The orthodox Dominican saw Christ's flock contaminated.

Not without reason did earnest Catholics dread that the Church in Castile would suffer from this blending of the Jewish with the Spanish breed.

But they had a fiery Catholic enthusiasm to rely upon in the main body of the nation.

And in the crown they knew that there were passions of fear and cupidity, which might be used with overmastering effect.

It sufficed to point out to Ferdinand that a persecution of the New Christians would flood his coffers with gold extorted from suspected misbelievers.