The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON, May 9.

The true Reason of the late extraordinary, unexpected, and memorable Expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain stands thus. The Jesuits in the Spanish Dominions had forged, or surreptitiously obtained, a Bull from the Pope, delegating them the same Powers as, and rendering them independent of, all Archbishops and Bishops whomsoever, Cases of Ordination only excepted. The Circumstance (respecting a Privilege so very new and alarming) some of the Fathers too inconsiderately and precipitately communicated to a few of the Council of Castile. This was privately carried to the Ministers of State, and by them imparted to his Catholic Majesty. The King, fired at the ambitious Inclinations of the Jesuits, though no way dubious of the Authenticity of the Bull, complained of the Matter, by his Ambassador at Rome, to the Pope. His Holiness was astonished; he absolutely denied a Recollection of any such Grant. The proper Records were searched; but in vain. no vestige of any such Bull was to be found. Couriers were immediately dispatched to Madrid with the News of this singular Event. His Catholic Majesty and the Spanish Ministers were alarmed at such a daring Step in the Fathers; they deliberated in secret, and a very short Consideration (considering the important Nature of the Business) determined the King to rid his Country at once of such a dangerous Body of Miscreants. The Method that was taken for that Purpose, our Readers are already acquainted with.