GARDINER, STEPHEN. An English prelate and statesman, born about 1483. He was the re puted son of John Gardiner, a cloth-worker, at Bury Saint Edmunds, and studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he distinguished him self in classics. In 1520 he became doctor of civil law, next year of canon law, and in both branches speedily attained eminence. In 1524 he was appointed Rede Lecturer in the University, and the same year became tutor to a son of the Duke of Norfolk. That nobleman introduced him to Cardinal Wolsey, who made him his secretary. In this capacity he gained the confidence of Henry VIII., and, owing to his legal qualifications, was sent to Rome in 1528, to conduct the negotiations with the Pope for the King's divorce from Cath arine of Aragon. His arguments were unavail ing, but on his return he was made Secretary of State. In 1531 he was appointed Archdeacon of Leicester, and the same year was installed Bishop of Winchester, vacant by Wolsey's death. A de termined opponent of the Reformation and a stanch Catholic, he nevertheless wrote De Vera Obedientia (1535) in support of the King's su premacy. Various embassies to France and Ger many were now intrusted to him, and after the execution of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, whose downfall was due mainly to him, he ac quired great power. The tale of his impeachment of Catharine Parr and subsequent disgrace by Henry VIII. is doubtful, but on the accession of Edward VI. he was imprisoned for his opposition
to the Reformation, and deprived of his bishopric. When Mary came to the throne in 1553 she re stored him to his see, and made him Lord Chan cellor and Prime Minister. He officiated at the Queen's coronation, and at her nuptials with Philip of Spain. How far he was responsible for the persecution of Protestants during her reign is a debated question. He was a man of great erudition, and a friend of learning in every form. His writings consist of a number of tracts on theological and literary subjects, and include his interesting letters to Sir John Cheke against the Anglicizing of Greek pronunciation. Although a worldly-minded ceclesiast, he was a devoted and zealous worker, and conspicuous for religious consistency. lie died in 1555. Consult: Cooper, Cantabrigiermis, vol. ii. ( Cambridge, 1858), for his writings; Gairdner, Letters and Papers . . . of the Reign of Henry VIII. (15 vols., Lon don, 1862-96) ; Brewer, Reign of Henry VIII. (2 vols., London, 1884) ; Maitland, Essays on the Reformation in England (London, 1849) ; Dixon, History of the Church of England (4 vols., Lon don, 1878-91) ; Burnet, History of His Own Time (6 vols., Oxford, 1833) ; Lingard, History of England (13 vols., London, 1837) ; Froude, His tory of England (12 vols., New York, 1870).