102 ST. PETROO'S CHURCH, PADSTOW. 



hew the seat down, and would not stop, when the mayor came 

 in a hurry and begged her to do so. Subsequently, by might 

 and force, she, in the time of divine service, with others, pre- 

 vented him from taking his lawful place therein.* 



Another of this family, viz. : John Oalwoodley, mayor of 

 Padstow, on the part of himself, the Corporation, and inhabi- 

 tants of Padstow, made a series of complaints, in the 26th year 

 of Elizabeth, against William Poche, a merchant of the same 

 place ; in that he, with other lewd fellows, about the feast of 

 Easter last, had partaken of the Holy Communion in a common 

 alehouse ; and then entered the church, contemptuously looking 

 upon those assembled there ; he had also, it was alleged, during 

 the last three years consigned to Spain corn and victuals, con- 

 trary to Her Majesty's prohibition ; and about a year before, had 

 beaten and wounded Margaret, the wife of Mr. Talbot, which 

 was thought to have caused her death ; and also another woman, 

 to the danger of her life. It was stated likewise that he had 

 defended certain robbers against the constable, had promoted 

 certain broils and tumults in the town ; that he had published 

 and circulated divers slanderous and contentious " rymes and 

 balletts " against divers of the honest people of Padstow ; and 

 spoken contemptuously of Her Majesty's Great Seal. Saying 

 that he could make as good a one for two-pence ! whence he 

 (the Mayor) begged that the said Wm. Eoche might be 

 sub-poenaed to answer for these offences before the Court of 

 of the Star Chamber. It is further recorded that, after the 

 hearing of this case, Wm. Roche so well defended himself and 

 rebutted the charges, that the case was dismissed " with no great 

 worship to them who bound him."f 



* This account is taken from the Star Chamher proceedings at the Record 

 Office, by Charles G. Prideaux-Brune, Esq. 



t Star Chamber proceedings, 26 Eliz., Bundle 5, No. 30, Letter C. 



