Erasmus was educated in the church, became an Augustinian canon and was ordained a priest in 1492. He continued his theological studies in Paris and visited England on numerous occasions where he lectured at both Oxford and Cambridge. Here he became friends with, among others, Thomas More and John Colet. Known for the elegance of his Latin writing, his first work, Adagia (Adages) published in 1500, firmly established his scholarly reputation. The Manuell of the Cristen Knyght followed in 1503 and in 1509, he published his famous satire, The Praise of Folly (Encominium Moriae), which was squarely aimed at church dignitaries and theologians. In 1516, he published his Greek New Testament (with a Latin translation and critical notes) which was based on newly discovered manuscripts at the time. Many of his works had a profound impact on church reformers of the time and Erasmus is often regarded as a father of the Reformation, although his entire life he remained a devout Catholic and even published De Libero Arbitrio (On the Freedom of the Will, 1524) which contained a direct attack on Luther. Among Erasmus's other works are De Ratione Studii (On the Method of Study, 1511), Colloquia (Colloquies, 1518), Hyperaspistes (1526), and De Pueris Satim ac Liberaliter Instituendis (On Teaching Children Firmly but Kindly, 1529). Erasmus is regarded as one of the most eminent scholars of his era. |
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