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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also some unpublished letters of Erasmus, gathered partly from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 fellow¬
citizens, 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 unmen¬
tioned ; 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 Ant¬
werp 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.