The Correspondence of Reginald Pole: A Calendar, 1555-1558: Restoring the English Church

Pole (1500-58) was cardinal and archbishop of Canterbury, an antagonist of Henry VIII, a leader of the reform group in the Catholic Church, and nearly elected pope. The third volume of his correspondence extends over the bulk of his final legation for the reconciliation of England to Rome, and thus includes a much larger number of official documents than the previous volumes. Therefore, Mayer (history, Augustana College, Illinois) found some compression necessary. He particularly touches only lightly on topics not directly related to Pole, such as reports of Wyatt's rebellion, especially when the full texts are available in other collections. On the other hand, he has tried to include every act naming English clergymen and any foreigners with whom Pole had dealings. At least one more volume is projected. Annotation c2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Thomas F. Mayer is Professor of History and Chairman of the Center for the Study of the Christian Millennium, Augustana College Rock Island, USA.