A HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE 



Hampshire, from the number of recusants, who increased rather 

 than diminished under the bishop's vigorous treatment, was more 

 troubled than most shires by repeated tests of uniformity. In November, 

 1569, the justices of Hampshire send to the council a formal certificate 

 of their obedience to the Act of Uniformity, willingly subscribed to by 

 ' the moste parte of us nowe presentlie in Commission.' They reported 

 that Lord Chidiock Paulet objected to sign, as he did not agree with 

 receiving the Sacrament ; that Sir John Berkeley was absent, but wrote 

 promising to subscribe ; that of those who were heretofore in the com- 

 mission, Richard Dowse excused his coming through sickness, Thomas 

 Shelley cannot be found by the constable, and ' Anthonie Cope (an 

 excommunicate person) refuseth to subscribe most obstinately.' The 

 document is signed by nine justices, the first two being Bishop Home 

 and Henry Seymour. 1 



A communication from the bishop to Cecil and the council, dated 

 24 October, 1577, shows what a considerable number of influential folk 

 still clung to the Roman obedience in Hampshire. He forwarded a list 

 of Hampshire recusants of substance, with the value of their property or 

 goods, and promised shortly to send one of Surrey. The list of these 

 recusants is headed with the name of the Earl of Southampton, but the 

 bishop does not attempt any valuation of his property, as he says it will 

 be so well known to the council. Forty-four names are given, without 

 counting the wives of the recusants. At Warblington, George Cotton, 

 Esq., and wife are mentioned, who had jC3 a vear m lands, and Mrs. 

 Bullaker, a widow, whose goods were worth .500. Henry Shelley, 

 gent., and wife, who had 200 in goods and 100 a year in lands, are 

 enumerated under Buriton. Amongst others in this list are Lady 

 Elizabeth Paulet of Crondal ; Peter Tichborne, gent., and wife, of Por- 

 chester ; and Mrs. Tichborne, widow, of Westerton. 2 



Home died in 1 579, and was succeeded in the same year by John 

 Watson, who had taken an Oxford M.D. degree, and originally practised 

 as a physician. Afterwards he was ordained, and being known as a 

 reformer he was appointed a prebendary of Winchester. Watson seemed 

 well able to adapt himself to changing circumstances, for he not only 

 retained his prebend through Mary's reign, but was instituted to the 

 Hampshire rectory of Winchfield, to another benefice, and to the 

 chancellorship of St. Paul's. When Elizabeth succeeded her sister, 

 Watson again managed to keep in favour and received further prefer- 

 ment. He was made Archdeacon of Surrey in 1559, rector of South 

 Warnborough and master of St. Cross in 1568, and Dean of Winchester 

 in 1570. Watson held the bishopric for only a little over three years, 

 for he died in January, 1584. It was scarcely to be expected that one 

 who had changed his own religious views so frequently would be very 

 stern with either ' papists or sectaries,' and it is generally supposed that 

 he was lax in his administration of all episcopal duties. The Privy 



1 Dam. State Papers, EKz. lix. 46. * Ibid, cxvii. 10, 101 (i). 



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