It was at St. Omer also that Erasmus became acquainted with John Vitrarius--a second John Colet in the earnestness of his Christian zeal against the corruptions of the church and vices of the clergy, in his love for St. Paul, in his outspoken preaching, and even in his manner of preaching, in his dislike of the Scholastic subtlety of Scotus, and even in his preference for Ambrose, Cyprian, Jerome, and Origen over Augustine. Erasmus ever afterwards linked the names of Colet and Vitrarius together, and admitted them both deservedly into his calendar of uncanonised saints.[295] The 'Enchiridion' was submitted to the judgment of Vitrarius, and obtained his approval.[296]
After many refreshing days passed at St. Omer, Erasmus returned to Paris to pursue his literary labours. These, notwithstanding all the hindrances of ill-health and poverty, never seemed to have flagged.[297] He had already made up his mind to devote himself to the Herculean task of correcting the text of St. Jerome's voluminous works, with a view to their publication.[298] The first edition of his 'Adagia' had been printed in 1501; and during a visit to Louvain and Antwerp, in 1503, he was able to publish some other works--his afterwards famous 'Enchiridion' amongst the rest.[299] But notwithstanding all his indomitable energy, and the often repeated kindness of Battus and the Marchioness, it would be difficult to imagine a longer catalogue of troubles and disappointments--and these too of that harassing and vexatious kind which are most trying to the temper--than is contained in the letters of Erasmus during these dreary years.[300]
He might well have been excused if, lost sight of as it would seem by his English friends, he had himself forgotten his promise to Colet on leaving Oxford, amidst the cares of his continental life.
[Sidenote: Erasmus remembers his promise to Colet.]
But whilst these necessities not a little interrupted, as was likely, those studies to which Colet's example and precept had urged him, and lengthened out the preliminary labours which Erasmus had made up his mind must precede his active participation in Colet's work, they did not, it seems, damp his energy, or induce him to look back after putting his hand to the plough. This and more lies touchingly hinted in the following letter written by Erasmus to Colet on receipt of the news of the elevation of his friend to the dignity of Doctor and Dean.