The cabinet of the Jesuits secrets opened in which there are many things relating to the church and clergy of England : as also the ways by which they encrease the number and wealth of their society on the ruines of kingdoms and families : in part began by Dr. Oats from an Italian copy, but now more largely discovered from a French copy printed at Colon, 1678 / made English by a person of quality.

THE SECRET DIRECTIONS OF THE Society of the JESUITS.

Endeavoured to be translated from a French Copy, Printed at COLON, 1678.

There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

St. Matth. 10. 26.

An ADVICE.

SOme Years since, a Duke of Brunswick, who call'd himself Bishop of Haverstead; having plunder'd the Jesuits College at Paderborn, made a Present of their Library, and of all their Papers to the Capu∣chins, who found this secret Instruction, amongst the Memoirs of the Rector of the College: (And many worthy Persons have assured us, that the like happened to the College of Jesuits at Prague.) But however this be, how little soever any mans acquaintance with the Jesuits be, he cannot doubt but that the Heads of this Order receive from their General these sorts of secret Instructions, seeing experience tells us their Actions and Practices are conso∣nant and perfectly agreeable to the Advices and Maxims of this little Book. But which is yet much more deplorable is, that these private Directions are quite contrary to the Rules, Constitutions, and Instructions, which this Society professeth publickly in those Books it hath printed on this Subject; So that without difficulty we may believe that the greatest part of their Go∣vernours

(if a very few be excepted especially) have a double Rule, as well as a double Habit: one for their private and particular use, and another to flant with in publick before the World. A Rule like the Devil forwithin, and another like a Saint for without. In this like the Pharisees, to whom our Saviour Jesus Christ gave this Reproof, Ye are like whited Sepulchers which appear fair to the eyes of men, and whose outside is full of won∣derful Beauty; But yet within are fill'd with nothing but dead Men's bones, stench and ill savours; indeed to M••n you seem honest persons, though all within be nothing but Hypocrisie and Wickedness. But to the end all the World may be convinced that what I have set forth is no Calumny, but a so∣lid Truth, I ask but this, that a little reflection might be made on the Re∣proaches of Claudius Aquaviva, one of their Generals, so often repeated, against the Superiors of this Society; which is, that all the base Crimes com∣mitted in great Mens Courts by them, that all their Intrigues, and the Hypo∣crisie which is inseparable from them, proceed wholly from hence, that under pretence of advancing the Glory of God, and the Salvation of Men, they sought nothing but themselves. And now, dear Reader, this being so, I believe this little Collection of Rules, and the most secret Maxims of their Society, ought to be considered as a very precious depositum (and without making comparisons) of the nature of that which the Apostle recommends to Timo∣thy when he charges him, Keep that which I have committed to thy trust, and reveal it not but to faithful and trusty Persons.

CHAP. I. What must be done upon our first entry and settlement in any place?

1. TO render our Religion acceptable and welcome to the Inhabi∣tants of the places we settle in, it is very necessary to tell them that our Rule and Constitution have no other aim, but the Salvation of our own Souls and theirs. And there∣fore it is fit with great reverence and humility to resort to the Hospi∣tals, and visit frequently the Sick, and them in Prison, to take their Confessions, that so by a Charity unknown to other Religious Orders towards the P••or, and also by means of our new Entry, those that are the best and highest of the place, may have us in veneration and reverence.

2. We should remember the written Rule, which enjoins us to de∣mand modestly and religiously a permission to perform our Exercises; and also to seek the good-will as well of great Church-men, as Seculars, whose Favour and Authority we stand in need of.

3. Going to places distant from our habitation, or visiting them that are nearer, they should seek the least Alms which are destinated to the Poor, that the Inhabitants being thus made acquainted with our Ne∣cessity, may be the more liberal to us.

4. We must have one and the same Spirit and Design as to the external appearance, that by a seeming very humble Conformity, eve∣ry one may be brought to believe our Religion is good. And such of our Order, who observe not this Maxim, ought to be dismiss'd for this only reason.

5. It is our Interest to encrease our Revenue and Wealth rather by Liberality than Purchase; and if we buy any Goods, Houses, or other things useful to us, the Purchase must be in the Name of some third Person, who is well affected to us, that by that means we may be thought the poorer.

6. Those Revenues which we have near those Places we live in, should be assigned by our Provincial to other Colleges more distant, that neither the King, nor the People, may ever know either the quantity or the quality of our Revenue.

7. Let none of ours settle themselves, but in rich and wealthy places.

8. Let the Intention of the Society be in this an imitation of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who went not to Jerusalem, and other places, but to save Souls; he knew Judea, because he conversed there fre∣quently with his Disciples.

9. If the Society chiefly intends the Salvation of Souls, the Pro∣verb will be verified by them, Where People is, Prey is to be had.

10. Not only for our profit, but also to make it appear that we are poor, we ought to search out, and get whatever is or seemeth to be superfluous in any place.

11. Let ours preach according to the manners of the People they converse with, and whisper it sweetly in their ears, that they are come to catechise the Children gratis, without exception of any Person, and yet do all according to the intention of the Order, and not seem in the least a Burthen to the People, as all the other Religious Orders of Mendicants are.

12. Let them not declare themselves of the number of other Re∣ligious Mendicants, till our House be sufficiently endowed, and of this we ought to be very careful.

CHAP. II. What ought to be done to procure the Ear and Familiarity of Princes and Great Men.

1. WE ought to be mighty careful here, in gaining the Ear of Princes, quelling the presumption of them who think they have no need of us, and do our utmost that all may depend upon us, and that no Person what ever may be so hardy as to lift up himself against us.

2. Always when Princes know their Actions odious, they desire to have the Fathers of the Jesuits about them, who never reprove them, but expound them in the best sence, which may be observed in Marria∣ges contracted with their Kindred, which are ever ill thought of by the People, quòd tales execrantur Thoros. And therefore when Princes affect such or the like things, we ought to animate their Spirits, and make them more affected to them, giving hopes that we can easily ob∣tain

from the Pope what ever we will, repeating some Reasons, Sen∣tences, or Examples, which may augment their desires, seeing such Marriages have been approved for the common Good, though of great∣er Consequence; and lastly, that they are allowed to Princes, for the greater Glory of God.

3. So when a Prince undertaketh any thing, for example, a War, we ought to spur him on, encouraging him to Constancy, without ever considering the Cause, for fear the ill event should be imputed to us; and if it falls not out well, then to tell them that our Rule forbids us to intermeddle in such things.

4. To content Princes, and preserve their Friendship, it is not amiss to go upon some Ambassies, provided they be advantagious to us; and so make our selves no less necessary than acceptable, by shew∣ing them that we have great power with the Pope, and other Princes.

5. There is no better way to gain the Affections of Princes, and their Courtiers, than to make, or cause Presents to be made to them we discover to be in their favour, to the end that (st aliàs nequeant) they may acquaint us with the Affections, Manners, and Delights of the Prince, and those whom he hateth; how he acteth, and what his Customs are. And this being known, we shall the better insinuate our selves into the Spirits of Princes and Great Men; who if they be not married, we ought in taking their Confessions to speak to them of Marriages with Noble, Beautiful, and Rich Ladies, which if they be not of the Kindred of any of our Friends, yet at least let them be of our familiar acquaintance, pointing out to them, by Commendati∣ons conformable to the Designs and Wills of those Princes and Great Men, the Virgins we recommended. And so by the Women it may happen, that we shall gain the Love of them who are not of our Kind∣red. And this is seen by experience in the House of Austrich, and in the Kingdoms of Poland and France, and in many other Princi∣palities.

6. If Women who often change their Opinions, freely put them∣selves into our hands, we ought seriously to imprint in them a great Love for our Society, and make them to push it on in that Affection, not only by our own, but those also of their private Families, that they may the more earnestly seek our Advancement. And we may gain this Love by divers little Services, and small Presents, yea, and discover the greatest Secrets of the Lady, who will not fail to reveal them to us her self, if we use these means, and then she will remain always firm to us.

7. In governing the Consciences of great Men, we ought to follow the Opinion of those who have spoken with the greatest Liberty, con∣trary to the sentiment of the Monks, that so they being rejected, Princes may follow our Advice and Counsels, and so all may be at our discretion, and depend entirely upon us.

8. And to this purpose, to gain the Friendship of Princes, Prelates, and other great Men, it is very pertinent to render them Partakers of the Merits of our Order, shewing them how considerable we are in all the World, and that our Powers are great and large to absolve in reserved Cases, which the other Orders have not; as, (1.) To dis∣pence with fasting: (2.) With restoring what is due to another: (3.) To dissolve the hinderances of Marriages, and of all sorts of Vows which lessen our Liberty.

9. We ought to beget Enmities and Quarrels amongst great Men, popular Commotions, and what ever we believe agreeable to Princes, following their Wills in every thing.

10. But if any Person of Credit, who possesseth the next place to any Monarch, be against us, and yet the Prince grants him any favour, or confers Honours at his request, we must wait on him, court him at the greatest height imaginable, both by Visits, Humility, and Re∣verence.

CHAP. III. What ought to be done in relation to those Lords which are not rich, but yet have great Authority in the Common-wealth, that by their Credit we obtain Profit and Preferment.

1. IF these Lords be Seculars, we ought to have recourse to their Aid and Friendship against our Adversaries, and to their favour in our own Suits, and those of our Friends; and to their Authority and Power, in the purchase of Houses, Mannors, and Gardens, and of Stones to build with, especially in those places which will not endure to hear of our settling in them; because the Authority of these Lords serveth very much for the appeasing of the Populace, and making our Ill-willers quiet.

2. We ought to take care, that the Prelates and their Diocesans may venerate and reverence us, that so they may not hinder our Exercises

in those places where they have power. For in Germany, Poland, and France the Bishops have a great Authority; who with a little trouble▪ being Patrons, may obtain for us of the Prince what is necessary for us; as Monasteries, Parishes pr••pr••••te, and ••••p••••priate, Altars, pious Lega∣cies, and other things, after having given some small satisfaction to those Secular Priests who shall co••••ey to us some Fou••d••••ions▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we may easily accomplish in those places where Catholicks 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mixt with Hereticks and Schismaticks.

3. We ought to shew these Prelats, that besides the Merit, they shall receive thereby a great benefit; whereas from the Secular Priests and other Monks they can expect nothing preter 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

4. It is fit to commend their Zeal, immortalized by the memory of so great an Action, if by their means we obtain the Benefites and Founda∣tions of the Secular Priests and Canons, which they may easily effect by the means and favour of those Bishops.

5. We ought to be very careful when any Bishop founds a College, that we may have the power to present a Vicar to the Parish Church, with cure of Souls, though the Superiors themselves should for some time execute the Function of Curate, to the end that all the Regiment, and Administration of the Church may be at our Power and Dis∣cretion.

6. We must take care that the Bishops may build us Colleges i•• those Places where the Universities are against us, and where both Ca∣tholicks and Hereticks hinder us from having any foundation, and that as well in these places, as in other noble Towns we may in fa∣vour to them have the Liberty of preaching before all others.

7. When any of our Order are to be Canonized, we ought to obtain the same by Letters of Recommendation address'd by great Men to the See of Rome; if upon this occasion it happens that it be necessary that these great Men should sollicit the same in Person▪ we must be careful that they be not attended, nor necessitated to make use of any Religi∣ous Persons with whom we have no communication, for fear the Af∣fection they have for us should turn on their side; and that in the Pro∣vinces where their Estates are, and where our Colleges are situate, they should give themselves into the hands of other Religions Orders, to our loss and dammage. And therefore when any Illustrious Person comes into the places where we have Colleges, we ought to receive them with all the Modesty and Religion that is possible.

CHAP. IV. The Duty of the Preachers, and Confessors of Princes and Great Men.

1. THat Princes, Lords, and other great Men, may be perfectly in∣structed by us, and in that manner, that they may know that our Intention and Aim is the bringing greater Glory to God, which our Society hath chosen for its Badge and true Symbol, and which we will preserve with all sincerity; viz. If Princes will follow our Counsel, we must not presently, but by little and little see to the Government and Administration of their Revenues, Possessions, and Estates; and that we may obtain this, we must frequently imprint upon their Spi∣rits, that they ought not to distribute Honours, Charges, Offices, and Dignities, to any but those that are worthy and capable of them, and who have well deserved them by their good Services.

2. That whoever doth otherwise, commits a great Offence against God. But yet we must not seem to have any design, that any of ours should intermeddle in the Administration of the Common-wealth, but rather let them protest the contrary as solemnly as they can possibly, only that they are obliged to speak the truth by reason of their Charges.

3. But if the Prince falls into any doubt and fear, then we must set forth what are the Qualifications and Vertues necessary for them that are to fill such places, and what their Duty is. And great Care is to be taken, that no Person be admitted, if he be not one of our intimate Friends. And let Princes be taught, that the emploiment of Persons of Honesty, and good Life, is very honourable and requisite for the good of the Church and State, who ought to be nominated to the Prince, not by those we suspect, but by our intimate and faithful Friends; for in so doing both of them will have a great obligation to us, and so will hold themselves more engaged and bound to the Services they at all times do us.

4. The Confessors and Preachers ought to inform themselves of our Confidents in all parts of the Kingdom, what is the wealth of the great∣est, if they be endowed with Power and Liberality; keeping an exact List of their Names and Surnames; recommending them finely and dexterously to Princes, that they may the more easily, when occasion serves, be provided with Charges, according to their Dignity and De∣serts;

and chiefly those, whom the Confessors and Preachers have in their Confessions and Conversations observed to be much affected to our Society.

5. Above all, let the Confessors and Preachers remember to treat Princes and others sweetly and pleasantly, not to extort any thing from them in their Confessions, be it either at publick or private Sermons. Let ours that are in the Service of Princes, keep but a very little Money, and a few Moveables, contenting themselves with a little Chamber, modestly keeping company with the most vile and ab∣ject Persons, but without Flattery; and so being in good esteem, they ought prudently to persuade Princes not to do any thing without their Counsel, whether it be in Spiritual or Temporal Affairs.

6. There must be great care taken, speedily and in good time to know the Names of the Officers of the Common-wealth, to change them, and presently put others into their places; which must be so managed, that it may not be thought that the Change comes by our means, but that it be done in the most secret manner that can be.

CHAP. V. What is to be done in relation to those Religious Orders, which agreeing with us in many things, on many occasions draw to themselves that which should have appertained to us?

1. WE should bear this sort of Men, though against our Wills, and therefore we should endeavour to imprint upon the Spi∣rits of those Princes who love us, that our Order is more perfect than all other Orders; and that if others excell in their Functions, ours do yet appear in a more eminent degree in the Church of God; that also the Rules of all other Orders are entirely subject to ours.

2. We ought to remark the Defaults of other Orders, and make it appear, that those who stand in competition with us, cannot succeed so prosperously in their Affairs as we.

3. We ought to oppose more violently those Orders who intermeddle in the Education of Youth, in imitation of us, especially in those pla∣ces where it is our interest to teach with applause, and in which we gain a considerable profit.

4. We ought to represent to the Prince and his Counsel, that those

Orders may beget Tumults and Seditions in the Common-wealth, see∣ing they beget Factions in it. And we ought to represent to the Uni∣versities, that the other Orders are nearer to their ruine than we; and if they have Letters of Recommendation from the Pope, or any of the Cardinals, which maintain them, we must have recourse to the favour of Princes with the Pope, remonstrating that our Society is maintained, established, and fortified by more Authentic Letters and Titles.

5. It is fit that we have a good report in those Towns where we have our Colleges, who may be induced to certify our Institution, honest Life, and the Benefit the Youth receive under our tuition.

6. And in the interim we ought to insinuate with great Art, that * Contrarieties and Tumults are to be feared from the va∣riety of Schools, which are suffered, and from the Teach∣ers which are established in them; and that they being Religious Persons, the Tumults will be the greater.

7. We ought to employ our utmost care that Learning may flourish with great applause to us, rendring to Princes, our Superiors, and the very People, great Proofs and Testimonies of vertue.

CHAP. VI. Of the Means to acquire the Friendship of Rich Widows.

1. WE ought for this purpose to choose those Fathers that are of a lively countenance, and middle Age, who must often visit their Houses; and if they express any kindness for our Society, make them partakers of the Merits of it. And then if they begin to frequent our Churches, it is fit to give them Confessors who may dispose them to perpetuate their Widow-hood, representing to them the Delights, Pleasures, and Wealth, they shall enjoy, if they continue in that state; which we must promise, tanquam Obsides, that they shall have an eternal Reward for it, and that by this sole means they may exempt themselves from the pains of Purgatory.

2. We ought to stir them up to the getting of an Oratory, and an Altar well adorned, about which employing all their care, they may banish all thoughts of them who may seek them in marriage; and if they have a little Chappel, we ought to celebrate Mass there very fre∣quently, and above all things make some short Exhortations there.

3. That things may succeed the better, it is fit to persuade them to

diminish their Train and Families, appointing them what Officer they shal have, and Persons for the management of their Estates, and to introduce artificially and insensibly those that shall be necessary for the Government of their Houses, according to the degree of the Per∣son, their Place, Affection, and Devotion to our Society, changing their Officers to put in others at our Devotion and Discretion.

4. The first thing the Confessor hath to do, is to persuade them to acquiesce in their Counsel, and to submit themselves entirely to them, as the only Foundation of all that Spiritual Good they can receive.

5. To propound the frequent use of the Communion, assisting at the Divine Service, reciting of Letanies, and to make a daily examina∣tion of their Conscience, in which they ought to help them, and per∣suade them to chuse some Saint for their Tutelar Patron, and especially to recommend to them our holy Founder.

6. Exhort them to make a general Confession, so that knowing their former Accusations, Manners, and Inclinations, the whole may serve as a Guide to make them obey our Wills.

7. To exhort them twice or thrice a week concerning the Tran∣quillity which they receive in their Widow-hood, concerning the Troubles, Dangers, and Charges, that will attend a second Marriage.

8. Being thus disposed to continue in that state, we ought forthwith to persuade them to enter some Cloister, but then such an one as P••ulina, that being engaged in a Vow of Chastity, they never marry again, we ought strongly to persuade them to forsake the Society of younger Wo∣men, who are given to Recreations, Poetry, and Musick, and that they should suffer few Persons to see them, and that they should observe in treating such a moderate Modesty, for fear such should complain that they are too rudely used, and so ours should be blamed or reproved.

9. That the Officers of their Manors, Chaplains, Curates, and all others, may be admitted to their Functions upon our recommendation, and that they may depend entirely upon our Wills.

10. When we have obtained this, then we are by little and little to dispose them to give Alms, and do good works, representing to them that without this they cannot attain the Kingdom of Heaven; which Alms notwithstanding they ought not to dispose to every one, if it be not by the advice, and with the consent of their Spiritual Father. And for as much as it is of great import that this be well managed, as to the Person, that they may receive a recompence from God, it is necessary to let them know, that Alms ill disposed do rather hurt than good. And if they understand not that it is a good proficiency, and for the expi∣ation of their Sins, yet we ought not to allow them so much Liberty and Liberality.

CHAP. VII. Of the means of keeping in our hands the disposition of the Estates of Widows.

1. WIdows should be frequently solicited to persevere in their Devotions, and do good Works, and not to suffer one week to pass without some act of Charity of their own free will, in imitation of the holy Virgin; and that cutting off all superfluous Expences, they should give some considerable thing to the Poor, and to the Church of Jesus Christ.

2. If after this, they become liberal to our Society, as by giving some considerable sum of Money; then we ought to make them abso∣lute partakers of the Merits of our Society; and that every thing may have the greater shew, and have the greater force, this ought to be done by our Provincial, or General.

3. If these Widdows have made a Vow of Chastity; Let them re∣new it betwixt the hands of their Confessors twice every year, that so they may think themselves, so much the more strictly bound by the renewing of their Vows to preserve that friendship they have entertain∣ed for our Society; permitting them to rejoice and recreate themselves conveniently the day of this renewing them.

4. We ought to propound to them a rule of Life, and that if it be acceptable to themselves, they ought to make their Family and Servants submit to it.

5. Propound a monthly Confession to them on the Feasts which are solemnized in memory of our Lord, of the holy Virgin, of the Apostles, and of the Patron or tutelary Saint, which they have chosen, but espe∣cially of St. Ignatius, and St. Xavier. We ought also to give them Sindies; which may have an Eye upon both the Men and Women of their Family; and observe their defaults, that so we may know whatever passeth, concealing in the interim their Vow of Chastity.

6. We ought to enjoin their Servants, both Men and Women, not to use any leering or disdainful Looks, or to speak and look another way, which ends for the most part in contempt; and to see that they who are taken in these faults be severely chastised, or rather forthwith turn'd away with the Widows consent.

7. Our next care must be, That they may be served by honest Maids,

admitted upon our recommendation; and that care be taken they may be expert in making Church Ornaments for us, that so our Widows may live with the greater piety.

8. We must appoint these Maidens a Governess of our own Sort, who may make them continually to work, and observe their Actions.

9. We ought to visit these Widows frequently, provided these Vi∣sits be not troublesome; entertaining them with pleasant Discourses, and holy Stories; keeping them always pleasant, according to their several humors, and never treat them rigorously in Confessions, for fear they become thereby disaffected to us, except when there is little hope of making any advantage of them.

10. We ought to consolate them, and dispose them to confess often, that by this consolation they may wholly confide in us, and turn all their Estates into our hands.

11. It is of great import for the preserving and increasing the friend∣ship of Widows, to allow them the priviledg of entring our Colleges, at the time of the solemn Acts and Tragedies and other such like, and not to suffer them to go out of their Houses in the depth of Winter; to dispence with them for Fasting and Sackcloth, which they compensate by Alms, that so they may see we have no less care of the health of their Bodies than of their Souls.

12. But if there be any hope that we shall gain any thing more by frighting them, then we ought to treat them more rudely, and here the Confessor must make use of great Prudence, when he hath first conside∣red of it with the Superior.

13. We ought to keep them as much as is possible, from visiting the Churches of the other Religious Orders, at the Feasts which they solem∣nize, and therefore we ought effectually to represent to them, that all the Indulgences of all the other Orders are infused and comprised in the Rule of our Society.

14. We ought to permit them all manner of Sensuality; provided they be liberal, and well affected to our Society, and constant in the same; and that all things be carried cunningly, and without scandal.

15. When any discourse is concerning their Estates; We ought to set before them the perfect estate of the Saints, who have parted with their Lives, their Kindred, and Friends with a chearful heart, that they might assist the poor; who are the Members of Jesus Christ, and now is the time to tell them what glorious Crowns they shall enjoy, if they will resign themselves and their Estates, into the hands of our Society.

16. To dispose them the more easily to this; we ought to shew them the 1, 2, 3 & 4, Articles of our Constitutions, that so they may under∣stand

the beginning of that perfection, which consists in re••ou••cing all irregular affections to our kindred, and acting so that whatever we do may tend to the glory of God, being governed by the Counsels of our Spiritual Fathers, and the fears of Death, which often is inflicted as a punishment of our too great love to our Blood. We ought to persuade them, that this ought to be a true resignation, and intire remission of all they have into our hands, which we thus often and seriously seek; which yet is unknown to all other Orders. We ought to recount the Examples of others, who by this sole resignation, have acquired the Kingdom of Heaven; and give them hopes they shall be one day ea∣nonised; if they will effectually do this: Promising them also under the Seal of Confession, that our Authority with the S. See of Rome; shall never be wanting to them upon so glorious an Account.

17. And therefore when the Widows are thus disposed to resign their Estates into our hands, and to follow the Counsel of their Spiri∣tual Fathers, they ought presently to avoid murmuring and Contra∣diction, to confirm this Resignation, if they may be well brought to it, and if they will believe firmly that this Counsel is given them by God, the Protector of Widows, who is more careful of their Souls than of their Bodies.

18. We ought to imprint seriously on their Spirits, that God is greatly pleased with those good Works and Alms which they give to Religious Persons, and those who live holily.

19. That this must be by the Advice and Counsel of their Confes∣sors, making them understand that those pious Works which are free, are always acceptable before God, when they are accompanied with Obedience, which is the Sister of Humility; but then they are to tell whom they intend to give to, and they must give in a bill of them to their Confessor, that he may add, diminish, or change them, as he sees cause.

20. But above all things, we ought to forbid our Widows the Con∣versation of other Religious Persons, for fear they should draw in our devout Women; for the most part this Sex is inconstant, and to that end we must represent, that our Order is the greatest, and of the greatest profit to the Church, of the greatest Credit in all places, and of the greatest Authority with Princes, and that it is impossible to chuse a better; which is not to be expected from Monks, who take no care of the Salvation of Souls, and are for the most part ignorant, dull, addicted to their Bellies, and all sorts of pleasures.

21. After we have thus drawn from our Widows a good quantity of Money and Goods, for fear they should entertain any thoughts of a

second Marriage, we ought to assign them dexterous Confessors, who may take care to procure them to assign us some annul Pensions or Tri∣butes, or Alms, to enable us to pay the standing Charges of our Colleges, and profest Houses, especially that of the City of Rome, and the Cell, where those of our Society, who are poor, study; as for settling Noviti∣ats, who have been a long time dispersed; and also to dispose them to bestow yearly a Sum of Money, for the buying of Copes, Chalices, and other Ornaments for the Altar.

23. Before these Widows come to die, if they have not entirely resigned up all they have, be it by reason of their fear of their Kindred, or for any other cause, we ought to acquaint them with our poverty, the quantity of our Colleges which are not yet endowed, the Devotion and great number of our Religious Persons, the necessities of our Churches, ex∣horting them to contribute to the finishing of our Colleges which are yet imperfect, for the greater glory of God, giving us Lamps and Pixes, and for the building of other Foundations and Houses, which we the poor Servants of the Society of Jesus do still want, that all things may be perfected.

24. Let the same be done with Princes, and our other Benefactors, who build us any sumptuous Pile, or erect any Foundation, representing to them in the first place, that the Benefits they thus do us are consecra∣ted to Eternity; that they shall become thereby perfect Models of Pie∣ty; that we will have thereof a very particular memory; and that in the next World they shall have their Rewards. But if it be objected, that Jesus Christ was born in a Stable, and had not where to lay his Head; and that we who are his Compani∣ons, ought not to enjoy perishing Goods. We ought to imprint strongly on their Spirits, that in truth at first the Church was also in the same state, but now that by the Provi∣dence of God she is raised to a Monarchy; and that in those times the Church was nothing but a broken Rock, which is now become a great Mountain.

CHAP. VIII. Of the means of drawing to us the Sons and Daughters of our devout Widows.

1. THat Mothers may the more easily bring this to pass, we ought to imprint this upon their Spirits, that they ought to be rigo∣rous to those Daughters which are contrary to their Wills, chastising

them with Rods if they be young; with Mortifications, and threats of worser usage for the future, if they be grown too big for the former; and so proceed to punish them, by not giving them the Ornaments befit∣ting their portion and quality. But if they accept our Religion, then they ought to shew them more kindness, and promise them a better Fortune than if they were married.

2. Their Mothers ought to represent to them the fury of an Husband, which may be a burthen to them in their future Marriage; the difficul∣ties and troubles of that State of Life, telling them the Anguish and Torments they endured in their Marriage, which hath brought them nothing but sorrow; and that they should have been very happy, if they had been in the Religion. And the same ought to be done in re∣lation to those Sons that aspire to Marriage.

3. We ought to converse familiarly with their Daughters, entertain∣ing them in our Colleges, when we conceive they will enter our Soci∣ety, leading them to our Gardens to walk, and to our Country-Hou∣ses, in which the Vacations are kept.

4. Represent to them the pleasant Contentment that they shall find here, and the Honour that Princes of divers Kingdoms give us. In short, we ought to do all we can to gain the Youth, conducting them to the Refectory and Chambers, shewing them the Neatness, and delightful Conversation that is amongst us, and the easiness of observing our Rule, to which is promised the Glory of the Blessed.

5. And also the Faculties we have, and Powers, not only in Temporal but Spiritual things, the eloquent Discourses which are made in our Colleges; and let not the pleasant and delightful Spiritual Entertain∣ments, which were given us in the Name of the Virgin, as it were by revelation, be omitted, which may spur them on to embrace our Religi∣on; representing also to them, that it is an enormous Crime to resist the Divine Vocation. Lastly, we ought to admit them as Spectators of our Exercises, that thereby we may the more easily dispose them to become of our Society.

6. Let the Masters which are to instruct the Children of these Wi∣dows be appointed by us, who ought perpetually to exhort them to be of our Society, with Promises that if they will enter the same, they shall be received gratis; but if they will not, then we ought to procure their Mothers from time to time to deny them what is necessary, and make them see the Incumbrances and Confusions in which the In∣heritance of their Famiiy is plunged.

CHAP. IX. Of the means to augment the Revenue of our Colleges.

1. LEt none of our Society be admitted to the fourth Vow, while he expects any Inheritance, except he hath a Brother in our Society, which is younger and stouter than he, or upon some other very advan∣tagious account. Above and before all other things, we ought to en∣deavour our own Greatness, by the direction of our Superiors, who are the only Judges in this Case, and who should labour that the Church of God may be in the highest degree of splendor, ad majorem Dei gloriam. And to attain this, Confessors of Princes, and rich Wi∣dows, should never fail to remonstrate to them, that seeing they re∣ceive Spiritual things from us, it is most just that we should receive Temporal from them, for the good of our Society.

2. We ought never to let any opportunity of taking any thing slip us, and if any thing be promised us, and forgotten, we must put them in mind of it, though this importunity should happen to diminish the favour they may have for us.

3. We ought not to appoint any for Confessors to Princes, and other great Men, who are not of great ability, and very eloquent, this Charge being of great import; but if it happens that any do not discharge the same with convenient vigor, we ought to reprove them, as not being well affected to the general good of the Society, telling them that we will soon send others into their places, for we have understood with great regret, that some Persons have died suddenly, who by the default of their Confessors left no Goods to our Churches of great value; which came to pass only, because we were not dexterous enough to possess our selves of them in their Life-times, and yet they would have bestowed them on us without any difficulty; for the acquiring these things doth not depend so much upon the Time, as the Will of them that give them.

4. We ought to visit the Houses of Noble and Rich Widows, of which ours ought to inform themselves prudently and dexterously, to see whether they will not, according to the custom of other Christians, leave something to our Churches, in order to the obtaining Remission of their Sins, and of the Sins of their Kindred and Friends: And we should do the like to Prelates, and their Parishioners, whom we ought especially to render friendly to our Society, for thereby we may gain much

5. The Confessors ought to examine every Penitent, what are their Names and Sirnames, what Kindred and Friends they have, what hopes they have of succeeding in any Inheritance, and how they intend to

dispose of what they have; what Brothers, Sisters, or Heirs they have; how old, of what degree, of what inclination, or disposition, or edu∣cation they are of? They should persnade them that all these Questions do tend much to the clearing of the State of their Conscience. And if there be any hope of Profit afterward, then they ought to appoint them a weekly Confession for their Penance, to the intent that what hath been omitted at one time, may be made up at another enquiry; and so collecting all the Confessions of the Penitent, communicate them to the Superior, and take good counsel what is to be done.

6. The same which hath been prescribed to be done in relation to Widows, ought to be done also in relation to rich and wealthy Mer∣chants, who are married, and yet have no Children: to Maids, who are rich and well affected to us. That having once gotten an entry into their Estates, we may with the greater facility join them to our own Revenues. But we ought especially to take care, that we do nothing with too much haste, but slowly by little and little, with good conside∣ration.

7. We ought to study to acquire the good will of every one according to their capacity, complying with their manners and inclinations. And our Provincial ought to send expert Men into all those places, where there is any considerable number of such rich and wealthy Persons, to the end they may give their Superiors a true and faithful account of all; and whenever any of ours are in their savour, they ought to extol very much the greatness of their Benefits, and of their Merits, which the other Monks, who are poor and needy, seldom do.

8. Let the Stewards of our College, get an exact knowledg of the Houses, Gardens, Quarries of Stone, Vineyards, Mannors, and other Riches of every one, who lives near the place where they reside, and if it be possible, what degree of affection they have for us.

9. In the next plac, we should discover every Mans Office, and the Revenue of it, their Professions, the Articles of their Contracts, which they may surely do by Confessions, by Meetings and by Entertainments, or by our trusty Friends. And generally whenever any Confessor lights upon a wealthy Person, from whom he hath good hopes of profit, he is obliged forth with to give notice of it, and discover it at his return.

10. They should also inform themselves exactly, whe∣ther there be no hopes of obtaining Bargains, Goods, Possessions, pious Gifts, and the like, in exchange for the admission of their Sons into our Society.

11. We ought to endeavour to know, if any Person well affected to us, intends any thing to our College, and whether he may be brought to purchase on this Condition, that after a certain time we should have

such Rents or Purchases Gratis; or whether our Society may expect a greater benefit from him, and how we may come by the same.

12. We ought to let every one know the great need we have, the debts which oppress us, and the great expences we are forced to make.

13. If our Society sells any thing to our Devotes, Men or Women, it ought to be only upon this condition, that within a certain time it shall return gratis to us, and be reunited to our Revenues.

14. If the rich Widows or married People, who are well affected to us, have Daughters only, we ought to persuade them with great art to cause them to enter into the Religion; leaving them a small Portion for that end, and so we may gain the remainder of their Estate; as Coun∣trey-Houses, Mannors, and other Possessions. And so likewise, on the part of their Sons, to put them on with great care to imbrace our Soci∣ety; to fright them, and make them obedient to their Parents, teaching them to despise all low things, and making them know they are more obliged to follow Jesus Christ, than their Parents, if they will have a due care of their Souls, for this will be to offer a kind of Sacrifice to our Society; to persuade the last Heir of a Family, to enter it without the knowledg of his Parents, who should be sent to make his Nouiciate in a place of some distance, our General being first advertised of it.

15. If there be a rich Widow our Friend, who hath Sons and Daugh∣ters, and there be no hope of getting the Daughters into a Monastery, nor the Sons into our Society; the Superior should ever lay the blame upon the Confessor, and therefore he ought to change him and put a∣nother in his place, who may manage the Plot better; and if yet it suc∣ceed not, then he ought to persuade their Mother to leave them some small Pension, and then selling what came by her and her Joynture, raise a considerable sum of Money; and then try if we can induce her to give the whole to our Society, that she may obtain pardon and expia∣tion of her Sins, and her Husbands.

16. If a Widow hath married a Widower, and hath by him Daughters or Sons, or only one Son, with Sisters by a former Husband, let first the younger Children be sent to a Monastery, and then the elder, that we may the easier get their Pstate.

17. If any Widows, very much affected to our Society, and careful of their Salvation, having no Heirs, possess two or three Manors or other Inheritances, we ought to persuade them to leave their Estates to our Colleges, and persuade them to receive some small annual Pensions from us, that they may serve God with the greater freedom, being released from the troubles of the World, and so by degrees bring them from an annual Pension to live as we do, that under pretence of Mortification and voluntary Poverty, they be as it were our Domesticks, being as it

were resigned up to our Wills. And for fear by the direction their kin∣dred they should be brought to recal their Bounty, it is fit to send them to spend the rest of their Lives in some distant place, and in the interim tell them, this sort of Life is an imitation of that of the Hermites, which is the most devout and humble sort of Life that is.

18. That our devout Persons may think us poor, our Superiour ought to borrow Money upon promises entred before Notaries; it may be that upon their Death-Beds they may order the Notaries to put the said ob∣ligations into our hands, for the Salvation of their Souls; for it is more easy to give in our Bonds, then to give us a considerable sum of Money.

19. It is fit to borrow a considerable sum of Money on Mortgage, and then persuade them to assign the Interest to some other College; that so one Revenue may increase another: and so in their last sickness in compassion to our Poverty, if they do not give us the entire sum, yet at least they may be brought to assign a good part of it, for the building of some new College.

20. We should procure the friendship of some excellent Physician, that we may be called to visit the Sick, and assist at the Passage of those whom he serves.

21. The Confessors ought not to be negligent in visiting the Sick, especially those that dispair, representing to them the pains of Purgato∣ry and Hell, telling them they cannot be saved without Charity; for those who before were Covetous, use then to be most liberal to us, and it may be will presently give all they have into our hands, which ours should solicit all that ever they are able, for fear this favourable oppor∣tunity slip them. And if a Woman in her Confessions accuse the vices and ill usages of her Husband towards her, of being the cause of her not submitting to our Discipline, and that she is much our Friend, we ought then to tell her she cannot do God a more acceptable Service than to give us a good Sum of Money without her Husbands knowledg, for the relief of our necessities; that this is the best way to live for the future, in repose, and obtain Pardon both of her own and her Husband's Sins; for we have often known that by this means the ill Nature of Husbands have been changed into better Conditions.

CHAP. X. Of the Rigor and Discipline of our Society.

SUperiours should tessifie that the Severity of this Discipline is such, that besides the reserved Cases, whosoever of our Society, of what Age or Condition soever he be, shall divert any of our Devotes, or

Friends, from doing us good, persuading them to embrace any other Re∣ligion but ours, and who in any intended Resignation of their Estates to our use, shall have exprest any Tenderness, or Coldness, or shall solicite them to assign them to any other Order, or put them upon the bestowing them upon their poor Kindred, or others; that all these shall be esteem∣ed the Mortal Enemies of our Society. And shall not be taken sudden∣ly into favour again, but for sometime at least to be forbidden to hear Confessions, and be Mortified by low and abject Imployments, forcing them to teach the lowest Forms, denying them degrees in Divinity. And that being separated from the rest at Dinner, it is necessary to insult over them, chasing them from all Recreations, Walks, and the more pleasant Entertainments, taking out of their Chambers all Conveniencies, and often imposing upon them public Penances; and after this, it will not be difficult to cast them out of the Society. And if it happen that they complain of it to the Provincial, he ought not lightly to believe them, but should excuse what is done, by saying, They ought to obey their Superiours, in whatsoever is not sinful. Nor need the Superiours be in the least scrupulous to cast these sort of Men out of the Society. For our Order being constituted in a Society, no Man ought to wonder it hath the power of Expulsion: for it is easie to break the band of a So∣ciety; which are not obliging for ever. This right of Expelling, is as old as the Society it self: Which appears evidently from hence, that the Society hath only Vows for the Masters and Brothers, which have no Reciprocal Obligation, and the Society is not bound to entertain for ever those that have made them; and therefore this Obligation binds only them that have made these Vows; and not the Society, which may at pleasure cast off those that have made these Vows, and although some of the So∣ciety make four solemn Vows, and others but three, as in other Or∣ders, yet may these too be Expelled.

CHAP. XI. After what manner those of the Society should demean them∣selves towards those that are Expell'd.

IN as much as those that are Expell'd out of our Society, may be pre∣judicial to us, see how we ought to behave our selves towards them. And first, before any Man is Expell'd, we should write to both the Tem∣poral and Spiritual Lords, with whom he may happen to be in Credit, and to whom he may make his Retreat; telling them his ill Inclinations. his Vices and Defaults, according to that connizance he shall have give, of them to his Superioars, in discovering the secrets of his Conscience.

Upon which also they shall regulate the Conduct which shall be observed on his account in the Society, when she renounces her right in him. If these Lords be well affected to us, then we ought to aggravate the Rea∣sons we had to Expel him. We should publish in our Exhortations, that he seeks very ardently to be receiv'd again into our Company, re∣marking as the causes of his Expulsion, those things for which the Peo∣ple hates us most; and so we may Expel whom we will, with great shew of Reason. If he that is Expell'd meets any belief amongst those he discourseth with against us, this must be remedied by the means of the most considerable of the Fathers of our Society, who shall oppose, to what he may say, the holiness of our Society, and the great good it hath done in the Church of God, the reputation of our good Lives, and the sound Doctrine we teach, and that for these Excellencies we have the advantage to attend Kings and Princes; and the great Men chuse out of our Body, their Confessors and Preachers: they shall inlarge much up∣on our Zeal for the salvation of Men in general, and especially of those of our own Society. Let those be invited to entertainments with us, who may give the Expell'd person any protection, and let them be per∣suaded that they ought not to give him the least support, and that they ought to have favourable opinions of the Order; and then tell them the Reasons why he was Expell'd, ordering the matter so, as they may ap∣pear plausible, and telling them exactly his Faults, without omitting any one, although we have not the least certainty of them. And we ought also to be very careful not to procure any Benefice for those we have once Expell'd, if they do not first give a good sum of Money to the Society; or if they have not made it their Heir, or if they do not in some other extraordinary manner testifie their undertaking our Interest. And let the Confessors persuade Kings and Princes, who are the Patrons to them, the same things, and let them take their opportunities from their liberality, and from the affection they bear to our Society to found some College, or do us some other such like favour. If it happens that they which have been Expell'd out of our Society, have any Credit in the World, let it be acquainted with their Lives, their Manners, and their Faults, which may be spread abroad by the means of our Friends and Devotes: And to the end that they too may not favour in the least those which are Expell'd out of our Society, let them be affrighted with Cen∣sures; and if they still persist, let Absolution be denied them. Let the good qualities of him that is Expell'd, be lessened by subtile Discourses, and full of Ambiguity, so as that all the belief Men have of him may be destroyed. And lastly, Let the misfortunes of those that have been Ex∣pell'd, be publish'd by way of Compassion, that others being warn'd by it, may be necessitated to continue in the Society against their wills.

CHAP. XII. Of the Choice of the Young-Men which are to be received into the Society, and of the manner.

THere is need of great Prudence, and of an extreme degree of Discre∣tion, for the receiving of Young Men into the Society; they ought to be Beautiful, Noble, and Rich. And that they may be drawn to this, the Masters of the several Forms, ought to treat them with great Goodness, they ought not to suffer their Regents to insult over them; they should oft commend them, they should give them the Prize. They should entertain and divert them sometimes in our Country-Houses. Sometimes they should Chastise them with the rest, objecting Crimes against them upon Conjectures, and using severity and rigorous Reproof. They should represent to them, that they shall be Damn'd eternally by the Bent Youth hath to all sorts of Evils, if they enter not the Society. Yet they should not be receiv'd so soon as they demand to be admitted into the Society; but be delay'd for some time, and in the interim be en∣tertain'd with the representation of the sweetness of our Rule; for by this means their desires encreasing, they will make the greater suit to be received: And if any of them who have made this demand, shall seem to desire to go back, then shall be represented to him the Zeal, which he at first exprest to get into the Society. But because there is great difficulty in drawing in the Children of great Birth, and especially the Children of them that are great in their Country, it is fit to send such to make their Noviciat, or Trial at Rome, after having advertised the General, or Provincial of that Province. If it be in Germany, France, or Italy, that they will enter into our Society, they shall be received without any difficulty; and in any other place where we have the fa∣vour of the Prince: For under such a Protector, these and such like things may be done; because their Subjects having need of our favour, they will not easily rise up against us, or if they do it, they will gain nothing by it. No opportunity should be lost for the drawing in those Children, which come from other Provinces to study in our Colleges, especially when their Money comes to fail by Gaming, for then out of meer shame of this loss, and fear of their Parents ill usage, they will suf∣fer themselves to be persuaded. This hath excellent success in Germany and Poland, and to the end the Kindred and Friends of them who c••me amongst us, may be herewith contented, they should be acquainted with the excellence of our Institution, the great applause the World give us, & the Honour Princes have done our Society: It is fit also to insinuate

into their Friends, and dispose them to be contented with it before∣hand, if their quality, and the advantage of our Affairs require it.

CHAP. XIII. Of our Religious Women.

THe Confessors ought to take care they do not offend our Religious Women: for there have been many amongst them which have done us much good, and contributed to the Founding of our Colleges, having given one half of their Fortunes to us, by the consent of their Monastery and Abbess: And for this cause they should not be disqui∣eted about their inclosure, but leave this care to the Bishops: They should rather apply themselves to preserve their good will, for fear they should disturb us in the possession of the one half of their Goods, which they have given us, by demanding them again.

CHAP. XIV. Of the reserved Cases, and of those Causes for which a Man may be Expell'd out of the Society.

BEsides the Cases contain'd in this Instruction, from which the Supe∣riour only can Absolve, or the ordinary Confessor by his permissi∣on; which are Sodomy, Fornication, Adultery, Whoredom, unchast Touches, and the Machinations of any Person for any Cause whatever against the Society; it is fit to know, that there are other causes for the ex∣pelling a guilty Person out of the Society, and that they ought not to absolve them till they have promised at the Tribunal of Confession, that they will declare those Offences to their Superior, either by themselves, or by their Confessor. And if it appear that the Sin was acted with another, and that a great Prejudice may thereby happen to the Society, then no Absolution ought to be given to the Penitent, if he doth not promise to write of it to the General himself, or consent that the Con∣fessor or Superior shall write to him about it, and without this the Pe∣nitent shall not be absolved. And when the General shall have known the Crime, he shall confer with the Secretary, and appoint the Penance, which the Penitent shall undergo, which if he shall not submit to, he can never be lawfully absolved. The Confessor should nevertheless for∣bear saying, that the Penitent ought to be expelled out of the Society for this cause. If the Penitent declare it freely out of Confession, then he may be expelled; but if he will not so tell it, then the same Course

ought to be observed with him, which is observed by the Rule against those that are convicted; and in the interim he shall not be absolved till he will declare his Crime publickly. If any Confessor shall learn that any Person, who is not of the Society, shall have committed any dishonest Action with any of our Religious Persons, then he or the shall be refused Absolution, of what Sex soever that Person be, till that Person hath out of Confession revealed the Party; and if this be done, the Penitent shall be absolved, and the guilty Party expell'd out of the Society. If two of our Religious Persons commit the Crime of Sodomy together, he that will not confess it, shall be expelled, and he that first confesseth it, shall be retained, but so ill treated, that he shall be forced to forsake us. The So∣ciety being a Body, it may for that cause discharge it self of such Persons, as shall in process of time, appear dull in their Manners or Discourses. The Superiors also may for any cause whatever expell all sorts of Per∣sons, after they have advertised the General; and to oblige them to de∣part the more quickly, they shall be ill treated, and every thing done con∣trary to their Inclination; they shall be refused what ever they de∣sire, tho it be of no consequence; they shall be hindred from studying Divinity, and be subjected to such Superiors as they love not; none shall remain in the Society, who disobey their Superiors, who complain of them in the presence of others, or express their dislike of the Conduct of the Society in relation to Widows, and the management of their Estates, and who commend the Venetians who have driven away the Society. A little before the expelling any Person, let him be rudely abused, and taken from all regular Emploiments, and put sometimes upon one thing, and sometimes upon another; and in the interim let him be reproached with the having ill discharged his Trust, and let the worst Penances be impo∣sed for the smallest Faults. During the time of Repast, let his Faults be published by the Reader, till he be overwhelmed with shame; and if then any impatience appear in him, let him be expelled, as one that scandali∣zeth the rest who are present, and rally on him. But then in the first place let a review of what he hath, be taken, and let him be sent into some Country-house, or near College, and so let him be sent thence to the place where he least expects.

CHAP. XV. Which of the Society ought to be kept in, and managed.

FIrst of all, the excellent Workmen, who contribute not only to the Spiritual but Temporal Good of the Society, as the Confessors of rich Widows, which yet should be taken from them, when they begin

to be oppressed with old Age, that others more youthful and vigorous may be sent in their stead. And to these whatever they demand for their Diet and Cloathing, and other things, ought to be granted, neither ought the Ministers of Penance to disquiet them. The Superiors shall not lightly believe that which is reported of them. It is necessary also to have some Consideration for them who acquaint the Superiors with the smallest faults they can observe in others; and also for them who according to their places know how to mortify others, not out of Passi∣on, but Zeal for the Religious Discipline. Yet sweetness should be used towards those younger Persons, whose Kindred are our Benefactors and Founders; and upon this account they should be sent to study at Rome, or if they perform their Studies in the Provinces, all things that may gain their Affections, should be granted to them. It is fit also to treat fa∣vourably all those young Religious Persons, who have not yet given their Estates to the Society; but when they have once done this, it is fit to feed them with Bread, and not with Milk. It is fit also to have respect to those who dispose Children of Quality to enter our Society, as to Persons well affected to it.

CHAP. XVI. Of what is to be avoided or observed besides all this.

FOr fear we should be accused of being too covetous of Riches, it is fit to refuse small Alms, for the ordinary Services which those of our Society perform. No lea••e should be given to Persons of mean condition to bury in our Churches. Those Widows should be treated severely, who have impoverished themselves by their bounty to us; and the same Course should be taken with those of our Order, who have given their Estates to the Society. They may sometimes be expell'd too, either without allowing them any thing at all, or but a very little, under pretence of the Charges the Society have expended about them.

Let the Superiors keep these secret Advices with great care, and let them not be communicated but to a very few discreet Persons, and that only by parts: and let them instruct others with them, when they have profitably served the Society; and then let them not communicate them as Rules they received, but as the Effects of their own prudence. But if they should happen to fall into the hands of Strangers, who should give them an ill sence and construction; let them be assured the Society owns them not in that sence, which shall be confirmed by instancing in those of our Order who assuredly know them not.

Let also the general Advices, and printed or written Constitutions of our Society, be opposed against them.

Lastly, let Information be given, whether any of our own Members have communi∣cated them (for no Superior ought to be negligent in the keeping such considerable Se∣crets of the Society). And if there be the least suspicion of any Person, let it be charged upon him, and let him be espell'd out of the Society.

FINIS.

Notes

• Oppositions.
• This very inso∣lent Word is in the Original.
• It signifies Leases, Purcha∣ses; &c.