Notes and Queries, Number 04, November 24, 1849 | Page 2

of genius, learning, and research which have combined to enrich it by the production of works of such high character and last influence.
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NOTES
LATIN EPIGRAM AGAINST LUTHER AND ERASMUS.
Mr. Editor,--Your correspondent "Roterodamus" (pp. 27, 28) asks, I hope, for the author of the epigram which he quotes, with a view to a life of his great townsman, Erasmus. Such a book, written by some competent hand, and in an enlarged and liberal spirit, would be a noble addition to the literature of Europe. There is no civilised country that does not feel an interest in the labours and in the fame of Erasmus. I am able to answer your correspondents question, but it is entirely by chance. I read the epigram which he quotes several years ago, in a book of a kind which one would like to see better known in this country--a typographical or bibliographical history of Douay. It is entitled, "_Bibliographie Douaisienne, ou Catalogue Historique et Raisonné des Livres imprimés à Douai depuis l'année 1563 jusqu'a nos jours, avec des notes bibliographiques et littéraires; Par H.R. Duthilloeul. 8vo. Douai, 1842_." The 111th book noticed in the volume is entitled, "_Epigrammata in H?reticos. Authore Andrea Frusio, Societatis Jesu. Tres-petit in 8vo. 1596_." The book is stated to contain 251 epigrams, "aimed," says M. Duthilloeul, "at the heretics and their doctrines. The author has but one design, which is to render odious and ridiculous, the lives, persons, and errors of the apostles of the Reformation." He quotes three of the epigrams, the third being the one your correspondent has given you. It has this title, "_De Lutheri et Erasmi differentia_," and is the 209th epigram in the book.
I have never met with a copy of the work of Frusius, nor do I know any thing of him as an author. The learned writer who pours out a store of curious learning in the pages of _Gentleman's Magazine_ is more likely than any body that I know to tell you something about him.
Mons. Duthilloeul quotes another epigram from the same book upon the _Encomium Mori?_, but it is too long and too pointless for your pages. He adds another thing which is more in your way, namely, that a former possessor of the copy of the work then before him had expressed his sense of the value of these "epigrammes dévotes" in the following NOTE:--
"Nollem carere hoe libello auro nequidem contra pensitato."
Perhaps some one who possesses or has access to the book would give us a complete list of the persons who are the subjects of these defamatory epigrams. And I may add, as you invite us to put our queries, Is not Erasmus entitled to the distinction of being regarded as the author of the work which the largest single edition has ever been printed and sold? Mr. Hallam mentions that, "in the single year 1527, Colin?us printed 24,000 copies of the _Colloquies_, all of which were sold." This is the statement of Moreri. Bayle gives some additional information. Quoting a letter of Erasmus as his authority, he says, that Colin?us, who--like the Brussels and American reprinters of our day--was printing the book at Paris from a Basle edition, entirely without the concurrence of Erasmus, and without any view of his participation in the profit, circulated a report that the book was about to be prohibited by the Holy See. The curiosity of the public was excited. Every one longed to secure a copy. The enormous edition--for the whole 24,000 was but one impression--was published contemporaneously with the report. It was a cheap and elegant book, and sold as fast as it could be handed over the booksellers counter. As poor Erasmus had no pecuniary benefit {51} from the edition, he ought to have the credit which arises from this proof of his extraordinary popularity. The public, no doubt, enjoyed greatly his calm but pungent exposure of the absurd practices which were rife around them. That his humorous satire was felt by its objects, is obvious from this epigram, as well as from a thousand other evidences.
JOHN BRUCE.
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HALLAMS MIDDLE AGES--ALLEGED IGNORANCE OF THE CLERGY.
Sir,--When reading Hallam's History of the Middle Ages a short time ago I was startled by the following passage which occurs amongst other evidences of the ignorance of the clergy during the period subsequent to the dissolution of the Roman Empire.
"Not one priest in a thousand in Spain about the age of Charlemagne, could address a common letter of salutation to another."--_Hallam's Middle Ages_, vol. iii. p. 332.
And for this statement he refers to Mabillon, _De Re Diplomatica_, p. 52.
On referring to Mabillon, I find that the passage runs as follows:--
"Christiani posthabitis scripturis sanctis, earumque interpretibus, Arabum Chald?orumque libris evolvendis incumbentes, legem suam nesciebant, et linguam propriam non advertebant