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.
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'Venice: July 1552', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 5, 1534-1554, (London, 1873) pp. 369-370. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol5/pp369-370 [accessed 26 April 2024]
July 1552
| July 30 ? MS. St. Mark's Library. Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. No date of time. Printed in vol. 4. pp. 65–73, “Epistolarum Reginaldi Poli.” | 732. Cardinal Pole to the Bishop of Badajos [Francesco Navarrete]. |
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| Has received the Bishop's letter from Milan, dated 5th July, expressing his grief for the state of the Christian Commonwealth, (fn. 1) and Pole's sorrow is also increased, as he had hoped to console himself with his friend in Rome, instead of which he declares he will not go there, and closes his letter so as to imply that he is on his way to Spain, of which Pole had no suspicion, and was indeed of opinion that to. vent his grief for the calamities of the Church, especially now when the Council is interrupted, it would have been very opportune for him to go to Rome, and unbosom his sorrows to the Pope. This he says not to censure the Bishop's resolves, but, as it were, to express his regret for them, and to inquire their cause. Pole thinks he has reason to congratulate the Bishop, because he entirely forgets his own private distresses, for the sake of lamenting solely the general adversity. Had all the personages present at the Council of Trent resembled the Bishop of Badajos, the Church would have been restored to tranquillity. The Bishop desponds; Pole hopes that the noble web of reform already commenced in the Council is neither discontinued (interruptam) nor unwrought (abruptam), but received into heaven, to be more stoutly and beautifully wove, for the greater comfort of the Bishop and of all men. The tears of mankind will aid this result, as is taught by Scripture; they have been wanting hitherto, though there was no lack of doctrine, canons, ceremonies, nor any other external support. The Bishop will say that even tears were shed, as at any rate the Council assembled, despite all impediments, and lasted many years in the midst of them. Instances the necessity for maintaining hope by Biblical examples; all men were filled with hope when the Lord entered the Holy City riding on an ass. (fn. 2) In this hope Pole is confirmed by reason of the day on which the prorogation of the Council was decreed. It was Good Friday, (fn. 3) on which day, unless in cases of extreme necessity, the College does not negotiate nor form any resolve. When Pole heard this it seemed to him to have before him the dead body of Christ, of which that Council (ipsum concilium) is the image, as it represents the whole Church; which Council, though shortly before all the faithful were expecting from it the brightest results with regard to the reformation of the Church, then seemed to him, as it were, scourged with rods and taken dead to the sepulchre; but the speedy return to life of Christ, and the other blessings which immediately followed his death, admonishing Pole to remember them, on the very day when this took place, he is induced to hope the like concerning the Council and the reform. Of this he is convinced by the Bishop's tears, which, together with those of other Bishops who resemble him, are the best foundation of Church reform, the firm corner stone of this celestial structure. The lamentation of the Bishops for the delay signifies that the reform has already commenced, so he again congratulates the Bishop on his tears. Requests him to salute their mutual friend Frago, Pole having done the like in the Bishop's name by the [titular] Bishop of Rochester [Richard Pate] and Priuli, who are both with him. | |
| Bagnarea, July 30, 1552 ? | |
| [Latin, 248 lines.] | |