understand, from the ambassador Mascaregnas, that the king told him, he
should be very glad, that all the members of our company might be
gathered together, and established here; though on that condition he
employed a good part of his revenue for our entertainment."

"This pious prince," says Xavier in another of his letters, "who has so
tender an inclination for our society, and who wishes our advancement as
much as if he were one of us, has thereby engaged us for ever to his
service; and we should be guilty of a most horrible ingratitude, even to
be unworthy of life, if we made not a public profession of our service to
him, and if every day of our lives we endeavoured not to acknowledge, by
our prayers, as far as our weakness will give us leave, all the favours
of so generous a protector, and so magnificent a benefactor."

The Prince, Don Henry, who was nominated cardinal not long after, and in
process of time came to the crown by the death of Don Sebastian, had not
less affection for them than the king his brother. Being grand
inquisitor, he gave the fathers an absolute power in his tribunal; and
permitted them to discourse freely with all the prisoners of the
Inquisition.

Some of the greatest quality in the court were so much edified with the
apostolic life of Xavier and Rodriguez, that they were desirous to
embrace their institute; as some learned persons of the city had already
done. In short, every thing succeeded with them so, that Xavier had some
apprehensions concerning this tide of happiness: He bemoaned it sometimes
to himself, and said, that prosperity was always formidable, even in the
most pious undertakings; that persecution was more desirable, and a much
surer mark of Christ's disciples.