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Pole's friendship with Colonna began to intensify in early 1540. Vittoria Colonna adopted Pole as her personal spiritual adviser. Pole in turn adopted Colonna as a replacement for his mother, the Lady Margaret Pole, who was executed by the order of Henry VIII on May 27 1541. These relationships are evident in the correspondence between Pole and Colonna and also in Colonna's correspondence to others concerning Pole. Colonna's letters are something of a dilemma to historians since they are filled with complex poetical devices and generally obscure prose. Furthermore, in the case of the Pole-Colonna correspondence, many letters whose existence we know of by referral are missing. Taking this into account, there is still plenty of evidence to conclude confidently that Colonna thought of Pole as a prophet and worthy spiritual guide. As always, this was an identity that Pole created and nurtured through correspondence. In a letter to Pole from July 1546, Vittoria begins, "I always tell you everything, as God's most direct minister to me. I feel consolation from Christ through you." Recalling that one of the primary characteristics of a prophet is that of intercessor between God and the people, Vittoria's conception of Pole as a prophet is clear. She unequivocally states that God provides her with spiritual direction through Pole. In addition to the role of intercessor, Pole the prophet also serves Colonna as a confessor to whom she "always tells everything." We must infer that as confessor Pole granted Colonna some form of absolution since she writes of feeling consolation "from Christ through you." It would appear that Christ as well as God worked through Pole the prophet.

It was not only in her letters to Pole that this complex relationship was expressed. Writing to Cardinal Marcello Cervini, (who later became Pope Marcellus II) Vittoria elaborates on her relationship with Pole: "The more I have had an opportunity of watching the actions of the Rev. Monsignor of England [Pole], the more I have perceived what a true and very sincere servant of God he is; so that when he is so good as to answer any of my questions I feel sure that I shall not err in following his advice." In this letter Colonna changes Pole's title from "direct minister" to "servant of God," but the message remains the same. Pole's advice -like that of the prophets -is infallible. By following the advice offered in his letters Vittoria believes she is following the will of God.

Documents besides Pole's and Colonna's correspondence indicate that others were well aware of this relationship between Pole and Colonna. Cardinal Pietro Carnesecchi, knew both Colonna and Pole well. In one of his letters, he writes that Vittoria followed "the advice given her by the Cardinal [Pole] in whom she trusted as in an oracle." The conception of the prophet as oracle is a traditional association; predating even the Old Testament and hearkening back to classical Greek and Roman societies. Calling Pole Vittoria's oracle is perhaps an even stronger statement of other's perceptions of Pole's prophetic identity.

Colonna spent many of her last years in Viterbo where Pole was serving as legate. As her health declined she took comfort in Pole's letters and visits. Her long attachment to Pole indicates that her confidence in Pole-as-prophet was much more than a whim. Dudic's biography of Pole recounts Colonna's constancy in her final gesture to her friend and spiritual guide. Dudic writes, Colonna, "a woman of the greatest character and highest piety, valued him most highly. Dying, she left him nine thousand gold coins, which money, however Pole did not wish to touch." Pole the prophet obviously did not wish to mix himself up in such temporal matters as money ("Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's.")

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