Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/720

700 in those countries. The general regretted the sacrifice of life in Florida and begged the king, at whose solicitation those men had been sent thither, that no more of his brethren might be uselessly exposed to destruction. Philip promptly acquiesced, leaving the matter entirely in the hands of the general.

A wealthy gentleman of Mexico, named Alonso de Villaseca, had endeavored six years earlier to bring hither the Jesuits at his own expense. His effort was then unsuccessful. Bishop Quiroga of Michoacan had also in 1566-7 tried to have members of the order sent to him. Viceroy Enriquez, a relative of the Jesuit general, as before shown, and with whom he held intimate relations when the latter was a duke and subsequently vicar-general of the Jesuit order in Spain, was strongly imbued with the idea that families of rank and means in Mexico and other cities, of whom there were already a considerable number, would gladly intrust the education of their children to the society. The project being warmly advocated by the city council, the viceroy and audiencia were requested to petition the king, as the council also did, to have some Jesuits sent out. King Philip, gladly assenting, wrote the provincial in Spain, March 7, 1571, to despatch priests, as he had before done to Peru and Florida, to found the order in New Spain; tendering the fleet and necessary supplies for their transportation. The general in Rome accordingly granted leave to twelve members of the order, with Doctor Pedro Sanchez as their first provincial, to go to Mexico, with his blessing.

Father Sanchez and his companions reached Seville