Family and Education

1st s. of William Bethell of Hyde, Winchester by Isabella, da. of Richard Mewse of I.o.W. educ. M. Temple 1576. m. Alice, da. of Owen Hebbes of Corton, Dorset.1

Offices Held

Servant of the Marchioness of Winchester by 1599.2

Biography

Bethell took up a legal career; though there are few references to his activities, he was still at the Middle Temple in 1599. It is not clear whether he or his brother Charles was the man described as an inner barrister and fined for being absent from a reading in 1584. Bethell was involved in a number of Star Chamber cases in the 1590s, mostly connected with his property near Winchester. His return for Lyme Regis in 1593, was no doubt due to the patronage of the 3rd Marquess of Winchester who, during the minority of the 3rd Earl of Bedford, had become lord lieutenant of Dorset and had increased his influence in several of the Dorset boroughs.3

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: Roger Virgoe

Notes

• 1. Vis. Hants (Harl. Soc. lxiv), 78; St. Ch. 5/B97/29; C2.Eliz./W22/52.
• 2. Harl. 4713, ff. 280-1; Lansd. 88, f. 81d.
• 3. St. Ch. 5/V8/27, B78/31, B97/29; P/8/4; VCH Hants, iv. 428.