Secreta Monita Societatis Jesu.

early modern conspiracy theory

An early parallel text edition in English and Latin of this alleged code of instructions by the Jesuit Order on how to gain temporal power and influence.

The anonymous tract, today considered a forgery published to discredit the society, has historically been attributed to Hieronim Zahorowski (1582–1634), a Polish Jesuit expelled from the order in 1613. It was published at a time of heightened hostility which culminated in the suppression of the society in 1773 when the order was abolished by Pope Clement XIV.

In the tract, the Jesuits are accused of the most duplicitous behaviour in the pursuit of their objectives, from cultivating widows for financial gain, to inducing young men to join the order, and feigning a contempt of riches.

12mo (16 x 10 cm); parallel text in English and Latin, woodcut device to title, initials, head and tailpieces, 12pp publisher's ads to rear, extensive early MS notes to front endpapers, erased ownership inscription in pen to title, text block toned, upper hinge split but holding; contemporary blind-tooled calf in the 'Cambridge' panel style, joints repaired, slightly rubbed with minor loss to head and foot of spine, very good; vi, [6], 127, [1], 12pp.

ESTC T93320.