The answer of Philip Francis, merchant, late major of the borrough of Plymouth, in the county of Devon to the false and scandalous aspersion and accusation of Charles Vaughan, Gentleman.

The further answer of the said Philip to the said VAUGHANS pretences for the detaining the Parliaments Pearl.

September 30. 1644.

THe said Vaughan, being by Warrant from the Honourable the House of Commons committed and continuing so still, for desobeying an order of the said House, and not delivering the said Philip, for the use of the Parliament a quantity of Pearl of the Lord M••lbroroughes, in or about June 1643. Seized on by the Deputy Lieutenants and Committee in Plimouth▪ which being of value and contained in Cabinet was sealed up with seven of the seales of the said Deputy Lieutenants and Commissioners, and by them delivered the said Francis then Major, to be sent to the Parliament, which the said Philip making known to the Parliament, he was directed to send it for London and being bound there, resolved to carry it himselfe.

In February 1643. Colonell Gould, since deceased, Iohn Champnes Esquire, and Thomas Gewen, the said Vaughans brother in Law, and Deputy treasurer required the said Philip to deliver them the said pearl which he refusing to doe without order, they committed him to prison detained him there two monethes or there abouts, searched his house, examined his servants on oath, and having at last got the said pearl, broke open the said Cabinet, and then convayed it to London, by one Peter Keckwich, in close and secret manner directed to the said Voughan, where he and the said Keckwich concealed it from the Parliament ten weekes or there abouts, and in that time got it to be prized at a very low value, and never intended to acquaint the Parlia∣ment therewith as the said Vaughan in his reply acknowledgeth, had not the said Philip on his comming to London, made it known, and Mr. Vaughan pretends that Mr. Keckwitch disburst 200 l. on the wheras said pearl to the Committee for sequestrations in Plymouth, and that he gave Mr. Keckwich at his return for Plymouth in May 1644. are∣ceipt under his hand for the same, that is apparantly untrue, for Keck∣wich came to London in February 1643. and presently on his coming to London, delivered the said pearl to the said Vaghan, and was by him advised to conceale it, as the said Keckwich on his examination before the Lords and Commons Committee for plymouth acknowledged and never made any pretence or claime there unto himself, and tis pro∣bable that if he had deposited any money thereon, and were so wary as to have a receipt for the said pearl, that he would have taken his

receipt at the time of the delivery of the said pearl, and not in May after at his going away, but the truth is, the pearl was sent up to the said Vaughan; and long after the delivery thereof, and before Keck∣wiches going for Plymouth, viz. in Aperil 1644. the said Vaughan, and Keckwich being both questioned for the same by the Committee of Lords and Commons for Plimouth, and the said Vaughan fearing the said pearl would be taken from him, and there being an order to view the same, first shifted himselfe out of the way, and then shifted Keckwich, away, & then sets Keckwicks claim on foot & the said receipt▪ and Colonell Goulds Letter to Master Nicholas Gould, vouched by him in his reply, makes his pretence apparently false in severall par∣ticulers; as first, that the money (if any were) was taken up by Colonell Gould, and not by the Committee for sequestrations; se∣condly that Colonell Gould gave Keckwich bills of exchange for his security for the money, and not the pearl, and had the money been taken up for the State, as is pretended, the bills of exchange would have been charged on the Parliament or Committee for Plimouth, and not on Master Nicholas Gould, as is evident by the said Letter; but the truth is that after Master Keckwich his comming to London, and before his returne Colonell Gould, that took up the money died, and Keckwich being in danger thereby to loose his money, Master Vaughan would excuse himself and salve, Keckwich with this shift, whereas tis well known, that there is a great deal of money due from the E∣state of the said Colonell Gould, on accompt to the Parliament, who received divers great summes of money of the Parliaments, during his being in plimouth, and elsewhere, yet after the said Philip Francis his Majoralty, paid not the commons souldiers, but made the inha∣bitants of plimouth to maintaine them, at their own charge, and by the advise of the said Gewen, as is more then probable, prest the Committee in plymouth, and Deputy Lieutenants to search every mans house in the towne, and to take from them by force all su••h money and plate as should be found in their houses, if they would not part with it otherwise, & wheras Mr. Vaughan pretends that the pro∣ceed of the pearl the 200. l. deducted, should be returned to plymouth for to pay the souldiers tis apparent that nothing lesse was intended for they prized it but at 273. l. for which before it came to their fingers, there was 800. l. proffered in plymouth, and in their inventory sent up, which Master Vaughan, shewed the said Lords and Commons Committee against divers of the chaines and bracelets mentioned therein, the Letters W. G. were 〈◊〉〈◊〉; which parcels it seems Colonell

William Gould was to have upon the per••istion for his part had he li∣ved, and what is become of the other parts, is proper for one of Master Vaughans queries, but it is apparent the Garrison of Plymmouths part had been the least thereof.

But Master Vaughan would excuse his concealement of the pearl from the Parliament ten weeks, for that Mr. Keckwich was absent in the North ten dayes or thereabouts: and yet Mr. Vaughan had the pearle long be∣fore in his custody, and it is apparent never intended the Parliament should know of it; but to have sold it as he confesseth in his reply, viz. that he held it not fit to trouble the Committee with it, for that s••que∣strators have power to sell things sequestred by them; but this was n••t sequestred by them, but seized, sealed up and delivered to the said Fran∣cis, to be sent to the Parliament by the Committee and Deputy Lieute∣nants in Plymmouth as aforesaid, foure of which Committee and De∣puty Lieutenants were likewise Commissioners for sequestrations, viz. Sir Edmond Fowell, Sir Shilston Calmady Knights, Robert Savery Esquire, and the said Philip Francis; and none of them assented to the taking of it from the said Francis.

But Master Vaughan sayes that the Lord Admirall claimes an interest in the pearle; that will not excuse Master Vaughans contempt to the Par∣liament certainly, what part his Lordship hath therein, the Parliament is so just, that they will not detain; and his Honour is so Noble, that he will not demand any thing that is not undoubtedly his, who is now in the towne; and therefore Master Vaughans pretence to keep the pearle untill his Lordships comming to the towne failes, but it is evident by concealement and resolution to dispose of it, that he intended to deceive his Lordship thereof, but it is alleadged that Mr. Francis gave out as if part of the pearle were imbezelled by Collonell Gould.

It is most true (that the pearl being conceived to be better worth then 800. l. in Plymmouth, before it came to Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Gewens, and Mr. Keckwiches hands, and by their apprizement, val••ed but at —273. l. as a∣foresaid; and the Inventory taken at Plymmouth by the Commissioners and Deputy Lieutenants afore hand being very briose, viz. so many strings, so many chaines, and so many brazelets, without mentioning the weight, quantity, quality, or number of pearls in every string, chain, or braslet; which the pearle being sealed up as aforesaid, was conceived sufficient: but being broken open, the said Philip Francis said, and saith still, that if halfe the pearle were taken away, viz. halfe in every linke, chaine, and braslet, it would not appeare by that Inventory, and beleiveth that there hath been jugling therein, but by whom he cannot say; but as for Colonell Gould he never reported it, nor doth hee beleive it; and

whereas Mr. Vaughan alleadgeth that hee was not acquainted with the praizing of the pearl, untill after he had the pearle in his custody, and therefore it is apparent it could not be done on view, without his privi∣ty; and whereas he suspects the said Francis intended to get the pearle for himself, though there be more mony due to the said Francis from the Parliament, then his fortune and credit can well subsist with to for∣beare; and therefore in a faire and honest way hee hath indeavoured to be satisfied thereof (which the said Vaughan labours to hinder, as is evi∣dent) yet in the prosecution of this businesse, the chiefe ayme and desire of the said Philip hath been, that the Parliament might not be deceived thereof, as it is apparant was intended; and what is set forth in the said Francis his answer, touching the carriage of the said Keckwich, will bee made good; to use Mr. Vaughans owne language with a reserve.