Fig. 14

. . . . And nothing gave Erasmus greater pleasure than his success in outfoxing Luther, when the reformer published his attack on Erasmus in 1526. Erasmus received a copy of Luther’s ‘Bondage of the Will’ less than a fortnight before the spring fair. Luther must have anticipated the free run for his work. But Erasmus set to work, Froben cleared his presses, and working on six presses simultaneously had Erasmus’s reply ready in time. It was an astonishing demonstration of literary virtuosity; but it was only possible because of Erasmus’s extraordinary influence with his printers. ~ Page 85