Kasza Péter (szerk.): Stephanus Brodericus - Epistulae (Bibliotheca Scriptorum Medii Recentisque Aevorum, Series Nova XIV., Argumentum Kiadó - Magyar Országos Levéltár, Budapest, 2012)
1529
121 Erasmus of Rotterdam to István Brodarics Freiburg, 9 June 1529 Manuscript used: [Original is lost]1 Published: P. S. Allen (ed.), Opus epistolarum Desiderii Erasnii Roterodanii, Oxonii, 1934, 195-196. In Hungarian: V. Kovács Sándor (cd.). Magvar humanisták levelei XV-XVI. század, Budapest, 1971,564-565. /. He responds to Brodarics' letter since he can assess Brodarics 'merit by the fact that he has Piotr Tomicki among his friends. Thus, from now on. he will see Brodarics not only as a friend but also as a patron. - 2. On the importance o f the cult o f Mary in the Christian Church. Stephano Broderico, episcopo Pannonio electo et quondam regni Hungáriáé cancellario Erasinus Roterodamus salutem. [1.] Ad tam eruditas, tam amicas Honorandi Praesulis litteras1 2 * dubitavi, utrum satius esset nihil omnino respondere, an paucis rescribere, cum et grammatophorus esset 5 incertus et essem occupatissimus. Attamen inhumanum est visum non saltem referre salutem. Ut magnificas laudes, quas mihi tribuis, non agnosco, ita candorem tui pectoris lubens amplector. Te virum esse singulari pietate doctrinaque praeditum vel hinc coniicio, quod te reverendissimus praesul Cracoviensis2 inter melioris notae amicos complectitur. Quare te non solum in amicorum catalogum, quod tuae modestiae satis io esse video, sed in patronorum album cupidissime transcribam. Huius famae iam pridem me poenitet, quid de me sit iudicatura posteritas, viderint superi. [2.] Theologorum vulgus Scripturam universam ad scholastica quaedam dogmata, velut ad gnomones exanimat, minimum tribuit priscis ecclesiae doctoribus. Nunc discimus Christum in negotio a Patre delegato debuisse matri oboedientiam, eique nunc 15 in coelis cum Patre regnanti Matrem pro sua auctoritate posse imperare, iuxta illud Monstra te esse matrem.4 Discimus regnum coelorum deberi nostris operibus etiam de condigno. Discimus continentiam esse rem facillimam, modo velit homo. Discimus ingens esse periculum ecclesiae, si in concionibus sacris pro Virgine Matre imploretur 1 Handwritten versions of letters by Erasmus survived in extremely rare cases. Thus, the text of letter published here follows the authoritative edition by P. S. Allen. Allen, preparing his version, used the following printed editions: Opus epistolarum, Basel, H. Frobenius - J. Herwagen - N.Episcopius, 1529, 859.; Operum tertius tomus, Basel, H. Frobenius - N.Episcopius. 1538, 820.; Epistolarum libri XXXI., London, M. Flesher - R. Young, 1642, vol. XXII, 9.; Opera omnia. Tomus tertius, Leiden, 1703, 1058.- Unfortunately, Brodarics’ letter to Erasmus to which this reply came did not survive. ■' Bishop of Cracow Piotr Tomicki. It appears that the exchange of letters between Erasmus and Brodarics involved Tomicki and was carried out probably via Cracow. Erasmus says in his letter to Johannes Antoninus written also on 9 June that he does not know how to respond to Brodarics because the courier does not go to Cracow. See P. S. Allln (ed.), Opus epistolarum... 192. 4 The quotation comes from the hymn to Mary that starts with ,*4ee, maris stella". It was very popular throughout the Middle Ages. Some attribute it to 8lh-century Benedictine monk Paulus Diaconus, others to Venantius Fortunatus. 245
