2. Also that he extorted annually the penalties of bonds.

2. Answere. The act of parliament of ao i. E. I., etc., warrants the exchequer to send forth commissions to levie the king's debts.

That he levyed debts (nichilled uppon good cause).

Answere. Whereby theis services, without cruelty or just greevance, were performed, many frauds discovered and people eased.

That he answered not a third part of that he levied.

Answere. And no one person as yet have come justly to complayne of greevance by Sir Stephen Procter in all England.

That he used the king's hand in his foresaid oppressions that was given him for other purposes.

Answere. And for Sparke that complayned for seazing his two oxen, he was urged to come, and complayninge without cause, he went home without reliefe. That he used a signitari of the Rose, the Thistle, and the Crown.

Answere. He never used seale nor the king's hand, but as is justifiable to be tryed by any legall course, and as is grounded uppon good warrant for each of the subject.

And it will not be founde that he doth conceale one penny of that he levyed in all England, nor that he hath gone wthout the lymitte of his comissions for anything to the value of a pin.

Theis were all the witneses produced from all the corners of England, none of them speaking upon oath, none coming voluntarily, but as they were sent for and compelled, but theis no way concerned the commissions,

1. One Trotter, a keeper of pygeon holes, himself having been araigned for stealing the Queene's plate, and his wife for keeping a house of all lewdness, having been twice carted through London.

2. One Hage spoke of the report of one Bowland, and Bowland him self utterly denied it.

3. A barbor's wife having her house searched uppon good cause by lawfull warrant, had stollne goods found in her house, and shee said shee lost vj. needles.

4. Also it was alledged of great wrong was done to one King by searching his house and taking away his money, but he was a cutt-purse, his money was by officers taken to be viewed, and after it was restored he cutt another purse within one moneth and was hanged.

5. Also there came one Heaton that stands already sentenced for wilfull perjurie.

6. William Fawconbridge sent his examinacion which was redd, but himself stands indited, both for fellony and pettie larceny.

7. Edward Wood sent his testimony in writing also, himself standing both sentenced to the pillory in the Star Chamber, and outlawed for fellony at the assize.

The two last were witnesses for Sr. J. M. (Domestic Series, liv.)

Md. Will'm Fawconbridge doth say, and will be ready as he saith at all tymes to depose what hereafter followeth, viz. :—

That this Candlemas tearme, 1608, he the said Fawconbridge and Edmond Wood, being sent to London to Sir Stephen Procter by the Lady Procter his wife, and they both being often conversant with Sir Stephen in his chamber about practising against Sir John Mallory, at one tyme Mr. Gryffith Winckles came unto Sir Stephen's chamber, when the said Wood was there, and did take Wood by the hand and spoake to him. But when Mr. Winckles was gone, Sir Stephen was very sory that Wood was sene of him, and said he had rather have given a hundreth pound and Tho. Ashton his man was angry with Wood that he did not tourne his backe towards Mr. Winckles to have concealed himselfe ; he saith that one Mr. Casson, the king's messenger, did give Wood good intertainment upon acquaintance that he had with him at Sir Stephen's chamber, and that one Mr. Burram was often with Wood at Sir Stephen's chamber, of whome they had advice he thinketh that James Singleton saw him there also. He saith that Wood was at Fountance hall a litle before Christmas last, as Ann Stell tould him; and that about the same time he the said Wood was at Grantley, at Miles Pickersgill's, where Tho. Ellis and John Bramley Sir Stephen's men, mett him. He saith that Lady Procter in his hearing did comand John Bramley, her man, to goe to David Elsworth's and give Wood and him each of them xs., for there charges to London, which Bramley did in the presence of Elsworth and his wife. He saith that William Thornton and John Bramley was at Francis Beckwith's house with Wood about Martinmass last, about practising with him against Srr John Mallory, and Gilbert Beckwith's doughter Kate did fetch them a gallon of aile at Richard Potter's. He saith that Srr Stephen did send out his warrant to apprehend Wood, being outlawed for fellony; but afterwards Srr Stephen, coming to Kirkby, demanded it of Leonard Ripley the counstable, to have it in; but the counstable not haveing it, William Thornton prayed him, the said Fauconbridge, to gitt it of Mr. Hewood, who had it, and that he, the said Faucon bridge, would not deale against Wood, whereupon he the said Fauconbridge went to Mr. Heywood and gott it, and carryed it to Fountance and delivered it to William Thornton, and that the Lady Procter tould him that their enemies should not have the benifitt of there warrant to apprehend Wood withall. He saith that he was with Tho. Ashton when he served procis of William Duffeild, and that Duffeild never spoake any such words as Ashton had made affedavit of against him in the Starchamber.

He saith also that Sir Stephen hereing that Hugans his house, Srr John Mallorye's lodgings, in the Strand, was infected with the plague, willed to kepe it cloase when Srr John came up, that no report might come to him of it, and soe happily the plague would light on him, and rid him of him.

He saith also that Srr Stephen promissed Wood an office under him at London, and himselfe an office here in the country worth xli. a yeare about ye king's debts. WILLM. FAWCONBRIDGE. Marke.

(State Papers, Domestic Series, xliii., 115).

Among the MSS. belonging to Sir A. Hood (Historical MSS., vi., 351) is a folio volume, said with great probability to be by Sir Stephen Procter, on "Certayne speciall projects for the discovery of abuses and misdemeanours in offycers, tradesmen, and merchants, which will bring infinyte sommes of monye to his majesty's coffers, and much satisfaction and good to the Commonwealth." The result of this was a royal grant, on July 31st,

1609, to the author, of the office of Collector and Receiver of Fines on penal statutes, a position which gave the holder a very dangerous power, which an unscrupulous person might exercise to a very serious extent. It will be seen afterwards that Procter was charged with fraud and extortion.

On August 31st, 1609, Procter writes the following letter of complaint to Thomas, Earl of Exeter.

Where it please yor Lop., and my Lady of Derby, in the late agreement for my lande, by writinge under your owne handes, accordinge to my humble request, to agree that I should contynewe the stewardshippe which I then held by pattent, under my Lord, and your Honor at will. Nowe my wife, myselfe and frendes, have given upp our interests and executed all assurance I demaunded, and for which I have taken farr lesse than my Lo. had offered me, because I would ever depend a servant of that noble house. Sir John Mallory, with 40 or 50 men in the last open faire at Thriske, hath proclaymed himselfe your Lps. high steward, and so did put owte my deputie in such disgracefull manner, as much effusion of bloode might have ensued, yf greate care on my part had not bene used. But now since my comeinge home, I findinge his power to proceede but by a deputacion from Mr. Gerrerd and Mr. Brock, without your Lp's or my Lo. of Derbye's land, or any revocacion of my patent, I both do and still mynde to hould my possession against him of my right, beinge parte of the recompence I had for my land, untill I see it be your Lp's pleasure and my Lo. of Derby's to put me owte by your revocacion and discharge, which I must submytt unto, yf it be your will to have it soe, but I doubt not that your Honor will ever without any manner of offence or cawse on my part given, my former service considered, lett me be put out, and my mortall enemy preferred to my place to my utter disgrace and discomforth, and to the danger of much encreasinge of further quarrels and debate. I know not howe I have offended Mr. Daccomb, that his hand is in this against me. But I gesse it is in hope of some greate benefitt Sir John hath promised my Ld. to raise here, what it may be I know not, but as yet I cannot learne of one penny except it be of his owne purse, he can drawe the country unto. But that and this and all I humbly submitt to your most honourable disposicion, onely beseechinge your Lp. yf any cawse be allowyd against me, that your Lop. will be pleased to heare my answere ere I be disgraced in this behaulfe. And so I most humbly take my leave, this last of August, 1609.

Your honor's most humbly to comand,

Addresse. To the Right Honble. the Lord

Treasurer of England, theise. ddr.

STEP. PROCTER.

(State Papers, Domestic Series, xlvii., 372).

Another letter, dated same day, and addressed also to the Lord Treasurer, about what progress he had made in putting into operation his "Patent of receivership of the King's Fines and Duties upon Penal Statutes." "I have gott it very well allowed, as well in the greate libertyes of the archbishoppe of Yorke, where I doubted most of it, as otherwise." He speaks again of "that malicious adversary of mine." (Domestic Series of State Papers, xlvii., 372-3).

These papers shew what dangerous weapons had been put

into Procter's hands, and how unscrupulously and unsparingly they were used. But he did not get his own way in everything. Among the State Papers of James I. there is a letter from Chamberlain to Carleton, dated Feb. 17, 1614, in which the writer mentions certain proceedings in the Star Chamber against Sir Stephen Procter, for endeavouring unjustly to involve two Yorkshire knights in trouble about the Powder Plot, and for slandering the Lord Privy Seal. It appears that he had been found guilty, and had been sentenced to imprisonment and the pillory, together with a fine of £3000. The writer doubts whether the sentence will stand. With this grave incident in his life Sir Stephen disappears. There is no Will made by him to be found either at York or London, and it is quite possible that he ended his life in the Gate-house.

Sir Stephen Procter, according to his own pedigree at Fountains Hall, married "Honour, daug. of Raffe Greene," who is elsewhere described, in 1595, as "one of her majestie's servants and musician." They had four daughters and coheiresses. The widow of Sir Stephen resided for some time with one of her sons-in-law, at Cowling Hall, near Bedale, and the following extracts from her last Will are well worthy of being recorded.

Jan. 18, 1624-5. Dame Honor Procter, of Cowling, widowe. To be buried in the parishe church of Beedall. To Broythwell Lloid, my sonne-in-lawe, and Honor his wife, 50l. within the space of three moneths next after they shall signe, etc., such deeds, etc., made betweene mee, Thomas Jackson and Debora his wife, the said Braythwell Lloid and Honor his wife, George Dawson and Priscilla his wife, and Stephen Pudsey and Bettrice his wife on the one partie, and Sir Timothie Whittingham, knight, on th'other partie; and also a deed betweene mee, the said Brythwell Lloyd and his wife, George Dawson and Priscilla his wife, and Stephen Pudsey and Bettrice his wife on the one partie, and the said Thomas Jackeson on the other, for certaine landes in Bewerley. To my sonne-in-lawe Broythell Lloid and Honor his wife one silver bowll and one silver salt, to come to Charles Lloyde their eldest sonne. To my daughter Honor Lloyde one pearle neclace and a paire of bracelettes of pearle, one blacke velvett boxe, one chaine of aggettes of three linckes, and my best goune of silke with kirtle and bodies of damaske, one petticoate of crimson damaske with a paire of French bodies of taffetie, etc., one imbrodered cushionett with foure gold buttons, and one paire of bodies with kirtle of blacke velvett. To Stephen Jackeson sonne and heire to my said sonne-in-lawe Thomas Jackeson one great Cipres chist, one cabonett inlaid, one clocke standing in the hall, one standing bowle with a cover all gilt, and one stone spout jugge tippt with silver. To Elizabeth Jackson, eldest daughter of the said Thomas, one paire of brass scales and weightes, one doune bedd, etc., now at Fountaines, etc., one ryding savegard and cloake, hoodd and mittons, one stillytorie for roses, one great cabonett with glasses in it, one paire of silke vallance and cushen cloth of lawne edged with bone lace, one long cushion wrought with the lillye, one wastcoate of white taffitie and a cloake of white taffetie, one wrought pillow

(1) In the heraldic window are coats of Greene, impaling, severally, Crew, Pollington, and Broughton.

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beere for a cradle, and a mouth cloath of the same worke, one vale of lawne, one long bibb, one cappe, one headband, one paire of biggins and one shirt for a child, one other vale of tiffanie, one lyverie cupboord and all theirin, one square cushinett unmaid upp, one butterie baskett, one dozen of pewter plaites, one linke of a gold chaine, one pomander, one little cushicnett, one wrought smocke, one presse to hang gownes in, and one greene chair and two stooles remaineing alsoe at Fountaines. To Honor Jackeson, the said Elizabethe's sister, one chest barred with iron, one cushion cloth of callico edged with bone lace, one vale of blacke cipresse, one blacke fann, one little cabbinett with glasses and a little silver peece in it, one booke called Mr. Smithe's Sermons, my best lookeing glasse, one needleworke purse, cushionett and knyves, one kaye bone sett with pearle, one paire of gloves imbrodered with gold, one wrought wastcoat with silke, and another with cruell, one trunke, one linck of a gold chaine, one hoope ringe of gold, one silver tagg, a peece of bleazer stone, and a peece of unicorne's horne, one pumander, ten goldsmith buttons, one fine dyed ruffe, my sleeve silkes, and a cushionett belonging to them unwrought, two neckeclothes and two paire of edged coufes. To Debora Jackeson, another sister of the said Elizabethe's, one fann, one blacke scarffe, one greene velvett purse and cushionett, one paire of knyves, one paire of gloves with gold lace on the toppes, one chaire with a cover of velvett, one long cushion of needle work, one pallace sheet with a seame through it, one three leafed sheete, one face cloth, one gold ring with a stone in it, ten goldsmith buttons and a lincke of a gold chaine. To Priscilla Jackeson, youngest sister of the said Elizabeth, one painted boxe and that is in it, one great pewter possett boule, one blacke flatt chest, one purse grounded with silver, one lincke of a gold chame, one gold ring with a seale, one chaire with a cover of velvett, two needle worke cushions, a little greene chaire and tean goldsmith buttons. To my sonne-in-lawe, George Dawson, if he pay to the said Thomas Jackeson 70l., one paire of andirons, à paire of tonges, and a fire shovell, one greene carpett of brodecloth with a cupboord clothe to it with a greene silke fringe, one cesterne of pewter, one great flagon of pewter, two pewter candlestickes, two chargers, and a pastie plaite, sixe deepe dishes, two platters, two fruit dishes and one round pie plate, all of pewter, all markt with my husbande's armes and myne, which were lent by me to my daughter Dawson; also one paire of virginalls and a chest of vialls. To Francis Dawson my grandchild, upon the same condicion, a casting bottle of silver and gilt, etc. To Dorothie Dawson, her younger sister, one paire of gold bracelettes, one currall with a chaine at foure bells of silver at it. To Mistris Mallerie one blacke silke cloake. To Bridgett, wife of Raphe Hasleam, the kinge's armes, three pictures, one called Will Sommer, another king Phillyp, and the third Jane Shore, the plodd curteines in the windowe at Fountaines, etc. To the Ladie Darcie, a large picture of the late Queene Elizabeth. To Margrett Scott, my servant, one smoothing iron, three setting stickes, one side saddle, one brushe, one service booke, one Prayer booke, one other booke called Frailtie and Faith, and one old great trunke haveing holling backe in it. To William Thornton, my auncient servant, one service booke which hee reades service in on Sundaies, and one caliver with a fire locke. My sonne-in-lawe, Thos. Jackeson, sole exr. (Pr. at York, 11th May, 1625, and adm, to the exr.)

Fountains Abbey, on Sir Stephen Proctor's death, descended to his daughters, their mother being also interested in it.

On May 9th, 1622, Dame Honora Procter, relict of Sir Stephen, and three of his daughters and coheirs and their husbands, viz., Thos. Jackson (of Cowling), and Debora his wife, George Dawson (of Azerley), and Priscilla his wife, and Stephen