[This and the following letter are printed in two editions of Gaguin's Epistole et Orationes, Paris, Durand Gerlier, August 1498? (a) and D. Gerlier and And. Bocard, 22 Nov. 1498 (B), but were never included by Erasmus in his correspondence. They are plainly at the beginning of his connexion with Gaguin, Ep. 43 answering Erasmus' first introduction of himself, and Ep. 44 replying to Erasmus' answer, in which he had deprecated the charge of assentatio orrect, made in Ep. 43. M. Thuasne (GE. 71, 2) follows Dr. Richter in assigning them to the year 1494; the argument being that if Erasmus' intimacy with Gaguin was merely incipient on 24 Sept. 1495 (Ep. 44), it could not have developed sufficiently for him to have composed Ep. 45, and have procured its insertion in the first edition of Gaguin's History, published 30 Sept. 1495. But an examination of the structure of that volume shows this reasoning to be fallacious. It consists of 136 leaves, seventeen signatures of eight, of which the first 134 are numbered. The History ends with Finis at the bottom of fº. 134. At the opening of fº, 135 is a short poem by Gaguin of seven couplets, followed by the colophon, 'Anno salutis Millesimo quadringentesimo nonagesimonono (cf. p. 148) pridie kalendarum octobrum.' The remainder of the page is occupied with four couplets by Faustus Andrelinus in praise of the History, and on the verso is Benedicti Montenati preludium with the same theme; the book being described by Faustus as editae, by Montenatus as statim edendae, and much space being wasted. Fo. 136 is entirely filled with Erasmus' letter (Ep. 45), each page having forty-nine lines instead of the usual forty-five. The inference from this is that the History having been completed by 30 Sept. the printer was left with three and a half blank pages, which he was at some difficulty to fill. By judicious spacing a page and a half were covered with Faustus' and Montenatus' compositions; and then, as we may infer, Erasmus offered for the last leaf this letter, which his facile pen had drawn out to a greater length than was necessary. The fact that the extra lines were crowded on to fo. 136, instead of being accommodated in some of the vacant space on fº. 135, suggests that that leaf was already printed off before Erasmus' letter was begun. Thus Ep. 45 instead of being placed before 30 Sept. 1495 must be placed at least some days later, and in this case days are of importance. Other considerations help to confirm the view that these letters, and therefore Erasmus' arrival in Paris, are to be placed in 1495. The publication of Erasmus' poem to Faustus (Ep. 47 introd.) is said to have occurred when their friendship was newly-formed (i. p. 3. 22-5); an event which occurred shortly after Erasmus' arrival (Ep. 44. 30). In App. 2 it is shown that there is reason for making his departure from Steyn as late as possible; the entire absence of any other correspondence from Paris in 1494 and the first half of 1495 is also suggestive; in Ep. 47. 7 seq. Erasmus writes as a newcomer, and the reference to Faustus' poem (Ep. 44. 30) strongly supports the date here assigned. The mention of Gaguin's illness (Ep. 44. I) is inconclusive, since he describes himself (GE. 77 and cf. 78) as having been ill throughout the year of printing. I conclude therefore that Erasmus came to Paris from the Bishop of Cambray's household in the late summer of 1495. There he introduced himself to Gaguin, the leading figure in the Paris world of letters, and an opportunity offering to make himself known by attaching his name to Gaguin's book then on the eve of publication, he speedily availed himself of it by the composition of Ep. 45. Some copies of the first edition of the History have two more leaves, unnumbered, containing eight columns of Errata. They were evidently added later by the desire of Gaguin, who was greatly vexed at the faulty printing, which he had been too ill to supervise (GE. 77 fin.). These pages are wanting in the British Museum copy; but M. Thuasne has kindly informed me about their contents from the copy in the Bibl. Mazarine. There are no corrections for Erasmus' letter. Erasmus' aim in coming to Paris was to obtain a Doctor's degree in Theology (Ep. 48), and for that purpose he entered the College of Montaigu, which under Standonck (p. 200) was now once more flourishing. Of his life there in the Domus Pauperum not much is known. In ii. 103-5 he speaks bitterly of the hardships he endured; and the picture is vividly amplified in the Ichthyophagia (LB. i, 806 B-807 c; cf. ibid. 632 A). During his residence Erasmus delivered some sermons 'de laudibus diuorum' (Luc. Ind.; cf. i. p. 37. 15, 6), and Boece in his letter of 1528 (p. 155) speaks of his lecturing on 'sacros codices.' A tradition about him is preserved in the life of Émile Fournier, the Orientalist (1683-1745), who when turned out in his youth from his Paris séminaire retired to the College of Montaigu. The room allotted to him there was believed to have been occupied by Erasmus; and from this association he derived much inspiration for his work (Nouv. mélanges asiat. ii. 292). I owe this information to Dr. M. A. Stein. Robert Gaguin (1433-22 May 1501), born at Calonne on the Lys in Artois, was a Fleming by birth, but French by nationality. He was educated in a monastic school belonging to the Trinitarian or Maturin order, which he joined, and of which in 1473 he became General. In 1457 he was sent to study in Paris, but the business of his order, which concerned itself with the redemption of prisoners of war, interrupted his studies and he did not become Dr. of Canon Law until 1480. He was sent on missions to Italy, Germany and Spain in 1465-6, to Spain in 1468, and in 1471-2 to Rome: and his successful diplomacy led to his employment as royal ambassador to Germany in 1477 and 1492, to Italy in 1484 and 1486, and to England in 1489-90. His interest in learning was great, and in 1470 he took a leading part in the introduction of printing into Paris. In 1483, and often later, he was Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law in the University. His Latin works include De arte metrificandi, 1473; a poem (1488), and a treatise (1492), de Puritate Conceptionis; de origine et gestis Francorum Compendium, 1495 (cf. Ep. 45); and Epistole et Orationes, 1498. He also wrote much in French, and translated Caesar (1485) and the third decade of Livy (1493). See Trith.¹, and for his life in detail GE.]
Robert Gaguin responds to Erasmus's introductory letter, acknowledging Erasmus's flattering praise but modestly deflecting it as excessive. He expresses appreciation for Erasmus's learning and extends an offer of friendship, encouraging straightforward communication without flattery. Gaguin emphasizes that genuine friendship should be based on mutual scholarly interests rather than exaggerated compliments.
ROBERT GAUGUIN TO ERASMUS, GREETINGS. You write to me at great length, Erasmus, chiefly to insinuate yourself into my good graces, and to that end you act as a kind of prelude, as if you would find it difficult to obtain from me what you seem to expect; and so you take up for your defense an overflowing abundance of praises. Whether you speak truly of me in these, you yourself must judge; for if I have any self-knowledge, I understand what I lack better than what I possess. For since each man lives closest to himself and is most dear to himself, no one considers himself sufficiently. I have sought, I confess, after letters and learning diligently, but I have not acquired them, like a not very prudent peddler who, carried around the fairs, after contemplating many wares, finally brings none home, being short of money. And those unpolished works of mine which you say you read with pleasure, I consider to be like the early and not yet fully ripe fruits which you see brought to market, which are given at the first courses to those suffering from poor health, to relieve a queasy stomach. They indeed stimulate the taste, but provide little nourishment. And even if this is true, still I do not prevent others from forming whatever judgment of me they please. This is troublesome to me: that you have released the full vein of your eloquence into the tiny stream of my praise; so that you extol me, such a tiny disciple and still learning, to the integrity of Nasica and the splendor of Nestor's eloquence. Do you wish, Erasmus, that I speak frankly what I feel? The art of speaking seeks for itself abundant material for eloquence from all sides, nor is a spring, always bubbling up and flowing forth, easily confined within its own banks. But there is, as Horace says, a measure in things, there are, in short, fixed limits. I would wish, therefore, Erasmus, that in writing praises of me you had been more restrained, that you had not been so lavish; not because praise makes me blush, but because whatever is advanced by the speaker beyond what is deserved is given over to flattery or falsehood. Therefore I shall write the truth. As far as one may conjecture from your letter and your lyric songs, I judge you to be learned; for which reason I expect your friendship no less than you do mine. For a similarity of studies is the glue of affection. Towards which, if any humanity, if any learning, as you yourself believe, has come to me, I freely declare this: let an approach to my heart for your love and affection lie open to you, just as the doors of my house lie open to my friends. Take away all the cosmetic of words and flattery, approach with an uncovered brow; retain for yourself that liberality of judgment, so that you love me if you think it right, but if otherwise, that you set me aside. Farewell.