upon which subjects his writings, at the time, acquired him very high reputation. But notwithstanding his ready compliance with all the king's measures, and his writings in defence of them, Gardiner was zealously attached, on poJitical motives, to the superstition of the Romish church, and omitted no opportunity of oppos ing the attempts which were inade to introduce the principles of the protestant reformation. When in 1535 archbishop Craumer, who had begun a provincial visitation, sent a monition to Gardiner, acquainting him that he should visit his diocese, the latter, who never loved the archbishop, and was jealous of his reforming spirit, left no artifice unattempted to evade his metropolitan's visitation, and thereby to prevent his inspection of the corruptions of the diocese of Winchester. In the following year Gardiner strenuously opposed, both in the convocation, and in private with the king, different measures which were taken by the protestant party to disseminate knowledge and information among the people; and, in particular, a proposal which was made in the convocation by archbishop Cranmer, and carried, that a petition should be presented to the king for leave to make an English translation of the Bible. About this time he resumed his embassy to the court of France, where he prevailed on the French king to remove from his dominions Dr. Reginald Pole, then dean of Exeter, as an enemy of his master, king Henry, which circumstance proved the origin of the animosity which afterwards subsisted between those churchmen. While Gardiner was in France, he was applied to by Cromwell, in consequence of the king's directions, for his opinion respecting a project of a religious league with the protestant princes of Germany; but as he was sensible that such a measure would contribute to spread the principles of the reformers, he declared himself decisively against it, artfully stating his objections on grounds of civil policy, and recommending a political alliance, strengthened by subsidies, as what would be better adapted to answer the king's wishes. In the year 1538, he was sent embassador, with sir Henry Knevit, to the German diet at Ratisbon, where he is said to have acquitted himself well with respect to the objects of his commission; but he there fell under a suspicion of holding a secret correspondence with the pope, on the subject of rendering popery triumphant again in England. This suspicion occasioned a misunderstanding between him and his colleague, who transmitted to the king the particulars on which it was founded. Whether the king was satisfied that these particulars were fabricated by the enemies of Gardiner, as the latter maintained, or to whatever cause it might be owing, the bishop was not brought into any trouble on this account during the reign of Henry. That prince. notwithstanding his rupture with the pope, was still strongly attached to most of the superstitious doctrines of the Romish church; and Gardiner, after his return from Germany, laid hold of every favourable opportunity of strengthening that attachment. In particular, he represented to the king, that nothing would contribute more effectually to secure him from the machinations of the papal court, both at home and abroad, than a spirited prosecution of heretics, and especially of the Sacramentarians, by which name those were distinguished who denied the doctrine of the real presence. As Henry had ever been a zealous advocate for this doctrine, and would not permit his subjects to avow sentiments that varied from his own creed, he was the more easily persuaded to exercise severity towards those who ventured to depart from it. About this time one John Lambert, whom bishop Burnet calls a learned and a good man, who had been formerly minister to the English factory at Antwerp, and had there imbibed the principles of the reformers, after hearing Dr. Taylor preach on the doctrine of the real presence, waited upon him, and presented to him in writing his reasons for disbelieving that doctrine. This paper was carried to archbishop Cranmer, before whom, and bishop Latimer, Lambert was summoned, and admonished by them to retract what he had written: but in vain; and Lambert, fatally for himself, made his appeal to the king. Of this circumstance Gardiner took advantage, and persuaded Henry to proceed solemnly and severely in the affair, that he might convince the world how well qualified he was to be the head of the church, and the champion of orthodoxy. Accordingly, Lambert was brought to trial before the king, who appeared with great state in Westminster-hall, attended by many of the prelates, nobility, clergy, and king's council. After the king had sternly commanded him to declare his opinion concerning the sacrament of the altar, his majesty and ten of the bishops endeavoured to refute it; and the disputation, such as it was, continued for five hours, till at length the poor man, fatigued, confounded, and brow-beaten, was reduced to silence. The king then asked him if he was convinced? and whether he would live or die? He an "that he committed his soul to Ge mitted his body to the king's c Henry told him, that, if he would not recant, he must die; for he would not be a patron of heretics. And as Lambert refused to recant, sentence was ordered to be pronounced against him; in consequence of which he was soon afterwards burnt in Smithfield, with circumstances of uncommon barbarity. This tragical scene was the result of Gardiner's cruel and artful advice to the king; but the share which Cranmer had in the circumstances that afforded him an opportunity of indulging his persecuting and sanguinary disposition, will ever remain a blot on the memory of that eminent man. In the year 1539, Gardiner afforded another proof of his great zeal for the popish doctrines, and of his wish to crush the rising spirit of reformation, by his exertions to procure the persecuting act of the six articles, commonly called the bloody statute. This act is, not without good reason, stated to have been his contrivance; and it is certain that he was principally concerned in drawing it, and very earnest in promoting it in the House of Lords, where it was warmly opposed by archbishop Cranmer, and the vicegerent Cromwell. Soon after the passing of it, Dr. Barnes and two others were burnt in Smithfield for heresy, at the same time that three Papists were hanged, drawn, and quartered, for owning the pope's supremacy, and denying the king's. A Frenchman, who was present at this extraordinary spectacle, told his friend, in Latin, "that they had a strange way of managing matters in England; for those that were for the pope were hanged, and those who were against him were burnt." Upon the fall of Cromwell, in 1540, Gardiner was elected chancellor of the university of Cambridge, and, for a man of learning, as he unquestionably was, gave an extraordinary instance of his attachment to old customs and practices, however absurd. For when sir John Cheke,who was distinguished for his knowledge of the Greek language, attempted to introduce into the university a reform of the vicious and barbarous pronunciation which then obtained in England, Gardiner, as chancellor of the university, interposed his authority, and by a dictorial edict prohibited the improvement, to which he gave the name of novelty and innovation, under very severe penalties When Cheke, in defence of himself, alleged the authority of Erasmus and other learned foreig what he was i bserved that of removing "an evil well placed." In the year 1542, when, in consequence of complaints made against the translation of the Bible, a number of bishops was appointed by the convocation then sitting to examine it, Gardiner and the popish party were unsparing in their cavils against it as an unfaithful one. And in order that they might obtain its condemnation, they promised to produce a better version; well knowing that during the time requisite for making and publishing it, they might easily procure many delays, if not prove so fortunate as to fall into a change of circumstances which would enable them entirely to suppress it. When Cranmer found that they were resolved either to condemn the translation, or to proceed so slowly in perusing it that the object of their appointment should come to nothing, he persuaded the king, greatly to the displeasure of the bishops, to refer the examination of it to the two universities. In the beginning of the year 1543, the king having summoned a parliament, in order to obtain subsidies to enable him to prepare for the war which broke out against France in the following summer, Cranmer endeavoured to improve the occasion so as to make some farther progress in the work of reformation, and to get the severe acts concerning religion moderated. In these designs he was opposed by Gardiner with the utmost earnestness; who, though he could not prevent an act from passing which afforded the reformers some relief, yet found means to clog it in such a manner with provisoes, that it fell greatly short of what the archbishop intended. During the year last mentioned, Gardiner was one of the commissioners appointed to conclude a treaty of peace with Scotland, and to negociate a mar riage between the prince of Wales and the young queen of Scotland. But whatever p lic employments he was engaged in, he never lost sight of a favourable opportunity of red ing the progress of freedom and ligious matters. Having been this time, that there were Windsor who were secret a testant doctrines, he moved that a commission migh ing suspected houses i was said there were 2 articles. In conse were apprehended th for heresy, of dese burnt. But Ge Hating, having been hour, who y is d; ita oint aglish on the ardiner /a friend hazard of opric, reIve reflected irit, and pafe had correadvanced in it. nifested in resist-rotector and the summoned before of having writtenand contempt of the , required to receive due obedience to the should come into his was the great support of the reformed opinions, he laid a deep plot for his ruin, as well as that of several of his protestant friends. In the life of the archbishop we have already seen by what means he escaped the malevolent designs of his enemy, and became more fixed than ever in the king's favour. In this affair the bishop of Winchester gave evidence of such rancorous malice against Cranmer, and had made choice of such unworthy instruments to carry on his designs, that the king began to conceive a worse opinion of him than ever he had done before, and was prepared to be impressed by any unfavourable representations which might be made to him of his character and views. During the year 1544 an opportunity offered of prejudicing the king against him, of which his enemies did not fail to take advantage, though it did not eventually produce all the effects which they expected from it. He had a secretary, whose name was German Gardiner, who was much in his master's favour, and who was prosecuted, condemned, and executed as a traitor, for defending the pope's supremacy. This circumstance became the subject of conversation at the king's council, where the duke of Suffolk, and other members, suggested to Henry, that it was very likely that the prelate, notwithstanding all that he had written, was of his secretary's opinion; and that, if he were once committed to the Tower, sufficient proof of the fact might be obtained. Their representation had such an effect upon the king, that he gave directions for the bishop's imprisonment; but before they could be carried into execution, Gardiner, who had received intelligence of what was intended, immediately repaired to the king. When Henry saw him, he told him, that he wondered that his secretary should in so notorious a manner offend against him and the laws, and that it was thought that he himself was of the same opinion with that delinquent. However, the king said, if he would honestly confess the truth, he would pardon him; but if he dissembled, he was not to expect any favour from him. Upon this Gardiner, who knew that protestations of innocence would produce no good effect upon the king's temper, fell down on his knees, and confessed that he had for a long time been of the same opinion with his secretary, but he besought his majesty's pardon, bewailing his infirmity, and promising from that time forward to reform his sentiments and become a new man. The king immediately granted him his pardon, according to his promise, to the no small disappointment of those who were no friends to our prelate. In the year 1545, Gardiner, by his opposition, and the influence of the popish attempt of Gardiner to crush the favourers of the reformation, which ultimately failed in its design, and irrecoverably alienated the king's mind from our prelate, was directed against queen Catherine Parr, to whom the king had been married about three years. She was much given to reading and studying the Scriptures, and the king would frequently converse and dispute with her on religious subjects; at which times she would endeavour to persuade him to complete the reformation of the church of England. One day, when Gardiner and others of the popish party were with the king, she introduced the same topic, which Henry, who in general treated her with great kindness and indulgence, evaded with some tokens of displeasure. The natural impatience of his temper was at that time heightened by his ill state of health, and when the queen had retired, he broke out into expressions of resentment against her for interfering in such subjects, and presuming to become his teacher in his old age. Gardiner thought this opportunity too favourable to be neglected, and with equal subtility and malice increased the king's resentment by insinuations against the queen and her party, until Henry's mind was wrought up into a determination to prosecute her and some of her relations and chief confidants, for heresy. Gardiner, accordingly, prepared articles against her, which were signed by the king; and a day was fixed upon for arresting the intended victims, and committing them to the Tower. In the mean time, Wriothesley, the chancellor, who had engaged in this affair with Gardiner, accidentally dropped the paper containing the articles, which was taken up by one of the queen's friends, and carried to her. When she perceived from the contents how perilous her situation was, she followed the advice of her friends, and by her prudence and artfulness, in the next conversation which she had with the king, when he designedly introduced the subject of religion, so entirely dissipated his resentment, and at the same time by her charms so powerfully revived his fondness for her, that he dismissed her with the strongest assurances of his love. This turn in the king's mind was succeeded by severe reproaches to the chancellor, who the next day was preparing to arrest the queen, and by a rooted detestation of Gardiner, whom he would never afterwards admit into his presence, excepting once, when he was informed that he came to tender him a benevolence, granted by the clergy. On that occasion he barely suffered him to approach, to deliver his message; and when he had received it went into another apartment. So completely was Henry alienated from the bishop, that though he had formerly appointed him one of his executors, and of the council to prince Edward, he ordered a new will to be drawn, in which his name was omitted. When sir Anthony Browne, who was a great friend of the bishop, perceived this omission, he mentioned it to the king, as what he supposed to have been occasioned by the negligence of the secretary, and then reminded his majesty of the bishop's great merits and abilities. "Hold your peace," said the king, "I remembered him well enough; and of good purpose have I left him out. For, surely, if he were in my testament, and one of you, he would cumber you all; and you should never rule him, he is of so troublesome a nature." After the death of Henry VIII. in 1547archbishop Cranmer, who was earnest in his endeavours to promote the reformation, found the protector Somerset well inclined to support him, and endeavoured to obtain the concurrence, or at least the acquiescence, of the bishop of Winchester. His efforts for this purpose, however, proved entirely unsuccessful, for Gardiner still opposed, to the utmost of his power, all attempts to depart, in doctrine or discipline, from the papal system. With this design he wrote to the protector, to dissuade him from suffering any innovations to be made in religion, particularly during the king's minority; and also to complain of the irreverence and indignity with which images had been treated in different parts of the kingdom, and of some satirical rhymes which had been published against. the keeping of Lent. But notwithstanding his opposition the work of reformation proceeded; and with a view of forwarding it, a royal visitation was set on foot, the homilies were appointed to be read in churches, and also an English translation of Erasmus's Paraphrase on the New Testament. To these measures Gardiner vigorously objected; and when urged by a friend to be more discreet, and not run the hazard of ruining himself and losing his bishopric, returned an answer which would have reflected lasting honour on his christian spirit, and patriotism, if the actions of his life had corresponded with the sentiments advanced in it. The perseverance which he manifested in resist ing the proceedings of the protector and the council, occasioned his being summoned before them, when he was accused of having written and spoken to the prejudice and contempt of the king's visitation, and was required to receive the homilies, and to pay due obedience to the king's visitors when they should come into his diocese. As he refused to comply with the demands of the council, by an irregular and illegal stretch of power he was committed a close prisoner to the Fleet, where he received but in different treatment, notwithstanding his repeated petitions for redress. In this state of confinement he continued till the end of the session of parliament, when he was released by the king's general pardon, though he was never charged judicially with any offence, and had been detained, most probably, to prevent the influence of his opposition to the measures which were now adopted. This conduct in the friends to reformation was highly arbitrary and tyrannical, and was unworthy of the great cause which they were engaged to support. Gardiner, being now at liberty, repaired to his diocese, where, in general, he so conformed himself outwardly to the orders of the council, that it was not easy to find any advantage against him. But privately he did what lay in his power to oppose the principles of the reformation, and it is said, that he gave directions to his clergy to put public affronts on those whom the council sent to preach in his diocese; and that he sometimes went into the pulpit before them, and warned the people to beware of receiving any other doctrine but what he had taught them. Of this conduct complaint was made against him in the council, before which he was once more summoned in the year 1548, and, after being reproached for his behaviour, was ordered to keep his house till he had given satisfaction, which was to be done by preach ing before the king and court, when he was to deliver such matter as should be given him in directions from sir William Cecil. On the day appointed he did preach accordingly; so far from giving satisfaction, that he exasperated the council by the contemptuous manner in which he spake of them. He was, therefore, the next day committed by their order to the Tower, where he was kept so close a prisoner for about a year, that his chaplain was only allowed admittance to him once, when he was ill, and afterwards refused, because his life was not thought to be in danger. When the Protector's fall was projected, the affairs of our prelate seemed to wear a more favourable aspect. At that time recourse was had to his advice and talents, and it is said that the original draught of the articles against Somerset was made by him. Finding himself, however, disappointed in his expectations from the party which he had served, he repeatedly applied to the lords of the council to be released; but they treated his letters either with but was neglect, or with a cruel and unmanly levity. When he had been nearly two years in the Tower, the duke of Somerset, who was now restored to a place in the council, went with others of that board to confer with him, in the month of June, 1550. In this conference, they proposed to release him upon his declaring his submission for what was past; his promises of obedience for the future; and his testifying his approbation of all the measures which had been taken towards bringing about a reformation in religion. To the two last points Gardiner assented, and actually signed all that was expected from him; but he refused his assent to the first, insisting upon his innocence, and declaring that he would not defame himself; adding, that were he mean enough to do so, he was not sure but his submission might be made use of against him as a confession. Much as he may be admired for his firmness, and perhaps prudence, in not acceding to the first of the proposals made to him, it is impossible to reflect on the readiness with which he submitted to the other propositions, without suspecting him of indifference to any religious principles, excepting so far as they might be rendered subservient to the purposes of ambition and state policy, or without condemning him for being guilty of the most shameful duplicity. Shortly after the conference above mentioned, bishop Ridley was sent to him, with new articles, in which the acknowledgment required was more general than in the former; but after reading them, he said, " that he would trouble himself with no more articles while he remained in prison, since he desired not to be delivered out of his troubles in the way of mercy, but of justice." In the month of July he was brought before the council, where he was told that they sat by a special commission to judge him, and he was required to subscribe to the last articles which had been sent to him. Upon his refusal, they declared to him that his bishopric should be sequestered, and that if in three months he did not conform, they would proceed to deprivation. At the expiration of the limited time, as he still refused to comply, after numerous sittings of a court of delegates, over which Cranmer presided, Gardiner was, in the year 1551, deprived of his bishopric, for disobedience and contempt of the king's authority. The bishop protested against his judges, and objected to their commission, and when sentence was about to be given against him, appealed from the delegates to the king; but no notice was taken of his appeal. On the next day the council resolved, |