Reginald Pole (15001558), cardinal and archbishop of Canterbury, was at the centre of reform controversies in the mid 16th century - antagonist of Henry VIII, a leader of the reform group in the Roman Church, and nearly elected pope (Julius III was elected in his stead). His voluminous correspondence is a major source for historians of England, Catholic Europe and the early Reformation as a whole. In addition to the information on both secular and ecclesiastical political history, and the spiritual motives of reform, these letters provide real insight into humanist learning and cultural patronage in the Renaissance.This is the second of five volumes which make this vast body of material available for the first time, summarising each letter (and printing key texts), together with necessary identification and comment. This volume covers the period in which Pole reached the summit of his already high standing in Rome, as twice legate to the council of Trent and nearly successful candidate to succeed Paul III, only to trade all this for an unexpected chance to become 'pope' in England as Julius III's direct representative with extraordinarily broad powers for the restoration of the Catholic Church.