464 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



France, and, upon the management of this political affair, 

 they founded their hopes of getting themfelves replaced in 

 the miflion they formerly enjoyed, and of again fuperfeding 

 their rivals the Francifcans, in directing all the meafures to be 

 taken for that country's converfion. But this required the 

 utmoil delicacy, for it was well known, that the court of 

 Rome was very much indifpofed towards them, imputing 

 to their haughtinefs, implacability, and imprudence, the lofs 

 of Abyflinia. Their conduct in China, where they tolerated 

 idolatrous rites to be blended with Chriftian worfhip, began 

 alfo now to be known, and to give the greateft fcandal to 

 the whole church. It was, therefore, necellary to make the 

 king declare firil in their favour before they began to at- 

 tempt to conciliate the pope. 



Louis took upon him the protection of this million with 

 all the readinefs the Jefuits defired ; and the Jefuit Verfeau 

 was fent immediately to Rome, with ftrong letters to cardi- 

 nal Janfen, protector of France, who introduced him to the 

 pope. 



Verse au knew well the confequence of the protection 

 with which he was honoured. At his firil audience he de- 

 clared, in a very firm voice and manner, to the pope, that 

 the king had refolved to take upon himfelf the conduct of 

 the Ethiopic million, and that he had call his eyes upon 

 them (the Jefuits) as the iittell perfons to be entrulled with 

 the care of it, for reafons befi known to himfelf. The pope 

 dilTembled ; he extolled, in the moll magnificent terms, 

 the king's great zeal for the advancement of religion, ap- 

 proved of the choice he had made of the Jefuits, and prai- 

 fed their refolution as highly acceptable to him, immediate- 



