Fiercer than the pope’s bullsjesuits in early 17th century anti-catholic, anti-spanish english pamphlets

Resumen

This present study analyses the vision of the members of the Society of Jesus at the beginning of the 17th century in English pamphlets. With the increase of anti-Spanish, anti-Catholic literature during the years of the negotiations of the Spanish Match (roughly 1617-1624), the Jesuit forms a figure in the literature of the time which shows how this body was despised and feared by the Protestant population. Not least of the reasons for this was that they were constantly linked to Spain, the King of Spain, the Pope and the Catholic Church in general. Apart from the characteristics conferred on them (eloquent murderers and tricksters who possessed a willpower of iron), they are presented as trying to help the King of Spain achieve a Universal Monarchy with the consequent spiritual danger which would be incurred on the Protestant population of England if the proposed match were to go ahead. In order to instil even great fear for the Catholic religion the pamphleteers generally equated the terms “Jesuit” and “Catholic”. The propaganda produced effectively gave rise to an image of the Jesuits which was to survive for many years (although its origins are to be found in the previous century) and which served to alienate and encourage animosity towards this body and its collaborators; namely Spain, the King of Spain, the Spaniards, the Pope and the Catholic Church.