STAC 7/1/11

Anthony Watson, Bishop of Chichester, Her Majesty’s Almoner c. Edward Ballard

8 February 45 Eliz I[1603],

William Ballard, late of Winsold in the County of Leicester was possessed in his lifetime of certain wool and good apparel; a new cloak, 2 or 3 suits of apparel as hose, doublets and certain linens together with other goods and apparel to the value of 5 pounds. He also had owing to him by Edward Ballard of Wymesold for a legacy or debt of 60 pounds or for a good part of this. On 30 December in 44 Eliz I [1601], William hanged himself and as a result, his goods and legacy are forfeited to the Crown and are to be disposed of by the Royal Almoner. But Edward Ballard took the apparel and goods for himself at the time of William’s death, with the intent of defrauding the Crown of the goods and the debt. He refuses to deliver the goods or their value to the almoner. Asks for a writ of subpoena to order Edward to appear before the Court of Star Chamber to answer these charges.