CHAP. almost envy Erasmus. He felt as keenly as Erasmus and More did, how the mad rush of princes to arms had blasted the happy visions of what had seemed like A.D. 1516. a golden age approaching, and he had been the first to speak out what he thought; but now, while More and Erasmus could speak boldly and get Europe to listen to what they had to say, he was thwarted and harassed by his bishop, and obliged to crawl into retirement. Colet His work was almost done. He could not use his retirepulpit as he used to do. He had spent his patrimony in ment. the foundation of his school, and he had not another fortune to spend, for his uncle's quarrel and other demands upon the residue had reduced his means even below his wants. Nor had he much of bodily strength and energy left. The sole survivor of a family of twenty-two, his health was not likely to be robust, and now, at fifty, he spoke of himself as growing old, and alluded with admiration to the high spirits of his still surviving mother, and the beauty of her happy old age. Still Colet had his heart in the work as much as ever. We do not hear much of his doings, but what we do hear is all in keeping with his character. Thus we find him incidentally exerting himself to get some poor prisoner released from the royal prison, and Erasmus exclaiming, 'I love that Christian spirit of Colet's, for I 'hear that it was all owing to him, and him alone, that N. 6 6 driven into He prorelease cures the from prison of one who had was released, notwithstanding that N., though always injured treated in the most friendly way by Colet, and pro fessing himself as friendly to Colet, had sided with 'Colet's enemies at the time that he was accused by the calumnies of the bishops."1 1 Epist. clviii. Erasmus to Ammonius: June 5, 1514; in error for him. XIII. СНАР. It was about the time that he was thus returning good for evil to this unfortunate prisoner, that the A.D. 1516. letter of Erasmus and the copy of the Novum In'strumentum' came to his hands. Erasmus. Colet's de- In spite of his own troubles he could hail the labours light in the success of and success of Erasmus with delight. Twenty years ago, while alone and single-handed, he had longed for fellowship; now he could rejoice that in Erasmus he had not only found a fellow-worker, but a successor who would carry on the work much further than he could do. He had looked forward with eager expectation to the appearance of the Novum Instrumentum,' and, anticipating its perusal, had for months past' been working hard to recover the little knowledge of Greek which, during the active business of life, he had almost lost. And the more he felt that his own work was drawing to a close, the more was he disposed to encourage Erasmus to go on with his. He looked upon Erasmus now as the leader of the little band, forgetting that Erasmus owed, in one sense, almost everything to him. This is the beautiful letter he wrote after reading the Novum Instrumentum: '— Colet to Erasmus. 'You cannot easily believe, my dear Erasmus, how 'much joy your letter gave me, which was brought to 'me by our "one-eyed friend." one-eyed friend." For I learned from it 'where you are (which I did not know before), and also 'that you are likely to return to us, which would be 1 More to Erasmus: Eras. Epist. li. App. London, Feb. 25, 1516. very delightful both to me and to your other friends, CHAP. ' of whom you have a great many here. 6 XIII. What you say about the New Testament I can A.D. 1516. ' understand. The volumes of your new edition of it "[the "Novum Instrumentum "] are here both eagerly What bought and everywhere read. By many, your labours thought are received with approval and admiration. There are 6 Colet of the • Novum mentum,' ' a few, also, who disapprove and carp at them, saying Instruwhat was said in the letter of Martin Dorpius to you. But these are those divines whom you have described 'in your "Praise of Folly" and elsewhere, no less truly 'than wittily, as men whose praise is blame, and by • whom it is an honour to be censured. For myself, I so love your work, and so clasp to my heart this new edition of yours, that it excites mingled feelings. For at one time I am seized with sorrow that I have not that knowledge of Greek, with' out which one is good for nothing; at another time I rejoice in that light which you have shed forth from the sun of your genius. Indeed, Erasmus, I marvel at the fruitfulness of your mind, in the conception, production, and daily completion of so much, during a life so unsettled, and without the assistance of any large and regular ' income. 'I am looking out for your "Jerome," who will owe Edition of 'much to you, and so shall we also when able to read him with your corrections and explanations. 'Jerome.' • You have done well to write "De Institutione Prin- The 'Christian "“cipis Christiani." I wish Christian princes would Prince." follow good institutes! By their madness everything is thrown into confusion. . . . As to the "peaceful resting-place" which you say XIII. A.D. 1516. both peace CHAP. you long for, I also wish for one for you, 'ful and happy; both your age and your studies require it. I wish, too, that this your final restingplace may be with us, if you think us worthy of so great a man; but what we are you have often experienced. Still you have here some who love you exceedingly. Treatise of on the First The projected Para Erasmus. 'Our friend, the Archbishop of Canterbury, when I was with him a few days ago, spoke much of you, and 'desired your presence here very much. Freed from 'all business cares, he lives now in quiet retirement. 'true. 'What you say about "Christian philosophising" is There is nobody, I think, in Christendom more 'fit and suited for that profession and work than you are, on account of the wide range of your knowledge. 'You do not say so, but I say so because I think so. I have read what you have written on the First Psalm, and I admire your eloquence. I want to 'know what you are going to write on the Epistle to 'the Romans. 'Go on, Erasmus. As you have given us the New Testament in Latin, illustrate it by your expositions, phrases' of and give us your commentary most at length on 'the Gospels. Your length is brevity; the appetite ' increases if only the digestive organs are sound. You ' will confer a great boon upon those who delight to read your writings if you will explain the meaning [of the Gospels], which no one can do better than you can. And in so doing, you will make your name immortal '—immortal did I say?—the name of Erasmus never can perish; but you will confer eternal glory on your 'name, and, toiling on in the name of Jesus, you will 'become a partaker of his eternal life. XIII. In deploring your fortune you do not act bravely. CHAP. In so great a work-in making known the Scriptures -your fortune cannot fail you. Only put your trust A.D. 1516. in God, who will be the first to help you, and who 'will stir up others to aid you in your sacred labours. 6 6 • That you should call me happy, I marvel! If you 'speak of fortune, although I am not wholly without any, yet I have not much, hardly sufficient for my expenses. I should think myself happy if, even in 'extreme poverty, I had a thousandth part of that learning and wisdom which you have got without wealth, and which, as it is peculiar to yourself, so also you have a way of imparting it, which I dont know how to describe, unless I call it that "Erasmican' way of your own. 6 If you will let me, I will become your disciple, even in learning Greek, notwithstanding my advanced years (being almost an old man), recollecting that Cato • learned Greek in his old age, and that you yourself, ' of equal age with me, are studying Hebrew. Love me as ever; and if you should return to us, 'count upon my devotion to your service.-Farewell. mother. From the country at Stepney, with my mother, who Colet's ⚫ still lives, and wears her advancing age beautifully; ' often happily and joyfully speaking of you. On the Feast of the Translation of St. Edward.'1 quot Epistolæ, &c. (Basle, 1518, pp. 1 Eras. Epist. lxxxiv. App. Brewer, in the copy of this letter in Aliii. 2941, dated 'in die sancti Edwardi, in festo suce [? secundæ] transla6 tionis, sive 13 Octobris, 1516.' Probably second translation of St. 'Edward,' on June 20, 1516. The words, 'sive 13 Oct.' are not found |