ort of people as possibly you can; for most commonly
they are great talkers, and if you trouble yourself with giving them the
hearing, you are almost certain to lose your time. For what remains,
disquiet not yourself with what they think or say of you; let them murmur
on, and do you take up a resolution of standing out so firmly, that they
may not find the least concernment in you; for the shew of any natural
sensibility would discover that you are not enough disengaged from the
world, as if you were wavering what part to take betwixt the world and
Christ. Remember, that you cannot covet popular approbation without
betraying your ministry, or becoming a deserter of your sacred colours,
in going back from that evangelical perfection, which you are obliged to
follow, with an unrelenting ardour."

After this, Xavier gave Barzaeus sundry particular orders, relating to
the persons and houses of the Society.

And now he chose for his companions, Balthazar Gago, Edward Silva, and
Peter Alcaceva, with Francis Goncalez, and Alvarez Ferreyra de Monte
Major; without reckoning into the number a young secular Chinese, named
Antonio, who had been brought up in the seminary of Sainte Foy. Some
of these were intended for China, and others for Japan. Father Ignatius
had written to Father Xavier, that it was of great importance to send
from the Indies into Europe one of the Society, well versed in the
eastern affairs, who might render an exact account of all things to the
king of Portugal, and the Pope; as a means of procuring temporal supplies
from the one, and spiritual favours from the other; both which were
necessary for the further increase of Christianity in Asia. Father
Francis did not receive those letters till after his voyage of Japan. He
had thought of these very things formerly, but now seeing that the
judgment of Ignatius concurred with his, he deputed into Italy and
Portugal, Andrew Fernandez, a man of parts and probity, who was not yet
in priest's orders. He not only gave him ample informations concerning
the present condition of the Indies, but also wrote large letters on the
same subject, to the king of Portugal, to Father Ignatius, and to Simon
Rodriguez. Being now ready to go for the voyage of China, he gave notice
of his intentions to king John, in this ensuing letter.

"I shall depart from Goa within the compass of five days, intending first
for Malacca; from whence I shall take the way of China, in the company of