Historian Albert Pollard described Watson as "one of the chief Catholic controversialists" of Mary Tudor's reign.
The play, written in Latin verse and completed at around 1540, was based on Absalom's revolt against his father David described in the Old Testament.
In language and style it imitates Aristotle, Horace or Seneca, and yet in content the biblical story merges with events taking place all around.
The chorus in Absalom identifies David as God's elect, "Son of Jesse", and anointed ruler of Israel.
There is no mention of temples in the Old Testament story, but what Watson describes parallels the dissolution and plundering of the monasteries, guilds, shrines and chantry chapels.
When Taylor introduced a stiff vetting process for students and staff, Watson was one of twenty fellows to protest, but to no avail.
So in 1545 Watson joined the familia of the Bishop of Winchester; he was no longer subject to Taylor, and now had the Chancellor's authority and support for his preaching.
Two of Somerset's agents, Tonge and Ayre, appointed as canons of Winchester in defiance of Gardiner, denounced Watson for hampering the cause of reform.
In their absence, images had been removed from churches, the liturgy changed, processions forbidden, and Protestant preachers introduced.
At this time Watson was probably working with Gardiner on his case against Cranmer entitled Confutatio Cavillationum, printed in Paris in 1552.
When Mary came to the throne in August 1553, she immediately released Gardiner and restored him to his offices as Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of Cambridge University.
On Gardiner's advice she chose Watson to formally announce her intention to restore England to the Catholic Faith.
On 20 August 1553, a great gathering was called at St Paul's Cross In the presence of the Queen, members of the court, bishops, dignitaries, nobility, the Lord Mayor and aldermen of London, representatives of the crafts and trades, and with a military guard, Thomas Watson stood to preach.
He reinstated the statutes of John Fisher, and committed the university to restoring and observing former Catholic traditions, customs and liturgies.
The author of the Rites names them as Dr. Harvy, Dr. Whitby and Dr. Horne and describes their mission "to deface all popish ornaments", not only in the cathedral, but in surrounding churches.
The first was "Concerning the Real Presence of Christ's Body and Blood in the Blessed Sacrament" and the second "The Mass which is the Sacrifice of the New Testament".
[3] He argued that the early fathers, the great doctors, and the councils of the Church witnessed to the truth of Catholic Eucharistic teaching.
Mary was eager to relinquish her parliamentary title of "Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England" and seek reconciliation with Rome.
Cardinal Pole, as Papal Legate, formally welcomed England back into the Catholic Fold on St. Andrew's Day, 30 November 1554.
Bishop Gardiner, now convinced of the fatal flaw in royal supremacy, died reconciled to Rome in November 1555.
The following month, February 1557, he officiated at the exhumation and burning of the remains of Martin Bucer and Paul Fagius.
His main task was the restoration of Catholic doctrine, customs and liturgy, included efforts to recover valuables, property and land plundered during the two previous reigns.
Watson was consecrated Bishop of Lincoln on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 15 August 1557, by the Archbishop of York in London.
Arriving in Lincoln for his installation in October, he was met with pomp and ceremony at the cathedral's Great West Doors by his clergy.
He was dismayed at the impoverishment of the diocese and set himself to recovering what he could, including several manors, estates and benefices seized by Henry and Edward.
He was asked to preach at St. Paul's Cross in February 1558 before another assembly of dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor and aldermen of London, ten bishops, and a huge crowd of people.
Entitled Holsome and Catholyke Doctryne concerninge the Seven Sacramentes of Chrystes Church, expedient to be knowen of all men, set forth in maner of Shorte Sermons to bee made to the People, his book was printed in London in 1558.
By early May fresh Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity had been passed, and the Protestant Book of Common Prayer reintroduced.
[5] The Bishop of Ely had been ordered to turn his palace Wisbech Castle into an internment centre for Catholics, and for the first time in years Watson had friends around him.
[5] His epitaph is given in the Athenae Cantabrigiensis (1858): Thomas Watson, sometime Master of St John's College Cambridge, Dean of Durham and Bishop of Lincoln:"Orator Facundas, Bonus Poeta, Solidus Theologus et Concionator Celebris."