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

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.3Commons Debates 1621, iii. 109-10; v. 121, 356.

A suspected recusant, Fraunceys died in 1628.