Erasmus, while a schoolboy, composed a panegyric on king Philip, (father
of Charles V.,) on his coming out of Spain into Germany. His majesty
took such notice of his early wit, that he honoured him with a yearly
pension during his life.
King Henry VIII. of England wrote to him with his own hand, ordered him
several very valuable presents, offered him a house and land, with six
hundred florins a year, if he would reside in England.
Francis I., king of France, also wrote to him, offering him a bishopric,
and one thousand florins a year, if he would live in France.
The emperor Charles V. offered him a bishopric in Sicily, made him one
of his privy council, allowed him a pension of four hundred florins a
year, and promised to make it five hundred, if he would occasionally
reside in his court.
Sigismond, king of Poland, and Ferdinand, king of Hungary, were very
bountiful to him, and repeatedly invited him to dwell in their
dominions.
Ann, princess of Verona, allowed him a pension of one hundred florins a
year.
Frederick, duke of Saxony, and William, duke of Gulick, made him several
presents.
Pope Adrian VI. wrote to him three times with his own hand; and pope
Clement VII., on being raised to the purple, sent him five hundred
florins, and invited him to Rome.
Pope Paul III. intended to have raised him to the rank of cardinal, if
death had not prevented him.
William Warham, archbishop of Canterbury, gave him an exhibition.
Cardinal Wolsey allowed him a pension out of a prebend at York.
The bishops of Lincoln and Rochester liberally supplied him with money,
&c. on all occasions.
Polidore Virgil sent him money to buy a horse, and the lord Cromwell
sent him thirty angels.
Lord Mountjoy, sir Thomas More, bishop Tonstall, and dean Collet, were
his constant benefactors.
Cardinal Mattheo offered him a pension of five hundred a year to live in
Rome, and sent him a cup of pure gold.
Albertus, archbishop, cardinal, and elector of Mentz, sent him also a
cup of gold, richly ornamented with precious stones.
Cardinal Campegius, among other presents, sent him a ring of great
value.
Stanislaus Olmucensis sent him a silver bowl, double gilt, with four
pieces of gold, ancient coin.
The bishop of Basil offered him half the revenue of his bishopric.
Thurxo, bishop of Uratislavo, went six days’ journey out of his way to
see him.
William, earl of Eyrenberg, gave him a dagger, which by the inscription
“he wished in the hearts of all his enemies.”
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