Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 43.djvu/421

  without having a party within the realm is a great illusion, and to think to have this party without forming it and keeping it together ia a great illusion' (, Allen, p. cxiii). Elizabeth denounced these Spanish preparations in her proclamation of 29 Nov. 1691, making particular mention of 'a schoolman named Parsons, arrogating to himself the name of the catholic king's confessor.' Parsons replied, under the name 'Philopater,' with a fierce invective against the queen's chief councillors in his 'Responsio ad Edictum Elizabethæ,' of which a number of impressions appeared at various places in the following year. In this treatise he declares the doctrine of the pope's deposing power to be an article of faith. In 1594 appeared his famous 'Conference about the next Succession,' published under the name of Doleman. The book had been shown to Cardinal Allen and to Sir Francis Englefield, and had obtained their approval (, ed. Tierney, iii. 31-5). The first part is an historical and legal argument to prove the right of the people to alter the direct line of succession for just causes, especially for religion; and the second, a genealogical argument, balances the various claims, and points to the infanta of Spain, a descendant of John of Gaunt, as the fittest successor to Elizabeth. Parsons introduced the book into his Spanish seminary, and wished to have it publicly read at the English College at Rome. Parliament made it high treason for any one to have a copy in his house. It was received by a large party of catholics with dismay and indignation. Dr. Gifford, afterwards archbishop of Rheims, denounced the book as 'the most pestilent ever made &hellip; never anything was written which hath made such a broil' (ib. vol. iii. p. xcv). The nuncio in Flanders declared that Parsons 'could not have done anything more disgusting to the pope' (Cal. State Papers, Dom. Eliz. cclii. 66). It was perhaps on this account that Parsons did not venture to print the 'Memorial for the Reformation of England,' in which he proposed various measures—including the setting up of the inquisition—to be adopted by parliament on the restoration of catholicism. The treatise was written in 1596, and a copy was presented by Parsons to the infanta of Spain in June 1601 (, Letters of Allen, p. 395). It was subsequently made public by Dr. Gee from the copy given to James II.

The book on the succession appeared at a critical moment in Parsons's career. Cardinal Allen died on 16 Oct. 1594, and the competition of the several candidates for his cardinalate intensified the jealousies and divisions, clerical and political, which had risen up among catholics since the execution of Queen Mary. Parsons was accused, probably with injustice, of intriguing for the cardinalate. Leaders of the secular clergy in England, forgetting his past services, were denouncing his Spanish policy as the mischievous cause of all their afflictions; and suspicion of Jesuit schemes led to scandalous quarrels among the prisoners at Wisbech. The Scottish faction in Flanders, headed by Charles Paget—who had been at enmity with Parsons for the past ten years (, ed. Tierney, iii. p. lix)—joined in a passionate attack upon him, while the scholars of the English College at Rome were breaking out once more into open revolt against their Jesuit superiors. Parsons, nothing daunted, hastened to Rome in the spring of 1597, and after having, by his personal influence, restored harmony to the English College, be was appointed rector, a post which he retained till his death.

From this point of vantage he mode his hand felt upon the whole missionary body. Hitherto he had advocated the appointment of bishops in England for the better government of the clergy. But now, in view of the present difficulties, and with a definite political object, he obtained the appointment of George Blackwell as archpriest, with unprecedented jurisdiction and powers, and with instructions to consult, in all matters of gravity, the Jesuit superior, who was then [q. v.] Blackwell was known to be friendly or subservient to the Jesuits. The discontented clergy, who doubted the genuineness and suspected the motives of the novel appointment, sent William Bishop and Robert Charnock as delegates to Rome, to make sure of the pope's intentions. Parsons contrived that they should be made close prisoners at the English College, where they were treated with considerable harshness, put upon their trial, and punished by banishment (, Jesuits and Seculars, pp. lxx-lxxxiv). The quarrel soon broke out again. Thirty-three priests, 17 Nov. 1600, signed an appeal to the pope, which was mainly directed against the alleged tyranny of Blackwell, the domination of the Jesuits, and their continued interference in politics; and they afterwards, with the connivance of the queen, sent four of their number to prosecute their cause at Rome. Parsons, almost single-handed, bore the brunt of the attack. Meanwhile he was assailed in a number of books, secretly printed in England, by the leading appellants, by Dr. Bishop, Dr. Champney, Colleton, Mush, Bennet, his old adversary Dr. Bagshaw, and by other less respectable opponents, like