gave great approbation, (as himself relates in his letter from Lisbon
to Ignatius,) to what he said, concerning the discipline of our houses,
the quality of our ministry, and the spirit and model of our foundation.

In the midst of the conversation, the king sent for the Prince of
Portugal, his son Don Juan, and the Infanta Maria, his daughter, that the
two missioners might see them. And from thence his majesty took occasion
of relating to them, how many children he had still living, and how many
he had lost, which turned the discourse on the education of youth; and
before the fathers were dismissed, the king recommended to their care, an
hundred young gentlemen, who were bred at court.

Though an officer of the palace had orders to prepare an handsome
lodging, with good accommodation, for Xavier and Rodriguez, they returned
to their hospital, and there continued. They would not so much as receive
their entertainment of diet, which was assigned them from court, but went
the round of the city begging alms at their appointed hours, and lived in
poverty, according to the manner of life which they had prescribed
themselves.

The fleet not being to set sail till the next spring, and these
apostolical persons not knowing what it was to live in idleness, Xavier
was not satisfied only to instruct those young gentlemen in piety, whom
the king had committed to his charge; he gave himself an employment, and
did at Lisbon what he had done at Venice, Bolognia, and Rome, for the
space of two years and more. But, besides that he assisted the sick in
the hospital day and night, visited the prisoners every day, and
catechised the children many times in the week, he often discoursed
with the principal persons of the court, and engaged them in the
spiritual exercises of Ignatius.