FRAUNCEYS, Edward (d.1628), of Petworth, Suss.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

educ. ?Shrewsbury 1577; ?St. John’s, Camb. 1582. m. Elizabeth, 1 da. Kntd. 1603/5.2

Offices Held

Steward to the Earl of Northumberland by 1594; paymaster to the gent. pensioners 1603.3

Biography

An Edward Francis ‘armigeri filius derbiensis’ went to Shrewsbury school, and a student of the same name entered St. John’s, Cambridge, but no evidence has been found to link one or both with the Member who, because he certainly entered the service of the Earl of Northumberland, has here been described as of Petworth, Sussex, the Earl’s principal residence. Perhaps before becoming Northumberland’s steward, he served with him in the Netherlands, 1585-6, for in July he received a daily pension of 12d. for service done in the wars. The previous year he had been awarded an Exchequer annuity of £20 for some unascertained reason. As well as becoming steward of the Earl’s household, Fraunceys was his receiver in the south, and when Northumberland became captain of the gentlemen pensioners, Fraunceys became their paymaster. It was, beyond doubt, Northumberland who obtained Fraunceys his seats at Beverley. So far as is known he played no active part in the proceedings of Elizabeth’s last two Parliaments. His main parliamentary career was in the Stuart periods.4

A suspected recusant, Fraunceys died in 1628.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N.M.S.

Notes

  • 1. Folger V. b. 298.
  • 2. CSP Dom. 1603-10, p. 223; Commons Debates 1621, v. 356; Shaw, Knights, ii. 106, 137; Rylands Eng. ms 311.
  • 3. Add. 33378, f. 64v; CSP Dom. 1598-1601, p. 73; 1603-10, p. 223; Alnwick castle mss U. I. 3 (3); HMC Hatfield, xviii. 425-6; Lansd. 83, f. 215.
  • 4. Commons Debates 1621, iii. 109-10; v. 121, 356.