Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. THE COUNTER-REFORMATION IN ENGLAND. The Bull of Deposition of Elizabeth issued by Pius V.--The truce between Protestants and Romanists not broken for some time after its publication--The celebrated Cardinal Allen the breaker of the truce--A description of his career, including an account of his seminary at Douai--The object of that seminary the training of priests for the conversion of England--Description of the training-- Severe Act caused by the Bull of Deposition--A description of the spy system for the discovery of the agents of Rome--The means employed to elude the vigilance of the spies--The Jesuits afterwards engaged to assist the seminary priests--The Jesuits not at first numerous--Description of Parsons and Campian, and of their work in England--Severe measures of government--Description of the torture system--Severe Act against Romanists--The capture and death of Campian--Inquiry into the justice of the punishments inflicted--The raid on England a failure, and injurious to Romanism --Allen's political designs--Gregory XIII., Sixtus V. and Cardinal Allen at length successful in inducing Philip to undertake the invasion of England--Their original letters to him--Preparations for the Armada, and the sailing of it--Enthusiasm excited amcng the Spaniards and English--The country long warned of it--False economy of Elizabeth--Defeat of the Armada, and subsequ* dispersion by the storm--Reflections upon it PIUS V. had, as we have seen, carried on with great energy his war against the Reformers. In 1569 the triumph of the Counter-Reformation seemed to be near at hand. Pius saw at this time only one Power in Europe--England--which stood in the way of the complete success of the Papacy. He determined to strike a blow at her...