The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.138

v4.c16.138

The third Jesuit mission had already arrived at Lahore. Of the second mission the Provincial of the Order of Jesus at Goa had reported, with reference to its failure to convert Akbar: "Venerunt filii usque ad partum, sed virtus non est pariendi". The new missionaries, Jerome Xavier, a grand-nephew of St Francis, Father Pinheiro and Brother Benedict de Goes, had been sent in response to another appeal from Akbar, and though no prospect of his conversion remained they were permitted and even encouraged to preach the Gospel to the people.