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hour and artifice, he fucceeded, was to obtain fromthe Univerfity of Cambridge a decree in favour ofthe divorce. This fervice procured him a Mitre ,being raifed to the See of Winchefter in I 53 1, Hisabfence from Court , during feveral periods of thisreign, in embaffies to the Pope and the GermanDiet, leads us to acquit him of being concerned infeveral of thofe infamous tranfadlions, which woulddifgrace the annals of any country. He is, how-ever, generally fuppofed to have been the author ofmoft of the horrid cruelties exercifed upon the un-fortunate fufferers for religion; and was undoubted-ly concerned in drawing the ftatute, called the SixArticles. In 1540, he was elected Chancellor ofCambridge.

Henry, towards the latter part of his life, beganto entertain fufpicions concerning the religion of hislaft wife, Catherine Parre; and Burnet fays, thatthey were improved by Gardiner, who formed thearticles for the Queen’s commitment to the Tower.The Queen, however, having convinced her RoyalHufband of the falfehood of the infinuations, Gar-diner was never more admitted to his prefence. Thisftory, it mull be obferved, reds folely on the au-thority of Fox, for Bale is filent as to the matter.

On the acceffion of Edward YI. Gardiner, thoughnot guiltv of any real acb of difobedience, refufedto promote the meafures of Cranmer , in the grandwork of the Reformation; conceiving them too

preci-