the
legate, the lay peers opposite them on the left. The Commons sat on
rows of cross benches in front, and beyond them were the miscellaneous
crowd of spectators, sitting or standing as they could find room. The
cardinal, who had passed the morning at Lambeth, was conducted across
the water in a state barge by Lord Arundel and six other peers. The
king received him at the gate, and, leaving his suite in the care of
the Duke of Alva, who was instructed to find them places, he
accompanied Philip into the room adjoining the hall, where Mary, whose
situation was supposed to prevent her from unnecessary exertion, was
waiting for them. The royal procession was formed. Arundel and the
Lords passed in to their places. The king and queen, with Pole in his
legate's robes, ascended the steps of the platform, and took their
seats.

When the stir which had been caused by their entrance was over,
Gardiner mounted a tribune; and in the now fast-waning light he bowed
to the king and queen, and declared the resolution {p.172} at which
the Houses had arrived. Then turning to the Lords and Commons, he
asked if they continued in the same mind. Four hundred voices
answered, "We do." "Will you then," he said, "that I proceed in your
names to supplicate for our absolution, that we may be received again
into the body of the Holy Catholic Church, under the pope, the supreme
head thereof?" Again the voices assented. The chancellor drew a scroll
from under his robe, ascended the platform, and presented it unfolded
on his knee to the queen. The queen looked through it, gave it to
Philip, who looked through it also, and returned it. The chancellor
then rose and read aloud as follows:--

"We, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons of the present
parliament assembled, representing the whole body of the realm of
England, and dominions of the same, in our own names particularly, and
also of the said body universally, in this our supplication directed
to your majesties--with most humble suit that it may by your gracious
intercession and means be exhibited to the Most Reverend Father in God
the Lord Cardinal Pole, Legate, sent specially hither from our Most
Holy Father Pope Julius the Third and the See Apostolic of Rome--do
declare ourselves very sorry and repentant for the schism and
disobedience committed in this realm and dominions of the same,
against the said See Apostolic, either by making, agreeing, or
executing any laws, ordinance