The promptitude and unanimity of this decision gave great satisfaction to their Majesties, and the King, calling Gardiner to him, held a brief conference with him, after which Sir John Gage, with the Earl of Arundel, six knights of the Garter, and the like number of bishops, were sent to summon the Lord Legate. As Pole again entered the presence-chamber, the whole of the assemblage arose. The Cardinal having resumed his seat, Gardiner called out, in a loud voice,— “I again ask you, in the presence of the Lord Legate, whether you sincerely desire to return to the unity of the Church, and the obedience due to her chief pastor?” “We do!—we do!” cried the entire assemblage. A radiant smile passed over Pole’s benign countenance at these exclamations, and he raised up his hands in thankfulness to Heaven. “This moment repays me for all I have suffered,” he murmured. Then Gardiner turned towards the King and Queen, and, making a profound obeisance to them, said:— “On behalf of the members of both Houses of Parliament, representatives of the whole realm, I have to express to your Majesties their sorrow for the former schism, and for whatever they have enacted against the See of Rome and the Catholic religion, all which they now annul; and would humbly beseech you to obtain from the Lord Legate pardon and restoration to that body from which they had separated themselves by their misdeeds.” “We pray your Eminence to grant the pardon and reconciliation thus humbly sued for?” said Philip, turning towards the Cardinal. “Right joyfully will I accede to your Majesty’s request,” replied Pole. The Cardinal’s assent having been communicated to the assemblage by Gardiner, they all advanced towards Pole, who arose as they approached, and said:— “Thanks are due to Divine goodness for granting you this opportunity of cancelling your past offences. If your repentance be answerable to the importance of the occasion and the heinousness of the fault, great, indeed, must be the joy of the saints at your conversion.” It being now evident that the Cardinal was about to pronounce the absolution, the whole assemblage, with the exception of the King and Queen, fell upon their knees. Extending his arms over them, Pole, in a clear and distinct voice, said:— “As representative of Christ’s Vicegerent, I here absolve all those present, and the whole nation, and the whole dominion thereof, from all heresy and schism, and all judgments, censures, for that cause incurred, and restore them to the communion of the Holy Church, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” To this the whole assemblage responded “Amen!” Nothing could be more solemn and impressive than the Cardinal’s manner while pronouncing this absolution, and his words penetrated all hearts. The Queen and most of her ladies shed tears. As the assembly rose from their kneeling posture, they embraced each other, and gave utterance to their satisfaction.