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Poncher, Francois

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Poncher, Etienne

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a French prelate, nephew of the preceding, was born at Tours about 1480. His father, Louis Poncher, secretary of the king and receiver general of the finances, was hung for embezzlement. Made counselor at the Parliament of Paris (1510), Francois Poncher obtained soon afterwards the curacy of Issy, a canonicate at Notre Dame of Paris, the abbey of St. Maurles- Fosses, and March 14,1519, became bishop of Paris. So far from treading in the steps of his uncle, he was a simoniac and scandalous prelate. He forged documents to get possession of the abbey of Fleury-sur-Loire, but was balked in his design. While the king was a prisoner at Madrid, Poncher fell out with the queen-regent, the duchess of Angouleme, Francis's mother, plotted to deprive her of the regency, and by treacherous negotiations with the Spanish court tried to prolong the captivity of his sovereign. As soon as Francis was free again Poncher was arrested and accused of high-treason. While his process was in abeyance he died in the dungeon of Vincennes, Sept. 1, 1532. He wrote some commentaries on civil law, dedicated to his uncle, Etienne Poncher. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gé neralé, s.v.