I.—Erasmus.
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.