First Earl of Pembroke of the Present Creation. 113 



at the consecration of Cardinal Pole as Archbishop of Canterbury. 

 This took place on Passion Sunday, 1555, in the conventual Church 

 of the Grey Friars, at Greenwich. The archbishop took his oath 

 to the pope in the parlour, the queen being present. Pembroke 

 was there with other officials, as he was again a few days afterwards 

 at Bow Church, which was " hanged with cloth of gold and with 

 rich arras, and laid with curtains, for the coming of the Lord 

 Cardinal Pole." 



Pembroke's stay at Calais did not exceed two months, the reasons 

 for his sudden return are learnt in a letter from Giovanni Michieli 

 to the Doge and Senate, dated May 6th, 1555.^ In these com- 

 munications it was usual to write important political matter in 

 cipher ; the passage printed in italics was so written. " The Earl 

 of Pembroke has been unexpectedly recalled from Calais, he ex- 

 pecting to remain there some time, having sent for his wife, who 

 was already on her way. Persons the best informed attribute this 

 return solely to King Philip's wish to have him about his person at 

 the time of this delivery, relying greatly, let happen what may, on 

 his fidelity and power, and on being able to make better use of him 

 here than across the Channel ; and should it be necessary to make 

 any provision, either by covertly mustering troops, as has apparently 

 been ordered, or for anything else, through his numerous followers, 

 he will be able to do it better than all the others." 



Four days later we have another instance of how all minute par- 

 ticulars were forwarded to foreign courts by their representatives, 

 also the fact that Pembroke did not know any other language than 

 his own. Badoer writes to the Doge and Senate, " The Earl of 

 Pembroke, who was at Calais, having been appointed third com- 

 missioner for the Queen of England, has crossed the Channel on a 

 summons from the king ; some persons say because the ministers 

 know him to be unfit for this negociation, as he neither speaks nor 

 understands any other language than the English. Others are of 

 opinion that the king and Queen wish to have him near them in 

 case of any accident in those parts, he being their Majesties 



• Venetian State Papers, 1555-1556, No. 72. 

 VOL. XVIIl. — NO. HI. I 



