Lady Jean, here is your story, mostly from the horse's mouth:

"The English-American, His Travail by Sea and Land, or a New Survey of the West Indies." by Thomas Gage, 1684:

"The woman of that City it seems pretend much weaknesse and squeamishnesse of the stomack, which they say is so great, that they are not able to continue in the Church while a Mass is briefly hudled over, much less while a solemn high Masse (as they call it) is sung, and a Sermon preached, unlesse they drink a cup of hot Chocolate, and eat a bit of sweet-meats dto strengthen their stomackes. For this purpose it was much used by them to make their maids bring to them a cup of hot Chocolate...The Bishop perceiving this abuse, and having given faire warning for the omitting of it, but all without amendment, though it fit to fixe in writing upon the Church dores an excommunication against all such as should presume at the time of service to eat or drinke within the Church."

The ladies disobeyed. One day, the men drew their swords against the priests and canons who attempted to snatch the chocolate away from the ladies. The clergy then abandoned the town church. From then on, services took place in convents and churches where the ladies were permitted to drink chocolate. At this point the Bishop fell ill.

Said Gage, "A gentlewoman with whom I was well acquainted in that City, who was noted to be somewhat too familiar with one of the Bishops Pages, was commonly censured to have prescribed such a cup of Chocolate to be ministered by the Page which poysoned him...And it afterwards became a Proverbe that in that Country, Beware of the Chocolate of Chiapa...The Women of this City...have learned from the Devil many enticing lessons and baits...and if they cannot have their willes, they will surely work revenge either by Chocolate or Conserves, or some present, which shall surely carry death along with it."

Yikes!

Miriam