It was only remaining to chastise the criminal, who had made such evil use of his authority.  Xavier would make an example of him; and so much the rather, because, having told him what punishment his faults had merited, he found him standing on his terms, insolent, and with no disposition to submit.  He judged, upon the whole, that a man who was neither humble nor obedient, after such scandalous misdemeanours, was unworthy of the Society of Jesus; which notwithstanding, he was not willing to pull off his habit at Goa, for fear his departure might make too great a noise; but having made the viceroy sensible of the justice of his proceeding, he sent him to the fortress of Diu, towards Cambaya, with orders to the Fathers residing there to give him his dismission, and to use all manner of persuasions with him that he would return into Portugal, by the opportunity of the first ship which went away.  All was performed according to the intentions of the holy man.  But Gomez embarking on a vessel which was wrecked in the midst of the voyage, was unfortunately drowned; giving us to understand, by so tragical an end, that the talents of nature, and even the gifts of grace itself, serve only to the destruction of a man in religious orders, who is not endued with the spirit of humility and obedience.

THE LIFE OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER.

BOOK VI.

He sends out missioners to divers places.  He endeavours an embassy to China.  He appoints Barzaeus rector of the college of Goa.  The form by which Barzaeus was made rector of the college, &c.  He himself acknowledges Barzaeus for superior.  In what manner Barzaeus receives the offices of rector and vice-provincial.  The new instructions which he gives to Barzaeus.  He makes choice of his companions for China and Japan.  He writes to the king of Portugal concerning his voyage to China.  He assembles the fathers of Goa by night, and upon what account.  He departs from Goa, and what happens him in the way.  Before his arrival at Malacca, he knows the plague is in the town.  He employs himself in succouring the sick.  He raises a young man to life.  The embassy of China is crossed by the governor of Malacca.  Xavier endeavours all he can to gain the favour of the governor for the embassy.  Endeavours are used in vain to get the governor’s consent.  The governor flies out into fury against the Father.  The Father resolves to excommunicate the governor; and what he does in order to it.  The grand vicar excommunicates the governor in the name of Xavier.  The saint imputes the overthrow of the embassy to his own sins.  In writing to the king of Portugal, he makes no complaint of the governor of Malacca.  He takes up the design of going to the isle of Sancian, and from thence into China.  He departs from Malacca without seeing the governor; and what he does in going out of the town.  He embarks, and what happens afterwards.