audio,
regnant examina Dominicalium ac Franciscanorum. Certe semper 45
liberum fuit cui liberet profiteri vel mercede.

19. n Cyllenum F.
: 28. R. P. om. H. 30. sic . . . antistitem add. H.
34, R. Card. i*' Cardinalis
: J?. 41. Nebrissensis if.

19. Cinthium] Apollo. introd. and 1143. 25^). But he was

Cyllenium] Mercury. also in England in April 15 17 (see Epp.
28. Roffcnsis] The reference is pcr- 566, 577 introdd.) and may have had
haps to the comparison with the Cam- his conversatiou with Fisher then. In
bridge of 30 years earlier, made in Ep. Ep. 1238 Erasmus ranks Cambridge
456. 228-43 written when staying in
: with Paris.
Fisher's house at Rochester. Cf. also 33. Oxoniensis] Cf. Ep. 948. i88n.
Epp. 457- 55-9» 730. 17. 965- 13-16. Sucli 34. R. Card.] Wolsey ; cf. Ep. 967.
a comparison Erasmus obviously was 26-8.
not in a position to make for liimself. 38. Complutensis] of Alcahi de
The discrepancy between his estimate Henares see Ep. 541. 37^.
:

here an<l the four years actually past 41. Nebricensis] See Ep. 487. i^n.
since Ep. 456 was written is not an in- For this form of the name cf. some Lihrl
surmountable obstacle : for his memory minores corrected by him, Alcala, Mich.
for figureswas weak (cf. Epp. 1098 de Eguia, i April 1525 see BEr.' iii. 36.
:
 282 LETTEES OF EEASMUS [1520

Louanii quibus tumultibus obstitere proceres ne quis quamlibet

honestam disciplinam Quibus modis con-
profiteretur vel gratis !

spiratum est aduersus rem magno ornamento futuram, non

et vsui et
50 solum Academiae sed toti regioni Prodita est noua vetus constitutio.
!

Adhibita est totius Academiae autoritas, imploratum est praesidium

aulae regiae. Acciti sunt auxilio magistratus prophani. Postremo
ad lictores ventum est. Nullus non est motus lapis, nihil intentatum
relictum est. Ipse huius tumultus non tantum testis sed et pars
55 aliqua fuisti. Nec aliud agebatur tanto rerum molimine quam ne
quis poHtioribus literis adiuuaret Academiae studia, praesertim quum
et honestissima essent quae docebantur, et professores tam sanctis
essent moribus et tam caste profiterentur vt aliquoties in concionibus
audiantur minus ad bonos mores facientia. Lutetiae licuit Fausto
60 profiteri quoslibet poetas, vsque ad naenias Priapaeas, idque more, ne
quid aliud dicam, Faustino. Louanii non licuit Neseno enarrare
Geographiam Pomponii Melae. Eoma ipsa, Mediolanum, vt de caeteris
taceam gymnasiis, ingentibus praemiis ambit et euocat eos qui linguas
doceant. Nos Trilingue Collegium ex munificentia Buslidianorum
65 institutum, non minus vtihtatis allaturum onini generi studiorum
quam ornamenti toti huic ditioni Caesareae, sic machinis omnibus
oppugnauimus vt maiore studio fieri non potuerit. Et tamen haud
scio an vsquam gentium magis inualescant literae politiores quam
hic vt plane mihi videre videar ilhid Horatianum, 'Duris vt ilex' et
;

70 caetera nam carmen agnoscis.

:

Porro quod scribis istic plerosque tam magnifice sentire de lucubra-

tionibus meis. equidem vt agnosco candorera Gallicae gentis erga me,
ita vereor ne hic sane nonnihil de tuo in me studio sis admensus.
Ac vereor ne quando poeniteat me spretae Galhae toties tam magnificia
75 conditionibus ad se prouocantis. Sed nescio quibus pedicis hic alligor,
atque ab his potissimum retineor quorum odiis expelli poteram. Non

52. auxilioi^: ad suppetias i/. 59. FaustoIT: Faustum F. 74. Ac

vereor F metuoque
: H.

54. pars aliqua] Cf. Ep. 1057 introd. nonnunquam et obscoenis iocis ad
For another matter, arising out of the cachinnos concitare. Quem morem
University troubles, in which Vives nescio quis cacodaemon inuexit in
had no doubt taken part, through his Ecclesiam. Nam etsi populus aliqua
relation with Cardinal Croy, see de voluptate retinendus est atque etiam
Jongh p. 2o*n. excitandus nonnunquam, tamen huius-
58. in concionibusl For the amaz- modi ludicris excitare risum, scurra-
ing devices employed by preachers, rum est, non theologorum '. For the
especially at Easter, to attract popular note on this passage in the Gouda MS.
attention and fill their churches, see 1324, f. gsee vol. i, p. 612. Vives in his
Oecolampadius' De risu PaschaU, Basle, notes on Aug. Ciu. Dei. Basle, Froben,
Froben, 15 18. Capito's preface to it, Sept. 1522 (viii. 27 pp. 266,7) protests
;

19 April 1518, states that Oecolampa- against the unseemly character of the
dius was regarded as concionator
' Passiondramasexhibited tothepeople,
parum serius' for refusing to imitate and gives some details.
them. Cf. also the Ecdesiastes bk. iii 62. Roma] See Ep. 1062. i^on.
(LB. V. 987 e), More's letter to Oxford Mediolanum] ForFrancis i's Greek
University, 29March (1518), (Jortin ii. College founded in 1520 by John
664) and Erasmus' preface to the
; Lascaris see A. Lefranc, Hist. du Coilige
reader, 14 Jan. 1522, prefixed to his de France, 1893, pp. 71 seq., 391-2.
Paraphraseon Matt. Atque hoc prae-
:
'
69. Horatianum] C. 4. 4. 57.
staret, opinor, quani popuhim ineptis 75. prouocantis] Cf. Ep. 994. im.
II ii] TO JOHX LOUIS VIYES 283

licetharena cedere, nec vllus est pugnarum finis. Nulla me res

Louanium commigrarein nisi coelum salubrius et locus
inuitauit vt
amoenior et ad rixas inexplicabiles mihi videor venisse.
;

Budaeum quem tu meritissimo magnificis laudibus vehis, soleo 80

nonnunquam et apud Germanos meos ad inuidiam vsque iactare qui :

cum negare non possent eum esse summum in omni literarum genere,
summum quidem esse sed vnum. 'Atqui hoc'
solent causificari
inquam 'nomine Gallia vincit nostram Germaniam, quae nulhim
habet Budaeo parem, tametsi permultos habet mediocres, nonnullos 85
supra mediocritatem Velitationis illius qua conflictati sumus, iam-
'.

pridem oblitus sum, tantum abest vt commouear. Et erga Fabrum

eosum animo vt ingrata mihi narret, qui secus de illo praedicat
quam dignum est integerrimo doctissimoque viro.
Croium quum ahis multis de causis mihi charissimum,
E. Card. 90
hoc etiam nomine amo, quod et te nobis restituerit et a cruditatis
periculo subduxerit. Bene vale, Lodouice doctissime, et cura vt te
quam primum liic hilarem ac lubentem videamus.
Louanii. [Anno m.d.xxi].

1112. To Thomas Wolsey.

Paraphr. in Epist. Petri et ludae, f^. a^. Louvain.
Lond. xxix. 76 : LB. vii. 1079. (c. June 1520.)

[The preface to the Paraphrases on the Epistles of St. Peter and St. .Jude.
Tlie first edition is doubtless that of Martens, Louvain, s. a. (a) a rare volume :

of which there are copies in the Bibl. Nationale at Paris (A. 18182. 5) and the
University Library at Ghent (Res. 155). This preface was reprinted by Froben
in an edition of Jan. 1521 without change except for some negligible misprints.
Of the subsequent Froben editions (see Ep. 710 introd.) the octavo of March 1521
(/3) has an insertion which can only have been made by Erasmus himsel£ In
July 1521 (7) there is a necessary correction in the octavo of 1523 (5) a corruption
;

which the later texts followed. But apart from these changes the only consider-
able revision is, as in Ep. 916, in the folio of 1532 (e). There are some slight
variations, no doubt unintentional, in the posthumous volumes of 1540 {^^) and
1541 (C^).
Erasmus had begun these Paraphrases in May (Ep. 1102. 19-20) but while ;

engaged with them, he fell seriously ill. He had probably designed to finish
the book for presentation to Wolsey at Calais (see p. 296), in fulfilment of the
promise made in February (Ep. 1060. 57). So he worked on, dictating to
a secretary and thus completed what was lacking, the Paraphrase on Jude
;

and this preface (Epp. 11 16, 11 17). Martens no doubt did his part punctually ;

but Wolsey was too busy to reeeive the book at Calais, and Erasmus was obliged
to send it later (Ep. 1132). For his illness at this time cf. also Epp. iiii. i,
1113-15, H17. 16-17, 126.
The omission of dates in this preface and the book itself was probably in-
tentional, in case the presentation should be delayed cf. I. 2n and Ep. 284 introd. ;

An approximate date can be assigned for this preface from Ep. 1117. 125-6 ]

86. qua H : quo F. 90. R. Card. F : Cardinalem H. 94. Anno m.d.-xxi

add. HN^: Anno m.d.xix A'*.

coelum salubrius] For high

78. 81. Germanos meos] Cf. Epp. 1147.
Louvain and its climate by
praise of 43-8, 1165. 45-7.
Erasmussee Epp. 881. 9-10, 883. 17-18. 91. cruditatis] Cf. Ep. 1108. 205.
 284 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

BEVERENDISSIMO IN CHRISTO PATRI AC DOMINO D. THOMAE,

S. R. S. TT. S. CECILIAE PRESBYTERO CARDINALI, ARCHIEPISCOPO

EBORACEN., ANGLTAE PRTMATI, AC TOTIVS REGNI CANCELLARIO

SVMMO, DES. ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.

CvM frequenter circunspectassem quanam studiorum meorum

foetura magnitudini tuae responderem, quae me liactenus sane
deterruit ne quid lucubrationum mearum auderem tibi dedicare, tan-
dem mihi visus sum bis ineptus primum quasi sit aliquid in meis
:

5 literis ingenioue quod, etiam si me rupero, tuam amplitudinem possit

aequare, siue spectemus dignitatis istius fastigium, siue hoc fastigio
dignissimas animi tui dotes, siue officia quibus quotidie non tam me
onerat tua benignitas quam ipsa bonarum literarum ac verae theo-
logiae studia aut quasi tu is esses qui librum voluminis magnitudine
;

10 magis quam vtilitate soleas aestimare. Quanquam igitur nondum

perfunctum prouincia Paraphraseon, quibus Epistolas Paulinas, certo
germanas duntaxat, explicui, fatigatis etiamnum viribus mox excipe-
ret dimicatio cum obtrectatoribus tamen illis tumultuario milite
;

profiigatis, iisdem statim copiis aggressus sum duas Epistolas Apostoli

15 Petri et vnam ludae simul iUud mecum cogitans, quod diuis offertur
:

aut viris summatibus, aptum esse oportere magis quam aequale siqui- ;

dem olim absurde facere visus fuisset, si quis Musis offerret hecatom-
ben aut hederaceas corollas Marti. Itaque primum illud mihi visum
est congruere, vt ad tam eximium religionis antistitem iret Petrus,
20 incomparabilis ille Christianae religionis princeps vt quemadmodum :

illo duce nata est ac propagata syncera vereque Euangelica philo-

sophia, ita tua pietate, quae se magis ac magis indies exei'it, nonnihil
collapsa restituatur vt est natura rerum humanarum semper in
;

deterius prolabentium, ni magno studio nitamur in diuersum.

35 Quod si quid etiam commendationis adiungit operis difficultas,
multo plus hic fuit negocii quam pro voluminis modo. Facit hoc
partim Petri phrasis multo quani Paulina perplexior, partim quod in
his non perinde subleuamur veterum commentariis. Nam quos hodie
habet Glossa, quam vocant Ordinariam, ex Bede vestri commentariis
30 ad verbum desumpti sunt, viri profecto nec indocti nec indiligentis,
quantum illa ferebat aetas idque miro artificio factum est. Pars
;

commentariorum subducta est in spacium marginis, pars resecta est

s(edis) a: s.K. e(cclesiae) €.

TiT. s. K. DES. add. ^. 7. non tam . . .

8.benignitas a tua benignitas onerat non tam me *.

: 14. aggressus suni
aLB: aggres/sum ^. 19. vt a si t.
: 30. desumpta S.

2. hactenus ... 3. deterruit] In view 29. Glossaj A theological commen-

of the Plutarch dtsigned for Wolsey at tary on the Bible, based on the writings
New Year 1514 (Epp. 284, 297, 658; oftheFathers, includingBede: usually
cf. Ep. 657 introd.) Erasmus must attributed to Wahafrid Strabon, abbot
mean here that hc had made no fur- of Keichenau (^849). Itisprinted in
ther dedication since Wolsey's promo- tlie margins of many early texts of the
tion to York in 1514 and to the Car- Vulgate. Between the lines is found
dinalate and Chancellorship in 1515. also the Ghssa Intcrlineans, linguistic
12. germanas] Hebi-ows ahme re- notes by Anselm of Laon (+1117).
niained to be done see Ep. 1181.
; See F. Vigouroux, in his Dict. delaBible,
13. dimicatio] See Ep. 1037 introd, iii (1903), 256,7.
1112] TO THOMAS WOLSEY 285

in interuallum quod versus epistolae dirimit. Titulus in totum

fereademptus est, haud scio quo consilio.
Insunt in omnibus loca nonnulla quae lectorem attentum et cau- 35
tum requirant velut in prima de Christo, qui in spiritu praedicarit
:

spiritibus in carcere constitutis, qui olim fuissent increduli item de ;

Euangelio mortuis etiam praedicato. In secunda de daemonibus in

iudicium seruatis ; de maledico iudicio, quod nec angeli ferunt aduer-
sum se — tametsi
nos locum hunc aliter sumus interpretati, a Beda 40
dissimulatum de terra ex aqua et per aquam condita de coehs et
; ;

elementis incendio soluendis: quibus ex locis nonnulli hauserunt

occasionem erroris. In epistola ludae, de iudicio blasphemiae, qui
locus desumptus putatur ex apocryphis Enoch ex quibus et paulo ;

post adducitur vaticinium, cum is non legatur quicquam scripsisse. 45

Hanc autem ideo subiecimus, quod cum epistola Petri posteriore non
solum stilo ac sententiis verum etiam verbis mire congruat, quaedam
illius vehit interpretans quod genus illud de iudicio blasphemiae.
:

De priore Petri nunquam fuit dubitatum de posteriore fuit, etiam ;

si mentionem non plures tribus 50

facit transfigurati Doniini, cui rei
discipulis testes adfuerunt. Vnde
Petri non est, oportuit esse si
alicuius qui se Petrum haberi voluerit. Epistola ludae serius obti-
nuit autoritatem, quod adducat testimonium e libro qui inscribitur
Enoch, in quo ferunt haberi quaedam non satis consentanea doctrinae
catholicae. Sed quid vetat sic ex apocryphis adducere nonnihil in 55
loco, quemadmodum Paulus ex Epimenide citat testimonium?
Coeterum cum in priore Petrus testetur se scripsisse per Syluanum,
et in posteriore aperte testetur eam esse secundam, Hanc ' inquiens, '

'
ecce vobis, charissimi, secundam scribo epistolam ', non video qui
res possit explicari, nisi aut posterior Petri non sit, aut Syluanus eam 60
scripserit iussu Petri. Quod si haec ab ipso Petro scripta est, videtur
tres scripsisse, quarum prima intei ciderit. De tempore ac loco nihil
habetur comperti, nisi quod coniectent priorem Ehomae scriptam,
quam in fine Babylonem appellauit, imperante Claudio Caesare.
Sed ne longior sit opere praefatio, magnopere cupimus vt hanc 65
industriam nostram, si quo pacto meretur, K. T. D. candido calculo
commendet studiosis ; non quod ipsi venemur aliquid apud celsitudi-
nem tuam, cum nec hic animus vnquam nec nunc haec aetas faciat
ad ambitionem, sed quod ex eorum fauore iudicioque qui summa
dignitate praeminent, mirus ardor ac stimulus addatur studiosis. ;o
Praeter multos absolute doctos subolescunt in vestra Britannia tuae

34. fere acld. e. 40. tametsi . . . 41.dissimulatum add. /3. 46. 7 : epi-
stolae o. 48. illius add. e. 49. etiam si a tametsi «.
: 51. Vnde . . .
53. voluerit add. e. 53. adducit f. 58. aperte add. «. Hanc . . 59. ,

epistolam add. «. 60. eam add. e. 61. Quod . . 62. interciderit add. e.
.

63. coniectant /3.

40. aliter] In the New Testament maledicere '.

(2 Pet. 2. II) Erasmus follows the 41. dissimulatum] Bede's interpre-
sense given here, non ferant aduersus
'
tation (Migne iv. 77 cd) of this passage
aese apud Deum blasphemum (1519, iscertainly cryptic.
maledicum) iudicium but in the ' : 56. Paulus] Tit. i. 12.
Paraphrase he has non eo sunt
* 71. subolescunt] See Ep. 967. 26n,
audaciae progressi vt sustinuerint Deo and cf. Ep. 1062. i28n.
 286 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

benignitatis auspiciis complures optimae spei iuuenes, qui olim et

niaiora praestabunt et felicius, si studium illorum infiammarit aura tui
fauoris. Atque vtinam huc incumbant posthac nostra studia, vt ad
75 optimas disciplinas animi mortaHum et breuitatis et facilitatis
illecebra pelliciantur potius quam, dum nos affectata difficuitate pi*o-
lixitateque studemus videri magnifice docti, optima quaeque ingenia
a rebus optimis alienentur Id praestabunt felicius alii permulti,
!

non dubito at maiore fide quam nos fecimus, non adeo multi.
;

80 Quod si huiusmodi sanctissimis conatibus, ita vt instituit, fauere

perget amplitudo tua, tum apud Deum egregiam laudem sibi parabit,
tum apud posteros honestissimam sui memoriam relinquet. Eam
nobis diutissime seruet incolumem Christus Optimus Maximus.

1113. To Philip Melanx'Hthon.

Gotlia MS. chart. B. 20, f. 25 v°, Louvain.
ME. 80. <a. 21 June 1520.)

[From a mauuscript in the Ducal Library at Gotha. The vohime is vvrritten

by two or three early sixteenth-century hands, and contains a number of letters
and documents, most of which are concerned with Luther, while some have to
do with Breslau. Tlie owner was perhaps John Hess, canon of Breslau, a fre-
quent correspondent of Luther and Melanclithon (cf. Ep. 1033 introd.). In any
case the orthography is not that of Erasmus. F6rstemann's introductory note to
this letter in ME. 80 states that Strobel printed it in Henke's Magazin filr
Beligionsphilosophie, ii. 2, p. 204. That publication I have not been able tosee:
but the similarity of some of its readings, as recorded by Forstemann, to those of
—
the Gotha MS. differing vvidely from the inaccurate copy of the ms. used by
—
Bretschneider for ME. suggests that Strobel also had the same ms. for his
original.
The date marked out with some precision by Hutten's visit to Ferdinand
is
fll. 36-7).This letter must precede Ep. 11 15, in which Hutten has left and as ;

it is written from Louvain, it must in any case be before 25 June (Ep. 1117).
Further evidence is that on 5 May both Luther and Melanchthon had written
recently to Erasmus (LE.- 302) Melanchthon's being no doubt the letter
:

answered herc. Later on, at a date which cannot be defined, Melanchthon

forwarded to Spalatinus (ME. 87) letters which he had received from Erasmus
—
and Hutten probably this and HE. 171* of 4 June {Hutteni Ojjera, iv, p. 689 cf.
ZKG. xviii, 1898, pp. 403-4.) On 6 July Erasmus describes this letter as written
;

nuper, and as intended for Luther quite as much as for Melanchthon (Ep. 11 19.
26-7).
For communication between Melanchthon and Erasmus c. Aug. 1519 see ME.
49-]

ERASMVS PHILTPPO MELANCHTHONI.

S. P. Sanctis tuis studiis, mi Philippe, semper in melius gliscenti-

bus magnopere gratulor. Illud vnum eciam atque eciam admoneo,
vt valetudinis tue racionem habeas. Hic conspiracio sceleratorum
aduersus vere Christianam doctrinam ac bonas litteras non cessat.
Exoriuntur subinde noua nionstra proxime Leus vt omnium
;

indoctissimus ita virulentissimus, natus ad malefaciendum ac male-

1113. 3. valetudinis] Cf. Ep. 947. 42,3 and n.

1113] TO PHILIP MELANCHTHON 287

dicendum omnibus. Habet in Anglia duos stolidos Abbates et

Minoritam Standicium, nunc episcopum, cuius mencio fit in Prouer-
biis meis. Hii subornarunt Cartusiensem quendam, iuuenem simpli-
citer indoctum, sed dyabolicum hypocritam et prorsus alterum Leum. lo
Is scribit i$ a^a^dv in me, in Fabrum insaniora Horeste. Atensis
periit, non ob aliud nisi quod impar esset huic tragedie. Precipua
pars huius mali fuit lacobus Latomus et aduc est, quoniam decreuit ;

hic regnare.
De Luthero varia nuncciantur. Homini faueo quoad licet, eciam 15
si vbique meani causam cum illius causa coniungunt. Plane futu-
rum erat vt illius libri exurerentur in Anglia. Hoc certe prohibui
scriptis ad Cardinalem Eboracensem litteris qui idem a me monitus ;

silencium imposuit publica sua voce clamoribus stolidis apud populum,

et nominatim Standicio presenti. Fauet bonis studiis. Illum nihil 20
offenderat in Luthero, nisi quod negaret primatum summi Pontificis
esse iuris diuini. Qui fauent Luthero fauent autem ferme boni —
—
omnes vellent illum quedam ciuilius et moderacius scripsisse. Sed
id nunc admonere serum est. Video rem ad sedicionem tendere.
Precor vt res cedat in gloriam Christi. Fortasse necesse est vt 25
veniant scandahi, at ego nolim esse scandali author. Istorum cona-
tus plane video dyabolicos, nec alio spectax'e quam vt oppresso
Christo regnent sub pretextu Christi. Commendabis me D. Luthero
et amicis tuis omnibus.
Hec scripsi repente oblato nunccio et valetudinarius. 30
Louanii.
Erasmus tuus.
Mire placuit hec Responsio Lutheri aduersus condemnacionem
Colo(niensium) et Loua(niensium). Tandem cepit eos pudere sue
prepropere pronuncciacionis. Nolueram nomen meum admixtum 35
fuisse nam ea res me grauat et Lutherum non subleuat.
; Huttenus

7. Habet scripsi, cf. Ep. 1126. 11. 12 : Habeo MS. 29. et Strobel : vt MS.

7. stolidos] This epithet is no doubt 21. primatum] Cf. Nos. 3, 5, 25 of

based upon their support of Lee not : the Resolutioties Disputafionum de Tndul-
upon any personal knowledge of them gentiarum virtute, 1518.
by Erasmus. 23. moderacius] Cf. Ep. 1033. 144-5.
Abbates] See Epp. 1061. 150, 152 26. scandala] Cf. Matt. 18. 7, Luke
nn, 1074. 6on. 17. i.
8. Standicium] See Ep. 608. i^n. 30. valetudinarius] See Ep. 11 12
in Prouerbiis] Adag. 1498. introd.
9. Cartusiensem] Batmanson see ; 33. Responsio] Cf. Ep. 1030. i6n.
Ep. 1099. i^n. Luther's reply was printed together
II. Atensis] See Ep. 670 introd. with the Condemnation, Wittenberg,
13. Latomus] See Epp. 934. ^nn, M. Lotther, 1520 an edition which is
:

1059, 1125. i7n. evidently prior to that of L. Schiirer,

14. regnare] Cf. Epp. 415. 11, 529. Schlettstadt, May 1520. See Luther's
78, Trerfce, Weimar, vi (x888), pp. 172, 181-
17. exurerentur] Cf. Ep. 1102. i^n. 195. Among those attacked by the
with a general
18. litteris] Ep. 967, conservative theologians Luther men-
defence of Luther. tions (ibid. p. 184. 24,5) ' Fabrum
monitus] in Ep. 1060. Stapulensem et arietem illum haeren-
20. Standicio presenti] I can find tem cornibus in vepribus, Erasmum '•

no other mention of this incident. 35. Nolueram] For Luther's com-

That Wolsey was no friend to Standish pliant reply cf. Ep. 1166. ^on.
is shown by Brewer ii. 4074, 4083, 36. Huttenus] For long he had been
4089. cherishing hopes of the unification of
 288 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

hic adest, mox aulam Caroli petiturus : sed nulla est aula quam non
occuparint isti irToixoTv pawoi. Rursum vale, mi charissime Philippe.

1114. To Aloisius Marlianus.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 509. (Louvain.)
HN: Lond. xiii. 18 : LB. 493. <a. 21 June 1520.)

[Evidently written for Hutten to take to Brussels in June 1520 see Ep. 11 13. :

36n. Marlianus (Ep. 411. 8n) had just returned from Spain in Cliarles' train.
About Aug. 1516 he had received the bishopric of Tuy in Galicia (Mart. E. 576) ;
and he had rapidly become an influential member of Charles' Council (cf. Ep.
1199. 4-5). Indeed Peter Martyr, who was his kinsman and fellow-countryman
(Mart. E. 696, 722), calls him Caesaris semi-anima' (ibid. 655, 722) coupling
'
;

him with Gattinara (p. 359). For Erasmus* communications with him through
Barbirius during the Spanish period see Epp. 695. 50, 794. 85, 803. 3-5.]

ERASMVS ROT. R. P. ALOISIO MARLIANO, EPISCOPO

TVDENSI, S. D.

Maiorem in modum gaudeo, reuerende Pater, amplitudinem tuam

nobis esse redditam ne nullus mihi patronus sit in aula, posteaquam
;

obiit Syluagius nec rediifc Barbirius. Neque enim dubito quin eum
animum sis praestaturus Erasmo quem hactenus semper praestitisti
5 quem ipsum
non tam mihi praestabis quam optimis studiis ; quibus
quoniam impense faueo, multos habeo qui mihi non fauent. Mitto
Apologiam qua respondeo iis qui me traducebant apud populum,
quod vertissem In principio erat sermo '. Vel ex hac re licet illorum
'

stoHditatem maliciosam agnoscere.

10 Qui has perfert, est Huttenus ille facundissimus eques et orator
bellacissimus, iuuenis candidissimi liecfcoris et tuo dignus amore, nisi
plane fallor. Pro consilio tuo tum amico tum prudenti, quod ex

1113. 38. TTTOXOTVpaVUOl MS. 1114. TIT. ROT. E. P. 0771. H.

Germany under Charles, and there- another friend at Court (Ep. 1115).
with of emancipation from the domi- But this he subsequently deplored ;
nionofRome (cf. Epp. 1129. 22-4,1135. see his letter of 8 May 1524 to Luther
i9n, n6i);anditwasevenprojectedby (LE.* 792. 63-6 = HE. 364. 41-3). For
his friends that he should be attached liis friendly feeling towards Hutten at

to Ferdinand's court (LE.^ 300. 226,7 this time see Ep. 11 19. 33-4.
= HE. 160). In pursuance of this 1113. 37. aula] Cf. Epp. 1141. 15^,
scheme he set out from Mainz on 4 11 48. ^n.
June (HE. 171, 171*: cf. ME. 78 and 38. iTTaixorvpavvoi] The monks and
Heumann p. 5o = HE. 174) to hay his friars ; cf. Epp. 998. 59^, 1082. i^n.
plans before Ferdinand (cf. Ep. 1055. 1114. 3. Syluagius] f? June 1518:
2), who was now probably with Charles see Ep. 410.
at Brussels. On his way Hutten nec rediit] On Le Sauvage's
hoped to see Erasmus at Louvain death Barbirius had remained in
(HE. 171*); and this intention he Spain entering the service of Adrian
;

carried out (cf. Spongia, LB. x. 1645 a of Utrecht, who had been left behind
= HE. 333, § 128). Erasmus gave him as Charles' sole Regent.
a letter of introduction to an influen- 7. Apologiam] See Ep. 1072.
tial meraber of Charles' Council (Ep. 12. consilio] urging Erasmus to
1114); andafter Hutten's departure to abstain fi-om further controversy : see
Bi-usselswrote further in his praiso to Ep. 1198. 7-14.
III4J TO ALOISIUS MARLIANUS 289

Barbirii literis accepi, gratiam habeo, et animus est sequi. Adissem

ipse R. T. P., sed adhuc tenella est valetudo nam aestus superior, :

quem Phaethon. opinor. rursus admotus solis currui nobis inuexerat, 15

me propemodum confecit. Bene valeat R. T. P., cui me modis
omnibus commendo. [m.d.xix.J

1115. To George Halewin.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 495. Louvain.

HN: Lond. xii. 26 LB. 510.: 21 June 1520.

[Halewin (Ep. 641) liad by tliis tinie taken orders, and was at Brussels, pre-
paring to attend Charles to the meeting with Henry viri at Gravelines and
Calais (Ep. 1106. 93n). It was perhaps the hope of seeing Erasmus on that
occasion which evoked the letter answered here. The year-date is confirmed
by Hutten's visit to Ferdinand (1. 45).]

CLARISSIMO VIRO GEOEGIO, HA.LOIM COMINIIQVE DOMINO.

ERASMVS ROTEROD. S. D,

MiHi vero vehementer iucundum fuit quod animo nondum exeidit

amiculus Erasmus quem epistola quoque digneris, vir tantus. Locus
;

qui te mouet in Moria. quo sensu dixerim quaedam vere esse,

perspicuus erit si memineris fabulae Platonicae de specu atque in
hoc natis, qui rerum vmbras pro veris rebus admirantur. Quae 5
sensu comprehenduntur, vei-e non sunt, quoniam neque perpetua
sunt neque semper eodem modo sunt. Sola vere sunt quae contem-
platione nientis comprehenduntur. Id cum Plato multis locis
inculcat, tum Aristoteles in libris rerum vltramundanarum testatur.
Et Paulus epistolae ad Corinthios 2. cap. 4. 'Non contemplantibus : ' 10
inquit. '
nobis quae videntur. sed quae non videntur. Quae enim
videntur, temporalia sunt quae auteni non videntur, aeterna sunt
;
'.

Vt autem omnium perfectissime est Deus, quia simplicissime est

longissimeque abest a crassitudine rerum sensibilium ita quae ad ;

illum proxime accedunt, verissime dicuntur esse. Sic verius est 15

anima quam corpus. Quanquam autem philosophus abducens sese a
rebus sensibilibus meditatur contemplationem rerum intelligibilium,
tamen iis non ffuitur perfecte, nisi cum animus, expeditus organis
materialibus per quae nunc agit, totam vim suam exerit. Porro
tametsi sunt vires quaedam quas excercet animus per organa minus ao
materiae obnoxia, veluti cum intelligit, cum meminit, tamen dubium
est apud philosophos an mens, quam Graeci vocant vovv, omnino
quicquam agat in corpore, nullo corporis organo.

1114. 14. R. T. P. F: te H. 16. valeat ... 17. commendo F : vale H.

17. M.D.xix add. H. 1115. 6. veve F Corrig. :verae f .

1114. 13. literis] Notextant. 1115. 3. in Morial LB.iv.500B. The

14. valotudo] See Ep. 11 12. introd. reference to Plato {Rep. bk. 7) is given
aestus] For Erasmus' dislike of ibid. 45 idand 500D.
hot weather cf. Epp. 1117. 16, 1205. 15. 10. Paulus] 2 Cor. 4. 18.
 290 LETTEES OF EEASMUS [1520

Quod hactenus nemo tuo satisfacit animo, nec inter hos qui
25 conscripserunt de ratione parandae linguae Latinae, nec ex his qui
'
nunc complures libris proditis testantur quantum assequuti sint in
lingua Latina, fortasse nec ipse Cicero satisfaciet animo tuo, vt non
defuerunt quibus Maro visus est soloecus, et barbarus Liuius. Ego
nec hos probo qui neglectis in totum praeceptionibus, ex autoribus
30 petunt loquendi rationem, nec hos qui praeceptis addicti non
versantur in euoluendis autoribus. Praecepta volo esse pauca, sed
optima quod reliquum est arbitror petendum ex optimis quibusque
:

scriptoribus, aut ex eorum colloquio qui sic loquuntur vt illi

scripserunt. Haec via si cui non placet, non video quid supersit nisi
35 vt ad magicas ineptias et polygraphias ridiculas confugiamus quas :

non videmus adhuc cuiquam vsui fuisse. Povro quod eorum qui
scribunt hodie, videtur impurior oratio, fortassis in causa sunt aures
eorum ad quorum iudicium scribimus fortassis quod subinde ;

cogimur in barbaris autoribus, quibus plena sunt omnia, versari

40 haud scio an et illud, quod orationi vere Romanae ne apud Eomanos
quidem honos habeatur, atque ob id segnius huic rei datur opera.
Alium anguem in herba latentem ego non video. Citius accederem
tuae sententiae, si quis exoriretur qui sine vllis praeceptis mere
Latine scriberet.
45 Adest isthic VMchus Huttenus, linguae Romanae delicium, iuuenis
nobilis, eruditus et humanus cum eo melius hanc quaestionem
;

tractabis. Ipse adero post biduum, si vires sinent nam a morbo :

vix adhuc satis firmus sum. Ea les in causa fuit vt hanc epistolam
dictauerim, non scripserim. Bene vale, vir clarissime.
50 Louanii. xi. Cal. lul. An. m.d.xx.

1116. To Gerard of Kloster.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 48. (Louvain.)

Horawitz v. 13. <c. 21 Jane 1520.)

[Evidently •written shortly after the completion of the Paraphrases on Peter

and Jude (Ep. ms), and before Erasmus had quite shaken off his lllness: also
before his departure for Calais (p. 296). For Gerard of Kloster see Epp. 504. zn,
25 660. 23, 25; 697. 16 1140. 2-3. It is clear that he was now on a visit to
; ;

Louvain.]

37. fortasse H.

25. linguae Latinae] For Halewin's J.Haselborg, July 1518. It describes

interest in this sec Ep. 641 introd. various methods of secret communica-
29. neglectis . .praeceptionibus]
. tion by cipher and shows liow to use
;

On this ground Erasmus criticized them for magical incantations. The

Colet see Ep. 121 1. 519 25.
: cipher wordsproduced certainly merit
35. polygraphias] The name of tbe epithet hcre appiied to them.
a treatiso by Trithemius (f 13 Dec. 42. anguem] Cf. Verg. E. 3. 93.
1516), wliich 'plures scribendi mores 45. Huttenus] Cf. Ep. 11 13. 36n.
aperit'; first printed at Oppenheim, 47. a morbo] See Ep. iii2introd.
 6] TO GERARD OF KLOSTEE 291

DES. ERASMVS ROTEROD. GERARDO CANONICO, DIVAE AGNETIS

PRTOEI VENERANDO, S. P. B.

{0)bnatissime Prior, arbitrio medicorum viuo, et pharmacis viuo,

non cibis. Itaque nec adiie te possum nee accipere conuiuio. Si
commodum erit nos inuisere, erit mihi pergratum colloquium et ;

eadem opera geminum prestiteris officium, et amicum inuiseris et

aegrotum. Mitto libellum in morbo natum nam sub finem operis ; 5
inuasit me
subito mali vis tanta vt Epistolam ludae ac praefationem
vix dictauerim. Febris quidem depulsa est, sed corpori vires absunt.
Bene vale, Pater honorande.

1117. To Germanus Brixius.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 518. Antwerp.

HN : Lond. xiii. 35 : LB. 511. 25 June 1520.

[The dates are amply confirmed by the contents.

Erasmus' present purpose in going to Antwerp was perhaps to throw oif the
eiTeets of his recent illness (see p. 283). He stayed no doubt with the ever
hospitable Gilles. Either on this occasion, or when he was at Antwerp again
in August Cp. 324), he received a visit from two delegates sent by the Bobemian
Bfethren (Ep. 1021. 95^), who were commissioned to show him a copy of the
Apo!o(jia for their position composed by themselves in 1507, and to ask for his
opinion of it. Apart from the brief mention in Ep. 1183. 7, which roughly
indicates the date, the only source for this incident is in a Htsiorica narratio de
Fratrum orthodoxorum ecclesiis in Bohemia, Morauia et Polonia, written by Joachim
Camerarius the elder (1500-1574), and edited by his grandson Louis, Heidelberg.
Voegelin, c. i Jan. 1605, pp. 124-6. As the episode is unknown to Erasmus'
biographers, it may be quoted here in full
'
Magna afficiebantur Fratres laetitia, quotiescognoscebant aliquosalicubi esse
qui veritatem coelestem ex animo adamarent et odissent huic contrariam falsi-
tatem. Percrebrescente itaque fama de Desiderio Erasmo Roterodamo, huius
non solum doctrinam et eruditionem bonarum literarum et artium celebrante,
sed summis etiam laudibus extollente pietatis et religionis verae studiiim atque
defensionem et inuectarum superstitionum corruptelarumque odium et oppug-
nationem tunc Fratres duos ex suo coetu ad eum ablegarunt, Nicolaum
:

Claudianum, medicae artis peritura optimisque disciplinis excultum, et Lauren-

tium Voticium, multarum rerum cognitione clarum, qui admodum senex mortem
obiit anno Christi m.d.lxv. Nam et certi aliquid de professione rebusque
omnibus suis ab Erasmo cognosci, et ex illius approbatione atque testimonio
consolationis sibi aliquid contingere expetebant.
'Erat edita et typis expressa Apologia Fratrum Norimbergae anno Christi
M.n.xi (but cf. Ep. 1154. 8n). Erasmo commoranti eo tempore Antuerpiae
libellum offerunt, et ab ipso studiose petunt vt diligenter perlcL-at et attendat
nunquid insit de quo admonendi, cuiusque expositlo ac perscriptio mutanda
corrigendaque esse videatur. Futurum enim vt gratissimo animo hoc Fratres
accipiant, et promtissima voluntato sententiao eius obtemperent. Quod si,
quemadmodum sperent, scriptum illud ipsi probctur, non dubitare so ostenduut
quin suo ipse testimonio hoc sit declaraturus
'Librum Erasmus recipit, et ait sese velle eum legere. Redeuiit lii post
ailiquot dies et audituri de oblato libello iudicium illius et cognituri quid de eo

Trr. CANONico] Tliis word is per- ing as tliout;h ho had been unaMe to
:

haps inaccurate. It soems to have deciphor Cerard's surname, perhaps

been written iiito the ms. by Lypsius some Latinization of Klo^ter.
later, in a space left at his (irst copy- 5. in morbo] See Ep. 11 12 introd.

U 2
 292 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

quod orauerant futurum esset. Dicit ipsis Erasmus se essc ita multis et magnis
negotiis occupatum vt vix respirare prae illis concedatur. Itaque veniam sibi
dari aequum esse si non ea diligentia atque consideratione qua debuisset, totum
librum pellegerit. Qiiem quidem pereurri ab se, (quando) inspiciendo studuerit,
neque erroi'em vllum aut quod duceret emendandum se.se deprehendisse. Ad
testimonium autem suum quod attineret, ita se rem habere vt neque eis hoc
ornamento adiumentoue esse futurum arbitretur, et inde aliquid sibi periculi
creari ac detrimenti posset afferri. " Neque putare vos " inquit " debetis meo
testimonio aliorum vobis beneuolentiam gratiamue conciliatum iri, cum mea
qualiscunque autoritas patrocinio ipsa indigeat. Quod si tam piis quam
honestis caeteris studiis praebent vtilitatis fructum mea scripta, non existimo
in hoc illa discrimen adduci consultum esse, vt ob communitatem vobiscum
testatam ipsa quoque improbentur vel condemnentur omnino et ex homiuum
manibus excutiantur ". Ignoscerent vel timori vel cautioni isti suae, sibique
persuaderent se eis bene cupere, et ab se aliis rebus oiBcia sua fore paratissima.
'
Seniores his auditis, etsi expectauerant aliam responsionem, istam tamen
excusationem boni consuluerunt, cum praesertim humanorum testimoniorum
fundamentum nunquam statuissent iaciendum supra quod veritatis coelestis
aedificium extrueretur.'
Camerarius can hardly have had any personal knowledge of the events
recorded but as he was a student at Erfurt from 1518 onwards, he may very
;

likely liave heard the story from Draco, -who went to Louvain to i^aj' his homage
to Erasmus at the end of July 1520 (Ep. 1127. 1-2), shortly after the visit
of the Brethren had occurred —
if it is rightly placed in June and not in August.
For communication between the Bohemian Utraquists and Luther in 1519 see
LE.'^ 195, 196, 223, 232. His verdict on tlieir letters was, Erasmisant miro '

modo, tam sensu quam stylo (LE.- 223. 40,1).]

'

ERASMVS ROTEROD. GERMANO BRIXIO SVO S. D.

DvM eurru vehor Antuuerpiam, forte obuius eques quispiam Anglus

tuas mihi literas reddidit, quas tu tertias esse significas. Expostulas
quod non rescripserim, sed gi"auius etiam quod isthue me non
receperim et nisi me purgem grauioribus argumentis, vis in periculum
;

6 venire me, ne videar exosos habere Lutecianos amicos omnes.

Postremo non recusas cum Moro redire in gratiam, me quidem
autore, contentus hoc praeiudicio meo, quod illum eruditione prae-
cellas sic enim interpretaris verba quaedam mea nescio quae, quae
:

scripsei*am ad Beraldum.
10 Ad quae vt paucis respondeam sic enim postulat tempus— Si — :

vidisses, eruditissime Brixi, quantum negocii mihi fuerit in refellen-

dis tum aliorum tum Lei calumniis, si videres sarcinas epistolarum,
quibus legendis aliquoties vix suppetit ocium, si laborem quem
assidue colloco describendis, emendandis ac recognoscendis libris, sat
15 scio, quae tua est humanitas, facile veniam dares nostro silentio. Ad
haec accessit aduersa valetudo ex aestu contracta, quae me grauiter
afflixit, et adhuc habet imbecillem et ahqua ex parte sui iuris.
Deinde nullus occurrit qui se diceret istuc iturum.
lam finge pigriciam in causa fuisse quo minus scripserim non :

Tir. svo om. H. tempiis /' temporis angustia

10. : J/.

1. eques . . . Anglus] Cf. p. 296. 9. ad Beraldum] Tlie letter is not

2. literas] Ep.probably the
1045, extant. It Avas perhaps conteraporary
first of tliethrce, is theonlyoueextant. with Ep. 1066. Erasmus refers to it
3. me non receperim] In response again in Ep. 1131. 11-13 cf. also II. 36,
:

to the renewed invitationsfrom France: 74 infra.

see Epp. 994. iin, 1080. 3^, and cf. 16. valetudo] See Ep. 11 12 introd.
11. 29-30 /n/ia. acstu] Cf. Ep. 1114. i^n.
1117] TO GERMANUS BEIXIUS 293

statim oportuit colligere mihi exosos esse quibns non respondeo. 20

Omnes redamare possum, rescribere omnibus non possum. Vix
alium syncerius amo quam Budaeum et tamen illius literis semel
;

atque iterum prouocatus. nondum respondi. Caeterum non minus

mihi in votis erat frui dulcissima consuetudine Budaei, tua, Beraldi,
Deloini, Rusei, Ruilli, Lascaris, Pauli Aemilii, Cypriani, quam vos 25
pstis cupidi videndi huius corpusculi, vti scribis. Sed ex transuerso
repente incidit Lei tragoedia : cui rei dandus erat fere sesquimensis.
Ad haec reditus Caroli nostri, quaedam item negocia Hispanica,
coegerunt me vertere consiUum, non animum. Nec ita tamen sum
pollicitus me venturum, quin huiusmodi casus exceperim ; quos 3°
semper oportet tacite exceptos esse. Porro quicquid humanitatis mihi
decreueratis praestare, non minus libenter debeo, neque minorem
habeo gratiam quam si iam vsus essem.
De dissidio quod meo magno dolore tibi cum Moro incidit,
decreueram accuratius ad te scribere nam Moro iam hac de re 35
;

scripseram non indiligenter, Verum hactenus non licuit. Beraldo

paucis scripsi, ne malum vtcunque natum glisceret in peius. Nec
tamen id factum est volente Moro cui videbam vsqueadeo non
;

esse formidabilem tuam Antimorum, vt, quemadmodum scribunt,

ipse eam curauerit excudendam formulis, idque suadentibus aliquot 4°
optimis simul ac prudentissimis amicis, inter quos nonnullos esse
scio qui tibi ante libellum aeditum fauebant nunc in diuersum :

mutati, desiderant in te ciuilitatem humanis literis dignam. Neque

ideo volui rem inter vos componi, quod existimarem periclitari
—
Mori famam ob huiusmodi libellum quem hic pene nulli legunt 45 ;

certe neminem adhuc audiui qui laudaret

Moi'i viribus, si veniendum esset in certamen
aut quod diffiderem
sed quod existimarem
— ,

hoc ad publicam studiorum dignitatem pariter atque vtilitatem

pertinere, si bonarum literarum mystae inter se consentirent, nec
abessent a Musis Gratiae, praesertim cum tam acerbis odiis vndique 50
conspiretur aduersus ordinem nostrum. Ocio Mori consulere volui
magis quam famae, siquidem maior est ille omnium eruditorum
calculis quam vt eiusmodi cauillatiunculis possit obscurari. Tuae
vero famae cum primis consultum volebam cui faueo non vulgariter, ;

quamque indies in maius ac melius augescere cupiebam. Existi- 55

mabam hoc et ad Galliae quoque laudem pertinere ex qua nihil :

adhuc prodiit quod omnium iudicio tantum habeat amarulentiae,

quantum tuus in Morum libellus.

25. Ptuelli H: Ruellii iV.

21. Omnes redamare] Cf. Epp. 786. sesquimeusis] See p. iio.

8-9, 873. 1-2. 28. reditus Caroli] See Ep. 1079. 911.
23. nondum respondi] No reply to negocia Hispanica] Perhaps an
Ep. 1073 is extunt. occasion on which Erasmus was in-
24. Beraldi] See Ep. 925 introd. vited to advise as Councillor upon
25. D<;loini] See Ep. 494 introd. public busincss. For similar cases cf.
Rusei] See Ep. 493. 420^. Epp. 669. i2n, 1120, 1166. 6-11, 1174.
Ruilli] See Ep. 346. iin. 9-13.
Lascaris] Sci- Ep. 269. 5111. 29. sum pollicitus] Cf. 1. ^n.
Aemilii] See J-^j». 136. in. 34. dissidio] See Epp. 1045. 1087,
Cypriaiii] Sec Ep. 768. an. '093. 1096.
37. Lei tragoedia See Ep. 1037
'
Moro] Ep. 1093.
introd. ^ 36. Beraldo] Cf. 1. ^n.
 294 LETTER8 OF EEASMUS [1520

Prouocauit te Morus, sed prouocatus ; sed tamen id feeit longe

60 ciuilius quam tu respondes : quod tui quoque fatentur Galli. Et iUe
scripsit in bello, tu tot iam annis rebus pacatissimis nec aedidit ;

tamen ille quod scripserat, sed amicis extorquentibus indulsit, si

modo recognoscerent. Nec mirum est in homine poetico, si veris
affingat aliquid attollendae rei gratia, nec foedum est admodum amore
65 patriae haliucinari. Hoc tantum tibi impingit Morus tu quam ;

atrociter hoc moliris, vt illum apud Regem defei-as veluti paternae

laudis suggillatorem. Nam
quae de carminis viciis notarat, non
erant digna tragoedia. lam non excutio qualia siut quibus illum
vicissim taxas nec enim est animus cum amico Brixio depugnare,
;

70 nec opus est Moro nostris praesidiis cuius mihi jiotius est opus
:

suppetiis. Imo ne iudex quidem cupiam esse inter duos amicos, ne

alterius iacturam cogar facere.
Proinde magnopere miror, mi Brixi, quid tibi venerit in mentem
vt verba nescio quae mea ex meis ad Beraldum literis sic interpre-
75 tareris, quasi meo praeiudicio palmam eruditionis tibi detulerim.
Ego cupiebam vtrunque perpetuo amicum, nec erat consilium alterum
alienare meo calculo, praesertim cum adhuc inter vos ferueret con-
tentio. Non satis memini quid scripserim Beraldo illud ausim ;

deierare, me nihil minus sensisse quam quod tu interpretaris. Illud

80 sentiebam, quando de literis certamen erat, non oportuisse aliam
captare laudem ex eo certamine quam vt eruditione vinceres vtique,
si posses. Ostendi quid tibi conandum fuerat, non quid esses asse-
quutus. Quod si ego maxime tuam doctrinam Moricae praetulissem,
tamen arbitror te modestiorem ac prudentiorem quam qui velles
85 agnoscere. Non pronunciaui vter esset doctior, nec est necesse vt
pronunciem, et haud scio an meum sit de Mori tuaque doctrina
censorem agere quid aUi censeant scio.
;

Tua non admodum multa vidi, neque cominus eruditionis tuae

feci periculum. Mori plura legi, et cum eo fuit intima familiaritas.
90 De illo sentio quod nemo non sentit qui pernouit hominem. In-
genium est prorsus incomparabile, memoria felicissima, dicendi
facultas promptissima. A
puero feliciter imbibit Latinas literas,
Graecas iuuenis idque sub doctissimis praeceptoribus, cum aliis,
;

tum praecipue Thoma Linacro et Gulielmo Grocino. In sacris

95 literis eo progressus est vt nec magnis theologis sit contemnendus.
Liberales disciplinas non infehciter attigit. In philosophia vltra
mediocritatem progressus est ne quid interim dicam de professione
:

luris, praesertim Britannici, in qua ille vix vlli cedit. Prudentia

rara et inaudita. Quas ob res Kex cordatissimus non conquieuit
100 donec hominem ad penitissima sua consilia pertraxerit.

99. quas ob res H : qua de ro F.

62. quod scripserat] His epigrams logica of (LB. App. 513:

Aristutle
on thc ship Chordigera see p. 218.
: 1912A-C) most probably iii London,
:

66. deferas] Cf. Ep. 1087. 22on. aftor Linacre's return from Italy in
67. notarat] in two couplets on p. the summer of 1499 (EHK. xviii. 514,
246, in the verses phoebvs BRixrsM 15). As Grocin was in London at the
ALLOQvrrvK. sanie time (Ep. 118. 22n), Erasmus is
74. literis] fciee \. gn. perliaps rccording here facts of which
93. Graecas] More states that he lie had personal knowledge.
heard Linacre lecture on the Metcoro- 100. pertraxerit] Cf. Ep. 999. 92.
III7J TO GEEMANUS BRIXIUS 295

Itaque, mi Brixi, cauillum illud tuum, quod subinde

plarle friget
repetis iii '
Mwrus '.illi tam inimicus quin prudentiae
Nullus est
laudem affatim tribuat. Nam quod vbique videri vis Morum ex alto
despicere ac velut pro delectamento habere, vereor ne parum pro-
baturi sint graues et eruditi viri. Nam vt te numero inter eximios, 105
ita non video qua parte Morus sit tibi contemnendus, siue fortunam
spectes, siue naturae dotes, siue ingenium. siue mores, siue quodcunque
doctrinae genus. Et quo magis admiror Mori dotes, quod ego non
facio solus, hoc magis cupiebam inter vos conuenire, tua magis causa
quam illius, imo mea quoque causa, ne qua res nostram amicitiam rio
obnubilaret. Quod factum est, infectum fieri non potest caeterum ;

optarim hoc quicquid est tumultus aboleri. Quod autem credis vix
fieri posse vt tua Antimorus obsolescat, aut ego plane fallor, aut
nullus est iterum aediturus, si tu conquiescas. Illud multis displieet,
qucd Morum rursus attigisti in praefatione quadam, cum ille ad tuum 115
libellum nihil adhuc responderit.
Sed vt finiam, optime Brixi. si vis me hoc agere cum Moro, vt
iungat vos amnestia, pergam id facere quod coepi. Sin expectas vt
Morus tibi supplex sit. plane falleris. Vt illius animum sentio,
feliciter gessero rem si hoc ab illo impetrem, vt nolit te odiosius 120
impetere idque vt fiat, arbitror et ad communem studiorum digni-
;

tatem et ad tui nominis honestatem pertinere.

Quod adiicis animum ad res theologicas, nostrasque Paraphrases
habes assidue in manibus, non possum non probare tuum consilium.
Aedidimus proxima fetura Paraphrasim in epistolas Petri duas et 125
vnam ludae. Hoc agentem morbus oppressit, sed paulatim reui-
uiscimus. Bene vale. Brixi doetiss. Saluta amicos omnes nominatim.
Antuuerpiae vii. Cal. lul. Anno m.d.xx.

1118. To RiCHARD Pace.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 524. Antwerp.
HN : Lond. xiii. 41 : LB. 559. (c. 25 June ?> 1520.

[From the connexion with the other correspondence of this period a conjec-
tural month-date may be assigned. It is evident that Pace and Erasmus
had coincided somewhere, and that Pace, learning this just before he left, had
sent a note asking Erasmus to come and see him. It is also clear that Erasmus
expected to have another chance of meeting Pace before long. Such a situation
would have arisen if Pace, who accompanied Henry to France in May-July 1520
(^cf. Ep. 1106. 93n;, had been detached on a mission to Antwerp in June or if :

he had been sent off from Cah\is just after Erasmus' arrival there in July (see
below). There is no evidence that Pace was in Antwerp at this time so the :

102. Meurus] Cf. Ep. 1045. 10 etc. its preface is presumably tlie one re-
115. praefatione] NBG. xl. 870 men- ferred to here. He perhaps checked
tions a second edition of thcCViord/grera, its sale, as More had done with his
Paris, 1519; and P, Papillon, Bibl. des reply (Ep. 1096. 1 17-21;. The Antimo-
auteurs de Bourgogne, 1745. i. 109, speaks rus, too, is ]>y no means eommon.
of Brixius' Carmina, 1519, which is 116. nihil adhuc responderit] Cf. Ep.
probably the same book. 1 cannot dis- 1096. i2in.
cover any copy of it but, as Brixius ; 125. Paraphrasim] See Ep. 11 12.
published no other book at this time. ia6. morbus] See 1. 16.
 296 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

latter suggestion should for this reason be the more probable. But, tliough the
dates added in H
have usually little or no value, sucli an adventure as just
missing a friend might have remained witli some distinctness in Erasmus'
memory so that he could place it correctly, when considering it again after a
:

lapse of years. In favour of Antwerp, too, is the consideration that he would

hardly have been sending a letter of More for Pace to see, if More and Pace had
recently been together as they were at Calais. It is noticeable that on his
:

way to Antwerp Erasmus fell in with an English horseman (Ep. 1117. 1,2), who
may have been one of Pace's retinue.
Erasmus' visit to Calais was the result of invitations from More (Epp. 1087,
1096, 1106) and Warham (Epp. 1101,2; cf. BRE. 166) who evidently designed
;

that he should take part in the ceremonial meetings of the three sovereigns (cf.
Ep. 1106. gan). He was ready to accept, and finally went but at first ;

was detained by ill-health (p. 283), and in the latter part of June was at
Antwerp (Ep. 1117). His time at Calais is therefore probably to be placed
between 6-30 July, when his lettei's give no guidance as to his movements.
During that period he was at Bruges, evidently aceompanying Charles (Ep.
1129. in) : so that it seems a reasonable conjeeture that he went to Calais also
in the train of the Emperoi", who was tliere 11-14 July.
He had a public interview with Henry (Ep. 1342. 844), and with Wolsey
probably atthe same time (Ep. 1132. 1-3) but with the latter he had no satis-
;

factory intercourse, and possibly not with Henry either. In any case Andr»5
Meyer, Eelations (VErasme et de Luther, 1909, pp. 44-6, is clearly right in regarding
the conversation between Henry and Erasmus reported by O. Myconius, 20 Nov.
1520 (Hess ii. 607,8), as in the main fabulous. With Longlond, the bishop of
Lincoln, however, he had more talk, and was invited to undertake a commentary
on the Psalms, one fruit of which was the In Psaltnum quartum concio, Basle,
Froben, Feb. 1525 see Epp. 1535, 1570. More, too, Iie saw, of course (Ep. 1184.
:

21-2), and was shown a copy of the Epistola ad Brixium (Ep. 1096. i2in). Also
he chanced to meet Lee (cf. Ep. 1132. i8n), and shook hands with him as a sign
of the reconciliation that had recently been eifected (p. m).]

ERASMVS ROTEROD. RICARDO PACAEO S. D.

Seeo mihi redditum est tuum epistolium, iahi te conscendente

equos. Cupiebam tecum colloqui, et fortassis adbuc dabitur. Ex
animo gratulor tibi noua dignitate aucto cuius meritis nunquam par ;

fortuna responderit.
5 Si non dabitur colloqui, commendo tibi negocium non tam meum
quam litei:arum. Quod enim molitur Leus 6 KaTapaTo?, non ad me
proprie pertinet, fortassis ad vestram Britanniam pertinet cuius ;

nonnihil refert, opinor, vt laudum suarum praeconem habeat honestum.

Scio perpusillum esse laudis quod illi ex meis lucubrationibus accessit
10 tamen hoc ipsum illi Leus inuidere videtur.
Theologi nouum fxrjx^-^VH-"- commenti sunt aduersus CoIIegium
Trilingue. Id cuiusmodi sit ex Mori literis cognosces. Bene vale,
patrone singularis. Antuerpiae. m.d.xx.

12. H: trilinguae F. 13. Antuerpiae. m.d.xx adrf. H.

3.noua dignitate] Cf. Ep. 1103. i8n. 1126, 1128-9, ^^3-f 1134,- "SPj 1165:
6. Leus] For the continuance of but cf. Ep. 1132. i8n.
Erasmus' troublewith Lee at this time 11. nouum^T^x^^^^Ma^Cf.Ep. 1113.3-4.
see Epp. 1098 9, iioa-3, 1113, 1123, 12. Mori literis] Not extant.
 1119] 297

1119. To George Spalatinus.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 523. Louvain.

HN: Lond. xiii. 40: LB. 512. 6 July 1520.

[As the Imperial Election is over (1. 8), only 1519, 1520, 1521 are possible.
For various reasons 1519 is unlikely in 1521 at this time the breach between
:

Hutten (1. 33) and Erasmus had begun. 1520 is corroborated by Erasmus' pro-
jected return to Germany (11. 22-3) and by the letter to Melanchthon (1. 26).]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS INCORRVPTISS. THEOLOGO D. GEORGIO

SPALATINO, ILLVSTRISS. SAX. DVCIS A CONSILIIS, S. D.

Alexander, iuuenis longe candidissimus, reddidit niihi tuas literas

exoptatissimas, vna cum duobus nomismatis. optimi Principis tui
viuam imaginem nobis referentibus. Quo sane dono magis sum
exliilaratus quam si mihi misisset auri talentum Atticum. Ille se
mihi misit argenteum et aureum, ego me vicissim illi mitto aereum. 5
Vtriusque meritis respondet materia. Quid enim in isto Principe
non aureum ? qui pro magnitudine animi plusquam heroica con-
tempsit vltro delatum imperium qui pro singulari fide et integritate ;

sua nullis praemiis vinci potuit, quo minus ei decerneret imperium,

quem onei-i ferendo iudicasset vnum omnium huius aetatis Principum 10
maxime idoneum qui tantam auri vim a nostris oblatam pertina-
;

cissime respuit ; qui mira quadam prudentia dexteritateque inaudita

ditionem suam ornat ac locupletat, idque nulla finitimorum iniuria,
sed omnium potius publico bono qui noua schola rem Christianam ;

auxit, quam annis perpaucis ex rara frigidaque, omni linguarum ac 15

literarum genere florentissimam reddidit, ea moderatione fauens
optimis studiis, vt tamen non sit veteris doctrinae patronis quod de
illo querantur. Ingratissimae literae, nisi huius herois merita moni-
mentis consecrent nunquam intermorituris. Debeo illi priuatim per-
multum, sed multo plus publico studiorum nomine. Atque vtinam 20
ea felicitas mihi contingat in vita, vt inclytum Principem cum
Academia florenti videre liceat Ni fallor, hoc autumno sum aditurus
!

Gei-maniam adnitar inuisere vos, si modo tuto liceat.

: Interim

TIT. INCORRVPTISS. THEOLOGO 1). OIH. II. ILLVSTRISS. . . . CONSILIIS Om. H. 8.

qui pro H quo F.
:

1. Alexander] Perhaps Schweiss ;

George : see Ep. 1125.52.
see Ep. 1192 introd. 5. aeremn] See Ep. 1092. 2n.
literas] One of these perhaps 7. contempsit] Cf. Epp. looi. 58-9,
answered Ep. looi : cf. 1. 2n. 1030. 53-64.
2. nonu.smatis] Cf. Ep. iioi. 6n. 14. noua schola] Wittenberg Uni-
The sptcimensnow sent were nodoubt versity ; cf. Ep. 1125. 14-15.
intended to compensate for the loss 22. hoc autumno] In execution of
of the one sent in 1518 see Ep. looi. ; liis plan formed earlier in the year cf. :

4in. Ep. 1078. 62n.

Principis] Duke Frederick of 23. inuisere vos] Thismust be taken
Saxony. literall}', not as an intimation (cf. Ep.
4. talentum Atticum] Erasmus uses 964 introd.) that he would like to be
the same figure in writing to Duke invittd to settle at Wittenborg. .Such
 298 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

optimi Ducis imagiiiem inter ea reponam quae mihi sunt charissima,

25 mecumque circunferam, semper in delitiis habiturus.
nujjer Piiilippo Melanchthoni, sed sic vt eadem opera
Scripsi
putarim me scripsisse Lutliero. Precor vt Christus optimus maximus
Lutheri stilum et animum ita temperet vt plurimum adferat fructus
Euangelicae pietati, mentemque meliorem det quibusdam qui cum
30 ignominia Christi suam quaerunt gloriam, qui cum illius iactura
suum quaerunt lucrum. In castris eorum qui Lutherum oppugnant,
multos video qui mundum spirant magis quam Christum. Et tamen
vtrinque peccatur. Vtinam Huttenus temjierasset stilo suo cuius !

ingenium amo vnice. Optarim Lutheruni ab istis contentionibus

35 aliquantisper conquiescere, ac rem Euangelicam tractare pure, non
admixtis affectibus fortasse res aliquanto melius successerit.
: Nunc
et bonas literas degrauat inuidia nobis exitiabili, ipsi infrugifera. Et
periculum est ne publica morum corruptela, cui nemo non fatetur
opus fuisse publico remedio, ceu pestis excigitata magis ac magis sese
40 contirmet. Nec sem^ier est proferenda veritas et magni refert ;

quomodo proferatur. Bene vale, vir optime, meque Principi tuo

commendatum facito. Louanii prid. nonas lulii. Anno m.d.xx.
Erasmus ex animo tuus.

1120jj48 FnoM CoNRAD Frick and Laurence Esinger.

Basle MS. C. VI^ 3, f. 246. Freiburg.
12 July (1520).

[This letter was discovered by my wife in July 1908 ia a volume of Zasius'

papers among the treasures of the University Libraiy at Basle. It illustrates an
episode in Erasmus' life hitherto only dimly intelligible through Ep. 1148 : to
which an incori-ect year-date was subsequently appended in H. The manuscn.*ipt
is an autograph rough-draft, in Zasius' hand tliroughout, and follows two otiier
rough-drafts by Zasius, of the same date and on the same business tlie second ;

addressed to John Hannart, chancellor of Cliarles v, the first to John Salius

Austriacus de Steyr, 'artium et medicine doctor, Ferdinandi physicus (1. lon), '

with a postscript adding that Schuttern had been founded by Offo, an English-
mau of royal blood, and that in consequence it might be hoped that Henry vm
would intervene on its behalf. The present letter was no doubt composed by
Zasius at the request of the two Abbots.
For the business in hand see I. lan. The appeal to Charles, even with the
support of Erasmus and the other councillors addressed, was doomed to dis-
appointment as appears from a letter written by Zasius in 1530, wlien asked
;

to advise in a similar case, Verenda manus Principis, quam experti sunt

'

Abbates Schutern et Etenmiinster in Carolo, qui exclusi ab omni audientia,

exclusi a iuris exhibitione, coacti sunt parere mandatis' (ZE. 234).
The two monasteries coucerned lie to the East of the Rhine Schuttern in the ;

plain, on the river Schutter, between Lalir and Offenburg, Ettenheimmiinster

26. FN^LB : Melanchtoni N^ Lond. 43. Erasmus ex animo tuus om. H.

a move would have brought him into relations withhim see Ep. 11 13. 36U;
closer connexion with Luther than he and,forsubsequent devehjpments, Epp.
could possibly have desired at this 1135 introd., 1184. 25-6, 1195. 136-41»
timo. His credit there as a theologian 1202. 274-5.
soon declined see BRE. 206.
: 40. veritas] For thisprincipleseealso
26. Scripsi] Ep. 11 13. Epp. 1167. 164-7, ii95- 106-9, 1202.
33. Huttenus] For Erasmus' recent 126-7, 1219. loo-i, 1331. 20-4.
ii2o] FKOM CONRAD FRICK AND LAURENCE ESINGER 299

some distauce up the valley of the Unditz, which debouches into the plain at
Ettenheim, s. of Lahr. Among the hills to the e. of Lahr lay the strong castle
of Geroldseck on the Schonberg, dominating the upper waters of the Schutter
to its w. and the Kinzig on its e. The situation of all three is carefully
described in a letter from Ottelinus of Lahr to Beatus Khenanus, 27 Fel). 1531
(BRE. 272 but on p. 383. 31 for occidenfem read orioitcni).
;

Conrad Frick (i" 3 April 1535) was elected Abbot of Schuttern on 12 July 1518
but not much is known of him. In Feb. 1522 he was visiting Nuremberg (ZE.
266). lu 1523 he was present at the election of nn abbot for the Benedictine
house of Alpirsbach, high up in the valley of the Kinzig (GC. v. 1065 Luscinius
,.

(Ep. 302. i6n) speaks of him as an old fi-iend and tells a story of his humour in
letting a house in Strasburg (Joa ac sales, Augsburg, S. Ruff, 13 Feb. 1524, no. 82).
In May 1525 he took up arms with the nobles for the suppression of the
Peasants (ZE. 243), and in April 1526 was negotiating with the Austrian autho-
rities at Ensisheim for the restoration of the monks of Hiigshoten (BRE. 255).
He had sufficient interest in history to promote the continuance of the Chronicle
of Schuttern begun by P. Volz (Ep. 368) see F. J. Mone, Quellensammhmg der
:

badischen Landesgesch. iii, 1863, pp. 42, 56. The abbey of Schxittern owned a house
in Freiburg, at which Botzheim was staying in 1519 (ZE. pp. 492, 494). For
Mss. formerly belonging to Schuttern see L. Dorez in Mdanges Emile Otaielain,
1910, pp. 293-9.
Laurence Esinger (f 1544J of Villingen, near Donaueschingen, was elected
Abbot of Ettenheimmiinster 4 July 1500, and ruled there for more than 43
years (GC. v. 866). He was present with Abbot Conrad at Alpirsbach in 1523 ;

but beyond this I have found nothing about him.

In the manuscript volume this letter is bound up so tight that the last figure
of the year-date cannot be read but it can be supplied without hesitation
:

from Zasius' other two letters mentioned above as written on the same day.
It is noticeable that there is no allusion to this affair of the two Abbots in
Ep. 1121.]

S. P. D. Animauit nos, magne Erasme, doctissime heros, prae-

sentium exhibitor, vir ex solido laudatus et industrius, quatenus ad
vestram j)raestanciani vel modicis scriberemus. Subiecit calcar Zasius
ille, vestri nominis preco indefectus. qui ignem vos esse de celo

sumptum et non minore quani quemcunque ex vetustis Ecclesiae 5

cardinibus honore venerandum praedicat. Inuitabat porro singu-
laris necnon admirabilis vestra tum comitas tum benignitas quae ;

duo prae innumeris aliis diuinis vestris dotibus praecipua in vobis

praedicantur. Ausi igitur vel inciuilius vos appellare, nostrarum
vobis necessitatum condicionem, quam ex domini lohannis Salii lo
declaratione facile intelligetis, synceriter commendamus.

10. Salii]John Saltzman (Salius or Nagy-Szebeii in Transylvauia. A

Salianus) of Steyer inUpper Austria. German version of this, Vienna, Jo.
His first known work is a poem on the Singren, 1521, styles him physician to
Annaberg (Ep. 1122. i2n;, addressed Ferdinand, and his preface is dated
to the town-council of that young from Gratz, 15 Sept. I have not seen
settlement, 19 June 1507 and first
; the book in either Latin or German :

printcd, apparently from the original hut 1:1. DeuiH, Wiens Buchdruckergeschicht,
MS., byMichael Barth in his Annaeherga, 1782, p. 339, states that he had experi-
Basle, Jo. Oporinus, March 1557. In ence of the plague in Bohemia and
his preface Salius speaks of receiving Moravia 1506-7, in Transylvania 1510.
the poefs laurel from Maximilian, in He was a friend of Reuchlin, and
1506, in reward for a poeni on Carin- brought news of him to Erasmus just
thia and describes himself as M.D.
: about this time : see Ep. 1129. in.
Next he wrote De praeserualione a pesti- Aschbach {Gesch. d. Wiencr Univ. ii. 98)
lentia, Vienna, H. Vietor, 16 Nov. 1510 states that he was at one time Professor
with a preface dated 12 Aug. from of Medicine nt Vienna.
 300 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

Impetiit nos hactenus Baro de Geroldsegk, non iure, et, ne grauius

queramur, vim aliriuando et nostris iniecit subditis et nobis com-
minatus est et cum iure contendere deprecetur, insultare nobis, nos
;

15 traducere, infamare aggreditur. A cuius insolencia nisi nos illu-

strissimus Rex noster ad iusticiae gradum, et quidem potenter, id
quod iam cepit, defenderit, nobilium factionem qui ei herent con-
cussionesque ipsorum diutius sustinere non posse veremur. Hac in
re, amplissime heros, si alia non potestis, voce certe, sermone,
20 suasione, hortatu, scripto res nostras foueatis et, vt estis ad omnia ;

optima, ad omnia sublimia, necnon ad salutem mortalium natus,

nostris calamitatibus, quas insontes patimur, benigno salubrique
succursu ad iusticiam duntaxat adserendam quam expetimus, cui
stare parati sumus, consulatis.
25 Erimus quacunque remetiendi olficii occasione exhibita in omnia
vestra vota pro viribus paratissimi. Valete.
Ex Fryburgo iiii*^ idus lulii Anno &c. x(x)
Conradus Schuterani et Laurentius Ethonis
monasteriorum Abbates, prouinciae Brisgaudiae.
30 Venerabili et amplissimo viro domino Erasmo Rhoterodamo, theo-
logie doctori eminentissimo, omnium meliorum doctrinarum facile
pxincipi, domino et amico nostro quam maxime obseruando.

112L From Ulrich Zasius.

Zasii Opera, 1550, v. 490 = 590 (a). Freiburg.

ZE. 200. 13 July 1520.

[From Zasius' Opera omnia, Lyons, S. Gryphius, 1549-50, edited in six volumes
by his son J. U. Zasius and Joachim Mynsinger, with a royal piivilege dated
10 Sept. 1548 apparently the first issue.
: Eiegger, ZE. p. (179), mentions a
Lyons edition, apud Sennetonios fratres, 1548 but about it there seems to be
;

some doubt. At one point the text of a is difficult and has been corrected by
Riegger.
The year-date is confirmed by the reference to the controversy with Budaeus
see ]. 3in. As this letter is thus contemporary with Ep. 1120, some reference

12. Geroldsfgk] The ancient family with Gangolfi 1,^1523) of Gex-oldsecJt

of this name, with dominions extend- in 1522. See F. J. Mone, op. cit., iii.
ing from the Rhine into Swabia (see 61-5. For the severity of the struggle
introd.), claimed the jurisdiction of an see a letter of Zasius to A. Blaurer,
aduocatus and defensor (Kastenvogtei) 3 Aug. 1518 : PJura scripturum inter-
'

over Schuttern and Ettenheimmiinster, rupit Geroldeccianus turbo, quo misera

which they had held from 1393 to monasteria concuciuntur ' (Bl. E. 14).
1486. It had passed then through war For correspondence in 1520 betvveen
to the Palgrave Philip ; but in 1506 Erasmus and another member of the
Maximilian acquired it by arms, and —
house of Geroldseck Theobald, son of
restored it to the Geroldsecks in 1512 : Gangolf i, who was Administrator-
-though the Abbots claimed to remain abbot of Einsiedeln 1513-25, but later
under Austrian control, and tried hard joined the Reformers, and fell at
to throw off their restored masters. Kappel 1531 — see BRE. 144, 180 = Zw.
On Maximilian's death they renewed E.^ 114, 156, perhaps also Zw. E.'' 146
their endeavours, as this letter shows, (but see Ep. 1033 introd.).
but were compelled to an agreement 16 Rex nosterj Cf. Ep. 1121. 36.
II 21] FEOM ULRICH ZASIUS 301

might liave been expected in it to the important business there laid before
—
Erasmus. The subject a dispute which may well have lasted through more
—
than one generation was perhaps omitted in printing, for reasons of prudence.]

ZASIVS ERASMO S. P. D.

QviD censes. magne Erasme? Eduardus Leus nonne mortem sibi

vel ciuilem consciuisse videtur, qui suis istis vanis in te insecta-
tionibus bonae existimationis famam enecuit? cum Pauli iureconsulti
quoque sententia maior sit famae quam vitae interitus. Deum im-
mortalem, quam dispar est hominum eonditio Tu salutem mortalium 5 !

saluberrimis tuis doctrinis adiuuare pergis Eduardus contra ita in- :

commodat ac si communi saluti inuideret. Caius Caligula olim vnam

populo Romano ceruicem optabat, vt iugulare rern Romanam vel
momento posset. Quid absimile Leus molitur? Erasmum Leus
suggillai*e pergit, Cui igitur alii quam Christianae fidei plebisque 10
Christum professae velut ceruici imminet, (et) literatorum omnium
qui ex te pendemus, iugulum petit ? Verae synceraeque theologiae
germen, per te meliori cultura pastinatum, nondum iusta radice
inualuit et crescentem iam foeturam Eduardus praecidere aggre-
;

ditur? 15
Sed Insurgit contra publicae vtilitatis infestatorem
dii meliora.
totus literatus ordo populari actione opprimendus populi inimicus.
;

Credo enim ex doctis, si sint boni viri, si in publicum prodesse

cupiunt, neminem in toto esse orbe cui non vehementer Eduardi tam
insalubre consilium displiceat quiue litem contra eum pro communi 20
;

literarum patrono, tutore, parente non sit subscripturus. Sumus in

Germania non pauci qui, vt olim cum Mutio Scaeuola nobiles Romani
contra Porsenam, ita pro repub(lica), id est Erasmo, contra Leum con-
iurauerimus. Tu ergo, vt coepisti, magne heros, procede ridiculum :

hominem, hominem semissium non morator. Sicuti enim aquila 25.

muscas non insequitur, ita non curant magni viri puluerariam
fecem. Denique et Dominus a latere tuo erit custodietque pedem
tuum ne capiaris.
Sed haec hactenus. Qui viuas scire cupio, qui mihi numen es.
Dorpius ille, vir, si vita respondeat, cum paucis conferendus, an 30
adhuc noster sit, id est verae theologiae assertor, fac sciam. Budaeus

10. quam Riegger : vel a. ]^lehiq\ie Riegger, pe^rperam. ii. etaddidi: qui
add. Riegger.

I. Leus] Zasius had expressed him- works. Zasius' reply (ZE. p. 471) is
self fullyon Lee in a letter to Beatus, dated i Sept. 1519 cf. ZE. 6 for his
;

5 .June (BRE. 168), which is printed in views on tlie question a few days earlier.
Eev ; see p. 210. He adhered to his intention of not
7. Caligula] Cf. Suet. Calig. 30. publishing it (cf. ZE. 13). Contem-
27. Dominus] Proverbs 3. 26. porary ms. copies of the two letters are
30. Dorpius]Intherecentreconcilia- not uncommon e. g.
; at St. Gallen,
tion Zasius had taken some part cf. : Vadiana xi. 205 and i. 165. Boniface
Ep. 1044. 49n. Amerbach wrote from Avignon on the
31. Budaeus! He wroto to Zasius same date as this letter, asking for his
(ZE. p. 466 BE.* 39) on 25 July (1519)
: own copies of them which he had left
commentingon thefirstitein inZasius' bebind(BasleMS.C. VI*. 73.47). Stint-
recently published Lucubrationcs (Ep. zing, wlio gives some account of the
862), and defending himself againat dispute {Zasius. pp. 195-201), state»
criticisms made therein upon his own that they are in the Library at Basle.
 302 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1520

nugis meis quas in 1. ii de orig. iur. pro nouitiis congessi, nimium

quam intentus, parum amice ad me scripsit :non segniter
cui
respondi. Exemplar vtriusque mitto : quae tamen edere non est
36 consilium, quod quam
bonisviris certare malim.
officio conuiciis cum
Regis nostri humanitati qua mihi nunc frui datum est, pro virili
respondere conabor. Senex enim quamuis sim, difficilHmas tamen
iuris ciuilis lectiones non sine fama mei et nouo et eleganti modo
profiteor. Nam
vtut vires deficiant, ingenio nihilo magis destituor.
40 Cuperem vero a regentiae onere feriari. vt eo quietior studiis in
auditorum meorum vtilitatem possem intendere. Qua in re si me
adiuueris, te me beasse hibens confitebor. Vale ad sahitem mortaHum
diu sanus.
Ex Frib. iii. Id. luhi. Anno m.d.xx.

11:22. To Matthias Meyner.

Epistolae selectae, 1520, f°. M (a). Louvain. '

F. p. 510 : HN : Lond. xiii. 20 : LB. 514, 30 July 1520.

[For the first source see App. 12 in vol. iii. The year-date given in the text is
probably correct, but I cannot establish it as certain. It is corroborated by Ep.
1 125, and by the fact that neither letter appears in tlie Farrago (E). But Erasmus
was at Louvain at the end of July in 1517 and 1519 also. The date of Barland's
volume precludes any later year than 1520.
The person here addressed omitted to add his surname (cf. 11. 19-20) in writing
to Erasmus ; and in consequence he has hitherto, so far as I kuow, eluded
identification. The title decimarius shows that he was one of the superintendents
appointed by the dukes of Saxony to control the silver mines cf. the Bermannus ;

(1. isn), p. 131. It is therefore reasonable to suppose that he was a certain

Matthias Meyner of Chemnitz, superintendent of the mines at Schneeberg, to
whom on 5 Nov. 1522 Mosellanus dedicated an edition of Prudentius' Cathemerina,
Leipzig, N. Faber, s. a. (see 0. G. Schmidfs Mosellanus, 1867, P- 72) and who ;

was a friend of Eppendorff (N. Arch. f. sdchs. Gesch. xxiii, 1902, p, 142). He was
in office in 1515, but by 1523 his successor had been appointed. It does not
follow, however, that he was dead for the opening lines of this letter seem to
;

indicate that he was now retiring and settling in one of the Saxon university
townsj probably Leipzig, where he had matriculated in 1493, and was B.A. Sept.
1494, procecding later M.A. His widow married Geo. Agricola (I. i2n) in 1543,
borc children to him in 1550 and 1552, and was still living in 1580 .so that she :

was perhaps Meyner's second wife. See C. Meltzer, Historia Schneebergensis, 1716,
h P- 383 and a translation of Geo. Agricola's De re metallica, by H. C. and L. H.
;

Hoover, 19 12, p. vii.

36. Regis nostri] Charles v. It the University, to which since 1503

appears that since landing in the Zasius had been legal adviser. For
Netherlands Iio had conferred some several years now there had been con-
honour on Zasius, perhaps a renewal stant disputes with the Town Council
of thecouncillorship whicli Maximilian about dues and privileges. See Stint-
had bestowed in i5o8(Schreiber, Gesch. zing's Zasius, pp. 46, 243-4. On 5 Dec.
d. TJniv. Freiburg, i.203). 1520 tho University decided to release
37. Senex] Cf Ep. 1103. a^n. Zasius from some partof these duties ;

40. regentiae]Thegoverning body of set^ ZE. pp. (63,4).

 1122] TO MATTHIAS MEYNEK 303

The whole packet of letters, 1122-8, was probably sent by the same hand,
Draco (Epp. 1124, 1127 cf. JE. 43) whose journey back to Erfurt wonld lie
; ;

through Mainz, and perhaps Wiirzburg, and who would have facilities for for-
warding to Leipzig and Dresden.
Henry of EppendoriT (1. io),near Freiberg in Meissen. matriculated at Leipzig
in 1506, and was B.A. 11 March 1508; and c. 1511-12 Melanchthon had formed
an ill opinion of him (cf. ME. 267 with Ep. 1496'. Little else is kndwn of
him before his visit to Erasmus at Louvain in July 1520 (Epp. 1122, 1125).
He cLaimed to be of knightly rank but this was disputed by both Mosellanus
:

(Ep. 1437) and Emser (Ep. 1551). The change in L 11 made in F is, however,
noticeable. Duke George of Saxony gave him money to carry on his studies
(Ep. 1437) and from Louvain he went to Freiburg, where he can be traced in
;

June 1521 Basle MS. C. VI^'. 73.222: H. Schreiber, Gesch. Vniv. Freibitrg. ii. 193)
and March 1522 (App. 14V Atone time there he was involved in a suit for debt
(Schreiber, op. cit., ii. 106). By May 1522 he had been for some while at Basle
(Ep. 1283). He attached himself to Erasmus (Basle MS. G. II. 13. 123''),
whom he aceompanied in Sept. to visit Botzheim at Constance (cf. BV'E.
226,7). ^^ Dec. Erasmus could still write of tiim with approbation to Duke
George (Ep. 1325) : but when the breach between H"tten and Erasmus
began, Eppendorflf followed Hutten and quickly drew away from his former
friend (cf. App. 14). In the present letter may be seen signs of growing coolness.
For letters of Eppendorff at this period see Zw. E.^ 253 and N. Arch. f. sachs.
Gesch. xxiii, 1902, p. 142.
On Hutten's death Eppendorff withdrew to Strasburg, where he communicated
his dislike of Erasmus to Otho Brunfels (HE. 334, p. 350) and otbers (Ep. 1466) ;

aniong whom, to Erasmus" disgust, was Capito (Ep. 1485 cf. Epp 1459, 1496). ;

As a result of the attack upon himself Erasmus wrote to Duke George di nounc-
ing Eppendorff. The letter was never puhlished but it reached Eppendorff. and
;

supplied him with a handle againstErasmuswhich he was not slow touse(cf. Epp.
1448,9). For some years he repeatedly Ihreatened an action for defarration f Lond.
xix.72, 58; LB. 906, 927); andatlength,astherewasnoabatementof ErasmusMan-
guage, he cameto Basle tocarry out his threat (Horawitzi. 11, ii. 8\ Pr ceedings
were only averted by the intervention of Boniface Amerhach. Beatus Fh< nanus,
andL. Ber whoon ^Feb. i^^Sestablishedasiirt of peacebetween them (LB. App.
;

346 cf. Hess ii. 603,4%

; But the settlement was jiot satisfactory (LB 058) nnd
Erasmus was tardy in fulfilling his part 'cf. LB. 1087,8 and B^islc MS. C. VI».
;

73. 89). Early in 1529 he sent a written account of the position to Duke George
(cf LB. App. 348,9); and in the colloquy, 'I-nvfiis axtvTvcs, first piintfd in the
Froben edition of March 1529, the chief character was so lightly disguised as to
be easily recognizable (cf. Ep. 1168. ipn and EE. iii). For a time tbe move to
Freiburg seemed to give relief Lond. xxiv. 4, LB. 1060). Next year EppendorfF
) went to Augsburg to meet the Duke at tbe Diet and expound his side of the case
(EE. 128, 137; cf. Lond. xxv. 30,42, LB. 1118, 1208); and on return visited
Erasmus at Freiburg with some degne of amity (BIE. 275 cf. Lond. xxx. 53, ;

LB. 1146). But neither was satisfied. Erasmus produced for publication a state-
ment of his position, Aduersns menciacivm vfilis admonitio. Fj-eilmrg. s.n., 1530
. . .
;

and Eppendorff replied with a lusla QuereJa, Hagcnau, J. S cerius, Feb. 1531.
After this, through the mediation of J. Pflug,sent by Duke Genige (J. p 60, and
Lond. xxvi. i, LB. 1168), the quarrel w,is h.ippily alhaved to lapse though ;

Erasmus' apprehensions continued (Lond. xxx. 56. LB. 1205).

The accusations made against Eppendorflf hy Erasnnis are mitigated by what
is othervvise known of his life. He appeajs as a friend and patron of men ot
letters (BRE. 239 :EE.^ 69). Even .so firm an adber nt of Er;isnius as Boniface
Amerbach treated him with respech fB; sle MS. C. VI* 73 89, 124). Between
him and Volz there were close ties (BRE. 343. 348 cf. App. 14). Hntticb (Ep.
;

550 introd.) spoaks well of him in the preface to Imperatores Romcmi. Strasbui'g,
W. Cephalaeus, 1526, f. A ' From 1523 onwards he lived qiiietly at Stj'asburg,
occupied largely in literary pursuits. Schott piinted for him traoslati ns into
German of Plntai'<-h's Ap(>phlhegwafa, 1534. and Moralia. 1535, .'ind of some l)ooks
of Piiny X H.. 1543 of A. Krantzius' Chronicon Daniae. 1545, and of various
;

writings about the Turks, 1550 also a sliort Histojy of Rome in German. 1536
:

SE. 246, 256), and in 1551 a collected volume of s<^>me of these. The date <>f
(cf.
his death is unknown.
See an excellent life by Chr. Saxius, Leipzig, 1745: BEj-.^ Admnitio, witli a
detailed account of the quarrel with Eiasmus and A DB.] ;
 304 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

ERASMVS ROT. ORNATISSIMO VIRO MATTHIAE, SERENISS, SAXONIAE

DVCIS GEORGII DECIMARIO, S. D.

Felicitatem istam tibi gratulor, vir ornatissiine, qui tandem manu-

missus ab ociosis et odiosis aulae negociis decreuei'is in optimis studiis
consenescere. Alberti Ducis bellicae rei peritia clari quondam ado-
]escens nomen duntaxat accepi in Hollandia. Pridem cum apud
5 Anglos agerem, Georgii Ducis mirificam quandam imaginem mihi
dej^inxit illius Cancellarius atque cum huius oratione mire con-
:

sentiebant publicae famae suffragia, Porro Friderici Ducis virtutes

plusquam heroicas non solum ex nostrorum Principvim praedicatione
verum etiam ex ipsius ad me literis ac xeniis nuper cognoui,
10 Reddidit mihi Henricus ab Eppendorff, rara indole iuuenis et ipsa
fronte mentis ingenuitatem prae se ferens, tuo nomine tres argenti
infecti massulas, vt e vestris vaenis sunt effossae quarum minima :

rubebat, maxima liuebat, media pallebat, Maiorem in modum me

delectabat rei nouitas nunquam antea conspectae. Tametsi, quod
15 seribis me percupidum fuisse vaenarum vestrarum, scito mihi nun-
quam mentem venisse vestra metalla. In praesentia nihil
antehac in
est ad manum quo tuam pensem munificentiam. nisi quod tibi mitto
Erasmum plumbeum, ipse plusquam hiteus aut si quid luto vilius.
Porro cur mihi tuum nomen inuideris, admiror quod in literis ;

20 tuis nusquam adscriptum repperi. Hoc vbi nactus ero, inter araicos
haud quaquam postremae sortis asscribam. Bene vale.
Louanii. Tertio Cal. Aug. An. m.d.xx.

TIT. OENATISSIMO VIEO O EXIMIO D. F 0711. H.

: : SEREIS-ISS. a ILLVSTKISS. :

F. DECiMARio a A DECiMis F.
; lo. ab Eppeiidorff add. F Epphendorpius :

H. II. mentis ingenuitatem a generis sui nobilitatem F.

: 20. reperi F.

3. Alberti] Duke Albert of Saxony Reisciiach -vvas also sent to meet the
(27 Jan. 1443 —
12 Sept. 1500), named English ambassadorsin Brussels, Nov.-
for his courage animosus '. was ap-
'
Dec. 1514, and ask for aid againstCount
pointed Statthalterof tlie Netherlands Edzard iu East Friesland (Brewer i.
by Maximiliaa in Nov. 1488. See ADB. 5598-600, 5675-6).
i. 314-18 and, for his interest in
; 9. literis] Ep. 963.
Schneeberg, Bermannus (1. i2n), p. 80. xenii.s] Perhaps cf. Ep. looi. 41.
Cancellarius] Simon
6. of Rei- 10. Eppendorff ] See introd.
schach, LL.D., who was Duke George's 12. vaenis] The silver mines in the
Chancellor in Friesland. He was sent Erz Mts.. sw. of Dre.sden the most ;

to Enghind with instruetions from reputed of whicli were Schneeberg,

Dresden, 29 March 1511, to renew the opened in 1470, Annaberg 1491, and
treaty made by Henry vii in 1505 ; and Joachimstal 1516. For a contemporarv
achieved this by 9 .Tune (Rymer xiii. account of theni see Geo. Agricoh\'s
295, 298: Brewer i. 1565, 1717-18,1. dinlogue, Bermannus, siae de re metallica,
From the dates of Erasmus' movements written in 1528, and first printed, witli
at that time (Epp. 218, 222) it is difficult a preface by Erasmus (Lond. xxviii. 23,
to see when they can have met in Eng- LB. 1014 18 Feb. isfg). Basle, Froben,
:

hmd unless Reischach travelled very

: 1530 also the poem by Salius (Ep.
;

quickly, arriving early in April, or 1120. lon).

stayed on after his negotiations were 18. Erasmum plumbeum] Cf. Ep.
completed 1092. 2n.
1123] 305

1123. To Peter Mosellanus.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 504. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 5 : LB, 515. 31 July 1520.

[As this falls between the appearance of Ep. 1033 in print and the publication
of F, only 1520 and 1521 are possible. The year-date given in F is amply con-
firmed by the contents.]

ERASMVS PETEO MOSELLANO S. D.

Redditae sunt mihi literae quibiis deploras aeditam epistolam

tuam. Ego vero non hanc tantum aeditam doleo plus officit mihi ;

studium quorundam Germanorum quam odium hostium. Quaeso,

quorsum attinebat euulgare epistolam quam scripseram Archiepiscopo
Moguntino ? Plus nobis sapiunt hostes, qui caelant omnia et clam 5
conspirant nos nihil tegimus. Adornamus alteram aeditionem Episto-
;

larum omnium, ne quis rursus excudat vt excusae sunt quaedam ;

abiiciemus, quaedam molliemus. Epistola quam Luthero scriptam

isthic ediderant, delata est ad Leonem alia quaedam loca ad alios :

descripta sunt, vt eos in me prouocarent. Quis docuit istos cacodae- 10

mones hanc artem conspirandi? Honorem istum tibi gratulor, et
auctam fortunam gaudeo. De Oecolampadio sciebam ex ipsius literis.
Principi tuo scribam, si dabitur ocium.
Adorno profectionem in Gemianiam. Leus nihil intentatum
reliquit quo me subuerteret, sed nihil illi successit: nemo probus 15
apud Anglos mihi non fauet. In superioribus literis tuis videbare
nonnihil blandiri Hephestio. Sed is est vnus qui Noxum instigauit,
quique nunc est huius tragoediae caput, homo mire virulentus ac
pertinax tales esse solent qui emergunt e sterquilinio. Vidi quae-
:

dam Epigrammata scripta in Leum. Sit sane dignus ille vel sus- 20
pendio sed tamen malim argumentis per graues viros oppugnari
;

hominem quam istiusmodi conuiciis. Bene vale.

Louanii. pridie Calen. Augusti. Anno m.d.xx.

21. per graues H : per-/graues F.

I. literae] Not extant. Ep. 1125.

epistolam tuam] Ep. 911 which ; 14. in Germaniam] Cf. Epp. 1078.
had been printed in E. 62n, 11 19. 22n.
3. Germanorum] Cf. Ep. 967. 105-12. 16. literis] Not extant.
5. Moguntino] Ep. 1033. 17. Hephestio] de .Jongh (p. 176^)
6. alteram aeditionem] F for which : explains this name as a Grecized form
see Ep. 1206 introd. of Latomus' vernacular nanie, Masson :
8. abiiciemus] In Ep. 911. 59, 60 apparently f<pi(nios, domesticus, repre-
(cf. 1. in) a sentenceuncomplimentary senting maison. Tlie identification is
to Duke George is omitted in F. corroborated by Ep. 11 13. 12-14, ^nd is
Luthero] Ep. 980. interesting in comparison with Ep.
9. ad Leonem] Cf. Ep. 1143. This 1029. a-4 for thus Erasmus' view of
:

information reached Erasmus through the origin of his troubles at Louvain is

Aleander see Ep. 1167. 120-2.
: carried back a stage further.
II. Honorem] His admission to the For Mosellanus' connexion with
Furstencollegium see Ep. 560 introd.
: Latomus in the controversy about thc
12. De Oecolampadio] About his study of languages see Epp. 934. 311,
retirement into the monastery ; for 948. 7-9.
whichseeEp. 1095. 173-4^^, Oecolam- Noxum] Atensis : cf. Ep. 1029. ^n.
padius' letter, answered by Ep. 1 102, 20. Epigrammata] Evidently the
is not extant. Erfurt volume : for which see Epp.
13. Principi tuo] Duke George see : 998. 66n, 1128. i.
 306 LETTERS OF EKASMUS [152

1124. To CoNRAD OF Thuengen.

Copenhagen MS. G. K. S. 95 Fol., f. 246. (Louvain.)

F. p. 493 : HN : Lond. xii. 22 : LB. App. 422. (c. 31 July 1520.)

[An autograph rough-draft in the Copenhagen MS. for wliich see App. 13 in ;

vol. iii. The dates can be assigned from Ep. 127, which also was carried by]

Draco (Ep. 871).

Conrad of Thuengen, 10 ms. n. of Wurzburg (f 16 June 1540) came of an
ancieut Franconian family. As a young man he studied in Italy, making the
acquaintance of Pirckheimer at Padua or Pavia, c. 1490-7 and there doubtless ;

imbibed that interest in learning which led men of letters to hail him as a
patron in the days of his power. He retumed to a canonry at Wurzburg, and
for some time had been marked out as a suitable coadjutor to his predecessor in
the see, Laurence of Bibra (f 1519) on whcse death he was within nine days
;

elected to succeed. As Bishop he was also Duke of Eastern Franconia. In

politics he was a strong supporter of the Emperor. and he took an important part
in the Diets of 1520-30 opposing the new movements. But within his own
;

diocese he worked hard for conservative reform,and dealt severely v/ith miscon-
duct among his clergy. When his castle of Marienburg, opposite Wurzburg, was
besieged by the Peasants, May-June 1525, he did not play a heroic part leaving ;

the defence to his Hofmeister, Sebastian Rotenhaen (Ep. 1134), and retiring to
Heidelberg, but returning to participate in the exaction of bitter vengeance.
See ADB. xvi. 632-4 and, for his political activities 1521-3, P]anitz's Berichte,
;

ed. E. Wulcker and H. Virck, 1899.

Prom his first accession to the bishopric he began to receive dedications of :

Hutten's diHlogue, Fortuna, i Jan. 1520 (HE. 149) of Plutareh's De Garrulitaie,;

translated by Pircklieimer, Nuremberg, F. Peyp, 1523 (P. p. 243) of the fifth ;

edition of Eck's Enchiridion locorum communium aduersus Ludderanos, Ingolstadt,

12 May 15^29 of Guimundus' De Eucharistia, edited by Aug. Marius, Freiburg,
;

J. Emmeus, 1530 of Erasmus' commentary on Psalm 33, Basle, Froben, March

;

1531 of Alex. Trallianus' De corporis vitiis, translated by Alban Torinus, Basle,

;

H. Petri, March 1533.

The present beginning of correspondence with Erasmus does not seem to have
been followed up but friendly letters passed between them in 1529-31, and in
;

1534 the Bishop was one of Erasmus' strong admirers (EE.^ ^^6).]

EEVEKENDO IN CHRISTO P. AC PRINCIPI CLARIS8IM0 D. D.

CONRADO, PRAESVLI WERTZENBVRGENSI.

S. P., ornatissime Praesul. Cum sim et natura verecundior quam

vt plebeiis etiam hominibus vltro soleam litteris meis negocium
facessere, et nunc occupatior quam vt vacet cuiquam omnino scribere,
tamen huius Draconis improbitas extudit hanc a me epistolam ad
5 amplitudinem tuam quam accipio cum semper optimis ac sanctissi-
;

mis studiis delectatam, tum in prespntia singulari fauore prosequi

litterarum honestarum cultores. Inter quos vtinam me iure queam
connumerare Certe videor inter hos posse i"eferri qui sua quali-
!

cunque industria aliis addunt animos, quemadmodum faciunt qui in

10 acie classicum canunt, ipsi tamen interim a praelio semoti ; quiue in
certaminibus suffundunt frigidam, cum ipsi cursu non certent.

TiT. Pro titulo Erasmus prius conrado iierbipo. episcopo scripserat, mox am-
iMorem reddidit. reverendo . n. d. om. JI (reverendis. F.
. . d d. MS. D. F). :

WIRTZENBVKGENSI N. I. S. P. MS. EKASMVS ROTEROD. S. D. F. : 3. CUi-

quam 3fS: quicquam if. 6. H delectatum MiS. 8. connumerare
: smpst
connu * /morare ifS. commcmorare 2^.:
 1124] TO CONRAD OF THUENGEN 307

Hactenus sane feliciter successit pi'ouentus ingeniorum, si modo

absit discordia aut certe esset ciuilior. Si vetera studia cum his
nouis mutua comitate coalescerent, possent vtraque alteris esse vsui.
Nunc dum vtrique sic agunt vt alterutra factio prorsus profligetur, 15
fit vt vtrisque sit male. Coniuratum est a stolidissimis agminibus
in perniciem optimorum studiorum. Pars deterior numero superior
«st, melior causa vincit. Et periculum est ne iuxta Liuianum verbum
pars maior superet meliorem, ni tuo tuique similium fauore subleue-
mur. Ego non solum publico studiorum nomine gratias ago tue 20
benignitati, verum etiam meo priuatim, qui candore quodam amico
non aspernaris nostras qualescunque naenias.
Si quid offendit hoc epistolium meum
plusquam extemporarium,
Draconi fac imputes quo iuuene vt nihil adhuc vidi melius, ita nihil
;

vidi pertinacius. Celsitudinem tuam incolumem ac florentem nobis 25

quam diutissime tueatur Christus Opt. Max.

1125. To DuKE George of Saxony.

Epistolae acl cliuersos p. 509. Louvain.

HN : Lond. xiii. 19: LB. 517. 31 July 1520.

[Contemijoravy with Ep. 1122. For Erasmus' correspondence with Duke

George see a dissertation by 0. Lehmann, Herzog Georg von Sachsen im Briefwechsel
mit Erasmus von Botterclam und dem Erzbisdmfe Sadolet, Neustadt i/S, 1889.

ILLVSTRISS. SAXOXIAE DVCI GEORGIO ERAS. S. D.

Illvstrissime Dux, Alberti patris tuae celsitudinis laudem in re

bellica non vulgarem olim apud Batauos etiamnum adolescens
accepi verum vniuersas ingenii morumque tuorum dotes, animi
;

celsitudinem vero dignam Principe, raram prudentiam, sobrietatem,

moderationem, mentis incredibilem vim, iudicium perspicax, breuiter 5
amabilem quandam omnium virtutum harmoniam, sic mihi pridem
apud Anglos depinxit vir optimus ac modestissimus, Cancellarius
tuae celsitudinis, vt protinus in amorem tui sim inflammatus. Non
potuisti paterni nominis gloriam magis illustrai'e quam superando
quicquid ille praeclarum habuit et eximium. Neque vero mediocre 10
decus adiunget tuis laudibus apud posteros, quod nunc cum illustris-
simo duce Friderico certamen longe pulcherrimum susceperis, cuius
auspiciis feliciter efflorescunt apud Germanos optimarum literarum
studia. Quam paucis ille annis ex quam frigida Academia quam
celebrem reddidit Aut ego plane fallor, aut haec erit apud posteros
I 15
inter illius laudes non minima portio, quod linguai-um ac politioris
literaturae pi-aesidiis rem Christianam cum ornarit tum iuuerit.
Atque in hoc gloriae stadio non committis vt patruele videaris in-
ferior. Tuis nimirum auspiciis tuaque munificentia Lypsiensis Aca-

1124. 13. esset MS. : sit H. 1125. i. tuae celsitudinis i^ : tui //.

1124. 18. Liuianum] 21. 4. i. 112.5. 14. Academia] Wittenberg

X 2
 308 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15:

20 demia, iam olim celebris ac solennibus illis studiis florens, nunc

politioris literaturae ac linguarum accessione per te
ornata vt sic est
vix vlli caeterarum cedat. Tua benignitas excitauit atque euexit in-
genium Petri Mosellani, iuuenis magnae iam eruditionis sed spei
longe maximae. Eadem Henricum Stromerum, virum integritate
25 summa singularique px'udentia iam pridem spectatum, allexit in
istam vrbem, vt et scholae decus esset eximie doctus medicus, et
ciuitatis senator grauissimus. Eadem Simonem Pistorium, ordina-
rium iuris professorem, ornat ac fouet eadem Georgium a Brey- ;

tenbach, virum non minus clarum iuris professione quam generis

30 imaginibus. Atque optimi Principis exemplum imitatur senatus
pene vniuersus cum magistratibus caeteris, optimis studiis ac virtuti-
bus honorem modis omnibus habens quos omnes tam procul semo- :

tos a nobis, tamen ex amicorum literis publicaeque famae praeconio

cognoui.

25. summa singularique FN^ : summaque singulari N^ Lond.

23. Mosellani] See Ep. 560 introd., His influence was always exerted on
and cf.Ep. 1123. 11-12. the side of moderation (cf. LE.^ 1702.
24. Stromerum] See Ep. 578 introd. 20-3 = ME. 766). But Luther in 1541-3
27. Pistorium] Simon Pistorius (a8 found him too orthodox, and a hin-
—
Oct. 1489 3 Dec. 1562) or Pistoris
(probably Becker cf. LE.^ 3332) was
drance to schemes of reform (LE.'*
so also Jonas (JE.
: 3076, 3258, 3332) ;

the son of a noted Leipzig physician. 637, 878). Melanclithon in 1547 wrote
After proceeding B.A. at Leipzig in to him with intimacj' (ME.
4048, 4055).
1505, LL.B. 1509-10, with an interval He possessed a good library but wrote ;

at Wittenberg in 1507-8 (SE. 32), he iittle except some consilia published,

studied law for two years at Pavia (cf, with those of his son, Modestinus, by
SE. 64) but returned home because
; a grandson, at Leipzig in 1587-8.
ofthewars. He was LL.D. at Leipzig See ADB. xxvi. i86-go. In N. Arch.
c. 15 15, and in 15 19 was appointed f. sachs. Gesch. xxxi, 1910, pp. 134-41,
Ordinarius in which capacity he de-
: O. Clemen prints for the tirst time a
livered an oration of welcome to the Ratio disceiidarum legum written by Pis-
combatants in the Leipzig Disputation, torius from Breslau, 13 May 1527.
June 1519, and made the acquaintance 28. Breytenbach] (t c. 1541) matri-
of Luther (LE.^ 197. 163). In 1523 he culated at Leipzig in 1501, and by 1509
reluctantly resigned this office to be- was in the confidential service of Duke
come Chancellor to Duke George of George (Ranke, Hist. of RefmTnation, tr.
Saxony but on the Duke's death in
; S. Austin, 1905, p. 9811). Hesucceeded
1539 he at once resumed it from his Pistorius (I. 27^) as Ordinarius of the
successor, Breitenbach (L 28n\ and Law Faculty, 1524-39 and was Vice- ;

held it in spite of a fiattei-ing invitation Chancellor of the University in 1520

from Ingolstadt (VZE. iii). In 1541 and 1535. On Duke George's death
Iie was compelled to re-enter political he became Chancellor to the Elector
life as Chancellor to Duke Maurice but ; Joachim of Brandenburg, 17 May 1540:
in 1549 he escaped to his estates ori the in whose service he died.
Elbe, below Meissen, where he passed He was one of the friends to whom
his remaining years in retirement (cf. Stromer (1. 24) dedicated an edition of
VZE. 153). Aen. Sylvius' Lihellus auliconim miserias
His acquaintance with Erasmus copiose Mainz, J. Schoeffer,
explicans,
probably began at this time and ; 6 July 1517. In Nov. 1519 he was on
though they iiever met, their relations friendly terms with Luther (LE.* 246)
were always cordial. Pistorius sup- but later was obliged to opposehim, in
ported the scholar's frequent applica- helping Duke George to check the Re-
tions to Duke George and when ; formation. Cf., however, JE. 429.
assured of his orthodoxy (cf. Lond. See F. Gess, Aktm und Briefe zur
xviii. 4, LB. 848 and Horawitz ii. 8),
: Kirchenpolitik Herzog Georgs von Sachsen,
proved a strong champion (EE. 56), 1905, p. 442 ; and G. Loesche, Analecta
protecting him also against Eppendorff. Lutherana, 1892, p. 136.
1125] TO DUKE GEORGE OF SAXONY 309

Prorsus iudicarem felicissima studia, nisi discordia nonnihil vitia- 35

rentur. Ita visum est fatis, ne quid sit in rebus humanis tam vndique
felix vt non aliquo neuo contaminetur. Vtrinque video peccari. Qui
veterem studiorum rationem mordicus tenent, parum comiter exci-
piunt haec noua studia, et pro hostibus ducunt eos qui summam
adferunt vtilitatem. Rursus veterum literarum instauratores malunt 40
irrumpere, velut omnia depopulaturi, quam ciuilitate sese in hospi-
tium et amiciciam insinuare. Sed vt vtrosque peccare fateor, ita
multo inciuilius agunt qui rabiose depellunt mehora studia, suis
ipsoi'um commodis inuidentes neque quicquam habent in ore;

praeter haereses, schismata et Antichristos, in nugis atroces tragoe- 45

dias excitantes. Erit igitur hoc quoque tuae prudentiae, Princeps
illustrissime, hoc studiorum dissidium tua prudentia componere.
Id fiet si suam quisque professionem ornet citra contumeliam
alienae.
Henricus ab Eppendorff, rara indole iuuenis, reddidit mihi massam 50
argenti rudem e tuis metallis effossam, quae mihi non minus fuit
grata quam si mihi talentum Atticum auri misisses quanquam mihi :

nihil non erat preciosissimum futurum quod a tali Principe venisset.

Enitar ne penes hominem ingratum hoc beneficii collocasse videaris.
Celsitudinem tuam quam diutissime florentem nobis ac bonis studiis 55
seruet Christus Opt. max.
Louanii. Pridie Calend. Augusti. Anno m.d.xx.

"^•^126. To Hermann Busch.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 483. Louvain.

HN : Lond. xii. 15 : LB. 516. 31 July 1520.

ERASMVS ROT. HERMANNO BVSCHIO S. D.

MiSEKET me tui, doctissime Buschi, qui bonashoras inLei meisque

nugis male contriueris. Inter tot futiles libellos quos nobis euomunt
typographorum officinae, dispeream si quicquam adhuc prodiit indo-
ctius aut etiam stolidius, denique virulentius. Rident hominem cum
suo glorioso diuque iactato libello docti omnes ; execratur optimus 5
quisque etiam apud Anglos nec ipsis germanis, quos habet eleganter
;

eruditos, probatur. Displicet etiam his quorum gratia hanc agit

fabulam. Exsibilatur ab vniuerso theatro et tamen homo sibi ;

pertinacissime placet, vnus sibi plaudit, imo putat aleam pulchre

cecidisse, quod cum Erasmo sit congressus, quod doctis ac bonis viris 10
stomachum mouerit, quod subito innotuit orbi. Habet Abbatera

1125.39. eos add. II. 50. ab Eppendorff P: Epphondorpius i/. 52. niihi
om. H. 1126. 6. quos .V Lond. : quod FN^.

1125.52. talentum Atticum] See Ep. i3on.

II 19. 4. II. AVjbatemj See Epp. 1061. 150,
112C. 6. germanis] Cf. Ep. 1053. isznn, 1074. 6oa.
 310 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

vnum egregie stolidum, liabet Standicium multis titulis insignem,

primum Minoritam, deinde theologum, postremo episcopum horum ;

duorum suffragio conteiitus est. Abbatis nomen adiiuc silebitur.

15 Porro Standiciani ingenii gustum tibi dabo. Non cupit, opinor, ipse
celari quod publice magna hominum celebritate designauit.
Concionabatur in cemiterio diui Pauli Londini. Cumque sermonem
exorsus esset a charitate, subito pudoris omnis simul et charitatis
oblitus, coepit debacchari in nomen ac famam meam testatus ;

20 imminere Christianae religionis -xavoXSpLav, nisi nouae translationes

omnes subito de medio tollerentur. Negauit reni diutius ferri posse,
posteaquain Erasmus ausus esset corrumpere Euangelium diui
loannis qui, cum Ecclesia tot annis legisset *In principio erat
:

verbum ', nunc nouam lectionem induceret, In principio erat sermo '. '

25 Hic existimabat sibi datum esse telum quod nullo pacto mihi liceret
effugere. Addebat Augustinum alicubi magis probare vocem verbi '

quam 'rationis', et rationes adducere cur ita sentiat: 'verum eas'

inquit rationes Graeculus iste non intelligit '.
'

In hanc sententiam cum multa stolida et aTrpocrhiovvcra deblaterasset,

30 coepit homo facundus mouere affectus, deplorare sortem suam, se,
cum esset tot annorum doctor, et hactenus semper legisset In '

principio erat verbum nunc liuc redigi, vt cogatur legere In

',
'

principio erat sermo suspicans fore vt hac tam flebili querimonia

'
;

lachrymas excuteret populo. Mox magnis obtestationibus obsecrauit

35 vrbis Praefectum —
nam is ex more aderat magistratus omneis et — ,

vniuersam ciuium multitudinem, adessent in tanto discrimine

religioni Christianae. Credebat se diuinitus dicere, et tamen nulli
placuit. Quotquot aderant vel mediocriter eruditi, demirabantur
hominis stulticiam e vulgo quibus erat ingenium festiuius, ridebant
;

40 illius nugas, nihil ad thema propositum pertinentes qui natura ;

erant seueriores, indignabantur quod talibus blateramentis impleret

aures plebis, multo aliud expectantes.
Euenit vt eodem, opinor, die pranderet in aula regia. Id simul
—
atque senserunt dvio quidam quorum alter coelebs est, et sic lingua-
45 rum trium ac veteris doctrinae gnarus, vt in Scoticis argutiis nemini
cedat eorum qui nihil aliud didicerunt aut tractant in omni vita ;
alter coniugatus est, sed ingenio coelesti, aulicus vterque
accumbunt iu eadem mensa, haud
protinus — ,

satis commodi commessatores

Standicio. Nomina silebuntur ad tempus. Continuo ne quid tem-
50 poris periret, sic ingressus est alter :
'
Mihi periucundum est quod tua

29. miilta F Corrig. : multo F,

12. stolidiuu] Cf. Ep. II 13. 711. London in tlio year beginning 9 Nov.
Standicium] See Ep. 608. i^n. —
1518 in which tliis episode may
17. Concionabatur] This episode is
also related in the Apol. cle In principio
'
probably be placed (cf. 1. r^n) , was
Sir James Yarford.
—
emt sermo ', Feb. 1520 (p. 194). It 44. coelebs] Probably Stokesley,
must be dated betwoen the arrival in Hcnry vni's chaplain and almoner,
England of thc New Testament of who is described in similar language
March 1519, in which the change to in Ep. 855. 43-5.
sermo was made, and tlie publication 47. coniugatus] Thc deseriptions
of tho Apologia. given here and in 11. 106-7 agree well
26. Augustiiium] rrm. 15. 16: whero with More, who was now at Court
tho word is cogitatio, not ratio. cf. Ep. 999. 217-18.
35. Pracfoctum] The lord mayor of 50. alter] More ; cf. 1. 72.
1126] TO HERMANN BUSCH 311

pietas coepit operam dare legendis Erasmi commentariis nimirum ' ;

captans hominem, qui si negasset se legisse, statim obiecisset, Cur '

igitur publice damnas quod non legeris ? Id praesentiens Standicius '

'
Fortassis '
: inquit, '
tantum legi quantum mihi in animo est legere '.

Tum alter '

Non
inquit quin legeris. Nam hodie nomina- 55
dubito ' '

tim etiam locum quendam taxasti in Annotationibus illius in

loannem'. Ille rursus ambigue respondit, subindicans tamen se
legisse. Euge,' inquit, 'aueo scire quibus argumentis aut quibus
'

autoribus nitatur Erasmus. Nec enim dubium est quin huiusmodi

rebus fretus sit ausus mutare locum '. Hic cum ille teneretur 60
medius, sic ekisit impudens. Nihil moror inquit illius autores '
' '

aut rationes. Mihi satis est quod scripsit Augustinus, Dei Filium
aptius explicari per verbum quam per rationem, cum Aoyos vtrunque
significet Graecis Assentior inquit alter de ratione sed quid
'. ' '
'
;

istud ad sermonem? Nec enim Erasmus vertit "In principio erat 65

ratio", sed " In principio erat sermo"'. Tum ille Eadem inquit ' '

est vis sermonis et rationis

' * Imo longe diuersa ratio est ', inquit '.

alter, et tu parum pudenter facis qui nec lecto loco nec intellecta
'

re sic debaccharis publicitus in famam viri de studiis benemeriti'.

Hic deieratStandicius, quicquid dixisset, bono zelo dixisse se verum 70 ;

non meminisse vbi Dei Filius in sacris literis dictus esset sermo.
Mox alter At ego inquit, qui nec theologus sum nec sacerdos,
'
' '

tibiredigam in memoriam, proferens illud, "Omnipotens sermo tuus,

Domine ", &c.' Fassus est homo legi omnipotens sermo ', sed non '

legi 'In principio erat sermo'. Risit omne conuiuium hominis 75

acumen. «
Post haec deflexit sermonem ad argutiam sophisticam, in qua
statim ab altero exceptus est, qui Standicium non minus superat hoc
doctrinae genere quam ille bonis literis est inferior. Ab hoc quoque
cum esset deiectus in sua ipsius harena, vide quo deflexerit Si tibi' :
' 80
inquit tantum est animi, age, conscendito suggestum et aduersum
'

me concionator '. Tum ille '

Non sum '
inquit '
tani stultus vt haec
apud stuhas muliercuhis et indoctam plebeculam velim effutire.
Quod si mihi videretur, non dubitarem publicitus docere, quod hodie
concionatus es tu, semihaereticum esse. Hanc vocem cum abomina- 85
retur Standicius, alter pergens, Quod summus' inquit Pontifex bis ' '

approbauit suo diplomate, id palam haereseos insimulare, vtrum hoc

'
haeresim sapit an non ?
Cum ad hunc modum acceptus esset homo, tamen neque puduit
neque resipuit. Verum aliquanto post apud Regem vnice cordatum, 90
apud Reginam foeminam iuxta prudentem ac piam, astante frequenti
corona doctorum ac nobilium virorum, religiose proeubuit in genua.
Expectabatur aliquid magni a monacho, a tot annorum theologo, ab
episcopo, denique a sene. Ibi vernacula suae gentis lingua, qua

61. ille posnnquit f' : om. FCorrig. 68. prudenter i/. 87. H : aprobauit F.

57. loanncm] i. i. 90. apud Regem] This incident is

62. Augustinus] Cf. 1. 26n. narrated less fully in tho Apol. de loco
73. Omnipotens] Wisd. 18. 5. ^O/nnes quidem resurgemus'' (cf. 1. 12911),
78. altero] Stokesley. inEp. 1162. 150 seq., and in Loud. xix.
87. diplomate] See Epp. 338. 25 nn, 91, xxii. 31 LB. 746 (866F-7A), 979
;

864. (1108E-9A).
 312 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

95 nonnihil valet, collaudatisRegis ac Reginae maioribus quod semper

Ecclesiam catholicam aduersus haereticos ac schismaticos religiose
defendissent, hortatus, imo per omnia sacra obtestatus est eos, vt
pergerent suorum progenitorum esse similes adesse tempora longe :

periculosissima, prodisse nouos Erasmi libros, quibus ni fortiter

100 obsisteretur, deploratam esse Christi religionem. Hic sublatis in
coelum et manibus et oculis, coepit obsecrare Christum, dignaretur
ipse suae sponsae opitulari, si nemo mortalium succurreret.
Haec atque huiusmodi cum mira religionis specie dixisset, et forte
astarent vtrique a quibus ante sic fuerat acceptus in conuiuio,
105 hunc ad moduni ingressus est prophanus ille. Collaudauit r. patris
tam piam ac religiosam orationem, et faceta imitatione nonnihil
etiam de gestu Standiciano referens, precatus est Deum optimum
maximum vt quemadmodum loqueretur, ita et sentiret, nec animus
ab oratione dissideret. Sed vereor inquit ne si res attentius
'
'
'

iio excutiatur, comperiamus ilkim longe aliud agere quam prae se ferat
oratio Simulque iussit vt posteaquam iniecisset eam solicitudinem
'.

animis tantorum principum, simul etiam indicaret quaenam essent in

Erasmi libris, vnde metueret exitiales haereses et perniciosa schismata.
Hic protinus homo confidens pollicitus est id se facturum. Et rem
115 in digitos porrectos dispartiens, ' Primum inquit
' Erasmus tollit '

resurrectionem. Deinde nihili facit sacramentum matrimonii. Post-

remo male sentit de Eucharistia '.

Haec oratio cum prima specie nonnihil commouisset animos

religiosissimorum principum, patronus ille meus ampliter collaudauit
120 Standicium, quod distincte simul ac dilucide rem ocuHs subiecisset
nunc nihil aliud restare quam vt probaret ea quae belle proposuerat.
Ille nihil etiam contatus, hoc quoque se praestaturum esse confirmauit.
Et exorsus a pollice, Primum inquit, quod tollat resurrectionem,
'
'
'

probo sic Paulus in Epistola ad Colossenses (nam adeo versatus est

: '

125 senex theologus in Paulo, vt quod habetur in Epistoha ad Corinthios

priore, somniaret esse in Epistohx ad Colossenses) scribit hunc in '

modum, " Omnes quidem resurgemus, sed non omnes immutabimur "
sed Erasmus hanc ecclesiasticam lectionem sustulit, et e suis Graecis
legit hunc in modum, ''Omnes quidem non dormiemus, sed omnes
130 immutabimur ". Palam est igitur ab illo tolli resurrectionem '.

Quis crederet huic homini esse cerebrum ? In Annotationibus

recenseo diuersam lectionem, nec vllam reiicio, quum autorum pro-
batissimorum aliam alii sequantur, iidem nonnunquam diuersas. In
contextu id verto quod solum reperiebam in libris Graecorum. lam
135 cum resurrectio tot locis apud Paulum comprobetur, quid insanius
dici poterat quam sublatam esse resurrectionem, si vno in loco mutata

126. H: Collossenses F.

95. nonnihil valet] An indication lation from the Greek in the notes
that Erasnms was not blind to the of both 1516 and 1519: in both texts
possibilities of the rising national he has, with slight difference, *Non
literatures of his own day : cf. Ep. omnes quidem dormiemus, omnes
1211.278^. tamen iramutabimur He subse-'.

104. vtrique] Cf. 11. 44, 47nn. quently wrote an Apologia on the sub-
125. Corinthios] 15. 51. ject ; iirst printed in the Apologiae
129. Omnes] This is Erasmus' trans- omnes, Basle, Froben, Fcb. 1522.
1126] TO HERMANN BUSCH 313

fuerit vox resurrectionis ? Nani symbolum fidei Christianae dum

profitetur resurrectionem mortuorum, num ideo cogit omnes mori, vt
resurgant ? Quasi vero lex pontificia dum iubet deponere officium,
cui contigit episcopatus, illud senserit ; Cuicunque contigerit episco- 140
'

patus Romae, ei si non habeat, parandum esse officium quod possit

deponere '.

Verum vbi patronus ille meus, re tota dilucide explanata, sic

hominis stoliditatem oculis omnium subiecisset vt idiotis quoque et
mulierculis esset perspicuum nihil esse peccatum a nobis, nec ipse 145
theologus, quamuis efi^rons, haberet quod contra hisceret tamen ;

quoniam iuxta Luciani praeceptum arbitrabatur alcrxpov o-iojTrav, ne

tacitus omnino porrigeret herljam, fassus est esse verum, et hanc
lectionem recenseri a veteribus orthodoxis, et nominatim ab
Hieronymo sed hoc inquit 'Hieronymus reposuit ex Hebraeo'.
:
* '
150
Audierat vir egregius Hieronymum quaedam ex Hebraeorum fontibus
restituisse in Vetere Testamento, et putabat idem habere locum in
Paulinis Epistolis.
Eam vocem Standicii non passus est perire coelebs ille theologus,
cuius supra memini. Sed flexis nonnihil genibus ac praefatus 155
honorem, idque praeter morem suum, 'Quaeso, reuerende Pater'
inquit, ne grauere repetere nobis quod modo dicebas.
' Nam eram
parum attentus Ille stolidam vocem clarius etiam ac pluribus ver-
'.

bis deprompsit, laudem opimam ex eo dicto sibi pollicens. Hic alter,

quo redderet omnes magis attentos, Haud leue inquit proposuit '
'
' 160
argumentum R. P. Sed tamen conarer nonnihil respondere, si
modo regiae maiestati non esset molestum audire Mox Regina '.

vellicans Regem iussit auscultare. Tum ille sic vultu composito vt

cogitabundus et nonnihil pei-plexus videretur, Profecto inquit, non '
'
'

eatis video quibus rationibus isti argumento possit occurri, aut quid 165
responderi debeat pro ipsius dignitate. Neque enim opinor R. P.
vsqueadeo delirare vt existimet eas epistolas primum Hebraice
scriptas fuisse, cum pueri quoque sciant a Paulo Graece scriptas esse.
Quod autem fuisset illud Hieronymi consilium ex Hebraeis volumini-
bus mutantis publicam lectionem, cum ex fontibus id fieri soleat, 170
'
cumque nemo testetur has epistolas vlli visas Hebraice descrij^tas ?
Atque eam rem satis per se stultam atque absurdam sic iterauit, sic
impressit, sic infixit, sic inculcauit, vt Rex pro sua nobili humanitate,
misertus tantae stoliditatis apud tales viros proditae, sic hominis
pudori succurreret vt alio versus diuersum sermonem iniecerit. Sic 175
triumphauit Standicius in primo capite. De reliquis nuHa mentio.
Dic mihi per Musas, optime Buschi, an putas vUum facinus esse
quod isti non sint ausuri, cum non vereantur perfricta fronte sic

157. grauare 2V. 167. H: Hebraicae f". 168. H i Graecae f'. 17^.
H : Hebraicae F.

147. Luciani] Cf. Adwj. 1604, citing OHS. xx, 1891, p. 273) remarks of
Cic. Att. 6. 8 and de Orat. 3. 35. 141 : Standish His bequest of £5 to buy
:
'

from which the words have been as- books for the Oxford Franciscans, and
cribed to Eur. Philoct., fr. 8. Lucian, liis appointment of two executors to
Rhet. praec, 18-20, givea the sense but distributehisown library, should make
not the words. us hesitatt! to accept unreservedly the
151. vir egregius] In this connexion charge of gross ignorance which
A. G. Little {The Greij Friars in Oxford, Erasmus brings against him '.
 314 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

calumniari de nihilo, idque apud sunimos principes, apud quos omnis

180 obtrectatio debebat esse capitalis, tum in corona non vulgariter
eruditorum hominum ? Quisquis enim audiebat sublatam a me
resurrectionem, imaginabatur a me negari quod ego tot locis testor
basim et caput esse nostrae fidei. Nec enim vlla in re diligentius
versor quam in asserenda corporum resurrectione. Non deerat
185 homini nocendi voluntas, sed iudicium non erat. Haec tria tela sibi
stulte delegerat, vt si persuasisset me male sentire de Eucharistia,
clerum vniuersum in me concitaret si de matrimonio, maritos et
:

vxores, imo totum laicorum ordinem, ad lapides animaret si de :

resurrectione, principes ac populos omnes Christiani nominis in meum

190 exitium armaret. At de resurrectione quod calumniabatur, res ipsa
loquitur non modo vanum esse verumetiam insanum. Porro matri-
monio adeo non detraho, vt apud Louanienses in publica schola
theologorum satis odiose notatus sim, quod in declamatiuncula qua-
dam generis suasorii plus satis tribuerim matrimonio. Nam quod
195 alicubi disputo an diuortio possit succurri male coherentibus infelici
coniugio, nihil facit contra matrimonii dignitatem. De Evicharistia
nunquam, ita me Deus amet, quiui diuinare quid sibi voluerit
Standicius, cum mihi nulla vnquam cogitatio venerit in mentem,
nisi digna sacrosancto illo mysterio, tantum abest vt quicquam secus
200 dixerim aut scripserim. Atque haec audet sacerdos in sacerdotem,
theologus in theologum, senex in senem, praeterea professor apo-
stolicae vitae, postremo reuerendus in Christo pater.
Caesareae leges ita statuunt, vt calumniator qui falso crimen
intendit, iisdem poenis obnoxius sit quas daturus erat delatus, si
205 commeruisset. Hic tria crimina simul intendit, vfc atrocissima ita
falsissima, idque apud eos principes apud quos etiam de rebus com-
pertis religiose loquendum esset. Ex quo facile est coniicere qualia
sint quae apud suos sodales in compotationibus de]>laterant. Si quis
Aiacem imitatus in porcos conuiciis ac telis seuiat, hunc Agamemno-
210 nem appellans, illum Vlyssem aut Menelaum, nemo post haberet
fidem homini qui tam luculenter insanisset semel. At hic qui tot ac
talibus viris testibus sic insanierit, quasi re bene gesta, plaudit etiam
sibi, magnaque autoritate de causis fidei pronunciat. Quid autem refert
vtrum a morbo corporis an ab animi vicio proficiscatur insania ? hoc
215 est ab humoribus viciantibus oi-gana animi, an ab odio, stoliditate,
superbia, inuidia caeterisque malis viciantibus animi iudicium. Efc
tales fere comperimus omnes istos qui bonas literas impugnant, nuno
Capnionem, nunc Lutherum, nunc Romanum Pontificem, nunc alia
atque alia praetexentes nomina, sed eandem agentes fabulam licet
220 variatis personis ac scenis, non solum indoctos verumetiam dementes.
In Standiciana fabula ne syllabam quidem affinxi, quaedam etiam
prudens reticui. Et huius generis sexcentas possem referre. Sed
vnam addam in praesentia, quae nonnihil ad hanc rem facit. Nomen
interim tacebitur, etiam si ille monitus a me vt desisteret in meum

208. deblaterant HLotid. : cleblaterut FN^ : ? deblatorat an deblaterarit.

192. apud Louanionses] Sco EiJ. 670 rum hostes. But cf. critical note.
introd. 223. Nomen] Ep. 1196 makes it easy
195. alicubi] Cf. Ep. 1006. r^rn. to identify this person with Vincent
208. deblaterantj sc. bonarum litera- Theodoi-ici.
1126] TO HERMANN BUSCH 315

nomen deblaterare, perrexerit sui similis esse. Tacebitur et ordo ; 225

est enim ex hoe genere quod vulgo dicunt mendicantium. Nam
video totum ordinem commoueri, si quis Carmelitam aut Praedi-
catorem attingat haud etiam scio stultiusne an iniquius. Nam
;

qui minus totus sacerdotum ordo commoueatnr, si quis narret se

laesum a sacerdote, suppresso etiam nomine ? Atque in hunc ordi- 230
nem quotidie seditiosissime declamant apud populum, et suos
isti
ordines non patiuntur nominari sine honoris praefatione, vt, si
querar mihi pecuniam furto sublatam a Carmelita, totus ordo mecum
agat iniuriarum. Atque haec faciunt quidam, etiam si quis verum
dicat, imo veri partem aliquam, nec omnia referens quae nouit, et 235
nomini interim ciuiliter parcens.
Sed vt ad rem redeam Cum apud hunc theologum ac religionis
:

professorem (ipse tacitus agnoscet me nihil mentiri) narrassem me

maiorem in modum admirari quid Standicio venisset in mentem, cum
me de Eucharistia calumniaretur, cum nihil esset in libris meis vnde 240
posset ansa prehendi calumniae, pollicitus est se locum indicaturum.
Qua quidem ex re protinus intellexi negocium hoc inter istos ex com-
posito geri. Ego vicissim pollicitus sum, id quod praestiti, me
demonstraturum locum non intellectum, si ille lectum ostendisset.
Perlegit ille curriculo, sic vt sibi duntaxat legeret. Ac mox librum 245
occlusum semouit, veluti iam constaret me scripsisse, non esse
definiendum in synaxi esse verum Christi corpus. Coepit niecum
argumentari, testans sese nescio quid libelli etiam super hac re con-
scripsisse. vnde speraret opimam gloriam. Negaui me aduersus
inanem aerem agere velle pugilem, nisi prius docuissem illi locum 250
non intellectum. lurauit sic esse vt aiebat. At tanto minus ego
credebam, maxime cum iam argumentis certissimis hominis insignem
stoliditatem comperissem.
Eorum vnum atque alterum recensere fortasse non ab re fuerit.
Multis coniecturis suspicor huie a sui ordinis sodalibus datum nego- 255
cium vt ex omnibus meis libris enotaret quae possent arrodi. Id
saedulo conatus est homo prorsus ignarus Latini sermonis, et in
literis theologicis sane quam tenuiter eruditus, iudicio nullo, arro-
gantia magna, ingenio tali vt, ni cuculla commendaretur, etiam
vulgo pro morione posset haberi, toto vultu naturae stoliditatem 260
clamitante. Quodam igitur in loco cum excusans Thomae lapsum,
adiecissem virum indignum esse qui in ea incidisset tempora, signifi-

227. Praedicatorem J": dominicanum //. 233. II: quaerar F.

248. libelli] It was never printed, on Rom. i. and cf. Epp. 1171. 73-6,
4 ;

and does not seem to exist. It is not to 1196. 194-8.ForDominicanjealousyfor

be confused with the book mentioned Aquinas' honoursee Vinc. Theodorici'3
inEpp. 1582, i6o8. preface to Petrus de Pahxde (Ep. 1196
255. negocium] Cf. Ep. 1053. 34n. introd.), 'Quid diui Tho(mae) do-
262. indignum] Erasmus is so free in ctrina in vori iudicio sanius, gratius
quotation tliat he is perhaps referring sublimiusue deprehendi potest? Gau-
here to his note (1519) on r Cor. 13. 4, deant alii suis honorum titulis, nos
which speaks of Aquinas as 'vir in- sancti Tho(mae) solida, inconcussa,
dignus qui ex tam indoctis autoribus equabili atque sincera gloriemur veri-
huiusmodinaeniassacris commentariis tate'; and cf. Epp. 858. 89-90, 1033.
admisceret Sec also his note (1516)
'. 222-3, n^o- 14,1183. 121, 1196. 151-201.
 316 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1520

eans videlicet atque etiam exprimens Thomam dignum fuisse feliciori

saeculo, cum ipsi nec ingenium nec industria defuisset noster theo- ;

265 logus grauissime de me questus est, clamitans blasphemiam non

ferendam, qui Thomam tantum ac tam sanctum virum appellassem
indignum. Opinor, si ipsum dixissem virum pistrino dignum, sibi
laudi vertisset, quod virum dignum appellassem. Nec erat queri-
moniarum finis, donec incideret in theologum quendam qui, cum
2 70 Latine sciret, suspicatus id quod erat res, postularet sibi demonstrari
locum, ac tandem ostenso loco risit affatim. Eaque res pene in vulgi
fabulam exiit, et adagionem.
Sed mecum coram expostulauit serio, quod alicubi viderer agnoscere
libellos famosos. Id cum mihi videretur absurdum, qui sic abhor-
275 ream ab hoc genere vt nemo magis, et flagitarem quonam argumento
id diceret, protulit locum ex epistola ni fallor ad Thomam LujDsetum
mea, in qua scripsi quod libellum famosum aliquoties excuset
necessitas. Existimabat me defendere libellum famosum praetextu
neeessitatis, sed tamen pro sua ciuilitate fassus est hoc aliquo praetextu
2S0 defendi posse, quod addiderim aliquando At non intellexit stolidus
' '.

ille censor me illie exaggerandae rei gratia conferre detractionem quo-

rundam, qui priuatim et publice mendaciis etiam incessant famam
alienam, cum libellis famosis veluti cum facinore atrocissimo et plus-
quam capitali et ex circunstantiis demonstro illorum oblatrationem
:

285 aliqua ex parte minus mereri veniam quam libellum famosum, quod
hune aliquando excuset necessitas veluti eum monendus aut territan-
;

dus est tyrannus, quem monere coram non sit tutum, cum tamen id
sit e republiea. Sed isti cum tuto possent admonere, tamen nec
nionito nec audito me, famam incessant mendaciis. Itaque non illie
290 magis faueo libellis famosis quam faueret homicidio qui stuprum
cum homicidio conferret, et ita eonferret vt diceret hac parte grauius
esse cede, quod homicidium non lederet nisi vnam hominis partem,
eamque deteriorem, stuprum et animum et corpus conspurearet.
Mox iDollicitus est sese loeum indicaturum in quo pronunciarem
295 Virginem matrem coneeptam absque peccato originali. Rursum
promisi me deelaraturum locum non intellectum, si ille lectum
ostendisset. Et indicat loeum, in quo cum adduxissem vnum atque
alterum testimonium ex Chrysostomo et Augustino, in quibus vide-
rentur aliquo modo peccatum actus tribuere Virgini, his verbis
300 claudo sermonem, 'Et nos facimus eam immunem proi'Sus ab omni
peccato Hoc illi visum est pronunciatorie dictum, cum intulerim
'.

nos non reete liberare eam ab originis peccato, si tanti viri recte
tribuunt illi peccatum actionis. Atque hic errorem suum lubens
agnouit, videlicet dissentiens a Scoti sequacibus.
305 Post haec ventum est ad locum longe jiei-iculosissimum ; is est

265. H: quaestus i*'. 272. et FCorrig.: vt F. 283. et om. H.

276. opistolal Ep. 1053. verbally accunite. Cf. Ep, 1196. 51-7 ;
280. aliquaudu] A
loose quotatiou : and, for tlie Dominican iDosition, see
really nonnunquam '.
' See Ep. Ep. 1173. 129^.
1053. 447. 305. locum] An addition to the note
294. locum] The note (1519)0^ Matt. on i Cor. 11.24, Hoc est corpus meum
'
'

12. 47. The quotation here is not made in the edition of 1519.
1126] TO HEEMANN BUSCH 317

epistolae acl Corinthios prioris capite vndecimo. Vix tandem extudi

vt mihi liceret videre locum, Ostendit, sed marginem manu praete-
gens. Ea depulsa scriptum repperi Vide quam perniciose scribit
:
'

hic de re de qua toties pronunciauit Ecclesia '. Vide inquam, ' '

'
quam tu stulte scribis ista in locum non intellectura '. Multaque 310
cum admiratione sciscitari coepi quid illum offenderet. Prima pars
habebat, Thomam opinionem eorum qui negabant sub Eucharistia esse
verum Christi corpus, haereticam appellare : caeterum eorum senten-
tiam qui negabant Christum his verbis consecrasse Hoc est corpus '

meum', refellere quidem, at non appellare haereticam. Rogabam 315

nunquid hac in parte displiceret negabat. Sequitur autem In
;
'

omnibus accedendum est iudicio Ecclesiae, licet hic sermo videatur

non consecrantis, sed panem iam consecratum porrigentis '. Rogabam
ecquid hic improbaret negabat. Sequitur Mihi in totum videtur
;
'

consultius de rebus huiusmodi, quae certis Scripturae sacrae testi- 320

moniis doceri non possunt, sed ab hvmianis pendent eoniecturis, non
adeo fortiter asseuerare vt nostram opinionem oraculi vice haberi
velimus '. Eogabam nunquid hic reprehenderet haerebat. Vrgenti ;

tandem respondit venenum subesse in his verbis, in totum '. Demi- '

ratus causam, vix tandem percontando exsculpsi illum non intellexisse 325
quid Latinis sonet in totum '. Cum enim ego sensissem abstinen-
'

dum esse a temeraria asseueratione, non solum in hac materia

verumetiam in omnibus caeteris, ille somniabat in totum ' significare '

'
in vtraque parte quae praecesserat ', meque suggillare sententiam
Ecclesiae, quae definisset in Eucharistia verum esse corpus Christi. 330
Ego videns insignem hominis stoliditatem, admonui literas vt
disceret, nec pergeret taxare libros a quorum intellectu procul
abesset.
Huius generis fere sunt qui oblatrant melioribus studiis, qui quic-
quid ipsi non didicerunt, poetriam appellant. Insignis naturae
" '
335
stupor, magna literarum inscitia, iudicium nullum quod si qua ;

scintilla sit ingenii, si quid eruditionis, sic liuore odioque sunt obcae-
cati, vt minus videant quam talpae. Et hi sunt reuerendi rabini,
*sal ten-ae lux mundi ', quorum arbitrio sumus Christiani aut
',
*

secus qui nobis post Apostolos, nouos dictant articulos fidei, qui sic 340
:

nobis pi'onunciant oracula, veluti dii, nec dignantur nobis homunculis

reddere suae opinionis rationem. Sat habent dixisse Error est ', '

'
Suspectum est ', Haeresis est '
Et haec audent freti coniuratis suis
'.

phalangibus, freti populi stulticia, freti temporibus his, in quibus

adeo licet audacia pro sapientia vti vt non alias magis, freti corruptis 345
animis vtriusque ditionis principum, quorum magna pars quoniam ad
tyrannidera spectat, blanda mauult audire quam salubria ; mauult
suis affectibus accommoda quam recta consilia. His praesidiis
regnat istorum stoliditas ; atque vtinam in literarum exitium tantum !

Si succedit istis suus conatus, actura fuerit de doctrina Euangelica : 35°

308. reperi jy. 315. H: haereticum J". 324. in his H : in/in his .F.

338. vt F
Corrig. : ne F. 339. aut secus add. H. /

308. seriptum] Evidently in manu- tions are not quite verbally accurate.
script, in Vincenfs own copy of tho The second was removed in the Annot.
Annot. 1519 cf. Ep. 1196. 76-8.
; 1527.
316,319. Sequitur] These two quota- 335. poetriam] Cf. Ep. iiio. 15.
 318 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

populus Christianus seruiet istorum libidini quibus neque frons est

neque niens.
Ab hospite tuo non minus claro quam humano libens accipio salu-
tem, non vt summus Pontifex, quemadmodum tu ludis, sed vt
355 infortunatus homuncio, verum qui prodesse Christianis studiis velit
magis quam possit. Nesenus taedio stolidissimarum tragoediarum,
quas hic quidam agunt sine fine, ad vos se recepit. Dorpius optimis
studiis semet oblectat. Idem nos agimus, quod quidem licet. Bene
vale, doctissime Buschi.
360 Louanii pridie calend. August. Anno m.d.xx.

1127. To Louis Platz.

Leipzig MS. (a). Louvaiu.
F. p. 494 : HN : Lond. xii. 23 : LB. 325. 31 July (1520).

[An original letter in the Burscher collection belonging to the Leipzig Uni-
versity Library writt.en by a secretary (a^), but with the heading, part of the
:

subscription, and one insertion by Erasmus (a^). The verso is blank and the
address-slieet missing. In the Town Library at Zurich (MS. F. 52. 122,3) are
copies of this and Ep. 1278, made by Seb. Ramspek (fl. 1665-76). Variants show
that they were derived from the Leipzig originals, and not from the prinled texts.
The person addressed, and therewith the year-date of this letter, are shown
by an entry in tlie Erfurt matriculation register against the name of the Rector
from May to Oct. 1520, Louis Phitz : of whom, after opening with IL 6-9 of
this letter, the writer proceeds to say, ' delectus est in Erfurdieiisis Academie
presidem et inclyte familie litterarie moderatorem, prius id ipsum factis strenue
et pro virili moliens quam ad debita sue functionis regimina a magno Erasmo
Roterodamo, in epistola quapiam inter laboriosas sui muneris ciiras ad illum
scripta, adhortaretur, atque propensissimain animi sui vohxntatem erga nobilis-
sime huius vrbis scholas publicas in eadem epistola attestaretur '.
Louis Platz (+ 1547) of Melsungen, 10 ms. s. of Cassel, matricuhited at Erfurt
in 1497-8, and was M. A. there in 1504. Subsequently he ivas licentiate in theology,
rector, and member of the Great College and in 1530 and 1533 he was Dean of
;

the Philosophical Faculty. He held the livingof Walschleben, nearErfurt; but

c. I Feb. 1536, being 'pene septuagenarius', he married (cf. EHE. p. 142). With
Eobanus (Ep. 8741, who dedicated to him an Easter hymn in 1515, he was on
terms of intimate friendship ; of whieh there are indications in EHE. pp. 231,
155, 230, 185, 175. See C. Krause's Eobanus, 1879.
For Erasmus' ties with many other members of Erfurt University during these
years, before their adhesion to Lutlier, see Epjj. 870-6 ; and, for a volume of
verses recently printed there in his defence, Ep. 998. 66n. An extract from its
preface, i May 1520, expressing unbounded admiration there for Erasmus, is
printed by F. W. Kampschulte, Vniv. Erfurt, 1858, i. 255^. : ' Cum jjublicum
totius aetatis dedecus interpreter, esse quibus displicoat Erasmus, esse qui
mordere audeant tot modis pietati iuxta ac optimis studiis vtilem, vt si omnium
qui annos abhinc sexnginta vixerunt labores conferas, aequilibrium non sint
facturi '.]

MAGNIFICO D. N., RECTORI INCLYTE SCHOLE ERPHYRDEN.,

ERAS. ROT. S. D.

ViR eximie, non possum non amare te, quod, vt ex Dracone iuuene
minime vano cognoui, doctissimus ipse studiis melioribus impense
1127. TiT. add. a^ (magnifico d. n. om. E. erphvrdiensis F).

1126. 356. Ne.senus] See pp. 154-5. o^ ^PP- 9n> nSS) and Ep. 964, 28.
1127. TiT. N.] The common abbrevia- i. Dracone] See Ep. 871, and cf.

tion for a name unknown ; cf. the titles Ei). 1 1 24. 4, 24.
1127] TO LOUIS PLATZ 319

faueas ; atque horum accessione Erphurdiensem Academiam, cui tu

felicibus praesides auspiciis, exornandam expoliendamque cures. Illa
tuae prudentiae laus est peculiaris, quod hoc absque tumultu facis, 5
quem alibi videmus quorundam imprudentia. Bonae litterae
excitari
sic debent irrepere in Academias, non vt hostes omnia depopulaturi
videantur, sed hospites potius paulatim in ciuilem consuetudinem
coalituri. Mihi nunquam placuit tumultus, et aut ego parum
perspicio, aut plus efficitur moderatis consiliis quam viribus impo- 10
tentibus. Ac bonorum virorum esse reor sic velle prodesse vt quam
paucissimis noceatur, atque adeo nullis, si modo liceat. Eo vanitatis
processerat frigida illa disputatrix theologia vt necesse fuerit ad
fontes reuocare. Sed tamen illam quoque corrigi malim quam
explodi, aut certe tolerari donec potior aliqua theologiae ratio fuerit 15
parata. Multa preclare monuit Lutherus, sed vtinam ciuilius admo-
nuisset Plures haberet et fautores et propugnatores, et vberiorem
!

messem demeteret Christo. Et tamen impium sit illum in his quae

recte dixit prorsus indefensum relinquere ne posthac nemo sit qui
:

verum ausit proloqui. Non est nec huius conditionis nec huius 20
ingenii de illius doctrina pronunciare. Hactenus certe profuit
mundo. Nonnulli sunt adacti ad euoluendos veterum theologorum
libros, alii quo sibi consulerent, alii quo Luthero negocium faces-
serent.
Draconem tibi commendarem, nisi iis esset moribus, ea ingenii 25
suauitate puritateque, vt non possit non esse optimo cuique gratissi-
mus. Scimus quam nihil possumus. Tamen si quid erit in quo
queam isti Academiae vel vsui esse vel ornamento, sic agam vt
intelligas mihi quiduis defuisse potius quam j)ropensam animi
voluntatem. Bene vale. Louanii prid. Cal. Augusti [m.d.xviii] 30
Erasmus Koterodamus
meapte manu subscripsi.

U28. To JOHN Lang.

Wilhelmshafen MS. Louvain.
Horawitz i. 23. 2 August <i52o>.
[The manuscript is autograph throughout, and has been reproduced in facsimile
twice in a coilection of specimens of handwriting, Die Mdnner der Reformation,
;

Leipzig, 1860. and from there in Prof. Emerton's Erasmus, 1899,

P- 342- When
Horawitz produced his first Erasmiana in 1878, it was in the possession of Prof.
Hohne of Dresden but the writmg had been somewhat improved ', perhaps on
;
'

account of fiding ink, and Louanii (1. 14) had been changed into Lugduni. In
June 1908 Frau Prof. Hohne was kind enough to have a tracing of it made for me
by the skilful hand of Prof. 0. A. Rollfuss of Dresden In Jan. 191 1 she in-
formed my
friend, Sir Aurel Stein, that she had committed the manuscript to
the care of Capt. Meurer of the German Navy, Adalbertstr. 4, Wilhelmshafen.

17. et vberiorem messem demeteret Christo add. F. 18. in liis quae recte
dixit add. aK 20. Non est . . 23. facesserent add. F.
. 27. possimus F.
quid aH: qui id F. 30. M.D.xvm add. II. 31. Erasmus ... 32. subscripsi
om. F{32. meapte manu subscripsi add. a"^).

7. AcademiasJ Cf. Ep. 1021. 115^. 14. corrigi] Cf Ep. 1002. 8n.
 320 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15-20

As the original exists, it is unnecessary to take detailed notice of three copies

which are in the Ducal Library at Gotha one by Vitus Warbeck (c. 1490-4 June
:

1534), canon of Aldenburg and an intiraate friend of Spalatinus, chart. B. 26,

f. 17 v°; another by Siegfried Asterlus in his volume of letters to Lang,
chart. A. 399, f. 222 v° (cf. Ep. 872 introd.) the third, chart. A. 379, f. 44, more
;

modern. From one of these Horawitz gave some corrections in his second
Erasmiana, p. 38. The text was first printed by E. S. Cyprianus, Tabularium
Ecdesiae Eomanae, 1743, p. 566, ex autographo '.
'

This letter is no doubt one of those carried back into Saxony by Draco (Epp.
1 124, 1 127) at this time. Further confirmation for the year-date may be obtained
—
from Erasmus' attitude towards Lee of whom in 1519^0 could not have spoken
—
so charitably and the news about Melanchthon and Oecolampadius.]

S. P., vir optinie. Lei me miseresceret, ni tam virulente retn

gessisset : ita tractatur, etiam a suis Anglis. Habet et Hispania
Leum alterum. Zunega quidam edidit librum, vt audio, satis viru-
lentum aduersus Fabrum ac me. Vetuerat Card. Toletanus defunctus.
5 Eo mortuo prodidit sua venena. Opus nondum vidi. Id cauent, ne
liber veniat inmanus meas.
Nescio quem finem hic tumultus sit habiturus. Nam omnino res
ad seditionem spectat a qua semper abhorrui. Si necesse est vt
;

oriantur scandala, certe a me proficisci (nolim). Deuotis animis

9. nolim add. Horawitz.

I. miseresceret] Knaake pointed out, per totum est orbem diuulgatum.

in his ms. notes, tliat Erasmus had Peruenit tandem ad manus meas Eras-
just seen the Erfurt volume of epigrams micus ille codex, numeroso proemio-
about Lee see Epp. 998. 66n, 1123. 20.
: rum ambitu veluti satellitio premuni-
3. Zunega] See App. 15. His Anno- tus, perpulchris litterarum figuris
tationes a.ga.\ns,t Faber, Alcala, A. G. Bro- Gi-ece et Latine, deformatus, ac titulum
cario, 1519, were criticisms, moderate in fronte gestans qui et auctoris nomen
in tone, of Faber's new translation of et operis argumentum magnificis qui-
the Pauline Epistles, 1512 (see Ep. 304. dem verbis et admiranda quedara ac
S^n) ; and maintained against him pene napaSo^a poUicentibus preseferre
Jerome's authorship of the Vulgate. videbatur. Vt autem librum cepi
His Annotationes against Erasmus, in voluere, ti-aductionemque illam nouam
defensionem iralationis Noiii Testamenti, et Annotationes a vertice, vt aiunt, ad
ibid., 1520, deal with the Noiium Instru- calcem diligentissime transcurri, au-
mentum, 1516, on the same lines, but daciam hominis, qua ille pro sapientia
show great aci-imony. The tone may eo in opere vsus est, vehementer sum
be judged from his preface to the admiratus. Cum enim in gentilium
reader, which begins : Desiderius
' auctorum lectione fuerit semper versa-
Erasmus Roterodanius, ex his que ex tus, secularemque eloquentiam ex parte
Luciano et Euripide quondam tra- inde didicerit, elegantia illa dicendi
duxerat, et ex eo libro in quem anti- qualicunque confisus omnia sibilicuisse
quorum Paroemias congesserat, inter existimauit. Quoniam vero non ex
studiorum humanitatis cultores non charitatis affectu, vt res ipsa plane in-
nihil iam nominis assequutus, non dicat, neque vt sacrarum Scripturarum
contentus sorte sua que pro ingenio et studiosis quoquomodo prodesset, ad id
eruditione satis ampla homini obti- operis Erasmus videtur accessisse, sed
gerat, sacras Noui Testamenti scriptu- laudis potius cupiditate ductus . . ,'
ras, ne non omnia experiretur, eGreco 4. Vetuerat] This information evi-
in Latinum nouissime traducere ag- dently had come fi-om Vergara see his ;

gressus est, ac librum Aniiotationum letter to Stunica, No. i in App. 15. Cf.
in easdem condere Laurcntium Val-
; also Ep. 1216. 16-19.
lam imitatus, quem primuni fuisse Toletanus] Xiraenes ; see Ep.
constat qui eiusmodi genus scribendi 541- 37"-
attigit. Quod opus apud Basileam, in- 5. nondura vidi] See Ep. 1216. in.
clytam Germanie vrbem, abhinc trien- 9. scandala] Matt. 18. 7, Luke 17.
nium impressoriis excussum forrais r : cf. Ep. 1 13. 26.
1X28] TO JOHN LANG 321

conspirant isti, ac summorum regum aulas oppugnant ac vereor ne lo ;

expugnent.
De Philippo Oecolampadioque iam cognoueram ex aliorum litteris.
Vtranque epistolam tuam recepi. Bene vale, vir in Domino mihi
colende. Louanii. postrid. Cal. Aug.
Erasmus ex animo tuus. 15
Eximio theologo lo. Langio.

1129. To JOHN FlSHER.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 495. Louvain.
HN Lond. xii. 25 LB. 449.
: : 2 August (1520).

[The year-date added in HTis clearly wrong. It can be corrected from Reucli-
lin'ssettlement at Ingolstadt in Nov. 15 19.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS R. P. lOANNl EPISCOPO ROFFENSI S. P.

Reverende pater ac patrone singularis, Brugis doctor quidam

vtriusque iuris, Caesaris MaximiHani consiliarius quondara, vir
eruditus et grauis, narrauit mihi Reuchlinum nostrum Ingelstadii
agere, atque illic ducentorum aureorum salario Graece et Hebraice
praelegere, Hac ratione illi consultum est ab amicis, quod tutum
non esset agere in patria. Causa, si vera narrant, haec erat cum :

periculum esset ne Dux Vuertenbergensis, in quem scribit Huttenus,

Stockgardiam reciperet, Reuchlinus ciuibus aliquot erat autor vt alio
demigvarent, ipse comes illis futurus. Profugerunt illi Reuchlinus :

1129. TiT. R. p. om. H. lOANNi add. H. s. p. F : 8. D. H. 8. Stockar-

diam H. g. H : Rechlinus F.

1128. 12. Philippo] In June 1520 Me- the information from John Salius
lanchthon had been invited to Ingol- (Ep. 1120. lon) atLouvain, 'quum illic
stadt, at the suggestion of Reuchlin, adesset Carolus Caesar'. As Charles
who was now established there (cf. was not at Louvain till 23 Aug.
Epp. 986. 45n, 1 129), but had deelined : (Gachard ii. 28), it is clear that Eras-
cf. LE.- 319 and ME. 87, which Enders mus' memory played him false at some
dates in July. point.
Oecolampadioque] Cf. Ep. 1123. la. 3. Reuchlinum] He left Stuttgart
ahorum] Cf. Ep. 1095. 173^. for Ingolstadt on 9 Nov. 1519 (RE.
13. Vtranque epistolam] Not extant. 285^). Hutten in his Expostulatio (HE.
1129. I. Brugis] This visit was evi- 310, § 97) objected to this whole passage
dently made in the train of Charles (cf. as insulting to Reuchlin (cf. Ep. 413.
p. 330), who was
at Bruges 25-29 July i^n). Erasmus' reply in the Spongia
(Gachard 28)
ii.it is referred to also
: (see 1. in is rather lame.
in Ep. 1141.1. Ep. 1145. 5-7 shows that Ingelstadii] During his residence
Erasmus was accompanied by More. there Reuchlin lived in Eck'3 house :
doctor quidam] The description see Eck's De ratione studiorum suorum,
fits Peutinger (Ep. 318. 2n), whom Ingolstadt, A. Weissenhorn, 1543, f".
Erasmus met at Bruges (Ep. 1247), B. Cf. ME. 66.
But in the Spongia, written c. Aug. 4. salarlo] Cf. RE. 290.
1523 (LB. X. 1642A-43A = HE. 333, 7. Vuerteubergensis] Duke Ulrich ;

§§ 102-12), after discussing 11. 6-14 of cf. Epp. 923. 23n, 986. 45n, 1030.
this letter, Erasmus states that he had 65n.
 322 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

10 mutato consilio mansit, consulens suae supellectili. Deinde lursus

profligato Duce, per quosdam amicos impeti'atum ne victor exercitus
saeuiret in domum Reuchlini, Sed ciues illi quos fefellerat, reuersi
exhibebant seni negocium. Nunc sua omnia eduxit salua, et Ingel-
stadiitranquillam agit vitam. Haec nolui nescire te.
15 Germania prorsus insanit in Leum tantum libellorum prorumpit.
:

Etsi Leus nullo non malo dignus est, tamen optarim eos conquiescere.
Scribunt aperte se non aliter mihi obtemperaturos, nisi quatenus
abstineant a conuicio gentis Anglicae. Minatus sum me posthac
Gallum futurum, nisi desinant me tam moleste amare. Adnitar
20 equidem quod erit in me. Sed Leus consulto fecerit si ipse aliquo
scripto aedito studeat illos delinire quos irritauit,
Audio bellum parari Praedicatoribus et Romanensibus. Vereor ne
ex hoc ludo nascatur incendium maximum. Bellum indicetur Prae-
dicatoribus et Romanensibus, et interim saeuietur in omnes sacerdotes,
25 exemplo Bohemorum. Bene vale.
Louanii postrid. Cal. Augusti. [Anno m.d.xix.]

1130, To JoHN Merliberch.

BrusselsMS. 4850-7, f. 151 v° (a). (Louvain.)
Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 48 (/3) : (August 1520 ?)
Horawitz v, 14,
[In a Lypsius prefixes this argument : Efflagitante quodam e senioribus
'

canonieis collegii diui Martini, cui nomen erat loannes Merliberch de Diest,
Erasmus subiectum edidit carmen suffigendum scDicet tabulae, in qua Magda-
;

lena depicta erat et effictus loannes, non prorsus contemnendo artificio '.
A date can only be conjectural. Some suggestion may be gathered from Faber's
book (1. i3n), and from some verses by Erasmus on the meetings of amity
between Francis, Henry, and Charles (cf. Ep. 1106. 93^) and In substi-uctionem
'

Caletiensem ' (cf. Ep. 1118 introd.), which follow this letter in /8 printed in :

22. praedicatoribus F: Dominicanis H. 23. praedicatoribus F: Domini-

canis H. 26. Anno m.d.xix add. H.

10. supellectili] Cf. Ep. 986. 46U. Dominicans were the objectsof special
12. saeuiret] Cf. Ep. 986. 46-9. animosity. For Erasmus' attack upon
14. nescire te] For Fisher's interest them see Ep. 1033.
in Reuchlin cf, Ep, 457. 1-20. 25. Bohemorum] As at the time of
15. libellorum] Cf, Ep. 1128. in. Ziska, c. 1420, when there was a wide-
18, gentis Anglicae] Cf, Ep. 1083. spread destruction of monasteries (sce
33n. Hutten's Monitor Secutidns, 1520, §§ 34-
19, Gallum] Cf, Epp. 321. 13-15, 534. 7, in Opp. iv. 354-5 and cf Creighton
;

31, iiii. 81, 1147. 28n ; and, for a ii. 42); or in the riots at Prague in

practical interpretation of the words, Sept. 1483, when the Utraquists mas-
Epp. 994. im, 1080. 3. .sacred many Catholies (see E. Denis,
22. bellum parari] For the feeling Fin de Vindependance bolmne, i, 1890,
now rising in Germany against the pp. 204-5, and cf. LE.- 400. 43-5). The
Roman domination, under the leader- decay ot roligion and of the ecclesiasti-
ship of Luther on the theological. of cal order in IBohemia is emphasized in
Ilutten on the political side (cf. Ep. a remaikable letter from Bohuslaus
1113. 3611), see Creighton v. 126-30, Hassenstcin to King Ladislas, 22 April
quoting Agr. E. ii. 54 = ME. 175. As 1497 (Boh. E. i. 60). For Erasmus'
the agents of tho Inquisition, and rccent intercourse with tho envoys of
thus the persecutors of Reuchlin, the the Bohemian Brethren see pp. 291-a.
1130] TO JOHN MERLIBERCH 323

Horawitz v, p. 30, and not otherwise known. The picture for which the verses
in this letter were written, had perhaps been eiected on St. Mary Magdalen's
<lay, 22 July but just then Erasmus was away from Louvain (cf. Ep. 1129. in).
:

Of John Merliberch of Diest I can find nothing.]

D. ER.\S. EO. lOANNI MERLIBERCHIO DIESTRNSI, CANONICO

AD MARTINENSES, LOVANIL

Caemen est trochaicum, tetrametrum, catalecticon. Cape litteras in

singulis versibus primam et vltimani in cesura, quam notat virgula,
rursum in altera parte primam et vltimam, atque ita de caeteris et ;

habebis, vt optas, lohannes Merliberch Diest.

LAVDEM mVAE MARIAE MAGDALENAE.
IN 5
Impotenti amoris oestrO Haec beata percitA j

Nardicum profudit vngueN, Eluit lacrymis pedeS, |

Mox capillis tersit eccE, Rex Olympi, qui semeL

.
|

Illecebras spreuit ac suB- Egit, istis ampliteR |

Capitur oblectaculis procH, Daemonis technis

.
|
maH 10
Eua capta est : ista lacrymiS |
Tincta culpas diluit.

Ineptii in tuam gratiam, malens in hanc peccare partem quam

parum humanus videri. Mitto simul et tres Magdalenas ab lacobo
Fabro depictas. Bene vale, vir optime, et in tuis praecibus nostri
quoque nonnunquam memineris. 15
Erasmus.

1131. To Haio Hermann.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 566. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xv. 9 : LB. 609. (c. August 1520.)

[A replyto a letter from H. Hermann (Ep. 903. isn), which is not extant. It
is clearly of the same period as Ep. 11 17, but after Erasmus' meeting with More
at Calais ;p. 296). The dates added in H
bave no value but if the place-date is ;

accepted, this letter must be put after Erasmus' return from Cahiis to Louvain.
With both dates discarded, it might be taken as contemporary with Ep. 1133 (cf.
I. 5 vvith Ep. 1133. 8-9) which, like this, is addressed to Paris.]
;

ERASMVS ROT. HERMANNO PHRYSIO S. D.

Ervditissime iuuenis, ostendi Moro in literis tuis locum qui ad

illum attinebat ille simul atque gustarat phrasim, totas perlegit, et
:

1130. TiT. add. /3. i. tetrametron /3. 2. singulis om. /3. et add. /3.

3. et habebis ... 4. Diest add. ^. 5. in . . . m.vgdalenae add. ^. 9. istis

a : illis $. 16. Erasmus om. j8.

1130. 6. oestro] Cf. Ep. 1132. 13. Stephanus, 1519 vvhich Fisher coun-
;

13. trcs Magdalenas] Fabt'r's first tcred vvith a Confutatio wiitton in Aug.
book on tliis subject (Ep. 766. 22n) had 1519 (Ep. 1030. 311). There is nothing
been reissued in 1518 and 1519. In to shovv vviiich edition Erasmus sent
reply to Fishers attack (Epp. 936. 7-8, here he had doubtless chosen the
;

1030. 2) he wi'ote Ue tribus et ryiica book as suitable to the occasion.

Magdalena Disceptatio secunda, Paris, H. 1131. i. ostendi Moro] Cf. 1. r^n

Y 2
 324 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

amare coepit ingenium tuum. Amo Brixii ingenium non vulgariter,

phrasim admiror sed vtinam exerceret vtrunque in argumento
;

5 plausibiliore Contemnit, vt scribis, ille Morum

! atqui vereor ne :

sero sentiat illum sibi non fuisse contemnendum. Ulud curandum

Brixio, ita stilum temperet vt non solum eruditus verum etiam vir
bonus et aequus habeatur. Consulat amicos suos graues et eruditos,
Budaeum, Deloinum, Ruseum et Ruellum potius quam iuuenilem
10 animi impetum. Brixius interpretatus est dictum nescio quod ex
meis ad Beraldum schedis, quasi ipsi priores tribuerim in eruditionis
laude. Nec sum adeo indoctus nec adeo Moro amicus, vt non perspi-
ciam quid inter eos intersit imo volebam illum Musarum praesidiis
:

certare, non conuiciis. Et confido me hoc a Moro impetraturum, vt

15 et ille premat quae iam adornauit dentatiora quam vt vel a Moro vel
in Brixium scribi velim. Etiam atque etiam te rogo, hortare Brixium
vt in alio potius argumento suum ingenium exerceat ita rectius :

consulet suae famae. Bene vale. Saluta Beraldum meo nomine

diligenter. Louanii, [m.d.xxi.]

1132. To Thomas Wolsey.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 539, Antwerp.
HN Lond. xiv. 10: LB. 518.
: 7 August 1520.

[The year-date is confirmed by the mention of Erasmus' visit to Calais : see

p. 296. For what pui-pose Erasmus had gone at this time to Antwerp (cf. Ep.
1133) is not clear. P. Kalkoff points out {Repertorium f. Kunsticissenschaft, xxviii,
1905, pp. 474-85) that he probably met there Sebastian Brant (Ep. 302. isn),
who was then on an embassy from the town of Strasburg to the Emperor, and
Albert Diirer ; both of whom were in Antwerp at this time. Diirer notes in his
Tagebuch (ed. F. Leitschuh, 1884, p. 54) 'Mehr hat mir herr Erasmus geschenckt
:

ein spanioleins mentelle vnd 3 conterfettisch man '. This gift was very likely in
acknowledgement for Diirer's first sketch of Erasraus, to which he alludes in
mentioning the second (p. 330). The earlier sketch appears to have served as the
basis for the finished engraving of 1526 ; for a copy of that exists on which
Nic. Kratzer (Ep. 515. in) has recorded that he was present at the sitting (see
B. Hausmann, Dilrer's Kupferstiche, 1861, p. 39). Kratzer was in Antwerp at this
time, and between 5 and 19 Aug. Diirer took his portrait (Tagehuch, p. 54. 34-5).
By 13 Aug. Erasmus was back again in Louvain (Ep. 1134).]

ERAS. R. D. D. THOMAE CARDINALI EBORACENSI SVMMOQVE

TOTIVS ANGLIAE CANCELLARIO S. D,

Tanto itinere me contuleram Caletium. tot dies illic commoratus

sum, vt celsitudinis tuae colloquio fruerer verum hoc mihi inuide- ;

runt occupationes quas tametsi semper scio esse maximas, tamen id

:

1131. 9. Ruellium S. 19. Louanii, m.d.xxi add. H. 1132. tit. e. d. d.

Om. II. SVMMOQVE . . . CANCELLARIO om. II.

1181. II. ad Beraldum] Cf. Ep. arf which More had shown to
Ertziio»,
1117. gn. Erasmusat Calais:cf. Epii. 1087 introd.,
15. quae iam adornauit] 'Th& Epistola 1096. i2in, 1184. 21-2.
1132] TO THOMAS WOLSEY 325

tempoi'is maiores esse videbam quam vt auderem a prima salutatione

prolixiore colloquio interpellare. Pro singulari fauore quo me 5
hactenus prosequuta est R.T. D., habeo gratiam : quanquam hoc
officii non tam mihi praestat quam bonis studiis, quibus meae
desudant vigiliae. Cupiebam aliquo monumento testari animum et
memorem et gratum, sed hactenus voluntati nostrae defuit commo-
ditas. Et tamen interim qualicunque libello vtcunque declaraui 10
propensionem animi mei. Eum spero pro solita tua mansuetudine
non aspernaberis.
Germania velut oestro percita fremit ac saeuit in Leum sexcentis
libellis. Obsisto literis quantum possum. Negant se vnquam parci-
turos Leo, genti parcituros, atque hactenus tantum mihi morem 15
gesturos. Mihi consultum videtur vt Leus aliquo scripto placet
Germanos, quos odiosis in me conuiciis irritauit. Ego vicissim
adnitar vt huius tragoediae sit finis.
Qui has reddit Christophorus Palaeologus, monachus est montis
Sina, vir probatorum hominum testimonio claro genere natus ac 20
mere Christianus, atque, vt ipse ex familiari consuetudine comperi,
probus, modestus, nee infacetus. Cupit nonnihil nummorum colli-
gere subleuando monasterio suo, quod nimirum vere dictum experi-
tur Hesiodo, noxam esse malum vicinum adeo a Sarracenis finitimis :

expilatur. Hic messis illi fuit admodum sterilis, vel quia tenaciores 25
sumus, vel quia vehementer vbique frigere coepit res indulgentiaria.
Sperat isthic fore aliquanto vberiorem nec dubito quin futura sit, si:

tua celsitudo dextro nutu fauerit. Et fauebit, vti spero, vel causae
piae vel homini probo : non enim ausim postulare vt apud tantum
heroa huius homunculi commendatio pondus vllum habeat. Bene 30
valeat E. T. R. D. cui me summo studio commendo.
:

Antuuerpiae septimo Idus August. Anno m.d.xx.

1133. TO WlLLIAM BUDAEUS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 593. Antwerp.
HN : Lond. xvi. 2 : LB. 519. 9 August 1520.

[Clearly in the sanie yearas Epp. 1087, 11 17. For tlie plaee-date cf. Ep. 1132.]

ERASMVS BVDAEO SVO S. D.

Amicurvm optime simul et eruditissime. Si Morus et Brixius

me alienissimi, tamen vehementer dolerem literarum nomine
essent a

1132. 6. R. T. D. F : tua benignitas //. 31. valeat . . . commendoF: vale IL

1132. 10. libello] See Ep. 1112. dextram dextrae iunxi quid ni, cum :

13. oestro] Cf. Ep. 1130. 6. iam inter nos debellatum esset? Lee '

14. libellis] Cf. Ep. 1128. in. was perhaps then upon his way home :

18. sit finis] Erasmus' readiness for cf.Ep. 1140. 17.

reconciliation is further shown by his 19. Palaeologus] Cf. Ep. 594. 6,9nn.
description in the Spon(fia (LB. x. 1649 He evidtntly brought an indulgenee to
c = HE. 333, § 169) of liismeeting with help him in liiscollection but I liave :

Lee at Caiais in July (see p 296) Salu- :

'
not been able to trace a copy of it.
taui hominem Caletii forte obuium, et 24. Hesiodo] Op. 346.
 326 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

quod duo tam insignes Musarum mystae tam virulentis libellis sese
: conscinderent, magno studiorvim incommodo, magno gaudio eorum
5 qui iampridem cum melioribus literis bellum gerunt. Nunc quum
vterque sit amicus, alter etiam coniunctissimus, dici non potest
quam acerbe feram hoc dissidii inter eos incidisse. quorum vtriusque
et ingenium adamo et gloriae faueo. Vterque strenue contemnit
alterum verum ex mutuo contemptu quid oriri potest nisi simultas
:

10 semper gliscens in peius? Egi studiosissime cum Moro vt silentio

rem dissimularet et persuaseram, ni Brixius tam seditiose exagi-
;

tasset eum locum de Rege laudato. non sine suggillatione filii, vt

quidem interpretatur Brixius. Non est res ludicra rem habere cum
loue, quem euocasse parum rite conceptis precibus exitio fuit. Non
15 quod Moro quicquam sit ab hoc suo metuendum, cui ob eximias
dotes vnice charus est tamen Brixius declarauit animum perdendi
;

Mori cupidum.
Quod Brixius scripsit in Morum, cum omnium iudicio sit pUisquam
satis,tamen odio illius non satis facit. Nusquam non arripit occa-
20 sionem insectandi Morum. Neque quicquam exit illius in quo non
multis verbis illum impetat, cum ille tamen nihil adhuc responderit.
Demiror quis sic instiget animum Brixii. Obsecro te per Musas vt
vestra autoritas iuuenilem istum IvOovcnaa-fxov coherceat. Non hic
ago Mori mei negocium nam si pergat haec contentio, crede mihi,
;

25 fortasse famae nonnihil auferet Brixius, at gloiiae nihil. Bene vale,

Budaee chaiissime.
Antuuerpiae pridie Laurentii. anno m.d.xx.

1134. To Sebastian Rotenhan.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 557. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiv. 24 : LB. 521. 13 August 1520.

[The year-date is confirmed by tlie mention of Erasmus' reply to Lee see Ep. :

1061 introd. In August 1521, tlie only other year possible, he was at
Anderlecht.
Sebastian Eotenhan (Eubrigallus) of Rentweinsdorf, ro ms. n. of Bamberg
—
(1478 c. 25 June 1532), was of noble birth. He niatricuhxted at Erfui-t in the
summer of 1493, and on 2 Feb. 1496 at lugolstadt. From 1499^0 1504 hestudied
hiw at Bologna where in 1501-2 he was Proctor of the German nation, and in
;

1500-1 delivei'ed an oration to the nation whicli was copied into their Acta
(ANGB. p. 254). He was a pu2iil of Philip Beroaldus (Ep. 256. 137^), who
mentions him in the preface to an edition of Gellius, Bologna, Bened. Hectoris,
I Feb. 1503. His doctor's degree in law he took at Siena, 31 Oct. 1503.
On returning to Germany he became an assessor in the Imperial Chancery,
1507. A letter froiu him to Sebastian Brant, dated Worms, 14 Jidy 151 1 (see
.T. Wcncker, Colkcta arcliiui iitra, 1715, p. 142) and asking for mss. of medieval
chroniclers, shows that he was already interested in the history of Germany.
About 1512 he began travelling, to Spain, France, and England and on 25 SeptT;

1514 was created Kt. of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalcm. In Eck's Oraliones tres,
Augsburg, Miller, 5 Dec. 1515, f". B*, he is mentioned as one of the glories of
Germany, in Imi^eriali consistorio inter eruditissimos iudicatus'. By 1519,
'

and perhaps earlier (cf. 1. in), he had become Councillor to the Abp. of Mainz ;

12. locuni] Cf. Epp. 1087. 22on, 1117. error tov patris.
66-7 : wliich show that fdii heie is an 16. charus] Cf. Ep. 999. 217-18.
1134] TO SEBASTIAN ROTENHAN 327

whom he served till the end of 1521, when he took up very actively the duties of
n member of the Council of Regency meeting at Nuremberg, serving many times
on its embassies. On i Jan. 1523 he entered the service, as Hofmeister, of
Conrad of Thuengen (p. 307) for whom he successfully defended the episcopal
;

castle of Marienburg during the Peasants' Revolt, May-June 1525. In 1530 he

was the Bp. of Bamberg's representative at the Diet of Aug.-sburg (ME. 690) :

during which Eobanus (Ep. 874) addressed some verses to him.

Whilst at Mainz he continued his historical studies, editing the Chronicle of
Regino of Priim, Mainz, J. Schoeffer, Aug. 1521, with a dedication to Charles v.
The volume contains also a portrait of himself, and a letter to Capito, 15 July
1521, projecting more such work. For the continuance of this interest see two
letters of 1 530-1 in Aventinus' Wcrke, i. 651 and vi. 94 and BRE. 258 (1532 ; :

Leidinger). He also produced a tiny volume, of a single sheet, Prisci Germanie

vopnli, Augsburg, John of Erfurt, «. (Proctor ii. 10934)
.s. four pages of which ;

contain the names of German tribes, whilst three are filled with a selection of
eight phrases, translated into French, English, Italian, Bohemian, Danish and
Swedish, Portuguese, and German.
He was brother-in-law to Hutten, who dedicated to him the Vadiscus (HE.
152, 192 cf. Ep. 1135. 2n).
: Though inclined towards reform of the Church he
could not support Luther without reserve and in fact remained conservative.
;

In founding an annual mass for his own soul at the Ritter-Kapelle in Hassfurt,
near Bamberg, in 1522, he speaks of himself as knowing four languages.
See a life by L. S. Eyring, Jena, 1739; Knod 3134; Dentsclie Keichstagsakten,
jiing. Reihe, i-iv G. Bauch, Univ. Er/uii, 1904, pp. 135-6
; P. Joachimsen, ;

Geschichtschreibnng in Deutschland, 1910, pp. 186, 282 and ADB.] ;

ERASMVS ROT. CLARISS. EQVITI AVKATO SEBASTIANO DE

ROTENHAEN, R. CARD. MOGVNTINI A CONSILIIS, S. D.
CoNSVETVDiNis multo iucundissimae quae mihi tecum fuit Mo-
guntiae,memoriam tua mihi renouauit epistola non abhorrens a tuis
moribus, vir omni cloctrinae genere multo clarior quam maiorum
imaginibus, quibus tamen es cum primis clarus. Siquidem hoc
ipsum visum est eximii cuiusdam candoris argumentum, quod inter 5
tot principum negocia, inter armorum strepitus, in mentem venit
amiculus Erasmus. Sed vtinam argumentum auspicatius tibi conti-
gisset ad me scribendi quam Eduardus Leus qui cum tibi videatur !

impudens, sibi videtur pulchre fortunatus, qui paulo negocio sibi

famam pararit quam adeo misere sitiebat vt, si non aliqua nocuisset, 10
:

mortuus esset. Ego magis admiror quorundam pertinax studium,

qui rebus omnibus omissis niliil intentatum relinquunt, nullum non
mouent lapidem, quo literas meliores sat feliciter subolescentes
obruant, atque interim nec sua vetera sat gnauiter tuentur nec
discunt noua. Porro miris technis et cuniculis rem agunt, nunc 15
hunc, nunc illum histrionem subornantes. Quanquam nec hi Leo
fauent, nisi quod quocunque pacto mihi male volebant. Ad eam
rem nullus di.splicet satelles. Quid mihi philosophia praestet nescio,
iUud certe mihi praestat animus bene conscius, vt huiusmodi morta-
lium insanos conatus perpeti malim quam imitari. 20
lam quod vir tantus tuo quoque nomine mihi suppetias aduersus
Leum poUiceris, si Germanorum desint auxiha, vt humanitatem tuam
TIT. CLARISS. Om. H. ROTEXIIAN X. R. /•" : REVERENDISS. H.

I. Consuetudinisl For Erasmus" was in Palostine.

visits to Maiiiz see tlie introductions to epistola] Perhaps brought by the
2.
Epp. 301,337, 410, 843; and Ep. 867. bearer of Ep. 1109.
34 seq. On thefirst occasion Rotcnhan 10. nocuisset] Cf. Verg. Ecl. 3. 15.
 328 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

incredibilem amplector, ita officium plane recuso. Absit vt Leo tales

viri tantum habeant honoris vt agminatim illum impetant stilo suo.
25 Opto illis magnificentius aliquod argumentum. Nos in ea re totum
sesquimensem perdidimus, idque mihi videtur plus satis sic enim :

ille scripsit vt nullis aeque displiceat atque iis qui maxime con-
sultum volebant eius honori. Hanc laudem tulit etiam ab iis qui
mihi male volunt. Nemo fuit arrogantius indoctus. Et tamen hoc
30 ille certamen appellat.
Quod mihi Senecae versibus ominaris nominis immortalitatem, de
mea apud posteros opinione viderint superi, modo bene sit iis studiis
quae nos Christo commendant. Quis enim non perspicit mundum
paulatim ad barbaram quandam tyrannidem tendere? Parturit
3.5 iampridem, quid pariturus sit nescio. Nos vt (si liceat) prodesse
cupimus, ita tumultus autores esse nolumus. Bene vale, nosque tuo
Principi commenda. Louanii Id. August. anno m.d.xx.

1135. From Ulrich Hutten.

Basle MS. Frey-Grynaeus I. 19. 38. Steckelberg.
HE. 184. 15 August 1520.
[An original letter, actually sent ; seemingly by a secretary. It was first
printed by Hagenbach in 1832 : see HE. iS^n. The dates need no confirmation.
It marks the beginning of Hutten's animosity towards Erasmus but too much :

acerbity must not be read into the admonitions. There is ample evidence of
good feeling in Ep. 1055 and in HE. 166, 171* (Hiitieyii Opp. iv. 689) and as ;

recently as 8 Aug. in communicating to Capito the news from Rome, he had

written quite simply, Scribe Erasmo et reliquis nostris vt res agantur (HE. 183).
' '

In Ep. 1161, too, good feeling has not disappeared. For Erasmus' side cf. Epp.
II 13. 36n, 1195. 136-41.]

V. HVTTENVS ERASMO ROTEROD. SALVTEM.

AvDifeTi vnquam maiori amentia fe)Ti quenquam aut furiosius
insanire quam Leonem x qui se vocat hodie? Is repetitis literis
mandat principi Moguntino, vehementibus etiam interpositis commi-
nationibus ni faciat, vt vinctum Komam mittat me. Quo in homine
5 magisne demirer quod hoc petere ausit, si speret impetrare etiam,
quam a tali tantoque viro quod deposcat ? Atque igitur nunc demum
coecus ille iudicandus est, sed mentis iumine qui careat. Habet et
legatum apud Carolum, nostri periculi molitorem longe officiosissi-

1134. 26. sesquimensem] See p. iio ;

trol over him but that Schoefter had
;

and Ep. 1139. 41.

cf. " been imprisoned (HE. 180). Some de-
31. Senecae] Perhaps Oed. 504-8, tails about the demand for Hutten's
partly quoted in Ep. 39. 45,6. apprehension are given in Brunfels'
1135.2. repetitis literis] In succes- Pro ifj<<<eno Z^e/ensw (HE. 334, pp. 337,8).
sionto aletter from Tetleben(HE. 176 ;
Hutten also mentions it in writing
5 July) Leo had written to the Abp. to Luther (cf. LE.* 347. 23-8), Capito,
(HE. 179; 12 July cf. HE. 181) to
: Charles v, Duke Frederic of Saxony,
complain of the publication in Mainz Rotenhan, and in liis appeal to the
of Hutten's Vadiscns siue Trias Bomana, German nation (HE. 183, 188, 189, 192,
J. Schoefifor, April 1520. The Abp. 193 Aug.-Sept. 1520).
:

replied that he liad dismissed Hutten 8. legatum] Aleander chai"ged, con-

;

from his service and had 110 more con- jtnntly with Eck, with the publication
1135] FEOM ULKICH HUTTEN 329

mum. Hoc illud est quod parturire istos audiebamus, homines

acutos. Me quidem
valde arbitrantur timere, quanquam auditi sunt lo
nuper esse condiciones admodum honestas, si de pace agi mecum
patiar. Hoc tentant post quam vident elapsum. Nam Moguntia
excesseram paulo ante quam forte constitutum erat illis quod se
dignum esset facere, monitus ab amicis, simul ipse quiddam sus-
picans. '5
Te iubeo quiescere penitus ac stilo temperare, vt te nobis serues.
Atque hic audi quid amicitia fretus nostra moneam. Negocium
Capnionis cum arderet, videbaris imbecillius quam te dignum esset
metuere istos. Et in Luthero nuper, quantum potueras, aduersariis
persuadere conatus es a communi reipublicae Christianae caussa 20

tuenda longissime abhorrere te qua de tamen sciebant illi quod

;

sentires multo ahter. Hoc non admodum decore visus es agere.

Scio enim cui amico scribam, et quam te non deceat mali consulere
hanc monitionem meam. Inuitus hominum sermones audiui, sed
tunc defendi amici famam, cum nonnihil ibi displiceret ipsi mihi. 25
Nunc quia agitur mea caussa, nihil te caelo. hoc Atque igitur sine
abs te impetrare eum qui te maximi semper fecit, et nunc etiam
demereri optime velit, siqua forte possit, nequid eiusmodi sinas
excidere tibi quale in Luthero et Capnione perspeximus. Scis
quanto cum triumpho circumferant epistolas quasdam tuas adhuc 30
illi, in quibus cum fugis inuidiam, sat odiose aliis eam concilias. Sic
Obscurorum Epistolas iugulasti, olim valde probatas tibi ; et iu
Luthero quod non mouenda mouerit damnas, cum tu ipse eandem
Camerinam tractaueris in tuis passim libris. Neque tamen adse-
queris vt isti credant non summe istiusmodi velle te. Ita et nos 35
ledis et illos non placas tibi imo irritas magis et inuidiam prouocas,
:

rem tam apertam dissimulans.

Quare de mea causa, etsi huic posset magnificentius contingere
nihil quam si scriptis tuis probetur, tamen siqua inuidia ne te oneres
metuis, saltem hoc concede mihi, quo ne cuiusquam terror extorqueat 4°
tibi eam eleues, potius altissimo silentio praeteri scio enim
vt :

quantum nocere mihi possit vnum verbum abs te scriptum, quo

videaris aut arguere institutum meum aut certe non probare.
Haec vt amico libere scripsi. Tu optime vale ex propugnaclo
Huttenico xviii. Calen. Septemb. 1520. 45

Des. Erasmo Eoterodamo, theologo, amico summo.

of the Bull against Luther. See Pastor ig. in Luthero] With such letters as
vii. 404 Paquier, J. AUandre, 142
seq., Epp. 939, 961, 967, 1033. To Hutten
seq. The instructions to Aleander are Luther stood for the liberation of
dated 18 July he left Rome 27 July.
: Christendoni, especially Germany,
12. Moguntia excesseram] See Ep. from Rome. Cf. Epp. 1129. 22n, 1161.
II 13. 36n. 40 seq.
18. cum arderet] Leo's judgement 26. caelo] i.e. celo.
had just been given, on 23 June cf. : 30. epistolas] Epp. 622, 939, 1033,
Ep. 622. 32n. 1041.
imbecillius] Cf. Ep. 636. 26n ; 32. iugulasti] Cf. Epp. 622, 636.
and, for reason for his alarm at that probatas] Cf. Ep. 363. 4-6.
time, Ep. 1006. 153^. 33. damnas] e.g.in Ep. 1033. 46-8.
 330 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

1136. To Leontius,
Epistolae ad diueisos p. 565. Brussels.
HN: Lond. xv. 6 : LB. 560. (c. 29 August?) 1520.
[Erasmus was not often at Brussels. For him to have assigned this letter to
a stay there, when he was adding the dates for H
in 1529, perhaps indicates,
therefore, that his memory on such points was clearer than usual here. visit A
to Brussels in 1520, after Charles' return from Spain in June, is mentioned in
Ep. 1198; cf. I, p. 33. 4, for his meeting with the brothers Lasky there about
this time. Very likely lie went thitlier in the train of Charles who, after ;

spending 23-4 Aug. at Louvain, moved to Brussels on 25 Aug. till 17 Sept.

(Gachard ii. 28). He was certainly there about the end of August for Diirer, ;

who was at Brussels from 26 Aug. to 3 Scpt., wrote in his Tagehuch (ed. F. Leit-
schuh, 1884, p. 59. 27-8), Ich hab den Erasmum Roterodam noch einmahl (cf.
'

1). 324) conterfet '. So this letter may be conjecturally placed at that date. Diirer's
drawing of him, which was made in preparation for a painting (cf. Lond. xxx.
29, LB. 631 of 19 July 1523), was bequeathed to the Louvre by the late
M. Bonnat. It is rei>roduced hcre witli the permission of the French Govern-
ment. For a large reproduction of it see the publications of the Diirer Society,
vi (1903), no. 12 also C. Ephrussi, Albert Dnrer et ses dessins, 1882, p. 277.
; In
1882 the drawing was in the possession of M. Jean Gigoux.
Of Leontius I can discover nothing but he appears to have been a school-
;

mastei-. Among the learned men of Lower Germany enumerated in Gelden-

hauer's De Batauorum msula, 1520 (p. 69, ed. P. Scriverius, 161 1), is a Nicolaus
Leontius Leidensis, grammaticus, of whom little seems to be known cf. :

A. Buchellius, Biarium, ed. Brom and van Langeraad, 1907, p. 86, where he
is described as Rhetor. It is possible that he is the person addresscd here.]

ERASMYS LEONTIO SVO S. D.

Boxi consulam audaciam tuam qui ignotus ad ignotum scripseris,

si tu vicissim boni consulueris quod occupatissimus tam parce
respondeam vt prope nihil respondeam. Quod Musarum cultor es,
magnopere Laudo quod assidue depugnas cum amusis, non probo.
;

5 Negligendi sunt qui vinci non possunt: et ita sunt haec studia
commendanda, ne tamen odiose damnentur quibus alii magis
capiuntur. Certe non expedit irritare crabrones. Caeterum quae
nos scripsimus, non in hoc scripsimus vt inuehantur templis, sed vt
domi legantur. Atque isto tuo studio immodico nihil aliud mihi
10 quam inuidiam paris. Ego nihil honoris istiusmodi proniereor
alioqui ne promeritis quidem aperiuntur templa, nisi a rogo, vt aiunt.
Ac mea quidem sententia plus efficies si quod operae sumis in rixando
cum aduersariis, fortasse deploratis, id insumas erudiendae pubi
aut iuuenibus spei melioris. 1'elicius irrepent bonae literae quam
i^irrumpent; ac facilius coalescent, si ciuiliter semet insinuent vt
hospites quam si irruant vt hostes. Nos quod possumus, gratis ac
libenter impartimus si quis adferet meliora, non grauate cedimus.
;

Porro cum clamosis rabulis certamen non nisi coacti suscipiraus,

imo ne coacti quidem. Porro vita nostra nihil habet memorabile,
20 nisi quod opinor fortunam nulli constantius infensam fuisse. Proinde
tu, si me audies, aliud argumentum tibi quaeres ; imo quoduis aliud
citius tibi sumes quam hoc. Bene vale. Bruxellae, m.d.xx.

22. Bruxcllae, M.n.xx add. H.

II. a rogo] Cf. Ep. 867. 273. 18. clamosis] Cf. Ep. 1078. 58.
13. deplorati^] Cf. K[>. 994. 2111. 20. fortunam] Cf Ep. 1102. 6n.
 Drawiiii»- of Erasimis hv Diirer. 1520.

1^-330
•I37J I
331

^"''llSr. TO JOHX TURZO.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 560. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xv. 2 : LB. 524. 31 August 1520.

EKASMVS EOT, R. P. lOANXI TVRZONI, EPISCOPO

VRATISLAVIENSI, S. D.

CvR ita. visum est superis vt tanto interuallo disiungant montes et

flumina quos tanta copulat charitas animorum ? Epistola tua post
sextum milii reddita est vna cum munusculis.
demum mensem
Quorum non fuisset gratissimum, etiamsi minimi precii fuisset,
niliil
vel hoc nomine, quod a tali Praesule, sed multo magis quod a tali 5
animo proficiscei-etur nunc et precii magnitudine et ipsa nouitate et
:

autoris titulo commendabantur. Sed in his tamen nihil mihi tam

charum est visum quod epistola tua non superaret quam iam ;

alteram accepi, tuis istis articulis descriptam, tuo isto ingenio con-
ditam, quo magis etiam refert imaginem animi tui, Deum immortalem. 10
quahs Faxit Deus vt istud pectus imitentur complures episcopi
I

proceresque. et imaginibus suis tam eximium decus adiungant, et

autoritatem suam bonitatis ac sapientiae cumulent accessione.
Quam ardentem virtutis amorem sj^irant illae tuae literae, quantam
sitim eruditionis Christianae Ad haec quantum candoris, quantum
! 15
modestiae prae se ferunt Quis credat haec a tanto Praesule, a tanto
!

Principe scribi? Nihilo enim miniis mirabilis est mihi tuus iste
animus quod me praeter meritum admiraris, sic^uidem hic ei-ror in
persona est, non in re. Hoc erras, quod Erasmum esse credis id
quod non est sed non in hoc erras, quod ea veneraris et expetis
; 20
quae falso tibi persuades in nobis esse. Adnixi sumus mundum
nimis ad scholasticas argutias prolapsum ad veterum fontes reuocare,
ac plus satis hdentem ludaicis ceremoniis ad verae pietatis studium
accendere. Atque vtinam hic meus conatus tantum fructus attulerit
aliisquantum nobis attulit inuidiae Meum incommodum niulto 25 !

leuius ferrem, si cum multorum commodo viderem coniunctum.

Sed hoc viderit ipse Christus, qui, ni fallor, certe hunc animum
probatui'us est.
lam vt in tuis munusculis etiam nonnihil philosopher, gratulor
tuae ditioni, e cuius vaenis aurum tam elegans ac purum eruitur 30 ;

sed tu beatior. qui e diuinorum voluminum longe felicioribus vaenis

tam auide scruteris aurum Euangelicae sapientiae, quo locupletes
gregem tuae fidei concreditum, velut opulentus quispiam paterfamilias
e diuite thesauro proferens noua ac vetera multum dissidens ab :

episcopis plerisque, qui pulcherriraam functionis suae partem in 35

sordidos quosdam relegant nec probatos nec exploratos, quum ad id
muneris neminem oporteat admitti nisi quem eruditio Christiana,

TiT. R. r. om. IT. 3. flemum H : decimum F.

9. alteram] The first being Ep. 850 ; P>p. complete.

the survival of which makes the sum 23. ludaicis] Cf. Ep. 1006. 14211.
of Erasmus' (.•orrespondencc with the 33. paterfamilias] Matt. 13. 52.
 332 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

quem morum integiitas, quem rerum vsus ac prudentia non vulgaris

commendet.
40 Duobus horolo>iis inscriptum erat Festina lente atque hanc '
' ;

quidem inscriptionem audit puluisculus ille per minutissimum

foramen lente defluens, haec me scribente. Sed magna celeritate
vita nostz-a auolat, et aduolat mors nihilo segnius, etiamsi non
defluat harenula. In altero superne inscriptum erat 'Festina
45 lente ', et inuersum horologium ostendebat mortis imaginem
quae vtinam tibi, mi Turzo, lenta veniat digno profecto qui sis !

immortalis, non tantum longaeuus, nisi haec esset fortunae inuidia,

vt si quid extiterit in rebus humanis eximium, id quam ocyssime
tollat e medio. Quod omen abs te velim quam longissime abesse,
50 quem et ex tuis literis et ex aliorum praedicatione tam multis ac
raris animi dotibus praeditum esse video vt generis claritudo, vt
opes, vt pontificia dignitas minima portio sit tuorum ornamentorum.
Pileum non poterit mihi esse vsui nisi domi nam et magnificen- ;

tius est quam vt conueniat honiini tenui nisi forte et hic erras, vt —
55 putes Erasmum esse aliquid —
et alienius a more huius regionis.
Olim iuxta prouerbium bonos viros decebant omnia, nunc non nisi
potentes omnia decent tamen seruabitur, et in hoc potissimum vt
:

Turzonis memoriam mihi refricet.

Aureum numisma multos exercuit, aliis coniectantibus esse tres
60 Noe filios ex Arca reuertentes, et ex altera parte columbam oliuae
ramum deferentem aliis duces duos, qui medium captum ducerent,
:

et aquilam lauri ramum in coronam deflexum gestantem. Sub-

scriptionem nullus adhuc legere potuit, neque Graecus neque Latinus
neque Hebraeus.
65 Video quam sim ingratus, qui pro tot donariis proque epistola tam
eleganti, tam amica, praeter frigidum epistolium nihil rependam.
Sed alias dabitur occasio interim cura vt recte valeas, Praesul
:

optime. Louanii, pridie Cal. Septemb. anno m.d.xx.

1138. TO WlLLIAM BURBANK.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 593. Louvain.
HN: Lond, xvi, 3 : LB, 526. i September 1520.

[I cannot definitely confirm the year-date but it may be noticed that Colet
:

(t 16 Sept, 1519) is not mentioned in the list of English friends. In 8ept, 1521
Erasmus was at Anderlecht.

46, lenta veniat] When these words 8. 18 Suet, Atig. 63) botween^oand
and
were written, the Bp. had been four 29 b,c, ; and referred
to an article by
weeks dead. For the circumstances M. Bahrfeldt in Berliner MimzhlaUer,
underwhich thenewsreachedErasmus 1912, The three figures are there ex-
see Ep. 1242. plained as a consul marching between
56. prouerbium] Adag. 1860, two lictors, and the bird as an eagle ;
59, numisma] In reply to a question and 112 knovvn spccimens arc enu-
Mr. G, F, Hill of the British Museum merated, two of which are in the
iit once identified this with the i-ather * Silesian Museum at Breslau, The sub-
mysterious l)ut not uncommon gold scription is in Gi*eek capitals, KOSnN.
coin struck by the Dacian or Getic
'
For a similar presentation of old
king, Coson (the Cotison of Hor, C. 3. coins seo Ep, 1145. 17-19.
1138] TO WILLIAM BUEBANK 333

William Burbank, or Smythson, (+ 1531) entered at Cambridge as a student

of Civil Law in 1495-6 {Camb. Grace Book B. i, p. 82). When he met Erasmus at
Rome in 1509, he was secretary to Card. Bainbridge ; and so remained till the
CardinaVs death in 15 14, when with Pace he acted as executor. He returned to
England with a strong recommendation to Henry viii (Brewer i. 5349 22 Aug. :

1514) and by 1516 was chaplain and secretary to Wolsey, and prothonotary
;

apostolic. When Wolsey visited Cambridge in 1520, Burbank was made Dr. of
Canon Law {Caynb. Grace Book B. ii, p. 78).
Like his friend Tones (1. i6n) he attested many important documents, and
served Wolsey in the survey of monasteries to be converted to the foundation of
Cardinal College, Oxford ; and in 1529 he enjoyed the King's confidence also
(Brewer iv. 5783). His preferment included two prebends at York, 1512 and
1524, and one at Lincoln, 1518 (Le Neve iii. 185, 218, ii. 236) and the arch- ;

deaconry of Carlisle, 1520 (Le Neve iii, 249; cf. Brewer iii. 741).
A copy of Petrus de Bella Pertica's Repetitiones, Paris, J. Poucin, i Sept. 15 15,
presented to him while prebendary of Lincoln by John Clifton, clerk, is in the
Bodleian (Antiq. e. F. ^^-^^).
The Wm. Burbanck, Anglus, who was M.A. at Paris in 1521, Vicar of Staines
1521-2, and till 1527 prebendary of Salisburj' {Afh. Oxon. i. 400), is probably
a dififerent person.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS GVLIELMO BVRBANCO, REVERENDISSIMI

D. CARDIXALIS EBORACENSIS A SECRETIS, S. D.

Is demum
vere amat qui gratis amat. At tu Erasmum immeren-
tem tam constanter, tam ardenter amas, vt vix quenquam inuenias
qui syncerius aut pertinacius aut vehementius amet promeritum.
Romae a me nullis prouocatus officiis quo affectu complecti coepisti I

Nec interim vel tantulum refrixit in me tua gratuita beneuolentia, 5

cum tot iam annis nullum id genus officiorum intercesserit, quibus
inter amicos solet ali renouarique charitas, alioqui desuetudine solita
languescere. O pectus amicitiae candorique natum quod ego ni !

redamem, tum non deprecor quo minus omnes me dicant adamantem

gestare in pectore, aut si quid adamante durius. ic

Atque hic quoque iuxta prouerbium gratia gratiam parit. Afflauit

tibi Montioius aliquid sui in me animi, et vtriusque studium tot mihi
in vna famiha amicos excitauit, ni fallor. Quid enim aliud in causa
esse coniectem ? nara quae dos aut quod officium meum sic inflam-
mauit Thomae Louelli, iuris pontificii doctoris, in me studium '? Aut 15
quae res eruditissimi viri Roberti Tonicii tam non vulgarem be-

TiT. REVERENDissiMi . . . A SECEETis om. H. S- tantulum F : tantillum H.

8. pectus] Cf. Epp. 905. i, 976. i. Lond. xviii. 50, LB. 686, 4 Sept. 1524.
11. prouerbium] See uidag. 34. R. Wakefold praises his knowledge of
15. Louelli] (+1524), subdean of Hebrew (Ora^io, 1524, ff. C^, E^ v°). In
Wells 1516 (Le Neve i. 157) and vicar- view of his age he can hardly be the
general to successive bishops, Adrian de Thos. Lovel who entered at Cambridge
Castello and Wolsey (Brewer ii. 2852, 1500-1, and was Dr. of Canon Law
iii. 2655 1264V I do not know
: cf. iv. there 1506-7 (Camb. Grace Books, B. i,
when lie had met Erasmus, but the pp. 161, 222, F. pp. 54,5).
attraction between them seemsto have 16. Tonicii] Robt. Tones, Tonnice or
been strong for when Zach. Deiotanis
; Tunnys (f 1526), a lawyer of high
(Ep. 1205. in)wenttoEngIand,Erasmu3 standing and clerk to the court of
gave him an introduction to Lovell, Chancery (Brewer iii. 1083). From
who sentback apresentof money with 1514 onwards (id. i. 5282) his name
an affectionate message. He was then appears in attestation of many iiupor-
an old man but still a student see ; tant documents ;sometimes in later
 334 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1520

neuolentiam conciliauit? Vnde Francisci Pliilippi, summae spei

iuuenis, tam singularis erga me fauor? Quid autem commemorem
non nouum quidem illum sed hoc spectatiorem amicum, Franciscum
20 medicum ? Quid doctorem incomparabilem Samsonem, cuius ingenio
nec optari quicquam potest purius aut amicius? Quid Gonellum
illum non amicum sed prorsus animae dimidium meae? Quid
Clementem, cui Morus amoris in nie sui scintillulas aliquot afflauit ?
Quid Ricardum Pacaeum, qui mihi plane Pyladem quendam non
25 tam pollicetur quam praestat ? Quid Cutbertum Tonstallum, cum
quouis priscorum conferendum, quoruni non ita multa paria cele-
brauit antiquitas ? O me diuitem o domum illam augustam ac
!

felicem o vere splendidum Cardinalem, qui tales viros habet in

!

( onsiliis, cuius mensa talibus luminibus cingitur I

30 Sed quam isti praeter meritum amant Erasmum, tam alii quidam
praeter meritum auersantur. Et vtinam maleuolentiae non esset
foecundior propagatio Verum mihi potius est paucioribus placuisse,
!

sed egregie probis, quam multis istorum similibus, qui fere aut stolidi
sunt et indocti, aut manifesto liuoris et inuidentiae morbo obnoxii,
35 aut ea ingenii peruersitate vt nemini omnino bene velint, sibi pro-
pemodum ipsis inuidentes. Sed obtrectatoribus mentem meliorem
precemur. Apud amicos tu fac nomenclatorem agas, ac nominatim
singulis ex me sakitem dicito. Bene vale, vir integerrime.
Louanii Cal. Septembr. Anno m.d.xx.

years conjoined with Burbank's. By 17. Philiijpi] Pei-haps Fr. Philips

15 15 he had entered the service of (?Felipez), a Spaniard who appears in
Wolsey (id. ii. 336), who employed him •JuJy 1517 in tlie service of Queen
in various confidential ways among — Kutharine, whom heliad followed out '

others in the foundation of Cardinal of Spain (Brewer ii. 3446, viii. 189).
'

College, and many commu-

Oxford ; He remained in her household with
nications were addressed to Wolsey unwaveringloyalty fetching miustrels
:

through him (Brewer, and Camh. Grace for her from Aragonin i5i9,and being
Book B. ii, pp. 109, 119). robbed near Narbonne carrying her
;

He accumulated liiuch preferment : appeals to Charles v at Valladolid in

three prebends at Lincoln successivoly, 1527 and 1528-9, and breaking his arm
the earliest in 1503-4 (Le Neve ii. 229, (Brewer iii. 202, v, pp. 306, 308, iv.
132, 167) otliers at York, i5i6(id. iii.
; 5856 cf. xi. 1436). In 1526 liis wife
;

180), Westminster, 1523, and Beverley is mentioned (id. iv, }). 865). After
(^Brewer iii. 2987, iv. 2001), also at Katharine's death Henry gave Philips
Salisbury (id. ii. 1076) and perliaps at a iiension the last payraent of wliicli
;

Norwicli (Bergenrotlr ii. 432). He was was made in May 1540 (id. xvi. 380).
still living on 28 Feb. 1526 (Brewer iv. 19. Fi-anciscum] John Francis, one
2001) but his prebends at York and
;
of the foundei's of the College of Physi-
Lincoln were filled up on 31 July and cians in 1518. His extant correspon-
24 Sept. (Le Neve) and in Oct. Wolsey dence with Erasmus begins c. 1524.
bouglit stuff from liis executors (Brewer 20. Samsonem] See Epp. 388. 35^.
iv, p. 2765). 780, 806.
In Sept. 1524 Erasmus
at Burbank's 21. Gonellum] See Ep. 274 introd.
request addressed a polite note to 23. Clementem] See Epp. 388. 173^,
Tones, saying that he had heard his 820.
praisos often from Moro (Lond. xviii. 24. Pacaeum] See Ep. 211. 43n.
40, LB. 701). 25. Tonstallum] See Ep. 207. 22n.
1139] 335

1005]^|39. To WlLLIBALD PlRCKHEIMER.

Epistolae ad diuersos y>. 481. ^ Louvain.
HN : Lond. xii. 13 : LB. 527. 5 Septenibev 1520.

ERASSrVS ROTERODAMVS CLARISSIMO VIRO BILIBALDO

PERCHEYMERO S.

NoN deerant, Bilibalde clarissime, qui mihi darent idem consilium

quod tu nunc prudenter quidem et amice, sed tamen sero das. Deus
auertat vt vllius hominis virulentia sic me a statu mentis dimoueat
vt laxatis maledicentiae habenis debaccher in famam alterius. Quid
enim hoc aliud sit quam cum insaniente insanire ? et sic alienam 5
vlcisci maliciam vt ipse fias malus ? Atque vtinam is sim qui iuxta
doctrinam Apostolicam benefactis malefacta vincam Certe decre- !

ueram obticescere, sed ab eo proposito duae tresue quaedam res

auocabant. Primum verebar ne si ipse dissimulassem, pro vno me
multi existerent, qui Leum multo inclementius accepissent quam ego 10
accepi. Qui etiam si durius aut eruditius aggressi fuissent hominem,
tamen haud scio an rcm aeque apposite fuerint tractaturi fortasse ;

quidam ignari quam nihil sapiat. quamque et apud suos contemptus

sit Leus, plus illi tribuissent quam meretur. Et vt est hominis
ingenium, hoc ipsum j^almarium ac triumphale iudicasset, si i:)luribus 15
celebribus et eruditis viris mouisset stomachum. Mihi tota hominis
natura et omnes negocii circunstantiae penitus erant cognitae.
Deinde toto biennio miris cuniculis egerat hoc, mirus his in rebus
artifex Leus, vt esset Annotationum suarum incredibilis apud omnes
expectatio. Scribebat sexcentas epistolas, ad hunc vsum habebat 20
amanuenses aliquot. Primus excipiebat aduenas, praesertim Anglos,
eos conuiuiis faciebat suos mox arte confictis mendaciis implebat,
:

sed mii-am interim modestiam simulans, quo maiore cum fide lederet
famam proximi. Abeuntes omni mendaciorum genere dimittebat
onustos. Quibusdam ostendebat etiam, si quid esset in Annotationi- 25
bus specie fronteque plausibilius. Monasteriorum fauorem xeniis,
cibo vinoque redimebat, praesertim horum quae sciret apud populum
opinione sanctimoniae comniendata. Habebat omnibus locis in quos
huius fabulae scenas fuerat partitus, quorum nemo non strenue erat
in negocio. His rebus tandem effectum est vt hi quoque redderentur 30
soliciti qui me probe norant et se Leum nosse putabant. Itaque si
nihil respondissem, pericukim erat ne ad menses aliquot alienatis
complurium animis periret nonnulla jmrs fructus quem tot vigiliis
venabar. Nam meae gloriae iactura sane leuiter mouisset animum
meum. Cur enim verear aliquam famae partem Christianis studiis 35
impendere, qui vitae bonam partem impendam ? Pi'oinde sic Leo
respondimus vt et illi stultissime speratam gloriam detraxerimus et
veterem nostram modestiae laudem tueremur.

TIT. CLARISSIMO VIRO Om. H. BILIBALDO H l lOANNI BILIBALDO F. PEKKMEY-

MERo HN^ : piERKHEYMEuo N^. 8. duo N. 26. H speciae F.
:

7. Apostolicam] Kom. 12. 21.

 336 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Habes, optime Bilibalde, consilii mei rationem, cuius me nondum

40 admodum poenitet etiam si nullius temporis iactura me grauius
:

affecit, quam illius sesquimensis quo Lei naenias, non minus in-
amoenas quam indoctas ac virulentas, et legimus et refellimus.
Porro quod vereris ne haec mea l^nitas multorum inuitet male-
dicentiam, ego grauius esse periculum arbitror ne, si maledicentia
45 maledicentiam inuitet, nullus sit insaniendi finis, quando iam prope-
modum res in rabiem exiit. Hoc consilio Deus vetuit ne quis de
Cain sumeret vindictam, ne reciprocis vindictae vicibus nuUus tandem
esset finis. Vtcunque res habet, ego sycophantarum turba malui
obrui, quam committere vt hanc gloriam amittam, neminem adhuc
50 scriptis meis factum esse nigrum. Nam Leus sibi imputet oportet,
si qui male de illo sentiunt. Porro quod suspicaris Leum subornatum
histrionem, vt monachorum ac theologorum partes ageret, quanquam
facile credam huius actionem gratam fuisse quibusdam qui male
volunt bonis studiis, tamen magis arbitror illi potissimum in consilio
55 fuisse proprium ingenium, ad haec natura propensum. Non alium
fuisse praedicant qui nouere puerum semper saeuus erat ac vindex,
:

omnibus inuidebat, non ferebat quenquam parem, multo minus

superiorem solus haberi in precio volebat, gloriolae erat sitientissi-
;

mus, suae sententiae mire pertinax. Talis erat puer, talis adolescens,
60 talis iuuenis talis nunc etiam vir est, nisi quod cum aetate fere
;

solent accrescere vicia. Atque vtinam vel senex fiat aliquando sui
dissimilis
Quod mihi plurimos non minus doctos quam potentes amicos
gratularis, quod nominis immortalitatem rectefactis partam, quod
65 me liuore maiorem nirnirum facis amanter, mi Bilibalde, dum
facis,
amicum vndique impetentibus sycophantarum machinis periclitantem,
vt tu putas, blanda consolatione subleuas. Ego istam immortali-
tatem nihil moror. Recte facta non agnosco, tantum adnisus sum
aliqua ex parte mea industria prodesse studiis publicis, et ad synceram
70 amplectendam Christi doctrinam excitare mortalium animos. At
vereor ne res in diuersum exeat. Hactenus ad scholasticam ac
disputatricem theologiam frigebant ac nauseabant piae mentes, et
mox ad Euangelicae veritatis gustum ceperant hilarescere sed tanta ;

contentione conspiratum est ab iis qui suam gloriam Christi gloriae

75 praeferunt, vt verear ne res in diuersum
exeat. Et haec geruntur
per eos qui vulgo habentur lux mundi, habentur sal terrae. Nunc
sanctum ac pium est in sacris concionibus pro veritate Euangelica
improbis mendaciis veluti de plaustris debacchari in famam proximi.
Et o peruersam maliciam, in odium quorundam et in gratiam
80 principum quoruni fauorem captant, ea praedicant apud populum
quae ipsi apud se damnant Nouos libros reiiciunt, sed qui bonis
!

literis, quas cane peius oderunt et angui, conditi sunt. Verum quid

41. affecit H : affecerit i^. 58. gloriolae erat scnps* : glorioleaera f : gloria-
rum H.

41. sesquimensis] See p. iio, and cf. was one of tliese : cf. Eev, p. 60 (Jortin
Ep. 1134. 26. ii. 648) and Ep. 1053. i3on.
43. mea lenitas] Cf. Ep. 1029. gn. 76. per eos] The monastic orders.
50. nigrum] Cf. Ep. 1007. 8in. 82. caue peius] Cf. Hor. Ep. i. 17.
56. nouere puerum] More no doubt 30.
1139] TO WILLIBALD PIRCKHEIMER 337

istiinterim suis nouis libris nos doceant, in praesentia nec vacat

nec libet referre et tamen pudet meminisse quod illos non pudet
:

scribere. S5
lam de Luthero nihil aliud dicam nisi quod in praesentia solum
impune licet, mihi vehementer dolere tale ingenium, quod videbatur
futurum insigne quoddam organum ebuccinandae vei-itatis Euange-
licae, sic exasperatum esse rabiosis quorundam elamoribus. Fabulam
de rvys 6pvL0o4>ayLas calumniatore risi satis, et tibi tam bono patrono 90
xenium debere me fateor.
De dulci felicique Lei ocio salse tu quidem iocaris sed tamen extra
;

iocum, vtinam ille vel nunc ad suum ocium redeat, expertus Martis
aleam Sed dicitur magno conamine redintegrare bellum, fretus
!

Abbate quodam longe stolidissimo, qui solus illius naenias appellauit 95

'
sacras Annotationes Quis credat illi micam esse mentis sanae,
'.

quem non pudeat re tam turpiter gesta rursum in harenam prodire ?

Quod si facit, certum est non colluctari posthac cum illa scabie.
Docti complures e Germania miserunt ad me fasciculos epistolarum,
seu potius volumina, quibus Leum frustuh^tim discerpuut. Eas 100
omnes sic pressi, vt nec legendas cuiquam dederim, siue quod cupiam
huius tragoediae finem esse, siue quod nolim Leum videri tanti vt in
illum tot ac tales viri stilum suum acuant. Quare sicut arbitror
plane esse, ita plane ludum ac iocum esse cupio quod minitaris,
Germaniam illi panegyricis annuis litaturam. Nam id si fiat, ipse 105
sibi plane Deus esse videatur.
In adornanda profectione Germanica plane Calippidem agimus.
Regiam tuam cupide videbimus, si modo citra magnum itineris
dispendium liceat. Mihi vero vel tugurium quauis regia splendidius
erit, quod habeat Bilibaldum. Sed ais pestem sub Caroli Principis iio
aduentum desituram. Quis vates istuc futvirum praedixit ?
Quod scribis ab Oecolampadio factum, iam ex illius literis sub-
odorabar futurum. Id siue iudicio fecit, siue animi morbo, quando
mutari non potest, praecandum est vt illi ac nobis quam optime
vertat. Video res humanas sic vndique corruptas vt nullis vnquam 115
saeculis existimem plus licuisse impudentiae, plus licuisse stoliditati,
plus licuisse sceleri. Et nonnunquam Hbet aliquo profugere sed ;

vereor ne quocunque me vertero, sequatur molestia. Proinde tutius

arbitror mali remedium ab animo petere potius quam a loco aut vitae
instituto. Bene habet quod Ciiristus in tanta viciorum caligine 120
nobis Euangelicae doctrinae scintillas reliquit. Bene vale, vir orna-
tissime. Louanii nonis Septembr. Anno m.d.xx.

100. voluminum H.

95. Abbate] Cf. Ep. 1074. 60. Calippidem] See Aclag. 543: 'qui
lor. pressi] See p. 210, and cf. Ep. in moliendis negociis, cum multa se
1157. 1-4. facturum minaretur, nihil tamea con-
107. profectione] See Ep. 1078. 62n. ficeret'. Cf. also Ep. 491. 3.
 338 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

1140. To Martin Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, p. 47. (Louvain.)

Horawitz v. 12. <? September 1520.)

[Only a conjectural date is possible, based on the movements of Lee. In July

he niet Erasmus at Calais (Ep. 1132. i8n). In Ep. 1139 the suggestion seems to
be thnt he had left Louvain in Ep. 1165. 25 he is certainly in England.]
:

DES'. ERAS. ROTE. SVO LYPSIO,

<S)i non est aliud incommodum nisi quod Origenes nimis magnum
est volumen, nihil est periculi. De Priore diue Agnetis niliil vnquam
sinistri sum suspicatus. sed de fratribus Zwollensibus, quanquam hoc
quoque leuiter. De vxore Listrii deque omissis Graecis literis com-
5 peri falso ad me scriptum fuisse, et exi^ostulaui cum eo qui scri-
pserat nam is est Listrio cum primis amicus.
;

Admonuit me Agnetanus de Augustino, sed humanissime nec ;

sum tam morosus vt huiusmodi admonitionibus offendar. Si nondum

satisfeci animo illius, non sum tam felix vt omnium animis satis-
10 faciam. Non postulabat ille locus vt Augustini laudes attollerem.
Et malo nonnullis paulo minus candidus videri in Augustinum
quam euincere me multo candidiorem esse quam istis videar.
Honestus est affectus quo tenetur D. Prior fauet enim autori suo. ;

Sic Thomam nemo satis laudat Praedicatoribus. Postremo tot habeo

15 fauentes, tot aduersantes, vt vix vacet de vno aut altero esse solli-
citum.
Leeus iam abiit, opinor, in Angliam re preclare gesta. Bene
vale.

1. Origenes] Erasmus was perhaps 1516 see Ep. 500. 21,2.

thinkingof Warham'sproposal(cf. Ep. 7. de Augustino] The Prior, when
1017. gn). at Louvain in the summer (Ep. 1116),
2. Priore] Gerard of Kloster ; cf. had pei-haps taken exception to some
Ep. II 16. reference to Augustine in Erasmus'
3. fratribus] of the Common Life ;
writings, without due meed of praise :

cf. Ep. 504. 26n. as Eck had done in Ep. 769. 80 seq.
5. scriptum fuisse] These false re- 8. tam morosus] Cf. Ep. 1076. 6n.
ports evidently were detrimental to 14. Thomam] 262^.
Cf. Ep. 11 26.
Lister: perhaps that his wife, for 17. in Angliam] In 6 of the Hoch-
§
whom see Ep. 660. 3-6, 24 (? 1519, straius ouans (see Ep. 1165. 22n) Lee is
not 1517: cf. p. 671 and BRE. 193 made to say that he had got himself
(March 1520), was dead, and that he recalled to England to be cliaplain to
liad giveii up teaching Greek in his the Queen. By Dec. 1520 lie was one
school at Zwolle.For the enthusiasm of the Kings chaplains (Brewer iii,
with which he had introduced this in p. 1543).
ii4ij 339

1141. To Gerakd Geldenhauer.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 490. Louvain.

HN : Lond. xii. 17 : LB. 528. 9 September 1520.

[The year-date is confirmed by the Bull against Luther.]

ERASMVS ROT. GERARDO NOVIOMAGO, REVERENDI EPIi^COPI

TRAIECTENSIS A SACRIS, S. D.

Brvgis non admodum Optarim te videre vultu

niihi placebas.
illo nitido ac florulento.Etiam atque etiam te i'ogo vt per tuam
facundiam intelligat D. K. munus ipsius mihi longe gratissimum
esse, quanquam hactenus non vacauit gratias agere. Et malim id
agere libello victuro. Dixeram me nonnihil abhorrere a praebendis, 5
ne mihi res sit cum capitulis. Nunc huic quoque incommodo
videor dispexisse i"emedium.
Male metuo misero Luthero sic vndique feruet coniuratio, sic :

vndique irritantur in ilhim principes, ac praecipue Leo Pontifex.

Vtinam Lutherus meum sequutus consilium ab odiosis illis ac 10
seditiosis abstinuisset Plus erat fructus ac minus inuidiae. Parum
!

esset vnum hominem perire si res haec illis succedet, nemo feret
:

illorum insolentiam. Non conquiescent donec linguas ac bonas

literas omnes subuerterint. lam Cai^nionem rursus aggrediuntur,
tantum odio Lutheri qui me dissuadente nomen illius suo negocio 15
:

admiscens, et ilkim degrauauit inuidia, et sibi nihil omnino profuit.

TIT. REVERENDI SACRis om. H. 3. D. R. F: optimus praesul H.

I. Brugis] See Ep. 1129. in. been given against him ; cf. Ep. 1 135.
3. D. R.] dominus reuerendissimus, i8n.
Philip of Burgundy see Ep. 603 in-
: 15. me
dissuadente] In response,
trod. perhaps, to Luther"s letter of c. 5 May
munus] Perhaps in acknowledge- (see p. 286) Erasmus had written to
ment of the dedication of the Para- Luther to tliis effect c. Aug. 1520 cf. ;

phrase : Ep. 1043. Ep. 1186. 5-6, and, for Luther's reply,
5. Dixeram] Evidently to the Bp. Ep. 1166. gon. A sentence of the letter
of Utrecht ; for whose relations with is preserved in LE^. 352, 11 Oct. 1520,
Erasmus in this matter cf. Epp. 714, ' Erasmus scribit aulam Iniperatoris
751. They had met at Mechlin in esse mendicotyrannis occupatam, vt
Aug. 1519: see Ep. looi. 7-8. nulla in Carolo spes esse possit ' : as
abhorrere] Cf. Ep. 456. i68n. he had written to Melanchthon in
7. remedium] The arrangeraent June (Ep. II 13. 37-8). Its general
made with Barbirius and de Hondt tenour is given in Ep. 1672 of 7
(cf. Ep. 1094) seems to have satisfied March 1526 :
'
Lutherum ante annos
Erasmus for the time. For another quinque literis priuatim scriptis ad-
recent attempt to obtain preferment monui vt ad tam periculosum nego-
for him see Ep. 1065. cium, si suo fideret spiritui, adhiberet
10. consilium] Ep. 1033. 50 shows animum modis omnibusincorruptum'.
that Erasmus waa thinking of Ep. 980. Erasmus himself hadoften associated
38 seq. cf. Ep. 1143. 25-6.
: the nanies of Reuchlin and Luther
odiosis illis] For this usage of a together see Epp. 967, 1033, 1041,
;

neutor plural in an oblique case cf. Ep. 1155. i8n, 1167. 94 «eq.
1164. 6. 16. admiscens] In no. 26 of the Reso-
14. rursus] Since judgement had lutioncs clisjjutatlonum de indulgmtiarum

Z 2
 340 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Disputauit Eccius Hoochstratus promiserat nescio quos syllogismos,

;

quibus omnes cedere cogerentur. Disputabant atque etiam scribebant

Louanienses. Expectabatur iudicium Academiae Parisiensis, et ecce
20 res de repente in Bullam et in fumum exitura videtur. Excusa est
BuUa formidabilis, sed quam Pontifex vetuit publicari. Vereor ne
res in grauem tumultum exeat. Qui haec suadent Pontifici, dant
illi mea sententia consilium, non dico quam pium, sed certe pericu-
losum. Res e pessimis fontibus primum orta est, deinde pessimis
25 rationibus hucusque prouecta. Ex odio bonarum literarum et stoli-
ditate monachorum primum orta est haec tragoedia. Deinde magnis
conuiciis, maliciosis conspirationibus huc vesaniae res progressa est.
Quo tendant nulli dubium est, nimirum vt oppressis his literis quas
illi nesciunt, impune regnent cum sua barbarie. Ego me huic
30 tragoediae non misceo. Alioqui paratus est vel episcopatus, si velim
in Latherum scribere. Mihi dolet sic obrui doctrinam Euangelicam,
nosque cogi tantum, non doceri et doceri ea a quibus abhorrent et
;

sacrae literae et sensus communis. Bene vale, charissime Gerarde,

et quid valeas scribe. Louanii v. Idus Septemb. Anno m.d.xx.

1142, Feom George Schirx.

Breslau MS. Rehd. 254. 136. Milan.
EE'^. 4. 10 September 1520.

[An original letter, autograph throughout. The dates are confirmed by

another original letter of Schirn, also dated lo Sept. 1520, from Milan, and
addressed to Beatus Rhenanus (BRE. 178). In it Schirn states that hc had just

17. Hochstratus r^'. 33. charissime i^X^ : clarissime JN'^ Zond.

virtute,(Wittenberg, J. Griinenberg, c. as he was still in France, Erasmus

•A-Ug.) 1518 see LE -. 79, 88, 91 and
; must have been sounded by some one
Luthers Werke in Aumvahl, ed. 0. Clemen, in advance. The offer was renewed
i (1912% p2>. 15, 78. later at Cologne (p. 371): cf. the account
17. Eccius] At Leipzig in June 1519 : given, on the authority of Henry, prior
see Ep. 1020. 6fln. of Gund, with Erasmus' Axiomata on
No book by Hoch-
syllogismos] behalfof Luther (see pp. 370-1), f°. B* ;
strat with this title is known. In '
Oratores eidem Erasmo Roterodamo
1521-2 he produced Cuin diuo Augustino promiserunt Pontificis verbis pinguis-
Colloquia contra enormes atque peruersos simum episcopatum, si pro Pontifice
Martini Lutheri errores. contra Lutherum scripturus esset. lis
19. Louanienses] Cf. Ep. 1030. i6n. vero Erasmus respondit, " Maior est "
Parisiensis] The Determinatio of inquiens '"Lutherus quam ^vt) in
the Theological Faculty had been long illumscribamego. Maiorest Lutherus
expected (cf. Epp. 1033. ii6n, 1 167. 383 ;
quam vt a me
intelligatur. Piane
LE". 255, 376 ME. 69 Zw. E^. 160)
; ; Lutherus tantus est vt phis erudiar et
but it was not published till 15 April proficiam ex lectione vnius pagellae
152 1 (Ep. 1202. 22on). Lutherianae quam ex toto Thoma " '.
20. BuUam] Exsurge, Lomine, excom- In Ep. 1143 Erasmusevadesmention
municating Luther. It was issued in of tlie offered bishopric but in Ep. ;

Rome, 15 June 1520, and publishod in 1180. 11-12 Leo hintsat it again.
Meissen by Eck, 21 Sept. Paquier, J. Aleandre, p. 167^, on the
30. episcopatus] This proposal came ground of Ep. 1236. 1 13-14 considors
from the Papal side ; not, as in 1516 that Erasmus' words quoted above are
(cf. Ep. 475. 4n), from the Spanisb. It apocryphal but that inference seems
;

was nodoubtcarried by Aleander; but, hardly necessary.

1142] FROM GEORGE SCHIRN 341

written this letter to Erasmus when 'aliquorum ex relatu Erasmum debitum

iam exoluisse naturae maximo, testor Deum, stupore et maerore percepi ' :

'
Heu' inquiens, 'estne nobis iratus Deus ? Extinctumne dicitur lumen mundi,
quo solo tenebrosa errorum in Scripturis propulsa fuit caligo?' He then asks
Beatus to send on the letter, in case Erasmus should after all be still alive but ;

if he were dead, to indicate what he thought had been Erasmus' opinion of

St. Bernai'd.
Beyond these two letters I cannot discover anything about Schirn. His
monastery, Caravallis or Chiaravalle, 4 ms. s. of Milan, was founded in 1135.
After a temporary reformation by monks of the Etruscan Congregation from
' '

Settimo, 1465-74, it reverted to its direct i-elations with Claii-^^aux : to which its
own name is often assimilated. See P. F. Kehr, Eegesta Pontificum, Italia vi. i,
19 13, 1). 120.]

S. D. Nulla profecto scnbendi intencio a me protracta in longum

adeo fuit vnquam, Erasrae doctorum doctissime, nulla dictandi racio,
vt haec ad te praesens, difficiliorem a me promeruit egressum.
Quoties enim mecum ipse cogitabam ad quem esset scribendum, si
ad te scriberem, qualis quantae quamque variae scripta nostra quo- 5
dammodo barbara vel ab omni vtique venustatis grauitatisque decore
aliena erudicionis adirent hominem, continuo animus decidebat
omneque secum dictandi auferebat institutum, tuique nominis de
memoria gloriosi Mosaica ceu cornuta facie debiles nostri intellectus
absterrebantur ocelli. Atque in hoe (ni fallor) non accusandus magis 10
quam venia dignus videor, quod eius viri iudicium tantopere per-
horruerim qui ob ingenii prestanciam multiplicemque doctrinarum
omnium cognicionem omnium animos in sui admiracionem solus
conuerterit qui Germanorurn non solum quorum (alii nolint velint)
;

proprius est, sed et Italorum exterarumque nacionum testimoniis 15

omnium fons disciplinarum predicatur vbique indeficiens, a quo
noui cotidie cartacei riuuli pro studiosorum palatus refrigerio ema-
nant quam largissime. Permagna tamen, quae passim cum tuis es
epistolis, opuscuHs atque libris, tum omnium vno viuencium ore
de te vulgatur humanitas, benignitas multiplexque virtus omnem 20
timoris effugauit pallorem, quodque pericia, quae in me est nulla,
declinauit, tua quae ceu vinum cor hominis laetificat, bonitas mini-
strauit. Aequo igitur animo et solita qua omnium soles (humanitate),
has nostras oro suscipias (sint qualescunque) literulas pro perj^etuo
in te nostri amoris signaculo nil enim (testor Deum) dulcius nostro
;
25
personat auditui, nil alacrius nostris se presentat obtutibus, nil cordi
haeret tenacius Erasmi nomine. Nam si magnae Philippus Macedo
foelicitatis aestimauit indicium Aristotelis philosophi natum Alexan-
drum temporibus, foelicissimo certe auspicio nostra Erasmum ha-
buisse tempestate studiosi omnes gloriabimur a quo quicquid in ; 30
literis est decorum, quicquid occultum, proficuum, idoneum et scitu
dignum, Apollinis velut ab oraculo percipimus absolutissimum. Ha-
bemus, certe habemus, praesenti in seculo quod admirari possimus,
ne semper veterum ingenia suspiciamus. Tuis enim libris, Erasme,
bonaruni sanctaruraque literarum assertor optime, nii potest esse 35
venustius, nil elegancius, nil succi plenius, grauius, apertius, diuinius

23. humanitate add. Enthoven; cf. vv. 20, 116.

g. Mosaica] Cf. Exod. 34. 29-35. cornuta] Cf. Adarj. 82.

15. 2>'M"''"^] ^f- Ep. 1147- 28, 29nn.
 342 LETTEKS OF EEASMUS [1520

et ab omni parte qua quid in literis desiderari possit. nil desideracius.

Hinc est quod dum
ab insipidis quaestionariorum (vt sic dicam)
nexibus barbarisque subducor syllogismis tuosque in libros ame-
40 nissimum tanquam paradisum meme recipio, mirum quanta vbique
sermonis vt electissimorum fructuum reficiar dulcedine.
Cum autem nuper, cui Verae Theologiae Compendium indidisti
nomen, in manus accepissem opuscuJum, legissemque ipso in loco
quo sacrae theologiae gnauiter castigas abusores, ac inter eos sanc-
45 tissimum doctorem Bernardum, mei ordinis instauratorem glorio-
sissimum, commemoras, ilico substiti et, quasi noui et insueti fructus
saporem accepissem, gelidus inme diriguit sanguis. Verum id vsu
venit quam
saepissime, vt alicui nouus et ingustatus primo displiceat
cibusdum vero aedendi consuetudinem habuerit et ab his qui
;

50 vtuntur saepe, vim eius virtutemque intellexerit, non commestor

tantum sed vorator fiat auidissimus. Quod et mihi omnino (ne iocis
epistoha careat) in peponibus contigit, quorum cum primo in Italia
mihi apiDonerentur, nec modum nec vsum vescendi habui vllum
(plurima siquidem, vt scis, Alemannorum pars ipsis caret) ; luinc
f5 autem vix quod mensae apponitur nostrae, libencius commedo quic-
quam. Sic quoque, mi Erasme, literarum in exercicio vbique fere
accidit, vt dum minus dictiones, sentencias auctorumque animos
intelligimus, ipsis de non intellectis auctoribusque male sentimus
quam saepissime at postquam rite omnia intelliguntur, non semel
;

60 id probari, laudari et extolli quod ante displicebat, compertum est.

Ego vero tuorum omnium quosvidi librorum, nevna saltem quam
ista commotus, ne dicam offensus, sentencia fui vnquam. Quis enim
tam bono de homine, meliori philosopho, optimo theologo oftensionis
materiam caperet vllam ? Nescio tamen quo de ista modo in Ber-
65 nardum locutione noster, quantumuis sit exiguus, suam extra con-
suetudinem dissentire videatur intellectus. Quantum enim de
sanctissimo isto patre suisque operibus agnoscit ^fiiialis in iudicio
absitamor professionisque vnitas), nusquam eum non grauiter,
nusquam non apte, non rite, non summa cum maiestate sacra vsum
70 Scriptura probat. Denique preter hoc et in aperto sua sunt opera.
Vitae ipsius scriptores, profecto non vulgares, quique ipsum viuen-
tem in terris a cunis quasi et amicicia et literario nonnunquam
congressu nouerunt, tibi directe contradicunt. Haec enim, si bene
memini, in suae vitae libro leguntur verba Canonieas autem scrip-
:
'

75 turas simpliciter ae seriatim, libencius ac saepius legebat. Nec vllis

42. Verae Theologiae] See Ep. 745. Bernard occurs in Ejjp. 15. 35, 39. 150.
45. Bernardum] Sunt qui ludant
'
858.513.1033.83, 1 173. 173. 1202. 17,
verbis Scripturae diuinae, ac, veluti 1206.109,1236.159,1313.91,1334.136;
fit in centonibus poetarum, ad alie- butnot frequenth'inErasmus'writings.
numsen.sum ceu per iocum abutuntur. 47. diriguit] Cf. Verg. Aen. 3. 259,60.
Quod aliquoties faeit diuus Bernardus, 74. vitae iibro] In the liCe by Alan
venuste magis quam grauiter, meo ofAuxerre(tii82 ,whichisan abridge-
quidem iudicio. Sic enim imbiberat nient of the earlier composition by
vir illepraeclarus sacras literas vt William of St. Theodore's at Rlieims.
nusquam non occursarent (LB. v. ' In this passage the two agi-ee with
129A). Tho passage ^vas added in only slight differences, but in these
Martens' issue of Nov. 1518, f». p^^v» Schirn's text always foUows Ahxn's :
(see Ep. 745 introd.); and in spite wbich seems not to have ))een printed
of Schirn's protest was left standing before Mabillon'sedition of 1690, vol. ii,
in the later editions. The name of pp. 1072, 1248.
1142] FKOM GEOEGE SCHIRN 343

magis quam ipsarum verbis eas intelligere se dicebat, et, quicquid

in eis diuine sibi elucebat veritatis aut virtutis, in primae sibi originis
fonte magis quam in decurrentibus exposicionum riuis sapere testa-
batur. Sanctos tamen (et) ortliodoxos earum expositores humiliter
legens, nequaquam sensibus eorum suos sensus equabat, sed subiicie- So
bat formandos, et vestigiis eorum fideliter inherens saepe de fonte
vnde illi hauserant, et ipse bibebat etc. '

Existimas, vir praeclarissime, venerabilem illum patrem diui

Augustini super Psalmum xlviii ignorasse sentenciam, qua dicit
'
Omnia diuina eloquia salubria esse bene intelligentibus, periculosa 85
vero his qui ea volunt ad sui cordis peruersitatem detorquere potius
quam suum cor ad eorum rectitudinem corrigere ; hancque esse (in
hominibus) magnam et vsitatam peruersitatem. Quia cum debeant
ipsi viuere secundum voluntatem Dei, Deum volunt (viuere) secun-
dum voluntatem suam ; et cum ipsi nolunt corrigi, illum volunt 90
deprauari, rectum non arbitrantes quod ille vult, sed quod ipsi
volunt ', etc.
Absit sanctissimum patrem tali vsum forma Scripturis, vt suam
potius quam Dei probare voluisset sentenciam. Culpa profecto esset
nullis expianda victimis, nulli competens sanctitati. Non tamen 95
dixerim tuis id verbis de eo vel sensisse vel dixisse (licet mihi fere
similia representent), quando vltima pars tuae ibidem sentenciae
amplum satis et honorificum de eo claudit preconium. At nec tuum
quidem, sed meum accuso ingenium, meam ignauiam et insciciam:
qua praepeditus, quid eisdem sencias verbis, intelligere possum 100
minime. Te ergo, nouum bonarum sanctissimarumque literarum
patrem et omnis discipline magistrum, hortor, obsecro et obtestor,
amicabili (quamuis adhuc non promeruerim) epistola lucidior.-que
sentencia meam velis illustrare hebitudinem, vbi vel quibus in locis,
aut certe quo in opere et qualiter, idem sanctissimus pater venuste 105 '

magis quam grauiter' diuino vsus sit eloquio quatenuspropheticarum ;

quodammodo coloquintidarum appositus mihi sapor, erudicionis tuaq

sale conditus, fiat quam suauissimus. Nouicius enim sacra sum in
theologia atque tyrunculus, methodique, meliora in ea quo accedun-
tur, percupidus. Quem tuo si magisterio facilius habuero, vt prae- no
ceptorem, vt dominum, vt iDatrem perpetuo et amare et honorare te
non desistam. Maiorem quoque in modum tuam oratam velim
dominacionem, vt suorum in albo, non dico amicorum tale enim —
sertum nostro vix conuenit capiti
nouissimorum, me depingat.
—
sed discipulorum, et quidem
,

115
Si quid mihi responsi, quemadmodum tua de humanitate haud
dubito, decreueris dare, fac quo possit modo in monasterium sancti
Ambrosii Mediolanense Abljati vel Cellerario presentari nec offen- :

90. illum Aug. : ipsum MS. 91. deprauare MS.

84. Augu^tini] Enarr. in Ps. 48. i. I oflRce, held for a few years. The
have lestored the text of Augustine ;
present abbot was Angehis Plattus,
about which there seems to be no who held the position three times,
doubt in this passage. Schirn's 1519-21, 1522-5, 1529; and on each
variants are probably mere degenera- occasion was also President of his
tions. congregation throughout Italy. Seo
118. Abbati] Theabbacy ofSan Am- Barth. Aresius, S. Amhrosii . Abhatum
. .

brogio at tliis period was a rotatory ihronologica series. Milan, 1674, i>p. 66-8.
 344 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

daris, vir doctissime, ignoti mei audacioribus forte quam vel meae
120 conueniebant liumilitati vel nominis tui decebant ad magnitudinem,
literariis accessibus. Nil mihi, haud dubitatim credas, contingeret
optabilius quam te, quem ex literis solum celeberrimaque fama
cognoui, coram cernere et admirari, illaque suauissima et omni
maiestate referta, vt ex literis, vt hominum ex relacione, sic aureo
125 ab ore percipere verba. Vale, nostri saeculi specimen, literarum
saluator omnisque disciplinae sacrarium.
Ex Carauallae, insigni Cistercien(sis) ord(inis) coenobio prope
Mediolanum iiii Idus Septembris Anno etc. 1.5.2.0.

Georgius Schirnus Alemannus, ordinis Cisterciensis, etc.

130 Erasmo Roterodamo, Germanorum decori, theologorum principi et

vtriusque linguae professori etc, domino suo colendissimo.

1143ij8o To Leo X.
Epistolae ad diuersos p. 535. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiv. 5 : LB. 529. 13 September 1520.

[This letter was occasioned partly by the iiiformation, which had reached
Erasmus by 31 July (Ep. 1123. 8-11) througli Aleander (Ep. 1167. 120-2), that
Ep. 980 had aroused comment in Rome — information which made it important
to disavow his indiscreet introduetion of the name of the Bishop of Li6ge ;
partly by the necessity of giving an answer to the oflfer of a bishopric if he would
write against Luther (cf. Ep. 1141. 3on). ©ver the latter quostion he glides
skilfully, and without mentioning it nianages to convey a graceful refusal at ;

the same time taking the opportunity to make clear his attitude towards Luther,
ashehad already done to other important personages in Epp. 939, 961, 967, 1033.
The year-date is confirmed by Ep. 1180.]

BEATISSIMO PATRI LEONI EIVS NOMINIS DECIMO ERASMVS

ROTEROD. S. D.

Tametsi non metuebam, beatissime Pater, ne tua bonitas impelli

posset ad laedendum insontem, aut tua prudentia temere crederet
improborum calumniis tamen quoniam eani video tot negociis ex
;

toto vndique orbe inundantibus pulsari, simulque considero inauditam

quorundam improbitatem, qui coniuraiunt in bonas literas, nusquam
.«;

cessare, niliil non audei-e, nullum non mouere hapidem, arbitratus

sum nonnihil mea referre hac vehit antidoto praemunire sanctitatem
tuam, oculatissimam quidem iHam sed pariter occupatissimam. Esse
video qui, quo magis communirent factionem suam, conati sunt
lo causam bonarum literarum, causam Reuchlini meamque causam cum

1143. 7. hnc F Corrig. : hoc F. veluti iV. 8. paritor 0(W. //.

1142. 129. ctc.] In BRE. 178 Schirn liimself in his own mind from Reuch-
writes in place of tliis, '
theologorum lin (cf. Ep. 1155. i8n) as wcll as from
minimus'. Luther but tliis letter might well
:

130. Germanorum] Cf. I. 15 n. have given rise to thu opiniou that he

1143. 10. meamque] Ep. 1167. 94 soq. identified Reuchlin's causo with his
shows that Erasmus still dissociated own and that of good learning.
1143] TO LEO X 345

Lutheri causa coniungere, cum his nihil sit inter se conimune.

Atque id semper tuni oratione tum scriptis aeditis testatus sum.
Lutherum non noui, nec libros illius vnquam legi, nisi fol-te decem
aut duodecim pagellas, easque carptim. Ex his quae tum degustaui,
visus est mihi probe compositus ad mysticas literas veterum more 15
expLinandas, quando nostra haec aetas immodice indulgebat argutis
magis quam necessariis quaestionibus. Bonis igitur illius faui, non
malis, imo gloi'iae Christi in illo faui.
Ferme primus omnium odoratus sum periculum esse ne res exiret
in tumultum a quo sic abhorrui semper vt nemo magis.
;
Proinde 20
minis etiam egi cum loanne Frobenio typographo, ne quid operum
illius excuderet. Scripsi tum crebro tum diligenter amicis, admone-
rent hominem vt in scriptis meminisset Christianae mansuetudinis,
seruiretque semper Ecclesiae tranquillitati. Et cum ipse prior ad
me scripsisset ante annos duos, amanter admonui quid illum vellem 25
euitare cui consilio vtinam ille paruisset
: Eam epistolam audio !

delatam ad tuam beatitudinem, in odium opinor mei, cum magis

fauorem tuae sanctitatis mihi conciliare debuerit. Quid enim illic
omitto cuius non illum admoneam ? Ciuiliter quidem id facio, sed
ita citius proficitur quam austeritate, et ignoto scribebam. Postea- 30
quam formam ac ceu regulam homini praescripseram, ne quid offen-
deret admonitionis libertas, subiicio, Haec scribo, non vt te admo- '

neam quid facias, sed vt quod facis, perpetuo facias videlicet ' ;

imaginans illum iam sponte sua facere quod illum facere volebam.
Quod si mihi placuisset ea scribendi ratio qua prius vtebatur 35
Lutherus, quid opus erat illi tot verbis nouam formam praescribere ?
Et tamen hunc locum scio quosdam impudenter ad calumniam
sed magis illud quod adieceram, hic esse plures illi
detorsisse,
fauentes. Id sane vere scripseram. Bonisillius hicfauebant plurimi,
non quam ego fauebam. Hoc illum scire volui, non vt his 4°
aliter
fretus pergeret seditiose scribere, sed vt ad formam a me praescrip-
tam moderaretur stilum, si vellet horum fauorem esse perpetuum.

12. testatus sura] But cf. Epp. 1141. 1225. 273-5. But in Ep. 1526 Erasmus
1511, 1155. i8n. seeni&to indicate that his intervention
15. probe compositus] Tliis approval through friends liad begunin 1517-18,
of Luther more advanced than tliat
is shortlyafter theappearanceof Luther's
in Epp. 939, 967, 1033 where Erasmus : Tlieses.
does not venture to do more tlian com- 25. annos duos] A loose statement
mend Luther's repeated,life. It is eighteen months had not yet elapsed
more handsomely, in Ep. 1167. 124-43. since Ep. 933 was written. See also
mysticas] i. e. sacras ; cf. Ep. 1. 49n, and cf. Epp. 1098 introd.,
1167. 127, arcanas. iiii. sSn, 1166. 6n.
21. Frobenio] See Ep. 1033. 47^. 26. consilio] Cf. Ep. 1141. i^n.
There had been further opposition epistohim] Ep. 980.
quite recently see an autograph letter
: 32. subiicio] Ep. 980. 52. Thequota-
of Hedio to Capito from Bas:le,23 June tion here, as in Ep. 1162. 178-9, is not
1520 (Brit. Museum Add. MS. 21524, liieral: but in Ep. 1167. 226 it is re-
f. 5;, Quid hic actum sit hisce die-
' produced correctly. A rcport sent by
bus de Lutheri operibus non ampdius Hezius toRome from Liege in Oct. 1525
imprimendis longum fuerit scribere. (Balan 261, p. 553) sliows tliattliissen-
Praesente Egi-ano acta est comoedia ;
tence liad been quiclily fastened ui)on
a quo auditurus es'. lO" Egmondanus, aiid no doubt other
22. Scripsi] As in Epp. 947. 33-5, opponents of Erasnuisat Louvain, asan
983. 8-12 and nodoubt in theanswer
; indicationof hissympatliy witliLuther.
to Ep. 938. Cf. Epp. 1202. 66-7, 167-70, 38. adieceram] Ep. 980. 36-7.
 346 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Nomen Episcopi Leodiensis quomodo admixtum sit demiror apud

Lypsienses, qui nescio quo consilio epistolam arcanam euulgarunt,
45 cum Basileae non fuerit additum. Illud verissimum est, illi nihil
prorsus vnquam fuisse rei cum Luthero, nihilo magis quam mihi.
Quod si maxime nomen fuisset additum, non alio sensu fuisset
additum quam modo sum interpretatus. Eam epistolam scripsimus
ferme ante biennium, et res nondum ad hanc acerbitatem processerat,
50 et ad disputationem erat prouocatum. Si quisquam vel inter pocula
audiuit me Lutheri dogmata tuentem, non recusem vocari Lutheranus.
At non impetii meo stilo hominem, Primum refellere non poteram
nisi priussemel atque iterum attente legissem. Ad id mihi non
erat ocium, plus satis occupato meis studiis. Deinde videbam rem
55 esse suj)ra modulum eruditionis et ingenii mei. Ad haec nolebam
Academiis in hoc occupatis suam praeripere gloriam. Postremo
metui tot liotentium virorum odium in me prouocare, praesertim
cum nemo mandasset hanc prouinciam. Quare si quid isthic me
calumniantur bonarum literarum hostes, in tua prudentia meaque
60 innocentia mihi certum est praesidium. Non sum tam demens vt
contra summum Christi vicarium ausim quicquam, qui ne peculiari
quidem episcopo meo velim aduersari. Non sum tam ingratus vt
tuae in me plus quam paternae indulgentiae non respondere laborem.
Hoc meum qualecunque est ingeniolum, Christi gloriae gregisque
65 Christiani tranquillitati seruiet. Quisquis erit huius aduersarius, is
et meus erit.
Luthero ne tum quidem i^atrocinabar cum vtcunque liberum esset
fauere. Tantum impetendi modum improbabam, non Luthero con-
sulens sed autoritati theologorum. Videbam rem ex odio linguarum
70 ac bonarum, vt vocant, literarum natam. Videbam acerbis odiis et
seditiosis apud populum clamoribus rem geri, quibus nihil aliud
efficiebant quam vt nobilitarent opera Lutheri, et vulgus hominum
ad auiditatem legendi prouocarent. Si prius refellissent Lutherum
et animis hominum exemissent, deinde libros exussissent, totum
75 Lutherum citra tumultum orbis abolere poterant, siquidem id mere-
batur quod isti praedicant. Libera ac generosa ingenia doceri gau-
dent, cogi nolunt. Hoc consilium ^^ro theologis aduersus Lutherum
quidam perperam interpretarentur.
faciebat, nisi
Decreueram hyemare Romae, consulturus in locis aliquot biblio-
80 thecam tuae sanctitatis sed hi principum congressus nie remorati
;

sunt. In proximam hyemem spero me adfuturum. S. T. incolumem

tueatur Christus Opt. Max.
Louanii Id. Septemb. Anno m.d.xx.

43. Leodiensis] Cf. Epp. 980. 3611, with the work which he had now in
104 1. 22-3. hand (cf. Ep.
1167. 1-4). For the
44. Lypsienses] See Ep. 948 introd. tliird edition of the New Testament
and cf. Ep. 1202. 200. (Ep. 1174. rsn) he wished to see the
49. ferme anto bienniiun] On 30 Codex Vaticanus (cf. Epp. 373 introd.,
May 1519. Cf. I. 25n. 1213) and he may have thought, too,
;

51. Luthoranus] Cf. Ep. 1162. 222n. of mss. of Augustine (cf. Ep. ii44- 7^)-
56. Academiis] Cf. Ep. 1033. 255^. But whenever he was turning Soutli,
74. exussissent] See Ep. 1157. 6n. Italy came into his view see Epp. :

76. generosa ingenia] Cf. Ep. 1 153. 300. 4on, 333. 30-34, 334. 32 seq., 770
i52n. introd., 775. 3, &c., 1236. 179-82.
79. Romae] Besides other attractions 80. congressus] cf. Ep. 1106. 93^.
tlie preseut phin was in part connected 81. S. T.] sanctitatem tuam.
 144] 347

1144. To Francesco Chieregato.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 543. Louvain.

HN : Lond. xiv. 14 : LB. 530. 13 September 1520.

[Contemporary with Ep. 1143. There is perhaps a trace of an answer, which

is not extant, in Ep. 1183. 18-19. -A- letter of Longolius from Padua 21 Nov.
(1520) (Lo. E. f. 112 v°), shovvs that Chieregato sent thisletter for him to see.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS D. FRANCISCO CHIREGATTO, IVRIS

VTRIVSQVE DOCTORI ANGLO, S. D.

Animvm istum tam candidum, tam propensum et expositum, si

non exosculer, sim quouis Geta inhumanior. Fortasse paucis aeque
dolet hic Lutheri tumultus ac mihi quem vtinam aut initio potuis- ;

sem exchidere aut nunc componere Sed res tota, vt est nata malis !

initiis, per monachos quosdam suum agentes negocium, ita malis 5

progressibus ad hanc vsque rabiem deducta est. Impius sit qui non
faueat Romani Pontificis dignitati sed vtinam sciat ille quantum ;

officiant illi stolidi quidam qui sibi videntur eam pulchre tueri
Crede mihi, si quid credis, nuHa res magis commendauit Xutherum
affectibus populi quam horum stolidi clamores apud populum. Et 10
interim nullus illorum refellit Lutherum libris aeditis quod vt ;

facerent, semper hortatus sum. Videbam enim vna hac via Lutherum
opprimi posse, si talis esset qualem illi traducebant. Nam qui
hactenus aduersus Lutherum scripserunt, nec his satisfaciunt qui
Luthero pessime volunt. Ac vide sceleratum consilium quorundam 15
quibus inuisior sum ipso Luthero non quod illi faueam id enim : —
sciunt secLis habere —
sed quod faueam bonis literis, quibuscum illi
,

iam olim belligerantur sed quod theologos ad fontes reuocarim

;
;

sed quod admonuerim quibus in rebus sita sit vera religio.

Cum Bulla prodisset quae iubet eos praedicare aduersus Lutherum, 20
inter j^ocula fecerunt huiusmodi decretum duo tresue TTTujxuTvpoivvoL,
vt me cum Luthero traducerent apud popuhim.
Hic est quidam K-rjpvKTyjs, vir indignus cuius nomen mandetur
literis, homo indoctus, natura fatuus ac Morycho stultior, et sensu

TiT. D. om. 11. ivKis VTRivsQVE DOCTORi ANGLo om. II. 2. Fortassis N.

Trr. Anglo] I cannot exjjlaiu this But Exsinge, Domine does not do more
designation unless Chieregato
: re- tlian enjoin that Luther sliould be
ceived his degree at an English uni- publicly proclaimed in church as a
versity, perliaps at Cambridge in con- heretic at timesof Divinoservice(§ i6).
nexion with the coremonial opening Thespecificcommand topreach against
of St. John's in .July 1516 (cf. Ep. 433. him i.s contained in the Bull of ex-
2n). He was just then in Enghind communication, Decd Romanum, 5 Jan.
see Ep. 639 introd. 1521, § 6.
4. ros tota] Cf. Faber's Coixsilinm 21. irTOJXoT^po.vvoi] sc. nionachi (cf.
(see p. 357) Constat rem esse natam
:
'
Ep. 998. sgn) ; see Ej». 1192. 31-2.
ex malis initiis, nimirum ex odio bona- 23. Evid.^ntly
KTjpv/cTTji] Vineent
rum literarum odioqueliuguarum ';
. . . Tlieodoiuci soe Ep. 11 96 introd. and cf.
;

with which cf. Ep. 1143.69-70. the description of him in Epp. 1166.
20. Bulhi] Cf. Ep. 1141. 2011. 42 4, 1186. 16-19.
praedicare] Cf. Ep. 1153. 128-g, 24. Morycho] Cf. Ep. 1087.5801.
 348 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

25 communi carens, effrons, muliebri procacia linguae qui relictis ;

rebus omnibus tantum blaterat in Erasmum, nec vnquam pudescit

aut lassescit.
Est alter candido pallio, sed ater animo, stolidus ac furiosus, adeo
morosus vt toti sit grauis Academiae. Hic cum publicaret Bullam,
30 plura dixit de me in concione quam de Luthero. In publica lectione
semper coniunxit nomen Lutheri cum meo imo in quadam lectione :

Fabrum Stapulensem perstrinxit. Cum enim dixisset nos non

concordare, adiecit, Nunquam inquit, conuenit inter haereticos '.
'
'
'

Hunc sequuti duo e sodalitio Dominicali tam scurriliter debacchati

35 sunt in nomen meum apud i>opulum, vt res ad tumultum spectaret,
etiam me dissimulante, et Academiae proceres, quanquam alioqui
mihi non admodum aequi, cogerentur illis imponere silentium.
Idem factum est Antuuerpiae.
Brugis erat Minorita quidam a suffragiis Episcopi Tornacensis,
40 a vino lippus, qui totas horas deblaterauit apud populum in
Lutherum et Erasmum, subinde nos bestias, asinos, grues, stipites
appellans, nec quicquam tamen refellens. Cum in altera quadam
concione palam dixisset in libris meis esse quaedam haeretica, quidam
e magistratu doctus adiit hominem, rogauit quid esset in libris meis
45 tale. Vide quid hic responderit scurra Episcopus. Non legi inquit, '
'

libros Erasmi,
'
Volui legere Paraphrases, sed Latinitas erat nimis
alta. Timeo igitur ne possit labi in aliquam haeresim, propter altam
Latinitatem '.
Tales sunt fere omnes qui hic clamant in Lutherum, et qui, vt
50 ipsis videtur, defendunt sedem Komanam cuius dignitati nemo non :

fauebit, sed hos rabulas nunquam ferent cordati viri. Quos si nosset
Pontifex ita vt nos nouimus, in nullos magis saeuiret quam in istos.
Vtinam esset mihi tantum autoritatis apud Pontificem quantum est
syncerum animi mei studium erga illius dignitatem dedissem !

55 consilium et ipsi conducibilius et orbi sakibrius. Clamoribus ac

terroribus fortassis hoc fiet, vt malum ad tempus prematur, sed mox
maiore pernicie erupturum. His rationibus efficietur, non vt pau-
ciores Luthero faueant aut melius de Eomano Pontifice sentiant, sed
vt cautius dissimulent. Hactenus certe vidimus fieri vt horum

49. hic om. N.

28. alterl Egiiiondaims, the '

White dateg of his official acts have beeii col-
Friar' ; cf. Ep. 1196. 105-6. lected by Doni U. Berliere iu Les
candido pallio] Cf. Epii. 1153. 89, (JccqufsauxiUairesdeCambraietdeTouniai,
1196. 106, 562, 1225. 15, 1235. 5-6. 1905 see also G. Brom, Archiralia in
:

32. Fabriuu] Tliisutterance isgiven Ito/k,i, 1908, no. 1254, andGC. iii.452D,

most fully in the Apologia qua respondet, 239B. Erasmus ajjiDealed to the Bishop
f. F^ v°, Jortin ii. 521 cf. Epp. 1162.
; of Tournay against him (Ep. 1212),
T29-32, 1 192. 51-2, 1 196. 574-5. repeating tliis story with littlo varia-
34. duo] Evidently tlie Dominican tion as also in Ejjp. 1192 and 1581.
;

Prior (Ep. 1164. 48^) and Laurentius Cf. Ep. 1183. 128; where alta (1. 47)
(Ep. 1166. 26n) cf. Ep. 1147. 91.
; becomes o6scM»-a.
38. Ajituuerjnael Cf. Ep. 1 192. 41-4. 44. o niagistratu] Very likely Crane-
39. Minorital Nicholas of Bureau . velt :see Ep. 1145.
(Burellus), a Franciscan of Tournay, 47. possit] Tliis rather unexpected
and bachelor of tlieology. He was tcf. Ej). 1192. 38 cr. n) reading is found
apjiointed suffragan to thc Bp. of in all the other versions (L 39U) of
Tournay 2 Dec. 1519, with the title the story.
of Bp. of Sarepta :
f 1551. Numerous 55 consiHuni] Cf. j). 357, aiid 1. ^n.
1144] TO FEANCESCO CHIEKEGATO 349

minis ac vociferationibus irritati, et acrius fauerint qui antea frigide 60

fauebant. et fauere coeperint qui antea paruni erant aequi.
De me nihil est periculi. Nunquam ero neque magister erroris
neque dux tumultus. Et tamen vix credas quibus modis inuitatus
sim vt me vel paululuni Lutherano negocio admiscerem cuius si ;

spem vllam facere voluissem, Lutherana res longe secus haberet. 65

Sed absit haec cogitatio ab animo Ei'asmi. Hactenus praedicaui
quietem et eoncordiam, hactenus laboraui Christo. Et instat vitae
terminus non relinquam institutum, nec amittam coronam. Eabulas
;

hos, dedecora ordinis sui, Christo iudicandos relinquo quanquam se ;

magis laedunt quam me, sic passim ab illis alienatur populus. 70

Nunc aedimus omnia opera Augustini castigata et scholiolis illustra-
ta. Hoc confecto declarabo quam mihi displiceant homines seditiosi,
quam ex animo faueam sedi Komanae, etiamsi illa huius vermiculi
fauore non eget. Cui hoc etiam fauebunt impensius optimi quique,
si iUa synceris animis fauebit gloriae Christi. Nec enim ahis 75
ornamentis oportet esse splendidum summum Christi vicarium quam
quibus excelluit ipse Christus. Literas tuas accepi resignatas caute ;

fac igitur vt scribas. Proxima hyeme videbis me Eomae, modo vita

suppetat ac valetudo. Bene vale, patrone optime. E. D. Vuigornien.
me commendabis diligenter. Louanii Id. Septemb. Anno m.d.xx. 80

1145^1-.. From Francis Cranevelt.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 562. Bruges.
HN : Lond. xv. 4 : LB. 532. 19 September 1520.

[The year-date is confirmed by More's visit to Bruges.

Francis Cranevelt (3 Feb. 1485—4 Oct. 1564) of Nymegen was educated at
Louvain, where he was first in philosophy from the College du Faucon in 1505,
and was LL.D. 1510. He is mentioned with praise in a commendatory letter of
Dorp, 24 Jan. 1512, prefixed to the Saiyrae, Louvain, Th. Martens, 13 June 1515,
of his fellow-townsman, Geldenhauer; one of which is addressed to him. In
15 15 he became pensionarius to the magistrates of Bruges
' '
and in that posi-
;

tion delivered an oration of welcome to Wolsey, 14 Aug. 1521 (see pp. 551-2).
On27 Sept. 1522 he was appointed a member of the Grand Council at Malines ;

where the remainder of his life was spent. His ofticial duties did not pi-event
him from maintaining an interest in learning and literature cf. Rescius' dedi- ;

cation to him of Plato Leg., Louvain, 31 March 1531, which credits him with
having learnt Hebrew without a teacher. He translated Homilies of Basil,
Louvain, Rescius, 1534-5 '>nd in 1534 Procopius' Be lustiniani Imp. aedificiis,
1

first printed at Paris, C. Wechel, 1537 (cf. OE. p. 602). Later he edited the
posthumous publication of Vives' De veritate ficlei Christianae, Basle, J. Oporinus,
Jan. 1543. He composed an epitaph on Erasmus in 1536 (OE. pp. 580-8, 595) and ;

verses by him appear in Th. Loher's edition of Dionysius the Carthusian's com-
mentary on the major Prophots, Cologne, Qiientel, Feb. 1543. Vives writes of
his character vvith great admiration in 1523 see his Aug. Ciu. Dei, xix. 21.
:

p. 660. In Erasmus' will of 22 Jan. 1527 (ed. L. Sieber, Basle, 1889, p. 9)

79. R. D. F: Episcopo //.

71. Augustini] See Epp. 844. 255^, 78. Romae] Cf. Ep. 1143. 790.
1174. 17, 1204. 26, 1212. 44, 1309. 79. Vuigornien.] Gigli see Ep. 521
:

77. Literas] Not extant. introd., and cf. Epp. 1079, 1181.
 350 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1520

Cranevelt is named as one of the recipients of the projected edition of Erasmus'

collected works.
A colleetion of original letters addressed to Cranevelt, 1522-8, vs^as discovered
recently at Louvain (see articles by Prof. de Vocht and the late Prof. de Jongh
in the Melanges Charhs Moeller, Louvain, 1914) ; in one of which it is stated that
lie owed to Dorp his introduction to Ei-asmus. See also Val. Andreas, p. 181 ;
F. Neve in BN, reprinted in his Eenaissance en Belgique, 1890, pp. 212-14 ; and
Geldenhauer's Collectanea, ed. J. Prinsen, 1901. An autograph letter by Cranevelt
to Mons. Nicolai, from Mechlin 21 Mav 1555, is in the British Museum (Add.
MS. 21524, f. 80).]

FRANCISCVS CRANEVELDIVS ERAS. SVO S. D.

NoN possum non agere tibi gratias, vir vndecunque doctissime,

quanquam ineptioribus meis literis, pro tuo illo nuper in me collato
beneficio, cuius erit apud nos sane memoria sempiterna quod ego :

tanti aestimo vt ne Croesi quidem opibus redimi patiar. Quod,

6 inquis, beneficium ? Quod me ad suauissimum illum Morum tuum,
imo nunc nostrum, deduxeris apud quem post tuam abitionem ;

frequensfui, vocante quidem illo cuius ego non tanti facio ras :

quanti eruditionem, humanitatem, libera-

TpaTre^as vTrep Tas iv 'XlklXul,
litatem. Proinde plurimum tibi debere me profiteor. cupioque tibi
10 grati animi signa demonstrare. Deinde i^lurimum mihi dolet quod,
cum adesses Brugis, tam raro te inuiserim friuolis quibusdam ;

negociis occupatus, vt occasionem illam multa simul optimaque

discendi, sic e manibus elabentem, non vel mordicus apprehenderim.
Memini quid tu dixeris de Flandricis moribus sed velim tibi ;

15 persuadeas me totum esse tuum, nec his ipsis esse contaminatum.

Morus abiens SaKTvXLov xP^<^ovv donauit vxori meae, in quo verbis
Britannicis yeypaTrraL, Bona voluntate censeri omnia. Mihi vero
vetusta nomismata dedit, aureum argenteumque in altero est :

Tiberii effigies, in altero diui Augusti. Quae te scire vokii, quia pro
20 his etiam tibi me debere gratiam semper confitebor, Yale et me, si
quid possim, vtere. Brugis xiii. Cal. Octob.
Feuinus noster valet, et suo nomine salutem asscribi voluit. Anno
millesimo quingentesimo vigesimo.

TIT. svo om. H. 8. aiKiXia H. 15. his FN^ is X^ Lond.

: iis iV^ LB. :

21. Octobris H. 22. H : Feninus F. Anno ... 23. vigesimo add. HN^:
Anno M.D.xx N^ Lond.

5. Morum] During the visit 0^25-29 '

You are fuU of pretty answers. Have
July ; see Ep. 1129. in. you not been acquainted with gold-
8. TpaiTf(a^] Cf. Adag. 1168 'Syracu- : smiths' wives, and conned them out of
sana mensa i^raelautaatque opipara di- rings?': also a little volume entitled
cebatur',with reference toLucian,D«'aZ. Love's Garland, or Posies for rings, ka^id-
Mori. 9. 2. For the English charac- kerchers and gloves, London, 1624, re-
teristic see Ep. 77. i^n. printed by J. O. Halliwell, 1851.
14. de Flandricis moribus] Cf. Ep. 18. nomismata] More's interest in
412. 56-7. Roman coins is shown by his verses
17. Bona voluntate]The British *De nummis antiquis apud Hierony-
Museum has a xv'. English gold ring mum Buslidianum seruatis p. 265 ' :

with this motto, al is god wele

: : :
;
of his Epigrammata, Basle, Froben,
see 0. M. Dalton^s Catahgue of Finger March 1518. For such presents cf. Ep.
Rings, 1912, no. 292. For thecustom cf. ii37- 59u.
Shakespeare, As You Like It, 3. 2. 287-9, 22, Fcuinus] See i>. 64.
1146] 351

1146. To JoHN Alexander Brassicanus.

Musae et Gratiae f*. A-. Antwerp.
26 September 1520.

[At some date after 13 Sept. (Epp. 1143,4") Erasnius went to Antwerp, where
he stayed, as usual, with Gilles. His purpose was, no doubt, to be ready for the
visit of Charles v, which had been announced for 15 Sept. (Brewer iii, App. 14),
but did not take place till 23-28 Sept. (Gachard ii. 28). It appears that Brassi-
canus called upon him and succeeded in obtaining the following letter of com-
pliment, which is of the same class as Epp. 874, 875, 981, 985. Next day he visited
the friends again, and enjoyed conversation with Erasmus: one of whose remarks
he noted down on the spot. This he afterwards sent to Vadianus, among whose
correspondence at St. Gallen it is preserved VE. 219% It runs '
:

' loannes Alexander Brassicanus rogauit Erasmum qua ratione doctus posset
fieri. Eespondit ex tempore si doctis assidue conuiueret, si doctos axidiret non
:

minus submisse quam honorifice, si doctos strenue legeret, si doctos diligenter

edisceret, denique si se doctum nunquam putaret.
'
Antwerpiae, in aedibus domini Petri Aegidii, anno a nato lesu mdxx, mensis
vnbris die xxvu.'
Subsequently Brassicanus printed the present letter in a vohime entitled Musae
et Gratiae, Vienna, J. Singren, 9 July 1524. and dedicated to John Faber (Ep. 386
introd.), his friend and patroii, who was now Ferdinand's minister.
John Alexander Brassicanus (Kol 15000^1—25 Nov. 1539) matricuhited in
:

Jan. 1514 at Tubingen, where his father had taught in the town-school, and was
M.A. 21 July 1517. He continued in the University, teaching on humanistic
lines but c. May 1519 went off in the train of Maximilian of Bergen, ambassador
;

of Charles v (MHE. iii. 22,3% HE. 181 shows that he made tlie acquaintance of
Hutten. Just at this time he visited Erasmus, and i-eturned with him to
Louvain, where on 8 Oct. iie witnessed the burning of Lutlier's books (Ep. 1157.
6n) and sub.sequently he went on to Cokigue (BRE. 189). From Dec. 1520
;

(ibid.) to Jan. 1521 (VE. 233, 238) he was at Constance, staying with John
Faber, then Vicar-General, to avoid an outbreak of plague at Tubingen but oy :

May he had returned to liis University, where he began to study hiw (CE.
ii. 1-4), and where he gained tlie praise of Eeuchlin as vtills eruditor' (MHE.
'

iv. 44). On Reuchlin's death, 30 June 1522, Brassicanus was iuvited to succeed
him as Professor of Philology at Insolstadt by 19 Oct. he was in ofifice, and by
;

6 Nov. had become LL.D. (MHE. iii. 54). But he was not happy there and ;

though afterwards, like Faber, a staunch Catholic, he incurred for a time su-
spicions of favouring Luther. In consequence, with Faber's aid, lie secnred in
April 1524 an invitation to Vienna where he was installed in the King's College,
;

and taught successively Rhetoric, Civil Law, and Greek. The important work
of his life was the discovery of mss. Between 1524 and 1526 he accomi^anied
several missions to the court of Louis of Hungary, and took the opportunity to
examine the library of Matthias Corvinus at Buda which was doomed shortly
:

to fall into Turkish hands. He was allowed to carry away with him a number
of Mss. others he discovered in the abbey of Melk, on the Danube above Vienna.
;

Among the numerous publications of his early years thei-e was, as Erasmus
said (Lond. xx. 66, LB. 966), nothing memorable. But in 1529, so far as ill-
health allowed, he began a series of patristic publications, woiks of Gennadius,
Salvianus, Eucherius, Haymo, Potho, based on mss. he had found. In the
preface to Salvianus, Basle, Froben, Aug. 1530, he dcscriJ)es what he saw of
the library at Buda in Eucherius, ibid., Aug. 1531, f°. aa* v°, he attributes the
;

destruction at Vienna to Gennan troops rathcr than to the Turks.

With Erasmus his relations were at first most agreeable. One of liis oarliest
acts after his degree was to make a copy of the lulius Exclusus, 24 Aug. 1517 (Ep.
502 introd.) in 1520 oame the present visit in 1522 tliey were in friendly
; ;

correspondence (CE. ii. 5, 6) in 1529 he lectured on one of the Colloquies

;

(Vienna MS. 10575, ff- 60-80). But in 1533 bitterness had intervened (LB. App.
372 Whether this lasted to the end is not clear. In a preface, 6 Feb. 1539,
.

to Hugo Eterianus' Be anima corpore iam exata, Cologne, Gymnich, 1540, Brassi-
canus writes with good feeling of the master whose opinion of Hugo he is glad
 352 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1520

to quote : but the letter he refers to, mav have been wiitten in 1530 (cf. Lond.
XXX. 53, LB. 1146) or 1531 (EE. 155).
See a life by W. Hartl and K. Schrauf, pp. 43-101 in their Nachtrage, 1898, to
Aschbacirs Gesch. der Wiener Univ., with an admirably detailed bibliography :

also CE. ii, MHE. ii, iii, EE. and VE. Many of his books and a few of "his mss.
are now in the Eoyal Library at Vienna. Some letters and verses which passed
between him and Wolfgang Rychard of Uhn, 1517-35, are copied into the latter's
Letter-book, now in the Town Library at Hamburg (Wolf MS. 4°. 49).]

DES. ERASMVS EOTERODAMVS ERVDITISS. IVVENI 10.

ALEXAXDRO BRASSICANO SVO S.

Gratvlor tibi, mi Brassicane, qiii virenti adhuc iuuenta in rhetorica

pariter ac poetica facultate eo laudis progressus sis quo paucis senibus
venire contingit ; gratulor seculo nostro, quod in omnibus ferme
regionibus multos tui similes profert. Ornat quidem eruditionem
5 tuam laurea tuis virtutibus tributa a Caesare Maximiliano, qui non
temere sed summo delectu solebat honorem hunc largiri, non vendere ;

immo nemini donabat honorem quem eundem non

donaret munere.
Quod quidem exemplum vtinam nostri pontifices imitarentur in rebus
sacris, quod ille praestitit in prophanis Etiamsi sacrum est quicquid
!

10 ad honesta studia pertinet, sed tamen pulcherrima gloriae laurea,

quam eruditissimis scriptis tuis promereri perges, nullo vnquam aeuo
marcescet.
Quod Erasmum tot laudibus oneras verius quam ornas, rectius
facies si facundiae tuae felieius argumentum
Quod, vt quesieris.
15 scribis, totus Erasmicusvide etiam atque etiam ne exemplum non
es,
admodum probum sumpseris. Est fortassis in Erasmo quod imitetur
aliquis at non sapiat, mea quidem sententia, qui totum conetur
;

exprimere. Absolutius exemplum vel haec aetas dabit adeo passim :

exoriuntur
20 TToAAoi fxa$rjTaL KpetTTore? 8t8ao"/caX(joi'.

Quid aliis sit cum l)arbaricis cohortibus

animi qui primi apud nos
luctati sunt nescio ego certe me sic obscurari gaudeo, atque hoc
;

sane impensius gaudeo, quod cum apud Italos olim nemo fere bonas
literas profiteretur quin ingenii laudem insignibus morum vitiis
25 contaminaret, nunc nulli fere sint incorruptioribus aut sanctioribus
moribus quam qui politiorum Musarum sacra colunt.
Bene vale, doctissime Brassicane. Antuerpiae. vi. Calendas
Octobris. Anno m.d.xx.

5. laurea] I do not know when tliis 14 Dec.-4 Jan.at Linz, 26 Jan.-26Feb.

was conferred, nor for what coniposi- at Augsburg see his itinerary by
:

tion. In some verses in W. Rychard's V. Kraus in Archiv f. oesierreich.

Letter-book (f. 83), dated 12 Dec. 1517, Geschichte, Ixxxvii (1899). Brassicanus'
Brassicanus does not use this title : interview with him was perhaps at
but by 4 March 1518 he has it (MHE. Augsburg.
iii. i). Between those dates Maxi- 20. 7roA.Ao(] Cf. Ep.962. 3on, 31.
milian made only two long halts : 22. obscurari] Cf. Ep. 1107. 8n.
1147] 353

1147. To Peter Manius.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 524. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 43 : LB. 533. i October 1520.

[Evidently of the same period as Epp. 1144, 1 164-6. Tlie name of Peter
Manius seems not to be otherwise known P. Kalkoff thinks that it may be :

fictitious (Zw. E^. p. 4i6n). The note on 1. i6 suggests that he belonged to the
Hague, and that his letter here ansvvered was written at the end of 1519.
As Erasmus had been at Antwerp with Charles (p. 351), he probably accom-
panied the further progress of the Emperor who on the way to Aachen for liis
;

coronation was at Malines 29-30 Sept. and Louvain 1-8 Oct. (Gachard ii. 28).
One result of this contact witli the Court was the request to write Epp. 1149-52.
Another was a visit from a young man who had come from Spain in the
Emperor's ti-ain, Ferdinand Columbus (^1488-1539), son of the explorer, and
founder of the Bibliotheca Colombina, which is now incorporated in the Library
of the Dean and Chapter of Seville Cathedral. One of its books is a copy of
Erasmus' Antibarbari in the first edition, Basle, Froben, May 1520 (Ep. 11 10).
On i°. a* v" is a presentation inscription in Erasmus' own hand, Don. Ferdi- '

nando Colon / Erasmiis Roterodamus dono dedit after wiiich the recipient ' :

added, Louanii die Dominica Octobris septima die anni 1520

'
qui quidem :

Erasmus duas primas lineas sua propria manu hic seripsit '.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS PETRO MANIO EX ORDINE

DOMINICALI S. D.
MiHi sane non vno nomine grata fuit tua epistola, vir optime, sed
varius quidam casus eam mihi nunc eripuit, nunc restituit vnde ;

factum est vt hactenus ilH non responderim. Principio cum reddere-

tur, vix erat vel legendi ocium post vlji nonnihil daretur ocii, inter
;

literarum fasciculos ita delituit vt mensibus aliquot diu multumque 5

quaesita non quita sit inueniri. Tandem vltro non quaesita ad
manus venit, et, vt inquit Ouidius, non inuenta, reperta est. Eam
rursus seposui in primum oeium quod obtingeret. Kursum periit,
nec diuinare possum quo pacto. Proinde ne suspicere mihi tuas
literas parum fuisse gratas, aut me adeo fastidiosum vt pigeat 10
hominis, licet ignoti, tamen, vt ego coniicio, probi et eruditi, literis
respondere, ex mea memoria petam quod eram ex epistola peti-
turus.
Primum, si satis commemini, commemorabas quanto studio, quanto
applausu, quantaque gratulatione totius populi, sed praecipue eruditio- 15
rum, sit acceptus publica concione Martinus Dorpius et huius laudis ;

portionem aliquam in me conabare transfundere, quasi ille quod tahs

vir euasisset, nonnihil deberet meis lucubrationibus. Deinde narra-
bas istic esse complures qui mea summo studio complecterentur, rur-
sus esse nonnullos qui pari odio auersarentur et Erasmum ipsum 20
et Erasmi libros: atque in hoc numero quondam fuisse te quoque
priusquam nostra legeres verum euoluendis ac pensitandis nostris
;

voluminibus sic esse transformatum in alterum hominem vt nullius

scriptis aeque delecteris, atque vnice iam adames illum prius execra-
tum Erasmum. Sub haec veluti iam familiaritate nonnulla mecum 25
contracta duo quaedam rogas primum ne quid Graeci sermonis
:

17. II : conabere F.

7. Ouidius] 31. I. 654.

r6. acceptus] Perhaps at the Hague in the autumn 0^1519 ; cf. Ep. 1044.
 354 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

admisceam scriptis meis, ne lector eius linguae rudis alienetur

deinde ne patiar vt Gallia sibi me asserat, sed ingenue fatear
Batauiam esse Germaniae i>artem, videlicet ne tanta gloria frau-
30 detur.
Ad qnae vt paucis idque praepostero respondeam ordine, primo
mihi non admodum referre videtur quo quisque sit loco natus et ;

inanem quandam gloriam arbitror, si ciuitas aut natio se iaetarit quod

vnum aliquem genuerit, qui suis studiis, non patriae praesidiis,
35 magnus ac celebris euaserit. lustius gloriatur quae magnum fecerit
quam quae genuerit. Atque hactenus ita loquor quasi quicquam sit
in me de quo possit sibi placere patria. Mihi satis est si non pudeat
illam mei quanquam Peripateticus non prorsum improbat eiusmodi
;

gloriam, quae calcar addere possit ad honestarum rerum aemula-

40 tionem. Huiusmodi si quid esset in me, optarim vt non Gallia
modo ac Germania me sibi vtrinque vindicarent, sed singulae
regiones, singulae vrbes Erasmum sibi certatim assererent vtilis :

esset error qui tam multos ad honesta prouocaret. An Batauus sim,

mihi nondum satis constat. Hollandum esse me negare non possum,
45 ea in parte natum vt, si cosmographorum picturis credimus, magis
vergat ad Galliam quam ad Germaniam quanquam extra contro- ;

uersiam est totam eam regionem in confinio Galliae Gernianiaeque

sitam esse.
Quod aliquoties nonnihil Gi'aecismi meis scriptis admisceo, non
50 solum id facio doctorum pene omnium exemplo, siue veteres siue
recentes expendas, sed etiam multo, vt opinor, moderatius caeteris,
nunquam certe sine causa. Sunt quaedam quae, nisi Graece dicuntur,
aut emphasis vim aut allusionis iocunditatem aut schematis gratiam
perdunt. Quin incidunt interim quae nolim protinus a quouis
55 intelligi. Et haud scio an exj^^ediat passim aliquid aspergi sermonis
Graecanici, quo magis omnes compellantur etiam ad linguae multis
modis necessariae cognitionem. Etenim si par esse iudicas ideo me
in totum abstinere a Graecis, quod sint a quibus non intelligar,
eadem opera vetabis ne Latine scribam, quod plurimi sunt qui Latine
60 nesciant. Et tamen non inficior esse locum vbi charitas se demittit
ad captum simplicium verum iis quatenus sit indulgendum. non
;

est huius temporis i^ersequi. Semjjer illis est adnitendum vt ad

meliora proficiant.

52. dicantur K. 59. sunt F : sint H. 60. nesciiint H. 62. per-

sequi H prosequi F.
:

28. Gallia] Cf. Epp. 321. 13^, 421. Corn. Gerarcl's Batatda, p. 50). Quite
31-3, 926. 33, 928. 40-2, iiii. 81, rt-cently Geldenhauer had resumed
1165. 47. the discussion \n De Batauvrum insula,
29. Batauiam] For the learned con- Antwerji, M. Hillen, 19 Sept. 1520 in ;

troversy over the identificatlon of the the preface to whieh he describes

Batavia of Caesar and Tacitus see Ep. Erasmusas Batauorum Germanorum-
'

78 introd. Bcsides the works there que immortale decus'. See J. Prin-
mentioned by Dorp, Geklenhauer, and sen's life of Geldenhauer, pp. 19, 55-9.
Cornelius Gcrard (Ep. 17 introd.), The earlier works mentioned, except
Erasmus too had exprossed his views Snoy's, are repriuted by Scriverius
in an addition to the adage Auris in Infor, Gennaniae Antiquitatcs, 161 1.
Baiaua. Snoy also alludes to it in his 38. Peripateticus] Ar. Bhet. a. 10.
De rebus Batauicis (Ep. 190. lon ; ef. 46. ad Galliam] Cf. Ep. 534. 31.
II47J TO PETER MANIUS 355

PoiTo complures esse vehementer infensos nobis nostrisque studiis,

etiam si tu non scripsisses, tamen quotidianis rumoribus abunde 65
discimus. Neque enim isthic solum vei'umetiam passim in omnibus
pene oppidis atque hic denique Louanii, tui ordinis sodales et horum
symmachi Carmelitae tam stolide debacchantur apud imperitam
multitudinem in optimas literas, nonnunquam et in nomen Erasmi,
vt me sane pudeat referre quae illos non pudet dicere. Atque haec 70
imputarem priuatae stoliditati paucorum, nisi id tam passim facerent
vt ex composito facere videantur, tam impune vt patrum plebisque
consensu geri sit verisimile. Nam
si non pudet euomere tam insul-
sas naenias, tam vana, tam atrocia conuicia in his concionibus quae
doctrinae Euangelicae dicatae sunt, quid eenses illos effutire apud 75
stultas mulierculas, apud deliros senes, apud superstitiosos idiotas,
apud simplices adolescentulos, quibus grauis est et oraculi instar
istorum autoritas? Atque vtinam, mi Petre, contingat omnibus
quod tibi scribis vsu venisse Id non tam mea proprie referi'et quam
!

publice vestri ordinis, cui tales rabulae non leuem concitant inuidiam ; 80
vt ne commemorem interim quod et populum detractionis tabe
inficiunt, qua non alia lues capitalior, et sacri sermonis eleuant
autoritatem.
Bene habet quod, vti scribis, iam victus es, expugnatus es,
transformatus es. At mecum interim quam belle agitur, in cuius 85
immerentis famam, vt est coniectandum, digna atque indigna loquutus
es. Qui religionem absolutam protitentur, hoc diligentius oportet
a linguae virulentia temperare, quod hac ratione, vt facillimum est
laedere, ita diflficillimum est mederi et tamen fere videmus, qui
:

piaculum esse ducunt vesci carnibus aut aliter cingi, morbum hunc 90
longe sceleratissimum pro ludo habent. Sunt hic duo vestri sodalitii,
alter theologus, alter theologiae candidatus, quos si velim vieisci,
non alia via magis conueniat quam commendando literis quae illi,
mire sibi placentes, quotidie vociferantur in nomen et studia mea, in
quibus nihil omnino sapiunt. Est et Carmelita quidam, theologus 'J5

coryi^heus, quem nunquam sui pudet, quum quotidie videat se

publice rideri ab omnibus. lam quemadmodum magnopere faueo
gloriae Dorpii mei, quem ob eximias ingenii, doctrinae facundiaeque
dotes ne tum quidem odisse poteram quum a malis choragis aduersum
me subornaretur ita non video quid illinc mihi debeatur hiudis, nisi
;
1°°
fortasse quod olim adolescentem hortatus sum ad meliora studia, et
lucubrationibus meis vel incenderim nonnihil illius studia vel
adiuuarim. Aut ego fallor, aut illi succedet quod nos parum
feliciter conati sumus. Bene vale, meque tuis precibus Claristo
commenda. Louanii cal. Octobr. Anno m.d.xx. 105

93. commenclando F, cf. Brut. ap. Cic. Fam. ii. lo. 2: mandando 11. 103.
adiuuerim H.

76. idiotas] See Ep. 1153. i^in, and 91. duo] Cf. Ep. 1144. 34^.
cf. Ep. 1090. 18. 95. Carmelita] Egmondnnus.

A a 2
 356 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

"201148. To CoNRAD Frick and Laurence Esinger.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 539. Louvain.

HN : Lond. xiv. 11 : LB. 459. i October (1520).

ERASMVS ROT. R. P. CONRADO SCHVTERANI ET LAVRENTIO ETHO-

NIS MONASTERIORVM ABBATIBVS, PROVINCIAE BRISGAVDIAE,
S. D.

Zasivs ille nihil facit noui, qui, dum sic vbique praedicat Erasmum,
vt ex musca plusquam elephantum non vobis solum verum
faciat,
etiam aliis multis imponit sed prius ipsi imposuit amor quidam
;

immodicus. Quanquam hac in parte prorsus ignorat rerum mearum

5 statum. Nullus est mortalium qui libentius abstinet ab aulae
commertio quam Erasmus. Et illic valere non potest nisi qui
subinde suo fultus choro fabulae partem agat. Ego nec factiones
ambire possum, nec ingerere memet, nec alium cubito protrudei-e ;

nec ignorat vestra prudentia qualis sit aula Caesaris, nimirum belua
10 capitum innumerabilium, adeo vt si mihi incidat aliquid negocii,
malim iactura rei ocio meo consulere quam persequi.
Ascitus quidem sum in ordinem consiliariorum, sed ita vt ne
vocatus quidem adsim, tantum abest vt memet iiigeram. Et tamen
non grauabor causam vestram pro viribus adiuuare, si se dederit
15 occasio quanquam citra meam operam non dubito quin sit succes-
;

sura, nimirum iustissima apud Principem iustissimum. Habet enim

Carolus praeter alias egregias dotes illud vel praecipue dignum
imperio, quod aequi iustique tenacissimus est, et folli quidem potest,
corrumpi vero non jDotest. Id eo magis confido fore, quod, vt
20 scribitis, iam vos coeperit illius clementia tueri aduersus violentiam
illius qui vobis facessit negocium. Bene valete, Patres ac domini
cum primis colendi mihi atque obseruandi.
Louanii Cal. Octobris. [Anno millesimo quingentesimo decimo-
nono.]

TiT. R. p. 01«. H. scHVTTERANi B. 19. Id Qo H : Ideo F. 23. Anno . . .

decimonono add. H.

8. cubito protrudere] Cf. Ep. 250. 9. therc had been any question of his
9. auhi Caesaris] The deseription of being enmeslied in it cf, Epp. 669. 13,
:

this with its dominant ecclesiastics i4andii66. lo-ii.

(cf, Epp, 628. 16, 1004. 145-6, 1028. 12.consiliariorum] See Ep. 370.
2-4, 1113. 37-8, 1141. i^n) is very dif- i8n and, for occasions on which Eras-
;

ferent from Erasmus' repeated eulogies mus was called upon for counsel, Ep.
on the court of Henry viii (see Ep. 11 17. 28n. Such occupation for him
855. 28n, 999. 22in). But of that he seemed to his friends niatter for great
might liave written less glowingly if regret : cf. BRE. 181, Am. E. 7.
1149] 357

1149. To James Villixger.

Epistolae acl diuersos p. 520. Louvain.
HN : Lond. siii. 36 : LB. 534, 3 October 1520.

[The group of letters, Epp. 1149-52, 1156, was written to introduce to members
of the Imperial Court a Dominican of whom Erasmus at this time held a high
opinion, John Faber of Augsburg (c. 1 470-1530), M.A. and D.D. Before long, in
August 1523, he wrote of him differently Is qualis nunc sit nescio certe mihi
:
'
:

Louanii persuasit quod institueret Augustae collegium tradendis linguis ac bonis

literis ; ostendit diploma Caesaris Maximiliani. De capitalibus quibusdam
inimicis Lutheri atque de ipsa Romana curia plusquam hostiliter loquebatur,
Arridebat morum commoditas, et in sua theologia videbatur non vulgariter
eruditus. His rebus extorsit a me commendationes aliquot. Quin et Coloniae,
cum illic esset Caesar, colebat nos, et de Luthero reliquit aequissimum iudicium
sua manu descriptum tum cipud Cardinalem Moguntinum, tum apud me
{Spongia, LB. x. 1648AB = HE. 333, § 158".
Faber's theological studies had been completed in Italy ; and after taking his
degree, probably at Padua, he returnod in 1508 to Augsburg. He was appointed
Prior of his house an office which he held for 17 years, and in course of which
;

he rebuilt their chui-ch, 1512-15. In 151 1 he was elected Vicar-General of

Upper Germany, and held office until 1524. Maximilian made liim his coun-
cillor, and proposed to use him in the foundation of a new monastery and
a trilingual college at Augsburg. Apart from the Consilium mentioned below,
Faber's only published work is two funeral orations, on Gaspar de Silinon,
captain of the Pope's Swiss Guard, 26 Aug. 1517 (s. l. et a.), and on Maximilian,
16 Jan. 1519 (Augsburg, Grimm, July 1519).
In his present visit to Court he had more than one object. He wished to
obtain protection from the Obser\'ant section of his Order, who for some years
past had been trying to impose on his house a strict reformation ', without '

consideration of the learning which he had much at heart (cf. Heumann, p. 87).
He wished also to have his appointment as councillor renewed under Charles,
and to secure the revei'sion to the see of Trent, which had been promised to him
by Maximilian. Besides this he brought with him a proposal for settling the
Lutheran trouble, urging both sides to moderation. When Erasmus saw this at
Cologne, it was stillin ms. but it was shortly afterwards printed with the title
;

Consilium cuiusdam ex animo cupientis esse considtum et Ro. Pontiflcis dignitati et Chri-
stianae religionis tranquiUitati. Five editions in Latin are known one with the —
—
date 1521 and four in German see L. Geiger in Arch. f. Litterahirgesch. v (1876),
:

pp. 555,6, and G. Finsler, Zivingli-Bibliographie, 1897, pp. 80-82. In the Bodleian,
4° B 9 Th. Seld., is an issue with a diflferent title, Consilimn doctissimi cuiusdam,
magnorum Principum monitu praecipue ad hoc munus inuitati ... It was soon
suspected that Erasmus was the author (Ep. 1199. 31-4 cf. VE. 247, and LE^. ;

435. 34-7, where Luther has no doubt on the subject also a dispatch of Aleander, ;

IBalan p. 104 and Lond. xxvii. 2, LB. 1195; and this suspicion, which he
; ;

never directly denies, has been commonly accepted in modern times. The fact
that many passages in his letters of this period (Epp. 1143. 69-70, 76-7, 1144. 4)
1153- 152-3» "67.343-7, 1173-42-5. 1183.38-40, 1219. 35-6) appearalmostverbally
inthe Consi7iU»n, and the coincidence of Ep. 1199. 31-8 with Ep. 1217.35-56,1^^^68
no doubt as to his complicity fcf. also Ep. 1267. 17U) Vjut it must be uoticed
:

that the sentence quoted from Fal)er in Ep. 1156. 50-54 is also in the Consilium,
and that Erasmus expressly ascribes the document to him in Ep. 1217 and in
the Spongia, supra. An easy and likely explanation is tliat, as Faber had brought
his scheme with liim in ms. Erasmus, after their frequent conversations at
,

Louvain and Cologne (Ep. 1156. 8-9), rewrote the central part, in wliicli the
resemblances to his letters occur so that the Consilium as finally launched was
:

a joint production. P. Kalkoff (.4rc/t. /. Ref.-Gesch. i, 1903, pp. 6-23), in view of

the coincidence of the Consilium with Erasmus' general outlook, ascribes to him
a preponderant j)art in it considering that lie found Faber to be in agreement
:

with him, and so made use of him as a convenient instrument for the cii-culation
of his own ideas. In 1526 Erasmus wrote, no doubt in reference to this occa-
sion, '
O^stendi viam finiendi mali, reiectum est consilium' (Ep. 1690;: cf. also
Ep. 1526 of 12 Dec. 1524.
 358 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

In tlie rapid development of the crisis Faber soon found liimself driven into
strong disapproval of Luther, ahd was unable to maintain a mediating position.
With the humanists too he ceased to be in syrapathy cf. Hutten's Expostidatio
:

(HE. 310, § 137% and the Spongia, supra. In Augsburg he was again in difficulties,
and in 1525 was ejectedfrom his house to die in exile and obscurity (EE. 145).
:

Erasmus' opinion of him at the eiud was exeeedingly bitter (Lond. xxiv. 15, xxvi.
18; LB. 1072, 1163). See an excellent study by N. Paulus in Beutsche Domini-
kaner im Kampfe gegen Luther, 1903, pp. 292-313 expanded from an arcicle in
;

Hist. Jahrbuch, xvii (1896), pp. 39-60: also A. Schulte, Die Fugger in Rom, 1904, i.
161-6, ii. 208-9, witli extracts from Faber's Geddchtnisbuch.
Of Villinger not much is known. He was at school at Schlettstadt under
Crato Hofnian (BRE. 163% to whom he subsequently joined in raising a monu-
ment (ibid. p. 619). By 1501 he had entered Maximilian's treasurj^, where his
life was to be spent as a trusted and competent official and by 1513 he had ;

risen to be its liead. In 1504 he distinguished liimself in battle against the

Bohemians, and was knighted see f. 76 of Spiegel's edition of the Staurostickon
:

of J. F. Pico, Tubingen, Anshelm, July 1512, the commentary of which is dedi-

cated to Villinger. So also are Cuspinianus' Congressus Cacsaris ettrium Regmn,
. . .

Vienna, (c. 1515) Gebwiler's Libertas Gei-maniae, Strasburg, J. Schott, 1519

; ;

and an cdition of Prudentius in the name of the Schlettstadt Literary Society,

L. Schurer, 1520 (BRE. 163). Gebwiler extols him also in Panegiris Carolina,
Strasburg, J. Pruss, Aug. 1521, f. 8. Hisestatesat Schoenenberg have not been
identilied ; but as he was an Alsatian, they were perhaps at Schoenenburg, s. of
Weissenburg. When Erasmus moved to Freiburg in 1529, he lived for some
time in a house which Villinger had built for Maximilian, and afterwards
acquii-ed for himself (iv. 488-91); but by 1531 Villinger was already dead
(Lond. XXX. 20, LB. 1210 Q. 4; EE. 153 EE^. 92). His official correspondence is
; ;

preserved in the Archives at Marburg. See G. Knod, J. Spiegel, 1884, p. 19;

H. Ulmann, Kaiser Maximillan I, 1884, i. pp. 819 seq. and EE. ;

The year-date of this group of letters is established by Ep. 1152.]

ERASMVS ROT. CLARISS. VIRO lACOBO VILLINGERO, ROMANI

D.

ET HISPAN. REGIS THESAVRARIO, S. D.

QvoD de nomine duntaxat tibi notus ad te scribo, vir incompara-
bilis,non debes imputare meae impudentiae sed tuae ab oinnibus
praedicatae humanitati. Quod si me ab impudentiae crimine non
absoluis, certe leuius damnabis si cogitaris hanc improbitatem ab
5 humanitate profectam esse. Nam vt sic auderem, extorserunt a me
huius egregii viri D. loannis Fabri preces vel merita potius. In quo
cum tot egregias dotes persjDexerim, raram morum integritatem,
eruditionem haud quaquam vulgarem, iudicium acre, tidem et
humanitatem incredibilem, existimabam me gratiam etiam initurum
10 apud tuam celsitudinem, qui tibi hominem efficerem notum, aut, si
iam notus est, efficerem notiorem qui pro tua singulari probitate
;

proque fide erga Principem soles impense fauere iis quorum virtuti-
bus intelligis ornari simul et fulciri monarchias. Inter hos vel me
autore pones hunc loannem Fabrum, si quid omnino iudico, non
15 vulgare decus ordinis sui qui vel citra nostrum officium se tibi suis
:

dotibus abunde commendabit, vbi propius hominem inspexeris. De

meipso non video quid possim polliceri, animum certe ac studium
fidemque polliceor, si qua iii re voles Erasmi in te obseruantiam
explorare. Bene vale. Louanii v. nonas Octobr. Anno m.d.xx.

TIT. CLARISS. VIRO D. Om. II. VILINGERO V. 6. D. om. II.

ii5o] 359

1150. To Mercurino Gattinaea.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 47S. Louvain.

HN : Lond. xii. ii : LB. 535. 4 October 1520.

[Mercurino Arboiio (10 June 1465—5 June 1530) belonged to a good familj-
resident at Gattinara, or, as he usually writes it, Gattinaria, in Piedmont, sw.
of L. Maggiore. At 13, finding his mother of 27 left a widow with six other
chiWren, and wishing to help her, he betrothed himselftoan oriihan of 20, wlio
had been left well provided for and though for some years the opijosition of
;

relatives was too strong for him, lie married her in 1490, and with her consent
and means went to study law at Turin, where he made rapid progress and soon
began to practice with success. This attracted the notice of Duke Philibert of
Savoy, who in 1501 recommended him as confidential adviser to the Duchess,
Margaret of Austria. When she was appointed to govern the Netherlands,
Gattinara followed her as her minister and in 1508 she made him Presi-
;

dent of the Council of Burgundy. His letters to her in 1507-8 are printed
by L. M. G. Kooperberg, Margardha van Oos'enrijk, 1908, pp. 337-463. On the
death of Le Sauvage in June 1518, Gattinara succeeded him as Chancellor of
Castile. and served Charles ably for 12 yeai's, until his death at Innsbruck. His
wife died before him, and thus the Pope was able to gratify his desire to become
a Oardinal, 13 Aug. 1529.
Scheurl, wlio met him in Spain in 1519-20, extols his friendliness and capa-
city (SE. 213, p. 109}. To Erasmus he was an appreciative patron (cf. Ep.
1197 also LB. App. 469), sharing his views of moderate reform, and iu-
;

viting him to frequent correspondence. Wimpfeling lauds him as a jjatron of

learning, Pragmaticae Sandionis Medulla. Schlettstadt, L. Schurer, May 1520, f"^. A^ ;

Corn. Grai^heus dedicated to him, 26 June 1520, a poem, Diid Caroli. ex His^Kmia . .

in Germaniam reditus, Antwerp, M. Hillen, s. a. and Sbrulius (Ep. 1159) his

;

Vaticinium Protei, on the same theme, Augsburg, Grimm and Wyrsung, (c. i
Sept.) 1520. Peter Martyr, who came from ahnost the samo district of Pied-
mont, corresponded with him intimately, 1518-22; and three of Gattir_ara's
letters are in the same collection (Mart. E. 738, 759, 765).
Many studies of his life have Ijeen written. Tlie most recent are by Le Glay,
Mem. Soc. Lilk, 1847, i, pp. 183-260, with a portrait and by G. Claretta in Mem.
;

Reule Accad. Torino, xlviii, 1897, pp. 67-147, and Mem. Soc. savoisienne, xii, 1898,
pp. 245-344, i'eviewed by M. Danvila in Boletin Real Acad. Hist., Madrid, xxxv,
1899, pj). 482-94). But by far the most important source is Mercurino's auto-
biograpliy down to 24 Julj' 1529, recently discovered in his autograph ms. and
admirably edited with other documents by C. Bornate in Misc. di Storia Italiana,
3rd ser., xvii, 1915, pp. 231-585. His will, dated 23 July 1529, is printed bj'
V. Promis in Misc. Stor. Ital. xviii, 1879, jjp. 61-147. See also EE.
The date of his death is giveu from the inscription on his tomb at Gattinara,
printed by Ciaconius iii. 505.

CLARI.SS. VinO D. MERCVRIXO G.\TINARIO, CANCELLARIO SVMMO

ROMA. ET HISP. REGIS CAUOLI, S. D. ERASMVS ROTEROD.

Magnifice D., ex aliquot familiaribus congvessibus comperio luinc

D. loannem Fabrum ordinis Dominicalis multis eximiis dotibus prae-
ditum, religione nequaquam fucata, iudicio prudentiaque singulari,
eruditione solida quarum rerum commendatione Caesari Maxi-
;

miliano, virtutum omnium vt fautori candido, ita iudici exacto, cum 5

primis charus fuit. Conuenit autem, opinor, vt, quemadmodum
Carolus noster in auitum succedit imperium, ita virtutum etiam

TIT. CLARIS3. VIRO D. <m. H. GATriN.VRIO H. S. . . . ROTEROD.F ERASMVS :

R0TER0DAMV3 s. D. //. I. D. F : \iv H. 2. D. 0111. H. Dominicaui //.

 360 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1520

auitarum haereditatem capessat. Porro quod petit, non solum

aequissimum est verumetiam facillimum, videlicet vt idem munei-is
10 quod habuit apud Caesarem Maximilianum, apud hunc retineat.
Atque id vt fiat, ad publicam rei Christianae pertinet vtilitatem, mea
sententia, simulque sacri imperii dignitatem. Id cuiusmodi sit, ex
ipso rectius cognosces.
Scio mihi non fuisse multum consuetudinis cum celsitudine tua,
15 sed hanc fiduciam mihi praebet partim animus iste tuus ad omnes
res honestas omnibus expositus, partim quod eonfidam fore vt, quem-
admodum te successorem habemus eximii viri loannis Syluagii,
omnibus ornamentis parem aut etiam superiorem, ita hac quoque in
parte sis illum relaturus, vt Erasmo faueas qui nihil aliud agit in ;

20 hac vita quam vt suis studiis Christi gloriam ac bonas literas

prouehat. Si qua in re potero vel tibi vei Caesareae maiestati vsui
aut ornamento esse, nihil defugiam quod modo praestare possim.
Bene vale, vir omnibus modis eximie cui quam commendatissimus ;

esse cupio. Louanii .iiii. Non. Octobr. An. m.d.xx.

1151. To Erard de la Marck.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 502. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiii. 2 : LB. 537. 8 October 1520.

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS ORNATISS. PRAESVLI AC PRINCIPI

LEODIENSI S. D.

Salvtem P. ornatissime Praesul. Qui has reddit, loannes Faber,

,

theologus insignis ordinis Praedicatox-ii, cupit tuae celsitudini com-

mendatus esse, ac mea sententia dignus est qui sit. Erat Maxi-
miliano Caesari cum primis charus ob egregias dotes quibus praeditus
5 est. Eruditio est i-econdita, ingenium promptum ac versatile, lingua
felicissima, mores faciles candidique, animus, vt mihi videtur,
integer. Gratus est multis Germaniae Principibus. Et tamen
habet qui illi male volunt vt nunquam caret aemulis virtus eminens.
:

Optime sentit de tua celsitudine apud quam existimat me nonnihil

:

10 valere. Si quid valeo, id totum est humanitatis tuae, non meriti

inei. At spero fore vt hominis virtutes impetrent, etiamsi mea non
impetret epistola. Impetrata est a Principe pensio, me quidem non
ambiente sed hoc est gratius Principis optimi munus, et tibi tuique
;

similibus plus debeo.

15 Quorundam immodicam licentiam sic gaudeo coherceri, vt verear
ne successus hic animet bonarum literarum osores ad opprimenda
meliora studia non enim dicam doctrinam Euangelicam. Bene
;

valeat tua celsitudo. Louanii postridie No. Octobr. m.d.xx.

1151. TiT. s. D. om. ir. I. reddit i^ : reddidit 7/. 2. praedicatorii JF'

Dominicani H. 18. m.d.xx add. H,

1150. 9. idem munorisl His position 17. Syluagii] See Ep. 410.
as Iniperial Councillor. 1151. 12. pensio] See Ep. 597. 26n.
1152] 361

1152. To Albert of Brandenburg.

Basle MS. Frey-Grynaeus I. 19. 19 (a). Louvain.

F. p. 524 : HN : Lond. xiii. 42 : LB. 536. 8 October 1520.

[An original letter actually sent vvritten by a secretary throughout, except

:

the signature and address, which are by Erasmus himself. For the passage
inserted in the middle in see p. 97. H
The 3'ear-date is contirmed by the references to Erasmus' visit to Cologne and
to Ep. 1033 cf. Epp. 1 149-51 with the same year-date.]
:

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS REVERENDISSIMO CARDINALI MOGVNTINO.

S. P., reuerendissime D. ac princeps longe clarissime. Gestien-

teni aduolare isthuc in tuos complexus, hactenus aliquot negociola
detinuerunt. Verum si posthac coelum dabitur commodius,
adero breui Coloniae. Epistolam quam tuae celsitudini de Luthero
scripseram, aeditam doleo. Ego certe bono animo scripseram, sed
non in hoc scripseram vt aederetur. Neque cuiquam a me fuit
exemplaris coj)ia. Incluseram eam litteris ad Huttenum obsignatis,
admonens vt, si videretur expedire, redderet in tempore sin minus, ;

premeret aut aboleret. Quo magis admiror quo consilio factum sit
vt et aederetur per typograjihos nec tibi redderetur. Si hic casus fuit,
sin perfidia, plusquam Punica fuit.
fuit infelicissimus ;

Vtinam hic loannes Faber, ordinis Dominicalis, tuae celsitudini

tam esset commendatus quam merentur hominis eximiae dotes,
ingenium promptum et expeditum, iudicium excussum, eruditio
mores candidi facilesque
solida et abstrusa, lingua foelicissima, !

Video tyrannidem quorundam nimium succedere. Nec aliud mihi

succurrit quam precari vt res tota cedat in gloriam Christi, vtcunque
cedet nobis. Bene vale, meum decus.
Louanii postrid. Non. Octobr. An. m. d. 20.
Erasmus Eoterodamus, E. E. D. T. addictiss.
Keuerendissimo Cardinali et excellentiss. Principi Mogontinensi etc.

1153. TO GODESCALC ROSEMONDT.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 585. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xv. 18 : LB. 539. ' 18 October 1520.

[Godescalc Roseraondt of Eindhoven (c. 1483 5 Dec. 1526) was a distinguished —

alumnus of Louvain. After education in thc College du Faucon, and in the Grand
College under Lucas Walteri (Ep. 531. 415")) lie was appointed Extraordinary

11.52. TiT. rtdrf. F (reverendissimo F: aleerto H). 1. S. P. . . . clarissime a :

S. D. H. 7. Incluseram ... 11. fuit add. H. 12. Dominicani H.

20. Erasmus ... 21. etc. om. F.

4. Coloniae] For Erasmus' forth- Epi.stolam] Ep. 1033.

coming visit see p. 370. 12. Faber] See p. 357.
 362 LETTERS OF EKASMUS [1520

Professor of Tlieology in 1515 andOrdinary Professor in 1520 holding therewith:

the annexed canonries in St. Peter's church. In 1516 he was D.D. and just at ;

this time, for the half-year 31 Aug. 1520—28 Feb. 1521, he was Rector of the
University. In 1524, on the foundation of the College du Pape, he was appointed
its first President and in 1525 he was one of the judges to try John Pistorius,
;

the first Dutch marlyr of the Eeformation. Between 1516-19 he composed

many devotional works, which had a wide popuhu- circulation all except one ;

being in Dutch. They were printed at Antwerp, mostly by Hillen (Ep. 1053.
i33n). See BN., witli a very careful bibliography and de Jongh, pp. 165-7.
;

Apart from the present appeal to him as Rector (cf. Epp. 1164, 11 72) Erasmus
had not much to do with him but he speaks of him later with praise (Lond.
;

xix. 13, LB. 862 17 May 1527;. The year-date of this letter is confirmed by
:

Eosemondfs tenure of the Rectorship. It can scarcely be doubted that the letter
was in the hands of the author of the Acta Acad. Louaniensis (cf. Ei). 1195. 41^)-]

ERASMVS ROTEROD. INSIGNI THEOLOGO GODSCHALCO ROSEMONDANO,

LOVANIENSIS ACADEMIAE MODERATORI, S. D.

NoN arbitror necesse vt te commonefaciam officii tui ; cuius partes

sunt non solum hoc praestare, ne quis per teipsum laeclatur, verum-
etiam ne cui liceat alterum iniuria afficere. Quod Nicolaus Egmon-
danus, siue ex tuo siue ex Pontificii diplomatis mandato, multa dixit
5 in Lutherum, nihil arbitror ad me pertinere. Sed quod praeter omne
mandatum, ac praeter Pontificis mentem, qui cupit et illos allici qui
haetenus stetissent a Luthero, tantum abest vt quenquam alienum
velit inuolui, pene plura dixit in me et falso et praeter meritum
meum, opinor autoritatis simul et integritatis esse tuae hominem ab
10 huiusmodi hnguae petulantia compescere praesertini cum res sit
;

exempH pessimi, et ordini theologico atque huic celeberrimae Acade-

miae meo iudicio non mediocriter dedecorosa: nisi forte munus istud
non geris publicis huius schoh\e commodis sed paucorum affectibus.
Atqui isthuc est seruum, non rectorem, agere.
15 In natali diui Dionysii, in aede diui Petri, in publica concione cum
exox-sus dicere de charitate subito et praeter decorum in me detorsisset
sermonem (nam casu interueneram), praeter aiia multa illud in os
dixit, me magnoperefauisse Luthero : cum ego ab initio constan-
tissime testatus sim, id quod res erat, mihi cum Lathero nihil esse
20 commercii nisi quod est cuiuis Christiano cum quouis eiusdem pro-
fessionis.Doctrinam Euangelicam et Apostolicam agnosco. Cae-
terum mortalium tantum tribuo vt illius dogmatis per omnia
nulli
velim addictus esse tantum abest \t eius causam meo periculo
:

tuendam susciperem cuius libros non legeram, et adhuc esset in

25 incerto quid esset scripturus in posterum, Id cum libris etiam
aeditis publice testatus essem, non' potuit cuiquam esse obscurum.
Ex gustu quem coeperam, ex degustatis verius quam lectis aliquot
Lutheri paginis, amaui in illo dotes quasdam ex quibus coniiciebam ;

illum esse posse egregium organum Christi, si ad huius gloriam

30 dotibus suis vti vellet. Cumque passim de illo multa praedicarentur
atrocia, quaedam etiam manifesto falsa, optabam illum, si parum

TiT. iNSiGNi TiiEOLOGO oni. H. KOSEMVNDANO //. 27. ceperam H.

4. diplomatis] See Ep. 1141. 2on. 19. testatus sim] In Epp. 939, 961,
15. Dionysii] 9 Oct., Tuesday. 967, 993, 1033.
1153] TO GODESCALC KOSEMONDT 363

bonus esset, corrigi potius quam perdi. Id si est fauere Luthero,

ingenue fateor rue nunc quoque fauere honiini queniadniodum ;

arbitror et Komanum Pontificem illi fauere, simulque vos omnes,

si modo vere theologi, imo si Christiani estis siquidem ille prae- : 35
scriptis dielnis satis multis inuitat ad resipiscentiam. Caeterum
populus cum audit fauere, nihil aliud intelligit quam me sentire cum
illo in his quae damnantur ab aliis.
Addebat quod erat impudentius, me non solum fauisse, sed enixe
etiam conatum defendere, atque ipsum irrisisse, tantum videlicet 40
heroa quod in literis ad Card. Moguntinum scriptis meminerim
:

Carmelitae cuiusdam, qui quod Lutherus ecripsisset, non oportere

sacerdoti confiteri capitalia peccata omnia, sed manifesta duntaxat
nimiium sentiens manifesta, non quae populo essent nota, sed quae
illi qui admisisset indubitata quod genus sunt homicidium, adulte- 45
;

rium, furtum, et quod nunc in peccatis esse desiit, virulenta obtrecta-

tio — sic detulisset apud popukim, quasi docuisset licere in confes-
,

sione reticere quaedam admissa criminalia. Atque istud non ex me

somniaram, sed ex quodam vestri ordinis praecipuo cognoueram
cuius nomen, cum erit opus, proferam tibi. Ac nunc quoque affirmant 50
esse verissimum quod scripsi.
An defendat Lutherum qui dicat locum aliquem perperam
is
intellectum ? Si Lutherum refellere pium est, nimirum intelligere
necessarium est. Agnosco mediocritatem vel potius tenuitatem meam.
Non milii tantum eruditionis arrogo vt possim de aliena fide pronun- 55
ciare, nec tantum autoritatis vindico vt velim nec tantum est ocii vt
;

vacet Lutheri libros euoluere. Nee tam sum demens vt in re tam

odiosa velim probare aut improbare, nisi libris illius omnibus a
capite vsque acl caleem, quod dici solet, diligenter lectis ac relectis.
Damnatur vbique preceps iudicium, sed potissimum in exitium 6o
hominis. Denique nec tam stultus sum vt vltro me tam odioso
negocio inuoluam, cui in omnem vitam sit seruiendum, cum hceat
ociosum spectatorem agere. Et tamen oljtuli vobis organum stili
mei, si modo vos me idoneis argumentis instrueretis. Quanquam
haec res non tam stikxm poscit quam iudicium et sacrarum literarum 65
absolutam peritiam, denique animum ab omnibus humanis aifectil)us
kberum.
Haec cum sic habeant, vides quam impotenter factum sit ab
Egmondano, qui prius de me verba fecerit quam de Luthero. Nec
id satis. Cum articulos aliquot recitaret in diplomate damnatos, 70
venissetque ud articukun de Confessione, repente cfw twv iXaiwv, quod
aiunt, 'Sunt inquit, 'quidicunt hanc confessionem institutam non
'

a Christo, sed a Patribus. Hoc inquit, falsum est

' videlicet me
'
'
;

denotans, quod in Apologia qua Leo respondeo, disputem hanc confi-

35. praescriptis diebus] Iii Exsurge, isno montion of it iii Ep. 1162.
Domine, § 10 (cf. Ep. 1141. 2on), Luthei- qiiodam vestri ordinis] Perhaps
49.
was allowed sixty days to change his Dorp cf. pp. 87, iir.
;

mind. 70- damnatos] No. 8 in § 2 oi Exsurge,

41. literisj Ep. 1033. 78-82. In tlio I>omme (Ep. 1141. 2on;.
.Sponr/,a(LB..\.i644B^HE.333,§§i22,3j 74. in Apologia] In the third part,
Erasmus states that Egmondanns May 1520, answering no. 15 of Leo's
brought forward this charge in the later notes, on Acts 19. 18 LB. ix. :

interview before Rosemondt butthere

; 255 seq. Cf. Ep. 1225. iign.
 364 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

75 tendi rationem esse constitutionis humanae et ita disputo vt Egmon- :

danus non sit refutaturus, tametsi nihil definio. Mox cum atrocissimis
verbis exaggerasset errores Lutheri, rediit ad intermissum de me
sermonem. In hos inquit, prodigiosos errores incidit Lutherus
*
'
'

ob studium rerum nouarum.' Et cum ante vsque ad vomitum

80 multorum blaterasset de nouis ac veteribus, 'Haerete' inquit,
A^eteribus, fugite noua, adhaerete veteri Euangelio
'
satis aperte '
;

denotans Nouum Testamentum: quasi vero ego dederim nouum

Euangelium, ac non potius vetus et instaurarim et illustrarim. Quid
multis? Adeo vir egregius et religionis columen incanduit inter
85 haec vt toto vultu furorem animi sui testaretur. Nec erat facturus
insaniendi finem, nisi vidisset passim alios ridentes, alios indignantes
et obsibilantes, alios inter se mussitantes.
An non haec erat liella fabula, digna quam talis histrio cum suo
candido pallio in loco sacro apud viros eruditos ageret? Nec his
90 contentus, die Dominico proximo eadem ferme rejDetens, me Antuuer-
piam profecto, bellum adiecit elogium :
'
Et illi quoque inquit, '

'venient aHquando ad pahim, nisi destiterint '. Omitto nunc quae

blaterauit in theologicis. ordinai*iis ac pubhcis lectionibus in me et in
Faljrum diceres non theologum loqui de cathedra, sed de plaustro
:

95 temulentum. Haec videt tua prudentia quam sint impotenter dicta,

etiamsi fauissem Luthero cum ilH vtcunque liberum esset fauere,
;

nondum iudicata causa. Nunc nemo me audiuit vel inter pocula

tuentem vllum Lutheri dogma, cum non deessent magni theologi
qui non vererentur affirmare niliil esse in Luthero quin per jDrobatos
100 autores posset defendi.
Sed istis bilem mouent duae epistolae, quarum alteram ipsi scripsi
Luthero, alteram R. Card. Moguntino. Sed obsecro, prior illa quid
habet nisi ciuilem admonitionem ? cui si vir ille paruisset, res ad
hunc tumultum progressa non fuisset. At in ea scribo quod hic
105 haberet complures fautores. Et sane habebat plurimos, sed ita
fauentes vt ego ilH fauebam non quod probarent omnia, sed quod
:

plurima, cuperentque pura synceraque esse omnia. Id scripsi non

quo iUum animarem ad seditiose scribendum, a qua re ilkim in
eadem epistola deterrui, sed vt conaretur horum iudicio satisfacere,
iiovitatis his de quibus admonebam. Quod si fecisset, et Pontificem
Romanum habuisset fautorem. In posteriore ej^istola quid aHud ago
quam vt moderatis rationibus cum Luthero ageretur potius quam
saeuitia ac violentia, neque dederetur lacobitarum Hbidini, sed aequis

92. nisi F: ni H. 102. R. om. H. , sed jP: . Verum H. 106. omnia

F : vniuersa iJ, 113. lacobitarum 7*^: Dominicanorum i/.

89. candidopallio] Cf. Ep. 1144. sSn. liouse was in tlie Rue St. Jacques, and
90. die Dominico] 14 Oct. 1520. dose to thecliurchof that saint, which
Antuuerpiam] Of this, as of his had been glven to them. Erasmus
recent visit to Antwerp (see p. 324), I uses it frequently at this time Epp. :

find no other trace. ii55- 15» 1172. 3, 1173. ^o^) 1196. 511.
99. probatos autores] Cf. Ej). 1033. In the French Kevolution one of tho
82-4. extreme j^arties acquired the name of
101. epistolae] Epp. 980, 1033. Jacobin from using tlie okl Dominican
113. lacobitarum] Thefarisianname convent as their liead-quarters see :

for the Dominicans, because tlieir Littre, cited in OED.

1153] TO GODESCALC ROSEMONDT 365

iudiciis vinceretur: quod sentirem Card(inalem) a nonnullis ad hoc

instigari, vt illum sua potentia opprimeret, cum magis expediret 115
reuinci. Erant aliae causae permultae cur hoc faciendum duxi quas ;

praestat coram exponere.

Hoc non erat probare quae scribit Lutherus, sed impi'obare modum
ac viam qua illum conabantur opprimere. In ea sententia sum
etiam hodie. Nunquam probaui, nec probaturus sum quenquam sic 120
clamoribus apud populum opprimi, priusquam libri sint lecti et
excussi, priusquam admonitus sit qui errat, priusquam redargutus
sit argumentis et sacrae Scripturae testimoniis. Si hoc est fauere
Luthero, fauent illi magni viri, sed cordati, qui tamen negocium
susceperant aduersus Lutherum: et hos tibi pi-oferam, cum erit opus. 125
Imo fauisse videtur illi Romanus Pontifex in Bulla quae tamen ;

magis sapit quorundam TrTMxoTvpavvwv saeuiciam quam mite nostri

Leonis ingenium, qui et spatium indulserit, et admonuerit vt aduersus
Lutherum praedicarent, haud quaquam id sentiens vt illum Anti-
christum appellarent, sed vt diuinae Scripturae testimoniis diuersa 130
docerent, si quid ille perperam docuisset. Hoc enim, opinor, est
theologis praedicare nam vt aliquem e suggestu magna voce beluam
:

voces aut Antichristum, nihil opus est theologo, cum idem possit
scurra quihbet.
ConsiHum meum non omnino fuisse malum fortassis exitus ijxse 135
docelnt. Ego facti vestri non sum Deo rationem redditurus: quo-
cunque consilio res coepta est, precor vt vertat in gloriam Christi.
Admonui vt primum diligenter legerentur scripta Lutheri, deinde
libris aeditis ac disputationibus refelleretur, et omissis
contentionibus
veritati consuleretur, nec populus ad huius fabulae theatrum admit- 140
teretur: quid factum sit, ipsi scitis. Tot sunt milia rabinorum, tot
sunt qui sibi dii videntur. NuUus extitit qui Luthero sobrie docteque
resjjonderet, siue inscitia fuit in causa, siue ignauia siue metus ;

quorum nihil competit in probos theologos. Qui hactenus scripserunt

aduersus Lutherum, nec vobis probari scio : quorum primus fuit 145
Syluester, proximus Minorita quidam, tertius di/oSvu/xos, etiamsi i>rae

127. TTTcuxorypafi/ajr'] Cf. Ep. 998. 5911. (Weimar ecl. vi, pp, 498, 501), 'which
128. sj^atiuin indulserit] Cf. 1. 35^. appeared c. 6 Oct. 1520 (LE'*. 350. 38).
135. exitus] Cf. Verg. Aeii. 5. 523. Cf. also Am. E. 5, 7.
146. Syluester] Cf. Ep. 872. i6n. The writer has been conchisivc^ly
Minorita] Augustine of Alfekl ; see identified l)y F. Lauchert {lialien. Gegner
Ep. 1167. 407n. Luthers, 1912, pp. 200-15) with Isidore
uvdivvfxos'] Evidently the author de Isolanis (f 1528), a Dominican of
oi Ileuocatvj Martini Lutherii Augustiniani S. Maria dello Grazie at Milan, who
ad sanctam Sedem, s. 1. et a., but dated was B.D. at Bologna, and taught
22 Nov. 15! I a i"are volume of whicli
: theology In many houses of his order,
thrro is a copy in the Hofbibliothek at at Pavia, Verona, Milan, Cremona,
Munich. H(; was a Dominican, and at 1513 21. Between 1506 and 1533 he
thc end of liis book praises Francis i, publishcd, mostly at Mihan, a number
qui .
•'

. pari zelo iu.stitiam ac littera-

. of works on philosophical and theo-
rum studia prosequitur, veluti cgo logical subjects, such as Be immortalitate
quottidie experior eius nempo regia
: unimi humani, De aeternitate mundi also :

largitate suffragia litterarum militiae apanegyric on Milan as Galliae Cisal- '

praestita cogunt ine . .'

. i^LE-. 366 pinae metropolis', and an Epitome on
introd.;. Luther had seen thc book the Sentences dedicated to Francis i.
by 3 Aug. 1520 (LE'^. 334) ; and alludes See also Quetif and Echard, Bcript. ord.
to it twice in the Captiuitas Babylonica Praed. ii. 50.
 366 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

se fertordinem Dominicalem, nec dissimulat se capere salarium

annuum a Rege Gallorum. Sunt et alii quorum libelli non prodie-
runt. Nec opinor aliud sensisse R. Cardinalem Dertusensem, qui
150 iubet illi doctrinaliter obsisti, hoc est non clamoribus seditiosis, sed
doctrinae sacrae praesidiis opprimi, si sanari nolit aut non possit.
Ingenia generosa doceri cupiunt, cogi non ferunt. Cogere tantum,
tyrannorum est cogi tantum, asinorum. In bello non est speciosa
;

quaeuis victoria. Consulebam dignitati gloriaeque theologicae, vole-

155 bam illos verum ac plausibilem referre triumphum. Si maxime
fauissem ordini vestro, si maxime fuissem infensus Luthero. quod
aliud dedissem consilium quam dedi? Libris exurendis Lutherus
fortassis eximetur e bibliothecis an ex animis reuelli possit nescio.
;

At id poterat, si meo consilio fuisset obtemperatum. Hoc consilium,

160 si vobis non placebat, tamen mihi fraudi esse non debuit, qui bono
arimo suaserim R. Cardinali bene de me merito, cui me putabam
hoc officii debere. Et suasi literis obsignatis, nihil minus suspicans
quam fore vt euulgarentur, et audio euulgatas ijriusquam Card(inali)
redderentur. Nec tamen aeditas vt a me scriptae sunt, vel illud
165 arguit, quod in his, vtaiunt, appello Lutherum nostrum ', quod a me '

certe nunquam fuit additum quod additurus non fueram etiamsi

:

meus fuisset.
Sed ad Carmelitam nostrum redeo. Multum e^aTToXoy//a-aTo de
vitandis nouis, de adhaerendo veteribus ; suspectum habere oportere
170 quicquid esset nouum, adhaerendum veteribus, tenendum vetus
Euangelium. Haec quid sibi vellent plebs idiotarum demirabatur ;

eruditorum nemo nesciebat dici in linguas ae Nouum Testamentum

a me recognitum. Porro quod ad linguas attinet, insignem iniuriam
ille facit summo Pontifici, qui tanto studio curat vt literae Graecae

149. R. ow. li. 161. R. F: Alberto H.

148. alii] Cf. Ep. 1165. 13-14. debfnt. Asinorum est cogi tantum,
149. Dertusensem] AdrianofUti-echt tyrannorum cogere' ; witli which cf.
(Ep. 171. i2n), bp.
Tortosa, to of Epp. 1143. 76-7, 1167. 257-8, 1173. 47-8.
whom the Theoiogical Faculty of Lou- 157. consilium] See Ep. 1173. 42-5-
vain had foiwarded their condemna- exurendis] Cf. Ep. 1157. 6n.
tion of Luther, dated 7 Nov. 1519 (see 163. euulgatas] See pp. 97-8.
Ep. 1030. i6n). Hereplied 'ex Papiol' 165. nostrum] See p. 98.
(?Pamplona: Fredericq), 4 Dec, re- 171. idiotarum] AVnlgateword (Acts
commending doctrinalis condemna-
•
4. 13, i Cor. 14. 16, 23-4) used freely
tionis antidotum ' and warning them
; by Erasmus for the unlearned e. g. in :

'
vt in condemnatione per vos publi- the Paraclesis, Benedicti regulam ab
'

canda nullum verbum ponatur aliter homine, eoque pene idiota, et idiotis
quam ab ipso autore scriptum '.sit scrij^^tam liis essay, 14 Jan. 1522,
'
; in
Adrian's letter was printed with the prefixed the Paraphrase on St.
to
condemnations by the two universities, Matthew, 'quos mundus habet pro
Louvain, Th. Martens, Feb. 1520 and ; doctissimis, Christo sunt idiotae'.
in Luther's Opera, ii, 1546, f. 36. See 'Ouessunt idiotae sed rationales'; in
C. J. M. Bottemanne, De Katholiek, the De esw cami((m, Ecclesiae proceres '

Leiden, July 1882, pp. 1-22. . . palam impie viuunt, offcnduntur

.

It was perhaps at the same time, idiotae'. Cf. Epp. 337. 247, 694. 35,
in Nov. 1519, tliat thc Faculty sent 1033.130,1039.141,1126.144,1166.48,
some articlcs collected froni Erasmus' 1167.438, 1223.36.
writings: to which, however, Adrian Tlie writings of Raymond Jordan,
paid no attention (Ep. 1581). provost of Uzes, Jl. 1381, circulated
152. Ingenia generosal Cf. Faber's anonymously, even after the days of
Consilium (see p. 357) Huiusmodi in-
:
'
printing, as the works of 'Idiota'.
genia doceri cupiunt, cogi iioluntneque 174. Graecae] Cf. Ep. 1062. 1401).
1153] TO GODESCALC ROSEMONDT 367

Rhomae doceantur. Quod ad Nouum Testamentum attinet, satis illi 175

debuit esse quod Leo decimus nostram industriam comprobauit
cuius autoritatem vult valere plurimum, quoties facit ad ipsius
aflfectum. Si leuis est illi Pontificis autoritas in comprobandis
nostris, cur illi damnando Luthero ? ne commemorem
grauis est in
interim stultissimam battologiam nouorum ac veterum, ad quam iSo
plerique risum tenere non potuerunt. Nam ille noua appellat quibus
ipse non assueuit. Ita huic nouus erit Hilarius. nouus Cyprianus,
nouus Hieronymus, nouus etiam Augustinus. Nihil vetus praeter in
scholis decantata dogmata et Glossam Ordinai-iam cum additionibus.
Imo huic vetus erit quod nouum est. nouum quod vetus. Nos vetera 1S5
instauramus, noua non prodimus. Detestati sunt impudens hominis
mendacium. cum diceret Lutherum horrendos illos errores hausisse e
nouis cum ex vetustis scriptoribus hauserit si quid hausit, vt prae-
;

dicant qui illius legere libros. Sed fortasse negabit se mihi iniurium
esse, qui nomen meum non expresserit. Certe iis notis designauit vt 190
nemo studiosoriun non agnoscei-et. Quicquid meretur Lutherus, mihi
non i^lacet vt istiusmodi clamoribus populus ad seditionem concitetur,
cum res inter doctos transigi possit.
Sed quid de hoc statuatis, vestrae prudentiae relinquo. Verum in
loco sacro, in concione sacra, apud promiscuam multitudinem palam 195
mentiri de homine immerenti. imo benemerenti, mihi videtur nihil
aliud esse quam eleuare autoritatem sacrae concionis, quam expedit
non minus esse puram quam synaxim ipsam, fraudare popuhun suo
fructu, et huius Academiae dignitatem obscurare. Arbitror mihi
pro meis vigiliis multo aliud deberi praemium. Quod si maxime 200
essem in aliqua culpa, tamen quoniam adsum ijDse et sine periculo
coargui possum, non debebam traduci apud jioi^ulum cui vindictae ;

iam nimium assueuit Egmondanus. Forte narratur inter pocula

quod hic aut ille de illo dixerit. Ille postridie semet vlciscitur in
concione ac rursus inter pocula celebi'atur triumphus, applaudentibus
; 205
symjiotis aliquot eiusdem farinae. Quanquam quod ad meam iniuriam
attinet, non admodum aegre fero. Sed illud vobis considerandum
est, an conducat moiibus populi vt assuescat huiusmodi obtrecta-
tionibus, quae paulatim etiam dulcescunt posteaquam serpsit ve-
nenum an expediat huius Academiae publicae vtilitati, cui fortassis
;
210
amplius faueo quam quidam qui sibi videntur fauere maxime. Nec
enim Principis benignitas hanc instituit Academiam, vt illic suauiter
agerent tres aut quatuor, sed vt in totius ditionis vtilitatem hic
floreant omnia honesta studia. Videlicet in giatiam Egmondani
—
exulabit poetria sic enim ille vocat poeticen cuius adeo rudis est ; 215
—
vt ne nominare quidem possit et locus dabitur sycophanticae, etiam
dicato collegio.
Sed ne te prolixioribus onerem literis, magnifice Rector, si stolidis
istiusmodi clamoribus imposueritis silentium, consuletis non tam
mihi quam tranquillitati publicae studiorum, quam moribus populi, 220

184. scholisA'2. scholas F.V^

176. comprobauit] Cf. Ep. 864. form is simihirly attributedto Egmon-

184. Glossam] See Ep. 11 12. sgn. danus in tlie Epistola de viagistris nostris
1 86. Detestati sunt] .sc.qui audiobant. Loiianiensihus, and in the Vitu S. Nicolai :

215. poetria] Cf. Ep. 11 10. i^n. The Zw. E^ pp. 384. 2, 11, 398. 9.
 368 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

quani autoiitati sacrarum concionum, quae blateramentis huiusraodi

prophanantur, quales quales nos sumus. Sin aut non vultis aut non
potestis, ipse fortassis experiar remedium. Nam satis diu videor
mihi tulisse hominis istius furias quas scio nemini vestrum placere.
;

225 Sed quidam abutuntur liuius ingenio, veluti malo nodo malum
adhibentes cuneum.
Haec malui scribere, quod id esset vtrique commodius. Cras si
vacabit et tua valetudo patietur, coram plura tum dicam tum audiam.
Bene vale. Louanii xv. Calendas Nouembris. Anno m.d.xx.

]154jjg3 From Artlebus of Boskowitz.

Breslau MS. Rhed. 254. 36. Znaim.
LB. App. 390. <c. October ? 1520,)

[An original letter, copied by a secretary but signed by the writer. An approxi-
mate date can be assigned from Ep. 1183 which shows that this letter was at
:

any rate received a considerable while after the visit of the emissaries of the
Brethren (Ep. 11 17 introd.).
Artlebus, or Archlebus, of Boskowitz w. of Olmutz, and owning estates at
Wranowa and Czernahora, nw. and sw. of Boskowitz, belonged to an ancient
family, which held a distinguished record in Bohemian history, and was con-
nected with George Podiebrad. One of Artlebus' kinsfolk, Pi-otasius of Boskowitz
and Czernahora, had been Bishop of Ohnutz 1457-82 after education in Italy, ;

where he had been a friend of Janus Pannonius (Ep. 943. 15^1, a pupil of
Galeottus Martius (Ep. 581. 6n), and an admirer of Valla. A Ladislaus of
Bozkowitz was Supreme Chamberlain of Moravia in 1499 andhis sister Martha ;

had stood forward as a supporter of the Boheuiian Brethren in 1507-8. In

Gelasius Dobner's Mon. hist. Boemiae the names of Albertus de Bozkowicz et in '

Lethowicz ', Benessius de Bozkowicz et de Czerne Hory ', occur in 1499 (iv. 475),
'

of loannes de Boskowitz et in Skal in 1512 (i. 266). Artlebus became Supreme

'
'

Captain of Moravia in 1519, and made a name by his vigorous suppression of the
brigandage which reigned there (cf. Epp. 1021.59-73, 1039. 24-40) see A. Pihirz :

and F. Moravetz, Morauiae Historia, 1786, ii. 131, 173. But his tenure of the office
was brief, as he died in 1520 or 1521 see O. Steinbach, Biplomatische Sammlung
: . . .

aiis demArchive des graflichen Cisterzienserstiffs Saar in Muhren, 1783, i. 55, 97. He is
probably the 'Bohemian Captain of Ep. 1263. 22.] '

Salvtem dicit. Venerabilis idemque charissime pater, cum ea sit

apud nos quoque nominis tui et scriptorum claritudo, vt ipse, etiam-
nune homo Laycus, talibus iampridem afficiar, adhec ea de te
doctorum omnium ore nunciantur vt nihil sit mirum si cum nostro
6 hoc seculo orbis Christianus euidentissima scriptorum tuorum sin-
ceritate illuminatur, tum vero clarissima duo serenissimi principis
mei, Regis Hungarie ac Boiemie, regna erudiuntui" hiis, inquam, ex —
causis operepretium mihi facere sum visus si scriptum ac Regulam

1153. 229. Noucmb. H.

1153. aaS. valetudo] Cf. Ep. 1162. an Excusatio, Jah. 1508 —
all addressed
39-40. to King Ladislas. Original editions
1154.7. Regis] Louis 11, 1516-26. ofthe.se, printed at Nuremberg in 1507
8.ReguL-xm] The Bohemian Breth- and 1518, are rare I have not been
:

ren had issucd three defenccs of them- able to see any. It does not seem pos-
selves : an Oratio excusatoria atque satis- sible to determine which of the three
factiua, 1504; a. Confessio fidei, 1507 ; and was sent to Erasmus.
1154] FEOM ARTLEBUS OF BOSKOWITZ 369

eiushominura generis ad te mittei-em, qui se apud nos vulgo Fratrum

nomine apellant, Horum sane innumerabilis multitudo omnium lo
ordinum, vtriusque sexus, mirum in modum excreuit, augeturque
in dies. Et quanquam non desint etiam sacerdotum collegia et
legisperitorum ordines qui aduersus eorum instituta quotidie multa
declament et pro pessimo ac noxio hominum genere, pro heresi
abiciant ac promulgent, denique in angustias plurimas pontificalibus 15
censuris ac regia potestate subinde freti detrudant tamen interim ;

neque multitudini resistitur neque dogma satis conuellitur. Id quod

minus mihi etiam ob eam rem mirabile videri solet, quia paucos
apud nos habemus qui aduersus illorum doctrinas (quas vtique ex
Scripturis inferunt) sohda Scripturarum argumentatione resistant, 20
idemque etiam vite sanctioris exemplis minus antistant.
Porro te, vir optime, rogandum orandumque duxi vt aliquantulum
tibi temporis perlegendis istis desumas, dum simul commodo et paci
multorum inseruias, simul in excellentissimo procul dubio Christiane
pietatis opere te excerceas. Cunque affatim didiceris singula, re 25
admodum perpensa et diligentius examinata, quodcunque tibi salubre
maxime ac necessarium visum fuerit, proinde decernas, postremo
Christiane pietatis normam hac etiam in parte exhibeas. Sic etenim
tibi persuadeas velim, nostrates homines qualemcunque tandem in
sententiam transieris, facile ac libenter tibi asensuros, plurisque ista 30
facturos quam si vel summi Pontificis iura aut humana queuis abdi-
cationum fulmina apud eos quis obtendat.
Libri et scripta Martini Luteri vulgo hic in manibus hominum
habentur perlegunturque cum tuis. Incredibile dictu est quantam
apud omnes gratiam obtineant fereque ab hiis solis reiiciuntur qui 35
;

spiritalitatis nomen et arctioris vitae regulas preferunt. Et cum non

parua alicubi in inuidia sint, a nonullis tamen etiam dissimulantur.
Quamuis multitudo ista neque doctrinam neque mentem hominis
sancti satis perspecta(m) habeant, ac proinde inconsiderata quadam
rabie ferantur, ac hereseos etiamnum crimen impingunt. 40
At proxime Romanistam illum suum nonne pro merito tractauit ?
sicuti ceteros eiusdem propositi viros iampridem percusserat. Quod
si forte, quemadmodum
vulgo apud nos auditur, hominem indicta
causa damnari contigerit, quod absit, palam est scripta et doctrinas
illius inhiberi non posse, nihiloque ob hoc minus apud omnes in 45
pretio fore, quin imo multorura potius ac magnorum malorum
occasiones illinc suborituras quis scit an in ipsos etiam auctores
;

talia non aliquando recidant ? Habet enim profecto amicos Lutherus,

et constans quidam hic apud omnes rumor perseuerat, a nostris
doctoribus inanes fabulas et ineptissima queque comraenta sponte 50
admitti tolerai*ique at si quis interea Euangelicam veritatem ac
:

legera Dei purius edoceat, eum tandem omnibus odibilem videi'i, sed
hiis potissimum intolerabilem existere qui spiritalitatis sibi nomen
peculiarius vsurpant.

16. tamen scrii^si (tn) : cum MS. 23. desumas lifS.

23. perlegendis] Cf. pp. 291-2. 308) with Von dem Bapstum su Rmne,
41. Romanistam] Augustine of Al- ividder den hochberumpten Romanisten su
feld, to wliose attack (Ep. 1167. 407^) Leipizck, Wittenberg, M. Lotther, s. «.
Luther replied in May 1520 (LE.- 302, (Weimar ed. vi, p. 281).

452. 4 B b
 370 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

55 Faxit, obsecro, Deus Op. Max. vt semen veatvum, quod Domino

auxiliante in terram bonam cadit, indies multiplicetur et fructum
afferat quem debet. Vos modo, vti cepistis, pergite, quodque factu
optimum censetis scribite, inuulgate, spargite ac inuicem succurrite,
vt conculcatum suffocatumque Christi semen vobis auctoribus succre-
60 seat. Idque cum hactenus dilegenter fecistis, tum in posterum ne
cessetis, rogo. Neque enim incassum laborabitis, qui primum
laudem inter homines immortalera promereamini, mox dignam
vestro conatu mercedem accipiatis. Superest vt te rogem vt hoc
meum ad te scribendi propositum boni consulas optimamque in
65 partem interpreteris, neque alia mente isthec a me fieri nisi vt ipse
te magistro ac duce que rectissima sunt sentiam, deinde eadem aliis
quoad possum ante oculos proponam.
Si quid ad ista rescribere voles rogo autem rescribas —
litteras — ,

tuas Augustam ad Fucaros mittere poteris nam inde Viennam atque ;

70 illinc ad me facile perferentur. Orationi me tue interim committo,

optime ac religiosissime Pater. Vale. Ex arce Znoyma.
Artlebus de Bozkowicz et Tschernaho, dominus in Vran, suppremus
eapitaneus marchionatus Morauien., sua manu proiDria.

1155. To JoHN Reuchlin.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 489. Cologne.
HN : Lond. xii. 16 : LB. 541. 8 November 1520.

[Wlien the Emperor left Louvain on 8 Oct. on his .w;iy to Aachen (p. 353V
Erasmus was not free to accompany him being detained by business (Ep. 1152.
;

1-3). On 18 Oct. he was still at Louvain (Ep. 1153), though the coronation was
drawing near and he seems to have been there even a day or two later (p. 383).
;

As Councillor he presumably attended the coronation, at Aachen on 23 Oct. ;

though BRE. 181, 8 Nov. 1520, perhaps implies that he was then at Cologne.
In a letter of 1524 (Ep. 1512 cf. Ep. 1164. 40) Erasmus states that he spent
;

three weeks at Cologne on which calculation he must have left shortly

:

after the Emperor, who set out up the Rhine towards Worms on 16 Nov. On
his return journey to Louvain Erasmus passed through Aachen and stayed
with his friend Leonard Priccard (Ep. 972) whom he left on a Sunday, probably
;

18 Nov. (cf. Ep. 1169. 12).

On 5 Nov. he had an intervlew at Cologne with Duke Frederic of Saxony, at
which he discussed Luther, criticizing especially the immodica maledicentia' '

of his writings see Spongia, LB. x. 1659 ab = HE. 333, §§ 259,60, and cf. Resjy.
;

ad A. Piitm, LB. ix. 1117 f. This interview is mentioned by Spalatinus, who was
present, in liis Annales, first printed by J. B. Menckenius, ScrijU. rer. German., ii,
1728, 604 : Die v Nouembr. Princeps noster, audita re diuina domi, admisit in
'
:

colloquium Erasmum Roterodamuin, phoenicem illum omnibus seculis admira-

bilem. Deinde adhibuit prandio Fr. Siccingerum et Philippum Dalburgium '.
Spalatinus also composed a more detailed narrative, in his History of the Re-
formation, written in German, which is in ms. at Gotlia, and has never been
printed in fuU see Seckondorf, De Luiheranismo, 1692, i. 125,6, § 81, where it is
;

translated into Latin, with a wrong month-date. From this it appears that after
the interviow Spalatinus walked back with Erasmus to the house of Count
Hermann of Neucnahr and that there Erasmus sat down and vvrote out a series
;

of 22 Axiomatapro causa Martini LutJteri, which he handed toSpalatinus, asking to

have them given back to him, for fear they should reach Aleander. In spite of this

59. Conculcatum] Cf. Luke 8. 5-7.

1155] TO JOHN REUCHLIN 371

precaution they were printed at once, s. l.et a. (cf. SE. 223% though to Luther'3
annoyance (LE.'^ 400. 32-8), together with some other items on the same subject.
Tliey are also included in the collected editions of Luther's works from 1545
onwards.
Short aceounts of Erasmus' interview with Duke Frederic are given in the fifth
book of Carion's Chronicle, as edited by Caspar Peucer, Melanchthon's son-in-
law, first printed at Frankfort, 1566 and in M. Dresserus' Isagoge Historica, 1601,
;

p. 523. When they first appeared, they held the field but now that Spalatinus' ;

records are accessible, the value of these less authentic narratives is slight.
At the ceremonies which accompanied the coronation, Erasmus doubtless met
numerous old friends and patrons but he does not mention many by name.
;

Aleander, whom he had cause to distrust (see p. 112), and whom he had not
visited at Antwerj» and Louvain in Sept.-Oct. (i)p. 351, 353), he now with some
difficulty found at Cologne. For fear of poison he would not accept any hos-
pitalitv (Ep. 1188. 31-7 but they had an interview of five or six hours. Tlie
;

grievances that each had against the other were freely rehearsed and Aleander ;

charged Erasmus with denying thegenuineness of the Bull against Luther. But
at the end they parted with the kiss of ancient friendship {Spongia, LB. x. 1645
CD = HE. 333. §§ 131,2 cf. Balan no. 36, which indicates 9 Nov. as the date).
:

Aleander invited him to Rome, and the offer of a bishopric (cf. Ep. 1141. 3on)
was also perhaps renewed on this occasion. For other fragments of their con-
versation see Resp. ad A. Fium {hB. ix. 1099 gd, 1104 c, 1105 d, 1118 ab, 1119b).
Faber (p. 357) and Brassicanushe saw again (BRE. iSg^ toCapito he gave advice
on behalf of Luther (LE.^ 474. 8-^14) and among the new acquaintances whom
;

he made were Hieroslaus Lasky (Ep. 1242^). Rudbert of Mosham, who was in the
train of Matt. Lang, abp. of Salzburg (Epp. 1450, 1512 Heumann pp. 265,6), and ;

Francis of Sickingen (Ep. 1166. 72^). But Hutten, Sickingen's confederate, was
not there (Ep. 1166. 108-10}.

ERASMVS ROTEROD. CLARISS. D. lOANNI REVCHLINO S. D.

Reveeend. D. Cardinalis Sedunensis, cum nuper apud euni

pranderem, narrabat te vita defunctum esse. Mihi non libebat
credere, quia non erat e re literarum verum esse. At mox letiora
nunciarunt quae praecor vt nobis sint perpetua, vir oiDtime
alii ;

idemque doctissime. Vides latalem esse tragoediam quae nunc 5

agitur ;cuius qualis sit futura catastrophe incertum. Qualis qualis
est futura, precor vt cedat in gloriam Christi et in rem Euangelicae
veritatis. Ego huius fabulae spectator esse malim quam histrio ;

non quod recusem ob Christi negocium aliquod subire discrimen, sed

quod perspiciam negocium esse supra meam exiguitatem. Vtinam 10
tam possem praestare quod est optimum, quam opto Non dubito !

quin tilii adsint graues et amici consolatores, qui tibi omnem aegri-
tudinem adimant, si quam animo concepisti, vt mea consolatione non
sit opiis. Altius infixus es animis bonorum virorum quam vt hinc
vllis lacobitarum obtrectationibus queas reuelli. Res est inuicta 15
veritas. Et tacita bonorum iudicia perpetuam obtinent autoritatem,
etiam apud posteros suum habitura pondus.

TiT. cLAKiss. D. ow. H. I. Reuerend. D. F : Reuerendus H. 3. re literarum

FCoirig.: literis F. 6. H : Catastrophae i^.

I. Sedunensis] Cf. Ep. 447. 596^. during the ceremonials of Charles

This meeting (for which cf. Ep. 1164. coronation.
8) evideiitly was the occasion on 2. defunctum] Of this report I can
which Schinner urged Erasmus to find no other trace.
complete his Paraphrases on the Epis- 15. lacobitarum] The Dominicaus ;

tles: cf. Ep. 1171. 47^. There is no- see Ep. 1153. ii3n.
thing to show jn-ecisely when or where 16. tacita iudicia] Cf. Epp. 1167.
. . .

it occurred : doubtless at some point 346-7, 1171. 8r.

E b 2
 372 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Mihi semper studio fuit Lutheri causam a tua bonarumque

literarum causa seiungere, quod ea res et nos vocaret in communem
20 inuidiam, et illum ne tantulum quidem subleuaret. Sed aliis aliter
est visum. Me quoque tanta onerarunt inuidia vt parum abfuerit
quin et ipse fuerim impetitus ab istis qui in bonas literas ac doctrinam
Euangelicam coniurarunt. Obscurum non est quid agant illi. Id quo
magis succedat, praetexunt splendidos titulos, irritant mitissimum
25 Pontificis ingenium, vt illius malo suis consulant commodis. Vtinam
qui bonas literas colunt (nam in has tendunt isti) tam concordes
essent ad honestarum rerum defensionem quam isti deuoti sunt ad
subuersionem honestissimorum studiorum Si Germanis nostris !

placuisset ciuilitas ad quam ego semper amplectendam hortatus sum,

30 res fortasse non processisset huc tumultus.
Anglus ille Episcopus, quo non alius in ea gente vel eruditior vir
vel praesul sanctior, sic te deamat vt non ferat a quoquam laudari te
parcius. Habet in animo visere te estate proxima. Bene vale,
Capnion charissime. Coloniae vi. Id. Nouembr. Anno m.d.xx.

1156. To CoNRAD Peutinger.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 515. Cologne.
HN : Lond. xiii. 30 : LB. 542. 9 November 1 520.

[For the clate and circitmstanees of this letter see Ep. 1149 introd. The varia-
tions of tense in tlie second and third paragraphs, and the sudden reversions to
Faber in 11. 31, 89 are indications of hasty composition. Erasmus had met
Peutinger at Bruges in July see Epp. 1129. in, 1247.]
:

INSIGNI IVRIS VTRIVSQVE DOCTORI, CONRADO PEVTINGERO,

CAESAREO CONSILIARIO, ERASMVS S. D.

SciEBAM tibi non esse vacuum tempus legendis quorumlibet

literis, vir eximie, nec mihi multo plus ocii fuit ad scribendum ;
tamen huc impulit me loannes Faber, theologus ex ordine Domini-
cali: quem equidem, quo propius contemplatus sum, hoc magis

115(5. TIT. INSIGNI IVRIS VTRIVSQVE DOCTORI 09».. II.

1155. 18. semper] This is by no meaus heed towhat he might liave said in the
true. In Ep. 967. 69-84 Reuchlin and past. His words herecan hardly have
Luther areranked togetherasbringing been intended to deceive : for Ep. 967
discredit upon the cause of good was already published, and had very
loarning and Erasmus dissociates
; likely boen seen by Reuchlin. RE.
himself from them both. So, too, iu 299, 22 Feb. (1521), shows that both
a less degree in Epp. 1033 and 1041, in Reuchlin and Hutten accepted Eras-
S2)it(! of his defeiice of Reuchlin in Ep. mus' present statement of the case.
1006. In Epp. 1167. 94 seq. (cf. Ei). 29. ciuilitas] For his view of the Ger-
1143. lon) and 1217 both are disowned man character in this respect see Ej).
again : though Rouchlin is separated 998. 64^.
from Luther. In Ep. 1183 Reuclilin 31. Episcopus] Fisher; who had
disappeai-s altogether. Such variation doubtless answered Ep. 1129. For his
illustrates Erasmus' indiflference to desire to visit Kcuchlin cf. Epp. 324.
consisfcency in his utterances. He 21-2, 457. 8-14.
wrotehisletters rapidiy, without mucli 1156. 3. Faber] See p. 357.
1156] TO CONRAD PEUTINGER 373

experior esse virum longe dissimilem quibusdam eiusdem sodalitii.

Nam praeter eruditionem solidam, praeter morum integritatem atque
etiam comitatem, comperi non mediocriter valere et iudicio et
consilio. Frequenter inter nos eommentati sumus de ratione com-
ponendae huius Lutheranae tragoediae sine magno orbis tumultu.
Quem enim bene volentem rebus humanis non commoueat hoc fabulae lo
exordium? quae, nisi prospectum fuerit, pericuhmi sit ne in cata-
strophen exeat Christianae religioni periculosissimam. Ex leuioribus
initiis saepe nata sunt horrenda mundi dissidia. Ac mea sententia
hic quoque verum est quod scripsit Marcus Tullius, pacem vel
iniquam bello aequissimo potiorem esse. Ac iam nunc fabula longius 15
progressa est quam vehm; et tamen adhuc opinor malum esse
medicabile certe sanabilius est quam si quibus coepit auctibus
;

longius etiam prouehatur. Sic autem sanari cupiam, ne malum ad

tempus suppressum post maiore cum discrimine recrudescat quod :

solet vsu venire medicis qui potione propellunt febrem, non ante 20
purgatis venis vnde febris scatet aut qui cicatrice obducunt vulnus,
;

nondum satis educto pure.

Quibusdam videtur optimum factu vt i'es omnis saeuicia coher-
ceatur a quibus nec Faber admodum dissentit, nisi metueret ne
:

parum feliciter cedat austeritas. Ait non satis esse fortiter huc 25
tendere quo vocat animi voluntas. Plurima circunspicienda sunt.
Primum vt sic consulatur dignitati et autoritati Romani Pontificis
cui merito fauent omnes, vt Christi vicario summo, qui Christum ex
animo diligunt —
ne quid iacturae patiatur Euangelica veritas. Neque
,

dubito quin hoc animo sit Leo noster, vt tum demum se gloriosum 30
esse putet, si doctrinam Principis sui viderit vbique florere. Negat
hoc tantum esse spectandum, quid mereatur Lutherus aut si qui
Luthero fauent, sed quid conducat publicae orbis tranquillitati.
Magni refert qui manum admoueant huie malo, et quibus remediis
curetur. Admiscent enim sese huic negocio quidam qui leua saedu- 35
litate malum exasperant atque conduplicant, non tam Pontificis
autoritati quam suis commodis consulentes breuiter sic agunt vt :

non minus laedant optimas literas ac linguas quam Lutherum.

Neque aequum est ob Lutheri causam laedere innoxia, imo sanc-
tissima studia ; nec expedit sine causa plures in Lutheri negocium 40
inuoluere.
Addebat esse perpendendum quo fonte natus fuisset hic tumultus
nimirum ex odio bonarum liteiarum, quas nunc maliciosa vei-sutia
conantur admiscere Lutherano negocio quo nimirum eodem telo
;

conficiant vtrosque, licet multum inter sese semotos. Ita fieri vt 45

multi sint infesti Lutheri oppugnatoribus, non ob aliud nisi quod
iidem tendant hisce cuniculis in bonas literas ; atque hoc odio
commoti nonnulli fauent Luthero, qui non erant alioqui fauturi,
Ostendebat non sine magno dolore quam paucis annis quam hite sese
sparsisset huius mali contagium. Sibi non ignotos esse Germanorum 50

I r. rjuae F: cui JI,

8. Fiequenter] Since tlieir first 50. iiou ignotos] Cf. Faber's Consi7mm
mceting Louvaiu early in October.
at («00 p. 357) : Nouimus Germanorum
'

14. Tullius] Fam. 6. 6. 5. animos, videmus Bohomiam tot annis

31. Negat] sc. Faber. pertinacem, et ab horum factione non
 374 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

animos, qui ducantur citius quam cogantur. Nec lem abfuturam

a periculo, si natiua gentis ferocitas saeuicia quorundam exasperetur.
'Videmus" inquit, 'hactenus pertinacem Bohemiam, et ab hnc non
admodum abhorrentes finitimas regiones. Saeuicia saepius hactenus
55 tentatum est, neque quicquam promotum diuersis vtendum remediis/ ;

Odium Eomani nominis penitus infixum esse multarum gentium

animis. opinor ob ea quae vulgo de moribus eius vrbis iactantur, et
ob improbitatem quorundam qui nonnunquam Pontificis negocium
non ex ilhus sed ex suo gerunt animo, et sibi gerunt magis quam illi
60 quum nec Pontifici sit gerendum, nisi quatenus illius autoritas seruit
Christo gregique Christiano.
Video rem hactenus multo aliter esse tractatam quam viri prudentes
putarint esse tractandam. Lutherus etiamsi vera scripsisset omnia,
tamen eo modo scripsit vt veritati suum fructum inuiderit. Contra
65 qui se huic negocio transuersim ingesserunt, sic gesserunt rem apud
populum vt etiamsi causam habuissent optimam, tamen illi plurimum
obfuerint sinistro patrocinio. Admonitus est Lutherus vt stilum
verteret et atrocitatem temperaret scribit indies, vt audio, saeuiora.
;

Admoniti simt hi vt moderatioribus rationibus rem agerent quidam ;

70 sic egerunt vt cum Lvithero colludere viderentur. Est autem genus

hominum, mi Peutingere, quod publico malo saginatur, cuique rebus
tranquilhs male est. Hi nihil magis affectant quam vt res mortalium
sursum deorsum misceantur. Tum
Ev 8e ^L)(OcrTa(Tirj KayBpoKXeiSrjs TroXeyLtap^^cu

75 His placet saeuis modis negocium hoc obrui magis quam finiri, nec
laJjorant quanto orbis malo, modo ipsorum bono.
Mea sententia nihil agetur in hac causa, si qui rem tractant, alium
scopum sibi j^roponunt quam Christi gloriam. Saxum illud hinc
atque hinc tundi potest, loco moueri non potest cui inscriptum est :

80 illud mysticum elogium, Nouit Dominus qui sunt ipsius'. Quicquid

'

a spiritu Christi proficiscitur, non potest humanis praesidiis opprimi,

quantumuis prematur quicquid humanis consiliis tentatur, tem-
:

porarium est, quantumuis ardentibus studiis agatur, quantumuis

operoso molimine ad perpetuitatem communiatur. Mei similium non
85 est de Pontificum diplomatis iudicare. Erant tamen, qui in Bulla,
quam attulit nuncius Pontificius, mansuetudinem illam desiderarent,
dignam eo qui mitissimi Christi vices primai'ias gerit in terris, dignam
huius Leonis ingenio, multo hactenus placidissimo quod tamen ipsi ;

non imputant, sed instigatoribus. lam vt hac inquit, saeuicia ' ' '

90 maxime aljoleantur libri Lutherani, vt ipse etiam tollatur e medio,

metuendum est ne malum exasperetur magis quam finiatur, et
pro vno sublato exoriantur plures, donec i-es ad certamen et schisma
deducatur.'
Breuiter haec tempestas insignem aliquem artifieem desiderut. qui
95 negocii cursum moderetur, vt nec fluctibus ol)ruatur nec illidatur

64. vt J^: quasi //. 65. H: trtmanevsmn F. Cf. Ej). 1167. 223. 71. rebus
FCorrig.'. res F. 74. FN^ : SixoaTaaia K"^.

multum abhorrcntcs finitimas re- 80. Nouit Dominus] Cf. sTim. a. 19.
giones.' 85. Bulla] See Ep. 1141. 2on.
74. 'Ei/ 5« 5(xo(TTa(7(j7] Cf. Ep. 1053.212. 89. inqiiit] sc. Faber.
1156] TO COXRAD PEUTINGEE 375

vadoso littori, quod aiunt, deuitet Scyllam ne rapiatur in

et ita,
Charybdim ; ita malum hoc amputet
ne qua possit excetra repullu-
lascere. Censet igitur Faber noster rei summam arbitris doctis.
integris et ab omni suspicione alienis delegandam non quod ;

Romanus Pont. sit cogendus in ordinem et alieno subiiciendus roo

arbitrio, sed quod existimet illius pietatem hoc sponte volentemque
facturam, si cognorit ad publicam Christianae religionis tranquilli-
tatem conducere.
Sed huius consilii viam ipse tibi copiosius exponet coram quae si :

probabitur, adiunges tuae prudentiae consilium, vt in Vuormaciae 105

conuentu statuatur aliquid quod omnibus bonis approbetur, Quan-
quam non dubito quin hic loannes Faber sit tibi pro suis meritis
commendatissimus, tamen etiam atque etiam oro vt tuo in illum
studio nonnihil etiam accedat ex mea commendatione. Non potes
Erasmum alio oflficio magis deuincire, Vbi nunc sunt qui clamitant iio
Erasmum parum aequvim huic ordini ? Talis animus, talis eruditio,
tales mores mihi vehementer placent sub quocunque pallio. Bene vale.
Coloniae v. Id. Nouembr, anno m.d.xx.

1157. TO JODOCUS JONAS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 514. Cologne.

HN Lond. xiii. 28 LB. 543.
: : 11 November 1520,

ERASMVS lODOCO lONAE S. D.

ViR optime, Epistolas in Leum scriptas, etiam si ille meretur acer-

biora,supprimendas duxi, cum aliis de causis, tum ob lioc praecipue.
ne illum poneremus in aliqua factione, cum eum nec aduersarii nostri
agnoscant. Venit huc Hieronymus Aleander, satis peritus trium
linguarum, sed factus, vt apparet, ad hanc tragoediam. Louanii pri- 5
mum aliquot Lutheri libros incendit, in ij^so Caesaris discessu ; mox
idem fecit Leodii idem in crastinum parat Coloniue.
; Mihi non
leuius succensent quam ipsi Luthero, quod existimeiit me vnum ob-
sistere quo minus vbique totus Lutheriis aboleatur cum ego me ;

multis de causis nunqiiam admiscuerim causae Lutlierianae. Faueo 10

bonis studiis, faueo veritati Euangelicae id vel tacitus faciam, si
:

jjalam non licet. Dabit aliquando Christus tempora sereniora.

1156.99. abF: oh Lond. loo. Eomanus Poiit. // : Ro. Pon. F. 113 Colo-
om. X.
1X13.6 ANNo om. 7/. 1157. 10. Lutlieranae if.

1156. 98. arbitris] In the Consilivm report to Leo, 23 Oet., quotcd by de

Faber proposes acommi.ssion appointed Jongli p. 23011, and Al. E. i. 37. The
by Charles v, Heniy viii, and Louis of date of the Imrning at Cologne (12 Nov.)
Hungary. given here is confirmed by a Coiogne
III. parumaequum] Cf. Ep. 1006. ^n. MS. quoted by Jos. Hartzlieim, Froclro-
1157. I. Epistolas] Eev see p. 210. : mus hist. Vniu. Coloniensis, 1759, p. 22 :

2.supijrimendas] Cf.Ep.i 139. 100-3. ^^'^ ^^^'* ^P* 1166. 53-9, and Deutsche

6. incendit] On 8 Oct. at Louvain Beichstagsakten, jiing. Reihe, ii. 471-2,

and 17 Oct. at Liege see Aleander's
: note 4.
 376 LETTEES OF EKASMUS [1520

Haec paucis scripsi, mi lona, ne nihil scriberem, cum sese offerret

grammatophoros, quondam vestrae peregrinationis comes. Gasparem
15 Schalbum, Draconem, Hessum ac reliquos amicos iube saluere mul-
tum meis verbis. Agrippinae, natali diui Martini. Anno. m.d.xx.

1158. To JOHN OeCOLAMPADIUS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 513. Cologne.
HN: Lond. xiii. 27 : LB. 544. ii November 1520.

[This letter carries on the correspondence indicated in Epp. 1064, 1102.

Oecolampadius' replies do not survive. The yeai-.date needs no confirmation.]

ERASMVS ROT. INTEGERRIMO VIRO D. lOANNI OECOLAMPADIO S. D.

Epistolam siue libellum potius tuum nondum perlegi totum. Ad

obsignatas literas mihi longe gratissimas tribus verbis respondebo,
velut occupatissimus. Absit, mi frater, vt ego quenquam ab insti-
tuto sancto deterream, nedum te qui iam per aetatem et tibi notus
5 es et vitae genus non ignorabas. Tum optabam ex animo vt quod
ageres, feliciter succederet —
nam literis tuis suspicabar tale quiddam
tibi esse in animo nunc gratulor succedere.
; vere felicem et
Euangelicam philosophiam, id serio meditari, vt animus omnibus
huius mundi cupiditatibus defecatus, expeditus ac liber hinc auolet,
10 euocante Christo
De Pharisaeis bona verba. Hos denotabam qui nunc praetextu
religionis oppugnant veram religionem, et nobis miris technis odiose
facessunt negocium quorum taedio liberet vel in solitudinem ali-
:

quam demigrare si liceat et omnino facerem, ni me corpusculi

;

15 imbecillitas prohiberet. Proinde suspicionem istam prorsus ex

animo reiice. Neque enim dubito quin tua prudentia gregem purum
etintegrum delegerit.
Metaphrasim tuam in Ecclesiasten recepi, sed nondum legi.
Proximis literis scribam quid de ea sentiam. Capito totus est

TIT. INTEGERniMO VIRO D. om. H.

1157. 14. peregrinationis] In May 2. replying to Ep. 1102.

literas]
1519 : cf. Epp. 977-8, 981-2, 985. 4. tibinotus es] Cf. Ep. 999. 164^.
15. Schalbum] See Ep. 977 introd. 11. Pharisaeis] Cf. Ep. 1102. 21.
Draconem] See Ep. 871 introd. denotabam] Cf. Epp. 447. 24 .seq.,
Hessum] Eobanus see Ep. 874 ; 858. 496.
introd. 14. demij;rare] Cf. Ep. 1075. ^n.
1158. I. Epistohun] Evidently a 18. Mitapbrasim] In Ecclesiastem
lengthy defence of the monastic life, Solomunis imlui^hrasis dini Gregorii Neo-
composed in answer to theopeningsen- caesariensis E^nscopi, interprde Oecolampa-
tencesof Ep. iio2,and toother writings dio ; Augsburg, S. Grimm
and M. Wir-
such asEp.858(Ep.447 wasnotyetijub- sung, Oecolampadius' prefaee,
1520.
lished),inwhicliErasmushadcriticized dated i July 1520 from Altomiinster
tiie institution. It is noticeable that (Ei^.iog^. 174^), states tliat the transla-
in the preface to the Metaphrasis (1. i8n) tion was made during tlie tenure of his
Oecolampadius had been concerned preacliershii> at Augsburg.
with the same subjoct (f. A" v"). 19. Capito] Cf. HE. 198 = Zw. E."
'Caeterum encomiummonasticae vitae 157, Hedio to Zwingli from Mainz, 15
hidere non est praesentis instituti '. Oct. 1520, reporting that Capito had
 >8] TO JOHN OECOLAMPADIUS 377

aulicus, et suceedit illi res ; sed nonnihil vereor nequid illum inescet 20
hic niundus, si vnquam alias, peruersissimus. Neque quicquam
interea possumus nisi optare optima. Bene vale, frater in Christo
charissime. Agrippinae natali diui Martini. Anno m.d.xx.

1159. To RiCHARD Sbrulius.

Epistolae selectae, 1520, P. P v' (a). Cologne.
F. p. 514 : HN : Lond. xiii. 29 : LB. 545. 13 November 1520.

[For the earliest source see App. 12 iu vol. iii. Tlie year-date is confirmed by
the other letters of this period from Cologne.
R. Sbrulius(c. 1480-p. 1525) of Udine was an adventurer of the same type as Bar-
tholinus (Ep. 547) and Andronicus (Ep. 991). The earliest date at which he can be
definitely traced is 13 Dec. 1506. when he was at Venice. At Constance in 1507
he attracted the attention of Maximilian with a poem on the Sforzas and this ;

led to an introduction to Duke Frederic of Saxony, who sent him to teach at

Wittenberg (see 0. Beekman, Oraiio inlaudem phihsophiae, V7ittenhevg, J. Gronen-
berg, 1510, ff. b^ v°, b* v°). Thus when Scheurl was installed as rector of the
University, i May 1507, Sbi-ulius' name appeared nextto hisin the matriculation-
lists. During his residence there Sbrulius published numerous complimentary
pcems, addressed to Duke Frederic and others but of these Mutianus had little ;

opinion (MRE. 78, MRE.^ 58), and Eobanus in his Bucolicon, Erfurt, J. Knapp,
29 Sept. 1509, made fun. Nevertheless he won great admiration from Scheurl,
who ranked him with Ovid, and introduced Spalatinus to him with reverence
(SE. 58, 59) and this even survived the scaudals which drove him from Witten-
;

berg in 1512-13. About May 1513 he matrioulated at Frankfort on the Oder,

where he produced a poem on the glories of Brandenburg, printed by J. Hanaw,
15 Oct. 1514. In May 1515 he visited Mutianus at Gotha but the verses that ;

he offered found no favour, and he was passed on (MRE. 473,4 MRE.* 49556). ;

A few verses of compliment by him appear in Trithemius' Liber octo questionuin,

Oppenheim, J. Hasselberg, 20 Sept. 1515. His next effusion was a poem in
praise of Treves and theHoly Coat, dedicated to the Abp., and printed by
Quentel at Cologne, 1516; where he matricuhited 30 Sept. 1516. In 1517 he
was teaching at Ingolstadt, where Urbanus Regius approved of him (VE. 107) ;
but by 15 May 1518 he was at Augsburg, presenting a petition to Maximilian.
Some verses printed in Zasius' LvA:ubrationes, Froben, 1518 i^Ep. 862), perhaps
indicate a visit to Basle, where he may have met Erasmus (cf. Ep. 1001. 31-3) but ;

in November he was back again at Augsburg, dwelling with Paul Hoflieimcr,

Imperial organist (SE. 177). Some verses by him ajjpear in a volume addressed
to the Imperial official, Blasius Holzelius, Augsburg, 1518, by a number of poets
who claimed Holzelius as their Maecenas. Maximilian appointed him historio-
grapher and poet and so on the Emperor's death he composed an Elegy, which
;

was printed s.l. el a. In 1519-20 he published two more volumes of verse at

Augsburg for one of which aee p. 359. Hutten in May 1520 contemned him as
:

* homo
extreme leuis et futilis ', who would spiu out verses to any one who would
give him a crust of bread (HE. 164) a judgement which is justified by Sbrulius'
;

numerous contributions of this sort to books of the period (cf. 1. 6n and NE.
p. 27). But besides the present polite letter Erasmus thought well enough of
him to make him, like Andronicus, one of the characters in the Conuiuium poeti-
cum, first printed in Aug. 1523. In 1522 Sbrulius was teaching at Freiberg in

gone to Charles' coronation at Aachen Principi.' To his efforts on belialf of

in the train of the Abp. of Mainz to : Luther at Cologne in these daysCapito
whom he had just been made coun- makes allusion in LE.'^ 474. 12-21.
cillor. Quam jirosit in ea conditione,
* 20. aulicus] Capito took exception to
"vix credis. Lutherus in lioc di^itrictu this passage, no doubt after reading it
dudum esset combustus, Luterani in F see his letter (Ep. 1374) of 6 July
:

dTroawdywyot, nisi is aliter persuasissct 1523, Hess ii. 558.

 378 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Saxony but once more there seems to have been scandal at his departure. In
;

1523 he composed an Epithalaonium, Vienna, J. Singren, s.a., for the wedding of

Gabriel Salamanca at Innsbruck. In the summer of 1524 he was at Salzburg,
again living with Hofheimer (VE. 392, 396) but in the following spring he was
;

with Nausea in the train of Campegio in Hungai-y, and took a doctor's degree at
Buda, 26 March 1525. After that nothingseemsto be known of him. A transla-
tion by him of a portion of Theuerdank into Latin verse, De variis Maximiliani
periculis, dedicated to Ferdinand, is in the Imperial Library at Vienna (MS.
Lat. 9976) cf. Lambecius, Bibl. Caes. Vindohon., ii (1769"), 930.
;

See G. G. Liruti, Letterati del Friuli, ii (1762), pp. 89-96 ; M. Denis, WiensBuch-
druckergeschicJit, 1782, pjx 341-2 ; Jocher and Panzer. ;

ERASMVS RICARDO SBRVLIO SVO S. D.

Parvbi humanus videatur qui succenseat vel immodice amanti.

Proinde non possum non ignoscere tuis carminibus, eruditissime
Sbruli, sane quam eleganter sed nimis amanter de me mentientibus.
Neque dubito quin carminum liorum candori animi candor respon-
5 deat. Ingenii tui vaenam, non minus synceram quam felicem ac
benignam, primum ex eo carmine perspexi quod sic ex tempore
lusum Louanii reliqueras. lamque vtriusque animus vtrique notus
erat, quum neuter alteri de facie notus esset. Sed familiaritas quae
mihi tecum intercessit Coloniae, noii parum magnam accessionem
10 adiunxit meae de te existimationi, quum ea res fere soleat opinionis
iactui-am aliquam adducere.
Sed heus tu, optime Sbruli, ama tuum Erasmum quantum voles
immodice, modo praedices parcius. Nosti vetus ilhxd iureconsul-
torum adagium, Nec omnia, nec passim, nec ab omnibus
'
Vt non '.

15 est iniucundum laudari a viro laudato, ita non expedit apud quosuis
praedicare quae tuus in nos amor suggerit animo tuo vt ne dicani ;

interim quod quaedam in me non competant. Minus nos grauat qui

detrahit quod adest quam qui tribuit quod non habemus. Tu vero
quoties amoris oestro percitus bonis lateri)>us declamas, et omni
20 genere armorum depugnas aduersus eos qui minus Erasmo tribuunt
quam tua vellet in me beneuolentia, quaeso, quid aliud efficis quam
vt illos irrites ad peius etiam de me praedicandum, et me degraues
inuidia, cuius nonnuHa fortasse portio in te quoque deriuetur? Ego
iampridem vt obtrectationibus assueui, ita laudum gloriaeque sum
25 satur. Ingenue profitens me nihil scire, quod possum praesto. Si
non assequor quod coiior, tamen in rebus honestis et arduis vel
conatus laudi dari solet. Si quid labor, sic me consolor Homo sum, :

4. F: eandor animi candori a. 9. Coloniae a : Agrippinae H. 13.

iurisconsultorum F. 17. competunt F.

6. carmine] Perhnps Sbrulius' Car- the Town Library at Nuremberg (Hist.

men inquosdam theologastros Louanieiises 4°. 368). If this is the poem intended
sifcophaniasextemporale wliich was
; here, Sbrulins' visit to Louvuin at —
printed in Flores siue Eleguntie ex diicersis some date when Erasmus was not there
libris Ilochstrati . . . per Nic. Quadum —
was apparently not receut.
Saxonein coUectae, a volume
s. 1. et a. : 14. Necomnia] Cf. ^rfaqr. 1316; which
which is dated by Bucking Sept. 1519, refers to Ulpian bk. i, De officio pro- '

but may be later. The poem also consulis', about tho receipt of presents
appoars in an undated edition of Eras- by a proconsul in his province : cited
mus' Apol. de In principio erat sermo (cf. on Dig. i, tit. 16.
Ep. 1072), of which there is a copy in 22. irrites] Cf. Ep. 1163. 3.
1159] TO RICHAED SBRULIUS 379

et haec culpacum nemine milii non communis est. Si quis me

superat. gmtulor publicae studiorum vtilitati neque mihi tui-pe :

duco si, quum ipse multos praecurrerim, existat aliquis qui me 30

vicissim anteuertat. Nec ideo pilo futurus sum doctior, si me pro-
fiteor omnia scire. Nec ol) hoc sum indoctior, si cum Socrate fatear
me nihil omnino scire. Quanquam omnino quota cognitionis portio
estomnis nostra scientia nam de mea nihil dicam.
!

Ego meam fabulam propemodum peregi. Superest vt addam, 35

Valete et phuidite. Gaudeo passim exoriri qui meum nomen, si
quod tamen est meum nomen, sint obscuraturi. Omnibus his precor
vt res optime succedat, sed tibi cum primis, Sbruli candidissime :

quem vtinam Caesaris nostri benignitas inauret Bene vale. !

Agrippinae. Id. Nouemb. An. m.d.xx. 4°

1160. T(. Paul Ritius.

Epistolae selectae, 1520, f°. a^ v". Cologne.

F. p. 522 : HN : Lond. xiii. 39 : LB. 546. (November) 1520.

[For the first source see App. 12 in vol. iii. Though only addecl in H, tho
dates may have some value as in Ep. 1136. Without them there is no definite
:

indication of time though the limits ar<' iiotwide apart. Tlie book referred to,
;

in which Ritius (Ep. 548. 1511) expounds the interest of the Cabala and defends
a friend against an adversary, but at no great length, is probably his Aiwlogelicus
achiersiis ohtrectatorem Cabalae sermo, in -which he replied to Hochstrat's Destrudio
CabaJe, Cologne, Quentel, April 1519 (cf. Ep. 1006. 74, 93nn\and defends Reuchlin
against Hochstrafs censures. It was perhaps shown to Erasmus in manuscr-pt
for I can find no earlier edition than one with the title Apologefica in allegorisan-
tium seu Cabaleorum dogma Orafio. Nuremberg, F. Peyp, 1523, and dedicated to
Adrian vi. Later it was included in bk. iv of Ritius' Be codesti agricultiira, Augsburg,
H. Stayner, 1541.
Confirmation for the dates given in H
may be found in the position of this
Iftter at the end of sheet a, which is the final sheet of the Epistolae sekctae per
Barlandum, Dec. 1520. Also Ritius, being now physician to Ferdinand, would
natnrally be present at Charles' coi'onation and the subsequent ceremonies.]

EKAhMVS ROTERODAMVS PAVLO RITIO, PHILOSOPHO CONSVM-

MATISSIMO, S. D.

LiEELLVs tuus, eruditissime Eiti, me paulo aequiorem reddidit

negocio Caballistico quanquam antehac non eram admodum in-
:

fensus, siquidem ignoscendum arbitror vt humanum vicium, si quis-

que faueat iis studiis in quibus et plurinumi insumpsit temporis et
se praecipue valere confidit. Coeterum istos quis ferat, qui quicquid 5
non intelligunt tam acerbis tamque pertinacibus odiis persequuntur ?

115'J. 31. sim F. profitear f. 1100. tit. puilosopho consvmmatissimo

om. H. 6. persequuntur F prosequuntur
: a.

1159. 37. obscuraturi] Cf. Ep. 1107. 8. Aug.r^io, Sbruliuschiimed tobe 'eques
In the title of his C7eo-
39. inauret] Foroiuliensis but it does not appear
' :

machia, Wittenberg, J. Grunenberg, i that he was gilded by Charles v.

'
'
 380 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Neque vero vno nomine mihi placuit opus. Eruditio quae tibi
perpetua est, hic mihi non potuit esse noua. Sed in primis arrisit
candor ille et perspicuitas, quae rem ita ponit ob oculos vt caeco
10 quoque possitesse conspicua. Arrisit animus iste Gratiis et amicitiae
natus, qui tanto studio tuetur hominis eruditissimi innocentiam
aduersus impudentissimos sycophantas. Arrisit denique te, hoc est
absoluto veroque philosopho, digna moderatio qua sic fortiter patro- :

cinaris amico, vt a conuiciis in aduersarium temperes, magis reputans

15 quid te quam quid illo dignum esset. breuitati non perinde Nam
faueo, cum mihi licet oceupatissimo perlectum opus famem sui
reliquerit. Bene vale, doctissime Riti. Agrippinae. Anno m.d.xx.

1161. From Ulrich Huttex.

Patriotisches Arcliiv, vii. -p. 25 (a). Ebernburg.
HE. 200 (/3). 13 November 1520.

[The manuscript "was an original letter, written by a secretary, with signature,

postscript, and address (11. 1 14-19) by Hutten formerly in the library of the :

Counts von der Leyen at Blieseastell, w. of Zweibriicken. In 1787 Moser printed

it in his Patiiotisches Ardiivfar Deutschland, vii from a copy provided by Klein,
;

librarian at Bliescastell. Bocking, when editing Hutten's Letters, 1859, was

unable to trace the original which may therefore have perished. He con-
:

jectures that it was among the papers of Francis of Sickingen at Landstiihl, ne.
of Zweibriicken, wliich were dispersed after his death. Either Klein's copy was
inaccui"ate, or Moser printed from it without much care. Bocking in /3 has
corrected some errors. I am indebted to both Klein and Bocking for the notes.
Ebernburg was a castle belonging to Fi-ancis of Sickingen, a few miles s. of
Kreuznach. Moser considered that the letter never reached Erasmus, the
messenger being detained at Mainz.]

ERASMO ROTERODAMO VLRICHVS HVTTENVS S. D.

Male mihi cedat quidquid hoc est quod tanto cum periculo incepi,
hoc tempoi'is, nisi me sollicitum magis habet tua salus quam mea
fortuna, Erasme optime. Itaque cum quo spectet res plane videas,
miror quid ibi agas, vbi et magna est, vt nusquam alibi, nostrarum
5 partium infensio et Decimi mandata grassantur nunc, vt audio,
atrociter. Quin etiam exustis Lutheri libris secure te consistere
existimas? quasi non illius damnatio tuae causae sit praeiudicium,
aut tibi parsuros putandum sit qui Lutherum damnauerunt. Fuge,
heus tu, fuge ac te nobis serua. Mihi periculi satis multum quidem
10 est, etiam infinitum, sed tantumdem animi periculis indurati et
fortuna quae ferat tua alia causa est.
; Fuge, optime Erasme, fuge
dum licet, ne siquid aduersi (quod abominor) cadat, iam tum non
sit hoc ipsum integrum, et necesse sit dicere hoc quod sapiens
nemo dixit, Non putaram '.
'
lam palam clamant isti omnium

1160. 17. Agrippinae. m.d.xx add. II. Anno add. X. 1161. 4. nus-
quam scripsi : vsquam aff. 8. parsuros j8 : passuros a.

1161. 4. ibi] at Cologne ; ef. p. 370. 14. Nonputaram]Cf. Cic. Ojf. 1.23. 81,
5. Decimi] Leo x. and other sources quoted by Bocking
6. exustis] Cf. Ep. 1157. 6n. on HE. 191, § 2 also Ep. 447. 644.
;
ii6i] FROM ULRICH HUTTEN 381

horum autorem esse te, atque ab hoc fonte profluxisse quidquid est 15
quod male nunc habet Leonem ; te praeiuisse nobis, te erudiisse. te
primum incitasse libertatis studio hominum mentes, te esse illum
a quo pendeamus alii. Quod etsi huiusmodi non est. quia tamen
nosti quocum genere hominum res nobis est. nullam debes concipere
tantam spem vt te his locis credas. Odiosae sunt hac in causa 20
literae quanto magis qui has intulit, qui eruditione Germaniam
;

impleuit. Age autem, Derthusiensis ibi ad Decimum epistola,

conuitiis eum illo expostulantis quod te in Germania ferat harum
rerum magistrum, cuins momenti est ? Plane fugiendum tibi
existimo, si non magni facias tuum casum, tamen vt ne tanto 25
praeside spolientur studia, tanto patre orbae sint literae. Si dubi-
tares adhuc, nihil fidum satis esse nobis vel ab Aleandro doceri
oporteret ; quem quis putasset pecunia sacerdotali aduersum nos
conduci posse? Et tamen non oppugnat acrius hoc tempore alius.
Tu autem leniter et subblandiendo tot iam annos tractato Pontifice, 30
etiam laudato. quid meruisti aliud quam vt infense oderit et per-
ditum veHt ? id quod magis etiam facere volet, quando iam videbit
contra suum furoiem arma expediri. Quod iam ante factum esset,
nisi Francisci consilium fuisset Regem tentare prius, spe concepta
fore vt hoc ipse Rex agat aut certe agentibus nobis conniueat neque 35 ;

non factum arbitror. nisi omnia inuertet sceleratus ille Sclauus

corona Caesari oblata, cuius praemium poscimur Lutherus et ego.
Ergo igitur eripe isthinc te nam mihi armis agendum est, quod,;

tibi ne obsit, praedico ante iam.

Quod si non probas institutum tu meum, causam tamen cur haec 40
paro, improbare non potes, vt li>)era sit Germania nam tunc vige- ;

bunt etiam literae et honor erit studiis. Difficile hoc tibi est prae- '

stare,' inquis.Difficillimum, sed tamen conari pulchrum est, quid-

quid eueniat etiam nam euentis rerum pugnare non est meuni
:
;

quod fortuna momentum habeat, ibi animo et virtute conabor. 45

Quod si cui occurram occasioni, quis impediet optatum his consiliis
exitum contingere? Sin contra eueniet, tamen nullum est tam
prudens Pontificis consilium, quo extinguere hoc a nobis excitatum
semel incendium liceat. Profecto enim ai-debunt ista, quantumcum-
que reluctantibus ipsis, etiam si nos opprimant iam alios enim pariet 50 ;

vehementiores etiam libertatis adsertores cinis iste noster. Atque

eo magis ago haec, quod futurum hoc scio conaboi"que omnia, et ;

16. /3 : habct. Leonem te a. 22. epistola scripsi : epistolae al3. 27.

/3 : Alexandro a. 36. 3 : Sclaiius Corolla a. 48. quo a : quod 13. 52.
scio (i : scis o.

22. Derthusiensis] Adrian cf. Epp. ; Regem] Charles v.

1114.3^, 1153.149^. His letter seems Sclauus] This iusinuation that
36.
to have perished. From this passage Aleander v/as Slavonic in origindoubt-
it might seem that its pui-pose was to less rested on his claini (Al. E. i. 3)
get Erasmus toRomein connexion with that his family came from Istria where :

Leo'sprojectedUniversity(cf. Ep. 1062. the Slavs settled in vii'' (Freeman,

i4on u But Ep. 1166. 104-6 suggests a Hist Geography of Europe, 1881, p. 115).
different interpretation. See also Ep. 1166. 85^. For the term
27. doceri] Cf. Ov. M. 4.428. Sclavonia appliedto theneighbourhood
30. leniter] Cf. Ep. 1029.9. of Ragusa cf. Brewer iv. 1832.
34. Francisci] of Sickingen: see Ep. 37. et ego] Cf. Ep. 1135. an.
582. 27n. 38. armis] Cf. Ep. 1166. no-rr.
 882 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

vndecumque lieebit, ansam nobis arripiam, nihil non tentabo a quo ;

nullaeminae, nulla quae abducant pericula satis sunt. Semel

5£ infixum in libertate animum dirimi non j^atiar. An possem pati,
cui tam inhonesta proposita sit seruitus, nisi rebellem? Egone
mollibus seruiam sacerdotulis, delicatulis istis cynedis parcam, ini-
pudicos adorem pontifices, hominum nullius bonae frugis imperata
faciam, cum toties summis imperatoribus negasse hoc maiores meos
60 sciam, nec ea sit quae tantam indignitatem ferat mea natura?
Prius omnia perdidero.
Quod vt ne dubites quo agitem animo, iam i^ersuasi ipse mihi
fatale hoc esse Hutteno pro patria i^ericlitante quod constanter adeo ;

proposui vt clariorem nullam, quam quae pro communi libertate

65 obeatur, mortem esse existimem. Agite igitur, optimi ciues, adeste
populaies propellantur improbi a Germania domini, soluatur turpis
;

seruitus, pudendum abiiciatur iugum. Germanos esse nos memi-

nerimus, neque hic quisquam sit quem delectet viuere, si non possit
libere. Aliquid, non omnia praecidet, si, quod isti sperant, inter-
70 cedet, Regis edictum neque omnia ille refugia clauserit, omnia
;

subduxerit auxilia. Quem ego tamen credo abductum nunc pessimo

consilio, non diu facturum etiam hoc. Aliquando enim ad se redibit,
neque semper Romanensium palponum consiliis subuertendum se
praebebit ; cum
quia tot exemi^lis commoneri eum facile est nihil *

75 esse ibi fidum tum vero quia tempus adesse videtur quo haec
',

aboleatur tyrannis. Quod etsi a me fieri non possit, tamen initia

sumere poterit vl)i qui sunt isti qui ad quietem hortantur ? quasi
;

vero forti viro, qualis esse laboro, quiescere sit despicabilem seruire
seruitutem, hoc praesertim tempore quo ad summum conscendit
80 haec indignitas, quo isti nihil non licere sibi vplunt, quo sacra pro-
fanaque omnia impie, vt nunquam prius, miscentur. quo mentiri et
fraudare regium est et pontificium, diripere et furari etiam sacrum.
Hinc tu laude conatus es reuocare hos l^enigne id quidem, sed :

vincente ipsorum dementia nihil eblanditus es. lam non est igitur
85 tempus vt desperata sanitate, cuius in tantum capaces isti non sunt,
abiiciamus putrida cadauera, exuramus et aboleamus ? Quod si vi
et armis conemur efficere vt his obsaeuiamus furiis, eritne qui forti-
tudini nostrae temeritatis appellatione obructabit ? Fuerit. At nos
hanc gloriam existimabimus neque sequemur tamen gloriam, sed
;

90 libertatis studio periculis vltro nos obiiciemus. Neque enim seruire

poterimus, quibus etiam seruientes in Germania videre alios graue
est et fortasse inuitis hominibus suae libertatis authores erimus.
:

Quae idcirco pluribus ad te scripsi, vt vbi quae hic parentur scires,

cognoscere tibi liceret quam non sis tutus illic, vbi maxime obsistitur
95 remergenti tandem libertati et tenacissime haeret seruitus.
Quare consilium est meum ne tanti facias illud istic ociolum, vt in
summo periculo conquiescere in animum inducas. Multum te cupiunt
60. indignationem )3. 69. /3 praecindet a.
: 74. commoneri /3 : com-
moueri a. 87. /8 obraeuiamus a.
: 97. cupiunt a capiunt P. :

70. edictum] See Ep. 1192. 66n. Biipst (j<gen den tentschen Kaysseren gehalten
72. Aliquando] With tliis passage /mfeen, (?Tubingen, T. Anshelm, 1520) :

may be compared Hutten's Anseig ivie see liis Opera, ed. Bocking, v. 363-84,
allweg&n sich die Rotnischen Bischoff oder and HE. pp. 69^-7 1*.
ii6i] FKOM ULRICH HUTTEN 383

Basilienses tui quae mora est quin eo concedas quamprimuni ?

:

praesertim liberiores cum sint homines, suapte alioqui

nusquam
natura, nunc Lutheri etiam scriptis et meo quodam poemate Ger- loo
manice scrij^to mire inflammati? In summa isthinc te eripe et
manifestum discrimen prudenter declina.
Hoc te ego hortor ;
quem vt id faciam, cum ipsi persuadere tibi
non possent, communes amici pie admodum exorarunt. Da aliquid
omnium votis, si non parcis tuae saluti nouum hoc tuum in com- : 105
mune benefactum erit. Cede nostris praecibus, qui istorum terroi-em
contemnis concede amicorum desideriis, si istorum vim non fugis.
;

Non tanti fuerit Erasmo Louanium vt illius ergo sui fructu vniuer-
sam fraudare velit Germaniam nimis magni constiterit vnius vrliis
:

amor, hanc publico praeferas desiderio. Memineris venenum esse

si iio
clam, et sicas esse memineris, si manifesta non times. Hoc qui te
amant efflagitant : quoruni tandem studiis concede, et te nobis in
commune serua, ac optime vale.
Ex Ebernbui'go per amanuensem. Idib. Nouembris Anno mdxx.
Quae puerum meum contulisti, in ipsum me collata arbitraie.
in 115
Reddam vicem. Ipsum non remittam hinc neque enim carere ;

possum fido ministro.

Desyder. Erasmo Roterodamo, theologo Christianiss., amico adora-

bili, salut. Moguntiae, Coloniae aut vbi vbi est.

1162. To Thomas More.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 589. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xvi. i : LB. 554. (c. November) 1520.

[Subsequent to Ep. 1153. Ep. 1 164. 40-2 shows that while at Cologne (pp.
370-1), Erasmus was in hopes that a settlement with Egmondanus had been
attained. It may therefore be inferred that the interview with him in
Eosemondfs presence, which is described here (see also Ep. 1173), had then
already taken place. The probable course of Erasmus' movements (see i). 370)
leaves room for that interview, perhajjs c. 20 Oct., before his departure to
Aachen and Cologne but scarcely for a report of it to have reached More and
;

for his letter inquiring about it to have then come back. This letter must
therefore be later than Erasmus' time at Cologne ; and may be placed conjec-
turally in November, after his return.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS CLARISS. VIRO THOMAE MORO S. D.

QvAE tibi narrata sunt de concertatiuncula quae mihi fuit apud

huius Academiae Rectorem cum Nicolao Egmondano, nec omnino
vera sunt, neque tamen nihil habent veri sic enim solet rumor, et :

augei-e quod gestum est, et variare fabulas. Neque vei-o mihi tam

1162. TIT. CLAKISS. VIRO 0)H. H.

1161. 100. poemate] Clag vncl vorma- 473-526 and HE. pp. 65^-68*.
nung gegen dem iibermcissigen vnchrisilichen 119. Moguntiae] For a report that
gewalt cles Bapst.s zu Rom, (?Mainz, J. Erasmus liad gone to Mainz cf. BRE.
Schoeffer, 1520) see Hutteni Opera, iii.
: 182, of 11 Nov.1520 andsee Ep. iioi. i.
:
 384 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

5 inimicus est vt patiar illum mendaciis traduci. Rem igitur, vt

habet, accipe quandoquidem video vobis isthic tantum esse ocii vt
;

quid hic ineptiamus, vacet cognoscere.

Vbi expostulassem apud huius Academiae Rectorem quod
literis
Egmondanus in concione nos perstrinxisset, rescripsit ille, si placeret
10 ipsum audire coram sua verba sonantem, fortasse rem posse com-
poni. Respondi me nihil detrectare, tametsi non essem nescius ab
illo ix7]8h' vytes proditurum. Conuenimus, consedit Rector ; huic ego
dexter assedi, sinister ille. Nec erat inanis ordo. Nouerat Egmon-
dani mores, ac de me sibi falso persuaserat eum esse qui possem
15 irritari proinde medius consedit, quo pugnam dirimeret, si forte
:

XoyofxaxLu ad vngues ac pugnos efferuesceret. Rem igitur paucis

exponit Rector. Ibi composito ad mirani sed ridiculam grauitatem
vultu infit Egmondanus Ego nulli feci iniuriam in saeris con-
:
'

cioribus. Si Erasmus se putat laesum, proferat sum illi respon- ;

20 surus '. Rogabam an putaret vllam atrociorem iniuriam quam ho-

minem immerentem in publica concione traducere mendaciis. Ibi
continuo commotus homo, et relicta quam coeperat persona, magis
—
etiam purpurascens nam rubebat et antea ; erat enim tempus
pomeridianum —
Et cur inquit, tu nos traducis tuis sacris libris ?
:
'
' '

25 In libris inquam,
'
meis nusquam est nomen tuum.'
'
'
Nec in con- '

cionibus inquit, 'meis auditum est nomen tuum.' Negaui libros

'

meos esse sacros, in quibus aliquando narrem etiam somnia mea

nihilque non nuger non idem licere in' sacris concionibus.
; Prae- '

terea longe minus inquam, scripsi de te quam res habet.

'
'
Tu de
30 me publice mentitus es, dicens fauisse Luthero } cui nunquam faui
in eum sensum in quem tua dicta interpretatur popukis, et ipse
sentis.' Ibi iam non commotus sed furenti simiHs, Imo,' inquit, '

'tu es autor horum omnium, tu es versipellis ac veterator, et nihil

non intorques cauda quadam Atque his similia multa euomuit '.

35 verius quam dixit, quae illi tum suggerebat splendida bilis.

Sensi et mihi concitari stomachum, iamque vox quaedam eruperat,
sermonis non satis temperati prooemium, non quidem Racha, sed
aliud quiddam, quod peius oleat quam sonat. Sed repressi me illico,
satius ducens et meae (nam parum valebam) et Rectoris parcere
40 valetudini, cui et ipsi cum medicis res erat postremo stultum et ;

indecorum ratus aduersus furentem furere. Itaque subridens verti

me ad Rectorem. Possem inquam, testari de insigni contumelia,
' ' '

possem regerere conuicium. Appellat me versipellem ; liceret ipsum

vicissim appellare vulpem. Appellat me duplicem ; possem ipsum
45 appellare quadiniplicem. Ait me cauda contorquere omnia possem ;

dicere illum lingua sua inficere omnia. Sed haec nec viris digna
sunt, ac vix etiam mulieribus. Agamus argumentis, finge me .'
. .

Hic ille protinus interpellans magno clamore nautico, Non fingo,' '

inquit, nolo fingere

'
hoc vestrum est. Vos poetae fingitis ac menti-
;

50 mini omnia lam magis ridere libe]>at quam indignari.

'. Si fin- '

gere non vis,' inquam, 'da igitur.' 'Nolo' inquit, dare.' 'Fac' '

41. ratus add. II. 43. conuiciimi F : conuicia H.

8. literis] Ep. 1153. 39- parum valebam] Of this indispo-

35. splendida bilis] Cf. Hor. S. 2. 3. sition I find no other trace.
141. 40. valetudini] Cf. Ep. 1153. 228.
1162] TO THOMAS MOKE 385

inquam, '
ita esse.' 'Non faciam ', inquit. 'At pone ita esse ',

inquam, '
Non ponam '. inquit. '
Sit igitur ita iuquam.
', At '

non inquit.est Quid igitur' inquam, vis me dicere?' 'Dic',

'.
' *

inquit,"Ita est."' •
55
Vix Rector impetrauit vt sineret nie loqui, Vt verum sit '
',

inquam, me in libris meis quaedam scripsisse secus quam oportet,

'

non tamen hoc erat tur.m, ad animi tui vindictam abuti sacri loci,
sacrae concionis autoritate. et populi simplicis credulitate, Poteras
vicissim in me scribere, poteras me in ius vocare, Nunc non tam 6o
mihi facis iniuriam quam toti huic Academiae, quam toti populo,
quam sacrae concioni, quae longe aliis fabulis dicata est.' Hic quum
deesset homini quod responderet, alio, vt solet, defiexit. la ', inquit, '

'
optares tilji simileni autoritatem.' 'Quam?' inquam. "concio-
nandi ? Annuit. '
Atqui inquam et olim sum concionatus, et 65 •
'
'

arbitror me posse meliora dicere quam audio te aliquando profe-

rentem,' Quin igitur inquit, facis ? Quia puto me inquam,
' ' ' * ' '

'
maius operaeprecium facere scribendis libris ; tametsi tuam in-
dustriam non improbarem, si modo doceres ea quae faciunt ad
bonos mores.' Ibi venit homini in mentem quod scripsissem in 70
literis ad Eectorem (legerat enim). haec mihi immerenti, imo bene
merenti, indigne fieri. Vbi inquit. tu bene mereris ? 'Fatentur' '
'
' '

inquam, hoc plurimi, me non male meritum de bonis literis.'

'
la ', '

'
inquit, sic vos eas appellatis
'
sunt malae literae.' Et in sacris ;
'

inquam. multa restitui.' Imo,' inquit, 'multa falsasti.'

'literis "
75
'
Cur inquam, approbat Eomanus Pontifex suo diplomate ?
igitur ' '

'
la, diplomate inquit quis vidit tuum diploma ? subindicans
'
:
'
'

a me confictum esse. An postulas inquam, vt diploma per singulos '

'
'

circunferam aut in foro exhibeam? Exhibui Atensi. vidit Dorpius.'

la. Dorpius
'
inquit additurus et in illum aliquid conuicii, ni
' ; So
Eector illum suo vultu compescuisset. 'Videbis et tu. si voles',
inquam. Nolo inquit, videre tua.' Cur igitur damnas ? inquam.
' ' ' '
'

Cur in Luthero damnando tantum apud tevalet Pontificis autoritas,

'

in meis probandis pluma leuior est ?

'

Hoc sermone omisso coepit commemorare, iam velut afifectum 85

moturus arte rhetorica, quantis honoribus afl:ecissent me theologi
Louanienses priusquam in eos scripsissem. Quid non fecimus '

inquit, tibi ? Caeterum de virulentis obtrectationibus quibus me

'
'

laniarat Egmondanus, etiam priusquam Louanium commigrarem,

nuUa mentio. Eespondi non esse mei moris extenuare cuiusquam 90
in me beneficium, caeterum me hactenus theologorum beneficio non
admodum vsum fuisse. Ibi nescio quo pacto factus mitior, Verum '
',

inquit, quia non potuimus '

Ergo inquam, ne imputes quod '. '
" '

non praestitistis. Nam quantum potueritis malefaciendo, sensi

officii sum, nisiquod me vocastis ad actus quos vocatis,
nihil exj^ertus 95
et conuiuia quaedam solennia. a quibus nemo magis abliorret quam

65. N: At qui F. C/. Ep. 1167. 52. 77. H : subiudicans F.

65. sum
concionatus] Cf. i, p. 37, 15, 88, obtrectationibus] Tliis passage,
16 and Ep, 43 introd, conibiiied with Ep. 1 196. 115 seq., shovvs
70. scripsissem] Ep. 1153. 196. that Egmoudanus was the Carmelite
76. dipiomate] Ep. 864. of Epp. 483. 26,7, 948. 136-43,
84. pluma leuiorj Cf. Piaut. Mirn. 95. actus] Cf,£pp. 695. 18-19, 719.3
488, Potrt. 812. but see the Acta Acad. Louan., f °. a^
462-4
C C
 386 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

ego: tantum abest vt existimem me hoc nomine multum debere

vobis. Vos me vltro inuitastis ad amicitiam, ego vt nunquam
ambii, ita nunquam dedi ansam dirimendae.'
100 Ex hoc sermone venit homini in mentem de sarta inter nos
amicitia, vno ipso nondum satis placato cum nemo stolidius lae- ;

sisset quam ille. Putant hoc esse religionis colophonem, vt illis

supplices sint, etiam qui non ferendis iniuriis sint affecti tantum :

abest vt quenquam ipsi reconcilient, aut iuxta doctrinam Euangeli-

105 cam benefaciant ei qui laeserit. Bene mones' inquit iactas inter '
;
'

nos sartam fuisse concordiam.' *

Quid ? an non fuit' inquam.
'
Nonne compotauimus splendide in collegio Falconis ? ' (Constiterat
hoc prandium eius domus Moderatori non mediocri pecunia. Et
quoniam erat dies Mercurii, tantum piscium erat paratum vni Egmon-
1 10 dano quantum satis esset quatuor athletis) Nonne proposita pacis '

conditio, vt vtrinque deleret offensas omnes amnestia?' Negauit

ille fortiter quod tot testibus actum erat. Rector interpellans ita
moderatus est litem vt fateretur inter omnes Christianos esse aliquam
concordiam caeterum eam pacem non fuisse numeris omnibus
;

115 absolutam.
Ego arridens rogabam quota compotatione pax theologica absol-
ueretur me simplicem arbitrari vel sine compotatione confici
:

pacem inter bonos. Hinc rursus aliud illi venit in mentem. 'Recte '

admones inquit tu nos habes ludibrio et traducis tanquam

' ; '

120 ebrios.' Expostulante me vbi vocassem eum ebrium, Scribis '

inquit, me fuisse vuidum a prandio largiore quid hoc aliud est

'
;

quam esse ebriosum ? '

'
Hoc inquam,
'
neque te nominato scripsi.
'

et narro ab aliis dictum : nam hoc lemmate te excusa-

tui Carmelitae
bant, ne quis grauius ferret quod dixisses vuidus a prandio largiore.'

102. H : Putat F. 124. dixisses F : dixeras Jf.

loi. amicitia] Cf. Ep. 1016. 1511. 109. dies Mercurii] If this day is
108. Moderatori] Nic.Coppin or Meu- correctly named, de Jongli's suggestion
rans(ti6 June i535)of Mons, was M.A. (cf. Ep. 1016. i^n) that Friday 7 Oct.
in 1497 from the College du Faucon, and 1519 was the date of tlie formal recon-
became its PrinciiDal c. 1505, teaching ciliation, is impaired. But Erasmus
philosophy there. He was Rector of may quite likely have confused one
the University 1512, 1520, 1528; D.D. fish-day with another, especially in
26 .Tan. 1513 Professor of Philosophy
; view of Egmondanus' practice of ab-
and therewith canon of St. Peters staining from meat on Wednesdays
2 Nov. 1514. About 1520 he succeeded perhaps something out of tlie common
Adrian of Utreeht in another canonry — to which both
tlie Episiola de magistris
at St. Peter'sand in 1525 was Dean of
; nostris Louaaiensibiis and the Vita S.
the Chapter and Vice-Chancellor of the Nicolai testify (cf. Zw. E^. pp. 385. 8-10,
University (Ep. 1608). 396. 18-20). The Apol. de loco Oinnes '

For his attitude towards Erasmus (^MiV/eHzresMrgfewus^shows thatingeneral

at that time see Ep. 1549. In his Wednesday wasnot sostrictly observed
later years he was ajjpointed In- as Friday (LB. ix. 440 e) cf. the De ;

quisitor (cf. Ep. 1209. ^n) and in ;

csu carnium (ibid. 1212 ab). An
that capacity examined and approved English poem recommending the prac-
Faber Stapulensis' French translation tice was printed by Wynkyn deWorde
of the Bible, printed by M. Keyser at c. 1500 see E. G. DufF, Fifteenth Century
:

Antwerp, 1529-32. By his will he English Books, 1917, no. 413.

foundedscholarshipsinhisown college 120. Scribis] In Erasmus' first reply
and in that of the Saint Esprit. to Lee (see p. ioq), tlie Apologiaqua
See de Jongh, pp. 160-1 and Val. ; respondet, t°. F^v", Jortin ii. 521. For
Andreas, pp. loo-i, 265. a similar indiscretion cf. Ep. 1170.
II 62] TO THOMAS MORE 387

'la, tui ' inquit ; indignans, opinor, quod tui dixissem, non vestri. 125
*
Quod si maxime inquam, aedidissem nomen, quid
'
'
erat flagitii si
quod tu publice ausus es ego simili libertate retulissem?
dicere,
Nunc honoris tui gratia supprimo nomen tuum, et rem atrocem
ciuiliter narro. Dixeras Fabrum ac me, qui nunc pugnaremus inter
nos, olim jDugnaturos in profundo Tartaro.' 'la', inquit, 'hoc ab 130
aliis audisti.' 'Verum,' inquam, at non ab vno. Sed audes tu '

negare dictum ? Obticuit qua quidem in re primum sum admira-

'
;

tus nouum hominis pudorem.

Mox in alium campum expatiatus negauit se vnquam facturum
finem vociferandi in Lutherum donec ilhim confecisset. Respondi 135
per me licere illi vociferari vsque ad ilium diruptionem, modo ne
in me blateraret neque me queri quod in Lutherum clamasset, sed
;

quod in me quod ipsum, si illi vsque adeo cordi esset, pergeret,

:

nihil tamen lucri facturus nisi vt esset bonis omnibus ludibrio,

quandoquidem in ea concione vidissem passim omnes ridentes. Hic 140
ille la'
inquit, illi tui erant
', Quam mei sint inquam, nescio
'
'.
'
'
'
;

plerosque ne de facie quidem nouerara.' Inter caetera crimina

obiecit et hoc, quod allegarem Epistolas ilhistrium virorum, qui niihi
nonnihil tribuerent me confingi, nec vllos esse
; significans eas a
qui mea prol^arent, cum
ego ferme totum hoc epistolarum genus 145
premam simulque indicans nihil oportere probatum hal^eri quod
:

ipsius calculo non esset commendatum. Hinc coniicere licet simul

et modestiam hominis, qui sibi tam parum tribuat, et simplicem
pureque Cliristianum animum, qui nihil mali non suspicetur de
proximo. 1 50

Cum inter caetera dixissem non debere videii mirum sicubi querar
nonnihil de theologis in libris meis, cum loannes Standitius Minorita,
theologus, Episcopus a sancto Asino, apud Regem ac Reginam Angliae
multis proceribus et eruditis adstantibus impudentissime me detu-
lerittribus nominibus primum quod tollerem resurrectionem, deinde 155
;

quod nihili facerem sacramentum matrimonii, praeterea quod male

sentirem de Eucharistia cum in omnibus libris meis nihil magis
:

asseram quam resurrectionem, ac matriraonium aedita Declamatione

sic praedicarim, vt theologi putarint errorem esse haereticum quod
matrimonio plus satis tribuerira postremu cum de Eucharistia nus- 160 ;

quam neque seripserim neque loquutus sim, nisi sicut decet, id est
summa cum reuerentia la ', inquit, haec omnia fortasse sunt
:
' '

vera '. O vocem impotentis animi sibique nihil non indulgentis !

Cur haec potius in me vera essent quam si quis dicat Egmondanum

154. adstantibus H: adsimilibus f.

129. Dixeras] Cf. Ep, 1144. 3211. introd.), Erasmus has the Christian
143. Epistolas] Ep. 1 196. 603-5 «hows name wrong.
that Erasmus was not referring to the 153. a sancto Asino] That this is not
volunie with the title given here (see merely a scurrilous jest is shown by
Ep. 300 introd.) but to Eev (see
; a register of shipping payments for
P- 210). 1524, in which Standish appears as
146. premam] Cf. Epp. 993. 52^, tlie bisliop of St. Asse
'
(Brewer iv,
'

1157. 1-4. App. 87) ff. Brewer ii. 4074.

;

152. Standitius] See Epp. 608. i^n, 158. Declamatione] ^^t-e Epp. 604.
H26. 43-253. As so often (cf. Ep. 1054 lon, 670 introd.
C C 2
 388 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

165 compilasse sacrarum aedium gazophylacium quam incantasse mo- '?

rituros vti sibi traderent haereditatem, frustratis haeredibus? quam

ad quaestum prodidisse quae audiuit in arcanis confessionibus ?
Haec fortasse probabilius in illum competerent quam quae volebat
ille videri non abhorrentia a veris in me. Huic diuo committant
17C parentes liberos suos vt imbibant verae religionis semina.
Quid tibi nunc referam singula? Quicquid quocunque casu dice-
batur, rapiebatur in occasionem conuicii, non aliter quam solent
pueri rixantes ac mulierculae procaces quicquid dixeram regerebat ;
'
in diuersum. Obiiciebat epistolam ad Lutherum scriptam. Illic '

175 inquam, 'moneo quid debuerit vitare/ Imo inquit. 'doces eum "
',

scribere.' Etiam hoc videbatur male habiturum hominem, si Lu-

therus aliquanto melius scripsisset adeo illum perire cupiebat, non :

corrigi. Sed illud nullo modo concoquebat quod adiecissem, 'non

admoneo quid facias, sed vt quod facis perpetuo facias '. Hic cum
180 excusarem ciuilitatem rhetoricam. qua negamus nos admonere cum
maxime admonemus, rursus incanduit. Pulchre inquit, dixti '
'
'

hoc vere rhetorum est, omnia fucare, fingere, mentiri.' Arridens

fassus sum aliquando mentiri rhetores, sed interim mentiri nonnun-
quam et magistros nostros. Eursum cum dicerem me consuluisse
185 dignitati theologorum, respondit, Nobis hanc cui-am relinque nos '
;

prospiciemus '. Cum adderem, exurendis Lutheri libris eum e biblio-

tliecis eximi posse, ex animis non item la inquit, ex animis :
'
',
'

ibi eum tu posuisti '.

Cum nihil inter nos conueniret adeo vt si dicerem literas bonas. —

190 ille continuo vocaret malas si librum castigatum. ille falsatum
; si ;

me dixissem alienum a factione, ille protinus caput factionis appel-

laret negaturus et intra oleam esse duri quicquam aut extra iuglan-
;

dem esse duri quicquam, si quid tale affirmassem Rector intersecans

rixam iam nimis longam negauit haec esse digna theologis se lu-
— ,

195 bentius auditurum si quid faceret ad concordiam sarciendam. Age • ',

inquam, 'quando negas eam concordiam vnica compotatione potuisse

coire, quid supei-est ad consummandam ? Hortante Eectore dixit, Vt ' *

sarcias famam nostram abs te laesam.' Vbi?' inquam 'in Epistolis?' *

:

Annuit. Illis
' inquam, iam euulgatis mihi non est in manu
' '

quod petis, quanquam illic nullius famam laesi.'

'
300 Ergo palinodiam '

inquit, 'cane.' 'Quam?' Scribe Louanii synceres et probos esse

'

theologos.' Id *
inquam, haud vnquam negaui
' sed quos ego
'
;

taxaui, si mihi praebebunt probam materiam. magnifice de illis

scribam.' Hic irritatus, * Et tu inquit, si nobis praebueris bene ',
'

205 loquendi materiam, bene de te loquemur. Tu stilum habes, nos

170. liberosi/: libios F. 200. quod petia add. H. 201. svnceies i^

Corrir/. synciTo-. F Lond.
;

165. moiituros] A common cliarge: 1157.6^.

cf.Epp. 230. 34, 1196 introd. It is 192. intra oleam] Cf. Hor. £•/). 2. i. 31.
brought against Egmondanus in Epist. 198. Epi.stolis] e. g. in Epp. 539, 908,
de magistris nostris : Zw. E.^ p. 383. 19. 936, 946, 948. 950-1, 967, 980, 991 cf. ;

epistolam] Ep. 980.

174. Ep. 1164. 6, 23.
adiecissem] Eji. 980. 52
178. again, : 201. Louaniil Cf. Ep. 1173. 35-6.
as in Ep. 1143.32-3, not quotcd liter- synceres] Ep. 1196. 618-19 shovvs
ally. that Erasmus believed Egniondanus to
186. exurendis] Cf. Epp. 1x53. 157-8, have used this form.
II 62] TO THOMAS MORE 389

linguam habemus.' Taxas inquit,

'
nos quod tibi oblatremus a
'
'

tergo ; audeo tibi in os dicere.' Nec mirum inquam tu quibus

' ',
;
'

es moribus, auderes etiam conspuere os boni viri.' Negauit se adhuc

esse tam contumacem.
Hoc sermone interrupto Rector admonuit vt de Luthero, quod 210
erat caput, ageretur. Age inquit, scripsisti pro Luthero nunc
'
' '
;

scribe aduersus illum.' Hic inficiatus me scripsisse pro illo, sed pro
theologis potius aduersus illum, cum excusassem multa, ocium,
imperitiam, metum, inter alia praetexui suspitionem crudelitatis, si
saeuirem stilo meo in hominem prostratum ac victum. Imo, hoc 215 '

ipsum inquit, scribe, Lutherum a nobis victum esse.'

' '
Eespondi
non deesse qui hoc vociferarentur, vel me tacente : praeterea magis
fore decorum si ipsi suam celebrarent victoriam qui peperissent :

postremo mihi non constare quod eum vicissent, cum libri illorum
nondum prodissent in lucem. Sub haec desperans, versus ad Recto- 330
rem ait, Nonne praedixi nos nihil acturos? Quam diu inquit,
'
'

'
detrectat scribere aduersus Lutherum, tam diu habebimus eum pro
Lutherano.' 'At isthoc inquam, nomine tu mihi Lutheranus
' '

eris, qui nihil scribas aduersus illum neque tu solus tantuni, sed ;

innumeri tecum.' Atque ita non dicto sed significato vale Rectori, 225
non mihi, discessit quemadmodum qui in gladiatoria schola vulnus
:

praeter certaminis leges acceperunt, caeteris quidem dant dextram,

ei a quo laesi sunt non dant.
Habes fere summam illius praechiri colloquii, quod illi tamen
visum est admodum l>]andum, cum hoc ageretur vt me pelliceret 230
eloquentia sua ad insectandum stilo meo Lutherum. Neque passus
est ille sibi perire huius conflictationis gloriam. lactitauit apud
compotores suos quam fortiter obstitisset in os Erasmo. Rector
eadem suis denarrans, non sine risu, negauit se vnquam crediturum
fuisse mihi tantuni esse temperantiae quanquam non hinc mihi :
335
laudem hanc arrogo, qui prorsus insanus fuissem, si cuni illo con-
tendissem. Et tamen est vnus aut alter hoc sceleratior. Nam hic
vt molestus est et pertinax, ita minus habet fuci, semper sui similis.
Talem aiunt fuisse puerum, talem magistellum, talem baccalaureum,
talem theologiae professorem, qualis nunc est Carmelita. Ne Vul- 240
canus quidem hunc recudat, neque refingat Mercurius. Sibi tamen
videtur praecipua basis Christianae religionis et ordinis Carmelitici
decus. Tam iucundus est huic Academiae quam sunt fici in ocuhs.
Sed vomicam hanc nemo potest excutere.
Bene vale, mi More. 245
Louanii. Anno millesimo quingentesimo vigesimo.

246. Anno . . . vigesimo add. H.

212. aduersus illnm] Cf. p. 344. 8ee Foreellini.

213. miilta] These points are related 243. fici] Cf. Ar. PMn. 1247; quoted
far more fuUy in Ep. IT73. 38 seq. in Adag. 1765, with the explanation,
216. victuni] Cf. Ep. 1173.93-7. '
I^'^ i's dicebatur qui pertinaciter
222. pro Lutherano] Cf. Epp. 1164. vrgerent premerentque negocium ali-
70, 1166. 9on. quod surnpta similitudine a ficis, hoc
:

241. recudat] The classical authority est vitio quod oculis adnascitur, nec
for this word seems to be very slight. facile potost auelli oculo incolumi'.
 390 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1520

1163. To Adrian Barland.

Eijistolae selectae, 1520, f°. M. Louvain.
30 November 1520.

[This and Ep. 646 are the two letters in Barland's Ejnstolae aliqiiot selectae ex
Erasmids, Dec. 1520 (see App. 12 in vol. iii) wliich are not known from any
other source. Tlie volume was being prepared for use in schools, and was to
consist mainly of a selection fz-om the Fairago (E). In view of tlie date of the
book, the year-date of this letter needs no confirmation.]

ERASMVS BARLANDO SVO S. P.

NoN dubito quin tua prudentia selegerit eas epistolas quae nihil
liabeant aculeorum : nam vides vt hodie quidam ad quamlibet occa-
sionem irritentur. Quanquam optassem tibi aliud consilium venisse
iu mentem nam vereor ne hoc ipsum male habeat eos, quod videant
:

5 aliquid meum in hoc parari, vt praelegatur in scholis.

Ego aegre impetraui a typographis ne rursus aederent Farraginem.
Eam recognoui sublatis nonnullis, quibusdam etiam mitigatis vt ;

sic potius exeat quam vt ante fuit excusa, non autore me, sed tamen
ia hoc amicorum affectibus indulgente.
10 Disph'cet quod Theodoricus recusarit excudere librum M. N. Tu-
renhout. Primum praestabat non indicare suum animum. Deinde
multis nominibus vellem hoc opus exire, Vir est rei theologicae
cum primis pei-itus, nec dubito quin vt disputauit, ita et scripserit,
solidis argumentis rem gerens, non conuiciis. Et vt non probabam
15 Lutherum vociferationibus et conspirationibus ojiprimi, ita maxime
vellem illum sacrae Scripturae testimoniis verisque rationibus re-
uinci. Vt plurimum tribuatur BuUae pontificiae, tamen haec res
magis moueret eruditos aut etiam ingeniosos. Suadebis igitur
homini ne recuset posthac ego pro mea quoque virili idem conabor.
:

20 Bene vale.
Louanii. Natali diui Andreae. An. m.d.xx.

3. irritentur] Cf. Ep. 1159. 22-3. the Cardinal Abp. of Toledo (see Epp.
6. ne rursus aederent] i. e. without 492, 647 introdd.,. He wrote some
revision by the author see Ejjp. 1040,
: considerable works of dogmatic theo-
1206 introdd. logy two of which were published in
;

10. Theodoricus] Martens. For an- 1533-4, and therest by hisfriendsafter

other refusal by him see Ep. 1030. 10- his death. There is also a collected
II. edition by Kuard Tapper (Ep. 946. ^n),
Turenhout] John Driedo f 4 Aug. printed by Barth. Gravius, Louvain,
1535)0^ Turnhout,2oms. E.of Antwerp, 1552-6. Sec Val. Andreas, pp. loo, 302 ;
was now one of the rising theologians and de Jongh, pp. 156-9.
of Louvain. He had been educated at The estimate of him here as a fair
the CoUege du Faucon, and was first in and nioderate controversialist is re-
the promotion of 1499. On 17 Aug. peated iu Epp. 1164, 1167, 1173 butEp.;

1512 he proceeded D.D., and soon 1 165. 28-9 givos a different view. The
becameprofessor of theology. Between book whicli Martens refused to under-
1515 and 1531 he was six times dean of take, was never printed. It was pi-ob-
the Faculty of Theology in 15:8 and
; ably a rtfutation of Luther"s Conduscones,
1533 rector of the University and ; and may h.ave becn dolivered as an
froni 1519 to 1529 President of the oration at the beginning of tlie October
CoIIego d'Houterle. At somo poriod term 1519 : see de Jongh, pp. 158, 159
lie was resident tutor to the youthful n. 8.
Charles Croy (c. 1508-1564), brother of 17. BuUae] Sce Ep. 1141. 2on.
1164] 391
1164. TO GODESCALC ROSEMONDT.
Epistolae ad diuersos p. 490. (Louvain.)
HN: Lond. xii. 18 : LB. 491. (December 1520.)

[Subsequent to Erasmus' visit to Cologne (1. 40) and to St. Catherine's day :

probably therefore about the same date as Ep. 1165.]

ER.\SMVS EXIMIO THEOLOGO D. GODSCH.\LCO ROSEMONDIO,

INCLYTAE LOVANIEXSIVM ACADEMIAE MODERATORI, S. D.

Invitvs te toties interpello meis literis sed hoc tamen vtrique

:

nostrum commodius. Conticuerat ad tempus Phrysius ille Prae-

est
dicator, pridem Moriae nostrae interpres, nunc Antibarljarorum,
nullis conuiciis non debacchans in nomen ac famam meam. Et
putat se recte facere, vel hoc argumento, quod in scriptis meis 5
monachos attigerim, quanquam vbique abstinens ab atrocibus illis,
— quae tamen heu nimium frequenter, atque vtinam falso, de illis
narrat vulgus, nuper etiam in frequenti conuiuio Card. Sedunensis
— semperque nominibus parcens atque etiam ordinibus. Nisi forte
totum ordinem Praedicatorum ledi putant, si quis queratur sibi 10
a Praedicatore quopiam factam iniuriam. Hieronymus nonne mo-
nachorum et monacharum vicia depingit ipse monachus? Si nou
est fas vllo pacto attingere monachorum vicia, ne sacerdotum quidem
aut aulicorum licebit. Sed in hos isti velut e plaustris magna
licentia vociferari solent. In Antibarbaris quid aliud illis impingit 15
Battus. quem loquentem, nisi odium politioris literaturae ?
facio
An non hoc ipsi vel me tacente declarant, vbique tam odiose con-
cionantes in linguas ac bonas literas ? multum hic certe dissidentes
a summo Pontifice, qui in suis ad me Breuibus ait eas et dici et esse
bonas, multum a Synodo jiroxima Lateranensi, quae totos quinque 20
annos tribuit his studiis nec post interdicit, si modo nonnihil studii
;

grauioris admisceatur.
lam cum fateatur se ideo Lacerare me quod attigerim monachos,
nonne paUxm declarat animo vindicandi sese hoc facere? Quid
autem turpius quam ad vltionem abuti templo, abuti suggestu prae- 25

TIT. ERASMVS adcl. N. EXIMIO THEOLOGO D. om. H. ROSEMONDO iV. I^CLYTAE

om. N. 10. i^raedieatorum f dominicanorum
: 7T. queratur iJ quae- :

ratur F. 11. praedicatore F: dominicano if. 25. suggesto /f : cf. Ep.

1062. 8on.

2. Phrysius] See Ep. 1166. 26n. Lateranensi] At its eighth .ses-

3. Antibarbarorum] See Ep. 11 10. sion, 19 Dec. 1513, it ordained ne '

6. monachos attigerim] Ct. Ep. quisquam de cetero in sacris ordinibus

1162. igSn. constitutus . in studiis generalibus
. .

atrocibus illis] Cf. Ep. 1141. lon. vel alibi publice audiendo philosophiac
8. Sedunensis] Cf. Ep. 1155. in. aut poesis studiis vltra quinquennium
Thesubjectof hiscommunicationabout post grammaticam ac dialecticam sine
the Dominicans is ovidently tliat aliquo studio theologiae aut iuris ponti-
mentioned in Ep. 447. 596-600 a : lieii iucunil)at. Veruni dieto exacto
passage which must therefore be taken ciuinquennio, si illis studiis insudare
as a later insertion, made at the time voluerit, liherum sit ei, dum tamea
of printing. simul aut seorsum aut theologiae aut
i6. Battus] Cf. Epp. 35 introd., 706. sacris canonibus operam nauauerit '

37 seq. see J. D. Mansi, Conciliorum nouacollectio,

20. bonas] Cf. Epp. 338. 36, 339. 3. xxxii (iqo2j, 843.
 392 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

dicandae Christi gloriae destinato, abuti plebis imperitae credulitate ?

Et haec eo turpius fiunt quod fiant in hac celebri Academia et in
oculis vestris quasi vobis autoribus aut certe approbantibus.
; Quid
iam erit syncerum, si sermo diuinus nobis vertitur in telum quo
30 iugulemus proximum ? Ingens flagitium est si quis indigne sumat
corpus Dominicum. At phis exitii redit ad multos, si quis adulteret
sermonem Euangelicura. Si laesi sunt, est alia vlciscendi via citra
iniuriam sacrae concionis. lam hoc, opinor, erit quibusdam voluptati,
si mihi senserint aliquid aegre esse. Ego quidem et maiora tuli et
35 adhuc ferre possum mentiar tamen si dicam me nihil hisce rebus
:

commoueri. Minus indigne feram si me feriat mulus aut homo

furiosus : sed tamen malim non feriri. Vt vitae, ita famae alienae
dominus est, qui suae contemptor est. Cuiuis in procliui est laedere.
Et absit vt ego vicissim, quid hac in parte possim, velim experiri.
40 Cum tot dies agerem Coloniae, nulli verbo questus sum, fretus tua
oratione, quod diceres te sperare futurum vt in posterum consile-
sceret Egmondanus. Nam ab hoc Phrysio nihil expectabam nouae
tempestatis. His nialis autoritas tua vel verbo potest finem impo-
nere. An debeat, ipsa viderit: ego debere arbitror, si non mea
45 causa, certe publicae tranquillitatis gratia.
Antequam perficerem hanc epistolam pransus cum R. D. Maxi-
miliano, abbate Midelburgensi, quoniam erat in proximo, adii per
occasionem Priorem Praedicatorium. Is negauit se scire quid ille dixis-

46. R. D. om. H, Maximiliano add. H. 48. praedicatorium F: domini-

calium H.

40. Coloniae] Cf. Ep. iissintrotl. '

iuuenis '. An epitaph on him by his
46. Maximiliano] of Burgundy brother, Francis of Eurgundy (see BN.),
(t 1534), son of Baldwin (^fi^oSj, is printed by F. L. Hoffmann from a
natural son of Philip the Good and ; Jis.in the Town Library at Hamburg ;

thus nephew lo Charles the Bold, to see Bihliophile hdge xvii (1862), pp, 153-
the Bps. of Utrecht, David (Ep. 603. 225. On 13 Aug. 1525 Cliarles v wrote,
iin) and Philip (Ep. 603), and to perhaps not without prompting
Antony of Burgundy ^Ep. 80 introd.), (Brewer iv. 1213), to Clement vii, ask-
and first cousin to Philip, the fatlier of ing that Maximilian, consanguineus
'

Adolphus of Veere (^Ep. 93). See Stokvis noster', sliould be made coadjutor to
iii, ch. 10. I. His mother was of the Quintin Benoist, the aged Abbot of
blood royal of Portugal. Through St. Ghislain's, a Benedictine house in
Leo X he was appointed to the Abbacy Hainault (Simancas MS., Est. 1554, f.
of the Premonstratensians at Middel- 471) but, as thero is no mention of
;

burg, 12 Nov. 1518 see G. Brom,

; Maximilian in GC. iii. 98, nor in P.
Archivalia in Italie, i, 1909, nos. 1927-8, Baudry's Annales of St. Ghislain"s, ed.
2022. He was Abbot on 18 June de Reiffenberg, 1848, both of which
1524, when Adr. Barland dedicated to name another coadjutor, it seems that
him a volume of loci veteres, Louvain, the application was not successful. In
P. Martens, June 1524 with a pi'eface
; Oct. 1524 he took Geldenhauer into his
which says tliat Erasmus had recently service see Ep. 487 introd., and cf. the
:

extolled him to Barland. Erasmus late Prof. de Jongh's Renseigneinents,

dedicated to him(Ep. 1563) atranslation p. 13, in the Mclanges Charles Moeller,
of Chrysostom De orando Deum. Basle, Louvain, 1914.
Froben, April 1525 and speaks of him
; A volume of Erasmus' Adagia, Basle,
as iuuenis ex aulasubito translatus ad
' Froben, (1515), which belonged to M.axi-
monasterium'. Barland in Brahant. milian, and which he gave in June
Duc. Hist., Antwerp, H. Tilianus and 1521 to Jo. Largus, 'decretorum scriba',
J. Hoochstratanus, 1526, in mentioning is among the books of Jo. de Hondt in
his Abbey (f°. l" v") writesof him with St. Martin's church at Courtray.
eulogy, and also describes him as 48. Priorem] As Dominican Priors
1164] TO GODESCALC EOSEMONDT 393

set, sed tamen vultu, gestu totoque sermone declarauit se conscio ac

volente haec fieri. Postridie eius diei venit ad nie Phrysius ille 50
veluti purgaturus sese. iuuenis niire confidens, et qui sibi videatur
nihil loqui nisi gemmas meras, meros flosculos et oracula mera. Is
fassus est se in die diuae Catherinae plura dixisse quam mihi fuerat
delatum. Et in purgationem sui mira confidentia proposuit quaedam
tam stulta vt stultissimum fuerit respondere tametsi respondi tribus 55 :

verbis. Edmondanus in auspicando Paulo precatus est vt, quemad-

modum Paulus ex Ecclesiae persequutore factus est Ecclesiae doctor,
ita conuertantur aliquando Lutherus et Erasmus. Quid fiet istis?
Nihil magis optent quam vt aliqua ratione molesti sint. Et male
habet illos quod Lutheranus non sim vt re vera non sum, nisi 60
:

seruiat gloriae Christi.

Scio me esse linguae licentioris: nullus tamen audiuit me pro-
bantera Lutheri doctrinam. Libros illius nunquam studui legere,
praeter paucas pagellas, easque degustatas verius quam lectas. Dis-
putationibus vestris aduersus Lutherum semper constantissime faui 65 :

sed multo magis scriptis, maxime M. N. loannis Turenhouti, qui

docte et sine affectibus disputauit, vt audio. Cum exurerentur libri,
nemo me tristiorem vidit. Constanter fassus sum mihi displicere
in eo permulta. Scripsi priuatim multa et dixi multa quae illum ab
hoc seditioso scribendi genere compescerent et Lutheranus vocor. 70 :

Hi ioci si vestrae placent Academiae, sum is qui possim ferre. Nam

id malo quam vlcisci. Sed mea sententia praestiterit rem aliis
rationibus agi. Imputat mihi Vincentius tumultum Hollandicum,
quod illic post stultissimam concionem propemodum fuerit lapidatus
a plebe cum ego nulli Hollando neque bene scripserim de Luthero 75
;

neque male.
Bene vale in Christo, magnifice D. Rector. [m. d. xix.]
Erasmus tuus ex animo.

53. Catharinae H. 56. Egmondanus N. 66. m. n. om. H. loannis

add.H. Turenhouti scrfpst Turenhonti F Turenholtii fl".
: :74. quod
illic . 75. plebe add. H.
. . 77. 31. d.xix add. H. 78. Erasmus tuus ex animo
(im. H.

did not hold dfificc for life, it is not easy 56. auspicando] sc. in ordinaria lec-
to determine who is meant here per- : tione theologica : cf. Epp. 1173. 25,
haps Eustace of Sichem(de Jongh, pp. 1192. 48-9.
167-70), who was at some time Prior at 57. Paulus] Cf. Epp. 1173. 119-20,
Louvain (B. de Jonghe, Belgium Domini- 1192. 49, 1196. 584-6.
canum, 1719, p. 151), and became a 62. licentioris] Cf. Ep. 967. 182.
bitter opponent of Erasmus.
See also 66. Turenhouti] See Ep. 1163. lon.
Epp. 1144. 34n, 1147. 91» 1166. 47-9. 67. exurerentur] Cf. Ep. 1157. 6n.
Or Aegidius Poorter, S.T.B., who died 70. Lutheranus] Cf. Ep. 1166. ^on.
as Prior, 19 Feb. 1523 see Molanus, : 73. Hollandicum] For this incident
p. 242. at Dordrecht see also Epp. 1165. 6-10,
53. Catherinae] 25 Nov., Sunday. 1186. 17, 1196. 145.
 394 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

1165. To WOLFGANG FaBRICIUS CAPITO.

Basle MS. Ki. Ar. 25. a. 98. Louvain.
Hess ii. 551 6 December 1520.

[An orjginal letter actually sent autograph throughout, with the address on
:

tlielower half of the verso. Many of the lines are worn away at the ends the :

letters missing are shown here in anguUu* bi-ackets.

The manuscript year-date is fully confirmed by the contents.]

S. P. Hollandi nostri foi-titer reiecerunt Bullam Pontificiam, vel

Louaniensem potius. Praesidens respondit se expectare scriptu(m)
a Pontifice melius informato Principis mandatum nondum accepisse.
:

sed, si veniat, se scire quibus modis possit placari Prince(ps>. Nec

5 Episcopus Traiectensis dicitur admisisse.
Vincentius quidam M. N., sceleratus et stolidus oblatrator Erasmi,
cum Dordr<a)ci concionaretur aduersus Lutherum, vix descenderat e
sugges<tu), cum pastor ascendens hortatus est populum vt ne ferrent
Euangelice doctrine subuersores. Mulieres lacerarunt pallium illius
10 volentis obsistere. Vincentius vix effugit. Louanium reuersus iactat
stolidus id meis litteris procuratum. Theologi volebant eo extrudere
Egmondanum Camelitam ; sed is difiidens recusat fieri martyr.
Louanienses propemodum poenitet omnium. Latomus et Turnhout
non auden<t) suos libellos edere me tamen hortante, quo magis :

15 Lutherus eximatur ex animis.

Exortus est hic quidam alter Predicator, baccalaureus currens,
iuuenis stolide confidentie. Is palam deblaterat in Erasmum, sed ita
stolide vt rideatur a pueris. Lector quidam Predicatorius et Lector
Carmelita miserunt lil^ellum de In principio erat ser<mo) in me
20 scriptum, quem curaui edendum in ipsorum gloria<m). Nihil in-
sanius.

2. Praesidens] Nic. Everard ; see ing) a stage earlier than the 'bacc.
:

p. 237. formatus', who had completed his

3. Principis] Charles v. courses (Ep. 143. iisn) and only needed
5. Episcopus] Philip of Burgundy to take his degree. In Ep. 1147.92
&ee Ep. 603 introd. Laurentius is described as theologiae
'

6. Vincentius] See p. 463. candidatus'.

7. Dordraci] See Ep. 1164. 73^. 19. libellum] Evidently Apologia F.
12. Camelitam] A common nick- lacobi Hasardi Angiani, Praedicatorii le-
name for Egmondanus. In Ep. 483. 26 ctoristlieologi, Louvain, Th. Martens,
it is substituted in F for CajmeW« see : 1520: described in its colophon as
also Ep. II 73. 113. 'theologica' and 'scripta per manus
13. Latomus] His bookwasadefence sui germani luliani Hasardi, Carme-
of theLouvain condemnation of Luther litani lectoris theologiae'. Of this
(Ep. 1030. i6n), and was entitled Arti- volume, which is not in van Iseghem,
culorum doctrinae Fratris Martini Lulheri only one copy is kno%vn to me at —
per theologos Loiianienses dcminatornm Batio, Schlettstadt (Cat. Rhen. 197). It is very
Antvverp, M. Hillen, 8 May 1521 (cf. brief, havingonly twosignatures, aand
p. 112). The preface, 31 Dec. (1520), b,each of four leaves. Though it criti-
is printed by de Jongh, pp.69*-8o*. cizes Erasmus' principle of close verbal
14. edere] Cf. Ep. 1153. 148-9. tran^lation, the^^otojfiais on the whole
16. alter] Laurentius see Ep. 1166.
: a defence of him :maintaining his
26n. rendering of sermo for verhum (cf. Ep.
baccalaureus currens] 'qui in 1072), and supporting his contention
cursu est ad licentiam (Bulaeus, Hist.
' tliat a new version need not displace
Vniii. Paris, 1670, v. 377, eited by Bock- the old.
1165] TO WOLFGANG FABRICIUS CAPITO 395

Vidi finem dialogi in quo

nientio Card. Angliae. Si potes sub-
fit

odorari quis sit autor. mone

vt libellum preniat, nec sinat rursus
excudi neque posthac in eo genere sese excerceat. in quo non admo-
;

dum valet. Leus in Anglia conspirat cum Polydoro et molitur 25

n<escio> quid. Sed habet a quibus excerceatur. Theologi nunc
Dorpio blandiuntur, et precipue Camelita signum mal<e) con- :

scientie. Turnhout nuper velut afflatus furore derepente in conuiuio

coepit odiosissime in absentem me deb(ac)chari, admirantibus omni-
bus. Paucis post diebus venim<us) in colloquium, et blandissime 30
mecum egit. Ego vicissim dissimulaui me scire quid ille blatterasset
o sanctum genus Antwerpie fuerat tranquillitas, donec pastor
!

ecclesie summe, licentiatus, Louanium accitus et instructus coepit

tumultuari apud populum nec aliud quicquam quam odi<um) sibi :

conciliat. Mechlini fuit tumultus foeminarum ob charitatem fru- 35

mentariam ac paulo post Louanii. Hac gratia adsunt hic satellites
;

regii.
vt, si edat Yitam S. Nicolai, quod prorsus ille mere-
Neseno scribe
tur,addat suum nomen. ne quem alium grauet suspitione. Theologi
putant Lutherum non posse confici nisi meo stilo, et id tacite fiagitant, 40
vt scribam in illura. At ego absit vt sic insaniam. Dorpius nullo
pacto miscendus est huic inuidie sed tamen non jjotest amantiorem ;

prebere se quam prebet.

Bene vale Louanii. Natali. S. Nicolai 1520.
Videntur Itali conspirasse in hoc, vt totam eruditionis gloriam 45

22. dialogi] Probably tlie HocJistratiis der gegen Luther, 1908, pp. 93,4.
ouans (Bocking, Eov. 463-88) an ano- ; 35. tumultus] Tliese riots, and at
nymous dialogue, sometimes attributed Vilvorde also, are mentioned by Gel-
to Hutten (cf. Ep. 1083. 23^), which denhauer, Collecfanea, ed.Prinsen, 1901,
began to be circulated just about this p. 2.
time cf. a letter from Capito to Luther,
: 38. Vitam S. Nicolai] A
particularly
dated 4 Dec. 1520 from Mainz,and an- scurrilous lampoon on Egmondanus ;

nouncing its appearance at Cologne printed, s. l. et a., at the end of G<u-

(LE-. 370. 26,7;, and see also BRE. 194 liebni) N(eseni) N(astadiensis) Episto-
and Buckiug. p. 49. Lee is attacked in la cle (Zw.
magistris nostris Louanicnsiljns
it and in § 6 an English bishop is
; E^. 378-420"). Kalkoff ascribes it tliere
mentioned, who seems intended for to Nic. of Hertogenbosch, to whijm he
Wolsey. Erasmus says of it in the wrongly applies Ep. 1302.83-4 In Ep.
Spongia (LB. x. 1641 ec = HE. 333, 616. i4n I accepted his exphuiation of
§ 96) :
' Videri poterat in gratiara those lines, and therefore ascrilied the
meam Nonne constanter et
scriptus. Vifa to C. Grapheus, to whoni they in
palam illum damnaui ae modis omni- fact refer. But the present passage
bus egi vt premeretur ? For earlier '
points conclusively to Nesen espe-
;

endeavours by Erasmus to restrain eially if the expansion of the initials

Hutten and tlie young German party abovc, which is commonly accepted,
soe Ep. 967. 105-52. is correct. Of Erasmus' autiiorsliip
25. Leus] For his return to England there appears to be now no qu.i-stion :

see Ep. 1140. 17. though in 1532 he thought well to «leny

conspirat] For tliis su^^picion cf. It. in the letter to Buctr quoted in Ep.

Ep. 1175. 117-18. 495 introd., De trueibus apostolis

'

Polydoro] Vergil ; see pp. 426-7. prorsus non memini, nisi forte sentis
27. DorpioJ Cf. Ep. 1044. i6n. de Vita Stulti Nicolai. Nam quidam
28. Turnhout] See Ep. 1163. lon. hoc liljelli a me profectum su.spica-
32. pastor] Henry
Hoeveliiians of bantur'. In 1524 he was concerned
Westerhoeven N. Brabant, Lic.
in that it should not be printed again by
Theol. at Louvain, 26 Jan. 1518 (de Botzhcim (Ep. 15 19).
.Jongh, p. 43*). 8ee Al. E. i. 45 ;
ille] Egmondanus.
Molanus, p. 648 and P. Kalkoff, Alean-
; 41. Dorpius] Cf. Ep. 1024. ~,n.
 396 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Germanis adimant. Id Aleandro magis est cordi quam Lutheri

negocium. Quod si illi per Gerraanos sit impune, ego fio Gallus.
Rursum vale.
Saluta Carinummeum et Hertmanum. Cum dabitur certus nun-
;o cius. fac certiorem quo in me sit animo Card. Mogontinus. Adero
me
rursus, vt spero, in Martio. Permisi Comiti Nouae Aquilae vt tuas
litteras resignaret, et eas rursus obsignaret suo signo.

Insigni theologo Wolphango Capitoni, reuerendissimi Card. Mogon-

tini a consiliis.Mogontie.

1166. To
(Louvain.)
LB. App. 511. (December 1520.)

[This letter, like Epp. 681, 1208, is one of the few for which I have no earlier
source than LB., but which probably came from the Deventer Letter-book (see
vol. i, p. 609"). The contents show that it is contemporary with Epp. 1164,
1165, 1174. The person addressed was evidently a man of position, with whom
Erasmus had not yet corresponded, and was familiar with Dorp. Erasmus
may also have had reason to know that he was interested in affairs in Holland ;

but beyond this the letter. which is incomplete, gives no clue. Either Meynard
Mann (Ep. 304. i6in) or Hugo of Assendelft (Ep. 1044. 26n) or Cornelius Hoen
(cf. Ep. 1358. 26n) or Bernard Bucho (Ep. 1237) satisfies these conditions but ;

the evidence is not suiScient to confirm such conjecture.]

ERASMVS ROT. ...

Qvo magis mecum reputo quam nihil est in fortunis meis quod
tuum fauorem aut emeruerit vnquam aut emerere possit in posterum,
hoc magis admiror genuinum animi tui candoi"em, qui cum crebro
in tuis ad Dorpium litteris nostri facias mentionem, nunc etiam
5 epistola propria dignatus sis, praesertim in tantis negotiorum vndis
assidue versans. In ordinem consiliariorum iam ante triennium
eram adscitus. Tantum deerat diploma Principis, in cuius vicem
loannes Syluagius, quondam Cancellarius, suam interposuerat fidem

1165. 46. Germanis] Cf.Ep. 1110.6711. 51. Permisi] Cf. the way in which
Aleandro] Before long Erasmus Ep. 867 wasshown tonumerousfriends
seems to have modified this view for : along the road hefore it was delivered
on 29 March 1521 Capito, writing to to Beatus at Basle see Epp. 877-83.
:

Aleander of an interview hehad hadat Comiti] See Ep. 442 introd.

Frankfort with a supporter of Erasmus 1166. 6. ante triennium] This state-
and Luther, mentions as one of the ment, which is repeated inEp. 1174. 9,
arguments with which he had con- appears to be another example of Eras-
vinced his opponent of AIeander's mus' habitual inaecuracy in regard to
moderate attitude, optime tibi cum
' figures (cf. Ep. 1143. 25^) for his
;

Erasmo conuenire, Produxi in hoc appointment as councillor to Charles

literas illius ad nie, quibus tui com- datedbackto i5i5-i6(seeEp.37o. i8n).
meminit honorifice'. See P. Kalkoff, It is possible that lie was thinking of
W. Capito, igo-], p. 135. the interval between his nomination
47. fio Gallus] Cf. Ep. 1147. 28n. and the death of Le Sauvage in June
49. Carinum] See Ep. 920 introd. 1518 (Ep. 410) ;but the wording of
Hertmanum] of Halwil ; see Ep. Ep. 11 74 makes such an interpretation
561. 63^. difficult.
 ii66j TO 397

at illi non seruauit. Sed hoc totum tale est vt non

niors fidem
videam cur mihi magnopere gratulandum nec mihi cum aula
sit : lo
conuenit. nec auhie mecum. Bonis litteris iuuandis videor mihi
propemodum pro mea portione satisfecisse quas tamen non deseram, ;

sed paulatim me subducam ex arena, nisi rerum humanarum status

in diuersum mutetur cuius adhuc non affulget alicunde spes aliqua
;

probabilis, adeo succedit res istis qui sub praetextu religionis pro 15
ventre tyrannideque sua aduersus optima studia doctrinaeque Euan-
gelicae sinceritatem digladiantur. Proceres aulici alias res agunt
proceres ecclesiastici venantur mitras et galeros. Theologi veteris
farinae adiungunt sese Praedicatoribus et Carmelitis ; quos nihil
omnino pudet neque dicere neque facere. Est hic Egmondanus 20
Carmelita, qui saepenumero me stultissime taxat in publicis con-
cionibus ac professionibus ordinariis ridetur ab auditoribus veluti
:

furiosus, et tamen homo senex sibi non potest displicere sic inep-
tiens.
Yenit ante menses aliquot Phrysius quidam Praedicator, nomine 25
Laurentius, iuuenis indoctus, sed ad insaniam vsque sibi placens.
Is hebdomades aliquot interpretatus est populo locos aliquot e Moria,
magnis conuitiis debacchans in me tandem me dissimulante in-
:

dictum est rabulae silentium nomine Academiae. Siluit aliquandiu.

Nuper coepit rursus insanire, nescio quo instigante nec vllius 30 ;

auctoritate potest compesci. Indoctus est, stolidus est, ac depugnare

paratus et habe^njt qui illi sic currenti suffundant frigidam.
; Si
litigem cuni illis, cum belluis et cum populis bellum suscepero si ;

scribam aduersus eos, iampridem perfricuerunt frontem. Sic cogitant

secum. Scribat ille doctis, qui pauci sunt ; nos latrabimus apud 35
'

populum.' Si vrgeas, extremum est. qui peccauit relegatur in aliud

monasterium vt satius sit in vno clamari loco. Ad hoc conniuent
;

Magistri nostri quorum nonnulli mihi iampridem parum aequi

;

sunt, nec video quamobrem. Nec expostulant mecum, nec possunt

placari ; et subinde nouis suspicionibus exasperantur, quas iam semel 40
compererunt falsissimas.

10. cum aula] Cf. Ep. 1148. 911. Oii 28 Oct. 1521, just before finally
16. ventre] Cf. Epp. 1171. 92, 1174. leaving Louvain, Erasmus heard him-
4; II77- 39) II9I. 26, 1205. 27. self once more tlie object of hostile
Egmondanus] See Ep. 878. 13^
20. criticism from the same quarter (Ep.
and, for liis recent encounters with 1342. 113 seq.). Laurentius afterwards
Erasmus. Epp. 1144, 1147, 1153, 1162. rose to be Prior of the Dominicans at
22. ordinariis] Cf. Ep. 1164. 56^. Groningen, 1523. Inquisitor for the
23. senex] He was now about 58. dioceses of Utrecht and Miinster, 1530,
For other cases of tlie application of and in 1533 'Diffinitor' of the Pro-
this term see Ep. 1025. i6n. vincial Chapter. See B. de Jonghe,
26. Laurentius] Laur. Laurentii, a Besolata Batauia Dominicana, 1717, p.
young Frisian Duuiinican, with the 156; NNBW. ii. 789; and perhaps VE.
degree of B.D. (Epp. 1147, 1165). His 246. Erasmus' first mention of him is
attacks had begun in July, wliile Eras- in Ep. 1144. 34 ; but liis name is given
muswasatCalais (Ep. 1173. 100-4); and only here and in Ep. 1582.
were directed against tlie Jlfo/ia. Fora A volume of Buridanus' Quaestiones
time Aleandor silenced him (Ep. 1172. on Aristotle'sEtliics, Paris, P. le Prcux,
3211); but before the end of 1520 fEpp. 1513, which belonged to Laurentius,
1164, 1196. 204) he had renewed his is now in the Groningen University
attack, this time upon the Antibarlari Liljrary see A. G. Roos' Catalogus der
:

(Ep. irio), which had just appeared. Incunabden, 1912, no. iSo.
 398 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Est Vincentius qiiidam Dorainicalis, Alcmariensis, magister

liic
noster, homo minime doctus et natura fatuus. Is quum vbique iam
diu deblaterasset in me, nec finem faceret semel atque iterum
45 monitus, tandem adii hominem, hortatus sum vt coram diceret, si
quid haberet. Ostendebat loca quaedam in libris meis quae notarat,
quorum nullum omnino intellexerat. Est et Priorculus quidam
idiota, sed meretricia malitia, ex isto profectus monasterio is auctor :

est huiusmodi naeniis. Quod si erit istis impune, vt si quid illis

50 dolet aut si quid suspicantur, abutantur auctoritate loci sermonisque
diuini ad vlciscendos affectus suos, cum obscurum non sit quales
sint, quid, obsecro, futurum est denique?
De Luthero scis fumum aliquem excitatum Louanii, videlicet hoc
agentibus theologis, a quibus nata est Bulla: mox Leodii. conniuente
55 Episcopo, qui ambit galerum cardinalitium postremo Coloniae :

multo etiam odiosius, vbi regnat Hoogstratus. Sed vt Lutheri

scripta non probantur omnibus. ita nulli non displicuit rei modus
et s[c]aeuitia tam tyrannica. Nec id fecissent impune Coloniae, ni
praesentia Regis obstitisset Nunc Lutherus illic venditur vt antea.
60 Hic duo scripserunt aduersus Lutherum. Latomus et loan. Turen-
hout, sed neuter videtur librum editurus diffidunt, opinor. sibi ;

et longe facilius est sic bullis et fumo vincere quam argumentis.

Nunquam me admiscui causae Lutheranae, tametsi neque clamores
horum vnquam probaui, neque libellos eorum qui hactenus repugnant
65 Luthero. Et hoc male habet istos. Si Luthero adessem, iisdem
machinis et me adoi-irentur si repugnem Luthero, Germanorum
;

odio, quod in meum caput concitarem, abuterentur in meum exitiimi,

homines Euangelicae mansuetudinis ac simplicitatis. Me suis men-
daciis detulei-unt apud Nuntium Apostolicum. quasi solus sustineam
70 Lutheri negotium, ne possit perdi nam hoc solum moliuntur
:

corrigi non cupiunt.

Dux Franciscus Singlius narrabat se expostulasse cum Caesare
Carolo, quod tale mandatuin edidisset quale ferebatur, atque illum
respondisse se nihil tale mandasse. Dux Saxoniae Fridericus, cum
75 ageret cum illo de Luthero, hoc accepit responsum : Non damnabi- '

Alcmariensis] Vincent (seep. 463)

42. Sept. 1522 (i. 23; p. 24) Vives speaks
is usually said to be of Haarlem. His of Erard as 'his proximis diebus in
native ^^lace was Beverwijk, midway ampliss. Cai-dinalium ordinem coopta-
between Haarlem and Alcmar. tus'. Bk. i was completed in .Jan.
45. adii] For this interview see Ep. 1521 (f. aa^, 1-2); but the words
1196. 31-4. As it took place not long quoted may well be a later insertion.
before the publication of tlie BuU 59. praesentia Regis] Charles was at
against Luther (see Ep. 1141. 2on), it Cologne 29 Oct.-i6 Nov see Gachard •

may be dated in the Summer of 1520. ii. 28,9.

47. Priorcuhis] Cf. Ep. 1164 ^Sn. 60. Latomus] Cf.Ep. 1165. 13^.
48. idiotal See Ep. 1153. i^in. Ep. 1x63. lon.
Tureniiout] Cf.
53. fumum] Cf. Ep. 1157. 6n. 69. Nuntium] Aleander.
55. galerum] Erard (Ep. 738) was 72. Singlius] For this form of the
proposed by Leo as a Cardinal on name cf. Ep. 999. 311 : where the name
Charles' suggestion in Aug. 1520 ; but is added in F.
theactual publicationofliiscardinalate narrabat] at Cologne. They very
was not niade till 9 Aug. 1521. See likely dined together with Duke
Ciaconius iii. 419; and Aleander's Frederic on 5 Nov. (see p. 370). Cf.
Journal, ed. Omont, p. 42. In tlie also BRE. 200.
notes on Aug. Ciu. Dei, Basle, Froben, 75. illo] Charles v.
II 66] TO 399

tur Lutherus nisi auditus '. Episcopi coacti sunt dissimulare. Solus
Dux exhibito Breui quo iubebatur Lutherum coniicere in carcerem
donec aliud de illo statueretur. respondit se admirari quod Pontifex
talia ab se peteret, cum ipse esset laicus, nec adhuc satis constaret
Lutherum esse dignum cui id fleret proinde rem esse differendam
: 80
in Concilium Wormaciense. Id responsum pessime habet Nuntios.
Constat Bullam a Pontifice vetitam publicari. Aleander, qui
attulit. non aliam docuit commissionem quam vt conferret cum
Academiis. Is est homo trium linguarum peritus, sed quem omnes
affirmant esse ludaeum certe vita est insignis omnium testimonio.
; 85
Quod hic egit in inferiori Germania, hoc agit Eckius quidam, mili-
taris theologus, in superiore. Germani maledicis libellis rem gerunt
et miror neminem exsistere qui rationem inueniat hos tumultus
componendi. Lutherus in dies scribit atrociora, et plane videtur
spectare ad seditionem, me dehortante. Scribit se voluisse plane 90
contemnere Bullam pontificiam, sed ex amicorum consilio renouasse
veterem expostulationem. Cardinali Gurcensi Coloniae exhibebatur
Breue, quo iubebatur aceersere Stupitium, viearium generalem Au-
gustinensium, qui fauisset Luthero, et adigere ad abiuranda omnia
Lutheri dogmata quod si nollet, coniiceret in vincula, aut aliter suo
:
95
modo puniret.
2Iulta sunt in libris Lutheri digna cognitu quaedam admixta ;

sunt quae praestabat omittere : et nimium atrociter omnia, ne dicam

seditiose. Quod si ea quae ad rem pertinent. moderatins dixisset,
etiamsi Eomanae Curiae non ferenda vitia liberrime taxasset, habuis- 100
set omnes sibi fauentes et tamen nescio quo pacto fit vt qui contra
:

illum scribunt, nihil adferant dignum lectu. Si ille delirauit scri-

bendo, isti longe magis delirant respondendo. Et inter hos qui
Lutherum velint exstinctum, nullum bonum virum video. Cardi-
nalis Adriani Traiectensis epistolae miram quandam amarulentiam 105

82. BuUam] Cf. Ep. 1141. 2on. gedenken, noch keiner andern guten
85. ludaeum] This allegation is Freund, dieweil es sie beschweret. . . .

ma.de a\so in the Ada Acad. Louan.omtm Erasmus vnd ich. wills Gott, wollen
Lutherum, i°. a* and cf. BRE. 194. In
; wohl eins bleiben.' It was perhaps
his Expostulatio (HE. 310. § 120^, Hutten this utterance which led Andi-ea Rosso,
accuses Erasmusof having invented it. secretary to the Venetian ambassador,
Aleander had made the accusation to write to Sanuto from Worms, 30
earlier see the Spongia (LB. x. 1645 e
;
Dec. 1520, about Luther 'Sono molti
:

= HE. 333, § 134 For another view

. che afirmano che l'a intelligentia con
of his oi-igin cf. Ep. 1161. 36. Erasmo Retherodamo et altri docti a
90. me dehortante] Cf. Ep. 1141. 15^. qiieste parte ' (Sanutoxxix. 573 ; Brown
.Scribit] Luther had written to iii. 147).
Erasmus c. Nov. 1520, perhaps in reply 92. Gurcensi] Matt. Lang, who was
to the advice just mentioned, and now Abp. of Salzburg ; see Ep. 549. ^Bn,
again (cf. Ep. 1041. 46n in a mo^t and cf. p. 371.
conciliatory tone but neither letter is
: 93. Stupitium] See Ep. 872. ^n.
extant. See LE». 365, from Luther to 105. Adriani] For his attitude of
Laz. Spengler, 17 Nov. 1520 fErlangen mild opposition to the new studies of
edit. liii, pp. 53,4) So ist mirs nie in
:
'
the Renaissance cf. Epp. 969. 17-20,
meinen Sinn kommen Verdruss oder 131 1. 17-21, 1314- 12. But while
Vnlust wider Erasmum zu haben. Es Cardinal, he showed himself capable of
hat mir wobl gefallen dass er von defending them against unreasonable
mir will vngenennt sein (cf. Ep. 11 13. attack see Ep. 1225. 33-6, and Lond.
:

35-6) Habrhmauchdraufgeschrieben xxv. 14, LB. 1176, cited by N&ve, pp.

vnd verheissen, sein nicht mehralso zu 72-6. The testimony of John Theo-
 400 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

sapiunt fauet suis discipulis, ipso dignis, frigidis, fucatis, ambitiosis

;

et vindicibus. Leodiensis exspectat galerum, et abbatiam Antwer-

piensem vix obtinuit. Vidi litteras Hutteni, quibus queritur Ponti-
ficem scripsisse vt coniiceretur in vincula. Is nusquam apparuit,
1 10 cum essem Coloniae : fertur cum quadraginta obsidere itinera, vt
intercipiat Eomanenses, quibus indixit bellum. Haec quem exitum
sint habitura nescio. Ego me nullo pacto huic negotio admisceo.
Fata viam inuenient. Minoritis Obseruantibus a suis patribus im-
positum est silentium de Luthero illi sapiunt. Praedicatores sui
:

iissimiles sunt, semper aliquem tumultum moliuntur in orbe qui ;

ordo subuersurus est Christum, si vnquam subuertitur. . . .

1167. To LoRExzo Campegio.

Epistolae ad diuersos j). 526. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiv. i : LB. 547. 6 December 1520.

[Betvveen the issue of the Bull against Luther (1. 399) and the publieation of F.

A letter of the same character as Epp. 1007, 1033, 1060, 1062, and, more recently,
1143 with which, and with
;
Ep. 1062 in its second form, it shows considerable
verbal resemblance.]

E. D. D. LAVRENTIO CAMPEGIO, TT. S. THOMAE IN PARIOXO

CAKDINALI, ERASMVS EOTEROD. S.

Decbetvm erat hyemare Romae, cum aliis de causis, tura vt locis

nonnuUis Pontificiae bibliothecae praesidiis vterer apud nos enim ;

sacrorum voluminum Graecorum magna penuria. Nam Aldina officina

nobis praeter prophanos autores adhuc non ita multum dedit. Sed hi
5 crebri regum congressus, a quibus mea referebat non prorsum abesse,
nos hic remorati sunt. Itaque quod nunc non licuit, Christo fauente
in proximum annum moliemur. Mihi libebit vel totum hoc aetatis

1167. TIT. R. D. D. 0711. H. TT. S. THOMAE IN PARIONO Om. H.

dericus of Beauvais, who dedicated to rence of a vacancy in the Praemonstra-

Adrian an edition of Alvarus Pelagius' tensian abbey of St. Michaers at
DepZandtt.BccZesie(Ep. 575. 3411), Lyons, Antwerp in Nov. 1518, Charles nomi-
J. Clein, I Aug. 1517, is that '(tuam) nated Erard who on 4 July 1520
;

multiiugam eruditionem vel ex hoc obtained Papal bulls of installation.

deprehendere est, quod, quanti sint But betore long, yielding to pressure,he
Muse facundaque Pitho (ne de sacris surrendered tlie abbey to an elected
literis impresentiarum verba faciam) successor retaining, however, a hand-
;

tibi esse compertissimum nemo sit qui some pension. See GC. v. 156 ; and
ambigat '. Al. E. i. 43.
116G. 105. epistolae] Cf. Epp. 1153. 108. litteras] Ep. 1135.2,3.
14911, 1161.2211. iio. Coloniae] See p. 370.
106. discipulis] i.e. the theologians iii. bellum] Cf. Ep. 1161. 65 seq.
ofLouvain. Cf. Ep. 1225. 1,2. 114. Praedicatores] But cf. Ep. 1006.
frigidis] For this epithet cf. Epp. 411.

730. 18^ 1238. 88 and de Jongh, p. 239 1107. i. Romae] Cf. Ep. 1143. 79^.
;

quoting EHR. xxii. 747. 4. prophanos] But see Ep. 770.

107. galerum] Cf. 1. 55^. 5. regum congressus] See Epp. 1106.
Antwerpiensem] On the occur- 93U, 1155 introd.
1167] TO LORENZO CAMPEGIO 401

quod superi volent superesse, Eomae peragere vbi bonis studiis non :

solum tranquillitas est verumetiam honos. Haec regio tametsi mite-

scit indies, tamen nondum omnino exuere potest syluestre ingenium. lo
Et habet antiqua barbaries pertinacissimos suae factionis propugna-
tores.
Et mea sententia peccatur vtrinque. Qui fauent melioribus studiis,
malunt vt hostes irrumpere quam vt hospites paulatim in societatem
et amicitiam coalescere makmt veteres colonos suis finibus depellere 15
;

quam eommutatis vtrinque bonis, vtrisque consulere. Contra, qui

sibi stultissime persuaserunt se bonam existimationis suae partem
amissui'os apud populum, ni funditus extinxerint eas literas quas ipsis
nec didicisse contigit nec vacat discere, tam virulentis, tam stolidis
conuiciis in eas debacchantur publice, priuatim, etiam in sacris con- 20
cionibus, vt me pudeat recensere quae illos non pudet apud promi-
scuam multitudinem designare, in linguas, in bonas literas quas tanti :

faciunt tum optimi quique principes, tum ipse Leo, summus antistes
non religionis modo sed et eorum studiorum quibus intelligit Chri-
stianam philosophiam vel illustrari vel propagari vel constabiliri. 25
Atque haec agunt deuotis animis coniurati, et quod est sceleratius, ad
rem execrandam abutentes sacris concionibus quas magis refert ad :

publicos mores puras esse quam sacrosanctam synaxim. Siquidem

hanc qui indigne tractat, vni sibi perniciosus est. Caeterum qui loci
autoritate, qui populi docihs credulitate. non ad Christi gloriam sed 30
ad suos affectus abutitur, et multorum animos diuinae doctrinae
pabuhxm expectantes fraudat et inficit suo veneno, et sacrae concionis
eleuat autoritatem. At isti non contenti in optimas literas digna
atque indigna dicere, saepenumero non verentur e sacro suggestu
famam eorum incessere quorum industria putant haec studia pro- 35
uehi inter quos cum primis ponunt Erasmum qui si negem me
; :

fauere politioribus literis, plane mentiar sed tamen ita faueo vt velim
;

eas seruire gloriae Christi.

Huius fabulae praecipui sunt actores quidam e sodalitate S. Dorai-
nici qui ordo, vt multos et olim habuit et nunc, opinor, habet viros 40
:

eruditione pietateque praestantes. ita mirum videri non debet si in

tot hominum milibus existant illis multum dissimiles. Hi ascitis
sibi nonnullis ex eorum grege qui se nescio quare Carmelitas appel-
lant,me sibi fingunt hostem, cum nemo magis ftiueat verae religioni.
Yeneror et exosculor Christianam pietatem, in quocunque cultu, in 45
quocunque pallio sese protulerit veris indiciis, siue pullo, siue can-
dido, siue lineo, siue laneo, siue fusco, siue flauo. Quod si quando
per occasionem aliquid dicitur in vicia monachorum, non magis
aequum est eos commoueri. quam ordo sacerdotum commoueretur,
quoties aliquis praescribens boni sacerdotis imaginem, ostendit quan- 50
tum ab hac absit sacerdotum vulgus, aut principes, quoties illorum
vicia tanguntur. Atqui si cui ordini parcendum est, in primis par-
13. Et F : Ac U. 16. commutatis F Corrig. : communicatis F. i8. ni
F : nisi E. 34. suggesto Hc/. Ep. 1062. 8on.
: 42. illis F: illorum //.
52. H : At qui F. Cf. Ep. 1162. 65.

10. syluestre ingenium]Cf. Epp. 941. i^on.

10-12,998.63-5. 26. deuotisanimis] Cf. Ep. 1033.62^.
14. irrumpere] Cf. Ep. 1062. 56-7. 39. S. Dominici] Cf. Ep. 1062. i8on.
22. tanti faciunt] Cf. Ep. 1062. i28n, 41. praestantes] Cf. Ep. 1006. ^n.
«2-4 D d
 402 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

cendum erat sacerdotali, quem ipse Christus instituit, et euius ipse

pars fuitparcendum erat maiestati principum, quae saepius irritata
:

55 grauem perniciem excitat mortalibus.

Atque vt in totum mihi placet nullum omnino ordinem seditiosius
laedere, ita nimium sibi tribui postulant, qui cum sibi nihil non per-
mittant in alios, palam etiam ac publicitus mentientes in famam
alienam, eaque vertentes in haereses aut certe odiosissime calum-
60 niantes quae nec intelligunt, non patiantur ordinem suum nominari
nisi cum honoris praefatione ; et totus Dominicalium ordo coniuret
in eum qui inter amiculos queratur sibi furto sublatam pecuniam
aut constupratam vxorem ab eius ordinis sodali. Diuus Hieronymus
quot locis depingit vicia monachorum ipse monachus Vt satyrico !

65 sale defricat monacharum ac virginum vitam et tamen huic non !

succenset Paula, non succenset Eustochium. Neque mihi tamen

vnquam sumo quod sibi sumit Hieronymus. Nullum ordinem in-
cesso, nullius nomen perstringo, cum ipsi frequenter a meo nomine
non temperent. Tantum locis aliquot demonstro quibus in i'ebus sita
70 sit vera religio nec vsquam attingo ea dedecora quae vulgo narrantur
:

a multis, non sine pudore eorum qui vere fauent illorum instituto.
Hic igitur est fons ac seminarium huius totius tragoediae, immedi-
cabile odium linguarum ac bonarum literarum. At subinde variantur
scenae, variantur histriones et personae ; sed tamen eadem agitur
75 fabula. Hinc illa tempestas in loannem Reuchlinum et fidei defen-
dendae praetextus, cum reuera nihil aliud quam vni stomacho vin-
dicta peteretur. Cum res nondum satis ex animi sententia succederet,
et prodissent malis, vt videtur, auibus scripta quaedam Martini
Lutheri, statim istis creuit animus, existimantibus sibi telum esse
So porrectum quo simul et linguas et literas politiores et Reuchlinum et
Erasmum conficerent. Non dico hunc animum fuisse theologis
omnibus. Sed hoc fuisse consilium primis illis huius fabulae autori-
bus vel illud testatur, quod aliquot eius farinae mox passim velut ex
composito dato signo miris modis vociferari coeperunt in optima
85 studia, Lutherani nominis, quod quam odiosissimum reddere cona-
bantur, communi inuidia degrauantes clamantes ex his literis nasci
;

haereses, schismata, Antichristos, quae videmus plurimum et decoris

et praesidii religioni nostrae contulisse quod et Breuibus suis fatetur
:

S. D. N. Leo, et, si literis suis non testaretur, tamen ipsa re testifica-

90 tur, nullos magis ornans fortunis atque honoribus quam viros harum
literarum peritia praestantes.
Porro quum me non fugeret quorsum illi tenderent, nimirum vt
res natura disiunctas vno fasce inuoluerent, et dictis ac scriptis priua-
tim ac publice testatus sum nihil esse commune Reuchlino cum causa
95 Lutheri, nihil mihi cum vtroque nisi quod plusculum erat cum
:

Reuchlino, quicum mihi vnum aut alterum intercesserat colloquium,

et commune studium jDrouehendi linguas ac bonas literas, et ex huius
libris olim nonnihil didici cum Luthenis mihi ne de facie quidem
;

vnquam sit notus, nec eo progressus sit jn linguarum aut peritioris

100 literaturae peritia, vt huius causa quicquam pertineat ad eorum
studiorum fautores.
65. monacharum F: monachorum H. 89. S. D. N. Leo F : Leo summus
poiitifex H. 100. quicquam FN^ : quiquam N Lond.

94 Reuchlino] Cf. Ep. 1155. i8n. 96. colloquium] Cf. Ep. 967. -jzn.
II 67] TO LORENZO CAMPEGIO 403

Haec, opinor, non ignorabant sed quaerebatur ansa qua priua-

isti :

tum odium suum possent vlcisci. Ea quoniam non

data est, aegre
ferunt et nihil non comminiscuntur, quo me apud ignaros rei vel in
;

odium vel in suspicionem adducant. Primum vna aut altera prae- 105
fatio Lutheri libris admixta, paulo Latinior, satis erat illis argumenti
Lutherum mea opera adiutum fuisse in conscribendis suis libellis in :

quibus ne apiculus quidem est meus. Quasi vero desint Vuittenbergae

qui possint Latine scribere ne quid dicam de reliqua Germania. Hic
:

ipsi sciunt me nihil confingere, et multa silentio praeterire, ne quos iio

offendam nimis irritabiles. Sub haec prodiit epistola quaedam ad
Lutherum mea mox altera ad R. D. Card. Moguntinum, vtraque
;

typis excusa. Qua quidem in re non queo satis admirari consilium

quorundam qui statim euulgarunt quod ego cera obsignatum scripse-
ram vni legendum. Vnde mihi suspicio est id factum inimicorum 115
opera, vndique captantium vnde possint laedere. Nam ea quam
scripseram Card. Moguntino, prius excusa circunferebatur vulgo
quam obsignata ad illius manus perueniret. Prior illa primum inter
episcopos et aulicos hic circunferebatur quae videlicet plane conuin-
:

ceret Erasmum Lutheranae doctrinae fautorem esse. Deinde Romano 120

etiam Pontifici delatam ex Hieronymi Aleandri literis colloquioque
cognoui cum ea magis declaret me non fauere scriptis Lutheri, nisi
:

quis perperam interpretetur omnia.

Ex vniuersis Lutheri libris non jjerlegi duodecim pagellas, atque
eas etiam carptim; et tamen ex his degustatis verius quam lectis, 125
videbar mihi deprehendere dotes naturae raras, et ingenium pulchre
accommodum ad explicandum iuxta veterum morem arcanas literas,
ad suscitandum Euangelicae doctrinae scintillam a qua et publici :

mores orbis, et scholae nimium iam indulgentes argutis magis quam

necessariis quaestiunculis, vehementer prolapsae videbantur. Au- 130
diebam eximios viros probatae doctrinae probataeque religionis sibi
gratulari quod in huius viri libros incidissent. Videbam vt quis-
que esset integerrimis moribus et Euangelicae puritati proximus, ita
minime infensum Luthero. Pori'o vita praedicabatur et ab iis qui
doctrinam non ferebant. Caeterum de spiritu viri, de quo solus Deus 135
potest certo iudicai-e, malui, sicut par est, in bonam partem esse
propensus quam in malam. Postremo mundus, veluti iam pertesus
huius doctrinae nimium vrgentis ad humanas vel commentatiunculas
vel constitutiunculas, sitii-e videbatur viuum illum ac purissimum
laticem ex Euangelicis et Apostolicis haustum venis. Ad hoc j^rae- 140
standum mihi videbatur ille et natura compositus et accensus studio.
Sic igitur faui Luthero bonis illius faui quae in illo vel videbam
;

vel esse credebam imo non illi faui, sed gloriae Christi.
: Et tamen
ineodem videbam que mihi nonnuUam sollicitudinem ac suspicionem
incuterent. Proinde cum ille me suis literis vltro prouocaret, statim 145
arrepta occasione diligenter admonui quid ab illo vitari vellem vt ;

correctum ac purgatum illius ingenium magno cum fructu magnaque

102. priuatimA'. io8. Vuitenbergae /f. 112. R.D.om.H. 127. veterem X

106. paulo Latinior] See Epp. 1217. 127. arcanas] Cf. EP1143. 15-17.
59, 1225. 108-9: andcf. Ep. 1197. 18-19. 142. lionis] Cf. Ep. 1143. 17-18.
1:1. epibtola] Ep. 980. 145. literis] Ep. 933 whicli Erasmus
:

112. altera] Ep. 1033. answered with Ep. 980.

Dd 2
 404 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1520

cum gloria simul ac lucro Christi instauraret nobis philosophiam

Euangelicam iam pene frigescentem. Quod si praestitisset, non
150 dubitabam fore quin huius propositi Leonem ipsum haberet in primis
fautorem cui nihil arbitror esse antiquius quam Christi, cuius vices
;

interim gerit, gloriam et gregis concrediti salutem. Videte, quaeso,

an haec sit epistola Luthero fauentis, si quid ille scripsit aduersus
doctrinam aut pietatem Christianam.
155 Quoniam in illius scriptis mox offenderat nescio quid saeuum et
austerum, nec satis referens mansuetudinem spiritus Euangelici,
admonui vt ad exemplum Christi et Apostolorum cum omni mansue-
tudine doceret ea quae ad veram pietatem attinent, Id quo maiore
cum fructu posset, admonui vt parceret Eomano Pontifici, cuius auto-
160 ritatem exj^^edit haberi sacrosanctam parceret jDrincipum celsitudini,
;

qui conuiciis attacti aut intempestiuius admoniti non solum non red-
duntur meliores, sed exacerbati pei-niciosas aliquoties excitant tempe-
states : fitque vt et monitori sua pereat autoritas, interim et vita, et
monito suus fructus. vSiquidem vt veritati nunquam phas est aduer-
165 sari, ita celare nonnunquam expedit in loco. Semper autem plurimum
refert quam in tempore, quani commode et attemperate eam proferas.
Quaedam inter se fatentur theologi quae vulgo non expediat efferri.
Et saepe sanat admonitio tempestiua, blanda ac ciuilis, quos perderet
saeua et intempestiua obiurgatio. Non enim hic adducam, quod
170 Plato perspexisse videtur, multitudinem promiscuam et imperitam
non posse contineri in ofiicio nisi nonnunquam fuco doloque bono
fallatur. Sed ea res vt integrum virum desiderat, ita desiderat
egregie prudentem.
Admonui ne scholas aut ordines omnino contemneret, sed ciuiliter
175 admoneret quid mutari vellet vt in his quae longo vsu magis quam
:

recto iudicio recepta sunt, densis ac solidis argumentis vteretur potius

quam asseuerationibus. Et quoniam non ignorabam ingenium Ger-
manicum, neque nescirem eum quorundam scriptis immodice morda-
cibus irritari, admonui ne conuicium conuicio regereret, sed aut in
180 totum negligeret aut argumentis responderet a maledictis omnino
;

temperaret. Ad haec quoniam verebar ne tanta libertas exiret in

tumultum, admonui ne quid arroganter aut factiose vel diceret vel
faceret. Postremo excuteret animum ipse suum de quo meum non —
esset iudicare — ne quid esset corruptus ira aut odio aut inani gioria,
,

185 quae mediis etiam pietatis officiis solet insidiari. Quod qui his
obnoxius esset affectibus, non videatur idoneus praeco philosophiae
Christianae. Obsecro, quid hic omissum est de quo fuerat admo-
nendus Lutherus ?
Haec cum syncero et amico scripserim animo, tamen non defuerunt
190 aj^ud Germanos qui hanc epistolam Luthero impingerent veluti illius
doctrinae suggillatricem, quam altera pars calumniatur vt a fautore
scriptam. At quosdam hoc ipsum male habebat, quod liomini
150. (Uibitarem A". 152. Videte i*': Vide !/. 172. virum integrum i\^.

190. velut H.

152. Videte] The plural into wliicli 442-7.

Erasmus lapses, probably denotes that 165. celare] Cf. Ep. 11 19. 4on.
he was writing, in his mind, not for 170. Plato] Rep. 3. 389.
Campegio only but for general opinion 177. ingenium Germanicum] Cf. Ep.
among the cardinals at Rome. Cf. 11. 998. 63-6.

1
1167] TO LORENZO CAMPEGIO 405

responderim. Quasi vero mihi vicio vertendum sit, etiam si Sultani

literis prouocatus illi respondissem praesertim cum ille nihil de
:

suis dogmatis mihi communicai-et. Alios male habebat quod tam 195
ciuiliter respondissem. Sed isti non animaduertunt quam suo
quisque ingenio blandiatur, quam amara per se res sit admoneri.
Lutherus mihi nec de facie notus erat, vt nec adhuc est librorum ;

illius nihil attigeram praeter paucas pagellas. Res nondum erat

progressa in hanc contentionem tantum a paucis reclamabatur, quos 200
:

omnes suspicabantur suum agere negocium. Flagitabatur disputatio,

fiagitabantur iudices. Et qua fronte ego primum ignotus, deinde
nulla praeditus autoritate. deinde niinis quam tenuiter doctus,
sumpsissem in illum supercilium censorium ? aut quae spes fuisset
illum laturuni me. aut qui fructus expectari jjoterat, nisi vt hominis 205
stilum in me tandem acuerem obiurgando ? Hoc ipsum parum erat
ciuile, vltro admonere non consulentem. Nec eram ignarus quanto
plus soleamus proficere ciuili blandaque admonitione quam obiurga-
tione saeua,
Non rnihi sumo tantum ingenii, tantum eruditionis, vt ausim de 210
aliena fide pronunciare, ni plane quis repugnet articulis receptissimis.
Quid alii sibi sumant, ipsi viderint. Sunt qui me negent aliud esse
quam grammaticum. An ego nihil aliud sim, in praesentia non
disputo : illud extra controuersiam est, illos aliud esse. Sed ad rem.
An isti tulissent grammaticum de haeresi pronunciantem ? Quod si 215
maxime suppetisset eruditio. non poteram illius libros refellere nisi
semel atque iterum perlectos, nisi excussis locis autorum vnde hause-
rat sua dogmata. Et hausit pleraque ex veteribus quos si nomina-
:

tim vbique citasset, bonam inuidiae partem defugisset. At mihi vix

erat ocium mea legendi, et si quid ocii superesset, malim, vt ingenue 220
dicam, veteribus euoluendis impendere. lam cum et eruditi multi et
scholae etiam hanc prouinciam sibi capesserent refellendi Lutherum,
quae fuisset impudentia memet ingerere transuersum, aliisque et
iudicandi autoritatem et victoriae gloriam praeripere? Caeterum
quos illud offendit, quod post praescriptam docendi formam adieci, 225
'Haec non admoneo vt facias, sed vt quod facis perpetuo facias', mihi
videntur admodum imperiti rhetoricae ciuilitatis, qua mitigare sole-
mus admonitionis austeritatem. Quis enim non nouit haec schemata ?
Sed ego iamdudum memorem moneo, doctum doceo, et sus Miner-
uam. Nimirum iam imaginabar illum sua sponte facere quod ab illo 230
fieri volebam. Alioqui si nihil in eo displicuisset, stultum erat tot
verbis aliam scribendi formam praescribere. Et isti sic interpretan-
tur, '
Scribe seditiose, scribe haeretice Et tamen si maxime talis
'.

fuisset Lutherus. ne potuit quidem hoc dictum aliter intelligi quam

iuxta formam praescriptam. lam et illud peruerse interpretantur, 235
quod addiderim et hic et apud Anglos non paucos esse qui libris
illius fauerent, quasi voluerim illum animare ad audaciam cum :

potius hoc egerim, vt illum hortarer ad moderatius circunspectiusque

scribendum, quo magis satisfaceret bonorum virorum iudicio, et ea

206. tandem in rae N. erat om. N. 226. facis H : facias F.

193. Sultani] Cf. Ep. 1041. 28n. 226. Hafc] Ep. 980. 52 ; cf. Ep. 1143,
223. transuersum] Cf. Ep. 1156. 65. 320.
 406 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

240 scriberet, eaque moderatione seriberet, quae piorum et eruditorum

fauorem perj^etuum mereretur. Sic athletis propositis fauoribus
addimus animum, non vt negligentius certent sed vt bonorum fauori
respondeant. Nec interim satis animaduertunt quidam quod in
eadem epistola tractem duplex argumentum, alterum de clamori))us
245 in bonas literas et harum professores, alterum de vociferationibus in
Lutherum. In priore prorsus ac palam ab illis dissentio. In poste-
riore me nec iudicem facio nec aduersarium nec patronum tantum ;

admoneo quid velim a Luthero vitari.

lam in epistola ad R. D. Card. Moguntinum quid aliud ago quam
250 ne per vim opprimatur, causa non cognita ne ea fenestra aperiretur
;

quibusdam damnandi quod non refellunt, et haud scio an etiam

intelligant ? Et tamen in eadem ingenue fateor mihi quaedam in
Luthero disjjlicere. Hactenus fauebam Luthero, vt nollem illum
dedi quorundam libidini, qui quouis praetextu tendebant ad subuer-
255 tendas bonas literas sed tamen non ita fauebam quin diuinorum
;

voluniinum testimoniis reuinci, quin argumentis refelli vellem, si

refelli mereretur. Generosa ingenia docei-i cupiunt, cogi non ferunt.
Docere theologorum est, cogere tantum tyrannorum est. Ita fauebara
Luthero vt conugi mallem quam perdi reuocari quam extingui, si
;

260 quid erraret, Et errant quotquot hactenus scripserunt, si modo

Canonicas scripturas excipias. Hoc animo puto et hodie theologos
omnes probos fauere Luthero. Imo hoc animo video et ipsum esse
Leonem Pont. Maximum. Amauit libros et ingenium Tertulliani
Cyprianus, in dogmatibus non consensit. Amauit Origenis ingenium
265 Hieronymus, a daninatis opinionibus abstinuit. Tychonii libris et
ingenio videtur delectatus Augustinus, procul interim abhorrens ab
illius factione.
Nec tamen haec velim esse fraudi Luthero. Ego de illo in neutram
partem pronuncio, suos habet iudices. Vt mea laudatio nihil illum
270 subleuaret, ita nolim illum grauari, si quid secus de illo sentio.
Tantum ostendere voUii quantum absim ab eo quod mihi impingunt.
Primus illius libellos suspectos habui, ne quid tumultus gignerent.
Primus obsteti ne Basileae excuderentur, et obsteti non leuiter;
primum oratione minisque praesens, mox absens literis. Et crebro
275 et diligenter admonui, nunc per literas, nunc per amicos, quid ab
illo vitarivellem idque feci tanta libertate vt amicorum epistolis
;

admonerer, ne talia passim loquens qualia scriberem, plurimorum

Germanorum animos a me alienarem cum horum nihil facerent:

theologi qui se credebant fortiter aduersari Luthero. Nemo fraterne

280 monebat hominem, nemo deterrebat, nemo docebat, nemo refellebat.
Tantum vociferabantur exortum nouum haereticum, qui doceret non
esse necesse confiteri omnia commissa capitalia: mox venturum
Antichristum.
De causa nunquam pronunciaui modum impetendi duntaxat iin-
;

285 probabam vt praeproperum, vt indecorum, vt inclementem, vt

240. e.ique H : et ea F. 241. mereientur X. 249. K. D. om. H.

273. FN^ : obstiti N^ Loncl., bis. cudereiitur N. 279. se F Corrig. sic F.
:

249 epistola] Ep. 1033. 15211.

257.Qenerosa ingenia] Cf. Ep. 1153. 273. obsteti] See Ep. 1033. 4711.
1167] TO LOKENZO CAMPEGIO 407

inutilem. An
continuo fauet parricidio qui nolit parricidii reum
damnari An hosti fauet qui monet quo pacto
nisi cognita causa ?
possit hostis oppi'imi minimo dispendio militum, imo qui monet
tentandum an hostis sine Martis alea possit ad deditionem adigi ?
Si bene consulit rei publicae qui mauult hostem seruari quam perimi, 290
qua fronte reprehendunt qui idem velit a theologis fieri ? Et haec
loquor, fingens interim quod mihi non constabat, Lutherum erroris
esse magistrum. Et tamen sic admonui quid mihi videretur optimum
factu, vt nihilo secius liberum aliis facerem suo vti consilio, si magis
probaretur. Videbam hoc hulcus non sine periculo tangi apud 295
plebem promiscuam, in qua plurirai sunt quos onus confitendi male
habet nullum Hbentius excussuros, si sensissent theologum ac pro-
;

batae vitae virum in hac esse sententia. Et tamen incertum est etiam
nunc an in scriptis suis hoc senserit Lutherus. Deinde quid ahud
quam nobilitabant eius libros eiusmodi clamoribus, ante perpaucis 300
notos, et eos irritabant ad legendum qui nunquam alioqui fuerant
lecturi? magna cum vtilitate bibliopolarum, qui tanto felicius distra-
hebant suos codices quanto isti vociferabantur impotentius. Atque
interim nec populum docebant nec Lutherum. Vnde doctoris titulo
gloriantur, nisi vt doceant? 305
Qualis quaHs erat Lutherus, certe humanius erat sanare quam
extinguere. Olim pro conuictis etiam maleficis intercedebat episco-
porum autoritas tantum abesse debent ecclesiastici viri a perdendi
:

libidine. Augustinus pro Donatistis, qui liaud scio perniciosioresne

fuerint haeretici an saeuiores latrones, quos sciebat insidiari suo 310
capiti, apud imperiales praefectos intercedebat, ne saeuiretur in illo-
rum corpora. Nimirum vir optimus eos resipiscere cupiebat, perire
nolebat. Superesse volebat qui possent resipiscere, et superesse
volebat etiam suo periculo. Olim audiebatur haereticus, etiam cum
reuerentia, id quod ex Augustini libris palam est et tamen tum 315
;

temporis haeretici conuicti et in errore persistentis poena nihil aliud

erat quam semotio a communione orthodoxorum. Nunc nulla pro-
scriptio saeuior est quam haeresis crimen, Et tamen nihil facilius
habent in ore isti, nescio qui, qui munus episcoporum sibi vindicant
quorum ahquot scio his esse moribus. vt mihi ne pilo quidem viderer 320
mehor, si sua sententia me pronuntiarent orthodoxum vt ingenue —
quod sentio dicam.
Laudatur sapientum quorundam consilium, qui sceleratissimis etiam
ignosci cupiebant, quod negarent perpendendum quid illis esset
dignum quorum factis nullura satis dignura supplicium excogitaxi 325
poterat, sed quid postularet dignitas Eomani norainis, quid suaderet
vtilitas publica. Paulus vbique parcit pseudoapostolis, ne prouocati
grauius etiam laederent teneram adhuc ac recentem Euangelicam
doctrinam. Quanto minus conueniebat sic ihco saeuire in eura cuius
vita praedicabatur ab oranibus, cuius scriptis tot egregii proceres, tot 330
eruditi, tot pii delectabantur Quod si Lutherus talis fuisset qualem
I

illi videri volebant, nulkim poterat dari consihum quod raagis et gi-a-

uaret illum et theologorum victoriam illustraret. Illi totura Lutherura

cupiebant extinctum. Quod si hominis vel error vel pertinacia raere-
batur extrema remedia, quae tandem tentatis omnibus adhiberi solent 335

298. etiamnum H. 327. FX^ : pseudapostolis H Lond.

 408 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

membris deploratis, nimirum hac ratione totus Lutherus aboleri

poterat, si prius exemptus fuisset ex animis hominum, mox etiam
e bibliothecis, idque citra tumultum orbis Christiani, Ex animis
eximi poterat, si dogmata illius solidis argumentis ac diuinae Scriptu-
340 rae testimoniis refellissent ii quos et eruditio non vulgaris commen-
dabat, quosque spectata vitae integritas vindicabat a suspicione
corruptelae.
Grauis vt esse debet, apud omnes Christianos Romani Ponti-
est,
ficis autoritas sed ea quo plus habet ponderis, hoc magis circun-
;

345 spiciendum ne priuatis afifectibus quorundam nimis indulgeat, hoc

minus illi sunt contemnenda doctorum ac piorum hominum tacita
iudicia. Siquidem illud non verebor in genere dicere, nullos magis
officere Pontificiae dignitati quam qui illi vel stulte fauent vel cor-
i'upte. Quis enim nescit Romano Pontifici esse quo vel perdat vel
350 terreat quos velit '? Sed quod vnquain fuit imperium tam instru-
ctum quod solus metus reddiderit diuturnum ? Ipse Deus amari
quoque voluit, non solum tinieri. Proinde vt dicere coeperam, quo
grauior est ac latius patens Pontificis autoritas, quo res est atrocior,
hoc erat mea sententia lentius ac moderatius agenduni. Hoc si solus
355 suasissem, non eram, opinor, reprehendendus. Nunc hac in parte
video mecum sentire si qui sunt cordati, non hic solum verumetiam
Romae, non tantum apud prophanos verumetiam apud theologos,
atque adeo apud ipsos Dominicales. Ex his quibus damnatus Luthe-
rus placet, sic damnatus non placet. Non enim hic excutiam quales
360 sint per quos potissimum agitur hoc negocium, non referam pro
damnatis Lutheri dogmatis qualia nobis inferant, fortassis, vt nunc
sunt res mortalium, longe tutiora, sed si quis pietatis Euangelicae
negocium spectet, non paulo perniciosiora quae nec ii ferunt theo-
;

logi, qui alioqui Lutherum omni machinarum genere adoriimtur.

365 Hoc igitur meum consilium hactenus modo fauit Luthero. ne
praeter meritum, ne praeter ius, ne per tumultum, ne magno orbis
tumultu opprimeretur. At multo magis fauere videbatur dignitati
Romani Pontificis, autoritati ordinis theologici cuius et iudicia :

oportet esse grauissima, et mores quam maxime sedatos, et ab omni

370 suspicione stulticiae, inuidentiae, auaritiae, ambitionis, odii, adula-
tionis caeterarumque eupiditatum quae nobis iudicium adimunt,
remotos. Vt nemo minus fauet Romano Pontifici quam qui fauet
imprudenter, qui fauet corrupte ita nemo magis officit nomini
;

theologico quam qui hoc agunt, vt ex theologis faciant vel adulatores

375 vel tyrannos. Moses non dubitauit sequi consilium lethro soceri et ;

mihi pro fideli consilio indignantur, cui tamen per me liberum erat
non parere. Si verum audire cupimus, sit cuique liberum suam
dicere sententiam, sit venia vel male consulenti, modo id faciat

374. ex theologis i'"': tlieologos H. faciantiJT: faciat i^. 378. faciat

343. C4rauis] Cf. Faber'sConsj7iMm(see genda.'

' Atqui qiio sanctior est omni-
P- 357)
'
346. tacita iudicia] Cf. Ep. 1155. 16.
bus Ro. Pont. autoritas, hoc diligentius 365. meum consilium] Ep. 1033.
perpendendum ne quidalieo prolicisca- 374. agunt] For this cliange of
tur quod illo videatur indignum tacitis number cf. Epp. 1191. 32, 1192. 14.
bonoruin virorum iudiciis, qwai' nulli 375. Moses] For this figure cf. Ep.
quantumuis magnoprincipi sunt negli- 1006. 352^.
II 67] TO LORENZO CAMPEGIO 409

animo sedulo. Quod si huic praemium est mitra, illi magnum

malum, quae spes est cognoscendae veritatis ? Ex tot Academiis 380
duae duntaxat damnarunt aliquot Lutheri paradoxa. Nec hae prorsus
inter se consentiunt, imo nec alterius theologi inter sese prorsus con-
sentiunt. Expectabatur sententia Parisiensis Academiae, quae sem-
per in re theologica non aliter principem tenuit locum quam Romana
sedes Christianae religionis principatum. Cum huius expectaretur 385
iudicium, an mihi fraudi esse oportuit, etiam si fauissem quibusdam
Lutheri dogmatis Nunc nihil vnquam illius tutatus sum, etiam
'?

cum liceret tantum illorum praecipitatum ac tumultuosum iudicium

;

improbaui, qui dispHcuerunt et iis qui Luthero aduersabantur.

nouum Lutheranum Primus Lutheri libros hactenus certe 390
!

damnaui quod viderentur spectare tumultum, a quo ego semper et

constanter abhorrui primus obsteti ne lucubrationes illius aederen-
;

tur. Pene sohis ornnium illius libros non legi, solus nihil vnquam
ilHus sumconatus defendere, ne inter pocula quidem, vbi quod effu-
titur, in vino scribi solet. Semper hortatus sum vt qui possent 395
disputarent aduersus Lutherum, scriberent aduersus Lutherum. Id
vbi Louanii coeptum est, constanti vultu probaui quod vtinam non
fecissent praepostere. Exiit duarum Academiarum praeiudicium ad-
uersus Lutherum. Prodiit BuUa terrifica Eomani Pontificis titulo.
Exusti sunt codices. Clamatum est apud popuhun. Res odiosius 400
agi vix potuit. Bulla visa est omnibus inclementior quam pro leni-
tate Leonis nostri et tamen huius saeuitiae non parum additum est
;

ab his qui rem exequebantur. Xullus interim vidit Erasmum aut

inquietum aut solito tristiorem.
Quae Syhiester Prieras scripserat aduersus Lutherum, a nemine 405
hactenus audiui probari. vel ex eorum numero quibus Lutherus est
inuisissimus. Augustinus Minorita minus etiam placuit quam Syl-
uester. De Thoma Rodagino, quoniam degustaui duntaxat, nihil

381. damnarant A'. 392. obstiti Loncl. 405. Prieras add. H.

408. F Corrig. Rodagmo F.
:

381. duae duntaxat] Cologne and 4in; aud with an excellent

alife, 1899,
Louvain see Ep. 1030. i6n.
; biljliography, by a brother Franeisean,
383. Parisiensis] Cf. Ep. 1141. 19U. L. Lemmens, who speaks highly of his
399. Bulla] Cf. Ep. 1141. 2on. theological attainments.
400. Exusti] Cf. Ep. 1157. 6n. 408. Rodagino] Thos. Radinus, or
405. Syluester] See Ep. 872. i6n. Rhadinus, Todischus(i5 March 1488
407. Augustinus] of Alteld, s. of May 1527), belonged to a family of
Hildeslieiiu ; lector sacrae theologiao
'
German origin long settled at Piacenza.
to the Franciscansat Leipzig. Nothing He joined the Dominicans, and as a
is known of him tefore the appearance young man published two books,
(a. 5 May 1520 : LE^. 302. cf. 335) of Sideralis Abyssus, Pavia, Jac. de Burgo
his first book in defence of the Papacy Francho, 15 March 151 1, and Cali^ysycJiia,
against Luther. This at once drew siue cle pulchritucline animae, Milan, G.
down vehement attacks upon him from Ponticus, 9 Oct. 1511. The latter I
Luther and his followers ; and in the have not seen the former is an astro-
:

course of 1520 he published at least logical work, which sliows the virtuts
'

four more pamphlets on various aspects of Thos. Aquinas figured in the stars '.
of the case. Altogether fifteen works In the colophon to it he gives his own
by him, most of them controversial, age. Lator lie went to Rome and
have been discovered. He was still taught philosophy in the University.
living on 6 Oct. 1532. While tliere he entered the lists against
See LE^. 296« Epp. 1153. 146, 1154.
; Luther with an appeal Ad principes ei
 410 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

interea dicam. Vnus erat Louanii vir, scholasticae theologiae non

410 vulgariter eruditus nec veteris illius rudis, nomine loannes Turen-
hout. Is publice multis diebus disputauit aduersus aliquot axiomata
Lutheri, et disputauit vt theologum decuit, absque conuiciis. Idem
scripsit super hoc argumento libellum nec dubito quin ea modera-
;

tione scripserit qua disputauit. Nemo vehementius adnisus est vt is

415 libellus publicaretur quam ego. Haec nimirum ageret qui Lutheri
faueret erroribus? Quid mihi necessitudinis cum Luthero? aut quid
ab illo sperem praemiorum, vt ab eo stare velim aduersus doctrinam
Euangelicam? aut aduersus Ecclesiam Romanam, quam opinor a
catholica non dissentire ? aut aduersus Pontificem Romanum totius
420 Ecclesiae Principem, qui nec episcopo meo peculiari velim aduersari ?
Non sum tam impius vt dissentiam ab Ecclesia catholica, non sum
tam ingratus vt dissentiam a Leone, cuius et fauorem et indulgentiam
in me non vulgarem sum expertus. Postremo non sum tam impru-
dens vt obsistam ei cui nec regibus tutum est obsistere, etiam si illius
425 eausa mihi parum probaretur praesertim cum nulla spes esset boni
;

fructus.
Si corrupti mores Romanae curiae postulant ingens aliquod ac
praesens remedium, certe meum aut mei similium non est hanc pro-
uinciam sibi sumere. Malo hunc, qualis qualis est, rerum humanarum
430 statum quam nouos excitari tumultus, qui saepenumero vergunt in
diuersum atque putabatur. Qui mare admittunt in nouas lacunas,
saepe falluntur, quod semel admissum non ea fertur qua destinarat
admissor, sed quo lubuit proripit sese magno malo finitimorum. Ego
sciens nec fui nec ero magister erroris, nec vllius tumultus vel dux
435 vel comes sum futurus. Aflfectent alii martyrium, ego me non arbi-
tror hoc honore dignum. Scio me quibusdam inuisum non quod —
Lutheranus sim nam hoc ipsum indignantur, quod Lutheranus non
;

sim — sed iis qui nulli placent nisi stultis mulierculis, idiotis et
,

superstitiosis. Nec prorsus aliis displicet Erasmus nisi quibus displi-

440 cent bonae literae et Euangelica veritas, hoc est quos alit ac ditat
populi stultitia.
Haec pluribus ad te scripsi, vt, si qui forte sunt istic qui me vocant
in suspicionem, ne quid comraouearis istorum calumniis illud certis- ;

simum habens ac persuasissimum, Erasmum et fuisse semper et

445 semper futurum Romanae sedis, cui scio me multis nominibus
obligatissimum, cum primis studiosum, habiturum pro aduersario
quisquis illi aduersatur. Atque vtinam Germani maluissent pru-

410. Turenhout J*': T urenholtius if. 433. sed Ji' Comgf. : seF. 438. nullis 2V.

populos Germaniae, Rome, J. Mazochius, See F. Lauchert, Ital. Geyner Luthers,

Aug. 1520; which Luther and his 1912, pp. 177-99, witha detailedanaly-
friends at first thought to be by Emser sis of the three books last mentioned.
(LE-. 355, &c.). Melanchthon rejoined The first two of them are printed as
with an Oraiio pro Martino Luthero ME. 86and 103. The name of Radinus
(Wittenberg), s.n., 1521, under the can hardly have been familiar yet in
name of Didymus Fauentinus [ct Ep. the Nortli. The form found here
1199. 24) and to this Radinus, en-
; perhaps owes something to Erasmus'
couraged by Leo x, roplied with another acquaintance with Caelius Rhodiginus
Oratio, Kome, Mazochius, i May 1522, (Ep. 469. 8n).
which ended the controversy. He lost 410. Turenhout] See Ep. 1163. lon.
his life in the Sack of Rome. 438. idiotis] Cf. Ep. 1153. i^in.
 1167] TO LORENZO CAMPEGIO 411

dentem aliquam rationem excogitare negotium hoc Lutheranum et

ex dignitate Romani Pontificis et ex publica tranquillitate compo-
nendi, quam procacibus ac seditiosis libellis hulcus hoc per se satis 450
atrox exasperare Multorum grauium ac prudentum iudicio vide-
I

batur res feliciorem exitum habitura, si per graues, doctos ac sedatos

viros maiore moderatione, minore saeuitia fuisset acta, hoc est si Leo
Papa maluisset hac in re suam sequi naturam quam aliorum affecti-
bus indulgere. Sed vtcunque res coepta est, precor vt Christus opt. 455
Max. det exitum felicem omnibus, ipsi gloriosum, S. D. N. splendi-
dum et honorificum cuius gioriae pro mea virili nunquam sum
;

defuturus, si quid tamen hae valebunt literae. Bene vale.

Louanii Natali. S. Nicolai An. M. D. xx.

1168. To Christopher Hegendorfer.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 540. Louvain.

HN Lond. xiv. 12: LB. 548.
: 13 December 1520.

[Between Melanchthon's marriage (1. 8n) and the publication of F.

Christopher Hegendorfer (c. 1500—8 Aug. 1540), was the son of a silkworker
who had migrated from the neighbourhood of Bamberg and settled at Leipzig.
Christopher matriculated at the University in 1513, was B.A. 1515, M.A. 1520,
Rector 1523, and LL.D. 1526 and he lectured there on Priscian, Terence, Vergil,
;

Quintilian between the years 1521-5. He attended the Leipzig Disputation iu

1519, and afterwards spent a few months at Wittenberg (cf. Ep. 1102. lon), where
he became attracted towards Luther. But apai-t from this he remained tixed at
Leipzig till 1530. He then migi-ated to Posen (cf. ME. 1139, ^^4^ ^it tlie invita-
tion of the Bishop, as head of tlie town-school ; but left in 1535, being attacked
by the Archdeacon for his Lutheran sympathies (cf. A. Jochera, Ohraz . . .

10 Polsce, ii, 1842, pp. 237-8, 514-15, nos. 3138-40). During these years he seems
to have wandered as far eastwards as Brest-Litovsk ;
perhaps c. 1531-2
(cf. La. E. 21J. After a short period as Professor of Law at Frankfort-on-the-
Oder, in 1537 he went as Syndic to Luneburg. About Michaelmas 1539 he was
invited for a time to Rostock, to help in the reorganization of the University,
whiuh had sufFered in the struggles of the Reformation ; but he returned to
Luneburg as Superintendtnt of the church (cf. ME. iv. 1063), in tenure of which
office he died.
His literary activity was ceaseless. Beginning in 1518 with some slighfc
volumes of verse, he produced a rapid succession of small educational books,
notes on classical authors, theological and moral works, and legal conimentaries ;
the last of which gained him most fame (cf. VE. 1190). See an admirably careful
sketch of him by O. Giinther in Plautuserneuerungen, 1886, pp. 70-91 ; an excellent
bibliography by F. Cohrs in Evang. Katechismusversuche {Mon. German. Paedagog.
xxii;, 1901, 347-414 ; and EE. Two autograph letters from him to Capito, whom
he styles 'praeceptor', are in the Basle MS. Ki. Ar. 25. a. 76-8.
His relations with Erasmus were few. This is thu only known letter which
passed between them ; and Erasmus rarely, if ever, mentions his name else-
where. The letter which this answers, perhaps had its origin iu Hcgendorfer'3
desire to explain the appearance of two of his Dialoyi appended to an edition,
Strasburg, J. Knobloucb, 8 Aug. 1520, of Erasmus' Farn. CoUoquioriun Fonnulae,
according to the last recension (cf. Ep. 104 1;. In a later edition by Kuoblouch,
April 1521, tho Dialogi are mentioned on thc title-page, but do not appear in the
text see BEr*. Colloq. i, pp. 83, 93.]
:

456. S. D. N. F: Leoniir.
 412 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

ERASMVS ROTEROD. CHRISTOPHORO HEGENDORFIXO LIPSIO S. D.

Tam ego absum ab Vlysse, quern me facis in literis tuis, quam tu

'

procul abes a Thersite, cui te confers. Doctrinae laudem quam ad

inuidiam vsque mihi tribuitis, toties iam fi'ustra deprecor. Humani-
candoris laudem libens agnoscerem, si per occupationes et
tatis et
5 fortunae malignitatem tantundem praestare possem quantum cupio.
Eruditione volens cedo quibuslibet humanitatis officiis quod superor
;

nonnunquam, necessitas est in causa, non natura. Si Philippus

Melanchthon duxitvxorem,quid superest nisivt illi bene ominemur?
quando quod factum est, rescindi non potest. Quorsum igitur attinet
10 nunc amicorum colligere sententias ?
Quod isthic agit Eccius, hoc hic quidam agunt maioribus etiam
studiis. Sed huius fabulae semper decreueram esse spectator, sic vt
nec si bene cesserit, mihi laudis aliquid postulem, nec, si secus,
reprehendi possim. Fata viam inuenient. Caeterum quod in Eccium
15 schedis affixis hidunt, multis modis mihi displicet. Primum exem-
plum periculosum est, quod in quemuis ilico possit recidere. Deinde
quid stultius quam eos prouocare quos non possis coercere ? Postremo
quid minus decorum Germanis, quibus praecipuam laudem olim
peperit bellica virtus, quam anonymis libellis pugnare? quorum
20 interim suspicio multos grauat innocentes, cum aduersariorum causam
reddant etiam meliorem.
Vt armis rem gerere nisi cum vrget necessitas, non est mei con-
silii, ita libellis pugnare nimis ineptum, nec satis viris dignum
iudico. Magis iilud ad rem pertinebat, circunspicere rationem
25 aliquam qua sine tumultu totum hoc negocium possit componi.
Nunc Lutherus eos prouocat qui, etiam si malam causam haberent
quod ego non iudico —
ne possint quideni opprimi. Et interim bonas
,

literas degrauat inuidia, in quas crabrones hos immittit, vix tolerabiles

etiam cum res illis male succedunt quis autem feret gestientes
:

30 victoria? Aut ego nihil video, aut alio tendunt quam ad Lutherum.

I. literis] Not extant. subornant a quibus vocentur lonck-

8. vxorem] Catherine Ci*app (1497 heri, iactant arces paternas, addunt
II Oct. 1557), daughter of the burgo- plumam galero, pingunt clypeum in
master of Wittenberg. Tlie marriage quo dextra librans macheram dissecet
took place on 26 Nov. 1520. See ME. 85, elephantem, subscribiuit epistolis suis
89, 90, 94 LE^. 338, 364.
; tres literas, " Equ." Si quis sit natus
II. Eccius] Cf. Ep. 1166. 86n. viculo quopiam, puta Ornithoplutus,
15. schedis affixis] Placards publicly dicto Isocomo, non se scribit Isoco-
posted cf. Ep. 1061.505^.
; —
mensem nam id plebeium est sed —
18. Germanis] Cf. Ep. 1225. 131-2 ;
Ornithoplutus ab Isocomo. Atque tum
and for other aspects of their character sibi ius esse putant indicere bellum cui
in thelettersofthisperiodseeEpp. 998. visum est. . ..Curritur in militiam,
64^, 1155. 28-9, 1167.9-10, II 86. 22-3. redeunt cum praeda non ab hostibus
19. bellica virtus] Cf. Epp. 307. 14, parta. His rudimentis exercitati
380. 6-7, 875. I, 919. 35-6, 939. 26-9. nuUum lioiTent facinus'
a passage
;

In Aday. 844 Krasmus describes the insortedinSept. 1528, withsomepoints

Junkor of his day Atquo haec(pecu-
:
*
of resemblance to tlie colloquy 'iTTTrtvs
nia) est vna uon minima pestis Ger- dviinTos (p. 303). At the same date he
maniae nostrae, praecipuo apud eos added to Adag. 1^24 a characteristic
qui nobilitatis titulo gloriantur quan-
: of the German soldiery, vt dextra
'

quam sunt in his qui nobilitatem fin- sublata laeticiaui indiecnt animi '.
gunt, vt haec faciant impunitius ; qui 20. grauat] Cf. Ep. 1165. 39.
 :68] TO CHRISTOPHER HEGENDOEFER 413

Musarum aciem expugnatum properant. Non recusauero videri

vanus, nisi res ipsa mihi fidem arroget. Bene vale.
Louanii Id. Decemb. Anno M. D. xx.

1169. To AUGUSTINE SCARPINELLUS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 568. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xv. 12 : LB. 549. 13 December 1520.

[1520 is the only year in which Erasmus returned to Louvain from Aachen at
this season.
Augustine Scarpinellus of Naples was in attendance upon Marlianus at the
Court and in that position had perhaps made Erasmus' acquaintanee as early
;

as 15 16-17. After the coronation he went on with Marlianus to Worms

(cf. Epp. 1195, 1198); where during the Diet he fell ill. He was perhaps
already ;i person of importance for in 1522 he was sent as Milanese amhassador
;

to England. He remained there till 1532, enjoying the credit of 'a man of
great ability (Brown iv. 69).
' Numerous dispatches from and to him are to be
found in Brewer iii, iv Bergenroth iii, iv Brown iv and Hinds.
; ; ;

He has been identified, quite probably, by P. Kalkoff {Repert. /. Kunstwissen-

schaft xxvii, 1904, p. 348n) with the meister Augustin Lumbarth to whom
' '

Diirer {Tagebuch, ed. F. Leitschuh, 1884, p. 54) presented two woodcuts at

Antwerp in Aug. 1520 in view of Scarpinellus' connexion with Marlianus and
:

Milan, Diirer may easily have made a mistake as to his nationality.

I cannot discover that his interest in Cicero led him to undertake any edition.
Erasmus wrote to him again with intimacy on 30 Aug. 1524 (Ep. 1478). In
1535 lie wrote to Erasmus from Ferrara (LB. 1277).]

ERASMVS EOT. CLARISS. VIRO AVGVSTINO SCARPINELLO

NEAPOLITANO S. D.

• Tale iter hostibus eueniat quale mihi contigit huc reuolanti. Qui
venti, qui nymbi, quae inundatio Parum abfuit quin in ipsis !

niontibus naufragium fecerimus nam equis erat nauigandum. ;

Equus famuli vix enatauit incolumis nos enim alieno periculo ;

maluimus sapere. Aragoniae Regina iam progressa Aquisgrano 5

sesquimiliarium, coacta est in vrbem redire cum suis. Ego vir
fortis turpe ducens si velut victus redirem vnde veneram, hospiti
meo risui futurus, homini hominum qui viuunt humanissimo is est —
Leonardus Priccardus qui nullis precibus quiuerat impetrare vt eum
;

diem adhuc darem amicis cupientissimis pertendo quo coeperam. 10 — ,

Quid enim conuiciorum in me non dixisset ille, si quod tantus

amicus, nec solus, quod dies Dominicus, qui ferias impetrat et ab
agricolis, non impetrasset, ventus et hymber extorsissent ? Totum
1169. TIT. CLARISS. VIRO om. H. N: neapolitano scarpinello F.

1169. 5. Regina] Germaine(c. 1488— ereated King of Bogya in Africa, in

18 Oct. 1538), sister of Gaston de Foix, order that hcr rank might be preserved
iiiece of Louis xii, and grandniece of to her (Brewer iii. 130). She was at
Ferdinand of Aragon ; whom after this timemuchwitli theCourt. Finally
dispensation she married as his second she married Ferdinand of Aragon,
wife in March 1506. At his death she Duko See NBG.
of Calabria.
married on 17 March 1519 John, Mar- 9. Priccardus] See Ep. 972 introd.
grave of Brandenburg i^f 1526), who was 12. dies Dominicus] Perhaps 18 Nov.
appointed Governor of Valencia, and see p. 370.
 414 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

ferme iter equitauimus soli latronem nullum vidimus, etiamsi

;

15 multos terrebant saeui rumores.

Tu vero quid isthic rerum geris ? lamne satis Germanice spiras ?
Quomodo te beant aestuaria Germanica? te felicem, qui in media
bruma fruaris aestate Sed quid tandem agit amasius tuus Cicero ?
!

Quae spes habet te fore vt ille totus aliquando reuiuiscat ? Verum

20 etiam atque etiam vide ne sic adames M. Tullium vt cum Hieronymo
flagris liuentes scapulas referas. Rides somnium? at expertus ille
somnium esse negat. Sed ego, mi Augustine, serio iam laudo
studium tuum qui totus in Cicerone verseris. Quod idem si fecissem,
fortasse meliorem gratiam retulissent ingenia candidiora, quam nunc
25 referunt quidam, quibus benefacere periculosissimum est.
Breui me reddam vestro contubernio. Interini salutabis meis
verbis mitissimum Saeuerum, congerronem tuum, et insignem heroa
Aloysium Marlianum, Tudensem episcopum. Bene vale.
Louanii. Id. Decembr. Anno m. d. xx.

1170. To Leonard Priccard.

Opus Epistolarum p. 716. Louvain.
N. p. 683 : Lond. xix. 105 : LB. 2S7. (December 1520 ?)
[The year-date given in H
is as fanciful as most of those added in that edition
to letters of the earlier periods for Ep. 867, whicli was the caiise of the trouble,
:

was not written till 1518. Moreover, though Ep. 867 was shown in ms. to
numerous friends (cf. Epp. 877.32-3, 878. 8-9, 879. 16, 880.6-8, 881.3-4, 882.2-3,
883. 2-3, 885. 31-2, 886. 11-12, 887. 2-3), ineluding the Count of Neuenalir, who
had given Erasmus his introduction (cf. Ep. 867. iii), it probably did not
attract the notice of theCanons of Aachen until its appearanee.in E, c. Nov. 1519
(see Ep. 1040 introd.).
Tlie changes in Ep. 867 made in F may certainly be attributed to the remon-
strances which Erasmus answers here so that this letter cannot be later than
:

1521. The coincidence of 11. 17-18 with the passage substituted in F suggests that
this letter was written about the time when Erasmus was revising E for the new
edition (see p. 390). It may be placed conjecturally in Deeember 1520, after his
visit to Aachen mentioned in Ep. 1169. On such an occasion he might well
have heard hints of dissatisfaction with the language of Ep. 867. The words
'vetus vlcus refricuisse' (1. 6) suggest that the question had been raised before;
and show also that this letter must be placed as late as possible within the limits
of time indicated. For Priccard see Ep. 972 introd.]

ERASMVS ROT. LEONARDO PRICARDO, CANONICO AQVENSI, .S. D.

Ervditissime Pricarde, vt eleganter scripsit Aristophanes,

*AAA,' ovk evecTTL crvKO<^a.VTOv SyyixaTo<;.

Aduersus aspidum virus reperta sunt incantamenta. aduersus vi-

perarum et canis rabiosi morsum remedia monstrarunt medici
1169. 20. M.F: Marcum i7. 27. Seuerum H.
1169. 17. aestuaria] Cf. Ep. 236.41 ;
plated rejoining them at Worms on ;

and, for their effect upon Erasmus, his way to Basle Ep. 1189. in).
(cf.
Ep. 1248. lon. 27. Saeuerum] mentioned again in
20. Hieronymo] J?p. 22. 30. Epp. 1195, 1198: perhaps the Bene-
26. vestro contubernio] The corps of dictine of this name of whom Vives
diplomatists and officials, with whom writes in Ep. 1271. 142.
Erasmus had beon in closc contact 28. Marlianum] See Epp. 411. 8n,
during the ceremonies at Aachen and 1114,1195.
Cologne. It appears that he contem- 1170. 1. Aristophanes] P/. 885.
1170] TO LEONARD PRICCARD 415

aduersus caluniniatorum morsus nullum est remedium. Audio 5

theologum quendam isthic vetus vlcus refricuisse, imo ex obducta
cicatrice graue vulnus fecisse. Ait per me factum vt tui canonici
rideantur in scholis ob epistolam quandam ad Beatum Rhenanum.
Primum quod ad animum attinet, nihil vnquam minus venit in
mentem quam vt talibus viris quibus ego plurimum debeo, vllam 10
scriptis meis notam inurerem imo nihil recusaturus sum, si quo
;

officio possim illis vel ornamento esse vel vsui. Quid enim nie
fuerit orbe terrarum inhumanius, si pro summa humanitate
in
reponere voluissem ignominiam ?
Hoc de meo animo cum primis testatum esse volo. lam quid est, 15
obsecro, in ipsa re quod illorum minuat dignitatem? An quod in
multam noctem productum conuiuium ? Nimirum sero coeperamus
est
accumbere, et hoc ipsum humanitatis erat, quod mea causa vocatis
aliquot, reddidere conuiuium prolixius. Nec enim fuit illic vlla com-
potatio, neque quisquam omnium non minus potus erat quam ego. 20
Porro quod Decanus me reluctantem eo pertraxit, quid aHud incuso
quam illius insignem humanitatem ? Sic et duo discipuli compulerunt
lesum vt apud se diuersaretur.
Quid autem probri impingitur Vicepraeposito, si quum tempestas
arceret piscatores a piscando, nihil erat in conuiuio praeter anguiUas 25
et piscem vento duratum ? Quasi Romae non idem accidat aliquando
summis cardinalibus. Et tamen hoc pisce durato natura delector.
Porro quod admixta fuerint quaedam fragmenta non satis percocta,
illud suspicabar esse quod affluxerint plures conuiuae quam expectabat.
Certe Vicepraepositus ille visus est iuuenis singulari praeditus humani- 30
tate planeque sobrius. Denique vix vnquam incidi in sodalitium
quod mihi magis arrisisset si valuissem. Quid autem scommatis
esse videtur in mentione periodi? Quasi non is mos sit apud
plerosque canonicos multis nominil^us laudandus, vt conuiuiis in
orbem actis inuicem agitent sodalitia vel ob vitandam prophanorum
; 35
consuetudinem, ne familiaritas pariat contemptum, vel ob temperan-
dum sumptum, qui minor est vbi plures conueniunt. Et interim
discitur aliquid in conuiuiis, tractatur aliquid negocii, nonnunquam
con'iguntur et errata quaedam. Vnde et Plato, philosophorum
seuerissimus, probat huiusmodi compotatiunculas, nec improbat 40
etiam inuitatiunculas ex more Graecorum ad largius bibendum,
modo ne praetereatur TrdvTwv fj.€Tpov apto-Tov.
Quare te rogo, mi Leonarde, vt quod ille sycophanta male narrando
deprauauit, tu bene interpretando corrigas ac meo nomine promittas
;

dominis meis quicquid ab homine memori et grato debet expectari. 45

Quod si diffidunt dictis meis, faciant in re periculum. Nihil refugiam,
etiamsi res sit magni laboris. Sakita mihi Vlattenum ac caeteros
omnes. Louanii, Anno t m. d. xvii.

8. epistolam] Ep. 867. 24. Vicepraeposito] See Ep. 867.

17. multam noctem] Cf. Ep. 867. 115. 117-22.
sero . . accumbere] See the cor-
. 33. periodi] Cf. Ep. 867. 118.
rection made in F for Ep. 867. 115. 39. Phito] Leg. i. 640 b seq.
19. compotatio] Cf. Ep. 867. 112, 131 47. Vlattenum] Jolin of Vlatten; to
altered in F. See also Ep. 1033. 22. whom Erasmus dedicated an edition
21. pertraxit]Cf.Ep.867. 111-12,117, of Cic. Tusc. Qanest., Basle, Froben,
22, compuleruntj Luke 24. 29. Nov, 1523 (Ep. 1390),
 416 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

1171. To Matthew Schinner.

Paraphrases in Epistolas Canonicas, f^. F. Louvain.
Lond. xxix. ']'] LB. vii. 1113.
: 16 December 1520.

[The preface to the Paraplirase on the Epistle of St. James. Like most of
Erasmus' otlier Paraphrases on the Epistles (Epp. 710, 916. 956, 1112, 1181),
this would naturally be j^rinted at Louvain bj- Martens. BEi'^. mentions such
an edition, Dec. 1520 but no copy of it seems discoverable (cf. p. 180}. The
;

earliest edition that I can find is Froben's of March 1521 (o), -vvith the title, Fara-
phrases in omnes Episiolas PauU germanas et iti omnes canonicas, diligenter ab autore
recognitae ac marginalibus indicihus illustratae the verso enumerating all the
;

Epistles of the New Testament except Hebrews (Ep. 1181). The volume is
comj^osite, of several parts, with signatures running in regular sequence through-
out, and three intermediate title-pages. The first of these mentions Tini. Tit.
Philem. (Ejj, 1043) and the Canonical Epistles ; the second has only the latter
item, Peter and Jude (Ep. 11 12), James (Ep. 1171) and John (Ep. 1179) ; and
the third runs, In Epistolam Pauli ApostoU ad Hebraeos Paraphrasis per Erasmum
Eoterodamum extrema, 1521 (Ep. 1181), wifch the colophon dated March 1521. The
text of this prefaee is followed by all the early Froben editions {p. 1231. except
for a necessary eorrection in July 1521 (/3), and a lapse in the octavo of 1523 -^y),
corrected in the folio of 1523-4 (6). But in 1532 (e,, as in Epp. 916. 1062, 11 12,
there is some revision.

REVERENDISSIMO DOMINO D. MATTHAEO CARDINALI SEDVNENSI,

COM. VALESII, ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.

Iam videbar ad huius cuiTiculi metam peruenisse, et ipse mihi

feriasdestinabam in hoc duntaxat genere studiorum, propterea quod
omnes Epistolas explicuissem quas Pauli germahas esse iudicabam ;

quibus adiunxi Petri duas et ludae vnam, quod hae non solum
5 consentirentcum Paulinis in vigore doctrinae Euangelicae, verum
maioribus etiam tenebris quarn illae essent inuolutae. Siquidem
quae fertur ad Hebraeos, praeterquam quod multis ai'gumentis
coniici potest non esse Pauli, cum stilo rhetorico verius quam
Apostolico sit scripta, non perinde multum habet diffieultatis
10 quemadmodum nec eae quae lacobo loannique tribuuntur. Nam
loannes ipsa sermonis copia veluti sui ipsius interpres est, et lacobus
fere versatur in locis communibus. Quod genus sunt Ob Christum :

fortiter tolerandas res aduersas, et in his Dei praesidiis maxime

nitendum Homines non naturae Deiue vicio, sed suapte culpa fieri
:

15 malos, siue saeuiat fortuna siue blandiatur Non temere loquendum :

aut irae indulgendum Non satis esse verbotenus tenere professionem

:

Euangelicam, nisi factis et affectibus exprimamus Inanem esse :

religionem quae cum intemperantia linguae sit coniuncta Veram :

pietatem sitam esse in officiis, quibus proximum egentem miseri-

20 corditer subleuamus: Neminem aestimandum e bonis externis sed
e veris animi bonis Fidei professionem inutilem esse, ni piis factis
:

comprobetur Nemini temere suscipiendam docendi prouinciam

:

Praecipuam vitae pestem nasci ex lingua effreni, quemadmodum

contra bona modei'ataque lingua nihil vtilius Plurimum interesse :

25 inter mundanani et Christianani sapientiam Non constare pacem, :

nisi submotis ex animo cupiditatibus humanis Niliil conuenire huic :

mundo et Deo : A Deo destitui qui elati suis fidunt opibus, cum iis

27 . et a : cum e.
1171] TO MATTHEW SCHINNER 417

faueat ille ab ipso pendeant: Deo facere iniuriam, qui

qui sibi cliffisi

condemnat ac iudicat proximum Euanidam ac fugacem esse prae-

:

sentis vitae felicitatem Potentes quibus hic impune licet quodlibet,

: 3°
post acerbissimas daturos poenas: Vindictam malorum Deo ludici
relinquendam esse Preces piorum hominum plurimum valere apud
:

Deum Hoc : maxime flecti Deum vt nostris peccatis ignoscat,

officio
si nos nos peccanti condonemus, et si aberrantem amanter
fratri in
in viam reuocemus aliaque id genus, in quibus non potest admodum 35
;

esse multum difficultatis in explicando, cum plurimum sit in prae-

stando et tamen incidunt loca quaedam in quibus erat nonnihil
;

luctandum, velut in illo in quo haeret Augustinus, Quisquis offenderit

in vno, factus est omnium reus. Item, quod negat fidem valere
absque factis cum Paulus ex aduerso contendat Abrahae non ex 40
;

factis sed ex fide contigisse vt iustus haberetur apud Deum et amicus

Dei diceretur. lam quaedam etiam hiare videntur, vt in connectendo
nonnihil fuerit negocii.
Sed haec vtcunque habent, cum primum hanc operam susciperem,
non erat animus hoc honoris impendere, nisi duobus illis Apostolorum 45
et Euangelicae philosophiae principibus, Paulo et Petro. Et ecce iam
metani amplexum, iam spectantem ocium, tua vox me reuocat ad
stadium, etiam atque etiam hortans ne quam huius laboris portionem
aliis relinquam non solum ob hoc, quod iudicares studium hoc vel
:

praecipuam vtilitatem allaturum Euangelicae philosophiae candidatis, 50

verumetiam quod cum his temporibus pene nihil sit intactum a
sycophantarum morsibus, tamen hoc vnum opus adhuc Momis
omnibus a/xw/xo!', vt ita loquar, fuerit. Sequor quo tua vocat autoritas,
reuerendissime D. Non me clam est quam ex animo faueas doctrinae
vere Christianae, in qua tu non paucos annos feliciter es versatus 55 ;

quam non ficte faueas Erasmo, quam sis ingenio perspicaci, quam
certo, quam non vulgari iudicio. Quales si complures haberet
Ecclesia catholica, multo florentiores et aliquanto tranquilliores
essent res Christianae.
Quis autem spiritus agitet istos, qui suae quoque famae et autori- f>o
tatis dispendio, cum iniuria sacrarum etiam concionum, tam perti-
nacibus studiis conantur vt e nostris lucubrationibus minus fructus
redeat ad studiosos, ipsi viderint. Me magis mouet aliorum iudicium,
quos et eruditio non vulgaris et morum integritas ab omni suspitione
liuoris ac maleuoleutiae vindicat. Ego nulHus obscuro gloriam, 65
neminem e cathedra sua depello, nullius obstrepo studiis non ;

ambio dignitates, non venor quaestum, sed qualecunque talentulum

meum in commune pi'ofero. Cui mea non placent, liberum est
abstinere nos haec gratis largimur. Si quis volet dare meliora,
:

fauebimus vtroque pollice. Nulli me factioni vnquam admiscui 70 ;

nemo meis scriptis vel pilo factus est nigrior.

Nullo seculo non licuit alicubi dissentire a quamlibet probatis

28. ille add. e. pendeiit «.

38. Quisquis] James 2. 10. Erasmus quently it wasatSchinner'siustigation

quotes Iiis own translation. that Erasmus proceeded from thc
40. Paulus] Rom. 4. 3 seq. Epistles to the Gospels cf. Ep. 1248.
:

47. tua vox] Probably on the occasion 1 ^n.

mentioned in Ep. 1155. 1-2. Subse- 71. nigrior] Cf. Ep. 1007. 8in.
4B2M E e
 418 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

autoribus. Si a solo Thoma dissentireni, videri possem in illum

iniquior. Nunc et ab Ambrosio et ab Hieronymo et ab Augustino
75 non raro dissentio, sed reuerenter ; in Thomani etiam candidior
quam vt multis bonis et eruditis viris gratum sit. Sed hanc
reuerentiam non opinor me debei'e Hugonibus aut Lyranis omnibus.
etiam si Lyrano non nihil debemus. NuHum fuit seculum tam felix
quin optima paucioribus placuerint. Sed haud scio an vllo plus
So licuerit inscitiae, audaciae, impudentiae, stoliditati linguaeque petu-
lantiae. Libris difiidunt, qui tacita doctorum hominum iudicia subire
coguntur res geritur linguis veneno tinctis, idque apud imperitam
;

plebem, apud credulas mulierculas. In horum simplici credulitate

tota victoriae spes illis sita est. fortes viros, qui hoc vno telo
85 formidabiles sunt, quo metuuntur et scurrae Et postea nobis !

imputant, si qui peius de ipsis sentiant, si pauciores sese adiungant

sacrosancto ipsorum gregi cum ipsi publicitus etiam declarent ipsa
;

re quanto propius absint ab impiis sycophantis quam a vere pietatis

cultoribus. Sed illis continget aliquando sua Nemesis, videlicet ipsis
90 suo sibi iumento malum accersentibus, et continget alicunde malo
nodo malus cuneus. Neque enim consultum arbitror dimicare cum
ventribus coniuratis, qui nec aures habent nec mentem. Et viro
Christiano dignius est ferre scurras quam imitari. Nos tuo tuique
similium hortatu, sed in primis auspice Christo, pergemus et nos
95 ipsos et alios huiusmodi vigiliis ad meliora prouocare. Bene vale,
patrone cum primis colende.
Louanii .xvii. Calen. lanuarias. anno m.d.xx.

1172. To GODESCALC ROSEMONDT.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 561. Louvain.

HN: Lond. xv. 3: LB. 557. (c. 17 December) 1520.

[An approximate month-date can be assigned from the new attack upon
Erasmus see 1. 2n.]
:

ERASMVS ROTEROD. INSIGNI THEOLOGO D. GODSCHALCO ROSEMVNDO,

LOVANIEXSIS ACADKMIAE RECTORr, S. D.

Magnifice D. Rector, non dubito quin tu scias id quod nemo

nescit, quam seditiose debacchatus sit in nomen meum alter quidam
lacobita, priori illi rabulae succenturiatus, a nullo conuicio tempe-

117L 73. possim e. 83. aS : credulitati 7. 86. si an/e paucioi-es oMi. c.

91. nodo modo a.: 97. a Christo nato ^Josi anko add. Lond. : LR.
ovi.
1172. TiT. iNsiGNi THEOLOGO o7n. i/. I. D. om. H. 3. lacobitai^': Do-
minicanus H.

1171. 73. Thoma] Cf. Ep. 1126. 262^. 1172. 2. alter quidam] The preacher
78. Lyrano] See Ep. 182. ii6n. of 16 Dec. see Ep. 1173- 108-9.
;

81. tacita. . iudifia] Cf. Ep. 1155. 16. 3. lacobita] Cf. Ep. 1153. 11311.
86. pauciores] Cf. Ep. 1183. 121-3. priori . rabulae] Laurontius
. . see ;

92. vontribus] Cf. Ep. 1166. 16. Ep. 1166. a6n, and 1. 32 infia.
1172] TO GODESCALC ROSEMONDT 419

rans atque interim manifeste mentiens. Quid enim istos pudet ?

Vbi vsque ad suam sacietatem et omnium nauseam deblaterasset, 5
tandem scurra facetus iussit orarent Deum pro me, vt aliquando con-
uerterer ad meliorem mentem. Haec nisi fierent vel instigantibus
vel conniuentibus theologis quibusdam, non auderent hac vtipetulantia
in Academia tam celebri, idque in sacris concionibus atque etiam
sine fine. Nihil admiror haec audere lacobitas illud admiror, haec 10 ;

probari ordini theologico. Ille non potevat ferre vnam vocem ma- '

taeologi tortam oblique in Egmondanum

' et haec seditiosa, haec :

plusquam scurrilia patiuntur aequis animis ac, ni fallor, incitant.

Haec scilicet plaeuit illis ratio conficiendi Erasmum. Quod si ego
pariter cum illis insanirem, nonne tumultus egregius nasceretur ? 1

Hic animus sibi bene conscius et grauiora potest perpeti sed ;

interim quale est hoc exemplum petulantiae ? et quem exitum habi-

turum ? et quam speciosus hic est ludus sub Christi natalem Non !

tam sum insanus vt velim cum Praedicatorum populo depugnare.

Ego illos quales quales sunt, Deo iudicandos relinquo. Ego nec 20
monachorum sum hostis, nec theologorum nisi forte Christianorum :

omnium hostis est, qui in illorum moribus aliqua non probet. Si

quid habet aduersum me Theologica Facultas, expostulet mecum.
proponat quid velit. Sum paratus reddere rationem studiorum meo-
rum omnibus sobriis nam cum Egmondano colloqui, non est collo-
; 25
qui. Vere dixit Mimus ille, Cum absente loquitur, qui cum ebrio
litigat : sed multo magis qui cum furioso litigat. Tumultus hic scur-
rilis displicetetiam laicis quo minus addubito quin displiceat etiam
;

tibi viro optimo. Sed tua lenitas in me, imo in hanc totam Aca-
demiam, crudelitas est. Eius officium erat vel me tacente toti 30
monasterio, imo concionatoribus omnibus a tali petulantia silentium
indicere. Alter vetitus erat sub poenis grauissimis. Quis vnquani
exegit vel minimam? Haec quid sibi velint intelligunt et pueri.
Posthac non ero tuae magnificentiae molestus, spero te functuruni
officio tuo sin minus, mihi est animus qui ista flocci non faciat. 35
;

Quod si quid tumultus extiterit, imputabitur iis qui vel dissimula-

runt, vel fauerunt exordiis. Tu certe dissimulare non potes. Bene
vale, magnifice D. Rector, et si quid me facere voles, impera expe- ;

rieris obsequentissimum. Louanii, m.d.xx.

8. haci^: tam scurrili if. lo. lacobitas jP: Dominicanos if. 19. Praedicu-
torum i^; Dominicanorum iif. 20. Ego aH^e illos o»i. If. 22. probat //.
26. cum ebrio qui H. 33. minimura iV. 36. quid F: quis //.
dissimulauerunt H. 38. D. om. H. 39. Louanii, m.d.xx achl. H.

II. mataeologi] Cf. Ep. 1173. 112-13. 32. vetitus erat] For the temporary
Erasmus habitually uses the word as silencing of Laurentius (1. ^n) cf. Epp.
an insulting corruption of theologus'. '
1164.2,1166.28-9,1173.105. It pro-
25. cum Egmondano colloqui] Cf. ceeded from Aleander, who actcd upon
Ep. 1162. suggestion from Erasmus see the :

26. Mimus] Cf. Publ. Syr. Sent. Spowgut (LB. x. 16460 = HE. 333. § 142)
A. 12. and Epp. 1581, 1582.

£62
 420 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1520

^^^•"'1173. To Francis Cranevelt.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 562. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xv. 5 : LB. 550. 18 December 1520.

[The year-date is confirmed by the mention (h loo) of Erasmus' visit to Calais

in July 1520.]

CLARISS. IVRIS VTRIVSQVE DOCTORI, FRAXCISCO CRANEVELDIO,

VRBIS BRVGENSIS A CONSILIIS, ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.

NiMiRVM hoc quod vulgo

est dici solet, vnica filiola mihi duos
Agis mihi
conciliaui generos. gratias, cuius opera tibi contigerit
Morus tam candidus amicus mihi vicissim gratias agit,
: at ille
per quem contigerit nosse Craneueldium. Sciebam ilico, quae morum
5 et ingeniorum est similitudo, nascituram inter vos amicitiam, si modo
vterque alteri innotuisset. Talium amicorum vt est cum primis pre-
ciosa, ita rarissima est possessio, praesertim hisce temporibus quo :

magis est propaganda atque etiam tuenda.

Commigrauit isthuc Petrus cognomento Amicus, iuuenis moribus
10 ingenioque longe candidissimo. Complures annos egit cum Aegidio
Buslidio, cuius liberos instituit, cui non aliter charus fuit ac filius,
ob fidei vitaeque synceritatem. Is nunc venatur fortunam aliquanto
benigniorem, ac mea sententia dignus est amplissima. Est vtriusque
linguae pulchre peritus, ad haec in iuris studio nec j^aucis annis nec
i,s infeliciter versatus. Postremo notarius est haud malae fidei. Nihil
addubito quin ipsius dotes sint hominem abunde c^mmendaturae.
Sed tamen existimat se bonis omnibus commendabiliorem etiam fore,
si vestro gregi asscribatur amicus. Equidem non recuso meura
nomen rursus in tuo scribi diario, si quid officii collocaueris in homi-
20 nem mihi charissimum sed tamen arbitror fore vt quemadmodum
:

antehac, ita nunc quoque geminam ineam gratiam.

Amici veteres hic non desinunt esse sui similes, conspirant, mus-
sant, oblatrant, minitantur mihi imputant quod Lutheri negocium
:

non tam atrociter succedit quam vellent. Carmelita Egmondanus in

25 sacris concionibus, in praelectionibus publicis, subinde me lapidat,
atque interim ridetur etiam a suis Carmelitis. Cum me citante
comparuisset pridem apud Rectorem huius Academiae. tantum con-
uiciorum mendacissimorum congessit iii os meum, vt paratus fuerit
me sacrilegum aut paricidam, aut peculatorem aut quiduis aliud
30 facere, si illi venisset in buccam. Atque ita sibi vir fortis videbatur ;

Rectori ac mihi, id quod erat, furiosus videbatur. prodigiosam

linguae petulantiam in theologo, in monacho, in sene Ad primam !

TIT. CLARISS. . . . DOCTORI 01)1. H. KOTERODAJIVS achl. H.

9. Amicus] (t 1556), a native of timein theChapterSchoolat Touinay

Tholen in Zeeland LL. D. at Louvain
: see A. Hocquet, Tournai el le Toumaisis
13 Sept. 1530. Professor of Law and au xvi" siecle, 1906, p. 283.
' Dictator of tlie University 1533. See
' 11. Buslidio] See Ep. 689 introd.
Val. Andreas, pp. 156, 185-6, and cf. 24. Egmondanus] See Ep. 878. i^n.
A'ZE. 33. His present fortunes can be 27. apud Rectorem] See Ep. 1162.
foUowed in Ep. 1212. He taught for a 32. sene] Cf. Ep. 1166. 230.
1173] TO FRANCIS CRANEVELT 421

hominis petulantiam coeperat mihi bilis moueri ; sed mox magis

libuit hominem ridere quam refellere.
Tandem huc euasit longa rixa si vellem scriptis testari Louanii pro-
; 35
bos et syneeros esse theologos, si vellem Lutherum meo stilo confodere,
tum nos fore fratres non alia lege fore concordiam. Respondi vt
;

ipsi se potius praestarent quales vellent haberi. De Luthero respondi

mihi non esse in animo nunc admisceri causae tam odiosae, cui me
nunquam admiscuissem: nam quod mihi non placebat illum impeti 4°
clamoribus apud popukim. sed potius libris aeditis esse refellendum,
hoc consilium aduersus Lutherum pro theologis facere sic enim ;

totus poterat aboleri, si prius exemptus fuisset ex animis hominum,

cum nunc libri tantum eximantur e bibliothecis, ipse maneat infixus
animis. Plurimum habere ponderis Pontificum bullas, sed apud 45
eruditos viros longe pkis valere Hbelkim bonis argumentis ac Scri-
pturae diuinae testimoniis non cogentem sed docentem generosa :

ingenia facile duci ratione, non perinde cogi imperio. Nec enim hoc
tantum esse spectandum, quid mereatur Lutherus, sed qua ratione
potissimum kceat huic mederi malo. 5°
Deinde non videri aequum vt ego me vkro negocio admiscerem,
cuius initium a me non esset natum magis autem conuenire vt ipsi
:

qui fabulam hanc agere coepissent. peragerent, ipsi telam quam essent
orsi absoluerent, ipsi mortarium alliatum quod intriuissent exederent.
AHoqui cur ego potius in Lutlierum scribam quam quiuis akus ? 55
Quod si insanum sit omnes theologos in vnum scribere, et a paucis id
praestari possit, maxime congruere vt ilH in eum scriberent, qui in
illum disputassent, qui in concionibus illum proscidissent, qui suo
praeiudicio prius illum condemnassent quam summus ipse Pontifex.
Nam si quid stilo valerem, nec sokuu valere me, nec hanc rem ele- 6o
gantia geri, sed eruditione, quam ipsi sibi potissimum vindicarent.
Ad haec crudele videri posse me stilo confodere hominem iam pro-
stratum, fusum atque etiam exustum. Praetex-ea ne tutum quidem
esse irritare in caput meum hominem nec edentulum nec mutilum,
et qui plane, quod Hbri testantur, foenum habeat in cornu neque :
65
mihi consukum esse principum Germanorum, tot eruditorum
tot
hominum odia in me sine causa concitare. Quin etiam temerarium
videri, si mihi prouinciam sumerem quam nemo cum autoritate
delegasset, praesertim cum videam tot monachorum ordines, tot
scholas malle spectare fabulam hanc quam agere fortassis ob id
: 70
quod addubitent cuiusmodi futurus sit exitus. Nec enim abest a
periculo ne catastrophe futura sit tumuUuosa, ni res moderatioribus
consikis componatur sed quicunque futurus sit exitus, praecor vt
:

cedat in gloriam Christi. Fortassis akqui me dixerint auidum

gloriae, qui beko confecto accurrissem, rerum ab akis gestarum 75
laudem mihi vindicaturus.
Postremo me non esse vsque adeo mihi ignotum, vt tenuis theo-

35. Louanii] Cf. Ep. 1162. 201-2. nuin, deinde etiam ex bibliothecis.
42. hoc consilium] Cf. Faber's Consi- Nunc txurendis libris fortassisaliqua
/iM»)f ^see p. 357;
; Hoc qui consulunt
* (•xpnrtediuelleturebibliothecis, sedin-
non fauent Luthero, sed ordini theolo- terim illius opiniones infixae sunt iini-
gicoPontificiaequedignitati. Siquidem niis plurimorum.' Cf. Ep. 1153. 154-8.
hac via Luthems plenius aboleri pott- 47. generosa ingenia] Cf. Ep. X153.
rat, primum exemptus ex animisliomi- i52n.
 422 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

magis grammaticus, vt ipsi solent dicere, tam arduam

logus, vel
prouinciam mihi sumerem, quae et summum theologum et autoritate
80 praeditum postularet. Neque enim libet suspicari hoc agere quosdam
animo non syncero, vt posteaquam scriptis in Lutherum libris
Germanorum animos in me prouocassem, hoc odio protinus in meum
exitium abuterentur. Addebam hoc laboris mihi frustra sumi quid :

enim momenti sit habiturum nieum iudicium apud eos quos duarum
85 Academiarum sententia, quos summi Pontificis diploma non permo-
ueret ? Horum si nihil esset, tamen refelli non posse quod non
semel atque iterum a capite ad calcem vsque perlegeris Lutherum :

-oXvypd(fiov esse. Porro mihi vix otium esse meis ipsius libris reco-
gnoscendis. Suos potius aederent libellos, quos iam paratos habe-
90 rent Latomus et Turenhoutus, vtrique docti, alter etiam non prorsus
infacundus.
Tandem Egmondanus hoc erat futurus contentus, vt si nollem
pugnare cum Luthero, saltem testarer illum esse victum a Louanien-
sibus. Respondi non deesse qui hoc praedicarent mihi nondum :

95 satis liquere eum esse victum, priusquam prodirent illorum argu-

menta neque enim speciosam esse victoriam aut magnopere praedi-
;

cabilem, praesertim theologis, bullis et fauillis vincere. Sic ab eo

colloquio tantum non consputus discessi.
Nunc nescio quomodo rursus irritati, videntur in hoc conspirasse,
100 vt me concionibus suis conficiant. Cum essem Caletiae in Regum
congressu, lacobita quidam iuuenis, sibi placens et fidens, Phormio-
nem esse diceres, hebdomadas aliquot in me debacchatus est Louanii,
non aliter quam e plaustris lapidans me conuiciis. Moriam interpre-
tabatur populo iuxta sensum cacologicon. Tandem me dissimulante
105 indictum est homini silentium, sed posteaquam quicquid libuit effu-
tiuerat. Nuper rursus coepit etiam atrocius, irritatus libello Anti-
barbarorum, quem non intelligit rursus, iterum atque iterum tacere
:

iussus nondum sibi temperat. Tandem nudius tertius alter quidam

lacobita, reuersus, vt ferunt, e Gallia, prodiit in concionem, et nihil
iio conuiciorum non congessit nominatim in Erasmum, tam petulanter
vt omnibus etiam laicis displiceret. Et, o nouam theologorum leni-
tatem haec ferunt aequis animis, qui vocem vnicam mateologi
!
'
',

oblique tortam in Camelitam Egmondanum, magnis tragoediis exagi-

tarunt. Nemo non intelligit haec fieri theologis quibusdam partim
115 conniuentibus, partim etiam instigantibus. O telum theologisdignum!
Coram non expostulant, a tergo mordent, conspirant clanculum, per

90. Turenholtus 7f. 95. prodirent i^ prodierint Jf.

: loi. lacobitaJ':
Dominicanus H. fidensi^: confidens H. 109. lacobita J": Domi-
nicanus H.

82. Germanorum] Cf. Ep. 1 161. 66,7. 1166. 26n.

85. Academiarum] Cologne and Lou- 102. hebdomadas aliquotl In Ep.
vain see Ep. 1030. i6n.
: 1581 Erasmus says '
sesquimensem '.

diploma] Cf. Ep. 1141. aon. 106. Antibarbarorum] See pp. 277-8.
90. Latomus] See Ep. 1165. i^n. 108. nudiustertius] i6Dec. Sunday.
:

Turenhoutus] See Ep. 1163. lon. alter quidam] I cannot identify:

93. victum] Cf. Ep. 1162.216. see also Epp. 1172. 3, 1581.
100. Caletiae] See p. 296. J12. mateologi] Cf. Ep. 1172. 11-12.
loi. iuuenis] Laurentius see Ep. : 113. Camelitam] See Ep. 1165.12^.
 1173] TO FRANCIS CRANEVELT 423

tales scurras suam agunt fabulam. M. N. Nicolaus Egmondanus

cum publice auspicaretur epistolas Pauli, admiscuit bellam facetiam,
Paulum e saeuissimo persecutore factum esse mansuetissimum Euan-
gelii praeconem. 'Ita precandum inquit, vt Lutherus et Erasmus 120
'
'

ab erroribus suis conuertantur ' : quasi mihi phis esset negocii cum
Luthero quam sit ipsi Egmondano. Visum est hoc illis bellum
sophisma sed inter pocula natum, si Lutherum et Erasmum eodem
iugo copulassent, perinde quasi taurum iungas damae.
Miraris fortasse iamdudum cur te hisce naeniis onerem. Sic hibi- 125
tum est, cum amico miscere fabulas, et quicquid est nugarum in tuum
sinum effundere. Sed admiror cur ordo, cui prae caeteris faueo, ac
verius fortasse quam ipsi faueant sibi, potissimum huiusmodi tragoe-
diis delectetur quasi tot excitatis tumultibus, primum de conceptione
:

Deiparae Virginis, deinde Florentiae per Hieronymum Sauoronellam, 130

mox Bernae per alios longe sceleratissimos, rursum in loannem
Capnionem per lacobum Hogestratum, et av6is av in Comitem Nouae
aquilae, virum toti Germaniae charissimum, non satis inuidiae sibi
conflarint, nisi denuo tam seditiosis in me clamoribus magis etiam
irritent in se odia bonorum omnium nam probis displicet tanta
; 135
petulantia, etiam iis quibus fortasse non placet Erasmus. Ac me
fingunt hostem a quo nunquam sunt laesi, imo pro benefactis malam
referunt gratiam. Cum saeuiret in illos Capnion, vnis atque alteris
literis ilhim admonui ne laederet ordinem, sed in eum duntaxat
saeuiret, a quo fuerat laesus. Eursum cum optimo iure offensus 140
Hermannus Nouae aquilae Comes excluderet omnes lacobitas a colli-
gendis caseis, diligenter egi cum illo per literas vt sineret illos :

atque ille, vt dignum est vere generoso excelsoque pectore, neglexit

contumeliam ac remisit vindictam atque hanc gratiam nunc refe-
;

runt mihi. Totum ordinem existimant esse laesum, si quid dicatur 145
in monachos improbos, perinde quasi nulli sint improbi cum illis ;

potius debuerint indignari, qui suis moribus dedecorant ordinem

imo si quis describat formam boni monachi, se notari putant.
Quod si iure suo faciunt, merito succensebunt Chrysostomo, qui

117.M. N. om. H. 128. faueant J^: fauent H. 130. Sauonarolam H:

c/. Ep. 1033. 250W. 141. lacobitas F: Dominicanos H. 149. suo om. H.

117. M. N.] Magister noster. found inHomil. ad populimi Antiochenumf

Egmondanus] Cf. Ep. 1164. 56-8. 56 and 57 pp. 569, 571, 573 of vol. iv
;

127. faueo] Cf. Ep. 1006. ^n. of Erasmus' edition, Basle, Froben,
129. de conceptione] The Domini- 1530. The latter homilies of this
cans steadily refused to accept the series, 22-80,appear first in a Latin
theory of the ImmaculateConception of version by Lucas Bernardus Brixianus,
theVirgin putforward bythe advanced aBenedictine of St. Justina's at Padua,
theologians of the day cf. Epp. 1126.
; whoeditedsomeofChrysostom'sworks,
294n, 1196. 51-7. For Gaguin's contro- Venice, Greg. de Gregoriis, 9 Feb. i5o|.
versy with Vincent Bandello of Castro- They were reprinted at once by Ja.
novo on this question see Thuasne in Pfortzen, Basle, 4 Dec. 1504, and tlie
GE.i, pp. 72-6, andRenaudetpp. 106-7. additional homilies appear in subse-
130. Sauoronellam] See Ep. 1033. quent editions until 1547, when Sig.
25on. Gelenius, in a revised Froben edition,
131. Bernae] See Ep. 1033. 250^. marked them ofif as spurious ; and as
139. admonui] Cf. Ep. 300. 21-4. such they have now disappeared from
141. Hormannus] Cf. Ep. 877. 16 seq. Chrysostom's works. See pp. i, 2, 61
142. literas] Not extant. of Fronto Ducaeus' notes to vol. i of
149. Chrysostomo] These extracts are hisedition, P.aris, T621.
 424 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

15° Homilia quinquagesima et aliquot sequentibus sic depingit ideam

vitae monasticae, vt nemini non multa succurrant, qui cum nostri
temporis monachis habuerit commercium. Fora inquit, fugientes ' ' '

et ciuitates et medios tumultus, in montibus vitam elegerunt cum

praesenti eommune nihil habentem, iiihil sustinentem humanum,
^55 non secularem tristiciam, non dolorem, non curam. non pericula,
non insidias, non inuidiam, non zelotypiam, non absurdos amores,
non aliud quicquam huiusmodi.* Deinde cum de vilitate victus ac
vestitus, de laboris industria, de hospitalitate, de sacro studio, multa
dixisset, mensae quoque sermones depingit iiunc in moduni Et si :
'

160 vis ' illorum discere mensam, accede propius, et eos experieris
inquit, '

talia eructantes, omnia mitia et iucunda, et spiritali odoris suauitate

plena nullum turpe verbum illa possunt ora emittere, nihil scurrile,
;

nihil asperum, sed omnia coelis digna.' Mox vbi virulentas pro-
phanorum obtrectationes commemorasset Clirysostomus, subiecit,
1^6 Horum autem ora riuis comijaranda sunt, melle manantibus et pura
'

diffundentibus fluenta.' Rursus Homilia proxima Migremus igitur :

'

ad illos, inde sciemus mensam apponi bonis innumerabilibus suauis-

simam, nunquam deficientem, a solicitudine liberam, inuidiae, liuoris
et omnis pestis immunem, et bona spe refertam, et multa statueutem
170 trophaea: non est illic tumultus, non morbus, non ira, omnia tran-
quillitas, omnia pax.' Haec illis sunt eradenda, nisi malunt sui esse
dissimiles at non haec solum, verura omnia quae Hieronymus,
;

quae Bernardus de vera religione prodidere scriptis. Expedit "

inquiunt, vt vulgus de monachis optime sentiat.'

'
Id verum est
175 fortassis, si modo probi sint ; sed magis expedit vt tales sint quales
haberi volunt. Alioqui magna i^ernicies est, si sub praetextu reli-
gionis imponant orbi. Expedit vt de pastoribus suis bene sentiat
populus, vt de episcopis, de magistratibus at in Iios isti, quoties :

libuit, licentissime debacchantur.

180 Verum de his iam nimis multa. Si me audies, quam minimum te
istiusmodi tragoediis admiscebis. Bene vale, vir optime.
Louanii xv. Cal. lan. an. m.d.xx.

1174. To Martix Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus III. 102, jj. 'j'] {n). Louvain.
Horawitz V. 33. 20 December (1520).

[This letter evidently is eonnected with Ep. 1189, which again is connccted
with Ep. 1190. Thepoints of contact here with Epp. 1166, 1177 and the obvious
allusion in Ep. 1190 to the gathering for the Diet of Worms make it easy to
assign the year-dates 1520 and 1521.]

ERAS. ROTEROD. D. MARTINO LYPS. BRVX. S. D.

(N)oN dubito, mi Martine, quin iam dudum in me desideres

humanitatem : sed haec me docet non natura sed ineuitabilis

1173. 174. est adrf. ff. 182. lanuarii 7/. 1174. 2. hacc cor?-. /fo/c/iutYs : hac; a.

1174. 2. humanitatem] In dealing with critics : cf. Ep. 1029. gn.

1174. TO MARTIN LYPSIUS 425

necessitas. Ad omnes riimores iam occallui. Res in rabiem exiit.

Regnant ventres, regnat scurrilis impudentia sub religionis prae-
textu. Satanas iam canit, lo triumpiie. Nos hic versabimur in 5
philosophia Christi vt non simus factionis aut tumultus autores.
:

Et si mundus erit ingratus, Christus abunde diues est, qui nostras

vigiliolas rependat.
In numerumconsiliariorum ante tres annos fuimus adsciti sed ;

Syluagii mors quo minus absolutum fuerit diploma.

in causa fuit 10
Atque ego sane sic instabam quasi negligerem. Id nunc paratum
est. Hoc quanti momenti sit nescio me certe non magnopere ;

mouet.
Volumen Vtriusque Testamenti Graeci, quum peteres, erat apud
Minoritas: opus in recognitione Noui Testamenti.
nunc mihi est 15
Tamen perquiram an hic habeatm- venale. Sed vereor ne magno
ematur nec diuidi potest. Ver^^or in restituendo Augustino. Si
;

quid codicum veterum habet vestra bibliotheca, fac vti sciamus.

Bene vale, teque sacris studiis suauiter oblecta.
Louanii 11 Cal. lan. 20

1175. To PoLYDOKE Veegil.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 632. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xvii. 3 : LB. 602. 23 December 1525.

[This letter may best be illustratecl by quotations from the document it is

intended to answer : Polydore Vergil's preface to his Adagiornm Hber, Basle,

4. RegnantventrcsJCf. Ep. 1 166. i6n. of Erasm.us' work by Franciscans some

9. consiliariorum] Cf. Ep. 1 166. 6-9. years later is shown by an Epitome of
14. Vtriusque Testamenti] Clearly his Annotations on the New Testamert
Erasmus' own copy of the Aldiue Greek made by John Mahusius of Oudenarde,
Bible (see Ep. 770) which he used ;
Antwerp, J. Steels, 1538.
for the third edition of his New Noui Testamenli] This had been
Testament [l. 150 see Ep. 373 introd.).
;
proposed a year ago (Epp. 1029, 1030) ;

Having failed to find a copy for Lypsius but under the stress of controversy
at Louvain or Antwerp, Erasmus sub- Erasmus seems not to have taken it
sequently lent him this one see Ep. : seriously in hand until now (cf. Ep.
1189. 4-9. Tlie scarcity of the book is 1143. 79ii). The text was sent to Basle
shown by a note of Vives on Aug. Ciu. some tinie before 27 May 1521 (Epp.
Bei (xviii. 30 p. 604), written betweeii
: 1206. 65-6, 1207. 17-22 cf. Am. E. 10).
:

I April and 14 July 1522 (see Epp. For furtlur progress see Epp. i2ia,
1271, 1303^ : versionem autem Sep-
*
1218, 1235, 1236 ; and, for new mss.
tuaginta (in)felicitatis moae fuit, dum used, Epp.373, i223introdd. The text
haec aedercm, non potuisse nancisci. was printed before Erasnuis left Lou-
Nec est aliquis in hac tanta regione vain (Ep. 1342. 90- 1) ; the notes by
qui habeat. Nam Erasmus, qui viius Feb. 1522. Cratander writing from
habet, nunc agit Basileae.' In 1520 Baslc, 8 March 1521 (VE. 247), alleges
Froben was asking 10 florins for a copy that thf new edition had been forccd
of the Aldine Bible at Basle Zw. eI ( upon Eiasmus by Lee's criticisms.
133, 156 -^ BRE. 180;. Before longthe 17. diuidi] For the readiness with
Complutensian Polyglott was put into which books were cut up into sections
circulation see Ep. 1213. 82n.
: for copying or for other purposes see
15, Minoritas] For friendly rolations Epj). 750 introd., 846. 8n, and cf. BRE.
between Erasmus and the Franciscans 165. But the meaning bere evidently
of Louvain see Epp. 1044. 30-5, 1189. isthat the New Testament could not
7 8. The defilement in their library bc bought separately from the Old.
of Lee's book against Erasmus (Ep. Augustino] See Ep. 1144. 7in.
1037) 'S narrated in Lond. xix. 29. LB. 18. vestra] At Val St. Martin.
1031, 21 March 1529. The appn ciation 19. sacris studiis] Cf. Ep. 1048. 5n.
 426 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

Froben, July 1521, addressed to Pace from London, 5 June 1519, and renewing
J.
a discussion on which Erasmus hadalready made a public pronouncement (Ep.
531. 408-14). After stating that he had first thought of collecting and publish-
ing Adagia 'abhinc annos alterum et viginti —
the first edition of his Prouerbia
'

—
appeared at Venice, Chr. de Pensis, 10 April 1498 Polydore goes on Post
:
'

aliquot annos successorem habui nostrum Erasmum, id quod ob singularem

. . .

hominis doctrinam pergratum fuit etsi ille ceu eiusmodi commentarioli nostri
:

minime sciens, vtrunque decus, inuentae scilicet rei atque auctae, ad se trahere
5 est conatus. Quem tamen vix potuit ignorare, si vnquam suum ipsius Adagiorum
opus Argentorati, quod est suae Germaniae oppidum, apud Matthiam Schurerium
formulis excusum vidit vidit autern dubio procul, cum illud postmodum bis
:

terue adauxerit. Quippe in eius operis fronte Matthias attestatur se paulo ante
nostra Adagia in apertum protulisse (cf. 1. a^n).
10 Ipsi etiam eum, cum aliquando apud nos pranderet (ef. 1, 32), per iocum
'

nostri huius instituti aemulatorem appellauimus. Ita ille rei suae intentus
nuper in nouissima Paroemiarum suarum aeditione est palam professus primum
se apud Latinos id genus argumenti attentasse (Ep. 269. 58), vt cui tum non venit
in mentem nostri libelli imaginis. Etenim pene incredibile est Erasmum tot
15 titulis redundantem velle cuiquam tam modicae inuentionis gloriolam inuidere.
Quanquam sunt nonnulli sagaciores qui adfirment eum idcirco illud dissimulasse,
vt qui praeter Adagiorum multitudinem nihilo plus praestiterat, ne videretur
esse imitatus, atque sic primas ferret partes. Ego tamen, quia veritas procul
eminet, totum istud aequi bonique faciens tantum apud te qui vtriusque nostioim
20 es ex aequo amantissimus, testatum esse volui, quo nihil ex eo offensionis posthac
essem habiturus.' It is surprising that a controversy which so easily admitted
of definite settlement, should have dragged on interminably. All that was
necessary was for the date of Polydore's first edition to be advanced, aud
Erasmus must have been completely silenced. But in 1530, and again in 1533,
he was still claiming priority see Lond. xxvi. 63, LB. 1108, 4 April 1530, and
:

tlie preface to the 1533 edition of liis Adagia.

From internal evidence the date of this letter (1175) is not easy to determine :

either 1519 or 1520 being possible. The reference to Lee at the beginning sug-
gests 1520 ; as though the business were past and done with. But a clearer
indication is given by Am. E. 10, a letter from Boniface Amerbach to Alciati,
II June (1521). Boniface after residence at Avignon from May 1520 to April
1521, on returning to Basle reports to Alciati the books that he tinds Froben has
in hand '
: Misit ad hunc Polydorus Vergilius sua Prouerbia ex literis Euangeli-
cis potissimum aucta.' If, as indicated here (II. 6-8, 114-18), Erasmus had
received from Froben PoIydore's preface and advised tlie publication in 1519,
Boniface would have known of the fact before going to Avignon, and would have
informed Alciati of it there. Corroboration may be obtained, too, from Ep. 1210.
The year-date given in F may be a mere misprint : or perhaps an example of
the rare method of dating by the incoming year after the Ides of December (see
Proctor i, p. 16, ii, pp. 9, 10). Tlie year beginning at Christmas would not affect
the present case.
—
Polydore Vergil (1470 ? c. 1555), was educated at Padua and Bologna and ;

studied at some time with Aleander (AI. E. i. 34). Later he became a priest and
entered the service of the Duke of Urbino, his native town. His first publication
was a new edition of the Corymcopia of Nic. Perotti, Venice, Jo. de Tiudino,
20 Dec. 1496 which he collated with a manuscript in the Duke's library. To
:

the Duke he dedicated a volume of Prouerbia {v. supra') in 1498 and to a friend
;

Be rerum inuentoribus, Venice, Chr. de Pensis, 31 Aug. 1499 — a markedly rational-

istic composition, which subsequently was placed upon the Index. In 1502
through the influence of his kinsman, Adrian dc Castello, bishop of Batli and
Wells, coUector in England of Peter's Pence, Polydore was sent thither as
sub-coUector. Within a fevv years hc acquired prebends at Hereford, Lincoln,
aud St. Pau^s and in 1508 the archdeaconry at Wells. In 1505, at the sugges-
;

tion of Hcnry vii he began to write a History of England, which was carried
down to 1509 in the first edition, Basle, J. Bebel, 1534, and to 1538 in the second,
Basle, M. Isingrin, 1555. The work was carried out on scientific lines, inanu-
scripts being consulted and oral tradition collected and the first specimen of it
;

is to be seen in his edition of Gildas, which he dedicated to Tunstall, 6 April 1525.

His life in England was chequercd. From May to December 1515 he was in
prison as the result of an attack upon Wolsey and in consequenco he spent part
;

of 1516-17 in Italy. But he returned, and continued his life and work in
1175] TO POLYDOKE VERGIL 427

England till 1550 : when he decided to spend liis last years in the country of
his birth.
Besides the History of England he composed during these years a commentary
on the Lord's Prayer, dedicated to Fisher, 5 Nov- 1524, and first printed in a new
edition of the Be inuentoribus, Basle, J. Froben, July 1525. At his advice, too,
was printed, London, J. Rastell. s.a., a treatise on The ryghie tvaij of mairimoni, by
Wm. Harrington (f 1523), like himself prebendary of St. Paurs. His relations
with Erasmus continued cordial. Each dedicated to the other a translation from
Chrysostom and their correspondence shows that both the Froben volumes
;

mentioned above were undertaken at Erasmus' instigation. For a less favour-

able view of PoIydore's character see Ep. 1694.
His hfe is discussed by Sir H. Ellis in editing portions of a contemporary
English translation of his history for the Camden Society, 1844 and 1846 by ;

J. Ferguson, with a bibliography, in Archaeologia, vol. 51 (1888), pp. 107-41 ;

and in DNB. An early ms. of his History (Vatican Urb. 497-8) is examined by :

Card. Gasquet in the Trans. ofihe R. Historical Soc, xvi (1902) see also an article ;

on his legal diificulties by 1. S. Leadam, ibid. xix (1905), and C. L. Kingsfoi*d,

English Historical Liferature in the Fifteenth Centurij, 19 13, pp. 253-8.

ERASMVS ROTER. POLYDORO VERGILIO SVO S. D.

TE hominem inclementem, cui parum est visum quod Eduardus

Leus me Noui Testamenti recogniti gloria spoliasset, nisi tu bonani
laudis partem ex Adagiorum opere debitae pergeres adimere. Nam
id multis verbis agere videris in praefatione, qua librum semipaganum
ac semichristianum lectori commendas cuius ego successibus adeo ; 5
non inuideo vt cum loannes Frobenius ab excudendo vehementer
abhorreret, ego compulerim verius quam impulerim vt opus quam
nitidissimis formulis cliartisque daret in lucem. Intantum enim
abest, mi Polydore, vt tuo nomini tuisque studiis inuideam, vt ob
veterem inter nos actam vitae consuetudinem et adamatam ingenii 10
tui festiuitatem vix ah*i faueani aeque. Sed inclementius est etiam
quod huius argumenti primum apud Latinos tractati laudem sic tibi
vindicas vt mihi coneris cenodoxias simul et liuoris suspicionem
impingere quum vix alius sit qui vel candidius vel impensius faueat
:

bonarum literarum cultoribus, a quibus etiam obscurari voluptati est. 15

Adeo non hoc molior vt cuiusquam officiam nomini. Porro tu mihi
sic charus es vt haud dubitaturus sim vel de meo largiri pkis gloriae,
quam tu quereris me mihi praeter ius vindicare.
Caeterum quod in prima aeditione nulla sit facta Polydori mentio,
mirum esse non debet, quum id temporis nullus adhuc mihi notus 20
esset Polydorus, praeter eum quem in tragoediis Polymnestor ob-
truncat, et auro vi potitur. Atqui hic me putas dKKt^cu', negans esse
verisimile quod aio cum praefatio Matthiae Schurerii testetur,
;

antequam meum Adagiorum libeHum excuderet, se tuum formulis

TiT. svo owi. H. 16. cuiusquam F Corrig. : cuiusciique /•'.

4. semipaganum] Polydore's book is 15. obscurari] Cf. Ep. 1107. 8n.

divided into Adagia prophana andsacra. 21. in tragoediis] Eur. Hec.
10. consuetudinem] It is clear from 23. praefatio] Schiirer's preface to
11.35-8m/rathatthi3cannothavebegun his reprint of the Collectanea Adagiorum,
beforeErasmus^secondvisittoEngland July 1509, is dated 18 June.
in 1505-6. Ep. 531. 409, 411-12, im- 24. tuum]
Schiirer had reprinted
plies that Erasmus did not at once this in Dec. 1508. Polydore appears
make Polydore's acquaintance. to have thought that Sehiirer's edition
13. cenodoxias] Cf. Ep. 1334. lo^n. of Erasmus' CoUect. Adag. was the first.
 428 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1520

25 expressisse. illud negari non

Quid scripserit Schurerius nescio ;

potest, Adagiorum meuni decem annis excusum fuisse

libelluni
Lutetiae per loannem Philippum, priusquam Schurerii nomen
audissem. Quanquam quid hoc ad rem pertinet ? Etenim cum ille
nec tuum libellum primus excuderit nec meum. nimirum haec ratio
30 non magis arguit vter nostrum alterum praecesserit, quam iuxta
prouerbium, In albo lapide amussis alba.
Et tamen cum inter prandendum olim incidisset inter nos hac de
re cauillatio, demonstraui vnde posses elenchum petere, videlicet
inde vnde ipse me comperissem anteuertisse, duntaxat aeditione.
35 Quum adhuc vterque alteri essemus ignoti, iam annis aliquot meus
ille, qualis qualis est, libellus terebatur studiosae iuuentutis manibus,
quum me pestilentia, non sokmi Lutetiae verumetiam Coloniae con-
stanter saeuiens, compulit Louanium profugere. A quo quidem loco,
tametsi perquam amoeno, quur animus meus ceu fatali quodam prae-
40 sagio semper abhorruerit, nunc demum intelligo. Hic Lucas quidam
Sauromata, theologus, mihi dum illic agerem satis familiaris con-
gerro, non aliam, opinor, ob causam iniquior nostris studiis nisi quod
ipse multis annis parum feliciter lacessisset Musas iratas, rumorem
late sparserat inter conbibones suos, me corniculam conuestire me
45 plumis alienis iam olim Polydorum quendam eleganter hoc argu-
;

mentum tractasse, me nihil aliud esse quam plagiarium ac simium

illius.
Haec quum accepissem et quid esset rei prorsus ignorarem, dedi
negocium iuuenibus aliquot qui lil)rum perquirerent Vergilii Polydori.
50 Quum nusquam prostaret — nondum enim, opinor, deportatus erat ex
Italia —
tandem mihi casu repertus est in bibliotheca clarissimi viri
,

Hieronymi Buslidii nam is, vt erat omniuni librorum emacissimus,

;

ex Italia secum detulerat. Gauisus inopinata praeda confero diem et

annum, quem ex more solent annotare typographi nam meus :

55 absente me excusus est Lutetiae. Eum comperio exisse ex officina

loannis Philippi Anno m.d. die lunii xv quemadmodum testatur ;

epistola Fausti —
quam typographus ab illo extorserat ad operis com-
37. Lutetiae i^ ComV/. : Louanii F. 44. corniculam F: corniculae exemplo i/.

26. Adagiorum] Cf. Ep. 126. Ep. 171 introd.

27. Philippum]orPliilippi,of Kreuz- 40. Lucas] Walteri ;cf. Ep. 531.
nach. He printedin Paris 1494-15 19 : 415-18.
see Proctor, and Ph. Renouard, Im- 52. Buslidii] See Ep. 205 introd.
primeurs Parisiens, 1898, pp. 296,7. 53. diem et annum] It is evident
Besides the Adagia of 1500 and 1505, that the copy seen by Erasmus was
Philippi printed also Caminadus' Ver- of the second edition, Venice, Chr.
gil and Erasmus' Cic. Off. (EpiJ. 131, de Pensis, 6 Nov. 1500: see Panzcr iv.
152 introdd.), and a Terence, as prose 453. 2619^
(cf. Ep. 20. lom), ed. Paul Malleolus, 55. me] Erasmus' move-
absente
withadedication toGaguin, 21-2 April ments June and July 1500 cannot
in
1499. Of all these volumes except the be traced cf. Ep. 126 introd.
; His
Adagia of 1505 there are copies in withdrawal from Paris after the com-
Beatus Rhenanus' Library at Schlett- pletion of the 'copy ', without waiting
stadt (Cat. Rhen. 208, 378, 349, 380). to see it through the press (cf. Ep. 152
31. In albo lapide] Ct. Adag. 488 : introd.), may have been in accordance
'
Dicitur in eos qui incertis probant
. . . with recognized practice, to render
aut significant incerta.' possible the fiction of unauthorized
37. Coloniae] Cf. Ep. 173. 611. publication: cf. Epp. 30. 16^,211.5-8.
38. Louanium] In Sept. 1502 : cf. 57. epistola Fausti] Ep. 127.
1175] TO POLYDORE VERGIL 429

mendationem ;
quam tamen
ante librum absolutum scriptam oportuit
—tuum exisse in Italia tribus mensibus serius. Quod siquis proferat
aeditionem antiquiorem ea quam nobis dedit loannes Philippus, id 60
quod scio neminem facturum, non erit tamen causa cur me quisquam
insimulet furti aut plagii. Nam fieri potuit, id quod plane crediderim
accidisse, vt cum eadem res eodem ferme tempore vtrique veniret in
mentem, neque tu de Erasmo neque ego de Polydoro somniarim.
Itaque si quid est laudis ex inuento argumento, vterque sibi possit 65
vindicare citra alterius iniuriam. Haec quum a me ioco dicta sint in
—
conuiuio nam te plane credebam iocari —
tuum erat serio conferre
-,

primam aeditionem tui libelli cum prima mei, priusquam hac prae-
fatione insimulares amicum et simplicem et tuo nomini fauentem
liuoris simul et plagii. 70
Sed tuam aeditionem anteuertisse, finge me non latuisse
age, finge
finge me tam auidum gloriae vt amicum non verear compilare, quaeso
quid laudis erat hoc ai*gumentum inuenisse ? neque enim nos gignimus
prouerbia, sed recensemus. Artis medicae, astrologiae repertoribus
multum gioriae tribuitur quantulum autem laudis debetur ei qui e 75
:

publicis pi'atis pauculos fiosculos nulli non obuios decerpserit et in

calathum coniecerit In tractando fortasse nonnihil est laudis, in
!

colligendo perpusillum est gloriae. Quod si qua est, ea Graecis

debetur, qui multis ante nos seculis paroemiologias nobis reliquerunt.
Praeterea cum tua ex autoribus vulgatissimis collegisses, cur tu mihi So
potius citandus eras quam illi e quorum fontibus hauserant quos tu
potissimum sequeris. Beroaldum nusquam cito Politianum cito,;

quod is quosdam autores legisset mihi nondum lectos.

lam accipe et aliud argumentum. Si tua legissem, tantus plagiarius
nullum tuorum pi'aetermisissem. Nunc in tuis erant quaedam non S5
aspernanda, quae in meis non erant.
lam vero quod scribis me praeter multitudinem nihil addidisse,
non satis intelligo quid sibi velit. In prima aeditione enumerabantur
adagia ferme octingenta, cum tu citra ducenta consisteres. Nec
vnquam auxi minuta illa Collectanea nisi semel, anno m.d.vi., cum 90
Lutetiae adornarem iter in Italiam. Nam ad preces amici Badii
parantis rursus aedere, adieci prouerbiola ]>lus minus viginti idque ;

ex aceruo multorum quem paraueram in Venetam aeditionem. Ac

tua rursus eodem anno sunt excusa Mediolani per loannem Anglum.
Porro in aeditione Aldina, cum Chiliadas aliquot adferam, non video 05
cur debeat contemni multitudo, praesertim in eo argumento quod
potissimum constat industria coUigendi praesertim cum pleraque
:

contraxerim aut e Graecorum fontibus aut e scriptoribus non tam

73. hoc om. H.

61. nemiiiem facturum] This note of and perhaps son of the

zeler, snccessor
confidence. on a point about which he well-known Milan printer, Ulrich of
was in fact wrong, may no doubt be Zinzenzell, a village in Bavaria near
explained by the claim that he was the Danube, between Ratisbon aud
speaking in jest cf. 11. 66-7.
; There Passau. Jo. Angelus' printingactivity
is no reason to suppose that the amic- lasted from 1500-1525: see ADB. 33.
aVjlt; relations between Polydore and 478. The edition mentioned here does
Erasmus were disturbed by this un- not seem to be known but the British
;

tnding dispute. Museum has a Veniceedition by Jo. de

82. Beroaldum] See Ep. 256. 137^. Tridino, 1506.
94. Anglum] Jo. Angelus Scinzen- 95. Chiliadas] See Ep. 21 r introd.
 430 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1520

vulgo protritis quam est Perottus aut Beroaldus. Caeterum an in

100 tractando nihilo te sim superior, Ego cupiam sic efflore-
alii iudicent.
scere literas vt me a tergo relinquant omnes, non modo Polydorus.
Verum haec cum manifestiora sint quam vt negari queant, vbinam
quam in praefatione scribis procul eminere ? quaque
est ista veritas
fretus boni consulis, quod ego callidus dissimulator conatus sim in
105 gloriae tuae possessionem irrejiere ? Sic te amo, mi Polydore, sic
tuae gloriae faueo, vt non grauer vel dimidium totius laudis tibi
largiri, siquidem hoc tibi foret vsque adeo cordi, nisi sic tibi vindi-
cares, vt nec tu mihi sis gratiam habiturus, et ego non candidus in
amicum, sed alienae gloriae furunculus viderer posteritati, si tamen
iio haec leget posteritas. Vtinam omnes eruditorum centuriae sic
fauerent operi tuo, quemadmodum nos fauemus Mihi certe multa !

axTiserunt, praesertim in opere de Rerum Inuentoribus.

Vel hinc colligas licet quam non fuerimus iniqui tuo libro.
Frobenium, vt dictum est, abhorrentem ab aeditione perpuli. Prae-
115 fationem tuam, qua me suggillas, ad me miserant velut execrandam.
Remisi, iussique vt bona fide, sicut abs te fuerat descripta, excude-
retur. Deleuerant mentionem Lei, quam tu de illo sane quam
honorificam facis. lussi vt reponerent. Vtrum haec sunt fauentis
an non ? Non eget tua prudentia meo consilio. Tamen illud tibi
120 suaserim, mi Polydore, vt posthac in aedendis lucubrationibus tuis
Thomam Morum, Cutbertum Tonstallum, Thomam Linacrum, Guliel-
mum Latomerum, homines vere doctos et amicos, adhibeas in con-
silium. Bene vale, doctissime Polydore, ac rem literariam strennue
adiuua. Louanii x. Calendas lanuarii, Anno M. D. xxi.

1176. To Thomas Bedii,l.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 566. Louvain.

HN: Lond. xv. 7: LB. 551. 31 December 1520.

[The year-date is sufficiently confii-med by the mention of the attacks made

upon Erasmus by the friars and of the impending Diet of Worms. For Bedill
;

see Ep. 387 introd.]

ERASMVS THOMAE BEDELLO, R. D. ARCHIEPISCOPI CANTVARIENSIS

A SECRETIS, S. D.
De Praesulis optimi in me studio, vt rem mihi longe gratissimam.
ita minime nouam nuncias ; sed quod toties obiurgas me qui nihil ab

1176. 100. nihUo F Corrig. : nihil F. 122. Latamerum if. 1176. tit.
K. D. . . A SECRETIS Om. H.
.

1175. 99. Perottus] See Ep. 117. 42^. preface may be dated in Aug. or Sept.
103 in praefutione] See 11. 19-20 of 117. mentionem Lei] This occui-s in
the passage quoted in the introduction a second preface to Pace, also dated
to this letter. 5 June i5i9,and prefixed to the .4rfa(/?a
113. non fuerimus iniqui] Cf. Ep. sacra (f". h, 49, in Froben's edition of
1210. 1-9. Jnly 1521 with praise of many nota-
,

115. miserant] by Jerome Froben ble Englishmen. Though the preface

(Ep. 1210. 5), who rejoined Erasmus was written earlier, by the time it was
in the latter half of 1520 (Basle MS. shown to Erasmus, the controversy
G. II. 29. 115). As he fouud Erasmus with Lee had reached and passed its
at Antwerp, the sending of Polydore's acutest stage.
1176] TO THOMAS BEDILL 431

illo petam, facis inclementer, mi Bedelle. Imo iampridem oro vt

ingens aliquod sacerdotium coniiciat in caput meum. Non dubito
quin ille sit huic corpusculo superstes futurus ; sed tamen in rebus 5
humanis certi nihil est. Verum ne nihil impudenter faciam, in
praesentia cuperem mihi rursus numerari anni venturi pensionem,
aut certe syngrapham mitti per quam hic aut apud Italos recipiam.
Adorno enim profectionem in proximam quadi'agesimam, sed aestiua-
turus Basileae fortassis illinc repetiturus Italiam, nisi quid extiterit
;
lo
in hoc principum conuentu quod me remoretur.
Paulus non nisi semel lapidatus fuit. Hic ego quotidie lapidor
Praedicatorum et Carmelitarum conuiciis, idque et nominatim et in
publicis concionibus. Sed nihil aliud efficiunt nisi vt populus etiam
intelligat illos agitari malis furiis. 15
RD. Archiepiscopo, vnico Moecenati meo, multam ex me salutem
dicito post hunc Doctori Vuelles et humanissimo oeconomo.
;
Bene
vale, mi Pylades. Louanii pridie Circuncisionis. anno m.d.xx.

1177. To Andrew Kxopkex.

Epistolae acl diuersos p. 556. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiv. 22 : LB. 552. 31 December 1520.

[The year-date is confiiniied by tlie Paraphmses mentionod.

Andrew Knopken (t 18 Feb. 1539, of Kiistrin in Brandenburg was at this tirae
teaching in the monastic school at Belbuk, by Treptow on the Rega, near the
coast of Pomerania in close intercourse with Bugenhagen, who had been rector
:

of the town school since 1504. Both were already inclined to sympathy with
Luther, being attracted by his De captiv.itafe Bab>ilonica, which appeared 6 Oct. 1520
(LE^. 350. 38); and in consequence were ejected by the Bishop of Kamin,
Erasmus Manteufel, in the spring of 1521 (Seckendorf, Comment. de Lutheranismo,
1692, i. 179). Knopken with some of his pupils withdrew to Reval and Dorpat ;

finally settling at Riga, where on 23 Oct. 1522 he was appointed Arclideacon of

St. Peter's church. He continued an ardent Lutheran, while appreciating also
the schohir-ihip of Erasmus. In 1524 Bugenhagen printed for liim at Witten-
berg, with the sanction of Melanchthon, some lectures on St. Paui's Epistle to

13. Praedicatorum F : Dominicanorum H. 16. R. D. om. H.

5. superstes] This passage, the open- 17. Welles (+Sept.

Vuellcs] Thos.
ing of which is evidently in jest, im- 1526: Hasted, Hist. of Keni, iv. 634)
plies an expectation by Erasmus that was Fellow of New College, Oxford, iu
his Aldington pension (1. 7n'i might 1484, at the sanie timc as Warham,
cease if Warham should die in con- ; who was Fellow there 1475-88. In
sequence Jie would be glad of anipler 1499 he began to accumulate benefices,
provision for the i^resent. Ep. 1205. many of which were in Kent. From
sSseq.showsthatWarham wasinelined 1505 to he was suffragan to
1511
to fall inwith thesuggestion. Erasmus' Warham, with the title of Bp. of
autograph statement of his income Sidon and also domestic chaplain
;

(Basle MS. C. VI"*. 71, f. i) shows that (Brewer iii. 127, v. 1249). On 20 Nov.
the Aldington punsion was paid after 1510 he sunplicated for incorporation
Wiirham's death, as late as Michael- as D.D at O.xford on a foreign degree :

nias 1533. but foi- some reason was not admitted

7. pensionem] See Ej). 255 introd. till 21 Feb. i^a^J (Boase, /?e(;/s/ero/0.r/o/-c/
It was usually paid three montlis m Univ., OHS. i, 1884, p. 73).

;nrears cf. Epp. 823. 10 13, 892.

: See .Tos. Foster, Ahinmi Oxonienses,
10. Italiam] Cf. Ep. 1143. 79n. vol. iv and W. Stubbs, Befiisfrutn
;

12. Paulus] 2 Cor. 11. 25. sacritm Anglicauum, 1897, p. 201.

 432 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

the Romans, wliich had been delivered as a novelty to enthusiastic audiences at

Riga. Bugenhagen"s preface, dated 9 Feb. 1524, asseverates the orthodoxy of
the work adding that Knopken had given him fuU liberty touse his own judge-
;

ment in editing the ms. A note printed on the title-page invites the reader to
consult non veterem translationem, sed Desyderii Erasmi, quae iam omnium
'

fere manibus gestatur '. A copy of Knopken's book was in Aleander s libraiy :

see L. Dorez in Eevue defi Bibliotheques ii (1893), j). 65.

Knopken married and reniained at Riga taking a prominent part in the in-
;

troduction of the Reformation. He helped to construct the form of service for

its new church, and to administer its government and composed hymns, some
;

of which appeared also in the Wittenberg hymn-book of 1533. In July 1529

Lutlier sends greetings to him at Riga as vetus commilito' (LE^. 1524).
'

See Thuanus, Hist. sui temporis, bk. 21 D. Gerdes, Hist. Reformationis ii (1746),
;

PP- 55) 85 LE'-. 581, n. 3

; ADB and a life by D. F. Hoerschelmann, 1896.
; ;

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS ANDREAE CNOPHAE, SACERDOTI

OPTIMO, S. D.

Ex tribus epistolis quas ais te mihi scripsisse, duas duntaxat accepi.

Primum nemo dabatur per quem responderem, Tandem Coloniae
offerebat se nescio quis is cum semel atque iterum me frustra
:

conuenisset, non reuersus

est, desperans, opinor. Nec tamen id
5 accidit mea culpa
sed nec ocii dabatur tantum nec solitudinis.
;

Atque, vt ingenue dicam, quoniam nihil videbam in tuis bteris quod

magnopere flagitaret responsum, non eram rescripturus, nisi tu tot
obtestationibus, tot obsecrationibus mecum ageres.
Mentem istam tam piam tamque auidum Christianae doctrinae
10 studium vehementer exosculor: nam vtrunque testatur epistola tua.
Quae quidem res hoc plus hiudis meretur in te, quod haec facis inter
eos qui, vt scribis, magis agunt negocium ventris quam mentis, ad
haec vicinus Rutenis, quos intonsos et impexos appellas, ob morum,
opinor, cultusque barbariem. Vt enim recte dictum est, Eum egregie
15 probum esse oportet qui Athenis probus esset; ita qui vicinus
haereticis non deflectit a fide Catholica, qui permixtus barbaris, gulae
ventrisque mancipiis, totus viuit honestis studiis, nec vllo malorum
contagio corrumpitur, is insigniter bonus sit oportet. Porro si ex me
quaeras consilium, nihil audies nisi vt quod facis, strennue pergas.
20 Nam ipsissimam viam milii videris ingressus qua perueniatur ad
veram felicitatem. Neque enim dubito quin huc quoque ]}vo virili
contendas, vt quos possis, ad tuos mores adducas. Atque adeo
demiror, cum multi sint vbique pastores, neminem exoriri qui
clementissimi pastoris exemplum imitetur, queni non piguit ob
2.S vnani ouem erraticam tantum malorum perpeti. Decimas qui petant,
video permultos qui sitiant animarum salutem, prope nullos.
;
Hic
monachorura plena sunt omnia, vbi nihil est discriminis et messis
1. epistolis] Not extant. the date of which is indicated by a
2. Coloniae See p. 370.
! reference (f. A*) to 'Alexander magnus
13. Rutenis] This term seems to be Lithuanieduxmodernus', whoreigned
used, not with its modern designation 1492-1501. It is dedicated to Albert
for the inhabitants of parts of Little (Tabor), bp. of Vilna (1492-1507) ;

Russia, Galicia, and Transj'lvania, but who is described (f. A^) as tumul- '

for Russians in general. The estima- tuanteturba Ruthenorum tuo Romane-

tion in which these were held at this que ecclesie infensissiraoruni hostium
period may be gathered from an Elaci- circumseptus.veludagnusinterrapaces
darius errorum ritus Ruthenici, (Cracow, hipos '.
J. Haller), s. a., (Proctor 9467), written 15. Athenis] Cf. .4dasr. 3053, quoting
liy John Sacranus, canon of Cracow : Phito, Leg. i. 11 (6420).
1177] TO ANDKEW KNOPKEN 483

ampla. Quin Eutenos magis adeunt, eosque sua doctrina suaque

sanctimonia reuocant ad caulas Ecclesiae ? Hic fulciunt Ecclesiam,
cui magis oneri sunt quam vsui. At vbi res poscit ingenue germaneque 30
Christianum, qui pro lucro Christi subeat capitis periculum, ibi
nusquam apparent. Ita dum suis quisque commodis studemus,
negligitur populus Christi.
Ac proh dolor nostri mores partim in causa sunt quo minus
!

multi se conferant ad factionem nostram. Legunt Euangelicam et 35

Apostolicam doctrinam, et vident ab hac vitam nostram longe lateque
discrepare. Non iam loquor de vulgo quod tale fere est quales sunt
ii qui praesunt, sed de proceribus Ecclesiae, de sacerdotibus ac
monachis. Bona pars seruimus quaestui aut ventri aut gloriae aut
tyrannidi. Fidei nomen praetextus tantum est. Hoc illos alienat 4°
quos oportebat mansuetudine, tolerantia et officiis allicere. Sed
tamen bona quaedam spes habet animum meum, posteaquam video et
isthic esse qui sic flagrent amore doctrinae Euangelicae.
Paraphrases absoluimus in omnes Epistolas, praeter eam quae
fertur ad Hebraeos. Addidimus Paraphrasim in Epistoh^s Petri 45
duas, ludae vnam et lacobi vnam breui daturi quod superest :

Epistolarum Apostolicarum sic enim visum est amicis eruditis.

;

Non displicuit carmen tuum quo mihi bene precaris atque ego tibi :

vicissim absque carmine sed syncerissimo pectore precor immortali-

tatem. Bene vale, vir optime, meque tuis precibus Christo commenda. 5°
Louanii prid. Calend. lan. anno m.d.xx.

1178. To GoDFREY Rhodus.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 533. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiv. 2 : LB. 55S. 1520.

[Godfrey Rhodus was of Estaires between Armentieres and Lille. He

evidently had addressed Erasmus with a eomplimentary poem which seems not ;

to survive. I can find nothing else of him but De totius orbis literatiss. viri
'

D. Erasrai Roterodami felici in Christo obitu Elegia in qua potissimum con- :

queritur de cuiusdam inhumanitate, ne dicam impietate, qui praeter candorem

Christianum omneis in Erasmi morte a lachrymis temperantes aeternis infe-
rorum suppliciis deuouere videtur'. Tliis was first printed in the Antwerp
edition of the Catalogi duo operum Erasmi, hy the widow of M. Caesar, c. i May 1537,
f°. P* v° wliich is enlarged upon tlie Froben Catalogi of 1536-7 by the inclusion
;

of a great nuuiber of poems on Erasmus. The elegy is reprinted near the end of
the introductory matter in LB. i. In a copy of N' in my possession is written
against Rhodus' name 'a. 2. octo. 1545' —
perhaps the date of his death.
To the position of this letter I can find no clue beyond the dates assigned in F.
At this point may bo mentioned a New Years present made to Erasmus by
another youthful admirer a copy of the Aldine Scriptores rei rusticae, May 1514,
:

Nvith a ms. inscription, D. Eras. Roter. orbis decori bonorumque studioriim

'
,

parenti, Hugo Bolonius, Musai"um alumnus, don. ded. pro strena, Cal. lanu.
MDXxi '. The donor was perhaps a Hugo Bolonius, vvhose name is found in a list of
learned Dominicans, forming part of a catalogue of writers drawn up by Phiiip
Wolf of Seligenstadt (t 1529J see R. L. Poole in EHR. xxxiii. 515. The book
;

was shown to me in Feb. 1912 by Ihe Uite Dr. Dauiel, provost of Worcester

44. H : omnes in F. 48. atque F: at N.

39. ventri] Cf. Ep. 1166. 1611. Petri] Ep. 11 12.

45. ad Hebraeos] Ep. 1181. 46. quod superest] Ep. 1179.
4B2-4 p f
 434 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1520

College, who then owned it. It has now been acquired by Prof. Campagnac
for the Library of the Department of Education at Liverpool University.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS GODOFREDO RHODO STEGRIO S. D.

Vt Rhode charissime, turba me

serius ad tua scripta responderim,
literisatque etiam libellis interpellantium fecit ne quam inhumani- ;

tatis aut fastidii suspicionem de me concipias. Ingeris mihi meos

labores qui vtinam aut tam vtiles essent orbi aut tam felices autori
:

5 quam sunt numerosi Sed quam mihi disphcui in tuo speculo, tam
!

tuum mihi placuit ingenium. Neque enim ilhc te minus vidi quam
meipsum ac libentius tuam faciem contemplatus sum quam meam.
;

Placuit ingenium sanum ac fehx, sobrium, nihil habens ineptiae ;

placuit candor ac modestia, iDlacuit phrasis nec affectatione molesta

To nec inanibus verbis redundans. lam illud etiam vehementer sum
admiratus, te in carmine quo vix aliud legibus astrictius, tam
commode quod sentis eloqui, praesertim cum argumentum tractes
et ieiunum et inamoenum. Et haud scio an hoc consilio sumpseris
sterilem et infelicem materiam, quo maior esset ingenii tui gloria,
if, qui potueris elephantum e musca facere. Nam illud mihi displicuit,
quod immeritis et immodicis laudibus nihil ahud quam oneras
Erasmum. Quanquam hoc iam adeo solenne est generi poetico, vt
ceu iure praescriptionis id recte facere videantur.
Quod nisi fortuna tam iniqua essem vt nemo possit a me vllum
20 sperare officivim, fortassis existerent qui sua suspicione non minus te
grauarent quam me: te qui me laudibus captasses, me qui laudibus
huiusmodi delectarer. Quo magis miseret me tui qui tantum laboris
absque fructu susceperis quandoquidem ne illud quidem gratiae
;

rediturum est a me quod inuicem sibi praestant ac referunt iumenta

25 mutuum scabentia. Ne tamen nihil omnino rependam officii pro
tam candido animi tui in me studio, consulo vt posthac bonas horas
in mehoribus hbris colloces nec vnquam in manus sumere velis
;

Erasmi naenias, nisi quum nihil est bonorum voluminum, Ad haec,

si quando voles exercere stilum et exercere venam ingenii tui, deHgas
30 argumentum felicius. Vale, mi Rhode, tam habiturus Erasmum
fauentem quam tu de bonis literis bene mereberis.
Louanii. Anno M. D. xx.

1179. To Matthew Schinner.

Paraphrases in Epistolas Canonicas, f '. P. Louvain.
Lond. xxix. 78 : LB. vii. 1141. 6 January (1521).

[The preface to the Paraphrase on the Epistlesof St. John, in the volume from
which Ep, 1171 comes.]

R. D. D. MATTHAEO CARD. SEDVNENSI, COM. VALESII, ERASMVS

ROTEROD. S. D,

NvPER lacobum dedimus et Latine loquentem et explanatius

nuuc loannem damus, vt et nos paulatim carj^amus operis parteis,
1178. II. H : astrictus F. 13. sumpseris F Comgr. : suppresseris i^.

23, H: abque i^. 29. y^ : delegas i^,

1178. 19. fortuna] Cf. Ep. 1102. 6n.

1179] TO MATTHEW SCHINNER 435

nec tuam celsitudinem negociis Imperialibus occupatissimam obrua-

mus, si quod tamen datur tempus vacuum hisce nostris lucubra-
tionibus cognoscendis. Bene vale, vir eximie.
Louanii. octauo Id. lanuarias.

ii^niSO. From Leo X.

Vatican Archives, Nunz. di Germania 1, f. 44 iu). Kome.
Jortin ii. 398. 15 Januaiy 1521.

[The manuscript is an original, by one of Sadoleto's scribes the heading, ;

the signature and the final year-date, odauo, are by Sadoleto himself, \vho adds
on the verso of the next leaf Exemplum breuis ad Erasmvmi '. In the upper
'

right-hand corner is a contemporary note, cum litteris ig Martii 1521 '. As the
'

Vatican volume is composed of papers concerning Aleander's nuntiature in

Germany, it may safely be inferred that this is not the document actually sent
to Erasmus, but the copy dispatclied to Aleander on 19 March with a letter
and two other copies (Balan nos, 49, 51, 52). This letter was printed in Epistolae
—
darorum virorum, Rome, 1754, p. 397 a volume which I have uot seen, but which
is reproduced by Jortin (^S^} and, within a few years, in Sad. E. i. 70 (/S^). It
;

was printed anew from the manuscript by H. Laemmer, Monumenta Vaticana,

1861, p. I and by Balan no. 53 (7). Theformer's text is sc faulty that no notice
;

need be taken of it but some of Balan's readings may be recorded.

;

For Leo's relations with Erasmus at this time see Pastor viii. 255-7. The
suggestion made guardedly here, that Erasmus should intervene on the Papal
side against Liither, was put forward much more definitely five months later in
Ep. 1213. Aleander was indignant at such an indication of Papal favour
towards Erasmus whom at this time he considered to be worse than Luther,
;

and indeed the cause of most of the trouble in Lower Germany and the Nether-
lands (Balan nos. 21, 32).]

DESIDERIO ERASMO ROTERODAMO.

DiLECTE fili, salutem etc. Gratae nobis admodum fuerunt litterae

tue declararunt enim id de quo addubitare aliquantum ceperamus,
;

neque tantum ex quorundam quamuis prudentium et proborum

testimonio, quantum ex scriptis nonnullis tuis quae circumferuntur,
te nihilominus egregia et constante esse cum in nos sanctamque ,;

hanc Apostolicam sedem, tum erga communem pacem concordiam-

que, et imprimis publicam Christianam et rem et legem, voluntate.
Quod profecto preclare conuenit et huic ingenio, quod Dei beneficio
summum ad optimas disciplinas attulisti, et eis studiis pietatis quae
semper es professus. Itaque nos, quorum sepe ob animum versa- 10
batur tui quanquam absentis memoria, cum de tuis eximiis virtuti-
bu.s aliquo praemio honestandis cogitaremus, paulisper ex ea opinione
deturbati, valde iucunde accipimus restitutam in nobis esse, officio
et diligentia litterarum tuarum, mentem pristinam diligendi tui.
Atque vtinam, quod iam nobis constat certumque est de officio 15
et voluntate tua in hanc Sedem sanctam communemque Dei fidem,
id apud ceteros omnes cerneremus constare Nam nec tempus !

vllum oportunius nec causa iustior vnquam fuit, ingenium atque

1179. 3. Imperialibus] in connexion with the impending Diet of Wurms.

1180. 12. praemio] Cf. Ep. 1141. 3011.

F f 2
 436 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

doctrinam impiis hominibus opponendi nec vero quisquam ipso te, :

20 vt nostrum est de tua eruditione iudicium, ad tam laudabile opus

aptior in quo elaborant quidem, et elaborarunt, permulti summa
;

cum pietatis et scientiae fama. Sed et illorum corda direxit Deus, et

de te tuae prudentiae permittendum est. Nos ad probra et ad contu-
melias seditiosorum hominum diuina ope et patientia armati, illud
25 magis moleste ferimus, quod cum zizaniis non parum bonae segetis
corrumpitur, omnisque de grege nobis credito iactura animum no-
strum sollicitudine afficit. Qui enim possumus non dolere deti-imento
bonarum mentium, quae trahuntur in errorem, cum istos ipsos
errorum et impietatis auctores saluos esse cupiamus? Sed neque
30 deerit nobis Deus, neque nos muneri atque officio nostro sumus
defuturi.
Quod autem ad litteras tuas attinet, nos et de tua optima voluntate
certum iam habemus, et tuum aduentum in hanc Vrbem, quando-
cunque is fuerit, laete et gratanter sumus accepturi.
35 Datum Rome, xv. lanuarii M.D.xxi. Anno octauo.
la. Sadoletus.

1181. To Sylyester Gigli.

Paraphrasis ad Hebraeos, tit. v°. Louvain.

17 January 1521.

[The preface to the Paraphraso on Hebrews. Of the first edition, which was
by Martens at Louvain, Jan. 1521 (a), I know only one cop.y in tlie Bil)!. :

Nationale at Paris (A. 18182. 4). In the subsequent Froben editions enumerated
on p. 123, there are only changes in those of March 1521 (13), May 1522, octavo (7),
and 1523 (S). In 1532 and all the editions that follow, this preface was omitted ;

and in consequence it does not appear in Lond. or LB. For the omission I
cannot conjecture any reason. Gigli died shortly after this preface was written ;

and there appears to have been no such ground as led to the suppression of
Ep. 956.]

R. P. AC D. D. SYLVESTRO EPISCOFO VVIGORNIENSI, SERENISS.

ANG. REGIS PERPETVO APVD S. D. N. LEONEM DECIMVM
ORATORI, ERASMVS ROTERO. S. D.

Meketvr hoc tua pietas ac singularis quidam erga bonas literas

fauor, ornatissime Praesul, vt tuum nomen omnium calamis poste-
ritati commendetur non quod tua modestia laudem vllam apud
:

homines moretur, sed quod complures incitentur ad honesta studia,

5 si conspexerint egregios viros ac de rep. Christiana benemeritos
non fraudari gloria, non expetita quidem
iHa, sed hoc magis debita.
Merebantur hoc tua in me
vt nulla esset in nostris libris
officia,

pagina quae Syluestri nomen non haberet. Sed hactenus grati

hominis officium erga tuam amplitudinem optare magis licuit quam
10 praestare. Malueram autem aliquauto praestnre serius, modo plenius
nunc quoniam video me in dies pluribus obrui Laborum molibus, et

1X80.23. adpos^eta^: om. /3. 27.07: possinuis ^S^. 35. xv a : ii/3: xvi^.

1181. 7. oflficia] Cf. Epp. 447 introd., 521, 567, 649, 1079.
iiSi] TO SYLVESTER GIGLI 437

iuxta Varronis adagiiim indies niagis ac magis bullam fieri, visum

est hanc lucubratiunculam tuo nomini dedicare, non in hoc, vt hoc
officio me liberem aere alieno, sed vt tester pluribus nominibus ob-
strictum tibi quam vt vnquam soluendo fore me sperem. Et tamen si 1

posthac dabitur vita, si dabitur occasio, conabor non vt e tuis diariis

meum nomen dispungatur, quod ego sane nolim, cum nulli debeam
lubentius, sed vt hominis ingrati notam effugiam.
Pauhim tibi mitto, qui nostra opera didicit et fusius et explanatius
dicere. idque Latine. Non quod in illius eloquentia quicquam desi- 20
derem, sed quod nostra tarditas illius sublimitatem non assequebatur.
Certe effeci vt frequentius teratur manibus quam antehac consueuit.
Antehac vix intelligebatur ab eruditis sudantibus nunc intelligitur ;

et a semidoctis, modo ne sint omnino rudes sermonis Eomani. Hic

si nihil laudis debetur ingenio meo, si nihil eruditioni, certe non- 25
nihil debetur industriae. Dum his meis laboribus aliis laborem
adimo, licebat ociari, licebat dormire. licebat potare, licebat venari
fortunam, licebat aliis auocamentis indulgere quibus rebus quidam :

omiie tempus impendunt, praeter hoc quod impendunt carpendis

Hliorum laboribus. Linguae ac bonae litterae propemodum eo loci 3°
deductae sunt vt spes sit in tuto fore quanquam etiamnum gnauiter
:

obstrepunt veteris inscitiae propugnatores. Atque vtinam eadem

esset spes de doctrina Euangelica suae puritati siraplicitatique re-
stituenda Verum hic cruenta adhuc pugna est. Bona tamen
I

victoriae spes est, si Christus per te tuique similes fauerit. Fauebit 35

autem si nos illius negocium synceris animis egerimus. Ad vtrun-
que vero plurimum adferet momenti, si Leo, summus religionis
antistes, eius gloriae constanter fauerit cuius gerit vices. Bene vale,
Praesulum ornatissime.
Louanii xvi. CaL Feb. An. m.d.xxi. 4°

1182. TO WlLLIBALD PlRCKHEIMER.

Pirckheimeri Opera p. 272. Louvain.
01 p. 162 Lond. sxx. 25 LB. 234.
: : 26 January <I52I>.

TFor the forms of lieading and address see Ep. 1085 introd. Leclerc dates in
15 17 but apart from consideration of Enismus' movements at that time, the
;

citation of Pirckheimer to Rome H. ^n) makes 1521 indubitable. The verbal

resemblances to Epp. 1176, 1183, 1185. 1192, are noticeable also.]

S.P., ornatissime Bilibalde. Nuper mihi redditae sunt tuae litterae,

quibus expostulas quod tuis non responderim. Id adeo miror, cum

1181, 29. praeter a5 propter 7.

: 31. gnauitera: grauiter /3. 1182. i.

S. P.P: EEASJIVS EILIBAiDO SVO S. D. O^.

1181. 12. Varronis] ^. J?. i. i. i; cf. had already answered Ep. 1095 in
Adag. 1248. Sept. with Ep. 1139 ; so that it is not
1182. 2. expostulas] This passage is clear why he should now refer to it
ratherobscure. Thereferenceappearsto again. The following explanations are
be to Ep. 1095. 5-7, where Pirckheimer po.ssible. If Ep. 1139 had not reached
comphiins that lie liad never received Pirckheimer, he might have written
Ep. 856 (1. 3n), but h.ad onlyseen it in saying that again he had no answer to
print in the Farrago (E). But Erasmus his letter (meaning Ep. 1095) a com-;
 438 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

mea responsio copiosa iain pridem excusa sit Basileae. Demiror te

citatum esse Romam, cum sciam Pontificem hoc in primis dedisse in
5 mandatis, ne quem innoxium laederent, imo conscios etiam ac
fautores, vt ipsi vocant, haereseos modis omnibus allectarent. Sed
alitervisum est furiosis theologis aliquot. Cupio te quam optime
valere, ac fugere postea faeliciter.
Ego hic in quotidianis concionibus lapidor a Praedicatoribus, et
10 Luthero copulor. quicum mihi nihil est negocii sed ita stolide rem ;

gerunt vt popuhis etiam crassissimus intelligat. Non poterunt magis

officere Romano Pontifici, neque magis Lutherum commendare
affectibus hominum. Nunc demum incipiunt illi fauere. Vtinam
Leo sciret quibus modis hic res agatur In illos primum esset leo. !

15 Bene vale, vir optime. Louanii 7. Cal. Feb.

Erasmus ex animo tuus.
Ornatissimo D. Bilibaldo Pirckheimero,
senatori incKtae ciuitatis Nurembergensis.

11^*1183. To (Artlebus of Boskowitz).

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 540. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiv. 13 : LB. 563. 28 January 1521.

[1521 is tlie onlj' year possible between tlie issue of Exsurge, Bomine J. 115) and
tbe publication of F. As this letter clearly answers Ep. 1154, I have assignod
to it an address (11. 144-5) written by Erasmus himself, at the foot of the
MS. of Ep. 1154, immediately below Artlebus' signatiire. It is noticeable that
before deciding on Boscoioid (1. 144 as the form of this doubtless strange name,
Erasmus began Boz, but then scratched it througii. The anonymous heading
(cf. Ep. 1127 tit. n) given in F probably arose from Erasmus' omission to prefix
Artlebus' correct name and titles to the rough draft, from which, of course, this
letter was printed and for the subsequent editions he was no doubt unable to
;

recall tliem, at any rate with sutHcient accuracy.]

ERASMVS N., VIRO PRAEPOTENTI, S. D.

ViR clarissirae, celsitudinis tuae literae nos offenderunt occupa-

tissimos literariis laboribus, et redditae sunt per hominem prorsus

1182. II. gerunt O^ : gerant P. 16. Erasmus ... 18. Nurembergensis

om. 0"^. 1183. I. clarissime N : cliarissime F.

plaint whicli under the circumstances a citizen of Nuremberg. Great in-

Erasmus might easily have confused fluence was brought to bear upon Eck
witli the previous failure of Ep. 856 to to induce him to cancel these names ;

reach its destination. Or perhaps l)ut he was obdurate, and in time the
Pirckheimer, finding no mcntion of recantation was enforced. Meanwhile
Ep. 856 in Ep. 1139, had raised the afresh mandate, dated^ Jan. 1521, was
subject agaiu in a recent letter. forwarded the nuncios (see P. Balan,
to
1182. 3. responsio] Erasmus clearly ilfon. Ee/onn. 1884, pp. 17-21,
i/M</je?-anae,
is referring to Ep. 856, which answers 274-5), informing them that absolution
Ep. 747. to the offenders would only be granted
4. citatum] Eck in publishing the at Rome. See also Ep. 1244. ^n.
Bull(Ep. ii4i.2on),which commanded 9. lapidor] Cf. Epp. 1176. 12, 1185.
Luther to recant (^cf. Ep. 1153. 3511), 10, 1203. 14-17, 1216. 75-6, 1263.41 3.
had received the power to put into it 10. copulor] Cf. Epp. 1155. i8n, 1192.
other persons as well and had pro- ; 31-2.
ceeded to inscrt the names of Hutten, 12. officere] Cf. Epp. 1183. 59-61,
Pirckheimer, and Laz. Spengler, also 1192. 13-15.
 1183] TO (ARTLEBUS OF BOSKOWITZ) 439

ignotum, cuius nullam faciebat mentionem epistola. Et tamen

viaticum erat illi a me sarciendum, quod se praedicaret a praedonibus
alicubi spoliatum. Has ob causas nunc breuius rescribo breui per ; 5
Fucaros scripturus copiosius, si quid dabitur ocii, aut si id te velle
sensero. Librum iam ante sex menses acceperam per duos Bohemos,
tametsi nondum vacauit perlegere ac de dissidio mihi sat diligenter
;

scripserat loannes Slechta. Quae sane res non mediocriter excru-

ciauit animum meum, qui semper fauerim cum omni paci concordiae- 10
que inter mortales omneis, si fieri possit, tum maxime inter
Christianos. Qutun enim Deus iuxta Prophetae testimonium regnare
gaudeat in latitudine populi, cumque videamus Christianae religionis
pomoeria vsque adeo contracta in arctum, quis non discrucietur
animo hoc ipsum quod superest, tot opinionum morbis, tot morum ig
corruptelis esse viciatum, tot sectis diuisum atque distractum Egi '?

super hac re nonnihil cum Cardinale Campegio, viro nec indocto nec
inhumano, cum apud nos esset, ac post cum nuncio quodam Ponti-
ficio. Vterque sat benigne respondit, bonam spem ostendens
sarciendae concordiae. Mihi maiorem etiam spem facit huius Leonis 20
nostri clemens ac pacis cupidissimum ingenium, si modo suo mallet
vti ingenio quam quorundam affectibus obsequundare, qui nec illius
dignitati mea sententia consulunt, et publicam orbis vtilitatem suis
priuatis commodis posthabent.
Porro quod a me ceu regulam quandam petis, cui scribis plus 25
autoritatis fore apud tuos quam si Eomanus Pontifex obuibret sua
fulmina, me iam dudum abhorrentem a negocio, cui nec autoritate
par sim nec eruditione, magis etiam deterret. Et haud scio an vllo
queas argumento me magis alienare ab eo ad quod conaris inuitare.
Quis enim ego sum vt de aliena fide pronunciem, aut decernam 30
aliquid praeter id quod decreuit ac sequitur Ecclesia Catholica ?
Quod si mihi constaret perperam aliquid decretum esse ab Ecclesia
Romana, fortasse rogarem aut reuerenter admonerem, si daretur
occasio absit autem vt mihi quicquam decernendi fiduciam arrogem.
:

Ego studiis meis nihil aliud conatus sum quam vt bonas literas pene 35
sepultas apud nostrates excitarem deinde vt mundum plus satis
;

tribuentem ludaicis ceremoniis ad verae et Euangelicae pietatis

studium expergefacerem postremo vt studia theologiae scholastica,
;

nimium prolapsa ad inanium quaestiuncularum argutias, ad diuinae

Scripturae fontes reuocarem. Nihil vnquam asseueraui, semperque .0
fugi dogmatistae personam, praesertim in iis quae iam essent inter
articulos nostrae religionis recepta tametsi fateor quaedam esse
:

definita per theologos quosdam, quae mea quidem

sententia poterani
absque iactura pietatis Euangelicae relinqui in medio.

17. Campegio H : quodam F.

4. praedonibus] Cf. Ep. 1021. 59-72. 1025. 411.

7. LiV>iumj Cf. Ep. 1154. 8n. 18. nuncio] Perhaps Chieregato (Ep.
duos BohemosJ Clandianus and 639) is intended. Ep. 1144 is on the
Voticius (Woticky) see p. 291.
: theme indicated.
9. Slechta] Ep. 1021. 38. studia theologiae] Cf. Faber's Co/i-
12. Prophetae] Cf. Hos. 4. 16. siUian (see p. 357) mundus videtur
: '

17. Campegio] See Ep. 1062; and, veteris ac nimium ad sophisticas argu-
for their intercourse while Campegio tiasprolapsaotheologiaepertesus, sitire
was in England, Epp. 961. 995, 996, fontes Euangelicac doctrinae '.
 440 LETTEES OF EKASMUS [1521

45 Quod igitur praescribam, vir optime, non habeo, quod optem

habeo. Optarim enim primum istam omnem regionem sibi coniungi
Christiana concordia, deinde cum caeteris omnibus citra controuer-
siam habere pacem ac societatem perfectam. Ac iam quidem, si non
maxima, certe optima regni pars agnoscit publicam Ecclesiae con-
50 cordiam. Ad haec, prodigiosam Nicolaitarum factionem etiam
Yulgus isthic, vt audio, execratur. Superest sola Pygardorum factio
reconcilianda. Eius rei conficiendae bonam video spem, si per vos,
Pontificem ac principes aliquot ad eruditos aliquot spectataeque
integritatis viros, negocium hoc deferatur exclusis ab hoc albo istis
;

55 qui nulli negocio se non admiscent, cum longe aliud profiteantur.

Non quod illos oderim, si modo praestarent quod profitentur sed ex :

his videmus passim existere qui sic clamoribus, tumultibus et adu-

lationibus agunt, vt ipsis videtur, Pontificis negocium, vt mea
quidem sententia nemo magis officiat Pontificis dignitati. Sic enim
60 voeiferantur vt idiotis etiam putentur insanire. Nec vlli magis
affectibus populi commendarunt Lutherum quam qui odiosissime
vociferati sunt in Lutherum. Hi timent nescio quid, et ob id
omnem mouent lapidem quo regnum suum stabiliant. Hos igitur
ab hoc arbitrio velim omnino semoueri. Quod si res ageretur
65 mansuetis ac moderatis rationibus, sperarim fore vt et Leo Pont(ifex)
auferret laudem clementiae pastoralis, et isti laudem vel fructum
potius obedientiae Christianae.
Nec enim vllo modo probandi sunt qui Eomanum Pontificem vel
exacerbant conuiciis vel oblatrationibus traducunt. Etenim si
70 Petrus merito obiurgat eos qui glorias, hoc est viros publica potestate
praeditos, aspernantur, etiamsi sintethnici, quanto minusimpetendus
est cui primam autoritatem deferunt omnes ferme ecclesiae ? Neque
enim iam disputo vnde illi dehita sit haec aXitoritas, certe quem-
admodum olim e multis presbyteris adhuc aequalibus vnus eligebatur
75 episcopus, ne schisma nasceretur, ita nunc ex omnibus episcopis
expedit deligi vnum Pontificem, non solum ad excludenda dissidia,
verum etiam ad temperandam tyrannidem aliorum episcoporum, si
quis forte suos opprimeret, ac principum prophanorum. Neque vero
nescio quae vulgo querelae iactentur de sede Romana sed quemad- ;

80 modum inconsultum est statim credere quod spargitur rumorepopulari,

ita videtur iniquum quicquid Romae geritur, imputare Romano
Pontifici. Multa geruntur illo inscio— nec enim vnus potest omnia
cognoscere —
multa illo inuito et reluctante. Atque vt nunc sunt
,

res humanae, si Petrus ipse Romae praesideret, cogeretur, opinor, ad

85 quaedam conniuere quae nequaquam probaret in animo suo. Sed
haec vtcunque habent, longe plus ageretur moderatis precibus aut
rationibus aut blandis querelis, quam obtrectationibus aut scriptis
amarulentis. Quod si hoc merentur nostra commissa, vt mundus
magno tumultu castigetur, et si necesse est vt veniant scandala,
55. se F : sese N. 66. et add. N. 74. e om. H. 75. nunc H : vt F.

50. Nicolaitarum] See Ep. 1021. 97. 70. Petrus] i. 2. isseq. Cf. Erasmus'
51. Pygardorum] See Ep. 1021. i8in. paraphrase on the jiassage.
54. istis]The monks and friars. 84. Romae praesideret] Cf. Ep. 950.
60. idiotis] Cf. Ep. 1153. i^in. 54.
66. clementiae] Cf. Epp. 1199. 33, 89. scandala] Cf. Matt. 18. 7, Luke
1203. 23. 17. I.
1183] TO (AETLEBUS OF BOSKOWITZ) 441

certe ego curabo ne per me veniant. Me nullus habebit neque 90

magistrum erroris neque ducem tumultus.
Quod libri Lutheri apud vos habentur in manibus, vti scribis, non
admodum doleo, si modo sic legantur ab istis quemadmodum a me
legi solent. Si quid inest boni, decerpo si quid mali, transilio. ;

Nec in praesentia dicam quid de hoc vii-o sentiam. Tantum illud 95

dicam, maximam huius tragoediae partem natam esse ex immoderata
cupiditate quorundam theologorum, maxime Praedicatorum et Car-
melitarum de quibus in praesentia me piget plura scribere. Vnum
;

illud dicam, si Leo sciret quae nos videmus et audimus, aut prorsus
me fallit mea de illo opinio, aut haberet illis pro sua saedulitate non 100
optimam gratiam. Cum Luthero mihi nihil intercedit preter
Christianam amicitiam quod vti verissimum est, ita saepenumero
:

sum testatus. Ego nec autor illi sum nec j)atronus nec actor nec
iudex. Nec eadem scripsimus, opinoi*, nec eodem modo. De spiritu
illius nolo, nec meum est, ferre sententiam. Xec illius admodum 105
multa legi. videlicet meis studiis abunde distentus. Nihil illius
vnquam nec impugnaui nec defendi tantum ahcubi in illo de- ;

sideraui plusculum mansuetudinis Euangelicae.

Nec tamen probaui saeuitiam ac tumultum istorum qui libris
illius nondum stultissime voeiferabantur apud populum, iio
lectis
'
asinum ', '
gruem
stipitem ', haereticum ", Antichi*istum ', pes-
', ' ' ' '

tem orbis ' illum identidem appellantes, cum interim nec docerent
hominem meliora nec refellerent nec aliud effecerunt suo tumultu
:

quam vt plures emerent ac libentius legerent Lutheri libros. Nunc

BuIIa prodita, quae nec ipsa potuit animos populi a Luthero alienare, 115
quanquam supra modum terribilis est, coniurati quidam foedere icto
inter pocula semperillius nomen cum meo coniungunt in concionibus
publicis, quo videlicet me degrauent inuidia communi quem ob id :

hostem iudicant, quod alicubi scripserim eos non recte facere qui sic
argutiis Scoticis incumbunt vt non attingant fontes diuinae sapientiae 120 ;

quod aliquoties a Thoma dissentiam in Annotationibus meis; quod ad-

monuerim adolescentes non esse pelliciendos ad vincula vitae mona-
chalis, priusquam et sibi noti sint et intelligant quid sit religio quod ;

admonuerim veram pietatem non esse sitam in ceremoniis, sed in

affectibus animi ;
quod defendam bonas literas, quibus illi iam olim 125
indixere bellum. Cum rogantur a concione quid offenderint in libris
meis haereticum, respondent se non legisse, sed tamen periculum
esse propter obscuram Latinitatem. Haec respondent iidem et
theologi et monachi, et scurrae et nonnunquam episcopi. Per huius-
modi rabulas defenditur maiestas Pontificia, fulcitur Ecclesia. Sed 130

97. praedicatoiuni J' : Dominicanoi'um if. loo. aut add. F Corrig. 112.
identidem illum X 122. monachalis i^ : monasticae J?.

103. sum testatus] Cf. Ep. 1153. 1911. but Ep. 296 had circulated (cf. Ep. 304.
104. iudex] Cf. Ep. 1033. 58 cr. n. 82-8 See also Epp. 858. 372-5, 493
.

III. asinum] Cf. Epp. 1144. 41, 1192. seq., 1171. 85-7, 1196. 330-2, 1202.
33-4. 219-20, 1263. 28-9.
BuUa] Cf. Ep. 1141. 2on.
115. 124. veram pietatem] Cf, Ep. 296. 72
119. scripserim] Ep. 456. 242-8. seq.
121. a Tlioma] Cf. Ep. 1126. 262^. 127.non legisse] This story is related
122. adolescentes] Cf. Epp. 296. 28- with more detail in Epp. 1144, 1192,
40,447. Neither letter was yet printed 1212.
 442 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

populus passim incipit sapere, et ni melioribus rationibus rem agant,

non video quicl sint effecturi.
Quod hortaris vt Luthero nie iungam, id facile fiet, si illum videro
in parte Catholicae Ecciesiae. Non quod pronunciem illum ab hac
135 alienum, neque enim meum est damnare quenquam. Domino suo
stat ille aut cadit. Quod si res deueniet ad extremum tumultum, vt
vtroque nutet Ecclesiae status, ego me interim in solida illa petra
figam, donec rebus pacatis liquebit vbi sit Ecclesia atque illic erit ;

Erasmus, vbicunque erit Euangelica pax.

140 Haec habui, vir eximie, quae mihi in praesentia venerunt in
mentem, ne qui tuas reddidit, omnino vacuus abiret. Epistola tua
nec diem habuit nec annum ascriptum.
Bene vale. Louanii v. Cal. Feb. Anno M.D.xxi.
(Clariss. viro D. Artlebo de Boscowici et Tschernaho, domino in
145 Vran, supremo Capitaneo marehionatus Morauiensis.

1184. To WlLLIAM BUDAEUS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 557. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiv. 23 : LB. 565. 16 February 1521.

[The year-date is confirmecl by the death of Williani Croy.]

ERASMVS GVILHELMO BVDAEO S. D.

En, Budaee charissime, quasi parum esset malorum, ita praeci-

puum e Guilhelmorum numero fatorum ademit inuidia. Periit
enim, vt scis, Guilhelmus Croius, archiepiscopus Toletanus, et periit
veluti flosculus tener in ipso exortu succisus simulque nos docuit ;

5 nihil esse satis firmi praesidii in rebus fortunae arbitrio subiectis :

cpia cle re librum abs te conscriptum ex hoc qui has reddit cognoui.
Quid optari poterat a fortuna quod illi non affatim fuerat vltro
hirgita ? Generis antiquissima stemmata tura patruus sic apud ;

Carohmr nostrum gratiosus, vt penes vnum propemodum videatur

10 esse imperii summa aetas virens; —
nondum enim egressus erat annum
vigesimum tertium corpus vegetum ac firmum tam multiplex dig-
; ;

nitas, vt in illo vix eluceret maiestas galeri cardinalicii morum mira ;

faeilitas candorque. Toto pectore fauebat bonis studiis, nec oderat

Erasmum. Certe Viues noster Moecenatem amisit qualem posthac
15 haud facile nanciscetur.
Is mihi legit proximas tuas ad se literas. Si mihi Brixius aeque
ac Morus esset ignotus, tamen dolerem studiorum rem tam parum
bene succedere. Nunc cum vterque sit amicus, eum vtriusque
1183. 137. nutetiT: nutat i^ : mutet FCorrig. 1184. 8. H: stemmate f

1183. 137. petra] Cf. Matt. 7. 24, 5, nim ; see Ep. 1073. ^in.
Luke 48 also Matt. 16. 18.
6. ; 8. patruus] Chievres : see Ep. 532.
1184.2. Guilhohnorum] Cf. Ep. 1003. 27^.
34n. 13. nec oderat] Cf. Ep. 647. 23.
3. Croius] t6 Jan. 1521 see Ep. 647
: 14. Viues] See Epp. 927 introd, 958.
inti"od. 114.
6. librum] Becontemptn rerum fortuita- 16. literas] BE''. 83 ; dated 10 Jan.
1184] TO WILLIAM BUDAEUS 443

faueam ingenio, non potero sine summo dolore spectare concertatio-

nem istam quae vereor ne 'nimium excandescat. Nam epistola
;
20

Mori, quam opinor te vidisse priusquam eam mihi Morus ostendit

Caletii iam typis excusam, talis est vt ego qui nonnullis videar
mordax, ad hanc collatus prorsum edentulus sim et tamen mihi :

propemodum pollicitus est se praessurum, siBrixius conquiesceret.

Amabam et festiuum Hutteni ingenium : id Lutherana tempestas 25
Musis eripuit,
Qui hasce reddit literas, Guilhelmorum vnus est qui candide fauent
Erasmo qui cum ex me didicisset cuiusmodi vir esses, ambire coepit
:

vt tibi innotesceret. Ac profecto dignus est, mea sententia, quem

tua digneris amicitia festiuum ingenium est, mores niuei, summa in 30
:

rebus gerendis dexteritas literarum. vt est amantissimus. ita nequa-

;

quam rudis. Postremo non nomine tantum tui similis est.

Cura, mi Budaee, vt quam rectissime valeas nam hoc coelo tam ;

putri, in his studiorum laboribus, imo in his taediis et rabularum

obstrepentium et pisculentorum dierum, vix satis tuemiu- valetu- 35
dinem. Louanii xiiii. Cal. Mart. anno m.d.xxi.

1185. To NicHOLAS Beraldus.

*
Epistolae ad diuersos p, 567. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xv, 10: LB, 566. 16 February 1521,

[Contemporary with Ep. 1184,]

ERASMVS NICOLAO BEEALDO S. D.

QvANTVM apparet ex Budaei nostri ad Viuem literis, fieri non

potest quin Morus ac Brixius pergant inter se conflictari. Amo
vtriusque ingenium, malim aliud par spectare commissum sed quod ;

nobis in manu non est, fatorum arbitrio permittamus. Tuis literis

prouocatus scripseram Hueo Decano et ille sic obticescit quasi sit; 5

offensus officio meo. Quod si est, fac mihi hominem reconcilies, cui
me volebas conciliare.
Tanta hic est rabies quorundam monachorum aduersus bonas
literas, vt iam taedia sint verius quam studia. Ego Praedicatorum
conuiciis lapidor quotidie, in publicis etiam concionibus quae si ;
lo

paterer pro negocio fidei, non cesserim vel ipsi protomartyri Ste-
phano. Semel ille lapidatus finem inuenit malis et saxis ille ;

duntaxat impetitus est. Ego nec vno in loco nec semel lapidor
mendaciis et conuiciis letali veneno tinctis atque haec dum agunt, :

1184. 19. dolore F Corrig. : cu dolore F. 29. quem F Corruj. : quran F.

1185. 9. Praedicatorum F : Dominicanorum H.

1184. 20. epistoIaMori] The reply to 27. Qui hiisce reddit] I cannot
the Antimorus see Epp. 1087 introil.,
; identify this William.
1096. i2in. 35. pisculcntorum] Lent had begun
22. Caletii] See p, 296. on 13 Fc)).
24. pollicitus est] Cf. Ep. 1096. 102 1185. i. literis] Cf. Ep. 1184. 16.
3 eq. 5- Hueo] See Epp, 989. ^n, 1003.
25, Hutteni] Cf. Ep, 11 19. 33^. 10. hipidor] Cf. Ep. 1182. on.
 444 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1521

15 ipsi semet produnt ac traducunt populo. Ac tales se praestant

quales.si ego descripsissem, vix quisquam fuerat habiturus fidem ;

nunc ipsi fidem faciunt. Et tamen tanta est caecitas vt vel suo
malo laedere cupiant.
Lutherus maxima inuidia grauat et nos et bona studia. Nemo
20 nesciebat Ecclesiam fuisse grauatam et tyrannide et ceremoniis et
decretis humanis ad quaestum repertis. lamque multi remedium
vel optabant vel meditabantur sed saepe parum dextre tentata
;

remedia vergunt in peius, fitque vt dum non succedit iugum excutere

volentibus, in acerbiorem seruitutem retrahantur. Vtinam vir ille
25 aut prorsus abstinuisset aut rem moderatius simul et circunspectius
tentasset De Luthero nihil laboro, sed Christi gloriae faueo nam
! :

quosdam video vt, si his succedat res, nihil supersit

sic accinctos
nisi vt Euangelicae doctrinae scribatur epicedion.
Bene vale, Beralde doctissime. Saluta patronos communes, Ru-
30 seum et Deloinum nam Budaeo scripsi. Hermanno Phrysio, summae
;

spei iuueni, multam ex me saluteni dicito.

Louanii xiiii. Cal. Mart. anno m.d.xxi.

1186. TO NlCHOLAS EVERARD,

De Vos van Steenwyk MS. Louvain.
25 February 1521.

[An original letter, autograph throughout in a private coUection belonging to

:

Baron de Vos van Steenwyk, by whose courtesy I am allowed to print it here

for the first time. I am indebted also to the kindness of my eonstant friend,
Dr. Molhuysen, Director of the Royal Library at the Hague, in bringing the
letter tomy notice and procurmg me a rotograph of it.
The manuscript year-date may be accepted without question for 1521 is the ;

only year in which Erasmus was at Louvain in Febriwry after the publication
of the Captiuitas Bahylonica (L 7).]

S. P., vir excellentissime. Quantis odiis Lutherus et bonas litteras

onerat et rem Christianam Omnes
inuoluit quod potest suo negocio.
!

Nemo non fatebatur esse grauatam Ecclesiam tyrannide quorundam,

ac meditabantur iam multi remedium aliquod. Nunc hic exortus
5 ita tractauit rem vt auxerit nobis iugum, neque quisquam sit qui
vel benedicta illius ausit tueri. Admonueram ante menses sex ne
quid adderet odii. Captiuitas Babylonica multos ab illo alienauit,
et indies molitur atrociora Nec video qua spe hec inceptet, nisi
fortasse fretus Bohemis. Ego vereor ne sic fugiamus Lutheri
10 Scyllam vt in Charybdim incidamus. Quidam vindictae cupiditate
nunc accipiunt iugum et frenum bullarum Pontificiarum, quod
fortasse post frustra cupient excussum id quod vsu venit equo ex
:

Apologis. Et Lutherus veluti caper ille demisit sese in foueam, non

satis prospecto reditu.

1185. 29. Ruseum] See Ep. 493. i^n.

420U. 7. Captiuitas] See Ep. 1153. 146^.
30. Deloinum] See Ep. 494. 9. Bohemis] For Luther's relations
Budaeo] Ep. 1184. with the Utraquists see p. 292; and
Hermanno] See Epp. 903. i2n, cf. LE'^.397.
1131. 10. Scyllam] Cf. Epp. 1191. 36, 1195.
1186. 6. Admonueram] Cf. Ep. 1141. 85, 1205. 26, 1216. 79, 1228. 44.
 1186] TO NICHOLAS EVEEAED 445

Veniunt isthuc ad comburendos Lutheri libros duo, Nicolaus 15

Edmondanus, homo stolida pertinacia mireque sibi placens, et Vin-
centius predicator, qui dicitur male acceptus Dordraci, homo natura
fatuus, nullo iudicio et in suo etiam genere indoctus. lingue proca-
cissime. Nullus scripsit aut dixit aduersiis Lutherum, cuius inscitia
aut stultitia ille non sit subleuatus. Syluester, Augustinus, Todi- 20
schius, Eccius profuerunt hosti suo. Sed ipse seipsum suis telis
conficit. Hec igitur fatis arbitror relinquenda. Germani nihil non
euulgant, ac stulte produnt eos a quibus j^oterant subleuari. Nun-
quam credidissera eis [non] parum esse iudicii.
Bene vale, patrone cum primis obseruande. Loua. postrid. Mathie 25
1521.
Erasmus.

Eximio domino D. Nicolao Euerardo, presidenti Hollandiae

dignis<simo).

1187'. To LoRENZO Baetolixi.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 666. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xvii. 25 : LB. 567. I March 1521.

[M. Delanielle (BE*. 48, n. i) proposes to change the year-date to 1520, which
is the only other year possible apparently in order to sliorten the interval
:

between Bartolini's visit and this letter. I cannot confirm 1521 but, in default ;

of stronger argument against it, it may stand. Ruffus' Boethius (r. infra) suggests
a continuance of Bartolini's relations with the North in 1521.
—
Lorenzo Bartolini (c. 1494 May 1533) belonged to an important Florentine
family, the Bartolini Salimbeni. As early as 1505 Julius ir allowed him to
receive a benefice and during his life, though residing at Florence, he amassed
;

a great deal of scattered preferment, including the Augustinian abbey of

Entremont in Haute-Savoie (GC. xvi. 505). In the summer of 1519 he travelled
in the North with Longolius, visiting Budaeus at Marly (BE^. tf. 115, 58 v°, 62
v° where he is wrongly called coenobiarcha Aspromontanus or 'Asprinion-
:
' '

tanus') and Erasmus at Louvain, 15 Oct. 1519 (see Ep. 914 introd.) and gaining ;

great credit. During that period Ant. Francinus of Montevarchi dedicated to

him as protonotary apostolic the fiist volume of the Junta Homer, Florence,
(c. I Oct.) 1519. He is very likely the protonotarius Bartholinus of whose
'
',

friendship for Longolius Bembo writes, 29 May {1520.) (Lo. E. f. 153 v") and ,

through whom tlie ms. of Longolius' Defensiones reaehed Paris for Petit, Gourmont,
and Gromorsus to print, 1520 (Panzer viii. 65). Two letters of Longolius in May-
June (1522) show that he was then in Florence (Lo. E., ff. 143 v°, 144). G. Ruffus
(Roussel) in dedicating to him Boethius' Arithmetica, Paris, S. Colinaeus, 1 1 July
1521, describes liim as 'virtutum ac literarum antistes',and thanks him for long
continued kindness.
See a not vei-y accurate notice in Ildefonso di S. Luigi's Istoria genealogica de''

15. isthuc] To the Hague cf. Ep. ; Vincentius] See p. 463.

1044. 19. I cannot find any record of 17. Dordraci] Cf. Ep. 1164. 73^.
such burning there. Fredericq shows 20. Syluester] Prieras see Kp. 872.
;

{iv, pp. 76, 78, 80) that Luther's books i6n.

were subsequently burnt at GJient 24 Augu.stinus] of Alfeld ; sec Ei>.
June, at Antwerp 13 July. and at 1167. 407n.
Amersfoort 19 Aug. and that Egmon-
; Todischius] T. Radinus ; see Ep.
danus was present at Ghent. His 1167. 4o8n.
jjresence at Antwerp is mentioned by 22. Germani] Cf. Epp. 1188. 41-2,
Hedio in his additions, p. 479, to the 1217. 39-40, 1248. 14-15, 1250. 13.
Ursberg Chronicle (see p. 552). 23. tuulgant] Cf. Ejip. 909, 948, 980,
i6. Edmondanus] See Ep. 1166. 2011. 1033. iixo, 1193, 1194, 1202. 20911, 1284.
 446 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

BarioUni Salimbeni, pp. 355-61, 371, in an appendix to vol. xxiii of his Delizie degli
1786 ; and Th. Siniar in Musee Belge, xv (191 1), pp. 148, 170.]
eruditi Toscani,

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS LAVRENTIO BARTHOLINO, ABBATI, S. D.

NoN semel ipse mihi displicui, Bartholine optime, quod istam

indolem tuam virtuti ac bonis literis natam non fuerim maiore cum
humanitate complexus, quum apud nos esses vna cum Longolio. Sed
ad huiusmodi officia praestanda magis deest nobis ocium quam
5 animus. Quis autem non adamet istud ingenium tuum tam auidum
eruditionis vt Italus homo per tot barbaras regiones peregrinari
non tam Vlysseae cuiusdam prudentiae comparandae gratia,
volueris,
qui mores hominum nouit et vrbes, quam vt cum viris doctrinae
opinione celebratis congredereris ? Inter quos nescio quis tibi per-
10 suaserat esse numeratum Erasmum. Quanquam autem hac parte
plane sciam te frustratum expectatione tua, tamen iUud, opinor,
profecisti, ne posthac tam facile credas vel laudatoribus istis vel
obtrectatoribus. Sed interim exosculor Italiae candorem, quae fauet
exterorum ingeniis, quum ipsi nobis inuideamus. In digressu petieras
15 a nobis vt disiuncti mutuis epistolis colloqueremur. Prior itaque
lacesso, tametsi in praesentia nec admodum vacabat scribere, nec
erat argumentum aliquod serium. Fac recte valeas, et quid agas vt
sciam. Loua. An. m.d.xxi. Cal. Mar.

1188. To NicHOLAS EverArd.

LB. App. 317 (a). Mechlin.
Gudii Epistolae p. 379 O). (c. March 1521.)

[For the sources see Ep. 1092. Here too tlie year-date, thouglx correct, is
evidently an addition by the editors of LB.
As the letter is written from Mechlin, Erasmns was presumably on his way
between Antwerjj aud Louvain, and returaing for, if he had been going towards
;

the Hague, whither this letter was addressed, he would perhaps nothave needed
to write hastily for a messenger going in his own direction. He was at Antwerp
in February or March 1521 Ep. 1189. ^n^i, and again in April (Ep. 1199).
'
From
the connexion with Ep. 1192 I phice tliis conjecturally on the return fz'om the
earlier visit. Erasmus had recently corresponded with Everard see Ep. 1 186.]:

ERASMVS ROT. NICOLAO EVERARDO, HOLLANDIAE PRAESIDI, S. P.

Si Lutherus moderatius scripsisset, etiamsi libere, et plus laudis

ipse tulisset sibi et plus fructus attulisset orbi sed aliter visum est
:

fatis. Neque quicquam magis admiror quam hominem adhuc sub-

sistere. Graui inuidia onerauit Eeuchlinum, grauiore me, denique

1188. TIT. NICOLAO EVERARDO, PEAESIDENTI HOLLANDIAE, S. D. DESIDERIVS

*
ERASMVS /8.

1187. TiT. ABBATi] Evideiitly Eras- cited above, selects the same points for
mus, like Budaeus, was not sure of the praise.
name of Bartolini's abbey. 6. Italus homo] Cf. Ep. 11 10. 67^.
2. indolem] Budaeus, in the letters 8. qui mores] Cf. Hor. A. P. 142.
 1188] TO NICHOLAS EVERARD 447

et bonas litteras, quod quidem in ipso fuit. Rursus qui illum im- 5
pugnant, tam stolide rem gerunt vt videantur cum Luthero colludere.
Siessem capitalis hostis lacobitis quibusdam et Carmelitis, non
optarem illis aliam mentem quam habent. Nuper Antuerpiae Mi-
norita quidam, attractus in coniurationem, coepit insanire apud
populum nomen homini Matthias
: Hollandus est. lussus est ; 10
a magistratu praedicare Euangelium in concione proxima dixit, :

'
Euangelium vos docet pastor vester, etiamsi pridie dormisset cum
scorto '. Has belluas alit mundus vsque ad delicias, imo vsque ad
tyrannidem. Aduersus hos non video aliud remedium quam vt
subducatur illis liberalitas, nee admittantur in aedes bonorum 15
virorum. Adolescentes a parentibus, foeminae a maritis edoceantur,
et pastoribus suis confiteantur. Destituantur concionantes ab audi-
toribus imo cum sic incipiunt debacchari, surgant plerique et abeant
:

domum. His rebus fiet vt certe moderatius insaniant.

Adfirmant hic diploma quoddam apparatum multo saeuius quam 20
fuerit Bulla Pontificis nescio quid metus obstat quo minus edatur.
:

Quin et illud demiror, Pontificem tale negotium per tales homines

agere, partim indoctos, certe impotentis arrogantiae omnes. Quid
Caietano Cardinale superbius aut furiosius ? Quid Carolo a Milticis,
quid Marino, quid Aleandro? Omnibus placet illud iuuenile con- 2.S

silium, Minimus digitus meus maior est dorso patris mei, etc.
Aleander plane maniacus est, vir malus et stultus. Antonius Puc-
cius apud Eluetios homo mire est iracundus et impotens. Parisiis
duo potissimum impugnant Lutherum Querquo Normannus, seni- ;

5. lionas om. 13. 7. essent capitales hostes ^. 12. pridem dormiuisset (3.

14. Aduersus hos a : Adusque hoc /3. 17. et scripsi, Epp. 373. 3, 444. 17/m
cf. :

vt a/3. 18. imo a : Tunc /3. 21. fuerat /3. 24. Card. i8. 25. Aloandro /3.
26. etc. oni. )3. 27. Aloander /3. 28. : Heluetios a. iracundus n .

fraudulentus j3. 29. duo a dico : 0. Querco Normanus /3.

7. lacobitis] Cf. Ep. 1153. ii^n. authorizationintheLutheranbuf5inebS.

MinoritaJ Tliis afifair is narrated
8. He had three interviews with Luther
dl^o in Epp. 1192, 1196. For the in 1519-20, one result of "which was
principle underlying the assertion cf. Luther's letter to the Pope, 3 March
Ep. 1211. 48on. 1519 (LE^. 159) offering submission.
20. diploma] Cf. Ep. 1192. 66n. But he was not destined to succeed
21. Bulla] SeeEp.1141.20n. where his superior Caietano hadfailed;
24. Caietanol See Ep. 891. 25^ but : and at the end of 1520 he returned to
cf. Ep. 1225. 198-201. Eome. He Iield canonries at Meissen
a Milticis] Charles of Miltitz in and Mainz, and for a short time at
—
Meissen (c. 1490 20 Nov. 1529), son of Freising. His deatli he met by drown-
aSaxono.iicial, matriculated at Cologne ing in the Main. Scq Pastor vii. 380-
in 1508, to study Law. In 1510 he 5; Creighton v. 87-91 Knod and a ; ;

carried these studies to Bologna. and liie by H. A. Creutzberg. 1907.

in 1513 made his way to Rome wliere : 25. Marino] Caracciola see Eji. 865. :

he was appointed Papal Chamberlain 67^.

22 April 151 4, and afterwards Agent 26. Minimus dlgitus] Cf. i Kings 12.
to the Dukes of Saxony at the Curia. 10, 2 Chron. 10. 10.
Coclilaeus, who liad been with him at 27. Puccius] See Ep. 860 introd.
Cologne, praises him highly in writing 29.Qnerquo] Wm. Duchesne (f 4 Sept.
to Pirckheimer from Rome, sOct. 1517 Dr. of the Sorbonne in 1496, had
1525"),
(Heumann, In 1518 he was
p. 38;. taken a successful part in tlie Council
sent to carry the Holy Rose to Duke of Pisa, 1511-12: cf. Trith^., f. 218 v".
Frederic of Saxony and being 'a super-; He was now one of the leaders of the
ficial, frivohjus, and vain courtier', Faculty of Theology, and was regarded
took upoii himself to meddle witliout as responsible with Bedda (1. 30) for
 448 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [15:

30 culus virulentus, et Bedda (Stan)donchensis, truncus verius quam

homo. nunc agitur venenis: Pai'isiis sublati sunt
Res, vt audio,
aliquot qui Lutherum manifeste defendebant. Fortassis hoc in
mandatis est vt, quoniam aliter vinci non possunt hostes Sedis
Romane (sie enim illi vocant qui harpyis illis non per omnia obse-
35 quuntur), veneno tollantur cuni benedictione Pontificis. Hac arte
valet Aleander. Is me Coloniae impensissime rogabat ad prandium :

ego, quo magis ille instabat, hoc pertinacius excusaui. Aduersus

condonationes hoc erit remedium, si nihil detur donec dabitur :

melior occasio explodendi has impias cauponationes.

40 Haec liberius apud te effudi, vir optime. Cauebis ne haec epistohi
aberret in manus multorum nam Germani euulgant quicquid nacti
:

fuerint. Bene vale cum tuis. Sahita M. lacobum Mauricium ac

Sasboutum.
MechHni. Raptim in diuersorio, cum hic forte fortuna esset
45 oblatus.

1189. To Martix Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus IIL 102, p. 78. (Louvain.)

Horawitz v. 34. (Marcli 1521.)

[The close connexion with Epp. 1174, 1190 is obvious. An approximate date
is given by Erasmus' visit to Antwerp (1. 5n).]

DES. ERAS. EO. D. MAR. BRVX. 8. P. D.

(A)mice singularis, ob certas causas distuli iter in hebdomadas

aliquot. Non dubito quin tu pro humanitate tua tri))uas occupationi-

1188. 30. Beda **** (i. 32. in mandatis a : mandatuni B. 33. Sedis a :

satis /3. 36. Aloander /S. 40. Haec a : Hoc 13. 44. /3 : Mechlinia a.

the Beterminatio about to be issued signedthePrincipalshipofStandonck's

against Luther (Ep. r202.22on) cf Zw. ; college in 15 13-14, lie continued to
E*. 183, LE^. 450. 159, and see Erasmus' exercise a hirge influence in the con-
Fam. Colloq. Formidae, Basle, Froben, duct of it until liis death in 1536-7. See
March 1522, f°. a''. On 29 March 1524 M. Godet, La Congregation de Montaigu,
the Parliament of Paris nominated 1912, pp. 66-9.
him, with others, Inquisitor for a 31. venenis] Herminjard, 34, notes
number of dioceses in Eastern and that there seems to be no otlier con-
Central France and in this capacity
; temporary authority for this accusa-
he acted witJi Bedda in making the tion. It can hardly be explained by
first attaclvs on Berquin's orthodoxy comparison witli such passages as Epp.
(cf. Ep. 925. i3n and Lond. xxiv. 4,
; 1x71.82, 1184. 14, 1196. 7. 26.
LB. His appointment was con-
1060). 36. Coloniae] See p. 370.
firmed by Clement vii, 17 May 1525 38. condonationesj Indulgences cf. ;

{Actes de Frangois I, i. 405). See Clerval Ep. 786. 24.

p. 4 P. Feret, La Faculte de Theologie de
; 41. Germani] Cf. Ep. 1186. 22-3.
Faris, ii (1901), p. 62 and Renaudet,
; 42. Mauricium] See Epp. i^^introd.,
PP- 537, 594- 1092. 15.
1188. 30. Standonchensis] Tlie note 43. Sasboutuml See Ep. 1092. i^n.
in LB. shows that the first few letters 1189. I. iter] The long projected re-
of this word were not legible. But turn to Basle (of. Ep. 1078. 62n) ; per-
the reading given tliere is evidently haps stopping at Wornis on the way
correct ; for, tliough Bedda had re- (cf. Epp. 1190. 9-10. 1195. i44n).
1189] TO MARTIN LYPSIUS 449

bus meis quod tui videor oblitus. Habeo tibi tres Philippicos hi ;

dabuntur in quos voles vsus. To. Bt/3/\ia non minoris emitur quam
decem florenis nec habentur in praesentia Antwerpiae.
; Meum 5
volumen mitto, quod tamen mox a Paschate repetam: nam mihi
erit opus, si tibi non erit magnopere vsui. Valde flagitabatur a
quibusdam Minoritis sed tibi malo gratificari, siquidem res est
;

cordi. Remitto Augustini libros contra Faustum. Scribe si quos

alios habetis libros manu vetustiore descriptos ; hic enim nobis 10
magno fuit vsui. Bene vale, mi Martine, meque tuis precibus
Ghristo commenda.

1190. To Martin Lypsius.

Rotterdam MS., Erasmus IIL 102, p. 78. (Louvain.)
Horawitz V. 35. (March 1521.)
[Evidently in sequence with Ep. 1189 ; from the mention of the sum of money,
and of Erasmns' projected journey.]

DES. ERAS. ROTERO. D. M, LYPS. S. D.

(F)rater in Christo charissime, quo vehementius dolebat mihi

morbus tuus, hoc magis gaudeo te reuixisse. Superest vt cures ne
recidas, ac studium tuum modereris. Dedi huic tres Philippicos,
si voles recipere. Venerando collegii vestri patriarchae, loanni
Arnoldo, meis verbis magnas ages gratias pro munusculo cogita- 5 :

bimus de pensando, cum dabitur occasio. Paraphrases nondum

aduectae sunt. Visissem te, sed ex ventis cepit totum corpus meum
febricula quaedani. Vbi erit meliuscule, te visam. De itinere nondum
omnino certum. Expectamus literas e Wormacia. Bene vale, rai
Martine. Confirmet et animum et corpus tuum Dominus lesus, omnis 10
salutis autor et instaurator.

1189. 4. Bt/3Xt'a] Cf. Ep. 1174. 14-17. Sanderus, Chorographia sacra Brahantiae,
5. Antwerpiae] Erasmus had been 1727, ii. 124 ; and Horawitz v. 49, 53,
there recently for Diirer notes in his
; 56, 72, 80, 93.
Tagebuch (ed. F. Leitschuh, 1884, p. 75) Someverses given by Sanderus, sta-
between 12 Feb. and 10 March Ich :
'
ting that he was a monk for ten Olym-
hab ein mahl mit maister Peter
. . . piads and lived for four lustres besides,
secretary (gessen), do Erassmuss Ro- seem to indicate that he was only 60
deradamus auch mit ass The visit '. when he died. If so, it must be in-
wasperhapsmadebetween 1-13 March ferred that instead of two tenures of
(Epp. 1187, 1192). office by the same person, thei*e were
6. Pascliate] 31 March 1521. two Priors of the same name. But
8. Minoritis] Cf. Ep. 1174. i^n. possibly an Olympiad is to be taken
Augustini] See Ep. 844. 255^.
9. there as five years as it is by Thos.
;

1190.
5. Arnoldo] John Aerts or Radinus (Ep. ii67.4o8n),whoseSu/eraZ<s
Arnoldi 1,^27 Sept. 1537; of Nosseghem, (ibyssus is said to have been printed in
between Brussels and Louvain, was the tirst year after the^o^nd Olympiad
Priorof Val St. Martin c. 1493 to 1497, from the Nativity (1511). On such a
when he resigned because of ill-health calculation Jo. Arnoldi would have been
and went asRector to a convent of nuns, 70 at death.
Bethany nearLeeuwSt.Pierre.N.ofHal. 6. Paraphrases] Doubtless Froben's
About 1509 he was again elected Prior, collected edition of March 1521 (p. 123);
and remained in office till hc died. He for the completion of which cf. Ep.
added some fine buildings to the monas- 1177. 44-7.
tery but his detractors nicknamed
; 9. e Wormacia] Sucli as he shortly
him Prior platteborsse
' See A. '
received, in Epp. 1197,8.
«2-4 Q
g
 450 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

1191. To Louis OF Flanders.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 558. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xiv. 25 : LB. 608. (c. March) 1521.
[This letter comes between the death of Cardinal Croy (1. 55) and the pnblica-
tion of F. It may be placed herebecause of the verbal resemblance in 11. 30-1 to
Ep. 1192. 5-6. The figure of Scylla and Charybdis is found in Epp. 1186, 1195,
1205, 1216, 1228.
Louis of Flanders, seigneur of Praet (f 7 Oct. 1555), soldier, administrator, and
diplomat, was one of the foremost figures in the Netherlands during the reign of
Cliarles v. His father died early, and his mother retired into a convent, seuding
the boy to be brought up, like Badius, in the scliool of the Brethi-en of the
Common Life at Ghent see Badius' preface to VergiFs Aeneis, Paris, i Feb.
;

i5o£, dedicated to him. After studying at Louvain (cf. 1. isn) Louis took part
in the struggle with Gueldres in 1507. His honours and appointments were
—
numerous : 20 AiJril 1515 15 Jan. 1522, Gi'and Bailifi" of Ghent 1517, member ;

of the Privy Council ; 1522, special ambassador to England (cf. Epi>. 1281, 1286)
—
6 Nov. 1523 6 May 1549, Grand Bailifi' of Bruges ; 1530, after tlie death of
Gattinara (p. 359^ one of the four ministers on whom the government devolved ;
1531, Kt. of the Golden Fleece 1544, Governorof Holland, Zeeland, andUtrecht
;

and later, Governor of Flanders.

Other books dedicated to him are Badius' edition of the Summae Quaestwnum of
Henry Goethals of Ghent, Paris, 7 July 1520 Vives' De consultatione, a rhetoi-ical
;

treatlse composed at Oxford, 1523, and Be subueniione pauperum, Bruges, H. de

—
Croock, Sept. 1526 both said to have been written upon suggestions received
from liim during his embassy to England ; Balbus' De futuris CaroH A^tgusti
successibus vaticinium, Bologna, J. B. Phaellus, Nov. 1529 Barpt. Georgieuich's ;

De Turcarum ritu et caeremoniis, Antwerp, G. Bontius, 1544 ; and Ant. Schonhouius'

edition of Eutropius c. 1545. His continued interest in serious studies in spite
of thecares of ofiice is shown in Ep. 1286. 38seq. : also his admirationfor Erasmus
and pleasure at the publication of this letter. In 1528 Erasmus writes of him as
' fortissimus patronus
and in 1529 praises liim as one of the glories of Ghent,
'

' de quo dubites litterisne sit ornatior an stemmatis ' (Lond. xxii. 24, xxviii. 23 ;

LB. 940, loii),

See BN. vii. 82-97 OE. pp. 414, 465; Vi. E.,
'•
6 x", 44 Agr. ff". ; E., p. 992 ;
VZE. 128 EE and Hermin.iard 955. For an attempt by Aleander
; ; to enlist his
support in Aug. 1521 see Al. 'E. i. 47.]

CLARISS. D. LODOVICO A PKATO, PRAEFECTO GANDAVENSI,

ERA&MVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.

ViR non vno decorum genere clarissime, cum Antonius Claua

frequenter ad me scribat, nec vllo in argumento illum destituat
mirabilis illa Suadela, quam illi natura insitam auxit vsus et eru-
ditio, tamen nullam causam egit vnquam vel ardentius vel copiosius
5 quam pi-oximis literis mecum maiorem in modum expostulans,
;

quod immemor veteris promissi nihil adhuc scripserim celsitudini

tuae sic de me meritae cotidieque merenti. Facit ille quidem amice
quod extimulat ad scribendum tametsi nihil opus erat stimulo, si —
per immensos studiorum labores liceret hac in parte vel animo meo
1 o vel amicorum votis ac meritis respondere sed amicius erat factu- — ;

rus si argumentum etiam epistolae suppeditasset. Animum istum

TIT. CLARISS. D. 0»i. //. ROTERODAMVS ttdd. iV.

I. Claua] The last trace extant of his 6. veteris promissi] PerLaps made
correspondence with Erasmus up to when Erasmus was at Ghent in June
this date is in Ep. 841. 1517 ; see Ep. 597. i6n.
ii9i] TO LOUIS OF FLANDERS 451

tuum veie generosum ac maiorum tuorum clarissimis imaginibus

dignissimum, et olim in adolescente Louanii degustaram, et nunc
frequenter ex complurium praedicatione disco. Porro vix quisquam
isthinc ad nos venit quin multa memoriter narret, quanto studio, 15
quanta facundia, quantis lateribus passim agas causam Erasmi.
Maximi optiniique patroni solent in pessimis adhiberi causis, et
ingens patronus magno reo conueniebat. Ego vero cum infimae
sortis sim, et causa sit adeo bona vt qui negocium facessunt, hoc
ipso nomine multani mihi gratiam debeant, quo me in ius vocant, 20
tamen et aduersariorum improbitas condensataeque phalanges, et
horum temporum infelicitas, quibus nihil non licet audaciae, impu-
dentiae, hypocrisi, quaestui, ambitioni, adulationi, faciunt vt magni
proceres humilium clientulorum facillimas causas agere cogantur.
Olim. vt habent apologi, membra conspirarant aduersus ventrem. 25
Nunc e diuerso ventres aduersus reliquum corpus coniurati bellum
gerunt: quibus si pessime velim, nihil magis optarim quam hanc
ipsam quam habent mentem. Quo magis isti blaterant in bonas
literas, hoc magis ac magis vbique efflorescunt.
Cum Luthero nihil vnquam mihi fuit negocii nisi quod est cum 30
quouis homine Christiano. Huius causam nemo magis subleuat
quam qui illam omnibus machinis impugnant ac miris modis dum:

ilhim atrocissime traducunt. et hostem commendant affectibus populi

et sibi conciliant odium. Quod ni Lutherus se suis ipsius telis con-
fodei'et, in dies atrociora scribendo, plurimum debebat hostium 35
suoruni stoliditati. IUud video, si Scyllam hanc effugerimus, restare
Charybdim, quae semel vniuersam Christiani populi libertatem ab-
sorbeat, Euangelicaeque doctrinae scintillam omnem extinguat. Quis
enim feret hoc stolidum hominum genus, quod hactenus fucis ac
malis artibus tyrannidem exercuit in Christi gregem, quorum gulae, 40
fastui, libidini, auariciae niliil est satis? Sed vtinam Deus aut det
illis mentem melioi-em aut eos aliquo releget, ne diutius obstrepant
Euangelio Christi. Nos infracto animo quod semper egimus agimus,
bonis literis ac verae pietati pro nostra virili consulentes, sic tamen
vt odiosis tumultibus nos nequaquam admisceamus. Prodesse cupi- 45
mus, et praestat quiescere, vbi nulhi spes profectus arridet.
Caeterum vt finiam epistolam, scito me probe scire quantopere
debeam tuo isti in me animo. declai'aturum officia tanta non prorsus
penes hominem ingratum et immemorem esse deposita, si quando
sese dederit oportunitas. Christus Opt. Max. te nobis, tibi animum 50
istum quam diutissime seruet.
Salutem dices amicis omnibus, nominatim Antonio Clauae, quo
nihil candidius, nihil amicius, et Guliehno Vualo, plane digno quem
Guliehnorum meorum adscribam catalogo cui nuper vnum detraxit
:

fatoruminuidia, Cardinalem Croium in quo breui declarauit fortuna,

; 55
quid in vtranque partem valeat. Vidimus repente ad summum
13. in adolescente add. H. 53. Valo N.

13. Loiianii] Evidently during Eras- 38. scintillam] Cf.

Ep. 1205. 29.
mus' earlier residence tliero, 1502-4. Vualo] See Ep. 301. 370.
53.
26. ventres] Cf. Ep. 1166. 1611. 54. catalogo] Cf. Ep. 1003. 34^.
30. cum Luthero] Cf. Ep. 1192. 5-6. 55. CroiumJ f 6 Jan. 1521 ; see Ep.
32. impugnant] Cf. Ep. 1167. 374^. 647 introd.
G g2
 452 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [152

dignitatis fastigium euectum, ac subito ceu flosculum Parcarum

pollice succisum. Bene vale, vir clarissime. Haec ex tempore, ne
Claua rursus acrius etiam mecum ageret.
60 Louanii. anno m.d.xxi.

1192. To Alexander Schweiss.

Vita Erasmi p. 89*. Louvain.
01 p. 138 Lond. xxx. 13
: : LB. App. 314. 13 March (1521).
[This letter came to Mernla in a cojiy made from the original autograph. The
manuscript belonged to Ct. Philip of Hohenlolie-Neuenstein, in the n. of Wur-
temberg and the copy was furnished by his secretary, I. de Groot. It reached
;

Merula when his book was well advanced in printing and was inserted,
;

evidently in an attempt after chronological arrangement, on a separate sheet of

two folios (LL), the page-numeration, 89-92, being repeated without, however, :

any distinction from the proper numeration which follows. Merula's note traces
the descent of Ct. Philip'3 wife from Maximilian of Buren (I. 8in) and thus ;

suggests that the letter after receipt may have been given by Alexander to the
boy to treasure.
Herminjard (33) in printing an extract from this letter, changes the month-
—
date to 13 May an easj' correction —
following Merula in referring Charles'
,

mandate (I. 66n) to the Imperial Edict of 8 May (see Ep. 12x7. 144«), instead of
to the Mechlin proclamation. But Erasmus' language may quite well apply to
anticipations and from the opening of the Diet Aleander had been endeavour-
;

ing to secure a prompt issue of an Edict (Creighton v. 147). So, whichever

interpretation is accepted, the date may stand as shown by Merula though note :

should be made of the resemblance in II. 21-3 to the passage about Luther in
Ep. 1202. 220-3, written afterthe appearance of the I* ari fiBeterminatio on 15 April.
Alexander Schweiss (f a. 2 Nov. 1536) of Herborn is only known from this
date onwards ; though he is perhaps the youth to whom Erasmus took a fancy
in 1520 (Ep. 1119. i). In 1522 he accompanied Ct. Henrj'- of Nassau to Spain ;

where he was raised to the nobility by Charles v, 23 June 1523, and on 26 Aug.
1524 was aijpointed an Imperial Secretary at Valladolid (Caballero, pp. 309, 357).
Some letters from him, 1526-9, to Ct. Wm. of Nassau (Ep. 147. ^Sn) are printed
by J. Arnoldi in Historisclie Dcnkwilrdigheiten, 1817, pp. 222-6 others to Pirck- ;

heimer, 1526-30, are in P. pp. 265, 264, 330, cf. p. 398. In Charles' service he
took partin the negotiations for the settlement of religious difficultiesat Piaeenza
and Augsburg, 1529-30, In 1533 he left the Chancery whore he was suc- ;

ceeded by Matthias Held. See ADB. He is mentioned in the preface to Peter

Apianus' Quadrans asironomicus, Ingolstadt, 6 July 1532.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS ORNATISSIMO D. ALEXANDRO,

ILLVSTRISS. COMITIS A NASSOVWEN SECRETARIO, S. P.

CoGNATVs hic meus mihi subinde recursans facessit negocium, ac tibi

1191. 59. ageretJ^: litiget If.

1191. 57. flosculum] Cf. Ep. 1184. 4. church of St. Andrew at Tournus 'do
1192. I. Cognatus] Of Erasmus'kind- singulieret exquisouurage, faictsde la
red very little is known. His brother diuinemont docte main de rexcellent
Peter (Ep. 3) was perhaps still living ;
peintre. maistre Guerard Gregoire
andinEp. 330. 10-13 thereismentionof Hollandois, compatriote et parent
arelation. Besides these another kins- d'Erasme deRoterdam'. This Gregoire
man has recontly been brought to my is anobscure figure. None of his works
noticebymyfriend, Dr. Williani Hunt. have been certainly identified but a :

In Pierre de St. Julien de BaIIeurre's contract made by him, 21 April 1522,

DeVorigine des Bourgong7ions, Piwis, 1581, when living at Tournus, to paint a
p. 536) is mentiou of pictures in the retable for the Carmelite church at
 1192] TO ALEXANDER SCHWEISS 453

vicissim negocium exhibeo. Cui-are te rogo, si aut non est spes, aut
spes est vehementer exigua, liberes eum inutili spe. Nam mihi est
aliud quod agam.
Lutheri libros non lego nihil est mihi rei cum homine nisi quod
:
5
est cum quouis Christiano. Certe correctum hominem mallem quam
exstinctum. Et si quid veneni serit in vulgus, nemo melius retrahet
quam qui infixit. Nec obsto, si vel assum malint Lutherum vel
elixum. Leuis est vnius hominis iactura. Sed tamen tranquillitati
publicae consulendum est. 10
Qui hoc negotium agunt, calido ifiagis quam salubri consilio,
vtinam tam prudenter faueant dignitati Romani Pontificis quam
videntur fauere sedulo Hic certe nemo magis officit Pontificiae
!

dignitati quam qui odiosissime clamant in Lutherum nemo magis ;

illum commendat affectibus populi tam stolide, tam seditiose res 15

;

agitur per monachos quosdam, inter quos nullus est habitus vir
bonus. Bulla iubet vt praedicent aduersus Lutherum, hoc est vt
opiniones illius refellant testimonio sacrarum iitterarum, ac diuersa
melioraque doceant. Nunc nullus est qui sumat calamum ad re-
fellendum illum, quum id efflagitant omnes nullus redarguit 20 ; ;

tantum conuiciantur, saepe etiam mentientes. Aiunt illum tollere

confessionem, aiunt tollere purgatorium, aiunt scribere blasphemias
in Deum. Quidam lacobita Antwerpiae dixit illum scripsisse, quic-
quid miraculorum egisset Christus, egisse magicis artibus, Apud
Regem Galliae Carmelita quidam dixit in concione venturum Anti- 25
christum iam quatuor esse praecursores, Minoritam nescio quem in
;

5. lego O^ LB : legi 0\
Chalon-sur-Saone is printed by Jules episode similarly, except thatLutheris
CTuillemin in Matiriaux d'archeologie, pp. named in place of the MiDorite (ef.
69 seq. (less accurately by others) from 1. 26nn).

an original which cannotnow be traced. 26. praecursores] This utterance per-

For this information I am indebted to haps gave rise to the anonymous pub-
the kindly interest of MM. Jules Mar- lication, Misocacus, ciuis Vtopiensis Phila-
tin and Andre Bernardof Tournus, and letis ex sorore nepotis Dialogi tres, s. 1. et

to M. Pierre Besnard of Chalon. a. ; attacking '

Cacus' and Thersites'
'

Perhaps another member of the (Duchesneand Bedda ;see Ep. 1188.29,

family was a Jaques Girard of Tournus, 30) '
cum caoteris cacologis Parrhisien-
who c. 1552 translated intoFrenchpart sibus', who are credited with saying
o{ Pt.oger Ba.con^ s Demirabilipotestateartis that "Carohis Germanus' was Anti-
et tuiturae (MS. 294, ff. 9-16, of New christ and had four evangelists, Eras-
College, Oxford, ed. H. 0. Coxe) and ; mus, Faber Stapulensis, Reuchlin, and
published a French version of Vives' Luther cf, 1. 25^), In the title there
De subuentione pauperum, Lyons, 1583. is evidentlyallusion to Sobius'dialogue,
It is possible that at this time Gre- Philalethis. cinis Vtopiensis, . . . Henno
goire was trying to obtain commissions rxsiicMs (Cologne,June 1520 cf, Agr,
c. ;

througli Erasmus. E., pp. 772,3 = HE. 175, §4) printed :

9. elixum] Cf. Ep. 1195. 43. by Bocking, Hutteni Opp. iv. 485-514.
14. chimantj Cf. Ep. 1167. 374^. There is a copy of the Misocacus at
17. Bulla] Cf. Epp. 1141. 2on, 1144. Schlettstadt (Cat. Rhen. 199).
2on. Minoritam] Perhaps Bernardinus
22. confessionem] See Ep. 967. 97^ ;
Ochinus (c. 1487-1564) of Siena, a
cf. also Ep. 1202. 222n. man of adventurous mind, who won
lacobita] Cf. Ep. 1153. ii^n.
33. great fame as a preacher. Ho joined
Carmelita] This information is
25. the Observant Franciscans, but left
given alsoin Ep. 1212. 27-31. I cannot them to study medicine. After re-
identify the preacher. A letter to joining he lield high office in the
Corn. Agrippa from Annecy, 10 Sept. Order. In 1534 he went on to the Ca-
1521 (Agr. E., pp. 786-7), reports the puchins; but hiter, under the influence
 454 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

Italia, lacobum Fabrum Stapulensem in Gallia, Reuchlinum in

Germania, Erasmum in Brabantia.
Brugis Minorita quidam, suffraganeus Tornacensis, in templo diui
30 Donatiani totam horam concionatus est in Lutherum et in me
nam hoc consilium inter pocula condidere monachi, vt me, qui nihil
habeam commercii cum Luthero, semper cum illo coniungant nec — ,

tamen quidquam docuit tantum vocauit nos grues, asinos, bestias,

:

stipites, Antichristos adeo vt nullus in populo iudicaret hominem

;

35 esse sani capitis. In altera concione dixit in libris Erasmi esse

quaedam haeretica. A concione rogatus a docto quodam magistratu
quaenam essent illa, negauit se meos libi-os legisse voluisse quidem ;

legere Paraphrases, sed ob altam Latinitatem metuere ne possem in

aliquam haeresim proh^bi. Audis scurram Episcopum perfrictae
40 frontis.
His etiam stultiora blaterant lacobitae Antwerpienses adeo ;

seditiose magistratus haudquaquam stultus, metuens populi

vt
tumultum, admonuerit eos vt apud populum nec probarent Lutherum
nec incesserent, sed praedicarent Euangelium Christi. Mox exoi*tus
45 Minorita quidam, homo linguacissimus, nomine Mathias, dixit, Si '

vultis audire Euangelium, id audire licebit a pastoribus vestris,

etiamsi noctu concubuerint cum aliquo scorto ',
Louanii Carmehta quidam, Nicolaus Ecmondanus, in ordinaria
lectione theologica dixit Paulum ex persequutore Ecclesiae factum
5c bonum virum precandum vt idem eueniat in Luthero et Erasmo.
:

Altera lectione dixit esse dissidium inter Erasmum et lacobum

Fabrum nec mirum
;
'
inquit, nunquam pax est inter haereticos.'
;
'
'

Et hic est primus huius Academiae theologus, horao stultus ac

furiosus ac mire pertinax.
55 E plurimis pauca narraui, e quibus licet aliorum facere coniecturam.
Vtinam S. D. N. sciret quibus modis hic res geratur Crede mihi, !

monachi non agunt illius negocium sed suura. Quidquid meretur

Lutherus, certe tempus est vt Carolus prospiciat tranquillitati
Christianae. Id erit si prorsus imponatur silentium apud populum
60 vti-ique parti, et Lutherus desinat scribere libros huiusmodi imo ;

quos scripsit, repurget ab istis quae praebent seditionis materiam.

Qui laudem aucupantur e publicis malis, makint saeuitia rem confici.
Et vtinam esset recte confecta in gloriam Christi Sed nemo credat!

quam late Lutherus irrepserit in animos multarum gentium, et quam

65 alte insederit libris omni lingua quaquauersum sparsis. Mussant hic

38. possein 0. Merulne tamen posset magis congrvum riclebatur : adiicit enim in
margine, 'Ita scriptum erat in Autographo vt ad Erasmum videatur referen-
;

dum '. Sed cf, Epp. 1 144. 47, 1212. 19, rbiEraxmus sibi consfat, idem dicens. 39. Episco-
pum scripsi, secundum Ep. 1144. 45, c/. A'^ p. 795: Epicopum 0: fmKamoi' LB,
memorfortasse Ar. Ach. 230,1. 55. plurimis O^ LjB pluribus O^.
: 63. recte
O^ : reeta O^. et in margine ' forte an recte ; quasi lapsus esset I. Ch-otius in transcribendo.

of J. Valdes, was drawn towards the 32. coniungant] Cf. Ep. 1182. 9-ro.
Reformers, and married c. 1545, finally 33. grues] Cf.Epp. 1144.41,1183.111.
achieving notoriety by his writings on 36. magistratu] Perhaps Cranevelt.
polygamy. See a life by K. Benrath, 41. Antwerpionses] Cf, Ep. 1144. 38.
translated by H. Zimmern, 1876 and ; 45. Minorita] Cf. Ep. 1188. 8-13.
NBG. 48. Louanii] Cf. Ep. 1144. 28-33.
29. Brugis] Cf. Ep, 1144. 39-48. 49. Paulum] Cf. Ep. 1 164. 57-8.
31. monachi] Cf. Ep. 1144. 21-2. 52. Fabrum] Cf. Ep. 1144. 32n.
1192] TO ALEXANDER SCHWEISS 455

nescio quicl de terrifico mandato Caroli. Precor vt felix sit orbi

Christiano. quidquid agit Princeji^s optimus sed vereor ne non ;

perinde succedat ac quidam putant.

Eogabis, humanissime Alexander, quur haec tibi scribam ? Non
ob aliud nisi vt occurratur pernicioso tumultui. quem video imminere, 70
si principes quorundam affectibus obsequi malent quam reipublicae
consulere. Non ago Lutheri negocium, etiamsi refert quo modo ille
puniatur :publicae tranquillitati metuo et scis, rebus turbatis. ;

pessimo cuique esse optime. Faueo Praedicatorum Ordini. non odi

Carmelitarum. Sed ex his noui quosdam tales vt malim parere 75
Turcae quam horum ferre tyrannidem. Erit igitur prudentiae
pontificiae, erit prouidentiae principum. ne hoc hominum genus in
fortunas et capita bonorum virorum immittatur.
Bene vale, mi Alexander, meque illustrissimo Comiti dih'genter
commenda. Et, si inciderit commoditas, saluta dominum Florentium 80
Iselsteinium cuius filius heri me visit qviod subinde facit, ac mira
:
;

promptitudine reddit Graecum Homerum. Seruet Deus puerum.

magno ornamento futurum suae patriae. Louanii iii Idus Martias.

1193. To THE Readee.

Pi-ogymuasmata f°. a'' (n). Louvain.
Oxford MvS. (/3). <March ?> 1521.

[The preface to Progymnasmata qiiaedam prirnae acMescentiae Erasmi, Louvain, Th.

Martens, 1521 a rare volume, of which Mr. T. Loveday, jun., has kindly lent me
:

a copy from his library at Williamscote. Its contents are three Elegiae protrepticae
detestantes errores mortaUxim et adhortantes ad veram pietatem : Elerjia prima in errores
hominum degenerantium et pro summo celestique bono varias falsorum bonorum specie^^
amplectentium incipit ; Elegia secunda in iuuenem luxuria deJJuentem, atque mortis ad-
monitio : Elegia tercia in diuitem auarum. These are followed by Ad Lesbium metrum
phaloecium hendecasyllabum de nvmmo themaiion after which come the Expostulatio
:

Jesu cum horaine suapte culpa pereunte and the iamliics Sub persona pueri lesu praesi-
dentis scholae Coleticae. The Elegiue and the hendecasyllabics had been printed in
the Sihia Canninum edited by Snoy at Gouda, 18 May 1513 (cf. i, p. 5. 33^ and
Ep. 190. lon) and perhaps again ^cf. 11. 9-10) quite recently (see below). The
;

Expostulatio (cf. i, p. 3. 29, 30) and the iambics appeared tirst with the Concio de
puero lesu, i Sept. (151 1) (cf. Ep. 175 introd.) and subsequently in many collec-
;

tions of Erasmus' works (see BEr^. pp. 26, 106).

Besides Martens' edition, the Ghent Ijibllographers have found two others of

71. Principes O^ ijB : Princeps O^. 76. Turcae 0. Meinla in Qi^ scribit in
margine: 'Ita. vel Turcis, legendum videtur. In Autograiiho, multorum manibus
trito, hic rima est '.

66.mandato] A proclamation in Epp. 147. 58^, 829. 12. 1092. 16.

Charles' name, commanding that 81. Iselsteinium] The Stadhouder of
Luthers books should be burnt, was Friesland, with whom Erasmus had
issued at Mechlin, 20 March 1521 ; see had relations in 1503 cf. Ep. 178. 44^.
;

Fredericq iv, pp. 43-5. Cf. also Ep. He was now on the point of retiring
121 7. r44n. from his oflfice.
74. Praedicatorum] Cf. Epp. 1006. 4n, filius] Maximilian of Egmont,
1196. 272-3. afterwardsCt. of Buren see Ep. 1018. ;

76. Turcae] Cf. Ep. 1041.28^. The well-bound Ghent volume which
79. Comiti] Henry of Nassau, now contains Ep. loio, belonged tohim. He
Governor of Holland and Zeeland : see was perhaps now a pupil of Goclenius.
 456 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

this year : one witliout name

of place or printer, the other printed by A. Pafraed
at Deventer in May. I have not been able to examine either of these. But it
seems a rcasonable conjecture that the former is the unauthorized reprint of
which Erasmus complains in this preface, needingrevisiou before lie couldallow
it to appear with his sanction and that Pafraed's volume is a reprint of Martens'.
;

If this view is correct, the preface here can be dated within narrow limits.
In addition to a there is another source for thispreface a ms. leaf {0) written —
by Hand A of the Gouda MSS. (see App. 9 in vol. i) and inserted in a copy of
the Confic. Epist. Formula (1. sn), Antwerp, M. Hillen, 23 July 1521, which has
recently (Jan. rgi8) come into mj' possession. As in other of the prefaces copied
by Hand A, the ms. variants are not decisive enough to determine whethev /3 is
derived from an independent source or was copied carelessly from tlie Progymna-
smata as printed in a. Hand A lieads liis copy with the words, Opuscuhmi *

sequens de compendiaria formula conficiendarum epistolarum Erasmus negat

esse suum sed sub nomine eius ab alio est aeditum
: The dates at the end may '.

have been concocted from the colophon of aprinted originaL]

ERASMVS EOTEKODAMVS STVDIOSAE IVVENTVTI S. D.

Impvdentee faciunt qui raea me viuo publicant formulis typo-

graphorum sed multo impudentius qui pueriles etiam naenias meas
;

euulgant. Omnium autem impudentissime qui nugis alienis meum

praefigunt nomen id quod nuper fecit nescioquis, qui libellum emisit
:

5 De ratione conscribendi epistolas in quo praeter pauculas voces ;

furtiuas nihil est meum. Nec vnquam mihi quisquam notus fuit cui
nomen esset Petro Paludano,
Olim puer, quia minus valebam carmine elegiaco, coeperam excer-
cere me
ceu declamatiunculis aliquot in eo genere, et has semel atque
10 iterum euulgatas video, In quibus non intelligo quid sit quod
mereatur publicum, nisi forte vt exemplo pueri puerorum ingenia
prouocentur, vt malint excercere stilum in argumentis huiusmodi

TiT. STVDiosAE iWENTVTi s. D. a : STVDioso LECTORi j8. 6. notus fuit quis-

quam /3. 7, esset add. 0. 11. ingenia puerorum- iS.

3. euulgant] Cf, Ep. 1186, 23^. Paris composition in circulation at this

5. conscribendi epistolas] Not the time. The rough-drafts for a letter of
little volume with this nanie which Basil Amerbach, dated 6 July 1522
Sibei-ch pi-oduced without permission (Basle MSS. G. II. 13. i23*-5). mention
at Cambridge in 1521, with the preface '
Modum conficiendarum epistolai'um
to Robert Fisher (Ep. 71), as originally Moguntiac' and Modum epistolandi
'

written in Paris but the Breuissima

; sub tituloErasmiabaliquibusaeditum'
maximeque compendiaria conflciendanim as the moving cause which impclled
Epistolarmn formula, wiiich has a preface Erasmus to rewrite his Paris essay into
closely resembling Ep. 71, addressed to the De conscribendis Epistolis, Basle, Fro-
—
Peter Paludanus a fictitious name ben, Aug. 1522 (Ep. 1284).
perhaps invented out of otlier dedica- It was only at the end of his life that
tions of Erasmus (cf. Epp. 66 and 180), Erasmus could be induced to counten-
For this composition BEri. mentions ance the publication of tlie Conflc. Epist.
an edition by Schoeffer at Mainz, Sept. formula. In March 1536 it appeared at
1520; andothersof 1520 atLeipzigand Basle, printed by T. Phitter and B,
by Maler at Erfurt. I liave not been Lasius, in conjunction witla a little
able to examine any of tliese, and have treatise by Vives on the same subject
no idea which was the earliest, nor and on the last page a brief letter from
^yho was responsible for the publica- Erasmus to the reader, disclaiming
tion. In any case it must be prior to Peter Pahidanus, of whom, with the
Siberch^s volume. The connexion failing memory of old age, he had re-
between tho Conflciendarmn Epistolariim cently heard anew (Lond. xxvii. 42,
formula and the De conscribendis Epistolis LB. 1295). The Lyons edition there
is not easy to trace but ovidently
: mentioned is not known to BEr^. and
there were two versions at least of the is very iikely a figment.
1193] TO THE READEE 457

quam, quod quiclam eruditi pulchrum ducunt, in decantandis amoribus

suis. Sed tamen hoc quicquid est nugamenti, recognouimus ac rursus
excudi sumus passi. Quid enim aliud possum? 15
Bene vale, lector, et si quid me audis, melioribus incumbe.
Louanii anno v<^. 21". :

1194. To THE Reader.

De contemptu muudi, tit. v'\ (Louvain.)
Lond. xxix. 47 : LB. v. 1239. (March ? 1521.)

[The preface to theDe coniemptu mundi epistola, quam conscripsit adolescens ingraiiam
ac nomine Theodorici Harlemei, canonici ordinis diui Augustini. Ex ipsius autoris re-
cognitione Louvain, Th. Martens, 1521 (a).
: The account thus given, and
amplified in this preface, is borne out by the description in 1, p. 18. 16-19. Luc.
Ind. distinguishes between the libellus now published, and a Declamafio in rtramque
partem, qua simul et dissuadet vitam monasticam, ac mox suadet which Erasnius had ;

composed in Bologna c. 1507, pei-haps in expansion of the libellus. He was in-

clined to be pleased with it, and in 1523 was prepared to publish it but the ;

pages at beginning and end were missing (see i, p. 37. 2-7).

Tiie theme was common enough in medieval times and numerous ossays upon ;

it survive. St. Bernard's De cont>^mptu mundi was so popular that it was printed
seven times in the fifteenth century Innocent ni's De miseria conditionis humanac,
;

Avhich has thissubtitle, seventeen times. It may be noted, too, that the second
title of ch. i of the De Imitatione Christi is De contemptu omnium vanitatum
'

mundi '. Another may be mentioned from its similarity in circumstances to the
present case by John of Schoenhoven, Austin canon of Groenendael near
;

Brussels (cf. vol. i, p. 590) for his nephew, William Vriman, a Carthusian near
Utrecht the ms. of which was bought by Ferdinand Columbus (see p. 353) in
:

Gologne, Feb. 1522, and is now in the Colombina at Seville (5. 3. 32).
In addition to a I have collated an edition by Hillen at Antwerp, s. a., ()3).
Erasmus revised the treatise for reprint in the Froben De pueris instituendis, Sept.
1529 (7) for the loan of which I am again indebted to the generosity of Mr. T.
:

Loveday, jun., of Williamscote. In the Basle Opera of 1540, v. 1034 (5), there is a
variaiit in this preface which marks out tliat edition as the source of Lond.
The book itself contains no definite evidence of date. Verses from Kud.
Agricola and Hegius are quoted (chh. vi, ix), and there are frequent references
to Jerome. In ch. vii it is said that war has been going on continuously in
HoIIand for twenty-three years but I cannot find any certain term from which
;

to reckon this. Theodore of Haarlem was no doubt a real person (cf. II. 9-10),
tliough the names of him and his nephew may be fictitious. If Erasmus' memory
can be trusted, the treatise nuist have been written c. 1486 during tlie years ;

when he had returned to Gouda, and was in communication with, but hesitating
to enter, Steyn. For relations between Steyn and Haarlem see Ep. 33 intrud,
—
The final chapter perhaps, as Blok suggests (Hist. Netherlands, tr. R. Putnam, ii.
—
tempers much of what had been said
1907, pp. 298-9), added at a later date
tarlier in the book in praise of the monastic life, by calling attention to its
dangers.
For this preface only a conjectural date is possible within the limits of 1521.
It may be placed with Ep. 1193, which is also a preface to some of Erasmus'
earlier writings.]

ERASMVS ROTERO. CANDIDO LECTORI S. P. D.

Saepe questus sum, optime lector, me grauari studiis amicorum,

qui me viuo et reclamante euulgant quaslibet nugas, quas puer etiam

119.3. 13. eruditi quidam /3. decantandis a : cantandis ;3. 17. Louanii
. . . 21°. add. /3. 1194. 2. aS: reclamanti )3.

1194. 2. euulgant] Cf. Ep. 1186. 23^.

 458 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

exercendi stili gratia lusi, nihil minus eogitans quam vt in hominum

manus venirent. Qua quidem in re hoc etiam sum infelicior, quod
5 nunc prodeunt hoc felicissimo saeculo minus obnoxia futura sannis
;

hominum, si tum fuissent aedita cum primum essent condita. Nunc

leguntur vt a sene prodita, quae nec adolescens in hoc scripsi et ;

leguntur ab hac aetate quae tam multos habet naris emunctissimae.

Olim vix annos natus viginti ad improbas preces Theodorici
I o cuiusdam qui adhuc in viuis est, scripsi epistolam qua ille cupiebat

lodocum nepotem ad suae vitae consortium euocare. Huic saepius

descriptae et passim euulgatae meum addidere nomen, cum mihi
nullus sit nepos lodocus, Alieno stomacho scripsi et, vt res ipsa
clamitat, scripsi neglecte, ludens ex tempore in locis communibus,
15 nulla tum instructus autorum lectione. Ac typographi palara mini-
tabantur sese aedituros nisi aederem ipse. Relegi, ac pauculis verbis
immutatis passus sum oificinis committi. Sic, opinor, fiet aliquando
vt desinam pueritiae meae naenias adamare.
Bene vale, lector optime et si legis haec, cum venia lege, et sic
;

20 lege vt alieno scripta stomacho.

1195ii9g To Aloisius Marlianus.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 597. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xvi. 11 : LB. 501. 25 March 152^.

[Perhaps contemporary with this were the letters which Erasmus addressed
to Aleander and Erard de la Marck, protesting against Aleander's conduct
{Spongia, LB. x. 16450 = HE. 333, § 133). If so, Aleander's reply mentioned in
the same passage may have been contemporary with Epp. 1197,8. Paquier,
J. Aleandre, p. 224, assigns them, also by conjecture, to Dec. 1520.
In Ep. 1342. 54-61 Erasmus mentions a series of letters to tlie Court about this
time, and replies from Gattinara, Schinner, Marlianus, Aleander, and verbally
from Erard de la Marck among which appear to be this letter and Epp.
:

1197,8. If that is so, his statement (Ep. 1342. 51-2) that tbe incident
occurred after the death of Chifevres (28 May 1521 Ep. 532. 27^) must be an :

error of memory.
For the attitude of the Court, and especially Marlianus, towards Erasmus at
this time see a letter of Aleander (Balan no. 21) from Worms, 12 Feb. 1521, to
the Vice-Chaneellor, Julius dei Medici, reporting that me ho trouato con grandi '

honiini, et presertim el Tudense, liquali tieneno expresse alcuni libri adscritti 5,

Martino di peggiori esser de Erasmo, et li manifesti suoi esser pieni de pericolosis-
simi errori '.]

ERASMVS ROTEROD. R. P. ALOISIO MARLIANO, EPISCOPO TVDENSI,

CAROLI CAESARIS A CONSTLIIS, S. D.
Ex amicorum aliquot literis, neque vulgarium neque leuium, sed
haud scio an amoris nimium soliciti, cognoui isthic per nescio quos

1194. 6. essent a erant 7.

: 9. Theodorici om. 7. 15. tum 07 om. 0. :

typographi add. 7. 16. Relegi ac pauculis a Itaque relegi pauculisque 7.

:

18. deslnam a desinant 5.

: 1195. tit. r. p. mn. H. aloiso K. caroli
CAESARIS A coNSiLns om,. H.

1195. I. amicorum] From Ep. 1482 shows that one of these was Capito
P. Kalkoff {W. Capifo, 1907, p. 42^) cf. Ep. 1199. 22-3.
1195] TO ALOISIUS MAKLIANUS 459

clancularios obtrectatores subinde spargi nouos rumores ac suspi-

tiones me fauere Luthero mihique tribui nescio quos libellos male-
;

dicos, quos audio istic subinde nouos prouolare, aliunde alios. Scio 5
temporibus his regnum esse calumniae, nec vlla tempestate plus
licuisse effreni maledicentiae sed tamen apud eruditos. cordatos et
:

graues viros. inter quos E. D. T. vel in primis numero, non oportet

esse locum huiusmodi delationibus. Admonuerat me pridem tua
prudentia, etiamsi memorem, vt aiunt. monebat, ne me admi- 10
scerem Lutheri negocio. Adeo me non admiscui vt summis viribus
obnixus sim ne res in hunc locum progrederetur, quo minime vole-
bam. Tantum initio priusquam viderem quorsum tenderet Luthei'us,
non probaui seditiosos clamores apud populum. Suasi vt res inter
eruditos libris transigeretur. Malebam Lutherum correctum quam 15
extinctum aut, si perdendus erat, malebam absque magno orbis
;

tuniultu confici. Hoc consilium etiam nunc probaret Komanus

Pontifex, si pernosset quibus modis hic res geratur, et quo studio
plurimae nationes prosequantur Lutherum. Sed illud fuit commen-
tum quonindam monachorum, quibus non aliter charus sum quam 20
bonae literae, vt me volentem nolentem inuoluerent Lutherano
negocio.
Qui Luthero fauere videntur, modis me in
omnibus conati sunt
suas i^artes attrahere. Qui Lutherum insectantur, conati sunt me
in illius factionem propellere, passim in publicis concionibus de- 25
bacchantes in nomen meum odiosius aliquanto quam in ipsum
Lutherum. Ego tamen nullis machinis a statu mentis dimoueri
potui. Christum agnosco, Lutherum non noui Ecclesiam Romanam ;

agnosco, quam opinor a Catholica non dissentire. Ab hac me nec

mors diuellet, nisi illa palam diuellatur a Christo. Seditionem 30
semper exhorrui atque vtinam eadem mens esset Luthero ac Ger-
;

manis omnibus Video in plerisque regionibus Cisali^inis plurimos

!

esse qui fato quodam fauent Luthero. Ac mire fit vt Lutherum

hostes subleuent, ipse vicissim hostes, quasi mutuo colludentes.
Nemo magis officit Luthero quam ipse sibi nouis subinde et odio- 35
sioribus libellis. Kursus quidam tam indocte, tam stulte, tam seditiose
vociferantur apud populum, vt et seipsos faciant omnibus inuisos, et
Lutherum commendent affectibus hominum, et Pontificis causam
grauent, quemadmodum solent grauare clientem malipatroni. Laudo
eos qui fauent Komano Pontifici, cui nemo pius non fauet quis 40 :

enim non faueat ei, qui proximus imitator Christi totum se impendat
sahiti populi Christiani ? Sed optarem illi cordatiores patronos. Isti
nihil aliud quam esuriunt Lutherum, nec mea refert elixum malint
an assum. Certe quod me negocio admiscent quod ad me nihil
attinet, et impie faciunt et pai'um prudenter : citius enim Lutherum 45
conficerent me non admixto.
8. R. D. T. F : te H. 29. me om. N.

4. libellos] Suchasthe^ctayJcademiae Epp. 1217.100-1,1218.13, 1236. 148-50.

Lovaniensis, Era.smu8' authorship of 9. Admonuerat] Cf. Ep. 1198. i^seq.
which (cf. p. 362) is maintaiucd by 10. memorem] Cf. Adag. 112.
Kalkoff in Arch.f. Re/ormationsgesch. i. 14. suasi] Cf. Ep. 1033.85-6.
23-58; theHochstratusouanSjHndtheVito 36. libellis] See Ep. 1203. 24-6.
.s. A'ico/a2 (Ep. 1 165. 22, 38nn). Cf. also 43. elixumj Cf. Ep. 1192. 9.
 460 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

Atque hac in re cogor in Aleandro, viro alioqui tum liumanitate

non vulgari tum eruditione singulari praedito, desiderare prudentiam
tam periculoso negocio dignam si modo vera sunt quae de illo scri-
:

50 buntur ac praedicantur. Fuit olim inter nos arctissima familiaritas.

Commendaui eum proficiscentem in Galliam literis meis vbique ;

apud omnes de homine honorificentissime praedicaui, etiam scriptis.

Suspexi doctrinam hominis, mores amaui, quanquam eos habet ille
suos nec male videbatur conuenii"e inter vtriusque genium.
; Habe-
55 bat in mandatis vt modis omnibus eos etiam pelliceret qui ante
fuissent factionis Lutheranae tantum aberat vt S. D. N. quenquam
;

innoxium cuperet ahenari. Sed huius ingenium per se non inhuma-

num alio perpulit quorundam instigatio. Atqui commodius illi
successurum erat Lutheranum negocium, opinor, si suos fauores cum
60 meis coniunxisset. Habuisset in re pia fautorem, in re Pontificis
certe non aduersantem.
lactitant Lutherum hausisse pleraque ex libris meis. Quid hoc
mendacio impudentius ? cum primus statim articulus refellat mani-
festariam istorum vanitatem. Vbi significo quicquid agimus esse
65 peccatum ? vt ne commemorem innumeros alios, quibus affine nihil

56. S. D. N. i' : Summus Pontifex H.

47. in Aleandro] For Erasmus' rela- Lond. XXX. 58, LB. 1218.
tions with him since his arrival at 52. scriptis] See Adag. 1034 where ;

Antwerp in Sept. 1520 see Al. E. i. 36, the important passage was added in
Balan nos. 12, 14, 21, 32, 36, 102, 108, the Froben edition of Oct. 1520. Cf.
and Paquier, J. AUandre, pp. 165-71, also Epp. 269. 52-3, 756. 29-31, 868. 5 :

223 -g, 280-2. They opened with hesita- Ep. 735. 5 was not printed. By the
tion on both sides (p. 371) ; and timeEp. 1482 waswritten, which speaks
Aleander showed that he was pre- of Aleander's praises as uttered tribus '

pared to be conciliatory (cf. Ep. 11 72. aut quatuor Ipcis', the handsomewords
32n). But though Erasmus could some- in Apol. ad Shmicam (Matt. 4. i LB. ;

times write with an appearance of ix. 295D cf. Ep. 1256. 69^) and in i,
:

respect for his old friend (see Ep. 1165. P- 35- 13-14 J^^d been added to the
46n), he was now impelled to protest collection. Cf. also Spongia (LB. x.
vehemently in high places (cf. introd.) i645F-46a = HE. 333, §§ 137-8).
against the treatment he was receiving ;
An early estimate of Aleander by
Aleander on his side being annoyed by Erasmus is reflected in Croke's preface
repeated injunctions from Rome to to an edition of Pliny"s Letters, Paris,
show consideration for Erasmus, sucli G. Gourmont and H. Le Febure, July
as would retain him on the right side 151 1, 1°. B^ v". His praises rise to a
(Balan nos. 117, 122, 125, 127). Thus climax in describing Aleander as adeo '

forsome months there was a rupture. doctus, adeo invariis linguis etvniuersa
But in July 1521 came a sudden readi- encyclopaedia eruditus, adeo denique
ness on Erasmus' part for reconciliation placidus, benignus, humanus, vt te vel
(cf. Epp. 1219. 15-17, 1233. 171-5, 1236. vnum vniuersae Italiae anteponere
113, 185-6) to which Aleander re-
; Erasmus meus, vir vndecunque doctis-
sponded though without cordiality. sinius et doctoi-um virorum optimus
See also Epp. 1256. 30, 67, 1271, 1281. censor, non sit veritus '.

50. familiaritas] At Venice in 1507- 57. non inhumanum] Cf. Epji. 1153.
8 cf. Ep. 256. 3n. In a dispatch of
; 34-6, 1166. 82.
{c. I March 1521 Balan no. 36)
: 62. hausisse] For this contention
Aleander gives some details Vna :
'
cf. Epp. 1218. 22-3, 1219. 53, 1225. 214,
volta albergamo insieme a Venetia, 1236. 157.
Erasmo et io, in eodem cubiculo et 63. primus] Art. i of Luther's
cubili ben sei mesi, quando io legea li Assertio (Ep. 1203. 25^) maintains the
Morali di Plutharcho graeci, et lui non doctrine of justitication by faith : to
si dedignaua interesse lectionibus meis which Erasmus never gave any support.
quotidianis et dopoi sempre siamo
; 64. osse peccatum] as maintained
reputati amici, l'vno et laltro'. Cf. by Luther in Art. 32 of the Asseriio.
1195] TO ALOISIUS MARLIANUS 461

omnino reperitur, ne in ludicris quidem meis. Et tamen olim hae-

retici ex Euangelicis et Apostolicis literis hauriebant sua venena.
Interim loquor perinde quasi ille scripsisset aliquid haereticum,
atque illud e meis scriptis hausisset. Dicitur non agnoscere quos-
dam libellos. Fortasse saperet si nullos agnosceret, si quidem hoc 70
persuadere queat sed quibuscunque auxiliis ille scribit, certe in
:

omnibus libris qui illius titulo circunferuntur. non est vlla syllaba
mea. Hoc quamlibet sancte deierare non dubitem.
A multis iam annis non mihi tantum perspecta est tua singularis
prudentia. perspectus animus in me candidus et amicus nota est ; 75
omnibus tua autoritas. Proinde te rogo vt aduersus istiusmodi
maliciosas cahnnnias patrocineris innocentiae nostrae. Excutiantur
omnia quae secretissimis etiam literis eflfudi in sinum amicorum,
fortasse liberius pro meo ingenio quam expediat nonnunquam excu- ;

tiantur quae inter pocula etiam solemus eifutire nihil comperietur : 80

nisi me maluisse Lutherum correctum quam extinctum, quum adhuc
spes esset fore vt sese verteret ad meUora. Et nunc quoque malim
rem sopiri quam magno orbis tumultu exacerbari. Mallem a malis
bona secerni. quam odio quorundam quae mala videntur, optima
perire. Postremo suadeo sic esse vitandam Lutheranam Scyllam, ne 85
praecipites eamus in Charybdim diuersae factionis. Haec si viden-
tur digna supiDlicio, habent reum confitentem. Ego certe non alio
animo feci quam vt consulerem et Rhomani Pontificis et theologo-
rum dignitati et publicae Christianae ditionis tranquillitati. Nullum
adhuc Lutheri librum, quamuis pusillum, legi totum nullum illius ; 90
paradoxum vnquam defendi vel ioco. Quorundam indoctos et sedi-
tiosos tumultus nec probo, nec quisquam vir probe cordatus hic
probat. Quorsum tendant video, nimirum in exitium bonarum
literarum et ad stabiliendam suam tyrannidem. Sic igitur fuglo
Lutherum. vt hos tamen probare non possim. Pauci sunt, sed hi 95
multos concitant. Non damno oi'dinem, sed ipsi suo ordini pessime
consulunt.
Habes, R. P., totam aninii mei tabulam. Quod si quid isthic
iactatur quod repugnet religioni Christianae, quod turbet publicam
tranquillitatem, quod aduersetur dignitati sedis Rhomanae, certo 100
certius habeto non esse profectum ab Erasmo, quocunque titulo cir-
cumfertur. Id ita esse tempus, nihil non proferens in apertum,
olim declarabit et nunc paratus sum quocunque argumento testi-
:

ficari me nec vnguem latum velle discedere ab iis qui consentiunt

cum Ecclesia Catholica. Scio quiduis esse ferendum potius quani 105
vt publicus orbis status turbetur in peius, scio pietatis esse nonnun-
quam celare veritatem, eamque neque quouis loco, neque quouis
tempore, neque apud quosuis, neque quouis modo, neque totam
vbique promendam. Neque quenquam eruditum fugit esse quae-

72. qui H : quae F. 98. E. P. F : ornatissime praesul H.

Cf. also Epp. 1235.334-5, 1384. lo-ii 411. 8n.

(Hess ii. 567). 85. Scyllnm] Cf. Ep. 1186. lon..
74. A multis iani annis] Erasmus 96. ordinem] The Dominicans ; cf.

had no doubt heard of Marlianus Ep. 1006. ^n.

through Ammonius' book of poems 107. colare veritatem] Cf. Ep. 11 19.
published in 151 1 seeEpp. 2i8introd.,
; 4011.
 462 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1521

1^0 dam recepta, vel paulatim obrepente consuetudine, vel adulatione

iurisconsultorum recentium, vel temerariis definitionibus schola-
sticorum, vel arte denique technisque principum, quae praestaret
rescindi. Verum illud erat prudentiae Christianae, sic tentare
remedium ne sinistre tentatum morbum non tolleret, sed exacerbaret,
115 ac pro morbo mortem acceleraret. Nec enim ausim pronunciare an
aliquo pacto Christianis probanda sit Platonis sententia, qui permittit
sapientibus illis custodibus vt populum ipsius bono fallant mendaciis,
quandoquidem veris ac phiiosophicis rationibus contineri promiscua
multitudo non potest, ne prolabatur in deterius.
120 Illud semper caui, ne aut tuniultus essem autor aut noui dogmatis
asseuerator. Rogatus sum a multis ac magnis vt me Luthero ad-
iungerem rescripsi me fore Lutheri, si ille sit in parte Catholica.
:

Rogaruut vt praescriberem fidei regulam rescripsi me non nosse ;

aliam fidem quam

Ecclesiae Catholicae. Hortatus sum illos vt se
125 Romano Pontifici reconciliarent, et querimonias illorum dilui.
Lutheri libellis primus omnium obstiti, ne excuderentur. Mox egi
cum homine vt abstineret a seditiosa scriptione semper enim hune —
exitum metui —
maiora moliturus, ni me, praeter alia, religio quae-
;

dam ne forte imprudens repugnarem spiritui Christi.

deterruisset,
130 Hortatus sum, et hortor, multos vt abstineant a libellis famosis,
praesertim anonymis quibus tantum irritant animos hominum, male
;

consulentes non solum Christianae paci verum etiam illi cui viden-
tur fauere. Monere possum, cogere non possum. Mundus plenus
est officinis typographicis, plenus poetastris et rhetoristis. Quid
135 isti tumultuentur, vt mihi in manu non est, ita iniquissimum sit
mihi imputari temeritatem alienam. Atqiie hac sane in parte minus
sum iniquus Hutteno, etiamsi supra modum discrucior illud inge-
nium, illam in vtroque genere dicendi felicem venam, non dedicatam
esse felicioribus argumentis siquidem is suam phrasim suumque
:

140 titulum vbique praeferens, neminem alium grauat inuidia praeter-

quam seipsum. Isti cum sibi fidem abrogant, dum ceu diffisi causae
non audent addere verum nomen, tum innoxios, eosque multos,
degrauant inuidia.
lam isthic adessem vna cum illustrissimo Ferdinando, si certuni
134. plenus F Corrig. : plenius F.

116, Platonis] Bep. 3. 389A, 5. 459D. 137. Hutteno] Foi* Erasmus' intro-
121. me Luthero] Cf. Epp. 1154. 55 duction of liim to Marlianus see Ep.
seq., 1183. 133. On i March 1521 1114; and, for his present relations
Mutianus Rufus wrote to Duke with Erasmus, Ep. 1119. 33^.
Frederick about filliug the vacant 140. grauat inuidia] Cf. Ep. 1165.
preacliership at Wittenberg, * Cogita- 38-9.
bam de Erasmo, sed Erasmus tantum 144. adessem] Cf. Epp. 1189. in.
scribit': MRE^. 603, printed also in 1190. 8-9. In Ep. 1342. 45-50 Erasmus
ME. i. 391. states that he was invited to Wornis,
123. fidei regulam] Cf. Epp. 1154. but declined for fear of being involved
27-8, 1183. 25. in tlie affair of Luther also beeause
;

126. obstiti] Cf. Ep. 1033. 47n. lieapprehended anoutbreak of plague,

127. a seditiosa scriptione] Cf. Ep. wliich did, in fact, carry off many of
980. 47,8. the Court, including Chievres (Ep. 532.
129. repugnarem Cf. Acts 5. 39. 27^) and Marlianus (Ep. 411. 8n and
131, anonymis] For Erasmus' own voh iii, p. xxv).
transgressions in matter see Epp.
tliis Ferdinando] Hearrived at Worms
502 introd., 1061. 505^ and cf. 1. ^n. ; on 2 April Brewer iii. 1223.
;
"95] TO ALOISIUS MARLIANUS 463

scire potuissem vos adhuc esse Vuormaciae. Sed mirum quam hic 145
nihil est certi, ne apud proceres quidem aulicos. Bene vale, prae-
sulum decus et aulae Caesareae non infimum ornamentum.
Augustino Scarpinello scripsi pridem. Ei quaeso vti meis verbis
salutem dicas, atque etiam Seuero, viro mitissimo maleque re-
spondenti suo nomini. ^5°
Louanii viii. Cal. April. anno m.d.xx.

1196. To ViNCENT Theodorici.

Epistolae ad diueisos p. 601. (Louvain.)
HN : Lond. xvi. 14 : LB. 562. <c. Marcb) 1521.

[Au approximate month-date can be assigned from 151-2. The identity of tht»
11.

person addressed is obvious, even without the name left in 1. 315 probably by —
mistake, since an endeavour was made to disguise it in the Corrigenda. In later
years Erasmus made no secret of it (Lond. xix. 13, LB. 862) but, though that :

letter was published in H, he only replaced the concealing N of this letter, in ' '

the same edition, by a derisive and transparent pseudonym (cf. Ep. 1342. 139).
—
Vincent Theodorici (c. 1481 4 Aug. 1526) of Beverwyk, between Alkmaarand
Haarlem (cf. Ep. 1166. 42x1), joined the Dominicans at Haarlem, and was sent
for his education to Paris where he lectured on the Seutences, and in 1514 was
;

B.D. In the same year he dedieated to Michael of Pavia (Ep. 85. lon), who
until 1512 had been his patrou, an edition of Petrus do Palude's commentary on
Book 4 of the Sentences, Paris, F. Reguault and C. Chevallon, 23 Jan. 1518.
His preface commemorates Petiiis de Brussellis. a Dominican who had been his
tutor. Vincent also collaborated with another Dominican, Peter of Nymegen, in
editing Aquinas' Summa, pt. 3, Paris, C. Chevallon, 1514, a volume which
I have not seen. Subsequently he migrated to Louvain where he was Lic. ;

Theol. 30 June 1517 and Dr. 13 Oct., and was Dean of the Faculty 29 Aug.
1521. He was twice Regent of studies in the Dominican house there and in ;

1525 was Inquisitor for the diocese of Utrecht.

From his earliest days in Louvain (cf. I. 8) he began to criticize Erasmus,
and by 1520 had united with Egmondanus as one of his bitterest opponents see :

Epp. 1144, 1164-6, ir86. Later, under the assumed name of Godefridus Ruysius
Taxander, he attacked Erasmus' Exomohgesis and De esu camium (see Ep. 1274. i^n)
with an Apologia, Antwerp, S. Cocus, 21 March 1525, dedicated to Erasraus'
former adversaiy, Edward Lee. For this Erasmus revenged himself by a
caricature ofVincent in the coWoqnY Fv.nus, first printed in Feb. 1526; which
represents the friar as hanging over a deathbed and settling the dying man's
will in favour of the mendicant orders (cf. Ep. 1162. 165-6).
See Val. Andreas p. 104 Launoius, Hist. Coll. Nauurr., 1677, P- 9^3 B. de Jonghe,
; ;

Desolaia Bataiiia Dominicana, i']i'], p. 66 ; and de Jongh, pp. 171-2, 41*, 46*.]

"ERASMV8 ROTERODAMVS OBTRECTATORI SVO PERTINACISSIMO S. D.

EsT illud quidem omnium qui Christo nomen dederunt in baptismo,

pro sua virili referre principem ac doctorem suum, qui maledicentibus
non vicissim maledixit, sed pro probris amarulentis salutarem do-
ctrinam rependit praecipue tamen eorum qui doctrinam ac vitam
;

theologicam profitentur. Caeterum ab hac forma immane quantum 5

absunt, mi N., qui pro benefactis rependunt maleficium, qui fiatrem
etiam bene merentem letali linguae veneno sine fine confodiunt
Posteaquam Louanium commigraras, non destitisti passim in
1196. 6. N. F: Bucenta if.

11 9.5. 148. Scarpinello] Ep. 1169. 1196. 8. commigraras] from Paris

149. Seueio] See Ep. 1169. 27. in 1517.
 464 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

Erasmi famam debacchari, nulla vnquam quamlibet leui iniuria

10 lacessitus. Ac mihi quidem primum non libuit credere. Res enim
videbatur indigna, non dicam sacerdote, non dicam Euangelico
praecone, non dicam theologo, non dicam monacho, sed omnino
viro siquidem mulierum est, sed procacium ac stultarum, linguae
:

telo vlcisci affectus suos. Mox vbi tam multa hinc atque hinc
15 referrentur, quid alibi dixisses in conuiuiis, quid alibi in monasteriis,
quid alibi in plaustris aut nauibus, ita quidem credidi vera quae
narrabantur, vt tamen totum hoc quicquid esset rei, negh'gendum
esse ducerem. Et tu interim mihi blandus occurrebas, amice com-
pellabas, videlicet existimans ad me non peruenire quod tu nusquam
20 non spargeres.
Tandera cum me a solenni prandio, quod celebratum est apud
Augustinenses, vultu perquam amico rogares quid tibi mandarem
abituro in Hollandiam, mandaui tibi fraternam charitatem, hactenus
non satis abs te curatam videlicet ciuiliter ac blande submonens vt
;

25 aliquando desineres ista linguae petulantia teipsum traducere magis

quam me, et simplicium animos malis venenis inficere quae post
resorbere non possis. Nam scorpius admotus vulneri retrahit ad se
venenum, quod infixit caudae spiculo nec alioqui periclitatur nisi
:

qui ictus est. Hic quem semel venefica lingua percusseris, mederi
30 non potes et late serpit malum, semper plures arripiente contagio.
;

Posteaquam bene monitus deteriora sequutus es. impetrauit a me

Christiana charitas vt adirem cubicuhim tuum, idque tu fatebaris,
insolens. Admonui priuatim, ac libere quidem sed tamen amanter.
vt linguam istam in vsus meliores flecteres. Ex eo colloquio scis
35 quam multis argumentis deprehenderim crassissimam planeque
pudendam inscitiam tuam cum tamen totus esses occupatus in
;

annotandis periculosis erroribus meis, etiam vsque ad haereseos

crimen, interea nec intelligens ea quae scripseram. Videlicet huc
desperationis ventum erat, vt periclitanti religioni Christianae N.
40 cogeretur admouere manus. Siquidem cum ipse Thomam excusans,
imo laudans, scripsissem illum indignum qui in ea secula incideret,
nimirum sentiens illius ingenium dignum fuisse seculo feliciore tu ;

deum atque hominum fideni passim implorabas, quod tantum

Ecclesiae doctorem, eumque relatum in album diuorum, cum primis
45 autem Dominicalis instituti, appellassem virum indignum.
Cum alicubi studens exaggerare morbum obtrectationis, adduxissem
exemplum libelli famosi, ceu mali capitalis, vt ex collatione demon-
strarem quantum esset sceleris sic coniuratis linguis famam imme-
rentis incessere, tu putabas a me probari libellum famosum quasi :

50 vero probet homicidium qui, deterrens ab adulterio, doceat hoc iuxta

circunstantiam aliquam esse grauius homicidio. Cum adductis aliquot
ex Augustino Chrj^sostomoque locis quibus videntur Virgini matri
tribuere affectum humanum, afiinem alicui peccato, subiecissem,
Et nos facimus eam prorsus immunem ab omni peccato nimirum
' ',

55 sentiens nos non recte illam liberare a peccato originis, si illi vere

12. non dicam monacho add. H. 39. N. F : Bucentes H.

23. iuHollandiam] For his reception 32. adirem] Cf. Ep. 1166. 45.
there Ep. 1164. 73^.
cf. 41. indignum] Ct. Ep. 1126. 262^.
27. scorpius] Cf. Ep. 1013. 1-2. 52. Virgini] Cf. Ep. 1126. 294^.
1196] TO VINCENT THEODOEICI 465

tribuunt peccatum ab ipsa eommissum tu iuterpretabaris me definire

;

quod Virgo mater fuisset immunis a contagio primorum parentum.

Quod definissem, nihil erat periculi est enim ea opinio vt fauora-
si :

bilior, ita mihi sane probabilior. At intei"im non intelligebas homo

acutus me in diuersum potius ratiocinari. Hic facile satisfactionem 60
accipiebas, daturus veniam etiam si dissensissem a iudicio Ecclesiae,
modo Thomae sententiae subscripsissem.
Cum ego citassem e Thomae commentariis quod opinionem eorum
qui negabant sub Eucharistia esse verum Christi corpus, appellaret
haeresim, caeterum eorum sententiam qui negax'ent Christum his 65
verbis consecrasse, Hoc est corpus meum,' refelleret quidem, caeterum
'

errorem vocaret, non haeresim moxque adiicerem mihi videri tutius

;

in totum, si proceres Ecclesiae de hisce rebus quae nec certis testi-

moniis Scripturarum nec argumentis solidis doceri possent, non ita
definirent vt opinionem suam vellent haberi pro oraculis tu iudi- : 70
cabas iUic esse ingens pericuhmi, videlicet lapsus inscitia sermonis
Latini, has voces in totum intei-pretans
'
' in vtraque parte quae
'

praecesserat ', cum Latinis 'in totum' sonet 'in genere', hoc est non
solum in hac materia verum etiam in aliis similibus nimirum ;

secundae parti de qua tunc agebatur, quae nec argumentis nec 7-5

testimoniis certis doceri i^otest. Et adieceras in margine tua manu,

'
Vide quam perniciose hic scribit de re, de qua toties pronunciauit
Ecclesia,' videhcet indicans me negare verum esse corpus. Ac mihi
quidem expostulanti quod tu tam calumniose scriberes in locum
iectum quidem at non intellectum, perquam salse scilicet respondebas So
tibi ius esse scribere in tuo libro quae velles. Quasi vero non sit
ideni ius aliis in chartulis suis scribere quae lubeat, aut quasi qui
deferuntur ob libellum famosum, ideo vocentur in ius quod in alienis
ehartis scripserint. Et tamen hoc festiuum apophthegma adeo tibi
arridebat vt in proximo colloquio idem iterum atque iterum repetieris, S5
iuxta illud vulgatum, 8U koI rpt? ra. KaXu. Atque haec tam insigniter
stulta breui colloquio deprehendi, te vltro proponente ceu bella
quaepiam et quae refelli non possent. Nec dubito quin multo
stultiora fueris propositurus, nisi te maluissem amice corrigere quam
callide expiscari, 90
Atqui quae hactenus feceras erant eiusmodi vt vel arctissimani
amicitiam possent dirimere ego tamen nulla necessitudine tibi
:

iunctus, nisi qua Christianus iungitur Christiano, pro tanta maleuo-

lentia reposui ofiicium, sperans fore vt aliquando resipisceres.
Admonui serio, tanquam frater fratrem, vt hoc oiDorae quod sumeres 9.S

in reprehendendis alienis libris quos non intelligeres, impenderes

discendae grammaticae, discendis bonis literis, quarum inscitia tam
foede passim labereris, nec ea cerneres quae cernunt et pueri.
Admonui, si quid offenderet, me coram vel obiurgares, non autem
traduceres apud alios immerentem. Et videbaris non aspernari 100
monitionem amicam verius quam blandam.
Haud multo post prodiit Bulla, vt ferebatur aduersus Lutherum.

71. videlicet add. H. 85. atqiie iteruni om. N.

63. citassem] Annot. in i Cor. 11. 24 : added in 1519. Cf. Ep. 1126. 305-33.
102, Bulla] See Ep, 1141. 2011.
AM.* H h
 466 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

Ea de re eum nulli mortalium verba fecissem, tu subito reuersus ad

ingenium, coepisti vociferari me diplomati Pontificio obsistere
105 opinor instigatus a quodam, cuius vtinam non tam niger esset
animus quam est candidum pallium lam vel Paulo autore !

debebam ingenium tuum habere pro deplorato, qui semel atque

iterum frustra monuissem sed quoniam iuxta Paulum eundem
;

Charitas omnia sperat rursus adii te, solus expostulaui cum solo,
'
',

iio paulo quidem liberius, sic enim i'gs poscebat, sed tamen araanter.
Hic tu inficiatus quod sciebam esse verissimum, causabaris aliud,
videlicet a me scriptas ad Cardinalem Moguntinensem literas, quibus
perstrinxissem ordinem vestrum. Nec puduit te fateri ]itei'as eas
tibi non fuisse lectas, ob quas tantopere stomacharere nihilo ;

115 verecundior illo sodali tuo Nicolao Egmond. Carmelita, qui cum
digna atque indigna vociferatus esset in Nouum Testamentum a me
recognitum, vbi Louanium commigrassem, et hominem a prandio
subinde rogarem vt coram indicaret quae offenderent in opere nieo,
respondit homo simplex sibi nunquam opus lectum fuisse. Obticui,
120 suspicans illum non esse tam ignarum dialectices quin intolligeret
quid ego ex talibus praemissis colligerem. Odiosissime clamauerat
venturum Antichristum, nec legerat vnquam quod damnabat.
Sed de epistohi mox ; interim ordinem rei gestae persequar. Ac
tum quidem vbi te commonefecissem officii tui. discessi, nec
125 admodum sperans te fore meliorem, nec tamen omnino desperans.
Paucis post diebus loannes Fabei', ordinis tui sodalis, cui vtinam
tam similis esses eruditione, moribus prudentiaque quam es similis
cuculla et pallio, retulit mihi quemadmodum te super hac re
admonuisset vel obiurgasset potius nam illi forte rem vt habebat :

130 exposueram. Eespondisti, si vei'um ille narrabat, te posthac Erasmo

fore certissimum amicum, si noxiam hanc remitterem. Cumque
subiecisset ille se nolle mihi referre pro certis incomperta, dextra
data confirmabas fore quod pollicereris. Haec cum mihi persuasisset
esse verissima, coepit obsecrare per Christianam cliaritatem, sinerem
135 exorari me, tecumque redirem in gratiam. Ego vero semper ad con-
cordiam facillimus, respondi me non solum velle condonare quicquid
esset admissum verumetiam obliuisci.
Haec si vera non sunt, certe a me ne syllaba quidem afficta est
ita narrauit vir natu grandis, sacerdos, theologus et in suo genere
140 pulchre doctus, a concionibus Caesaris, Prior monasterii Augustani.
Scribat ipse me inter vanissimos, si verbum hic mentior. Cum a me
nihil esset ortum noui, tamen tu protinus relapsus es ad ingenium
tuum, importune, opportune, nusquam non exercens linguae viru-
lentiam in eum qui et monuerat tam amice et ignouerat tam

115. Egmondano if. 121. ego om. X. 129. liabebafcH: liabeat F.

134. H : obseerari / : ohsecra,. F Corrig. 136. H : facilimus i^.

105. quodam] Egmondanus ; cf. Ep. also in Ep. 948. 136-43; cf. Ep.
1144. 28nn. 1162. 88-9.
107. deplorato] Cf. Ep. 994. 2in. The 123. mox] 1. 206.
reference here is evidently to i Tim. i. ia6. Faber] He
visited Erasmus at
20, but is not verbal. Louvain c. 3 Oct. 1520 see p. 357.
:

108. Paulum] Cor. 13. 7.

r 140 aconcionibus] N. Paulus,
112. literas] Ep. 1033. Dcutsche Dominikaner, p. 297, n. 3. opines
115. Egmond.] Tliis episode isrelated tliat this is a mistake for a consiliis.
1196] TO VINCENT THEODORICI 467

clementer. Cum Dordraci nescio quid tumultus aceidisset tibi post 145
concionem, et curriculo te Louanium recepisses, nondum satis
promptus pro fide capitis subire periculum, clamitabas, vt aiebant,
hoe quoque mihi meisque literis imputandum cum mihi Dordraci :

nemo mortalium sit notus, imo cum de Luthero nulli tum scripsissem
apud Hollandos, neque bene neque male. 150
Nec his contenta animi tui virulentia, ante paucos dies natali
S. Thomae Aquinatis subornatus est iuuenis ordinis tui, qui bello
commento meam infamiam cum Thomae gloria misceret. Edidicerat
adolescens centonem verius quam orationem, quam non intellectam
velut psitacus recitaret. Quam enim intellexerit vel hinc promptum 155
est colligere, quod, cum referret ex Horatio, Feriuntque summos •

fulmina montes,' quanta potuit voce pronunciauit, 'Feruntque summos

f. m.' Eursum pro 'illi antistites recitauit 'illi antistes nimirum
' ',

vt Praenestinis conia est ciconia. et rustico illi Plautino rabo est

arrabo. Ac ne caeteros lateret quis esset autor tam bellae fabulae, 160
tu proximus astabas suggestui, suggerens 'feriunt' et 'antistites'
esse dicendum.
O mirum et auspicatum S. Thomae encomium ! Illi tributa est
eloquentia, nobis adempta. Quis non videat hoc e media esse
rhetorica? Sic Plutarchus Graecos duces cum Romanis comparat, 165
sic formica camelo comparari solet. Quid autem impudentius quam
iuuenem a.va\4>afiqTov pronunciare quid ego vel sapiam in theologia
vel valeam eloquentia? N. est insignis theologus, fidei propugnator,
"

et Erasmus nihil sapit in re theologica. Quantus impostor est

Erasmus Scribit Paraphrases in Epistolas apostolicas, scribit
! 1 70
Annotationes in Nouum Testamentum. Respondit theologis aliquot,
tamen ignarus omnis theologiae.' Ego mihi, vt non vindico elo-
quentiam, ita minimum sumo Sed non adeo me
in theologia.
poenitet eruditionis meae, mi N., vt velim cum tua permutare
qui quantum in hoc ipso genere quod profiteris valeres, satis ipse 175
declarasti. cum in scholis audiremus te tua pleraque de scheda
pronunciantem, atque id etiam aegre, quaedam non admodum
feliciter respondentem. Sic tu Thomae discipulus celebras illius
festum diem, quemadmodum olini Lindii sacra faciebant Herculi
aut Graeci Baccho, quae non videbantur rite peragi nisi conuiciis iSo
agerentur. Et postea miraris quod cordati viri, quod opulentae
matronae non mittant liberos suos in vestram hierarchiam, vbi
rudibus annis tales discant artes te praeceptore, priusque discant
maledicere proximo quam possint dicere.
Quod si Thomas tam sanctus est quam vos eum vultis videri, non 185
dubium quin oderit obtrectationem et Deo et piis omnibus inuisam
quod si jjutatis illum huiusmodi iDanegjnicis delectari, in quibus sic
ipse laudetur vt laceretur fama fratris, pessime nimirum de illo
sentitis. Hoc exemplum tam irreligiosum cum auditores reliqui

145. post concionem add. H. 159. est ciconia conia N. 161. suggesto
]I :
<:f. Ep.
1062. 8on. 168. N. F : Bucentes //. 174. X. F: Bucenta //.
177. atque id etiam aegre add. II. 188. laudatur H.

145. tumultus] Cf. Ep. 1164. 73. 156. Horatio] C. 2. 10. rr, ra.
^51. natali S. Thomae] 7 March. 159. Plautino] Trnc. 688-9^.
152. iuuenis] I cannot identify. i6g. inipostor] Cf. Ilier. Ej). 38. 5.

II h 2
 468 LETTEKS OF EEASMUS [1521

190 pedum supplosione sibi testarentui- displicere, tamen neque te neuue

tuos discipulos Euangelicae religionis professores puduit, sed velut
in re bene gesta sibi vicissim arrideljant, etiam antequam illa prae-
clara atque mtjditata proloqueretur vester psitacus, videlicet ne quis
nesciret hoc communi consilio geri. Succenses mihi quod aiicubi
195 dissentiam a Thoma cur non magis
; succenses quod alicubi dissen-
tiam ab Hieronymo, ab Ambrosio, ab Augustino ? Quod si laesus
est Thomas, quod diuersiim ab illo sentiam, quin me refellendo
potius illius honorem vindicas ? Id quoniam non facis, satis fateris
te non posse. Et qua fronte clamitas illum nihil scire theologiae,
200 qui locis aliquot plus sapit quam ijDse Thomas, vestra sententia sic
omnium primus vt nemo non longo sequatur interuallo ? Hic igitur
cum nolueris latei*e te esse choragum huius fabulae, nemini dubium
esse potest cuius instinctu sic debacchati sint in ^Dublicis concionibus
caeteri tui sodales, Moriae et Antibarbarorum interpretes, suae
205 stulticiae praecones, dum meam cupiunt traducere.
Sed iam ad epistolam Card. scriptam redeo quae te sic irritauit
;

vt, cum antea non blaterares in me nisi in conuiuiis, nauibus et

vehiculis, nunc veluti lymphatus nusquam non agas tuam personam,
subornatis etiam aliis, quasi ad maledicendum tu non sis multis pax".
210 Primum quid agitur in tota illa epistola nisi vt Lutherus coriigatur
potius quam extinguatur, vt refellatur potius quani vt coniurationibus
opprimatur, vt mundus doceatur magis quam vt cogatur tantum?
Atque id erat e dignitate ordinis theologici, ex dignitate Romani
Pontificis, e tranquillitate populi Christiani. Nondum id temporis
215 Eomanus Pontifex interposuerat autoritatem suam. Et sciebam quid
agerent quidam qui nihil affectant nisi tyrannidem. Itaque literis
obsignatis Principem amicum optimeque de me meritum admonui ne
quis illius autoritate posset abuti. Qui eam epistoiam euulgarunt, an
inimico animo fecerint nescio, certe rem inimicam fecerunt. Tale
220 consilium non veritus fuissem ipsi Leoni Pont. Max. dare, si data
fuisset occasio nec dubito quin fuisset illi placiturum.
; Certe res
ipsa docet non fuisse stultum aut inutile, ac vereor ne posthac magis
ac magis id experiamur.
Verum hoc te quidem leuiter mouebat. Illud tibi visum est
225 intolerabile, quod ordinem vestrum attigerim, quod Bernae memi-
nerim. Nec enim p#;ui non ridere cuni diceres ordinem vestrum tot
annos constitisse, quasi ego sim illum subuersurus. Per me quidem
stabit ordo tuus, atque etiam florebit vsque ad finem mundi. An
ideo totus ordo laesus est, quod scripserim esse aliquos qui affectarent
-30 tyrannidem ? Tot estis milia monasteriorum, hominum innumerae
myriades et omnes vocabuntur ad arma, si quis per occasionem
;

queratur de vno alteroue eius sodalitatis ? Si quis compertum habens

sacerdotem effutisse quod dictum sit in arcana confessione, sodalem
admoneat ne se temere cuiuis credat, quod reperiantur qui parum
235 tenaces sint silentii, num vniuersi clamabunt sese laesos? Et tamen
hoc quod a me scriptum est, adeo secretum non est vt vulgo passim

190. U : disciplicere F. 206. Card. scriptam add. H. 207. vt FN'^

om. i^". 213. ex f': e H.

204. Moriae] Cf. Ep. 1 164. 3. 225. Bernae] Cf. Ep. 1033. 25011.
206. epistolam] Ep. 1033. 231. myriades] Cf. Ep. 830. 7,8.
1196] TO VINCENT THEODOKICI 469

hoc et sciant et queiantur homines. Porro quod Sauai"onellae et

Bernensis facinoris memini, non factum est in odium ordinis, quod
illic etiam testor, nec odiose neque multis verbis sed ita res quam ;

tum agebam, postulabat. Quid autem accidisset etiamsi data ocea- 240
sione meminissem ? An mundus ignoraturus erat, si solus ipse
siluissem ?
Secus est si nullum ordinem licet attingere. At vos ipsi principes,
magistratus. episcopos, abbates, palam ac libere incessitis, nonnun-
quam etiam seditiose, neque putatis aequum vt quisquam vos ea de 245
causa in ius trahat, quod intactis personis rem insectemini. In nuUos
libentius inuehimini quam in pastores Dominici gregis custodes.
Pauci dies sunt quod Antuuerpiae monachus quidam (parcetur
ordini) monitus a magistratibus vt doceret Euangelium, a seditiosis
clamoribus abstineret, iu publica concione dixit lubent inquit,: ' ' 250
'vt praedicem Euangelium at isthuc audire licebit a paroehis
;

vestris, etiamsi pridie dormierint cum magno scorto '. Hoc non
minus obscoene dictum quam seditiose sibi ignoscunt, nec imtant
iniuriam ordini factam, quem haud dubie Christus instituit, Et tu
meditaris actionem laesae maiestatis, si quis per occasionem attingat ^55
Praedicatorem aut Carmelitam ? Si cuiquam titulo parcendum erat,
Christiani titulo parcendum erat neque leuis est causa, ne detur
;

ansa impiis exprobrandi nobis vicia nostra. Et tamen historiae

Christianorum in literas mittunt Christianorum dedecora. ne a
nominibus quidem abstinentes. Cur virginum ordo non discerpit 260
libros Hieronymi, qui sic dejDingat virginum vicia ? Cur episcopi
non discerpunt libros Cypriani, qui tam atrociter inuectus est in
suorum temf)orum episcopos. turpem quaestum vsque ad vsuras
exprobrans ? An vt olim religiosum erat vel nominare deos quosdam,
ita non licebit loqui de Praedicatoribus aut Carmelitis nisi cura 265
honoris praefatione ?
Dicebat ille tuus discipulus, etiamsi vera essent, tamen essent ob
honorem ordinis tacenda cur ergo quidam, qui tantum honoris
;

haberi volunt ordini suo, in alios nominatim etiam et palam men-

tiuntur ? Id esse verissimum plurimis exemplis docere possim. Ego 270
tot modis lacessitus, nuUius Praedicatoris aut Carmelitae nomen
scriptis meis perstrinxi. Praedicatorio ordini prae caeteris etiam
faueo, vel ob hoc quod minus oneratus est ceremoniis. Ne tibi
quidem ipsi concessurus sum, vt quanquam in Thomae verba iuraris,
veris Praedicatoribus impensius faueas quam ego. Nec sum tam 275
iniquus vt quod ab his aut illis committitur, imputem ordini. Et
adeo non imputo vt frequenter et illis i:)arcam a quibus sum
odiosissime prouocatus, ne quid laedam ordinem immerentem per- ;

237. Sauonarolae JV. 251. vt o>h. N. 256. Praedicatorem J^: Domini-

canum H. 264. A': exprobans i^. 265. Praedicatoribus 2^ Dominicanis i^.
:

269. &, F ac //.

: 271. Praedicatoi-is i^ Dominicani
: i/. 275, Praedicatori-
bus F : Dominicanis M.

248. monachus quidam] See Ep. mus, and in Epp. 483. 26, 948. 137,
1188. 8n. ^033. 80 110 name is given. The new
252. magno scorto] Cf. Rov. 17. i, letters to be includcd in F (see Ep.
19. 2. 1206 canbardlyyet have l)eenselectad.
271. nomen] This is true enough 273. faueo] Cf. Ep. 1006. ^n.
for Ep. 878 was never printed by Eras- 274. Thomae] Cf. Ep. 1126. 262^.
 470 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

suasum habens, quae faeiunt isti, oiJtimo cuique eius ordinis impro-
280 bari. Et tamen id faciunt tam multi tamque impune, vt homini
suspicioso videri possint procerum iussu facere quod faciunt. Et
post haec me fingis hostem oi'dinis, qui verius illi faueo quam tu
cum tuis sodalibus? An protinus vindicaueris honorem ordini tuo,
si me dehonestaris, aut illum candidum feceris, si me feceris nigrum ?
285 Si vere studes ordinem tuum conimendare bonis omnibus, fac vt
easdem dotes renouet quibus olim et natus est et propagatus et
commendatus orbi: vitae integritatem, sanctimoniam non fucatam,
contemptum mundi, doctrinam Euangelicam, mansuetudinem Chri-
stianam. Haec sectantibus fauebunt, applaudent, bene ominabuntur
290 omnes. Nunc quae dedecora subinde noua vulgo narrantur de vobis I

Quas passim audimus querelas, quae fiagitia quae vtinam aut essent
!

fieta aut certe carerent fide !

Porro quam non studeam

ordinis vllius infamiae vel hinc potes
intelligere. Atrocesin vos conceperat eximius ille princeps
ii%as

295 Hermannus, comes a Noua aquila, quod praeter meritum attactus

esset literis laeobi Hoechstrati. Quod si vir ille perstitisset in eo
quo coeperat animo, res videbatur haud mediocri cum periculo ordinis
vestri coniuncta. Ego literis non indiligenter scriptis persuadere
conatus sum amico vt eam ontentionem remitteret. At ille quidem
»

300 pro sua vere generosa mauouetudine remisit. Hermanus Busehius,

vir doctus iuxta ac facundus, indicarat mihi sibi esse in nianibus
opus, quod ex ipso titulo coniectabam fore non parum mordax in
ordinem vestrum. Egi diligenter cum homine vt A^erteret consilium,
t^t exiit opus. sed retextum ac multo moderatius, mutato etiam titulo.

305 Est alter quidam ea facundia eaque doctrina jDraeditus vt plane

vieturum augurarer quicquid seripturus esset. Is aggressus erat
Praedicatorum et Carmelitarum insignia dedecora in literas mittere.
Non conquieui donec hominem abdueerem a sententia, partim iniquum
esse dueens horum aut illorum commissa in ordinis infamiam vertere,
310 partim inutile iudicans si mundus talibus fabulis inficeretur. Sunt
enim quaedam flagitia quae tutum non sit commemoi-asse quod :

genus sunt prodigiosae libidinum formae, ineantamenta. veneficia,

sortilegia, aliaque id genus, quae vestri nonnunquam e secretis
eonfessionibus discunt, quidam etiam imitantur.
315 Vides, mi Vincenti, quam geram hostilem animum in ordinem
tuum. At fortasse causaberis haec esse confieta imo supersunt qui;

me refellant. Et posteritas intelliget me minus vero dicere, proditis

epistolis quas nunc coelant amiei. Sed quereris vnum atque alterum
resilisse al> instituto vestro ob lectionem librorum meorum, eosque
320 bene nummatos. An isthuc verum sit nescio. Fortassis illi propius
contemplati vitam quorundam, vertere sententiam, animaduertentes

280. tam J-W^: or,i. N^^ 291. quae flagitia odrf. H. 295. FN^: Herma-
nus N^^. 296. Hochstrati N. 300. FN^ Hermanus N^.
: 309. ducens
F Corrig. i docens J^. 315. VincentiP: Vucentae J" Co>T2£r. : Bucenta if.

295. Hermaiinus] Cf. Epp. 808. 5-9, HE. 333. § 83.

830. 5-8 and KE. 253-5.
; 305. alter quidam] Perhaps Hutten :
298. literis] Not extant. But cf. Ep. cf. Ep. 951. 22, 37-8. For Erasmus'
1078. 38n. restraint of him cf. Ep. 1165. 2211.
302. opuHJTheVallumhumanifatisiHp. 310. librorum meorum] Cf. Ep. 858.
830 introd.) cf. Spongia, LB. x. 1639 k =
: 372-5.
1196] TO VINCENT THEODORICI 471

mores non per omnia respondere cultui quod nuper summatibus ;

atque optimis viris accidisse notius est quani vt sit referendum.

Illud fateor, admoneo locis aliquot minimam religionis partem esse
in cibis, cultu aut similibus ceremoniis, summam esse in purgatis 325
afifectibus et ofiiciis Sanctissimum esse votum quod
chai-itatis.
Christo vouimus in baiitismo hoc esse maxime praestandum quod
;

exigitur ab omnibus. Hoc qui i:)raestet, non esse magnopere cur

aliam desideret professionem.
Admonui iuuenes ne se temere coniiciant in huiusmodi vitae 330
labyrinthum, prius^iuam et sibi noti sint et intelligant quibus in
rebus sita sit vera religio. Damnaui eos qui circumeant mare et
aridam, vt quos possint irretiant, vel ob quaestum, vel ob ambi-
tionem, vel aliam aliquam ob causam his etiam sceleratiorem. Quod
si quis huiusmodi monitis factus circumspectior abstinuit ad tempus, 335
vt ingenue fateor, nihil me poenitet. Si quem mea scripta reddi-
<lissent alieniorem a Christo, dolerem, vt vere fateor, inconsolabiliter,
ac meos ipse libros odissem. Caeterum si quis abstinuit ab instituto,
cuius suscepti mox poenituisset, non est quod doleam atque haec :

vestrum erat inculcare, quae nos admonuiraus. Nam si probi estis, 340
mauultis, opinor, pauciores, modo vere pios, quam multos quales-
cunque nihil enim dicam aliud in praesentia. Malo decem bene
:

abstinuisse ob monita meu quam vnum male irretitum fuisse opera

mea. Quod si haec occinerentur omnibus, fortasse pauciores extarent
qui suis moribus dehonestarent professionem suam nec audiremus 345 ;

passim tam multos frustra deplorantes se capistro praebuisse caput.

Fortasse ne tu quidem istius ordinis esses, sed pro libris tractares
stiuam aut aliud quippiam aptius ingenio corporique tuo.
Quod si cupitis quam phirimos in gregem vestrum allicere, date
operam vt incessus, vt oculi, vt sermo, vt mores, vt facta verae 35°
religionis indicia prae se ferant. Audiamus passim exempla quomodo
in mediis deliciis sobrie vos gesseritis, quomodo voluptatem obuiam
fortiter spreueritis,quomodo lucro posthabueritis pietatem, quomodo
vestrae gloriae praetuleritis gloriam Christi, quomodo Christiana
lenitate pertuleritis iniuriam, quomodo male merentem officiis ob- 355
rueritis, quomodo pro veritate tuenda diuitum ac principum simultati
vos exposueritis. Date operam vt quisquis miscuerit vobiscum
sermonem, melior discedat a colloquio quisquis vobiscum egerit
;

conuiuium, sobrietatis exemplum auferat vt quisquis vol>iscuni

;

aliquid humanorum negociorum tractauerit, sentiat vos meliores 3^°

populo, minus auidos, minus morosos, minus fucatos, minus perfidos.
Denique vbique agnoscant Euangelicam illam simplicitatem, in factis
pariter ac dictis vestris.
Nunc non libet referre quam liis diuersa de vobis vulgo commemo-
rentur. Atque haec coelari poterant, nisi quidam seijjsos proderent 365
in publicis concionibus. An putatis populo non esse sensum com-
nmnem ? An vniuersos e tuo tuique similium aestimas ingenio"?
Sapit et vulgus ingenio, sapit experientia rerum, sapit congressu
doctorum hominum, sapit lectione voluminum. Quid putatis illi
338. ab om. U. 359. vt ow. N.

324. locis aliquot] e. g. in Ep. 858. 330 seq.

330. Atlmonui] Cf. Ep. 1183. I22n.
 472 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1521

370 venire in uaentem, vbi conspicit theologum insignem sacra veste, in

loco sacro, e suggestu ecclesiastico, vnde expectatur Euangelica
doctrina,impotenti odio. virulenta lingua debacchari in famam
proximi, oculis ardentibus, labiis spumantibus, voce immani, toto
denique corporis habitu liuorem et odium prae se ferente ? Si vera
375 essent omnia quae dicerent, tamen populus non est adeo stupidus
quin intelligat ea non suo loco dici intelligit ex animo proficisci
;

neutiquam pio quae tam inimice dicuntur. Itaque fit vt etiam si

quid recte doceant, minus illis habeatur fidei. Quis enim credat ei
quem videat non esse sui iui-is, sed seruum et addictum esse affectibus?
380 Quid autem cum, quod non raro fit, audiunt etiam manifesta men-
dacia ? nam huc vsque rapit quosdam animi caecitas.
Vtinam audiretis quae passim inter se murmurent mulieres ac viri,
non paulo prudentiores
talibus concionatoribus Quid ? inquiunt !
'
'

'
an hac de causa venimus in tempkim, vt ociosi audiamus quid hic
385 aut ille stomachetur in alterum ? Nos domi relictis negociis huc
accedimus, vt audiamus Christum nobis loquentem e pectore sacer-
dotis, vt domum i^edeamus meliores, vt aliquid sacrae doctrinae,
aliquid bonae consolationis domum reportemus et in templo ;

discimus lacerare famam proximi, ac domum referimus odii, liuoris

390 et obtrectationis materiam, In conuiuiis, apud focum renouatur
contentio, aliis in aliam partem discedentibus. Quid opus erat haec
a templis peti, quae nobis phis satis domi nascuntur? Cur nobis
subinde narrant esse qui corrigant Magnificat, qui corrigant Preca-
tionem Dominicam, qui corrigant Euangelium S. loannis? Si quid
395 in his male habet, quin ipsi inter se corrigunt potius quam nos ad
lapides prouocant, et inter concordes seditionem concitant? Nos
istos alimus vt animos nostros confirment in fide. et per hos vocamur
in dubium ? Alimus eos vt ex illis dediscamus nostra vicia, et
discamus Euangelicam doctrinam et ab liis discimus quod est
:

400 omnium pessimum, linguae virulentam obtrectationem. Si tales

sunt isti, non committam illis liberos meos, nec iilis credam arcana
pectoris mei. Nec enim silentium praestant bona fide nec recte ;

consulunt, qui non ducuntur iudicio sed feruntur caecis affectibus.'

Haec audimus, mi N., quotidie etiam a nautis, ab aurigis, a
40; muliercuhs. Nec est quisquam vir bonus cordatusque quin intelligat
horum querelam esse iustissimam. Ita res in diuersum exit vt, duni
alienam famam incessitis, vestrae noceatis. Quid enim aliud lucri-
facitis istiusmodi blaterationibus quam odium optimi cuiusque ?
Quot amicos haud aspernandos vobis ademit ista petulantia ? plures
410 ademptura, ni resipiscitis. Circumspice mihi et vide num quisquam
vir doctus aut integer faueat istiusmodi petulantiae. Habet hoc
obtrectatio, vt etiamsi fidem faciat, tamen auditor peius sentiat de
eo qui narrauit quemadmodvim proditorem odit princeps, etiamsi
:

dignum fraude putat eum qui pi'oditus est. Sed liuiusmodi senatus-
415 consulta vobis nascuntur inter pocula, et putatis orbi placiturum
quod duobus aut tribus compotoribus placuit. Pessime sentitis de
genere humano, si creditis haec probatum iri omnibus. Nondum
371. suggesto H : cf. r. i6i supra. 404. ]S'. F: Buceiita H.

393. corrigant Magnificat] Cf. Ei">. 948. 97 seq., 108, 114-15.

394. S. loannis] Cf. Ep. 1126. 17-28.
 1196] TO VINCENT THEODORICI 473

adeo niimdus obsurduit ad oninem naturae sensum, nondum sic

exuit omneni affectum Euangelicae pietatis. Si sj-ncere, si libere
doceretis Euangelicam veritatem, et ex officio consequeretur odium, 420
pertineret ad vos illa Christi consolatio Beati cum vos oderint :

liomines. Nunc optimus quisque a vobis redditur alienissimus ob

viciosuni exemplum.
Haec venirent in mentem, N., nisi malles odium in eonsilium
tibi
adhibere quam rationeni. Cum obambulas per monasteria, etiam 425
Cartusiensium, et humaniter acceptus iam debebas, id quod illi
expectant. aliquid vicissim depromere e sacris studiis quae profiteris,
ex arcanis illis contemplationibus quibus illi putant theologos
identidem cum Deo coiloqui, quod ipsos inflammet ad amorem vitae
coelestis, quod impleat eos consolatione spirituali, quod semen 430
aliquod ac scintillam Euangelicae charitatis infigat tu sacerdos, ;

Praedicator, theologus, denarras historiam Erasmi, vera falsis

jiermiscens, ac indecore blaterans quicquid in fortunam, quicquid
in vitam, quicquid in doctrinam, vel fingi vel dici possit. Nec te
cohibet ab obtrectando, etiam cum vides haec tristibus vultibus a 435
cunctis accipi, imo cum audis omnes reclamantes. Quid autem credis
patres de te suspicari cum haec audiunt, quid inter se queri?
l^ios illos
Fortuna mea talis est vt ipse iure possim et soleam multa de ea
queri. Verum nulli in manu est sibi fortunam fingere. Et arbitror
plus esse laudis inuita fortuna eluctari ad virtutem et blandientem 440
etiam reiicere, quam si mihi dormienti contigisset amplissima. Nec
deerat occasio, nec ignorabam viam qua pararetur fortuna lautior, si
mihi i^Iacuisset tanti emere quanti video a multis emi. Neque vitam
meam omnibus libero viciis, praesertim actam iuueni. Doctrinae
minimum mihi tribuo, etiamsi neque te neque tui similes patiar 445
doctrinae meae censores. Tu putas atrox conuicium, si me rhetorem
aut poetam dixeris. Ego neutrum agnosco titulum, sed qui intelii-
guut quantum eruditionis reconditae, quantum ingenii, quantum
eloquentiae sit poetis ac rhetoribus, hi tales voces porcorum esse
putant, non hominum. Contemnite quantum voletis poetriam ', 450 '

adeo vobis ignotam vt ne nominare quidem recte possitis ex eodem ;

ligno citius duos fingeresThomistas praeclaros quam vnum tolerabilem

j)oetam aut rhetorem.
Verum hoc est eiusmodi vt iis frustra dicatur qui Musas omnes
habent iratas. Atqui si has horas, quas sumis fratri tuo traducendo, 455
collocares in euoluendis bonis autoribus, aut certe in euoluendis
Ambrosii, Hieronymi Augustinique voluminibus, multo minus tibi
placeret tua doctrina et minus displiceret aliena. Possem et ego
inquirere in fortunam tuam, in vitam ac doctrinam tuam, olfacei-e
sicubi conuomuisses mensam, sicubi constuprasses Vestalem, si quod 460

424. N.F: Bucenta//. 432. praedicator P : Dominicanus JT. 460. Vesta-

lem if : Vesta F.

421. Beati] Luke 6. 22. sanctissimaeque professores (LB. ix. '

425. etiam Cartusiensium] For Eras- 740 a,d). For friendsof his among the
mus' sense of tlieir special strictntss Carthusians see Epp. 308, 570, 1239
and sanctity cf. liis Apol. adu. debacch. another was John of Heemstede (see
F. hutoris, where he writes of them as Ep. 1646J.
'
vtie mundo mortui', ' ter quaterque 438. Fortuna] Cf. Ep. 1102. 6n.
mundouiortui ', 'religionisarctissimac 450. poetriam] Cf. Ep. 11 10. 15U.
 474 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

aliud facinus olim iuuenis designasses aut etiam nunc designares.

Sed absit vt intantum degenerera a doctrina Christi absit vt sic :

exuam omnem Christianum pudorem. et id faciam quod nec ethnici

faciunt, ingenii paulo sanioris. Quidam nimis impudenter impingunt
465 mihi calamum mordaciorem. At qui sapiunt quique vere iudicant,
fatentur neminem multis impetitum quam Erasmum,
seculis odiosius
nec vllius tamen stilum magis incruentum fuisse, nec alium ciuilius
taxare vicia mortalium, nec magis pepercisse nominibus ac peisonis,
etiamsi nec nomini meo nec pei-sonae parcitum est a multis.
470 Quod si ideo nos impetis, quod offenderim ordinem vestrum,
primum fateris te vindictae libidine ra^^i, non duci ratione, cum tuae
professionis sit etiam pro maleficio beneficium reponere. Praeterea
vindictae genus tibi deligis omnium damnatissimum ac viris etiam
indignum. Dux ille ethnicus ferula castigauit qui hosti malediceret,
475 quum ad pugnandum esset conductus. Et tibi non aliud telum est
quam maledica lingua, qua valent improbae mulieres. Ad scribendos
libros salutiferos mancus es, ad praedicandam Christi philosophiam
elinguis es ad obtrectandum Erasmo, disertus es ac copiosus.
:

Atque interim Saulum imitaris. sed impium adhuc ; subseruis et

480 animos addis aliis qui Erasmum in concionibus lapident. Atque hoc
est res turpior, quod ad vlciscendos priuatos affectus abutimini
religione et autoritate sermonis Euangelici, ac mauultis coelum
terramque misceri igni quam non obsequi vestris odiis.
Sed hoc tantum impietatis est, illud etiam imprudentiae, quod
485 dum mihi vultis vuhiusculum infligere, ipsi vestrae famae longe
grauius vulnus infligitis. Scio quosdam melius coepisse sentire de
me, posteaquam viderent me tibi tuisque sodalibus tantopere dis-
plicere. De vobis certe nemo non sentit peius, vtcunque de me
sentit. Cum nuper adires illum vere theologum, qui sic in scho- —
490 lastico genere valet vt Lutetiae non alia quam doctrinae com-
memoratione primum meruerit locum, tamen bonarum literarum ac
—
linguarum praesidiis insuper est instructus vt tui dissimillimum
officii gratia salutares, tam impotens erat animi tui odium, vt vix
dicta salute statim erumperes in furiosa in me eonuicia. Quodnam
495 ob meritum meum ?
quod is pro sua humanitate px-idie apud me
coenasset : cum
nec in coena nec in colloquio, quod mihi cum illo
satis diutinum fuit, vlla fuisset tui mentio. Sic homo ciuilis primam
illam salutationem pessimo maledicentiae omine i"eddidisti inauspi-
catam. Nec veniebat in mentem quam malam inires gratiam apud
500 duos peritissimos earum literarum, quibus ego semper vt faui, ita
nonnihil etiam profui. Nec hoc odio tuo sat erat. Totum conuiuium
insulsissimis conuiciis condiebas, vsque ad omnium etiam tuorum
fastidium nani et hi questi sunt linguam istam tuam procacem et
;

effrenani nullo remedio posse compesci.

464. H: ingenio J'. 465. H

Atqui i"'.
: 478. &cF: & H. 483. odiis
J^ studiis H.
: 490. commemoiatione F commendatione H.
: 494. Quodnam
ob meritum meum
add. i7. 498. reddidistii/ reddiditJ".
: 504. effrenem//.

467. incruentuml Cf. Ep. 967. i8i. in 1519: see Ep. 456. S^n. For his
468. pepercissel Cf. Ep. 950. I2n. 'primacy' among the theok)gians at
479. Saukim] Cf. Acts 7. 57-9. Paris cf. Ep. 1581, where he is ranked
489. theologum] Perhaps Aeg. of with Ber and Lethmatius (Ep. 1320
Delft who can be traced at Louvain
; introd.).
1196] TO VINCENT THEODORICI 475

Vis audire quantum tua promoueris petulantia? Sic alienasti 505

<loctos illos abs te, vt negauerint se vnquam credituros fuisse te tam
impotenter esse maledicum ac virulentum, ni tu re ipsa fecisses
fidem. Eogabam an ne mihi quidem. * Nullus inquiebant, mor- '
'

talium hoc nobis persuasurus erat, nisi res ipsa persuasisset ac tibi ' :

nihil aliud precabantur quam mentem saniorem. Similis erat exitus 510
Antuuerpiae, cum in celebri conuiuio bonus ille lacobita, a melle
cognomen habens, cum nihil eructet praeter merum fel, negaret esse
sceleratiorem liaereticum in his regionibus quam esset Erasmus,
quibus auribus putas eam vocem acceptam? Quis non detestatus
•est hominis insaniam, praesertim ex his qui libros meos legerant? 5^5
Quis autem non detestatur et tuam illam vocem, Pestilens ille '

Lutherus, et pestilentior Erasmus nam ex huius vberibus suxit

;

quicquid habet ille veneni?' Qui libros vtriusque legerunt, quid

aliud cogitant quam te hominem esse omnium qui viuunt impuden-
tissime vanum, petuhuitissime maledicum, furiosissime impotentem? 520
Imo qui te non norunt, et audierunt in naui aut eurru disputantem
<le fide catholica, rogant quis sit ille Dominicalis, facie nitenti, risu
sardonio, validis lateribus, sed inepta lingua, qui tam disertus sit ad
maledicendum Erasmo ?
Quid hic respouderi soleat, vtinam audires aliquando, videi"esque te 525
tuis pictum coloribus Ego tibi sum hosds ordinis tui, qui admoneo
!

quibus rebus ordinis dignitati oporteat consulere tu qui tua lingua ;

tuisque moribus dehonestas ordinem tuum, idque passim nullo delectu

neque temporis neque loci neque personarum, columen es ordinis.
Ego nulli omnino sum infensus ordini, neque Franciscano, neque 53°
Carmelitico, neque Dominicali, neque nautico, neque aurigario, sciens
in vnoquoque pi-obos inueniri. Vt in quocunque pallio quocunque
titulo placet pietas ac morum nusquam non displicet
integritas, ita
omnibus bonis improbitas. maxime essem hostis ordinis
Quod si
tui, nuUum grauius malum optarem illi quam aliquot tui similes. 535
•Quaeso, tuae vocis arbitrio erimus Christiani, qui nunquam ex animo
cogitasti quid sit esse vere Cliristianum ?Vndique proditis inscitiam
vestram, vndique mores multum abludentes a professione, vndique
pectoris purulentiam, et nobis acceptum fertis si peius de vobis sentit
mundus ? Videmus passim tuos sodales ab idiotis atque etiam a 54°
mulierculis refelli, magnoque dedecore sic obturari os vt non habeant
quod respondeant. Et quoniam vos debacchamini in vitam aliorum,
vicissim et illi passim vestrorum Bacchanalium mysteria proferunt,
materia nimium felici,
Cum Antuuerpiae seditiosis clamoribus ciuitatem ex omni nationum 545
genere conflatam ad seditionem concitaretis, iterum atque iterum
vetante magistratu, quantum fauoris Luthero, quantum odii vobis
conciliastis ? A
me nullus aniicus vestra opera factus est alienior,

506. H: nogauerunti^'. 511. lacobitaf: Dominicanus iT. 521. H :

cunum J". 522. FN^ LB : nitentis FConig. Lond. 523. Sardonico if.

531. H : Aurigai-eo F. 536. qui H: c^ F.

511. lacobita] Cf. Ep. 1153. 113^. of Hertogenbosch, a Dominicaii, who

a melle] I cannot identify. De was Lic. Th. at Louvain, 10 Sejpt. 1515.
Jonghmentions(p.40*)aGerar<iusBie 540. idiotis] See Ep. 1153. i^in.
 476 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [152

quosdam etiam nouos veteribus addidit vestra in me maledicentia.

550 At a vobis quantus numerus bonorum et eruditorum est alienatus
Quot homines poenituit suae in vos liberalitatis Quanto pluris !

habitus fuisset lacobus Hoechstratus, si aut non scripsisset in

quenquam aut non scripsisset tam amarulente
Quaeso, quid lucrifecit Nicolaus Egmondanus, tam impotenter,
555 imo tam stolide, toties in rne deblaterans? Quam vero decorum
erat illud sacerdoti, theoh)go, Carmelitae, denique seni, tam odiose
deblaterare in opus quod fatebatur sibi nunquam esse lectum, fortasse
nec intellecturus si legat? Quis autem puerorum non risit hominem,
cum frequenter in concionibus stultissime debaccharetur in poetriam
560 —sic enim ille vocauit —
in rhetoricen, in linguas a laudatissimis
,

viris tantopere et laudatas et expetitas? Quam hoc dignum illius

candido pallio, quod cum caeteri theologi ad concordiam inuitarent,
ille solus dissidium mahiit ? Eogatus quid illum offenderet, respondit
quod scripsissem Nouum Testamentum, Rursum interrogatus, Quid '

565 tum postea?' 'Ergo' inquit, omnia nostra nihil sunt.' Bellum
'

enthymema periit videlicet vniuersa theologia, si incolumi transla-

:

tione Vulgata quaedam facta sunt vel emendaciora vel dihicidiora.

Et is iactat quod talibus enthymematis ipsius non digner respondere^
cum ipse non dignetur Apologiam legere qua dihio quicquid huius
570 generis obiici possit. Scilicet non satis erat omnibus scripsisse, nisi
cum singuhs causificatoribus, imo cum fungis et cnudicibus, totos
dies ociosus disj^utem.
Quod erat specimen religionis, cum in theologica et ordinaria
professione publice diceret me cum Fabro pugnare, et ohm pugnaturos
575 in profundo Tartari? Non puduit eiusmodi virus effundere in Fabrum,
hominem senem, eruditum ac perpetua vitae sanctimonia cunctis
venerabilem et tamen non intelligebat qua de re mihi cum Fabro
;

esset controuersia id enim ipse suo sermone prodebat.

: Quis fuit
illi tam fauens in eo auditorio cui non displicuerit vox tam impotens ?

580 Quis ilh iudicabat esse sanum caput? Qui erant amicissimi, sic
excusabant quod a conuiuio dixisset. Sic fortasse leno poterat
excusari, non theoiogus. Cum omnibus bonis displiceret homo, sibi
tamen displicere non potuit. lam vero vt exhiberet suis camelum,
quod aiunt, saltantem, addebat auspicaturus Epistolas Pauli, Paulum
585 olim persequutum Ecclesiam Dei, sed e lupo factum ouem. Idem '

inquit, orandum vt eueniat in Luthero et Erasmo.' O lepores

'

Atticos o cauillos qui non multum absint a caulis

! Cum passim !

rideretur, cum exibilaretur, tamen nalla fere lectione non aliquo

scommate perstrinxit caput meum, idque fecit etiam in concionibus.
590 Cum euulgaret Bullam aeditam aduersus Luthei-um, meque forte
fortuna conspexisset in concione, subito relieto argumento quod
instituerat, plura dixit in Erasmum quam in ipsum Lutherum. Nec

552. F Lond. Hochstratus N LB.

: 557. H : fateatur F. 560. H LB :

rhetoricem F Lond.

554. Egmondanus] Cf. 11. 114-22. 11 1 Cctpita Argumentorum contra jnorosos

559. poetriam] Cf. 1. 45on, quosdam ac indodos.
562. concordiam] Cf. Ep. 1016. i^n. 574. cum Fabro] Cf.Ep.1162. 129-30.
569. Apologiam] prefixed to the New 584. Paulum] Cf. Ep. 1164. 57.
Tostameut ; and followed in 1519 liy 590. Bullam] Cf. 1. 102.
1196] TO VINCENT THEODORICI 477

erat finis nec modus. Subinde repetebat intermisfsum sermonem ;

cumque passim inter se nutarent ac riderent auditores, tamen ille

toto vultu testificans impotens odium animi, maledicum sermonem
595
abrupit verius quam finiuit.
Ea de re cum expostularem apud AcademiaeRectorem Godschalcum,
eiusmodi conuiciis, imo mendaciis debacchatus est in faciem meam,
vt ea vix Balatro diceret Nomentano, quae senex seni, sacerdos sacer-
doti, theologus theologo, idque apud Academiae moderatorem. Aiel)at 600
me versipellem, duplicem, autorem omnis tumultus Lutheriani, nihil
non fingere me infixisse Lutherum animis hominum, me falsasse
;

multis locis Nouum Testamentum. Significabat me fictis vti diplo-

matis, finxisse Epistolas Eruditorurn Virorum ad me honorifice
scriptas, cum plerasque supprimam pudore, Quid non ? More 605
procacium muliercularum nuHum verbum non rapiebat in occasionem
conuicii. Forte dixeram 'Finge ita esse,' pro eo quod erat, Pone '

ita esse.' Ibi commotus homo Nolo inquit, fingere hoc vestrum
' ' '
;

est, vos fingitis ac mentimini omnia.' Memineram per occasionem

rhetoricae ciuilitatis, qua nonnunquam negamus nos monei'e eum 610
quem tamen monemus. Ibi ceu telum nactus, 'Verum' inquit, sic '

rhetores omnia mentiuntur, fingunt ac dissimulant Nihil dici '.

poterat quod ille non verteret in occasionem conuicii.

Tandem vbi satis esset debacchatus suaeque naturae obsequutus,
vbi vsque ad satietatem faciem meam maledictis conspuisset, tandem 615
vrgente Rectore proposuit conditiones pacis duas, alteram vt canerem
palinodiam eorum quae scripsissem in theologos Louanienses, ac
Stesichorum imitatus scriberem Louanii synceres (nam hoc verbi ' '

tum illi placuit) ac probos esse theologos quasi si id scripsissem,:

ipse protinus alius haberetur quam semper fuit. Alteram vti 620
scriberem aduersus Lutherum. Haec si reciperem ac praestarem,
tum nos fore fratres sin recusarem, se perpetuo habiturum me pro
;

Lutherano quasi non ipse eadem ratione censendus esset Lutheranus,

:

qui nihil aduersus illum seripserit.

Huius discipulus Prior Antuuerpiensis, pileo violaceo doctor, 625
excusans sese apud magistratus quod seditiose clamasset in Luthe-
rum, negauit se legisse Lutheri libros, sed admonitum literis R. P.
Nicolai Egmondani dixisse quae dixisset. Eodem tempore proceres
monasterii Dominicalis sic indecore gesserunt sese vt omnium bono-
rum animos ab se alienarent. Quorum de numero quidam laicis 630
aliquot audientibus, Vtinam inquit, mihi liceret dentibus meis
'
'
'

demordere gulam Lutheri nihil vererer ore adhuc cruento accedere

!

ad corpus Christi '. Quis bonorum est tam iratus Luthero vt non
oderit sacerdotem haec euomentem ?
Standicii fabulam tibi coram narraui, qui tam stolide gessit se 635

601. Lutherani 7/. 620. : H

Altera J'. 625. pileo violaceo doctor arftZ. H.
627. R. P. om. H. 628. Nicolai add. H.

597. expostularem] See the vividdes- 618. syncei"es] Cf. Ep. 1162. 201.
cription given in Ep. 1162. 625. Prior Antuuerpiensis] Seb.
599. Balatro]Thebuffoon, asNomen- Craeys, with whom Erasmus liud
tanus was the parasite, of Hor. S. 2. 8. ah-eady had an encounter cf. Ep. 948.
;

604, Epistolas] See p. 210, iio seq.

605. supprimam] See Ep. 993. 5211. 635. Standiciij Cf. Epp. 608. i^n,
607. Fingej Ep. 1162. 47-55. 1126.
 478 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

apud cordatissimum Angliae Regem ac prudentissimam foeminam

Reginam, vt ipsum etiam Principem puduerit sic delirari apud se.
Sed quid ego metior harenam ? Quotidie passim huiusmodi permulta
designantur a quibusdam ordinis vestri sodalibus tam stulta, tam
640 impudentia. vt nisi publice multorum oculis et auribus ingererent
ipsi, nemo sit nai'ranti crediturus. Cum
his factis sibi pii videntur,
et frequenter adeunt sacram Christi mensam ; ac postea mirantur
homines ab sese alienari, perinde quasi mundus nihil haberet
praeter behaas. Ac prorsus ita se gerunt quasi malint esse formida-
645 biles improbitate quam modestia ac pietate commendati nec satis ;

animaduertunt quam malus sit diuturnitatis custos metus.

Sed vt aliquando claudam prolixam epistolam, quanquam tot
modis abs te sum affectus contumelia, mi N., tamen expertus
Domini lenitatem in me peccantem, illum pro viribus imitabor.
650 Teque etiam atque etiam admoneo hortorque vt ornisso maledicendi
studio discas benedicere, —parces tibi, parces oi*dini tuo, magisque —
spectes quid dictet doctx'ina Christi, quam quid praescribat Egmon-
danus compotor quid probaturi sint cordati grauesque viri potius
;

quam quid inter pocula vnus aut alter applausor eiusdem farinae
655 comprobet. Quanquani istam effrenatam linguae petulantiam de-
testantur et tui gregis sodales, mihi quidem parum bene volentes,
sed qui hoc intelligunt ad sui ordinis dedecus atque incommodum
pertinere.
Ego non tam irascor tibi quam misereor atque hoc magis mi-
:

660 sereor, si tibi nondum es miserabilis. Bona pars sahitis est morbum
suum agnoscere. Si natura tibi negauit ingenium, vt euadas egregie
doctus ; si linguam, vt sis probus concionator si stilum, vt libris
;

aeditis queas orbi prodesse certe conandum vt vir bonus sis.

: Ac
vir bonus esse coepit qui makis esse desiit. Malus est qui proximo
665 maledicit. Bis malus est qui de bene merente dicit male. Si
prodesse non potes ob inopiam ingenii, linguae, doctrinae, consilii,
iudicii, saltem da operam ne quem laedas. Fortassis aliqua venia
debetur iis qui cum multis modis profuerint,alicubi dederint malum.
At deploratae cuiusdam maliciae est, cum nulla ex parte sis vtilis,
6^0 totum conatum tuum vertere in perniciem aliorum. Lutherus ille
. tuo praeconio pestilens ', tamen tibi quoque non mediocrem attulit
'

vtilitatem. Coactus es illius libros legere, e quibus non pauca didi-

cisti ; coactus es et veterum autorum aliquid attingere. Per hunc
mundus cognouit Silenos istos inuersos, qui videbantur esse pietatis
5j,:^ cokimina, qui videbantur nihil nescire, cum ab vtroque longissime
abessent. Atque vt ioco vera loquar, muUis conciliauit fortunam
hiutiorem ; speras et ipse fortasse mitellam aliquam, vociferationis
tuae praemium. Debes nonnihil et pestilentiori Erasmo '. Duni
'

huius libros studio carpendi voluis, correxisti nonnihil infantiam

680 tuam, neque pauca didicisti quae te fugiebant, quamlibet Magistrum
nostrum.

648. N. f: BucentaH. 632. dictetJ': docet //. 668. dederunt if

671. pestilens] Cf. 1. 516. 676. conciliauit] sc. Lutherus: cf.

674. Silenos] Cf. Adag. 2201. Ep. 1397^*1.
1196] TO VIXCENT THEODORICI 479

Haec admonitio quoniam ab anirao fraterno proficiseitur, mihi

certe profuerit apud lesum Christum. Tuum erit dare operam vt
tibi quoque sit vtilis erit autem si bene monenti parueris.
: Bene
vale. M.D.xxi. 68:

1197. From Mercdrino Gattixara.

De puritate p. ii6. Worms.
N. p. iio8: Lond. xxvii. 41 : LB. 568. 5 April 1521.

[Evidently answering a letter eontemporary with Ep. 1195. The theme of

aniinymous publication is reflected in Ep. 1199.
This is the last, though by no means the latest, letter ever published by
Erasmus. That he did not insert it in F witli other letters of this period was
perhaps because he considered that it wouhi not do much credit to the
Chancellor's mastery of Latin. The production of it nearly fifteen years later to
fill out a volume indicates the extent to which he preserved his correspondence :

cf. Ei^p. 456. S^n, 1261, 1272.]

MERCVRIXVS GATTINARIVS, CAROLI CAESARIS CANCELLARIVS,

DES. ERASMO ROTEROD. S. D.

Ppaestantissime vir, heri redditae mihi sunt literae tuae. quibus

vereri te ostendis ne aliquae obtrectatorum subortae sint aduersus
te calumniae. teque, quantum potes, excusas purgasque. In primis
facere non possum quin j^ro ea quam de rae habes opinione ac fiducia
plurimas tibi gratias agam. Credo enim potuisse te semper facile 5
colligere qui meus esset in te animus, et sane talis quo proraptiorem
amicus quisquara ab altero sperare non auderet. Certe quantum in
me fuit, non solura tuas excusationes libens accipio, verumetiam id
effecere, vt quum antea aliter de te atque scribis cogitare non
possera, nunc vero ilkid ipsum videar intueri. Nihil enim vnquam 10
fuit quai'e te, vnicura bonarura literarura in Germania luraen, ac
qui labores oranes tuos vitaraque ipsam ad ornandam illustrandam-
que orthodoxam fidem contulisti, in hisque dies et noctes desudas,
credere deberem latum vnguera a sacrosanctis eius institutis dis-
cedere aut vllo modo aliter sentire bonosque omnes dicere possum 15
:

cognouisse me eius esse sententiae.

Quod si forte quid te in suspitionem vocauerat quod taraen non —
vsque adeo mihi corapertum e.st —
esse potuit stilus quorundara
,

librorura, qui ad tuum maxime declinare videbatur qui tamen et ;

incerto autore aediti erant. et, vt breuiljus dicam, haeretici nihil in se 20

continentes. Quare eo anirao esse debes, vt omnino tibi persuadeas
te apud bonos non solum alienum ab omni suspitione, sed daturos
nos etiam obnixe ojierara vt, si quid quorundara inhaesisset aniniis,
in dies liberior euadas tibique me semper eum futurum qui et te
:

ipsum et labores tuos quanti faciat, malit te re ipsa quam verbis 25

experiri. Vale. Vormatiae .v. Aprilis m.d.xxi.

1196.685. ii.D.xxj. add. H : m.d.xx. Lond. 1197. tit. cattinarivs jV.

1197. 19. librorum] Such as Fabers Consilinm : ior wliich see Ep. 1149 introd. ;

and cf. Ep. 1167. io6n.

 480 LETTERS OF ERASMUS

^1199

Epistolae ad tliuersos p. 599. Worms.

HN : Loncl. xvi. 12 : LB. 569. 7 April 1521.

[Between Marlianns' return from Spain with Charles in .June 1520 (11. 7, 15)
aiid the publication of F.]

ALOISIVS MARLIANVS, EPISCOrVS TVDENSIS, DOMINO ERASMO

ROTEROD. S. D.

QvANTi aut ego te fecerim aut ab aliis fieri voluerim, abunde et tu

nosti, etii qui mihi aliqua cum neeessitudine tum consuetudine

coniuncti sunt namque tantum amicitiae tribui nostrae, quae a

:

tua singulari virtute summoque meo in te studio proficiscebatur,

5 vfc in te augendo et ox^nando nullum vnquam officium praeter-
miserim, cuni coniunctam tecum me omnem causam et fortunam
habere putarem. Quapropter cum in Hispania essemus. curaui vt
ad te Barbirius vtriusque nostrum amantissimus scriberet, ne eme-
ritus et extra omnem aleam positus quotidie in theatrum depugnatu-
10 rus descenderes, neue toties fortunam tuam experireris, cum sj\tis
tibi gloriae et famae tuae consuluisses quod te facturum literis tuis :

recepisti. Aegre enim ferebam cum iis te quandoque congredi, quibus

a te vinci pulchrum esset, quodque te poj^^ulorum et imperitorum
fluctibus obiiceres.
15 Cum vero ex Hispania rediissemus. et te Bruxellae conuenissem,
oraui ne quid tibi commune cum Luthero esset. Fuere enim eo
tempore qui te plane alieno animo a Luthero non fuisse (inepti sane
homines) suspicarentur. Tu autem quod rogabaro, ita poUicitus es
te facturum, vt ego aliis id fore de te non minus quam de me polli-
20 cerer. Inualuit postea in dies etiam atque etiam magis fatalis ista
Luthei'iana calamitas, quae multorum animis ita insedit vt non
plures supersint qui infici posse videantur vnde deplorandam tem- :

pestatis nostrae conditionem puto, in qua longe maiora niala quam

remedia videamus. Nam nec mala perpeti nec remedia ferre pos-
25 sumus, cum ii nunc homines rej^eriantur, qui fabulis et deliramentis
potius capiuntur quam veris rationibus detineantur.
Ab Aleandro vero nostro, homine, vt reor, tibi cum communibus
studiis tum mutuis officiis coniunctissimo et veteri amico, ea de te
tantum audiui quae de seipso dici vellet. Modestus est profecto,
30 quod admiror in tanta linguarum multiplicitate et bonarum artiura
varietate, humanus et suauissimis vir moribus est praeterea ea :

animi moderatione, ni fallor, vt non deteriora in alios dicat quam de

se vellet audire. Quod vero Lutherum et Germanos plerosque a
scribendo, quantum in te fuit, deterrueris, rem te dignam fecisti,
35 dum tantum prodesse te reipublicae et reHgioni velle ostendisti
TiT. DOMiNO om. II. 2. il F : hi N. 5. augendo FN"^: agendo A^^.
25. ii F: hi N.

7. in Hispania] with Charles, 1517- 12. recepisti] Ep. 11 14. 14.

). 15. Bruxellae] See p. 330.
8. scriberet] Cf. Ep. 1114. 12-14. 34- deterrueris] Cf. Ep. 1 196. 300-10.
1198] FKOM ALOISIUS MARLIANUS 481

quantum posses. Aliorum autem non magis acta pi'obo quam tu

probes, cum furere illum eorum remedia coegerint. Aggrediendus
profecto alia via erat.
Ego ne me nihil fecisse putes, in Lutherum orationes duas scripsi,
quarum vna mitior, altera post libros illos ab eo nouissime aeditos 4°
acrior fuit non tamen vt hominem damnatum, sed damnatam
;

causam vellem, saluamque rempublicam et religionem illo saluo

cuperem. Eas ad te mitterem nisi nos ad redeundum parati esse-
mus cum redierimus, coram de multis agemus, quae nunc nec licet
:

nec libet sci-ibere. Interea rem et dignitatem ita tuebor tuam, vt 45

nec meam ego, nec tu, si hoc loco esses, tuam tueri magis velles. Si
autem a te fieri quidquam potest, vel ad compescendos hos motus
vel ad sedandam hanc seditionem, quantum vel gratia vel autoritate
vales contende. Eam enim immortaHtatem quam tu quaeris efc tua
tibi scripta pollicentur, addita hac pietate facillime consequeris. 50
Augustinum Scarpinellum et Seuerum tuis verbis salutauimus
ii litei*as quas ad eos te dedisse scribis mirantur, et aegre ferunt sibi

non fuisse redditas, cum eas maxime optarent. Habuisti tanien eos
tui nominis acerrimos defensores.
Vale Vuormaciae .vii. April. anno m.d.xxi. 55

^13^199. To Aloisius Marlianus.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 600. Antwerp.
HN : Lond. xvi. 13: LB. 570. 15 Ai)ril 1521.

[Of this visit to Antwerp I find no other indication.]

ERASMVS EOTERODAMVS E. P. ALOISIO MARLIANO, EPISCOPO

TVDENSI, CAROLI CAESARIS A CONSILIIS, S. D.

Ingratissimvs sim mortalium quotquot vbiuis sunt omnium,

Praesul ornatissime, ni tuum in me animum, ni tuum erga me
studium agnoscerem. Porro leuae mentis sim, si tuis consiliis grauer
obtemperare, cum non alius sit cuius consiliis vel libentius vel
felicius obtemperet Caesar ipse. Temporum horum calamitatem non 5
possum non imputare fatis nec video remedium, ni Deus aliquis
;

a~b ij.r]xavr]s exoriatur, qui tragoediae finem imponat. De Aleandri

in me animo et a pluribus et a grauioribus mihi nunciatum est quam
vt potuerim omnino diffidere. Et tamen reclamat hominis eruditio,
roelamat vetus nostra familiaritas ; nec alioqui facile recipio in 10

1198. 47. quicquam N. 52. ii F : hi N. 1199. tit. r. p. om. H. caroli

CAESARIS A CONSILIIS Otn. H.

Only one of these

1198. 39. orationesl Rfformationsgesch. iii. 4-9. The second,
isknovvn composcd beforo6Nov. 1520,
; being subsequent to Luther's recent
first printed at Rome, s. a., and after- books (cf. Ep. 1203. 25^), perhaps failed
wards three timcs in Germany. It of publication through Marlianus'
is of a conciliatory character. See death which oecurred shortly after
;

F. Lauchert, Ital. Gegner Luthers, 1912, the dato of this letter, on lo-ii May
pp. 223-9, and 0. Clemen, Beitrdge zur (Lauchert, p. 222).
 482 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1521

aninium quod Gratiarum soluat nodum. Gaudeo te mecum non

probare istos qui tam stolidis rationibus impugnant Lutherum, vt
et causae noeeant suae et se traducant et Pontificis dignitati ;

pessime consulant, et multos laedant innoxios et, qviod est omnium

15 grauissimum. multitudinem ad seditionem prouocent. Tum vero
magis subscriberes meae sententiae, si spectares oculis, si haurires
auribus, quae isti stultissime quotidie designant.
Orationes tuas cupidissime legam ; de quibus iam Cutberti Ton-
stalli praeiudicium habeo. Nec dubito quin in ea praestiteris quod
20 in aliis tuis lucubrationibus soles, nimirum eruditionem eximiam
pari cum prudentia eoniunctam.
Ex amicorum literis intelligo eum qui me suis literis admonuerat
suspitionis isthic obortae, plus satis de me solicitum fuisse. Scribunt
enim nihil fuisse sinistrae suspitionis, nisi de oratione quadam, cui
25 in frontispicio praefixus est titulus, Didymi Fauentini. Stili nitorem
ac sales obiter inspersos in causa fuisse vt quidam eam mihi assere-
rent, sed leui duntaxat suspitione. Ea post ad me missa est. Ilico
risi suspitionem hominum, cum eadem in calce prodat et cognomen
verum autoris, sed Graece. Quod etiam si non fuisset asscriptum,
30 tamen me nequaquam fefellisset autor.
Quidam submonuit Consilium quoddam exisse Coloniae cuiusdam
qui putarit rem sic esse coniponendam, vt et Pontifex auferret
laudem clementiae et Lutherus obedientiae nec defuisse qui suspi- :

carentur hoc a me profectum. Erat quidem istud exhibitum nobis,

35 cum ageret Caesar Coloniae, sed manu descriptum, nec adhuc aeditis
libris qui plurimorum animos a Luthero alienarunt ferebatur autem :

esse cuiusdam ex ordine Dominicalium. Et, vt ingenue dicam,

mihi tum non displicuit. Quod si principibus magis plaeet seueritate
rem conficere, precor vt hoc felicius sit quod illis magis aiTidet:
40 felicius, inquam, rei Christianae, non hominum quorundam rationi-
bus, quibus ea cordi sunt quae sunt huius mundi. Vale, patrone
incomparabihs. Antuuerpiae. xvii. Cal. Maias. anxo m.d.xxi.

1200. To WlLLiAM Frederici.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 614. Louvain.
HN : Lond. xvi. 18 : LB. 571. 30 April 1521.

[I cannot definitely confirm the year-date but from the position of this letter
;

near the end of F, 1521 is likely. If it had been written in 1519, it would

33. et add. N.

II. Gratiarum . . . nodum] Cf. Adag. thon, with his name at the end in
1650, 'poetae tres fingunt Gratias,. . . Greek see Ep. 1167. 4080.
:

humanitatis et beneuolentiae prae- 31. Consilium] See Ep. 1149 introd.

sides' and Cic. Atnic. 14. 51, ' amabi-
; 33. clementiae] Cf. Epp. 1183. 65-7.
lissimum nodum amicitiae tollere'. 1203. 22-3.
18. Tonstallipraeiudicium] Of this I 35. Coloniae] See pp. 370-1.
can find no otlier traoe. 36. libris] See Ep. 1203. 25U.
22. eum] Capito ; cf. Ep. 1195. in. 37. Dominicalium] John Faber of
24. orationc] ME. 103, by Melanch- Augsburg see Ep. 1149 introd.
:
 '] TO WILLIAM FREDERICI 483

probably liave appeared in E : in 1520 at tliis date Erasmvis was in Antwerp

(P- 235V
Of the youth of William Frederici (f 3 Aug. 1527), the famous Pastor of
St. Martin's at Groningen, little is known. He was doubtless a kinsman of
John Frederici (f p. 1484), curate of Zeerijp, from wliom lie inherited some
books. For many years lie was in Italy with Rud. Agricola, whom lie lieard
lecture at Ferrara c. 1475-6 and lie knew AgricoIa's family well (see CTOSwin of
;

Halen's life of Agricola, Epp. 23. 57^, 839. iin). By 1477 he was M.A. and
D.M.. and seeretary to the town of Groningen, and in 1484-5 he became curate
of St. Martin's churcii see A. G. Roos, Catalogus der Incunabelen of Groningen
:

Univ. Library, 1912, nos. 18, 34, 90, 139. For forty years he held a dominating
position in the town, guiding its internal affairs, and by his eloquence playing
the chief part in its diplomacy see Ubbo Emniius' Rerum Frisicarimi Hisforia,
:

Leiden, 1616. He retired from his cure at St, Martin's in 1525 and passed his
two remaining years in the house of his son (I. in) at Groningen.
In 1498 he began a history of Friesiand, of which a nis. copy exists in the
Archives at Groningen. See a life by W. Zuidema, 1888, and Ant. Matthaeus,
Vet. aeui Analecta, iv(i738),pp. 527-8^. D. Gerdes, Hisi. Beformationis, iii (1749^
Monumenta some extracts from the Lamentationes Peiri (Ep. 1236.
pp. 3-5, prints
i5on), which speak very highly of W. Frederici. He was a friend and patron of
Gerard Lister who sends greetings to him in dedicating his Commentarioli (Ep.
;

495 introd.) to Goswin of Halen, 13 Feb. 1520.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS GVILHELMO, PASTORI CIVITATIS

GRVNINGENSIS, S. D.

De iuuene reuocato non est quod mihi gratias agas, vir egregie.
Ob hoc officium nihil promereor laiidis sed impius eram futurus ;

et Cliristianae chaiitatis immemor si, cum per occasionem liceret,

puero non consuluissem. Pocukun inauratum tuo nomine reddidit vir
longe candidissimi pectoris Gosuuinus nec potuit non esse gratissi- ; 5
mum munus, quod ab optimo viro profectum per optimum redde-
retur nisi quod vnum illud vereor, ne ille mei studio tibi vellicarit
:

aurem, vt id faceres, cum mihi ne in somnis quidem vnquam taie

quicquam in mentem venerit.
Ex eiusdem literis simul et oratione cognoui quanto studio isthic 10
omnia obeas miinia, quibus olim fungebantur illi non titulo tantum
TIT. GVILHELMO F CorrifJ. (GVLIELJIO ^) : PETRO F. II : GRVXIKGENSI F. 2.
officium 0»«. H.

TiT. GviLHELMo] For other examples generosity and unhesitating courage

of inaccuracy in Christian names cf. with which he ininistered to tlie '

p. 152. Saints', whether at home or from

I. iuuene] EppendorfPs note (App. abroad. See Ant. Matthaeus, Veteria
14, no. 71 enables him to be identilied and Analecta, iv (1738), p. 52811, and
witli HieronymusFridericus (t26 Aug. W. Zuidema, op. cjY., pp. 122, 152. He
1558), son of Wm. Frederici, who after is perhaps the iuuenis of Ep. 838. 7,8.
studying at Freiburg at some time On the present occasion Erasmus
diiring 1520-2, became LL.D., it is not evidently had been able to help his
known wliere. He settled at Gronin- friend by communicating with Ihe
gen, married and had children, aud young man, perhaps through Eppon-
was Rentuieester of the town see
'
' ; dorff, and securing his return horae.
Epp. 68, 69 in Ularorum virorvm Fpistolae, 4. Poeulum inauratum] This is enu-
ed. S. A. Gabl;ema, i66g. Corn. Kem- merated in the liht of Erasmus' pro-
pius, to wliom lie lent a document, peity, 10 April 1534,3^ 'alius(cyathus),
inherited from his father, for the De <loninn Guilhclmi quondam pastoris
Ori;;j«cf'n.s/ae, 1588, pp. 154, 157, prai.ses Phrysii : Basle MS. C. VI*. 71, f. 3,
'

him for his

interest in antiquity ;
od. L. Sicber, Das MohiUar des Erasmus,
Reyner Praedinius, in a note on i Cor. 1891, p. 7.
16. 15 {Opera, Basle, J. Oporinus, 5. Gosuuinus] of Halcn see Ep. :

Maich 1563, p. 410) for the unspaiing 839. iin.

I i 2
 484 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

Episcopi. Praeluces omnibus integritate vitae, pascis assidue gregem

tuum Euangelica doctrina,ac tales asciscis tibi sacerdotes, qui morum
innocentia, qui sacra eruditione et ornent ecclesiam tuam et apud
15 i^opulum tuas vices gerere possint sic vt nihil opus sit hoc nouo
;

genere Praedicatorum, quos Christus non instituit, sed jiastorum

oscitantia inuexit in mundum. Qui si vbique tui similes fuissent,
non iam orbis teneret lupum auribus, quem neque ferre potest nec
quomodo excutiat videt. Non te populus compotorem habet, sed
20 doctorem, sed consolatorem, sed hortatorem, sed admonitorem, sed
consultoi-em fidissimum et amantissimum experitur. Atque adeo
non deglubis gregem tuum, vt de tuo etiam largiter opituleiis
egestate pressis nec tibi congeris opes, sed ingenti studio properas
;

ad brabium illud immortalitatis, quod bona fide tibi redditurus est

25 summus ille pastor, pi^inceps pastorum omnium, qui gratis animam
impendit ouibus suis. Quantumuis multas opes congesserit homo
in hac vita, tamen non potest non pauperrimus hinc exire, cui nihil
omnino rerum congestarum licet efferre. Ille demum diues exit
qui talibus rationibus abunde communitus exit. Rationes sunt
30 interim, sed bonae fidei est quicum nobis res est. Nec periculum
est si rationes in immensum accrescant diues est in omnes a quo
;

praemium expectamus.
Mihi et illud arguit tuam j^ietatem, quod in sacrario bibliothecaui
adornas, iis potissiraum autoribus refertam quorum scripta spirant
35 Euangelicam charitatem quales sunt Origenes, Chrysostomus,
:

Cyprianus, Ambrosius, Augustinus, Hieronymus. Ex horum lectione

sentimus nobis inflammari pectus ad amorem rerum coelestium, ad
contemptum eorum quorum caeca ciipiditate susque deque miscentur
res mortalium, cum ab istorum quos scholae solennes nobis dederunt
40 lectione surgamus frigidi, nonnunquam et fide minus solida quam
attuleramus. lam mensam tuam non solum commendat frugalitas,
sed condiunt etiam e sacris libris petitae fabulae, quae pascant
animos talium epuhxrum famelicos. Proferunt in medium suum
quisque flosculum e pratis diuinorum voluminum decerptum alius ;

45 eructat aliquid meilei succi, quem apiculae in morem per omnes

arcanae Scripturae flosculos obuolitans exuxit. Nec sinis tuam
mensam contaminari virulentis fabulis, quae liuorem et odium
sapiunt.
Quam vero grauiter imposuisti nuper silentium duobus qui se
50 iactant sacros Euangelii praecones, cum multa non minus impu-
denter quam amarulente coepissent euomere in Erasmum Vt !

pestilentem sermonem interrumperes, rogabas num legissent libros

33. bibliothecam] Frederici left lus 304. 8911). Another is now in the
books to the church of St. Martin ;
Bodleian (A. 2. 9. 10 Th. Seld.) a :

whence they passed iu 1624 to the BiUia Rabbinica, Venice, D. Bomberg,

University of Groningen. Eight of 27 Nov. 1518 (cf. Ep. 456. 92^), with
tliem are catalogued by Dr. A. G. Eoos, an autograph inscription by Frederici
op. cit.
; who kindly informs me that saying that he had bought it unbound
the Library also possesses two of for lo florins, 12 May 1520, 'sibi et
Frederici's booksof laterdate, Eusebius' posteris '. Dr. Eoossuggeststhatit was
Clironicon, Paris, H. Stephanus and J. sold out of the Library as a duplicate.
Badius, 13 June 1512, and Faber 49. duobus] Laurentius(seeEp. 1166.
Stapulensis' S. Pauli Epistolac (see Ep. 26n) was perhaps one of these.
1200] TO WILLIAM FKEDEEICI 485

meos ; fassi sunt se nunquam legisse. Mox subiiciebas te demirari

qua fronte hominis doctrinam cuius libros non
sic deblatei-arent in
legissent. Vbi vero nec hac admonitione coerceretur illorum stoli- 55
ditas, iam vino quoque facta petulantior, negabas tibi placere con-
uiuasqui talibus fabulis mensamtuam conspurcarent aut sermonem :

mutarent aut mensam. Et isti sunt qui seditiose vociferantur apud

popukim in pastores, vt ipsi vocant, seculares: a quibus magis
oportebat ipsos sobrietatis ac moderationis exemplum petere. 60
Faxit Christus optimus maximus vt tui similes existant vbique
pkirimi, quo vel mundus extraordinarium hoc ac vagum doctorum
genus fastidiat. vel ipsi cogantur sese ad verae pietatis studium ab
ocioso luxu et luxurioso ocio recipere. Bene vale.
Louanii prid. Cal. Mai. An. m.d.xxi. 65

1201. From Boniface Amerbach.

Basle MS. C. Yb\ 73. 354. (Basle.)
(May init. 1521.)

[An autograph rough-draft, on a small piece of paper evidently unfinished, :

and, from the anacoluthon in 11. 3-4, not fuUy revised. It may be dated shortly
after Boniface's return from Avignon at the beginning of May (cf. Epp. 1020.
54n, 1207. 29) no doubt earlier than Ep. 1207, since Alciati's request (1. 15^)
:

%vas so urgent that Boniface would be likely to attend to it promptly.]

Iam vnus aut alter agitur annus, eruditorum decus Erasme, quo
studiorum legalium causa Auenionam profectus nihil litterarum ad
te dederim. Nunc domum reuersus, sic volentibus fatis ob immanem
pestilentiae luem, duplex sese offert ad tescribendi occasio. Quarum
cum vtraque per sese iusta sit, vtramque oblatam mirum in modum 5
gaudeo, dum tamen
interini vnius aut alterius anni silentium excu-
sauero, quod non tam magnorum tuorum studiorum causa, ne inter-
pellarere, quam nunciorum penuria factitatum est ; interim tamen
mea in te obseruancia et studio semper saluis atque in diem deuotiori-
bus : id quod testari poterunt quibuscum ego vixi, et inprimis 10
legalium studiorum nostre aetatis princeps, Andreas Alciatus. Is vt
est tuorum studiorum et praeco et aestimator egregius, ita inculputa
sua fide de meo in te studio testabitur.
Sed heus tu, inquis, quaenam illae scribendi occasiones ? A
Francisco Caluo Papien(si) tibi anteactis annis epistohi seu paraenesis 15

1200.64. ocioso F Corrig. : ocio i*'. 1201. 15. Caluus MS.

1201. 2. Auenionam]SeeEp.io2o.54n. great fear that it might be eitlier

II, Alciatus] See Ep. 1250. copied or printed, and bo come to tlie
15. Caluo] See Ep. 581. 3on. The notico of tiie Order. In Sept. 1520 he
occasion here referied to wasprobably had begun urging Calvus to recover it
his visit to Erasmus at Louvain c. {rom Enxsmus {M. Gudii Epislolae, i6g-],
24 April 1518 see Epp. 831.73, 114;
: pp. 80-2). In the spring of 1521, while
832. 29 seq. 1002. 22 3.
;
still at Avignon, Bonifaco wrote on
epistola] contra liiam monasticam, acl liis bolialf to Beatus Rhenanus, very
collegamolimsuam^^qui transierat ad Frun- guardedly and without specifying tliis
ciscanosy, Bernardum Muttium else- coniposition, asking him to stop the
where called oratio or declamutio. It publication of anything by Alciati
had been composed before April 1518 which Erasmus might send to Froben
(cf. 1. I5n) and Alciati was now in
; (Basle MS. C. 'VP. 73. 48J. In Sept.
 486 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

Alciati, nescio ad quem, exhibita est. Vna certe est quam ille idem
Alciatus praebuit a quo cum alias sepius viua voce, nunc litteris
:

admoneor vt te exorem ne epistolam quandam tibi per Caluum tradi-

tam in alicuius manus exire
sinas. Memi(ni>.sti, credo, huius epistolae
20 vel paraneseas nescio ad quem scripte quam, vt sunt amicissimi, :

tum demum e bibliotheca sublectam resciuit, postquam ad te iDerlatam

Caluus dixisset.

1202. TO JODOCUS JONAS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 655. Louvain.
HN: Loncl. xvii. 18: LB. 572. 10 May 1521.

[Between the Diet of Worms and the publication of F so that the : j^ear-date
is correct. For the purpose of this letter cf. Ep. 876 introd.]

ERASMVS ROTEROD. lODOCO lONAE S. D.

Hic iam diu rumor est constans, lona charissime, te Vuormaciae

Martino Luthero continenter adfuisse nec dubito quin tua pietas :

hoc egerit, quod ego fueram acturus, si contigisset adesse, vt haec

tragoedia moderatis rationibus sic sopiretur, ne posthac posset maiore
5 cum orbis malo rursus erumpere. Quod equidem demiror non esse
factum, quum ea res vehementer cordi fuerit optimis viris, qui, sicuti
dignum est animis vere Christianis, cupiebant esse consultum Eeclesiae
tranquillitati quae nisi concordia sibi iungatur, Ecelesiae vocabuhim
;

amisit. Quid enim est aUud nostra religio quam pax in Spiritu
10 sancto Porro Christi Ecclesiam, quoniam adhuc pisces bonos et
'?

malos eodem reti complectitur et zizania mixta tritico ferre cogitur,

et olim magnis viciis laborasse testantur veteres orthodoxi subinde ;

deplorantes corruptissimos mores eorum ordinum vnde conueniebat

ingenuae pietatis exempla proficisci. Porro quam Ecclesia Romana
1202. 14. Porro F Tum
: H.

Boniface renewed the present eu- iussit. Quid enim ab eis non formi-
deavour for him ; and Alciati was dandum ?

delighted to receive assurances that Tlie document, however, had not

Erasmus had only shown the worli to perished. In 1695 it was printed at
une friend [Basle MSS. G. II. 14. 49, 51, Leiden, with the title given above,
C. VP. 73. 163 Eijp. 1250, 1261, 1278).
; by Ant. Matthaeus to whom it
;

In Dec. 1529 liis anxiety revived, and had come through Peter Scriverius.
lie once more begged Boniface to per- From the numerous papers connected
suade Erasmus to burn it (Basle MS. withErasmustliat Scriveriuspossessed
C. VI". 54. 56) and so again in Feb.
; (cf. vol. i, pj). 46, 575, 581, 598. and
and March 1531 (Basle MS. G. II. Ep. 913 introd. ), it may reasonably be
14. 87, 89). Erasmus looked tlirough inferred tliat this too liad come to him
his paperswithout tiuding it, and cou- from Erasmus'collections; butperhaps
cluded tliat he miist have burut it uot iuunediately, since the epistola as
years ago (Q. 23, 49; aiul Lond. xxvi. printed byMatthaeushasa dateaffixed,
6, LB. 1177) news wliich, when ciin-
: '7. Jun. 1553. spat. 4. dier.' j^erhaps —
veyed by Bouiface (Basle MSS. C. VI'. tho date of copying. There is uo
54. 17 v", II 73. 245), gave Alciati
;
reason to doubt Erasmus' good faith
great relief. This he expressed in his when he declared that lie could not
final letter to Boniface ou the sub- lind it, aud concluded that it had been
ject, from Bourges 15 June 1531 (Basle destroyed.
MS. G. II. 14. 90) De Declamatione
:
'
See E. Costa iu Arch. Stor. lialiano,
iam sum animo securo. Non tam me xxxvi, 1905, pp. 120-2.
SfiKus o ttXovtos, quod Erasmus iocatur, 1202. 2. adfuisse] Cf. JE. 47, 48 and
quam ixovaxtcf^oi seu $toKo')u(jfj.ds timere LE.'- 442. 502 seq.
1202] TO JODOCUS JONAS 187

et olim degenerarit ab Euangelicae puritatis stuclio, vel Hieronymus 15

satis arguit, quieam ex Apocalypsi Babylonem appellat, vel diuus
Bernardus in libris quibus titulum fecit De consideratione quan- :

quam non defuerunt et ex recentioribus celebrati nominis autores

qui publicam instaurationem ecclesiasticae disciplinae flagitarent.
Verum haud scio an vnquam Ecclssiae proceres tanto studio tamque 20
palam inhiauerint huius mundi commodis, quae Christus docuit opor-
tere contemni, quam hodie videmus. Xec minus erant collapsa sacrae
Scripturae studia quam mores. Diuinae literae seruire cogebantur
humanis cupiditatibus, populi credulitas in quaestum paucorum ver-
tebatur. Ad haec ingemiscebant piae mentes, quibus nihil est anti- 25
quius Christi gloria. Eaque res effecit vt initio tantum vndique
fauoris habuerit Lutherus quantum non arbitror seculis iam aliquot
vlli mortalium contigisse. Siquidem, vt facile credimus quod vehe-
menter optamus, existimabant exortum hominem qui, purus ab
omnibus huius mundi affectibus, tantis malis remedium aliquod 30
adferre posset. Nec ego prorsus desperabam, nisi quod statim ad
primum gustum opusculorum quae Lutheri nomine prodire coepe-
rant, plane verebar ne res exiret in tumultum ac publicum orbis
dissidium. Itaque monui per literas tum Lutherum ipsum, tum
amicos illius, quorum autoritatem arbitrabar apud illum valituram ; 35
qui quid illi dederint consilii nescio, certe sic tractata res est vt peri-
culum sit ne male tentatis remediis malum nobis conduplicetur.
Ac vehementer demiror, mi lona, quis deus agitauerit pectus
Lutheri, dum tanta calami licentia in Eomanum Pont., in scholas
omnes, in philosophiam, in ordines mendicantium inueheretur. Quod 40
si vera fuissent omnia, id quod aiunt longe secus habere qui scripto-
rum illius censuram agunt, prouocatis tam multis quis alius exitus
expectari poterat quam liic quem videmus ? Lutheri libros hactenus
non vacauit legere, sed ex his quae degustaui, quaeque recitantibus
aliis nonnunquam obiter hausi, quanquam de veritate sententiarum 45
quas adferebat fortasse non erat meae mediocritatis pronunciare, certe
modus et nxtio negocii aggrediendi mihi neutiquam probabatur. Quum
enim per se res sit amara plerisque veritas, quum per se seditiosa res
sit longo vsu recepta conuellere, consultius erat rem suapte natura
acerbam tractandi ciuilitate lenire quam odium odiis addere. 50
igitur attinebat paradoxis agere, atque ita proponere quae-
Quorsum
dam vt prima specie magis etiam offenderent quam propius ac fixius
inspecta? Nam
quaedam etiam obscuritate velut affectata molesta
sunt. attinebat tam atrocibus conuiciis saeuire in eos quos,
Quorsum
si sanare cupiebat, imprudentiae, sin totius orbis malo prouocare, 55
impietati tribuendum erat? Porx-o quum prudentis oeconomi sit
dispensare veritatem, hoc est promere cum res postulat, et promere
quod satis est, et cuique promere quod sit accommodum, ille tot
libellis praecipitatis simul effudit omnia, nihil non euulgans, ac

21. liuius mundi FCorrifj. : huiusmodi F.

15. Hieronymus] adu. lonin. 2. 38. 97^ •

17. Bernardus] Cf. Ep. 1142. 45^. 34. Lutherum] See Ep. 980.
De consideratione] There were 35. amicos] See Ep. 1143. 22n.
many t-ditions of this in xv" the : 57. dispensare veritatem] Cf. 11.

earliest at Utrecht, c. 1473 (Copinger 126-8 and Ep. 1119. 4on.

 488 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

60 cerdonibus etiam communia

faciens quae solent inter eruditos ceu
ac frequenter impetu quodam immode-
/xvaTLKa Koi aTr6ppi]Ta tractari :

rato, mea quidem sententia, fertur vltra iustum. Quod genus est,
quum satis esset admonuisse theologos, plus satis illos admiscere
philosophiae Peripateticae vel sophisticae magis, ille totam Aristotelis
65 philosophiam animi mortem appellat.
Habet Euangelicus ille Christi spiritus prudentiam suam, habet
ciuilitatem ac mansuetudinem suam. Sic ipse Christus ludaeorum
affectibus semet attemperauit. Aliud loquitur turbis crassioribus,
aliud discipulis quos et ipsos diu tolerans paulatim adducit ad intel-
;

70 ligentiam philosophiae coelestis. Hoc consilio iubet suis vt primum

poenitentiam praedicent et imminens regnum Dei, de Cliristo taceant.
Sic Petrus in Actis Apostolorum non contumeliosa sed miti et amanti
concione tantam multitudinem primitias addit Ecclesiae. Non voci-
non verbis atrocibus exagge-
feratur in eos qui Chi'istum occiderant,
jz, rat illorumimpiam insaniam, quum probabile sit in eo numero fuisse
qui Christum ad mortem impulissent. Sed vehit illos subleuans, ait
hoc consilio diuino sic esse peractum mox etiam sceleris impietatem :

in ipsum seculum reiicit, Saluamini inquit, a generatione ista

'
'
'

praua'. Non regerit in illos conuicium, a quibus dicti sunt esse

80 musto madidi, sed moderatis rationibus excusat noui si^iritus ener- :

giam esse, non vini. Profert lohelis testimonium, quod sciebat apud
illos plurimum habiturum ponderis. Ac nondum Christum pro-
nunciat Deum et hominem hoc mysterium suo seruabat tempori. ;

Interim \^rum iustum appellat, Dominum ac Messyam pronunciat,

85 idque ex autoritate Dei, quem religiose colebant et ilh. vt ex patre
cognito filio conciliaret fauorem. Ad haec quum ostenderet de
Christo non de Dauid dictum, quod illi de Dauid interpretantur,
sermonem offensurum praemitigans Viri inquit, fratres, liceat '
'
'

avidenter dicere ad vos de patriarcha Dauid '.

90 Sic Paulus omnia fit omnibus, vt omnes Christo lucrifaciat, suos

instituens vt cum omni mansuetudine doceant, non alienantes quen-
quam morum et orationis asperitate, sed mansuetudine vincentes
etiam morosos et asperos. Quanta ciuilitate Christum praedicat
Atheniensibus, illorum vicia in secuhim ipsum reiiciens. Et tem- '

95 pora quidem inquit, 'huius ignorantiae despiciens

'
Deus.' Ipsos
honesto gratoque prologo viros Atheuienses appellat. Nec saeuis
' '

verbis exagitat impium cultum daemoniorum, sed oratione ciuili

superstitionis illos insimulat qui plus colerent quam oporteret. Ti-
tulum arae forte conspectum torquet in argumentum fidei, demutatis
100 etiam et amputatis verbis aliquot nec adhuc Christum aliud appellat :

quam virum, per quem Deus statuisset conferre salutem vniuerso

mortalium generi nec apud hos profert prophetarum testimonia
;

84. Messiam K.

64. Avibtotelis] Cf. ' carnifex illa 8i. lohelis] 2. 28-32, ap.Actsa. 17-20.
conscientiarum theologistria '
in Re-
; 84. virum iustum] Acts 3. 14.
sol. super propos. stiis Lipsiae dis^mtutis, 88. Viri . . . fratres] Acts 2. 29.
1519, Weimar ed. ii. 401, 20. 90. Paulus] i Cor. 9. 22.
78. Saluamini] Aets 2. 40. 94. Et tempora] Acts 17. 30.
80. mailidi] Cf. Acts 2. 13, 15. 96. Athenienses] Acts 17. 22.
energiam] See Ep. 1334. lo^n. loi. virum] Acts 17. 31.
1202] TO JODOCUS JONAS 489

miniraum habitura ponderis, sed Arati testimonio cum illis agit.

Quanta cum vrbanitate causam suam apud Festum agit et Agrippani
Sic Augustinus refellit fiiriosos Donatistas et plusquam insanos 105
Manichaeos, vt et citra rei meritum saeuiat, et charitatis dulcedinem
vbique admisceat, salutem illorum sitiens, non exitium. Haec docendi
mansuetudo. haee dispensandi sermonis diuini prudentia cepit orbem
et, quod nuHa vnquam arma, nulla philosopliiae subtilitas, nuUa
rhetorum eloquentia, nulla vis aut ars potuit humana, sub Christi no
iugum misit. Quo magis nos oportet, si prodesse cupimus, ab omni-
bus conuiciis temperare, praesertim si aduersus quos agimus publica
praemineant autoritate. Paulus honorem deferri vult magistratibus,
etiam ethnicis et veluti TraXiywoeL quod Mosaico palamque scelerato
;

Pontifici maledixisset. Vult seruos Christo initiatos reh'giosius etiam 115

obsequi dominis ethnicis quam antea fecerant vult vxores a profes- ;

sione Christi, magis etiam esse morigeras maritis impiis, non ob aliud
nisi vt commoditate morum pellicerent omnes ad amorem Euangehcae
doctrinae. Cui pia mens est, vtique nihil aliud quam prodesse studet,
aut tacens si nuDa spes sit profectus, aut ita promens ac disj)ensans 120
veritatem ne pro i-emedio morbi vim exasperet.
Brutus indignatur Ciceroni, qui suis concionibus et scriptis irrita-
ret eos quos irritatos non posset opprimere. Platoni non displicet
fucus ac dissimulatio in philosopho rei publicae moderatoi'e, modo
technis in populi bonum abutatur. A
Christiano, fateor, decet 125
omnem abesse fucum sed tamen incidit aliquando tempus quum
;

recte tacetur veritas, et vbique magni refert quo tempore, apud quos,
et quibus modis ea promatur. Medici fideles non statim ad extrema
remedia decurrunt. Prius aegrotum corpus leuioribus pharmacis
praeparant atque ita dosin temperiint vt saiient, non obruant.
; Nec 130
istos audio qui aiunt grauiorem esse morbum huius seculi quam vt
leuibus remediis sanari queat. Praestat malum iuxta Graecum i:)ro-
uerbium sinere vt est, quam non dexti'is remediis exagitari.
Neque vero nego nonnunquam Deum beUis, pestilentiis, affiictioni-
bus emendare suum gregeni non est tamen piorum inferre belhini
; 135
aut afHictionem impiam. si Deus aliquando mahim nhenorum vertit
in bonum suorum. Crux Christi salutem attulit mundo, et tamen
execramur eos qui crucem adegerunt.
illuni ad Mors martyrum
illustrauit pariter et confirmauit Ecclesiam Dei tamen damnata est ;

eorum impietas per quos hoc Ijonum nobis contigit. Multi minus 140
essent mali, si diuitiis essent spohati. Non tamen est probi viri
quenquam spoHare suis, quo illum reddat meliorem. Porro quum
omnis nouitas pariat tumultum, etiamsi quis vocet ad meliora, si
quid dissidebat a receptis, erat ea specie proponendum vt quam
minimum dissidere videretiu-. 145
At aiunt Lutherum aliquoties, quum eadem doceat quae caeteri,

120. promens F, vt in vv. 57-8, 128 : premens Jl. 146. At II : Ad /.

103. Arati] Phaen. 5, «p. Act.s 17. 28. 116. vxores] i Cor. 7. 13-16.
113. Paulus] Roni. 13. i, Tit. 3. i. 122. Brutu^'] See C\e. ad Brut. 1. i-j.i.
115. maledixisset] Act« 23. 2-5. 123. Piatoni] Cf. Ep. 1195. 116-17.
seruo.s] Eph. 6. 5, Col. 3. 22, 127. recte tacetur] Cf. Ep. 1119. 4011.
Tim. 6. I, Tit. 2. 9-10. 132. prouerbium] Cf. Adag. 62.
 490 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

tamen verbis ipsis, vt videtur, conari vt diuersissima videatur ad-

lam vt sunt hominum mores ad peiora procliues, sic
ferre, erat
medendum horum vitiis, vt aliis non praeberetur ansa licentius pec-
150 candi. Paulus libertatem Euangelicam aduersus pernicio-
sie praedicat
sam legis seruitutem vtaddat, tantum nelibertatem (in) occasionem
'

detis carni '. Sic dehortatur a frigidis operibus legis vt incessanter

adhortetur ad opera charitatis. Fortassis erant qui simplici studio
fauebant ad meliora vocandis ordinibus ac proceribus Ecclesiae. Sed
1
55 haud scio an sint qui per hanc occasionem inhient opibus ecclesiasti-
corum qua re nihil arbitror sceleratius ac publieae tranquillitati
:

perniciosius. Etenim si ideo fas arbitrantur inuadere faculfcates

sacerdotum, quod quidam suis ad luxum aut alioqui ad res parum
honestas abutuntur, nec ciuibus nec magnatibus aliquot erit satis
160 hrma rerum suarum j^ossessio. Belle vero consultum rebus humanis,
si impie tollatur a sacerdotibus quo peius abutantur homines mili-
tares qui sic sua profundunt, nonnunquam et aliena, vt nulli mor-
;

talium sint vsui.

Ne ipsos quidem avidio, mi lona, qui dicunt Lutherum aduersario-
165 rum intolerabili procacitate prouocatum non potuisse tenere Chi"istia-
nam modestiam. Quomodocunque sese gerebant alii, qui talem susce-
perat personam, debebat omnibus neglectis sibi constare. Denique
erat ante prospiciendus exitus, quam sese in puteum hunc demitteret,
ne contingeret quod in Apologis accidit capro. Etiam in piis rebus
1 70 stultum est aggredi quod non possis absoluere praesertim si conatus ;

parum feHx pro captatis commodis summa adfert incommoda, Vide-

mus rem in eum deductam locum, vt ego sane nullum videam bonum
exitum, nisi Christus arte sua temeritatem quorundam vertat in
bonum publicum.
175 Excusant illum quidam quod alieno impulsu coactus primum
scripserit atrocius, deinde non commiserit sese clementissimi Leonis
iudicio, et Caroli Caesaris longe optimi mansuetissimique Princip.is
fidei. At cur illi magis iibuit istis auscultare quam aliis amicis, nec
indoctis nec rerum imperitis, ad diuersa vocantibus ? lam plerique
180 qui illi fauebant, cuiusmodi, quaeso, praesidiis illum tueri conaban-
tur? ridicuhs libellis ac minis inanibus. Quasi veroistiusmodi nugae
aut terreant aduersarios aut delectent bonos viros, ad quorum iudicium
negocium omne fuerat attemperandum, si modo voluissent suae fabu-
lae felicem esse catastrophen. Nunc quantum malorum agmen haec
185 temeritas dedit, bonarum literarum sfcudia ac mulfcos bonos viros non
mediocri degrauat inuidia, qui initio parum erant iniqui Lufcliero, vel
quod sperarent rem secus ab illo tractandam, vel ob laostes forfce com-
munes. Accidifc enim nescio quo casu vt qui initio negocium facesse-
bant Lutlaero, hostes essent bonarum literarum, et ob id harum
190 cultores minus iniqui erant Luthero, ne adiutis aduersariorum parti-
bus hostium vires aduersum sese confirmarent. Tametsi vtcunque
res liabet, priorem oportuit esse curam religionis quam studiorum.
Atque hic, mi lona, coactus sum aliquoties desiderare specimen
Euangelici pectoris, quum viderem Lutlierum, sed magis huius

147. vt videtur F : id videri 21. i8o. qui illi F: illi cjui H.

150. Paulus] Gal. 5. 13. 169. capro] Cl'. Ep. 11 86. 12.
I202] TO JODOCUS JONAS 491

fautores, hoc arte quadnm affectare, vt alios inuoluerent odioso ac 195

periculoso negocio. Quid enim attinebat Capnionem satis hactenus
oneratum grauiore onerare inuidia? Quid opus erat mei nominis
toties inuidiosam facere mentionem, quum res id nequaquam flagi-
taret ? Admonueram Lutherum priuatis et obsignatis literis mox ;

Lypsiae sunt excusae, Admonueram Card. Moguntinum obsignatis 200

literis, ne temere Lutherum, cuius adhuc causa plerisque bonis erat
plausibilis, quorundam libidini dederet. Euulgata est formis ante-
quam reddita. Bilibaldus suis ad me hteris queritur epistolas quas-
dam circumferri excusas, quas nemo vnquam illi reddidit. In his
hortantur eum vt persistat in eo quod coeperat, quo scilicet volentem 205
nolentem pertrahant in huius factionis consortium.
E meis libris, quos scripsi priusquam somniarem exoriturum
Lutherum, odiosa quaedam deeerpserunt et in Germanicam versa
linguam publicarunt, quae viderentur affinia quibusdam Lutheri
dogmatis. Et amici videri volunt qui haec faciunt, quum capitalis 210
inimicus nihii possit hostilius. Non erat tantundem ad laedendum
ingenii iis qui mihi pe&sime volebant. Hoc telum illi porrexerunt
inimicis meis, vt iam in publicis concionibus praedicent quae mihi
congruant cum Luthero. Quasi vero veritati non sit vtrinque affinis
falsitas, si praetergrediare lineam. Ego fortasse alicubi moneo non 215
esse temere suscipienda vota, nec probo istos qui domi relicta vxore
et liberis quorum et vitae et pudicitiae consultum oportuit, currunt
ad diuum lacobum aut Hierosolymam, vbi nihil erat ilHs negocii.
Moneo iuuenes non esse pelliciendos ad vincula religionis priusquam
sibi noti sint et norint quid sit religio. Lutherus, vt aiunt, in totum 220
damnat omnia vota. Alicubi queror onus confessionis quorundam
laqueis aggrauatum. Lutherus, vt aiunt, docet reiiciendam omnem
confessionem, vt perniciosam. Alicubi docui primum optimos autores

202. Euulgate sunt . . . 203. redditae F Corrkj. 205. liortatur H.

199. Lutherum] See Epp. 948. 980. thithcr see the WallfahrisUich of Herni.
200. Moguntinum] See Ep. 1033. Kiiuig von Vach, ed. K. Habler, 1899.
203. literis] Not extant. Cf. Enchiridion, LB. v. 63 f, and Epp.
epistolas] Thereference is i^erhaijs 858. 410, 875. i4-i5-
toaletterfromAndr.FrancusCamiczia- 219. Moneo] Cf. Ep. 1183. i22n.
nus toPirckheimer, 17 Sept. 1520 ^HE. 220. sibi noti] Cf. Ep. 999. 164^.
195 - P. p. 329), which is the preface 220, 222, 225. Lutherus] Erasmus
to the iJuae EpisMe of Stromer and evidently is quoting not Luther's
Gregory Copp, Leipzig, M. Lotther, writings directly, but the Dtiterminatio
1520 (see Ep. 986. i4n). Buckin<;com- theolo(jicae FacuUaHs Parisien.superdodrina
pares P. p. 405 = HE. 277, § i (? 1520- Ltdheriana hacienus per eam visa (cf. Ep.
i). Francus' letter, though it con- 1141. i^n) which was delivered 15
;

tains no direct exhortation, assumes April 1521, and printed by Badius, no

Pircklieimer's sympathy with the doubt al once. It condemns a number
movement for reform. oi propositions drawn from Luther's
209. publicaruntj A German transhi- works those on vows and Dionysius
;

tion of tbe i'ncyt»(rfJon by Jo. Adelphus being cited from the Capt. Bubylonica,
had just appeared, Basle, A. Petri, thoseonconfessionandthe Aristotelian
1520 cf. VE. 182. The new prefac-
; phih)sophy 1 1. 64^) from writings not
(Ep. 858; liad also been transhited by specilied.
Spalatinus, and may have been in 221. queror] .4nno/. on Matt. 11. 30
IJiint by now. added in 1519, p. 44-
218. diuum lacobum] Santiago de 223. docui] The reference is perhaps
•Compostella : for the pilgrimage to Annot. on Acts 17. 34.
 492 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

legendos, addens ex Dionysii libris non tantundem fructus percipi

22-- quantum tituli videantur polliceri. Lutherus hominem ineptum
vocat, vt accipio, et omnino lectu indignum.
Bella vero congruentia, si quod ego per occasionem vere dixi ac
moderate, alius deprauet, vltra septa transiliens. Iniquissimis autem
legibus mecum agetur si praestare cogar ne quis in posterum etiam
230 scriptis meis abutatur: quae felicitas ne Paulo quidem Apostolo
contigit, si huius collegae Petro credimus. Quanquam, vt ingenue
dicam, si praescissem huiusmodi seculum exoriturum, aut non scri-
psissem quaedam quae scripsi, aut aliter scrip^issem. Sic enim pro-
desse cupimus omnibus vt, si fieri possit, neminem hiedamus. Spar-
235 guntur libelli coniuratorum, in quibus pingitur et Erasmus. Mihi
vero nullum nomen inuisius quam coniurationis aut scliismatis aut
factionis.
Tota haec qualis qualis est fabula me dehortante coepta est, certe
modum constanter improbante. Meae literae nulli factioni seruierunt
240 vnquam, quam Christi, qui communis est omnium. Quid hoc ingenio,
quid his literis valeam nescio certe conatus sum et cupio prodesse
;

non modo Germanis, sed Gallis, Hispanis, Britannis, Bohemis, Ru-

tenis, atque adeo Turcis quoque ac Sarracenis, si queam. Tantum
abest vt factioni tam periculosae me voluerim vnquam admiscere.
245 Atque interim prudentiam etiam desidero in his qui huiusmodi
technis quenquam allici posse credunt in castra sua. Si quem corda-
tum virum alienare vellent, qua ratione id potius facerent ? Satis
autem declarant avKivrjv esse, quod aiunt, eTriKovpLav, quum iu re tam
periculosa talibus fidunt praesidiis. Ac misere vereor ne res haec
2 5oapud reliquas nationes ingens dedecus adferat nostrae Germaniae,
quemadmodum vulgus hominum solet paucorum stulticiam vniuersae
nationi imputare.
Tot igitur atrocibus libellis, tot fumis, tot formidabilibus minis et
ampullis, quaeso, quid aliud actum est nisi vt quod ante disputa-
255 batur in scholis velut opinio probabilis, posthac sic articulus fidei, et
iam vel Euangelium parum tutum sit docere, dum exulceratis omni-
bus nihil non rapitur ad calumniam ? Poterat Lutherus magno cum
fructu Christiani gregis tradere philosophiam Euangelicam, poterat
aedendis libris prodesse mundo, si ab his temperasset quae non pote-
260 rant non exire in tumultum. Meis quoque kicubrationibus bonam
captati fructus partem detraxit. Ne disputationes quidem in scholis
liberae sunt, quae solent esse liberrimae. Si fas esset odisse quen-
quam ob priuatas offensas, neminem magis hieserunt Lutherani
quam me. Et tamen optarim illo saluo hoc longe perniciosissimum
265 dissidium componi, et iis rationibus componi, ne post grauiore cum
periculo erumpat, quemadmodum solent male curata vlcera.
Dices mihi, charissime lona, quorsum mihi texis istam iam seram
querehim? Primum ob hoc, vt quanquam res longius progressa est
quam oportuit, tamen etiamnum aduigiletur si quo modo tantus

224. Dionysiij Cf. Ep. 1225. 235-7. 242. Rutenis] See Ep. 1177. i^n.
230. Paulo] Cf. 2 Peter 3. 15, 16. 243. Turcis] Cf. Ep. 1041. 28n.
235. et Erasmus] As in Ex obscurorum 248. avicivrjv] Cf. Adag. 685.
virorum salihus cribratus dialogus Eov. i,
: 250. nostrae Germaniae] Cf. Ep..
pp. 301-16. Cf. also Ep. i459n. 11 11. 8in.
 202] TO JODOCUS JONAS 493

tumultus sopiri queat. Habemus Pontificem suapte natura clemen- 270

tissimum, habemus Caesarem miti placabilique praeditum ingenio.
Id si fieri non potest, nolim vt tu te huic negocio admisceas. Amaui
semper in te praeclaras Christi dotes quo magis cupio te seruari :

negocio Euangelico. Quo magis amabam Huttenici venam ingenii,

hoc magis doleo nobis ereptum per hos tumultus. Quis autem non 275
excrucietur animo si Philippus Melanchthon, iuuenis tot eximiis
dotibus instructus, per hanc tempestatem publicis eruditorum votis
adimeretur? Quod si quaedam offendunt in his quorum arbitrio res
humanae temperantur, censeo suo Domino relinquendos. Si aequa
praescribuut, par est parere sin iniqua, sanctum est tolerare, ne
: 2S0
quid deterius accidat. Si seculum hoc totum Christum non fert, est
tamen aliquid eum quatenus licet pi"aedicare.
Haec quae tecum nunc ago, mi lona, velim agas cum Philippo,
aut si qui sint alii Pliilippo similes. Ante omnia censeo vitandum
esse dissidium nulli bono non perniciosum. Et ita sancta quadam 2S5
vafricie tempori seruiendum, ne tamen prodatur thesaurus EuangeHcae
veritatis, vnde corrupti moies publici possent restitui. Fortasse
rogabit aliquis num alio sim animo in Lutherum quam fuerim olim.
Imo eodem sum animo. Semper optaui vt mutatis quibusdam quae
mihi displicebant, pure tractaret Euangelicam philosophiam, a qua -9°
nostri seculi mores heu nimium degenerarunt. Semper correctum
mahii quam oppressum. Optabam ilhim sic tractare Christi nego-
cium vt Ecclesiae proceribus aut probaretur, aut certe non reprobare-
tur. Sic amari cupiebam Lutherum vt palam ac tuto posset amari.
Nec alio sura aniuio in meos rabulas quam in illum. Si tam pie 295
praedicarint Christum quam impie sunt in me debacchati, obliuiscar
quae patrarunt in me, et exosculabor studium in Christum. Non
odero blaterones, si eoeperint esse Christi praecones. Bene vale.
Louanii vi. Id. Maias. Anno. m.d.xxi.

1203. To Louis Ber.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 662. Louvain.
HN: Lond. xvii. 20 : LB. 573. 14 May 1521.

[As this letter was printed in F, theie can be no doubt as to the year-date.
On 15 July Zasius, v?ho was at the baths of Sugseuthal, 6 ms. ne. of Freibuig,
had heard of the letter, and wrote to Boniface Amerbach that in consequence of
it Erasmus a nostris, nempe hactenus Erasmicissimis, male audit
'
quod abomi- :

nor' (ZE. 29). By the end of September it had been seen at Wittenberg (ME.
135) evidently in a ms. copy, for F was not yet completed (cf. Ep. 1206 introd.).
'•

It is perhaps also the letter fi-om Louvain in May (reading ad Berum for ad
Beatum), in which Erasmus de Luthero, quid velit et quid sentiat, totus erumpit.
'

Sentit autem Lutliero non licuisse vt ius pontificium incendio perderet aut
Captiuitatem Babyhjuicam emitteret ' : see VE. 268, John Faber to Vadianus,
from Constance, 24 July 1521.]

292. malui F Corrig. : malim F.

274. Huttenici] Cf. Ep. 1119. 33^. 286. vafricie] Cf. Ep. iii. 44^.
276. Melanchthon] This sentiment 295. meos rabulas] His foes among
underlies Ep. 11 13. the friars.
 494 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

ABSOLVTISSIMO THEOLOGO D. LODOVICO BERO, BASILEAE APVD

COLLEGIVM DIVI PETRI PRAEPOSITO, PATROXO ET AMICO
INCOMPARABILI, ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS S. D.
Ervditissime vir, belle nobis consuluit Lutherus, qui furiosis
quibusdam bonarum literarum osoribus optatissimum telum por-
rexit, quo saeuiant in capita bonorum virorum qui simplici animo
fauebant Euangelicae doctrinae, et in optimas literas. Aut ego plane
5 fallor, aut ille fabulam optimam non optime agit hactenus. Egregius
vindex Euangelicae libertatis: quam ita tentauit, vt verear ne pro
simplici iugo geminum sit nobis ferendum, ac nobis vsu veniat quod
solet iis quibus, dum parum dextre conantur effringere carcerem,
duplicantur compedes, quique pharmaco parum commode adhibito
10 morbum exasperant. Atque ipse quidem foi^tassis in tuto est ; at
tanto atrocius hae phanaticae beluae ac deuoti hostes melioris erudi-
tionis saeuiunt hic in optimum quemque. Putant enim ad Lutheri
factionem pertinei-e quicunque fauerit Euangelicae pliilosophiae aut
Me in omnibus concionibus, in conuiuiis, in
politiori literaturae.
15 colloquiis siclapidant conuiciis, vt nec ipsi Stephano cessurus videar.
Ille semel obrutus finem malorum inuenit. Ego sine fine lapidor
a tot examinibus rabularum, interim tamen bene merens de ipsis.
Res acerbitate Lutheranorum et stoliditate quorundam qui sedulo
magis quam prudenter huic malo mederi conantur, in eum locum
20 deducta est vt ego sane nullum videam exitum nisi res humanae
magno tumultu misceantur. Quis cacodaemon hoc pessimum semen
miscuit rebus mortalium ? Adnixus sum, cum essem Coloniae, vt
Lutherus auferret laudem obedientiae, Pontifex clementiae et place- :

bat regibus quibusdam consilium. Et ecce incendium Deeretalium,

25 Captiuitas Babylonica, Assertiones illae nimium fortes reddiderunt
malum, vt videtur, immedicabile. Sic mihi videtur agere Lutherus
quasi seruari nolit. Rursus adeo stolide quidam gerunt rem apud
populum, quasi cum Luthero colludant et in causa Pontificis praeua-
ricentur. Quod vnum superest, mi Bere, precor vt Christus Opt.
30 Max. omnia vertat in bonum solus enim ille potest.
:

lampridem isthuc itui*iebam, sed erant et sunt quae me adhuc

remorantur. Spei'o me adfuturum autumno proximo. Interim
Christus seruet te cum tuis omnibus incolumem.
Loua. prid. Id. Maias. An. m.d.xxi.
TIT. ABSOLVTISSIMO THEOLOGO FN^ 07)7. N'^.
'. D. 0771. H. FN^ : LVDOVICO N'.
PATRONO . INCOMPARABILI FN^ Om. N^.
. . :

lo. in tutoj Luther had been carried and, for the effect that it produced
off to the Wartburg on 4 May. On 15 Tipon moderrite opinion, Ep. 1186. 6.
May Duke Frederick of Saxony wa>s Fish.-r repiied to this and the Assertio
willing to swear to ignorance of his togetlier in Assertionis Luthcranae Con-
fnte. See Creighton v. 156. Cf. also /wta^jo, Antwerp, M. Hillen, 2 Jan. 1523.
Ep. 1221. 3611. Assertiones] Assertio omnium arti-
22. Coloniae] See pp. 370-1. culonmi M. Luthei-i per Bullam Leonis X
23. clementiae] Cf. Ep. 1183. 65-7. nouissimam dar)inatoruni, Wittenberg,
24. consiliumj Seo Ep. 1149 introd. (M. Lottcr), 1520 with preface dated
;

incendium Decretalium] Luther i Dec. 1520 (LE-. 369). Cf. Epp. 1195.
burnt copies of the books of Canon 63-64^11, 1263. 5.
Law togetlier with the Bull, 10 Dec. 31. itnriebam Cf. Epp. 1078. 6211,
1520; see LE-. 374-5, 1189. in.
25. CaptiuitasJ See Ep. 1153. 146^ ; 32. autumno] See p. 598.
1204] 495

1204. To Adrian Barland.

Adagiorum Epitome tit. v''. (Louvain.)
<May ? 1521.)
[Printed by Barland in liis In omnes Ei-asmi Eoierodami Adagimnan Chiliadas
Epitome, ad commodiorem vsiim studiosorum vtriusque linguae conscripta, Louvain, Th.
Martens, June 1521 (cf. Ep. 1005 introd.) made from the Froben Adagia of Oct.
:

1520. The advantages of an epitome of the great volume are clearly set forth
here by Erasmus himself. Barhind's was reprinted several times and within ;

a few years others were produced by John Brucherius and John Manrus, besides
many later (see BEr^.). The value attached to them may be illustrated from a
letter of Vives to Henry viu, from Bruges, 13 July 1527 'Epitomen Adagiorum
:

Erasmi, quam dixi tibi aie Londini venalem non inuenisse, hic emptam maiesta-
ti tuae mitto propterea quod opus hoc refertum ex vniuerso litterarum viridario
:

coUectis flosculis magnopere oblectare animum tuum poterit, fessum grauiorum

scriptorum lectione (Record Office, S. P. Henry vnr, xlii, f. 200 Brewer iv.
' :

3261).
For earlier work by Barland upon the Adaffia see Ep. 646. Only a conjectuial
date is possible for this preface.]

ERASMVS ROT. HADRIANO BAELANDO SVO S. D.

Nae tu dignusoptime Barlande, cui iuuentus omnis impense
es,
faueat, qui semper industria tua moliaris jJiquid quod bonis studiis
conducat potius quam rei aut famae tuae, rnalisque frugiferis argu-
mentis adolescentiae commodis consulere quam splendidis gloriae
tuae, Nimirum iste est animus vere excelsus vereque Christianus, 5
gratis nulloque autoramento benemereri non solum de patria, quae.
vt recte scripsit Plato, iure sibi nostri partem vindicat, sed de vni-
uerso genere mortalium. Laboris tui gustus mihi maiorem in modum
placuit. Nec minus officii nobis praestas quam Liuio praestitit Florus,
si tamen ego sum Liuio conferendus. Chiliadum nostrarum volumeu 10
maius erat quam vt vel emi posset a tenuibus vel praelegi in ludis
litterariis vel circumferri ab iis qui crebris itineribus motoriam agunt
fabulam. Nunc tua Epitome minimo venalis et a quamlibet etiam
tenuibus parari poterit, et in scholis puerorum manibus teri, et iter
agentibus minimum addet sarcinae. Porro qui praelegent tuum 15
compendium, his nostrum opus vice commentariorum esse poterit.
Illud admonebo, quod non dubito quin tu tua sj^onte curaris, primum
\t aptissima recenseas potius quam omnia, deinde vt si quid inciderit
obscenius (sunt enim pleraque prouerljia a moriljus hominum sumpta),
aut omittas aut ita tractes ne qua lues illinc manet ad teneram aeta- 20
tem quam sic cupimus imbui bonis litteris vt nolimus eam infici
:

malis moriljus. Sunt autem quaedam vicia eius generis vt in his

bona pars innocentiae sit ignorasse.
Si forte nosse cupis quid nunc nostrae Musae moliantur, quando-
quidem omnino cessare nesciunt, in hoc incumbimus, vt omnes diui 25
Augustini libros emendatiores ac scholiis illustratos demus in vulgus,
annotatis, non amputatis, iis quae illi falso tribuuntur. Atque in
opere tam vasto cogimur eruditorum auxiliis vti, sed ita vt nulli sua
laudis portio sit peritura. Nos enim hic vel fraudari malumus quam
~\€ov€KT€iv. Sunt qui putent omnes huius viri libros haberi pulchre 30
castigatos. At ego nunquam crediturus eram tantum inesse pro-
digiosarum mendarum quantum comperio, partim relegens attentius,
partim conferens cum vetustis exemplaribus. Bene vale.
26, Augustiiaij Seu Ei^p. 1144. 7in. 1212. 43-4.
 496 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

1205. To WiLLiAM Warham.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 546. Antwerp.

HN : Lond. xiv. 19: LB. 574. 24 May 1521.

[I cannot deiinitely establish the year-date from tlie contents though the ;

payment of Erasmus' Imperial pension points to 1521, when the Court had
returned from Spain. But the verbal resemblanees with other letters of this
period, especially Ep. 1228, give ample corroboration. Brewer (iii. 260) corrects
to 1519 but the entire difference of matter from Epp. 973,4, with which he
;

groups this, is coneliisive against the change. Also this would naturally have
appeared, like those letters, in E, if it had been written in 15 19.
Of this visit to Antwerp I find no otlier indication.]

R. GVILHELMO ARCHIEPISCOPO CANTVARIEN., TOTIYS ANGLIAE

PRIMATI, ERASMVS S. D.

De animo iii me tuo diligenter mihi seripsit Zacharias Phrysius,

quondam famulus ac discipulus meus, nunc cliens tuae celsitudinis,
iuuenis proljus ac fidus, planeque dignus quem tua benignitas ad
maiora prouehat. Ab Italo tandem extorsimus pecuniam, nec sine
5 negocio nec sine dispendio. Noluit aurum dare, sed stuferos, eosque
vix dedit, ac plerosque monetae improbatae. Summam decimauit,
pro centum fiorenis nostratibus dedit nonaginta, pro quinquaginta
quadraginta quinque. Sic mihi deciduntur quindecim fioreni. Non
est negociator sed conciliator quo genere hominum non aliud scele-
:

10 ratius. Ipse nunc laborat scabie Gallica sub malo medico non sine
vitae periculo. Vicarius illius eodem tenetur morbo, tum animi tum
corporis. Cum mala scabie mihi res fuit. Sed tamen per amicos
auulsi pecuniae partem. Tuae prudentiae fuerit posthac dispicere
quibus committat pecuniam nam haec fuit pessime collocata.
;

15 Primus ille aestus nos validissima febri affecit, sed semel duntaxat.
Nec adhuc vacauit egrotare aut medicis vti ita distringor necessariis ;

TIT. R. Om. H. GVILHELMO ildcl. H.

I. Zacharias] Deiotarus (f c. 1532'i as messengers. His letters (Ep. 1694,

of Friesland; a distich by whom,
as EE. 115, 152) show him as a devoted
'Zacli. Diotorus Phrisius ', appears at and loyal admirer of Erasmus ; whom
the end of Wm.
Horman's Vidgarla, he was always delighted to serve. He
London, R. Pynson, 1519. If he had is mentioned in a letter of 16 March

already settled in England by tliat 1532 (Basle MS. Scheti Epist., f. 39) as
date, itis notimpossiblethatheshould having recently forwarded money to
be identified with the John of Fries- Erasmus. ByApril 1533 he was dead ;

land who ErasmusinSept. 1517 to

left see Lond. xxvii. 16, LB. 1247, and
seek his fortune in England (cf. Ep. VZE. 44.
637. i3n). Zacharias was now in 4. Perhaps Maruffo (Ep. 387.
Italo]
Warham's service and the rest of his
;
2ni or Vivaldis (Ep. 465. 8n) the :

life seems to have been spent in Eng- money being no doubt Erasmus' pen-
land, where he came intocontact with sion from Aldington (see Ep. 255
many of Erasmus' notable friends (cf. introd.).
Epp. 1366, 1490, 1491'. 9- conciliator] sc. leno : cf. Vop.
Though not in aifluent circumstan- Carin. 16. 5.
ces,heregularly received intohishouso 15. aestus] Cf. Ep. 1114.14^.
the servants whom Erasmus sent over 16. distringor] Cf. Ep. 1228. 47.
I205] TO WILLIAM WARHAM 497

Aula Caesarea soluit primam pensionem pro sex mensibus

laboribus.
Hoc laetum est auspicium siquidem ingens fauoris argu-
exactis. ;

mentum est, cum haec dat aUquid preter verba. Nec desunt qui
faueant in aula sed prestat agere quod ago.
; Et valetudo fit in dies 20
imbecillior, etiamsi animo nihil decedit.
Ingentes turbas excitauit Lutherus nec video fineni, nisi Christus
;

nostram temevitatem ita vertat, quemadmodum noctua solet Athe-

niensium stulta consilia bene fortunare. Vellem Lutherus aut
tacuisset quaedani aut aliter scripsisset. Nunc vereor ne sic vitemus 25
lianc Sc3^11ani vt incidamus in Charybdim multo perniciosiorem. Si
istis qui ventris ac tyrannidis suae causa nihil non audent, res suc-
cedit, nihil superest nisi vt scribam epitaphium Chi'isto nunquam
reuicturo. Actum est de scintilla charitatis Euangelicae, actum de
stellula lucis Euangelicae, actum de vena coelestis doctrinae adeo 3° :

turpiter isti adulantur principibus et iis vnde spes est commodi, cuni
summa iniuria Christianae veritatis. Ego sic rem omnem tempero
vt neque desim omnino bonis literis et gloriae Christi, neque me
seditionibus admisceam. Affulget aliquid bonae spei ab aequitate
Leonis nostri, fore vt ille Christi gloriam habeat sua potiorem, vel 35
potius vt intelligat se tum demum fore Pontificem gloriosum, si nihil
non conferat ad illius vnius gloriam.
Quod tam solicite metuis ne quid mihi desit, agnosco paternum
quendam tuum in me affectum. Sed non facile premitur egestate
qui didicit paruo contentus esse. Quanquam nunc satrapes quispiam 4°
mihi videoi*, alens duos equos curatiores quam sit ipse dominus, et
duos famulos domino suo elegantiores. De sacerdotio quod pollicetur
tua benignitas, vereor ne per harpyas non liceat. Tot enim adsunt
isthic vultures qui multis mensibus praesentiant cadauer futurum.
Optarim occasionem dari qua liceat adhuc semel frui conspectu col- 45
loquioque tuae celsitudinis et fortasse dabitur aliquando.
; Vitam
longiorem nec deprecor, si donet Christus, nec anxie desidero. Tan-
tum aetatis optarem accedere vt et animum in te gratum posteritati
queam testatum facere, et mortalium animos ad synceram Christi
philosophiam magis etiam excitare. Hoc animo puto me maiorem 50
gratiam initurum apud lesum Principem nostrum quam si ter diui
Petri limina nudis genibus perreptarem. Bene valeat T. R. D. ; cui
cupio commendatissimus esse.
Antuueri:)iae. xxiiii. die Maii. anno m.d.xxi.

29. est ante de stellula add. N. 43. harpyias N. 52. genibus F: pedibus
N. T. B..D.F: tua sublimitas H.

17. laboribus] The New Testament 44-5-

(Ep. 1174. 150) and Augustine (Ep. 27. ventris] Cf. Ep. 1x66. 16.
1144. 7in) ; cf. Ep. 1218. 18-19. 29. scintilla] Cf. Ep. 1191. 38.
primam pensionem] The half- 42. sacerdotio) Cf. Ep. 1176. 1-6.
yearly payment, loo florins, of Eras- Nothing came of this proposal see tho
;

mus' pension as Councillor (Ep. 370. Ecclesiustes (LB. v. 811 e), wheic Eras-
i8n) had perhaps been made at Wliit- mus states that he had only ono bene-
suntide, 19 May 1521 as was proposed
; fice from Warham, that of Aldington.
in 1517 (cf. Ep. 565. 12-16). It is mentioned again in Ep. 1488.
22. Christus] Cf Ep. 1228. 33-5. 44. cadauer] Cf. Job 39. 30, Matt. 24.
26. Scyllam] Cf. Epp. 1186. lon, 1228, 28, Luke 17. 37.
«2.4 K k
 498 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

1206. To Beatus Rhenanus.

Gouda MS. 1324, f. 46 (d). Louvain.
F. f. a^: HN : Lond. i. i LB. 507.
: 27 May <i52l).

[The ad cliuersos (F), where it appeai-s on the initial

preface to tlie Episfolae
sheet printed after the completion of the rest of the volume. The year-date has
only the authority of H, and needs correction see App. 12 in vol. iii, pp. 627,8 ;

and Ep. loii introd.

There is a contemporary copy in one of the Gouda MSS. (see App. 9 in vol. i),
which differs not a little from the text of F, especially in the order of words.
The vahie of this source is not easy to determine. As has been shown (vol. i,
pp. 611,12) the copyist of the Gouda MSS. seems to have liad aceess to original
documents, and in consequence his work may be regarded as having good
aathority. On the other hand, some of it (e. g. Ep. 325) appears to have been
copied from printed books and that this may be the case here is suggested by
;

the marginal inscription, by the same hand, against this letter, Praefatio in '

2"™ aeditionem Farraginis epistolarum suarum In view, however, of the '.

variants shown in Ep. 1225, wliich follows this in both the ms. and F, I incline
to think that the Gouda copyist may have had a manuscript before him so :

that his text may liave precedence, though it is not necessary to retain his
spelling, which, in the frequent use of c for t, is not that of Erasmus.
If Ep. 660 is rightly placed in 1519 (see p. 67', the publication of F was
designed before the Farrago (E) had appeared. E sold so well that within a few
months Froben wished to issue it again (Ep. 1066. 83-7). But Erasmus, perceiv-
ing that the editors had been incautious (ibid. cf. Ep. 1244. 36n), would not ;

eonsent to a new issue until he had revised it. This process was hegun in the
summer of 1520 (Ep. 1123. 6-8) and was completed about the end of November
;

Ep. 1 163 6-9 cf. Ep. 1 170 introd.). The first part of the copy for the Epistolare,
;
'
'

as F is sometimes cailed, together with that for the Paraphrases onincs (cf. Ep.
1171 introd.), was sent to Basle shortly after Christmas 1520 see Froben's letter :

to Boniface Amerbach in Basle MS. G. II. 29. 115, which is discussed in vol. iii,
p. 628n. Though the title-page of F bears the date 31 Aug. 1521, the latest letter
in the book is one written on 22 Nov. 1521, after Erasmus' arrival at Basle (Ep.
1243) but it is not the last, being followed by twenty-nine pages of text. In
;

consequence the printing was not completed on 24 Jau. 1522 (CE. ii. 5). The
purchase of a copy in March 1522 is described in App. 14; and it is evidently
to the new edition that Luther refers in LE''. 525, of 15 May 1522, Erasmus in '

sua Epistolarum Farragine '. There is another example of the title 'Farrago'
applied to a later edition than E in Ep. i2n introd.
For Erasmus' estimate of the editors' performanoe see Ep. 1244. 36^ and, for ;

the significance of his contribution of a preface, vol. i, pp. 594,5.]

DESIDERIVS ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS BEATO RHENANO

SLETSTADIENSI SALVTEM DICIT.

QvoD scribis, optime Beate, verius esse video quam vellem. Sed
illud demiror, quur ea potissiraum efflagitent amici mei Germani, quae
me degrauant inuidia. Scis enim quam non
dextris auibus exierint
Epistolae, quas tu primum aedendas curasti
quanto peioribus illa ; at
5 Farrago Cuiusaeditionem partim extorsit amicorum flagitatio,partim
!

ipsa necessitas cum viderem accinctos qui quod habebant epistoLirum

;

mearum, vel inuito me essent publicaturi. Atque id facturos sese

iam palam literis ad me suis minitabantur. Quod ne fieret, fasciculo
ad te misso delectum atque etiam emendandi ius tibi credidi, si quid

TIT. DESIDERIVS OW. F. ' F : SLESTADIENSI a. S. D. F.

4. Epistolae] The Auctarium (D') ;

cf. App. 11, in vol. ii, p. 602.
1206] TO BEATUS RHENANUS 499

inesset quod vel offectumm famae meae videretur, vel exacerbaturum lo

vehementer cuiusquam animum. Nec dubito quin tu sedulo pro tua
in nos beneuolentia sis amici synceri fimctus officio. Et tamen illic
etiam inuentum est quod apud quosdam plane tragicas iras excitarit.
Quare decretum erat in totum ab hoc scripti genere desistere prae- :

sertim cum nunc res vndique miris agitetur tumultibus, ac multorum 15

animi sic odiis sint exacerbati, vt nihil tam blande, nihil tam sim-
pliciter. nihil tam circumspecte possis scribere quod non rapiant in
calumniam.
Ego quum adolescens atque etiam aetate virili plurimas scripserim
epistolas, vix vllam tamen in hoc scripsi vt aederetur. Exercebam 20
stilum, fallebam ocium, nugabar cum amiculis, stomacho morem
gerebam denique nihil aliud hic fere quam ludebam, nihil minus
;

expectans quam vt huiusmodi naenias describerent et asseruarent

amici. Nam Senae cum essem, humanissimus ille Piso, qui tum
Regis sui nomine oratorem agebat apud lulium Pontificem, repperit 25
apud bibliopolam quendam prostantem codicem ei^istolarum Erasmi,
sed manu descriptum emit ac mihi misit. : In hoc tametsi erant
multa quae fortasse non indigna videri pot^rant quae seruarentur,
tamen offensus casu tam inopinato, totum quantus erat, Vulcano
dicaui. Reuersus repperi hic similes libellos apud complures adser- 30
uari, in aliquot exemplaria transfusos. Et hic quicquid a notis im-
petrare potui, Vulcano tradidi. Sed tandem expertus sum mihi rem
essecum excetra.
Hoc igitur consilio passus sum exire quasdam, vt vel satiati desine-
rent flagitare caeteras, vel ipsi certe desisterent ab aedendi consilio, ?5
cum perspicerent me huic negocio manus admolitum esse. Ad haec,
exirent certe cum aliquo delectu, minusque deprauatae quam apud
multos habebantur descriptae denique minus haberent aloes. Hcc
:

consilio Farraginem recognoui, quaedam explicui quae sinistre quidam

fuerant interpretati quaedam expunxi quibus animaduerteram quo- 40
;

rundam offensos animos, nimium prof«^cto teneros atque irritabiles

quaedam mitiora reddidi. At rursus horum temporum ratio fecit vt
me eius consilii poeniteret. lampridem magnis odiis flagrabant
studia tuentium linguas ac bonas literas, et istorum qui sibi stultis-
sime persuadent decedere suis commodis quicquid accrescit prouentui -15
melioris literaturae. Mox Lutherana tragoedia in tantam exarsit con-
tentionem, vt nec loqui tutum sit nec tacere. Rapiuntur in diuersum
omnia, etiam quae optimo animo scribuntur ne tempus quidem per- :

penditur quo scripsit aliquis, sed quod suo tempore recte scribebatur,
transferunt in tempus incommodissimum. 5°

14. genere scripti F. 15. tumultiV)US agitentur F. 19. virili aetate F.

28. multa a permulta
: J''. indignaaH: disna F. 29. tam inopi-
nato casu F. 30. Reuersus repperi hic a ; Hic reuersus comperi F
(Hic F :

Hxic H). F : aput a. 32. oxpertus sum taiidem P. 39. F: ferra-

ginem a. quidam sinistre F. 42. At a Ac : F. 44. stultis-
sime sibi F. 45. suis commodis decedere F. 48. scribuntur animo F.

13, iras] Cf. Ep. 1170. 29) and several of the Paris period had
20. Exercebam stilum]Many of Eras- been printod in tlie farrasro.
mus' early letters which have survived. 24. Senae] Cf. Epp. 216 introd., 1297.
«ome under this and the following 66.
categories. Two from Steyn (Epp. 26, 41. ofiFensos] Cf. Ep. 11 70.

K k 2
 500 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1521

Proinde scripseram diligenter Frobenio nostro vt hoc operis mei

perpetuo pi-emeret,aut seruaret in tempus aliud, aut certe in reditum
meum proferret Paraphraseon opus acceleraret, quo neminem adhuc
:

offendi comperissem. At ille, vt mihi quidem frequenter est leuae

65 mentis, omnibus vt scribunt posthabitis, Epistolarum opus adprope-
rauit excudere, iamque me inscio ad xli. senionem peruenit neque ;

quicquam remoratur aeditionem praeter praefationem et coronidem.

Negat autem se diutius pressurum opus, etiam si ipse fortasse grauer
aliquid addere citius emissurus aKe(f)aXov ac ixeLovpov opus quam tan-
;

60 tam impendii iacturam accepturus. Scilicet mos homini gerendus

est, et ipse fortassis aliquod famae dispendium faciam, vt illius
commodo consulatur. non potest,
At quando quod volui obtineri
tui, mi Beate, candoris erit aduigilare vt opus exeat quam
minima mei
nominis inuidia. Non satis memini quas miserim epistolas. Atque
65 ea gratia iussi vt per iuuenem eum per quem misi priorem Noui
Testamenti partem, remitteret quod excusum esset ex Epistolis.
Quod quo consilio grauatus sit facere, non queo satis coniectare.
Hac igitur in re, te per amicitiam nostram obtestor, eruditissime
Beate, vt quod ego facturus eram, si licuisset, tu faeias, vere alter
70 ego atque modis omnibus sic agas ne isthic Erasmus abfuisse videa-
;

tur. Neque vero te moueat tantiUum damni, quod erit in aliquot

chartis mutandis suscipiendum. Mihi totum istud quicquid erit
dispendii volo imputari. Frobenium immunem esse iubeo. Ego
lucrum esse deputo, quoties pecuniae iactura famae consulitur.
75 Pecuniolam illam facile sarciemus alicunde. Famae laboranti non
facile succurritur cui si nihil etiam immineret periculi, arbitror
:

tamen animi esse Christiani pro viribus adniti vt sic studeamus

omnibus satisfacere, ne quenquam vel imprudentes offendamus. Fit
autem hoc nescio quo meo malo fato, vt ab iis ad quae videbar natura
80 compositus, in alium campum longe diuersum fortuna me depellat,
siue vitae spectes institutum, siue studiorum genus. Etenim ne
singula commemorem, cum viderer ad fusum hoc ac liberum ora-
tionis genus esse natus, quod in concionibus, consuitationibus, aut
etiam declamationibus adhiberi solet, in collectaneis prouerbiorum,
85 in scholiis et annotationibus bonam studii portionem contriui.
Caeterum ad epistolas scribendas fortasse non ita valde videri pote-
ram ineptus ; verum alioqui multae res erant quae me ab hoc genere
deterrebant. Primum si epistolae carent veris affectibus neque
vitam ipsam hominis repraesentant, iam epistolae nomen non me-
90 rentur. Quales sunt Senecae ad Lucilium atque adeo inter eas quas :

52. aliud tempus F. 55. vt scribunt add. F. 56. excudere om. F.

xli.o quadragesimum
: primum H.
58. fortasse add. H. 59. dK((pa\ov ac
fieiovpov F Hic Greca a.
: 6i. est add. F. fortasse famae dispendium ali-
quod F. 62. commodo a compendio F.: 64. epistolas miserim F.
65. eum add. F. 70. omnibus modis F. 71. tantillum a : tantulum F.
76. tamen arbitror F. 78. satisfacere a : prodesse F. 79. iis a his F. :

80. me fortuna F. 86. fortasse F : forsitan a.

53. Paraphraseon] Probably the col- — of course revised by Erasmus the :

lected volumeof March 1521: seep.416. new matter foUowed. See vol. iii,
56. xli. senionem] Thus far Froben p. 627.
had been reprinting the vohinies of 65. Noui Testamenti] Cf. Ep. 1174.
letters aheady published, C, B, D', E isn.
1206] TO BEATUS EHENANUS 501

olim scripsit Plato, quasque ad Apostolorum, vt apparet, imitationem

scripserunt Cyprianus, Basilius, Hieronymus, Augustinus, perpaucae
sunt quas non libros rectius appellaris quam epistolas. Porro, quas
nobis reliquit nescio quis Bruti nomine, nomine Phalaridis, nomine
Senecae ad Paulum, quid aliud censeri possunt quam declamatiun- 95
culae ? Verum autem illud epistolarum genus quod mores, quod
fortunam, quod affectus, quod publicum simul et priuatum temporis
statum velut in tabula repraesentat, cuius generis fere sunt Epistolae
Ciceronis ac Plinii, et inter recentiores Aeneae Pii, aliquanto plus
habet periculi quam historia rerum nuper gestarum ; periculosae, vt 100
inquit Flaccus, plenum opus aleae.
Proinde si quid aedendum sit in hoc genere, nulli velim autor esse
vt ipse viuus aedat, sed Tironi cuipiam hoc det negocii quanquam :

hic in aedendis patroni sui monumentis plus studii quam iudicii

creditur adhibuisse. Siue laudes aliquem siue vituperes, non deerunt 105
qui ofFendantur vt ne commemorem esse quosdani qui ne laudari
:

quidem sustineant libris aeditis, siue quod dedignentur a quouis

nominari, siue quod vereantur ne cui veniant in suspicionem (^tAo/co-
A.aKtas. Quo magis demiror diuum Bernardum Epistolas suas euul-
gasse, in quibus tot nomina carbone notantur. Nunc si quis lacobitae no
aut Carmelitae meminerit vel suppresso nomine, nisi cum multa
honoris praefatione, res videtur digna lapidatione. lam et illud est
incommodi, quod, vt sunt mutabiles res mortalium, ex amicissimis
nonnunquam redduntur inimicissimi et contra, vt et illos laudatos,
;

et hos doleas attactos. Postremo, ne famae quidem autoris satis 115

consulitur, quod plerique ex vna quapiam epistola totum aestimant
hominis ingenium, quum aliquoties scribamus vuidi, nonnunquam
dormitantes, interim lassi, interim etiam aegroti, aut aliud agentes,
nonnunquam alieno stomacho, frequenter ad eius cui scribimus vel
captum vel iudicium orationis habitum attemperantes. Vnde fit vt 120
imperitis veniamus in suspicionem inconstantiae, quum ea varietas
aetati, affectui, personis ac rebus in diuersum mutatis, sit imputanda.
Haec cum alium quamlibet felicem ab aedendis epistolis merito
deterreant, me tamen illud peculiariter dehortabatur, quod cum mihi
semper fortuna non solum humilis fuerit verumetiam constanter 125
iniqua, neque is vitae tenor vt eam velim aut possim ab omni crimine
vindicare, non erat cur vellem vtriusque multa superesse vestigia.
Atque haec ratio fortassis et illos moueret ad quos scribimus, qui
quod per literas velut in sinum eflfutinnt amiculi, nolint omnibus

92. F: Hieronimus a. 94. aH: Phalirldis i^". 95. ad Paulum a :

et Pauli F. 96. autemadd. f 98. statumB^: factuma: fatum

F Corrig. velut F velud a, c/. Ep. 11 77. 13».
:
99. ac om. F. 100.
nuper add. F. 103. Tyroni H. 105. siue vituperes aliquem F. 108. F:
philocolacias a. 109. demiror a : admiror i". iii. multa cum i^. 113.
mutabiles o»n. i^. 114. et post \t add. F. 115. Postremo i? lam a.
: 118.
etiam add. F. 122. aN: imputandum i^. 129. velut F: velud o.

94. Bruti] The two lettersattributed loi. Flaccus] C 2. i. 6.

to Brutus (Cic. ad JSrM<. 1. 16, 17), which 109. Bernardum] Cf. Epp. 15. 3511,
are thought to be examples of suasoriae. 1142. 45^.
95. Senecae] Cf. Ep. 325. 71-3. iio. lacobitae] a Dominican ; cf. Ep.
99. Aeneae Pii] Aeneas Sylvius, 1153. ii3n.
Pius II. 125. fortuna] Cf. Ep. 1102. 6n.
 502 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1521

130 prodi, quum sint qui nati Gratiis iratis, nihil non interpretentur in
partem peiorem. Saepenumero fit vt quod in conuiuio aut inter
candidos homunculos dictum gratiam habet, si idem loco non suo
dicatur, atroces excitet tragoedias. Hac quidem de causa pauciores
admiscuimus ex iis quibus respondemus, et tamen aliquot adiecimus,
135 praesertim eruditorum: partim quod me piguerit laboris quem An-
gelus Politianus fere sumit, in repetendo argumento epistulae cui
rescribit ;
partim quod, vt addas argumentum, aliquid tamen lucis ac
vitae videtur deesse, ni prius legas eam ad quam respondetur.
Habes, Rhenane, totius consilii mei rationem. Nihil superest nisi
140 vt primum te rogem vt in delectu animum istum vere amicum exeras ;

deinde superos precer vt tuum iudicium meumque obsequium velint

esse felix, non solum mihi, qui sodalium affectibus repugnare perti-
naciter non possum, verumetiam illis qui hoc obsequii maiore studio
quam iudicio a nobis extorserunt. Bene vale.
145 Louanii. 6. cal. iunias. [Anno m.d.xx.]

1207. FrOM BasIL AM.OIiBACH.

Basle MS. G. II. 13^. 9. Basle.

30 May 1521.

[An original manuscript, autograph throughout ; and apparently the letter

actually sent, since it is folded, cut, and sealed. But as it was presumably
carried by Erasmus' own messenger (1. 30), it is not clear why it should be
preserved among tlie Amorbach-Froben papers at Basle. Possibly after sealing
this, Basil wished to make some changes, and wrote a fairer copy for dispatch ;
or Jerome Froben, who was in Erasmus' service about thia time (cf. Epp. 903.
an, 1209. 5n) may have acquired the letter and kept it.
The year-date is confii-med by Boniface's return from Avignon.]

Perbelle mecum agis, vnicum seculi decus, Erasme, qui cum

lucubrationibus tuis immortalibus me immortalem reddideris, tum
modicam illam opellam, qua aliquoties secundae Noui Instrumenti
aeditioni praefui, tanti facis vt cum iuxta Diomedis et Glauci permu-
5 tationem aurea pro aereis reddideris, nullam tamen adhuc tibi videris
retulisse gratiam. Quid igitur mihi incumbit tibi omnibus nominibus
obnoxio ? Si profiteri debeam, soluendo certe non sum, et vltro
cessurus bonis. Pro mortalibus enim immortalia, pro vulgaribus
eximia, pro modicis maxima accepi. Sed hoc humanitati tuae tribue-
10 rim, qua vel Gratias ipsas vincis. Patiar igitur me hoc vinci, quando
vnus ego e pluribus huiusmodi beneficiorum genere tecum nec con-
gredi velim nec possim. Non tamen interim deerit meum in te
studium, mea obseruantia, quicquid id est referendi. Quod si

1206. 131. peiorem partem J^. 134. iisa: his f'. 136. F: Policianus a.
137. tamen aliquid F. 139. Rhenane om. F. 142. qui sodalium . . . 143.
non possum add. F. 145. Anno m.d.xx. add. H.

1206. 136. Politianus] SeeEp.126.1a9n. et Basilius, viri doctissimi et nostri

1207. 3. opellam] The letter attributed amantissimi, bona fide nos adiuuerunt
to Froben in the second edition of the id quod iliis nouum non est'. But
N. T., 1519, p. 566, testifies to this Basil waa not fond of correcting for
'SiquidemvtriqueAmorbacchii,Bruno the press ; cf. Ep. 904. 4on.
I207] FKOM BASIL AMORBACH 503

nequeam. animum accipies tibi toto pectore addictissimum, conatus

quandoque in laude est. 15
Hoc vnicum tanquam ex tripode tibi persuasissimum velim, me
nihil non acturum tua causa, si modo possem vnquam. Id cum nunc
in Nouo tuo Testamento ruihi non sit integrum, quam aegre feram
paucis non explicuero. Statui enim peregre proficisci, et nunc tantuni
non itineri accinctus tuas literas accipio. Dolet mihi et quidem 20
vehementer nunc temporis potissimum ad nos missum Instrumentum
tuum Nouum, quo Basilea omnino velim nolim abeundum est.
Quare, eruditissime Erasme, boni consulas velim necessariam meam
abitionem qui alioqui, si vel Basileae permanerem, vel citius me
;

tuae contigissent literae, in opere tuo sub incude castigando nullum 25

non mouissem lapidem, quo studium in te meum expertus fuisses,
nempe propensissimum cui omnia pleno iure in me licent. Bene
:

vale, Erasme, eruditionis columen et Germaniae decus.

Bonifacius ex Aueniona rediit ante mensem nunc tamen Friburgum
;

profectus, nescius tuum adesse nuncium. nihil scribit. Tibi tamen 30

nullo non sacramento adstrictus est, quod pro fratre bona fide fideiu-
bere possum. Vtrunque, eruditiss(ime) Erasme, tibi deditissi(me)
commendatum et habeas et serues.
Basileae, tertio kal. lunii Anno m d xxi.
Tuus ex animo 35
Basilius Amorbacli.
Clarissimo ac eruditissimo domino, Dn. Erasmo Roterodamo,
praeceptori suo celebratissimo. Louanii.

1208. To Maximilian of Horne^.

Anderlecht.
LB. App. 316. 31 May 1521.

[This letter is one of the small group for which I cannot trace the originals
used for the Leiden edition see vol. i, p. 609, and cf. Ep. 1166. The date is no
;

doubt in a form invented by Leclerc ; for I cannot recall any instance in which
Erasmus elucidates a reference to a festival by the day of the month. The
year-date also is perhaps added by Leclerc. But it must bo correct for this is ;

the only year in which Erasmus visited Anderlecht for a long stay. He
remained there now for a great part of the summer for his life there and at
:

Brussels see Ep. 1342. 19-23, 62-9.

Maximilian (f 3 Feb. 1542) was the head of the branch of the Hornes family
which derived a title from estates at Gaesbeck, some miles s. of Brussels :

Hornes being on the w. bank of the Meuse, opposite Roermond. When a young
man, Maximilian accompanied the Archduke Philip to Spam in 1501, as cham-
berlain (Gachard i. 127, 348) and thus on return may have been present at
;

Philip's reception in Brussels, 6 Jan. 1504, when Erasmus delivered liis

Panegyric (Epp. 179, 180). In 1505 he succeeded his father in the title. and
was soon employed by Margaret in the pacification of the province of Utrecht,
commanding at Tiel in 1507 and being present at the siege of Venlo in 1511.
In Nov. 1516 he was created Kt. of the Golden Fleece being then chamberlain
;

29. Auenioh. MS.

18. Testamento] For the progress of ney I can 6nd no other mention.
tho third edition see Ep. 1174. i^n. 29. Bonifaciua] Cf. Ep. 1201.
19. peregre proficiscij Of this jour- Friburgum] In response to ZE. a6.
 604 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

to Charles (Gachard ii. 57, iii. 25). In 15 19 he was ambassador to the Duke of
Gueldres.
He had three sons Henry (f 1540) Martin, born c. 1509, father of the
: ;

Wm. of Hornes, leader of the malcontents ', wlio was executed by Alex. Far-
'

nese, 8 Nov. 1580; and Philip, who became Provost of St. John's at Utrecht.
The boy mentioned here may have been any one of these.
See F. V. Goethals, Hist. dela maison cle Hornes, Brussels, 1848, pp. 241-62 and ;

Henne.]

CLARISS. D. MAXIMILIANO, DOMIXO DE HORNES ET DE

GASBEEK, ERASMVS ROT. S. P.

ViR clarissime, huius loci amoenitas et hospitisinauditahumanitas

me sic reficit reci-eatque, vt prorsus mihi videar reuixisse. Accedit
Leonardi iucundissima consuetudo, qui paterno quodam animo filii
tui pueritiam format et instituit. Ex oratione vero Scholastici saepe
5 cogito celsitudinem tuam esse animo in me propenso quo enim hoc :

magis tibi debeo, hoc minus promereor. Vtinam esset in quo vicis-
sim animum in te gratum declarare possim Agam hic fortassis !

menses tres: totam enim bibliothecam huc transtuli. Interim si

vel consilio vel industria mea
iuuare potero studia filii tui, nullus
10 deero officio grati hominis.Indoles pueri perplacet sed magni refert ;

apud quos et a quibus instituatur. Precor tibi fortunam isto animo

digniorem. Bene valeat tua celsitudo cum illustrissima domina
coniuge tua.
Anderlaco, postridie Eucharistiae, [siue 31 Maii,] Anno 1521.
15 Erasmus tuus manu propria ex tempoi"e.

1209. To CONRAD GOCLENIUS.

Vita Erasmi p, 86. (Anderlecht.)
Lond. XXX. 15 LB. 575. : 8 June 1521.

[The year-date may be accepted from the mention of Erasmus' impending visit
to Basle ;Ep. 12 16. 72. It is evident that he was away from Louvain.
cf.
—
Of Conrad Goclenius (c. Dec. 1489 25 Jan, 1539), from the village of Men-
geringhausen, near Arolsen in Waldeck, little is kuown before his appearance
at Louvain in 1519. Hamelmann (1580) styles him Paderbornensis, and adds
that he was educated at Deventer {Schriften, ed. K. Loffler, 1908, i. 4, pp. 18,
32, 55) ;mentioning also (ibid. i. 3, p. 274) a nephew Jolm. son of a brother.
Keichling conjectures (J. Murniellivs, p. 53^) that he may be the Coenradus '

Paterbornis who was M.A. at Cologne, 26 March 1504

'
but in view of his age,
;

given by Nannius (f B* : see below) as just over 49 at his death, and of

''.

Erasmus' repeated description of him at this time as iuuenis, the identification

seems doubtful. Reichling also mentions (ibid. pp. 63, 141) a Hermann Goc-
kelen, parish-priest of Hamm, between Soest and Miinster, who was perhaps
a relation.

1. amoenitas] For Erasmus' plea- 1342. 25-6, 1518. Notwithstanding,

sure in the country at Anderlecht cf. numei-ous reports of his death were in
Epp. 1215. 12-24. 1216. 81-2, 1223. 1-13, circulation during the summer (Ep.
1233. 185-9, 1236. 182-3, 1275. 50. 1518) : cf. Ep. 1008. 8n.
hospitis] Wyciimau seeEp. 1231.
; 3. Leonardi] Possihly Casimbrotius
2. reuixisse] He enjoyed better or Casperotus of Bruges ; see Ep. 1594.
health at Anderlecht than lie liad had 13. coniuge] Barbo of Montfort,
for years : see Epp. 1223, 1238. 9-11, married 15 May 1504.
1209] TO CONKAD GOCLENIUS 505

On I Dec. 15 19 Goclenius was appointed to supersede Barland as Professor of

Latin in Busleiden's College (Epp. 1050, 1051) a post which he held until liis
;

death, only rarelyleaving Louvain. His life was spent in teaching, for diffeient
estimates of which see VZE. go and he received private pupils into liis house.
;

In consequence his literary output was small a poem on Erasmus' works, :

c. May 1519 (see Ep. 870 introd.); some verses upon Martens' second edition of
the CoUoq. Formulae (Ep. 1041') a translation of Lucian's HermoUnius, Louvain,
;

Th. Martens, 1522, dedicateu to More and some notes on Cic. Off., added to
;

Ei"asmus' (cf. Ep. 1013) in the Froben edition of 1528. Val. Andreas mentions
also some ms. notes on Cicero, and an edition of Lucan hut the latter seems to ;

be apocryphal. About 1533 he received a canonry at Antwerp (OE. p. 330).

With Erasmus he soon became an intimate friend who could be recom- :

mended to others (cf. Ep. roiB), and who was deserving of every praise (cf.
Epp. 1215, 1220, 1223, 1237 and a passage added to Aclag. 1659 i^ ^<^t. 1520).
;

Oii three occasions, beginning in 1521, Erasmus deposited money with him, and to
his liands was committed the Compendium Vitae (n see Ep. 1437 in 1524. He :

was named for legacies in Erasmus' wills of 1527 and 1536 and in the former it ;

was proposed that he should come to Basle and supervise the projected edition
of Erasmus' coUected works. Erasmus' latest surviving letter, 28 June 1536, is
addressed to him ;and for devotion to the master he might almost be'
'

ranked with Beatus Rhenanus and Boniface Amerbach. In the Ciceronianus

(LB. i. 1014 c) he is described as stout, with a very short neck, and inclined to
indolence.
Besides a collection of his letters to Erasmus in ms. at Basle, see OE, DGE,
and EE Val. Andreas, CoUegi trilinguis exordia, 1614, pp. 47-50; and Neve pp.
;

143-9. Andr. Resendius dedicat«d to him a Carmen aduersiis stoJidos poUtioris . . .

literaturae oblatratores, Basle, Froben, Sept. 1531, of which there is a copy at

Schlettstadt (Cat. Rhen. 176); Alard of Amsterdam, who had been his friend
since 1519, composed verses for his tomb, speaking of him as 'alter Erasmus *

and Peter Nannius, his successor, pronounced a Funebris Oratio upon him, Louvain,
S. Zasseuus, 1542.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS D. CONRADO GOCLENIO S.

Velim tememinisse de domo conducenda quae mihi sit com-

moda et hortum habeat. Potes hac de re communicare cum
Dorpio. Nam etiamsi petam Germaniam hoc autumno, ob nomen,
3. , ob nonien, tamen O^ : ? ob Nouum Testamentum, : c/. Ep. 1342. 89-93.

3. petam Germaniam] About this p. 107 (LB. i. 911). The story, which
time Erasmus wrote to Froben that he comes from Kescius' pupil, Henry
should come to Basle as soon as he Ravestein, at one time the possessor of
knew for certain about the Emperor's the original document of the Compen-
movements cf. VE. 264, dated 21
: dntm Fj7ae (see vol. i, p. 575, has many
July 1521. His letter is not extant. absurd inaccuracies (see I. Bywater,
4. nidum paratum] For Erasmus' Tlie Erasmian Pronunciation 0/ Greek,
intentionof returningtoLouvain inthe 1908, pp.8-io) but thetraditiongiven
;

spring cf. Ep. 1257. 10 also Epp. 1233.

: above may well be true. It was written
188^,1239.19. ItappearsfromEp. 1351 down by Ravestein at Nijmegen on
that he had left his books behind. Ep. 27 Oct. 1569.
1322 shows that a room was reserved There is another detail, in the evi-
for him in the Collegium trilingue. denee given, 13 .July 1525, by Jan
For the word cf. Epp. 314. 10, 1012. 4, Dierixsoen de Backer, an old school-
1342. 450. friend of Erasmus (see vol. i, p. 579)
A tradition of Erasmus' residence before tho Inquisitors Nic. Coppin
in the CoUfege du Lis— that for about (Ep. 1162. io8n), Godesc. Rosemondt
two years lie occupied the upper room (Ep. 1 153), Ruard Tapper (Ep. 946. ^n),
on a staircase (cf. Ep. 1347. 8-9^, and and Bern. Bucho (Ep. 1237), when
Rescius (1. 5) the lower — is to be they were trying his son, Juhn Pis-
found in G. J. Vossius' Be artn gram- torius. He recalls to tliem that he
matica, 1635, p. loi, with the dotail of had met them formerly, Ick hebbe •

time added in the edition of 1662, by mijn lieeren wel eer ghegeten, tot
 506 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

tamen cuperem istic habere nidum paratum. Mitto librum quem

5 petit Rutgerus. Reddes epistolas Heluetio. Bene vale.
6. Id. lunias 1521.
Accipe ab hoc snaphano camisiam inperfectam, quam mihi misit
vxor Frobenii. Videtur enim hic illam sibi qualificasse.

1210. To RiCHARD Pace.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 546. Anderlecht.
HN : Lond. xiv. 18: LB. 577. Ii June 1521.

[The year-date is amply confirmed by the contents.]

ERASMVS ROT, RICARDO PACAEO S. D.

Ex officina Frobeniana scribunt eruditi quidam Polydori Prouerbia

maiusculis formulis excudi, charta tam insigni vt non aliud opus
dignatus sit Frobenius maiore vel honore vel cura. Addet opus de
Rerum Inuentoribus simili dignitate. Idque faeit hortatu, imo im-
5 pulsu meo. Nam ille plane remiserat opus Antuuerpiam per Hiero-
nymum filium, nec vllis rationibus adduci potuit vt aggrederetur.
Exibit vtrunque proximo mercatu Francfordiensi bonis auibus. Eat
nunc Polydorus et credat susurronibus qui iactitant me inuidere illius
gloriae.
10 Intelligo Morum e consiliario Regis factum esse Tiiesaurarium ;

quod munus cum laonorificum est, tum salarii non poenitendi. Vt

video, tam feliciter illi succedit aula vt me illius misereat. Sed me
recreat quod iterum sui videndi spem aliquam facit in mensem
Augustum.

Louen in die Lelie met Erasmo daer : aioi, which contrasts Snaphanum ex
'

was ic acht daghen lanck (Fredericq ' praedationum reditu iactantem sese
iv, p. 4831. Probably as the result of with the honest workman supporting
this visit the boy John, who was born a family by his labour (LB. 1. 743 e) :

c. 1498, was sent work under Eras-

to also a letter of Ascham from Germany,
mus' eye at Louvain see his life by
: 20 Jan. 1551 (no. 116, ed. J. A. Giles,
Gnapheus, reprinted by Fredericq (iv, 1865 from Brit. Mus. MS. Lansdowne
;

p. 408). 98, f. 52), thieves called snaphanses '.

'

Another pupil was Tossanus Hoce- The word was also used in the Nether-
dius of Valenciennes, afterwards Bp. lands for a small eoin worth 3 stui-
ofTouI,iS43 —
130 July 1565, 'in literis vers ; see W. C. Hazlitt, Comagre of ths
politioribus diu ac foeliciter versatus Etiropean Continent, 1893, p. 234.
sub Erasmo nostro, quicum aliquandiu 8, vxor Frobenii] Gertrude Lacliner;
conuixit Louanii, atque adeo aodes ac see Ep. 419. i8n.
mensam habuit communem' (BRE. 1210. i. Polydori] See pp. 425-6.
328). 5. per Hieronymum] Cf. Ep. 1175.
1209. 5. Rutgerus] Rescius ; see Ep. irsn.
546. 10. Thesaurarium] This seems to be
Heluetio] Perhaps a nickname for the earliest mention of More'3 appoint-
•Jerome Froben appropriate in view
; ment as Under-Treasurer the date of ;

of his special citizenship (Ep. 903. 2n). which has not been precisely estab-
He must have returned to Basle about lished. Cf. Epp. 1223. 41-5, 1233. 25.
this time cf. Ep. 1226.
; 13. sui videndi] Evidently in con-
7. snaphano] Evidently a Latiniza- nexion with the Conference at Calais
tion of the Germ. Schnapphahn, a arranged for August : see Brewer iii.

footpad. Cf. the coUoquy nTcuxorrXov- 1338-40, 1383, 1443.

 12 10] TO EICHAED PACE 507

Verum illud, mi Pacaee, me male cruciat, quod de commentariis 15

Eomae relictis nihil
audio. Quaeso ne quid te sumptus moueat quo
minus huc referantur. Non fiet tuo dispendio reddetur impendium ;

vel ad assem. Si redeat modo secundus liber Antibarbarorum,

caeterorum iacturam facile patiar. Bene vale.
Ex rure Anderlaco. iir. Id. lunias. Anno M.D.xxi. 20

1211. To JODOCUS JOXAS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 569. Anderlecht.
HN: Lond. xv. 14: LB. 435. 13 June 1521.

[This biographical sketch of Colet was projected by Erasmus immediately

after his friend's deatli (Epp. 1026. 2-4, 1027. 8-9, 1030. 46-8), as not long since
he had composed a similar sketch of More (Ep. 999). In executing it he
enriched the picture by portraying another friend (see Ep. 163. ^n) whose
character had much in common with Colefs. For some reason the work did
not progress rapidly, perhaps because the information he had asked for from
his English correspondents was not forthcoming ;cf. Ep. 1229. 3-5) certainly :

it appears that the details given are drawn from what he might have known by
personal experience, It may be noted that, like Ep. 999, this is addressed not
to one of Colefs own countrj^men, but to a German perhaps in this case with
:

special purpose (cf. Ep. 876 introd.).

An evidence of the interest evoked by this sketch may be found in a letter of
Martin Tyndall, a young Cambridge scholar, to Thomas Cromsvell, 2 July 1533
(Brewer vi. 751, 752 the original being at the Record Office, and a rough-draft
:

in the British Museum, Harl. MS. 6989, f. 45). Being driven away from King'3
College by the plague, Tyndall came to London and there, to employ his time,
;

visited the booksellers in St. Paul's churchyard. In one of the shops he found
a copy of what he calls Farrago Epistolarum Erasmicarum, a boke off the worste '

printe ', but which must have been F (cf. Ep. 1206 introd.), or even H for ;

there buried in a strange [s]tonge, in corner ofF greate boke ', lay this letter.
'

It delighted him so much that he borrowed the volume for a week and made
a translation which he sent to Cromwell written in a course hande', being
;
'

unable to afford the six or seven shillings which it would have cost to get it
copied out fair.
Tyndairs translation is not known to survive. The earliest extant version,
of the life of Colet only, but amplified with material from other sources, is one
by Dr. Thomas Smith, Cambridge, 1661 ; which was reprinted in a miscellany
entitled Thi' Phenix, vol. ii, 1708, and subsequently by Chr. Woi-dsworth in the
successive editions of his Eccksiastical Biographics. A
complete translation was
made by the late Mr. J. H. Lupton, London, 1883, with elaborate notes, to
—
which I have been continually indebted far more often, indeed, than I have
been able to acknowledge.
The misprint in the year-date aa given in H
has caused this letter to be
wrongly dated by almost all writers who have made use of it. From the fact of
Erasmus' residence at Anderlecht, combined with the mention in Ep. 1229,
there can be no doubt that 1521 is correct. The number of blunders in the text
of F, which had to be set right in the corrigenda, is noticeable.]

ERAS. ROT. lODOCO lONAE ERPHORDIENSI S. D.

QvoD tam impense rogas, vir optime, vt tibi loannis Coleti vitam
paucis velut in breui tabella depingam, hoc faciam lubentius, quod

1210. 16. Romae relictis] by Pace ; cf. Ep. 11 10. 3911.

18. Antibarbarorum] See £p. iito.
 508 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [152

suspicer te tibi quaerere egregium aliquod pietatis exemplar, ad quod

tuum institutum attemperes. Equidem, mi lona charissime, vt fateor
5 me cum multis habuisse consuetudinem quorum integritas mihi valde
probaretur, tamen nullum adhuc vidi in cuius moribus nescio quid
adhuc Christianae puritatis non desiderarem, quoties ad horum duo-
rum synceritatem conferrem aliquem quorum alterum mihi nosse
:

contigit apud oppidum Artesiae quod vulgo dicitur S. Audomari,

10 dum huc me pestis, hac sane in parte mihi felix, Lutetia propulisset
alterum in Britannia, quo me Montioii mei charitas pertraxerat.
Lucrum facies, cuius scio te auidissimum pro vno duos dabo.
Prior dictus est loannes Vitrarius, ordinis Franciscani nam in
;

—
hoc vitae genus adolescens inciderat ; meo iudicio nulla ex parte
15 posthabendus Coleto, nisi quod ob seruitutem instituti minus multis
prodesse poterat. Annos natus erat ferme quadraginta quatuor cum
hominem nosse coepissem ac statim adamare me coepit, hominem
;

sui multum dissimilem. Erat autoritatis maximae apud optimos

quosque, multis magnatibus gratissimus corpore procero et eleganti,
;

20 natura foelici, animo sic excelso vt nihil esset illo humanius. Sco-
ticas argutias puer imbiberat, quas nec prorsus iraprobabat, quod
quaedam scite dicerentur licet sordidis verbis, nec rursus magni
faciebat. Caeterum, vbi contigisset Ambrosium, Cyprianum, Hiero-
nymum degustare, mirum quam prae his illa fastidiebat. Nullius
35 ingenium magis admirabatur in sacris literis quam Origenis cumque :

cauillarer me mirari quod hominis haeretici scriptis delectaretur, ille

mira alacritate Fieri non potuit inquit quin hoc pectus inhabita-
*
'
'

rit Spiritus sanctus, vnde tot libri tam eruditi tanto ardore scripti
prodierunt '.

30 Quanquam autem illud vitae institutum, in quod per inscitiam

aetatisfuerat vel delapsus vel pei-tractus, nequaquam probabat
subinde dictitans apud me fatuorum esse vitam potius quam religio-
sorum ad nolae signum dormire, expergisci, redormiscere, loqui,
tacere, ire, redire, cibum capere, desinere pastu, denique nihil non
35 facere ad praescriptum humanum potius quam ad Christi regulam :
nihil iniquius esse quam inter tam inaequales aequalitatem, maxime
quod illic saepenumero coelestia ingenia ac melioribus rebus nata
ceremoniis et constitutiunculis humanis aut etiam liuore sepelirentur,
Tamen nec cuiquam vnquam fuit autor mutandae vitae, nec ipse
40 quicquam huiusmodi molitus est ; paratus omnia ferre potius quani
vlli mortalium offendiculo esse, Pauli sui exemplum in hoc quoque
referens. Niliil autem erat tam iniquum quod ille pacis seruandae
studio non summa cum alacritate perpeteretur.
Libros diuinos, praesertim Epistolas Pauli, sic edidicerat vt nemo
45 melius teneret vngues digitosque suos quam ille Pauli sui sermones.

22. rursus F Corrig. : uersus F.

10. pestis] It drove Erasmus from Colet; 1. 262.

Paris in May 1501;see Epp. 153 introd.. 20. excelso]For the use of this
156. 6-8, 157. 1-4, 159. 35-6. epithet about Colet in a not commen-
13, Vitrariusj See Ep. 163. ^n. datory sense see 11. 391, 399.
16. quadniginta quatu<>r] He was 33. redormiscere] Cf. Epp. 296. 19,
born, therefore, c. 1457, and so was 447, 401,
about nine years older tlian Erasmus, 41. offendiculo] Cf. i Cor. 8. 9.
19. procero et eleganti] So also 45. vngues] Cf. Juv. 7. 232.
 1211] TO JODOCUS JONAS 509

Dedisses initium ex quacunque parte, ille mox totam epistolam

absque vllo lapsu fuisset prosequutus. Ambrosii pleraque tenebat
memoriter. Vixque credibile est quantum item ex aliis orthodoxis
veteribus memoria complecteretur. Praestitit hoc illi partim memoria
natura felix, partim assidua meditatio. 50
Eogatus a me in familiari colloquio quibus modis pvaeparax'et
animum suum iturus ad concionandum, respondit se solitum in
manus sumere Paulum, et in eius lectione tam diu commorari donec
sentiret incalescere pectus. Illic haerebat, addens igneas ad Deum
preces, donec admoneretur esse tempus incipiendi. Non diuidebat 55
fere conciones suas: quod vulgus ita facit, quasi secus facere non
liceat ; vnde
fit vt frequenter sit frigidissima distinctio. Quanquam
omnis distinctionum cura frigus addit orationi, et artificii signifi-
illa
cationem praebens fidem eleuat dicentis. At hic perpetuo quodam
sermonis fluxu connectebat sacram Epistolam cum Euangelica 60
lectione, vt auditor domum rediret et eruditior et inflammatior ad
studium pietatis. Neque gesticulationibus ineptiebat, nec vociferatio-
nibus tumultuabatur, sed totus apud se sic promebat verba vt sentires
ex ardenti ac simplici sed sobrio pectore proficisci nec vsquam im- :

morabatur ad taedium vsque, neque iactabat sese variis citationibus 65

nominum quemadmodum nunc e Scoto, Thoma, Durando, nunc ex
;

iuris vtriusque libris, nunc e philosophis, nunc e poetis centones

frigidos consarcinant, quo populo nihil nescire videantur. Totus
sermo quem promebat, erat sacrae Scripturae plenus, nec aliud ructare
poterat. Amabat quod loquebatur. 70
Habebat hominem incredibilis quidam ardor pertrahendi mortales
ad synceram Christi philosophiam. Ambiebat ex huiusmodi labori-
bus martyrii gioriam. Proinde, quemadmodum ex illius familiaris-
simis cognoui, olim a suis autoribus impetrarat veniam adeundi
regiones in quibus Christus aut ignoratur aut impie colitur, se felicem 75
fore iudicans, si haec obiens martyrii palmam meruisset. At e medio
cursu reuocatus est, voce velut coelitus audita, Eedi, loannes non '
;

defuturum est tibi apud tuos martyrium Paruit oraculo, et rep-

'.

perit esse verum quod vox illa praedixerat. Erat illic monasteriolum
sororcularum, in quo sic erat prolapsa omnis reUgiosae vitae disciplina 80
vt lupanar verius esset quam monasterium. Et tamen inter has erant

78. reperit N*. 79. monasterium iV.

55. diuidebat] Lupton gives a de- ternis eximium. Is tamen doctrina

tailed example of this chilling prac- non clamosa sed Euangelica, tum mori-
tice. bu3 ab omni vitio puris, innumeros
62. vociferationibus] Lupton has viros innumerasque foeminas perduxit
detected a reference to Vitrarius in the ad verum mundi contemptum'. In the
Ecdesiastes, bk. iii LB. v. 9870). After first edition no clue is given to the
censuring various sensational modesof person intended ; but the index to the
preaching (cf. Ep. iiii. 58^1, Erasmus third, Basle, H. Frohen and Nic,
proceeds: Ip-se
' familiariter noui Episcopius, Aug. 1536, has an entry
quendam eiusdem ordinis, qui nec •loannes Vitrius Franciscanus', with
ambulabat nudis pedibus, nec humi a referenceto the pages, 622,3, onvvhicli
cubabat, nec pane et aqua viuebat, nec tiiis passage occurs. As t)ie volume
vUi negabat sui copiam, pariter expo- was *denuo ab autore recognitum, sed
situs omnibus, magniset pusillis, bonis cum indice . copiosiore ', the clue
. .

et malis, vbiquevenanslucrumChristo: may be regarded asauthentic.

breuiter nihil habebat in rebus ex- 66. Durando] See Ep. 396. 9on.
 510 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

quae sanari possent et cuperent. Has dum crebris concionibus

hortatibusque reuocaret ad Christum, octo deploratae ex eo numero
conspirarant,et hominem obseruatum in locumsemotum pertrahunt,
85 atque ibi fasciis iniectis praefocant. Nec finem faciunt donec casu
nescio qui interuenientes impium facinus dirimunt. Atque ille iam
exanimatus erat, vixque reuocatus est vt spiraret. Nec tamen vsquam
hac de re questus est, ne his quidem quos habebat intimos nec ;

vllum officium praetermisit, quo solet illarum saluti subuenire imo ;

90 ne vultus quidem vnquam visus est in illas solito tristior. Nouerat

autorem huius conspirationis. Is erat theologus lacobita, Episcopi
Morinensis a suffragiis Episcopus, vir palam impiae vitae. Nec huic
vnquam verbo molestus fuit, tametsi nulli hominum generi erat
iniquior quam qui doctores ac duces pietatis professi moribus ac
95 doctrina impia populum a Christo alienarent.
Nonnunquam septies concionabatur vno die nec vnquam illi ;

deerat sermonis eruditi copia, quoties de Christo loquendum erat.

Quanquam tota illius vita nihil erat nisi sacra concio. Erat alacer
minimeque tetricus in conuiuio sed sic vt nullam vnquam praeberet
;

100 speciem leuitatis aut ineptiae, luxus aut intemperantiae multo minus.
Miscebat sermones eruditos, plerunque sacros et ad pietatem facientes.
Talia erant colloquia, si quis illum adibat aut si quem ille viseret.
Aut si quo faceret iter, habebat potentes amicos, qui illi in itinei'e
mulum aliquoties aut equum subiiciebant, quo commodius jiceret
1C5 confabulari: ibi promebat vir optimus exhilarato spiritu quae nuUis
genimis poterant aestimari. Neminem ab se tristem dimittebat, imo
neminem non dimittebat meliorem et ad pietatis amorem animatiorera.
Nihil erat in quo sentire possis illum vlli suo commodo seruire
non ventri, non ambitioni, non auariciae, non voluptati, non odio,
iio non liuori, non vliis malis affectibus erat obnoxius. Quicquid acci-
derat, agebat gratias Deo nec aliud erat gaudium quam si quos in-
;

flammasset ad studium Euangelicae pietatis. Nec irritus fuit illius

conatus. Complures tum viros tum foeminas lucrifecerat Christo ;

qui quantum differrent ab hoc Christianorum vulgo, mors arguebat.

ii^ Vidisses enim huius discipulos summa cum alacritate spiritus mori,
et sub mortem vere cygneam canere cantionem, ea promentes quae
pectus afflatum sacro numine testarentur cum caeteri, peractis cere- :

91. lacobita F : Dominicaniis H.

89. solet] For this use of tlie pre- the same time he consecrated the new
sent tense cf. 11. 138, 456, 513. church of the Franciscans (1. i69\
91. lacobita] Le Vasseur ; see Ep. X04. mulum] The statutes of the
130- 63n. Observant Franciscans, as codified in
92. Morinensis] Phiiip of Luxem- theGeneralChapteratBarcelona, 1451,
ibiirg June 1519), a prelate whose
(t 2 forbade, as before, the use of horses
advancement at Rome left him little and carringes to travelling brethren,
leisure for the affairs of the sees he and condemned also the evasion by
held. He was Cardinal in 1496, Bp. which they availed themselves of
of Terouenne 1497-1512, of Airas mules. At the same Chapter it was
1513-15, ofLe Mans 1509-19, ofAlbano enacted that every brother should, ns
1510, and of Fraseati 151 1. He is re- far as possible, be accompanied by
corded (GC. x. 1569) as making solemn another (cf. 11. 141, 155) when travel-
•entries into Terouenne, (29) May, and ling or staying outside a convent. Soe
ijito St. Omer, 9 June 1502, bearing Monumonta Franciscana (Rolls Series),
ithe indulgences of tho Jubilee year : at ii, ed. R. Howlett, 1882, p. 95.
 1211] TO JODOCUS JONAS 511

moniis et adhibitis solennibus illis pvotestationibus, fidentes, diffi-

dentes, exhalarent animam. Testis est huius rei medicus eximius eius
oppidi Ghisbertus, ac pertinax vex-ae pietatis cultor, qui plurimis 120
vtriusque scholae morientibus adfuit.
Pertraxerat aliquot et e sui gregis sodalibus, sed pauciores quem- ;

admodum et Christus apud suos non potuit multas virtutes facere.

Nam illis fere placent qui sua doctrina plurimum commeatus conue-
hunt in culinam, potius quam qui plurimas animas asserunt Christo. 125
Cum autem ab omnibus viciis abhorrebat animus ille purissimus ac
vere templum Christo dicatum, tum maxime a libidine, adeo vt odore
talium grauissime offenderetur, tantum aberat vt turpiloquium ferre
posset. In vicia vulgi nunquam odiose debacchabatur, neque quic-
quam adferebat e secretis confessionibus sed ita depingebat hone- 130 :

statis imaginem, vt se quisque tacitus agnosceret. In consiliis dandis

mira prudentia, mira integritas, mira dexteritas. Secretas confes-
siones non admodum volens audiebat, sed tamen in hoc quoque
seruiebat charitati auxias ac subinde repetitas confessiones palam
;

detestabatui'. 1
35
Superstitioni ac ceremoniis minimum tribuebat vescebatur cibis ;

quibuslibet sobrie et cum gratiarum actione. Vestitus ei'at nihil ab

aUis differens. Solet nonnunquam et valetudinis causa suscipere
iter aliquod, si quando senserat corpus humore degrauari. Quodam
igitur die, cum persolueret pensum precum matutinarum cum suo 140
sodali, sensissetque stomachum, fortassis ob pridianam inediam,
nauseantem, ingressus domum proximam sumpsit cibi nonnihil, ac
repetito itinere pergebat precari. Ibi cum sodalis illius putaret
omnia repetenda ab initio, quod primae horae precibus nondum dictis
sumpsisset cibum, ille alacer negauit quicquam esse admissum, imo 145
Deo nonnihil fore lucri. Antehac inquit, languidi et segnes prae-
* ' '

cabamur nunc alacribus animis illi dicemus hymnos spirituales. Et

;

huiusmodi sacrificiis ille delectatur, quae ab hilari datore offeruntur '.

Ego cum id temporis diuersarer apud Antonium a Bergis, abbatem
Bertinicum, nec nisi post meridiem illic pranderetur, neque meus 55°
stomachus fex-ret tam diutinam inediam erat autem tempus qua- —
dragesimae —
praesertim cum totus essem in studiis, solebam ante
,

prandium sorbitiuncula tepida fulcire stomachum, quo durai'et in

horam prandii. Hac de re cum illum consulerem num liceret, ille
circunspecto sodali, quem tum habebat laicnm, ne quid offenderetur, 155
*Imo,' inquit, 'peccares nisi faceres, et ob cibulum omitteres ista
tua sacra studia, tuoque corpusculo faceres iniuriam '.

118. H: potestationibus J". 120. FS^ Gisbeitus

: Jv'^. 140. precum J/
precium J". 148. huiusmodiF: eiusmodi X 149. Bergis fl^ : Bargis J^.

120. GhisbertusTThetown-physician commissa et circumstantias, aut totam

of St. Omer ; see Ep. 95. iin. iterandi confessionem apud alium
123. virtutes] mighty works'; cf.
' sacerdotem, si quod crimen in priore
Matt. 13. 58, Mark 6. 5. fugit' (LB. v. 502 b).
134. anxias] A
similar statement is 138. Solet] Cf. 11. 89, 456. 513.

made aboutColet 11. 490-1. For the

in 141, 155. sodali] Cf. 1. lo^n.
meaning of it cf. the Liber de sarcienda 148. hilari datore] Cf. 2 Cor. 9. 7.
Ecclesiae concordia, Basle, Froben, 1533: 149. id temporis] c. March 1502; see
'Absit autem repetendi confessionem Ep. 169 introd.
superstitio, absit anxietas enumerandi Antoniuma Bergis] SeeEp. 143.
 512 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

Cum Alexander Pont. ex vno lubilaeo fecisset duos, quo quaestus

esset vl)erior, eiusque dispensationem Episcojius Toi*nacen(sis) prae-
j6o sente pecunia suo periculo redemisset, summo studio adnitebantur
commissarii ne sortem perderet Episcopus, imo vt lucrum non poeni-
tendum accederet. Hic in primis ad fabulae partes vocabantur ii qui
in concioniljus populo essent gratiosi. Noster sentiens id in scrinia
conferri quo subleuabantur antea pauperes, non improbabat quod
165 offerebat Pontifex, nec probabat tamen. Caeterum illud improbabat,
quod tenues fraudarentur solito subsidio damnabat stultam eorum :

fiduciam qui nummo in scrinium coniecto putarent sese liberos a

peccatis.
Tandem obtulerunt commissarii centum florenos ad sti-ucturam
170 templi —
nam id tum aedificabatur in eius monastei'io vt si nollet — ,

commendare venias Pontificias, saltem ea taceret quae ofiicerent.

Ibi vir velut afflatu sacro percitus, Abite ' inquit, hinc, simoniaci,
' '

cum vestra pecunia. An eum me putatis qui ob pecuniam sim

suppressurus Euangelicam veritatem ? Ea si vestro quaestui obstat,
175 mihi maior esse debet cura animarum quam vestri compendii '.
Cessere tum vigori pectoris Euangelici homines male sibi conscii,
sed interim praeter expectationem summo diluculo aflixa est excom-
municatio : quae tamen a ciue quodam detracta est priusquam multis
innotesceret.
180 Ille niliil his minis territus, summa cum animi tranquillitate docebat
populum et Christo sacrificabat nec vllum metum prae se ferebat
;

talis anatliematis. quod ob Chi"istum praedicatum intentaretur. Mox

citatus est ad Episcopum Morinensem. Paruit Episcopo suo ; venit
vno sodali comitatus, nihil ipse de se solicitus. Sed tamen inscio illo
185 ciues equitum piaesidia collocarant in itinere, ne per insidias inter-
ceptus in antrum aliquod coniiceretur. Quid enim non audet auri
sacra fames ? Episcopus obiecit articulos aliquot, quos ex illius col-
legerant coneionibus ille magno animo x'espondit, et Episcopo satis-
;

fecit. Aliquanto post denuo reuocatus est obiecti sunt phires. Vbi ;

190 et ad lios respondisset, rogabat cur non adessent accusatores, vt suo

quoque periculo accusarent se iam bis venisse honoris illius gratia,
:

quod Episcopus esset, caeterum non venturum tertio, si simili modo

164. a.nte H. 183. H: Mormensem J^. 189. reuocatus J^: vocatus If.

158. lubilaeo] It is incorrect that possible that Erasmus may have con-
Alexander vi reduced the interval fused here the names of Terouenne
between two .Tubilees to 25 years this : and Tournay.
wasdone by Paulii in 1470. Erasmus' 169. structuram templi] The first
statement perhaps reflects the fact house of the Franciscans at St. Onier
that Sixtus iv's Jubilee of 1475 proved was outside the town but it had been
;

a failure so that 1500 was the first of

: demolished in 1477 for military needs.
tlie new system which attracted notice. A new site was granted to them within
See Pastor iv, pp. 117, 284. the walls and in 1493 they began to
;

159. Tornacen.] During the years of enlarge their buildings, the churcl\
Jubiiee tlie Tournay seems to
see of being completed in 1502. See J. Dc-
have been in hands of the French
tlie rheims, Hisf. de St. Omer, 1843, pp. 594,5 r
bp., Louis Pot (t 6 March 1505), rather and cf. l. 92^.
than of the Papal nominee, Peter 177. affixa] Cf. Ep. 1077. ^n.
Quicke (GC. iii. 236,7) but from the
: 183. Morinensem] See 1. 92^.
action of Philip of Luxemburg (1. 92^) 186. antrum] Cf. Ep. 80. 45.
inconnexion with indulgences it seems aiu'i] Cf. Verg. Aen. 3. 57.
1211] TO JODOCUS JONAS 513

vocaretur esse sibi domi nielius negocium. Ita suo ingenio relictus
;

est, siue quia deerat ansa nocendi, siue quia timebant populi tumul-
tum, in quo probitas illius habebat optimum quemque addictissimum 195 :

etiamsi ille tale nihil ambiret.

lamdudum rogabis, scio, quis huius viri fuerit exitus. Non solum
displicuit commissariis, sed etiam suis fratribus aliquot non quod :

non probarent vitam, sed quod ea melior esset quam ipsis expediebat.
Totus inhiabat in lucrum animarum, caeterum ad instruendam 200
culinam aut extruendos parietes, ad illectandos dotatos adolescentes,
segnior erat quam illi vellent etiamsi hoc quoque non negligebat
:

vir optimus, duntaxat si quid ad subleuandam necessitatem perti-

neret, verum non vt plerique praepostere curabat ista. Inio quendam
etiam thynnum alienarat. Is erat aulicus ac prorsus aulicis moribus, 205
foris per omnia cubilia se voluens, passim matrimonia aliena con-
taminans, et vxorem pro derelicta habens, c|uam habebat et claro
genere natam et aliquot liberorum matrem. Per occasionem euenit
vt haec quoque seduceretur ilico reiecit mulierculam primo lapsu,
:

qui sibi tot lapsus ignouerat. Illa tandem longius etiam prolapsa, 210
ad extremam deuenit calamitatem praeter infamiam, scabiei etiam,
;

quam Gallicam vocant, obnoxia. Hic cum omnibus tentatis quo

vxorem marito reconciliaret, nihil ageret, nec durus ille vel affinium
respectu, vel liberorum communium affectu, vel sua ipsius con-
scientia, qui tot adulteriis, qui suo neglectu occasionem dedisset, 215
fiecteretur, reliquit hominem ceu deploratum. Is paulo post ex
more petasonem aut armum suillum misit. Caeterum loannes nam —
—
tum Gardianum agebat mandarat ianitori ne quid reciperet nisi se
vocato. Cum adesset munus, vocatus est. Ibi famulis qui deferebant
heri nomine, Referte' inquit, 'onus vestrum vnde attulistis.
'
Nos 220
non recipimus munera diaboli.'
Itaque tametsi non ignorarent illius vitam ac doctrinam esse
seminarium egregium Euangelicae pietatis, tamen quoniam non
perinde conducebat prouentui culinae, iussus est deponere Gardiani
munus (quo nihil ille fecit lubentius), et suffectus est illi quidam, 225
quem ego noui, aliunde ascitus, homo non dicam qualis aut quam
alteri dissimilis —
in summa is mihi visus est cui nemo prudens
cauletum suum vellet committere siue hunc obtruserunt qui cupie-
:

bant abesse, siue is visus est ad rem magis idoneus. Porro cum ex
huius conuictu subolesceret vnus atque alter, qui simili spiritu 230
raperetur ad studium consulendi pietati Christianae potius quam ad
augendum penu, relegarunt hominem Curtracum in monasteriolum

196. ambioljat H. 218. Guardianum if. 222, ignorabant i/. 224. //:
Guordiani F : Guardiani N. 230. huius F : eius N.

205. thynnum] a fish caught in wlaom the Enchiridion (Epp. 164, 858.
their net, i. e. a rich person from 2) isdedicated : see i, pp. 19. 34 —
20.12.
whom gifts might beexpected; cf. Ep. 232. Curtracum] The only nunnery
451. 7, also Ep. 447. 420. In Ep. 451 at Courtray was the Cistercian house
and here the word has a capital letter, named Groninga: see GC. iii. 316-19.
as though a propor name but the
; But between Courtray and Menin was
sense is plain. anotherCistercian nunnory, Wevelgem
aulicus] The description here is (ibid. 309-13) which may perhaps be
;

not unlike that of the courtier to the place intended.

4« 4 L 1
 514 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

virginum ibi quantum licuit, sui similis, docens, eonsolans, adhor-

:

tans, diem suum feliciter obiit, relictis aliquot libellis quos e sacris
235 autoribus decerpserat Gallice quos non dubito tales esse qualis erat
;

hominis vita et oratio. Et tamen audio nunc a nonnuUis damnari,

qui putant esse ingens periculum si populus aliquid legat praeter
ineptas fabulas historiarum aut somnia monachorum. Viuit adhuc
illius doctrinae scintilla in multorum pectoribus, quos si conferas
240 cum eaeteris, dices hos non esse Christianos sed ludaeos. Sie
contemptim habitus est a suis vir ille singularis qui si Paulo :

Apostolo collega contigisset, nihil addubito quin illum suo Barnabae

aut Timotheo fuerit antepositurus.
Habes vere gemmeum Vitrarium nostrum, ignotum mundo, cele-
245 brem et clarum in regno Christi. Nunc Coletum huic simillimum
accipe. Alterum alteri depinxeram, et vterque alterius videndi
desiderio flagrabat, atque hac gratia Vitrarius in Angliam traiecerat.
Ac mihi post narrabat Coletus apud se fuisse Minoritam quendam,
cuius colloquio prudenti pioque mu'um in modum fuisset delectatus ;

250 sed adhibitum alterum quendam eiusdem ordinis Stoicum, qui visus
indigne ferre Christianum colloquium interruperit. Ac fortasse
Coletus hoc nomine plus laudis meretur, quod nec indulgentia
fortunae nec impetu naturae longe alio tx*ahentis potuerit ab Euan-
gelicae vitae studio depelli. Natus est enim e claris et opulentis
255 pai'entibus, idque Londini siquidem pater bis in vrbe sua prae-
:

fecturam summam gessit, quam illi maioritatem appellant. Mater

quae adhuc superest, insigni probitate mulier, marito suo vndecim
filios peperit ac totidem filias. Quorum omnium natu maximus
erat Coletus, ac proinde solus haeres futurus iuxta leges Britannicas,
260 etiamsi illi fuissent superstites sed ex omnibus ille superfuit solus,
:

cum illum nosse coepissem. Accesserat his fortunae commodis

corpus elegans ae procerum.
Adolescens apud suos quicquid est scholasticae philosophiae, dili-
genter perdidicit, ac titulum assequutus est qui septem liberalium
261; artium scientiam profitetur. Quarum nulla erat in qua ille non

234. libellis] I do not know that 262. procerum] There is a brief life
any of these survive. of Colet by George Lily in his Virorum
248. post] Perhaps on Erasnius' aliquot in Briiannia Elogia, addressed to
return to England in 1505. Paulus Jovius and first printed with
253. natui-ae] Cf. 11. 387-411, 623. Jovius' Bescriptio Britanniae, Venice,
255. pater] Sir Henry Colet (f c. 20 M. Tramezinus, 1548. Lily was a son
Oct. 1505) Lord Mayor of London 1486
; of Colefs first high master at St. PauFs
and 1495. (Ep. 341. i8n), and as he entered as a
256. Mater] Dame Christian Knyvet commoner at Magdalen College, Ox-
(c. 1431-1521). Erasmus, who was a ford,in 1528, he might have seen Colet
favourite with her (cf. Ep. 423. 65,6), as a boy. But his account is largely
extols her again in Lond. xxiv. 16, LB. based upon this letter with which it
:

1226 of 6 July 1532. See also Ep. 258. has a great many close verbal resem-
3-6. blances. Indeed the only sentence
257. superest] In 1532 Erasmus which hasany value is his rather fuller
qualificd this statement Denique, ni
:
'
description of Colefs personal appear-
fallor, et Coleto superuixit'. ance (f. 46) : Huc accedebat ea egregii
'

258. filios] Lupton has identified one corporis proceritas et suspiciendi oris
of these ; Thomas, t 8 Sept. 1479. serenitas, vt subinde in omni actione
261. coepissem] In the autumu of mirus venerandusque existeret '.
1499. 264. titulum] Master of Arts.
:2ii] TO JODOCUS JONAS 515

fuisset gnauiter ac feliciter exercitatus : nam et libros Ciceronis

auidissime deuorarat, et Platonis Plotinique libros non oscitanter
excusserat, nec vllam mathematices partem intactam reliquit. Post
tanquam auidus bonarum rerum negociator adiit Galliam, mox
Italiam. Ibi se totum euoluendis sacris autoribus dedit sed prius 270 ;

per omnia literarum genera magno studio peregrinatus priscis illis

potissimum delectabatur, Dionysio, Origene, Cj^priano, Ambrosio,
Hieronymo. Atque inter veteres nulli erat iniquior quam Augustino.
Neque tamen non legit Scotum ac Thomam aliosque huius farinae,
si quando locus postulabat. In vtriusque iuris libris erat non in- 2 75
diligenter versatus. Denique nullus erat liber, historiam aut consti-
tutiones continens maiorum, quem ille non euoluerat. Habet gens
Britannica qui hoc praestiterunt apud suos quod Dantes ac Petrarcha
apud Italos. Et horum euoluendis scriptis linguam expoliuit, iam
tum se praeparans ad praeconium sermonis Euangelici. 80 2

lam reuersus ex Italia, relictis parentum aedibus Oxoniae maluit

agere. Illic publice et gratis Paulinas Epistolas omnes enarrauit.
Hic hominem nosse coepi, nam eodem tum me deus nescio quis
adegerat natus tum erat annos ferme triginta, me minor duobus
;

aut tribus mensibus. In theologica professione nullum omnino S^ :

gradum nec assequutus erat nec ambierat : tamen nullus erat illic
doctor vel theologiae vel iuris, nullus abbas aut alioqui dignitate
praeditus quin illum audiret, etiam allatis codicibus siue hoc laudis ;

281. lam om. H. mox ante relictis add. N.

267. Platonis] Cf. Ep. 118. 21. methods by which the preacher is to
273. iniquior] 'severe upon', 'unfair train himself for his work, one is
to '
—
implying not so much condemna- '
euoluere libros eorum qui linguae
tion as wrong estimation, based upon vulgaris eloquentia polluerunt quales :

inadequate consideration cf Epp. 967. : . celebrantur apud Italos Dantes et

92, 998. 13, 1061. 59, also II. 430, 461, Petrarcha. Nec est vlla tara barbara
478. Precisely thesamecharge, of being lingua quin habeat suam peculiarem
'
iniquior Augustino in one of the ' elegantiam et emphasim, si fuerit ex-
Annot, on N. T., was brought against culta. Qui callent Italice, Hispanice
Erasmus by Martin Lypsius ; see Apol. et Gallice, constanter asseuerant in
qua respondet (f°. C v°
Jortin ii. 507). ; his linguis, vtcunque corruptis, inesse
As to Colefs position, the Disputation gratiam quam Latina lingua non asse-
de iedio, pauore, tristicia lesu (Epp. 108-1 1 quatur. Idem affirmant de lingua
shows him as an adherent of Jerome, Britannica, licet ex multis conflata,
and Erasmus as arguing against liim. deque lingua Saxonica. Et in singulis
This, which Erasmus was perhaps re- linguis extiterunt qui librisaeditis non
calling here, implies some contrariety vulgarem dicendi laudem promeriti
to Augustine cf. Ep. 844.
: 199 seq. sunt '.

But see Lupton's note, where the pas- 282. gratis] Cf. 1. 344; and see Ep.
sage is discussed at length, and his 1053. 53511-
Life 0/ Colet, p. 57^ :
'
Colet quotes Paulinas] Cf. Ep. 108. 77.
Augustine any other
oftener tlian If Colet was a few
284. triginta]
Father, nowhere with disapproval, and months younger than Erasmus, he
more than once with the addition of a must have been nearly 33 when they
" Praeclare dicit " '.
first met. For Erasmus' inaccuracy
278. apud suos] That Erasmus is about figures cf. i, p. 2. 26n and Epp.;

here comparing probably Gower (c. 1143. 25, 1166. 6.

1325-1408) and Chaucer (c. 1 340-1400) 287. abbas] Richard of Kidder-
with Dante (1265-1321) and Petrarcb minster (Ep. 1061. i^on) was perhaps
(1304-74) as writing in their national one of tliese.
language (cf. Ep. 11 26. 95n), is shown 288. codicibus] mss. or printed
by a passage in the Ecdesiastes, bk. ii texts (cf. Ep. 441. 1) of the Epistles, to
(LB. V. 856 ae) where among tlie
: refer to during the lecture.

L 1 2
 516 •

LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

debetur Coleti autoritati, siue illorum studio quos non puduerit

290 senes a iuuene, doctores a non doetore discere : tametsi post vltro
delatus est doctoris titulus, quem ille recepit magis vt illis gei*eret
morem quam quod ambiret.
Ab his sacris laboribus, Regis Henrici, eius nominis septimi, fauore
Londinum est reuocatus, ac Decanus apud diuum Paulum factus, vt
295 illius praeesset collegio cuius literas sic adamabat. Est autem
dignitas eius nominis apud Anglos prima, tametsi sunt aliae pro-
uentu magis opimo. Hic vir optimus tanquam ad opus vocatus,
non ad dignitatem, collegii sui collapsam disciplinam sarsit, et,
quod erat illic nouum, singulis diebus festis in suo templo concionari
300 instituit, praeter coneiones extraordinarias, quas nunc in regia, nunc
aliis atque aliis locis habebat. Porro in suo templo non sumebat
sibi carptim argumentum ex Euangelio aut ex Epistolis Apostohcis,
sed vnum aHquod argumentum proponebat, quod diuersis concionibus
ad finem vsque prosequebatur puta Euangelium Matthaei. sym-
:

305 bohim precationem Dominicam. Et habebat auditorium fre-

fidei,
quens, in quo plerosque primores suae ciuitatis et aulae regiae.
Mensam Decani quae antea sub hospitaiitatis titulo hixui seruierat,
contraxit ad frugalitatem. Nam cum et ante annos ahquot in totum
abstinuisset a coena, caruit vespertinis conuiuis. Porro quum serius
310 pranderet, etiam tum minus habuit multos: sed hoe pauciores, quod
et frugahs esset apparatus, tametsi nitidus, et breuis accubitus,
denique sermones qui non delectarent nisi doctos ac bonos. Con-
secrata mensa mox puer ahquis 'clara voce distincte pronunciabat
caput aliquod ex Epi&tohs Pauli aut Prouerbiis Salomonis. Ex eo
315 delectum loeum ipse fere repetebat ac sermonis oecasionem snmebat,
sciscitans ab eruditis aut ingeniosis, etiam idiotis, quid hoc aut
illud dictum sibi vellet. Atque ita serrnonem temperabat vt quan-
quam et pius et grauis, tamen nihil haberet taedii aut supercilii.
Rursus sub conuiuii finem, quum iam vtcunque satisfactum esset non
320 voluptati sed necessitati, aliud argumentum iniecit: atque ita con-

292. morem F Corrig. moram : i^. 296. dignitas F Corrig, : ea dignitas J".
306. et . . 307. Decani FCorrig.
. : Decani. Mensam et aulae regiae F. 309.
serius FCorrig. eum seruis F.
:

291. doctoris] Cf. Ep. 181. i8n. he added in 1532 (see Ep. 1274. i^n),
294. Decanus] Cf. Ep. 181. i8n. pp. 171, 178. Bu.sbecq, Leg. Turc, Ep.
309. a coena] Erasmus notes similar 4 fin., 16 Dec. 1562, records that the
abstinence in Warham see : the Emperor Ferdinand '
perpetuo coena
sketches of him in the Ecclesiastes, bk. i abstinet, neque amplius quam semel
(LB. V. 811 c), and in the 1533 preface die cibum sumit, et quidem parce '.
to Jerome (wrongly cited as Adugia in Cf.SE. 279, p. 235.
Ep. i88introd.). Cf. alsoEpp. 1229. 16, 312. sermones] For the importance
1349. 144-5. Itseemsfrom thecolloquy attached by Colet to conversation see
Ichthyophagia, first printed in Feb. 1526 Adag. 974 (964 in the edition of 1508),
(LB. i. 803 e), that in Enghnnd at this where Erasmus records that he waa
time supper was regarded as a self- wont to say tales nos esso qualia sunt
'

indulgence. It was forbidden by quotidiana colloquia, tales euadere

custom on alternate days in Lent, and qualia frequenter audimus'. Erasmus
on Fridays throughout the year ; ef. quotesthesa}Mngalso,without raention
Ep. 119.76. See also Erasmus' De esu of Colet, in the Paraclcsis {N. Instr.,
carnium, of 21 April 1522 (LB. ix. 1516, f^. aaa* v" : LB. v. 140C).
1202 B, 12140), and the scholia whicli 316. idiotis] Cf. Ep. 1153. i^in.
 Paiiiting of Colet in MS. written for hini, 1509.

P. si6
12 11] TO JODOCUS JONAS 517

uiuas dimisit et animo et corpore refectos, vt meliores discederent

quam venerant. et stomachum minime cibis onustum referrent.
Impense delectabatur amicorum colloquiis, quae saepe diflferebat
in multam noctem sed omnis illius sermo aut de literis erat aut
;

de Christo. Si grati confabulonis non erat copia nec enim qui- 325 —
buslibet delectabatur —
puer aliquis e sacris libris aliquid pronuncia-
.

bat. Me nonnunquam et peregrinationis comitem asciuit. Nihil

erat illic eo festiuius sed semper libellus erat itineris comes, nec
;

alii sermones quam de Christo. Impatiens erat omnium sordium,

adeo vt nec sermonem ferret soloecum ac barbarie spurcum. Quic- 330
quid erat domesticae supellectilis, quicquid apparatus in cibis, quic-
quid in vestibus, quicquid in libris, nitidum esse volebat de magni- ;

ficentia non laborabat. Non nisi pullis vestibus vtebatur, cum illic
vulgo sacerdotes ac theologi vestiantur purpura. Summa vestis semper
erat lanea ac simplex : si frigus hoc postulabat, interulis pelliciis se 335
muniebat.
Quicquid e sacerdotiis redibat, id in vsus domesticos oeconomo suo
dispensandum reliquit : quod erat autem amplissi-
erat patrimonii —
mum — ipse in pios vsus distribuebat.
, patre defuncto, cum Nam
ingentem pecuniae vim accepisset ex haereditate, ne seruata gigneret 34°
in eo aliquid morbi, nouam scholam extruxit in coemiterio S. Pauli,
puero lesu sacram, opere magnifico adiecit aedes magnificas, in
:

quibus agerent duo ludi magistri, quibus amphmi salarium desi-

gnauit, quo gratuito docerent. sed sic vti schola non capiat nisi
certum numerum. Eam distinxit in partes quatuor. Primus in- 3-j5
gressus habet ceu catechumenos nullus autem admittitur nisi qui
;

iam norit et legere et scribere. Secunda pars habet eos quos hypo-
didascalus instituit. Tertia quos superior erudit. Alteram ab altera
dirimit velum quoddam, quod adducitur ac diducitur cum libet.
Supra cathedram praeceptoris sedet puer lesus singulari opere, do- 35°
centis gestu, quem totus grex adiens scholam ac relinquens hymno

325. de Christo] Cf. 1. 329 and Ep. of an ass '.

1027. 6-8. 341. morbi] Cf. 1. 393 and Ep. 270.
327. comitem] Tlie description of 52.
their visit to Canterbury is given in nouam scholam] A school at-
the coUoquy Perfgrinatio religimis ergo, tached to St, Paul's cathedral un-
first printed in Feb. i526,under a thin doubtedly existed from very early
veil of disguise. The identification of times. There has been much dis-
Colet with Gratianus PuUus of the cussion as to wliether Colet founded a
colloquy rests on the mention of him new school, distinct from the old,
in the Modas orandi Deum as being witli which continued to work for some
Erasmus at Canterbury (LB. v. 1120 a) : time, or refounded the existing school
it was pointed out to Jortin by an on new lines. The former view is
anonymous correspondent (ii. 706). maintained by Lupton, Life of Colet,
Lupton (Life 0/ Colet, p. zion) has in- cli. 9 the latter by a correspondent
;

geniously interpreted Gratianus as an in tlie Times, 2 April 1904, 7. 14 July

allusion to Jerome's loliannes, in quo
'
and 3 Aug. 1909, and by M. F. J.
estgratia, vel Domini gratia', evidently IkPDonnell, Hisi. 0/ St. PauVs School,
= HeVjr. Johanan (Le nominibus Hebrai- 1909, ch. 2.
cis, Actsed. 1516, vol. iv, f. 147 v°).
: 350. puer lesus] Erasmus' verses on
Pullus is to be derived, not from Colefs this image, the Carmina ad sclwhun per-
habitof using pullis sestibus (1. 333),
' '
iinentia, were first printed in 1511 vsee
but from the Vulgate use of the word Ep. 175 introd.). Tliey are inchided
(Matt. 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12) in vol. v of the Basle Opera, 1540,
in passages translatod 'a colt, the foal p. 1106; LB. v. 1320,1.
 518 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

salutat. Et imminet Patris facies dicentis Ipsum audite nam '

' :

haec verba me autore asscripsit. In postremo sacellum est. in quo

licet rem diuinam faeere. Tota schola nullos habet angulos aut
36 secessus, adeo vt nec solarium sit vllum aut cubiculum. Pueris
singulis suus est locus in gradibus paulatim ascendentibus, distinctis
spaciis. Quaeque classis habet sedecim, et qui in sua classe prae-
cellit, sellulam habet caeteris paululo eminentiorem. Nec quosuis
admittunt temere, sed delectus fit indolis et ingeniorum.
360 Vidit hoc vir perspicacissimus, in hoc esse praecipuam i-eipublicae
spem, si prima aetas bonis rationibus institueretur. Ea res cum
constet immensa pecunia, tamen nullum in huius consortium admi-
sit. Quidam legarat in eam structuram centum libras monetae
Britannicae. Vl^i sensit Coletus hac gratia sibi nescio quid iuris
365 vindicare laicos, permissu Episcopi sui eam pecuniam contulit in
sacras vestes templi. Reditibus totique negocio praefecit non sacer-
dotes, non episcopum aut capitulum, vt vocant, non magnates sed ;

ciues aliquot coniugatos probatae famae. Roganti causam ait nihil

quidem esse certi in rebus humanis, sed tamen in his se minimum
370 inuenire corruptelae.
Atque vt hoc opus nemo non probauit, ita multi demirabantur

355. solarium F: coenaculum i/. 360. hoc aiite vir F : illucl if.

352. Ipsum audite] Cf. Matt. 17. 5. conservative theologian; but one of the
Luke 9. 35, 2 Pet. i. 17. Mss. mentioned is of the Homilies of
355. solarium] This term is com- Origen, who was then regarded as
monly used in English of an upper dangerously heretical (cf. II. 24-9) ;

chamber, as towai-ds the sun but it ; others are of Sexieca, Jerome and
sometimes denotes a room cut off from Augustine, Isidore, Galen in Latin,
the great hall and giving privacy. The and Lully. An Easter sermon in
change in H
was perhaps made by English preached by him was printed
Erasmus because the classical and by Wynkyn de Worde, c. 1495. With
Vulgate (O. T.) usage of the word is his i^rother he was joint-founder of
different, for a flat house-top or bal- Bruton School, 1519 ; see Kotes and
cony whieh would be inappropriate
;
Queries for Sonierset and Dorsef, iii
here. (1892-3, pp. 241-8. Bk. 17 of Bern.
362. immensa pecunia] Cf. Ep. 260. Andreas* notes on Augustine, De ciui-
20-30. tate Dei (Ep. 243. san) is dedicated to

365. Episcopi] Richard Fitzjames him.

(c. —
1440 15 Jan. 1522 a native of
, See DNB. and B. W. Henderson,
Bruton in Somerset. In 1465 he was Merton College. The estimate of his age
electedFellowofMertonCollege,Oxford; in 1. 539 is perhaps as vague as that for
of which he was afterwards Warden, More's father in Ep. 1233. 162.
1483-1507. He was Vice-Chaneellor 365. contulit] In his Ea-positio Uteralis
of Oxford University 1481, and Chaii- on Romans, ed. Lupton, with the Letters
cellor 1502. After sei^ving as chaplain to Radulphus, 1876, pp. 112, 245, Colet
to Edwardiv and almoner to Henry vii, enunciates the principle of interference
1495, he was appointed bp. of Rochester withunsatisfactory bequests 'Quando :

1497, and in 1499 went as ambassador vero (testamentum) non congi'uit

to Flanders. He was translated to voluntati Dei, nec habet pietatem, nec
Chichester 1504, and again to London olet charitatem, nec fnictum aliquem
1506; where he rebuilt Fulham Palace. in gracia, sed dispendium secundum
At Merton he ornamented the chapel humanum affectum, tunc id dirumpi
aud enlarged the Warden's lodgings, et potest et debet '.
and presented 20 mss. to the library 366. praefecit] Erasmus discusses
(H. 0. Coxe, Catalogus), two of which Colefs principle in this matter at
are now in the Bodleian. He is de- length in the Be promintiatione (LB. i.
picted here (11. 530-1, as a strongly 918 F-19 a).
12 11] TO JODOCUS JONAS 519

cur magnificentissimas aedes extrueret intra pomeria monasterii

Carthusiensium, quod non procul abest a regia quae dicitur Eiche-
monda. Aiebat se parare sedem illam suae senectuti, cum iam
impar laboribus aut morbo fractus cogeretur se submouere ab ho- .^75

miniyn consortio. Illic erat animus philosophari cum duobus aut

tribus amiculis eximiis, inter quos me solitus est numerare sed :

mors anteuertit. Nam cum ante paucos annos correptus esset

sudore pestilenti, qui morbus peculiariter infestat Britanniam, et
ab eodem tertio repetitus, vtcunque tamen reuixit sed ex morbi ; 380
reliquiis contracta viscerum tabes, qua periit. Medicus vnus hydro-
pem esse iudicauit. Anatomia nihil indicauit noui, nisi quod epar
repertum est extremas fibras cirrhis prominentibus hirsutum. Se-
pultus est ad australe chori latus in suo templo, humili sepulchro
quod in eum vsum iam ante annos aliquot delegerat, inscriptione 385
addita ioax. ool.
Finem faciam, mi lona, si pauca commemoraro primum de ipsius
natura, deinde de opinionibus paradoxis, postremo de procellis quibus
explorata est hominis ingenua pietas, cuius minimam portionem
debebat natui'ae suae siquidem animo praeditus erat insigniter
: 390
excelso et omnis iniuriae impatientissimo, ad venerem ac luxum ac
somnum mire propensus, ad iocos ac facetias supra modum procliuis
(haec ipse mihi fassus est), nec omnino tutus a morbo philargyriae.
Aduersus haec ita pugnauit philosophia sacrisque studiis, vigiliis,
ieiuniis ac precibus, vt totum vitae cursum ab huius seculi inquina- 395
mentis purum peregerit. Nam quantum mihi licuit ex illius con-
suetudine colloquiisque familiaribus colligere, virginitatis florem ad
mortem vsque seruauit. Opes in pios vsus dissipauit. Aduersus
animi celsitudinem ratione pugnauit, adeo vt a puero quoque moneri
se pateretur. Venerem, somnum ac luxum abstinentia coenae 400
perpetua, iugi sobrietate, indefessis laboribus studiorum, sanctisque

373. "Richemondia. F Corrig. Ruhemonda

: F. 382. hejyar Lond.

372. magnificentissimas aedes] In attacks of the sickness then within a

Ep. 314. 10-12 Colet callsthisa nidus'. '
month (ibid. 120, 127).
It was afterwards occupied by Wolsey, peculiariter] Giustinian ii.
Cf.
when fallen from power, in Lent 1530: 114 : Very few strangers have died,
'

see G. Cavendish's Li/e of Wolseij, ed. but an immense number of the na-
F. S. Ellis, 1893, p. 195, My lord than
'
tives'.
in the begynnyng of Lent removed owt 386. ioan. col.] He no doubt de-
of the loge in to the Charter-howsse of signed for himself nothing more than
Richemond, where he lay in a lodgyng this simple inscription though scarcely
,

whiche Doctor CoUett, sometyme Dean in this form. Tlie abbreviation is in

of Powll's, hade made for hyme self accordance with the u^^age of the time
untill he removed northward, whiche in writing. Lupton, Life of Colet, ch.
was in the Passion weke after. And 13, discusses an epitaph by W. Lily in
he had to the same howsse a secret verse, which hung near by the tomb,
gallery whiche wentowtof hischamber and one in prose which was subse-
in to tbe Charter-howsse chirche '.
quently placed on the stone pointing:

373. Carthusiensium] See Ep. 314. out the resemblance between the lattor
lon. and Ep. 1053. 531-6, and suggesting
Richemonda] See Ep. 937. 46n ;
that it may have been composed by
and Ep. 287. 5.
cf. either Lupset or Erasmus.
379. sudore] Probably during the 388. paradoxis] Cf. Epp. 230. 31,
outbreak of Aug. 1517; for which cf. 999. 252, 1195. 91 alsoU. 419-20, 512-
:

Epp. 623, 639 and see Giustinian ii. 13 infra.

113, 114, 126-7, 130. Wolsey had four 393. philargyriae] Cf. Ep. 270. 29-37.
 520 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

colloquiis profligauit et tamen si quando sese obtulisset occasio, vel

:

iocandi apud facetos vel colloquendi cum foeminis vel accumbendi

in opiparis conuiuiis, vidisses aliqua naturae vestigia. Et ob id
405 fere a laicorum consuetudine abstinuit, sed praecipue a conuiuiis
ad quae si quando cogebatur, me aut mei similem adhibebat, quo
Latinis fabulis declinaret prophana colloquia. Atque interim sumpto
ex vno tantum genere cibi pusillo, vno aut altero cereuisiae haustu
contentus erat, a vino temperans quo tamen delectabatur eleganti,
:

410 sed temperatissime vtens. Ita se sibi semper habens suspectum,

cauebat ab omnibus quibus esse posset offendiculo cuiquam. Nec
enim ignorabat omnium oculos in se coniectos.
Nunquam vidi ingenium felicius, atque ob id similibus ingeniis
vnice delectabatur sed ad haec se malebat demittere quae praepara-
:

415 rent ad immortalitatem vitae futurae. Nulla in re non philosopha-

batur, si quando se laxaret fabulis amoenioribus. In pueris ac
puellis delectabat naturae puritas ac simplicitas, ad cuius imitationem
suos vocat Christus angelis eos solitus comparare.
;

lam vt alteram exsoluam partem, opinionibus a vulgo multum

420 dissidebat, sed mira prudentia hac in re sese attemperabat aliis, ne
quos olfenderet, aut ne quid labis in famam contraheret non ignarus ;

quam iniqua sint hominum iudicia, quanque prona in mahim credu-

litas, quantoque facilius sit maledicis linguis contaminare famam
hominis quam benedicis sarcire. Inter amicos ac doctos liberrime
425 profitebatur quid sentiret. Scotistas, quibus hominum vulgus ceu
peculiare tribuit acumen, aiebat sibi videri stupidos et ebetes, et
quiduis potius quam ingeniosos. Nam argutari circa alienas sen-
tentias ac verba, nunc hoc arrodere, nunc illud, et omnia minutatim
dissecare, ingenii esse sterilis et inopis. Tiiomae tamen, nescio qua
430 de causa, iniquior erat quam Scoto. Etenim cum hunc apud illum
aliquando laudarem, vt inter recentiores non aspernandum, quod et
sacras literas et autores veteres videretur euoiuisse cuius rei suspi- —
tionem mihi fecerat Catena quae vocatur Aurea et aliquid liaberet — ,

in scriptis affectuum, semel atque iterum dissimulauit obticescens.

435 Verum vbi rursus in alio colloquio inculcarem eadem vehementius,
obtuitus est me, velut obseruans serione liaec dicerem an elpwvevwv
cum animaduerteret me
ex animo loqui, tanquam afflatus spiritu
quodam, '
Quid tu 'mihi praedicas istum?qui nisi liabuisset
'
inquit,
multum arrogantiae, non tanta temeritate tantoque supercilio defi-
440 nisset omnia; et nisi habuisset aliquid spiritus mundani, non ita
totam Christi doctrinam sua prophana philosophia contaminasset '.

Admiratus sum hominis ivOova-Laa-fxov, coepique diligentius eius viri

scripta euoluere. Quid verbis opus est? omnino decessit aliquid
meae de illo aestimationi.
422. sint H : fiunt F. 426. hehetes Lond. 444. aestimaiioni i^: existi-
niationi H.

418. solitus] sc. Coletus. T. M. Lindsay in Encijd. Brit. (1910) ii.

419. alteram] Cf. 1. 388. 251. It vvas first printed at Rome,
433. Catena] A
work which under '
Sweynheym and Pannartz, 7 Dec.
the form of a commentary on tho 1470 : unless the Augsburg edition,
Gospels was really an exhaustive G. Zainer, s. a. (^Proctor 1555) isearlier.
summary of the theological teaching 442. kveovaiaafidv']^. Ep. 116.28-31.
of the greatest of the Church Fathers': 443. decessit aliquid] Lupton points
i2ii] TO JODOCUS JONAS 521

Cum nemo magis faueret Christianae pietati, tamen erga monasteria, 445
quae nunc falso nomine pleraque sic vocantur, minimum habebat
affectus: eisque aut nihil aut quam minimum largiebatur, ac ne
moriens quidem aliquid ilUs decidit. Non quod inuisos habebat
ordines, sed quod honiines suae professioni non responderent. Nam
ipsi in votis erat se prorsus ab hoc mundo extricare, sicubi reperisset 450
sodalitium vere coniuratum in vitam Euangelicam. Atque id negocii
mihi delegarat Italiam adituro, narrans sese apud Italos comperisse
quosdam monachos vere prudentes ac pios. Nec enim ille iudicabat
esse religionem quam vulgus iudicat, eum sit aliquoties ingenii
penui"ia. Laudabat et Germanos aliquot, apud quos residerent etiam- 455
num Dictitare solet se nusquam reperire
priscae religionis vestigia.
minus corruptos mores quam inter coniugatos, quod hos affectus
naturae, cura liberorum, ac res familiaris ita veluti cancellis quibus-
dam distringerent, vt non possint in omne flagitii genus prolabi.
Cum ipse castissime viueret, tamen inter illaudatos minus erat 460
iniquus his qui tametsi sacerdotes essent aut etiam monachi, venere
duntaxat peccarent : non quod impudicitiae vitium non detestaretur,
sed quod hos experiretur multo minus malos, quoties eos cum aliis
conferret, qui cum essent elatis animis, inuidi, maledici, obtrectatores,
fucati, vani, indocti, toto pectore pecuniae et ambitioni dediti, tamen 465
sibi magnum quiddam esse viderentur ; cum alteros infirmitas agnita
redderet humiliores ac modestiores, Aiebat magis execrandam in
sacerdote auaritiam et superbiam quam si centum haberet concubinas.
Ne vero quisquam haec huc rapiat, vt putet leue crimen esse in
sacerdote aut monacho libidinem, sed vt intelligat alterum genus 470
longius al)esse a vera pietate.
NuUi mortalium generi erat infensior quam episcopis qui pro
pastoribus lupos agebant, nec vllos magis execrabatur quod cultu ;

sacro, ceremoniis, benedictionibus ac veniolis sese venditarent

populo, cum toto pectore seruirent mundo, hoc est gloriae et questui. 475
£ Dionysio caeterisque priscis theologis quaedam hauserat. Quibus
non ita fauebat vt vsquam contenderet aduersus decreta Ecclesiastica,
sed tamen vt minus esset iniquus iis qui non probarent sic passim
in templis adorari imagines pictas, ligneas, saxeas, aereas, aureas,

448. ha.hehat F Conig. : liabeat F. 454. iudic at F Corrtg. : iudicabat i^.

out that elsewhere Erasmus speaks of ren of the Common Life, or some of
Aquiiias with great respect e.g. in : the reformed orders, such as that of
Annot. on Rom. r. 4, p. 413 of 1516 Bursfeld (cf. my Age 0/ Erasmus, pp.
edition. Of his style,however, he had 79-84), whom Colet may have seen.
less opinion (cf, Ep. 379. 5,6) though : Itwas possibly this opinion of which
that was not what Colet demurred to. Erasmus reminded Colet in 1516 (cf.
451. sodalitium] Such asthat which Ep. 423. 26-8); no doubt in praising
Chr. of Utenheim and Wimpfeling Germany to him as he had done to
wished to found in the Black Forest other friends at the same time (Epp.
see Ep. 598 introd. 411- 3>4 4i4- 10-12
>
416. 8,9).
;

452. aj^ud Italos] Colefs movements 456. soletj Cf. L 89^.

in Italy cannot be traced but it is
: 457. coniugatos] Cf. 11. 368-70.
likely that he visited Padua, where he 476. Dionysio] For Colefsinterest in
would see the Abbey of St. .Justina's, the writings attributed tu the Areo-
then the centre of the reform move- pagite (cf. also 1. 272) see the introduc-
ment in N. Italy. tion to his Treatises on the Hierarchies 0/

455. Germanos] Perhaps the Breth- Dionysius, ed. Lupton, 1869.

 522 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1521

480 argenteas ; item iis qiii dubitarent an sacerdos insigniter ac palam

improbus conficeret aliquid sacramentali functione baud quaquam
:

fauens istorum errori, sed indignans iis qui vita palam et vndique
contaminata praebei-ent causam huiusmodi suspitionis.
Collegia quae midto magnificoque sumptu sunt apud Anglos
485 instituta, dicebat ofiicere bonis studiis, nec aliud esse quam inuita-
bula ociosorum: neque scholis publicis perinde multum tribuebat,
quod ambitio profitendi et quaestus omnia vitians corrumperet
synceritatem omnium disciplinarum.
Vt confessionem secretam vehementer probabat, negans se vlla ex
490 re capere tantundem consolationis ac boni spiritus, ita anxiam ac
subinde repetitam vehementer damnabat. Cum apud Anglos mos
sit vt sacerdotes fere quotidie faciant rem diuinam, ille tamen
contentus erat diebus Dominicis ac festis sacrificare, aut certe pauculis
diebus extra hos siue quod sacris studiis, quibus se parabat ad
:

495 concionandum, et ecclesiae suae negociis distineretur siue quod;

comperiret se maiore cum affectu sacrificai'e, si id ex interuallo

faceret. Haud quaquam tamen improbabat illorum institutum, quibus
placeret quotidie adire mensam Dominicam.
Cum esset ipse doctissimus, tamen anxiam hanc et laboriosam
500 sapientiam non probabat, quae ex omnium disciplinarum cognitione
et ex omnium autorum lectione velut ansis omnibus absoluitur
dictitans ita deteri natiuam illam ingenii sanitatem ac synceritatem,
hominesque reddi minus sanos et ad Christianam innocentiam puram-
que ac simplicem charitatem minus idoneos. Phirinmm tribuebat
505 Epistolis Apostolicis ; sed ita suspiciebat admirabilem illam Christi
maiestatem vt ad hanc quodammodo sordescerent Apostolorum
scripta. Omnia fere Christi dicta miro ingenio reuocarat ad ter-
niones, vnde et librum instituerat scribere. Quod sacerdotes etiam
occupati quotidie tam prolixas preces exhaurire cogerentur, etiam

480. palam improbus] The untlerly- colleges were founded at or moved to

ing principle on which Colet would the Universities : but the majority
admit no doubts, was differently re- were scattered over England. See
garded by Erasmus when asserted in A. F. Leach, English Schools at the Refor-
a coarser form by a Franciscan op- mation, 1896, i, pp. 11-15, 20-24.
ponent cf.
: Epp. 1188, 1192, 1196. 486. scholis publicis] See Ep.1002.9n.
Vitrarius, on the contrary, held that 490. anxiam] Cf. 1. 134^.
'Quiconques oiioit la messe d'un prestre 501. ansis] Cf. Adag. 304 : Philo-
'

tenant une femme en sa maison, peche sophus quidam adolescentes nullis

mortellement : see d'Argentre, Colle-
' mathematicis disciplinis instructos
ctio iudiciorum, i (1728), pt. a, p, 340. noluit admittere, quod diceret illis
484. Collegia] From comparison deesse ansam philosophiae '.
with a passage in the De Pi-onuntiationc 507. ad terniones] into groups of
(LB. i. 919 a) in wliich Erasmus dis- three cf. Ep. 735. i. Luptoninediting
:

cusses Colefs newfoundation, it seems CoIet's Letters fo Radulphus, 1876, pp. 310,
that this term must mean here Col- ' II, identifies the work mentioned here
legia canonicorum ', corporations of with the Bretdloquium dictorum Christi
secular canons serving a church and attributed to Colet by Gesner {Elenchus
having a school attached. Some of scriptorum, ed. C. Lycostheues, Basle,
these, such as Beverley and Crediton, J. Oporinus, Sept. 1551) ;and gives
were of great antiquity others dated
: examples of such arrangement among
from the reaction against monasticism the sayings of Christ. For Colefs
in xiii*=. med., the oarliest being that fondness for such grouping see his
founded by Bp. Giles of Bridport at Hierarchies 0/ Bionysius, ed. Lupton,
Salisbury in 1261. A few of these 1869, pp. 191,2.
12 ii] TO JODOCUS JONAS 523

domi atque in itinere, vehementer admirabatur nam cultum eccle- ; 510

siasticum magnifice fieri valde probabat.
Innumera sunt hodie in publicis scholis receptissima, a quibus
ille plurimum dissentiebat. De quibus inter amiculos solet aliquando
conferre apud alios dissimulabat, ne geminum caperet incom-
;

modum. vt et nihil proficeret nisi in peius, et existimationis suae 515

iacturam faceret. Nullus erat liber tam haereticus quem ille non
attente euolueret, dicens se plus aliquotiens ex illis capere fructus,
quam ex horum libris qui sic omnia definiunt vt frequenter adulen-
tur coryphaeis, nonnunquam et sibi ipsis. Eecte loquendi copiam
non ferebat peti e praeceptionibus gi-ammaticorum quas asseuerabat : 520
officere ad bene dicendum, nec id contingere nisi euoluendis optimis
autoribus. Sed huius opinionis ipse poenas dedit. Cum enim esset
et natuia et eruditione facundus, ac dicenti mira suppeteret orationis
hubertas, tamen scribens subinde labebatur in his quae solent notare
critici. Atque hac, ni fallor, gratia a libris scribendis abstinebat. 525
Atque vtinam non abstinuisset nam huius viri cogitationes quacun- !

que etiam lingua proditas optarim.

lam ne quid defuisse putetur absolutae Coleti pietati, tempestates
quibus agitatus est accipe. Nunquam illi bene conuenerat cum suo
Episcopo de cuius moribus ne quid dicam, superstitiosus atque
; 530
inuictus erat Scotista, et hoc nomine sibi semideus videbatur quo :

quidem ex genere cum aliquot nouerim quos nolim improbos appel-

lare, nulkim tamen adhuc vidi quem mea quidem sententia possis
vere pureque dicere Christianum. Nec admodum gratus erat pleris-
que sui collegii, quod tenacior esset disciplinae regularis ac subinde ;
535
quiritabantur se pro monachis haberi, quanquam hoc collegium olim
fuit, et in vetustis syngraphis vocatur Orientale monasterium.
Sed cum iam odium senis Episcopi iam enim erat non minor annis —
518. adulentur P : ? aduersentur. 520. i/ : asseuerebat J'. 524. uhertas iV.

538. iam enim erat F: erat enimH.

510. nam] The line of thoughtseems latyn speche". Lupton's judgement

to be that Colet regarded the hurried of Colet, in editing his Treatises on
repetition of a fixed quantity of i^rayers Dionysius, 1869. pp. xii, xiii, is Al- :
'

asdetractingfrom thepropersolemnity though his Latin style is always for-

of the ritual. cible, and occasionally not wanting in
512. publicis scholis] The universi- elegance, there is in his extant com-
ties : cf. 1. 486^. positions a certain inaccuracy of dic-
513. solet] Cf. 1. Sgn. tion '. For Erasmus' opinion on the
520. praeceptionibus] On that peren- genei-al question cf. Epp. 641 introd.,
nial subject of controversy, the value 1115. 24-44.
of grammar in the study of language, 530. Episcopo] Fitzjames 8^01.365^. ;

Erasmus is evidently combating a view 534. gratus erat] st. Coletus.

expressed in Colet's ^cddfcnce (ed. 1527, 535. collegii] The Chapter of St.
fo. D« v» Lupton, Life of Colet, pp.
: Paul's cf. 11. 295, 298.
:

291,2), advising the student to '

rede 537. Orientale] This passage seems
good latynauthours. and note wyse-. . to be the only authority for the use of
ly how they wrote and spake ., . . the for St. Paurs.
name Eastminster
desyryng none other rules but theyr It isperhaps a learned popular ety-
'

examples. For in the begynnynge mology evolved by Erasmus on the

'

men spake not latyn bycause suche basis of Occidentale coenobium' for
'

rules were niJide, but contrariwyse, Westmin.ster. The true Eastminster

bycausc men spake suche latyn, vpon was St. Mary de Graces, a Cistercian
that folowed the rules were made. abhey near the Tower, founded by
That is to saye, latynspeche was before Edward iri in 1349. See Notes and
the rules, not the rules before the Qitems, ^th ser., xi, pp. 62 3, 209-11.
 524 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

octoginta- —atrocius esset qiuam vt premi posset, ascitis duobus

540 episcopis aeque cordatis nec minus virulentis, incipit Coleto negocium
facessere, non alio telo quam quo solent isti, siquando cuiquam
exitium moliuntur. Defert eum apud Archiepiscopum Cantuariensem,
articulis aliquot notatis quos ex illius concionibus decerpserat. Quo-
rum vnus erat quod docuisset non adorandas imagines. Alter
545 quod sustulisset a Paulo laudatam hospitalitateni, qui enarrans illud
ex Euangelio, 'Pasce, pasce, pasce oues meas,' cum in prioribus
duobus cum reliquis interpretil^us consentiret, pasce exemplis vitae,
pasee sermone doctrinae, in tertio dissensisset, negans conuenire vt
Apostoli, qui tum erant pauperes, iuberentur oues suas pascere
550 subsidio temporali, et huius loco aliud quiddam substituisset. Tertius
quod cum in concione dixisset quosdam de charta concionari (id
quod multi frigide faciunt in Anglia), oblique taxasset Episcopum,
qui ob senium id solitus sit facere. Archiepiscopus, cui Coleti dotes
erant egi'egie cognitae, patrocinium innocentis suscepit, e iudice
55.=; factus patronus cum ipse Coletus ad haec aliaque stultiora respon-
:

dere dedignaretur.
Non conquieuit tamen senis odium. Tentauit aulam regiam in
Coletum concitare, atque in primis Regem ipsum. lam aliud telum
nacti, quod publice dixisset in concione pacem iniquam praeferendam
560 bello aequissimo iam enim adornabatur bellum in Gallos. Et huius
:

fabulae non minimam partem Minoritae duo agebant quorum alter :

fax belli mitram meruit, alter bonis lateribus vociferabatiir in con-

cionibus in poetas sic enim designabat Coletum, cum is a poeticis
;

541. cuiquami^: cm H. 550. H : Tertium J". 560. iamenim J': Id

enim temporis Jf. 561. agehant add. X.

539. octoginta] Cf. 1. 365^. Gedeclitnuss erlangt, die gleich vber

542. Cantuariensem] Warham. For menschlich were, aiso das er nit allein
the part that lie played in this matter alles was er lese, sonder auch sehe vnd
cf. Ep. 414. 1-5 and EHR. xvii. 303-6. hiirte, on alle miilie im gedechtnus
544. imagines] Cf. 1. 479. behalten mochte, wie er dann die
545. a Paulo] Rom. 12. 13, Tit. i. 8. Decreta, Decretales, Ordnung der Key-
546. Euangelio] John 21. 15-17. serliclien Rechten sampt ihren Glos-
551. de charta] Colefs memory was sen :Aristotelem vnd andre Lehrer
exceptionally strong, if the story told die er besichtigt hette, von wort zu
by the Augsburgphysician, Chr. Wirt- wort erzelte. Wo im auch mancherley
zung (c. 1500-1571), in his Artzney Buch, Namen vorgesagt wurden, kund er die
bk. I, ch. 12, § I, really refers to him : on alles bedencken nach ordnung
Es ist zu vnsern zeiten ein Canonicus
'
widerumb erhollen, er das nicht ein-
zu Candelberg in Engelland gewesen, mal felete' (ed. 1572, p. ci).
Doctor in Theologia vnd der Rechten, 559. nacti] Fitzjames and his sup-
Johannes Coletus genant, dem ist im porters see II. 539-40.
;

16. Jar[s] seins alters von eim getautt- pacem] Cf. Cic. Fain. 6. 6. 5.
ten Juden volgeride Kunst mitgeteil(t) Pace alludes to this incident in his
worden, dardurch er ein wunderbar- Be Frudu, Basle, Froben, Oct. 1517,
liche Gedechtnuss erlangt liab, also das p. 83; speaking of Scotist theologians,
was er einmal lass, sein lebenlang ' qui in te, o Colete, satis non indocte
behielte. Wie nun dieser im 39. Jar modo sed etiam impie insurrexerunt,
seins alters sein sterben sahe, baten quum diceres salutarem pacem perni-
seine gute Freund solche geheimnuss cioso bello longe esse ijraeferendam '.
zu ofiFenbaren. Der zeigte an, Er were 560. bellum] The expedition of 1512.
eins grobens vnfahigens vorstands 561. Minoritae] Birkhead {\. 6o2n)
gewesen, aber durch mittel dieser and Standish (Ep. 608. i^n). In Adag.
Kunst in kurtzer zeit ein guten ring- i49^ Standish's latera are noticed.
fiichigen verstand, darzu ein solclie 563. in poetas] Cf. Ep. 258. 7-12.
1211] TO JODOCUS JONAS 525

numeris esset alienissimus, alioqui non imperitus musices. Hic

Eex, e.oregius iuuenis. dedit euidens specimen ingenii sui regno 565
dignissimi, i^riuatim hortans Coletum, pergeret sua doctrina libere
succurrere moribus eius seculi corruptissimis, neque subduceret
lucem suam temporibus tenebricosissimis se non ignorare quid in :

illum stimularet episcopos illos, neque nescire quantum ipse fructus

attulisset genti Britannicae sua vita sacraque doctrina. Addebat sese 570
sic cohibiturum illorum conatus vt aliis liqueret non impune fore,
si qui Coletum impeterent. Hic Coletus egit quidem gratias pro
animo regio, caeterum quod obtulit deprecatus est, negans se velle
vt cuiquam peius esset sua causa se potius cessurum munus quod
.575
:

gerebat.
Sed ahquanto post data est illis ansa. vt sperarent iam posse
confici Coletum. A Pascha parabatur expeditio in Gallos. In die
Parasceues Coletus apud Kegem et aulicos mire concionatus est de
victoria Christi, adhortans Christianos omnes vt sub Kegis sui
vexillo militarent ac vincerent. Etenim qui odio, qui ambitione 5S0
mali pugnarent cum malis seque vicissim trucidarent, non sub
Christi sed sub diaboli signis militare simulque ostendit quam res :

esset ardua Cliristianam obire mortem, quam pauci bellum suscipe-

rent non odio aut cupiditate viciati ;
quam vix consisteret eundem
habere fraternam charitatem, sine qua nemo visurus esset Deum, 585
et ferrum in fratris viscera demergere. Addidit vt Christum Prin-
cipem suum imitarentur potius quam lulios et Alexandros. Multa-
que alia tum declamauit in hanc sententiam, sic vt Kex nonnihil
metueret ne haec concio adimeret animos militibus quos educebat.
Huc velut ad bubonem omnes conuolant mali, sperantes fore vt 590
Kegis animus iam in illum posset exacerbari. Accersitus est
Coletus iussu Kegis venit, pransus est in monasteriolo Fran-
:

ciscanorum quod adhaeret regiae Grienuuikensi. Kex vbi sensit,

591. F Corrig. : possit F. 592. monasterio i/.

577. Pascha] 27 Marcli 1513. larger scale. Tlie connexion between

578. Parasceues] From 1510 to 1517 palace and friary was very close.
Colet was regularly the Court preacher Henry was niarried to Catharine of
on Good Friday, and usually at Green- Aragon in the friars' church, 11 June
wich. See Henry viii'3 Book of Pay- 1509 the Princess Mary was baptized
;

ments, in Brewer ii, pp. 1445-74 ^^^ ; tliere in Feb. 1516, and Elizabeth iu
cf. the pi-eface to Longlond's Sermones, Sept. 1533. A letter from Henry to
London, Pynson, The only ex-
s. a. Leo x, 12 March 1512 from Greenwich,
ception is in 1514 for which year the
: on his neighbours' behalf, extols their
accounts mention no name. In 1508 virtues and devotion (Brewer i. 4871).
too Colet prtached at Greenwich in Catharine, too, cherished them often :

Lent see Hasted's Hisf. 0/ Kenf, ed.

;
attending their services, and making
H. H. Dnike, pt. i (1886), p. 57^. one of them, John Forrest (executed in
587. lulios] Neither Colet nor his 1538), her confessor. Over the Divorce
hearers can have overlooked tlie double they espoused her cause and the house
;

comparison of Christ with the con-

; was dissolved in Aug. 1534.
quering kings of antiquity, and with See Hasted, op. cit., pp. 86-8.
His papal vice-gerents represented by 590. ad bubonem] Cf. Ov. M. 11. 24-5.
Alexander vi and Julius 11. 593. rcgiae] The manor of Greenwich
592. monasteriolo] A site next to fell to tlie Crown on the death of
the palai^e (1. 593^^1 had been granted Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester, 1447.
to the Ob^ervant Franciscans by Ed- Quecii Margaret of Anjou began to
ward IV c. 1480 and their first house
; make it into a palace which was con-
;

had been rebuilt by Henry vii on a tinually enlarged by successive kings

 526 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

descendit in ortiim monasterii, et Coleto prodeimte dimisit suos

595 omnes.
Vbi solus esset cum solo, iussit vt tecto capite familiariter collo-
queretur, atque ita exorsus est iuuenis humanissimus Ne quid :
'

temere suspiceris, Decane, non huc accersiui te quo turbem tuos

sanctissimos labores, quibus vnice faueo, sed vt exonerem conscien-
600 tiam meam scrupulis aliquot, tuoque consilio rectius satisfaciam
officio meo'. Verum ne totum colloquium repetam, quod fere sesqui-
horam productum est, interim in aula ferociebat Bricotus, ex Francis-
cano episcopus, existimans periclitari Coletum, cum per omnia con-
ueniret illi cum Eege nisi quod Rex optabat vt quod Coletus vere
:

605 dixisset, diceret aliquando explanatius ob rudes milites, qui secus

interpretarentur quam ipse dixisset, videlicet Christianis nuUum
esse bellum iustura. Coletus pro sua prudentia proque singulari
animi moderatione non solum animo regio satisfecit verumetiam
auxit gratiam pristinam. Vbi reditum est in regiam, Rex dimis-
610 surus Coletum, allato poculo praebibit illi. et complexus hominem
humanissime, omniaque pollicitus quae sint ab ainantissimo rege
expectanda, dimisit. lam aulica tui'ba circunstans, expectabat exitum
eius colloquii, Ibi Rex omnibus audientibus Suus inquit, cuique'
'
'

doctor esto, et suo quisque faueat. Hic est doctor meus '. Ita
615 discesserunt quidam lupi, quod aiunt, hiantes, et praecipue Bricotus ;

nec ab eo die quisquam est ausus impetere Coletum.

Habes, lodoce, duos quos aetas nostra tulit mea sententia vere
syncereque Christianos, non tam depictos quam deliniatos, quantum
passa est epistolaris angustia. Tuum erit ex vtroque decerpere quod
620 tibi videbitur ad veram pietatem maxime conducere. lam si quaei-es
vtrum alteri praeferam, mihi videntur pari laude digni, cum dissimili
fuerint conditione. Siquidem vt magnum erat Coletum in ea fortuna

599. vfc adcl. H. 602. ex Fi-anciscano episcopus add. H. 6io. i!li om. H.
611. rege add. H.

(Hasted, op. cit., pp. 55-8). Kichmond 1445-70). He appears to have had
(1-373) h3,d been the favourite resi- influence with the King, who in Aug.
dence of Henry VII in London. Henry 1510 gave him £10 for the purposes of
viii's preference was for Greenwich, his Order (ibid. p. 1447). On 15 April
where lie had been born, 28 June 1491 15 13 he was created bp. of St. Asaph ;

and his book of payments (Brewer ii, in which position he contributed to

pp. 1441-80) shows that in the early the building of the fine perpendicular
years of his reign he spent much of his tower of Wrexham church (D. R.
time there. Thonias, Hist. of the diocese of St. Asaph,
594. ortum] For this form cf. Epp. 1906-13, i. 221, iii. 298 .

270. 16, 1062. iisn. The Edmund Briget, LL.B., who

597. iuuenis] aged 21, was a Franciscan at Norwich in 1485,
602. Bricotus] Edmund Brygate, prebendary of the cathedral 1493-1505,
Birkhead, or Birkenhead (i- April init. and executor to Bp. Goldwell (f 1498),
1518) was a Franciscan, of the houseat was perhaps an elder kinsman see ;

Norwich. About 1492 he went to F. Blomefield, Hist. of Noroflk, 1806, iii.

Cambridge, where he was D.D. in 542, iv. 115, 172.
1502-3 {Cambridge Grace Book B, ed. 606. nullum , . . bellum] Cf. Ep. 1232.
M. Bateson, pt. i, 1903, pp. 160, i8a). 52-3.
From 1510 to 1516 he was a regular 615. lupi . hiantes] Cf. .<4(?a5f. 1258 :
. .

Lenten preacher at Court usually, as

; 'Aiuntlupum praedae inhiantem rictu
ini5i3, on Palm Sunday (Henry viii's late diducto accurrere: qua si frustre-
Book of Payments, in Brewer ii, pp. tur, obambulare hiantem '.
121 1] TO JODOCUS JONAS 527

constanter sequutum esse, non quo vocabat natura sed quo Christus
ita speciosior est laus Vitrarii, quod in eo genere vitae tantum
obtinuerit ac praestiterit spiritus Euangelici perinde quasi piscis in 625:

palude viuens nihil trahat de sapore palustri. Sed in Coleto quaedam

erant quae testarentur illum hominem esse: in Vitrario nihil
vnquam vidi quod vllo pacto saperet affectum humanum. Quod si
me audies, lona, non dubitabis hos duos diuorum asscribere catalogo,
etiamsi nullus vnquam Pontifex eos referat in canonem. 630
Felices animae, quibus ego multum debeo, vestris precibus adiuuate
luctantem adhuc in huius vitae malis Erasmum, vt in vestrum
contubernium remigrem, nusquam postea diuellendus.
Vale, mi lona. Bene habet si tuo desiderio feci satis nam ;

argumento scio nequaquamesse satisfactum. 635

Ex rure Andrelaco. Id. lun. an. m.d.xxi.

1212. TO LOUIS GUILLARD.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 545. Anderlecht.
HN: Lond. xiv. 17: LB. 578. 17 June 1521.

[The year-date may be accepted in view of Erasmns' residence at Anderlecht

and his occupation with the New Testament and Augustine. For Guillard see
Ep. 360. i8n.]

ERASMyS ROT. R. D. P. LODOVICO, EPISCOPO TORXACENSI, S. D.

Nae mihi magnopere felix fuit, reuerende Praesul, illa mea ad

Petrum Amicum epistola quae quidem effecit, quod ego vix ausurus
;

eram concipere votis, vt tua celsitudo literis humanissime scriptis

suum erga me studium testaretur, et singularem illam naturae tuae
bonitatem veraeque pietatis studium iam multorum praedicatione 5
mihi non incognitum ceu viua quadam imagine repraesentaret.
Suffraganeo tuo facile ignoscerem quod alieno impulsu talia dixis-
set in famam meam apud populum, si vel leuis esset iniuria vel
eam gereret personam cui venia deberetur. Nunc quid atrocius
quam in populari, imo in sacra, concione manifestis conuiciis atque 10
adeo mendaciis incessere famam hominis immerentis, imo bene-
merentis, et, quo nihil apud Christianos detestabilius, haereseos
crimen impingere? Atque haec facit monachus, senex, theologus,
et episcopus denique tuas, hoc est laudatissimi Praesulis, vices
;

gerens. Quis autem est scurra tam perfrictae frontis qui responsurus 15
sit impudentius quam ille respondit, rogatus quid offendisset in
libris meis haereticum ? Non legi inquit libros Erasmi. Para-
*
' '

phrases habebam in animo legere ; sed visa est Latinitas tam pro-

1211. 636. fiV : Anderlaco JV2 loMcZ. Idus H. lunii K m.d.xix. //.
1212. TiT R. D. p. om. H. LVDOVico H. 2. amicum F.

1212. 2. Amicum] Cf. Ep. 1173. 911. with his Courtray pension such as
;

Erasmus had perhaps used him as an he afterwards addressed to the Bp.'3

intermediary through whom to address successor c. 20 April 1526 (cf. Ep. 1695).
to Guiilard some request in connexion 7. Suffraganeo] Cf. Ep. 1144. 39"'
 528 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

funda vt metus sit ne in haeresim aliquam posset prolabi Ita se '.

20 purgabat magnificus ille theologus apud hominem egregie cordatum

neque vulgariter eruditum.
Caeterum quod autoritas tua literis admonuit hominem ne posthac
ita petulanter debacchetur in nomina eorum qui bene merentur de
sacris studiis, functus es tu quidem officio boni Praesulis sed aliis ;

25 magis ista ratione consultum est quam mihi. Vtinam scorpius

iste venenum quod infixit auditorum simplicium animis, ad se posset
retrahere Ex amicorum literis didici monachum quendam apud
!

Christianissimum Galliarum Regem in concione magis etiam insa-

nisse :qui dixerit iam aduenturum Antichristum, cmn extiterint
30 quatuor praecursores, Minorita nescio quis in Italia, Lutherus in
Germania, lacobus Faber in Gallia, Erasmus in Brabantia. Haec
qui audent, nonne sunimos principes aut pro stupidis habent, qui
nihil intelligant et credantomnia aut pro pessimis, qui vkulentis
;

mendaciis oblectentur aut plane contemnunt ? ;

S.*; Sed tamen ad ista, quoniam pene quotidiana sunt, par est me
iampridem occalluisse praesertim cum videam illos insanis tumulti-
;

bus nihil aliud efficere quam vt stoliditatem suam cuni pari inscitia
malitiaque coniunctam prodant orbi. Equidem an vtilitatis aliquid
attulerim sacris studiis nescio, certe conatus sum enixissime vt si :

40 videor indigniis gloria, saltem his contumeliis dignus videri non

possim. Argumentum operis quod mihi suppeditat tua pietas,
etiamsi maxime probaretur, tamen in praesentia non vacabat aggredi,
in adornanda tertia Noui Testamenti aeditione et recognoscendis
diui Augustini libris occupatissimo. Sed de hoc post consultabitur,
45 cum se dabit otium. Interim demiror tuam amplitudinem hoc e
nostris Lacunis petere, cum domi habeas vberrimum optimarum
rerum fontem, lodocum Clothoueum. Quod offers omne studium et
officium tuum, nihil in praesentia peto nisi vt pergas fauere meliori-
bus literis ac sacris studiis, et Erasmum inter tuos ascribas. Habebis
50 clientukmi et amantem et minime onerosum. Bene vale.
Ex rure Andrelaco. xv. Cah lulias. Anno M.D.xxi.

1213j23G From Paul Bombasius.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 646. Rome.
HN : Lond. xvii. 13 : LB. 579. 18 June 1521.

PAVLVS BOMBASIVS ERASMO SVO S. P. D.

QvoD tam negligenter et raro ad te scribo, mi Erasme, noli aliam

causam putare quam assiduam et confusam quandam negociorum

1212. 36. H
occaluisse F.
: 47. Clithoueum Jf : Clitoueum lY. 51. Ander-
laco H. 1213. TiT. svo s. p. d. F: roterodamo s. d. H.

1212. 27. monachum] Cf. Ep. 1192. 43. Noui Testamenti] See Ep. 1174.
25n. 1511. He was now busy with the Notes.
30. praecursores] Cf. Ep. 1192. 2611. 44. Augustini] See Ep. 1144. 7in.
41. operis] I have no clue to this 46. lacunis] Cf. Ep. 1002. 1511.
work. 47. Clothoueum] Cf. Ep. 594. i^n.
1213] FKOM PAUL BOMBASIUS 529

congeriem, a pristino illo studio nostro penitus abhorrentium quae ;

perplures iam annos ita me distraxerunt vt pene ab omni doctrina

et hunianitate abstraxerint et ad nescio quam d^oio-tai' adegerint. 5
Cui vt non sohmi contra genium meum seruire sed etiam placere
modis omnibus studeam. Svo-wnia n^ me cogit, ne scilicet in tanta
bene gerendae rei occasione mihi ipsi defuisse curiosum vulgus
iudicet, meque leuitatis arguat aetate interim. vt vides, Libente,
;

nec facultatibiis adeo crescentibus vt earum non poeniteat, ipsisque 10

bonarum literarum iactura compensari possit. Quanquam non ita
mecum mahgne agitur vt ad professoriam hnguam redeundum fore
timeam. Nam reditus annuos ad cccc. ducatos nulhs sacris addictos,
nec fortunae sed industriae meae acceptos ferendos, auxi quos nun- ;

quam ex hterario illo ocio sperare ac ne somniare quidem mihi 15

hcuisset. Quibus si tecum ahquando hbere frui possem, Croesi
thesauris non inuiderem, iustaque mihi daretur ab ineptis istis ac
parum hberahbus CLU'is missio. Quare vt Hercules ad hberandum
Thesea, ita et tu ad Bombasium vinculis redimendum, non ad inferos
vt iUe, sed ad hberiorem hanc et magis claram caeteris lucem, te 20
conferas rogo et obsecro si modo eum me esse censes quem in
:

studiis socium habere non te poeniteat, vel certe studiorum tuorum

admiratorem.
Complures magnos viros hic esse scito, qui tuae famae impendio
fauent,tibique aduersus quoscunque patrocinantur. Leonem x. 25
maxime propitium habes ciii quoties tuae ad quoscunque hterae
:

ostenduntur, eas auidissime legit et candidissime laudat. Nouissimas

ad me tuas, postquam sibi per E. Card. meum delatas legisset,
diebus ahquot post repetiit, ac Sadoleto et ahis doctis legendas dedit.
In quibus hoc vnum, meo vtique iudicio, peccare visus fuisti, quod 30
nimis multa de N. cum tua eo iam peruenerit fama vt quoscunque
:

de te sermones plus inuidiae quam iudicii praeseferentes fioccifacere

possis praesertim Leone Pont(ifice) bene adeo de te sentiente vt
;

Hispanum nescio quem in scripta tua procaciter inuectum, sicut

audio, monuerit ne quid in posterum aedeie velit quod nomen tuum 35
proscindat, et si veritati adesse hbeat, id eo temperamento faciat vt
nihil odio aut huori dedisse videatur.
Quem cum tu, in eius causa tam iusta et pia silens, adeo benignum
habeas, quid futurum pufares si pro eo vel potius veritate ipsa, quam
Lutherani isti, nouis rebus studentes ac haereses iampridem explosas 40
et extinctas importune excitantes, impiis modis conuellere ac penitus
demohri nituntur, arma sumeres et strennue, vt nosti, decertares?

28. E. Card. F : Cardiiialem patronum H.

3. studio nostro] at Bologna in 1507. witli proprietycomplain to Bomljasius,

12. professoriam] See Ep. 210 introd. thougli not to the {"ope.
27. Nouissimas] Perhaps contem- 34. HispanumJ Stunica ; see App.
porary with an answer to Ep. ri8o. 15.
28. R. Card.] L. Pucci see Ep. 860
: 35. monuerit] See Ep. 158 1 but cf. ;

introd. Epp. 1260. 188-94, 1268. 70-5.

29. Sadolcto] See Ep. 1511 introd. 42. decertares] Cf. Ep. 1180, in
31. N.] From Erasmus' reply (Ep. which tlie same wish is not obscurely
1236. 9-13; cf. Epp. 1218, 1219) tliis indicated ; aiid, for a similar sugges-
person may be identified with Alean- tion made from the Imperial side, Epp.
der : about whom Erasmus might 1269.7-10,1270. See alsoi, p. 35. 11-20.
 530 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1521

Quod plerique de te expectabant, et monstra ista vni tibi quasi fato

quodam, vt magnus et immortalis fieres, destinata fuisse loque-
45 bantur. Contra quae ego te hortarer, si putarem me quicquam, in
hac praesertim causa tibi notissima, scire quod te lateat. Hoc vnum
certe scio, reliquos omnes labores quos hactenus vigilando et scri-
bendo sumpsisti, omnino steriles fuisse, px"ae quam hic vnus esset.
Nec ignoro quid potissimum ab hoe tuum deterreat animum non :

50 dico plurimorum offensiones, quas non sine periculo subire necesse

esset, sed quorundam stultorum immodicam petulantiam qui quasi ;

de industria praeuaricantes, dum optimam per se causam iuuare

satagunt, ei vel maxime obsunt, et optimos quosque ab ea tutanda
summouent, sibi caute prospicientes, ne cum eis pariter insanire
55 videantur. Quorum ineptos furores non tanti ego faciendos putarem,
vt quae meae partes essent oblitus viderer. Quod scribis expedisse
hanc rem per alios viros et aliis rationibus agi, plures iam tecum
sentiunt, et ego semper in hac sententia fui. Sed actum ne agatur,
potius quam remedia excogitentur aliqua.
60 Postquam te Basileam venisse audio, a negociis meis impetrare
conabor, vt per ea crebrioribus te literis meis appellare atque adeo
interpellare mihi liceat. Hactenus dum Louanii fuisti, cogitans
quantum spacii interesset, vix animum inducere potui vt aliquid ad
te scriberem. Nunc operam dabo vt nugarum mearum te nunquam
65 poeniteat, quas vel occupatissimus ad saturitatem vsque tibi sug-
geram.
Epistolam loannis primam vetustissimis characteribus scriptam in
Vaticana bibliotheca tandem reperi, cuius versus capituli quarti hi
SUnt AyaTTTyrot, fxrj Trairi Trvev/xaTL TTLareveTe, aXXh. 8oKiixa.^iT€ to. irvev-
:

-o jxaTa, et ck tov 0eov f.aTLv, otl irokXol il/evbo~po4>rjTaL i^€ki]Xv$a(rLv cts tov
KocTfxov. Ev Toi'Ta) ytvoJcrKtTe to Ylvevfxa tov ©eov. YVdv TTvevfJia 6 ofxoXo-
yet Irfo-ovv li.pL(TTov iv (rapKl iXrfXvOivaL, eK tov ®eov icrTi. Kat Trdv
"TTvevfxa o p-rf bfx.oXoyeZ tov Iqcrovv, £k tov 0eof; ovk eaTLv. Kat toOto ccTt
To Tov dvTL)(pLaTOv . 'AKYjKoaTe oTt ep;^eTat, Kat Ta AoiTra. Item ex quinto :

75 OTt Tpets eto-iv ot fxapTvpovvTe<i, to Uvevfia Kat to vdatp Kai to at/Ao, Kat ot
Tpets ets to ev elcTLV. Et rrfv fiapTvpiav twv dvOpwTroyv Xafi/3dvoft.ev, rf fiap-
Tvpia Tov ®eov fxeL^wv icTTLV. Otl avTrj i(TTLv rj fxapTvpia tov ®eov, otl
fxefxapTvprfKe irepl toS vlov avTov. O TrtaTevwv ets toi' vlov toS 0eoi5 e\eL
TTfv fxapTvpiav iv avT^- 6 fxrf TTLcrTevaiv tcu 0ew {^evcTTrjv ireTroirfKev avTov, otl
8o ov TreirLCTTevKev ets Tr]v p.apTvpLav rfv fxefxapTvprfKev b ©eos Trcpt tov iiioO
avTOV. Kat avTrj icTTlv rf fxapTvpia, oVt ^cdt/v alwviov, Kal tu. XoLTrd.
Haec in quibus ab impressis codicibus dissideant, non est quod

67.loannis] i John 4. 1-3, 5. 7-1 1. only printed toxts of the Greek New
scriptam] From the readings Testament as yet in existencewere the
given Bombasius' Vatican MS. may be Complutensian, Jan. 1514, ^vhich was
safely identified with the famous B not put into circulation until after
(Vaticanus). In the Apologia cle loco 22 March 1520 (see Leo x's Brief,
'
Omncs qiiideniresurgetnus' {Ei>.8-]8. J^n) printed in some copies of its first
Erasmus describcs it as mirae vetu- '
volume, i°. <i>^ v"), and which Erasmus
statis' (LB. ix. 4350). For assistauce did iiot see till after his third edition
given by Bombasius in 1522, in pas- (p. 425) was completed the Aldine
;

sages of the Pauline Epistles, see of Feb. 1518 (Ep. 770 cf. Epp. 373
;

BRE. 221. introd., 11 74. i^n) ; and 6erbell's

82. impressis codicibusl Besides (Ep. 342 introd.), Hagenau, T. Ans-
Erasmus' own of 1516 and 1519, the helm, March 1521, based 011 Er;ismus'
 1213] FEOM PAUL BOMBASIUS 531

a medocearis. Si quid eiit in quo iudicium exquires, non meum

tam in his quam in plerisque aliis super quibus doctorum altercatio
est, nihil tecum dissimulanter vel mussitabunde agam, sed, vt me 85
nosti, parrhesiastes ero. Vale, et me cohorti doctorum commenda-
tum redde. Ex vrbe xviii. lunii. anno m.d.xxi.

1214. TO LlVINUS HUGEXOYS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 613. Anderlecht.
HN : Lond. xvi. 16 : LB. 580. 21 June 1521.

[The date is sufficiently confirmed by Erasmus' residence at Anderlecht, and

by his forthcoming visit to Bruges.
Livinus Hugenoys (t^SSS), mouk of St. Bavo's at Ghent, was elected Abbot,
4 Nov. 1517 probably at an advanced age, since for some years before his death
:

he had his successor as coadjutor. He vsras the last Abhot on the old footing
for in tlie year following his death the Abbey church was made coUegiate and
the monks were converted into seculars (GC. v. 183). Besides other generosity
(Ep. 1271. 124-6) he lent Erasmus a Latin MS. of the Gospels for one of the later
editions of the N. T., perhaps the second (cf. Epp. 373 introd., 597. i6n) but :

the unflattering description of his library in the colloquy S(jnodiis granimaticonmi

(LB. i. 825 AB first published in 1529) indicates that it was mainly medieval.
:

He is tliere called homo senex (cf. Ep. 1025. i6n). In Erasmus' will of 1527
' '

he is one of the 20 recipients named for presentation copies of the projected

edition of Erasmus' collected works.]

ERASMVS EOTERODAMVS R. P. AC D. D. LIVINO, ABBATI

MONASTERII S. BAVONIS GANDAVI, S. D.

QvAE praeter meritum obtingunt, hoc plus solent habere precii

et quae praeter expectationem obueniunt, solent esse gratiora. Non-
nunquam et autor magnificus precium addit suo muneri. Nihil
autem tam per se vile est quod non eximie charum reddatur si
proueniat ab animo amico. Quot igitur nominibus mihi putas 5
gratum fuisse munus tuum, Praesul egregie, quod per insignem
virum Cornehum, aduocatum a fisco, misisti ? adeo non expectanti
vt si de coelo delapsum fuisset, non potuisset magis inexpectatum
accidere. Nam quod vltro mittitur, quod immerenti, quod nec per
somnium expectanti, non potest non ab amicissimo pectore proficisci. to
Et munus per se gratissimum verbis etiam commendas. Negas esse
munus, sed animi symbolum. Ais non ditandi cavisa missum, sed
salutandi gratia. Amplector igitur istum animum tuum, et agnosco
quid debeam. Vt pariter te redamem, tamen hoc calculo vinces,

1214. TIT. R. P. AC D. D. om. H.

and the Aldine. It seems hardly procured tlicm from Rome. See Mun-
likely that Bombasius can have seen ster's interesting pi-eface to his Didio-
Gerbeirs edition but theCompluten-
; narium Hebraicum, Basle, Froben, .Tune
sian may easily have reached Ilome by 1523. For a volume at Louvain in
tfhis time. About 1522 Sebastian 1522 see Ep. 1274. in.
Munster saw and Vocabulary
its O. T. 1214. 7. Cornelium] Perhaps Corn. of
at Basle, in the hands of Conrad Pel- Schoonhoven, advocate at Ghent, who
lican lent from Constance by John
: is descriVjed in Ep. 1594 as '
magnus
Faber (see Ep. 386 introd.), who had amicus '
of Erasmus.

M m 2
 532 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

15 quod nie prior ad amicitiam prouocaris. Nam in ea consuetudine

quae mihi tecuni fuit Gandavii ac Dernemondae, tam me gessi
inciuiliter vt non semel veritus sim ne prorsvis animum tuum a
nobis alienassem. At qui sic prouocatus amare potest, dignum
arbitror qui toto pectore redametur.
20 Sed Marcus Laurinus, decanus apud collegium Sancti Donatiani,
pollicitus est mihi vetustissimum codicem manu descriptum e vestra
bibliotheca, qui contineret commentarios diui Hieronymi in Psahnos.
Qui si commode ad nos mitti non potest, saltem optarem ex eo
describi vnam aut alteram paginam quo mihi collatione liceat :

25 experiri num hi commentarii quos habemus excusos typis, adulterini

aut mutili sint necne. Quod si ne id quidem commodum est, arbi-
tror me ad Calendas Augustas Brugas repetiturum. Tum igitur vel
obiter sahitabo tuam ampHtudinem. Bene vale, pater omnibus
modis obseruande in Christo lesu.
30 Ex Andrelaco. xi, CaL luHas. an. m.d.xxi.

1215. To Charles Harst.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 613. Anderlecht.
HN : Lond. xvi. 17 : LB. 581. 22 June 1521.

[The year-date is confirmed by Erasmus' residence at Anderlecht.

Chai-les Harst (1492-1563), of Wyssenbruch in the diocese of Spires. matri-
cuhited at Cologne 28 Oct. 1509, studied law at Orleans c. 1514-18 (Ep. 866. ^n) ;

and at the present time evidently was at Louvain. Later in the year he accom-
panied Erasmus as far as Coblenz on the way to Basle (Ep. 1342. 176-8),
and carried back letters for him. In 1524 he spent some time in Ei-as-
mus' service at Basle (Ep. 1437), in company with Sig- Gelenius see the :

latter's dedication to him {P. *2 v") of Symmachus' EpistoJae, Basle, Froben, Sept.
1549. He seems also to have acted as messenger for Erasmus : going to Rome
for him in Aug. 1525 (NE. pp. 26,7 Epp. 1594-5, 1649-50) in connexion with a
;

dispensation to make a will, and to England in Dec. 1525 with a parcel 01 letters.
For tlie next two or three years lie was teaching privately at Louvain wherehe ;

married Katharine van der Klusen (f 16 Jan. 1559), of whom Erasmus thought
well (Q. 57). For a time he was estranged from Erasmus, whom he accused of
defaming him but tliis did not last long. In Mareh 1530 he entered the
;

service of Duke John of Cleves (Ep. 829. lan) and the rest of his life was spent
;

in executive and dii^lomatic work for that family. In 1533 he visited Erasmus
at Freiburg (EE. 183 cf. Ep. 1313. 85^, and LB. App. 373) but later was engaged
; ;

on missions of liiglier importance— to Ferdinand in 1538.^0 Spain in 1539, to

England in 1540-4 as attendant on Anne of Cleves, but keeping no great state
(Brewer xv-xix), to the Emperor in 1544 (Brewer xix. i. 915), to England again
in 1547 and 1556. In 1552 he settled at Dusseldorf but he died at Xanten. ;

See five letters from him to Boniface Amerbach, 1527-37 (Basle MSS. G. II.
18. 92-6) Goclenii Epist., fi". 3, 32 v° EE. and ADB.
; ;

—
Nicholas Episcopius tlie younger (1531 29 Dec. 1565) dedicated to Harst the
first book which he pi-inted, an edition of Politian's Opera, Basle, 1553. In the
preface, dated i Sept., he refers to a warm reception 'ante aliquot annos in

26. Quod F Corrig. : Quid F. 30. Auderlaco H.

16. Gandaui] ApiJarently Erasmus 21. codicem] I cannot find in tlie

had travelled with the Abbot from second edition ofJerome, 1524-6, any-
Ghent to Termonde, on return from thing to show whether or no Erasmus
one of his vlsits to Bruges, perhaps had tlie use of this ms.
that of July 1520 (cf. Ep. 1129. in). 27. Brugas] See p. 551.
1215] TO CHARLES HARST 533

aedibus tuis Louauii ', and speaks of the close tie formed between them by
'
inueterata tua oum meis maioribus et cognatis amicitia, praesei-tim cum paren-
tibus et Frobeniis, inchoata iam tum quando propter Des. Erasmum nostrum,
virum aeterna dignum memoria, haec patria visebatur ab eruditis et candidis,
quos ille ceu magnes ferrum ad se attrahebat occulta quadam avinraOfia studio-
rumque, in quibus excellebat, similitudine '. Of this Nicholas can have had
little personal recollection, for at the time of Erasmus' death lie was only about
five years old.]

ERASMVS EOTERODAMVS CAEOLO HARST SVO S. D.

Bis igitur tibi debeo, mi Carole, et qiiod nos volueris inuieere, et

quod abstinueris ne studia mea interpellares. Quod mihi rus hoc
gratularis, certe nihil iam multis mensibus a me factum est quod
cesserit felicius. Perieram ni vrbium nidorem reliquissem. lam
mihi cum medicis res esse coeperat consulti diuersi diuersa prae- : >

scripserant remedia. Ea quo minus sumpserim, nihil obstitit nisi

quod non vacabat aegrotare, subinde nouis negociis alio vocantibus.
Quanquam huc quoque penetrant ol 7rTo)xoTvpaii'OL quid enim istis :

est inaccessum ? Et e propinquo quotidie audimus insulsas fabulas.

De Carino quod mones, iamdudum a me curatum est. Neseno lo

misi : cui tradideram, ait se reddidisse Capitoni nostro. Tu fac

modis omnibus compiles Conradum Goclenium, omni genere litera-
rum opulentum, ac veluti gnauus et auidus negociator honestissimis
mercibus in patriam tuam onustus redeas. Sed in primis slilum
acue, quo possis aliquando rabulas istos, qui tam stolide i-eclamant ^5

optimis studiis, suis depingere coloribus. Bene vale.

Ex rure Andrelaco. x. Calen. luHas an. m.d.xxi.

1.216. To Peter Barbirius.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 594. Anderlecht.
HN : Lond. xvi. 4 : LB. 582. 26 June 1521.

[Between the death of William Ci-oy (1. i^n) and tlie publication of F. There
is close resemblance with the second Apologia against Stunica (see App. 15)
many of the sentences being almost identical.]

ERASMVS ROTEROD. PETRO BARBIRIO S. D.

Taxdem nactus sum librum quem in me scripsit lacobus Lopidis

Stunica, vt non paulo doctior, ita minus virulentus, si ad Lei

1215. TiT. svo om. H. 11. H: red/disse i^. 17. Anderlaco H.

1216. I. lacobus H : loannes F. Lopis H.

1215. 2. rus] Cf. Ep. 1208. in. from his previous connexion with
cum medicis] Cf. Ep. 1223. 4-6
5. ;
Carinus, might have been expected to
and Ep. 1208. 2n. be able to find him. But on his way
8. vl TtTOJxoTvpavvot^l The friars ; cf. to Frankfort, where Nesen now was,
Ep. 998. 59n. the messenger, passing through Mainz,
10. De Carino] It had perhaj^s becn gave the letter to Capito, with whom
proposed that he should enter Erasmus' Carinus had recently been (cf. Ep.
sorvico as he did shortly afterwards
: 1165. 49).
(Ep. 920 introd.). Erasmus seems to 12. Goclenium See p. 504.
liave directed liis letter to Nesen, who, 121G. i. Tandem nactusstmi] Tliough
 534 LETTER8 OF ERASMUS [1521

calumnias conferatur. Cuius ego laudibus adeo nihil detraham, vt

velim etiam conduplicatum quod sibi liberalissime tribuit quan- :

5 quam in me tam malignus vt nihil non adimat, ingenium, memoriam,

iudicium, eruditionem, lectionem sacrorum voluminum, peritiam
linguarum. denique et grammatices horum omnium beatissimum ;

quoddam cornu sibi suauissime vindicans. Certe pulchre pensauit

quorundam immodicum fauorem, qui me laudibus sic vehunt vt ex
10 musca faciant elephantem hic e pygmeo facit culicem. Quod sibi
:

tam impense fauet, nec miror nec inuideo. Caeterum demiror quae
res sic exacerbarit hominis animum in me, a quo ne verbo quidem
vnquam f uerit laesus neque enim mihi persuadere possum tantum
:

odium concipere bene natos animos (quando, vt audio, gentis claritu-

"r dinem cum eruditione coniunxit), nisi adsit improbus aliquis insti-
gator. Nunc audio felicis memoriae Cardinalem Toletanum, cui
noster heu iam iterum
successit Croius, illi fuisse autorem vt prius
opus ad me
mitteret quam euulgaret quod si responsione satis- :

facerem, magis e re ipsius esse premi librum quam aedi sin aut ;

20 non responderem aut proterue et indocte resi:)onderem. publicaret

suos labores bonis auibus. At ille statim a morte Cardinalis typo-
graphis tradidit opus, cum illum id temporis latere non posset,
aiteram aeditionem Noui Testamenti aut exisse iam aut mox
exituram.
25 Haec vtcunque habent, mihi certe voluptati est etiam apud
Hispanos effiorescere linguas ac bonas literas ac de Stunicae inge- :

nio mihi satis ampliter promitto. Sed vereor ne apud cordatos et

eruditos ex hoc labore quo famam auspicari voliiit, non tam opimam
gloriam retulerit quam ipse sibi polliceri videtur. Siquidem, vt
30 maxime persuadeat se linguis et literis omnibus, longaque ac dili-
gentissima veterum euolutione, si quisquam alius. instructum,
optime nosse quid deferendum sit interpreti, cum aliquando labatur
in rebus manifestissimis vt persuadeat me heri ac nudius tertius
;

coepisse legere sacros interpretes, in Hieronymo nihil intelligere.

Erasmus had heard of it nearly a year 17. Croius] t6 Jan. 1521 ; 5.ee Ep.
earlier (Ep. 1128. 2-6). the book did 647 introd.
not circulate outside Spain until 21. statim a morte] InEp. 1128. 4-5
Stunica brought it to Eome in Feb. Erasmus is less iirecise and more
1521. Mich. Hummelberg found a correct.
coijy from Eome at Constance 21 May 23. exisse] Anincorrect statement.
1521 (BRE. 204); Alciati saw it at At the time of Xiraenes' death (1. i6n)
Milan between 24 Aj^ril and 31 May Erasmus had indeed laid aside his
{Gudii EpisMae, 1697, pp. 90-1, 94; : secrecy (see Ep. 809. 6on}. and was
cf. also VE. 258 and s.^ 73"^. It reached writing openly of his intention (Epi>.
Basle a little later (Basle MS. C. VI* 694. 17-20, 695. 19-21, 768. 29, 809.
73. 222 v°). For Erasmus' replyseeEp. 56 seq.). But Stimica could not then
1235. have been aware of the publicatiou ;

2. Stunica] See App. 15. for Froben did not even accept the
8. cornu] Cf. Adag. 502, citing Hor. new edition till the spring of 1518
C. S. 59, 60. (Ep. 801. 9-15), and the volumes were
audio] Perhaps froni John- Ver-
14. only completed in Aug. 1518 and
gara who was now in the Nether-
: March 1519 (see Ep. 864 introd.).
lands, and had met Erasmus. See Epp. Erasmus seems to be judging Stunica's
1128. 4n, 1277 introd. book from its date, 1520, as though it
16. Toletanum] Ximenes, +8 Nov. had been composed early in 1519 and ;

^[517 ;
cf. Epp. 541. 37U, 1128. 4. to have forgotten when Ximenes died.
 12 16] TO PETER BARBIRIUS 535

qui ante annos viginti scvipserim Enchiridion, qui in hoc opere, vt 35

ipse vere scribit, tumultuario tantum adferam testimoniorum, nullis
interim indicibus adiutus, quibus ille felicior me fuit quis credi- :

turus est illi, quod hoc opus susceperit, non vllo maledicentiae
studio, sed animo prorsus ab omni contentione alieno ? cum toto
'
'

opere ab initio vsque ad finem nihil aliud quam me derideat ex 40

alto. carpat. laceret : lapsus etiam alienos mihi odiosissime im-
l^ingens, puta typographorum et Oecolampadii. nonnunquam atroces
tragoedias excitans ex his quae sunt simplicissime dicta ; quale est,
quod scripseram Neapolim nunc ab Hispanis occupari, et 27rai'tav
apud Paulum pro Hisjjania scribi : subinde magni conuicii loco me 45
Batauum appellans. Quasi mihi vicio verti debeat, etiamsi apud
Sogdianos natus essem, aut Hollandiae regio sit vlli regioni con-
temnenda, siue cultum spectes, siue celebritatem vrbium, siue rerum
affluentiam, siue laudem ingeniorum quae tam felicia passim apud
!

illos oriuntur, vt ad illos collatus ego vere talis videri possim qualem 50
me facit Stunica.
Nec satis erat sic temperasse operis praefationem, vt totidem fere
sint in me conuicia quot sunt verba singulis fere annotationibus
:

addit praefationes nouas et coronides, quibus me laniet. Ac rursum,

quasi hoc quoque parum esset, addidit indices marginales aculea- 55
tiores ipso contextu. Adeo nihil erat satis iUius animo modesto et
'
ab omni contentione prorsus alieno *.
lam haud scio num satis prudentis hominis videbitur, quod hunc
interpretem affirmet scite et eleganter vertisse Nouum Testamentuxn.
Certe non videbitur pi"aestare patrocinium, quo pollicetur se defen- 60
surum ab ornni calumnia suum interpretem, cum ad tot soloecismos
a me notatos nihil respondeat. Adeo silentio suo damnat quem ita
magnifice tuendum suscepit : etiamsi ipse non hoc agebam, vt
impeterem interpretem, vnde quid mihi fructus erat futurum ? sed
obiter annoto si quid videtur profuturum lectori studioso. Quantum 65
offecerit famae meae Stunica nescio, certe vellem suae rectius con-
suluisset nam ego facile boni consulo quicquid cedit in commodum
:

studiorum. Et acuit quidem ingenia contentio moderata sed hanc ;

vimlentiam qua nunc, nescio quo fato, feruent omnia. vellem abesse
cum ab omnibus honestis studiis, tum praecipue a sacris. 70
Tu, mi Barbiri, expectatione tui nimium diu nos torques, noua
sul>inde spe laetans animos nostros. Meum abitum remoratae qui-
dem sunt aliquot aliae causae, sed harum praecipua fuit, tui videndi
desiderium. Quod si te mutuum habet nostri desiderium, proj^eres
47. FCorrig.: Sogclianas J". 50. vere F C'om'gr. : vero i^. 53. anni FCorrig.:
aint /". 60. videbiturF: videturi/. 61. H: ad/ad .F. 72. A'* : lactas
F: lactasi^'.

35. Enchiridion] See Ep. 164. 58. Imnc inteipretem] The abrupt-
42. Oecolampadii]as correctorof tlie ness of thc transition suggests that
first edition : cf. Ep. 358. ^n. Erasmus is here abridging his own
44. scripseram] In the Annot. on Apologia. Comparison vvith that shows
Acts i6. ir and Rom. 15.24. that by these words he intends the
47. Hollandiae] For this eulogy of author of tho Traduclio ecdesiastica cf
Holland cf. Adag. 3535, Auris Bataua '.
' the New Testament.
52. praefationem] See lilp. 1128. 30. 71. expectatione] Cf. Ep. (114.30.
Tlie phrase quoted in II. 39, 57 occurs 72. abitum] To Basle and Rome cf. :

at the end of it. Epp. 1078. 62», 1143. 7911.

I
 536 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

75 oportet. Sic enim hic quotidie lapidor rabularum conuiciis, vt

periculum sit ne conficiar tot saxis in vnum caput inuolantibus.
Lutheri tragoedia peracta est apud nos atque vtinam nunquam
;

prodisset in theatrum Tantum hoc verentur quidam, ne cupide

!

vitata Scylla deferamur in Chaiybdim et hac victoria quidam crude-

;

80 lius abutantur quam expediat rei Christianae. Bene vale, patrone

incomparabilis. Ex Andrelaco, vbi nunc ex vrbano factus rusticus
sat suauiter ago. vi. Cal. lulias. anno m.d.xxi.

1217. To THE Theologians of Louvain.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 659. Anderlecht.

HN: Lond. xvii. 19: LB. 603. (June ?> 1531.

[Of the renewed attacks on Ei'asnius by Vincent Theoclorici and Latomus,

which led to this address to the Faculty of Theology, I can find no definite
indication. Only a conjectural date is iJossible, between Lutlier's departure
from Worms {\. 5211) and Erasmus' return from Anderlecht to Louvain in the
niiddle of October on his way to Basle.]

ERASMVS ROT. THEOLOGIS LOVANIEXS. S. D.

Revekendi patres ac domini phu-imum obseruandi, quoties con-

sidero et ordinis theologici grauitatem et meam innocentiam, vel
merita potius in sacrarum literarum cultores, si licet gloriosius
aliquid dicere, non libet credere quae ad me deferuntur. Et tamen
5 deferuntur a tam multis tamque grauibus viris, vt non possit omnino
videri vanum quod tot ac talium autorum consensu probatur. Re-
ferebat hoc omnium, vt istarum tragoediarum quae iam annis
aliquot inter nos aguntur magno vestro meoque incommodo, tandem
finis aliquis esset. Quid ego promeritus sim vigiliis meis, posteritas
10 aequior iudicabit quid Louanii sim passus a quorundam petulau-
:

tissimis linguis, nulli potest obscurum esse.

Nunc audio rursus instaurari tragoediam per quosdam, ducibus et
autoribus Vincentio et Latomo quorum alterum male habet epistola
:

ad Cardinalem Mogontinensem, in qua videor illi perstringere ordi-

15 nem Dominicalium alterum offendit Consilium quoddam nullo
;

autore vulgatum, de componenda tragoedia Lutherana, quod a me

profectum esse quidam male suspicaces dictitant. Primum epistola,
tum scripta cum nondum neque vestra condemnatio prodisset
neque Pontificis censura, niliil aliud agit in summa quam vt Lutherus
20 corrigatur jiotius quam vt magno orbis turaultu perdatur. Eam
epistolam obsignatam miseram ad quendam Cardinalis consiliarium,

12H). 81. AnderLico H. 1217. tit. lovanien. H. 14. Moguntinensem H.

1216. 79. ScylLi] Cf. Ep. 1186. 10:1. 15. Consilium] See p. 357.
81. rusticus] Cf. Ep. 1208. m. 18. condemnatio] See Ep. 1030. i6n.
1217.13. VincentioJ Theodorici ; see 19. censura] Exgurge, Bominc see;

p. 463. Ep. 1141. 2on.

Latomo] See Ep. 934. ^n. 21. consiliarium] Hutten ; cf. pp.
epistola] Ep. 1033. 96-7.
1217] TO THE THEOLOGIANS OF LOUVAIN 537

illiius faciens redderet, si videretur expedire ; sin minus, exureret.

Is et sero reddidit et, priusquam redderet, excudendam curauit,
mutatis etiam verbis aliquot, vt audio. Cum enim ego scripsissem
'
de Luthero', ille mutauit 'de Luthero nostro Quod res tumul- '. 25
tuosis clamoribus statim ageretur apud promiscuam multitudinem,
neque tum probabam neque nunc probo. Et hoc plus habet ponderis
apud omnes Parisiensium censura, quod sero prodierit. Nullum
ordinem nec laesi vnquam nec odi. Malos odi, quacunque veste
tegantur. Vt autem ordo sit honestissimus apud omnes, id in ipsis 30
situm est, non in me. Quod si istis cordi est magni fieri apud
omnes, eas dotes sibi parent quae famam honestam. quae autoritatem
ac fauorem conciliant. Sin intelligunt se minoris fieri quam vellent,
ea mutent vnde detrimentum opinionis nasci senserint.
Hactenus de epistola. Consilium iUud non est a me profectum, 35
sed a Praedicatore quodam theologo non vulgariter erudito. Id
cuidam prineipi fuit exhibitum, vt expenderetur an placeret, et
exhibitum fuit ante vulgatam Captiuitatem Babj-lonicam, cum res
esset adhuc sanabilior. Id quoque nescio quo casu vulgatum est
a Germanis, qui haud scio quo consilio nihil non habent palam. 40
Ac mihi quidem tum exhibuit Praedicator ille, qui non negabit
esse suum nec mihi displicuit omnino, vt ingenue dicam. Non
;

enim hoc agebat, vt rescinderetur sententia Pontificis aut vestra,

sed vt hominum persuasioni satisfieret, qui clamitabant, et adliuc
clamitant, Lutherum autoritate opprimi nec laederetur autoritas 45 ;

Pontificis, si volens aliquid remitteret de sua seueritate ob publicam

tranquillitatem. Atque id Consilium placuit etiam regibus, nisi
Captiuitas aliique huic similes libelli complurium animos alienas-
sent. In consultationibus liberum est vnicuique dicere suam sen-
tentiam, opinor. Et pium est tranquillitati publicae consulere, 50
modo id fiat incolumi Pontificis dignitate. Quod si fas non est,
qua fronte, cum Lutherus esset Vuormaciae, magnis studiis hoc
ipsum agebatur per viros laudatissimos, idque cum laude? Ita si
meum esset hoc Consilium, vt non est, tamen non video cur mihi
sit excitanda tragoedia. Nunc habet autorem suum, quem non 55
pudebit fateri.
Meministis quantum tragoediarum mihi concitatum sit ex falsis-
sima suspicione, cum i>rimum prodissent opera Lutheri, ob prae-
fatiuneulam paulo politiorem cum et verissimum sit et a me crebro
:

testatum, in omnibus illius libris nullam esse syllabam me conscio aut 60

34. H : senseiit i'". 36. praedicatore F Dominicano

: i7. 41. praedi-
catorJ': Dominicanus if. 42. m\\\\ add. H.

25.Luthero nostro] See p. 98. 38. Captiuitatem] publishcd c. 6

28.censura] See Epp. 1141. ign, Oct. 1520 (LE^. 350. 38) : see Ep. 1
153.
1202. 22on. 146^.
sero] as compared witli those of 40. a Germanis] Cf. Ep. 1186. 22n.
Cologne and Louvain see Ep. 1030. i6n.
; 50. consulere] This sentenee rouglily
29. ordinem' Cf. Ep. 1006. ^n. repr<;duces the title of the Consiliuin.
36. Praedicatore] Jolin Fal)cr see ; 52. Vuormaciae] Luther left Worms
Ep. 1149 introd. on 26 April :see also Ep. 1203. lon.
37. principi]TheAbp. of Mainz ; see 59. paulo politiorem] Cf. Epp. 1167.
Spongia(LB.x. 1648E = HE. 333,! 158). 106, 1225. 108-9.
 538 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1521

volente scriptam. Imo semper hunc exitum timui, et idcirco modis

omnibus conatus sum hominem ab hoc scribendi genere deterrere,
Nunc cauendum est prudentiae vestrae ne denuo ex suspicione simili
proximum. Homicidii genus est famam hominis impetere.
laedatis
65 Quo magis demiror quid sibi proponat Vincentius, qui nusquam
de me
cessat maledicentissime loqui. opportune, importune, lacerare
nomen Erasmi, lapidare me conuiciis. Quod si ego talis essem
qualem ille me falso praedicat, tamen tanta linguae procacitas inde-
cora sit et sacerdoti et monacho et theologo, pestilens etiam vestrae
70 Academiae, ne huius exemplo consuescant et in innoxios sic de-
baccliari. Nec alia re peius consulere Nam potest ordini suo.
virulentam et impotentem maledicentiam improbant et ii qui mihi
niale volunt. Porro eos qui sunt alieni, non alienat a me qui ;

mihi bene volunt, hos offendit. Sunt autem vbique non pauci qui
75 nobis bene cupiunt, haudquaquam exambitis fauoribus, sed vtilitate
studiorum nobis deuincti. Quod si ego velim meo calamo tam
insolenter vti quam ille sua lingua, nonne res in manifestam rabiem
exiret? Nonne scandalo essemus et Christianis et Christiani nominis
hostibus? Sed ille me contemnit, quasi non phiribus nominibus
80 illum vicissim possem contemnere, si contemnere nos inuicem esset
Christiani pectoris aut quasi meum sit digladiari cum talibus qualis
:

ille est, si res agatur ingenii praesidiis. Quod si certandum sit

linguae virulentia, impudentia, procacitate, facile reperietur mulier
aliqua quae cum tali hominum genere congrediatiir.
85 Sed vt mittamus Vincentium, a quo, qualis qualis est, vinci me
non patiar, si bonis rebus mecum certet, hoc est si quid adferat
quod magis conducat ad Christi gloriam veramque pietatem a :

Latomo inuitus dissideo, vel ob eruditionem non ijxorsus aspernan-

dam, vel ob qualecunque commercium cum Musis amoenioribus et :

90 inuitus credo, quod tamen a multis audio, praesertim cum a me

nunquam sit haesus. lUud nobis vel sero cauendum est, ne mor-
dentes inuicem consumamur alteri ab alteris. Seditiosa nunquam
mihi placuerunt. Neque Eeuchiini neque Lutheri factioni me
vnquam admiscui Christi gloriae pro mea virili semper faui.
;

95 Vestrae Academiae nihil attuli neque dedecoris neque incommodi.

Lutheranis libellis obstiti plusquam quisquam mortalium non :

quod nesciam ilhim pleraque bene monere, sed quod intelligam

satius esse bene tacere quam sinistre tentare remedia. In omnibus
quae illi siue vere siue falso inscribuntur, non est vlhis apex meus.
100 Libellos maledicos qui vndique prouolant, vtinam prohibere possem
vel mea causa Nam onines me gruuant inuidia, quidam etiam in-
!

famant, ac magis h^edunt qui Laudant quam qui maledicunt. Ilkid

certissimum est, in his omnibus nihil esse meum. Et de quorun-
dam autoribus est mihi nonnulla suspicio de plerisque nec suspicari
;

105 possum vnde prodierint.

Sollicitatus sum a multis etiam magnatibus vt prodirem in partes

68. me om. H. 72. F Corrig. : virulentiam F.

93. ReuchliniJ Cf. Ep. 1155. i8n. 100. Libellos] Cf. Ep. 1195. ^n.
96. obstiti] Cf. Ep. 1033. 47n. 106. Sollicitatussum] Cf. Epp. 1154,
98. bene tacere] Cf. Ep. 11 19. 4011. 1161, 1225. 177-80.
1217] TO THE THEOLOGIANS OF LOUVAIN 539

Lutheri. Sensi et aHa quaedam hic non referenda. Keieci manibus

ac pedibus. Ab aduersariis, praesertim monachis, tam atrociter sum
impetitus vt etiam si fuissem antea inimicus Lutheri, odiis potuerim
impelli vt illi adiungerer. Kursus sentio Lutheri fautores hoc iic
omnibus studiis egisse, vt technis me pertraherent in hoc certamen ;

quod si non possent, vi nolentem volentem pertraherent. Nihil

horum me dimouere potuit ab instituto meo. Excutiantur omnia
scripta, dicta etiam ioco inter pocula effusa nihil aliud comj^erietur
;

quam mihi displicuisse subitos ac seditiosos clamores apud populum, 115

et placuisse rem absque tumultu orbis transigi. Si aliis placuit
diuersa ratio. precor vt Christo sit felix sed adhuc qualis sit futurus
;

exitus nescio.
Si in me situm esset. cras esset haec sedata tempestas. Si mihi
non est vobiscum arcta amicitia, per me non stetit. Coepta erat 120
in Falcone comprobata erat superiorum malorum obliuio, etiamsi
;

quicquid erat malorum, in meum reciderat caput. Nec enim loannes

Atensis ambisset concordiam, ni sibi conscius fuisset se vana suspi-
cione deceptum mihi mouisse eam tragoediam. Nec video quid
obstiterit quo minus coaluerit illa pax, nisi quod non esset satis 125
placatus Egmondanus. Nec video quur ille mihi sit infensus, nisi
quod pro maledictis, quae in me ingessit etiam antequam vidisset,
non egerim homini gratias. Quod si hoc est consilium quorundam,
vt me quouis modo petant, animis etiam gladiatoriis ac fictis cri-
minibus, primum videant ne hoc non sit illis tam secundis ventis 130
successurum quam putant, et si succedat, videant ne non tam felix
futurum sit quam sibi polhcentur. Postremo si decreuerunt prorsus
abolere Lutherum, paulo melius succedet, si me non admisceant.
Quicquid tamen molientur alii, me nemo diuellet a petra Christi,
nullus inuoluet vlli factioni. Quod si fuissem Lutheranus, nihi' 135
aliud dicam, res illius melius haberent. Sed absit vt aliud sim
quam Christianus.
Hactenus in illum non scripsi. Verum est. Si non prodest mihi
metus periculorum, si praeter alias causas innumeras ocii penuria,
senectus, corporis imbecillitas, certe prosit imperitia rei theologicae, 140
quam isti mihi summam tribuunt, et ego magna ex parte agnosco.
Postremo cum tres Academiae damnarint Lutherum, cum summus
ipse Pontifex fulmen suum in eum torserit, cum suum addiderit
Caesar, quid habitura sit momenti meae censurae accessio, vermiculi
potius quam hominis ? praesertim cum vndique tam multi prodeant 145
vestro iudicio doctissimi qui scribant in Lutherum. Et tamen pro
mea virili non deero, neque tranquillitati Ecclesiae Catholicae, neque

107. hic non relerenda udd. H.

120. amicitia] C'f. Ep. 1016. 15U. Louvain and Paris.

121. FalconeJ Oi the iowv paedugofjia 144. Caesar] For tlie condemnatiou
belonging to the Arts Faculty, three of Luther, in an Imperial Edict issued
du Porc, du Lis, and du Chateau at the close of the I)iet of Worms, see
were founded in 1430 the fourth, du
; Creighton v. 156-7. It was dated
Faucon, vvas in existence in 1442, hut 8 May, wlien it vvas finally dravvn up.
known of it before 1546. See
little is but vvas not actually signed till 25 May:
E. van Even, Louvain monumental, 1860, beforo long it was printed (Ep. 1221.
pp. 295-7. 4411
)• For an earlier proclamation see
142. tres Academiae] Cologne and Ep. 1192. 66n.
 540 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1521

veritati Euangelicae, neque dignitati Eomani Pontificis, cum licebit.

Et fortassis plus adferam momenti quam ii qui putant his tumultibus
150 rem posse confici. Illud nobis videndum, ne sic oderimus Lutherum
vt iliius odio perdamus et ea quae sunt optima et ita seruiamus ;

dignitati nostrae vt non hiedamus autoritatem Euangelicae veritatis,

et ita faueamus hominum gloriae ne quid officiamus gloriae Christi.
In me interim si quid habetis, ne agite conuiciis, quemadmodum
155 nuper apud Eectorem Rosemundanum egit Egmondanus, et nunquam
non agit Vincentius. Argumentis agite, et satisfaciam vobis per
omnia. Quod si voletis officiis certare, non patiar me vinci. Sin
erunt qui malint maleficiis contendere, non contendam quidem in
hoc genere vincere sed tamen conabor meam innocentiam defendere,
;

160 nec puto defutura praesidia Christi ac bonorum virorum. Bene

valete, domini reuerendi et fratres in Christo obseruandi.
Ex Anderhaco. An. m.d.xxi.

1218. To EiCHARD Pace.

Britisli Museum MS., Harl. 69S9, f. 5. Brussels.
Jortin ii. 396: LB. 5S3. 5 July 1521.

[An oiiginal letter, autograph throughout now in the British Museum, as

:

part of the collection formed by Robert Harley, earl of Oxford .f 1724). It was
tirst printed by T. Crenius (T. T. Crusius) in his Animaduers. pliilol., Leiden,
1699, V. 238, and then by J. W. van Meel in an appendix to Hotomanonim Epistolae,
Amsterdam, 1700, p. 427. To both editors (Crenius p. 238 van Meel f". **, v°) ;

it had been communicated by the young J. Burkhard Menkenius of Leipzig

(ADB. xxi. 310), who with a friend, G. F. Schutz, had been travelling in Eng-
land in 1698. But the text as they print it, is defective for the variants show
;

that Menkenius' transeript was made not ex autographo '. as Crenius states, but
'

from a xvii^ copy which accompanies it in the Harleian volume (f. 6), and which
though often inaccurate, is more easily decipherable. AsHarley's fii-st consider-
able purchase of books was made iii 1705 (DNB. xxiv. 405), it seems likely that
this manuscript was not in his liands when Meukenius saw it.
For LB. Leclerc was supplied with another copy, made it is not evideiit —
whether from the original or its copy, or from Menkenius' transcript by —
Sebastian Korthoh, professor of eloquence at Kiel. Leelerc accejits his readings,
which vary from van MeeFs printed text in many places: but they are not
always more correct. These variants need not be reproduced here for the ;

origiual does not admit of any doubt.

The manuscrijit year-date is quite clear it is confirmed by the resemblances
:

to Epp. 1221, 1236. In Ep. 1342. 64-5 Erasmus says that aiter Charles' return
from Germany to Brussels (wliere he arrived on 14 June) propemodum magis '

habitabam Bruxellae quam Anderh\ci '. In view of this, the fact that this lelter
is dated from Brussels and Ep. 1221 from Anderleclit on the same day, creates no
discrepancy. Pace was now with the King at Windsor.
The last four lines of the manuscript are reproduced in J. G. Nichols' Auto-
graphs 0/ rcmarkaUe personages, 1829. The address-sheet is missing.]

S. Vtinam huic fabulae, quam nobis parum auspicato exorsus est

Lutherus, deus aliquis dTro /xT^xavvys felicem imponat finem Dedit !

ipse telum hostibus suis quo confoderetur, atque ita rem gessit quasi

1217. 157. Sin i^Cor;/fir. : Sint P.

1217. 155. nuper] See Ep. 1162.

12 18] TO EICHAKD PACE 541

seruari nollet frequenter et meis litteris et amicorum vocibus

;

admonitus vt mucronem temperaret. Tanta est enim in eo

stili 5
acerbitas vt, etiam si omnia essent verissima que scripsit. tamen
res non potuerit habere felicem exitum. At vereor ne lacobitae et
theologi quidam parum moderate sint vsuri victoria sua presertim ;

Louanienses, quos habet priuatum quoddam in me odium. Et nacti

sunt ad eam rem organum longe accommodissimum, Hieronymum 10
Aleandrum. Is satis insanit suapte natura, etiamsi nullus instiget
nunc habet instigatores qui possint etiam modei-atissimum ingenium
ad •insaniam adigere. Prouolant vndique libelli virulentissimi hos :

omnes mihi tribuit Aleander, cum ego multos nescirem natos

priusquam ex illo cognoscerem. Agnouit Lutherus suos libros apud 15
Cesarem et tamen ex his mihi tribuit Captiuitatem Babylonicam.
:

me fecundum, qui tot libellis scribendis sufficiam cum interim I

difficillimo labore reconcinnem Kouum Testamentum, castig(em>

Augustini libros, preter alias studii portiones. Dispeream si in
omnibus Lutheri libris est vna syllaba mea, aut si vllus maledicus 20
liber me autore prodiit imo deterreo sedulo.
:

Nunc hoc agunt, vt doceant Lutherum quedam hausisse e meis

libris, quasi non i^lura hauserit ex Epistolis Paulinis. Nunc demum
sentio hoc fuisse consilium Germanoi'um, ^-t me volentem nolentem
pertraherent in Lutheri negocium. Inconsultum me hercle consi- 25
lium. Qua re me potius alienassent ? Aut quid ego potuissem
opitulari Luthero, si me i^ei-iculi comitem fecissem, nisi vt pro vno
perirent duo? Quo spiritu ille scripserit non queo satis demirari,
certe bonarum litterarum cultores ingenti grauauit inuidia. Multa
quidem i^rechire et docuit et monuit. Atque vtinam sua bona 30
malis intolerabilibus non viciasset Quod si omnia pie scripsisset,
!

non tamen erat animus ob veritatem capite periclitari. Non omnes

ad martyrium satis habent roboris. Vereor enim ne, si quid inci-
deret tumultus, Petrum sim imitaturus. Pontifices ac Cesares bene
decernentes sequor, quod pium est male statuentes fero, quod
; 25
tutum est. Id opinor etiam bonis viris licere, si nulla sit spes
profectus. Ac rursus libellum de luho mihi impingunt adeo nihil ;

relinquunt intentatum, quo ledant non tam me quam bona studia,

que nollent isti sic eftlorescere.
Sed de me viderit Christus. cui semper meae seruient litterulae. 40
Posteaquam Lutherus abiit in fauillas, eamque laudem sibi vindicant
Predicatores ac theologi quidam non admodum synceri, videndum
est cordatis principibus, ne ius laxetur istis seuiendi in innoxios ac
de rehgione Christiana benemerentes, neue ita feramur odio in ea
que male scripsit Lutherus, vt e benedictis fructum amittamus. 45
Cetera cognosces e Mori litteris. E. D. Cardinali, patrono ac

7. lacobitej Cf. Ep. 1153. iisn. 22. hausisse] Cf. Eji. 1195. 62.
13. libelli] Cf. Ep. 1195. 411, 37.de lulio] See Ep. 502 introd.
15. Agnouit Lutherusj At his first 41.Lutherus] sc. lil)ri Lutheri, as a
interview with Charles on 17 April consequenceof Charles' edict (Ep. J192.
see Acta Wormatiae habita, in his Opera 66n) cti Ep. 1221. 41-4, also Epp.
:

Latina,v<A. ii. Cf.Epp.1219.88, 1236.141. 1102. 13^, 1157. 6. 1186. i^n.

16. tribuit] sc. Al< ander. 46. Mori littt-ris] Not extant.
Captiuitatem] See Ep. 1217.38^. Cardinali] Wolsey : whose mis-
18. Testamentum] See Ep. 1174. i^n. sion to the Continent (see p. 551) was
19. Augustinil See Ep. ^144. ^in. now being anticipated.
 542 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1521

doniino meo incomparabili, facies, quam potes, commendatissimum.

Bene Pacee clarissime.
vale,
Bruxellae 3. Nonas. lulias. An. 1521.
5° Erasmus tuus.

1219. To WiLLiAM Blount, Lord Mountjoy.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 666, Anderlecbt. .

HN : Lond. xvii. 26 : LB. 606. <c. 5 July ?) 1521.

[Between tlie Diet of Worms (L 88) and the publication of F. The numerous
resemblances to Ep. 1218 suggest that this letter is of the same date. The
resemblances to Ep. 1195 are also striking but the difiference of date is shown
;

by the statements about Luther*s acknowledgement of his own books (cf. L 88

with Ep. 1195. 69-70).
With Ep. 1228 this letter is appended to the Strasburg editions of Henry vin's
Assertio, 9 Aug. and 7 Sept. 1522 (see Ep. 1227. ^n). the Latter being a translation
into German by Murner (Ep. 1397. 26n) but as there is no variation in either
;

of them, Grieninger was no doubt reprinting from F. For Murner's transla-

tions see theWeimar edition of Luther"s Werke, x, pt. 2, pp. 175-6; and, for their
character, cf. Ep. 1228. 25, 58n.]

ERASMVS ROT. CLARISS. BARONI GVILHELMO MONTIOIO S. D.

Qvo syncerior est tuus in nos affectus, vir clarissime, quoque tu

nobis es Moecenas amicior, hoc magis doleo me tibi non esse perinde
felicem amicum quani animi tui candor iste promerebatur. Scribis
isthic per nescio quos spargi rumorem me Lutheranae factionis non
5 solum fautorem sed adiutorem etiam ac propemodum autorem esse ;

et hortaris vt me purgem, aedito aduersus Lutherum libro. Quod

quum non minus impudens mendacium sit quam si quis dicat
Erasmum alatum esse, paucis aperiam fonteni vnde rumor iste
manarit.
10 Sunt hic aliquot mihi plusquam capitaliter infensi, quod linguas
ac bonas literas credar in ipsorum regnum inuexisse. Hi et ante-
quam Lutheri nomen audisset orbis, vndique telum aliquod quae-
rebant quo suum dolorem vlciscerentur. Itaque qui rumorem hunc
nondum sibi persuaserunt quod aliis persuadere
primi genuerant,
15 lidem Hieronymum Aleandrum, nuncium apostolicum,
conati sunt.
hominem apprime doctum, mihique vetere ac iucundissima necessi-
tudine coniunctum, miris mendaciis in me conati sunt iritare. Voli-
tabant libelU nescio qui maledici hinc atque hinc. Horum suspi-
cionem Germani quidam, vt ab se depellerent, in me deriuarunt.
20 Quid multis ? persuaserant homini, vt acri simplicique ingenio
praedito, ita credulo, me parum amice de ipso et sentire et loqui.
Nec defuerunt qui coalescentem amicitiam nouis subinde delationibus
discinderent.
Caeterum hoc habe tibi quouis Sibyllae folio certius, in omnibus

1219. TIT. CLAKISS. BAROM nni. H.

1219. 15. Aleandrum] Cf. Epp. 1195. 16. necessitudine] Cf. Ep. 1195.5011.
47n, 1213. 3111. 17. Volitabant] Cf. Ep. 1218. 13.
12 19] TO WILLIAM BLOUNT, LORD MOUNTJOY 543

Lutheri aut Lutheranorum libris nec vnam syllabam esse meam, 25

aut me conscio scriptam. Nec faui nisi forte fauet qui dehortatur
;

ab instituto, qui jiro viribus obstat ne Jibri illius exeant in vulgus.

Primus enim omnium praesagii futurvmi vt haec res exiret in
grauem orbis tumultum. Nec cum Luthero nec cum vllo Lutherano
foedus clancularium inii et adeo non addidi cuiquam animos, vt
: 30
omnes quos potui, tum dictis tum scriptis deterruerim ab instituto
periculoso. Tantum improbabam quorundam praecipites tumultus,
praesertim apud populum, priusquam satis appareret quorsum iret
Lutherus.
Nemo non fatetur disciplinam ecclesiasticam longe prolapsam 35
esse a synceritate Euangelica, popuhun Christianum multis modis
grauatum esse, conscientias hominum variis tricis illaqueatas, His
mahs Lutherus bonis ac doctis videbatur remedium aliquod allaturus.
Et passim fauentibus omnibus, sohis extiti monitor, vt stilum
verteret ac negocium tractaret Euangelica mansuetudine. Nemo te 40
melius nouit quam mihi semper cordi fuerit pax, quam inuisum
belhim. Itaque si Lutherus omnia vere scripsisset, mihi tamen
magnopere disphceret seditiosa libertas. Ego vel falH malim in
nonnullis quam tanto orbis tumultu i^ro veritate digladiari. Et in
huiusmodi contentionibus, post cruentas rixas re discussa, tandem 4.5

comperitur aliquoties eadem esse partis vtriusque sententia, de verbis

modo dimicatum fuisse. Euangelicae doctrinae Christique gloriae
semper faui, bonis Hteris hactenus faui, vt seruirent giox*iae Christi.
Dolebam plus satis tribui theologiae argutatrici veterem prorsus :

aboleri molestum erat. 50

Hic scopus lucubrationum mearum. Nec huius instituti me
fuit
poenitet. Lutherum exoriturum qui potui diuinare, qui meis scrij)tis
abuteretur? lactant enim illum quaedam e meis libris hausisse.
At quo pacto queam praestare ne quis meis scriptis abutatur, quum
plurimi sint abusi libris Euangehcis? Et tamen si quis deus mihi 55
praedixisset hoc seculum exoriturum, qviaedam aut non scripsissem
aut ahter scripsissem non quod perniciosa scripserim, sed quod
:

non omnia quouis tempore recte dicuntur. Atque ego sane hoc
animo sum vt ne Turcas quidem cupiam offendere, si hceat. Germani
fremunt in me quod aduerser Luthero et isthic, vt video, sum 60
;

Lutheranus? Ita vehiti Mercurius quispiam versatihs ahus sum

hic, alius isthic. Nec technis quorundam, nec polhcitis nec odiis
aliorum vnquam perpelli potui, aut potero, vt ahus sim quam Chri-
stianus. Male sit omnibus qui gaudent dissidiorum vocabuHs. Si
Lutheranus est qui tuetur quicquid Lutherus scripsit aut seripturus 65

25. uec vnam syllabam] Cf. Ep. 1218. relations with his '
Moecenas vetustis-
20. simus '(Epp. 783. 30, 829. 3).
35. Nemo non] Cf. Fsihev'yi Consilium 41. inuisum belkim] For his wiit-
(see p. 357) : ' NuUus
ignorat vitam ings against war see i, p. 37. 7-9, Epp.
Christianam rebus paulatim in de- 288, 575. iin, 603, and the Panegyric
terius prolabentibus multum degene- (Epp. 179, 180). His feeling on the
rasse ab ilhi syncera Christi Euan- subject breaks otit rej)eatedly in liis
gelica doctrina, adeo vt nemo non letters, e.g. Epp. 289. 2-3, 335. 180-1,
.'
fateatur . . 549. 6-30, 586. 253-7, 1°4- 46-7- 858.
39. monitor] Cf. Ep. 980. 38-51. 248-51. 37^87, 9i9- 35-4i, 1225. 225-6.
40. Nemo te melius] An ehjquent 53. lactant] Cf. Ep. 1195. 62.
testimony to the intimacy of Erasmus' 59. Turcas] Cf. Ep. 104 1. 2811.
 544 LETTEPtS OF EEASMUS [1521

est, quid me dementius, si Lutheranus haberi velim, quum illius

libros non legam ? Aut quid esset causae quur me coniiciam in
factionem tam periculosam ? Kisi vero satis censorem istum qui
ex colloquio deprehendit Lutherum nihil aliud esse quani caudicem
70 ac stipitem, omnis theologiae rudem. Vtinam vir ille tantum
haberet moderationis quantum habet eruditionis theologicae! Et
vtinam tam studuisset concordiae Christianae quam se declarauit
aliquid posse in sacris literis Sed interim vbi iudicium illius qui
!

apud vos habetur et est rei theologicae callentissimus, qui palam

et
75 in regia pronunciauit Erasmum non minore interuallo relinqui a
Luthero in scientia sacrarum literarum, quam ille ab Erasmo vin-
ceretur eloquentia ? Et qua fronte nunc me volunt committere cum
Luthero, qui hactenus nie blaterarunt nihil aliud esse quam gram-
matisten ?
80 Sed finge nihil scire Lutherum. Quid tum postea ? BeUum vero
enthymema illius, qui, vt scribis, placido vultu te intuens subindi-
cauit, si Lutherus esset indoctus, a me profectos illius libros.
Germania tot viris eruditis et eloquentibus abundat, et ego tam
longe semotus solus illi adfui scribenti, Quid opus erat ad ista
85 tam stolida respondere ? Sed magnates sunt qui ista dicunt. Sed
neque stemmata neque torques addit sapientiam. Praestaret istos
in conuiuiis de venatu loqui potius quam de his rebus quas non
intelhgunt. Lutherus suos libros agnouit omnes apud Caesarem.
Ego nihil vnquam aedidi cui non apposuerim nominis mei titulum.
90 Nec vnquam aliena mihi vindicaui, nec mea titulis alienis supposui.
Ab obscoenitate, a seditione, a periculosa asseueratione semper
abstinui.Ecclesiae iudicio mea semper submisi, doctorum hominum
consiliis libenter auscultaui paratus etiam nunc sarcire, si quid
;

offendit doctos et graues viros. Excipio paucos qui et impotentis

95 odii et parum integri iudicii sui manifesta dederunt arguraenta.
Mihi nunquam fuit animus pugnare cum Ecclesiae primatibus. Si
praescribent quae facient ad gloriam Christi, lubentes amplectemur.
Sin erit quod nobis merito displiceat, modo ne sit palam impium,
tolerabimus. Habent illi dominum suum, cui stant aut cadunt.
100 Et arbitrov phas esse tacere quod verum est, si non sit spes fructus.
Sic Christus tacuit apud Herodem. Nec sum tam temerarius vt
pugnare velim cum edictis summorum principum, tantillus vermi-
culus. Si jioscent a me
consilium, et volent id licere tuto, dabo pro
mea non prudens, certe fidele. Non de nihilo est
simplicitate, si
105 quod hic affectus tot gentium animos occupauit, ac subinde repullulat
malum. Fortassis magis expedierit imitari prudentes medicos, qui
saniem omnem repurgant priusquam vulnus obducant cicatrice, qui

84. erat H : eat F. 98. nobis merito add. H. 99. cui H : qbus F.

08. censorem] I cannot identify Ep. 502 introd. It mHy be compared

any of the three critics mentioned with the crafty iitterance in Ep. 967.
here. It is evident from 1. 8r that 180-5.
Erasmus had hcard of them from go. titulis alienis] But cf. the works
Mountjoy. discussed in Epp. 495 introd., 1061.
88. Lutherus] Cf. Ep. 1218. 1511. 505^, 1149 introd.
89. aedidi] This statement is correct, 92. submisi] Cf. Ep. 1225. i i^n.
if the emphasis be laid on aedidi seo : 100. tacere] Cf. Ep. 1119. 4011.
12 19] TO WILLIAM BLOUNT, LORD MOUNTJOY 545

e venis eiiciunt morbi materiam, potius quam illos qui febrim vi

depellunt recursuram. Si non poscent a me consilium, con-
mox
quiescam et, quatenus licet, seruiam Euangelico negocio et si quid ;
"o
secus agetur quam vellem, precabor Christum vt animos illorum
vertat ad meliora.
Porro quod scribis mihi in manu esse totum hunc tumultum
componere, vtinam vera praedicaret tua celsitudo Ne exorta quidem I

fuisset haec tragoedia. Clamitant hic mihi non esse calamum. Imo 115
calamus est, sed innumera sunt quae dehortantur. Lutherum vocare
fungum perfacile est idoneis argumentis tueri causam fidei, mihi
;

certe difficillimum. Et hactenus non admodum successit aliis. Et

tamen ad hoc negocium lubentius accingerer, si certus essem quos-
dam qui sub praetextu fidei mundi causam agunt, vsuros sua victoria 120
in rem Christianae religionis. Et tamen hoc animo petemus Basi-
leam, vt absolutis quae sunt in manibus, aliquid moKamur quod
conducat huic dissidio sopiendo, certe testemur animum nostrum.
Nec tamen video quorsum attineat me tam arduum suscipere nego-
cium, quum sint docti, magni, graues, summa autoritate praediti, 125
qui iam pi'ouinciam aggressi sunt. Argutum vero lemma proferunt
isti qui dicunt. Qui tacet, consentire videtur
'
Si tacent qui non '.

scribunt, ingens consensus est. Et tamen ita tacui vt Lutheranos

omnes in me concitarim.
Sed vt finiam, optime Moecenas, nihil est quod dubites de tuo 130
Erasmo neque pietas, neque religio, neque mores, neque tranquil-
;

litas publica meis literis laedetur. Innocentiam pi-aestare possum,

linguas hominum in manu non habeo. Qui talia blaterant, reddituri
sunt rationem Deo vel temeritatis vel maliciae. Si hominibus parum
approbare possum meos conatus, certe confido me Christo approba- 135
turum. Et si hoc seculum parum erit gratum laboribus meis,
posteritas erit aequiore iudicio. Postremo est aliquid vel vnius
Christi calculum tulisse.
Haec scripsi i-aptim ex tempore, forte oblato tabellione. Scribam
alias accuratius. i4c
Ex Anderlaco. Anno millesimo quingentesimo vigesimoprimo.

1220. To Thomas More.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 637. Anderlecht.
HN : Lond. xvii. 7 : LB. 556. <c. 5 July ? 1521.)

[Between Ep. 1210, in which More's appointment as Treasurer is announced,

and Ep. 1223, whicli clearly refers to this letter perhaps contemporary with
:

Ep. 1218. Very likely Goclenius, hearing of More's expected arrival in the
Notherlands (cf. Ep. 1210. 13-14), had asked for an introduction.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS CLARISSIMO EQVITI AVKATO THOMAE MORO,

SERENI8SIMI REGIS ANGLORVM A TRESAVRIS, S. D.
Maiorem in modum probo laudoque mentem istam tuam, More
clarissime, qui nuUa re magis gaudeas ditescere quam fidis ac
1219. 121. Et tamen F : Tametsi H. 141. Anno . . . vigesimoprimo whl. H
( Anno M.0.XXI N). 1220. tit. clarissimo evviti avrato om. H.

1219. 120. vsuros] Cf. Ep. iai8. 5.

4S2.« N n
 646 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1521

synceris amicis, nec alibi praecipuam huius vitae deleetationem

ponendam esse ducas. Aliis cautio summa est ne gemmis adulterinis
5 deludantur ;tu talium opum contemptor abunde locuples tibi videris
si tuis possessionibus accesserit amicus neutiquam fucatus. Nec
vlli suauior est alea, laterunculi, venatio, musica, quam tibi cum
amico docto ingenuoque libera confabulatio.
Hoc opum genere cum vehementer abundes, tamen quoniam
10 sciebam homini auaro nihil esse satis, et mihi tibique iam saepe
successit feliciter, vnum etiam tibi traditurus sum in nianum, quem
tu totum totus totoque pectore possis amare. Is est Conradus
Goclenius, gente Vuesphalus. Qui populus vt vulgo rudior habetur,
ita multos nobis dedit summis ingeniis minimeque vulgari doctrina
'5 praeditos. Non aliud genus mortalium laboris patientius ; fide
morumque synceritate, simplici prudentia et prudenti simplicitate
potissimum commendantur. Scis nuper institutum Louanii Tri-
lingue CoUegium. In eo publice Latinas literas maxima cum laude
summo totius Academiae fructu profitetur, ea morum integritate
20 comitateque vt literas quas docet, etiam apud illos reddat gratiosas
qui prius auersabantur. Ingenium argutum, quod feliciter sui speci-
men praebuit, etiam in his disciplinis quas solenniter tradunt in
scholis publicis. Sales habet, sed prorsus Atticos, ac lepidis fabellis
vel tecum certare queat. In carmine peculiarem quandam habet
25 gratiam, nusquam non dilucidus, nusquam non dulcis et amoenus.
Nec est vllum argumentum tam inamabile quod illo tractante non
mitescat. In prosa oratione sic est sui similis, imo sic est sui
dissimilis, vt illius soluta legens putes eum prorsus alienum esse
a carmine.
33 Ad amicitiam plane factus videtur: quam si semel cum eo coieris,
non est quod metuas ne quis casus eam dirimat. Hoc vsu venit in
his qui vel natura perfidi sunt vel impotentibus aflfectibus si- :

quidem istiusmodi solent ad enatam occasionem desciscere, et ami-

citiae legibus neglectis animo suo morem gerere. Hic neque gloriae
35 est appetens, neque iniuriae admodum vindex, neque voluptatis vllius
immodice auidus. Inuidere quid sit, ne per somnium quidem vnquam
intellexit, tantus est ingenii candor. Quod ad vitae consuetudinem
attinet, nihil eo facilius nec magis alienum ab omni morositate.
Caeterum a lucro nihil hoc auersius, tametsi fortuna adhuc tenuis
40 est, nec aliud suppeditans quam victum mundum et supellectilem
literariam. Quod si nostri principes prophani pariter atque eccle-
siastici didicissent egregiis ingeniis habere suum honorem, quem-
admodum apud Italos habetur, Goclenius noster totus aureus esset.
Sed tamen expergiscuntur. lam enim fere nullus est magnatum
45 qui non curet suos liberos bonis literis diligenter instituendos, licet

7. latrunculi JV^. 12. possisi^: potes fl^. 42. suum add. H.

4. gemmis adulterinis] These words p. iggn. In tlie De pronundatiom (LB.

are used in the story of More and his i.935 c, 936F-937 a) Erasmusdescribes
wife told in the Moria see Ep. 999. 168 n.
: the breadth of the Westphalian speech
7. lateruneuli] Cf. Ep. 748. 34. as imimdicus.
13. rudior] Cf. the account of Jaeob 18. Collegium] Cf. Ep. 1221. 12 seq.
of Vreden in my Age of Erasmus, p. 75 : 23. scholis publicis] Cf. Ep. 1002. gn.
derived from D. J. Becker's transla- 45. liberos] Cf. Epp. 737, 1018,1192.
tion of Butzbach's Hodoeporicon, 1869, 80-83, 1208, 1237.
I2 2o] TO THOMAS MOEE 547

inter aulicos proceres nemo literas calleat praeter vnum Geoi'gium

Haloinum cui eultae hactenus praeter inuidiam nihil fructus attu-
:

lerunt, quanquam, ni fallor, breui plurimum dignitatis sunt allaturae.

lam spero futurum vt simul atque Goclenium propius cognoris, ab
vtroque mihi gratiae agantur quod nuper accidit in Francisco 5°
:

Craneueldio. qui vnum sic te totum possidet vt illi propemodum

inuideam. Bene vale. Anderlaci [Anno m.d.xx].

1221. To Daxiel Tayspil.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 612. Anderlecht.
HN : Lond. xvi. 15 : LB. 584.
'
5 July 1521.

[The yeai--date needs no confirmation. ,

Daniel Tayspil (f 17 June 1533} of Neuve Eglise. y. of Armentieres (or ?Isieu-

kerken,"Waes), joined the Praemonstratensians of St. Augustine's near Terouenne
(GC. iii. 539). Being appointed Sufifragan to Francis of Melun, bp. of Terouenne
(t22 Nov. 1521), he assumed the customary title of bp. of Gibel in partibus (cf.
Ep. 130. 63n). In 1524 he was elected Abbot of Wormezel, a house of Austin
canons, s. of Ypres (GC. v. 351) the chronicle of which (see Recueil de Clironiqucs
;

de la Flandre, i" ser., Bruges, 1847, pp. 14, 15) describes him as interested in
learning, and strict in enforcing discipline. EE'^. iii, where the date of his
death is given as 20 June, speaks of him as (Erasmi) amantissimus', and as
*

knowing Latin and Greek. Peter Tayspil, who was President of the Council of
Flanders in 1527, was perhaps a kinsman.]

ERASMVS ROTEROD. R. D. DANIELI TAISPILLO, EPISCOPO GEBELDENSI,

R. D. EPISCOPI MORINENSIS A SVFFRAGIIS. S. D.

Revekende Pater, mox vt Bruxellae mihi redditae sunt tuae literae,

accersiui ad colloquium Aegidium Buslidium, virum adeo propense
fauentem bonis vt suis etiam damnis faueat.
literis Exosculatus est
animum tuum, cum
honestis studiis. tum Buslidiani nominis
qui
gloriae tam ex animo consultum veUes. Legit autem et tuas ad me
et Agathii ad te literas. Placuit ingenium, et cupit hominem accersi,

1220. 52. Anderlaci Anno m.d.xx add. H. 1221. tit. r. d. om. H bis.
1220. 46.nemo] Cf. Epp. 1004. 145^, Gabbai and had received encourage-
;

1233. 99n.Erasmus was doubtless ment from Adrian de Castello, as well

thinking of the contrast with More as from Leo. He visited Alciati at
himself and Mountjoy to whom he : Avignon e. 3oOct. (1518) (J/. GMcZu^EiJi-
was perhaps now writing (Ep. 1219). stolae, ed. P. Burmann, 1697, p. 75),
Cf. also his frequent eulogies of the perhaps in quest of employment ;

English Court (Ep. 999. 22in). which he appears subsequently to have

47. Haloinum] See Ep. 641 introd. found under Leo x. In spite of the
51. Craneueldio] See Ep. 1145. present application he continued teach-
1221.2. BusIidium]SeeKp.686introd. ing at Rome under Clement vii until
6. Agathii Probably Ag. Guida-
I
1527 when he suffered much in the
;

cerius (f c. Nov. 1540), clericus ex ' Sack, and lost a valuable collection ot
Calabro oppido Roccha Coragii ap- ', Oriental mss. Returning to Avignon
parently Catanzaro author of Gram-
; he found protection from the Governor,
matica Hebraicae lingiiae, s. ]. et n. (c. Jo. Nicolai, bp. of Apt and in 1530 ;

^517')) dedicated to Leo x. In the was appointed to one of the Hebrew

preface to this he states that for seven chairs in the Collfego de France. Dur-
years he had studied Hebrew at Rome ing his ten years at Paris he composed
under a Portuguese Jew, Rabi Jacob several books to promote the study of
N n 2
 548 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [152

praesertim cum morum etiam integritate commendetur, idque abs te,

viro bonis omnibus commendatissimo. Proinde de statu negocii non
placet secus quicquam illi scribi quam res habet.
10 Academia Louaniensis frequentia nulli cedit hodie praeterquam
Parisianae. Numerus est plus minus tria milia, et affluunt quotidie
plures. CoUegium domi paucissimos alit, Praesidem vnum, cui rei
familiaris cura delegata, professores treis, et duodecim, opinor, adole-
scentes, atque hos gratuito. Extra hos paucos capit domus, qui suo
15 sumptu viuunt apud praefectum ac professores. Auditorium est, vt
in hac Academia, satis frequens, aliquoties non pauciores habens
trecentis. Placebit illi coelum hoc nostrum, nec displicebit gentis
humanitas. Collegii locus et honestus est, nec inelegantis structurae.
Salarium pro modo redituum satis amplum, pro rationibus professo-
20 rum, vt ingenue dicam, nimis angustum est, sed quod pro respectu
personae aut industriae possit executorum arbitrio augeri nonnihil.
Et licebit illi extra ordinem profiteri, seu Graece malit seu Hebraice.
Erit illi res cum viris probissimis optimaeque fidei. Et bona spes est
fore vt breui ex principum liberalitate crescant Collegii prouentus,
25 praesertim si tu tuique similes suum fauorem adiunxerint. Pium
est opus, magnoque olim ornamento futurum et huic Academiae et
Carolo Principi. Prima laus debetur clarissimo viro Hieronjano
Buslidio, qui totum quod habebat, huic negocio dedicauit, fraudatis
etiam fratribus. Nec fraudabuntur tamen sua laude qui pulcherri-

13. treis add. H. 20. H : augustum F. quod om. H.

Hebrew : but they are said to be of no will (Nfeve pp. 376, 378) provided for
grreat value. See A. Lefranc, Hist. du 8 bursai-ii at first,, and after 10 years
Coll. de France, 1893. for 2 more.
The person here mentioned evidently 14. paucos capit domus] Busleiden's
wished to obtain a post in Busleiden's will (Nfeve pp. 379,80) allowed the
College. The Cliairs of the three lan- admission of 12 such nou bursarii' at
*

guages were now full ; but as Erasmus one time, 8 coramensales' and 4 iu-
' '

seems to consider Agathius' election a uenes '. In this way a room was set
possibility, it is perhaps to be inferred apart for Erasmus cf. Ep. 1322. 12-14.
:

that the original appointments were 15. professores] Rescius, Goclenius,

only for a year, as in Barland's case and Cnmpensis : see Epp. 546, 1209,
(cf. Epp. 1050,1). Or, as the Hebrew 1257. i6n.
Chair already had its fourth occupant Auditorium] Before long the
in three years (cf. Ep. 1257. i6n), he need was felt for more space cf. Ep. ;

may have expected a further change : 1322. ii-ii. In Ep. 1564 a larger
which did not, however, occur till figure is given.
1531- 17. coelum] Cf. Ep. iiii. ^Bn.
10. praeterquam Parisianae] But cf. 18. Collegii locus] The site was pur-
Ep. 1481. chased 14 Sept. 1519 behiiid the
;

12. Collegium] For its position at houses on the east side of the Marche
this time see Ep. 691 introd. aux Poissons, with outlets on the Rues
Praesidem] John Fortis see Ep. : des Augustins, des Ecreniers et des
1322 introd. Bateaux. In the last named, now the
13. adolescentes] I am indebted to Rue de Malines, was the principal
Prof. H. Van der Linden of Lifege for entrance, constructed in 1520 and de-
pointing out to me that a census made molished in 1777. On 18 Oct. 1520 the
on 26 April 1526 showed that the Col- President and the Professors took pos-
lege then held, besides the President sessiun. See Val. Andreas p. 277, and
and the 3 Professors, 3 commensales
'
'
E. van Even, Louvain monumental, 1860,
(cf. 1. I4n), I servant, and 9 bursarii
'
' : pp. 298,9.
see .J. Cuvelier, Denomhrements de foyers 19. Salarium] Cf. Ep. 836. 6,7.
en Brabant, i, 1912, p. 314. Busleiden's a8. Buslidio] See Ep. 205 introd.
 i22ij TO DANIEL TAYSPIL 549

raum hoc institutum copiis auxiliaribus adiuuerint. Non enini poterit 30

latere posteritatem nec minima
quod trilingui facundia celebrabitur ;

famae portio redibit ad qui primi professionem hanc, olim futu-

illos
ram longe clarissimara, fuerunt auspicati. Quod si quem non raouet
humana gloria, certe pium est ambire laudera apud Christura. Ad-
uolet igitur te autore dyadrj ti'x?/ tuus Agathius. 35
De Luthero insidiis intercepto atque extincto vanus rumor huc
quoque peruenerat. Omnibus raodis tentatura est Vuormaciae,
partira minis, partim blandiciis, vt suos libellos quos agnouit omnes,
Caesareae submitteret maiestati id vbi non quitum est impetrari,
:

per caduceatorem Caesaris publica fide Vuittenbergam reductus est, 40

dato ad hoc viginti dierura spacio. Mox ex mandato Caesaris, qui
vehementer infensus est Luthero, siue instigantibus aliis,siue saedulo
quodara ac propenso fidei Christianae studio, libri Vuormaciae com-
busti sunt. Excusura est et Louanii terribile aedictum in vltionem
eorura qui non paruerint Caesareae voluntati. Bene vale. 45
Ex Anderlaco. iii. nonas lulias. anno m.d.xxi.

1222. From John Louis Vives.

Viuis Opera, 1555, ii, p. 960(0). Bruges.

Vi. E., f. 54 (3) : Lond. Viv. 6 ( = 5) : LB. 585. 10 July 1521.

[This letter and many others from Vives which follow (Epp. 1256, 1271,
1281, 1303, 1306, 1362 &c.) come from the first collected edition of Vives' works ;
which was publislied at Basle by Nic. Episcopius the younger, Aug. 1555, in
two volumes (a). The originals were no doubt the actual letters received by
Erasmus, and probably formed part of the great manuscript collections preserved
by Boniface Amerbach but they are not now to be found, having perhaps been
;

allowed to perish when once they had been printed. They were not carefully
edited and consequently a number of obvious errors have made their way into
;

the text.
In the following year this series was appended to another collection of Vives'
letters (Vi. E.), printed from his rough drafts, which had come into the hands
of the printer G. Simon, Antwerp, 1556 (/3). Simon's text of tliis part is a mere
reprint of the Basle vohime, with a few corrections and some depravations. The
London editors, also printing from a, did more harm than good to the text but ;

Leclerc improved it notably, though admitting some of the London corruptions

— a coincidence in error which shows evidently that he was using Lond. to
print from. It is noticeable, too, that in dealing with the difficulty in 1. 40 he
quotes the London edition, but no other.
The year-dates of these letters of 1521-2 are confirmed by the frequent refer-
ences to Vives' edition of Augustine, Ciu, Dei, for which Erasmus wrote a preface
(Ep. 1309), and which Froben finished printing in Sept. 1522. The series of
Erasmus' letters, written from Basle, would iiave completed and elueidated
the correspondence but they Iiave disappe;ired.
; By 1529, when Erasmus

36. intercepto] The fact of Luther's 43. combusti] on 29 May(Bruwn iii.

detention (see Ep. 1203. lon) by his 2241 :cf. Ep. 1218. 4in.
friends was known at Wittenberg by 44. aedictumj See Ep. 121 7. 144^.
30 June though the place was still a
; By 10 Aug. the Louvain print had
secret except to Melanchthon. See been seen at Wittenberg (ME,
126).
BRE. 206, vvhich gives an interesting A copyof iu the Vatican Archives,
it is
account of theUniversityand discusses Acta Wonnacensia : it was also printed
the decline there of Erasmus' credit by Vorsterman at Antwerp, no doubt
as a theologiaii. at this time. See Fredericq iv, p, 57.
 550 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

volume of
issued his next great letters, the Opus Epistolarum (H), these may have
seemed somewhat out of date or, if he felt at all uncomfoi-table about the
:

omission of Vives' notes in the Froben Augustine of 1529, it would not be svu'-
prising that he failed to print his own letters about the earlier edition, just as
Vives' letters also he never printed. The dates of some of tliem can be recovered :
1. (c. 14 Dec. 1521) answered by Vives on 19 Jan. 1522 (Ep. 1256).
:

2. 4 Feb. 1522 intermediate between Vives' letters of 19 Jan. and i April

:

(Epp. 1256, 1271).

3. 20 Marcli 1522, delivered at Bruges 7 May answered by Vives on 20 May
:

(Ep. 1281).
4. 16 June 1522, delivered at Louvain via Antwerp c. 10 July intermediate :

between Vives' letters of 20 May and 14 July (Epp. 1281, 1303;.

5. (c. I Sept. 1522) contemiioraiy with Ep. 131 1.]
:

lOAXNES LODOVICYS YIVES CLAEISSIMO YIRO D. DESYDERIO

ERASMO KOTERODAMO, PRAECEPTORI SYO COLENDISS.. S. D.

NvNC primum renunciat milii Laurentius Decanus Stephanum

Comitem iturum isthuc si quid vellem mandare, discessurum eum
:

hinc cras sub solis ortum. Itaque accipies a me quae in mentem

nunc veniunt. Nam habebam in animo Hteras tibi scribere longi
5 subsellii, vt ait ille, si tabellarium inuenissem a quo essem sub-
monitus tempestiue.
Louanio, pridie quam illinc abirem, dedi Regenti Lilii literas ad te
/ACTo, TrapoifjLLwi' Ttrtov credo esse redditas.
: Et significabam tibi me
iturum postridie Antuerpiam vbi inueni loannem tuum in conuentu
:

10 mercatorum. Quem paulopost requisiui, vt ad te scriberem iam :

nusquam erat, miratusque sum nihil eum attulisse mihi abs te.
Cumque Antuerpiae non conualescerem, veni Brugas, ratus me non
mansurum hic supra hebdomadas duas iam sextam hic ero vsque : ;

adeo infixus haerebat hic morbus. Maxima tamen pars abiit et ;

15 quod restat, non me magnopere terret. Sed cum hic hactenus desedi,
manebo hic Eegem et Morum, vt yideam quo pacto sit mihi viuendum
posthac. Pecunia Reginea me huc vsque alui, et alo. Moro scripsi
me prolixe collocuturum cum eo cum venerit. Suspicari potest quid
velim, sed non aperte quicquam, quum nollem te inconsulto tametsi :

I. Laurentius] Marcus Laurinus (atter the death of Card. Croy, 6 Jan.

(Ep. 201. an), dean of St. Donatian's 1521) vt nulla vnquam calamitas venit
at Bruges, seems clearly intended ; cf. sola, in morbum incidi non simplicem.
Ep. 1271. 123. Laurentius may be an Ita ad curam valetudinis coactus sum
alternative form for his name, but me Brugas conferre ad meos Hispanos,
more likely is a mere misprint. inter quos more ac modo meo commo-
Stephanum] I cannot identifj-. dius aegrotus tractarer. Conualui
4. longi subsellii] Cf. Cic. Fam. 3. mense lunio'.
9. 2. 16. Regem] Charles v.
7. Regenti] Nevius ; see Epp. 298, Morum]
See Ep. 1210. i^n.
1347 introdd. 17. Reginea] It appears that Vives
8. vapoi/xiwt''] Cf. l. 37. Erasmus was already enjoyiug the bounty of
was perhaps already collecting for the Catharine of Aragon : no doubt as a
new edition of the Aclagia, Basle, Fro- fellow-countryman.
ben, Jan. 1523 : which contains, how- Moro scripsi] The letter is not
ever, only 39 more than the preceding extant.
one of Oct. 1520. 18. quid velim] Evidently a project
9. loannem] Perhaps Hovius ; see of settling in England, if he could find
Ep. 867. i77n. maintenance. For the resumption of
12. non conualescerem] Cf. Vives' the project next year see Vives' letter
preface to Augustine, f°. aa* : ' Hiuc of 15 Aug. 1522 (Ep. 1306. 37-43).
12 22] FROM JOHN LOUIS VIVES 551

consiliumtuum propemodum noui, vt parem ocium ad vitam studio- 20

sam vndecunque queam. Quod, cum alia praestitero omnia, non est
in manu mea praestare quod si in eo solo sita est fortuna, non est
:

suae quisque fortunae faber, vt dicebat Appius.

Habes quae hactenus egerim, quaeque sim breui acturus. Scio
quae subeat animum tuum cogitatio de Augustino quid ? Sex 25
:

libros habeo paratos, hoc est recognitos nam alii permulti sunt
;

scripti quos sex possem mittere, si qui exscriberet haberem. Caete-

:

rum si non mittantur hoc Augusto, mittentur ante hyemem, vt spero.

Scit Deus quantum ea res me angat sed vis me deo/jLa^^^exv ? Malui
;

differre Augustinum quam vel immori labori, vel euadere inutilem 30

aliis laboribus, oppressum morbis et sine vllo instrumento vitae.
Haec enim recuperare difficile possem semel amissa illum dilatum ;

facile erit in manus sumere, cum volam. Eogo te etiam atque

etiam \t, si non vel tempori vel sorti vel fato imputandam hanc
culpam censes, mihi saltem hanc facias huius errati gratiam, si qui- .^5
dem per meerratum.
Ile/^tTrw Trpos ak Kal 7rapoi/u,tas dA.Aas, quae inter legendum occurrerunt.

Fac vt per hunc eundem qui has ad te pertuHt, rescribas nobis, si

modo vacat et si scripto aut non potes aut non vis, verbo certe
:

effice vt de tua valetudine statuque rerum tuarum intelligam, quas 4°

egc non minus charas habeo curoque quam meas. Vale, praeceptor
(mortalium) omnium chariss(ime). Brugis x. lulii, 1521.

1223. TO CONRAD GOCLENIUS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 638. Bruges.
HN: Lond. xvii. 8: LB. 520. 12 August (1521).

[The gap of between five and six weeks iu Erasmus' con-espondence at tliis
point is perhaps due to hard work (cf. Ep. 1218. 17-19), or to illness— of
which, however, there is no trace— or to the chance which governed the sur-
,

vival of his letters.

The year-date added here in H
is again clearly wrong. 1521 is the only year
possible between More's appointment as Treasurer (11. 40-45) and the publication
of F. The opening sentences, descanting on the delights of country life, were
probably written at Anderlecht (cf. Ep. 1215. 3-7) but the letter was dated, and
;

perhaps finished, at Bruges, whither Erasmus had moved in discharge of his duties
as Imperial Councillor. Charles was at Bruges 7-26 Aug., to meet Wolsey ; who
had come over from England to Calais 2 Aug. (Brewer iii. 1458) on a diplomatic
mission, to draw Spain more closely to England in a league against France.
Wolsey arrived at Bruges 14 Aug. (ibid. 1503;, and left about the same date as
Charles (ibid. 1510, 1513), with his purpose effected but he did not return to
;

England till 28 Xov. Jbid. 1810).

To Erasmus this visit was full of enjoyment. He staj'ed with his old friend
MarcusLaurinus, moving among the great and receiving special j^oliteness from the
King of Denmark (Ep. 1228. 3on) and somo of his leisure was spent in examining
;

the Mss. of St. Donatian's (Ep. 373 introd.). Vived, too, was there, busy with his
work upon Augustine ; see Ep. 1306. 43 and his Aug. Ciu. Dei, f°. aa*. On 14 Aug.,

40. tuarum scripsi : tua mortalium/rum a (rum a : tum Lond.), vbi mortalium
a fine huius versus ad finem sequentis, post praeceptor, dubio procul releganduin est :
tuarum mortalium /3.

33. Appiusl ap. Sall. de Rep. ord. i. i. invitation to settle in England ; cf. II.
32. Haec] His negotiations for an 17-21, 24.
 552 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

wlien news came that Wolsey was approaching, Charles, followed by his suite
and by the magistrates, rode out to meet him. Cranevelt delivered an address
of weicome, to which Wolsey replied and Erasmus, who was of the company,
;

received greetings from the Cardinal and from English friends who were in his
—
train Tunstall, Mountjoy, More, and many others.
See Ep. 1233. i-io and a detailed narrative in Geldenhauer's CoUectanea. ed.
;

J. Prinsen, 1901, pp. 116-20. After thedeparture of Charles and Wolsey, Eras-
mus stayed on a few days at Bruges, but at the end of the month (Epp. 1231,2)
made his way back
to Anderlecht, to be in attendance on Charles once more.
A detail of Wolsey's state and ceremony during this visit is preserved in the
Paraleipometia added by Hedio (see Ep. 1459) to the Chronicuni of Conrad of Liechte-
naw, abbot of Ursberg, Strasburg, C. Mylius, March 1537, p. 480 Cardinali :
'

Anglo prandenti et coenanti flexis poplitibus (id quod inter Germanos inauditum)
ministrabatur, astantibus multis Anglis nobilibus'.
An incident which may be mentioned at this point is that on 13 Aug. 1521
the Arts Faculty of the University of Heidelberg, wishing to promote the study
of languages, proposed that the Elector Palatine should be asked to write to
Charles v and request that he would send Erasmus to teach there in the :

same hope as at Leipzig (cf. Ep. 1102. lon), that his advent might arrest the
rapid decline in the numbers of their students. The University vouchsafed no
reply see E. Winkelmann. Urkundenbuch d. Univ. Heidelberg, ii 11886), pp. 76,7.
:

There is nothing to show whether any hint of the invitation ever reached
Eiasmus ; but with his invariable dislike of teaching, he would no doubt have
declined.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS CONRADO GOCLENIO SVO S. D.

Eqvidem existimabam antehac voluptatis duntaxat gratia priscis

tantopere laudatam vitam rusticanaui. At me res ipsa docuit non
perinde iucundam esse ac salubrem. Pene perierat Erasmus in vrbi-
bus; adeo sine fine nauseabat stomachus. lam nonvno cum medico
5 mihi res praescriptae potiones, catapocia, clysteres, puluisculi,
erat ;

vnguenta, balnea, emplastra, quid non ? Nec interim vacabat aegro-

tare, ita negociis subito exortis aliunde vocabar alio. Itaque com-
positis sarcinis conscendo equos. Famulus rogat quo me conferrem.
'Vbicunque' inquam, 'arridebit coelum blandum ac salubre.' Vix
10 hic biduum egeram, febris aufugerat in malam rem, stomachus vale-
bat. Plane mihi visus sum hoc rure repubescere adeo nihil non ;

concoquit stomachus, pridem imbeciilis. Nihil vnquam in vita feci,

miGocleni, cuius me minus poenituerit.
Deamo te qui tam gnauiter te geras in professione linguae La-
15 tinae, tuaque doctrina pariter et ingenio exornes Collegium Buslidia-
num. Felix iuuentus nostraquae in hoc seculum inciderit. Prorsum
inuiderem, nisi toto pectore fauerem vtilitati publicae. Quo magis
obstrepunt ol /SdTpaxoi, hoc magis ac magis gliscit ardor iuuenum
spretis illiteratis literis ad meliora grassantium. Video quid mereatur
20 istorum improbitas. Sed tu quod temporis eras perditurus, aut certe
male collocaturus, rixando cum malis rabulis, hoc bonis studiis iu-
uandis impende. Vis tibi commonstrem splendidum ac magnificum
vindictae genus ? Fac vt teipsum praebeas et inculpatis moribus

TiT. svo om. B. 6. vnguenta, balnea, emplastra add. H. 14. te a?i/e geras
F: remH.

2. vitam rusticanam] Cf. Ep. 1208. i. supportcd Coratinus (Epp. 622. 3in,
4. cum medico] Cf. Ep. 1215. 5. 1051 introd.) against Goclenius in the
14. Deamo te] Erasmus' apprecia- election 0^1519: see P. Nannius' J^Mxe-
tion was the morehandsome, ashehad hris Oratio on Goclenius, 1542, P. B^.
1223] TO CONRAD GOCLENIUS 553

viruiu, et sedulum ac diligentem optimarum literamm professorem.

Nulla ratione possis istos citius ad suspendium adigere quo sane 25 :

dignissimi sunt, qui publicis bonis tantopere discruciantur, non aliis

modo verumetiam sibiipsis inuidentes. Excusatius enim inuidet
yuTovL yetTcov Ets a^evov cnrivhovTL. At liis in manu est iisdem frui
commodis quibus alios iuuari macerantur. Illud imprimis mihi
semper in vtroque vestrum placuit, quod vt mores absunt ab omni 30
turpitudine, ita casta est et professio, neque casta solum verumetiam
modesta. Quid enim sensuri sunt cordati viri, quum audient Louanii
poetices ac rhetorices professionem nec obscoenitatis habere quic-
quam nec maledicentiae ; theologicas lectiones ac sacras etiam con-
ciones mendacissimis conuiciis sic esse fermentatas vt execrentur et 35
idiotae ?
Moro depinxeram tui imaginem, adeo nihil affingens de meo vt
quaedam etiam praetermiserim. Malo enim vt hoc nomine mecum
expostulet, vbi mutua consuetudine vterque alteri noti fueritis. Miro
quodam desiderio tenetur videndi tui. Cum scribes ad eum, gratu- 40
laberis illi et dignitatis et fortunae accessionem. antea Nam quum
Regi tantum esset a consiliis, nuper nec ambiens nec expetens
vltroneo fauore Principis humanissimi et eques auratus factus est,
et munus habet apud Britannos cum honorificum imprimis, tum
etiam salarii non poenitendi, quod appellatur a thesauris. Bene vale. 45
Brugis prid. Id. August. [m.d.xx.]

1224. To WiLLiAM Thale.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 634. Bruges.
HN : Lond. xvii. 5 : LB. 586. 13 August 1521.

[The year-date may be accepted, because Erasmus is at Biuges.

Of Thale I can discover nothing beyond this letter and the mention of him in
voL i. He was with Pace at Ferrara when Erasmus passed through there in
Dec. 1508 and he subsequently came into possession of some papers which
;

Erasmus had left behind with JPace. When Erasmus liurried off to England
without returning to Ferrara to reclaim these (cf. Ep. 30. i6n', Thale disposed
of them (Ep. 244. 6-21) but one, the De Ratione Hiiidii ,Ep. 66), he retained and
;

had printed in Paris in 151 1, substituting his own name in the dedication. In
spite of the friendly tone of this letter, it appears from i, p. 34. lo-ii that Eras-
mus still cherished resentment for Thale's action.
The person of this name mentioned in Epp. 1256. 90, 1303. 51, was perhaps a
young kinsman.J

ERASMVS liOT. CLAUISS. D. GVLIELMO TALEO SVO S. D.

QvANDO desines querime tuum nomen e Gulielmorum catalogo

submouisse? Quantumuis abest a catalogo Taleus, certe ab animo

1223. 46. Aujjusti X

M.D.xx add. E. 1224. tit. ci.AKi!rS. d. um. II. svo
add. H. 2 Taleus add. H.

1223. 28. 7€iT0i/(] Cf. Hes. Op. 23,4. Greek.

30. vtroque vestrum] With Gocle- 36. idiotae] See Ep. 1153. 17111.
nius, Professor of Latin, Erasmus 37. M<jro] in Ep. 1220.
would probably couple in his inind 44. munus] Cf. Ep. 1210. lon.
Eescius (Ep. 546 introd.), Professor of 1224. i. catalogo] Cf. Ep. 1003. 34^.
 554 LETTEKS OF EKASMUS [1521

nunquam Monumentum amoris in me tui, quoquo me

abfuit.
confero, mecum
circunfero. Et vtinam aliquando contingat ad
5 veterem illam redire vitae consuetudinem, et quam Ferrariae primum
sumus auspicati, mox apud Britannos renouauimus, feliciter con-
summemus Vtinam casus aliquis, tuo quidem bono, in hanc
!

nostram Brabantiam te propellat ! Est Louanii coelum quod vel

Italico quondam adamato praeferas ; non amoenum modo verum-
10 etiam salubre. Nusquam studetur quietius, nec alibi felicior ingenio-
rum prouentus. Nusquam professorum maior aut paratior copia.
Haec commoda si te huc non pelliciunt, certe tanti est pestem
Britannicam effugere quae, vt audio, isthic parcit nemini. Bene
;

vale. Brugis Id, August. anno m.d.xxi.

1225. To Peter Bakbirius.

Gouda MS. 1324, f. 26 v° (a). Bruges.

F. fo. a^ v' : HN : Lond. i. 2 : LB. 587. 13 August 1521.

[As in Ep. 1206, I have given precedenee to the Gouda MS. (see App. 9 in
vol. i); though I do not feel sure that it was not copied from the printed text of
F. Its sijelling, however, I have discarded.
The narrative of events in the first partof this letter closely follows thatgiven
in the Apologia qua resimidet for which see pp. log, iio.; Later on there are
resemblanees to Epp. 1195, 1218, 1219. The year-date needs no conhrmation.
Bruges oflfered facilities for communication with Spain and the protracted ;

waiting for the arriv^al of Wolsey (see pp. 551-2) gave leisui'e for correspondence.]

ERASMVS KOTERODAMVS PETRO BARBIRIO SVO SA. DI.

Amantissime tu quidem, mi Barbiri, subinde me prouocas ad

amicitiam cum theologis Louaniensibus adglutinandam sed plane ;

currentem, quod aiunt, incitas. Nemo me viuit amicitiae vel cupien-

tior vel tenacior sed nescio quis maius genius in causa sit vt cum
;

5 iis aut non coeat aut coeat infirma. Ego meapte natura simplici
sum animo, et amicos diligo magis quam colo. Cuius rei tu potes
esse optimus testis, qui videris quam indiligenter cokierim eximium

1224. 6. apud H : ad F. 1225. tit. svo om. H. 5. iis a : his F. 7. op-

timus esse F.

1224. 5. Ferrariae] When Erasmus to their visit to Louvain in 1522 see ;

was on his way to Siena and Rome, EHR. xxii (1907), pp. 746-50. For
—
Dec. 1508 Jan. 1509 ; see de Nolhac other young Englishmen at Louvain
pp. 59-61. Erasmus frequently refers in 1522 see Epp. 1256. 90, 121-2, 1303.
to this visit and especially to his re- 50-1.
lations with Pace : see i, p. 34. 9-10, 12. pestem] Cf. Brewer iii. 1516.
Epp. 283. 169, 412. 59-60, 556. 33n, 1225. prouocas] Perhapsunder the
I.
611. 23-8, II 10. 39, 1227. 36, 1490, iniluence of Adrian of Utrecht cf. Ep. :

1576, 1587. 1114. 3n. For Adrian's relations with

8. Louanii] Cf. Ep. iiri. 78n. This Louvain see Epp. 1153. I49n, 1166.
praise of the climate and of the Uni- 104-7 ^ud, for work suggested by
;

versity may have reached Nic. Daryng- him to Erasmus through Barbirius,
ton and Blythe at St. John's CoIIege, Ep. 1581. He had been Cardinal of
Cambridge, and have encouraged them Tortosa (11. 35-6) since 1516-17.
1225] TO PETEE BARBIEIUS 555

illum virum loannem Syluagium, Caesaris cancellarium, tibi mecum

communem Moecenatem. Nec aliter colui Archiepiscopum Cantua-
riensem, Montioium. et Cardinales quos habebam Eomae fauentis- lo
simos. Et tamen, si detur occasio quae requirat officium meum,
nihil amicorum gratia sim recusaturus. Sed sunt in hoc numero
quos longe difficilius sit coluisse quam monarcham aliquem
praepotentem atque hi sunt ea vitae professione quam summa
:

decebat morum facilitas, comitas atque etiam candor, si mores pallio 15

responderent. Cum loanne Atensi cumque caeteris mihi facile
conuenisset, si placari potuisset vnus aut alter Carmelitici Domi-
nicalisque sodalitii theologus. Hi ad quamuis leuem suspicionem.
aut quoduis dictum alicunde seu vere seu falso delatum, instaurant
tragoediam. Et vt ingenue quod verum est fatear, sum natura pro- 20
pensior ad iocos quam fortasse deceat, et linguae liberioris quam
nonnunquam expediat. Metior enim aliorum animos ex meo nec ;

toties falsus possum ab ingenio meo recedere. Quaeso, quid habebat

aeditio Noui Testamenti, quur in hoc quidam sic atrociter vocifera-
rentur, et Martinum Dorpium in me subornarent, qui stilo lacesseret 25
Erasmum ?
Commigraui, vt scis, Louanium sic enim tum visum est Caesari.
;

Ego vt omnibus esse cupiebam amicus, ita nullius ambiebam ami-

citiam. Atensis opera prouocatus sum a theologis ad amicitiam.
Eam simpliciter amplexus sum, oblitus omnium quae prius in me 30
facta dictaue fuerant. Ita rebus aliquamdiu satis tranquillis ortum
est Trilingue Collegium. Ea res m^e habebat quosdam, praesertim
Nicolaum Carmelitam. Et omnino mea sententia subuersuri fuerant
rem tanto ornamento futuram ditioni Principis, tanto vsui publicis
studiis, ni conatus illorum cohibuisset reuerendissimus dominus Car- 35
dinalis Dertusensis sic enim accipio.
: Huic ego negocio certe palaxH
ac libere faui, nec ob aliud faui nisi quod fauerem publicae studiorum
vtilitati. AUoqui nihil mihi istic metebatur, etiamsi seuissem aliquid.
Quoniam autem intellexeram illos potissimum offensos Nouo
Testamento, multis mensibus in eo sudabam emendando. Et quia 4°
videbam dominum loannem Atensem sic omnes praecellere iudicio
doctrinaque, quemadmodum praeminebat autoritate, vt ex hoc vno
caeteri possent aestimari, cum hoc egi, teste domino Nicolao Mon-
tensi, apud quem tum egeramus prandium, vt in eo negocio me sua

14. hia: ii F. 25. et a ac F. 33. Nicolaum «dd. if.

: 35. reuerendis-
simus dominus cardinalis a R. D. Card. F: Adrianus Card. H.
: 38. istic
mihi f. 40. Et quia a Quoniam autem i^ Tum quouiam fi".
: : 41. domimim
om. F. 42. hoc add. F. 43. domino om. H,

8. Syluagium] See Epp. 410, 436. Epp. 596. i, 597. 25.

10. Cardinales] See Epp. 333,4. CaesariJ Cf. Apol. qua respondet, i°.

15. pallio] Cf. Ep. 1144. 28n. The A" Jortin ii. 497.
:

scriV)e of the Gouda MS. i^Hand A; 29. Atensis] See Ep. 670 introd.
adds in the margin 'lutellige dictum
: prouocatus sum] Cf. £p. 637. lon.
de Carmelitis '.
30. prius] Cf. Epp. 474. 17^,475. 18-
17. vnus aut alter] Hand A again 19, 483. 26.
interprets in the margin Nicolauset :
'
32. CoUegium] See Ep. 691.
Vincentius Seo Epp. 878. i^n and
'. 36. Dertusensis] Cf. 1. in.
iigeintrod. 39. Nouo Testamento] See Ep. 864
25. Dorpium] SeeEpp. 304, 337, 347. introd.
27. Commigraui] In July 1517; cf. 43. Montensi] See Ep. 1162. io8n.
 556 LETTEES OF EKASMUS [1521

45 cura fideque adiutaret: i^rofessus quidem hoe sedulo agere, vt me

opus exiret tale vt nullus eruditus ac pius merito posset offendi ;
studium quidem et affectum esse pium, caeterum vires esse impares
tanto negocio proinde illum me sibi deuincturum summo beneficio,
:

si moneret quae iudicaret esse corrigenda. Id cum multis verbis

50 agerem, respondit ille sibi iam emptum esse codicem, sed nondum
esse perlectum perlecturum tamen, nec secus acturum mecum
;

quam cum proprio fratre nam hisce verbis tum vsus est. Eaque
:

verba semel atque iterum repetiit. Ac primo colloquio quod mihi

fuit cum Nicolao Egmondano, rogaui hominem, libere raoneret si
55 quid offenderet in eo opere initurum apud me summam gratiam.
;

Nihil aliud ille respondit quam sibi iibrum nunquam esse lectum.
Idem aliquoties egi cum Latomo, frequentius etiam cum Dorpio.
Tandem appetebat tempus vt ob secundam aeditionem peterem
Basileam. Paulo ante Atensis ad coenam vocat. Aderat Egmondanus
60 et Lodouicus Viues. A coena indico Atensi me intra paucos dies
abiturum Basileam. Kogo, obsecro, obtestor, vt amanter admoneat
si quid iudicaret esse mutandum praesertim si quid officere posset
:

bonis moribus aut fidei Catholicae. Ille respondit, sibi totum opus
esse lectum, ac videri pium iuxta atque eruditum. Hic ego Malim '

65 inquam, admonei'i quam laudari.

'
Admonitio proderit, laus ista
nihil profuerit. Nunc integrum est corrigere, posthac non idem
licebit '. Ad haec quum ille repetisset laudes ante tributas, Si '

isthaec' inquam, *ex animo dicis, quur tam atrocibus clamoribus

quidam insectati sunt hoc opus primum aeditum ? Tum ille Prius- '
'

70 quam 'inquit, legissem opus, multa erant ad me delata

'
sed eo ;

perlecto comperi rem secus habere. Quae scripsisti mihi magnopere

placent quae scripturus sis nescio '.
; Ad haec respondi me non
dubitare quin, si primam aeditionem probaret, hanc esset muito
magis probaturus. Hortatus est denique me vt meis sanctis labori-
75 bus (sic enim aiebat) pergerem prouehere religionem Christianam.
Hac oratione tanti viri fretus, abii Basileam. Absoluo partem
operis in qua plus erat periculi, nimirum Annotationes. Eedeo.
Accurrit Atensis, accurrit Dorpius, quum tamen chirurgi iudicas-
sent me Haec erant argumenta constantis adhuc
laborare peste.
So amicitiae. Trado Dorpio partem voluminis excusam, hac lege vt si
quid offenderet, indicaret: adhuc enim integrum esse mutare, lieet
cum iactura pecuiiiae, donec opus intra typographi parietes pre-
meretur.
Mox manauit ad me rumor de Leo, qui trecenta loca taxaret in
85 Nouo Testamento, horrenda, periculosa. Euoco hominem ad collo-
quium, offero praeter caeteras hanc conditionem, vt si quid haberet

45. professus laM. II. 46. possit H. 47. impares esse F. 51.
mecum add. F. 53. verha add. F. 54. Egmundano N. 59. Egmun-
danus iV. 60. F: Ludowicus a. 66. licebit idem J!. 75. aiebat a :

loquebatur i?. 78. F: chirurgici a. 84. taxaret o ; taxat F: tiixasset JEf.

57. Latoniu] See Ep. 934. ^n. 500) : it is interpolated out of

wliere
59. ad coenam] Tiiis episode, whicli oi-der in the narrative.
occurred c. April 1518, is related in 65. admoneri] Cf. Ep. 1076. 6n.
very much tlie same words in the Apo- 77. Redeo] 21 Sept. 1518.
lcgia qua respondd (J°. B .Jortin ii. : 78. Accurrit] Cf. Ep. 867. 255.
12 25] TO PETER BARBIEIUS 557

quod esset cum morum aut fidei periculo coniunctum, communicaret

—
me coiTecturum nondum enim exisse librum in nianus hominum —
idque cum honorifica mentione Leici nominis, qui monuisset. Ee-
cusauit ille. Res est acta cum Atensi. IUe tergiuersatus est, 90
suspicans. opinor, rem in tragoediam exituram.
Leo respondimus successit Latomi libellus, haud scio quo consilio
;

aeditus. strophis obliquis me petens. Respondi ciuiliter, atque etiam.

vt quidam interpretati sunt, abiecte. Scis quam non quiuerim
perpelli vt cum Dorpio descenderem in certamen, cuius ingenium 95
vnice diligebam. Neque multo secus eram affectus erga Latomum,
qui tum nec a Gratiis nec a Musis videbatur alienus. Sed nescio
quis mahis genius non passus est amicitiam nostram coalescere.
Interim in concionibus subinde perstringebar apud promiscuam
multitudinem. Tandem Atensis in schola frequentissima talibus 100
conuiciis me lapidauit, vt plane spes esset Erasmum aut dolore
moriturum aut aliquo sese abditurum. Itum est ad magnates, vt
hos in odium mei pertraherent. Emissi sunt qui passim in me
deblaterarent. Tantis odiis res acta est, vt quemlibet, etiam lenis-
simi ingenii, in rabiem posset agere. 105
Tandem malis auibus prodierunt aliquot libelli Lutheri. Hic
totus renouatus est tumultus. Conuenit inter illos suspicio hos
libros mea opera scriptos, ob vnam aut alteram praefationem paulo
Latiniorem. Datum est negocium Baccalaureis vt colligerent errores
meos. Ac mox errorum plena erant omnia totos errorum modios 110 ;

subito collegerunt. Nec vlHus interim admoneor ego. In collegio-

rum conuiuiis nullus erat sermo nisi de Erasmi erroribus. Dum
finis nullus esset, extundo ab Atensi vt ipse cum vno aut altero
docto notet aliquot locos quibus offenderentur. Notauit perpaucos
Atensis, sed haud magni momenti notauit aHquot Dorpius, minor^s 115
;

etiam momenti. Atensis testatus se nihil addubitare quin optime

sentirem, tantum petiit vt explicarem propter infirmos. ExpHcui,
et Hbellum iHi Dorpioque tradidi. Probauit Atensis omnia. Tan-
tum cupiebat addi, confessionem hanc, vt nunc exercetur, a Christo

89. nomiais Leici F. 90. acta est F. Ille a I.s H.: 96. affectus
evava F. 99. sxibinde add. F. F: aput a. 100. frequentissima
schola J". loi. lapidauit me J^. 107. est renouatus F. iio. modios
errorum i^. 112. erroribus Erasmi F. 119. addi cupiebat f.

92. successit] This appears to be in- 108. paulo Latiniorem] Cf. Ep. 1167.
accurate for the controversy with
; io6n.
Latomus (Ep, 934. ann) began and 109. Baccalaureis] Cf. Ep. 1053. 34^.
finished early in 1519, whereas that 119. confessionem] In his Annot. on
with Lee (pp. 108-11) dragged on far Acts 19. 18 Erasmus had admitted in
into 1520. But clearly Erasmus is here 1516 fuisse et antiquitus nonnullam
'

rehearsing his controversies in the confessionem male actae vitae, sed

order of their commencement. apertam, vt opinor, et in genere, quam
94. nonquiuerim] Cf. Epp. 475. 24-7, nec ipsam legimus exactam abs quo-
477.11-15,483.24-5. quam'. In 1518-19 he added, Caete- '

100. Atensis] His attack upon Eras- rum quao nunc recepta est chincularia
mus was about the Encomium Mutri- et in aurem fit, videtur ex consulta-
monii cf. Ep. 670 introd.
; tionibus priuatis esse nata, quae solent
106. Lutheri] Cf. Ep. 904. i^n. This apud episcopos fieri, si qui scrupulus
'tumult' may be dated in the autumn vrgeret animum but furtber tlian
'
:

of 1519. this he would not go in any subsequent

 558 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1521

120 fuisse institutam. Eius dogmatis, quoniam mihi nondum constabat,

autor esse nolui. Deinde quum Atensis recusaret fieri autor eius
negocii, et iam murniur conquieuisset, visum est et ipsi vt res
silentio transmitteretur.
Rursus quum
incrudescente indies tragoedia Lutherana, iam palam
125 esset illos aliquid magni mali moliri in me, expostulaui cum aliquot
primoribus, quid esset monstri quod alerent. Solus Egmondanus,
—
vt est liberior nam hoc certe habet boni fassus est in causa — ,

fuisse suspicionem de libris Lutheri. Ego demiratus tales viros tali

fundamento superstruere tragoediam.tam odiosam, doceo id quod erat
130 res, illic ne syllabam quidem esse meam, aut me conscio aut volente
sci'iptam. Interea prouolarunt vndique nugacissimi libelli, quibus
mire sibi plaudunt Gei*mani. Nihil prodibat quod non mihi tribue-
rent. —
Tandem Atensis opinor, intellecto suspicionis errore per —
eum qui tuni erat gymnasiarcha, peique hospitem meum loannem
^35 Neuium Hontiscotanum, agit de sarcienda concordia. Praebui me
faeillimum tametsi tot modis laesus ne muscam quidem ipse laese-
:

ram. Coiit foedus in eoUegio Falconis, hac lege vt omnium prae-

teritorum esset obliuio: illi sarcirent pro sua virili famam meam
quam tot modis laesissent, ego cohiberem calamos amicorum erudi-
140 torum, quod quidem esset in me. Et ecce paulo post prodiit Farrago
quaedara Epistolarum, quas e fasciculis aliquot electas aediderant
Basileae quidam amici Germani quorum et fidei saepenumero
:

ci-edidi magno meo malo, et studiis auidis verius quam prudentibus

nimium sum obsequutus. In iis inerant versus aliquot quibus
145 offendebantur, praesertim Carmelita. Et ecce subito noua tempestas
atrocior priore. Atqui volumen illud Epistolarum sex ferme menses
excusum fuerat antequam de sarcienda concordia agi coepisset.

120. nondum n non N.: 121. autor fieri IL 126. Egmundanus iV.
127. certe add. F. 128. demirans F. 129. tam odiosam tragoediam F.
130. aut aiite volente a : seu H. 136. ne . . . laeseram n : quum ne . . .
lueserim JJ. 137. foedus aricZ. H. 141. aediderant i^ : addiderant a.
143. magno meo malo credidi F. 144. iis a : his F. 147. coepisset agi F.

edition. The word nonnullam and the and 11. 360-1 infra also Ep. 1244. 360.
:

wliole of the later passage were ex- 145. offendebantur] e.g. by the re-
punged by the Index. Later, in reply- marks about Dorp and the Carmelites :

ing to Lee in 1520 (cf. Ep. 1153. 74n), cf. Epp. 474. i^n, 483. iio seq.
26, 948.
he had definitely given his opinion 147. excusum fuerat] Here, as in
that confession was not an institution Ep. 1175, Erasmus is obviously inaccu-
of Christ ; but declared his willingness rate. On p. 62 of E is a letter of 28
to submit this to authority. June 1519 (Ep. 991) and the latest;

131. libelli] Cf. Ep. 1195. 4n. letter in the volume (Ep. 1009, of 15
132. Germani] Cf. Ep. 1168. i8n. •A.ug.) is on p. 358, with 40 jjages fol-
134. gymnasiarcha] The Rector of lowing it. Allowing for the time
Louvain University, 31 Aug. 1519 needed forcopies of these letters— both
29 Feb. 1520, was Jo. Calaber : see written by Erasmus from Brabant to —
Ep. 1240. 2on. reach Basle, the printing cannot have
135. Neuiuml See Ep. 298 introd. been far advanced by the middle of
137. foedus] On 7 Oct. 15 19 : see Ep. July, not three months before the con-
1016. i^n. cordia of 7 Oct. and the book did not
;

Falconis] See Ep. 1217. I2in. appear till Nov. (see Ep. 1040 introd.).
Nic. Coppin (1. 43) was Principal. Erasmus must have been thinking of
140. Farrago] E : dated Oct. 1519. the date when the publication of E was
143. meo malo] Cf. Ep. 325 introd. decided on, and the first part of the
 1225] TO PETER BARBIRIUS 559

Vides, optime Barbiri, me nequaquam spreuisse iudicium theologo-

rum Louaniensium tametsi non erat quur illos potius quam alios
:

operis mei facerem censores. Vides per me non stetisse quo minus 150
inter nos constiterit amicitia Christiana. Deinde quum Lutherana
tragoedia semper in peius glisceret, mire quidam conati sunt me
illi admiscere. Ego vulgato etiam scripto ante biennium testatus
sum nihil omnino rei mihi esse cum Luthero, nullam agnoscere
factionem nisi Christianam, si tamen ea dicenda est factio. Atque 155
interim mira rabie lapidabar in publicis concionibus, in pubHcis
professionibus, a Carmelita et Dominicalibus quibusdam, nonnun-
quam etiam nominatim. Haec perpeti iudicaui potius quam cum
tanto examine coUuctari.
Porro quod scribis isthic suspicionem extinctam me fauere Luthero, 160
non miror sed miror vnquam ortam fuisse. Vtinam tam immunis
;

essem ab omnibus viciis quam sum ab hoc alienus negocio non !

dubitarem vel citra confessionem emori. Initio dici non potest

quam multi qualesque viri Luthero fauerint. Ego e pauculis pagelHs
degustatis visus sum mihi subodorari rem in tumultum exituram. 165
Et mihi sane adeo est inuisa discordia vt etiam displiceat veritas
seditiosa. Primus omnium admonui hominem literis vt rem Euan-
gelicam Euangelica mansuetudine moderationeque tractaret. Et
adeo illi non addidi animos, vt crebris epistolis et Lutherum ipsum
et Lutheri amicos deterruerim ne pergei'ent qua coeperant via. 170
Atque hac in re tam fui diligens, vt quorundam literis admonitus
sim, si mihi non placeret Lutheri negocium, certe dissimuLarem, ne
tot nobilium atque eruditorum animus ac stilum in me concitarem.
Si Lutherus Euangelico spiritu scripsit, quod adhuc affirmant plu-
rimi, metus tamen meus non fuit impius, qui timuerim publicae ij-i^

concordiae sin secus, primus omnium obstiti pro viribus ne liVjri

:

illius euulgarentur. Si tibi narrem a quibus et quibus modis sollici-

tatus sim vt adiungerer negocio Lutherano, quibus technis quidam
conati sint me pellicere, quibus odiis quidam huc nisi sint me
propellere, tum demum intelligeres quam mihi displiceant dissidia. iSo
Videbam me iacturam facturum amicorum, quos et phirimos et non
vulgariter eruditos habebam in Germania. Non ignorabam quam
pertinacibus odiis me insectarentur quidam apud nostros, odio bona-
rum literarum. Perspiciebam esse tutius in alteram secedere
factionem. At mihi stat semperque stabit sententia vel membra- 185

150. censores facerem F. 157. et Dominicalibus a Dominicalibusque N.

:

163. Initio (uld. F. 165. exituram in tumultum -F. 166. veritas etiam
displiceat jP. 169. crebrisP: crebro a. 170. amicos Lutheri J'. 175.
meus tamen metus F. 179. nisi sint me a : me conati sint F. 183. F
aput a. nostros a : nos F. 184. factionem secedere F.

* copy' sent off toBasle andconsider-

; 1166. 26n).
ing himself thereby exonerated frorn 167. literis] Ep. 980. 38 seq.
any charge of violating the concordia. 170. amicos] Cf. Ep. 1143. 22n.
153. scripto] Ep. 1041. 171. literis] Cf. Ep. 1135. r6 seq.
157. Carmelita] Egmondanus see ; 176. obstiti] Cf. Ep. 1033. 47^.
Ep. 878. i3n. 177. sollicitatus sim] Cf. Ep. 1217.
Dominicalibus] Vinc. Theodori- io6n.
<5i (p, 463) and Laur. Laurentii (Ep. 181. iacturam] Cf. 11. 279-82.
 560 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

tim discerpi potius quani fouere discordiam ;

praesertim in negocio
fidei.
Oceinunt mihi qui fauent Luthero, illud Euangelicum, Non veni '

mittere pacem, sed gladium Equidem vt mihi videre videor esse

'.

190 quaedam in Ecclesia recepta quae magno Christianae religionis bono

mutarentur, ita nihil placet quod huiusmodi tumultibus geritur. Si
communicato inter ipsos consilio docti libellis obsignatis vti"iusque
ditionis proceres admonuissent quae iudicassent ad Euangelicae
doctrinae synceritatem attinere, fortassis et ipse fuissem vnus qui
195 sedulo quod potuissem consuluissem. Nunc quid furiosius quam
rem tantam maledicis libellis et insanis clamoribus agi ? Qua quidem
in re primum vtrinque peccatum est, mea sententia, nimiumque
calidis consiliis hinc atque hinc res gesta est. Nuper exiit liber
reuerendi domini cardinalis sancti Sixti, in totum abstinens a per-
200 sonis, a conuiciis omnibus temperans, nudis argumentis et autorum
testimoniis rem agens, non minore cura quam ingenio. Huiusmodi
volebam vel sexcentos scribi aduersus Lutherum qui rem illustrant, :

non excitant tumultus. NuHus enim est qui non cupiat doceri.
Quod si pars diuersa j)arum meminit modestiae, nostrum tamen erat
205 meminisse. Imo hoc erat non modestiae, sed prudentiae, cauere
quod nostram causam laederet, aduersariorum adiuuaret. Id si
fuisset initio factum, aut ego fallor, aut res non processisset huc
tumultus. Nec aliud possunt imputare Erasmo, nisi quod primus
improbauit clamoribus seditiosis impeti Lutherum, praesertim apud
210 populum: sed ita tamen improbabam, vt illis esset liberum quantum
vellent vociferari. Cum eruditis aliquot qui nunc feruntur non
omnino alieni a Luthero, iam mihi intercesserat studiorum nomine
contracta necessitudo, priusquam orbis audisset Lutberi nomen.
Porro, quod dicitur hausisse quaedam e libris meis, mihi in manu
215 non erat praestare ne quis in posterum scriptis meis abuteretur,
quando hoc nec Euangelistae nec Apostoli praestare potuerunt,
Scripsi eo seculo quae tum videbantur ad bonos mores conducere:
fortasse quaedam scripturus circumspectius, si praescissem exoritu-
rum hoc seculum plusquam tragicum. Loci communes quibus fere
220 declamabam, faciunt aduersus eos qui neglectis fontibus sacrorura
voluminum, inhaerent nimium quaestiunculis sophisticis verius
quam theologicis: qui neglectis his quae sunt verae pietatis, plus
188. mihi a : multi F. Lutliero fauent F. 190. quaedam add. J".

191. tumultuJ'. 196. insanis o»i. J'. Qua...i97. rea: Quo negocio il.
. . .

197. nimiumque a : nimium F. 199. reuerendi domini cardinalis sancti

Sixti a R. D. Card. S. Sixti F : Thomae Card. Caietani H.
: 203. tumultum F.
204. diuersa pars J". e rat a FComgr. : erit i^. 208. imputare possunt -F..
primum F. 209. seditiosis clamoribus F. 214. quaedam hau.sisse N.
215. scriptis meis in posterum jP, 218. fortassisiV, 221, nimium inhaerent
F. verius add. F. 222. his a iis F.
:

i88. Euangelicum] Matt, 10. 34. 22 March 1521 : see F. Lauchert, Ital.
192. obsignatis] sealed, and tlius Gegner Luthers, pp. 142-55. For a very
private cf. Epp. 435, 87, 8io. 346,
; different cliaracter of Caietano see Ep,
1153. 1^2, 1167. 114-15, 1217. 21. 1188. 23-4.
vtriusque] Church und State. 211. eruditis] Such as Spalatinus
198. liberj De diuina institutionc ponti- and Mutianus (Ep. 501 introd. and 8n).
fcatus Roniani Pontificis super totam Eccle- 214. hausisso] Cf. Ep. 1195. 62, and
siam a Christo in Petro, Rome, M. Silber, II. 337-41 infra.
1225] TO PETEK BAEBIRIUS 561 .

aequo fiderent ceremoniis, et plus liaberent ludaismi quam Chri-

stianismi : qui praepostero iudicio ea plurimi facerent quae minimum
habent momenti, minimi quae plurimum. Frequenter calamo belli- 225
gerabar aduersus bella, quibus multis iam seculis subinde mundus
colliditur, non minore morum pernicie quam dedecore Christiani
nominis. Et hactenus nemo compertus est qui ex meis libris factus
sit pilo deterior. Multi agunt gratias quod ad gustum verae pietatis
expergisci coeperint, Seditionem et obscoenitatem in scriptis meis 230
semper diligentissime caui. Ab asseueratione tempero, monitor esse
malens quam dogmatistes. In his articulis qui damnantur in
Lutheri libris, nihil video quod illi mecum conueniat, nisi forte
quod a me moderate suoque loco dictum est, ille dicit immodice.
Quod genus est si ego fortassis alicubi scripsi, minus fructus ex 235
:

Dionysio colligi quam ex Origene aut Chrysostomo, ille scribat

Dionysium autorem esse ineptum ac pestilentem. Si hoc est con-
gruere, congruet vinum aceto.
Sed dices, Hactenus non sci-ipsisti quicquam aduersus Lutherum
' '.

Id quo minus fecerim, duo praecipue in causa fuerunt, ocii penuria 240
et imperitiae propriae conscientia. Distorquebar studiis meis, adeo
vt saepenumero laboribus immodicis valetudo periclitaretur. Et
videbam longe aliud esse hortari ad studium literarum bonarum,
inuitare ad bonos mores, annotare aliquid in lectione sacrorum
voluminum ; rem
fidei in orbis totius theatro tractare.
et Videbam 245
vtrinque partes accensas studiis vt alteri nisi magnis vocife-
sic
rationibus satisfieri non posset alteram sic instructam et copiis et
;

dentatis libellis, vt malim Eluetiorum lanceis obiici quam horum

stilis confodi. Habent enim multos quorum literae videantur apud
posteros victurae. Et tamen fateor in causa fidei vitam etiam 250
negligendam, si modo facultas respondisset animo. Certe ncn
concedo Latomo vt illi magis displicuerit hoc orbis dissidium quam
mihi praesertim quum hoc fermento viciata sit vbique fere dulcedo
:

studiorum. Vt insanum sit probare omnia quae scripsit aut scri-

pturus sit Lutherus, ita non placet autoris odio damnare quae vera 255
sunt, ea deprauare quae recta sunt. Si scribit aduei'sus Lutherum
qui subinde vocat illum asinum, stipitem, bestiam, cacodaemonem,
Antichristum, nihil erat facilius quam in illum scribere. Ego ex
omnibus illius lucubrationibus vix duodecim legi pagellas neque :

enim vacat, et si vacaret, malim hoc ocii in vetustis autoribus 260

collocare. Et tamen vix quenquam adhuc repperi, qui se dicat
poenitere legisse libros illius, etiamsi multa displiceant.

227. pernicie morum

229. gratias agunt F.
F. 230. meis om. F. 231.
asseueratione F : a. 233. quod F quid a.
assentacione 236. F Dionisio a.
: :

scribit i^. 237. F: Dionisium a. 240. fuerunt in causa i^. 241. meis
studiis F. 242. valetudo laboribus immodicis F. 243. bonarum literarum
F. 245. et a aliud /f.
: 248. F: Heluetiorum a. 254. omnia probare i^.
256. ea add. F.

223. ceremoniis] Cf. Ep. 858. 445seq. 236. Dionysio] Cf. Ep. 1202.224-6.
226. aduersus bella] Cf. Ep. 1219. 248. Eluetiorum] Cf. Ep. 134. 311.
4in. 259. vix duodecim] Ci'. Epp. 1167.
232. damnantur] Cf. Ep. 1202. 22on. 124, 1236. 135-6.
4B2.4 O O
 . 562 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

Quid multis? Tale negocium est, vt difficillimum sit ita satis-

facerehominibus vt nusquam prodas Euangelicam veritatem. Res
265 non solum absolutam eruditionem verumetiam singularem pru-
dentiam desiderat non sine autoritate. Et video non defuturos
;

qui prouinciam lianc et possint et velint suscipere, episcopos, cardi-

nales, reges denique. Quicquid incendio, quicquid diplomatis princi-
pum effici potest, abunde confectum est, Sed haec vtinam perinde
270 mutai-ent animos hominum, vt cohercent linguas Si pium est !

nocere causae Lutheri, fortasse magis illi nocui quam quisquam

eorum qui odiosissime rech^marunt, quique hominem conuiciosissimis
libellis prosciderunt.Primum. violentum illum ac seditiosum scri-
bendi modum constanter, et ab ipso statim initio, palam et apud
275 amicos et apud inimicos Lutheri improbaui. Non destiti et sermoni-
bus et scriptis epistolis dehortari plurimos vt ab ea factione sese
abstinerent. Nullis studiis adduci potui vt vel pauhilum ipse
memet admiscerem. Haec, opinor,plus fregerunt vires eius factionis
quam quorundam tumultus. Haec adeo non ignorat Germania, vt
280 toto hoc anno nullus eorum qui Luthero fauere creduntur, verbum
ad me scripserit, nemo inuiserit, nemo saluere iusserit, quum ante-
hac officiis huiusmodi propemodum occiderint. Quin, vt ex aniico-
rum literis accipio, Lutherani in suis professionibus subinde me
perstringunt, clamitant PeLagianum Erat quod mihi succenserent,
285 si vnquam in illorum castris fuissem, si vnquam negocii huius
hortator fuissem. Nunc praeter causam succensent, quum semper
ab hac tumultuosa scriptione ad Euangelicam modestiam prouo-
carim.
Nec audio magnos alioqui viros, qui dicunt morbum fuisse grauio-
290 rem quam vt leui pharmaco sanari possit turbandum fuisse corpus
:

remedio, quo mox succederet sanitas.

efficaci Hoc si verum est.
ego per alios fieri malim quam per me. Si commerentur hoc
corrupti mortalium mores, non deerit Deo Nabuchodonozor, per
quem flagellet populum suum. Vt tale nihil video factum ab
295 Apostolicis viris, ita mihi non placet quicquam per tumultum geri.
Christus eiecit vendentes et ementes in templo, sed suis idem nun-
quam mandauit: quibus docendi munus delegauit, non pugnandi.
In summa, mihi vt semper placet concordia, ita hic quoque malim

271. furtassis N. 275. apud add. F. 285. castris illorum F. vnquam

negocii huius a huius negocii F.
: 293. F : Nabuchodonosor N : Nabugodono-
sor a. 296. in o:e F.

268. reges] Cf. Epp. 1227. 24^, 1233. 284. Pehigianum] This charge (cf.
loon. Epp. 1259. 12-13, 1275. 27)wasbased on
incendio] Cf. Epp. 1218. ^in, 1221. some passages in the Enchiridion seea :

^o-^. letter of Burer fromWittenberg,3oJune

diplomatis] Cf. Epp. 1192. 6611, 1521 (BRE. 206), to Beatus Rhenanus;
12 17. i44n. through whom no doubt the news had
276. epistolis] Cf. 11. 169-70. reached Erasmus. Melanclithon's letters
281. inuiserit] As Eobanus (Ep. 874) iuAug.and (Dec.)(ME. 126,7^ showno
in Oct. 1518, Jonas (Ep. 876) and hostility to him. Luthers first com-
Schalbe (Ep. 977) in May 1519, Draco munication with Erasmus had been an
(Ep. 871) in July 1520 (Ep. 1127). invitation to read Augustine against
283. literis] SotooiuEp. 1241.5-17, the Pelagiaus see Ep. 501. 14, 53-6.
:

liiter. 296. Christus] John 2. 14-16.

 1225] TO PETER BARBIRIUS 563

pacem aliquaiitulum iniquam quam bellum aequissimum. Atque

vtinam sedatis animis vtrinque incumbatur in hoc, vt in Euangelica 300
veritate consentiamus, priusquam ad propagandam religionem pro-
peremus Verum ea res non vulgo proditis libellis, sed obsignatis
!

secretisque consiliis esset agenda. Exquirendum vnde hic affectus

tam late occuparit animos hominum. Fortasse sic facilius tolle-
retur hoc malum. si fontes vnde scatet tollerentur. Verum hoc 305
a monarchis proficiscatur oportet. Ego perfectis iis quae i^roximis
nundinis exibunt, aggrediar aliquid non tam aduersus Lutherum, in
quem abunde detonatum est conuiciis, si quid iis rebus proficeretur,
sed magis ad compescendum hoc dissidium.
lam scio dices, Sic itur ad bellum'
Vtinam, mi Barbiri, vere '. 310
hoc posset in me dici Sed vereor ne pi'opemodum ante tempus
!

adhuc venerim adeo sese condensant, nec loco cedunt coniuratae

:

phalanges. Nae ego praeclarum interim operae precium feram qui

vtrinque lapidor ! Apud nostros falsissimo titulo traducor Luthera-
nus, apudGermanos male audio vt Luthei'anae factionis aduersarius. 315
Sed vtinam vel vitae, non modo famae, iactura queam hanc pernicio-
sissimam tempestatem vertere in tranquillitatem Ego nullum !

exitum video, nisi Christus ipse velut utto fj.r]xavrj<; felicem cata-
strophen imponat infehci fabulae. Atque interim quum propemodum
obsurduerim ad Lutherani vocabulum, nondum satis intelligo quid 320
sit esse Lutheranum. Si Lutheranus est quisquis Lutheri libros
legit, legit et Latomus. Sin Lutheranus non est qui legit vt refellat
aut damnet, qui, queso, Lutheranus erit qui hoc animo legit, vt si
quid insit quod faciat ad bonam mentem, excerpat, si quid erroris,
detestetur ac reiiciat? Si Lutheranus est qui omnia illius et scripta 325
et scribenda citra exceptionem tuetur ac probat, talis adhuc nemo
mihi compertus est, nec arbitror quenquam esse tam insani cerebrj.
Ego sane nec Hieronymo nec Augustino sic addictus esse vellem ;

vix etiam ipsi Paulo, vt aliquid dicam {i7r€p/3oA.t/<(2is.

Caeterum ego qui nec lego libros illius nec defendo quicquam, 330
quo pacto fingor Lutheranus ? Si orthodoxus est quisquis maledicit
Luthero, gratulandum est populo Christiano. Sed vereor, optime
Barbiri, ne complures sint qui magnis conuiciis insectantur in
—
Lutheranis leuia quaedam quod genus sit, Quicquid agit iustus, '

peccatum esse '

—
quum ipsi non credant id quod est totius nostrae 335
,

fidei basis, videlicet animum superesse a morte corporis. Sed tamen

video duas rationes quibus Lutheranus videri queam. Primum, si
Lutheranus est e cuius libris hausit occasionem erroris (si tamen
aliquid hausit ex meis), dici possim Lutheranus. Sed hac ratione
Lutheranus erit et Apostolus Paulus, e cuius scriptis plura hausit 34°
quam ex meis. Vnde enim haeretici veteres hauserunt errorum
suorum semina, nisi e sacris libris ? Et tamen nuUus hoc imputat
horum autoribus. Ad haec, si Lutheranus est qui quocunque modo

306. iisa: hisJ^. 308. iisa: hisF. 309. F discidiuma. :311. posset
lioci" 313. feram a fero //. : 318. F: v^ilitdiicjMixavfa a. 323. queso ow. i^.
325. Si a : Sin F. 328. F : Hieronimo a. 329. vt . v-nfpHoXiKws add. H.
. .

335. fidei nostrae F. 337. Primum add. H. 339. dici possini Lutlieranus
om. F. 340. et Apostolus om. F.

299. pacem] Cf. Cic. Fam. 6. 6. 5. 335. poccatuni esse] Cf. Ep. 1195. 640.
002
 564 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

fauet Luthero —
et fauet haud dubie qui hortatur ad meliora, qui
345 —
correctum cupit , hoc nomine plane Lutheranus fui quondam, et
sum adhuc, et esse puto quotquot sunt vere Christiani. Quis enim
non malit fi-atrem suum emendatum quam extinctum ?
Sed vt sit tandem harum naeniarum finis, quando tu desines nos
torquere desiderio tui? quando reddes nobis tuum conspectum?
350 Vtinam te videam in tua Paria mitraturn Dispeream nisi malim !

illic agere inter gentes ignotissimas quam hic inter rabiosas obtre-
ctationes qui morbus olim monachorum latebris familiaris, nunc
:

in ipsas etiam regum aulas penetrauit. Nulla est compotatio in qua

non acribus studiis decertetur de Luthero. Mox ad Erasmum rixa
355 deflectit. Deum immortalem quid ibi non dicitur ab his qui !

tantum sapiunt in hoc negocio quantum de pictura camelus? Et

nulli clamant fortius. Hoc mali debeo Germanicis meis. Equidem
ex animo Germaniae faueo. Dici non potest quam indies efflorescat
ingeniis felicissimis in me studiis propensioribus quam vel pro-
;

360 merebar vel postulabam. Sed optarem quorundam amicitias mihi

aliquanto fuisse auspicatiores quam fuerunt. Britannia vulgo male
audit, quoties de fide agitur. At illic tales amicos, tam fidos, tam
constantes, tam prudenter fauentes repperi, vt meliores ne optare
quidem potuissem.
365 Bene vale, mi Petre, et cura vt quam primum ad nos venias
Hispaniensibus ducatis onustus. Nam hic mira auri sitis quando- :

quidem video glebas illas aureas, quas nobis polliceri soles in Paria,
simillimas montibus aureis Persarum.
Brugis Idibus augustis anno m^.vc.xxi'^. :

1226. To Jerome Froben.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 663. Bruges.
HN : Lond. xvii. 21 : LB. 588. 14 August 1521.

[From consideration of the movements of Jerome Froben (Ep. 903. an) tlie
years 1519-21 are possible. But in view of Erasmus' presence at Bruges and the
position of this letter near the end of F, 1521 may be accepted.]

350. Paria F: patria a. 353. etiam add. F 07n. N. : 355. his a : iis F.
357. meis a : amicis F. 358. faueo Germaniae F. 359. propensioribus
studiis J". 365. mi Petre om. F. 367. nohis add. F. PariaJ': patria a.
369. Idibus augustis a Id. Augusti F.: m.d.IvXI. F.

349. desiderio tui] Cf. Epp. 11 14. see Epp. 77. 14^,15, 123. 18 cr.n, 250.
3n, 1216. 7T-2. 14. 292. 6-7, 899. 14-15. But cf. Ep.
350. Paria] See Ep. 913. 6n. 1074. 1-2.
353. compotatio] Cf. Ep. 1033. 22n. vulgoj Thus Leo de Rozmital,
361. Britannia] It is interesting to the Bohemian, who visited England in
contrast this estimate of ' periidc Feb. 146! describes the English in liis
,

Albion (cf. Ep. 764. 10) with the high

' Commeniarius . Itineris, first translated
. .

reputation then enjoyed by Germany ;

into Latin and printed, Olmutz, F.
cf. I, p. 13. 17-18, Epp. III. 44n, 269. MiUichtaler, 1577, f. 49^°, as 'homines,
38~9) 3°5- 39) '5°) 3°7' 10 -11, 317. 18, vt mihi videtur, infidi et astuti, vitae
334. 7-8, 1523 tin. It has value, even hominum peregrinorum exitium mo-
though Erasmus was not an unpre- lientes: qui licet submisse genu infie-
judiced witness. In other points, too, ctant, non tamen illis fidem habeas '.
he criticizes England unfavourably : 362. amicos] Cf. Ep. 195. 4-10.
 12 26] TO JEROME FEOBEN 565

ERASMVS ROT. HIERONYMO FROBENIO SVO S. D.

MiHi mi Hieronyme, quod ex literis meis propensior in

gratias agis,
animus. Sed in te situin est vt sit propensissi-
te factus sit patris
mus, Id fiet si te vere filium esse declares et ex animo rem patris
adiuues. Non mirum si quando cessant operae mercennariae. At
tu dum patrem adiuuas, tuum ipsius agis negocium. Nunc aetas est 5
laborum omnium j^atiens. Ea est rebus honestis exercenda. Quod
datur vacui temporis, hoc impende honestis studiis et euoluendis
bonis autoribus. Fuge consortia nepotum et ociosorum. abdue te
a iuuenilibus voluptatibus, et veris dotibus temet instrue. Quod si
facies, non deerit tibi neque gloria neque pecunia sin secus, et ego : lo
te frustra commendauero patri. et ipse tibi parum bene consulueris.
Sed absit vt hoc eueniat. Confido, mi Hieronyme, te talem futurum
qualem optamus vtrique. Bene vale, et saluta Erasmiolum, puerum,
vt audio, spei optimae.
Brugis prid. assumptae Virginis. An. m.d.xxi. I5

12.27. To RlCHARD Pace.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 538. Bruges.
HN: Lond. xiv. 8 : LB. 589. 23 August 1521.

[The year-date is coufirmed by Henry's book and Wolsey^s euibassy.]

ERAS. ROT. CLARISS. RICARDO PACAEO, DEGANO S. PAVLI

LONDINI, S. D.

De nostris commentariis nihil audio, mi Pacaee quae res grauius :

excruciat animum meum quam quum in litore Douariensi semel

periret vniuei-sa res pecuniaria. Cui debeam hanc imputare iactu-
ram nescio certe tuo animo nec libet imputare nec possum.
;

Librum quem Regia maiestas conscripsit aduersus Lutherum, vidi 5

tantum in manibus Marini, nuncii apostolici. Vehementer aueo

1226. TiT. svo om.H. lo. faciasio>id. 1227. tit. cl akiss. om. H. decano
S. PAVLI LONDINI Oni. H.

1226. I. literismeis] Cf. Ep. 1209. ^n ; fender of the Faith. See also Ep. 1290.
and for a ground of diflference between i^n. On 16 Jan. 1522 Pynson printed
father and son see Ep. 1033. 4711. a new edition with corrections. In
13. Erasmiolum] See Ep. 635. 20U. two Strasburg editions, J. Grieninger,
1227. I. commentariis] Cf. £p. 1210. 9 Aug. and 7 Sept. 1522, Epp. 1219 and
15-19. i228are appended nodoubt reprinted
;

2. Douariensi] Cf. Ep. 119. ^n. from F. For the question of Henry's
5. Librum] Assertio septetn sacramen- authorship see Ep. 1228. i8n and, for ;

torum aduersus Martin. Lii/htrum, Lon- further developments, see Epp. 1307.
don, Pynson, 12 Juiy 1521. later A 4-9, 1308. ^n.
issue lias tliree sheets prefixed, con- vidi tantum] A copy, inscribed
taining the oration delivered by the by the king with Erasmus' name,
English envoy, Clerk i,Ep. 999. ^gon), was sent to him in Aug., but did not
on pre-^enting the book to Leo (Sept. nacli him till Feb. 1522 at Basle see ;

init. cf. Brewer iii. 1574;, and a Papal

; Kp. 1342. 858-65, and cf. Ep. 1246.
Bull of II Oct. 1521 commending the 18-27.
work and conferring the title of De- 6. Marini] Caracciolo see Ep. 865.
:
 566 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

legere. Nec enim dubito quin dignus sit illo longe felicissimo
ingenio, quod mire valet, vbicunque sese intenderit. Olim prodigio-
sae pietatis habebatur et diuorum dignum catalogo, si princeps
10 copiis et armis depulisset hostes a ceruicibus Christianorum. At
Henricus octauus ingenio calamoque propugnat pro Christi sponsa,
satis declarans quid praestaturus sit, si res arma flagitarit. At
interim quod nunc praestat, vt mea sententia multo difficilius est, ita
laudeni solidiorem magisque propriam illi pariet. bellicae rei Nam
15 laudem fortuna partitur in multos, saepenumero multo maximam
partem sibi vindicans. Hic quoniam res omnis animi praesidiis
geritur, quicquid laudis est vni proprie debetur Henrico. Quotquot
colimus aut amamus bonas literas, ingratissimi simus ni tale ingenium
veneremur atque exosculemur, quod miris modis ornat commendatquo
20 studia nostra. Porro confido fore vt hoc pulcherrimum planeque
rarissimum exemplar multos principes prouocet ad aemulationem.
An non pudebit posthac sacerdotes, monachos, episcopos, nihil scire
rei theologicae,quum viderint Regem tantum, iuuenem, tot negociis
districtum, eo progressum in cognitione sacrarum literarum vt libris
25 aeditis periclitanti Christianae religioni patrocinetur ? Nec addubito
quin id aliquanto felicius illi successerit quara nonnullis qui antehac
in eodem stadio vires suas periclitati sunt.
Sed hac de re certiora scribam vbi librum deuoraro cuius legendi :

me mira quaedam tenet auiditas. Nam R. D. Eboracensis pollicitus

30 est se facturum mihi copiam. Vehementer erat molestum quod tu
abesses ab hoc comitatu. Id tulissem moderatius, si vel epistola nos
inuisisses. Memento, mi Pacaee, in cuius locum successeris, et quid
nobis promiseris. Expecto enim vt efficias ne Coletum magnopere
desiderem. Tu maius etiam quiddam es pollicitus. Abunde satis-
35 feceris et meis votis et tuis promissis si per te licebit recipere nugas
quas apud te deposuimus Ferrariae. Bene vale, vir ornatissime.
Brugis X. Cal. Septemb. Anno M.D.xxi.
Marcus Laurinus, decanus apud S. Donatianura, hospes meus, tui
amantissimus, rogauit vt suis verbis tibi multam salutem ascriberem.

12:28. To WiLLiAM Warham.

Basle MS. Ki. Ar. 25. a. 97 (u). Bruges.
F. p. 537 : HN : Lond. xiv. 7 : LB. 590. 23 August 1521.

[The manuscript is contemporary, but inaccurate I cannot identify the :

hand. Against the heading, wliich obviously was not part of Erasmus' compo-
sition, another contemporary hand has written Ad Moguntinum puto and '
'

later 'Ad Capito ', in vain conjecture as to the person addressed. The absence
of heading, and presumably also of dates, in the original shows that this must
have been a rough draft. But the copyisfs bhmder in the heading does not
imply moru than that that part of his original was not autograph the rest may :

15. H : saepenumero, F. 29. R. D. J^ : Cardinalis H.

67n. The meeting is described in de- 966. 24-9, 976. 37-8, 13 13. 72-6, and
tail in Ep. 1342. 848-57. Lond. xxiii. 15, LB. 1038.
24. 00 progressum] For Henry's at- 32. succesaeris] Cf. Ep. 1025. ^n.
tainments in the scholastic theology 36. Ferrariae] Cf. Epp. 11 10. 390,
and philosophy cf. Epp. 964. 119-28, 1224. ^n.
 1228] TO WILLIAM WAEHAM 567
liave been in Erasraus' own hand. In the printed editions two passages are
amplified, one very markedly but it does not seem possible to determine
;

whether these amplifications were made before the dispatch of the letter, or in
the priuting. In the main I have adopted the text of the manuscript discard- ;

ing its speliing, however, which is uncou-th, and introducing into the text the
passages added later.
Like Ep. 1219 this letter is reprinted from F in the Strasburg editions of
Henry vni's Assertio (1. 6), 9 Aug. and 7 Sept. 1522. For possible circulation
of it in ms. or in an unauthorized print see Ep. 1263. i8n. The year-date needs
no confirmation.]

ER.\!?. ROTE. R. P. GVLIHELMO WARAMO, ARCHIEPISCOPO CANTVA.,

TOTIVS ANGLIAE PRIMATI, S. D.

Vbi cognouissem reuerendissimum Cardinalem Brugis cum Caesare

congressurum, eo me contuli quo complures amicos illic et viderem
;

et complecterer, quibus mihi nihil in vita neque charius neque

duleius. Bona quaedam spes habebat animum meum adfuturum et
reuerendum dominum Eoffensem sed ea fefellit. ; ;:;
'
Librum quem Eex Angliae scripsit aduersus Lutherum, vidi, non-
dum tamen accepi tametsi eum saepe promisit reuerendissimus domi-
;

nus El)oracensis. Id suspicor eius negligentia factum cui datum erat

hoc negocium. Quis non exosculetur huiusmodi Principis animum,
qui sic et ornat nostra studia et religionem defendit? Olim summa 10
pietas erat si reges armis tutati fuissent tranquillitatem Christianam.
Hic ingenio calamoque propugnat, satis declarans quid praestiturus
sit si res ^rma j^ostulauerit. Confido fore in hoc pulcherrimum
exemplum, vt et caeteri principes studeant aemulari, Ac tandem,
opinor, pudebit sacerdotes et monachos nihil scire sacrarum literarum, 15
posteaquam viderint tantum Principem in his studiis eo progressum
esse, vt libris etiam aeditis Catholicae religioni ijatrocinetur. Ex
proceribus, praecipue Montioio, certo persuasum habeo librum ipsius
Marte, quod aiunt, confectum esse. Nec dubito quin illo felicissimo
ingenio sit dignissimus, quod mire valet quocunque se intenderit. 20
Qua de re plura scribam, vbi volumen perlegero.

TIT. F (r. P. Om. H. TOTIVS ANGLIAE PRIMATI Om. H) E. R. CVIDAJI EX PRIMATI- :

Bvs a (cviDAM scripsi midam a : i. Reue'!' Cardinalem a

. R. Card. F: Card, :

Ebor. if. 5. Reuercndum dominum a K.D. F: episcopuni if.

: 6. nondum ,

tamen a tantum, nondum F.

: 7. eum a iam F. Reuerendiss.
:

dominus a R. D. F Card. H.
: : 8. Id 9. negoi;ium . add.
. H.
, 9, exoscu-
letur F expostularetur a.
; huiusmodi a eiusmodi F. 10. ornet F.
:

defendat F. 12, propugnat add. F. praestaturus F. 13. postula-

uerint ii'. ina: vt F. 14. vt om. F. 15. et a ac F. 17. etiam :

post Catholicae a om. F. : 18. proceribus praecipue Montioio a (Montioio F:

magnatibus a) procerum praecipue Montioii nan-atione H.
: certo F:
certum a. ao. mire F vnice a. : se a sese F. :

r. Brugis] See p. 551. my .^ge 0/ J?rasmMS, pp, 182-4. Further

5. Roffensem] Cf. Ep. 1263. 18. light is thrown on the question by Mr.
6. Librum] See Ep. 1227. 5n. E. G. Duffs discovei-y (Weshninstcr and
18. Montioio] Forhisintimateknow- London Priniers, 1906, p. 164) that the
ledge of Henry'3 capacity and attain- versos written by Henry with his own
ments see Ep. 1313. 67-83 and Lond. hand in the copy of the Asseriio pre-
xxiii. i5,xxviii. 15, LB. 1038, u6o; and, sented to the Pope, wero chosen out of
for the value of his testimony in such a collection suppliedto him by Wolsey
amatter, Epp. 79, 204, 206 introdd. and (Brewer iii. 1450).
 568 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1521

Video tempestatem esse multo periculosissimam in qua mihi video ;

cursum sic esse moderandum, vt nec Christi negocium deseram

hominibus adulando, nec me frustra in discrimen aliquod coniiciam.
25 Lutherus veluti malum Eridis misit in mundum, cuius nullam
omnino partem non turbatam video. Nemo non fatetur vehementi
quadam medicina fuisse opus Ecclesiae nimium collapsis moribus ;

sed propemodum vsu venire vt pharmacum parum dextre

video
adhibitum morbi vim exacerbarit verius quam expulerit. Atque
30 vtinam verum esset quod inuictus Danorum rex Christiernus mihi
quiddam dicenti respondit— ludens, opinor — leuibus pharmacis
simile ,

remediorum efficacium, vt primum corpus

nihil agi, sed ilkid esse
omne concutiant Ego certe nullum exitum video bonum, nisi
!

Christus ipse nostram temeritatem bene vertat quemadmodum ;

35 ferunt Mineruam Atheniensium SvafiovXiav bene fortunare solitara.

Mihi cui semper placuit tranquillitas, non potest hic orbis tumultus
non esse molestissimus. Accedit his, quod Lutheri negocium, tametsi
longe semotum
est a bonis Hteris, tamen non mediocri inuidia grauat
Id casu quodam sic accidit, quod antequam Lutherus
nostra studia.
40 exoriretur, iamdudum acerrimum belhun esset cum hoc hominum
genere qui nunc potissimum oppugnant Lutherum. Hi sunt monachi
quidam ac theologi ieiunae illi ac perturbatae doctrinae nimium
tribuentes. Ac nunc quidem certatim omnes impetunt Lutherum,
velut olim Hectorem iacentem Graeci. Sed haec Scylla nobis ita
45 vitanda est vt ne deferamur in Charybdim.
Vrgent quidam vt nonnihil seribam in Lutherum. Vbi me extri-
cauero ab his in quibus nunc mire distringor id auteni*fiet breui — —
accingar ad legendos omnes Lutheri libros, et eorum qui scripserunt
aduersus hunc. Neque enim temere res est tentanda, Hoc facto
50 conabor efficere vt nec Pontificis Eomani dignitati nec Christianae

22. video a : sentio H.

23. nec Christi ^P ne Chiistiannm a.
: deseram F
defei*iim a. Lutherus ... 44. Graeci F (36. tumultus F Corrig. stultus F.
25. :

38. est om. N) Lutherus omnia fere scripsit sediciose, id nemo negat, multa preter
:

rem et absurde, quedam parum pie a. 46. extricaro F. 47. mire F iure a. :

49. Neque J': nec a. 50. i^:conabara.

25. veluti malum Eridis] Murner to Ziegler (Ep. 1260), could write of
(see p. 542) mistranslates, als das bosz'
him witli respect, and be proud of
Eridis '. being admitted to his soeiety icf. Epp.
30. Danorum rex] Christiern 11 1263. 21-2, 1342. 78-80, 1381. 25-8)
(2 July 1481—25 Jan. succeeded
issgi) and Spongia, LB. x. 1635 c = HE. 333,
his father in 1513, and on 12 Aug. 1515 § 38). Diirer, too, took his pnrtrait in
married Isabella, Charles' youngest July 1521, and records the admiration
sister, then aged 13, to whom he was of the people of Antwerp, das er ao '

speedily unfaithful. He had just com- ein mannlich schon man war, vnd nur
pleted the conquestof Sweden in 1520, selbtritt durch seiner feind land kom-
with shoclcing barbarity and perfidy ;
men [Tagebuch, ed. F. Leitschuh, 1884,
'

and now, from June to Sept. 1521, was p. 91.19-20). For his intervention at
visiting Charles in the Netherhinds Wittenberg see Ep. 1241. 26n.
(cf. Brewer iii. 1388). In 1523 he was 34. Christus] Cf. Ep. 1205. 22-4.
expolled from Denmark by his sub- 44. Scylla] Cf. Ep. 1205. 25-6.
jects; and beingdefeated in an attempt 46. Vrgentquidam] Cf.Ep. 1213.42^.
to return in 1531-2, he was captured 47. distringor] Cf. Ep. 1205. 16.
and imprisoned for the rest of liis life. 48. legendos omnesl Ep. 1225.258-9.
It is surprising tliat while the blood shuws how little he had yet read.
of the Stockholm massacres was still 49. Neque temere] Cf. Ep. '236.
. . .

fresii upon him, Eiasmus, in contrast 113-17.

 I22 8J TO WILLIAM WARHAM 569

religionis tranquillitati videar defuisse pro mea quidem virili. Nos

hic magnis studiis apparamus bellum in Gallos. Pontifex totus in
veteres amicos irritatus nobis sese adiunxit. Et interim Turca
Hungariam populatur armis.
Precor vt Christus Opti. Max. seruet amplitudinem tuam nobis 55
incolumem. Reliqua cognosces ex reuerendo patre Thoma Halseio,
episcopo Elphinensi, quem semper expertus sum ex animo mihi
fauentem. Brugis. x. Calendas Septemb. Anno M.D. xxi.

1229. To Thomas Lupset.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 534. Bruges.
HN: Lond. xiv. 4: LB. 523. 23 August (1521).

[The year-date added in H lias little or no value ; cf. Epi>. 1220, 1223, 1232,
1239. The mentionof tlie life of Colet, and Erasmus' presence at Bruges (cf.
Ei>. 1230 introd.) clearly indicate 1521.]

ERASMVS ROTEROD. THOMAE LVPSETO SVO S. D.

Vt acerbus mihi fuit rumor de morbo tuo, mi Lupsete, ita vehe-

menter gaudeo te nobis reuiuiscere. Coleti nostri vitam epistola
complexus sum. Si parum graphice videbitur expressus, tibi partim
imputabitur, qui me parum
ad plenum instruxeris viri coloribus
quod quidem nemo melius poterat. Porro quod ad eius viri
te 5
formam velutique praesciiptum vitam instituis, non possum non
vehementer probare, modo delectum adhibeas. Probum quidem
exemplar tibi proponis. Sed in optimis praecipua sunt imitanda, nec
ea tamen nisi accommoda nec enim omnibus omnia congruunt. In
:

illo praecipuum erat, quod synceram Cliristi philosophiam e purissi- 10

mis Euangeliorum haustam fontibus gratis impartiit populo vt non :

absque numine videatur illi contigisse gentile cognomen siquidem ;

Coheleth Hebraeis dicitur concionator, quem Graeci vocant ecclesia-

sten. Eam ad rem si te toto studio contuleris, aut ego plane fallor,
aut Coleto non inferior euades. 15
Caeterum quod illius exemplo tibi coenis in totum interdicis,
equidem non approbo, nec in illo probabam. Quod si sentis corpori
tuo pro vigore aetatis frenis opus esse, mea sententia felicius hoc

1228. 51. Nos ... 55. Precor F: Interim precor a. 56. F cognosce a. Re- :

uerendo patre a: R.F.I). F: om. H. Halseio F : Halhagio a. 58. Brugis

. M.D. XXI add. i^.
. . 1229. nx. svo om. H. 13. LB Coleheth i^. 16. :

coenis F Corrig. : coaeuis F.

1228. 52. beUum in Gallos] Cf. Epp. 58. M.D. xxi] Murner(cf.l.25n)gives
1236. 61-5, 1238. 45n, 1283. 11-13, 1284. 'Tausent fiinff liundert zwei vu zwen-
51-2, 1299 introd.. 1306.55-6; and for tzig '
; doubtless bringing the year-date
its progress see E. Arinstrong, Charles v, into conformity with that of the book
eh. 7. (cf. Ep. 1033 introd.). The year-date
Pontifex] For Leo's alliance with in Ep. 1219^6 omits.
Charles at this time against France see 1229. 2. epistola] Ep. 1211.
Creighton V. 159-61. 4. parum.. . instruxeris] Inresponse
54. Hungariam] SeeBreweriii. 1376, to Ep. 1026. 1-4.
56. Halseio] See Ep. 254 introd. 16. coenis] Cf. Ep. 1211. 309^.
 570 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1521

praestabit moderatus vsus cibi potusque quani multa perpetuaque

20 inedia. Bona continentiae pars est certo aninio velle continere.
Huic si accesserit vehemens et assiduum studium sacrarum literarum,
non erit opus carnificina ieiuniorum quae fortasse premunt luxu- ;

riem iuuentutis, sed ita premunt vt senectuti tradant valetudinem

inualidam, atque ita cohercent corporis calorem vt laedant animi
25 vigorem.
Optimae matri tuae precor Mercurium dextrum ac proiDicium, quae
cum tot monstris linguacissimis sola depuguat sua lingua. Quod si
mihi hic decem essent isti similes propugnatrices, liceret in vtramuis
dormire aurem. Profecto vnam arbitror dignam quae repubescat.
30 Optimo patri multam ex me salutem dicito. Cura vt quam optime
valeas, charissime Lupsete. Saluta Guilhelmos duos pari candore
praeditos, Gonellum et Dancastrum praeterea D. Gerardum, quon- :

dam Coleti oeconomum.

Brugis. X. Calen. Septemb. [Anno m.d.xx.]

1.230. To Thomas Linacre.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 534. Bruges.
HN : Lond. xiv. 3 : LB. 591. 24 August 1521.
[The year-date may be accepted for there is no reason to suppose that Ei'as-
;

mus was at Bruges at this time in any other of the years possible before the
publication of F except 1521.]

ERASMVS ROT. THOMAE LINACRO, SERENISS. ANGLORVM REQIS

MEDICO PRIMARIO, S. D.
NoN sine magno animi dolore audio ex amicis valetudinem tibi
factam incommodiorem homini me hercle digno cum primis quem
:

nec senectus attingat vnquam nec morbus vllus. Sed quando hac
lege nascimur omnes, nec sunt vllo pacto exorabiles Parcae, eniten-
6 dum est vt, qua licet, etiam a fatis ipsi nobis simus superstites.
Porro vt aequioribus animis cedunt e rebus humanis parentes qui
viderint liberos suos ad aliquem vitae statum euectos ita nonniFiil ;

est aeditis vigiliis nostris, interim ceu praegustare quid posteritas de

nobis sit iudicatura. At tu, si mihi permittis vt libere tecum agam,
10 sine fine premis tuas omnium eruditissimas lucubrationes, vt pericu-

1229. 30. patri : H

vitrico F. 32. D. om. H. 34. Anno m.d.xx add, H.
1230. TIT. SERENISS. . PRIMARIO Om. H.
. .

1229. 26. matri] Alice Lupset, f 1545 ;

Gerardum] See Ep. 1027. lon.
buried with her son in St. Alphage's 1230. i. valetudinem] Cf. 1. lon.
church, London Wall. See Gentkmun^ 5. a
fatis] sc. mortui.
Magasine, xlv (1856), p. 119. This premis] Erasmus brought the
10.
somewhat cryptic wish seems to imply same charge against Grocin aiid VVm.
that she was now carrying on her hus- Latimer (Ep. 540. 87-93): with only
band's business. too good reason.
30. patri] Wm. Lupset, goldsmith lucubrationes] Besides his trans-
and citizen of London f 1522. Tlie
;
lations from Proclus^Ep. 118. 23^) and
correction made in H is noticeable. Galen(Epp. 502. i^n, 785. i7n)Linacre
32. Gonellum] See Ep. 274. had as yet published nothing. But he
Dancastrum] See p. 89. was now just completing another
1230] TO THOMAS LINACEE 571

lum sit, ne pro cauto modestoque crudelis habearis, qui studia huius
seculi tam lenta torqueas expectatione tuorum laborum, ac tam diu
fraudes desideratissimo fructu tuorum voluminum. Fortasse terret
te nostrum exempkim. Sed etiam atque etiam vide (ne), dum studio-
sius vitas nostram culpam, in diuersam deflectas. De me quicquid 15
tibi audes polliceri, scito semi^er fore pi'omptissimum. Bene vale,
vir optime idemque doctissime.
Bi'ugis, Natali diui Bartholomei. Anno D xxi. M
1231. To Peter Wychman.
Epistolae ad diuersos p. 665. Bruges.
HN : Lond. xvii. 24 : LB. 612. (c. 29 August) 1521.

[Betweeu 28 Aug. {}. 2) and Erasmus' return to Anderleclit (Ep. 1232). His
host there Ep. 1208. i), throughout his stay, was Peter "Wychman {f 18 Feb.
(cf.

1535)) canon and schoolmaster of St. Peter's church, who succeeded Jacobus of
Bologna in these offices in 1507 see A. Sanderus, Tluatre sacre de Brabant, i
:

(^734') P- 297, quoted in EE. p. 460. Wycliman was helpful to Erasmus in con-
nexion witli a ms. of the New Testament (Ep. 373 introd.). For their further
relations see Ep. 1351. A writer in MSH., 1846, p. 289, describes the house in
which he lived as une sorte de maison de campagne, qui s'appelait " de Zwane "
'

(le Cygne), .tout pres de la nouvelle maison communale

. . and adds that ' ;

the portion occupied by Erasmus liad been puUed down two years before, as it
liad fallen into decay.]

ERASMVS ROT. HONORABILI D. PETRO WIICHMANO, CANONICO

ANDERLACENS., HOSPITI SVO, S. D.
Qvi deploi*are solebas fidem misere labefactatam per Lutheranos,
eidem gratulari debes feliciter reualescenti. In natali diui Augustini
quidam hic concionatus est, vir UpoTi-peirel cultu spectabilis. Is inter
multa quae diuinitus dixit, mire restituit dignitatem quatuor ordi-
num quos vulgo Mendicantium appellant, simulque confessionem ;
^
quorum vtrunque nonnihil videbatur opera Lutheranorum coepisse
labascere.
Dignitatem ordinum sic restituit. Augustinus inquit, fuit fons ' ' '

illein Paradiso, vnde prodierunt quatuor amnes, hoc est quatuor

ordines Mendicantium, sua doctrina sanctisque moribus irrigantes et
foecundantes vniuersam superficiem terrae, hoc est vniuersam Eccle-
"
siam.' Si Christum dixisset fontem, quatuor fluuios quatuor
Euangelia, non omnino fuisset absurda allegoria. Nunc quid
Augustino cum illis ordinibus? Porro quod addebat de irrigando

1230. 15. diuersum N. 1231. irr. iionorabili d. ojh. H.

translation from Galen, De tempera- '

plura maioraque ', to be dedicated to
mends; which Siberch (Ep. 808. a6n) Leo 'vt primum per valetudinem et
printed in 1521 (cf. Ep. 644 introd.). ministerii mei officia licebit '.

The preface, addressed to Leo x and 14. nostrum exemplum] Cf. Epp.
reminding him of their studies to- 1182. 911, 1234. 6-8.
gether (under Politian and Chalcondy- 1231. 5. Mendicantium] Dominicans,
las at Florence see Epp. 428. 34^,
: Fraiiciscans, Carmelites. and Austiu
520. 13 1-3). i^ dated 5 Sept. 1521 and ; Friars.
speaks of Linacre's having in liaud 8. fons ille] Cf. Gen. a. 10-14.
 572 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

15 foecundandoque, complures boni viri optabant esse verum, risere

permulti.
Confessionem ita restituit. Augustinus inquit, scripsit multos
'
'
'

libros De confessione, in quibus confitetur quaedam pene friuola,

veluti quemadmodum aliquando contemplatus sit, non sinc voluptate,
20 araneam venari muscam.' Hoc inquit, arguit nihil esse tam
'
'
'

minutum quin oporteat confiteri.' Primum Augustinus illic vtitur

Confessionis vocabulo, vt est anceps, et ad gratiarum actionem et ad
confessionem culpae. Atque in eo opere plus laudis sibi tribuit quam
agnoscit culpae. Neque confitetur sacerdoti sed Deo. Et tamen ille
25 concionator haec dicens, vulgata voce est vsus, quae populo nihil aliud
declarat quam eam confessionem quam sacramentalem vocant
theologi. Huiusmodiquum multa dicant publicitus apud frequentem
multitudinem, mirantur se non haberi pro diis.
Tertium fortassis ad me pertinebat, qui in Declamatione plus aequo
30 tribuere videor matrimonio. Quidam inquit, damnant coeliba-
' ' '

tum. Imo nisi nos coelibes fuissemus, iam Christiana fides esset
extincta.' Olim nemo fere dicebat pro concione, nisi dispositis
notariis qui sermonem exciperent. Quod si fieret hodie, Deus bone,
quae fabulae nascerentur Qui talia dicunt in celeberrima ciuitate
!

35 Brugensi, quae tot habet eruditos, tot et sine literis felicia sanique
iudicii ingenia, quid censes eos dicere in pagis, quid in conuiuiis?
columnas orthodoxae fidei
Hoc te nescire nolui, ne dicas tibi nihil communicatum eorum quae
hic geruntur ; sed plura coram. Bene vale.
40 Brugis. Anno m.d.xxi.

1232. To NicHOLAS of Hertogenbosch.

Epistolae ad diueisos p. 663. Anderlecht.
HN Lond. xvii. 22 LB. 525.
: .
31 August (1521).

[Between the publication of Tertullian (1. in) and the completion of F so that :

the year-date supplied in H is again wrong. The letter is almost of the nature
of a 'review' of Tertullian. For Nicholas" interest in that author cf. Ep. 1697.
Conrad Pellican states (CPR. p. 78) that at Beatus' request he contributed the
index to Tertullian, as he had done for Erasmus' Cyprian (see p. 23).]

ERASMVS ROT. NICOLAO BVSCIDVCENSI, APVD INCLYTAM

ANTVVERPIAM LVDI LITERARII MODERATORI, S. D.
Omnes beatitates nostrum beent Beatum, qui nobis Tertullianum
dederit, illum sic adamatum a Cypriano, sic laudatum ab Hieronymo.

1232. TiT. APVD . . . s. T>. F : s. H.

1231. 20. araneam] Aug. Conf. 10. ms. (Q. 46) entitled Reportationes : '

35. 57. lohannis de Dombeltone, monachi

26. sacramontalem] auricular, as op- Wygorn., de sermonibusOxonie'. The
posed to public cf. Ep. 1225. irgn.
: printedtext of Luther's Leipzig Dispu-
29. Declamatione] See Ep. 604. lon. tation, 1519 (Ep. 1020. 62n), isdescribed
33. sermonem exciperent] Tlie Wor- as '
a notariis excepta '.
cester Catliedral Library iias a xiv'^ 1232. i. Tertullianuin]BeatusRhena-
1232] TO NICHOLAS OF HERTOGENBOSCH 573

Sed vtinam integrum et emendatum dare potuisset Plurimum !

tamen debemus illius industriae, qui quod licuit praestitit. Mihi

hactenus degustare licuit verius quam legere. Habet ille quidem 5
suum quoddam orationis genus, quod haud scio an eo seculo plausibile
fuerit apud Afros, tametsi nobis subdurum videtur, Id quod non
dissimulauit noster Hieronymus, qui tribuit illi densitatem in sen-
tentiis, sed adiungit difficultatem in eloquendo. Caeterum quis non
admiretur pectus illud semper ardens, tam exactam Scripturarum 10
cognitionem tanque promptam memoriam, idque priscis illis tempori-
bus, quum nulla adhuc esset solennis theologiae professio, nullae
scholae, nullae diatribae, nulli fere saci"orum voluminum interpretes ?
Haec quum contemplor, mi Nicolae, dispudet me nostrorum tem-
porum. 15
Habet tamen hoc viciiquod in Origene damnat Hieronymus
nonnunquam vim facit Scripturis, idque impudentius etiam quam
Origenes. Nam hic plerunque disputat et inquirit, Tertullianus
asseuerat ac pugnat. Huius generis est illud, quod hunc Christi
sermonem, 'Qui dimiserit vxorem et duxerit aliam, moechatur,' sic 20
interpretatur quasi non damnetur diuortium, nisi quum ideo repu-
diatur vxor vt ducatur alia quae magis adblandiatur. Porro quod
egressus sit ab Ecclesia, quanquam excusari nec debet nec potest,
tamen eleuat crimen Hieronymus: 'Hic,' inquiens, quum vsque ad '

mediam aetatem presbyter Ecclesiae permansisset, inuidia postea et 25

contumeUis clericorum Romanae Ecclesiae in Montani dogma de-
lapsus est.' Atque vt misericordia dignus est qui simpliciter errat,
ita omnis haeresis execranda est piis mentibus, quae cum indocili per-
uicacia coniuncta est. Sed tamen vt in venenis aliud alio letalius,
ita in haeresibus alia pestilentior alia. 30
Propius autem abesse videntur a pietate, quae immodico quodam
Euangelici vigoris studio plus exigunt quam oportet. Quales erant
qui semel baptismo lotum adeo volebant abhorrere ab omni turpi-
tudine, vt relapsos in crimen aliquod insigne nunquam reciperent in
contubernium Ecclesiae quo seueritas haec ecclesiasticae censurae
:
35
caeteros deterreret a peccando. Nec enim hos, opinor, iudicabant
excludendos a regno coelorum, quod submouerentur a foribus Eccle-
siae quas frequenter ingrediuntur ii quos Deus secludet a suo con-
;

sortio. Sed poenitentiae remedium, quod alii leniores temporarium

esse patiebantur, illi volebant esse perpetuum, idque putabant con- 40
dueere ad continendum in officio reliquum gregem. quorum A
opinione quam minimum abfuit diuus Augustinus, qui semel lapso
post satisfactionem aperit Ecclesiae ianuam, relapso non aperit, ne
dilutior fieret Ecclesiae disciplina. Sic veteres illi commoti exemplo
verbisque Christi et Apostolorum pudicitiam vbique laudibus vehen- 45

nu3 had just edited his Opera sine . . . tend (BRE. 207). His mss. came from
quorum lectione nuUum diem interinitfebat the nionasteries of Payeriie, s. of the
olini divus Cyprianus . . . (ef. Hier. Vir. Lake of Neuchatel, and Hii'sau (see
53), Basle,.T. Froben, July 1521 the
ill. : Ep. 391 introd.).
'
editio princeps '. 8. Hieronymus] Ep. 58. 10.
3. emendatum] Beatus' prefaco, ad- 16. Hieronymus] adu. RuJ. 3. 27.
dressed to Stanislaus Turzo (p. 599), 20. Qui dimiserit] Matt. 19. 9, Mark
describes the 'prodigiosa codicum de- 10. 11, Lukc 16. 18.
prauatio with which he had to con-
'
24. Hieronymus] Vir. ill. 53.
 574 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [152

tium, digamiam improbabant, virginitatem exigebant quum Paulus :

eum recipi iusserit in Ecclesiae societatem, qui patris vxorem habue-

rat et Christus non exigat a suis coelibatum, sed dicat, Qui potest
;
'

capere, capiat '.

50 His annumero eos qui considerantes quam res sit impia quamque
immanis bellum, simul videntes pacera et concordiam in sacris
literis vbique sic praedicatam, pronunciarunt nullum esse bellum
lieitum inter Christianos. Atque excessus huiusmodi propemodum
excusatur etiam in orthodoxis, quoties aut deterrent a diuersis viciis
55 aut adhortantur ad ea quae procul absunt ab iis quae vitari cupiunt.
Quod facere solent ii qui virgam incuruam, non inflectunt in rectum
statum, sed in diuersam partem incuruant, vt redeat in rectitudinem.
Atque huius formae mihi videntur plerique errores Tertulliani.
Quorundam errores adeo fuere prodigiosi vt ipsos etiam puderet
60 qui profitebantur. Qualis fuit insania verius quam error Simonis et
Menandri, qui se praedicabant summam Dei virtutem. Tum Basi-
lidis cum suo portentoso Abraxa praeterea Nicolaitarum, quibus ;

placebant vxores omnium communes. Addantur his Ophitae, cul-

tores serpentis qui decepit Euam ludaitae, qui ludae proditori lesu ;

65 salutem humani generis ferunt acceptam. Mox euanuerunt Cerinthi

et Valentini somnia. Euanuerunt deliramenta Manichaei. Euanuit
Montanus cum suo Paracleto. Artotyritarum vix nomen quisquam
nouit.
Extiterunt autem haereses pestUentissimae, sed quae nou potue-
70 runt altas radices agere, quod palam pugnarent cum fide Scriptura-
rum quarum ineonuulsam autoritatem magno consensu semper
;

Ecclesiae toto terrarum orbe receperunt. Qualis est eoruni qui

negabant Christo fuisse corpus humanum rursum qui detrahebant ;

animam humanam qui negabant esse vere passum qui negabant

; ;

75 eum natum ex virgine qui dicebant resurrectionem esse peractam ;

resm-gente Christo, nec expectandam aliam mortuorum resurrectio-

nem. Sed nulla maiores excitauit in orbe tumuitus quam Arriano-
rum, quod ea nee portenta palam absurda proferret et, vt erant docti,
Scripturarum testimoniis niti videretur. Pelagianorum, quod ad
80 liberum attinet arbitrium, etiam hodie licet vestigia quaedam depre-
hendere. Sed bona pars omnium haereseon e philosophorum plaeitis
orta videtur. Quo magis mirandum ost quod nunc negant haereticos
reuinci posse sine praesidiis Aristotelicae philosophiae. Nimirum

53. inter FCoirig. : in F, 57. incuiuant F : detorquent i?. 73. detralie-

bant add. H. 77. i^jV- : Arianorum HJ^^.

46. Paulus] I Cor. 5. i, 13, 2 Cor. 2. of the traditional opponents of the

5-8. teaching of St. John. His followers
48. Qui potest] Matt. 19. 12. are often chissed with the Ebionites.
52. nullum . bellumj Cf.Ep.1211.
. . 66. Valentini] The founder of one of
606-7. the leading Gnostic sects, c. a.d. 130.
61. Basilidis] Basilides (ii^A.D.) was 67. Artotyritarum] A sect of the
the founder of one of the Gnostic sects : Montanists, who used bread and cheese
the first principle in whose theory
* '
in celebrating the Eucliarist.
of the universe was named Abrasax or 79. Pelagianorum] Erasmus liimself
Abraxas. was being aceused of Pelagianism just
62. Nicolaitarum] Cf. Ep. 1021.97^. at this time at Wittenberg: cf. Ei).
65. Cerinthi] An Eg)'ptian, i"= one : 1225. 284^.
1232] TO NICHOLAS OF HERTOGENBOSCH 575

aut ea philosoiDhia multum habet sanctimoniae, aut praeclari sunt

ai-tifices qui illa sic norunt vti. Sunt et nunc haereses quaedam 85
scholasticae, de quibus fortasse praestaret non ita pertinaciter conten-
dere vt orbis tumultu misceatur praesertim quum nec magnopere
:

conducant ad bonam vitam, nec officiant gloriae Christi.

Sed est haeresis quaedam, quae quanquam haeresis vocabulum non
mereatur, tamen maximam perniciem adfert vitae mortaHum ac 90
plurimum officit Euangelicae autoritati quum ii qui profitentur ;

philosophiam Christi, qui se gerunt pro summis ducibus ac proceribus

totius populi Christiani, palam tota vita, totis studiis, totis conatibus,
nihil aliud doceant quam ambitionem phisquam theatricam, auariciam
insatiabilem, voluptatum auiditatem inexplebilem, bellorum furias, 95
caeteraque quae sacrae literae detestantur, quae ab ethnicis etiam
philosophis imi^robantur, Non ista loquuntur quidem, sed efficacius
est ista viuere quam loqui.
Quod nuper in colloquio significabas te cogitare de deponenda
tyrannide tua, non probo tuum consilium. Posteaquam productus 100
es in proscenium, peragenda est fabuhie pars quam tibi choragus
iniunxit, Si vir bonus es, vt mihi persuasum est esse te, non tibi
displicebit tua conditio quod videatur humilior, sed hoc nomine
placebit, quod in ea liceat plurimum prodesse reip(ublicae),
Offendunt te temporum horum tumultus. Sed interim quod boni 105
naucleri solent, ventis obsequundandum est donec redierit serenitas ;

neque enim haec tempestas erit diuturna, vti spero. Bene vale,
Nicolae charissime. Ex Anderlaco. prid. Cal. Septembr, [Anno
millesimo quingentesimo vigesimo.]

1233. To WlLLIAM BUDAEUS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 651. Anderlecht.

HN : Lond. xvii. 16: LB. 605. (c. September) 1521.

[I cannot assign a moie precise date to this letter than that it must fall between
Erasmus' return from Bruges at the end of August (p. 552) and his departure to
Basle ahout the end of October (p. 598).
For details of More's family see Ep. 999.]

ERASMVS ROT. GVLIELMO BVDAEO SVO S. D.

CvM proxime Brugis essem in celeberrimo Caesaris comitatu, in

vno saltu multos cepi lepores, vt habet prouerbium, hoc est com-
plures amicos eadem opera salutaui sed imprimis non minus ;

humanum quam magnum, hoc est non minus amandum quam

1232. loi. est Hx est tibi F. 108. Anno . . . 109. vigesimo add. H. 1233.
TiT. svo oni. H.

1232. 99. deponenda] Nicholas' pro- 103. humilior] Thisviewiscombated

posal to resign his schoolmastership by Erasmus in Ep. 237. 71-81 also.
may have been connected with his sub- For encouragement to another school-
sequcntdifficultiesaboutLutheranism ;
master just at this time see Ep. 1234.
cf Ep. 616. i4n. 1233. 2. prouerbium] Cf Adag. 2563.
 576 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

5 R. Card. Eboracensem, quem Regis sui nomine legatione fungentem

Carolus noster plane regia quadam munificentia excepit. Aderant
Cutbertus Tonstallus, Thomas Moms ac Gulielmus Montioius, praeter
alios innumeros quos ideo non commemoro, quod sciam eos tibi
;

adhue incognitos. Thomas Morus magnam spem animo conceperat

10 vt Caleti in Gallica legatione te complecteretur. Cardinalis aduentus
hoc nomine mihi fuit iucundior, quod sperabam fore vt tumultus hii
qui inter summates orbis principes magno generis humani periculo
vertuntur, huius prudentia atque autoritate componerentur. Verum
vt nunc res habent, non video quid sperem, nisi ^eos ns clTro [jL-)]xavrj^
15 </)ao-t nostra consilia vertat in melius. Sed hi regum motus non
dirimunt Musarum foedera.
Sunt quorum rationibus conducit non optime conuenire Caesari et
Galliarum Regi. Hii dissidii seminarium subiiciunt arte nimirum
tyrannica, vt dum nos mutuis dissensionibus opes nostras attenua-
20 mus, ipsi suam stabiliant tyrannidem. - "Diuinas, opinor, quos sen-
tiam. Vtinam hoc prouideant vtrique principes, ne post emittant
vocem illam serae prudentiae nimioque emptae, Non putaram * '

Est quod Moro gratuleris. Nam Rex hunc nec ambientem nec
flagitantem munere magnifico honestauit, addito salario nequa-
25'quam poenitendo. Est enim Principi suo a thesauris. Ea functio
apud Britannos, vt est splendida cum primis atque honorifica, ita
non admodum est obnoxia nec inuidiae nec molestis negociis.
Erat competitor, homo sat gratiosus, qui sic ambiebat hoc muneris
vt non grauaretur suo victu ciboque gerere. At Rex optimus
30 hic certissimum in Morum fauoris argumentum dedit, qui non
ambienti salarium etiam addere maluerit quam gratuitum magistra-
tum admittere. Nec hoc contentus Princeps benignissimus equitis
aurati dignitatem adiecit. Neque dubitandum est quin illum sit
amplioribus ornamentis aliquando cumulaturus, quum sese offeret
35 occasio siquidem coelibes euehere longe procliuius est principibus.
:

At Morus sic est admixtus ordini coniugum vt nec vxoris obitu sit
emancipandus. Priorem enim quam virginem duxei'at extulit, et
hanc viduus viduam duxit.
Sed hunc Principis animum hoc niagis gratulor Moro, quod quic-
40 quid huic accesserit vel autoritatis vel gratiae, id existimem bonis
studiis accedere quibus ille sic fauet vt, si pares essent animo facul-
:

tates, non deesset apud Britannos felieibus ingeniis candidus ac

benignus Moeeenas. Solent aulae principum idem facere quod

5. R. F reuerendum H.
: 1 1. hii F Lond. : hi N'^ : ii LB. i8. Hii FN^ : Hi HN^.
19. H : dissentionibus i^.

7. Morus] In vvriting to theSignoria 1520 (Ep. 1106. 93^) : see T. Stapleton,

from Bruges, 19 Aug. 1521, Gasparo Tres Thomae, 1588, Vita Mori, pp. 67,
Contarini mentions that he had in- 207.
vited to dine with him vno caualier '
Gallica legatione] It entered
Englese molto litterato, che se chiama Calais on Sunday, 4 Aug. 1521 : see
messer Thoma Moro (Brown iii. 302).
' Brewer iii. 1462, 1467. But Budaeus
Vives, too, met More at Bruges on this was not a member of it.
visit see his preface to the Dedamatio
: 18. Hii] Evidently the friars cf. :

qua Quintiliano respondet, in his Ope^-a, Epp. 998. 59^, 1215. 8.

Basle, 1555, i. 252. 22. Non putaram] Cf. Ep. 1161. i^n.
10. Caleti] As they had met at the 25. a thesauris] Cf. Ep. 1210. lon.
Fiekl of the Cloth of Gold in June 28. competitor] I have no chie.
 1233] TO WILLIAM BUDAEUS 577

medici, qui corpus sibi traditum primum inaniunt, mox implent ac

vegetant nec dubito quin Moro nostro simile quippiam acciderit 45
:

hactenus. Quid tibi venerit vsu, tute melius nosti. Et tamen illius
benignitateni senserunt ingenia, quum adeo non abundaret illi quod
largiretur, vt aere grauaretur alieno.
Nec hac parte sokim ornat studia, quod ipse doctissimus candide
fauet doctis omnibus, verumetiam quod vniuersam familiam hone- 5°
stissimis literarum studiis excolendam curat, nouo quidem hactenus
exemplo, sed quod breui plures, nisi fallor, sint imitaturi adeo :

feliciter succedit. Habet fiHas treis. quarum maxima natu, Mar-

gai'eta, iam nupta est iuueni, primum beato, deinde moribus integer-
rimis ac modestissimis, postremo non alieno a nostris studiis. Omnes 55
a teneris annis curauit imbuendas primum castis ac sanctis moribus,
deinde politioribus literis. Filiabus tribus quartam adiunxit puellam,
quam benignitatis gratia ah"t, vt ilhs sit sodaHs. Habet priuignam
mira forma raroque ingenio puellam, annos iam aliquot nuptam
iuueni non indocto, sed cuius moribus nihil sit magis aureum. Habet 6o
fihum ex vxore priore, natum annos pkis minus tredecim, ex liberis
natu minimum.
Ante annum visum est Moro mihi specimen aliquod exhibere,
quantum in literis profecissent. lussit vt omnes ad me scriberent,
^ et quidem suo quisque Marte. Nec argumentum est suppeditatum, 65
'
nec in sermone quicquam est correctum. Etenim cum ilH schedas
obtuHssent patri castigandas, iUe velut offensus incommoda scriptura
iussit vt eadem accuratius ac purius describerent. Id vbi factum est,
ne syHaba quidem mutata Hteras obsignatas ad me misit. Crede
mihi, Budaee, nihil aeque sum admiratus. In sensibus nihil erat 7°
ineptum aut pueHare sermo talis vt sentires esse quotidie proficien-
;

tium. Hunc chorum amabilem vna cum sponsis duobus donii habet.
NuUam iUic videbis ociosam, nullam ineptiis muliebribus occupatam.
IlHs T. Liuius est in manibus. Nam eo progressae sunt vt autores
huiusmodi legant et inteUigant citra interpretem, nisi si quod incidat 75
verbum quod me quoque fortassis aut mei similem fuerat remora-
turum.
Vxor ingenio magis ac rerum vsu quam eruditione valens, mira
moderatur omne coHegium, ipyodLoWrov cuiuspiam vicibus
dexteritate
fungens, pensum cuique praescribens atque exlgens, neque sinens 80
cessare quenquam nec friuoHs occupari.
Soles in Hteris tuis subinde queri quod tua causa male audiret
philologia, quae tibi duo mala conciHasset, valetudinis ac rei fami-

57. puellam] Margaret Giggs; see 74. Liuius] For a recent edition, a
Ep. 999. i74n. copy of which Erasmus might have
58. priuignam] Alice, married to Sir given to More, see Ep. 919.
Gyles Alington seo her letter to Mar-
; 79. <p7o5ia)KTou]TheSeptuagintword;
garet Roper, 17 Aug. 1534, printed in translated 'overseer' or 'taskmaster'.
More's English Workes, 1557, p. 1433. But Erasmus took the word IVom
61. tredecim] On this calculation Origen who uses it of Amljrose (pref.
John More was born 1508. But
c. to vol. v of John Evang. : Migne iv.
Erasmus' memory for tigures was weak col. 185) see Erasmus' note on Jerome,
;

cf. Ep. 1098 introd. Ep. 60. i (vol. i, p. 28, in his edition of
72. sponsis] Apparently Roper Wm. 1524: not in 1516;.
and either Wm.
Daunce or Giles 82. in literis] Cf. Epp. 435. 57-8,
Heron ; cf. Ep. 999. 174^, I75nn, 187^. 100-133, 583. 95-115.
152-4 P p
 578 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

liaris dispendium. At Morus hoc agit vt omnibus nominibus et apud

85 omnes bene audiat, hoc literis debere se praedicans, quod prosperiore
sit valetudine, quod optimo Principi, quod suis et exteris charus et
gratiosus, quod re lautiore, quod sibi, quod amicis iucundior, quod
quod cognatis et affinibus vtilior, quod ad aulae commercium,
patriae,
quod ad procerum conuictum. quod ad omnem vitae consuetudinem
90 accommodatior, denique quod superis gratior. Primum male audie-
bant studia, quod sensum communem adimerent addicto cultori.
Nulla est profectio, nulla negocia tam multa, tam ardua, quae libellos
Moro de manibus excutiant et tamen vix alium reperies qui magis
;

sit omnibus omnium horarum homo, qui ad obsequium facilior, ad

95 congressus magis obuius, in colloquio magis alacer, quique tantum
verae prudentiae cum tanta morum suauitate coniunxerit. Quibus
rebus factum est vt quum ante paucos dies literarum amor ad omne
vitae vel praesidium vel ornamentum liaberetur inutilis, nunc nemo
pene sit magnatum qui liberos vt maiorum imaginibus dignos
100 agnoscat, nisi bonis literis eruditos. Quin et monarchis ipsis bona
regalium decorum pars abesse videtur, in quibus literarum peritia
desideretur.
lam neminem mortalium non habebat haec persuasio, sexui
fere
foeminino ad castitatem et ad famam esse inutiles. Nec
literas et
105 ipse quondam prorsus ab hac abhorrui sententia verum hanc mihi :

Morus penitus excussit animo. Etenim quum duabus rebus potis-

simum periclitetur puellaruni castitas, ocio ac lasciuis lusibus, ab
horum vtroque literarum arcet amor. Nec alia res melius tuetur ,

famam integram quam mores incontaminati necvllae fii-mius castae ;

iio sunt quam quae iudicio castae sunt. Neque vero improbo consiHum
eorum qui manuariis operis prospiciunt pudicitiae filiarum. Verum
nulla res sic totum puellae pectus occupat vt studium. Atque hinc
praeter hoc fructus quod animus ab ocio pernicioso prohibetur,
hauriuntur optima praecepta, quae mentem ad virtutem et instituant
115 et infiamment. Multis simplicitas et rerum inscitia pudicitiae iactu-
ram attulit, pi'iusquam scirent quibus rebus tantus thesaurus peri-
clitaretur. Neque video cur maritis sit metuendum ne minus
habeant morigeras, si doctas habeant nisi si qui tales sint vt ea
;

velint exigere ab vxoribus quae non sint exigenda a probis matronis.

120 Imo mea sententia nihil est intractabilius inscitia. Certe hoc prae-
stat animus cultura studiorum exercitatus, vt intelligat aequas pro-
basque rationes, videatque quid deceat, quid expediat. Atqui prope-
modum persuasit qui rem docuit. Ad haec quum iucunditas firmi-
tasque coniugii magis ab animorum beneuolentia quam corporum

112. hincff: hic i^. 119. sintP: sunt If.

99. magnatum] Cf. Ep. 1220. 44-8. Ep. 1225. 266-8.

A very different account of the attitude 103. sexui foeminino] With this com-
of the '
generosi ' in England is given niendation of the education of women
by Pace in the preface to his BeFnictu, may be compared the Colloquy, Abbatis
pp. 15-16: studia literarum rustico-
' e< erwditae, first published in the Froben

rum filiis sunt relinquenda'. edition of March 1524. More's daugh-

100. monarchis] Such as Maximilian ters and Pirckheimer's sisters and
with his excursions into literature or ;
Margaret Blaurer are there selected
Henry viii with his Assertio (Ep. 1227. for praise. See also my Age o/Frasinus,
5n), which had just appeared. Cf. 1914) PP- 196-9.
1233] TO WILLIAM BUDAEUS 579

amoi-e proficiscatur, multo tenacioribus vinculis iunguntur, quos 125

ingeniorum quoque charitas copulat. Magisque veretur maritum
vxor quem agnoscit et praeceptorem. Nec ideo minus habebit
pietatis, quia minus habet superstitionis. Equidem malo talentum
auri puri quam tria talenta multo phnnbo scoriaque viciata.
Audimus passim alias muHerculas sic a concione redeuntes, vt 130
praedicent mirifice fuisse concionatum qui dixit ac vuUum hominis ;

graphice depingunt. Caeterum neque quid dixerit neque quale sit quod
dixit recensere possunt. Hae tibi totam pene concionem ordine refe-
runt, non sine delectu si quid stulte, si quid impie, si quid extra rem
:

effutiit ecclesiastes —
quemadmodum hodie non raro fieri videmus 135 — ,

id norunt vel ridere vel negligere vel detestari. Atque hoc demum
est audire sacras conciones. Cum huiusmodi demum vere iucundum
est conuiuere. (Pku-imum enim ab istis dissentio qui coniuges non
in alium vsum nabent quam ad obsequium vokiptatis, quam ad rem
magis appositae sunt semifatuae. Pectus habeat oportet, quae fami- H'^
liam contineat in officio, quae Hberorum mores fingat ac formet, quae
marito per omnia satisfaciat. Caeterum cum proximo coUoquio
illud obiecissem Moro, [quod] si quid humanitus accideret, fore vt
grauius discruciaretur earum desiderio, in quibus instituendis tantum
insumpsisset operae respondit incontanter, Si quid acciderit quod 145
;
'

vitari non potest, makm eas mori doctas quam indoctas Moxque '.

mihi venit in mentem Phocyonis, ni fallor, apophthegma, cui bibi-

turo cicutam cum vxor acclamaret, Mi vir, innocens morieris ' '

Quid inquit, ais, vxor ? An me malles nocentem mori?

'
' ' '

Interim illa cogitatio subiit animum meum, vt vos duos ceu duces 150
quosdam eximios in hoc laudis genere componam, veluti si quis
Camilkim committat cum Scipione Africano. Tu et pkiribus annis
et iniquiore seculo cum Hterarum hostibus es confiictatus, hoc ce-te
calculo Moro superior. Caeterum quod tu in fikis tantum ac fratribus
ausus es moHri, hoc iHe non dubitat et in vxoribus et in fiHabus 155
facere, fortiter contempta noui exenipH inuidia. Quo nomine vicis-
sim ille te praecelHt. Tu rursuni Hbris aeditis vtriusque Hteraturae
prouentum magis auxisti quam iHe copiosius etiam, vti nobis poHi-
;

eemur, in posterum aucturus, si modo coeperis opes tuas e scriniis

depromptas in populum elargiri. Quanquam et a Moro magnum ifio

aHquid expectat iuuentus, quod iHe muHum adhuc absit a senectute,

et patrem habet non minorem, arbitror, annis octoginta, mire virenti
senectute, vt vix aHum reperias qui beHius gestet aetatem. Vnde
Hcet et Moro longaeuitatem ominari. Video qua in re pku-imum
adiumenti possis adferre Graecanicis studiis, nimirum si copiosissimo 165
Lexico nobis non tantum recenseas vocabuLi, verumetiam idiomata et

140. magis f Con((/. : nugis J". i49- ais H : agis i'.

133. Hac] More's daughters. Budaeus did not overlook this sugges-
162. octoginta] But cf. Ep. 999. 6111 tion. Besides tlie assistance which he
and, lor a like estimate, Ep. 121 1. 538-9. gave toDumaine Ep. i46on),hehimself
166. Lexico] For the demand for produced Commentarii liiujnae Graccae,
Greek lexicons time see the
at this Paris, Badius, Sept.1529. These, which
preface contributed by Erasmus (Ep. served as the modcl for Dolefs simiLir
1460; for Froben's. Despite the im- work in Latin, Lyons, S. Gryphius,
mensityofthe task(cf.Ep. 1325. 46-53) 1536-8, consist of interpretations of
P p 2
 580 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1521

Graeci sermonis tropos non quibuslibet notos et obuios explices. Est

quidem, fateor, hoc argumentum humilius et infra tuam dignitatem ;

sed arbitror esse boni viri publicae vtilitatis gratia semet aliquo
170 vsque demittere quod a sapiente suo exigit Plato.
;

L Aleander iam diu apud nos est. sed huius hactenus nobis maligna
fuit copia, quod sategerit in hoc Lutherano negocio in quo sane :

fortem ac strennuum virum se praebuit. Hoc vbi defunctus erit,

imo quia iam prope defunctus est, licebit aliquoties hominis consue-
175 tudine frui, non minus amoena quam erudita. Viues in stadio lite-
rario non minus feliciter quam gnauiter decertat et, si satis ingenium ;

hominis noui, non conquiescet donec omnes a tergo reliquerit. Amo

vos omnes quod Brixium vestro consilio viceritis, et illum amo quod
se amicorum iudiciis perraiserit. Morus adeo nihil molietur "hostile,
180 vt ne meminerit quidem superioris conflictatiunculae. Valde mihi
placuit quod ad exemplum tuum sese bilinguibus epistolis exercet
nec dubito quin illi sit successurum quod tu sane iuueniliter sed feli-
cissime primus es ausus, et apud Gallos et hoc seculo. Eius literis
non minus humanis quam eruditis respondebo, si quid dabitur oeii.
185 Haec scripsimus ex rure Anderlacensi, quando tuo exemplo pro-
uocati coepimus et ipsi rusticari sed vtinam liceat et tuo exemplo ;

aedificare Vtcunque habet. sic mihi successit haec rusticatio vt

!

posthac singulis annis eam sim repetiturus, Bene vale,

Anno M,D,xxr.

1234. TO JOHN SCHUDELINUS.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 536. Anderleclit.
HN Lond, xiv, 6 LB, 592.
: : 4 September 1521,
[The year-date may be taken as confirmecl by Erasmiis' residence at Ander-

170. sapienti fl". 174. est add. H. 176. et F : at H. 189. AnnoarW, ^V.
M.D,xxr add. H.

words.with examples. and are arranged 171. Aleander] He

had been in Brus-
partly by subjects and partly by roots, sels since 1 1 July, except for a visit to
though with an alphabetical index, Bruges (cf. p, 551), from wh^ch he re-
But at the end of his life (+ 1540) he turned on 2 Sept. see Balan, pp. 273.
:

was collecting materials for a Greek 283, 285. ForErasmus' attitude towards
dictionary, of words and phrases. liim at this time cf, Ep. 1195. 47^.
These seem to have passed through the 174, licebit] This implies that the
hands of his pupil. J. Tusanus (+ 1547 : interview at Brussels on 6 Oct, (see
Ep. 810. 45011) whose i>upil published
; p. 591) had not yet taken place.
posthumously an alphabetical Lexicon 175. Viues] He was now engaged
Graeco-Latinum, Pnris, C Gmllard. 1552, with Augustine, Ciu. Dei for wliich ;

under Tusanus' name. Before long an Erasmus wrote a preface (Ep. 1309).
almost identical Lexicon appeared at 178. viceritis] in persuading him
Geneva, J. Crispinus, 1554, with Bu- not to cany the quarrel with More
daeus' name on the title-page. The further :see Epp. 1045, -1087, 1093,
editor, Claudius Baduellus. late Rector 1096, 1117,
of the College of Arts at Nimes (1491- 181. oxercet] sc. Brixius.
1561 see a life byM. J. Gaufres, 1880),
: 183. literis] Not extant.
states in his preface that he had re- 186. rusticari] Cf. Ep. 1208, in,
ceived Budaeus' notes from his son, 187. aedificare] See Ep. 435. 136^.
John. But the additions seem to be 188. repetiturus] Perliaps another
few so that the book is little more
; indication of Erasmus' intention of
than a reprint of the Paris vohime. returning to Brabant after his visit
170. Plato] l\ep. 7. 519. to Basle see Ep. 1209. ^n.
:
12 34] TO JOHN SCHUDELINUS 581

lecht. Of Schudelinus I have not succeeded in discovering anything, By April

1525 the Lateinischer Schuolmaister' or ludi moderator' of Memniingen was
' '

:i magister Paulus ', who was executed for complicity in the Peasants' Revolt
'

see F. L. Baumann, Quellen zur Gesch. d. Bav.ernkritgs in Oberschicaben, 1876, pp. 100,
370-1, 693-4.]

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS lOANNI SCHVDELINO, LITERATORI

MEMINGIENSI, S. D.

Gabriel Stendelinvs, homo mihi multis nominibus charus, facile

effecit vt boni consulerem quod ignotus me tuis literis interpellaris.
Plus ille potuit ajDud Erasmum, nimirum vt, occupatissimus licet, si
non eum
a quo sic esset ad amicitiam
rescriberet, certe resalutaret
prouocatus. Quod isthic, vt ais, tantum tribuitur meis lucubrationi- 5
bus, si vera praedicas, gaudeo meas vigiHas bonis aliquot addere
calcar ad studium posteaquam adeo multos ad odium
vitae melioris,
mei prouocarunt. Tu
mi loannes, vt gnauiter incumbas in pro-
fac,
uinciam quam hactenus magna cum laude diceris obire. Neque
jjerinde studio tibi sit digladiari cum veteris inscitiae hyperaspistis, 10
atque vt rudi docilique aetati melioris eruditionis ingenuaeque pietatis
seminarium infundas. Si principes non admittunt sana consilia, si
Ecclesiae proceres autoramenta mundi praeferunt Christi praemiis, si
theologi monachique iam diu nimis adamatam synagogam non possunt
relinquere, si populus a consuetis non potest auelli, superest tamen 15
haec vna via, quae spem bonam faciat fore vt niundus aliquando sese
referat ad frugem meliorem, si vinum nouum in vtres nouos indatur.
Emerget olim haec seges, ac vel citra certamen opprimet hos non
minus indoctos quam indociles. Recte instituendis pueris et in
lucem aedendis veterum scriptis, paulatim euanescet istorum irreli- 20
giosa religio et illiteratae literae, Hac igitur grassare ac bene vale.
Anderlaci prid. Non. Seplemb. Anno M,D,xxi,

1235j245 To Peter Barbirius.

Epistolae ad diuersos p, 665. Anderleclit.

HN : Lond. xvii. 23 : LB. 593. 23 September 1521.

[As in Epp. 1216, 1225, Erasmus again communicates to Barbirius the sub-
stance of one of his Apologiae that de loco Omnes quidern resurgemus' <i Cor, 15.
:
'

51), which is an amplification of his note on that verse in the 1519 edition of the
New Testament. The Apologia appeared first in the Basle volume of Feb. 1522
(p. 622), with the description on the title-page, 'quae recens ab autore profecta
nunc primum omnium in lucem prodiit '. To this self-justification Erasnnis
seems to have been moved by advice from Barbirius which he found not alto-
gether welcome cf. Ep. 1245. 54-6.
:

The year-date of this letter is sufiSciently corroborated by the mention of the

printing of the reply to Stunica and of the third edition of the New Testament,
whieh was completed iii Feb. 1522.]

I. Stendelinus] A letter to Corn. friend of the writer : Agr. E., }>. 969,
Agrippa from Aldenburg
(Ep. 711. 14, synagogam] sc. compntationem
i8n), II Feb. 1531, describes liim as cf. Epp. 1033. 21-2, 1225. 350-5.
'compater' to Agrippa and a close 19. instituendis] Cf. Ep. 1232. lo^n.
 582 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

EEASMVS EOTERODAMVS PETRO BARBIEIO S, D.

AvRVLA quaedam bonae spei nobis hic afFulsit, fore vt aliquando te

ad nos recipias quae vtinam nos non fallat
: De pensione vtinam !

tam feliciter peragas negocium quam agis lente loannes Canius sui !

similis esse perseuerat.

5 Ille noster —
cui vtinam non esset tam niger animus quam est candi-
dum pallium ! —seipsum quotidie superat iamque homo tam furit
;

palam vt nulli sit tolerandus. Vt enim omittam ah'a permulta, nuper

in professione publica, quum ventum esset ad eum locum, Omnes
quidem dormiemus, sed non omnes immutabimur Hic inquit, ;
' '

10 Erasmus adfert haeresim

'
ponit enim contradictoriam eius quod
;

seruat Ecclesia '. Primum, vt demus. id quod est secus, haereticam

esse lectionem quam habent omnes libri Graeci, hic adeo consentien-
tes vt nusquam magis non ego adfero haeresim qui verto tantum,
:

nihilo profecto magis quam adferebat Hieronymus, quum verteret

15 libros Trept apxon' Origenis. Nunc cum in Annotationibus doceam et
olim duplicem fuisse lectionem, quod declarat et Hieronymvis et is
cuius extant commentarioli in omnes epistolas Pauli, cum Thomas
vtranque lectionem recensens sci-ibat in ea iectione quam Graeci
sequuntur non esse sensum haereticum, non puduit senem iUum
20 theologum et Carmelitam tam rabiosam vocem emittere in ordinaria
lectione et theologica, perinde quasi stipitibus loqueretur. non homi-
nibus. Non dignatur legere quod scripsimus, et tamen non pudet
pronunciare de re incognita. Tantum audierat fortassis inter pocula
quid ego vertissem. Et hic se credit videri dialecticum, quod memi-
25 nerit contradictoriae. Atqui dispicere debebat non quid verba prima
fronte sonarent, sed quomodo essent accipienda et ad quas personas
accommodanda. Postremo, vt anceps sit lectio, non periclitatur
tamen Ecclesia, etiam si quid ignoret de modo resurrectionis veluti :

an omnes sint morituri, quum de temporis modo noluerit nos scire

30 Christus. Qualis est in lectione, talis est in scholis, adeo vt multos
alienet a studio sacrae theologiae suis morosis moribus. Vtinam
rediret R. D. Dertusensis et huius impotentiae modum imponeret
Stunicae respondimus ; liber nunc excuditur Louanii. Scriptio
illius etiam Aleandro displicuit, cum in initio nonnihil arrisisset.

28. velnt H. 32. R. D. F: Card. H.

2.recipiasl Cf. Ep. 1114. 311. points, some of -«111011 are reproduced
pensione] See Ep. 436. ^n and, ; in this letter.
for the arrangements now in progress, 16. is cuius] Since Marianus Vic-
Epp. 1094, 1245. torius, who edited Jeronie 1564-72, the
3. Canius] de Hondt see Epp. 751,
; author of these commentaries has been
913. It appears that he was again recognized as some unknown Pelagian.
behindhand with his payments. Erasmus regarded them as orthodox,
5. Ille noster] Egmondanus; see Ep. but not by Jerome; cf. vol. i, 1°. 7* v°,
878. i3n, and cf. Ejjp. 1196. 115, 554, of his 1516 edition. In consequence
1225. i57n. they are only printed there towards
candidum pallium] Cf. Ep. 1144. the end of vol. ix, If. 131-90. See
28n. F. Klasen in Theol. Quarlalschrift, Ixvii
15. in Annotationibus] The double (1885), pp. 249,50.
readingis indicatedin the 1516 edition 32. Dertusensis] See Ep. 1153. 149^.
of the New Testament but in 1519
; 33. Stunicae] See App. 15 ; and cf.
thft note is enlarged with further Ep. 1277. 2n.
1235] TO PETEK BARBIEIUS 583

Nos eius operae, ne dolo dicam, poenitet. Nouum Testamentum a 35

me non credendis laboribus castigatum et auctum tertio excuditur
Basileae. Sed quando finis harum tragoediarum ? Vt nihil aliud,
certe interim peritilia serenitas Christianae mentis ; etvulgus studio-
sorum alienatur a sacris literis. Tu cura vt recte valeas : alioqui
mortuum, quod Deus auertat. iniuriae reum peragam quando non 4» ;

nisi magno meo damno mori potes.

Ex Anderlaco nono Calend. Octobr. Anno m.d.xxi.

12131236. To Paul Bombasius.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 647. Anderlecht.
HN : Lond. xvii. 14 : LB. 594. 23 September 1521.

[The year-date is amply confirmed by tlie contents. This letter is referred to

in Ep. 1260. 196-9.]

ERASMVS ROTEEODAMVS ERVDITISSIMO PAVLO BOMBASIO S. D.

QviD ego audio, mi Bombasi? Leo Pont. Max., maximusille Leo,

legit eas literas quas ad te sic neglectim ac familiariter scripseram ?
Quid illi venit in mentem vt talibus nugis mentem et oculos admoueat?
Nec legit modo verumetiam repetitas viris eruditis ostendit ? Nec
istas tantum legit quas tibi scripseram, verumetiam quas aliis ami- 5
culis? Ego vero in talium amicorum sinum omnia libere secureque
soleo deponere, quicquid fuerit vel curarum vel nugarum. Occidi si
vera praedicas, praesertim quum ipse nesciam quid in huiusmodi
literis garrierim. Quod tibi visus sum in eis plus satis verborum
fecisse de N., non putabam mihi dispiciendum quid tali scriberem 10
amico. Certe in literis quas ipsi Pontifici scripseram, ne verbo qui-
dem illius facta est mentio. Alioqui si rem vt habet nosses, diceres
me satis parce de illo questum esse. Sed tamen hic quicquid est
mali, KaKoyAwo-crots quibusdam imputo, qui miris technis studuerant
vtriusque animum ab altero alienare. Nec me fefellit conatusscelera- 15
tissimus sed sero sensimus vtrique.
;

Quod tantas opes tibi pararis Romae, easque liberas, nec sacris
obnoxias, nec alii cuiquam quam tuae industriae acceptas ferendas,
tametsi tua virtus longe maiora promerebatur, tamen vt nunc sunt
tempora, gratulor tibi felicitatem istam, qui grauissimum illud onus 20
paupertatem excusseris. Nunc video te circunspectare vitae genus
liberum ac tranquillum, ad quod te vehit in portum aliquem tutum
et quietum recipias. Atqui nonnihil vereor ne tibi veniat vsu quod
de mustela narrat Horatius, cui nou licuit exire pastam, cum macra
repsisset in cameram frumentariam et tamen adnitendum censeo.
;
25
Sed vbi potius id speres quam Komae ? Nam Bononiam omnibus

1235. 35. operae FCorriy.: opere F. 1236. i. mi om. H.

1235. 35. Nouum Testamentum] See 1 1. literis] Ep. 1143 ; or cf. Ep. 1213.
Ep. 1174. i5n. 27n.
1230. 10. N.] Aleander, 24. Horatius] Cf. Epp. i. 7. 29-33.
 584 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1521

modis fugiendam eenseo, vel ob spartum arrosuros. Quanquam

tibi
scis Scipioni Carteromacho nostro ne Roniae quidem contigisse liber-
tatem, quam vir ille sic adamabat vt nemo magis.
30 Nos quanquam infra censum tuum sumus, tamen desiimus de
Mercurio queri. Est vnde suppetat mundus victus. Est vnde non-
nunquam et aureolus decidi possit egenti amico tantum abest vt :

cuiquam cogar esse grauis. Honores non ambio, praesertim tanti

venales. Si gratis aut certe non magno impendio contigissent, et si
35 contigissent in tempore, non censuerim omnino reiiciendos, vel ob hoc
ipsum quod, vt nihil aliud, certe ilkid praestant, ne quorumlibet
improborum contemptui simus obnoxii. Qua quidem in re, sicut in
caeteris omnibus, plus vidit Morus quam ego. Nam is eques auratus
Regi optimo et a consiliis est et a thesauris quorum vtrunque et ;

40 liberurn est satis et honorificum imprimis, vt iam et bonis factus sit

amabilior et improbis formidabilior. Nam ea sunt tempora vt ne
tam insignis quidem naturae bonitas, tam inaudita morum suauitas,
possit omnem effugere inuidiam.
Epistolam quam Basileam miseras recepi. Cornelius quem tibi et
45 Aleandro, ni fallor, commendaram, Alexandriae a Gallorum praesidiis
spoliatus est et literis et pecuniis et vestibus. Mox nudus coniectus
in carcerem. Tandem data optio vtrum vellet abire nudus an
pendere. Sic ille lineo duntaxat indusio tectus Basileam peruenit.
Illic dies aliquot refocillatus, teetus est veste Germanica, additus
50 aureolUs ad viaticum. Hoc ornatu ad nos venit, rursus instruendus
viatico. Aiebat te simul et R. D. Card. Campegium seripsisse. Si
quid erat seriae rei, non grauaberis eadem de re denuo scribere,
Hispanus ille de quo scribis,Iacobus Stunica est, qui in primam Noui
Testamenti aeditionem gloriosissimo libello debacchatus est. Prima
55 facie miris fumis sese ostentat. Vbi propius contemplatus sis,
nebulas meras esse dixeris. Ei respondimus Apologia laconica.
Cuius operae sane nos iam poenitet nam opus est eius generis vt et
;

Aleandro displiceat, nec meae famae fuerit offecturum, duntaxat apud

aequos et eruditos. Et tamen respondimus non sohim breuiter sed
60 etiam ciuiHter non quod ille mereretur, sed quod nos hactenus
:

defensam moderationis laudem noluerimus amittere.

Neque nescio, neque non memini, mi Bombasi, quantum debeam
Leonis in me animo, iam argumentis eomijluribus mihi comperto.
Nec in huius causa tam sihii quam tu credis. Primum adnisus sum
28. F Lond. : Cateromacho A'^ 51. R. D. oni. H.

27. spartum] Cf. Plin. N. H. 35, 11. doubtless considered himself responsi-
137, with the story of a man weaving ble,and whom he may have sent to
a rope of hay and an ass eating it up try his fortune at Eome.
as fast as woven discussed in Adag,
: 45. GaUorum] As part of the Mila-
382,3. Erasmus' meaninghere clearly nese, Alessandria had been in French
is that at Bologna Bombasius would hands again since Marignano in 1515.
be amongst relatives and dependants It was recaptured from them at the
who would make cLaims upon him. end of Jan. 1522 see Brewer iii. 201 >
;

28. Carteromacho] See Ep. 217. an. 2035.

39. a thesauris] See Ep. 1210. lon. 51. Canipegium] See Ep. 961 iutrod.
42. suauitas] Cf. Ep. 999. 2on. Neither letter survives.
44. Cornelius] Evidently some 56. respondimus] Cf. Ep. 1235. 33-
needy person, possibly C. Batt (cf. 57. opus] Stunica's Annotationes,
Epp. 573, 839, 840) for whom Erasmus
: X520 see Ep. 1128. ^n and App. 15.
;
1236J TO PAUL BOMBASIUS 585

ne oriretur hic tumultus, mox. vt ortus consopiretur.

Postremo vt 65
iam vagatum incendium quam minimo publicae tranquillitatis
late
incommodo compensaretur, Id enim existimabam maxime referre et
ad Eomani Pont. dignitatem, et ad hanc tragoediam ita finiendam vt
non iterum erumperet semel coercitum mahim. Vbi nec hoc satis
succederet, quorundam opera sibi potius liriuatim quam publico 70
bono consulentium, multos partim literis meis partim oratione reuo-
caui, ne se huic fabulae admiscerent.
Caeterum quo minus hactenus libris aeditis cum Luthero pugna-
rim, plurimae sunt causae. Quas hic non est necesse percensere
sed illa praecipua fuit, quod mihi prorsus defuit ociuni legendi quae 75
scripsit Lutherus adeo meis recognoscendis sum intentus. Et vides
:

quam ille sit TruXvypucfio^. Nec solus est centum habet manus. Nec
;

erat satis illius libros semel euokiere, iterum atque iterum erant
reuoluendi. Ne id quidem Multi passim aduersus illum
satis.
aedunt volumina, quorum nihil non inspiciendum milii. si cupiam So
suscepto negocio satisfacere. Vt ne commemorem interim, dum ad
haec vocor, non satis habere loci prouerbium illud, rov tWoi' eis TreSiW.
Res est periculi plena, et in alio studiorum campo magis sum exerci-
tatus. Ad haec iam par erat niihi tot libris aeditis defuncto dari
missionem, quo liceret per ocium posthac studiis frui. Flagitabat S5
hoc aetas ingrauescens, promerebantur hactenus iuuandis pubHcis
studiis exhausti labores. Hoc negocium tale est vt ei, si semel
ingrediar, sit per omnem vsque vitam seruiendum.
mi Bombasi, procliue dictu est Scribe aduersus Lutherum
'
'.

Sed ad hoc pluribus rebus est opus quam ad plaustrum fabricandum, 90

vt inquit Hesiodus. Video quam varia, quam morosa sint hominum
iudieia, praesertim hoc seculo, quo vix ahud ^«'^«TrojTcpoi'. In multis
articulis Cisalpinae scholae dissentiunt a Transalpinis. Atque adeo
eiusdem scholae theologi aliud sentiunt in diatribis publicis ac libris,
aliud in veris colloquiis. Ad haec perdifificile est sic temperare stilum, 95
vt ita tuearis hominum dignitatem, vt non alicubi laedas gloriam
Christi ; ita placeas principibus di^^pojTrots, vt non alicubi displiceas
Principi Christo. Quod si malum hoc libellis obrui potest, indies
emergunt librorum examina, vt Erasmo nihil sit opus si clamoribus, :

non desunt Stentores. Incendiorum vbique fuit affatim. In edictis 100

nihil terriculamentorum est omissum. At vereor ne his rationibus
malum ad tempus i^rematur potius quam extinguatur, mox eruptu-
rum maiore cum perieulo. Quod ego sane abominor, et vehementer
opto ne fiat. Nulla regio magis ex animo fauet Pontificiae dignitati
quam haec nostra. Sed huic vehementer oftecit inuisum quorundam 105
patrocinium. Nisi sic insanissent illi, res huc progressa non fuisset.
Imo si nunc quoque tacerent treis modo menses, totus cum suis
libellis frigeret Lutherus, ac ne tantulum quidem ob iHum mutaretur
in rebus humanis.
82. fls F: h H.

71. reuocaui] Cf. Ep. 1143.2211. 82. prouerbium] Adag. 782: ' Qno-
75. legendi] For the extent of his ties quis ad id prouocatur in quo pluri-
reading as yet sec Epp. 1167. 124, 1225. nium valet, quoque vel niaximegaudet'.
259-60; and cf. 11. 135-6 mjVa. 91. llesiodus] 0;j. 453-6 : quoted in
77. TTo^vypa^pos] Cf. Epp. 221. 360, Adag. 3288.
1173. 87-8. 100. Incendiorum] Cf. Ep. 1218. 4in.
 586 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

110 Sum totus in recognoscendo Nouo Testamento aliisque nonnullis

meis lucubrationibus, vrsorum exemplo paulatim lambendo forman&
rudes ingenii mei foetus. Sed breui, spero, continget ocii plusculum.
Egi diligenter cum HieronymoAleandro, daret mihi facultatem legendi
quae scripsit Lutherus. Nam hodie sycophantarum et corycaeorum
115 plena sunt omnia. Pernegauit se id posse, nisi nominatim impetraret
a summo Pontifice. Primum igitur hoc mihi velim impetres breui
quopiam. Nolim enim dari ansam toTs -ovqpol';, or8evos aAAoi.' 8eo/Ae'vois.
Publicae tranquillitati sic semper ex animo faui vt perpauci magis.
Euangelicae veritati confirmandae vel animam libens impendero.
120 Nec ignoro quantum priuatim etiam debeam inauditae Pontificis in
me benignitati. Quod si mihi continget adhuc tres aut quatuor
annos viuere, aut immoriar conatibus, aut efficiam vt ille dicat me
fuisse hominem non omnino ingratum. Meretur hoc iliius eximia
bonitas, vt omnium eruditorum literis celebretui*. Id alii credo
125 facient felicius, nemo certe quam ego studiosius. Et si natura negabit
eloquentiam, pectus et ardor animi suppeditabit. Sunt qui jxilchre pu-
tent consultum illius rebus, si illum reddiderint quam maxime formida-
bilem; ego magis adnitar vt orbisLeonem amet potius quammetuat.
Verum huic officio nisi me seruet ipse, non video qui possim esse
130 incolumis adeo deuotis animis in nos conspirant KarapaTot quidam.
:

Blaterant nominatim in me, in publicis lectionibussacrisque concioni-

bus traducunt apud populum, deferunt apud principes. Subornant
qui libellis famosis aeditis proscindant nomen meum imo sicas et ;

venena minitantur. Neque cuiquam obscurum est quid ausint isti.

135 Non dubitem omnes diras imprecari capiti meo, si quisquam est
Lutheri tam exiguus libellus quem totum perlegerim si in omnibus :

quae illi tribuuntur aut in illius patrocinium circumferuntur, vlla

syllaba mea est aut me volente scripta si vllum vnquam illius:

dogma conatussum defendere. Et quorundam tanta est peruersitas,

140 vt ea quoque mihi triJjuant quae Lutherus in conuentu Caesaris
agnouit pro suis.
Nuper in frequenti conuiuio quidam rogauit me quod esset initiuni
Captiuitatis Babylonicae. Ad id respondere mihi sane perquam
difficile fuit. De nulla re minus cogitaram. Post roganti cur id
145 quaereret, fassus est quosdam fuisse suspicatos hoc opus esse meum,
quod initium esset Velim nolim '
non admodum abhorrens ab
',

exordio Panegyrici mei, quo Philippo ex Hispaniis reuerso gratulor,

qui sic incipit, Velis nolis '. Bella coniectura. Aleander indicauit
'

mihi tribui duos libellos, quorum alteri titulus est Eubulus, alteri

125. EtsiiV^LB: Etsi -FiVS. 127. iWnm. FX LB : illnd J7Zom?.

110. Nouo Testamento] SeeEp. 1174. 137. vlla syllaba] Cf. Epp. 1217. 60,.
I5n. 1218. 20, 1219. 25.
113. Aleandro] Cf. Ep. 1195. 47^. 141. agnouit] Cf. Epp. 1218. 15,
114. corycaeorum] Spies; cf. Cic. 1219.88.
Att. 10. 18, quoted in Adug. 144. At 143. Captiuitatis] See Ep. 1217.38^.
Corycus, a proinontory of Cilicia, the '
147. Panegyrici] See Epp. 179, .180.
inhabitants were infainous for spying 149. libellos] Cf. Ep. 12 18. 13-15.
out the destination and value of ships' Eubulus] Oratio Constanfii EubuU
cargoes and thon piraticaliy seizing Mouentini de virtute clauium et bulla con-
them '
Liddell and Scott.
: demnationis Leonis decivii contra Martinum
136. totuin] Cf. I. 75n. Liilherum, s. I. et a. addressed to
:
 1236] TO PAUL BOMBASIUS 587

Lamentationes Petri. vnquam mihi fuerat auditus

Emoriar si 150
titulus antequam illePriorem necdum quiui nancisci.
protulisset.
In altero sic tractor vt, si sciam autorem. sim illi gratiam non
optimam habiturus. Et tamen in huiusmodi libellis vituperari malo
quam praedicari.
Conantur hoc quidam persuadere. Lutheranam pestem ex hisce re- 155
gionibus esse natam quo scio nihil esse falsius. lam quidam male
:

feriati decerpserunt e libris meis. vnde Lutherus videatur hausisse

suorum errorum occasionem. Quin potius ea colligunt ex Euangehis
et Epistolis Apostolorum, ex Augustino, Bernardo, atque adeo ex
ipso Thoma? Vnde veteres haeretici plerique collegerunt occasionem 160
erroris ? nonne e sacris voluminibus perperam intellectis ? Non
verebor vniuersam prouocare Germaniam, et si qui sunt alibi qui
Luthero fauent, si docere possint Lutherum vno verbo per nos fuisse
adiutum in omnibus libris quos hactenus aedidit, imo si proferant
epistolas quas his de j-ebus scripsi etiam tum, ciuum adhuc spes esset 165
Lutheri ingenium et calamum seruiturum gloriae Christi. Hae
dechirabunt me modis omnibus obnixum fuisse ne nasceretur haec
tragoedia. Tametsi mihi non probabatur omnino quod instituerant
aduersarii, et multa videbam recipi quae praestabat mutari. Araici-
tiam quae mihi cum Aleandro iam non noua fuerat, linguae vene- 170
natae pene diremerant nam ad has artes ingenium ac mentem
:

habent. Nunc re deprehensa mutauit animum Aleander sed voces ;

missas magis optat quam potest reuocare. Proinde, doctissime

Bombasi, si S. D. N. non desit innocentiae meae aduersus hos syco-
phantas impudentissimos, ego pro virili non deero neque synceritati 175
religionis Christianae neque ipsius dignitiiti.
Adhuc anceps animi sum an Basileam sini aditurus. lam annos
totos illuc eo, sed semper exoritur quod hic me remoretur. Nunc
plane decreueram iter capescere. vt Basileae peractis quae vellem.
Eomam totus commigrarem, illic quod reliquum est aeui inter 180
eruditissimos homines. inter locupletissimas bibliothecas transactu-
rus. —
lamque iter ingredi coepei'am nam haec rusticatio aestiua me
reddidit aliquanto firmiorem sed bellum atrox vndique gliscens
;

indies deterruit. Et tamen adhuc gestit animus, et fortassis audebo

iacere aleam, praesertim huc vocante Aleandro cuius consilio in 1S5 :

rebus gerendis non minus tribuo quam iudicio in literis. Interim

fruere tuis opibus, ac me sodalem expecta, si modo tumultus hi
principum conquiescant. R. D. Card. Campegio, et tuo patrono,

174. S. D. N. J': Leo decimus if. 179. capessere J*'. 187. hi FX- : Lic
HS^ i88. R. D. om. H.

Charles v (Hutteni Opp., ed. Bcicking. tionihus sm

additionihus lohannis Andreae,
'^- 350-62). It is commonly ascribed s. 1. et a. There
is a copy in tlie Bibl.
to Crotu.s Rubianus but Spiegel told
: Nationale at Paris (Res. D. 5648. 9).
Aleander that Phrygio (Ep. 1285. i5n It appears to have emanated from
was the author. See Aleander's dis- Friesland ; cf. p. 483.
patch of 6 Feb. 1521 (Balan p. 49 and 157. liausisse] Cf. Ep. 1195. 6211.
Geiger's Vierteljahrsschrif. i (1886;, 165. epistolas] Cf. Ep. 1041. 46^.
396-7. 169. Amicitiam] Ct. Ep. 1195. 5on.
150. Lamentationes] Lamentaiiones 180. Romam] Cf. Ep. 1143. 79^.
Petri, autore Esdra scriba oHm, modo pub- 182. rusticatio] Cf. Ep. 1208. in.
lico sarutorum prouoiario, cum annota- 183. bcllum] Cf. Ep. 1228. 52.
 588 LETTERS OF EEASMUS [1521

Card. S. quatuor, me diligenter commendabis. Bene vale, patrono-

190 rum fidissime et amicorum integerrime. Saluta mihi D. Franciscum
Chiregatum. Ex rure.
Nono Cal. Octobr. an. m.d.xxi.

1237. To Bernard Bucho.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 645. Anderleclit.
HN : Lond. xvii. 12 : LB. 595, 24 September 1521.
[The year-date is sufficiently confirmed by Erasmus' rustication at Anderlecht.
Bernard Bucho (c. 1466—3 Dec. 1528) of Zuichem, near Leeuwarden in Fries-
land, was first in the promotion of the Arts Faculty at Louvain, 1487, from the
College du Faucon (Ep. 1217. i2in). He took orders, and after holding Zuichem
and several other village pastorates, succeeded to the great chureh at Leeu-
warden. In 1499 1^« ^as appointed by Duke Albert of Saxony, governor of
Priesland (see Ep. 1122. ^n), to be a member of the senate of Friesland being :

by that time Licentiate in Law. In 1504 Duke George of Saxony (cf. Ep. 586.
266) appointed liim to the executive Council of Friesland, and iu 1515 Charles
made him Regent of the pi-ovince in which capacity he rendered good service,
;

by retaining tlie province in loyalty. He was also sent on embassies to France

and England. In reward Charles gave him in 1519 the Deanery of the Hague
and a seat in the Council of HolLmd both of which he held until his death.
;

This is the only letter surviving that passed between him and Erasmus, unless
Ep. 1166 is addressed to him but Lond. xx. 80, LB. 1013 indicates warmth of
;

feeling.
One of Bucho's nephews wasViglius Zuichem, born 19 Oct. 1507 ; who reeords
in his autobiography continual benefits received from this uncle, who was like '

a father to him.
' Bucho sent him to school at Deventer 1519-20, had hini and
his brother taught at Leiden with other boys of good faraily 1520-1 and at the ;

end of 1521 recalled them to the Hague to work with a private tutor, with whom
he sent them to Louvain in Oct. 1522. It is tlierefore nol unlikely that these
niay have been the boys about whom Bucho had eonsulted Erasmus at this
time : even thougli in I. 48 they are described aa •amici tui pueros'. At his
death he left Viglius a considerable sum of money and a good library.
VZE. I and 2, 1525 and 1528, testify Viglius' gratitude ; which he records also
in editing Theophilus Antecessor's hist. iuris ciuilis, Basle, Froben, March 1534,
and in his own Comment. in Inst. iur. ciuiL, ibid., 1534. The former (f°. a* v°)
speaks of patronage received by Bucho from Maximilian, Margaret of Austria,
and Charles v.
See C. P. Hoynck van Papendrecht, Analecta BeJgica, i (1743^ pp. 4-8, 55-63,
258-60 also NNBW. iii. 47-8.]
:

ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS ORNATISS. D. BERNARDO BVCHONI

PHRYSIO, DECANO IN HAGA COMITIS, S. D.
ViR optime. QuumLouanii diu languissem, ac valetudinis recreandae
gratia rus migraturus, sarcinas chartaceas componerem, nihil erat
schedarum quod non excusserim, nec tamen occurrit libellus mihi
creditus quem tamen scio me studio seposuisse, vt esset in tuto.
:

5 Nec dubito quin sit sed in promptu non esse doleo. Quod quidem
;

non raro nobis solet accidere, vt ea maxime pereant quae diligentis-

1236. 190. D. om. H. 12o7. tit. oknatiss. d. om. H.

123C. 189. Card. S. quatuor] L. Pucci 1237. i.Viroptime] Forthisdetached

see Ep. 860 introd. opening cf.Epp. 1133. i, 1267. in.
191. Chiregatum] See Ep. 639 introd. 2. rus] Cf. Ep. 1208. in.
 17] TO BERNARD BUCHO 589

sime cauimus ne perirent. Breui, opinor, rursus e rustico fiam vrbanus,

ac rursus excutiam opes meas. Certe dolerem tibi perire quod amas,
quum mihi nulli sit vsui futurum.
Quod Phrysiorum natio bonas literas amplectitur, sane nouum non lo
est, vt quae nobis iampridem Rodolphum Agricolam. Langium, et
Canterios dederit. Quod homines opibus ac stemmatis clari non
existimant liberos suos dignos successione rerum ac nominis, ni
studiis honestis excoluerint animum, vt nouiim est, ita vehementer
gratulandum est horum temporum felicitati. Louanii coelum est 15
perquam amoenum, nec vsquam studetur quietius. luuentus nus-
quam magis ardet in bonas literas et suceedit res multis mira;

reluctantibus veteris inscitiae mystis.

felicitate, frustra Meum cou-
silium vtinam tibi tam felix esse possit quam ego sedulo cupiam dare !

Tantum indicabo nomina, tuus erit delectus. 20

Agit nunc Louanii lacobus Ceratinus, vir vtriusque literaturae
pulchre doctus, moribus probis et integris quod scio te non minus :

spectare quam eruditionem. Eum pestis ac bellum, duo maxima

vitae humanae mala, Tornaco expulerunt nam illic in Collegio :

linguarum, quod institui coepit, profitebatur. Est Hermannus 25

Vuestphalus. Is agit in Collegio Liliensi iuuenis probus quidem, :

et vndiquaque doctus, sed praecipue indefatigabili diligentia in

formanda, curanda, erudienda adolescentia. Est in eodem collegio
Adrianus Suesionius, praeter exactam vtriusque literaturae peritiam

12. F Corrig. : Cauterios F.

11. Agricolam] See Ep. 23. 5711. Deventer, A. Pafraed, April 151 7, and
Langium] See Ep. 70. 4511. Scoparius in harhariei propugnatores, ibid.
Canterios] See Ep. 32 introd.
12. (1517). From Zwolle ho went t..
s. a.

13. liberos] Cf. Ep. 1220. 45^. Louvain, vvhere he came under the
15. coelum] Cf. Ep. 1221. i^n. iufiuence of Goclenius (p. 504), and
21. Ceratinus] See Ep. 622. 3111. taught for some time. Later he re-
24. Collegio linguarum] See Ep. turned to Westphalia, and became
525 introd. and, for some facts of its
; pastor at Wildeshausen, between
brief existenee 1523-30, A. Hocquet, Vechta and Bremen where he died
;

Tournai et le Tomnaisis au xvi''' siecle, 1906, a few years before tlie publication of
p. 284. In liis will of 22 Jan. 1527 Hamelmann's Illustrium Wesfphaliae
Erasmus left to the College a copy of virornm liber iv, Lemgo, 1564.
the projected edition of his coUected See the critical edition of that by
works naming as the founder of the
: H. Detmer and K. Loffler, Miinster
College, Peter Coutrellus (Cottrel), i. W., 1908, pp. 135, 296, 298; and
who was Vicar-general to the Bp. of D. Reichling's J. Murmellius, 1880, pp.
Tournay, L. Guillard (Ep. 1212). 82, 163,4.
Hermannus] Herm. Stuvius of
25. 29. Suesionius] Adr. Araerotius
Vechta, s. of Oldenburg, was a pupil of (t 14 Jan. 1560 or 1562) of Soissons was
Murmellius (Ep. 838. 2n) and niade a pupil of Aleander in Paris in 1512 ;

hisuniversitycourseat Cologne. While and began teaching Gi-eok grammar in

there he contributed verses to Ant. the College du Lis in 1514 (AA. E. i. 6).
Tunniceus Carmen degiaami, s. L et a. ; He completed his course in philosophy
and Tunniceus' In Germanorum paroe- at Louvain in 1516, being first in the
mias, Cologne, Quentell, 15 13, has an promotion. For some years he con-
epigram addressed to him (f. 44) as tinued teaching, and published a Com-
'philosophiao et humanitatis studio- pendiuiH of Greek grammar, Louvain,
sissimum'. About 1517-20 he was Th. Martens, isOct. 1520 (vau Iseghem
teaching at Zwolle under Lister (cf. 161; in the preface to which, dedi-
;

Ep. 838. 7n); and Murmellius dedi- cated to Ant. de la Marck (Ep. 956),
cated to him Tabularum opuscula tria, he speaks highly of his teachers, Xevius
 590 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

30 et philosophiaegnarus et iuris Caesarei non ignarus, moribus mire

candidis. EstRutgerus Rescius, Graecae linguae professor, in
Collegio nouo quod instituit Hieronymus Buslidius qui doctrinam :

non vulgarem incredibili quadam modestia planeque pudore quodam

virgineo condecorat, Est Conradus Goclenius, vir acri iudicio,
35 doctrina minime triuiali, industria indefatigabili, animo excelso,
moribus mira comitate ac iucunditate conditis, fide certissima, rerum
etiam communium prudentia valens, quae fere solet in studiorum
cultoribus Est Adrianus Barlandus, vir nullo fuco,
desiderari.
syncerus et amicus, prompta quadam ac pura Latini sermonis facili-
40 tate, et in hoc genere complures iam annos exeercitatus. Est
Melchior Treuir in collegio Castrensi, moribus inculpatissimis, in
philosophia pene detritus, theologiae vetus iam cultor sed his :

dotibus adiunxit vtriusque literaturae non vulgarem peritiam. Est

Lodouicus Viues, vir vndequaque doctissimus sed is, opinor, abhorret :

45 ab istiusmodi pi*ouincia. Sunt autem non hii solum sed et alii per-
multi, caeterum mihi non jjerinde -Cogniti. Horum quos recensui
nomine non dubitem fideiubere. Ex his quemcunque delegeris, non
male collocaueris amici tui pueros.
Eximium D. Nicolaum Euerardum, Hollandiae praesidem, vicissim
50 meis verbis salutabis quem virum vtinam fata nobis quam diutissime
:

seruent reip. natum, si quis est alius.

! Scribam illi propediem.
Nam in praesentia duos onerabam epistolis, alterum qui in Hispaniam,
alterum qui Romam transcurrat. Bene vale, vir honorande in
Domino.
55 Ex Anderlaco viii. Calend. Octobr. anno m.d.xxi.

45. Iiii F : ii H. 49. D. om. H. Si. est add. H. 55. Octob. H.

fEp. 298) and Gavere (Ep. 717. 21 n), cated to him a commentary on Psalm^
and of his friend, Paschasius Berselius (Ep. 1427) and in April 1524 pro-
;

(Ep. 674). He also composed a treatise posed to leave him a sum of nioney
on Greek dialects, of which no edition (Ep. 1437). From 20 June to 20 Oct.
seems to be known before one at Paris, 1525 Melchior was teaching in the tri-
C. Wechel, 1534. In 1545 he succeeded lingual college at Tournay (1. 24^) ;

Rescius as Professor of Greek in Bus- see V. Vander Haeghen, Rohert de Key-

leiden's college and lield the post
; sere, 1908, pp. 24-5. After the sup-
with credit until his death. He was a pression of the CoUege he seems to
priest, and very diligent in preaching. have continued living at Tournay
See Neve pp. 207-10. where he died a. 25 Feb. 1535 (Basle
31. Rescius] See Ep. 546 introd. MS. Goclenii Epist., f. 12 v"), having
34. virgineo] Cf. Ep. 1046. 16-17. married twice and leaving several
Goclenius] See p. 504. cliildren (Lond. xxx. 69, xxvii. 28
38. Barlandus] See Epp. 492 in- LB. 1279, 1286). Martin Lypsius
trod., 1050, 1051 introd. initiated a correspondence with liim
41. Melchior] M. Viandalus or c. 1525 (Horawitz v. 55).
Viandulus (?of Vianden, 24 ms. Nw. of 42. pene detritus] Cf. Ep. 1427.
Treves) was at this time in the College 44. Viues] See Ep. 927 introd.
du Chateau (cf. Ep. 1217. lain) but ; 49. Euurardum] See p. 237.
early in 1522 lie received an invitation 51. Scribam] See Ep. 1238.
to go and teach elsewhere (Epp. 1257. 52. in Hispaniam] Carrying, among
1-4, 1292. sn), perhaps at Tournay. others, Ep. 1235.
Erasmus took a fancy to him, dedi- 53. Romam] Carrying Ep. 1236.
1238J 591

1238. To NiCHOLAS Everard.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 635. Anderleeht.
HN: Lond. xvii. 6 LB. 604. : (October ?> 1521.

[Within the limits of Eiasmus' residence at Anderltcht in tlie bummer and

autumn of 1521. A
precise date is not possible but 1. 9 implies that the sumnier
;

was over. This may therefore be the letter promised in Ep. 1237. 51.
Before leaving Anderlecht Erasmus went over to Brussels (cf. Ep. 1342. 62-5)
to see Aleander, who had returned thither from Bruges (cf. Ep. 1233. r^in).
Their interview. which lasted nearly five hours, is described briefly by Erasmus
in the Spongia (LB. x. 1645 e = HE. 333, § 134), and more fully by Aleander in
a dispatch from Louvain, 13 Oct. 1521 (Bahin no. 126) : Quello amico de chi se
'

suspica (Erasmus), essendo Dominica ijroxime passata (6 Oct.) meco a pranso

insieme cum vn grande Lutherano, accadette ehe si parlo di questo libro che io
mando (^Qaod Petrus nunquani fuerit Bomae'), et dicendo io che contenea multe
buggie impudentissime, lui infiammato como vn foco mi disse cum inn^eto che
ne monstrasse vna che li piacerebbe. lo certo aperto il libro subitone monstrai
doe euidentissime, et probailo per li proprii detti de San Paulo allegati in esso
libro, de sorte che subito deuento gialdo, che parea venenato da grande con-
fusion ma perche non era lempo de piu proceder, io messi fin a tal cosa lassan-
;

doli che roder.']

ERASMVS ROT. ABSOLVTISSIMO IVRIS VTRIVSQVE DOCTORI D.

NICOLAO EVERARDO, HOLLAXDIAE PRAESIDI, S. D.

Si patriae pietas apud me parum valeret, tamen vel tui vnius

charitas me facile posset, non dicam in Hollandiam, sed ad quamlibet
procul semotam pertrahere regionem. Sed iam diu iturieiitem ac
subinde profectionem adornantem, semper aliquid exortum nouae
remorae non sinit hinc auelli. Neque enim consilium est insulam 5
istam alias adire quam aestiuis mensibus. At aestas apud nos adeo
breuis est vt aliquando nulla sit, priusque sentiamus eam abire quam
senserimus aduenisse. Nunquam aeque mihi compertum fuit nos
coelo viuere potius quam cibis. Totam hanc aestatem rusticatus sum,
nec vnquam quicquam cessit feiicius. Tanto redditus sum vegetior 10
hoc coelo puriore vt alium esse dicas. Neque tamen minus faueo
meae Hollandiae, quod tam male eonueniat cum coelo. Imo miram
quandam animo persentio voluptatem, quum animaduerto illam
caeteris rebus vberem, praeclaris etiam ac posteritatis memoria dignis
ingeniis ditescere. Quoties enim illi sum gratulatus Martinum 15
Dorpium qui nostratium theologorum vnus scholasticam theologiam
!

cum melioris litei-aturae peritia, qui solidam sapientiam cum vera

eloquentia coniunxisset. At his diebus nos inuisit Hermannus
Lethmanus, patria Gaudanus, qui, nisi fallor, Dorpium aut aequabit
aut vincet etiam nisi quod Dorpius assiduo studio seipsum quotidie 20
;

vincit.

TIT. AESOLVTISSIMO . DOCTORI D. oni. H.

. . 6. uos F : uos II. 19. Leth-
manus patria add. H
{H Lond. Lethmanus -Y LB).
:

3. iturientem] Cf. Ep. 1092. i. rusticatus] Cf. Ep. 1208. in.

5. insuLira istam] Walcheren see ; 12. cum coelo] Cf. Ep. 296. 66-7,
p. 237. For a view of its climate see 207-8.
Ep. 663. 16. Dorpium] See Ep. 304 introd.
9. coelo] Cf. Ep. iiii. 78n. 19. Lethmanus] See Ep. 1320.
 592 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

Hei-mannus quum, antequam stadium theologicum ingrederetur,

auspicatus Graecarum ac bonarum, vt vocant, literarum
feliciter esset
noticiam, ita se gessit in hoc cursu Sorbonicae theologiae, vt omnium
25 punctis primas meruerit, idque in ea schola quae sine controuersia in
hoc studiorum genere semper primas tenuit. Neque vero tantum est
instructus argutiis illis quibus in scholis velitantur nihil consiliorum, ;

nihil historiarum, nihil veterum theologorum non excussit, atque

adeo habet in promptu. Ingenium velox ac rapidum, discendi
30 auiditas inexplebilis, iudicium praesens et expeditum, quodque in hoc
genere rarum est, nihil habet arrogantiae, nihil bilis, nihil supercilii.
Mira comitas, mira modestia. Audit patienter quoslibet. Cedit
etiam inferioribus. Plerique vbi metam illam Sorbonicam contige-
runt, perinde quasi iam defuncti sint omni studio, in ocium sese
35 recipiunt, aut neglectis libris sacerdotiis accumulandis inuigilant.
Hic tanta cum laude theologiae lauream assequutus, tam auide
versatur in euoluendis optimis autoribus, quasi non dimissus a studio,
sed nunc demum admissus sit ad seria studia. Sic autem amplectitur
has humaniores literas vt suae professionis tamen non sit desertor.
40 Proinde me quidem magna quaedam spes habet, aut hunc aut nemi-
neni fore, qui veterem ac nouam eruditionem sic misceat ac temperet,
vt vtriusque generis sodalibus abunde satisfiat. Siquidem annum vix
attigit trigesimum. Et est corporis valetudo prospera, quae hoc
mams pollicetur viuacitatem, quod ipse victus sit teraperatissimi si :

45 tamen hoc homini perpetuo licebit apud Hollandos. Neque dubito

quin huic similes complures sint exorituri, si modo haee regio didice-
rit habere honorem eximiis ingeniis, et intellexerit quanto verioremac
viuaciorem gloriam sit hinc latura.
Non tibi commendo Hermanum non enim dubito quin tibi
:

50 notior sit quam mihi neque me praeterit quo. studio soleas eiusmodi
;

prosequi. Tantum rogo vt eum et reliquis Hollandiae nostrae proce-

ribus commendare studeas. Sic citius sibi parabit opinionem apud
vniuersos, si primoi'um sutfragiis commendabitur, et eorum iudicio
probabitur qui apud omnes sunt probatissimi. Ipse quidem non
55 ambit gloriam, sed hoc magis promeretur. Et ad publicam vtilitatem
pertinet vt de viris optimis optime sentiat et populus.
Satis feliciter vbique gliscebant bona studia, quamlibet obstrepenti-
bus ranis, nisi Lutherana tragoedia exorta turbasset omnia. Et quasi
hoc parum sit mali, vereor ne, nisi deus aliquis ciTro fj.r]xii">i<; hos
60 indies gliscentes bellorum tumultus coraponat, non turbentur modo
verumetiam extinguantur. Totus orbis Christianus, velut in duo
diuisus, exitiabili bello inter sese committitur. Duo Principes, vt
49. Hermanum H.
24. Sorbonicae] Lethmatius' career German nation 1514-15, Ijeing then
at Paris may be traced from the Liber B.D. ; and in 15190^1520 D.D., stand-
receptoris naiionis Alamaniae (Sorbonne ing first in order of merit.
MS. pp. 92, 100 v", loi v°, 145, 147 v°) 45. apud Hollandos] Because of tho
and from some xviii*^ collections for compota(io7ies which Erasmus so much
the history of tlie Sorbonne (Pari;sMS. disliked cf. Epp. 76. 14, 129. 25, 1033.
;

Arsenale 1021, j). 497;. He was B.A. 21-2. For anotlier aspect of the situa-
1507-8, Proctor of the German nation tion cf. Ep. 996. 43^.
1508-9, M.A. 1509. In 1510 he entered 60. turbentur] «c. bona studia.
the Sorbonne at the age of 19, was 62. Principes] Charles and Francis :

Fellow there 1513. Rcceptor of the cf. Ep. 1228. 51-2.

1238J TO NICHOLAS EVEEARD 593

summi. ita iuuenes, magisque animi magnitudine feroces quam vsu

reruni callidi. deuotis animis alter in alterius perniciem imminentes,
orbem secum in fata trahunt atque interim, ; Deum immortalem. 65
vbi Romani Pontificis autoritas ? Ea, quum quaestus negocium
commendatur. potest et angelis et daemonibus imperare hic nihil ;

potest apud filios suos a tam pernicioso bello coercendos? Vbi nunc
isti nimium vocales ecclesiastae ? Hic aut linguam non habent, aut
habent adulatricem. Fortassis olim dicet Carolus noster. Non 70 •

putaram belkim rem esse tam pestiferam '. Sed hoe dictum nimio
nobis constabit. Caeterum nos his in rebus nihil aliud possumus
quam a superis optare meliora. Si nostra aula decem haberet tui
similes. melius cuni rebus humanis ageretur.
Sed vt ad studiorum causam ledeam, posteaquam Lutheranum 75
negocium confectum est (quod vtinam recte confectum sit I). eo
redeunt vnde eoeperant. Palam in eoncionibus et lectionibus publicis
damnant linguas ac politiores literas, in Erasmum nominatim magnis
conuiciis debacchantiir quidam. Nec video profecto quid sibi propo-
suerint. Etenim si hoc agunt, vt populus intelligat in istis ordinibus So
esse homines impudenter maledicos, hoc iam persuasius est populo
quam vt ipsis expediat. Sin illud agunt, vt iuuenes a bonis literis
alienos ad suae theologiae studium allectent, non poterant eos magis
deterrere quam huiusmodi moribus. Luteciae Cantabrigiaeque sic
floret theologiae studium vt nuaquam alias aeque. Quid in causa? 85
Nimirum quod sese accommodant seculo alio se flectenti. quod has
meliores literas vel vi irrumpere conantes non repelkint vt hostes, sed
vt hospites comiter amplectuntur, Quod Louanii frigent theologorum
—
scholae nam hoc queruntur quidam —
mihi non possint imputare,,

qui neminem vnquam verbo sim dehortatus sed paucorum 90 :

rabiosa pariter atque indocta maledicentia probos animos akenat.

Porro quod a paucis fit, omnibus imputat vulgus, quum videat
haec toties tam impune fieri quum tantas excitarint tragoedias
;

ob vnam voculam a Graecae Hnguae professore dictam, quae tamen

ad nulkus contumekam pertinebat. 95
Vehementer probo quod maledicis kbelks opposuerint Caesaris
edictum etiamsi nuUus istorum queritur de kbekis plus quam famosis,
:

quos, vt audic, subinde nouos Coloniae profert Peffercornus, neque

clam est quorum impulsu id faciat. At oportebat eadem opera
linguis huiusmodi, sceleratioribus etiam quam sint libelli famosi. 100
Caesaris edictum aliquod opponere. Alioqui praeclare cum bonis
viris agetur, si talibus scurris, quibus praeter impudentiam et knguam
malfdicam nihil est, impune erit pubkcitus incessere famam alienam,
et aliis fas non erit liVjris aeditis, qua licet, suae famae patrocinari.
Indignantur si quis in epistola queratur apud amicum quod ipsi 105
publice designant apud populum. Equidem cupiam sic tueri me vt

70. Non putaram] Cf. Ep. 1161. 1411. 97. edictum] Cf. Ep. 1192. 66n.
84. Cantabrigiaeque] Cf. Ep. iiii. 98. Peffercoinus] See Ep. 487. 2on.
28n. His niost recent work was Ein milhyd-
88. frigent] Cf. Ep. 1166. 106. UclieClaeg.. .gegen... h'euchUn,(Co]n'j.nv),
94. professore] Evidently Rescius ;
21 ilarch 1521 see Eov. ii, pp. 114,15.
;

cf. Ep. 1240. 8-9. 99. quorumj 'Ihe Dominicans.

4B2-4
^q
 594 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

aliosnon laedam sed si quis sic hominem impetat vt suam vitam

;

tuerinon possit nisi vitam adimat impetenti, leges hoc illi imputant
qui eausam dedit. Dices, In ius voca Quo tandem ? Nec princi-
' '.

iiopem nec episcopimi agnoscunt iudicem. Theologi, quorum libidine

res temperantur. sic se gerimt vt ab his subornari videantur.
Priores
aut fauent aut in hos ius non habent. Quaerendus igitur illorum
Vicarius, vt vocant. Atque interim is qui hodie debacchatus est
apud popuhnn, alibi prandebit. P]'oinde his rebus freti scurrae nihil
115 non audent. Vix credasquam his factis suis ahenant a se multitudi-
nem omnem. sed praecipue primarios cordatosque viros. Hoc vbi
sentiunt, mihi videHcet imputant malum quod ipsi sibi suo iumento
accersierunt. Ego tumultus istorum vel ridere possum tantum ;

doleo culpa hominum male audire theologiam, malo fermento vitiari

i2ostudiorum dulcedinem, ac publicos infici mores. Bene vale, vir
ornatissime.
Ex Anderlaco, Anno m.d.xxi.

1239. To Gabriel Ofhuys.

Gouda MS. 1324, f. 50 (a). Anderlecht.
F. f''. a« yo: HN : Lond. i. 3 : LB. 538. 14 October (is^i).

[The value of the manuscript is discussed iii connexion with Epp. 1206, 1225.
For Ofhuys see Ep. 693 introd. and, for Erasmus' respect for the Carthusians,
;

Ep. 1196. 425n.

Tlie year-date added in H has again no vahie ; for on 14 Oct. 1520 Erasmus
was at Antwerp (Ep. 1153. 90). His residence at Anderlecht ;ind the position
of this letter at the end of the fmal sheet of F clearly indieate 1521.]

ERASMVS EOTEHODAMVS D. GABRIELI OFHVSIO CARTHVSIENSI S. D.

A STvmis et negociis vix erat ocium scalpendis, vt aiunt, auribus

tamen mitto tibi tuos versiculos, ne queri possis vlla in re non
morigerum animo tuo fuisse Erasmum, vere tuum in Christo. Scio
quam multa mala doceat ocium. Protnde malo te istiusmodi opellis
5 transmittere tempus quod datur a sacrorum pensis vacuum, quam
ad deteriora prolabi. Attamen longe satius erat e sacris libris
Christi Paulique imaginem viuam et efficacem pectori tuo penitius
imprimere, quam plumbo, aere chartisque exprimere. Quod ipsum
arbitror te facere, mi Gabriel, nec istam industriam tuam aliud esse
10 qiiam felicis ingenii luxuriem : quam in suo Nepotiano laudat etiam
Hieronymus. Non arbitror a Christo nato seculum fuisse hoc

1238. iio. Theologi F: Pseudomonachi H. 122. Anno m.d.xxi udd. H.

1239. TiT. CARTvsiEKSi F. I. et o ac F. : 7. penitus F. 8. cliartisue F.
II. hoc fuisse F (hoc om. N).

1238.IIO. TheologiJThevariantintro- friars iu Ep. 1582 suggests thathe may

duced in H
perhapsmeans that in 1529 have precipitated ' the change here
'

Erasmus considered the orthodox theo- withoutreading overthewhole passage.

logians to have completely identified 117. iumento] Cf. Ep. 595. 211.
themselves with the monastic partj-, 1239. i. negociis] in connexion with
and thiis to be 'monks in disguise'. his inipending departure to Basle.
But his use of pseudomonachi for tlie ii. Ilieronymus] Cf. E^). 60. 12.
1239] TO GABRIEL OFHUYS 595

maliciosius quo minus oportet vos poenitere instituti vestri.

: Me
mea fata in has abripuere procellas. Nec tacere mihi licet, nec
digna Christo loqui. Christus clamat, Confidite. ego vici munduni '.
'

Mundus videtur breui clamaturus, Ego vici Christum': adeo pro 15

'

dotibus Euangelicis palam regnat ambitio, voluptas, auaricia, audacia,

vanitas, impudentia, liuor, malicia etiam inter hos qui se lucem ac
;

salem huius mundi profitentur.

Reuisam vos vbi primum licebit. Interea salutabis optimum
Patriarchen vestrum. Oeconomum, et eum
qui nos obiter magno, 20
vt apparebat, affectu salutabat. Bene valentem et ad coelestia
semper anhelantem te seruet ac prouehat Christus, vnica spes piarum
mentium, mi frater in Christo charissime.
Ex Anderlaco pridie idus octobris [Anno m.d.xx.]
:

1240. To RuTQEK Rescius.

E)iistolae ad diuersos p. 650. Anderlecht.
HN : Lond. xvii. 15 LB. 607.
: (October ?) 1521.

[The place-date and the position in F c-orroljorate tlie year-date added in H ;

andthereisa resemblance in 11. 8-9 to Ep. 1238.93-5. The 'contumelia' appears

to be some sequel of the trouble which had arisen in 1519-ao (see pp. 132, 154-5) ;

on 30 Aug. 1520 Rescius' suit against Calaber had not yet been heard (see
de Jongh pp. 203, 25*).]

ERASMVS RVTGEKO RESCIO SVO S. D.

Ni tam atrox esset contumelia, mi Resci doctissime, prorsus autor

tibi futurus sim vt vel iniquis conditionibus pacem admitteres. Nunc
cuni eiusmodi sit contumeliae genus, vt nemo non detestaturus sit.
si quid eiusmodi commisisset herus iu suum mancipiuui, cuinsmodi
maliciosa conspiratione designarunt ii quorum partes erant omnem 5
iniuriam a frugi schoiasticis depellere, non ausim vt facias suadere,
quod tamen tuo bono factum esse cuperem. Mira vero tyrannis
Ipsi quum ne voculae quidem vllius iniuriam ferant, postulant vt
tu tam insignem contumeliam musses, ac propemodum etiam vltro
veniam postules, ne quid scilicet illorum decedat dignitati. Res 10
erat digna quae posteris innotesceret at ego puto generosius esse
:

vindictae genus si, quemadmodum hactenus fecisti, Graecae litera-

turae professionem quam maxime cohonestes, et integerrimis tuis
moribus docendi vigilantia.
et
Quod non impetras hoc ab animo tuo, vt litem remittas id
si — 15
quod ego nolim abs te flagitare, quando famae res agitur fac ita — ,

litiges quemadmodum hactenus est a vobis litigatum. Nam quum

1239. 13. procellas abripuerunt F. 19. vi)i a : yt F. 24. Anno M.u.xx
udd. H. 1240. 10. scilicet add. H,

1239. 14. Christus] .Jolm 16.33. Chorograplda sacra Brabanliae, i6^g, vol. i,
19. Reuisam] Cf. Ep. 1209. ^n. Carfchus. Bruxell., ch. 3.
20. Pafcriarchen] The Prior of tlie 1240. 2. pacem] Cf. Epp. 1156. 14,
Carthusiansat Brussels since 1517 was 1211. 559, 1225. 299.
John Meerhoult see Ant. ttanderus,
: 8. Ipsi] The University uuthorities.

<jq 2
 596 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

proxime essem Louanii, sic obesulus, rubicundulus et alaeer eras, vt

mihi lite non macerari sed saginari videaris. Et habes te dignum
20 aduersarium loannem Calabnmi medicum, qui te pallore macieque
refert excepta aetate adeo tui non dissimilis, vt periculum sit ne
:

cui videaris litigare cum patre. Quanquam vir ille mea sententia
non peccauit malicia sed obsequio. Bene vale. Eesci chariss.
Anderlaci. Anno m.d.xxi.

1241. From Wolfgang Faericius Capito.

Vita Erasmi p. 144. (Halle.)
Lond. XXX. 79: LB. 596. 14 October 1521.

[The manuseript, as Merula had it, was either defective in a few places or
else undecipherable : the gaps are not easy to fill. The year-date is established
by the reference to the Diet of Worms, and by the movements of Capito.
He had just returned from a visit to Wittenberg, where he spent two days
c. 30 Sept. : cf. ME. 142, 3037 and BRE. 212. The purpose of his going, in which
he was accompanied by Stromer (Ep. 578), was to urge the friends of Luther,
and through them Luther himself, to moderation, in the hope that his patron,
the young Archbishop of Mainz, might be induced to countenance Luther's
views, if not too uncompromisingly expressed. Albert had indeed recently
shocked Luther by reopening the sale of indulgences at Halle on 15 Sept. (LE^.
459, 461 and BRE. 212) but Capito hoped that with care he miglit be persuaded
;

to abandon the trafSc. To Luther. however, compromise was impossible. On

1 Dec. he wrote to the Archbishop demanding that indulgences shoukl be given

iip, and that priests who wished to marry should be freely allowed to do so
(LE -. 469). Albert replied in ostensilde humility (LE,^. 475), which aroused
hopes in Luther (JE. 73) and Capito did his best to mediate with a long letter
;

(LE '. 474), sent*with the Archbishop's, and liaving considerable resemblance to
this, which had been written two months earlier. When
Luther's liopes were
disai^pointed (cf. LE ^. 479), Capito fell for a time into disgrace witb him but ;

on 12 March 1522 he made his way to Wittenberg and obtained pardon (BRE.
220).]

FABRITIVS CAPITO ERASMO ROTERODAMO VNDECVNQVE DOCTIi-SIMO

CHRISTIANISSIMOQVE S. P.

ScRiPSi nuper satis j)rolixe, et fortassis varie, de industria nam :

ea nobis cautione opus est inter tot insidias. Exemplum istud tuum
est, qui ad me omnia prudenter et circummunite quod consilium :

tuum amplector, ingenium istud referre nequeo. Sum etiam ferme

5 viribus parum integris, et mira occupatione exhaustus nam aulicus ;

sum. Lutherani omnia furiosius, insolentius, arrogantius mordicus ;

quemlibet arripiunt cuique in faciem barbara cum impudentia

;

conuiciantur praeter se omnia ingenia publice contemnunt. Quibus

;

intercessi pridem, oraui ne impetu in illum modum veherentur, ne

Jo contumeliose suam causam tuerentur, et imprimis sum obtestatus,

1240. 24. Anno N^ Lond. : om. FN^. m.d.xxi add. H.

1240. 20. Calabrum] M.D. afc Louvain Andreas pp. 41, 228-9, and de .Jongh.
1489 Rector of the University 1514,
; 1241. i. Scripsil Not extant.
1516-17,1519-20; 1 14 July T527, *mul- 5. aulicus] Cf. Ep. 1158. 2on, and
tum senex '. Se Molanus p. 563, Yal. 1. 46^ infra.
 1241] FEOM WOLFGAXG FABRICIUS CAPITO 597

abstinerent captare minutias ex autoribus rej^^reliendenclas nam :

vehementer aequa hominum iudicia ab illis tantum supercilium

abalienat. Spero fore vt honestius deinceps tui mentionem habeant.
Non est professio qua te non perstringunt apud suos et in i^ubHcum ;

suae factionis principem statuunt praepostera ratione. Libeie fateor, 15

mihi stomachum concitarunt, gloriae nominis tui studiosissimo.
Modestius tecum, vt dixi. subinde agent, quantum video. Caroli
Eegis sententia olim longe alia erit. Glapionis apophthegma com-
probo. Christus finem indubie faciet liis malis. Nam Euangelium
dicendum et legendum nemo prohibere poterit comburendis libris ; 20
nihil eflicitur. Nec aliud non i^auci exoptant quam vt se propter
veritatem proceres Ecclesiae perditos eant tum aiunt causam suam ;

firmatam interim vero videri ambiguam, tanquam sine sanguinis

;

testificatione. Libelli famosi ex animo displicent. Excitabunt semel

orbem ad occurrendum quod nolim cito fieri, ne perperam fiat.
:
25
De Carolostadio scimus mutatam sententiam Eegis. Ducunt apud
nos vxores presbyteri, annuenti])us principibus aut certe dissimu-
lantibus.
Meus ille a Wormatia reuersus recepit sacra legenda. Nuper dixit
se intelligere fidem non vocari in discrimen, sed nummis et potentiae 30
deperiturum quippiam. Magnificeque se promittit rebus commu-
nibus adfore. Atque iuuenis est et Princeps. Multi vero nihil
earum rerum intelligunt ;
quo fit vt afrocius saeuiant. Non est
dies quo non instet de te sibi conciliando. Namsubodorat
vim latentis veritatis, quam tu primus in lucem eruisti. Scribe 35
semel atque iterum quid ei faciendum nam videtur libruni ;

ceu aliud affectat modo, tanquam certissimum mali remedium. In-

tellexit constitutiones plerasque nimium impudentes et mutandas :

32. iuuenis sciipsi, cf. L 40« : vnus O^. 34 O^ : ? ardentiub.

14. perstringunt] Eriismus had al- letter to Luther, 21 Dec. (LE^. 474.
reacly had this report in August ; cf. 53-6) :
' hominem j^erpuli ad legenda
Ep. 1225. 282-4. sacra, praesertim Euangeliaet Paulum,
18. sententia] Charles had solemnly praeterea quae de bonis operibus pien-
pronounced against Luther at Worms tissime tu pridem edidisti '. On the
on 19 April. same date Capito wrote to Melanch-
Glapionis] See Ep. 1275. Of his thon {Bibl. Bremensis, ix. i-]2o-i, p. g^^;:
' apophtliegm
I ean find no ti-ace.
' '
reui propius agnoscens ad legenda sa-
20. comburendis] Cf. Ep. 1218. 41U. cra, ad audiendas Euangelicas concio-
26. Eegis] The King of Denmark nes, ad jjrimas episcopi partes fungen-
(Ep. 1228. 3on^, who had offered das se destinauit nam
dicendi Euan-
:

Carlstadt (Ep. 911. 56^; an arch- gelii animum pridem

insumsit. hac-
bishopric ; see BRE. 206. For an tenus tamen deterritus est ne cona-
jiccount of the negotiations see Th. retur, liiierali pudore et reuerentia
Kolde in ZKG. viii ;i885), 283-92. Ecclesiasticae maiestatis, quam vere
27. vxores For example» of tbi.-i see
! expendit viribus suis superiorem '.
LE^. 474. 128-50; JE. 73, 74; BRE. Jonas, who was now at Wittenberg,
220 Bahin no. 107.
; welcomed the news and hoped that
29. Mtus ille] Albert of Branden- other bishops would foUow so good an
burg. For Capito's influence with him example (JE. 73 init.).
see Ep. 1158. ign, and, for Alberfs 34. conciliando] For Alberfs ad-
intervention at Wormis on behalf of vances to Erasmus see Epp. 661. i-io,
Luther, LE-. 474. 21-43. 23-9, 32 986. 31-9. ;

sacra legenda] That this means 38. constitutiones] The regulations

private reading is shown by Capito's governing the sale of indulgences.
 598 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

curaret, quantum in eo situm esset, modo sic tametsi

40 Princeps est et insolentissimis adulatoribus obnoxius praeterea edu- ;

catus vt solent. lussit vt excusarem neglectum tui quod pudori et :

reuerentiae tribuit, non insincero animo. Mire timet famosos libellos,

quibus tam confirmatur in factionem monachalem quocirca omnes ;

diligentissime moneo, ei vt parcant. Quod si me ames, obsecro

4,^ significes quid me velis conari, dum sic habeam obsequentem Prin-
cipem a quo discedam quantocius aperueiut suum erga bona studia
;

iniquiorem animum. Contendam et ipse pro virili in publicum

profuisse. Vale, et Aleandrum ne lacessas. Deuoranda nobis multa
videntur. Fata viam inuenient. Vale 14. Octobris Anno 152 1.

1 242^272 To Stanislaus Turzo.

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 634. (Basle.)

HN : Lond. xvii. 4 : LB. 597. (c. 21 November 1521.)

[Written just before Ep. 1243.

For Erasmus' journey from Louvain to Basle see Epp. 1302, 1342. The last
date on which he can be traced at Anderlechc is 14 Oct. Ep. 1239). He then
went to Louvain for six days.(Ep. 1342. 102), stayed in the Wild Man inn
f Ep. 1244. 3n) and had more amicable intercourse with Aleander than shortly
before at Brussels (see p. 591). For some days he was at Antwerp collecting
money from his pension (Epp. 1302. 23-24, 1342. 101-2) and dined with Gilles ;

in company with Nichohis of Hertogenbosch (Ep. 1697). Then he returned to

Louvain, and set out for Basle on the afternoon of 28 Oct. (Epp. 1342. 113,
133-4, 145-6). The first night seems to have been spent at Tirlemont. where he
picked up a troop of disbanded soldiers who were returning up the Rhine (Epp.
1302. 14-15, 1342. J48-54). For the next stages their route no doubt followed
his line in Sept. 1518 (Ep. 867), to St. Trond, Tongres, Maastricht, and Aachen.
Thence theywent toDuren but instead of entering Cologne, they rode straight
;

to the Rhine, through a j^lace which lie calls Sychimum ', perhaps Sechtem,'

SE. of Bruhl. From Coblenz on, he went by the right bank of the Rhine, to have
the escort of the soldiers but at Spires he left them and crossed back again,
:

finally making his way to Basle through Strasburg, Schlettstadt, and Cohuar.
In a letter to Alciati (Basle MS. C. VP. 73. 163) Boniface Amerbach announces
that he arrived at Basle on 15 Nov. cf. ZE. 33. ;

So long as he was with the soldiers, he travelled very rapidly, partly no doubt
from his desire to keep up with them, and partly because he was eager to finish
his journey and get 011 with his work. Afcer such fatigues he rested two days
at Spires and two at Strasburg, in each case perhaps two full days and three
nights. The last three stages apparently each occupied a day. In this course
t.lift only fixed pointsare those of his setting-forth and arrival, 28 Oct. and 15 Nov.

Some guidance as to time may be obtained from his journey of Sept. 15 18 (Ep.
867) but in the absence of more precise information the following itinerary
;

can only be conjectui'al :

28 Oct. From Louvain to Tirlemont.

29 Oct.-2 Nov. From Tirlemont to Dvu'en.
3, 4 Nov. From Duren to Sychimum and Coblenz, arriving on the second
' '

40. Princeps] Cf. LE \ 474. 71-2 : animus et spiritus rw "Apxovn acces-

'
homoest non . . inadulabilis, quia
. serit, nihil deinceps erit cur me hoc
princeps natus et iuuenis est '. taedio aulico enecem, nec subseruiam
edncatus] Cf. ibid. 26-7: ' quia amplius quatuor menses, si tautisper
princeps est et rudis lectione sacra '. subseruiam huic expectationi eeu de-
45. obsequentem] Cf. Ep. 1158. ign. speratae'.
46. discedam] Cf. ibid.151 4: "siiion 48. Aleandrum] Cf. Ep. 1195. 47^.
 •42J TO STANISLAUS TURZO 599

morning at lo. The rest of the day spentthere : in the afternoon, letters
written, none of which survive.
5 Nov. From Coblenz to Mainz.
6 Nov. Froni Mainz to Worms (for dinner) and Spiies, arriving late. Both
here and at Worms lie was upset by tlie stoves (Epp. 1302. 29-30, 1342.
190-1, 204).
7, 8 Nov. At Spires.
9, 10 Nov. From Spires to Strasburg (cf. Ep. 867. 152).
II, 12 Nov. At Strasburg.
13 Nov. From Strasburg to Schlettstadt.
14 Nov, From Schlettstadt to Colmar.
15 Nov. From Cohnar to Basle.
The i-easons which determined Erasmus to leave Louvaiu and go to Basle
were various. He was weary of tlie incessant controversies in which he had
been involved (Lond. xix. 33, LB. 1033) and he wished to see the notes of his
;

third edition of the New Testament (Ep. 1174. i5n) through the press (Epp.
1302. 8-13, 1342. 90-6). But the most poweiful motive was the tear tliat Court
pressure, exercised through Glapion (Ep. 1275), might compel him to enter the
lists definitely against Lutiier (OE. pp. 351-2, and a Responsio of 1530, LB. x.
1612C cf. Ep. 1342. 47). When he started, his intention was to leturn in the
;

spring (cf. Ep. 1209. ^n) and he probably did not propose to stay longer in
;

Basle than on liis previous visits. But having reaehed the circle of his friends,
he found it hard to tear himself away. Writing in 1533, he coukl say tliat he
had never regretted the migration (OE. p. 352).
His reception by the advanced party in Basle may be illustrated from a letter
of Conrad Pellican to Mehmchthon, 30 Nov. 1521 (K. Hartielder, Melanchthoniana
paedagogica, 1892,^.19): '
Erasmus nobiscum est. Prudenter scribit et loquitur,
ne veritati noii assit et jjericulum non scribendi euadat. Expedit vt sapienter
dissimulando inuidiam superet et promouentis vos in sacris studiis nou
impediri sinat. Frangere mihi passim videtur iras atrocium, leiiinientisque
oportunis insinuare inimicis modestiam. Egit sapienter id et caute nuper cum
Aleandro. Disjiutat crebro contra Lutlieranos Papistarum inuentis, et nunquam
non pro veritate colligit et decertat. Scribit propediem in Euangelia, fortasse
Paraphrases. Epistolas suas nouissimas libro inclusit, pro Luthero omnes,
cautus atque solicitus ad omnes semper. Non possum non commendare virum
sed spiritum Lutheri noii aequat '. Melanchthon at oiice conveyed the welcome
intelligence to Spalatinus (ME. 127) :f^rasmus Basileae est. Heri literas accepi
'

a Pelecano longe iucundissimas, e quibus apparet niliil vanius esse eo rumore

quem sparserunt stulti quidam de Erasmi aduersum Martinum voluntate '.
Stanislaus Turzo (ti7 April 1540) was a youiiger brother of John, bp. of
Breslau (Ep. 850) and like his father and other members of his faaiily, played
;

a couspicuous part in tlie affairs of Hungary. He matriculated at Oraeow iii

1485, aiid then speiit some time in Rome, Oii his return he was appointed to
Olmutz, the chief see of Moravia, in 1497 and iii this capaoity helped to crown
;

Louis II as King of Bohemia, 11 March 1509. Iii his palace at Kremsier he

entertained Louis magnificently in 1510, and Sigismund of Polaiid iii 15 16.
Like his brother lie was a munificent patron of learning. Hutten waiidering
through Moravia iu 1511 received from him a horse and journey-money (HE,
10 = VE. s^. 119). The provost of Olmutz, Aug. Moj-avus, received encourage-
meiit iii his studies (cf. Boh. E. ii b. 24), and dedicated to liim a Catalogas episcop.
OZomHcewstMm, Vienna, H. Philoualle, 8 March (1511?). Jaiius Dubravius, the
historian, who was for long Iiis counsellor, and followed him in the see, extols
tlie Christian simplicity of his life {Hist. Bofievi. bk. 32) and dedieated to him
;

an edition of Martianiis Capella, Vienna, H. Vietor, 11 May 1516. Era.smus

was first brought to liis notice in 1518 by Ja. Piso (Ep. 216), when the two
brothers were at Cracow (Ep. 1662) ; but though John at once opened correspon-
dence (Ep. 850), Stanislaus made no attenipt to court the schoIar's acquaintance
unlil July 1521, wlien Iie sent by Ursinus Velius theletter (not extaiit) which this
answers and a present (VE. 271J. Ursinus' visit to Busle sugge.^ted to Beatus
Rheuaiius that he should dedicate to the Bp. his editio princeps oiTevtuUimi, Basle,
Froben, July 1521 (BRE. 207) iii return the Bp. sent hiin a cup in 1522, and
;

at the same time a present of coins for Krasmus (Ep. 1272;. Beatus then dedi-
cated to him a collection of Aiitores historiae ecclesiasticae, Basle, Froben, 1523
(BRE. 234) a compliment vvhich the Bp. merited, since he could assure Beatus
:
 600 LETTEKS OF ERASMUS [1521

that lie had read Tertulliau ri^ht through (BKE. 266). Erasmus carried onthe
conuexion, dedicating to Turzo tirst Pliny's Hist. Kuf., Ba>ile, Froben, March
1525 (Ep. 1544 and then an Enarratio of Fs. 38, ibid., March 1532. AU these
,

works brougbt cups from the Bp. (cf. Ep. 1603 Aventinus' Werke, vi, 1908, ;

p. 90 and Lond. xxvii. 37, LB. 1229; the last of which was in Erasmus' pos-
; ;

session at his death (L. Sieber, MobiUar des Erasmus, 1891, p. 6). Other books
addressed to Turzo are Cuspinianus" edition of Dionysius Periegetes, Vienna,
Winterburger, 1508 Ziegler's attack on the Bohemian Brethren (Ep. 1260.
;

i3on) Math. de Miechow's De duabus Sarmatiis, Cracovv', 1517 Slechta's Micro-

; ;

cosmiis, 1522 (see Ep. 950 introd.) Andr, Cricius' De ufflictione Ecclesiae, Kome,
;

1527 and Jo. Faber'& Sermones adv.ersus AtiabajJtistas, Vienna, J. Singren, 1528.
;

Beatus Khenanus, In C. Plinium, Basle, Froben, March 1526, p. 27, extols his
exceptional generosity to meu of learning.
See A. Pilarz and F. Moravetz, Morauiae Ilistoria, ii, 1786, p]>. 124, 128, &c. :

and an article by K. Wotke in Zs. f. Gesdi.Malmns, iii, 1899. 337~^8, wliich I have
not been able to see.]

ERASMVS KOT. K. P. AC D. D. STANISLAO, EPISCOPO OLOMVCENSI, S. D.

MiRO quodam affectu prosequebar gernianum tuum Turzonem.

episcopum Vratislauiensem, amantissimis ad araicitiam
illius literis
prouocatus, quum
neuter alterum in vita vidisset, imo quum ille
nostram imaginem conspexisset in meis lucubrationibus, ac vicissim
5 mihi sui pectoris ideam in vnis atque alteris literis expressisset.
Quo mihi fuit acerbior eius viri mors, non tantum ob id quod ipse
tantum patronum et amicum amisissem, etiamsi nullam ego iacturam
in rebus humanis grauioiem esse iudico quam amici probi verum ;

multo magis quod tantum ornamentum Ecclesiae mors praematura

10 terris eripuisset.Vt olim ttoXXoI fxkv vap6qKO(ji6iMi, —avpoi Se re /3a/c;!^oi,
temporibus non omnes episcopi sunt qui mitras gerunt.
ita hisce
Atqui hinc certissima spes est fore vt floreat Christi regnum, quod
quotidianis votis vt adueniat optamus omnes, si viri tai similes, non
solum maiorum imaginibus verumetiam Christi dotibus insignes,
i^admoti gubernaculis Ecclesiae. quicquid habent vel fortunae vel
dignitatis vel ingenii, id omne conferant in commoda gregis con-
crediti, et in lucrum eius cui reddituri sunt onines rationem.
Hunc moerorem mihi si non ademit. certe leniit tuae celsitudinis
epistola, alterum Turzonem, doctrinae morum-
quae declarat te velut
20 que similitudine vere germianum, fratri demortuo in Erasmi amandi
vices successisse. Laetor vtcunque sartura damni sed vtinam ;

contigisset eam possessionem longe preciosissimam eonduplicari, vt

nec tu fratrem optimum desiderares et ego pro vno patrono duobus
fruerer Primus illius obitum obnunciauit Bruxellae Hieroslaus
!

25 Lascanus, Polonorum legatus, iuuenis eleganter doctus. Aegre cre-

TiT. ROT. R. p. Ac D. D. om. H. 19, doctrinuc add. II. 24. Hieroslaus

Lascanus add. H. 2=,. iuueuis eleganter doctus om. H.

I. Turzonem] See Ep. 850. public service. Under the direction

4. imaginem] Cf. Ep. iior. 7U. of his uncle, .John, abp. of Gnesen, he
5. ideaml Cf. Ep. 1334. ic^n. went with his youuger brother, John.
10. jToA.Aoi] Cf. Phito. Phacdo 6gc. later the well-known Keformer. to
25. Lascauus] Hieroslaus (or Hiero- Rome in 1513 aud from 1514^01516
;

nymus cf. La. E. 1,2) of Lask in

; they wero students at Bologna. In
Poland (27 Sopt. 1496—22 Dec. 1541) 1519 Hieroslaus was sent on a special
belonged toadistinguished family that mission from the King of Poland to
had for long taken a great part in tlu- Fiaukfort at the time of the Imperial
 1242] TO STANISLAUS TUEZO 601

debam, licet affirmanti. Mox Zancierus, praepositus Yratislauiensis.

mihi reddidit animum, confirmans se ex amicorum literis certo scire
Turzoneni conualuisse. Sed idem paulo post diuersis acceptis literis,
ex falso gaudio me in verum ac certum luctum coniecit. Sed haec
est non ignota iam fatorum inuidia, quae pulcherrima quaeque tantum 30
ostendunt terris, deterioribus ad tedium vsque relictis.

26. Zauderus ucld. H.

Election. In 1520 lie was deimted to in confiuio Poloniae et Hungariae ex-
greet Charles v on his return from pugnauit, et in cleditionem Eegis
Spain and made the acquaintance of
; Ferdinandi accepit et tamen nulhi est
:

Erasmus then, at Brussels and Cologne hebdomada qua Cracouiam venire

IPP- 330, 370 cf. I, p. 33. 3-14.-. In 1523
;
negligat. Tanta est celeritate et vigi-
he succeeded his father as Palatine of lantia vir, dignus Vlyssis secundi
Sieradz, an important town lying to nomine '.

the west of ]iis home. In May 1524, See H. Dalton'slife of John a Lasco ;

when sent on an embassy to Franeis i, La. E. p. 288 ; OE ; BRE. 333 and ;

he again visited Erasmus at Basle (cf. Ac'a Tomiciana. Tliere is a life by

Ep. 1452 witli Ep. 1445, ''^iitl liad tlie j A. Hirschberg, Lwow, 1888, in Polisli.
interview described in i, pp. 31. 28 wliich I am unable to read fully :

32. 38. He show-ed Erasmus a book reviewedin Ungarische Revue,yiii (1888 ,

against Luther printed atCracow, 1524 428-35. See also C. Pascal in BuU.
(Ep. 1629 and at departuiv presented
; Soc. Uist. du Protestantismi: fran(;ais, x\i\
him with a silverflask, which was slill (1895), 287-305 and 575-93.
am.ong Erasmus' possessions in 1534 26.Zandeius] Michael Sanderi or
(L. Sieber, Mobiliar des Erasmus, 1891, Sanderus (f c. Sept. 1529) stitdied at
p. 8). Erasmus in return dedicated to Bologna with Thos. Wolf jun. of Stras-
him the Modus orandi Denm, Basle. burg, c. 1492-1501 (Schmidt ii. 61,2
Froben, Oct. 1524 (Ep. 1502 audcor- ;
cf. Knod 4278) aiid became LL.D. He
re.~.ponded with him iu 1525-6 (Epi;. went to Rome and secured a papal
1622. 1751}. chaplaincy andthen acquired further
;

Hieroshvus eontinued to play a lead- preferment, charges upon canonries at

ing part in Polaird, and 011 the death btrasburg, in Feb. 1514 a canonry at
of Louis II of Hungary at Mohacz, 1526, Novara from Card. Schinner ^Sch. E,
secured the successionof John Zapolya, 361), and in May 1515 the abbey
iiational Llaimant-king against Ferdi- of St. Christopher near Bergamo
naud visiting England on his behalf
; (.J. Hergenrother, Leonis Regesta, X
in July 1527 (Brewer iv. 3231, 3265 ,
1891, 15324). At this last date hewas
and going later to Constantinople to already Deau (not Provost j of Breslau.
obtain Tuikish consent. For intrigue As secretary to Schinner he appears
with Ferdinand, Zapolya disgraced and repeatedly in the letters of Beatus
imprisoned him 31 Aug. 1534 but ; Rhenanus and Zwingli until May 1519.
next year lie was released and com- residing at Zurich and buying ).iooks
p -nsated «cf. Lond. xxvii. 24, LB. at Basle. Schinner sent him fre-
1278;. Renewing his intrigues with quently to negotiate with Wolsey in
Ferdinand, only made himself dis-
lie 1520-2 (Brewer iii) aiid so on his ;

trusted by both sides. On Zapolj'a's master's death (Sept. 1522) he appeara

death (1540) he was again sent to to liave been in some measure in
Constantinople in Ferdinand's name, English service (Brewer iii. 3103). In
in connexion with the succession but ; Dec. 1523 he had recently obtained a
was impri^oned there, 1540-1, and caiionry at Constance (Ep. 1401. 19),
carried l^ack by the Sultan Avheii he where ho bccame intimate witli Faber.
visitedHungaiy in person. On retir- and supported him in his ojjposition to
ing from Belgrade the Sultan released the Reformation. Later he became
liirn, and lie made his way back to master of the ceremonies to Campegio
Cracow to die. (see thc preface to F. Nausea's Ad
A
view of his character is given in Erasmum Oratio, Vienna, J. Singren,
a letter from Cracow, 28 June 1537, 25 Aug. 1524) and in Dec. 1524 he
;

printed \>y T. Wierzbowski, Materyidii WHS in Rome {V.\>. 1530).

dii Pism. Folskiego, i, 1900, p. 64
Dzicjoiu : Seo P. Kalkoff, Briefe iiler Lutlier . . .

Dominus Hieronimus Laski palatinus vom M'ormsey Reichstage, 1898, pp. 75,6
liiace proximis diebus quatuor castella and Zw. E 2. 5011.
 602 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

Quod operam suam mihi tam propense offert tua benignitas, magis
conuenit vt meam tantulus cliens patrono tanto.
tibi offeram, Fauo-
rem ac studium amplector quo mihi nunc sic opus est vt nunquam
:

35 alias aeque, aduersum quosdam odiose coniuratos in bonas literas,

et repullulare gestientem veterem illam ac germanam theologiam.
Quorum tanta est improbitas, vt me nonnunquam mearum vigilia-
rum proiDemodum poeniteat. Velium mihi multis modis optatis-
simum nondum videre licuit. Is epistolam reliquit apud amicos ;

40 munusculum, quod animi in me tui pignus esse voluisti, ipse tra-

diturus quum dabitur congredi. Pro sacris tuis manibus epistolam
saepius exosculatus sum, tua manu, vt testaris, descriptam. Christus
opt. max. celsitudinem tuam nobis seruet incolumem.

1243i272 To Stanislaus Turzo

Epistolae ad diuersos p. 639. Basle.
HN : Lond. xvii. 9: LB. 598. 22 November 1521.

[The last letter in F in point of time written shortly nfter Erasmus' arrival
;

in Basle. The year-date added in H

is therefore unquestionable.]

ERASMVS EOT. E. P. STANI.^-LAO, EPISCOPO OLMVTCENSI, S. D.

Vix superiores literas ad te meas obsignaram, Velius ad aceeptum

aduentus nostri rumorem, Basileam reuolat nam forte Friburgum —
iam commigrarat —
munusculuni tuae celsitudinis exhibet, atque
,

adeo sic modis omnibus commendat, vt mihi non minus fuerit

5 gratum quam si longe maioris fuisset preeii. Ipse Velius mihi factus
est longe charior quam ante fuerat, ex degustatis ingenii monu-
mentis, ob incredibilem morum comitatem, quum hoc fere genus
hominum soleat alienius esse a sensu communi. Visus est et multo
felicior quam existimaram. Primum ipse cultus magnificus ac
10 nitidus fortunam arguit satis lautam. Deinde corporis species de-
clarat, rara numinis indulgentia, ingenio felicissimo domieilium ae-
que felix contigisse. Non abs re ille tuam amplitudinem sic venera-
tur ac praedicat. Veneratur autem non secus ac numen aliquod,
praedicat effusissime. Porro quod tu talem virum tani arcte com-
15 plecteris, tam largiter foues. non minus est laudandum iudicium
tuum quam benignitas. Proinde non possum non vtrunque alteri
gratulari, tibi talem alumnum ac virtutum tuarum praeconem, illi
tam egregium Moecenatem. Rursum valeat T. R. D. cui me modis ;

omnibus commendo. Basileae .x Cal. Decembr. Anno m.d.xxi.

124:3. Trr. rot. r. p. om. H. s. d. FN^LB: s. HN". i8. T. B.B. F: tua

sublimitas H. 19. Anno m.d.xxi add. H.

1242.38. Vtlium] See Ep. 548. ^n. similar reception to aletter of Erasmus
He was novv at Freiburg cf. £p. 1243.: which he showed them c. 1518 see :

1-3. Ep. 1662.

42. exosculatus] Piso (Ep. 216) re- 1243. i. literas] Ep. 1242.
cords that the Turzo brothers gave a 4. commendat] Cf. BRE. 223.
 I244J 603

1244. TO WlLLIBALD PlRCKHEIMER.

Pirckheimeii Opera p. 272. Basle.
0-. p. 162 : Lond. xxx. 26 : LB. 599. 29 November 1521.

[1521 is the only year after Erasmus' return to Basle in which Leo x
(L 32"! was still living. For the forms of heading and address see Ep. 1085
introd.]

S,, ornatissime vir. Postremae litterae tuae mihi redditae sunt,

confabulanti Aleandro. Nam cum forte agebamus Louanii in eodem
diuersorio, is mihi saepius de te verba fecit, et ita fecit vt tibi vide-
retur fauere. Nam ostendit diploma quo liberareris ab ista molestia.
Ista querela, mi Bilibalde, tibi cum multis est communis. In me 5
non simplex exitium moliuntur. Equidem demii'or quis deus
Lutheri animum moderatus sit, vt tot amicis a prouocando Pontifice
deterrentibus, semper acerbiora scripserit. Magis autem demiror
malitiosum quorundam studium, qui volentes nolentes conati sint
aliquot in suam sententiam pertrahere quasi cuperent perire cum 10
:

multis. Quid enim aliud quaesiere talibus libellis quam exitium ?

Qui sie scribunt, qui sic minantur, debebant habere paratas copias, si
voluissent esse incolumes. Vide vero quantum promouerint. Bonas
litteras deprauarunt inuidia, et optimus quisque qui maxime fauet
Euangelicae veritati, affinis est suspicioni periculosae. Ingens orbis 15
dissidium excitatum est inter omnes, fortasse duraturum in multos
annos et semper in peius progressurum. Pro sinistro tentata libertate
duplicatur seruitus adeo vt ne vera quidem liceat tueri. Porrectum
:

est telum sceleratissimis quibusdam, quo se vlciscantur aduersus

optimum quemque. Inusta est non leuis nota Germaniae, vt solet 20
paucorum temeritas vniuersitati imputari. Desiderabant in nobis
prudentiam et consilium ; et qui vel armis solemus esse formidabiles,
contemnemur et a contemptissimis, vt qui nec mentem habeamus
nec arma. Nobiles aliquot hic minitantur sacerdotum opibus, quasi
huc spectet finis Lutheranae fabulae et ita collegia omnia conciliant
;
25
aduersae parti. In me nihil adhuc tentatimi est palam, nisi quod
Louanii potissimum Praedicatores quidam me mendacissimis con-

1. S.P: BiLiBALDO svo KEASMVs s. D. O^. 9. siut F : sunt O^. 19. quo
LB : qua P. 23. contemnimur 0".

2. Aleandro] Cf. Ep. 1195. 47n. In a document of 1521 quoted by Kal-

Louanii] This meeting must have koff, Aleander gtyen Luther, p. 96, the
occurred between Erasmus' return from inn is named the Vagus Vir '
'.

Anderlecht, where he still was on 14 4. ista molestia] Cf. Ep. 1182. ^n.
Oct. (Ep. 1239), and his departure to On 19 July Aleander wrote to the
Basle 28 Oct. (p. 598). Curiaaskingforpowertoabsolve Pirck-
3. diuersorio] Ep. 1342. 105 shows heimer and Spengler without requiring
that this was the Homme Sauvage : their appearance at Rome and a Brief ;

apparently the principal inn in Lou- to this effect was sent oft' to him from
vain, for in Aug. 1426 the secretary Florence 3 Aug. 152 1. See Balan pp.
who brought letters from the Duke of 274, 279.
Brabant approving the foundation of 7. a prouocando] Cf. Ep. 1241.
the Univer.sity, was lodged there at 22. vel armis] Cf. Ep. 1168. ign.
the expense of the town. See E. van 27. Praedicatores] Cf. Epp. 1166,
Even, Louvatn monumentdl, 1860, p. 286. 1173-
 604 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

cionibus infamant apud populum, apud principes variis titulis de-

ferunt. Quidam cogunt vt scribam aduersus Lutherum. cui non est
30 ocium vllum vt vel legam illius libellos. Nihil ego video melius
quam in b.ac re mussare. Tibi suaserim vt pro tua causa scribas ipsi
Leoni. Est ingenio mitissimo et fauet viris eruditis. Apud Alean-
druni ea de re loquutus sum quae sint in rem tuam quaeque puto
esse vera. Bene vale.
35 Basileae. Prid. Natalis S. Andreae Anno 1521. Eaj^tim.
In quibusdam Germanis, quibus toto pectore fidebam, minimum
reperi fidei.
Erasmus tuus.

Clarissimo D. Bilibaldo Pirckheimero, senatori Norembergensi et

40 Caesai'eae maiestatis consiliario.

12-51945 From Peter BARBiiauB.

Leipzig MS. Vittoria.
EE. 3. 29 November 1521.

[Au original letter, autograjili tlu'Ougliout.l

Salve, doctissime doniine mi Erasme. Reddite sunt michi simul

his diebus bine litere tue, altere ad nonum cal., alter(e) ad octauum
cal. octob., ambe Andrelaci scripte, Turbe bellorum quas patimur
efficient, tam cito possim.inuisere. Ne tamen
timeo, ne vos saltem
5 non firmum sit quod tibi aliis literis meis promisi, hoc est vel me
istuc venturum ante Natiuitatem Domini vel modum prospecturuni
quo tibi pensio assignaretur, communicata re eum quiljusdam peritis
istorum negociorum Eomanorum, comperi quod sanclissimus do-
minus noster. interueniente consensu meo, facile reseruabittibi fructus
10 horum que abs te, domine mi Erasme, accepi beneficiorum pro pen-
sione. Quo facto futurum est vt, siue moriar siue viuam, non possis
solitis carere fructibus. Et quia forte dices Sumptus ingens hac in '

re faciendus erit," ego respondeo quod ad hoc coram sanctissimo

domino nostro transigendum ego constituam procuratores vt nomine
15 meo consentiant in huiusmodi pensionera et ex nunc, pro vt ex ;

tunc, propono firmissime, visa sola signatura sine expeditione buUa-

rum, dictam pensionem me soluturum. Et sic non erit opus facere
impensas maiores quam vnius ducati, saltem per vitam meam quod si ;

contingat me mori ante te, in tua erit facultate secundum tenorem

1244. 34. LB : vera Basileae. Bene vale P. 38. Erasmus ... 40. consiliario
om. Oi^.

1244. 30. vel legam] Cf. Ep. 1225. Ep.i257.5-7sliowsthatNesenwasoneof

258-60. thosewhom Erasmus had in his mind.
36. Germanis] Epp. 1225. 357-61,
Cf. 124.5. 2. alterel Ep. 1235.
1258. 26-7. Ep. 1278. 10-13 makes the altere] Perhaps a dupiicate to Ep.
meaniiig clear, tliat in F, as in E, the 1235, sent by another messenger.
editors to wliom had Ijeen entrusted the 3. bellorum] In Castileand Valencia.
selection and revision of new letters, 5. literis] Not extant.
hadcommittedindiseretions: seep. 498. 10. beneficiorumj Cf. Ep. 1094.
1245] FEOM PETER BARBIRIUS 605

dicte signatiire bullas facere expedire sine meo vel cuiuscunque nouo -^o
consensu. Quia vero de pensione sex librarum grossorum cum media
super prebenda Cort:racen(si) assignatarum non j>otest lioc modo fieri,
ego decreui vel hic vel in Flandria pro eis accipere beneficium ali-
quod seu sacerdotium. et tunc similiter consentiam in pensionem
similem, sicut iam consensurum me predixi quoad alia beneficia. 25
Quia vero hic rari sunt notarii apostolici, presertim qui Latine scri-
bere j^ossint, ne, precor, putes me fidem non seruare, si cum presenti-
bus non misero procuratorium ad hoc faciendum sed quod non ;

faciam hoc nuncio, faciam per proximum.

Ceterum quia aliis literis tuis ad me scripsisti, placere tibi si fratri :,o
meo horum beneficiorum partem relinquerem, ego ei cum presen-
tibus scribo, ac mitto procuratorium ad cedendum ei ecclesiam sancti
Egidii in Wasia, rogans vt statim eonstitueret procuratores ad con-
sentiendum in pensionem omnium fructuum ad vtilitatem tuam,
sicut hucusque recepisti quod ideo ad te mitto, vt intelligat se id 35
:

munus abs te potius consequi quam ab alio quocunque simul vt, nisi ;

tibi phacuerit, non exhibeas dictum iDrocuratorium, nisi prius pvo-

curatores ad hoc sufficientes constituerit qui possint nomine suo, casu
quo fuerit ei prouisum de dieta ecclesia, consentire in pensionem
tantam, quantum fuit quod singulis annis solitus es de dicta ecclesia 40
recipere simul vt, si videbitur tibi et iis quos hac in re adhibebis
;

consiliarios, non des procuratorium huiusmodi, donec ego consensero

in pensionem prefatam. Et, sicut iam premisi, sic fiet vt nullum de
ipso fratre dubium possis habere ipse enim post dictum consensum
;

meum, vbi receperit beneficium, non poterit facere quin ad solu- 45

tionem pensionis obligetur. Non equidem quod dubitem de ipsius
fratris mei fide in te, vel de tua in eum sj^e, sed vt toUatur omnis
periculi,quantum commode fieri poterit, occasio. Si enim ei resigna-
retur antequam ego consentirem in pensionem huiusmodi, posset
interea mori, et sic tu pensione et ego ipso beneficio pi-iuarer. 50
Eorum que hic contigerunt, nichil scribam, ne occasionem habeas
irridendi stilum meum tam non Liuianum qui si michi esset vti
:

domino nieo Eiasmo, celebrarem certe meum Carolum quantum

veritas pateretur atque decor. Nichil est quod moneam te nunc
super turbis istis Louanien(sibus>, quandoquidem videani nocere me 55
potius quam iuuare. Hoc vnum faciam quod possum Deum orabo :

vt ita te tuaque omnia dirigat, vt ad gloriam et lionorem suum et

salutem tuam et omnium nostrum vtilitatem cedat, quod te certe
facere confido et tu, domine mi Erasme, idem facito, rogo.
;

Vale Ex Victoria tercio cal. decemb. anno 1521. 'jo

Tuus, vt seruus, Petrus Barbirius.

Doctissimo simul et humanissimo viro, domino Erasnio Rotero-

damo, domino semper obseruando.

22. Cortracensi] See Ep. 436. 50. It Epp. 613 inti-f»!., 1094. 2911.
itppears tliat a libra grossormn was 32. sancti E.^idii]See Ep. 1094. 29^.
worth 20 florins. 53. Carolum Charles v.
28. procuratorium] It still liad not 55. nocere] Barliirius evidently con-
arrivedinMay 1522: secEp. 1287. 10 11. sideredthathisadvicehad onlyspuned
30. aliis literis] Not extant. Erasmus ou to justify himself, witl»
fratri] Nicliolas Barbiriu^N ; see Epp- 1216, 1225, 1235.
 606 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [15:

1246. From William Tate.

Brcslau MS. Relid. 254. 149. Richmond.
EE l 6. 4 December 1521.
[An original letter actually sent and seemiiigly autograpli but with the ;

address-sheet missing. TKe dates are sufficiently confirmed by the mention of

Henry's book (h 26 see Ep. 1227. ^n) and tlie BuU that followed (1. 2in).
:

W. Tate of York (fc. 10 Sept. 1540) met Erasmus in 1499 or 1505-6 in England
and in 1500 or 1506 Ep. 535. 39-42) at Orleans (1. 2) where he no doubt obtained
i
:

his degree in law. In 1512 he was a trustee to whom certain lands in Yorkshire
wei-e demised (Brewer i. 3386). Later he secured a position at Court whence in :

Dec. 1517 he was sent to carry the King's Christmas offering to Canterbury, and
in 1521 the Assertio to Rome (ibid. ii, p. 1476, iii. 1450, and the present letter
;

evidently was written from the royal palace (Ep. 937. 46^). In 1520 he was
treasurer of Beverley Minster, where his name is carved on one of the stalls
(G. Oliver, Brvcrleij, 1829, p. 330). In 1522 he received a canonryat Windsor and
—
a prebend at Y^ork (Le Neve iii. 392, 176) preferment which perhaps indicates
that he was already attached to the household of Henry vui's natural son, the
Duke of Richmond (1519-36). By 1525 he was a member of the Duke's Council
in the North. at a time when the boy was thought likely to be the heir to the
throne (DNB. xix. 204) and in 1526 he was his almoner (Brewer iv). The
;

date of his death may be approximately inferred for his will was made on
;

9 Sept. 1540, ;ind the rectory of Chelmsford which he held, was filled up on
II Sept. see Notes and Queries, ^th ser., x. 55, and cf. Ep. 623 introd.
;
To his
prebends appointments were made on 7 and 8 Oct. 1540 (Brewer xvi. 220. 13,
and Le Neve iii. 393, 176).
He is very likely the '
humanissimus Dr. Taitus', whom Wakefeld (Ep. 1311.
4411) mentions as a friend and praises for his knowledge of Hebrew (Oratio,
ff. C', E^ v°) : but though he had learning enough to quote G-reek here, the

Latinity of this letter leaves something to be desired.]

IHS.
DO. DES. ERASMO ROTERODA., VERAE PHILOSOPHIAE SACRAEQVE
THEOLOGIAE PROFESSORI, GVILHELMVS TATO
INTER LL. DOCTORES MINIMVS S. F. D.
Iam ad te scribere. vir doctissime, (impellit) non modo vetus illa
inter nos amicitia olim et Britanniae hic concoepta, Aureliaeque, Gal-
liarum vrbe, continuata, verumetiam quod indies magis ac magis
philosophiam, illam scilicet Christi, sapere nitentibus viam ipsam.
5 nedum semitam latissimam, demonstras. Eoque quantum emolu-
menti^in Christo militantibus es allaturus, mihi haud facile putem
dictu. Aeuo proculdubio illo natus es foelici, ac me quidem, quod
aeuo tuo superstes sim, ingenti afficior gaudio. Vehementius tamen
gauderem, si illa locorum inter nos distantia (ad)mitteret, quo
10 inpraesentiarum consuetudinem apud me tui interdum haberem.
Animo penitus istic apud te moror, quanquam corpus illud meum
inter nonnullos hic inuidia latrantes bonosque semper et eruditos
lacerantes viros tedio non mediocri afficiatur. Caeterum quum ii
linguis alios feriant, sese dilaniant. Hinc tov to dTrocfideyfxa a-offiov,
15 Ta yap Tov (jiOovov Kivrjjxara avTOv TrXrjyax yivovTat tov /^aa-Kdvov. Sed
8. Pro ingenti afficior gaudio/wsJton prius scripserit ingens tenet gaudiura.

7. foelici] This may be contrasted with Erasmus' own vicw of hiuiself

see Ep. 1102. 6n.
1246] FROM WILLIAM TATE 607

(spem) habeas velim iisce hiantibus dantm- offulae, satque eorum

;

occluduntur ora.
Audisti iamiam, reor, potentissimum ilkmi ac elegantissimum
principem Regemque nostrum Henricum, huius nominis octauum,
cum corporis tum animi dotibus nemini secundum, totoque terrarum 20
c,yclo fortissimum fidei defensorem non modo ab Ecclesia dumtaxat
Ehomana sed et iure ipso meritissime nuncupatum, aduersus Lu-
therianam haeresim, illam videlieet qua sacramenta ferme quasi
omnia pessumire temere conatur, eleganter suo calamo libellum /

congessisse haud av€iriypa<^ov tituhis enim huic, vt ita dicam, Chri- 25

;

stianissimus, Assertio scilicet se2>tein sacramentonim. iam Eum

ad te libellum regia annuente maiestate transmitti curaui. Quem
oro perlegas puto nanque reperies non solum a principe et eruditi et
;

candidi ingenii, verumetiam a summo theoligo aeditum. Quamo1>-

rem, mi charissime Erasme, quidnam hoc in diuino opere sentias, 30
tuum Tatonem, quam citius poteris, certiorem facias. Idque vehe-
menter efflagito, iudiciumque hac in re tuum quotidie praestolor.
Vale, nostri aeui decus. E Rychemonti, Londinum prope. pridie
nonas decembres. Anno seruatoris nostri, 1521.
Tuus Tato Eboracensis. 35

1247. Feom Conrad Peutinger.

Breslau MS. Rehd. 254. 119, 120. Augsburg.
EE^ 7, 8. 9 December 1521.

[An original letter, with a page 11. 50-62) in.serted by Peutinger'.s wife :
autograph in both parts. The year-date is confirmed by Erasmus' return to
Basle, and by the week-date given in 1. 19.
—
Margaret Peutinger(i8 Mareh 1481 7 Sept. 1552, was the daughter of Antony
Welser, burgomaster of Memmingen. When she married in 1498-9, slie was
already Latinis literis aliquantum imbuta' (RE. 66) and though by now the
'
;

mother of a large family, slie still fouud time for her studies. On i Dec. 1511
she addressed to lier brother Christopher an arehaeological Episfola which ;

describes a statue of Mercury recently dug. up at Augsburg, in.scriptions found in

the Augsburg diocese, and some of the coins and inscriptions in lier husband"s
collection. She hoped that it might be printed in Rome, where Christopher
then was ; but no edition is known before that of H. A. Mertens, Augsburg,
1778. See J. G. Lotter's Hist. rif.ae Conradi Peufingeri, Leipzig, 1729, pp. 20, 32, 58-60.]

D. DESIDEKIO EK.\SMO ROTERODAMO &C. CHVONRADVS PEVTINGER

AVGVSTANVS SANITATEM ET FELICITATEM VERAM OPTAT.
Tuae dign<itati> pro reditu suo in Basileam gratulor gratulor ;

eciam Germaniae superiori, quod te quidem, vt omnino nobis speran-

dum est firmiter, non nisi fructu maximo |te] denuo excoeperit. Ita 5
enim tuae optimae consuetudinis clarissimum decus accedit, vt non
nisi studiosis et bonis omnibus prodesse veHs et eo eciam niagis ;

pro tua singulari prudencia, virtute et rerum cognitione exactissima

prae caeteris magis splendescere, quanto pro tua singulari humanitate
et beneuoleucia vnumquemque complecti soles. Cuius rei et ego 10

1246. 21. tidei defensorem] See Ep. 24. conatur] sc. Lutherus.
1227. 5n. 27. transmitti] Cf. Ep. 1227.
 608 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [152

superiori anno Brugis experimentum iucundissimum habui. Non

enim tuorum et omnis virtutis laude insignis et clarissimi Thomae
Mori Britanni serraonum cum dulcium tum probatarum sentencia-
rum oblitus sum adeo vt me eciam absentem, cum Hieronymum
:

'5 presbyterum policiori tua eruditione restitutum, et caetera eruditis-

sima opera tua perlegamus, quorum mira lectionis consuetudine, si
quapdo a negociis forensibus vacare licet, vti soleo. imaginaria qua-
dam fictione te docentem et videre et audire puto.
Ecce quid heri actum. Erat haec dies dominica Aduentus Salua-
20 toris nostri secunda. Ocio laxatus nomismatis nostris et Historiae
Augustalis Cornelii Taciti lectione me oblectabar. Sedebat j^rope, ab
alia tamen tabuhT,, coniunx nostra Margarita. Haec tuas Noui Testa-
menti interpretaciones Latinas simul et eiusdem tvalationem Ger-
manam, vetustam admodum nec plane eruditam, in manibus habebat.
2.T Mox me ab oblectamentis illis reuocauit, inquiens Lego Matheum '
:

capite XX, et perspicio Erasnuira nostrum Matheo quicquam super-

addidisse'. Eespondi, Et quid ? Illa denuo
"
At ille quae nec in
'
:
'

Germana lingua habentur, refert'. Mox Euangelium Mathei, quod

idem Hieronynins coraraentatus, ad raanum erat. vbi eciam verba
30 illa, Et baptismo quo bai itisor, baptisabimini non reperiebantur.
'
',

Ad tuas Annotaciones cogebar e quibus quam primum a te edocti

;

vltra Marcum verba haec eciam in Matheo ab Origene et Chrisostomo

atque Vulgario referri. Tura ipsa voluit vt Origenes xii et Chriso-
storaus Lxvi omiha sujjer Matheum legeretur ex quibus plane quae :

35 e Graeco restitueris, cognouimus. Tibi spero non iniucundura fore

te, pi-aeceptorem amplissimum, non solura me sed et coniugem in

dies docere.
Vrbs quae etsi peste aliquantisper grassata fuit, se nunc
nostra,
habet meHus
nara niue albescente et pruina perusta, gelu atque
;

40 glacie rigente terra, vetus coeli clemencia reducitur. Aedes tamen

nostrae hactenus sakiae permanserunt. Vtinam coaimoditas se ita
oiferret, vt et in patria nostra dign(itatem).tuam denuo coram inui-
sere possemus Schedulam quam inchisi, vxor manu sua scripsit.
!

Rogo te. quae modo formis excudenda putaueris, me cerciorem

4.5 redde. Dign(itas) tua beneualeat quam vxor in Christo sahitat.
:

Ex Augusta Vindelicorum v idus Decembr. Anno sakitis mdxxi.

(Vene)rando et inaxiraae eruditi(onis vi)ro, D. Desiderio
Erasmo (Roteroda)mo &c., domino et praeceptori obseruandissimo.
Basileae.

50
• 'Potestis bibere pocukim quod ego bibiturus sum, et baptismate
quo baptizor, baptizari ? Dicunt ei, Possumus '
Ait illis CaH-
'
'. :
'

cem quidem meum bibetis et baptisraate quo ego baptizor, baptiza-

biraini : sedere autera ' ecz."

II. Brugis] Cf. E^jp. 1129. in, 1145. 32. Marcum] 10. 39.
19. Sunday, 8 Dec.
lieri] atque Vulgario] This name is
33.
22. Noui Tfcstamenti] The notes to added in the Annot. of 1518.
II-33> 5°» ^how tiiat she wasusingEras- 50. poculum quod] substituted in
mus' edition of 1518-ig. Erasmus' translation of i^igfor calicem
30. Et baptismo] Matt. 20. 23. (^new of 1516.
 1247] FEOM CONEAD PEUTINGEE 609
" Mogend
'
trincken den kelch den ich wird trincken, vnd mit
ir
dem tawf, darin ich getawft, ir getawft werden?' Sy sprachen, 55
'
Wir mogen Vnd er sprach zu yn
'.
Wan meinen kelch werden :
'

ir trincken vnd mit dem tauf, darin ich getauft, ir getauft werden
aber zu sitzen' ecz." Comunis interpretacio Germanica hoc sokim
habet " Mogend ir trincken den kelch den ich wird trincken ?
:
'
Sy '

sprachen, Wir mogen '. Vnd der Herr sprach

'
Ja, mein kelch 60 :
'

werden ir trincken ecz." Hic de baptismate nihil.'

Margarita Peutingerin Augustana.

l^^S. To Matthew Sckinner.

Paraphrasis in Matthaeum f". p^ v". Basle.
Lond. xxix. 68 : LB. vii. 147. 14 December 1521.

[A letter printed at the end of the Paraphrase on St. Matthew (Ep. 1255
introd.). Of the Froben editions enumerated there it is necessary to distinguish
the folio of 15 March 1522 (a) ; the octavos of Mareh 1522 (/3) and s. a. (7); the
folio of 1524 (5), wliich appears to have been set up from a, with the misprint
in 1. 14 corrected the octavo of 1534 (e)
; and the folio of 1535 (Q. The ;

octavo of 1523 follows 7. Tlie vear-date of this letter needs no confirmation.]

EEVERENDISSIMO D. D. MATTHAEO, CARDINALI SEDVNENSI,

ERASMVS EOTERODAMVS S. D.
Tandem ausus sum me committere itineri Germanico, quum tota
via vndique militibus esset operta : adeo multos contemnebam, quos
paucos metuissem. Misere cupiebam adesse Nouo Testamento iam
tertio renascenti. Graecus ille malebat ter in acie stans Martis aleam
experiri quam semel parere. At quanto nos infelicioi-es, quibus
idem foetus toties est parturiendus ? Caeterum cum asina per medios
ignes suis pullis succurrere tradatur, non mirum si nos per tot peri-
cula subinde transcurramus ad foetus nostros. Sed parum abfuit
quin frustra periculosum ac molestum iter susceperimus mox enim ;

ad nidorem hypocaustorum aegrotare coepimus, vixque recreatos

morbus sic repetiit vt non abessemus a periculo vitae.
Sed interea tamen semianimes Paraphrasim in Euangelium Mat-
thaei absoluimus quam operam et ego tibi Bruxellae receperam, et
:

1248. TiT. DEs. ante erasmvs adcL (. 8. subinde add. 0f : om. a5.

1248. 2. militibus]Cf.Epp.r242introd., heating is expressed repeatedly in other

1302 regular troops as compared with
: letters of this period (1249, 1258. 30,
the brigands of whom Erasmus liad 1259, 1264, cf. 1316. 38n).
1302. 32;
oftenbeen apprehensiveonhisjourneys Froben had had an open firoplace
to and from Basle (cf. Epp. 412. 1-9. (caminum) put into his house in 1521,
867. 27-8,and the letters of Marehand in expectation of Erasmus' return to
Apr. 1518: alsoEpp. 1274. 16-17, 1275. 8. Basle (Zw. E.^ 175^: so also Botzheim
3. Nouo Testamento] See p. 127. at Constance (a fumariuni) in 1522
4. Graecus] Cf. Eur. Med. 250-1. (BRE. 227: cf. Epp. 1342.345, 1382. 61).
6. toties] Cf.Epp.269init., 425, 1365; aegrotare] For Erasmus' serious
and I, pp. X. 2-4 and 37. 18 38. i.
asina] Cf. Ep. 1302. 11-12.
— illness throughout 1522 cf. Epp. 1256.3,
1258. 24^, 1259, 1264-5, 1267, 1274,
10. hypocaustonim] Cf. Ep. 1169. 1283, 1302, 1311 BRE. 216 VE. 308,
; ;

17. Ei-asmus' sensitiveness to stove- 313, 317; Zw. E^. 221.

 610 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

tu Mediolanum proficiscens Germaniae meo nomine promiseras.

15 Neque nescit tua celsitudo quam illa sit improba flagitatrix. Eadem
igitur opera tuam simul et meam fidem liberare studui. Valetudini
congruebat argumentum, in quo vel emori pium sit et optabile.
Sumus vtrique in negotio nescio quam simili, certe toti. Vtinam
vtrique succedat quod agit imo, vtinam in Christi gloriam aeque
!

20 cedat quod agimus omnes Nescio quod sidus infaustum quisue

!

genius malus hos tantos tumultus excitat inter mortales. Nec satis
est sic bellis intestinis regna, ciuitates, summos oi*bis monarchas
inter se collidi, nisi studia literarum, nisi reiigio fidesque Christiana
tam periculosis dissidiis concuterentur. Equidem si tantis malis
25 nullum adhibere remedium possim, certe me duce aut autore nuUus
erit factiosus.
Video seculum lioc esse malum ac periculosum. Quid moliantur
quidam aut quid parturiat mundus, nescio. Ego, quod semper feci,
non desinam fauere gloriae Christi. Homunculus sum misellus, qui
30 minus possim quam nihil tamen voluptati est mihi reflorescere ac
;

velut dva^cuTTupoLo-^at doctrinam Euangelicam. Quam quidem ad rem

vtinam liceat tantundem adfeiTe momenti quantum cupimus Certe !

sedulo bonaque fide conamur. Hic animus sibi conscius est, et

testem habet Christum, quod nec ojjes ambit, quarum nunquam fuit
35 auidus nec honores, a quibus semper abhorruit vohiptates multo
; ;

minus, quae nec aetatem lianc deceant, si libeat frui, et breui mihi
sciam esse relinquendas. Illud milii j^otius studio est, commeatum
aliquem parare quo instructus hinc feliciter emigrem ad Christum,
;

cui nostra desudant studia. Vtinam pariter succedat hic conatus

40 noster ac successit in Epistolis Apostolicis lam enim passim terun- !

tur manibus etiam laicorum. Atque vtinam per istas negociorum

procellas amplitudini tuae liceat hoc agere quod solum erat agen-
dum Et tamen, quantum licet, scio te fauere negocio Christi
!

proinde non dubito quin faueas et Erasmo.

45 Opus dicauimus optimo Principi Carolo, partim quod diuinarem.
vt est pietate singulari, hoc illius maiestati fore gratissimum partim ;

vt tam fauorabili titulo plurium animis commendaretur. De Leone

nostro coeptus est hic spargi rumor, quem magnopere cupiam esse
vanum. Nihil illius ingenio mitius, vnice fauebat honestis literis.
50 lu me peculiari quodam animi fauore propensus erat; sed mortalis
erat. Si visum est Deo pastorem suum ad solidiorem felicitatem
euocare, precor vt nobis contingat aliquis tui similimus si quis :

tamen tui similior esse potest qunm es ipse tui. R. D. T. diu floren-
tem et incohnnem seruet Dominus lesus.
65 Basileae postrid. Id. Decemb. An. m.d.xxi.

14. tu li : tum a. 55. Id. a : Idib. t : Idus (,'. a5{': Decembr. 7«.
M.D.xxi 7« : M.D.xx a5 : m.d.i /3.

14. Mediolanum] Schiiiiierspent the For his earlier persuasion of Erasmus

hitter half of June in Brussels ; and to complete the Puraphrases of the
set out on his journey to negotiato Epistles cf. Ep. 1171.47^.
with the Swiss to attack the French in 15. flagitatrix] for publication : cf.

Milan, on 30 June (^Brewer iii. 1357, Epp. 1186. 22n, 1255. 80-r. Auewform
1388): so tliat tlie date of his inter- of ui)oh)getic disclaimer cf. Epp. 30. :

view with Erasmus can be approxi- i6n, 1175. 55^.

matelyfixed. SeoalsoEp. 1255. 24 9,76. 47. Leone] ti Dec. 1521.
I249J 611

1249. To ]\Iatthew Schinner.

Opus Epistolarum p. 820, Basle.

N. p. ySs : Lond, xxi. 13 : LB. 601. 14 December 1521.

[An abridgement of Ep. 1248 ; intended for actual dispatch, while Ep. 1248
was i^rinted.]

ERASMVS ROT. MATTHAEO CARD. SEDVNENSI S. D.

SvMvs vtrique in negocio toti. Et vtinam prospere succedat quod

agitur imo vtinam in Christi gloriam aeque cedat quod agimus
!

omnes Paraphrasim in Matthaeum quam te autore suscepimus.

I

videbis excusam nundinis proximis. si modo Christus vitam suppe-

ditabit. Adsumus et Nouo Testamento tertio iam renascenti. 5
Video seculum hoc esse malum et ijericulosum. Quid alii moliantur
nescio certe ego cupiam, si liceat, omnibus satisfacere. In Lutherano
:

negocio fortasse plus praestiti quam quidam qui se iactant mii'aprae-

stitisse. Apud nos quaedam linguae, magnae ciuidem sed nimium
faciles, sparserunt me corj^phaeum esse Lutheranae factionis veium ; 10
ipsa Germania multo aliter sentit, non sine meo pei'ieulo. Ego licet
homunculus misellus et peccator, tamen faueo gloriae Christi, et ob
hunc iis qui eius gloriam promouent, Nec opes ambio, nec honoies.
voluptates multo minus quas scio, etiamsi diligerem, mihi breui
:

relinquendas. Atque vtinam per istas negociorum procellas liceat 1

=

tibi niliil aliud agere quam quod soluni erat agendum Et tamen, !

quantum licet. scio te fauere Christo proinde fauebis et Erasmo. :

De Pontifice Leone coepit hic rumor spargi quem plane velim esse
vanum. Germania nos excepit vt solet nidor hypocaustorum rae ;

propemodum exanimauit. Sanctitatem tuam incolumem ac florenten.i 20

diu seruet Dominus lesus.
Basileae postridie Idus Decemb. Anno m.d.xxi.

1250j26i To Andrew Alciati,

Opus Epistolarum p. 820. Basle.
N. p. 7S3 : Lond. xxi. 14: LB. 600. 14 December 1521.

[The year-date js eonfirmed by the mention of the war and of Alciati's Decla- '

mation and by Boniface's presence at Basle. See also the letters in sequence,
',

especially Ep. 1278.

Andrew Alciati (8 May 1492 — 12
Jan. 1550) of Milan, belonged to a family
which took its name from estates at
Alzate. a village se. of Como. After study-
ing the hunianities at Milan under .Janus Parrhasius, lie went to Padua c. 1507
to work with Jason Maynus, Later he was at Bologna, where on 5 Jan. 15 13 he
dated the preface to his first book, In tres posteriores Codicis lustiniani Annotntiov.es.
of which I can find no edition earlier than Schotfs at Strasburg, 1515 doubt- —
less only a reprint. Eeturning to Milan in 1514 with the degree of LL.D., he
practised as a lawyer and composed various kgal works in 1517-18, which were
;

dedicated to French ofBcials in Mihin, and printed by Minutianus (see Ep. 1020.
57n). He also wrote notes on Tacitus, addressed to G. Visconti (cf. Ep. 378.
in) ; first printed by Minutianus, 1517. In Oct. 1518 he was appointed to
lecture on law at Avignon, and he taught there witli great success till Nov. 1522 ;

with an interval from April to Nov. 1521, when he returned to Milan bucau.se
of an outbreak of plague. His resignation in 1522 was due to difficultics about
612 LETTERS OF ERASMUS [1521

the payment of his salary. Por some years he remained at Milan, regretfnl of
Avignoii, and seeking in vain for an appointment in some Italian university,
preferably Padua. A high municipal office was offered to him but he declined,;

wishing to be free for his studies. These were mainly legal but he found time :

to compose a comedy, Philargynis, to translate Ar. Nuhes, and to huut for mss. on
behalf of the Basle printers with whom through Boniface he remained always
:

in close communication. At the end of 1527 he returned to Avignon, and taught

there till March 1529 when he accepted an invitation, pressed by the Arch-
;

bishop, Francis of Tournon (Ep. 1319); to come for two years to Bourges. In
1530 he began to negotiate for a chair at Bologna but it was not till 1533 that
;

he succeeded in his ambition of an Italian post, when the Duke of Milan sent
him to Pavia, resisting an attempt of the Doge of Venice to secure him for
Padua. From 1537 to 1541 he taught at Bologna, 1541-3 at Pavia again, 1543-7
at Ferrara after which he returned to Pavia until his death. See Mazzuclielli,
;

with a long list of his works, i^rinted and ms. V. Cian in Arch. stor. Lombardo,
;

xvii (1890), 811-65 ; 0- Giardini, ibid. xxx (1903), 294-346; and E. Costa in
Arch. stor. Italiaiio, xxxvi (1905), 100-35.
Alciati's reputation was raade early see the honourable mentions in Zasius'
:

Lucubrationes, 1518, p. 17 (Ep. 862), in Mosellanus' Orafio cle linguarim cognitione,

Leipzig, "V. Schumann, Aug. 1518, f°. D^, and in Erasmus' Adag. 259, 445,
inserted in the Froben edition of Feb. 1526, and 3836, added in March 1533 also :

many letters in ZE, and Horawitz i. 17. His most important composition was
the legal treatise De verborum significatione, written as early as 1523, but not
printed till 1530, Lyons, S. Gryphius, with a dedicntion to Card. Tournon. In
his later yeai-s he produced a collected edition of his works, finely printed by
Isingrinius, Basle, 1546-9, in four volumes. He is best known through a volume
of about 200 Emhlemata. or symbolic epigrams. which, when published with
illustrations, set the fashion of an emblem-literature ', and were soon widely
'

imitated. Tlie iirst edition appeared at Augsburg, H. Steyner, 28 Feb. 1531,

dedicated to Peutinger and translations were made into French 1536, into
;

Oerman 1542, into Italian and Spanish 1549, into English 1586. Altogether
about 180 editions of it are known : see an elaborate bibliography by H. Green,
1872.
Of his correspondence much remains. Ten letters exchanged with Erasmus
survive. There are 7 letters to him, 1512-21, in the letter-book of Alex.
Minutianus at Milan (Brera MS. AD. XI. 31). P. Burmann in 31. Gudii Epistolae,
1697. pp. 75-114, printed 27 of his letters, 1518-40, 26 of which are to F. Calvus
(Ep. 581. 3on). Tlie Basle MS. G. II. 14 contains 78 original letters from him
to Boniface Amerbach, 1521-49; of which 14 are printed byGiardini, and many
extz-acts given by Costa. Boniface's replies are to be found in 63 rough drafts in
the Basle MSS. "C. VI». 54 and 73 a few of whieh are printed in Am. E.
; Cian
prints 8 letters to Bembo, 1532-5, communicated by P. de Nolhac from the
Vatican MS. Barb. Lat. 2158 (xxxi. 43) and shows that the letters to Fran.
;

Alciati mentioned by Mazzuchelli as in the Visconti Library at Milan are now

in the Trivulziana there, liut are of little importance. The first letter in Jac. de
Boyssone's letter-book (Toulouse MS. 834) is from Alciati, 1534 see also Calc. :

E. p. 213, Sad. E., VZE and ZE.

ERASMVS ROTEROD. ANDRE.\E ALCIATO S. D.

Ervditissime vir, Bonifacius Amerbachius, candidus ac bene

laudum tuarum, non tantum sua praedicatione, quam
vocalis pi-aeco
nunquam de te non honorificentissimam facit, verumetiam ostensis
lucubrationibus tuis, quas habet in deliciis, eifecit vt vehementer
suspicere coeperim eruditionem tuam pro modo aetatis pene incredi-
bilem, et mores niueos omnibusque Gratiis refertos.
Pyrrhi nostri mors mihi fuit acerba. Amabam hominis ingenium
sic vt vix vllius aeque nam mihi cognitus est a puero. Et illius
:

2. praeco] Cf. Epp. 1020. 55-6, 1201. 140 introd. He had been Erasmus'
11-13, 1278, 1293. I>upil inParis in 1501 ; cf. Ep. 140.
7. Pyrrhi] d'AngIeberme see Ep. ; 34,5.
1250] TO ANDREW ALCIATI 613

gratiamagis auebam adire Mediolanum, ni stolidus Mauors tumultu

vesano misceret omnia. Scripserat enim mihi se nescio quid habere lo
mearum nugarum, quas ipse non meminissem me scripsisse. Eas
ego certe cupiebam auferre, non ob aliud nisi vt abolerem. Nam
Germani quidam stultissimo consilio nunc nihil non euulgant,
quantumuis laedant hominis famam.
Quod sollicite mones de Declamatione tua in literis ad Bonifacium, 15
ipse caueram diligenter, adeo vt nec legendam cuiquam dederim.
excepto vno amiculo, sed spectatissimae lidei. Quare hac de re in
vtramuis aurem dormias licebit. Bene vale.
Basileae postridie Idus Decembris. Anno m.d.xxi.

1.251. From Johx Sapidus.

Breslau MS. Rehd. 234. 132. (Schlettstadt.)

EE-. 9. 30 December 1521.

[An original letter, autograph throughout. The year-date is confirmed by

Ei-asmus' recent return to Basle. I have no clue to his visitors, who had been
Sapidus" pupils.]

lOAXXES SAPIDVS ERASMO ROTERODAMO S. D.

Qvi has ferunt literas, Erasme. omnium quos vnquam habui

tibi
vel habiturus sum amicos charissime. vbi certa fama didicerunt te
nobis redditum atque iam Basileae agentem, solo eoque admirabili
tui videndi desyderio illecti ac impulsi huc profectisunt, rehctis
parentibus, patria et rebus domesticis, non habito respectu vel 5
itineris tam propter rigorem frigoris quam ob alias res non satis
commodi, nec etiam sumptus faciendi. Magnum sit oportet quod
eos tantopere vrget ad te videndum. Kani quo id commodius (vt
ipsi i)utarunt) et possent et sibi liceret, dechnarunt aliquot miliis
a recta et instituta via ad me, vt eius literis quo olim vsisunt prae- ro
quem plurimum apud Erasmum
ceptore et valere persuasisunt, tibi
commendarentur. Ego itaque. mi Erasme, etsi inuitus, maxime hoc
tempore quo tu pkirimis atque iUis seriis et urduis detineris negotiis.
te meis nugis interturbem, neque mihi quoque per meas occupationes
faciie liceat, non potui tamen [me cohibere quinj iuuenibus, moribus 15
simul et ingenio praeditis, tui studiosissimis ac tam honesta solhcite
magis quam oportune petentibus, non morem gerere. Agnosco
ea in re ipse meam inciuilitatem, quam prorsus nihil tale abs te
petere debeba(m) agnosco tamen et tuam humanitatem quae melior
;

19. debeba MS., vbi extrema litera in fine lineae periit..

12.50. 9. Mauors] Cf. Ep. 1248. i^n. tion of the Ochjssey, see Ep. 131. 300.
Milan had been captured ft-om the 13. Gern>ani] Cf. Ep. 1186.2211.
French by the Papal army on 19N0V. ;
15. DecUimatione] Cf. Ep. 1201. 1511.
see Brewer iii. 1809, Creighton v. 161. 1251. 6. rigorem frigoris] For bad
II. nugarum] Perhaps the transla- weather at this time cf. Ep. 1252. 17-18.
 614 LETTEES OF ERASMUS [1521

20 est quaai vt non boni consulat meam petitionem. Quare in te situm

est, imo fac tuae partes sint, vt sicut ibti me tui causa exorauerunt,
ita me
rursus te ipsorum causa exorare sinas quod tum facies quum
:

te ipsis,quod vnice impetratum cupiunt, spectaculum praebueris.

Festina eorum abitio me prohibet plura scribere, Cupio isthic
25 omnes meo nomine salutari.
Vale. M D XXI. III. Ca. lanuarias.

Domino Erasmo Kotf-rodamo, viro omnium doctissimo, praeceptori

suo opt. max.
 APPENDIX XIV
EPPENDOEFF-S COPY OF THE EPISTOLAE AD
BIVEBSOS.
In the libiavy of the late Dr. Seebohm, which is still preserved in
his home at Hitchin, is a copy of Erasmus' Epistolae ad diuersos (F),
Basle, Froben, 31 Aug. 1521, to Avhieh former owners have im-
parted considerable interest. On the inside of the cover, which is
clearly the original binding, is inscribed by a contemporary hand,
'
Danielo Stibaro, equiti Franco, Basileae xii Cl. lulii xxviii ' on ;

the fly-leaf opposite are the words Sum Danieli Stibari equitis ' ;
'

and at the end, in contemporary manuscript, on the blank space of

p. 668 and the fly-leaf which follows, are two letters from Melanch-
thon to Erasmus, the second being Lond. Mel. iii. 66, iv. 65, LB. 952,
of 23 March 1528, and the first a short note of the same date
which does not seem to be found in any other source, introducing
Melanchthon's pupil, John Reyffenste^-n, who had known Erasmus
and Goclenius formerly at Louvain (ME. 515, 1081).
Daniel Stibarus (1,503-155.5) of Rabeneck, between Bamberg and
Bayreuth, was a young Franconian knight who had been an ardent
fellow-student with Camerarius [Narratio de Eobano, 1553, f'^* C^) at
Erfurt c. 1520. He visited Basle in 1528 and stayed for some time
in Erasmus' house (cf. Q. 39) also reading law with Boniface
:

Amerbach. Later in the year he went on to Paris, and returned by

way of Antwerp, Louvain and Frankfort to Franconia in the spring.
In the winter of 1529-30 he was again for some months with Eras-
mus at Fi'eiburg whence he returned to Wurzburg to the duties
:

of a canonry, which had been conferred upon him in early life, and
to beeome eouncillor to the Bishop (p. 306). Four letters written to
him by Melanchthon between 1536 and 1554 survive in which he ;

is saluted as a patron, and pleasure is expressed at his retaining

'
memoriam nostrae veteris consuetudinis (ME. 147 1). The two
'

letters from Melanchthon to Erasmus copied into the Seebohm

volume must have arrived at Basle not long before Stibarus aequired
it. It is therefore not surprising that Stibarus should have had
them eopied into his book the handwriting is not his own.
:

But the vohime had had a previous owner. In the iiiscription on

the front fly-leaf only the name 'Danieli Stibari isin his autograpli,
'

written over an erasure. The outer words, Sum and equitis ',
' ' '

are by an earlier hand, and between them was a name which has
been so tlioroughly scratched out that even when thechieis supplied,
it is not easily decipherable. But at numerous points throughout the
book are marginal comments in manuscript by the same hand.
 616 APPENDIX XIV
which make it possible to identify the writer. Dr. Carl Roth, of the
University Library at Basle, has kindly supplied me with a photo-
graph of an autograph letter (printed below) from the Amorbach
collection and this shows conclusively that the earlier hand is that
;

of Henry of Eppendorff in Meissen (p. 303), and that the name

erased can be read as Henrici Epphendorpii '. This young Saxon
'

knighf-s acquaintance with Erasmus had begun at Louvain in 1520

with an exchange of compliments. He then went to the University
of Freiburg but after a somewhat chequered career there, he left in
;

the spring of 1522 and follov/ed Erasmus to Basle. Intimacy soon

arose between them. For some time he lived in Erasmus' house-
hold and they went together to Constance in Sept. 1522 to stay
;

with Botzheim. But this accord did not last long. Eppendorff's
sympathies were with reform. He hated the monks and friars as
cordially as did Erasmus but in action he was prepared to go much
;

farther. When Hutten transformed Luther's religious protest into

a national crusade fov the unification of Germany, Eppendorff caught
eagerly at the inspiriting idea and was for pursuing it with all his
strength. Erasmus' cautious moderation became distasteful to him ;

and when to this was added in 1523 the breach between Erasmus
and Hutten, ending in bitter recriminations, Eppendorff was entirely
alienated.
While still at Freiburg he wrote to Boniface Amerbach, 20 March
1522 (Basle MS. G. II. 29. 107 the letter mentioned above)
:

S. Ex te scire cupio, optime Amorbachii, an nostri ioci visi sint

Erasmo tam suaues vt eos responso dignetur. Queso vrgeas vt
scribat, suppresso tamen me instigatore. Apud nostros rumor est
aquilam a vobis e Mediolano agro profligatam, nobis non admodum
5 iucunda noua. Sed quando ita insaniunt principes, velim huius-
modi trophea sepius referrent domum, vt hominibus simul ac
peeunia attrita, miseris mortalibus pace frui tandem concederent !

Verum tu tuos triumphos apud me eftunde liberius.

Epistolas Erasmi cura mihi quam elegantissime apud vos ligari,
10 atque isto nunttio mihi rescribe quid pro illis numerandum sit.
Faciam vt reddita pecunia proximo nunttio ad me veniant. Interim
vale foelicissime ex Friburgo xx Martii m d xxii.
Henricus ab Eppendorff.

To this Boniface replied promptly (Basle MS. C. VP, 73. 204 :

23 March), saying: Erasmum tua comitate tantum abest vt leseris,

'

vt etiam tibi alioquin deditum reddideris deuinctiorem. Respondebit

literis tuis statim atque nunciorum oportunitate potuerit. . . .

Epistolare concinnatum aureo coronato vendi dicit Hieronymus

(Frobenius) The identification of the handwriting makes it clear
'.

that the Seebohm volume is the copy ordered here.

Having obtained the book thus, Eppendorff proceeded to enrich
the margins here and there with notes. These sliow very evidently
his personal feelings and prejudices his hostility to the orthodox
;

party and its representatives, his admiration for Hutten and Luthex*,

2. vt eos scripsi : et eos MS. 4. e sc;}f>« : § MS.

EPPENDORFF'S COPY OF EPISTOLAE AD DIVERSOS 617

and his changing sentiments towards Erasmus. A few are concerned

with persons mentioned in the letters. Thus :

1. p. 280. g, nebnlonem (Ep. 911. 44,5): Is est Tranquillus

Parthenius, homo preter literas, quas non vulgares habet.
summe etiam innocens. Non erat candoris Mosellani absenti
et nihil tale merito vulnus infligere.
2. p. 282. 7v, Sedunensis (Ep. 948. 95) Qui mortuus est Rome
:

1522. Hic multarum cedium author fuit. Huius mense

apud Tigurinos adhibitus, miram vafritiem hominis depre-
hendi.
3. p, 500. 6, Volsi (Ep. 1075. 16): Yoltzio nihil vidi vnquam
purius.
4. p. 510. 3-8, Stromenim etc. (Ep. 11 25. 24-30): Mosella(ni) illa
sunt commentaria. Is enim, cum in Brabantia essem, hos
viros ita depinxit, nescio per deos quam vere.
5' P- 513- 19» a^^vpoyAwTTOj (Ep. 1051 tit.) Hadriano Barlando. :

P- 539- i9> Palaeologus (Ep. 1132. 19): Palaeologorum

6- familia
olim regalis erat ex qua et Lascharis progenitus est, qui
:

nui^er iam decrepita aetate nothi Principis Sabaudie sororem

in vxorem duxit, ad Heluetios a Gallo orator missus, Anno
MDXXII.
7. p. 614. 3, itaiene reuocato (Ep. 1200. i) Is est Hieronymus
:

Phrysius, qui mecum fuit Friburgi, a nobis et amatus et

adiutus.
^- P- 635- 9?
^'^^ ocium sese recipiiint (Ep. 1238. 34-5): Sic faciunt
Lipzenzes soi:)histe, posteaquam in collegiaturas, vt vocant,
inciderunt.

Towards Erasmus, beginning with the desire to claim him. for

Germany, he ends with criticism and reproaches. Thus :

9. p. 504. II, Germanorum (Ep. 11 23. 3): Nusquam non prodit

suos in Germanos affectus.
10. p. 615. 10, homo Germamis (Ep. 307. 10): Germanus iam es,
Eras(me) !

11. p. 296. 2, Concionandi rationem (Ep. 932. 18): Hanc iam con-
scripsit, sed nescio quando sit editurus. 1523.
12. p. 495. 32,3, Germania x^rorsus insanit in Leum (Ep. 1129. 15):
Licentior Erasmi lingua Quasi ad hoc non sis adhortatus,
!

imo impuleris omnes !

13. p. 623. 7,8, cohihui (Ep. 998. 67): Quasi tu eos non admonueris
epistola vt Leum
etiam hxpidarent
14. p. 529. 12,13, **'^^ nonnunquam fuco doloque hono fallatur (Ep.
1167. 171-2) Nescio certe an hoc pacto in fidei negotio agen-
:

dum sit.

15- fac ne ignoret vel studium erga ie meum posterifas

P- 294. 32,3,
(Ep. 923. 25.6): Quod Spongia praestabit.
16. p. 547. 29,30, Hoc animo puto me maiorem gratiam inifurum a])ud
lesum (Ep. 1205. 50-1): O Erasme, Erasme, oratio ))ona est.
Vtinam responderet illi animus ! quem fortassis iaui olim
huius mundi principibus vouisti.
618 APPENDIX XIV
Hutten's name is often picked out in the margin ; and for Luther
there is nothing but praise.

i?' P- 538. 26, JVec addubito quin id aliquanto felicius ilU (Henry viii)
successerit (Ep. 1227. 25-6): Imo
longe infoelitius ; nam
conuitiis Luthe(rum) aggressus est. Ideo indignissime
exceptus et traductus, domestici dedecoris, tantum non stulti
cerebri notatus.
18. p. 571. 1-3, tofa illius vita nihil erat nisi sacra concio, etc. (Ep.
12 II. 98): Talis est Lutherus ter maximus.

The orthodox provoke his ire, and he singles out the name
freely
of Egmondanus (Ep. »878. i^n) for abusive comment, frequently
supplying the clue to his identity.

19. p. 562. 2 (Ep. 1172, 25): Egmondanus ebrius.

20. p. 564. 10 (Ep. II 73. 92): Egregius nebulo Egmon.
21. p. 283. 5 (Ep. 948. iio): Ecmundanus. But see niy note on
this passage.
22. p. 526. 12 (Ep. 1147. 95): Car. Ec.
23. P- 527. II (Ep. 1167. 43): Camehis Ec.
24. p. 603. I, quodam {^i>. 1196. 105): Ecmundano.

He is very bitter against the Dominicans too, especially Hochstrat

(Ep. 290. lon) and John Faber, the theologian (p. 357).

25« p. 527. 7 (Ep. 1167. 39): Dominicani boni socii

26. p. 564. yq (Ep. 1173. 130): Preclare gesta nebulonum Predica-
torum.
~7' P- 5°o- 15-17 (Ep. 10 -jo. 16-19): Animi morbum corporis de-
formitate refert. Nihil vidi hoc homine turpius.
28. p, 502. 17 (Ep. II 51. i) : Superciliosus est, nebulo est, indoctus
est et monacho impudentior.
-9' PP- 515- '3, 9, 516. 12 (Ep. 1156. 3, 42, 70-1) : Sceleratus et sui
sodahtii similis Faber. Illa tribuis Fabro, cum tua sint.
Eccius, Faber, Doctor Ihesus, Predica(tores) et sexcenti id
genus.
30. p. 520. yg (Ep. 1149. 14) Tertio commendat nebulonem.
:

31. p. 524. 19 (Ep. II 52. 12): loannes Faber nebulo.

32. p. 532. 1-2 (Ep. 1167. 347-9): Vt sunt loannes Eccius, loannes
Faber, Prieras, Caietanus et sexcenti alii.

Further evidence of his partisanship is :

33- P- 532. 10, II (Ep. 1167. 359-60): Aleander et Caractiolus nebu-

lonum fex.
And against the denunciation of the '
heresy ' which consists in
unchristian life he adds

34. p. 664. Y6-9 (Ep. 1232. 89-98): O vtinam pro hac heresi habe-
remus siue Basilidis siue Manichei

These marginalia were no doubt written for the most part during
the period of Eppendorff's close association with Erasmus in 1522-3 ;

and thus though one of the identifications (No. 21) appears to be

\ EPPENDORFF'S COPY OF EPISTOLAE AB DIVEBSOS 619

incoriect— a hasty inference into which, from the frequent viHfica-

tion of Egmondanus, it was easy for Eppendorfif to fall — ,it may be
presumed that most of the scraps of information are authentic, some
(Nos. 5, 7, 24) being probably derived from Erasmus himself. It is
the more to be regretted that Eppendorff did not read, or at least
annotate, the letters more thoroughly for not one in twenty has his
:

comments. After the breach he continued for a time to write

hostile animadversions on Erasmus ; but it appears that he soon lost
interest in this. If there is any truth in the insinuation that he was
in difficulties for mone}", he was doubtless gh\d enough to dispose of
a book, the author of which he now detested, for some part of the
gold crown which it had cost: and thus it Avas in the second-hand
book market for Stibarus to buy a few j^ears later.
 APPENDIX XV
THE HEINE COLLECTION
Amoxg the notes of the late Dr. Max Eeich of Berlin, which the
Delegates of the Clarendon Press were good enough to purchase in
1 905 for the purpose of this edition, was a letter of Professor Linz.

dated 1 900, enclosing a list of a collection of letters formed in Spain

in 1846-7, by Dr. Gotthold Heine of Bei-lin. This young scholar,
as Dr. Ernst Crous of Berlin kindly discovered for me in 1913«
died on 22 March 1848, in his twentyeighth year, as the result of
a chance bullet-wound received four days before during the Revolu-
tion.^ While traveUing in Spain and Portugal he had written
reports of his progress. whieh were princed in the Scrapemn " and ;

he had brought back with him a great number of papers, some

copied and others bought.^ Before his untimely death a few first-
fruits had been published * but of the coUection of letters now
;

to be considered no use had been made, nor is there any mention

of it in his reports. It passed into the hands of the celebrated
Dr. Dollinger, the leader of the Old Catholics ; and hxter on to his
successor, Professor Friedrich. In the summer of 1907 Professor
Friedricii most obligingly placed the letters in our hands at Munich,
and gave us opportunity to examine them at leisure, with permission
to copy and publish such as we desired.
The collection contained twenty-four letters in all, in two sections
— seven copied by Heine himself,^ and seventeen by an earlier hand.
very neat and careful, perhaps a Spanish copyist of the seventeenth
or eighteenth century. The originals of the seven letters copied by
Heine are to be found in a volume of manuscripts now, and then,
belonging to the Eoyal Academy of History at Madrid ^ and as :

Heine notes against his first copy that the address was written by
Erasmus himself, the rest of the letter being by a secretary, it may
reasonably be inferred that it was copied directly from the Madrid
autograph, which has just the condition he describes.
Of the seventeen letters in the second section, which may be

• See FossiscAeZei/Mnjf, 25 March 1848, Gothorum et Arahum in Hispaniis, Leip-

and Magazin fiir die Literatur des Aus- zig, 1848, posthumouslj' completed bj'
landes, 28 March, p. 152. M. J. E. Volbeding. was iii the press.
^ Serapeum, vols. vii and viii, Jiily ^ Four of these are between Erasmus
1846, March and April 1847. and Gattinara, 1525-8, one being Lond.
' See E. Boehmer in Beutsche Zs. xx. 63, LB. 967. The otlier three are
f.
christliche Wissenschaft, n. f. iv (1861), from the correspondence of A. Valdes,
pp. 345,6. and have been printed by F. Caballero,
* Briefe an Kaiser Katl %\ geschrieben Alonso y Juan de Vahles, 1875, pp. 432,
von seinem Beichtvaier in den Jahren 1330- 395. 335.
8ii, Berlin, 1848. The Monumenta regni ^ Est. 18, gr. i. 5.
 THE HEINE COLLECTION 621

numbered viii-xxiv, a list is given at the end of this Appendix.

They consist of seven written by or to Erasmus. of which two are
printed in vol. v (Epp. 1277, 1312), and five foUow later, 1525-31 :

four are between John Vergara and Stunica, and are printed below
and there are six others, one of which (No. xx) is by Benedictus
Arias Montanus.
As to the i^rovenience of this series of seventeen, by the earlier
hand, there are no clear indications. Two of them ^ were doubtless
copied from the ms. which Heine had at Madrid ; since their
originals are there. But the only other clue to origin is in a note
by the copyist, on a separate sheet 'Copiada del tomo 412, folio
:

588 y 589. Esta escrita en el original en tres llanas. Segun la

calidad de las varias emiendas, es original de Arias Montano la
letra de que esta escrita. Es de aduertir que, sino vna o dos
veces, nunca mas pone tilde a la i, quando yere, como en adtuno.
El primer blanco esta assi en el original'. This clearly refers
to some writing by Arias Montanus which is not now in the
set; but which was in his autograph. There cannot be many
collections of mss. large enough to contain 400 volumes of a series,
each possibly with about 600 folios. If the source of this autograph
composition could be traced, it might lead to the recovery of the
originals of the letters. For another 3is. in the Bibl. Nacional at
Madrid, Avhich is perhaps by the same hand. see p. 631.
How this second section passed into Heine's hands there is nothing
to show. It is not uncommon to find Later copies existing, side by
side with original letters (cf. Ep. 12 18 introd.) —
made perhaps for
the purpose of sending to the press. Thus the Neve collection
(App. 16 in vol. v), when bought for the British Museum and
Bodleian, possessed besides the originals, a series of inaccurate
copies made for Mgr. de Eam, who had intended to publish them
again, Dr. Dollinger had had the last nine of Heine's second section
copied, doubtless for the pux-pose of printing. It may well be that
the owners of the originals of Heine"s second section at some period
entertained a similar design and that later some reasonably generous
;

librarian or archivist presented the copies to Heine on the occasion of

his Spanish visit, with a view to their being published when Heine
returned to Germany.
Vergara"s correspondent, Jacobus Lopis Stunica (Diego Lopez
Zuniga), was a member of a distinguished Spanish family (? cf. Ep.
487. i4n); and as a theologian of the University of Alcala had a
competent knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. On the appearance of
Erasmus" Xouum Instrumentum, 1516, he prepared some criticisms
which he wished to publish. Ximenes forbade him (Ep. 11 28. 4n) ;

but on the Cardinars death Stunica produced his two series of

Annotationes against Faber Stapulensis and Erasmus (Ep. 11 28. ^n).
From ff. A* and A* of these two publications it is evident that he
was one of the editors of the Complutensian Pol^^^glott, though his
name does not appear in it for his part in the work see F. Delitzsch,
:

Studies on ihe Complut. Polyglot, 1872, pp. 24-32. About the end of

^ Nos. VIII (printed by Prof. Bonilla 541-8) and xiii (Lond. xix. 32, LB.
in Eevue Hispanique. xvii, 1907, pp. 962).
622 APPENDIX XV
Aug. 1520 he set out from Alcala for Eome, where he arrived
on 9 Feb. 1521: see his Itinerarimn dedicated to his brother,
Joannes Stunica. who was a Knight of the Order of Santiago, Kome,
M. Silber, 1522 (reprinted bj^ Andr. Schottus, Hispaniae Bihliotheca.
1608, pp. 624-49). Silber also printed for him in the same year an
Epistola to Adrian vi (Panzer viii. 265). Stunica continued at Rome
his attacks upon Erasmus' work and in consequence his name
;

appears frequently in Erasmus' correspondence, with great obloquj'.

But after some years better feeling prevailed and instead of pub- :

lishing the criticisms which he had made upon Erasmus' fourth

edition of the New Testament, 1527, Stunica proposed to commu-
nicate them to him privately. From this he was prevented by his
death, which occurred at Naples about the end of 1531 see cap. 32 :

of Sepulveda's Antapolocjia pro Alberto Pio in Erasmum. Rome,

A. Bladus, 1532 (Panzer viii. 275), and Sep. E. ii. i and 2, cf. EE. 176.
The Antapologia mentions also (cap. 19) that c. July 1529 Stunica
and Sepulveda accompanied Cardinal Quignon on his mission to
meet Charles v at Genoa : Wickham
Legg, Second Becension of
cf. J.
tJie Quignon Breviary, 191 2, p. 96. During the Imperial
visit Choler
saw him at Bologna and formed a good opinion of his feelings
towards Erasmus (EE-. 80). See Nic. Antonio, Bibl. Hispana noua.
i, 1783, pp. 295-6; and A. Bludau, Erasmus-Ausgahen des N. T.,
1902, pp. 125-40.
In order to elucidate Epp. 1277 and 131 2 and the letters which
follow here, the series of publications by Erasmus and Stunica
during the course of their controversy may be detailed :

I. Annotationes contra ErasmumRoterodamuui, in defensioaem tralationis

Noui Testamenti, Alcala, A. G. Brocario, 1520, fol.
2. Apolcgia i"espondens ad ea quae lacobus Lopis Stunica taxa-
uei-at in prima duntaxat Noui Testamenti aeditione.
Louvain, Th. Martens, (Sept. 1521 cf. Epp. 1235,6), 4°.
;

Enlarged later for inclusion in the Apologiae omnes, Basle,

Froben, Oct. 1521 — Feb. 1522, fol.
3. Erasmi Roterodami Blasphemiae et Impietates per lacobum Lopidem
Stunicam nunc primum propalatae ac proprio volumine alias redar-
gutae. Rome. A. Bladus, 1522. 4°.
4. Apologia aduersus libellum Stunicae cui titulum fecit, Blas-
phemiae et Impietates Erasmi 13 June 1522. Published
:

in Erasmus' De esu caDiiuDi, Basle, Froben, 6 Aug. 1522,

8 and in his Apoloriia coiitra Sanctium Caranza^». Basle,
,

Froben, 1522, 8'\

5. Libellus trium illorum voluminum praecursor, qnibus Erasmicas impie-
tates ac blasphemias redarguit. Rome, A. Bladus. 1522. 4°.
6. Apologia ad ijrodi-oraon Stunicae: an Appendix to 4, printed
in the same volumes.
7. Conclusiones principaliter suspectae et scandalosae quae reperiuntur in
libris Erasmi Roterodami. Rome, 1523.
8. Apologia ad Stunicae conolusiones i March 1524 (Ep. 1428).
:

Printed, with 7, in Exoniolofiesis, Basle, Froben, 1524. 8°.

9. Apologia Ecclesiasticae translationis Noui Testamenti a soloecisraisquos
illi Erasmus Roterodamus impegei"at.
10. Loca quae ex Stunicae annotationibus, illius suppresso nomine, in tertia
editione Noui Testamenti Erasmus emeudauit, Rome. s. n., 1524. 4°.
 THE HEINE COLLECTION 623

LETTEES BETWEEN JOHN VERGARA AND STUNICA.

No. 1. From Vergara to Stuxica.
Heine MS. xxiii. (Brussels.)
(lo October 1521.)

[The dates are given in No. 2, which answers this.]

MiSERAM ad te in Hispaniam abhinc sesquiannum ferme Annota-

tiones Laei cuiusdam Angli in editionem Noui Testamenti Erasmicam
vna cum Erasmi ipsius defensione, non iniucundum tibi fore ratus et
doctum hominem eodem tecum argumento certantem et propugnantem
altrinsecus aduersarium, seque aduersum te iam tum velut praemu- 5
nientem conspicere. Verum quoniam tu forte eodem tempore Romam
concesseras, cessit videlicet in irritum meus labor. Nunc cum
Apologiam Erasmi, qua ad Annotationes tuas respondet, prodiisse
viderem, longe magis ad officium meum j^ertinere putaui eam ad te
mittere. Accipies igitur vna eum his literis librum vt melius fieri 10
potuit pressum complicatumque, ne si magno impedimento esset
tabellario ro -axo?, minus forsitan ex fide proferi-etur. Quo magis
rogo te, mihi prima quaque occasione significes, redditusne tibi liber
fuerit.
Caeterum quid mecum hac de re Erasmus egerit, quoniam video 15
&cire cupis, paucis accipe. Vt primum ex Hispania Brugas appuli,
conuenit me homo, iam diu expectatione mei suspensum se esse
dicens. rogansque traderem sibi librum quendam Annotationuui,
quem Stunica quispiam, vnus ex spinosis (Academiae) Complutensis
soj^histis, edidisset in suani Noui Testamenti editionem esse enim 20 :

se per literas monitum ab amico Flamingo in Hispania agente (cui

ego id ipsum olim praesens promiserim) librum me allaturum. Vt
vero aucliuit relictum (id quod res erat) per obliuionem, dolere vel ob
id maxime respondit, quod sese tunc tertiae editioni inuulgandae
accingeret. 'Nam secunda inquit iam diu exiit quo magis -"5
'
' :

intelligo maligne ab Stunica, dissimulata secunda editione, in qua

permulta ex prima correxerim, primam potius tanquam vberiorem
carpendi materiam fuisse petitam Ibi tum ego homini persancte
'.

iuraui, minime adhuc peruenisse in Hispaniam secundam editionem ;

nec itein esse te de numero spinosorum sophistarum, sed is potius 3°

qui Ijonis vtriusque linguae authoribus tum sacris tum prophanis,
Hebraicis praeterea litteris, assiduam operam dederis, et a quo non
aristas sopliisticas, sed iusta spicuki deberet pertimescere. Virum
adhec et claris natalibus et propria virtute inter tuos conspicuum :

addita insuiier quaecunque mihi ad ornandam pro tempore augen- 35

damque dignitatem tuam facere visa sunt. Vnum cum pro comperto
praeteriissem, sacris te initiatum, in eo video hominem aljerrasse, qui
te prophanum in Apologia appellet. Rogauit deinde num virulentus
esset liber,quo maxime nomine offensum se aiebat al) Leo id enim :

se non laturum. Respondi non omnino carere libertate, quamuis 40

tu te in eo mediocriter temperaueris, homo tali Trappr^cna vt non temere
omnibus parcas. Atque haec quidem primo congressu. Dein intel-
 624 APPENDIX XV
ab communi amico suspicari Erasmum aliquid me monstri alere,
lexi
qui librum quidem adduxerim, sed cuipiam potius ex suis emulis.
45 Laei fautoribus, tradere maluerim, aut certe supprimerem, quo sibi
minus liceret dTroXoyt^eii/.
Paucis post interiectis diebus, ad cenam ab Erasmo inuitatus, cum
me ab hac suspitione purgassem. ibi tum ille incipit de integro
priorem suspitionem vrgere de dissimulata a te secunda editione.
50 Non esse verisimile quin quaetu ante secundam editionem scripsisses,
multo fuissent ante in lucem proditura quam prodierint delegisse ;

te sedulo in quod spatiosius inuehereris. Ita factum ab Laeo ita :

solere ab iis fieri qui ansas caknimiandi vndecunque conquirunt. Quo

hominem scrupulo dum libero, exposui fuisse me testem prope
55 oculatum, cum primum prima fuerit in Hispania visa, in
editio illa
eam te cepisse scribere ac librum iam Annotationum cum esses sub
;

nomine reuerendissimi domini Cardinalis, communis patroni, inuulga-

turus, admonitum te Wande a viro religioso et omnium iuxta studio-
sorum candido fautore fuisse. significares potius Erasmo per litteras
60 errata quae deprehendisses in eum eonscriberes.
quam inuectiuam
Cuius tu dum voluntati (suppressa ad aliquot dies editione) morem
geris, serius aliquanto edidisse : quod diu ante paraueras. Visus est
mihi n-eLdea-Oai: cumque ibi ego prouinciam mihi cepissem curandi
librum ad illum ex Hispania perferendi digressi sumus.
65 Profectio inde euenit mihi in Germaniam. Vnde post multas dies
reuersus. intelligo peruenisse ad Erasmum, siue amici illius Flamingi
siue cuiuspiam alterius opera, codicem Annotationum tuarum. Cum-
que multo iam tempore hominem non vidissern, proximis diebus con-
spicio eum Louanii calcographis tradentera Apologiam hanc ipsam ;

70 quam ex ipso statim praelo redemptam ad te mitto. Tum rogatus cur

vna Annotationes tuas non adiungeret, quod fecerat in Apologia contra
—
Leum sic enim melius rem transigi, si sub lectorum oculis iuditio-
que et accusantis et defendentis argumenta subiiciantur respondit — .

satis per te vulgatas Annotationes tuas, non egere secunda editione.

75 Addidit, intellexisse ex literis ad se Bombasii
cuiusdam Romani.
edixisse tibi Leonem Pont. Max., interdixisseque ne Erasmum
'

Erasmiue editiones Noui Testamenti incesseres, quas ipse niodo

decreto approbasset.
Haec sunt quae in rem tuam esse putaui vt scires. Caeterum
So Erasmus, quantum mihi hominem prospicere datur, vir est acerrimo
ingenio iuditioque, expeditissima facilitate et qua nonnumquam
nimium fretus videri possit emittendis tumultuariis et parum con-
coctis editionibus —
verum de hoc eruditiorum esto iudicium ad haee :

studio indefesso ac prope immenso. Fama fruitur quanta non

St temere quemquam multis retro seculis viuentem fruitum crediderim.
In multa doctorum virorum copia quos et Germania passim Belgicaque
et Britannia fouet. vnus Erasmus suspicitui*, colitur, adoratur,
certatim in coelum fertur et cum ipsi nonnunquam inter se mutuis
;

(vt fit) stili vulneribus conficiantur, solus Enismus, et^w /3e\ov<; positus
90 et veluti in orchestra sedens, gladiatores contemplatur, laudibus
vtrinque faustisque acclamationibus oneratus. Nemo iam librum,
nemo orationem, nemo pagellam in publicum edit, qui non statim
eaptata occasione Erasmi nomen, et quidem literis maiusculis con-
scriptum, adiunctis honestissimis elogiis, veluti impetrandae veniae
 THE HEINE COLLECTION 625

causa celebret. NuUum bibliopolis certius ad conciliandos emptores 95

illicium quam
praelatus libris omnibus Erasmi recognitoris, castiga-
toris, annotatoris titulus nullusque tam pretiosus liber, nullus con-
;

tra tam despectus ac vilis, cui non authoritas maiestasque ex Erasmi

lemmate accedat. Et ne singula prosequar, regnat, mihi crede, in
media doctorum indoctorumque arena. Vnus Laeus inuentus est qui 100
auderet Erasmum scriptis lacessere, sed fortius fortasse aut iustius
quam foelicius. Non aliter acceptus est quam Zoilus quispiam in
Homerum aut Momus in Venerem. Vix librum emiserat, ecce tibi
exeunt vndique inuectiuae, oratiunculae, scazontes. dirae, miserum
Laeum miseris modis lacerantes, vt vel stilis confodiendus, si se in 105
publicum dedisset, videretur.
Verum ego vt semel tandem finiam, exactiorem de literatura cen-
suram doctioi'ibus tuique similibus mandans, amo plane venerorque
indefatigabile in homine sene studium, incredibilem rei literariae
ardorem, vitam conuictumque plane scholasticum. Et tu, si mihi iro
credis, redibis in gratiam cum homine literato literatus ipse. Ad eam
conciliandam si quis mei vsus fuerit, praesto tibi sum aeque ac in
ceteris quaecunque ad dignitatem tuam tuendam amplificandamque
pertinere intellexero. Vale.

No. 2. Fkom Stunica to Vergara.

Heine MS. xi. Rome.

9 January 1522.
[Answering No. i, and referring to Ep. 1236. 53-61. The dates are confirmeJ
by the death of Leo x and the election of Adrian vi. A note preserved by the
copyist, Resp''* postremo de Hebrero
'
shows that Vergara replied on 28 Feb.
',

but his letter has been lost. The mention (11. 102-7) of Jo. Eberlin of Giinzburg's
XV Bicndtgenossen is noticeable.]

MvY reuerendo senor, Vn emboltorio vuestro despachado en Bru-

xellas a X de Otubre re^ebi aqui en Roma a xvi de Diziembre. Lo
que en el dicho emboltorio venia, era vna carta vuestra en Latin y
la Apologia del honrrado Erasmo, la qual auia dias que yo desseaua
mucho ver, por que Paulo Bombasio, secretario de monseiior de 5
Santicuatro, que es el <que) aqui procura por Erasmo y le fauore^e,
me auia mostrado vna carta que le auia escrito el dicho Erasmo ;

en laqual inter cetera dezia, Hispanus ille est Stunica qui in Anno-
"

tationes meas gloriosissime debacchatus est cui nos breui Apologiu

;

satis ciuiliter respondimus Ansi que yo estaua en esta expecta-

'. lo
tion, de la qual me aueys quitado por vuestra virtud en enbiarme
con tanta diligencia la dicha Apologia lo qual os tengo en singular
:

mer^ed. Quisiera que ansi mesmo ouierau venido u mis manos

aquellas Annotationes de Leo con la respuesta de Erasmo, que
dezis, senor, que me enbiastes a Espaua por que yo nunca las auia
: 15
visto hasta que en Genoua, quando venia aca, que era agora vn ano.
452.4 s 9
 626 APPENDIX XV
Casi por este tienipo me las mostro vn cauallero de alli erudito, que
ansi mesmo me mosti"o la segunda edition de Erasmo in Nouum
Testamentum lo qual todo fue muy nueuo para mi, por que hasta
:

20 eston^es nunca auia visto nada de aquello, ni pensaua que nadie se

ouiesse adelantado a echar garrocha a esse toro tan brauo antes que yo ;

por que quisiera yo mucho aquella gloria.

Despues vi aqui encuadernar para el embaxador de Portugal aquellas
Annotationes de Leo con la respuesta de Erasmo, y nunca otras he
35 podido ver en Ronia, ni las ay. Por esso pidos, seiior, por mer^ed, que
con el primer mensaiero que aca venga, me las enuies para tenerlas
con estotras que agora me enbiastes, y ver bien que es lo (que) aquel
Leus dize, que lo ley en Genoua muy tumultuariamente. Y quanto a
lo que toca a la Apologia del senor Erasmo, si yo no me engano, el me
30 respondio "satis ciuiliter', no como el entendio, sino segun suena.en
buen Romance Castellano. No pensaua yo que era el tan inerudito
como agora he cono^ido por esta su Apologia en la qual aunque me
:

confiessa algunos errores, le veo manifiestamente defender otros

mayores, palliando en quanto puede su ignorancia y defendiendo se
35 con su vaniloquencia. Con todo aunque estaua harto triste, como
era razon, por la muerte de nuestro buen Pontifi^e y senor el papa
Leon, no me pude contener de mucha risa leyendo esta Apologia.
—
Y por que por ella he cono^ido que Ei*asmo me tiene en poco y tiene
muy gran razon, pues que hasta agora no sabia nadie, si era yo en el
40 mundo — ,he acordado de le replicar de tal manera que le sea forcado
tenerme en mucho por que allende de lo que yo me tengo de myo, tengo
;

aqui muy gran commodidad a causa de las librerias Griegas que aqui ay.
que me hazen mucho al proposito para obruir a esse barbaro. Y deter-
mino de le responderdesta manera, mostrarprimeroquan indoctaraente
45 nie respondio en essa su Apologia en laqual inter cetera deditaopera
supprirne lo que yo dixe y esta de molde y despues desto mostrar los
;

erores en que cayo en la segunda edition, que la ter^era no se a visto

aqui hasta oy, ni la ay y despues espulgar aquellos scholios que
;

escriuio sobre las Epistolas de San Jeronimo y desto todo se hara vn

:

50 tan buen libro que a Erasmo le retinan las oreias. Pei'o por que
este es poco para lo que el mere^e. siendo como es tan impio y tan
blasphemo, tengole vrdido otro libro y aun qui^a compuesto, aunque
no esta publicado en el qual muestro al summo Pontifi^e a quien en
;

esto conuiene poner la mano, quan ne^essario es castigar a esse

55 Batauo y compellerle ad palinodiam, cum inter cetera impiissime ab
eo prolata, decem in locis, vt ego ostendo, aperte impugnet priraatum
Romane Ecclesiae vnde ansam raanifestissimara suae haereseos
:

Luteriani haei-etici arripuere. Esto creo yo que le pare^era mas

aspera canvion al honrrado Erasrao que no auer escrito contra sus
60 Annotationes por ende podeis le bien auisar que desde agora se
;

prouea, por que no soy yo solo el que le concita estas tragedias, saluo
muchos: entre los quales es vn senor destacorte ecclesiastico y letrado
-Italiano, el qual leyo todas quantas obras a hecho Erasrao, no a otro
fin sino a espulgai'le las irapiedades. et vt quasi de foueis proiiceret
65 serpentes. Yanoto, segun he sabido, raas de ^ien lugares, y puestos en
escrito, los presento al Papa Leon, y el Papa los dio a vn ^ierto
letrado desta corte, que yo no he podido saber quien es, y le mando que
escriuiesse contra ellos. Esto tened por rauy <,ierto que passa ansi.
 THE HEINE COLLECTION 627

y que se procedera adelante hasta compeller a Erasmo que vengaaqm

y haga penitencia y se desdiga, 7°

Aut taeda lucebit in illa,

Qua stantes ardent qui fixo gutture fumant.

Sed de his hactenus dictum sit. Erasmo, segun pare^e, a hecho

tres editiones del Nueuo Testamento, aunque le fuera meior si a el
pluguiera no auer hecho ninguna, ni procurar de introducir tanta 75
nouedad con tanto escandalo como adelante podra ser que vea, y qui^a
:

muy presto. Yo no he visto sino aquella que fue a Alcala, contra

quien yo escreui, y otra que es ympressa en Margo del ano de xix.
Y solos do8 volumenes desta he visto, vno en Genoua y otro aqui en
Roma en casa de Monsenor de Santicuatro, y esta dizen que es la 8o
segunda. Nonbra muchas vezes la ter^era edition en esta Apologia, y
vos me escreuis que quando ay venistes de Espana, se apareiaua
para publicar la tei^^era edition. Pidos. senor, por mer^ed, que me
escriuays qual es la primera y la ^* y la 3*, id est en que dia y mes
y ano se enpremyo cada vna dellas, y que fue la causa (que) le mouio 85
a ynpremir ter^era edition, pues fue tan copiosa la segunda. Y ansi
mesmo desseo saber si vido mis Annota^iones antes que publicasse la
ter^era y por que aqui a Roma, ni pienso que a otra parte, no enbian
;

la 2^ ni la 3'' —
por vender, segun pare^e, la primei'a —
si se pudiesse
,

tener forma de me enbiar aca la ter^era, mucha mer^ed re^ebiria. 9°

Ansi mesmo por que aunque estos libreros de aqui de Roma an
esparzido mis Annotationes contra Erasmo y Fabro por todas las
fiudades de Italia, y ansi mesmo las an enbiado a Leon para que de
alli se diffundan en Fraufia y Alemana —
y ay aun algunas por gastar
como truxemuchas,ydesseo que algunas dellas se lleuassen a Louania, 95
para que alli las viessen los amigos de Erasmo y las iuzgassen pidos ;

por mer^ed que me escriuaj^s, si an aportado alla, y que tantas. y

que forma os pare^eria que se podria tener para enbiar alla 50^. (?)
dellas.
Aqui vino dos meses antes que falle^iesse Papa Leon, vn theologo 100
Aleman que se Uama
Ekio, que es el que tuuo los primeros conflictos
contra Luter, y aun esta aqui. Y
truxo xv librillos en Tudesco com-
puestos agora nueuamente por xv Luteristas hereticos, que se an
coniurado contra la Yglesia Romana, aunque no se osan descubrir.
En los tres dellos viene pintado Erasmo con su bonete doctoral, y 105
aquellos tres fundan sus impiedades cada vno sobre vn dicho dela
Moria de Erasmo. De manera que ellos le tienen por de su bando, y
por tal le tienen en Roma, y por tal le tenia el Papa Leon el qual le
:

diera su pago, si viuiera, por que de alla de Alemaiia era auisado que
Erasmo de secreto sentiebat cum Lutero y le emendaua y polia sus no
libros. Y
aunque desto Erasmo se enbio a excusar, no se satisfizo el
Pontifi^e y por esso holgo mucho, quando vido mis Annotationes
;

contra Erasrao, y las leyo y las loo por que veays si es verdad lo que
:

Erasmo os dixo que le auia escrito Bombasio. Bien haze de fauore-

^erse de humos, aunque el vera al fin quanto le aprouechan. 115
Las nueuas de aca son que Papa Leon falle^io primero de Dizienibre
a media noche. Sus exequias se hizieron a nueue del dicho mes.
Los Cardenales entraron en conclaue a xxvii. Eran todos por numero
xxxx. Al dia quatorzeno del conclaue fue electo y publicado por
s s 2
 628 APPENDIX XV
120 summo Pontifi^e el reuerendisimo senor Cardenal de Tortosa absente.
Fueron hechas en Roma grandes alegrias de su election por la gran-
dissima fama que tiene de virtud y santitad, y luego a la hora fueron
puestas por toda la ciudad sus armas con insignias papales, id est
tiara y llaues. A Domino factum est illud, et hec est dies quam fecit
125 Dominus. Bendito sea su nombre pues de tal pastora proueido a su
Yglesia,y en tiempo que tanto era menester. No ay mas queescreuir
en esta sino que nuestro Senor guarde vuestra muy reuerenda persona.
De Roma a 9 de Enero de 1522, que fue el dia de la election del
nueuo summo Pontifice.
^3° A lo que, senor, mandaredes,
Diego Lopez de Quiiiga.
Al muy reuerendo senor el doctor Vergara, canonigo de Alcala, en
la Corte en Flandes. De porte dos reales, digo dos reales.

No. 3. From Stunica to Vergara.

Heine MS. xviii. Rome.
26 March 1522.

[Answoring Vergara's letter of 28 Feb. ; see No. 2 introd.]

CoMMODioKE tempore libelli abs te missi vna cum litteris tuis reddi
nobis non potuerunt absolueram enim paucis ante diebus recrimina-
;

tionem in Ei-asmum, opus quidem et argumento et voluminis magni-

tudine priore haud absimile, editionemque illius id solum morabatur,
5 quod Apologia qua Erasmus Laeo respondit, ad quam legendam
quibusdam in locis nos relegat, omnino carebamus cuius aduentu :

operi nostro quam maxime consultum est. Neque enim ad id

edendum, tametsi hoc maxime cuperera, festinandum esse censuiraus,
ne pro partu quod forsan expectabatur, aborsum fecisse videremur.
10 neue id nobis pene accideret quod aduersario ad sua publicanda
nimis incaute properanti haud immerito saepissime contingit. Risi
autem cum Erasmicos istos intellexi, Ajjologia illa qua ad Annota-
tiones nostras Erasmus respondit, vires nostras non debilitatas esse
solum existimare, verum etiam confractas. Nae isti ignorant, vt ego
15 video, Hispanam generositatem, neque nos ex ea gente ortos arbi-
trantur quibus vita facilius potest extorqueri quam gloria. Erasmum
ego eruditum esse non ambigo ac ni talem credidissem, non tam
;

exiguos ego animos gero vt illum mihi in tanta litteratorum turba

antagonistam delegissem. Hoc illi honori esse j^otest vel maximo,
20 hoc litteraturae non exiguum indicium, quod dignus est a nobis
iudicatus cum quo de re litteraria in certamen veniremus. Verum
quod ad Apologiam attinet, tantum abest illa perlecta nos esse ab
incepto reuocatos, vt maiore alacritate in aduersarium fuerimus
inuecti cuius rei ansam non leuem ille nobis praestitit hoc suo tam
:

25 frigido responso. Rescripsimus haud infeliciter, vt ego existimo,

atque hoc quicquid est scriptionis certissimum faciet Erasmum non
 THE HEINE COLLECTION 629

tam leuiter nos esse eruditos quantum Apologia significat. Quanquam

non hoc solum in illuni molimur, sed et alia maioris momenti ex
quibus lectori perspectum esse poterit, non Erasmum istum qui ab
annis iam multis per totum orbem perstrepit, rei litterariae arcem 30
obtinere, quod nonnulli, quae hominum est imperitia et hallucinatio,
sine dubio putabant.
Sed de his nimis fortasse multa. Annotationes Laei perlegi, opus
eruditum meo iudicio ac dicendi elegantia non omnino destitutum.
Neque mirum si illius editione Erasmus fuerit commotus, cum tam 35
aperte tot locis crassissimae cuiuspiam inscitiae ab Leo conuincatur.
Hoc est enim, vt ego arbitror, quod male habuit Erasmum, non
venenata Laei spicula, quod litteris significas. Neque mihi Erasmi
ad illum Apologia prorsus satisfacit, cum in ea nihil aliud captare
videatur homo vafer, nisi vt proHxa loquacitate aduersarium obruat. 40
Quod peculiare Erasmo isti est, cui non tantum est curae assertio
vexitatum, quantum ne ab ea cadat opinione qua vulgi stultitia cense-
tur. De tertia vero Erasmi editione in Nouum Testamentum ad nos
mittenda nihil est quod labores, cum eo faeilius e Basilea huc possit
afferri, quo vicinior ea ciuitas est Italiae quam Belgicae, Reliquum 45
Erasmicae Apologiae ad Laeum, vt litteris tuis polliceris, ad nos
curabis transmittendum : Dialogum praeterea Latomi in Erasmum
cum Erasmi ad eundem Apologia.
Itinerarium nostrum ex oppido Comphitensi ad Vrbem, et epistolam
quam proximis diebus ad nouum Pontificem scripsimus, mittere ad te 50
volui, haud dubitans probanda isthic fore quae in hoc totius orbis
terrarum spectaculo omnium calculis probantur. Mittemus prope
diem et libellum nostrum praecursorem in tria iUa volumina quibus
Erasmicas impietates ac blasphemias confutamus qui quominus ad
;

te nunc defferatur, typographi sunt in causa, homines de re quamlibet 55

leui cessatoi"es ac mirifici operarum procrastinatores. Hunc subse-
quetur et alter libellus ipsas Erasmi impietates cum prologo nostro
solum continens. Post hos prodibit recriminatio. Huic succedet
impietatum redargutio, opus Leoni x Pont. Max. olim perlectum
quodque, nisi de medio is esset sublatus, in manus hominum iam 60
pridem deuenisset. Quintum tenebit locum is liber quo Erasmi
somnia ac lapsus turpissimi ex scholiisin diui Hiero<nymi) Epistolas
a nobis adnotantur : quo labore in praesentia distinemur, vt expedi-
tiores tandem inueniamur ad expectatissimam istam tertiam Erasmi
editionem in Nouum Testamentum excutiendam. Quo in opere 65
quantum in hoc Htterarum genere, quod sibi tam impudenter Erasmus
arrogat, valeam, nisi me animus decipit, lectori testatum faciemus.
Epistolas noui Pontificis ex Hispania nuper ad Vrbem allatas ad te
etiam mittimus. Tu si quid erit isthuc noui quod vel nostra intersit
scire vel delectet, pro tuo officio facere nos certiores nequaquam 70
praetermittes. Vale.
Romae vii. Calend. Aprilis 1522.
Tuus Stunica.
Al muy reuerendo senor el doctor Vergara, canonigo de Alcalu. en
Flandes.
 630 APPENDIX XV

No. 4. From Stunica to Vergara.

Heine MS. xix. Roiue.
4 May 1522.

[lu sequeuce with No. 3.]

SvPERioRiBVS dielius scripsi ad te Latine sic enim per literas tuas

;

efflagitaras. Misi praeterea tiVji Itinerarium nostrum et epistolam ad

Pontificem quae omnia arbitror, cum has nostras leges, ad manus
:

tuas deuenisse. En tibi opus nouum nuper exemptum praelo ac in

5 hac alma Vrbe per nos publicatum, Erasmi Blasphemias et Impietates
continens ex quibus quo animo, qua mente, qua religione Erasmus
;

sit, facile cognosces. Eeperies cum Arrio aperte sentientem, cum

Apollinari, cum louiniano, cum Viclefianis et Hussitis, cum ipso
denique Luterio quem vnus Erasmus suis istis blasi>hemiis ad
;

10 impietatem instruxit, armauit, edocuit. Fruantur igitur Erasmo suo

septemtrionales appellent solem, ai)pellent lunam, vocent Germaniae
;

decus et Panerasmium, vt quidam vocant, dum Italia impium ap-

pellet, dum Roma, mundi princeps ac domina, blasphemum iudicet,
dignumque qui pari cum Luterio heretico plectatur sententia, hoc est
it; vt hostis publicus Eomanae Ecclesie decernatur. Quod, nisi resipuerit
ac impie prolata recantauerit, sanctissimi Pontificis autoritate. cum
primum aduenerit, futurum Erasmici non dubitent.
Hec summa est huius libri qui ad te nunc vadit. Nihil erat reli-
quum quod te in presentia commonefacere deberemus. Vale et ;

20 quid isti apud quos nunc agis, hac de re sentiant, ad me quamprimum

scribito.
Eomae 4. Nonas Maias. 1522.
Tuus Stunica.

loanni Vergarae, theologo et canonico Complutensi.

 THE HEINE COLLECTION 631

No. 5. From Vergaea to Stunica.

Madrid MS. Valladolid.
7 May 1523.

[The Ms. is in the Biblioteca Nacional at Madrid. From a rotograph supplied

to me, with unfailing kindness, by Prof. Bonilla ^who has printed the letter in
Claronim Hispaniensium epistolae itieditae, p. ig = Revite Hispanique, viii, 1901.
p. 193), I am of opiniou that it is by the hand whieh copied the second section in
the Heine collection (see p. 621 but, as these liave been temporarily mislaid
:

(see postscript on p. 632), the conjecture cannot be confirraed. If it were con-ect,

it would give a further clue towards tracing the originals of Heine's mss.
There is neither heading nor signature but the references (^ll. 6-10) to Epp.
;

1277, 1312 show indubitably that John Vergara is the writer. The year-date
is confirmed by the inten-al mentioned (1. 3) since the close of the former
coxTespondence.]

Me patriae amor statim a nauigatione, relicta Caesaris aula, domum

rapuit. te eodem tempore vis pestilentiae Roma, opinor, extrusit.
Ita factum est vt toto ferme anno neuter alterum litteris inuiserit.
Nunc tu Pontifieiae. ego Caesareae curiae restituti, age iam pristinam
quoque epistolarum frequentiam restituamus. Erasmus vtrique satis 5
amplum erit argumentum. Dederam ad eum Basileae agentem
litteras vna cum libello Mirandae paulo antequam e Belgis nauigarem.
Resi^ondit breuibus per epistolam. quae mihi Compluti reddita est
ex qua intellexi senatus consulto Cardinalium prohibitam Eomae
librorum tuorum venditionem. Id quod cum vix mihi pei*suadere 10
possem factum, ostendit mihi splendidus eques, frater tuus, epistolam
ad se tuam. qua id conquerebaris verum esse te in magna expecta-
;

tione Pontificis. cuius in Italiam aduentu melius rebus tuis consultum

iri sperares. Itaque peruelim scire quid post Pontificis aduentum
egeris, num exierint etiam libri illi tui recriminatorii quoruni 15 :

7rpo8poju,oi' emiseris libellum quempiam. quem mihi frater ipse tuus

tumultuarie legendum permisit. Liber Blasj^hemiarum quem ad me

misisti, multum existimationi illi nocuit, quam tibi prioribus Anno-
tationibus excitaras, quantum ex multorum apud Belgas congressu
didici : nam vt tecum libere, id est amice, agam, cum in eo 20
catholica nonnulla pro blasphemi(i)s notare. rursus alia sub aliena et
quidem Moi'iae persona dicta autori imputare, an[ nlicularum (nugas)
et superstitiones quaspiam pro vera pietate tueri plerisque videaris,pars
imperitia, multi —
quique tibi aequiores videri volebant ceca quadam —
maleuolentia transuersum agi te dicebant. Ego cum dignitati tuae 25
nusquam deesse soleam, in ea tamen re prorsus imparem me inuidiae
sensi quae me res impulit vt id tibi per litteras nullo fuco signifi-
:

candum putarem. Sed ego (quantum ex magna priorum turbarum

tranquillitate auguror) pacem inter vos aut certe inducias esse
existimo, equidem pacem malim. Satis enim iam datum est sto- 30
macho, satis bili datum etiam mansuetudini, datum Christianae
:

charitati nonnihil oportuit. Quicquid sit, aueo scii'e. Vale.

Frater tuus cum mandatis Cesaris haud ita pridem profectus est
ad Reginam Lusitaniae.
Valleoleti. Nonis Maii. 1523. 35

II. factum scripsi : fitm MS.

 632 APPENDIX XV

LIST Of 17 LETTERS COPIED BY EARLIER HAND

(? Spanish of xvii- or xviii<^).

Ep. 1277. XVI. J. Vergara to Erasmus. Apologiam . . . 24 April 1522, Brussels.

Ep. 1312. X. Erasmus to J. Vergara. Mihi . . . 2 Sept. 1522, Basle.

Ep. 1554. IX. Erasmus to J. Alemannus. Ante annum . . . 24 Feb. 1525, Basle.

Ep. 1684. XIV. Erasmus to (J. Vergara) . . . torqueat stilum . . . 29 Mar. 1526, Basle.

viii.^ Erasmus to A. Manrique. Ex amicorum . . . 26 Aug, 1527, Basle.

XIII. A. Fonseca to Erasmus. Quocl literas . . . 29 June 1528, Madrid.

XV. A. Fonseca to Erasmus. lam cliu nihil . . . 31 Oct. 1531, Alcala.

No. I. XXIII. J. Vergara to Stunica. Miseram ad te . . . (10 Oct. 1521, Brussels.)

No. 2. XI. Stunica to J. Vergara. Muy reuerendo . . . 9 Jan. 1522, Rome.

No. 3. XVIII. Stunica to J. Vergara. Commodiore . . . 26 March 1522, Rome.

No. 4. XIX. Stunica to J. Vergara. Superioribus . . . 4 May 1522, Rome.

XVII. J. Vergara to J. L. Vives. Audio acciri te . . 1522, Brussels.

XXII. ? to Mich. Gomez. Vulgare est . . . 5 Feb. 1528, Burgos.

XXIV. Alvar Gomez to Pedro de Soto. Dum nuper , . . 12 Nov. 1559, Toledo.

XII. P. de Soto to A. Gomez. Gratissimae . . , 23 Nov. <I5S9), — .

XXI. A. Gomez to Melch. Cano. Si quis . . .

XX. B. Arias Montanus to Laeuinus Torrentius. Literas ... — , — .

1 VIII and XIII were no doubt copied used, by a secretary's haud which
from the Madrid MS. Est. 18, gr. i. 5, resembles that of viii, 'Reuerendissimo
S. 9, 23. A possible
clue to origin is in Christo patri ac D. D. Alfonso
that the address-sheet of viii, which is Manrrico, Archiepiscopo Hispalensi,
missing in the Madrid MS., is most domino meo plurimum obseruando.
probably to be found at Simancas (Est. In Hispania.' But it is to be noted
1553) f* 427) in the address-sheet of
: that this address does not appear in
a letter written on paper with the the copy by the earlier hand in Heine's
watermark such as Erasmus frequently collection.

POSTSCKIPT
I ani much indebted both to Prof. Bonilla of the University of
Madrid for endeavouring to trace the originals of the Heine collection
in Spain and to Dr. Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Director of the Staats-
;

bibliothek at Munich, for making inquiries recently for the ms. copies
which Dr. Friedrich communicated to us. Unhappily these also
cannot now be found so that it has been necessary to rely on our
:

copies made in 1907. Dr. H. Thomas of the British Museum has

been most helpful in elucidating the Spanish letter, no. 2.
 INDEX OF CORRESPONDENTS AND SOME
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES
[Afuller Index tvill he provided at the end ofthefiual volume.)

The references are to the numbers of the letters, unless p. is prefixed.

The figures in larger type indicate letters of Ei-asmus, those in smaller
type letters written to him, and a few others.

Abingdon, IV, p, 219. Angleberme, P. d', 132 (?), 140;

Accard, 544, 564. P- 329-
Adrian vi, p. 380. J. P. d', 725 ; p. 329.
Adrianus, M., III, p. 108. Angst, 363, 634 II, pp. xix and 153.;

Aemilius, P., p. ',15. Annius, III. p. 237.

Afinius, 542, 6"38, 753, 799; II, An^^helm, 397 II, p. 221. ;

p. 492. Anthonisz, J.. 153, 173 p. 358. ;

Agge, A., 511 ; p. 557 and II, p. 428. Antimachus, III, p. 27.
Agricola, R., p. 106. Arnold, Edward, p. 286.
AJamire, III, p. 141. Arnoldi, J., IV, p. 449.
Alard, 433, 485, 676 II, p. 269. ;
Arnoldus, B., II, p. 224.
Albert of Brandenburg, 661. 745. Artolbius, II, p. 280.
968. 98S, 1009, 1033, 1101, 1152 ;
Assendelft, H. of, IV, p. 126.
III, p. 84. Asulanus, Andr., 589 ;
p. 448.
Alciati, 1250 ; IV, p. 611. Fran., 770 ; p. 448.
Alcyonius, II, p. 315. Ateca, G. of, III, p. 547.
Aldus, 207, 209, 212, 213 ; p. 437. Aucuparius, II, p. 8.
Aleander, 256 p. 502. ;

Alfeld, IV, p. 409. Babham, 259 p. 509. ;

Algoet, 1091 IV, p. 235.

; Badius, 183, 263, 346, 434, 472,
J.,
Allen, J., p. 489. 764, 815; p. 412.
Alvar, 506. Baechem (Egmondanus), III, p. 416.
Amandus, IV, p. 126. Balbus, H., p. 105.
Amerotius, IV, p. 589. Baldung, 400 II, p. 224. ;

Ammonius, 218. 219, 220. 221, 226, Banisius, 700, 709, 716, 970 ; III,
228, 232. 233, 234. 236, 238, 239, p. 124.
240, 243, 245, 246, 247, 248. 249. Barbarus. H., p. 293.
250. 255, 262,273, 280, 281, 282, Barbiiius, N., 613.
283, 295, 360, 378, 389. 414, P.,443, 565, 608. 621, 652, 695,
427, 429, 451, 452, 453, 455, 466, 752, 794, 803, 847, 1216, 1225,
475. 478, 479, 483, 498,505,517, 1235, 1245; II, p. 283.
539, 551, 552; p. 455. Barland, Adr.. 492, 510, 646, 647,
Amoenus, G., p. 442. 1050, 1051, 1163, 1204; II,
Amorbach, Ba., 1207 II, p. 66. ; p. 3S6.
Bo., 408. 862, 1020, 10S4, 1201 ; II, C. 492.
P- 337. Bartholinus, R., 547, 548, 549 ; II,
Br., 331, 420, 439. 464, 557, 595, p. 498.
632, 705, S02 ; II, p. 66. Bartolinus, L., 1187 IV, p. 445. ;

J., II, p. 29. Basell, 391 II, p. 202.

;

Andreas, B., p. 487. Bathodius, III. p. 420.

Andrelinus, F., 84, 96, 97, 98, 99, Batmanson, IV, p. 258.
ico. 103, 127, 134 p. 220. ;
Batt, C, 573, 839.
Andronicus, 991 III, p. 621. ; J., 35, 42, 80. 90, 91, 95, 101, 102,
 INDEX OF COKRESPONDENTS
119, I20, 123, 124, 128,129, 130, 609, 689, 723, 744, 767, 778, 810,
133, 135, 138, 139, 146, 151, 163 ;
813, 819, 869, 896, 906, 915, 924,
p. 131. 929, 930, 954, 987, 992, 1004,
Beatus Rhenanus, 318, 327, 328, 330, loii, 1015, 1023, 1066, 1073,
460, 556, 575, 581, 594, 628, 732, 1133, 1184, 1233 II, p. 227. ;

796, 867, 1014, 1063, 1206 ; II, Bullock, H., 449, 456, 579, 580,
p. 60. 777, 826, 890 p. 465. :

Bebel, 321 II, p. 45.

; Burbank, 1138 IV, p. 333.
;

Becar, J., of Borsselen,29i, 320, 370, Burellus, IV, p. 348.

932.952; p. 557. Burgundy, Ant. of, p. 208.
Bedill, 387, 426,782,823, 892,1176; David of, III, p. 15.
II, p. 192. Max. of, IV, p. 392.
Behem, IV, p. 31. Nic. of,144; p. 341.
Bemyng, 873 ; III, p. 410. Philip of, 603, 728, 758, 1043;
Bensrott, N., 158, 160 p. 364. ;
III, p. 14.
Ber, 488, 507, 582, 627, 730, 1203 ;
Busch, 830, 884, 1109, 1126; III,
II, p. 381. p. 296.
Beraldus, 925, 989, 994, 1002, 1024, Busleiden, F., p. 364.
1058, 1185 III, p. 503. ; G., 686, 691, 699, 804, 971 ; III,
Berckman, F., p. 509. p. 108.
Bergen, Ant. of. 143, 149, 162, 252, H., 205, 244% 470, 484 ; p. 434-
288, 739, 761 p. 334. ;

Ant. of, jun., 760, 969; III, Caelius Calcagninus, III, p. 26.
p. 197. Caelius Rhodiginus, 949 II, p. 348. ;

Dismas of, p. 3x8. Caesarius, 374, 428, 610, 615, 622,

Henry of, 49, 51, 154 p. ;
160, 680, 701, 771, 808 ; II, p. 172.
John of, 737 III, p. 166. ; Calvus, II, p. 55S.
Beroaldus, Ph., sen., p. 507. Campegio, 961, 995, 996, 1062,
Berquin, III, p. 505. 1081, 1167 ; III, p. 573.
Berselius, 674, 718, 735, 748, 756, Canossa, 489, 538 II, p. 382. ;

1077 III, p. 95.

; Canter, J., 32 p. 126. ;

Biel, II, p. 550. Cantiuncula, III, p. 349.

Boece, H., 47 p. 155. ;
Capito, 459, 541, 561. 600, 731,
Boerio, J. B., 267; p. 519. 734, 798, 877, 938, 1074, 1083,
Bogardus, III, p. 516. 1165, 1241: II, p. 333.
Bollart, 671, 672, 720 ; III, p. 199. Cara,ccioIa. III, p. 390.
Bolzani, Urban, p. 367. Caraffa, 377, 640; p. 550.
Bombasius, P., 210, 217, 223, 251, Carbach, III, p. 496.
257, 729, 800, 855, S65, 905, Carinus, 920, 1034; III, p. 496.
1213,1236; p. 443. Carlstadt, III, p. 469.
Bonomus, III, p. 386. Carmilianus, P., p. 513.
Borsselen, Anne of, 145 p. 208. ;
Carondelet, J., III, p. 257.
Boskowitz, 1154, 1183 IV, p. 368. ; Caiteromachus, S., p. 454.
Bostius, A., 53, 75 p. 168. ;
Cellarius, III, p. 414.
Botzheim, i, 1103 ; p. 1. Ceratinus, III, p. 45.
Brant, S., II, p. 7. Cervicornus, III, p. 256.
Brassicanus, 1146 ; IV, p. 351. Chalcondylas, II, p. 265.
Brenz, II, p. 523. Charles, Prince, 393.
Breytenbach, IV, p. 308. Charnock, R., p. 243.
Briard, 670, 946 (?) III, ; p. 93. Chieregato, 639, 1080, 1144 ;
III,
Bricotus, E., IV, p. 526. p. 61.
Brielis, 422. Chievres, II, p. 476.
Briselot, III, p. 4. Chimay, III, p. 561.
Brixius, G., 569, 620, 1045, 1117; Christiern ll, IV, p. 568.
P- 447- Chrysoloras, M., p. 473.
Brussels, John of. 60, 155. Clava, 524, 530, 585, 617, 650, 665,
Bucho, 1237 IV, p. 588.; 719, 743, 841; p. 389 and II,
Budaeus, 403, 421, 435, 441, 480, p. 450.
493, 522, 631, 534, 568, 571, 583, Claymond, 990 ; III, p. 619.
 INDEX OF COKRESPONDENTS
Clement, J., II, p. 198. Eppendorff. IV, p. 303.
Clenardus, N., p. 560. Ernest of Bavaria, 704 II. p. 189. ;

Clerk, IV, p. 22. Eschenfelder, 879; III. p. 417.

Cleves, John of, III, p. 295. Esinger, 11 20. 1148 IV, p. 299. :

Clicthove, III, p. 2. Evangelist, 57.

Clyfton, p. 427. Everard, N., 1092, 1186, 1188, 1238
Colet, 106, 107, 108, 109, iio, 111, IV, p. 237.
181, 195. 225, 227, 230, 231, P., IV, p.23S.
237, 258, 260, 270. 278, 314, 423,
Faber, J., of Deventer, 174 p. 3S4.
593, 786, 825, 891
;
p. 242. ;
John, 386, 953, 976 II, p. 189. ;
Cologne, Bart. of, p. 107.
John, of Augsburg, IV, p. 357.
Cop, 523, 537 p. 286. ;
Stapulensis, 315, 659. 724. 814;
Copp, G., III, p. 614.
Coppin, IV, p. 386. ^ n, p. 37.
Falcon, 87.
Cordatus, III, p. 102.
Falk, II. p. 316.
Cordus, 941; III. ix 533.
Fawne, II, p. 329.
Corver, III, p. 83.
Fevinus, 1012 IV, p. 64.
:

Courtebourne, Peter of, 169.

Fisher, Chr.. 182 p. 406.
Cranevelt, 1 145, 1173 ; IV, p. 349. ;

Johu, 229. 242, 336, 413, 432. 592,

Crema, Frau. 204. of, p.
653, 667, 784. 824, 889, 936,
Croke, 827 p. 467. ;
1030, 1068, 1129 p. 469. :

Croy, \V., 945, 957, 95S, 959 ; III.

Robt., 62, 71, 118 p. iSS. ;
p. 68.
Fitzjames, IV. p. 51S.
Dancaster, 1027 IV, p. 89. ; Flamming, III, p. 395.
Davidts, II, p. 476. Flanders, L. of, 1191 ; IV, p. 450.
DeiotaiTis, Zach., IV, p. 496. Fliscus, III. p. 26.
De la Marck, Ant., 956, 1065 ; III, Fonteius. II, p. 67.
p. 560. Fortes, IV. p, 271.
E., 738, 746, 757, 916, 918. 1038, Foxe, R., 187. 973, 1099 ;
p. 416.
1151 : III, p. 167. Francis l, 533.
R., III, p. 182. Frederici, W., 1200 IV, p. 483. ;

De la Parra, J., 917 : III, p. 491. Frederick of Saxony, 586, 939, 963,
Delft, AegidiuB of, II, p. 323. 979,
Delius, p. 234. Frick, II 20, 1148; IV, p. 299.
Deloj^nes, 494, 535 II, p. 405. ; Fridericus, H., IV, p. 4S3.
Dorp, 304, 337, 347, 438, 496, 509, Friend, A, 31, 59, 65. 86, 125.
536, 696, 852, 1044 II, p. II. ; Froben, H., 1226 III, p. 443-;

Draco, 871, 942 III. p. 406. ; J., 419, 602, 629, 635, 795, 801,
Driedo of Turnhout, IV, p. 390. 885 ; II, p. 250.
Duchesne, IV, p. 447. J. E., III. p. 57.
Dunghersheym, H,, 554; II, p. 506. Frowik, III, p. 63,
Dunkirk, Secretary of, 792 (?).
Gaguin, 43, 44, 45, 46, 67, 6S. 121,
Eck, 769, 844
J., ; III, p. 208. 122 ; p. 146.
L., II, p. 191. Gallinarius, II, p. 22,
Edmund, 165, 168. Gattinara, 1150, 1197 ;
IV, p. 359.
Egli, 405 : II, p. 254. Gaverius, III, p. 148.
Egmont, Charles of, II, p. 577. Gaza, Th,, p. 473.
Flor. of, 1018 p. 395. ;
Gebwiler, II, p, 8.
Max. of, IV, p. 75. Geldenhauer, 487, 645, 682, 714,
Egnatius, J. Bapt., 58S ; p. 523. 727, 759, 811, 812, 837, 1141;
Eicholtz, 866 ; III, p, 390, n, P- 379-
Elizabeth, 2. George of Saxony, 514, 586, 1125.
Ellenbog, 395, 402 : II, p. 209. Gerard, Corn., 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,
Emser, 527, 553; II, p. 504. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 27», 28, 29,
Eugelbrecht, A,, IV, p. 266. 30, 36, 37. 40, 78 p. 92. ;

P,, 1105 II, p 123,

;
Peter. 3 )). 75.
;

Eobanus, 874, 982 ; III, p. 411, Gerbell, 342, 343, 349, 351, 35^, S^^^,
Episcopus, G., IV, p. 204. 383, 883; II, p. 120.
 INDEX OF COEKESPONDENTS
Ghisbert, p. Z'^^. Hermann, H., 1131 III, p.
; 444.
Gigli, 521, 567, 649, 1070, 1181; Hermonymus, G., p. 7.
II, p. 442. Hertogenbosch, Nic. of, 1232 ; III,
264, 265, 294, 312,
Gilles, P., 184,
P- 33-
332, 356, 448, 476, 477, 491,516, Hexapolitanus, 482.
526, 616, 637, 6S1, 684, 687, 702, Hillen, IV, p. 143.
708, 712, 715, 736, 754, 788, Hochstrat, J., 1006 p. 556. ;

818, 846, 849 ; p. 413. Hollonius, 904 ; III, p. 445.

Giustinian, 559, 591 ; II, p. 514. Hondt, J. de, 751, 913, 1094 ;
III,
Giustiniano, A., III, p. 27S. p. 1S7.
Glareanus, 440, 463, 490, 604, 618, Hoogstraeten, Andrew of, 299, 381.
707, 721, 766, 903 II, p. 279. : Hornes, 1208 IV, p. 503. :

Goclenius, 1209, 1223 IV, p. 504. ; Hovius, 902 ; III, p. 399.

Godfrey, p. 495 and II, p. 329. Hue, 1003; III, p. 618.
Gonell, W., 274, 275, 276, 279, Hugenoys, 1214; IV, p. 531,
287, 289, 292, 820 p. 532. ; Hummelberg, p. 515.
Goswin, III, p. 309. Humphrey, 276 p. 534.
;

Grapheus, IV, p. 225. Hutten, F., III, p. 27.

Gratius, 0., 1022 II, p. 452. ; U., 365, 611, 923, 951, 986, 999,
Gravius, III, p. 25. 1055, 1 135, 1161 ; II, p. 155.
Gregoire, G., IV, p. 452. Huttich (?), 550 ; II, p. 502.
Greverade, 141.
Grey, 58, 63, 64, 66, 69, 445, 528 ;
Illiers, R. d', 199 ; p. 430.
p. 174. Irenicus, III, p. 414.
Grimani, 334, 710, 835, 1017: Isolanis, IV, p. 365.
II, p. 73-
Griphus, P., p. 488. Johannis, G., III, p. 25.
Grocin. p. 273. John, 38,
Grolier, 831 ; III, p. 297. John, 164, 698.
Gruingius, 1076 ; IV, p. 202. Jonas, 876, 985, 1088, 1157, 1202,
Gruningk, III, p. 32. 1211: III, p. 413.
Grunnius, 447. Julius II, 187* (III, p. xxixj.
Guibe. 253 p. 499.
;

Guida, II, p. 8. Keysere, R. de, 175, 525 ; p. 388 and

Guidacerius, IV, p. 547. il, p. 45 1 .

Guildford, H., 966, 1032 ; III, p. 585. Kidderminster, IV, p. 162.

J., III, p. 586. Kirher, 355, 361 II, \). 144. ;

Guillard, 1212; II, p. 150. Kloster, G. of, 1116; II, jd. 422.
Knopken, 1177 IV, p. 431. ;

Hack, 1008; IV, p. 55. Koberger, II, p. 558.

Hacqueville, N. de. p. 200. Koechman, II, p.
423.
Halewin, 641, 1115 : III, p. 62. Kratzer, II, p. 431.
Hallwil, H., II, p. 521. Kuno, II, p. 41.
J. R., II, p. 512.
Halmal, II, p. 537. Lachner, 629, 733 II, p. 251. ;

Halsey, T., 254 ; p. 500. Lang, J., 872, 983, 1128; III,
Harenaceus, J., 570. p. 408.
Harst, 1215 IV, p. 532.
; M., II, p. 502.
Hatten. 882 II, p. 144. ; Langen, R., p. 197.
Hattstein, IV, p. 277. Larke, T., p. 548.
Hegendorfer, 1168 IV, p. 411. ; Lascaris, Const., p. 367.
Hegius, p. 105. J., 836; p. 523.
Heldung, II, p. 8. Lasky, H., IV, p. 600.
Henner, III, p. 419. Latimer, W., 417, 520, 540 ; p. 438.
Henry 104, 204, 206, 272,
viii, Latomus, 1059(?); IIT, p. 519
339, 657, 834, 964, 1098. Laurentii, IV, p. 397.
Henry of Bavaria, III, p. 29. Laurinus, J., p. 432.
Herman,\V., 33, 34,35.36, ,8,39,81, M., 651, 666, 717, 740, 763, 789,
83, 84, 92, 142, 172,178 p. 128. : 809, 840 ; p. 432.
 INDEX OF CORRESPONDENTS
Lee, E.,765, 998, 1037, 1061 ; III, Meghen, P., p. 471.
p. 203. Melanchthon, 454, 910, 947, 1113;
W., IV, p. 143. II, p. 319.
Leo, A., 854, 868; III, p. 352. Mellus, I\ , p. 271.
Leo X, 162, 335, 33S, 339, 384, 446, Merliberch. 1130.
466, 517,518, 519,566, 864,1007, Metz Chapter, 997.
1143, iiSo. Meyner. 1122 IV, p. 302.;

Leonicenus, II, p. 489. Middelburg, P. of. II, p. 58.

Leontius, 1136 IV, p. 330.
; Miltitz, IV^ p. 447.
Leopold of Austria, II, p. 578. Molendino, J. de, 371, 755 ; II, p. 162.
Le Vasseur, J., p. 303. More. J., sen., IV, p. 14.
Liber, Ant., p. 106. J., jun.,IV, p. 19.
Lily, II, p. 119. T., 114, 222, 271, 388, 412, 424,
Linacre, 194, 415, 1230 ; p. 274. 461, 465, 467, 468, 474, 481, 499,
Linsted, IV, p. 163. 502, 513, 543, 545, 584, 597,
Lister, 495, 500, 504, 660, 697, 838 : 601. 623, 654, 669, 683, 6S4, 688,
II, p. 407. -06. 726. 776, 785, 829. 845, 848,
Locher, p. 463. 907. 908, 1087, 1090, 1093, 1096,
Longicampianus, 881 III, p. 418. ; 1097, 1106, 1107, 1162, 1220;
Longolius, 914, 935 III, p. 472.: p. 265.
Lorraine, Jolin of, IV, p. 8. Morillon, 532, 587 II, p. 475. ;

Louis, 167, 790. Morman, F., p. 107.

Louvain, John of, 749. Mosellanus, 560, 911, 948, 1123 ; II,
Louvain Theologians, 1217. p. 517.
Lovell, IV, p. 333. Moulins. F. de, II, p. 449.
Lubecensis, 82. Mountjoy, W., 79. 88, 105, 115,
Lucas, 914 III, p. 473.
; 117, 120. 126, 211, 215, 220, 301,
Lupset, 431,664, 690, 1026,1053, 486, 508, 783, 888, 965, 1028,
1229 ;
p. 527. 1219 p. 207.
;

Luther, 933, 980 ; 111,1-. 5i7- Murmell, III, p. 308.

Luxemburg, Ant. of, 137, 147, 148, Musurus, 574; p. 462.
150, 161,673,762; p. 317. Mutianus, 870 II, p. 416. ;

Nic. of, 1071. Myconius, 861 III, p. 382. ;

Lypsius, 750, 807, 843, 897, 898,

899, 900, 901, 902, 912, 921, 922, Nachtgall, II, p. 9.
934. 955, 960, 1019, 1035, 1036, Nassau, H. ancl W. of, p. 350.
1040, 1048, 1049, 1052, 1056, Naturel, P., p. 394.
1069, 1070, 1086, 1140, 1174, Nauclerus, li. p. 222.
1189, 1190 III, p. 185.
;
Nebrissensis, II, p. 380.
Nepos, III. p. 2.
Nesen, 329, 462, 469, 473, 630, 768,
Maciochua, III, p. 422. 816. 931 n, p. 65.:

Malaise, Nic. of, 894 ; III, p. 432. Neueuahr, Herm. of. 442, 636, 703,
Manius, 1147. 722, 878, 1078, 1082 II, p. 282. ;

Mann, II, p. 16. Neve, J. de, 298 II. p. i. :

Manutius, Paul, II, p. 591. Nicasius, 85.

Marcaeus, 842; III, p. 310. Northoff, Chr., 54, 55, 56, 61, 70,
Marlianus, 1114, 1195, 1198,1199; 72; p. 168.
II,p. 241. H., 61 ;
p. 168.
Marsus, P., p. 356.
Martens, Th., p. 514. Obrecht, Ja., p. 56.
Martin, 76. Jo., 201.
Maruftb, II, p. 192. Occo, II, p. 376.
Marullus, II, p. 187. Ochinus, B., IV, p. 453.
Marzio, G., II. p. 557. Oecolampadius, 563, 605, 797, 1064,
Maubiirn, 52, 73 p. 166. ;
1102, 1158 p. 464. ;

Mauritsz, J., 176, 190, 202 ; p. 389. Ofliuys, C, 692.

Mazolini, III, p. 409. G.. 1239; III, p. 114.
Medici, L. de', III, p. 234. Outers, III, p. 165.
 INDEX OF CORRESPONDENTS
Pace, 350, 619, 741, 742, 787, 821. Rhodus, 1178.
887, 937, 962, 1025, 1089, 1118, Rhosus, J., p. 63.
1210, 1218, 1227 p. 445. ;
Riario, 333, 340 ; TI, p. 69.
Paleologus, III, p. i. RiciuB, 1160 ; 11, p. 500.
Paleotus, III, p. 157. Rimaclus, 411 IT, p. 241. ;

Palgrave, II, p. 412. Robyns, J., 805, 1046 p. 393. ;

Paliurus, 316, 599, 626 II, p. ^8. ; Rociiefort, G., II, p. 367.
Paludanus,J.,180,197,497 ; p. 398. Rogeras, Servatius, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
Pannonius, J., III, p. 536. 11, 13, 15, 92, 142, 185, 189, 200,
Papinius. 975, 984 III, p. 600. ; 203. 296 p. 77. :

Parcius, 773. Roper, M.. IV, p. 18.

Petit, W., II, p. 444. Rosemondt, 1153, 1164, 1172 ; IV,
Peutinger, 1156, 1247 ; II, p. 41. p. 361.
Pfefferkorn, II, p. 381. Rotenhan, 1134 TV, p. 326. ;

Philippi, J., IV, p. 42 8. Rudolfingius, 11, p. 8.

Philips, IV, p. 334. Ruell, II, p. 125.
Phrysius, H., 1131 III, p. 444. ; Ruistre, N., 177, 179 p. 390. ;

Phrysius, J., III, p. 59. Ruser, 606, 633 II, p. 8. :

Pins, J. de, III, p. 510. Ruthall, 192, 325, 437, 974 ; p. 423.
Pirckheimer, Charitas, II, p. 239. Ruze, 926, 928 11, p. 402. ;

Clara, II, p. 239. Rydder, TIT, p. 282.

W., 318,322, 326 ^ 359, 362,375,
407, 409, 527, 555. 685, 694. 747.
856, 1085, 1095, 1139, 1182, Saarburg, Matthias of, TTT, p. 395.
1244 ; II, p. 40. Sagundinus, 574, 590 11, p. 547. ;

Piso, 216 p. 452.

;
St. Omer, Adrian of, 166.
Pistorius, IV, p. 308. Salius, IV, p. 299.
Pius, J. Bapt., p. 507. Salyng, ITI, p. 48.
Plaine. T. de, p. 204. Sampson, 780, 806 ;
IT, p. 194.
Platz, 1127; IV, p. 318. Sanderus, IV, p. 601.
Poblation, IV, p. 271. Sapidus, 323, 353, 354, 364, 399,1110,
Poncher, F.. II, p. 447. 1251 11, p. 47.
;

S., 529, 1016 ;

II, p. 454- Sasboud, 16.
Portius, III, p. 71. Sasbout, J., TV,. p. 238.
Potkyn. III, p. 234. Sauvage, J. le, 410, 436, 793, 853 ;

Pottelsberghe, L. of, III, p. 187. II, p. 240.

Praepositus, 1054. Sbrulius, 1159 IV, p. 377.
;

Pratensis, II, p. 324. Scarpinellus, 1169 IV, p. 413. ;

Precell, 398. Schalbe, 977, 981 ; III, p. 602.

Priccard, 972, 993, 1170 ITI, p. 597. ; Schinner, 1171, 1179, 1248, 1249 ;

Probst, III, p. 606. 11, p.307.

Pucci, A., 860; III, p. 379. Schirn, 1142.
L., 1000 ; III, p. 379. Schotus, 11, p. 386.
Pynson, IV, p. 253. Schudelinus, 1234.
Schiirer, 311, 612, 693 p. 465. ;

Radinus, IV, p. 409. Schut, E., p. 118.

Rapp, II, p. 8. Schweiss, 1192 IV, p. 452, ;

Rastell, W., IV, 20 p. Shurley, p. 489.

Reader, The, 198, 269. 326, 341, Siberch, TTT, p. 263.
373. 648, 677, 678, 679, 909, 919, Sickingen, F., TI, p. 559.
1010, 1041, 1072, 1100, 1193, Sinthis, p. 48.
1194. SJxtin, 112, 113, 116, 235, 244, 43C,
Regiue, R., II, p. 314. 448, 624, 655, 668, 775, 828 ;

U., 386, 392, 394; II, p. 188. p. 261.

Reisch, 308, 309 II, ; p. 27. Slechta, 950, 1021, 1039; III,

Remigii, III, p. 262. p. 551.

Rescius. 546, 1240 ;
II, p. 497. Smith, J., 895 p. 534. ;

Reuchlin, 290, 300, 324, 418, 457, Snoy, R., 458; p. 421.
471. 562, 713, 1155 p. 555. ;
Spagnuoli, Bapt., p. 157.
 INDEX OF CORRESPONDENTS
Spalatinus, 711, 978,
501, 1001, Viandalus, IV, p. 590.
1119; II, p.
415. Vianensis, III, p. 72.
Spancren, Ph. of, p, 558. Villinger, 1149 : IV, p. 358.
Sparcheford, 644 ; III, p. 65. Vincent, Auguetine, 131, 136, 156 ;

Spiegel, 863 ; II, p. 48. P. 305-

Stab, II, p. 239. Vio, T. de (Caietano), III, p. 429.
Standish, III, p. 21. Vitellius, III. p. 385.
Standonck. p. 200. Viterius, P., 66, 444, 503, 528, 779,
Staupitz, III. p. 408. 817 p. 193.
:

Stewart, A.. III. p. 16. Vitrarius, p. 372.

Stokesley, III, p. 357. Vivaldis, II, p. 345.
Stromer, 578, 614, 631, 662 ; II, Vives, 927, 1104, 1108, 1111, 1222;
P- 554- III, p. 508.
Stunica, IV, p. 621. Volz, 368, 372, 858, 1075 II, p. 158. ;

Sturm, 11, p. 8.
StuviuB, IV, p. 589. Waele, W. de, II, p. 6.
Swyneshed, IV, p. 273. Walteri, L.. II, p. 470.
Warham. 188, 208, 214, 240» (III,
Taleus, III, p. 206. 285. 286, 293, 396,
p. xxxii, 261,
Tate, 1246 IV, p. 606.
;
425, 46;, SS8, 596(?), 781, 893,
Tayspil, 1221 IV. p. 547.
;
1205, 1228: p. 417.
Textoris, III, p. 410. Watson, 450, 512, 576 p. 533. ;
Thale, 1224. Welles, IV, p. 431.
Theimseke. II, p. 243. Wentford, 196, 241, 277, 772, 833 ;
Theodoric. Fran., 10, 12, 14, 41.
p. 428.
186 ; p. 84. Werner, N., 48, 50, 74, 77, 171;
Theodorici, J., of Hoom, 940 ;
III,
p. 158.
P- 532- Werter, 875; III, p. 412.
Theodorici, V.. 1196 IV, p. 463.
;
Wertem, T. de, II, p. 431.
Thuengen. C. of, 1124 IV, p. 306.
;
Whitford, 89. 191; p. 225.
Tones, IV, p. 333. Wied, H. of, III, p. 295.
Tongres, Arnold of, II, p. 494. Wildenauer (Egranus), III, p. 409.
Trebizond, Geo. of, p. 135. Wiltshire, III, p. 244.
Trachses, II, p. 145. Wimpfeling, 224, 302, 305, 382, 385,
Tschudi. P. and V., II. p. 384. 1067 ; p. 463-
Tunstall, 571, 572, 5S3, 607, 642, Winckel, 1 p. 73.
;

643, 663, 675, 832, 886, 1029 Wingfield, Eich.. 791 ; II, p. 174.
p. 438. Robt., II, p. 60.
Turzo, J„ 850, 943, 1047, 1137 ;
III,
Wolsev, 284. 297, 348. 577, 658,
P- 343- 967^ 1031. 1060, 1112, 1132.
S., 1242, 1243 IV, p. 599. :
AVychman, 1231 ; IV, p. 571.
Tusanus. III, p. 281.
Tutor, 152, 157, 159, 170, 1013; Ximenes, II, p. 488.
P- 356.
Yonge, 268 ;
p. 520.
Ursinus Velius. 85 1, 944 II, p. 499. :

Urswick, 193, 416 p. 424- Zasius, 303. 306, 307, 310, 313, 317,
;

Utenheim, 598, 625 ;

III, p. 7. 319, 344, 345, 357, 358, 366, 367,
376, 379, 380, 390. 406, 857, 859,
Vander Noot, J.. 1057. 1121 II, p. 9.
:

Vander Wick, III, p. 32. Zobel, 880(?): III, p. 495-

Vannes. 656. 774, 822 ;
III, p. 76. Zoch, III, p. 386.
Varnbiiler, III, p. 394. Zutpenius. 1005.
Veere, Adolphus of, 93, 94, 266; Zwingli, 401, 404 ;
II, p. 225.
p. 229.
Vergil,P., 1175; IV, p. 426. ? , 1042, 1166.
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1906