Loyola
Rubens. Hinchliff.
HISTORY OF THE JESUITS:
THEIR ORIGIN,
PROGRESS, DOCTRINES, AND DESIGNS.
BY
G. B. NICOLINI,
OF ROME,
AUTHOR OF “THE HISTORY OF THE PONTIFICATE OF PIUS IX.,”
“THE LIFE OF FATHER GAVAZZI,” ETC.
LONDON:
HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
1854.
PRINTED BY HARRISON AND SONS:
LONDON GAZETTE OFFICE. ST. MARTIN’S LANE.
PREFACE.
I trust that in the following pages I have succeededin the task I proposed to myself, of conveyingto my readers a just and correct idea ofthe character and aims of the brotherhood ofLoyola. At least I have spared no pains toaccomplish this end. I honestly believe thatthe book was wanted; for liberal institutionsand civil and religious freedom have no greaterenemies than that cunning fraternity; while it isequally true, that although the Jesuits are dreadedand detested on all sides as the worst species ofknaves, there are few who are thoroughly acquaintedwith their eventful history, and with allthose arts by which the fathers have earned forthemselves a disgraceful celebrity. The faultdoes not altogether lie with the public; for,strange to say, there is no serious and completehistory of this wonderful Society. I have donemy best to supply the deficiency; and I indulge[iv]the hope that, if the book is fortunate enoughto challenge public attention, it may be productiveof some good. In no other epoch of history,certainly, have the Jesuits been more dangerousand threatening for England than in the present.I am no alarmist. I refuse to believe thatEngland will relapse under the Papal yoke, andreturn to the darkness and ignorance of themiddle ages, because some score of citizens passover to the Romish communion; but at thesame time I do believe that many bold and lessreflective persons make too light of the matter,and are wrong in refusing to countenance vigorousmeasures, not for religious persecution, butto check the insolence and countermine the plotsof these audacious monks. It is true that thereexists a great difficulty in deciding what measuresare to be adopted for accomplishing thisend. It is repugnant, doubtless, to a liberaland generous mind, and it is unworthy of afree and great nation, to persecute any sect,and to make different castes in the same bodyof citizens. But, it may fairly be asked, aremonks, and especially Jesuits, really Englishcitizens, in the strictest sense of the word? Dothey recognise Queen Victoria as their legitimatesovereign? Are they prepared to yield a loyalobedience to the laws of the land? To all[v]these questions I answer, No! Even whenborn in England, they do not consider themselvesEnglishmen. They claim the privilegeswhich the name confers, but will not accept theobligations it imposes. Their country is Rome;their sovereign the Pope; their laws the commandsof their General. England they consideran accursed land; Englishmen heretics, whomthey are under an obligation to combat. Theperusal of this work will, I imagine, provebeyond the possibility