nto China, and if the
gospel enter with me, it is to you, next to Almighty God, to whom both
the Chinese and myself shall be owing for it. You shall have the merit of
it in the sight of God, and the glory in the sight of men. Thus, both the
Chinese, who shall embrace the faith, and those of our Society, who shall
go to China, shall be obliged, to offer, without ceasing, their vows to
heaven in favour of you. God grant us both the happiness once to meet in
the court of China! As for myself, I am of opinion if I get into that
kingdom, and that you come thither, you will either find me a prisoner at
Canton, or at Pequin, which is the capital city of that empire; and I
beseech the Lord, out of his infinite mercy, that we may be joined
together either in the kingdom of China, or at least in the kingdom of
immortal glory."

He wrote by the same conveyance to Father Francis Perez, superior of
Malacca. He commanded him, in virtue of holy obedience, to depart with
the soonest out of that unhappy town, and to conduct his inferiors to
Cochin, where he established him rector of the college, in the place of
Antonio Heredia, whom he sent to Goa. Though Father Xavier deplored anew,
the wretched condition of Don Alvarez, it hindered him not from enjoining
Father Barzaeus, in his letter to him, that he should work the bishop to
send his orders to the grand vicar of Malacca, therein declaring the
governor to be excommunicated. And he took this way, not only because
hardened and scandalous offenders, such as Don Alvarez, ought to incur a
public dishonour, by that means to induce them to a serious consideration
of their own estate, and that others might take warning by them; but
also, that succeeding governors might fear, by the example of his
punishment, to set themselves in opposition to any intended voyage of the
missioners, who should be sent hereafter to the Moluccas, Japan, or any
other places.

He desired Father Barzaeeus, in the same letter, to receive few persons
into the Society, and to make an exact trial of those whom he should
receive: "For I fear," said he, "that many of them who have been
admitted, and daily are admitted, were better out of our walls than
within them.

"You ought to deal with such people, as you have seen me deal with many
at Goa; and as I have lately treated my companion, whom I have dismissed
from the Society, not having found him proper for our business." He meant
Alvarez Pereyra, whom he had brought w