§ 69. REUCHLIN AND ERASMUS. 633
Desiderius Erasmus, 1466-1536, was born at Rotterdam out of wedlock, his father probably a priest at the time.^ His _school life began at Deventer when he was nine years old, Hegius then being in charge. *" His parents died when he was 13 and, in 1481, he was in the school at Herzogenbusch where he spent three years, a period he speaks of as lost time. His letters of after years refer to his school experiences without enthusiasm or gratitude. After wandering about, he was persuaded against his will to enter a convent at Steyjj. This ste*p, in later years, he pronounced the most unfortunate calamity of his life. To his experience in the convent he ascribed the physical infirmity of his manhood. But he certainly went forth with the great advantage of having become acquainted with conventual life on its inside, and wholesome moral influence must have been exerted from some quarter in his early life to account for the moral discrimination of his later years. His ability secured for him the patronage of the bishop of Cambray, who intended taking him as his interpreter to Italy, where he hoped to receive the cardinal's hat. So far as Italy went, the young scholar was disappointed, but the bishop sent him to Paris, without, however, providing him with much financial assistance. He was able to support himself from the proceeds of instruction he gave several young Englishmen and, through their mediation, Erasmus made_his. first visit to England, 1499. This visit seems to have lasted only two or three months. ^
At Oxford, the young scholar met Colet and Sir Thomas More and, through the influence of the former, was induced to give more attention to the Greek than he had been giY^iAg- The next years he spent in France and Holland writing his book of Proverbs, — Adagia^ — issued 1500, and his Manual of
as to the modern period if not more, and the salient features of his life and historical position must be given here, even if there be a partial repetition of the treatment of vol. VI.
1 In the compendium which he wrote of his life, Erasmus distinctly states that he was born out of wedlock and seems to imply that his father was a priest at the time. See Nichols, Letters, I. 14. The other view that the father became a priest later is taken by Froude, p. 2, and most writers.
2 Nichols, I. 224.
634 THE MIDDLE AGES. A.D. 1294-1517.
the Christian soldier, — Enchiridion militls Christiajii, — issued in 1502. In 1505, lie was back in England, remaining there for three years. He then embraced aifopportunity to travel in Italy with the two sons of Henry VII.'s Genoese physician, Battista Boerio. At Turin, he received the doctor's decree, spent a number of months in Venice, turning out work for the Aldine presses, and visited Bologna, Rome and other cities. There is no indication in his correspondence that he was moved by the culture, art or natural scenery of Italy, nor does he make a single reference to the scenery of the Alps which he crossed.
Expecting lucrative appointment from Henry VIII., Erasmus returned to England, 15119, reuuiining there five years. On his way, he wrote for diversion his Praise of Folly, — Encomium morice, — a book which received its title from the fact that he was thinking of Sir Thomas More when its conception took form in his mind. The book was completed in More's house and was illustrated with life-like pictures by Holbein. ^ During part of this sojourn in England, Erasmus was entered as " Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity " at Cambridge and taught Greek. The salary was 65 dollars a year, which Emerton calls "a respectable sum." He was on intimate terms with Colet, now dean of St. Paul's, More, Fisher, bishop of Rochester, Archbishop Warham and other Englishmen. Lord Mountjoy provided him with an annuity and Archbishop Warham with the living of Aldington in 1411, which Erasmus retained for a while and then exchanged for an annuity of £20 from the archbishop. ^
From 1515-1521, he had liis residence in different cities in the Lowlands, and it was at this time he secured complete dispensation from the monastic vow which had been granted in part by Julius II. some years earlier. ^ Erasmus' fame now exceeded tlie fame of any Dthex^acilijlaf . in Europe. Wherever he went, he Avas received with great honors. Princes joined scholars and prelates in doing him homage. Melanch-
1 Nichols, II. 2 sqq., 262.
2 See Emerton's remarks on this matter, p. 184 sqq. 8 Nichols, II. 148sq.,4G2.