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He prosecuted his Journey to
Rome, leaving
Margaret, his Spouse that was to be, big with Child of
Erasmus. Gerard being arriv'd at
Rome, betook himself to get his Living by his Pen, (by transcribing Books) being an excellent Penman; and there being at that Time a great deal of that Sort of Business to do (for as the Life that is said to be
Erasmo Auctore has it,
tum nondum ars typographorum erat, i.e.
The Art of Printing was not then found out; which was a Mistake, for it had been found out twenty-four Years before, in the Year 1442. But perhaps the Meaning may be, tho' it was found out, it was not then commonly used) he got Money plentifully, and for some Time, as young Fellows us'd to do, liv'd at large; but afterwards apply'd himself in good Earnest to his Studies, made a considerable Progress in the
Latin and
Greek Tongues, which was very much facilitated by his Employment of transcribing Authors, which could not but strongly impress them on his Memory; and he had also another great Advantage, in that a great many learned Men then flourish'd at
Rome and he heard particularly one
Guarinus. But to return to
Erasmus, his Mother
Margaret being delivered of him, he was after his Father called
Gerard, which in the
German Tongue, signifies
Amiable; and as it was the Custom among learned Men in those Times, (who affected to give their Names either in
Latin or
Greek,) it was turn'd into
Desiderius (
Didier) in
Latin, and into
Erasmus [Greek: Herasmios] in
Greek, which has the same Signification. He was at first brought up by his Grandmother, till
Gerard's Parents coming to the Knowledge that he was at
Rome, wrote to him, sending him Word, that the young Gentlewoman whom he courted for a Wife was dead; which he giving Credit to, in a melancholy Fit, took Orders, being made a Presbyter, and apply'd his Mind seriously to the Study of Religion. But upon his Return into his own Country, he found that they had impos'd upon him. Having taken Orders, it was too late to think of Marriage; he therefore quitted all further Pretensions to her, nor would she after this, be induced to marry.
Gerard took Care to have his Son
Erasmus liberally educated, and put him to School when he was scarce four Years old. (They have in
Holland, an ill-grounded Tradition; that
Erasmus, when he was young, was a dull Boy, and slow at Learning; but Monsieur
Bayle has sufficiently refuted that Error, tho' were it true, it were no more Dishonour to him, than it was to
Thomas Aquinas, Suarez, and others.) He was a Chorister at
Utrecht, till he was nine Years old, and afterwards was sent to
Daventer, his Mother also going thither to take Care of him. That School was but barbarous, the most that was minded, was
Matins, Even-Song, &c. till
Alexander Hegius of
Westphalia, and
Zinthius, began to introduce something of better Literature. (This
Alexander Hegius, was an intimate Friend to the learned
Rodolphus Agricola, who was the first that brought the
Greek Tongue over the Mountains of
Germany, and was newly returned out of
Italy, having learned the
Greek Tongue of him.)
Erasmus took his first Taste of solid Learning from some of his Playfellows, who being older than himself, were under the Instruction of
Zinthius: And afterwards he sometimes heard
Hegius; but that was only upon holy Days, on which he read publickly, and so rose to be in the third Class, and made a very good Proficiency: He is said to have had so happy a Memory, as to be able to repeat all
Terence and
Horace by Heart. The Plague at that Time raging violently at
Daventer, carry'd off his Mother, when
Erasmus was about thirteen Years of Age; which Contagion increasing more and more every Day, having swept away the whole Family where he boarded, he returned Home. His Father
Gerard hearing of the Death of his Wife, was so concern'd at it, that he grew melancholy upon it, fell sick, and died soon after, neither of them being much above forty Years of Age. He assign'd to his Son
Erasmus three Guardians, whom he esteem'd as trusty Friends, the Principal of whom was
Peter Winkel, the Schoolmaster of
Goude. The Substance that he left for his Education, had been sufficient for that Purpose, if his Guardians had discharg'd their Trust faithfully. By them he was remov'd to
Boisleduc, tho' he was at that Time fit to have gone to the University. But the Trustees were against sending him to the University, because they had design'd him for a Monastick Life. Here he liv'd (or, as he himself says, rather lost three Years) in a
Franciscan Convent, where one
Rombold taught Humanity, who was exceedingly taken with the pregnant Parts of the Youth, and began to sollicit him to take the Habit upon him, and become one of their Order.
Erasmus excused himself, alledging the Rawness and Unexperiencedness of his Age. The Plague spreading in these Parts, and after he had struggled a whole Year with an Ague, he went Home to his Guardians, having by this Time furnished himself with an indifferent good Style, by daily reading the best Authors. One of his Guardians was carried off by the Plague; the other two not having manag'd his Fortune with the greatest Care, began to contrive how they might fix him in some Monastery.
Erasmus still languishing under this Indisposition, tho' he had no Aversion to the Severities of a pious Life, yet he had an Aversion for a Monastery, and therefore desired Time to consider of the Matter. In the mean Time his Guardians employ'd Persons to sollicit him, by fair Speeches, and the Menaces of what he must expect, if he did not comply, to bring him over. In this Interim they found out a Place for him in
Sion, a College of Canons Regulars near
Delft, which was the principal House belonging to that Chapter. When the Day came that
Erasmus was to give his final Answer, he fairly told them, he neither knew what the World was, nor what a Monastery was, nor yet, what himself was, and that he thought it more advisable for him to pass a few Years more at School, till he came to know himself better.
Peter Winkel perceiving that he was unmoveable in this Resolution, fell into a Rage, telling him, he had taken a great deal of Pains to a fine Purpose indeed, who had by earnest Sollicitations, provided a good Preferment for an obstinate Boy, that did not understand his own Interest: And having given him some hard Words, told him, that from that Time he threw up his Guardianship, and now he might look to himself.
Erasmus presently reply'd, that he took him at his first Word; that he was now of that Age, that he thought himself capable of taking Care of himself. When his Guardian saw that threatening would not do any Thing with him, he set his Brother Guardian, who was his Tutor, to see what he could do with him: Thus was
Erasmus surrounded by them and their Agents on all Hands. He had also a Companion that was treacherous to him, and his old Companion his Ague stuck close to him; but all these would not make a monastick Life go down with him; till at last, by meer Accident, he went to pay a Visit at a Monastery of the same Order at
Emaus or
Steyn near
Goude, where he found one
Cornelius, who had been his Chamber-fellow at
Daventer. He had not yet taken the Habit, but had travelled to
Italy, and came back without making any great Improvements in Learning. This
Cornelius, with all the Eloquence he was Master of, was continually setting out the Advantages of a religious Life, the Conveniency of noble Libraries, Retirement from the Hurry of the World, and heavenly Company, and the like. Some intic'd him on one Hand, others urg'd him on the other, his Ague stuck close to him, so that at last he was induc'd to pitch upon this Convent. And after his Admission he was fed up with great Promises to engage him to take upon him the holy Cloth. Altho' he was but young, he soon perceived how vastly short all Things there fell of answering his Expectations; however, he set the whole Brotherhood to applying their Minds to Study. Before he professed himself he would have quitted the Monastery; but his own Modesty, the ill Usage he was treated with, and the Necessities of his Circumstances, overcame him, so that he did profess himself. Not long after this, by the means of
Gulielmus Hermannus of
Buda, his intimate Associate, he had the Honour to be known to
Henry a Bergis Bishop of
Cambray, who was then in Hopes of obtaining a Cardinal's Hat, which he had obtained, had not Money been wanting: In order to sollicit this Affair for him, he had Occasion for one that was Master of the
Latin Tongue; therefore being recommended by the Bishop of
Utrecht, he was sent for by him; he had also the Recommendation of the
Prior, and General, and was entertained in the Bishop's Family, but still wore the Habit of his Order: But the Bishop, disappointed in his Hope of wearing the Cardinal's Hat,
Erasmus finding his Patron fickle and wavering in his Affections, prevail'd with him to send him to
Paris, to prosecute his Studies there. He did so, and promised him a yearly Allowance, but it was never paid him, according to the Custom of great Men. He was admitted of
Montague College there, but by Reason of ill Diet and a damp Chamber, he contracted an Indisposition of Body, upon which he return'd to the Bishop, who entertain'd him again courteously and honourably: Having recover'd his Health, he return'd into
Holland, with a Design to settle there; but being again invited,
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