Before Thomas Clarke, Maior of the towne of Leicester, William Morton and Thomas Nixe, Justices of the peace of our soueraigne ladye the Queene within the said towne and liberties thereof, ageynst Richard Woodshawe of Leicester aforesaid, shoomaker.
Josua Johnson saythe that yesterdaye in the forenoone he hard Rycharde Woodshawe of the towne of Leicester, shoomaker, speake these wordes followinge, viz. That yf wee do lyve, wee shall within theise sixe yeares see other gates3 dawnesinge and mayinge, than is nowe, and further said the preacher was a liar, for that in his sermond he said Mr Maior cawsed a meypole to bee taken downe and cutt in peeces, the said maye pole was peesed and sett vppe ageyne, which was not true, for that it was not peesed, but that part which was left was sett vppe ageyne.
Rychard Moseley saythe that he harde the said Woodshawe saye, that yf wee do lyve these sixe yeares, wee shall see other gates3 dawnesinge in the towne, then theire ys nowe.
The said Rychard Woodshawe beinge examyned and demaunded whatt wordes he spake yesterdaye in the Newe Hospitall, answereth and saithe he said that within theise sixe yeares itt maye bee theire will bee more morrys dawnsinge in the towne.
Thomas Clarke, Maior.
Wm Morton.
Hall Papers II, No.596. The names of the morrys dawnsers on Tuesday night in Whitsonweek last [May 29] 1599.
I. Rob. Turpyn, servant to G. Greene.
2. Ric. Brewan, servant to John Creake.
3. Ric. Awmond, Thomas Pares man.
4. Will. Salesbury, servant to Will. Hunt baker.
5. Edw. Cheyney, servant to Nic. Birkytt the curryer.
6. And Ric. Woodshawe, shoomaker, their accuzar.
(Bail taken for the first 5, and note that Ed. Cheyney "appoynted one of the 3 soldyers for Leycester and sent into Ireland.")
Hall Papers II, Nos. 608-9. [July 26, 1599.] R. Woodshaw's letter to the Judge Sir E. Anderson stating that the Mayor gave leave to have the Maypole set up, which was done with morrice dancers, but the Mayor was "privily incensed." The writer hopes to see more morrice-dancing than ever before, for he heard Mr Hunter say that when he came to be Mayor he would allow a morrice out of service-time. For such speeches the Mayor has bound him over to appear at the assizes. He prays for favour. In full in Thompson's Leicester, p. 305; Kelly's Notices, pp. 230-2.