As I wished to communicate with the most learned Mel- anchthon, his most learned letter, which arrived late, chal- lenged me to reply. For it sought me in Italy, as did yours, and after half a year found me wandering in Germany. That year I was very unsettled, now in Italy, now in Germany; where I most desired to stay I was most obliged to wander. Recently it happened that as I was on the road to Domheim, I stopped here at Erfurt with old friends. Two days had not passed until, to my great surprise, they made me rector of the university.* I declined the honor, but was forced to accept it, so that, contrary to nature, neglecting my own people, I discharge the duties of paterfamilias to strangers, in this republic of students which your Eck is trying to disturb. Greet Melanchthon respectfully from me and ask his pardon if I don't write him soon, or if I write briefly. He has mar- ried a wife; may God prosper that most holy union, so that the happy father may see his children round about his table. For some years I have been disputing with Mutian who despises marriage and praises the life of the priests, whereas I prefer marriage. Wherefore let those who follow my guid- ance take to themselves wives.
351. ERASMUS TO CARDINAL LAWRENCE CAMPEGGIO AT
ROME.
Erasmi opera (1703), iii. 594. Louvain, December 6, 152a
I have been obliged greatly to compress this letter of nine thousand words. It is an interesting contrast to the one written to Capito on the same day.
[Erasmus defends himself from the charge of supporting Luther with the same arguments and often in the same words as he has used in previous letters. He begins by recounting the trouble he has had with the monks of Louvain, who have used the Lutheran cause, without the shadow of an excuse, to attack him.]
... In the first place, one or two prefaces, in fair Latin, to Luther's books, were sufficient argument that Luther had been helped by me to write, although in his pamphlets there is not a jot from my pen. As though Wittenberg, not to speak of the rest of Germany, were lacking in men who could write Latin!
'Crotus was elected rector on October i8, 1520.
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