But the greatest honor to Lord Mountjoy was that he had the perception to appreciate that learning and genius which subsequently excited the admiration of the cultivated and enlightened of all nations and of all ranks and conditions, for it was not long after when colleges and universities, archbishops and cardinals, philosophers and statesmen, and kings and emperors, began to vie with each other-the great Leo X. vieing with all-in doing him honor. This may well seem an exaggeration at the present day, when the extent of a man's coffers, and not the extent of his learning, is his passport to honor and distinction, especially in our own country; but it will be seen, as we proceed, that public opinion was somewhat different four centuries ago from what it is at present, particularly as to the distinction which ought to be made between mind and matter; although we are told by well meaning people that there was nothing to be met with then but ignorance, stupidity and superstition, whereas now everybody is "enlightened, intelligent, progressive," &c.!

It is worthy of remark, although it does not at all surprise us, that the first lay patron of Erasmus, if we except his pupil, Lord Mountjoy, who can hardly be regarded in that light, was a lady, the Marchioness Anna de Vera.* This lady, whom he had the good fortune to meet in the south of France, while travelling on slender means, for the benefit of his health, perceived at once that he was a man of genius. After conversing with him on two or three occasions, and reading one of his Latin treatises, she settled a pension on him of one hundred gold florins, which was then quite a large sum.† As a token of his gratitude for this generosity, he wrote a treatise for the instruction of her son-who had been chiefly educated by herself-entitled, Oratio de virtute

* Antoine Péricaut, Erasmus dans ses Rapports avec Lyon.

†This was not the only lady who appreciated and patronized Erasmus. When Maria, queen of Hungary, was governor of the Netherlands, she sent several measengers to Paris and Basle to beg that he wonld take up his abode in Brabant, at the same time making him valuable presents. Although he was so circumstanced at this time that he could not reside at her capital, he determined to visit her majesty, but he got ill on the way, and had to return. He did not forget, however, to evince his gratitude for her kindness, as may be seen by his essay on a Christian Widow, entitled: Vidua christiana ad serenam pridem Hungariæ Boemiæque reginam Mariam.—Eras., Epist. L xxvi., p. 1991.

conplectenda-a work which compares favorably, both in its matter and latinity, with the best similar efforts of Seneca. To those unacquainted with it in its original form, this may seem exaggerated praise; but some of the most eminent scholars and critics that modern Europe has producedincluding Bentley and Hobbes-have pronounced it worthy of comparison with the De Amicitia of Cicero.

In 1498, Erasmus visited England, where every possible honor was rendered him by the greatest of the nation. The universities of Cambridge and Oxford were so anxious to avail themselves of his learning, that in order to avoid offending either, he agreed to reside alternately at each, although he spent more of his time at Oxford than at Cambridge, excusing himself to the latter, by representing that the former agreed better with his health. All writers of the time agree that his connection with those celebrated institutions had the effect of considerably raising the standard of education at each, especially in Greek, which had hitherto received but little attention in England. It would be a great mistake, however, to suppose that the learning of either Oxford or Cambridge was at a low ebb at this time; we should be glad that the best of our American colleges could afford as thorough culture at the present day. Be it remembered that it was because there were so many thorough scholars in England that Erasmus was so well received in that country, and the philosopher himself bears emphatic and interesting testimony to the superior culture of the upper classes, informing his learned correspondents on the Continent that a prominent feature in English society was the habit of discussing literary and scientific subjects at table, rather than indulging in wine, as was the common practice almost everywhere else.t

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xvi.

*

"Apud Anglos," writes Erasmus, "triumphant bonæ literae." Epist. xxvii., lib.

He also makes some interesting remarks about the English ladies. He is quite charmed with their beauty, but still more charmed, he says, by their cus tom of kissing their male as well as female visitors. They welcomed one with a kiss, dismissed him with a kiss; and if they met him in any discreet place, they saluted him in a similar manner. One of Erasmus' English biographers (Bayley), in commenting on this, makes the following naive remark: "And though he seems to talk very feelingly on the subject, yet he makes no reflections upon the virtue

Among the particular friends of Erasmus at this time were Sir Thomas Moore, John Colet, dean of St. Paul's, William Latimer, bishop of Winchester, William Warham, archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Fisher, rector of Cambridge University, Cardinal Woolsey, Henry VII. and his son Prince Henry, James III., of Scotland, and his son Prince Alexander. All these illustrious personages did not merely honor Erasmus; all did him more or less service.* In those days it was not considered a crime for scholars or literary men to wish to have some of the comforts of life like other people; on the contrary, it was thought that even when they had grave faults they deserved to be made comfortable. This was particularly the opinion of the dignitaries of the church; accordingly the bishop, the archbishop and the cardinal, vied with each other in contributing to the substantial comforts of Erasmus. Although he derived a handsome annuity from his two chairs at Oxford and Cambridge, the archbishop of Canterbury gave him the curacy of Addington, exempting him from its duties, which were performed by a vicar. The archbishop also introduced him to the king of Scotland, who engaged him to give private lessons to his son Prince Alexander, who was twenty years of age, and who, in consideration of learning and piety "far beyond his years," had recently been appointed bishop of St. Andrew's.

Thus we see a royal and ecclesiastical prince that had been carefully educated in one of the best universities of his time,† Padua, placing himself under the tuition of one who, did he live at the present day, would be regarded as "a mere adventurer," and treated with far less consideration

of English women." For the benefit of those acquainted with the original, we extract a passage, which, though brief, embraces not a little that is curious:

"Sunt hic nymphae divinis vultibus, blandae, faciles, et quas tu tuis camoenis facile anteponas. Est praeterea môs nunquam satis laudatus. Sive quò venias omnium osculis, excipieris: sive discedas aliquò, osculis demitteris: redis reddunter suavia; disceditur abs te, dividuntur basia; occurritur alicubi, basiatur affatio; denique quocunque te moveas, suaviorum plena sunt omnia. Quae si tu, Fauste, gustases semel quàm sint mollicula, quàm fragrantia, pro profectò cuperes non decennium solùm, ut Solon fecit, sed ad mortem usque in Anglia peregrinari."-Epist. X., sec. v., p. 315.

than any of our shopkeepers, speculators, or even tailors, who succeed, no matter how, in amassing millions.

But it was not alone in England that Erasmus was honored by all whose opinion was of any value; although, as he tells us himself, learning had made more progress in England at this time than in any other country in Europe, not excepting Italy. Accordingly he visited it three times, remaining each time for two or more years; he went the third time with the intention of remaining for ever, but his health having failed, his physician advised him to seek a milder climate. Even then the most illustrious men in the kingdom continued to correspond with him as intimate friends; and among those who did so for many years were Sir Thomas Moore, Bishop Fisher, the archbishop of Canterbury, and Henry VIII. In an edition of the "Familiar Letters" (Epistolae Familiores) of Erasmus, now before us, printed in 1542, there are several of Henry's letters, written in good Latin, and which are addressed "Des. Erasmo undicunque doctissimo,' "To Des. Erasmus, a man in every respect most learned."*

On returning to the Continent all the principal cities through which he passed received him with princely ovations, the institutions of learning and dignitaries of the church setting the example in every instance. Learned societies and corporations sent deputies to present him addresses, or give him valuable presents, while the principal citizens got up banquets in his honor. His first literary labor, on his recovery, was a Latin address, which the states of Brabant requested him to draw up, in their name, to their new governor, the Archduke Philip of Austria, which was entitled, Panegyricus ad Phillipum Burgundiæ Principem. In this instance, also, it was borne in mind that something more substantial than mere compliments, however flattering they may be, is needed by learned and literary men, as well as others; for on the delivery of the address, Erasmus was presented with fifty pieces of gold, together with the hearty congratulations of the

* Vide last Epist. in the edition of 1542, given at the head of this article, and entitled "Eras. Epist. Familiares." It may be seen at the N. Y. Society Library, to whose polite and intelligent librarian we are indebted, de more, for the loan of it, with several other of the works of Erasmus.

audience, including the prince, who continued his friend for ever after.

The question was not now, who would be his patron? but whose patronage would he accept? At this time, (1516,) the king of Spain, who was also sovereign of the Netherlands, and who subsequently became so famous as Charles V., kept his court at Brussels, wishing to draw around him the most learned men of his time, directed his chancellor, Silvagius, to invite Erasmus to his court. He was not one week at Brussels when a pension of four hundred florins was settled upon him for life, and the first quarterly instalment paid to him. He also received the title of royal counsellor, with the privilege of travelling as much as he wished, and residing at Brussels only as long each year as he found it convenient and agreeable to do so. It does not appear that he was ever required to perform any duties in consideration of this pension, which was as considerable a sum then as three thousand dollars would be at the present day, under similar circumstances. But in order to make some return for the munificent generosity of the king, he wrote-in Latin, as usual-his "Mirror of a Christian Prince."* Erasmus had now an abundant revenue; but he cared for no more money than was sufficient to make him comfortable. Having bought a neat but modest house, and furnished it to his liking, bestowing most care on his library, he devoted all he had to spare to the encouragement of needy young men who evinced a taste for study.

Erasmus visited Italy three times, and was welcomed with acclamation by all the great literary and learned institutions, as well as by all individuals who were distinguished by their learning, their talents, or their ecclesiastical or political power. On his arrival in Turin, in 1506, the celebrated university of that city solemnly conferred on him the degree of Doctor of theology. The universities of Padua and Bologna evinced an equal willingness to render homage to his learning and genius. When he reached Rome for the first time, such was the excitement which his presence created