GARDINER (Stephen), bishop of Winchester, and lord chancellor of England, born at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, natural son to Richard Woodville, brother to queen Elizabeth wife to Edward IV, was learned in the canon and civil laws, and in divinity. He signed the divorce of Henry VIII, from Katharine of Spain; abjured the pope's supremacy; and writ De vera et falsa obedientia, in behalf of the king; yet in Edward's reign he opposed the reformation, and was punished with imprisonment; but queen Mary coming to the throne, she enlarged him. He drew up the articles of marriage between the queen and Philip of Spain, which were very advantageous to England. He was violent against the reformers; but on his deathbed was dissatisfied with his life, and often repeated these words: Erravi cum Petro, sed non flevi cum Petro. He died in 1555.