from the heaps of excuses he piles up, all of which, it may be remarked, are to his credit. But the real one is always left

1 Parsons thus discusses his flight: "I returned into Sussex unto Michael Grove, and finding the commodity of passage to go to France, I resolved to go to confer with Mr. Dr. Allen, and Mr. Gilbert, and Fr. Claudius Matthews the Provincial, with full intention to return presently, though hitherto I have been letted. One cause was also to print some books which I had written in England, or was in writing, as the Defence of the Censure, the Latin Epistle of Persecution, and the Book of Resolutions in the first edition, all which were printed at Rouen this winter. Another cause of my coming over was to make a mission of Scotch fathers into Scotland, which by letters I had procured from the General; and Fr. Edward (Jasper) Heywood and Fr. William Creighton were appointed, but first to take directions from me." From the Apologie he adds: "He had a great consultation with himself and grave priests that were with him whether he should go over or no, for better disposing of a certain urgent business in hand, which he could not well do without his presence beyond the sea; but with the intention to return as soon as might be." He adds to the above excuse: setting up a printing-press in Rouen, conferring with Allen “about hastening the New Testament," starting a school, etc. "These then, and some other reasons we have understood . . . were the principal argument of that his journey." The reader, knowing the real reason of Parsons' flight, can fill up the omissions, and can understand the real significance of certain phrases in the above.

CHAPTER V

PLOTS AND SCHEMES

IMMEDIATELY upon leaving England Parsons acquainted the new General, Claude Aquaviva, of the fact; and also wrote a letter, dated 24th August, to Agazzari in Rome. In this letter he says: "I think you already have known that, by the command of superiors, I have been for a time in this place on account of more convenience in doing some business, and also lest my presence, which is most hateful to my enemies, should be the cause of greater troubles to [my] friends."1 A short while after this date he left for Rouen, and thence wrote (26th September) a long letter to his General, in which he discusses the whole political situation.

Parsons had been intimate with Aquaviva, and found him a character very like his own. Subtle, confident in his own views, a ruler with strong ideas of military discipline, a politician of the school which his enemies called Machiavellian, Claude Aquaviva followed in the footsteps of Lainez. These two were the real founders of the Society, which, under their hands, departed from the original idea of Ignatius, and became in great part a political body. It was Aquaviva who raised the Generalate to the extraordinary position it gained in both Church and State; and under him the Society rose to its most brilliant height. He was not the man to thwart Parsons in plans for advancing the Society; his it would be to encourage and help them on; and, as General, he had power to dispense from every rule or constitution adverse to freedom of action. But while, on the one hand, Parsons was sure of the feelings of his General, he hardly dared openly to disregard 1 Theiner, iii. 474.

the formal prohibition not to deal in matters of State. Unless he got such a dispensation, of which there seems to be no record, it would appear that he took advantage of the doctrine of epikeia, and had already set up his own judgment in direct opposition to the explicit orders of those he professed to obey. We find on several occasions traces of economy in his dealings with his superiors.

It will be noticed in the following letter how careful Parsons is not to refer to the real cause of his leaving England, for this would at once destroy the belief of his influence with the English Catholics. And by withholding this now, as frequently he did by a similar want of openness, he led astray those in authority.

The letter, then, as given by More, is to the following effect. After mentioning as two of the reasons which took him over to France, to confer with Allen and to set up a printingpress, he goes on: Thirdly, to speak with the Archbishop of Glasgow, the Queen of Scotland's ambassador at Paris, about aiding Scotland, whence the conversion of England chiefly depends; and to excite him by reasons and exhortation to fervent zeal in sending fit men to Scotland, especially at this time when, principally on account of the murder of Morton, and the character of the young Prince, there is no small hope apparent; also to tell him some secret plans of the heretics for the entire overthrow of Scotland, and the way in which they may be prevented. Fourthly, to find some means to excite the King of France to intercede with the Queen for the Catholics, at least for the alleviation of the very heavy fines which lately the law has imposed on those who refuse to go to the Protestant churches, a thing which all Catholics refuse. These were the chief things which brought me over here, the first three of which are by God's blessing well sped, to the great profit, I hope, of the cause. The last altogether hangs fire, for when the Nuncio, in the Pope's name, asked the King to write to the Queen on behalf of the afflicted Catholics of England, he answered he could not do it on account of certain secret matters of weight . . . I am now at Rouen, very busy, and await the return of my servant from England, where I sent him, as though I were in the North, with letters of consolation

to the Catholics. None of them know of my leaving,1 nor do any in these parts, except Dr. Allen of Rheims, the Archbishop of Glasgow at Paris; and here, at Rouen, Michael de Monsi, nephew of the illustrious cardinal, and Archdeacon of Sens and Councillor of the Parliament of this city, a man certainly very zealous for the cause of God and of the Catholic faith. He is also exceeding well affectioned to our Society, and I use his purse and assistance in everything; for he has most freely and willingly placed himself and all he has at my disposal. Today, two large bundles of letters have just come to me from England; and by these I learn (besides what I have said above) that I am greatly needed over there by the Catholics; hence I am obliged (cogor) to hasten my return; especially as Fathers Jasper (Heywood) and William (Holt), who have lately arrived, are not in London, but are occupied in other parts, where, they say, they are making abundant harvest of souls."

Speaking of the parts of England specially needing to be looked after, he says that at Cambridge "I have at length insinuated a certain priest into the very university, under the guise of a scholar or a gentleman commoner; and have procured him help from a place not far from the city; within a few months he has sent over to Rheims seven very fit youths."

Then, turning to Scotch affairs, he tells the General: "Now Scotland is our chief hope; for there depends not only the conversion of England, but also that of all the northern parts (of Europe); for the right of the English throne belongs (when she who now reigns is extinguished 2) to the Queen of Scotland and her son, of whose conversion we have now great hope; and it is important the chance should not be neglected. It is a pity the Scotch have not seen to this already. I have collected money and sent a priest with a servant into Scotland,

1 This is hardly in accordance with facts. Though, perhaps, it may be taken to mean that the Catholics, as a body, did not yet know that he had been forced to retire.

2" Extincta ista quæ nunc regnat "- -an ambiguous phrase.

"It is important, in view of Parsons' Book of the Succession and his after policy, to bear in mind this candid acknowledgment of the right of James VI. of Scotland to the English throne. Upon the question of the Jesuits' intrigues in Scotland, a subject which does not enter directly into the scope of this book, the reader may consult with advantage Mr. T. G. Law's Documents illustrating Catholic Policy in the Reign of James VI., 1596-1598. Edinburgh, 1893.

bearing certain proposals either to the King, if he can get to him, or to the nobles. They are to this effect: that he should undertake the cause of the afflicted Catholics; being moved thereto by the question of his own security on the Scotch Throne; for his only chance of gaining the English Crown is by the help of Catholics; also, that thereby he would obtain the friendship of other princes, and would show his respect for his mother." James should also be made to remember that his father was slain by heretics, and his own life is exposed to the same danger. ". . . Now, I depend in all this business entirely upon your Reverence. First, whether I ought to follow up or not, that which all English Catholics most vehemently urge me beyond measure to proceed with; for on the conversion of Scotland depends all human hope of England's conversion; and if the King is once confirmed in heresy (which without doubt he is most dangerously infected with), no help or refuge will be left to the unhappy English; but if Scotland is open to them as a refuge, it will be a great consolation to them; at the present moment, access to the King is easy, and he is sufficiently flexible; afterwards it may be otherwise. Moreover, for avoiding cruel storms, it will be a very good thing for us to have some shelter in Scotland. Though there are some very fine Scotchmen (in the Society), all of whom we desire to send, yet they are few in number, and in no way sufficient for so great a vineyard, especially at this present moment, which seems to be the one time, these two years, for gaining Scotland, when they who govern are not much opposed to us, especially to outsiders. No laws are made against us, and we have the same idiom as the Scotch. I have arranged that Catholic books for the future should be sent to Scotland as well as to England; that is to say, books in the vulgar tongue on controversy as well as for devotion, of which there are so few in Scotland, as there is no press, and even the heretics have to send into England to get their books printed. This dearth of books causes Scotland to be much more inclined than England to heresy.

"If it seems well to your Paternity that I should continue this business, then besides the instructions I ask from you, it is necessary that the consideration of our necessity, at least for