Latin secretary to the Emperor Charles, Don Alfonzo Manrique, Cardinal Archbishop of Seville and Inquisitor General, Mercurino Gattinara, Imperial Chancellor, and others of like calibre. He sent a letter to a Spanish friend named Dr. Luis Nuñez Coronel, in which he discouraged any further translations of his works into Spanish, saying: "I do not know whether they who translate my books into Spanish do it from love of me; but this I do know, they excite much ill will against me."

This utterance of Erasmus was shown to Alfonzo Fernandez, Archdeacon of Alcor, who was the translator of the Enchiridion into Spanish, though that fact was unknown to Erasmus. Immediately he made himself known to Erasmus, and wrote him, saying:

Up to this time I have seen no book of yours done into Spanish, save only the Enchiridion militis christiani by myself, which all concur in saying has not been discreditably translated. This work has gained so much applause, brought so much credit to your name, and proved so useful to Christian people that there is no other book of our time that may be compared with the Enchiridion for the extent of its circulation, since it is found in the hands of everybody. There is scarcely an individual in the court of the Emperor, an inhabitant in our cities, a member of our churches and convents, nay, not even a hotel or country inn, that has not a copy of the Enchiridion of Erasmus in Spanish. The Latin version was read previously by a few who understood the Latin language, but its full merit was not perfectly perceived even by these; now the Spanish version is read by all without distinction, and this short work has made the name of Erasmus a household word in circles where hitherto it had been unknown and unheard of. . . . But enough of this. Now, for the love I bear you, I judge it right to suggest that you introduce into your little book called the Exomologesis at least some small compliment to Auricular Confession, and that you should commend it with somewhat more earnestness, in order that the above-mentioned work, which is now agreeably received by all good and learned men, may, with this suggested addition, be satisfactory to the unlearned who now speak ill of it. Farewell, you personally reflect honor on letters. Palencia, November 27, 1527. Erasmus, I am, with much jealousy for your reputation, Alfonzo Fernandez, Archdeacon of Alcor."

The work of Erasmus to which this correspondent refers was the Exomologesis siue Modus confitendi, which he had published in 1524, and which, even to the partial eye of this admirer of the great writer, was evidently far from satisfactory. Fernandez wished to point out at least one reason why this book in particular was exciting ill will against Erasmus on the part of the Spaniards. And he spoke ex cathedra in a way, for he was a professor of theology and consequently

8

See Eras. Ep. (LB) col. 1723B.

See Life and Writings of Juan Valdés, pp. 41-2, from which this translation is paraphrased. London, 1865.

as well able as Erasmus to judge of what was the accepted teaching of the Church on the matter of Auricular Confession. Now, when even the comparatively mild Exomologesis was disturbing Spain so much, Erasmus must have been in a very perturbed state of mind when he reflected on his far more reprehensible Praise of Folly and the Colloquies; so he hastened to ward off the imminent peril of having them translated into Spanish, as it now appeared probable that such an event would shortly take place unless he could by some means prevent it. So he wrote to Fernandez, the writer of the above letter, who had so ably accomplished the Spanish version of the Enchiridion, and very deftly and sagaciously sought to guide his enthusiasm:

I had heard from the letters of many friends that my Enchiridion had been elegantly translated into Spanish, but from your letter I have for the first time learned to whom I am indebted for the favor. I am very much gratified on this account that a man of your ability has deigned to spend such pains on my little work. Would that it might turn out as useful as both of us wish, for then I should not regret the hostility that is wont to result from everything good. If your letter and those of my friends are telling the truth, not only do I not regret your endeavor, but I am even rejoiced and full of gratitude towards you, not for the celebrity of my name for which, you write, you are working, since I should prefer to be the most obscure of all men rather than to have a reputation leavened by the ferment of dislike, . . . but out of regard for piety. And, since you have succeeded so well with this one, I should wish . . . that certain others of my works might be turned into Spanish, at least those which seem to lead to piety. Of such nature I deem to be my little Commentaries on the Four Psalms, on The Mercy of the Lord, On Christian Marriage, my Paraphrases, and such like works, which can be made by a suitable translation to assist the morals of mankind. For herein also the tact of the translator is of much importance, since I have written some works to stimulate study, some for correcting the judgments of the multitude, and many that are to be read only by the learned. I know nothing about you except what I have just mentioned; yet the rumor is prevalent here, from letters and conversations of some people, that my Colloquies, my Lingua, and I know not what others, are being printed there [in Spain], and although there is nothing impious in them, as far as I know, yet each work has its own time and place.

What you advise with reference to my Exomologesis ↑ will do on the very earliest occasion, although I have already done it many times, both before the work was issued, and afterwards. Men do not consider what I had undertaken to treat of in that work, nor for whom it was written, nor the time nor place. What is the good of an appendix if it is not read, or if it is only read for the purpose of being misrepresented? What is going on there in your locality I know not, but here the work has helped more than the writings of other people who claim to advocate Confession most earnestly. I

shall take your advice, however; and may the Lord prosper you in all your undertakings. Basle, March 15, 1528.

Had Erasmus himself made the selection, he could hardly have selected a better champion for his cause than this same Alfonzo Fernandez. There is a letter in existence at Leipzig written by him in the previous year to Dr. Coronel, secretary of the Inquisitor-General of Spain, who was Alfonzo Manrique, Archbishop of Seville. This letter describes the sayings and doings of a Franciscan monk, Father Juan de San Vicente, who had openly attacked in his sermons some of the works of Erasmus, including therein the Enchiridion, the Paraclesis, and some others. He accused Erasmus of uttering therein many heresies, which so wrought on Fernandez that he met him in public debate, and, as his crowning argument, showed to the audience the Archbishop's Imprimatur, which effectually put Father Vicente in the wrong. Then he tells us something which leads us to realize that human nature has not changed much in four hundred years, inasmuch as he declares that the opposition to the works of Erasmus only served to cause them to be read all the more. But we will let the letter speak for itself:

. . But he has not ceased to bark yet, nor does he desist from forcing his way into the houses of influential laymen, publicly exciting everyone against Erasmus, and, secretly, against the authority of the Archbishop and of the lords of the Council, concerning whom he has dared to say that they erred in their approval of the book, and in their order to have it printed. True it is that we all enjoy forbidden fruit; for the Father has succeeded so well that those who never heard of Erasmus before are now seen with his books in their hands constantly, and nothing is read other than the Enchiridion, since it has thus been condemned and defamed by the reverend Father. . . . It . . . affects His Grace and the lords of the Council, that a half idiotic and unimportant monk has dared to condemn as a heretic one of whom the protectors of the Church approve as a good man; it affects yourself no less, for it was upon your evidence and commendation that the book was approved and printed. And assuredly, if this fellow shall calumniate the Praise of Folly or some of the youthful Colloquies, though this would have been a great hardihood on his part, still it might have been borne; but to have spoken so vehemently against the Enchiridion, never before attacked by anyone up to this present day, is unpardonable. write to ask you to apprise the Archbishop and those lords, in order that His Grace may order him to be chastised, so that, at least, he may be made to retract in that very pulpit, and reinstate those whom he has defamed, etc. . . .1

10

But the Archbishop, in his capacity as Inquisitor-General, seems to have been a very just and discreet man; and, although he was friendly to Erasmus, he felt that he could do no less in the circumstances than

Eras. Ep. (H) pp. 669-70.

1. See Life and Writings of Juan Valdés, pp. 39-40, from which this translation is paraphrased.