ar as Malacca, the Moluccas, and Japan, be subject to you. I will, in
like manner, that all those who shall come from Portugal, or from any
other country of Europe, into the houses of the Society under my
obedience, should acknowledge you for their superior; if it happen not,
that our Father Ignatius name some other rector of this college of Goa,
as I have already requested him by my letters; informing him at large of
the necessity of sending hither some experienced person, in whom he much
confides, to govern this college, and all the missions of our Society
depending on it. If then any of the Society sent by Father Ignatius, or
by any other general of the Society of Jesus, with patents signed in due
form, shall arrive at Goa, to take the government of this house, and of
those who are subjected to it, I command you, in the same virtue of holy
obedience, to resign the government into his hands forthwith, and to be
obedient to him in all things."

Xavier having thus declared Barzaeus superior in a full assembly of the
college, kneeled down, and acknowledged him for such, thereby giving a
public example of submission. After which, he commanded all of them, in
virtue of holy obedience, to be subject to him, and ordered him to expel
from the society, all such as should enterprize ought against his
authority, or refuse obedience to his orders. He ordered him, I say,
positively to expel them, without consideration of their capacity, their
eloquence, or any other gifts of nature; adding, that whatever excellent
qualities they had, they wanted those which were essential, namely,
humility and obedience.

Barzaeus replied not one word when it was intimated to him, that he
should not go to China, how desirous soever he were of that voyage; and
it may be said, that, on this occasion, he made a noble sacrifice of all
his fervent zeal to his obedience. But when he was nominated both rector
and vice-provincial, confounded at the mention of those dignities, he
said aloud, "That he was not endued with the spirit of government." He
was ready to die of shame, when he saw the saint upon his knees before
him; and, with great precipitation, fell also on his knees, and humbly
begged of him, with tears in his eyes, that he would consider his
infirmities. The saint, who had a perfect insight into his integrity,
would not hearken to him, and judged him to be so much the more worthy of
those two employments, as he judged himself to be incapable. A