s, or commandments against the supremacy
of the said See, or otherwise doing or speaking what might impugn the
same; offering ourselves, and promising by this our supplication that,
for a token and knowledge of our said repentance, we be, and shall be
always, ready, under and with the authority of your majesties, to do
that which shall be in us for the abrogation and repealing of the said
laws and ordinances in this present parliament, as well for ourselves
as for the whole body whom we represent. Whereupon we most humbly
beseech your majesties, as persons undefiled in the offences of this
body towards the Holy See--which nevertheless God by his providence
hath made subject to your majesties--so to set forth this, our most
humble suit, that we may obtain from the See Apostolic, by the said
Most Reverend Father, as well particularly as universally, absolution,
release, and discharge from all danger of such censures and sentences
as by the laws of the church we be fallen in; and that we may, as
children repentant, be received into the bosom and unity of Christ's
Church; so as this noble realm, with all the members {p.173}
thereof, may, in unity and perfect obedience to the See Apostolic and
pope for the time being, serve God and your majesties, to the
furtherance and advancement of his honour and glory."[396]

[Footnote 396: Foxe, vol. vi. p. 571. The petition
was in Latin; but, as I have nowhere seen the
original, I have not ventured to interfere with
Foxe's translation. Foxe, who could translate very
idiomatically when he pleased, perhaps relieved his
indignation on the present occasion by translating
as awkwardly as possible.]

Having completed the reading, the chancellor again presented the
petition. The king and queen went through the forms of intercession,
and a secretary read aloud, first, the legate's original commission,
and, next, the all-important extended form of it.

Pole's share of the ceremony was now to begin.

He first spoke a few words from his seat: "Much indeed," he said, "the
English nation had to thank the Almighty for recalling them to his
fold. Once again God had given a token of his special favour to the
realm; for as this nation, in the time of the Primitive Church, was
the first to be called out of the darkness of heathenism, so now they
were the first to whom