roit estre l'on auroit mis
en avant au consistoire cette commission par
affection particuliere pour plustot nuire, que
servir aux consciences; attendu qu'ilz sont
partiaulx pour les princes Chrestiens, et souvent
meslent les choses seculieres et prophanes avec les
conseils divins et ecclesiastiques.--Renard to
Philip: _Granvelle Papers_, vol. iv.]

{p.148} The emperor, taught by his old experiences of Pole,
acquiesced in the views of his ambassador. If England was to be
brought back to its allegiance, the negotiation would require a
delicacy of handling for which the present legate was wholly unfit;
and Charles wrote at last to the pope to suggest that the commission
should be transferred to a more competent person. Impatient language
had been heard of late from the legate's lips, contrasting the
vexations of the world with the charms of devotional retirement. To
soften the harshness of the blow, the emperor said that he understood
Pole was himself weary of his office, and wished to escape into
privacy.

The respect of Julius for the legate's understanding was not much
larger than the emperor's; but he would not pronounce the recall
without giving him an opportunity of explaining himself. Cardinal
Morone wrote to him to inquire whether it was true that he had thought
of retirement; he informed him of the emperor's complaints; and, to
place his resignation in the easiest light (while pointing, perhaps,
to the propriety of his offering it), he hinted at Pole's personal
unpopularity, and at the danger to which he would be exposed by going
to England.

But the legate could not relinquish the passionate desire of his life;
while, as to the marriage, he was, after all, unjustly suspected. He
requested Morone, in reply, to assure the pope that, much as he loved
retirement, he loved duty more. He appealed to the devotion of his
life to the church as an evidence of his zeal and sincerity; and,
although he knew, he said, that God could direct events at his will
and dispense with the service of men, yet, so long as he had strength
to be of use, he would spend it in his Master's cause. In going to
England he was venturing upon a stormy sea; he knew it well;[349] but,
whatever befell him, his life was in God's hands.

[Footnote 349: He begged Morone not to suppose him