Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/71

 THE JESUIT INVASION. 55 Catholic powers out of their apathy. As a preparation further for the intended invasion from Scotland, men were wanted of authority and intelligence to stimulate everywhere a powerful Catholic revival. In other words, the Jesuits were wanted, and as yet no Jesuits had been allowed to go to England. Their lives were precious, and the English mission was considered likely to be the most dangerous which they had yet under- taken. To the young spiritual knights-errant however the peril was an additional temptation, and the consent of the General of the order had at length been obtained. When Sanders sailed for Ireland Allen went to Home to arrange the plan of the campaign, and Campian, who had been for some years working at Prague, was selected with Parsons to make the first adventure. Mercuriano sent for them to Rome to receive their instructions, and they arrived there in the spring of 1580, just at the time when d'Aubigny had secured his footing in Scot- land. The principle of the Jesuit organization was ab^ solute despotism. Parsons, now about five and thirty, cool, clear-headed, and not given to emotions or sensi- bilities, was made head of the mission. He was trusted with the inner secrets of the Papal policy, and was left to rule himself and his companions as occasion or op- portunity required. 1 Campian and the rest of the party 1 Mr Simpson, the latest and most candid biographer of Campian, endeavours to believe that Parsons was ignorant of Sanders' s expedition to Ireland, that he and Campian only became acquainted with it, and were embarrassed by the knowledge, when on the eve of entering England.