[Footnote 153: Nicolini, p. 445.] [Footnote 154: Nicolini, p. 447.] [Footnote 155: Daurignac, Vol. II, p. 195.] [Footnote 156: _Ibid._, p. 177.] [Footnote 157: De Montor, Vol. II, p. 347.] [Footnote 158: When Does the Church Speak Infallibly? By Thomas Francis Knox, of the London Oratory. Page 67.] [Footnote 159: Daurignac, p. 217.] [Footnote 160: _Ibid._, p. 205.] CHAPTER XV. RE-ENTERING SPAIN. The decree abolishing the Jesuits was accepted by all the Roman Catholic sovereigns and people of Europe as final. It was an exercise of the highest authority of the Church. But it was not accepted by the Jesuits, who, in contempt of this authority, brooded over the purpose to plot stealthily against it until they could obtain its revocation from some sympathizing and pliable pope. Their position was that of condemned criminals--compelled to recognize the authority and jurisdiction of their triers, while secretly endeavoring to find or to create some antagonistic authority from which they could obtain a grant of pardon, or a revival of their power to repeat their offenses without pardon. It counted nothing with them that Clement XIV was canonically pope--their own interest outweighed anything that concerned either pope or Church. They were willing to obey the Church provided the Church favored their society, but not otherwise. Consequently, it may be said of them then, as at all other times, that they recognized no other form of Christianity than that which centered in Jesuitism, and no other authority than that of their general at Rome.