Venice: August 1553, 16-31 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 5, 1534-1554. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1873.

Citation:

'Venice: August 1553, 16-31', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 5, 1534-1554, ed. Rawdon Brown( London, 1873), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol5/pp389-404 [accessed 29 November 2024].

August 1553, 16–31



Aug. 19. Deliberazioni Senato (Secreta), v. lxviii. p. 152.	770. The Doge and Senate to the Bailo at Constantinople.
	The letters from England, down to the 24th ult., announce the proclamation as Queen, of the Lady Mary, sister of the late King, and the Emperor's kinswoman. She was expected in London. The Signory's letters from Rome purport that the Pope has revoked the recall of his two Legates, who are now to remain with the Emperor and the King of France.
	Ayes, 177. Noes, 3. Neutrals, 5.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 20. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x.	771. Cardinal Pole to the Emperor Charles V.
	After the great and constant affliction endured for many years by the kingdom of England solely on account of impious and iniquitous rulers, it has pleased the Divine mercy to comfort the realm by giving it this governess, to whom the crown by right belongs, and which by reason of her goodness was desired for her by all good persons; and that this should come to pass by means of the Emperor's direction. (fn. 1) It therefore seems meet to Pole,—for himself and all other Englishmen (tutti noi di quel regno) to return especial and infinite thanks to his Imperial Majesty,—to whom, after God, all the praise and honour of this achievement (fatto) should be given; beseeching the Divine goodness, with regard to what remains for the completion of this holy work, to vouchsafe to use the same medium (mezo) used by him for giving it so auspicious a commencement. Of all the things which remain to be done to this end, none is of greater importance than the restoring England to the obedience of the Apostolic See (che il restituire quel regno all' obedientia della Sede Apostolica). Considers it certain that the Emperor, of his great piety, does not require to be stimulated by others but is disposed spontaneously to seek this restoration according to opportunity. Nevertheless, as the goodness of God has given this great pledge of his mercy, granting to England one sole governess (governatrice), more inclined and able than any other person to bring this holy work to perfection, with the aid and counsel of his Imperial Majesty, and it having pleased the Pope and the Apostolic See to appoint him (Pole) Legate to treat this business with his Majesty and such other princes, and private persons as shall seem expedient, he thinks he cannot too speedily commence proposing this cause to the Emperor, whom it chiefly befits by reason of his supreme grade above all princes, and for so many other self-evident reasons unnecessary to mention. His Majesty both heretofore and at present has obtained many and great victories; but in Pole's opinion he has had none comparable to this one, and from which he may hope for greater and more efficacious (più potente) fruit, to the honour of the Divine Majesty and of himself, and to the eternal benefit of the Church, and of England. And as it has pleased the goodness of God, after so many affronts (dispiaceri) received by his Imperial Majesty owing to the perverse government of the realm of England, now deservedly to comfort him in the matters relating to its temporal jurisdiction, it may be expected of his goodness that the first partakers of this consolation will be those who were most afflicted, and principally the Apostolic See, which, for defending the just cause of his Majesty's lineage (per defendere la giustitia del sangue di vostra Maestà), lost its authority in that kingdom. Although the recovery thereof does not seem easy, considering the humours of the population (havendo rispetto agli humori degli huomini), and past events; yet through that blessed hand which gave this first great commencement of good government, and of the kingdom's felicity, its continuance also may be expected, when coupled with this second boon, without which the consolation derived from the first will be of short duration. Hopes that, as the Legates of the Apostolic See were excluded from that kingdom for favouring the rights of those so near akin to his Majesty, so, as God now gives compensation, he (the Emperor) will also grant him (Pole) this honour of opening the road for their return, to the advantage of the realm and to the joy of the whole Church, by reason of the great benefit which from this example may be anticipated in other kingdoms and provinces. This firm hope has induced Pole to perform this office by letter with the Emperor, whose victorious hands will, he expects, prepare the way for him, to introduce the spiritual authority into England, in like manner as God enabled his Majesty, in the person of his cousin the most Serene Queen Mary, to introduce the temporal authority there. The reasons which in a worldly sense (humanamente) cause Pole to hope for a fair and speedy result in this matter shall be told the Emperor at their meeting, which he hopes will take place speedily. In the meanwhile, congratulating the Emperor with his whole heart on this miraculous victory, he kisses his hands, constantly praying his Divine Majesty to vouchsafe to preserve him, for the benefit and universal consolation of all Christendom.
	In the monastery of Maguzzano, 20th August 1553.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 20 ? MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. No date of time or place. (fn. 2)	772. “Information” for the Emperor given by Cardinal Pole to his Secretary Fiordibello.
	When his Holiness heard of the victory which the Lord God of his mercy gave the most Serene Queen, his Majesty's cousin, not only without any opposition, but moreover placing her enemies and rebels in her hands,—hoping that with God's assistance the kingdom of England might be re-united to the Church, and brought to the obedience of the Apostolic See (che quel regno se habbia da ridurre, con lo aiuto di Dio, alla unione della Chiesa et alla obedientia della Sede Apostolica), through the authority of the Emperor,—he elected his (the Secretary's) master the Right Reverend Cardinal Pole as Legate, to treat this holy business with his Majesty and the Queen, and with other princes the most suited to the matter (et altri principi con chi fusse più opportuno) and being on the eve of departure, his Right Reverend Lordship has chosen him to come beforehand to his Majesty.
	In the first place he has charged him to congratulate the Emperor on so auspicious an event, then to thank the Emperor for his counsel, management, and favour.
	Cardinal Pole was on the point of departure to perform this office of congratulation with his Majesty by word of mouth, to thank him in the name of all pious inhabitants in England, and to execute his Holiness's commission.
	Should his Majesty say that it is not opportune to treat this matter now, as the affairs of that kingdom are not yet well established, and that it is therefore not expedient, [he is to be told] that Cardinal Pole himself likewise considered this, and moreover dropped a hint about it to the Pope, notwithstanding which, he is convinced that this delay would not only, not profit, but would injure the cause; and the reason is, that it is customary in England, in the first Parliament and convocation of the three estates, to propose the matters relating to the reordination of the kingdom, all persons who consider themselves aggrieved then stating their complaints; and the affairs of the religion and the union of the kingdom [with the Apostolic See ?], which is the most important and necessary, not merely for the salvation of souls, but also for the quiet of the people and the stability of the realm, would be irreparably prejudiced if at the present moment, when persons of every grade are striving which shall evince the greatest obedience to the Queen, the opportunity should be lost for bringing back (redure) the realm to the union of the Church and to the obedience of the Apostolic See, without which the other matters concerning the religion cannot be established. As God therefore has sent this opportunity, it should be seized.
	Should the Emperor allege the example of Germany, or, even, without alleging it, say that it might appear to some persons, or that some persons might think it difficult, from the example of the Germans; to reply that the affairs of Germany and of England are different, as in Germany the thing (la cosa) is popular, which excuse has been occasionally made by some of the German Princes, whereas in England, by the rising in the time of the late King, it has been seen that the people were well disposed towards the religion, and wished things to return to their former state, as they demanded to live in that faith which her father King Henry had conceded them, and which he ordered to be observed, with regard to the mass and the other sacraments of the Church.
	In the next place, what greater sign of their goodwill could be desired than to see with what universal readiness and joy they hailed the Princess Mary for their Queen ?—especially the Londoners, from whom this was the less to be expected, as they had always been considered much more opposed to the religion than any others (che alcun altro), they knowing and being very well aware of the sincere and Catholic mind of her Majesty, and of the faith which she has always professed and professes. So as to the dogmas (quanto a id ogni—sic), it seems there would be no such great difficulty; and even with regard to the schism, and the return to the obedience of the Apostolic See, the people at that same time of the insurrection showed their goodwill, when amongst the other articles they demanded that his [Fiordibello's] master (although he had never been in that part of the country, and they had no particular knowledge of his Plight Reverend Lordship or of his family) should not only be restored to his native soil, but also have a seat in the King's Council, a very evident sign that as they could not openly demand the restitution of the Pope's authority, which had been forbidden them by law under penalty of rebellion, they demanded it indirectly. The people therefore being well inclined, and their ruler the Queen most excellently disposed, and those who would have chiefly sought to thwart the matter being by God's justice in her hands, it is to be hoped that this restoration will nut prove difficult, most especially when backed by the Emperor's authority; and it may be very reasonably supposed that the people of England will resume their obedience to the Apostolic See, since they can allege no grievance against it, as no kingdom enjoyed more prerogatives and exemptions than England, during her acknowledgment of the papal supremacy; and moreover, because subsequently, owing to this change, the losses (danni) and burdens of the country have been endless.
	As to the difficulty on account of the interests of the nobility, Cardinal Pole hopes a remedy will be found, and reserves its discussion for his interview with the Emperor, as he desires and hopes that his Majesty will be the person to adjust, regulate and adapt (accomodare) this part, as an excellent medium between his cousin and the parties concerned, so that all the praise and glory may rest, as is very fitting on every account, with his Majesty.
	Should the Emperor maintain that the Legate's passage to England at present would be premature, Fiordibello will reply that should it seem premature for the attainment of the end, Cardinal Pole's presence will at least give the Emperor and the Queen greater opportunity for discussing and negotiating this matter; and if this were abandoned the cause would become hopeless. In addition to this, the mere presence of the Emperor [at Brussels?] should be a sufficient reason for Cardinal Pole's going into those parts to confer with him, and hear his most prudent opinion; although besides this, it can by no means seem premature to obtain that the Queen should at least send a person to discuss and treat this matter with him, as the King her father, although the open enemy of the Apostolic See, was induced of his own accord, at the time of Cardinal Pole's former legation [in the year 1537], to send some of his dependents (alcuni delli sui) to him, namely, the King's own confessor and some doctors, who had already departed on their way, as affirmed by the Bishop [designate] of Worcester, who was then in the King's Court, though they did not cross the Channel, having met a courier with news of Cardinal Pole's departure for Italy [from Liege in August], he having been recalled by the Pope.
	The Emperor of his extreme prudence has also to consider, should anything sinister befall the Queen, that remaining in their present state the affairs of the religion would run great danger, as some powerful King, declaring her schismatic, might wage war on her, and place her in great difficulties, by means of such a protest, and perhaps also with the favour of some friendly Pope. And if the Duke now a prisoner, (fn. 3) thought fit to avail himself of the name of King Henry's second sister's granddaughter (figliuola) [Jane Gray], for which purpose he married her to one of his sons to colour his right (le sue ragioni) to occupy England; how much greater reason would there not be to fear this from the granddaughter (figliuola) of the King's late sister, who has remained heiress of Scotland?—both as she is descended from the elder sister, and also because she is not schismatic. So that the Queen of England, by reuniting herself to the Apostolic See, would secure herself against this danger, and much more were she also to be crowned by the hand of a Legate from the Apostolic See.
	It is unnecessary to exhort his Imperial Majesty, Cardinal Pole being very certain that for every reason, both divine and human, he is excellently disposed to embrace this holy and glorious undertaking.
	As to Cardinal Pole, individually, the Emperor knows, should he go to England, how much he is bound to him (quanto li sia obligato).
	The French have requested the Pope that Cardinal Pole may pass through France, and his Holiness left it optional with him to do so, showing, however, that the straighter and more fitting way was to the Emperor, which Cardinal Pole has with reason determined to take.
	Fiordibello is to apply to the Cardinal Legate Dandino, and consult with him as to how much of Cardinal Pole's commission he is to impart; and is to communicate everything to him.
	[Maguzzano, 20th August ?]
	[Italian.]
Aug. 21. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl.	773. Cardinal Pole to the Archbishop of Conza, Papal Nuncio [with the Emperor].
	Is sending his Secretary, Messer Antonio Fiordebelli, to congratulate the Emperor on these auspicious events in England. Has charged him to salute the Nuncio in his name, and acquaint him with the particulars of his commission, hoping that the Nuncio will give him hints for the benefit of this common cause, which is so important for the Apostolic See. Requests him to do so, and refers himself for the rest to the Secretary.
	Maguzzano, 21st August 1553.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 22. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x.	774. The Same to the Bishop of Arras [Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle].
	Has received a brief from the Pope, informing him that his Holiness and the Sacred College have elected him Legate to the Queen of England and the Emperor, and other Princes likewise, as may seem opportune and expedient to him for the re-organization (per indrizzar) of the affairs of the religion in that kingdom. This was done immediately on hearing of the miraculous success in favour of the just cause of Queen Mary. Has thought it his duty to announce the appointment to the Emperor by letter, to be delivered by the present bearer, his Secretary, praying his Majesty at the same time, that in like manner, as he always wished that kingdom to return to the obedience of the Apostolic See, and negotiated and exhorted in order that the King and his guardians (governatori), from whom but little could be hoped, might be brought thus to do, so he will now be pleased vigorously to interpose his authority with the present Queen, made, it may be said, by the hand of God, and who will give much more credit to the opinion and counsel of his Imperial majesty than to all the other Princes and private individuals in the world united, as she ought and has great cause to do, and especially by reason of the experience she has had of his Imperial Majesty's very prudent guidance (prudentissimo in-drizzo) in obtaining, by means of his ministers, the crown which by right belonged to her. Doubts not but that these Imperial ministers, together with the divine assistance, took a great part in bringing this vessel into such safe harbour; so as he desires and hopes that the end may correspond to so auspicious a beginning, he has recourse to the same medium. Knows well that there is no need to urge the Bishop of Arras readily to employ the grace and favour enjoyed by him with the Emperor, to exhort his Majesty to undertake this cause with becoming zeal, promptitude, and resolution, being convinced of the Bishop's piety towards God and his Church, and of his regard for the honour of the Emperor, who cannot assume any undertaking which could obtain for him more honour and reward with God and man than this one, or one which is more expected by everybody on many accounts from his holy and victorious hand. But as he (Pole) hopes (please God) to find himself shortly in the Emperor's presence, he will then be able to confer in particular with the Bishop about the means whereby this pious and holy work may reach its due end; and therefore in this letter he will not dilate upon it further, referring himself, for whatever else he might now say, to the statement of its bearer.
	From Maguzzano, 22nd August 1553.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 26. Lettere del Col- legio (Secreta), File no. 19.	775. The Doge and College to the Venetian Ambassador in England.
	Enclose advices for communication as usual.
	Vigore deliberationis Ill^mi Senatus, diei 25 August.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 27. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x.	776. Cardinal Pole to Queen Mary.
	As it is now very probable that the report of your restoration to the right of the Crown of England, circulates throughout Christendom, your Majesty may. believe that in no part of it is there any person of a Christian mind, who on hearing of this most auspicious event does not feel great joy and pleasure, to which fact, in Italy, from what I hear and see, I can bear ample testimony, so that I think many years have elapsed since any news has been received here with greater joy and applause. This proceeds not merely from the thing itself, that is to say, that your Majesty has been restored to the dominion of that realm which by right and justice belonged to you,—a joy peculiar to England, and most especially to those already acquainted with the endowments (gratie) given you by God, to enable you to rule and govern,—but the means whereby you have obtained possession of the kingdom is what gives matter for rejoicing to all nations, and all private individuals, there being thus evidently manifest the hand and power of God for your defence, against such malice and violence as was employed against you to deprive you of your right. It is also seen, not only that, deprived as you were of all human succour, you were released from the hands of your enemies, but that they, in arms, against you who were defenceless, became your prisoners without bloodshed or sword-stroke, all their malicious counsel recoiling on their own heads, they being the identical individuals who shortly before ruled with such iniquity and license, as if the providence of God had nothing to do with the government of this world. You perceive “quod est ubique Deus judicans illos in terra.” (fn. 4)
	This is the principal cause which rejoices the hearts of all men who, by thanks and praise for the grace and mercy of God, celebrate this fact in such wise that no feast can be more universally kept with greater good-will and joy than this one of your accession to the Crown (ingresso al regno). And those same persons who so greatly rejoice at this are anxiously waiting to see the manner and order which your Majesty will take to provide what is requisite for the honour and service of God, who has given you so great a victory, in retrieving the great losses and injuries hitherto suffered by the kingdom, most especially in the two principal foundations of its quiet and welfare, namely in the true religion and civil justice, which have been so violated and crushed by the late rulers (governatori), that never, I am certain, have similar confusion and ruin been witnessed in any hostile persecution since Christians have had dominion there. On this, I say, all honest men are intent, and have their eyes fixed; and secretly all are anxious to see how ready your Highness will be to render the title of the primacy of the Church on earth to him to whom the supreme head both of heaven and earth has given it, (fn. 5) restoring to him the due obedience, immediately on the banishment of which, all true religion and even justice were in like manner expelled; and for its return, in order that both one and the other may come back, I am now sent to your Majesty by him, to whom in truth and justice this title belongs.
	Of how great importance and moment this is, both for England and the Church of God, your Majesty, without the perusal of books which treat this matter, may read, I say, in the much clearer testimony of the blood of those, who you knew were considered the first in the kingdom for their fame of true doctrine and religion. The providence of God, therefore, has chosen that in like manner as the authority of his Son, God and man, to whom he had given all power in heaven and earth, was testified by the death of so many martyrs; so was the authority given by him to his Vicar on earth testified and defended by the effusion of innocent blood. And this has always been my argument against those who most despaired of the restoration in England of the authority of the Apostolic See, as I could not believe that the blood of those to whom God had given the grace to die for the confusion (confussione, sic) (confessione ?) of this authority, and the prayers of many others who have suffered for the same cause, constantly appealing to his mercy for its restitution, should not prove efficacious, (fn. 6) when to his providence the time seemed opportune. That time is, I hope now come, the goodness of God having rendered to your Highness your due title, in order that the title of Supreme Head of the Church may be restored by you to whom he gave it, and the true religion and justice return at the same time into the kingdom.
	I will not now expatiate further on this matter by letter, hoping to do so in person, or to be informed where the subject could be treated most conveniently for both parties, not so much for the declaration of the truth, of which I cannot believe that there is any doubt in your mind, but to find the mode and means that, being agreed about this truth its fruit may be received into the kingdom. I know—what is well known to all other persons acquainted with the state of that kingdom—that when this truth was expelled thence (non (sic) [ne ?] fu scacciata), the malice employed to deprive your Highness of the just title to the Crown was not greater than is now used to despoil the Apostolic See of the true just title of the primacy of the universal Church, and, should this ever be possible, bury it, so that it might never again be mentioned. But of this I am convinced, that should ever that title be buried for a while with your own which is so just, until the two together are resuscitated, your justice will never be able to produce the fruit desired and hoped for by all good men; and my hope that your Majesty will perform this divine and noble act, to the honour of God, and benefit of the Church and of your kingdom, proceeds not so much from the singular providence of God as witnessed by your restoration to the right of the Crown, as from his paternal care demonstrated in permitting you, the daughter of a King, and then his only child, endowed by his Divine Majesty with such exalted qualities, to be deprived in your tender age of due rank and honour, and this, as shown by the sequel, for the purpose of educating you in that school of tribulation, in which his dearest children are wont to be instructed; so that by there learning how to rule themselves for their own comfort, they may subsequently become better able and fitted to rule others for the general comfort.
	This I consider to have been a great favour granted by God to your Majesty; the affliction, I say, endured by you hitherto, in order that you may be the more easily able to relieve the afflictions of others; and as you have now so troubled a kingdom to rule, all my hope is fixed on this, that in like manner as during the time of your tribulation it was, as it were, the theatre of the world, in which were represented the cruel and pitiable cases of persons high and low, than which few written tragedies contain more lamentable ones; so, under the government of your Highness, who has been tutored in the school of God how to rule yourself, it will become as it were a mirror of complete good order and true justice to the comfort of all good men, so that the other Sovereigns, by reason of the good religion and justice they shall see resplendent there, will come to take example for the good rule and government of their people. My expectations will be the more confirmed the sooner I shall witness the return of the kingdom to the union of the Church, and to the obedience of its supreme head on earth; and that this is the true door whereby to introduce some good order in the kingdom may be in part understood by what occurred after this stone was first removed from its place, when all good and just government commenced failing, and being at length entirely removed, all justice fell to the ground like an edifice deprived of its foundation.
	But as I have already mentioned, the declaration of the importance and necessity of this point I reserve until the Lord God shall conduct me to your desired presence, although I do not in the least fear that the thing requires greater confirmation in your Majesty's own mind; and in like manner I hope you are also convinced that I speak on the subject and am eager about it for no other reason than because I am persuaded that what I exhort you to do is your duty before God, and for your own benefit and that of your kingdom; although this obedience has been styled since many years a great and tyrannical yoke of servitude, which, were it so (as I am sure it is not for those who use and understand it as they ought), no consideration for any person whatever, nor any profit or honour in the world, would assuredly make me consent to be the means of introducing into my country, where I wish no one to give me any credit if any man can prove that I ever consented to any injustice against it, or to any abuse in Rome or elsewhere. And your Highness may the more believe that in this cause, I speak sincerely and without passion, knowing that I have been educated in the same school in which the Divine Providence, as I said before, educated you likewise, I entering at the same time with you, and learning the same lesson from the same Master; so I hope that it can never enter your Majesty's mind that I ever say or counsel otherwise than becomes a pupil from that school; and thus do I affirm before its Master, from whom I learnt what I shall say, that my whole intent in persuading you to this obedience of the Church, is for no other end than to bring back this your regal power sub suave jugo Christi, so that both you and your subjects may enjoy the charm (dolcezza) of it, for their benefit and salvation in this world and the next. And coming to your Majesty's individual case, I say that the establishment of this obedience is a greater establishment of your right to the Crown than any confederacy whatever which might be formed with any foreign Prince, or than the goodwill of your people at home, both which things are unstable, and from any slight cause may, and doubtless will, fail, should your Crown not be confirmed by the obedience of the Church, which is what will remove all the impediments which might hereafter be raised against you, and would win for you the complete good friendship of Sovereigns and the goodwill of your subjects, gaining for them, by this pious and divine act, the favour of God and of his Church for your protection and defence.
	This is what renders me the more fervent in this cause, as I deem it of such great importance both for your own honour and for the benefit of your people, that at this commencement of your reign this should be established before all the other important matters. Nor is it unknown to me that before this can be done, owing to the many impediments devised by the adversaries of this power when they were the rulers, it is requisite to treat it with good and mature counsel, for which purpose I am proceeding on my journey towards your Majesty, awaiting your gracious and benign reply, enabling me at least to treat this cause in such place as shall seem most expedient to your goodness, so as subsequently to effect its perfect conclusion, And for this purpose, in like manner as on receiving notice of my legation, I immediately despatched one of my secretaries [Henry Penning] to your Majesty, so now when commencing my journey, it has seemed fit to me to send you this letter by another who is an old and confidential secretary of mine, (fn. 7) and, as I believe not unknown to your Majesty, who will vouchsafe to give him gracious audience concerning such matters as he is commissioned to acquaint you with on my behalf. And in conclusion I pray the Lord God, that as He has placeed your Highness in this exalted station, so of his goodness will he dedicate your whole life to his divine honour, on which depend all your own honour and stability, and the entire welfare of your kingdom. (fn. 8)
	From Maguzzano, 27th August 1553.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 28. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x.	777. Cardinal Pole to the Bishop of Winchester [Stephen Gardyner].
	The Grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ be with you, and infinitely praised be his Divine goodness, which has brought it to pass that for all those who have the greatest zeal for the honour of God and the welfare and preservation (salute) of that kingdom, and who in this such great need can and desire to aid both one and the other, it is lawful to unbosom and freely communicate their thoughts reciprocally to this end, with the hope of producing fruit in conformity with their pious and holy design, the which liberty has been impeded (impedita) since many years by the malice and perverseness of wicked rulers, so that those, who more than others, had both good will and knowledge of the common weal and advantage, were ill able to confer together, and still less could they be heard; and even had they been heard they were sure of their own ruin, without any hope of benefiting the public. From this miserable state the goodness and providence of God has now liberated England, by the miraculous protection and exaltation of that most noble Queen, who, having always shown herself devoted to the true religion and every sort of justice, has suffered for this cause more than any other person; and whoever ponders the work of God's hand in the mode of her Highness's restoration to the crown, or has any knowledge of her person and of the excellent qualities conceded her by God, cannot but firmly hope that her rights being now all restored to her, there will simultaneously return into the kingdom every sort of justice and good order, together with the true religion, all which things, since the time when her Majesty's rights (giustitia) commenced being combated and crushed, were banished thence, so much to the detriment both of public and private interests.
	And as her Majesty's exaltation has caused great joy to all pious and Christian souls in general, especially to our country people, and above all to those who with sincere and constant faith have loved and revered the rare and noble qualities given by God to her Majesty, amongst whom I do not consider myself one of the last; I therefore assure your Lordship that on hearing of your release (fn. 9) I derived very great joy from it, as from the first effect of justice produced by this miraculous and divine commencement; hoping at the same time that in like manner as the Lord God held his most merciful hand over you, giving you the grace, when shut up in your prison between the strongest walls, to place yourself in the presence of his Divine Majesty and before man tanquam murum domui Israel, so that pious souls might not remain helpless, and utterly oppressed by the impiety and malice of those who were intent on nothing but to disseminate and establish their perverse and impious doctrines; (fn. 10) so by your release you ought to be a great and powerful instrument for helping to release the kingdom both from the schism and from all heresy.
	I have by so much the more strongly conceived such hope of you, considering the course (progresso) of your actions since the first time when I knew you, and your great qualities, both natural and acquired through your toil and industry, and also the providence and especial care which the Divine goodness has always evinced for you; so I was already of opinion that had your Lordship at the commencement chanced to serve a good Prince, and one somewhat moderately inclined towards the honour of God and the welfare of his realm, you would have displayed your ability and goodness in the service of your master and for the common weal much better. But as you had to serve a Prince of such a sort as was but too plainly shown to the whole world by his deeds, if you were not seen to yield such fruit as was reasonably expected at the first, the cause of this is rather to be attributed to the quality of the master you served, and to the infirmity of human nature, than to your own will and election, not having yet well learnt at that time pvœlia Domini, nor the mode of resisting schism, as you did at a later period, which was assuredly a very signal gift from the goodness of God, it being so rarely seen that the man who falls into the first error does not rush headlong into the second. And this is what (much to my comfort) I remark in your Lordship, when I consider that God, after calling you to be one of the chief shepherds of his flock, granted you much greater favours than some persons anticipated for you, bearing in mind your past life.
	And that same Divine goodness having given you a higher grade of honour, which is, to suffer for love of him both shame (dishonor) and imprisonment, with loss of temporal goods, I remain convinced that He will now so multiply in you his supernatural gifts and favours, that on this present opportunity for manifesting them to the world to his honour, your actions will be of much greater service to his Divine Majesty and to the Church than they could be hitherto; you having acquired by means of trouble and tribulation suffered for love of Christ, much greater favours than when, by favour of your Prince, you were made Bishop without any trouble at all.
	This hope, induced by the singular graciousness of God towards your Lordship, moves me to write to you and exhort you that—as no greater opportunity could be afforded you for serving God and your country at the same time than that which is now given you by the goodness of its Governess (Governatrice), who, having found the kingdom in extreme confusion with regard to religion and every sort of justice, has not only freed your Lordship from every sort of restraint (distretto) and tribulation, but has even called you to be one of her chief privy councillors, (fn. 11) for the reform both of the religion and of justice,—you will so use all your energies, that amongst the many errors and acts of injustice to be provided against with time, there be first of all removed that error which, when introduced into the kingdom, gave admission to all the other abuses (inconvenienti) and disorders which subsequently ensued.
	This, your Lordship knows, was the withdrawal (il mancamento) of the obedience to the Roman Church and to its head; the which obedience, from the day that the Christian religion was received in England until our miserable time, was always preserved, as in all other Christian realms, unpolluted by heresy; and no sooner was it banished from that kingdom than every sort of injustice and impiety entered it, as no one knows better than your Lordship, who also perceives that, if the restoration of the true religion and justice, together with the due obedience to a head of the Church of God on earth, namely, to him who rules the Roman See, ought ever to be expected from the ministers (governatori) of any King or Queen of England, it is to be expected from her present Majesty more than from any one else, (fn. 12) not merely by reason of the devout and religious disposition evinced by her at all times towards the true religion, but also on account of the gratitude which she is so greatly bound to show towards that Church, which, for maintaining the just cause (la giustitia) and honour of her Highness, is so unjustly deprived of its due honour and supremacy in England.
	Now, therefore, when the most holy providence of God has restored the just title of the Crown to her Highness, nothing better becomes her noble, just, and pious disposition (animo) than to restore to the Roman Church its just title of supremacy, and to do so regardless of any worldly consideration (senza rispetto humano), most readily and joyfully relying on that omnipotent Lord who has placed everything in her hands. This is the hope of all good men who have at heart the honour of God, the service of his Church, the establishment of the Queen's Majesty, and the welfare of her kingdom, as conceded by the Almighty, immediately on hearing of the victory given her so miraculously by God over the usurpers of the Crown.
	When this news reached Rome, who as a loving mother had long bewailed the unjust affliction and tribulation of her dearest and most tenderly loved daughter, and in vain attempted all means to assist her, on hearing at length that God with his own hand had released her, joyful thanksgivings were immediately rendered to God by the Church, in testimony of which I, who was then absent, being known to be an Englishman and the Queen's faithful kinsman and servant, was elected Legate to congratulate her Majesty, and with the most ample authority and faculty that could be desired for her comfort and that of the whole kingdom and its inhabitants individually; not doubting but that daughter, who from the hand of God received her due title to the Crown, which had been usurped by those who simultaneously usurped the supremacy of the Roman See, will with her own hand restore to her mother the due title of the primacy (primato), lost for love of that daughter.
	Having written diffusely to her Highness on this subject in two letters, I now write this to your Lordship, hoping that as you have been called to the royal Council for assistance, and to devise an opportune remedy for all the disorders and abuses introduced into the kingdom, so will you not fail to use the grace which God has given you, by exerting yourself with all industry, that the joy and satisfaction now received by the kingdom through the recovery (recuperatione) of its true head, to whom the Crown was in all justice due, may augment in every quarter to the true and permanent consolation of all men. This result it will no longer behove me to wait for (fn. 13) when I shall see the head of the Church of God on earth consoled by that honour and obedience which is due to him, and by means of that hand which, more than any other, is in duty and justice bound to do so. And for this I hope that the Lord God will have elected your Lordship as his great and powerful instrument, to which effect I will not fail earnestly to pray his Divine Majesty to vouchsafe always to have you under his gracious and merciful protection, long preserving you for his honour, and for the benefit of the kingdom and the service of his Church.
	From Maguzzano, 28th August 1553.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 28 ? MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. No date of time or place in MS.	778. Cardinal Pole to Cardinal Pighino.
	Did not receive the letter which Pighino sent him by the secretary who brought the legatine brief; (fn. 14) had it reached him he would have written sooner, thanking the Cardinal heartily, as he now does, for affection which Pole has always felt to be beyond his deserts, though he thoroughly reciprocates it. Knows most certainly that Pighino of his piety earnestly desires that in the holy cause intrusted to him he may have such success as is hoped from so good and miraculous a commencement. By God's grace Pole has no lack of ready will to sustain all toil and trouble for this end. It remains for them all to pray God to favour the work commenced with his own hand; requests the Cardinal thus to do for his own honour, for the consolation of all Christendom, and for the welfare of the realm of England, which has been harrassed and ruined by so much adversity. (fn. 15)
	[Maguzzano, 28th August 1553?]
	[Italian.]
Aug. 30 ? MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. No date of time or place in MS.	779. Statement made to Cardinal Pole by the Abbot of San Saluto [Vincenzo Parpaglia], after his audience of Pope Julius III. in August 1553. (fn. 16)
	That the Pope referred himself entirely to the will and opinion of Cardinal Pole with regard to delaying or hastening his departure and the mode of proceeding in this negotiation, leaving the whole burden of it to his prudence, hoping that in this holy work he would be guided by the hand of God; so his Holiness purposed regulating himself in this especial business as the Cardinal shall judge best, nor will he fail fully to agree with him about whatever he considers fitting, in like manner as he gave him full powers to exercise or renounce the legation during such time as shall seem best to him, and with authority to act (should he think it desirable so to do) as a private individual having at heart the welfare of England his native land.
	That his Holiness was content that Cardinal Pole should tell the Queen of England in the Pope's name that he wishes nothing more from her, nor from her kingdom, than the salvation of its souls, and its quiet and peace, as also that of her Majesty, whose accession to the Crown has been willed by God for the exaltation of His holy name, and for the reunion of that realm to the obedience of His holy Church; and as when it was apprehended that her Majesty might incur some molestation, the Pope determined to render her every assistance and favour by appointing Cardinal Pole legate to her, so now when the Almighty has removed all obstacles, the Pope has thought fit to give him full powers to absolve and do whatever else is necessary for the salvation of those souls, and for the peace and quiet of her Majesty and her kingdom.
	That he is also content that Cardinal Pole do promise the Queen and her Council that his Holiness will do whatever shall be thought expedient by the Cardinal and the Queen and Council for the welfare and benefit of England, in case the kingdom resume its obedience to the Apostolic See.
	In conclusion, the Pope says he is aware that our Lord God has preserved Cardinal Pole for him to render this holy service to his country, and therefore the will and intention of his Holiness is, that he do whatever God shall inspire him to do; and that his Holiness does not intend to give ear to others, nor to credit them, save so far as the Cardinal shall think well and fitting in this negotiation. And in like manner, should he have occasion to stop in Flanders or in other places near their Majesties, the Emperor and the King of France, the Pope thinks of recalling the two Legates [Dandino and Capodiferro], and commissioning Cardinal Pole to treat for peace between them, with the hope of effecting some good result, that he may thus delay his journey with greater dignity and await the opportunity for crossing over to England (et con maggior dignità si possa trattenere et aspettare l' occasione di passar in Inghilterra).
	[Rome, 30th August 1553?]
	[Italian.]