John Watson | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Winchester | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Winchester |
| In office | 1580–1584 |
| Predecessor | Robert Horne |
| Successor | Thomas Cooper |
| Other posts |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 24 September 1558 (deacon) by Richard Pate |
| Consecration | 18 September 1580 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1520 (1520) |
| Died | 1584(1584-00-00) (aged 63–64) |
| Buried | Winchester Cathedral |
| Alma mater | Oxford University |
John Watson (1520–1584) was an English Anglican bishop who served asBishop of Winchester in the 1580s.
He was born inEvesham,Worcestershire, England, the son of Thomas Watson and Agnes née Weeks.[1] Thomas Watson was born in Evesham around 1491 and in 1544 purchased part of the former Evesham Abbey lands and the lordship of Bengeworth, across the River Avon from Evesham town. On those lands he built a fine Tudor house as the family home. It was named the Mansion House, and though much modified, retained that name until about 1970, when it was renamed the Evesham Hotel, which name it still bears in 2020.[2] John graduatedBachelor of Arts (BA) fromOxford University in June 1539 and he was elected Fellow ofAll Souls College, Oxford in 1540; on 25 June 1544, he was inceptedMaster of Arts (Oxford) (MA Oxon).[3]
He became a canon ofWinchester Cathedral (of the eleventh prebend) in 1551 — he was presented by the king (Edward VI) on 9 December; instituted by the bishop (John Ponet) on 14 December and installedby proxy on the same day.[4] A few years later, while remaining canon (but now under the reign ofQueen Mary), he additionally[3] became rector ofKelshall (until 1578)[5] and ofWinchfield (until 1561)[5] in April 1554.[1] He was not in orders until 1557, when he was made subdeacon byThomas Chetham, titularBishop of Sidon andassistant bishop of London; he was then made deacon on 24 September 1558 byRichard Pate,Bishop of Worcester, in London.[1]
Meanwhile, he was collated to the chancellorship ofSt Paul's Cathedral, London, on 7 February 1557/58[3] byEdmund Bonner,Bishop of London; he retained this stall until he became a bishop in 1580;[1] later in 1558, he resigned the 11th prebend of Winchester.[4] In 1559, he was appointed Master of theHospital of St Cross[6] (byletters patent dated 17 August), canon of the 1st prebend at Winchester (he was presented by the queen {Queen Elizabeth}, then installed on 26 August; he held this prebend until he was made dean),[7] andArchdeacon of Surrey (presented by the queen 7 November, instituted 16 November, resigned by February 1573).[8] He also became rector ofSouth Warnborough (1568–1581).[5] (Someone called John Watson was a canon of Lincoln {prebend of Langford Manor}, 1560–1574,[9] but it is doubtful this was the same man.)[3]
Watson becameDean of Winchester[10] (head ofWinchester Cathedral) in 1573 afterFrancis Newton died: he was presented by the queen on 9 February, instituted by the bishop (Robert Horne) on 13 February and installed the next day; he served until he became bishop.[11][12] He graduated asDoctor of Medicine from Oxford on 27 July 1575 and practised medicine.[3]
Watson paidRobert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, 200 pounds to lobby for himnot being made a bishop. The earl lobbiedQueen Elizabeth I saying "how otherwise it would be £200 out of his way". Elizabeth responded "Nay, then, Watson shall have it, he being more worthy thereof, who will give £200 to decline, than he who will give £2000 to attain it." Queen Elizabeth I bestowed the position See of Winchester on Watson.[13] He waselected to Winchester on 29 June,[3] royal assent was given on 18 July, and his election wasconfirmed on 16 September 1580. He was then consecrated as a bishop on 18 September and enthroned on 8 November.[14] Because he had served under Queen Mary, Watson was sometimes suspected of leniency towards catholics, but evidence of his tenure as bishop shows he was engaged in suppressing papism.[1]
Watson died on 23 January 1583/84 inWinchester. He was buried on 17 February 1583/84[3] in the nave ofWinchester Cathedral, adjoining the 8th bay of the North aisle 1.
His will dated 22 October 1584 was proved citingSir Francis Walsingham as Chief Overseer.
The burial stone of Bishop Watson is in Winchester Cathedral on the north side of the nave in the 5th bay westward from the tower pillars. It is of a shelly limestone polished to resemble marble. The inscription in Latin is:
JOHANNES WATSON HVIVS ECCLESIAE WINTONPRAEBENDARIVS DECANVS AC DEINDE ESPICOPVSPRVDENTISSIMVS PATER, VIR OPTIMVSPRAECIPVE ERGA INOPES MISERCORSOBIT IN DOMINO JANUAR 23 ANNO AETATIS 63, EPISCOPATVS 4, 1583
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Winchester 1580–1584 | Succeeded by |
| Early Medieval 634–1006 |
|  Arms of the Bishop of Winchester |
|---|---|---|
| High Medieval 1006–1304 | ||
| Late Medieval 1305–1501 | ||
| Early Modern 1501–1820 |
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| Late Modern 1820–current | ||