June; and Xavier retired to the
hospital of All Saints, where Rodriguez, who came by sea, had taken up
his lodging. He found him much weakened with a quartan ague, which had
not left him; and embraced him just at the moment when his fit was coming
on him. But whether it were, that the extreme joy which Rodriguez found,
so unexpectedly to see him, dissipated the humour which caused his
disease, or that the embraces of Xavier had from that time an healing
virtue; certain it is that the fit came not, and from thenceforward the
sick man entirely recovered of that distemper.

Three or four days after, they were both called to court. The king and
queen, who were in company together, received Xavier as a saint, on the
report of Mascaregnas, and entertained him with all imaginable shews of
kindness. They asked them diverse questions concerning their way of
living; by what accident their new Society came to be formed; and what
was the ground and ultimate design of it; and at last desired to be
informed by them, from whence proceeded that strange persecution, which
was raised in Rome against their body, which had made so great a noise
over all Europe. Xavier made answer to all these demands in few words,
but so very pertinently, as much satisfied both their majesties: they
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