another at Monreate, near Palermo, at the expense of the cardinal Alexander Farnesius. Sicily was formed into a distinct province of the order, under the care of Jerome Dominicus, A.D. 1549. At Naples, Florence, and Ferrara, in 1551, colleges were respectively founded by Salmeron, Bobadilla, and Le Jay. When they could not succeed in establishing regular colleges, they formed “ sodalities," which consisted of clubs to which others were invited. They had also minor associations, under the name of 66 Councils of Charity," and "Congregations of the Virgin." A Jesuit presided, heard the confessions, said mass, and administered the sacrament. These "sodalities" were arranged according to the ranks of society; the nobles formed the highest class, the merchants the second, and the third was composed of servants and mechanics. They were under the strictest obligation to secresy. There were similar institutions for females, under the name of "retreats." Whosoever looks into the Catholic Directory, will find they are still continued. These sodalities and retreats are of very early date. They began in Sicily, in 1555, the year before the death of Ignatius. The Jesuits found great difficulty, as might be expected, in managing their female converts. It often exposed them to many ill reports. At Venice, the senate charged them with the most licentious conduct in their superintendence of these spiritual retreats. The senators forbade their wives to confess to the Jesuits. However, their convents and confessionals spread over every part of Italy. Nor was the Isle of Corsica forgotten. In 1548, the college of Merlina was commenced at Perusia; another also was established under the care of Mercurian, who, in time, became general of the order. But the conduct of the Jesuits at the latter college was so liable to suspicion, from their abuse of the confessional, that in 1553, accusations were preferred against them, to the court of Rome. Ignatius was still living, and came forward in behalf of his order. He sent a deputy to the island, who reported that all the accusations were unfounded. The pope lost no time in declaring their innocence. In 1560, the Jesuits penetrated into Switzerland. The mission consisted of three priests, and three laymen. They soon contrived to gain the good opinion of an elderly man of property, who belonged to one of the first families in the Valteline. Antonius Quadrius, at his decease, bequeathed all his wealth to the Jesuits, for the purpose of building a college. The governors of the canton interfered, and commanded them to leave the country, but the Jesuits refused to give up the property. It raised a great commotion. The people took part with the injured family, and the Jesuits wished to compromise the dispute by giving up a part of the estate. They went on with the college, till a positive mandate for their departure arrived. They then prevailed on all the Romish princes to aid their cause. It now came to a public trial. The Jesuits urged the great benefits they had already conferred on the rising generation. The lawyers, on the other side, said it was notorious the Jesuits had taken advantage of old age and impaired intellects to obtain property. The sentence of the court was against them. A decree was passed for instantly banishing them from the Grisons. The reader will hardly need to be reminded of the fact of their order having, at a subsequent period, obtained a footing in Switzerland. It is only a few years ago since the Jesuits were the cause of political dissensions in some of the cantons, which led to a temporary interruption of the peace of Europe. We have thus traced the Jesuits in Poland, Piedmont, Savoy, Venice, Genoa, and Switzerland. Wherever we have found them, they retain the same essential character, under every variety of aspect. Should the Jesuit missionaries arrive in a Protestant country, they quickly stir up persecutions, and fill the land with woe and tumult. In Roman Catholic countries, they direct their plots against the other orders, and the secular priests. Such was their character and conduct in days of yore-but the circumstances of modern Europe have considerably modified their methods of procedure. No longer able to control official princes and potentates, courts and cabinets, they are employed to carry on the designs of the Romish church in a more private and less ambitious manner. In this country, their chief occupation consists in superintending the numerous educational establishments, which exist in every part of the kingdom. They are indefatigable in their efforts to train the minds of the youth committed to their care in the most bigoted principles of Popery. They are also amongst the most eloquent of the Romish preachers. They conduct their principal literary and theological works. But in this country they seldom come forward ostensibly. The time has not yet arrived. The church of Rome now, as ever, most ardently desires the recovery of England to the bosom of the Romish church. It is the theme of her earliest orisons, and of her latest vespers. She pursues the course which is adapted to the times. She does not threaten us with interdicts-she only sends us bishops, priests, and Jesuits. She affects to treat us with kindness. She employs artifice, because force is beyond her power. Now the Jesuit is exactly the agent who is suited to promote those indirect endeavours to conquer and subdue England to the Romish church. Wily and artful, he can insinuate himself into every company. A disguised Jesuit may be your next neighbour, without your even suspecting him. He bides his time before he pounces on his prey. He is ever on the look-out for a convert. His talents, manners, and address, are sure to recommend him to favourable notice. With a foe so subtle to contend against, how full of warning is the apostolic counsel, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand there fore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Eph. vi. 13-18. CHAPTER IX. THE JESUITS IN ENGLAND. SUCCESS OF THE REFORMATION IN THE REIGN OF EDWARD VI.MARY-ELIZABETH-OPPOSED BY THE PAPISTS-CARDINAL ALLEN -THE FIRST JESUIT IN ENGLAND-BULLS ISSUED AGAINST, ACTS OF PARLIAMENT IN DEFENCE OF, ELIZABETH-CAMPIAN-PAR FOREIGN COLLEGES -THE CHARLES I. HENRIETTA CONTEMPLATED SONS-TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF CAMPIAN-HARDING-STAPLE- PLOT DURING the short reign of Edward VI. the work of the Reformation in England went on prosperously; but everything was reversed on the accession of Mary. The papists amply revenged themselves on the Reformers, and Smithfield was illuminated with the flames of the martyrs. At Oxford, Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, and Hooper, sealed their sincerity with their blood. In 1555, Mary restored to the Romish |