of the reconciliation of the realm with the see
of rome.
a few days afterwards, in consequence of the queen’s indisposition, which, however, was not supposed to be of a nature to inspire uneasiness, both houses of parliament were summoned to the palace of whitehall, and assembled in the presence-chamber. mary, who was so weak at the time that she had to be carried to her throne, was placed on a hautpas, beneath a rich canopy embroidered with the royal arms in gold.
on her left hand was seated the king, attired in black velvet, over which he wore a robe of black cloth of gold, bordered with pearls and diamonds. the collar of the garter was round his neck, and the lesser badge studded with gems, beneath his knee.
on the queen’s right, and on the hautpas, but not beneath the canopy, sat cardinal pole. his robes were of the richest scarlet, and he wore a mantle of fine sables about his neck. he was attended by four gentleman ushers, all richly clad, and having heavy chains of gold round their necks. two of these carried the large silver crosses, and the other two bore the silver pillars. behind the queen stood sir john gage, in his robes of office as grand chamberlain, and holding a white wand, and with him were the vice-chamberlain and other officers of the royal household. all the queen’s ladies were likewise grouped around the throne.
near to the lord legate stood gardiner, and as soon as all 190were in their places, and the doors had been closed by the ushers, he addressed both houses, informing them that the right reverend father in god, the lord cardinal pole, legate a latere, who was now present before them, had come as ambassador from pope julius iii. to the king and queen’s majesties on a matter of the utmost importance, not only to their highnesses, but to the whole realm. as representatives of the nation, they were called there to listen to the declaration about to be made to them by the lord legate.
when gardiner concluded his address and retired, every eye was fixed upon the cardinal, and a hush of expectation fell upon the assemblage. after a moment’s pause, pole arose, and with a dignified bow to their majesties, commenced his address, in tones that vibrated through every breast.
“long excluded from this assembly,” he said, “and exiled from my native country by laws upon the severity and injustice of which i will not dwell, i have most heartily to thank you, my lords of the upper house, and you, good sirs, of the nether house, for reversing the sentence pronounced upon me, and enabling me to appear before you once more. i rejoice that i am able to requite the great service you have rendered me. you have restored me to my country and to my place amongst the highest nobility upon earth. i can restore you to a heavenly kingdom, and to a christian greatness, which you have unhappily forfeited by renouncing a fealty annexed to the true church. bethink you of the many evils that have occurred to this land since its lamentable defection. estimate aright the great boon now offered you. until the late most unhappy schism, the english nation ever stood foremost in the regard of the see of rome, abundant proofs of which i can offer you. while reminding you of your past errors, let me exhort you to a sincere repentance, and to receive with a deep and holy joy the reconciliation with the church of rome, which i, as legate, am empowered to impart to you. to reap this great blessing it only needs that you should repeal whatever you have enacted against the holy see, and those laws by which you have severed yourselves from the body of the faithful.”
delivered in tones of mellifluous sweetness and persuasion, 191this discourse was listened to with profound attention, and produced an unmistakeable effect upon the auditors. as the cardinal resumed his seat, gardiner advanced towards him.
“i thank your eminence,” he said, “in the name of their majesties and the parliament, for the good offices you have rendered the nation. the members of both houses will at once deliberate upon what you have proposed, and will speedily acquaint you with their determination, which, i nothing doubt, will be favourable to the cause of our holy religion.”
upon this, the lord legate arose and retired with his attendants into an adjoining chamber, there to await the decision of the parliament.
as soon as he was gone, gardiner again addressed the assemblage in these terms: “heaven hath spoken to you by the lips of the holy man to whom you have just listened. i can confirm the truth of all he has uttered. i acknowledge myself to be a great delinquent, but i have deeply and sincerely repented of my errors, and i beseech you to do so likewise. rise from your fallen estate, and dispose yourselves to a complete reconciliation with the catholic church, and a return to its communion. are ye all agreed to this?”
“we are all agreed,” replied the whole assemblage, without a moment’s hesitation.
“i rejoice to hear it,” replied gardiner. “if you have erred, you at least make amends for your error.”
the promptitude and unanimity of this decision gave great satisfaction to their majesties, and the king, calling gardiner to him, held a brief conference with him, after which sir john gage, with the earl of arundel, six knights of the garter, and the like number of bishops, were sent to summon the lord legate. as pole again entered the presence-chamber, the whole of the assemblage arose. the cardinal having resumed his seat, gardiner called out, in a loud voice,—
“i again ask you, in the presence of the lord legate, whether you sincerely desire to return to the unity of the church, and the obedience due to her chief pastor?”
“we do!—we do!” cried the entire assemblage.
192a radiant smile passed over pole’s benign countenance at these exclamations, and he raised up his hands in thankfulness to heaven.
“this moment repays me for all i have suffered,” he murmured.
then gardiner turned towards the king and queen, and, making a profound obeisance to them, said:—
“on behalf of the members of both houses of parliament, representatives of the whole realm, i have to express to your majesties their sorrow for the former schism, and for whatever they have enacted against the see of rome and the catholic religion, all which they now annul; and would humbly beseech you to obtain from the lord legate pardon and restoration to that body from which they had separated themselves by their misdeeds.”
“we pray your eminence to grant the pardon and reconciliation thus humbly sued for?” said philip, turning towards the cardinal.
“right joyfully will i accede to your majesty’s request,” replied pole.
the cardinal’s assent having been communicated to the assemblage by gardiner, they all advanced towards pole, who arose as they approached, and said:—
“thanks are due to divine goodness for granting you this opportunity of cancelling your past offences. if your repentance be answerable to the importance of the occasion and the heinousness of the fault, great, indeed, must be the joy of the saints at your conversion.”
it being now evident that the cardinal was about to pronounce the absolution, the whole assemblage, with the exception of the king and queen, fell upon their knees. extending his arms over them, pole, in a clear and distinct voice, said:—
“as representative of christ’s vicegerent, i here absolve all those present, and the whole nation, and the whole dominion thereof, from all heresy and schism, and all judgments, censures, for that cause incurred, and restore them to the communion of the holy church, in the name of the father, son, and holy ghost.”
to this the whole assemblage responded “amen!”
nothing could be more solemn and impressive than the 193cardinal’s manner while pronouncing this absolution, and his words penetrated all hearts. the queen and most of her ladies shed tears. as the assembly rose from their kneeling posture, they embraced each other, and gave utterance to their satisfaction.
the king and queen, with their attendants, then proceeded to the royal chapel to return thanks, and were followed by the cardinal, gardiner, and the entire assemblage. a solemn mass was then performed, and te deum sung.
