The Origin of the Jesuits. 45 



" Finally, let the parliament consider that all innovations are 

 dangerous, and that from these in particular many unforeseen and 

 unexpected dangers must arise."* 



The faculty of Theology gave their opinion in the following 

 words, on the 1st of December, 1554 : 



" This new society, which gives itself the extraordinary and un- 

 heard of appellation of 'The Company of Jesus/ which receives in- 

 discriminately and with so great laxity all sorts of persons, however 

 wicked, lawless, and infamous they may be, which in no way differs 

 from the secular priests either in habit or in tonsure, having neither 

 choir, nor fasts, nor silence imposed on them, nor any of those cere- 

 monies which distinguish and maintain the other religious orders ; 

 this society, to which so many privileges have been granted con- 

 cerning the administration of penance and the Eucharist, the giving 

 instruction to the prejudice of the ordinaries and the hierarchi- 

 cal and other religious orders, even also of princes and lords 

 temporal, against the privileges of the universities, and indeed to the 

 great oppression of the people ; this society appears to us contrary 

 to the honour of the monarchical profession seems to weaken 

 the' public honest and pious exercise of virtues, ,abstinence, alms, 

 and austerity. It is very fit to cause apostacy ; it takes away the 

 jurisdiction of the bishops, unjustly deprives lords, both temporal 

 and spiritual, of their rights: it cannot but cause troubles and 

 dissensions, quarrels, complaints, disputes, jealousies, and schisms. 

 "All these things, and many others, being diligently examined 

 and considered, this society seems to us very dangerous in all that 

 concerns the faith, inimical to the peace of the church, likely to de- 

 stroy the monachical state, and created more for the destruction than 

 the edification of the faithful."f 



" (Signed) Beno'it, Courcelles, Maillard, De Mouchi, Perizonius, 

 Ari, Inquisitor of the Faith, de Feire Syndic." 



Such was the famous decree of the Sorbonne against the Jesuits. 



Some of the Jesuits, scandalized at this attack upon their order^ 

 were desirous of replying to it, and refuting or endeavouring to re- 

 fute the gross calumnies which they asserted were contained in it. 

 But Loyola, with more prudence, fearing lest this might increase the 

 obloquy in which they were held, by enraging their opponents, re- 

 fused his permission, assuring them that notwithstanding the obstacles 

 offered in France, they would be ultimately established there, and 

 that too in great celebrity. 



The decree of the Sorbonne met with universal approbation in 

 France ; and finding himself authorized by the concurrence of others, 

 as well as his own opinion, the bishop of Paris interdicted them from 

 all their functions. His example was followed by all the other 



It might be expected that their courage would have given way 

 under their overwhelming opposition ; but Pasquier Brouet, who had 



* Histoire des Religieux de la Compagnie de Jesus, Liv. iii. 

 t Ibid. 



