Desiderius Erasmus

[ERASMUS, Desiderius]. Dutch scholar; at first favored the Reformation, but later opposed it and endeavored to promote reform within the Roman Catholic Church; regarded as a leader in the renaissance of learning in northern Europe; edited the New Testament in Greek with a Latin translation [1516]. Contemporary copy of a letter written by Erasmus, full page, octavo, Antwerp, July 13, 1516. To Henricus Glareanus, Swiss humanist who published treatises on classical Latin writers and books on music.

Erasmus expresses the wish that his friend were with him, although he could not promise him good luck. The Prince [Charles V, the future Holy Roman Emperor] is preparing for a voyage into Spain sometime in August, although everything concerning this trip is very uncertain. He reports that troops of soldiers are wandering, adding that he will gladly do anything in his power, as a duty of friendship, if his friend should wish to avoid warfare. Erasmus states that to write of personal matters would consume far too much time; however, his correspondent will be able to hear much information from Ludovic Borus. He explains that he is writing from the palace, and that he will soon be taking another voyage. In conclusion, he asks Glareanus to send him the song about him [Erasmus], together with the verses of Buschius [possibly Hermann von dem Busche, the German scholar and humanist].

On the completion of his New Testament in 1516, Erasmus returned to his friends in England; but his appointment as councillor to the young King Charles made it necessary that he return to Brussels in the autumn of that year. Charles, the eldest son of Philip of Burgundy and Joanna the Mad of Spain, lived in the Netherlands under the strict guardianship of Margaret, the daughter of his paternal grandfather, the Emperor Maximilian, until he was declared of age in 1515.

On the death of his maternal grandfather, Ferdinand of Spain, Charles became king of Spain in January, 1516, inheriting not only the Argonese and Italian possessions of Ferdinand, but also the extensive possessions in the Netherlands and in central Europe of the Hapsburgian heir, Maximilian. The young king's visit to Spain was, however, delayed until September 19, 1517, and it wasn't until 1518 that he was formally recognized as king, having arrived at the Spanish court surrounded by Flemish favorites and not speaking Spanish at all. Erasmus, in the spring of 1517, returned to England for the final time, now at the height of his fame.

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