And I may add, as you invite us to put our queries, Is not
Erasmus entitled to the distinction of being regarded as the author of
the work which the largest single edition has ever been printed and
sold? Mr. Hallam mentions that, "in the single year 1527, Colinaeus
printed 24,000 copies of the _Colloquies_, all of which were sold." This
is the statement of Moreri. Bayle gives some additional information.
Quoting a letter of Erasmus as his authority, he says, that Colinaeus,
who--like the Brussels and American reprinters of our day--was printing
the book at Paris from a Basle edition, entirely without the concurrence
of Erasmus, and without any view of his participation in the profit,
circulated a report that the book was about to be prohibited by the Holy
See. The curiosity of the public was excited. Every one longed to secure
a copy. The enormous edition--for the whole 24,000 was but one
impression--was published contemporaneously with the report. It was a
cheap and elegant book, and sold as fast as it could be handed over the
booksellers counter. As poor Erasmus had no pecuniary benefit {51} from
the edition, he ought to have the credit which arises from this proof of
his extraordinary popularity. The public, no doubt, enjoyed greatly his
calm but pungent exposure of the absurd practices which were rife around
them. That his humorous satire was felt by its objects, is obvious from
this epigram, as well as from a thousand other evidences.
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