Page 579 [579]
576] FROM JOHN WATSON 558
nem domus. Hoc si tibi aut voluptati aut vlli vsui esse potuerit,
tuum erit tibique mecum commune; quomodo et erit quicquid et
aliud est meum. Vtinam velis nos hic visere, cum primum per
negocia tua licebit! Si non essem negociis plurimis implicitus,
volarem statim isthuc vt te fruerer. Bene vale, patrone multum
humanissime.
Cantabrigiae ex collegio diui Petri.
Bouillum audio laborare, nescio quo incommodo.
577. Ro THOMAS WOLSEY:
Farrago p. 183. London.
Deprea AN fond. vir. 04: dus. 137. (c. 28 April 1517.)
[This letter was evidently written by Erasmus just when the wind was
blowing fair for him to cross the Channel. It must be placed in 1517, because
that is the only year in which Lord Mountjoy was in London at the time of
Erasmus’ departure. From the reference to Prince Charles it must clearly
be later than the appointment of Erasmus as Councillor (Ep. 370. 18 n.).
Dr. Reich assigns it to 1515, thus conflicting with both these considerations.
Mr. Nichols dates it in 1516, by supposing it to have been written from Calais
instead of London, and further by altering hic (1. 4) to huc.
The business in hand was clearly some scheme to provide for Erasmus in
England ; cf. Ep. 574. 62n. The tone of confidence in which the letter is couched
is remarkable, and shows that Erasmus now felt secure of his position in the
world and of a welcome wherever he might choose to settle.
He left England at the end of the month, reaching Calais on 1 May (Ep. 584).
On his way to the coast he again made a short stay at Rochester and gave Fisher
a few lessons in Greek (Ep. 592. 3 and 19 seq.). |
REVERENDISSIMO CARDINALI EBORACENSI ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS.
ReverENpISSIME pater, salutem plurimam. Tametsi non ignora¬
bam antea celsitudinis tuae in me fauorem, tamen id plenius hodie
cognoui ex oratione clarissimi Montioii. Eram coram acturus gratias
reuerendissimae T. D., sed hic ventus et libri iam pridem relicti me
iamdudum reuocant: et sciebam quantis negociorum vndis in prae¬
sentia iactetur exerceaturque E. T. R. D. Quod superest huius negocii
literis transigetur. Vbi vobis decretum erit quantum meo ocio satis
esse putetis, meum fuerit dare operam vt ita dimittar a Principe
meo, sicuti par est ab optimo ac benemerito discedere. Caeterum
quicunque erit euentus, pro regia in me indulgentia proque celsitu¬
dinis tuae propensissimo studio semper debiturus sum: quam vtran¬
que incolumem in multam aetatem tueatur omnipotens.
Londini. [m.p.xv.]
577. 4. reuerendissimae T. D. om. H. iam pridem relicti add. F. ERT
R.D. Z: tua sublimitas H. 9. ac E: & H. 13. M.D. XV add. H.
576. 31. Bouillum] Cf. Ep. 579. 7 sed.
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