Enzinas: 'The New Testament, your imperial majesty, faithfully translated by me, and containing the Gospel history and the letters of the apostles. I pray your majesty to recommend this work to the nation by your approval.'
'Are you, then, the author of this book?'[129]
'No, sire, the Holy Spirit is its author. He breathed inspiration into holy men of God, who gave to mankind in the Greek language these divine oracles of our salvation. I, for my part, am but the feeble instrument who has translated this book into our Spanish tongue.'
'Into Castilian?'
'Yes, your imperial majesty, into our Castilian tongue, and I pray you to become its patron.'
'What you request shall be done, provided there be nothing in the work open to suspicion.'
'Nothing, sire, unless the voice of God speaking from heaven, and the redemption accomplished by his only Son, Jesus Christ, are to be objects of suspicion to Christians.'
'Your request will be granted if the book be such as you and the bishop say.' The emperor took the volume and entered an adjoining apartment.
Enzinas was in amazement. The emperor to imagine that he was the author of the New Testament, and that the Gospel could contain any thing suspicious! He could hardly repress words which would have ill-suited the place where he was. 'O thing unheard of!' said he within himself, 'and enough to make one shed tears of blood!'[130] Shortly afterwards, by the bishop's advice, he returned to Antwerp.
The next day the emperor ordered the bishop of Jaen to hand over the volume to a certain Spanish monk, a very celebrated man, fully capable of judging of the translation, and to request him to give his opinion on the subject. The bishop accordingly delivered the book to this personage. Now this monk was De Soto, the confessor of Charles V. When the prelate saw the confessor again, the latter said: 'This book pleases me; I highly approve of it; there are only a few remarks of little importance to make on the translation.... I should like to see the author and speak to him about it.' Enzinas communicated the invitation which he received to go to Brussels to some of his friends and relations at Antwerp. 'Your return to Brussels,' said they, 'would expose you to great danger.[131] If you wish to fall into the hands of your enemies, go; but understand that in so doing you act with more boldness than prudence.' 'I will go,' said he, 'to render an account of my work, and this in spite of whatever may happen. I will omit nothing that is useful or necessary to the advancement of the glory of God.' He accordingly set out.