The count of Castagnera, who had an express order from the king, to make a large provision for Father Xavier, was very urgent with him, and importuned him so strongly to take something, for fear, said he, of tempting Providence, which does not every day work miracles, that Xavier, not to appear either obstinate or, presumptuous, demanded some few little books of devotion, for which he foresaw he should have occasion in the Indies, and a thick eloth habit against the excessive colds, which are to be endured in doubling the Cape.

The count, amazed that the father asked for nothing more, besought him to make a better use of the king’s offers; but seeing that all his intreaties prevailed nothing, “you shall not be master in every thing,” said he, with some kind of heat, “and at the least you cannot possibly refuse a servant to attend you, because I am sure you cannot be without one.”  “So long as I have the use of these two hands,” replied Xavier, “I will have no other servant.”  “But decency,” rejoined the count, “requires, that you should have one, if it were but to maintain the dignity of your character.  How shameful would it seem to behold an apostolical legate washing his own linen on the deck, and dressing his own victuals?” “I will take upon me for once,” said Xavier, “to serve myself, and others too, without dishonouring my character.  So long as I do no ill, I am in no fear of scandalizing my neighbour; nor of debasing that authority with which I am entrusted by the Holy See.  They are these human considerations, and false notions of decencies and punctilios, which have reduced the church to that condition in which we now see it.”

This positive answer stopped Castagnera’s mouth; but afterwards, he gave great commendations of Xavier, and publicly said, “that he found it much more difficult to combat the denials of Father Francis, than to satisfy the craving desires of other men.”

The day of his departure being come at length, and all things in a readiness to set sail, Xavier went to the port, with his two companions, whom he carried with him to the Indies; namely, Father Paul de Camerino, an Italian, and Francis Mansilla, a Portuguese, who was not yet in priests orders.  Simon Rodriguez bore him company to the fleet; and then it was, that, embracing each other with much tenderness, “My brother,” said Xavier, “these are the last words which I shall ever say to you:  we shall see each other no more in this present world; let us endure our separation with patience; for most certain it is, that, being well united with our Lord, we shall be united in ourselves; and that nothing shall be able to divide us from the society which we have in Jesus Christ.