William Allen Biography

Goes into exile at Louvain after refusing the Elizabethan settlement

Returns to England in an attempt to bring lapsed Catholics back into the faith

Allen returns briefly to England to encourage Catholics

Flees again to The Netherlands, never to return

Founds a Catholic College to train missionaries for converting England to Catholicism

The 1st Douai Priests land in England. Sends Catholic missionary priests to England from the Spanish Netherlands

Transfers his seminary from The Netherlands to France after falling out with Spain

Founds the English College in Rome & places it under the control of the Jesuits

The 1st Jesuit Priests land in England

Publication of "True, Sincere & Modest Defence of English Catholics"

Persuades Philip II that English Catholics are ready to rise in support of Spain

Takes part in the revision of the Vulgate

Allen acts among the Agitators as elected soldier representatives help bind the Army to the Solemn Engagement against disbandment on Parliament's terms

Allen takes part among the soldiers' representatives supporting the Agreement of the People, seeking constitutional guarantees before the Army accepts any settlement with Parliament or the King

Allen takes part as one of the Agitators, helping represent soldiers who believed the Army's sacrifices entitled them to a voice in the political settlement

Allen represents the rank-and-file demand that the Agreement be taken seriously by the General Council rather than buried by the officers' committee