y legate set out from
Brussels like a lover flying to his mistress. His emotions are
reflected in the journal of an Italian friend who attended him. The
journey commenced on Tuesday, the 13th; the retinues of Paget and
Hastings, with the cardinal's household, making in all a hundred and
twenty horse. The route was by Ghent, Bruges, and Dunkirk. On the 19th
the party reached Gravelines, where, on the stream which formed the
boundary of the Pale, they were received in state by Lord Wentworth,
the Governor of Calais. In the eyes of his enthusiastic admirers the
{p.163} apostle of the church moved in an atmosphere of marvel. The
Calais bells, which rang as they entered the town, were of
preternatural sweetness. The salutes fired by the ships in the harbour
were "wonderful." The cardinal's lodging was a palace, and as an
august omen, the watchword of the garrison for the night was "God long
lost is found."[386] The morning brought a miracle. A westerly gale
had blown for many days. All night long it had howled through the
narrow streets; the waves had lashed against the piers, and the
fishermen foretold a week of storms. At daybreak the wind went down,
the clouds broke, a light air from the eastward levelled the sea, and
filled the sails of the vessel which was to bear them to England. At
noon the party went on board, and their passage was a fresh surprise.
They crossed in three hours and a half, and the distance, as it
pictured itself to imagination, was forty miles.[387] At Dover the
legate slept. The next day Lord Montague came with the Bishop of Ely,
bringing letters of congratulation from the queen and Philip, and an
intimation that he was anxiously looked for. He was again on horseback
after breakfast; and as the news of his arrival spread, respect or
curiosity rapidly swelled his train. The Earl of Huntingdon, who had
married his sister, sent his son Lord Hastings, with his tenants and
servants, as an escort. But there was no danger. Whatever might be the
feelings of the people towards the papal legate, they gave to Reginald
Pole the welcome due to an English nobleman.

[Footnote 386: Dio gran tempo perduto e hora
ritrovato.--Descriptio Reductionis Angliae: _Epist._
Reg. Pol. vol. v.]

[Footnote 387: Imbarcatosi adunque sua S. R. ad un
hora di giorno, passo a Doure nell' Isola in tre
hore et mezza che fu