Fernandez, aghast at the successful strides of his contemporary, again reported adversely about de-Nobili. Nobili had to refute these charges in a lengthy explanation amounting to nearly 39 closely written pages.

By now Robert-de-Nobili's health was slowly breaking under the strain. Apart from ill-health, he was also threatened by Portuguese ecclesiastical strength and by Portuguese military strength slowly but surely dwindling. He tried to start a college but he was unable to obtain a building for this purpose. The Madurai University sponsored by the Madura Nayaks was imparting free education where Nobili gave a couple of Sanskrit lectures which were greatly appreciated. Nobili for the first time introduced India to the epoch making discoveries of Galileo.

Again Robert was threatened from within his own fold. Fero-Francisco, a school teacher noted that the missionaries had “become thorough Brahmins as regards diet, dress and ceremonies.” He reported this to the General who immediately issued orders to Nobili to change all the Indianising factors. Nobili went to Cochin to meet Francisco, who however refused to meet him in Sanyasi dress. Later, on the advice of Francisco he wrote his defence of his Indianised actions which was sent to Rome. Nobili was called to attend a conference at Goa. In this Conference, he submitted a short summary of his actions. The Archibishop of Goa did not see Nobili's point; he along with many others disagreed.

Nobili's relatives, learning of these disputes clamoured for his return. His defence documents were sent to Rome. Pope Paul V was by now succeded by Pope Gregory XV who appointed a committee to go into the complaints. The final report of the committee recognised the sincerity of Nobili's actions and his methods were justified. After thirteen long years the dispute was nearly settled and with this a new era was ushered iu.

Toil and disputes undermined Nobili's health a great deal.

In 1623, Tirumala Nayak ascended the Madura throne. His relations with Nobili were cordial. Soon political events took a