The Reception of Erasmus and the Fall of James II

Abstract It is perhaps surprising to see the name and legacy of Erasmus embroiled in the party politics of late Stuart England. What did either the Whigs or the Tories have in common with Erasmus? In fact, authors from both incipient parties saw significant advantage in claiming Erasmus as a respected authority for key elements of their own agendas. They also sought to use the reputation and writings of Erasmus to support their competing interpretations of the English past. In 1685, Tories saw the moderation and tolerance of the English Erasmian legacy as a model that could build support for the Catholic James II . Whigs, meanwhile, sought to undermine this argument by portraying Erasmus as anti-Catholic, anti-papal, and anti-authoritarian. Both factions understood that history was the foundation for legitimacy and that public perceptions about the nature of the English Reformation and the Elizabethan settlement could determine the success or failure of their competing visions for the future of England. Claiming Erasmus, both believed, was important for the acceptance of the rival stories they each sought to tell.