Erasmus and the War-Poets in 1513

Abstract

During Erasmus’ English residence 1509–1514, Henry viii invaded France, as part of the “Holy League,” and, in the English king’s absence, England was attacked by Scotland. The events engendered a great quantity of poetry, as well as other writing: analyzed herein particularly are the verse contributions of Erasmus himself, his amicus Andrea Ammonio, Pietro Carmeliano, Camillo Paleotti, and Bernard André (the poems of these last two being edited and translated in appendices). This poetry in its context of events, both literary and political, influenced the anti-war writings that Erasmus was conceiving at the time, though he only published them later.