The most notorious of these cases Was that of two sons of Pandolfo Petrucci, whose name indicates his high position in the aristocracy of Siena.

These young men they got into their power by inducing them to commit a theft, and then compelled them to pledge fealty to the Society.

Escaping by night in the direction of Rome, the lads were arrested by the city guards, and confessed that they had agreed to meet two Jesuits, who were waiting to conduct them on their journey.'[173] [Footnote 173: _Storia del Granducato di Toscana_, vol.iv.p.

275.] It was, indeed, not the propagation of sound principles or liberal learning, but the aggrandizement of the order and the enforcement of Catholic usages, at which the Jesuits aimed in their scheme of education.

This was noticeable in their attitude toward literature and science.