Not sure where this query belongs, so plumped it here!!
In April 1585 the then Bishop of Exeter, John Woolton, was accused of various abuses of his station, including nepotism. Among the family members he was said to have promoted;
"he made his first wife's father a Minister, who had been the Duke of Somerset's cater, and a man unlearned, not having any understanding in the Latin tongue."
The Bishop answered all his accusation, and touching on his father-in-law, said
"I did not make my former father-in-law minister; he being admitted ten years before I was bishop. He is not of my diocese, nor had his benefice of me. I have heard he hath been of better credit than this articler speaketh: and that he hath been a harbourer of godly men in their trouble: and is at this day a grave, honest, and godly old man. God will one day give sentence upon all impenitent slanderers."
I do not know who John Woolton's first wife was (their daughter was my ancestress) so I wondered how I might find out about her father.
What did the job of 'cater' involve? Is it like today's 'caterer' - providing food, and sometimes entertainment, for the household? The Duke of Somerset mentioned has to be Edward Seymour
who was 1st Duke of Somerset 1547-1552 (the title was then forfeited). Somerset's residence was Syon House in West London. Would there be household accounts still extant that might mention this position?
John Woolton was made Bishop of Exeter in 1579. So his father-in-law was ordained in c.1569. Are there any records that list the ordained ministers in any particular year?
Any help in following up these interesting, but rather vague, clues would be much appreciated.
