Per la soppressione della Societ . Manuscript copy of ten anti-Jesuit poems.

4to. Italian manuscript on paper. 7 pp. on bifolia. The collection starts with a long poem comprising 37 verses of 3 lines each that calls for the suppression of the Jesuits, starting: "Giorno d'ira, e di furore / Di ruine apportatore / Spunta all'empio, e all'impostore". The unpublished poem is addressed to the Pope and repeats typical accusations brought against the Society of Jesus. - It is followed by three sonnets concerning the controversial and at the time unsuccessful canonization process for Juan de Palafox y Mendoza (1600-59), the former bishop of Puebla who had briefly served as Archbishop of Mexico (1640-42) and as Viceroy of New Spain (1642). Palafox y Mendoza is famous for his protracted conflict with the powerful Jesuits of New Spain over ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The Jesuits ultimately succeeded in having the bishop transferred from Puebla to a minor see in Old Castile in 1653, effectively ending his career. In the 18th century, Palafox y Mendoza's anti-Jesuit writings gained popularity and were an important factor in the banishment of the Jesuits from Spain in 1767. The introduction of the cause of beatification was approved by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726 but a positive decision by the responsible congregation in 1777 was suspended by Pope Pius VI through the intervention of the Jesuits. The poems must be seen in this context; the first stave of the third poem reads: "Oh Gesuiti! Della Terra f[a]ex, / Infine l'ha pur vinta Palafox, / E difesolo il forte Hispaniae Rex, / Che no teme da Voi la mala Nox". - The fourth sonnet in the collection is a caustic reinterpretation of the famous prophecy that Ignatius of Loyola had received in a vision of Christ near Rome in 1537, starting: "I shall be favourable to you in Rome". - Four sonnets are warnings and outright criticisms of Pope Clement XIII (1758-69), a former Jesuit. The first of the sonnets is a speech by the personification of the Adriatic Sea to the Pope, commanding him to safeguard the honour of St Peter and warning him of coming storms. This is followed by three variations of a sonnet that does not directly address Clement but openly criticizes Papal decisions and his opposition to the ruling Princes of Europe, comparing the Pope to the Kings of Egypt and Assyria in an allusion to the biblical stories of Moses and Judith. - The final sonnet in the collection with two additional staves of 3 lines in the end strikes a similar tone, now directly attacking the Jesuits. It underlines that Rome must obey the European potentates, directly mentioning the court in Vienna, in order to be saved and restore its glory by "extinguishing" the Jesuits: "Che sarai salva, e con gloria distinta / Quando la Societ vedrassi estinta". - With very slight stains. Well preserved.