House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 6 March 1651

Die Jovis, 6 Martii, 1650.

Prayers.

Customs.

AN Act for Continuing of the Customs, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the Committee of the Navy: And

Ordered, That all that come, have Voices as to this Business: And that it be brought in again, on Tuesday Morning next.

And the particular Care hereof is referred to Colonel Thompson.

Exporting Clay, &c.

Resolved, That no Clay, of what kind soever, nor Ore of Lead or Tin, shall be from henceforth transported out of this Commonwealth: And that an Act be brought in to this Purpose: And that Sir Arthur Hesilrig do bring in the said Act.

Ld. Craven.

Mr. Attorney General reports from the Council of State:

UPON Perusal of the Depositions touching the Lord Craven, presented to this Council from the Commissioners for Sequestrations, &c. sitting at Haberdashers Hall, and of their Certificate, wherein they mention, That they had given Orders for seizing and securing the said Lord's Estate; but offer it as a Doubt, whether the Parliament hath made it Matter of Sequestration for any Person living beyond the Seas, to hold Correspondency with, or to repair to the Person of the now King of Scotts, when he was beyond the Seas: and desire it may be offered to the Parliament, for a Rule, which may enable them to proceed to Sequestration, in that and other Cases of like Nature;

It is Ordered, by the Council, That Mr. Attorney General do report this Matter to the Parliament; and, in respect the Retarding of Sequestrations, where Persons may be esteemed justly sequestrable, tends much to the Prejudice and Disadvantage of the State, to desire that the Parliament will be pleased to give some Directions therein, for the Expediting of Justice, in this and the like Cases.

Resolved, That the Depositions concerning the Lord Craven, and others, reported from the Council of State, be now read.

The Information of Captain Thomas Kitchingman, taken upon Oath before the Commissioners for Compositions, was this Day read;

Who faith,

THAT he, the said Captain Thomas Kitchingman, in April and May 1650, saw the said Lord Craven several times with the King of Scots at Breda, and waiting upon the said King several times at his Table at Breda.

This Informant also saw the Earl of Oxford, at the same time, with the King of Scotts at Breda, waiting upon the said King at his Table; and saw the Lord Craven, and the Earl of Oxford, many times go into the Withdrawing Rooms after the King: This Informant also saw the Lord Craven, and the Earl of Oxford, in the Bowling Alley in Breda Castle, with the said King.

Thomas Kitchingman.

The Information of Colonel Hugh Reyley, taken upon Oath before the said Commissioners for Compounding, was this Day read:

Who faith,

THAT, during the late Treaty at Breda, this Informant did oftentimes see the Lord Craven with the now King of Scots, in his Bedchamber; and also walking abroad with him, there being no man more conversant with the King, than he.

That the said Lord Craven, during the said Treaty, did twice go to Rotterdam and Dunhagh, and back again, being employed, as was commonly reported at the Court there, by the said King.

That the said Lord Craven had a Charge from the King, to look to one Mrs. Barlow, who (as is reported, and he believes it to be true) had a Child by the King of Scotts, born at Rotterdam; which he did: And, after the King was gone for Scotland, the said Lord Craven took the Child from her; for which she went to Law with him, and recovered the Child back again, as is reported.

Hugh Reyley.

The Information of Major Richard Faulkner, of Westbury, in Hampshire, Gentleman, taken upon Oath before the said Commissioners for Compounding, was this Day read.

THAT, about a Fortnight before the Conclusion of the Treaty at Breda, the Lord Craven, the Queen of Bohemia, and her Two Daughters, came to Breda, to the Scotts King Charles; and went not thence, till the King went to Hounslierdike, a House of the Prince of Orange's.

That, during that time, this Informant saw the Lord Craven divers times, in Presence with the said King, and every Day with the said King at the Court there; he being there with the Queen of Bohemia, and her Two Daughters, to take their Leave, as they said, of the King of Scotts, before he went to Scotland.

That several Officers, about Thirty in Number, made a Petition to the said King, to entertain them to sight for him against the Commonwealth of England, by the Name of barbarous and inhuman Rebels, either in England or Scotland, for the Recovering of his just Rights, and reinstating him in his Throne: And deputed this Informant, and Colonel Drury, to present the said Petition; who indeed drew the same.

That when this Informant, and some other Officers, came to Court at Bradagh, intending to present the said Petition immediately to the King's Hand; but finding the Lord Craven very near him, likewise the Marquis of Newcastle (who presented his Brother Sir Charles Cavendish, to kiss the said King's Hand, the Evening before the said King's Departure, who this Informant saw kiss the King's Hand, accordingly), the Lord Wilmott, the Earl of Cleveland, the Queen of Bohemia, the Lord Gerrard, &c. and a great Bustle of Business; this Informant, with Colonel Drury, applied themselves to the Lord Craven, intreating him to present the Petition to the Queen of Bohemia, to present it to the King of Scotts: The said Lord Craven, taking the Petition, and reading the same chearfully, said unto Colonel Drury, and this Informant, "There is the Queen of Bohemia: Deliver it to her; and I will speak for you:" Upon which they applied themselves to the said Queen; and she presented the Petition: After which the King of Scotts, the Lord Craven, the Marquis of Newcastle, the Queen of Bohemia, with some other Lords, went into a Withdrawing Room, where this Informant and Company could not enter; but the Lord Craven came forth of the Withdrawing Chamber, and told this Informant, and Company, That they should receive an Answer from the Queen of Bohemia, to their Petition; and that he had spoke to the Queen of Bohemia in their Behalf: Who afterwards came and told this Informant, and Company, that she had delivered their Petition; and that the King had taken Order for it. The next Morning at Three of the Clock the King departed: But this Informant, and Company, had their Quarters satisfied by the Princess of Orange, according to the said King's Order, upon their Petition; and thereby to enable them to follow the said King, in the Prosecution of those Wars against the Parliament of England, which was the Effect of their aforesaid Petition.

That this Informant saw the Lord Craven very often, and familiar with the said King, and enter with the said King into the Withdrawing Chamber; and staid there, the last Night the King was at Breda, very late.

Richard Faulconer.

Resolved, That the Lord Craven is an Offender against the Commonwealth of England, within the Declaration of the Four-and-twentieth of August 1649; intituled, "A Declaration of the Commons assembled in Parliament, declaring all Persons who have served the Parliament of England in Ireland, and have betrayed their Trust, or have or shall adhere to, or aid or assist, Charles Stuart, Son to the late King, to be Traitors and Rebels."

Resolved, That the Estate of the Lord Craven be consiscated, accordingly.

Resolved, That the Commissioners for Compounding be impowered and required to seize and sequester all the Estate, Real and Personal, of the said Lord Craven; and to receive the Rents, Issues, and Profits thereof, to the Use of the Commonwealth.

Resolved, That the Commissioners for Compounding be impowered and required to seize and sequester into their Possession the Real and Personal Estate of all such Persons as shall appear to them to be Offenders within the Declaration of the Four-and-twentieth of August 1649, aforesaid; and to receive and take the Rents, Issues, and Profits thereof, for the Use of the Commonwealth.

Browne's Claims.

The humble Petition of John Browne Esquire, was this Day read.

The Question being propounded, That it be referred to the Commissioners for Compounding, to consider of this Petition; and examine the Truth of the Debt of Five hundred Pounds; and, if they find the same to be a real Debt, for the Use of the State, that then the same, with Interest, be charged in Course, upon the Receipts of Haberdashers Hall: And that the said Commissioners do give Warrant to the Treasurers of that Receipt, to pay the same to the Petitioner, accordingly:

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, That it be referred to the Commissioners for Compounding, to consider of this Petition; and examine the Truth of the Debt of Five hundred Pounds; and, if they find the same to be a real Debt, for the Use of the State, that then the same, with Interest, be charged in course upon the Receipts of Haberdashers Hall: And that the said Commissioners do give Warrant to the Treasurers of that Receipt, to pay the same to the Petitioner, accordingly: And the Acquittance and Acquittances of the said John Browne, or his Assignee, shall be a sufficient Discharge for Payment thereof accordingly.