as to his Voyage to Italy, he prosecuted his
Journey to Turin, and took the Degree of Doctor
of Divinity in that University; he dwelt a whole year
in Bolognia, and there obtain’d a Dispensation
from Pope Julian to put off his Canon’s
Habit, but upon Condition not to put off the Habit
of Priest; and after that went to Venice, where
was the Printing-House of the famous Manutius Aldus,
and there he published his Book of Adagies,
and staying some Time there, wrote several Treatises,
and had the Conversation of many eminent and learned
Men. From thence he went to Padua, where
at that Time Alexander the Son of James
King of Scotland, and Bishop of St. Andrews
in Scotland, studied, who chose Erasmus
for his Tutor in Rhetorick, and went to Seana,
and thence to Rome, where his great Merits had
made his Presence expected long before. At Rome
he gained the Friendship and Esteem of the most considerable
Persons in the City, was offered the Dignity of a
Penitentiary, if he would have remained there:
But he returned back to the Archbishop, and not long
after went with him again to Italy, and travelling
farther into the Country, went to Cuma, and
visited the Cave of Sybilla. After the
Death of the Archbishop he began to think of returning
to his own Country, and coming over the Rhetian
Alps, went to Argentorat, and thence by
the Way of the Rhine into Holland, having
in his Way visited his Friends at Antwerp and
Louvain; but Henry VIII. coming to the
Crown of England, his Friends here, with many Invitations
and great Promises, prevailed upon him to come over
to England again, where it was his Purpose
to have settled for the remaining Part of his Life,
had he found Things according to the Expectation they
had given him: But how it came about is uncertain,
whether Erasmus was wanting in making his Court
aright to Cardinal Wolsey, who at that Time
manag’d all Things at his Pleasure; or, whether
it were that the Cardinal look’d with a jealous
Eye upon him, because of his intimate Friendship with
William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury,
who had taken him into his Favour, between whom and
Wolsey there was continual Clashing, (the Cardinal
after he had been made the Pope’s Legate, pretending
a Power in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury.)
On this Disappointment he left England, and
went to Flanders; Archbishop Warham had
indeed shewed his Esteem for him, in giving him the
Living of Aldington. In short, Erasmus
takes Notice of the Friendship between himself and
Warham in the Colloquy called, The
Religious Pilgrimage.