 The two men travelled to Rome and on 11 September 1575 were accepted into the church at Sant 'Andrea della Valle . Garnet studied under the theologian Father Robert Bellarmine . Two of his professors , Christopher Clavius and Robert Bellarmine , praised his abilities . He was ordained sometime around 1582 and stayed in Rome as a Professor of Hebrew , lecturing also on metaphysics and mathematics . He was also an English confessor at St Peter 's , but in May 1584 his academic career was curtailed when , perhaps as a consequence of a petition from the Jesuit superior for England William Weston , Father Robert Persons asked that he be sent to England . The Superior General Claudio Acquaviva , who saw Garnet as his successor , refused this request . He thought Garnet more suited to " the quiet life " than that which awaited him in England , but on 2 May 1586 he relented and allowed him to leave . Appointed superior for the journey , Garnet travelled with Robert Southwell , leaving for Calais on 8 May . He landed near Folkestone early in July 1586 . 
