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Rh than has been supposed. The records of this county bring out this point very clearly.

In 1577 it was reported by the justices of the peace in Bucking- hamshire that there were none here that refused to come to church. But in 1583 in a list of persons noted as ' harbourers of Papists and seminaries,' are found four names belonging to this county, namely, Gifford of Steeple Claydon, Mercer of Middle Claydon, Dormer of Wing, and Peckham (the first two re-appear in the recusant Roll of i 594) ; to these is added in another list which follows the name of Browne of Boarstall. It was said of all these that they habitually entertained certain priests named, and also offered a refuge to any that might come their way. There is however no record of any proceed- ings instituted against these persons. About 1584 Mistress Isabel Hampden of Stoke Poges and her family withdrew from their parish church, and fell under the suspicion of Paul Wentworth of Burnham. In 1585 Sir Robert Dormer, as sheriff of Buckinghamshire, was ordered to draw up a list of recusants for his shire, that they might be com- pelled to pay their fines and provide horses for the queen's service ; and now twenty-two names were sent in, representing fifteen well-known families, the only one of interest outside this county being that of Thomas Throgmorton. It may be noticed that they do not include any of those suspected in 1583 except William Mercer of East Claydon. Ten of those reported at this time offered to pay certain sums varying from 10s. to £100, as composition for the enormous fines actually due by the law of the land. In 1 587 John Gardiner of Grove Place, Bucks, was imprisoned in the Gatehouse for aiding and sheltering priests ; his