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APPENDIX I THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE COMPENDIUM VITAE Tue Compendiwm Vitae Erasmi was first published in 1607 by Paul Merula, Professor of History and Librarian in Leiden University. It accompanies a letter of Erasmus to his friend and confidant Conrad Goclen, dated 2 Apr. 1524, and also published for the first time, in which Erasmus, whose health had been failing for some time, speaks of going in fear of his life and of sending to Goclen ‘totius vitae meae compendium’ for the use of his biographers in case of his death. The volume to which it is prefixed (O') contains also some unpublished letters of Erasmus, gathered partly from autographs in Merula’s possession, partly from contributions by his friends, Vuleanius, Scriverius, and others. The original manuscript of the Compendium, according to Merula’s preface (12 Novy. 1606), had for some time belonged to Otho Werckman!, one of his fellowcitizens, who had recently shown it to him; but copies of it had been known to Merula before in the hands of Scriverius and other persons whom he names, one of which was said to have been made from the original when in the hands of a certain Henry Ravestein. The original itself was still in existence in 1649, when Thysius’, who afterwards became Librarian to the University, mentions it as in the library of Jerome de Backere, one of the persons named by Merula; but since then it has disappeared. The composition of the Compendium is remarkable. It begins with short, jerky sentences whose subject, Erasmus, is left unmentioned ; as it proceeds, the style becomes more connected and more like Erasmus’ wonted periods, though a number of unusual words and harsh constructions’? occur. It mentions precise facts about Erasmus’ parentage and early life which are known from no other souree, and it traces his career till his settlement in Brabant in 1516. At this point the narrative closes with the words ‘Caetera sunt tibi nota’; and a short account of his character follows which gradually passes into the first person and merges into a postscript to the letter which it accompanies. The facts related, so far as they can be tested, are quite correct, except in one notable particular. A large part of the Compendium is an abridgement of a letter written by Erasmus to Rome in the autumn of 15164 of the genuineness of which there can be no doubt, since it was published 1 Possibly a descendant of the Antwerp bookseller through whose hands many of the writings of Erasmus and his friends passed ; see Ep. 258. 14 n. 2 Magni Des. Erasmi Roterodami vita (ed. Ant. Thysius), Leiden, Jo. Maire, 1649, Pref. ad lectorem. ? e. g. l, 33, the change of subject in misit Dauentriam, following proficiebat ; and 1l. ror, in sentiret following destitutus esset. 1. 89, lactabar. 1. 135, ipsi describetis, following sunt tibi nota : but see note. 1. 154, discerpius, following illum. # Lond. xxiy. 5, LB. App. 442.
