Reluctant Author

Cardinal Reginald Pole (1500-1558) left an abundance of manuscripts that have lacked an inventory & description. This monograph is intended to remedy that lack & perhaps contribute to a critical edition of some of his major works, especially “Pro ecclesiasticae unitatis defensione (De unitate),” “Apologia ad Carolum Quintum” “De summo pontifice,” “De sacramento,” a more complete version of “Discorso di pace,” &, the most difficult text, “De reformatione ecclesia.” In order to grasp the importance of such a project, this volume provides a sketch of Pole’s career & the significance of these works.