Stephen Gardiner Character Analysis

Gardiner is King Henry’s Master Secretary and envoy to Rome and France. Henry also names him Bishop of Winchester, which is a high honor since it is one of the richest bishoprics in the nation. Like Cromwell, Gardiner begins his career by working for Wolsey. Cromwell and Gardiner dislike each other from the beginning because they compete for Wolsey’s favor. Wolsey is a father figure and mentor to them both, though he and Cromwell are closer, which Gardiner resents. Gardiner is an illegitimate child of a royal, which makes him a distant cousin of King Henry. While Gardiner is insecure about his own background, he enjoys mocking Cromwell for being the son of a blacksmith. Their mutual dislike continues through the years, even after Gardiner becomes Henry’s Master Secretary and Cromwell begins to make his way into court. While Cromwell goes out of his way to help Wolsey after Wolsey is dismissed from his position as Henry’s Lord Chancellor, Gardiner does nothing to help, and Cromwell holds this against him. Cromwell vows to get his revenge against Gardiner, and he achieves this years later when he takes over Gardiner’s role as Master Secretary. While Cromwell and Gardiner are constantly butting heads, Gardiner nevertheless comes across as a conscientious and intelligent man. Wolsey and King Henry trust him and send him as a delegate to Rome and France. Unlike Cromwell, Gardiner is surly and cold, and he is also a little too principled for Henry’s liking. Gardiner doesn’t balk at questioning the king’s orders or leading an opposition against him, as he does when he disapproves of Henry’s attempt to declare himself the head of the church. This is why Gardiner’s career stalls, while Cromwell, who unquestioningly carries out the king’s orders, rises at court.