# Bishop Gardiner — The Fifth Queen Crowned character guide

> Bishop Gardiner in The Fifth Queen Crowned by Ford Madox Ford.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gardiner, The Bishop Gardiner

**First appearance:** 0002-the-fifth-queen-crowned

## Snapshot

A conservative bishop who works through whispers and convenient servants, steering the King's ear against the Queen and her reforming allies.

## Who they are

Gardiner moves in the shadow of Archbishop Cranmer, using his gentleman Lascelles to gather gossip and plant rumors that reach the King's ear. Weary and watchful, he lets others do the scheming aloud while he mutters 'What use?' yet never quite withdraws from the game. His quiet campaign to discredit the Queen's household shapes the political pressure closing around her in the novel's middle stretch.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/i)

Gardiner comes from Winchester, urges the Queen to cast out Cranmer, and presses for an alliance with the Emperor. The King strikes him in the face.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/ii)

Bitterly resentful of Queen Katharine, he orchestrates a conspiracy against her, using his new tennis court as a secret meeting place.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/v)

Gardiner is present at the council, sitting forward with cruel and eager eyes upon the table.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/bishop_gardiner
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters