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Shakespeare’s literary abundance has often been seen as surpassing mere duty or necessity, much like the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, which invite a deeper, more devoted following of Christ for the greater glory of God (Ad majorem Dei gloriam). This study explores a striking convergence between Shakespeare’s “will” and that of Jesuit missionaries working covertly in Elizabethan England.
Drawing on newly examined Jesuit archival materials, the book argues that Shakespeare’s works served as a medium of communication among Jesuits, their continental superiors, and even King Philip II of Spain. It presents fresh evidence linking the Society of Jesus to the sonnets and suggests they conceal information about political plans, missionary movements, and executions. The author further proposes the provocative thesis that “William Shakespeare” was an alias for the Jesuit John Gerard, positioning the canon as a vehicle for Jesuit strategy and imagination during the Reformation.
