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578 APPENDIX I Carpentras; but though mistakes are frequent enough” in Sadolet’s Briefs, written out in full in his beautiful handwriting, it would be difficult to write Rogerii for Gerardi. A more probable solution may be found in the suggestion that Erasmus’ father was named Rogerius Gerardus, and his grandfather Helias Gerardus, or perhaps Helias Gerardi. Surnames were then gradually supplanting patronymics®; so that on this supposition Erasmus might have been called indifferently Erasmus Rogerii or Erasmus Gerardus. Thus Erasmus, or perhaps Sadolet, uses in this case the patronymic; Herman at an earlier date, addressing Peter, adopts the surname. The evidence as to his birthplace” is conflicting, but the balance is not against Erasmus. In all points, therefore, except the suppression of Peter, I accept the Compendium as a genuine and accurate document, composed by Erasmus and representing the contributions which he could, or wished to, make to the knowledge of his life already possessed by his executors. APPENDIX II ERASMUS’ EARLY LIFE Tue chief sources for our knowledge of Erasmus’ early years are the Compendium Vitae and the letter to Romet, on which. the Compendium is based; supplemented by a few indications derived from elsewhere. Erasmus’ statements as to his own age are numerous but conflicting; and in consequence his birth has been variously assigned to any year from 1465 to 1469. The evidence has been carefully examined by Dr. Richter’ and Mr. Nichols*, and both conclude that the balance of it is strongly in favour of 1466; this therefore may be accepted as the year which in later life he considered as that of his birth, but in view of the date at which he left Deventer and of the uncertainty which he once expresses *, it seems possible that he was mistaken. He was born during the night’ of Oct. 27-8, and to this is due the discrepancy between the statement in the Compendium Vitae and his practice of celebrating his birthday on the festival of St. Simon and St. Jude. In the same way equally good authorities ascribe his death to 11 and 12 July 1536, because he died about midnight. For the circumstances of his birth see ii. 1 n. 2° A cursory examination of some of Log those included in Brewer, ii, yielded 1 Lond. xxiv. 5, LB. App. 442. the following: Vuingernien. for Vi- 2 Brasmus-Studien, App. I. gornien. (13), vtillimam (366), Londouiensi, Sancte Secilie (1523); similarly Bembo has Polidorus Virginius, Grisogoni for Chrysogoni (238). 2 Cornelius of Gouda (p. 92) styles himself either Corn. Gerardus or Corn. Gerardi; an example of an earlier process by which a patronymic becomes a surname. A son of Cornelius might have added as his second name either Gerardus or Cornelii. 3 Epistles of Erasmus, vol. i. App. 5t (Ipse nunc annum quinquagesimum secundum aut ad summum tertium ago? Lond. x. 29, LB. 466. 5 Melanchthon (Declam. de Brasmo,OR. xii. 266) states that he was born four hoursbefore sunrise. Cardan(Geniturae, Basle, 1554; p. 497) cast his horoscope for ‘hor. 3, min. 45 ante ortum solis.’ On Oct. 28 (0.S.) the sun rose a few minutes after seven.
