Local landowners quarrelled over the ownership of lucrative lead mines, especially at Bewerley,[3] which Yorke disputed with Stephen Proctor.
[4] Yorke built a smelting mill at Heathfield for his Appletreewick and Stonebeck Down mines, possibly around 1599 when he made an agreement with Thomas Benson for transporting ore across Bewerley common.
[6] Stephen Proctor complained that Yorke hosted Catholic recusant players, led by the Simpson brothers, at Gouthwaite Hall at Christmas 1609 and Candlemas 1610.
[10] Proctor claimed that Yorke had harboured Jesuits in priest holes, including John Gerard, and was involved in the Gunpowder Plot.
[11] George Abbott, Archbishop of Canterbury took charge of the case because of the mention of John Gerard, and he wrote to James VI and I about progress on 25 January 1612.