have thought it better to consign them to the Preface, which may be modified, according to place and circumstances, without altering the general features of the work to which it belongs. In the compilation of this work, I have studiously kept my promise not to advance a single fact for which I could not produce unquestionable authority; and, while I expect expect that my deductions will be impugned, I can safely defy any one to contradict the facts upon which they are based. When I have quoted original authors, on the authority of others, I have never done so without ascertaining, by my own inspection, or by that of friends-when the works were not to be had here—that the quotations were correct. I have entered somewhat minutely into details in the first part of the History, partly, perhaps, a little influenced by the interminable prolixity of the Jesuit authors I consulted, and partly because I deemed it necessary, in order that my readers might form a correct idea of the mechanism, the principles, and the proceedings of the So-ciety. Once persuaded that the reader was acquainted with the acts and ways of the fraternity, I have abandoned detail, and given such broad features of the principal events as might afford instructive lessons. I have endeavoured to reject from the narrative all that is extraneous to the subject. I have overlooked embellishments. I do not claim the merit of being an elegant or eloquent writer, still less in a language which is not my own, and in which I was often at a loss to express my ideas. But I must confess that I have some hope that in the eyes of an indulgent reader the consequences I have deduced from the facts will be found to be logical, the language intelligible, and the work not altogether wanting in order. In the course of the publication, I have received many letters-some friendly, others insulting; but, as they were all anonymous, I could answer neither. In any case, I should only have answered my friends, and thanked them for their advice; while, in regard to the second class of my correspondents, even although the "modest authors" had not deemed it prudent "to conceal their names," I should assuredly not have condescended to furnish a reply, contenting myself with the simple reflection that it is naturally unpalatable to the culprit to have his crimes dragged into the light of day. I cannot conclude this Preface without expressing my warmest gratitude to the librarians of the different public establishments in Edinburgh, and especially to the librarian of the Advocates' Library, and his assistants, for the liberal manner in which they have put at my disposal the books contained in their collections. Finally, as I am sensible (from a conviction of my own insufficiency) that the work cannot be productive to me of either renown or consideration, my chief hope is, that it may prove useful and beneficial to some portion at least of the English community, otherwise I should indeed have cause immensely to regret my pains and my labour. EDINBURGH, December 4, 1852. The Author dissuaded from writing the History of the Jesuits- CHAPTER I. ORIGIN OF THE ORDER. State of Europe in the Sixteenth Century-Italy the Centre of PAGE iii 1 State of the Roman Church at the Epoch of the Establishment of 330 The Members of this Society are divided into Four Classes-Gioberti and Pellico upon a Fifth Secret Class-The Novices-Their Trials- Their Vows Scholars-Qualities they must possess-Coadjutors Temporal and Spiritual-Their several Duties-Their Vows-Pro- fessed Members-The First Class in the Society-They take a Fourth Vow of implicit Obedience to the Holy See-Ceremony in taking the Vows-They as well as the Coadjutors are bound to live by Alms-The General of the Order-How Elected-His Attribu- tions-His Powers-The Provincial and other inferior Officials of PROGRESS OF THE ORDER, AND ITS FIRST GENERAL. Ignatius elected General, at first refuses the office-Afterwards accepts of it-His Zeal and Activity in promoting the Interests of the Order-Charitable Institutions in Rome-He co-operates in re-establishing the Inquisition-The Albigenses-Rules of the Tri- bunal-Terror which it spread through Italy-The Jesuits in Missions in various parts of Europe-The first Jesuits in Great Britain-Instructions given them by Loyola-Their Proceedings, 57 |