The moment was not favorable. The Inquisition and the secular power itself were both preparing their terrors. There was an under-current of agitation in the city; hatred or fear was everywhere rife. Enzinas had many friends in the city; but knowing that he came from Wittenberg, and pretending that he 'smelt of sulphur,' those with whom he was most intimate, far from lavishing on him marks of tender affection, as formerly, remained mute and trembled in his presence. He well understood the reason. The very day after his arrival, the Attorney-General, Peter du Fief, cast into prison, as we have seen elsewhere,[107] all of the evangelical party who fell into his hands. An uncle whom Enzinas had at Antwerp, Don Diego Ortega, invited him to go and see him, and he was received in that town with open arms. At this period he was alternately at Antwerp, Brussels, and Louvain. The persecution which had befallen a great number of his friends now absorbed all his thoughts; but when the storm had somewhat abated, his project of publishing his Spanish translation of the New Testament again engaged his attention. Being modest, as distinguished men generally are, he felt some hesitation when he considered how great an enterprise it was, especially for a young man like himself. 'I do not wish,' he said, 'to accomplish this work in obedience to my own impulse alone.' He therefore consulted several men belonging to different nations and eminent for their learning and wisdom. All of them approved his project, and begged him to hasten the printing. 'Since the birth of Jesus Christ,' said some of the monks, even among the superstitious, 'so great a benefit has never been offered to the Spanish people.' 'I could wish,' said another, 'to see that book printed, were it even with my own blood.'[108] Enzinas took another step even more humble, and which might have compromised him. It was necessary that theological books should receive the sanction of the faculty of theology. 'Assuredly,' said Enzinas, 'this was never required, nor ought to be required, for the Holy Scriptures. But no matter.' He sent his translation to the dean of Louvain by a monk of his acquaintance. The members of the faculty, after conferring together, replied, 'We do not know Spanish; but we know that every heresy in the Netherlands proceeded from reading the sacred books in the vulgar tongue. It would, therefore, be advisable not to furnish the common people in Spain with an opportunity of refuting the decrees of the Church by the words of Jesus Christ, the prophets, and the apostles.[109] But since the emperor has not forbidden it, we give neither permission nor prohibition.' This reply was at least candid and ingenuous. [Sidenote: THE SPANISH NEW TESTAMENT.]