Some of Mr. Philip Francis misdemeanours, and Sir Alexander Caries treacheries discovered.  
The Answer of Charles Vaughan, to the preamble of the Answer of Mr. Philip Francis of Plymouth, to the exceptions to the account of the said Mr. Francis given to the Accomptants of the Kingdom.  
Novemb: 19 1644  
FIrst the said Charles Vaughan saith (as in his former Answer in writing under his hand to the Honourable Committee for Plymouth is expressed;) That about February 1643. the Committee for sequestrations in Plymouth (having a quantity of Pearl in their custody, which was sequestered of the Lord of Marleboroughs, and having great necessity of money for the payment of the garrisons in the Fort and Island) took up 200 l. of Mr. Peter Keckwich, and delivered him the Pearl to be carried to London, to be sold by himself, Mr. Nicholas Gould and me, who am one of the Committee and Treasurer of the Sequestrations of that County.  
About May 1644. Mr. Keckwich returning to Plymouth left the Pearl with me, taking my receipt of them under my hand to dispose them as aforesaid, to be sold for the greatest benefit of the State, so as Mr. Keckwich might be paid his 200 l. and the rest that should be made of them, might be returned to Plymouth, for the use of the Garrison as was directed by the Sequestrators there who sent them to London.  
After which time I received a Letter from the Lord Admiral (who claims an Interest in the said Pearl) willing me to keep them till his Lordship should come up.  
The 24. of August 1644. a warrant was brought from the Committee of Plymouth to me to deliver the Pearl to Mr. Francis, whereupon I then went unto the said Committee, and humbly desired that the 200 l. might be had to satisfy Mr. Keckwich, that so I might have up my scourity which he hath, and that I might (by order of the House,) be freed from the claim of the Lord Admiral, or that the Pearl might remain with me till the business should be reconciled, or that the Lords and Commons for Sequestrations might determine thereof, which (I then conceived) the said Committee for Plymouth (upon hearing thereof) thought reasonable, and which is all that I desire, which I also desired before Mr. Keckwich his said return to Plymouth, when I acquainted the said Committee therewith whilst he was in London, and therefore it is no new pretence by me (as Mr. Francis suggests) and I am confident that Mr. Keckwich did lay out the 200 l. for so it appears by a Letter of Colonel William Goulds to his uncle, Mr. Nicholas Gould of London Merchant, wherein he writes thus, viz. Sir, The great necessity for moneys for the payment of the Garrisons in the Fort and Island, hath induced me to take up two hundred pounds of Mr. Peter Keckwich giving him bills on you payable at 8. day's sight, which bills I hope he will not have occasion to make use of, but if he have I shall desire you to make satisfaction of them, he depositing some or all the Pearls in your hand for your indemnity, which money being not paid by Mr. Gould, the Pearl was left with me by Mr. Keckwich, as aforesaid, and I have heard many Merchants of London, and men of great worth account Mr. Keckwich to to be a very honest man, and he hath done very much for the Parliament, and therefore Mr. Francis might have done better to accuse him when he was present to answer it. As for Mr. Francis suggestions, that Mr. Keckwich concealed the Pearl 10. weeks after he came to London. He was absent (being sent to Sir john Meldrum in the North) as the Committee for Plymouth know well, but its true, we were entreated from the sequestrators in Plymouth not to speak of it, to prevent exceptions by any that might pretend claim to them, and so retard the supply of Plymouth which was in great want, and so I divers times told the Committee for Plymouth, neither was it thought fit to trouble them with it, seeing all sequestrators in England, (by Ordinance of Parliament) have power to dispose of things sequestered by them.  
And whereas Mr. Francis scandalously saith, that Mr. Keckwich and I got the Pearl to be prized at a very low value. I was not present nor acquainted with it till after, but after I understood that Mr. Keckwich caused them to be valued, by Mr. Thomas Smiths, Mr. jervis Andrew's, and Mr. William Markham Goldsmiths of London, who are very honest men, and have very good knowledge in such things, and I always endeavoured to have them sold for the greatest benefit of the State, as all know with whom I have had to do therein, and that the benefit might go to Plymouth, which hath brought me much trouble by Mr. Francis his means, who may justly be suspected ever to have intended to get the Pearl for himself, for when the Sequestrators in Plymouth would have had the Pearl from him to be disposed, for the payment of the Garrison (which were in great want) he refused to be examined by them to discover where they were, and some of his family being examined swore very desperately, only one Wood dealt ingeniously, so that by degrees it was discovered that some thing wrapped up in Canvas, and sealed up was delivered out of Mr. Francis house over the wall of his yard to a Cooper (his next neighbour) and brought back again into the house, whereupon the Cooper being examined upon oath, confessed that the box of Pearl, was delivered to him over the wall, and the same day fetched from him again, and after the same day brought bacl to him again, and remained in his custody. This double was made (as the Sequestrators understood) purposely to delude them upon the examinations, for so the rest (who were privy to it) did upon the examinations discover. Neither can Mr. Francis justly say (as he pretends) that I am incensed against him out of malice, for I never endeavoured any benefit therein to myself, and there was never any difference between him and me, but only in this: for that I endeavoured that the benefit of the Pearl might be for the Garrison of Plymouth, as the sequestrators directed; But Mr. Francis gave out as if part of the Pearl were embezzled by that Noble, industrious, faithful, vigilant, and valiant Colonel Gould, (who is now with the Lord) who (under God) was the chief preserver of Plymouth, and thereupon Mr Francis got an Order from the Committee of Plymouth, for himself, and Mr. Thomas Viner Goldsmith to compare the first Inventory which was taken of the Pearl, with the Inventory which the said Colonel Gould and the rest of the sequestrators of Plymouth sent up of them under their hands and seals, which being diligently compared by them, they certified under their hands to the Committee of Plymouth. That they found the Pearl to agree with both the said Inventories; A copy whereof I have under their hands, and the Pearl was after valued by some who were appointed by the Committee of Plymouth, and divers others, and yet they all valued them under the value, which they were valued by those who were entreated to value them by Mr. Keckwich.   

The Reply of Charles Vaughan, to the Answer of Philip Francis, to the exceptions of the said Charles Vaughan to his Account.  
WHerein I desire it may be observed, that he misrecites all my exceptions, to his account, by adding, altering, or leaving out part, as by comparing them, will appear, some of which are very material, and so makes answer to exceptions of his own. To instance only in some, for I desire that neither my exceptions, nor his answer, may be believed, but that it may be examined upon oath.  
First, he leaves out the word (at least) and for which he is liable, they being in custody, and freed by him. Now the word (at least) is very material, for the truth is, that Mr. Kelland, Mr. Yard, Mr. Hody, and Mr. Giles Lowman, were first assessest by the Commissioners 2220 l. (being all Malignants) and since Mr. Kelland hath been a Commissioner, and Mr. Hody, and Mr. Yard Captains for the Enemy, (and yet are) which yet after upon full debate of the Commissioners, was brought down to 1720 l. at least, and it was resolved that that should stand, without any more abatement, who after being taken by Dartmouth Troopers, and brought to Plymouth, Mr. Francis refused to join with the rest of the Commissioners, in the committing of them, and without, yea contrary to the liking of the rest of the Commissioners, (after they were committed by the rest) he laboured to remove them, to some friend's house in the Town, but not prevailing therein, than he laboured with the Commissioners to accept of 500 l. from them all, but they holding it unreasonable to accept of the hundreth part from those men (being Malignants) and to take the twentieth part of honest men who are our friends, at length Mr. Francis accepted 800 l. and set them free out of the Town, of which money Dartmouth (with great importunity) obtained 300 l. the rest he detained, and though there were no money at all in Mr. Gewens' hand (who was appointed by the Commissioners in Exeter, and myself to be my deputy Treasurer for Plymouth,) left to pay the soldiers, yet he would not part with any penny of that money to pay them.  
And whereas he saith the Council of war conceived it fit to compound with them for 800 l. Quere. Whether it was thought sit, at a general Council of War? Or whether he did not solicit some of them in private (who were his friends) to yield to his desire therein?  
And 2. Whether they had any such authority, for by the Ordinance of Parliament dated 17. of January 1642. None hath authority to set any assessments, or to abate any but only three or more of the Commissioners thereunto appointed by the said ordinance.  
And whereas Mr. Francis saith, that the Town was necessitated for money to pay the soldiers, truly that was a reason rather that they should have taken more, for they were badly paid, when such Malignants as they, were freed for less than half, that which was due, and the burden lay upon the well affected to the Parliament. And if there were such great want of money (as Mr. Francis saith, and as indeed there was) why then did he refuse (as he did) to join with the Commissioners for the raising of moneys by assessment  
But let Mr. Francis tell the truth, whether the reason, why he so freed Mr. Kelland, was not, because his friend Mr. john Cawsse of Plymouth was indebted to M. Kelland about 300 l. by bills & bonds (which the Commissioners would willingly have had to pay the soldiers he being a Malignant) and whether Mr. Francis were not himself indebted to him, and howsoever Mr. Francis saith that the money was paid to Mr. Alsop, yet it was thought fit by the Commissioners that Mr. Francis should be responsible for the full sum assessest upon those men, seeing he discharged them so illegally, as aforesaid without the rest of the Commissioners.  
My 14. Exception is, that he craves allowance for 14. several other men's accounts, and for the use of the money 2023 l, 5 s. 11 d. whereas those several persons ought to give in their own accounts themselves upon their oaths, to which and divers other things, (which are not fit to be allowed) he subscribes thus, 
 Philip Francis errors accepted, and so he swears unto it, so as he may swear truly, and yet his account be false.  
This exception he smothers much, reciting it only thus The last exception is to his subscription (viz errors excepted.  
To which he answers that he concludes his account as all merchants do, and that if Mr. Vaughan knew as well to account for the money he receives, as he doth to receive it, he would not take this exception. And whensoever he will give in his account for 80000 l. or there abouts which he hath received of the states money and given no account for the same, on pretence that he hath lost his accounts, it is wished that there be no greater errors found therein, so that the said Philip Francis rests assured, that this will give satisfaction to all honest men that his account is just and true.  
Now whereas he answers, that he concludes his account as all merchants do. 1. To this I reply, that though Merchants may so conclude their accounts in trade between Merchant and Merchant yet when their accounts are to be questioned in the Chancery, or any other Court, I hope such a subscription, answer and oath that it is true (errors accepted) will not be allowed, for if such a gap should be opened, than it would be too little purpose that the accounts of the Kingdom should be taken, nay why then should not Mr. Francis bring in all the accounts of Devon, and consequently of all the Kingdom (as well as those many which he endeavoured to huddell up in his own account, had not the just accountants of the Kingdom given farther order to examine them) and then (if he would have favoured me so much) he might have brought in my account also, yea he might so have made a very short and easy business of all the accounts of the Kingdom, if it would have been allowed him so to bring in all accounts (as he endeavoured to do those) and to subscribe his name unto them, and swear, that they were true errors excepted.  
2. Whereas he saith that I have received 80000 l. of the states money or there about I have not received half so much money, for he knows I received not the money that was paid upon assessments, in Dartmouth, Plymouth, and Barnestable, but it was received and paid there by order of the rest of the Commissioners for the maintenance of the Garrisons in those parts, and all the money that was assessest in Exeter (during the last siege) was (by order of the Council of war, and with the consent of the Commissioners there) paid to Nicholas Leach Esquire, who was appointed Commissary, and during that time, paid the Garrison there, So that it's well, that Mr. Francis put in the word 80000 l. or there about.  
3. Whereas in his answer he saith that he charged 200 l. only for Interest. By his account (of which I have a copy) it appears that he craves allowance for 14 several other men's accounts, and for the use of the money, at least 2023 l. 5 s, 11 d. as my exception is.  
4. Whereas he saith that I have given no account for the same on pretence I have lost my accounts.  
To this I answer, that it is too true that my books of account, which I left as safe as my own books and evidence (of great importance,) were also taken by the enemy, after Exeter was yielded up, (as the party from whom they were taken) and divers others of worth and credit (who are here) cantestifie: and before I came a mile out of Exeter the Enemy rob me of all the money I had, and took away my man's horse and cloak-bag and all that was therein, so that had I brought away the said books of account they had been taken from me also, which Mr. Francis could not be ignorant of, and therefore he did not well to set out in print, that I have given no account for the money that I have received, on pretence, that I have lost my accounts.  
But to manifest my unfeigned desire to have my accounts again; about 3. months since I made my petition proposing, a means (prejudicial to none but those who have my accounts) only to enforce them to restore them, which by the favour of the Honourable Committee of Plymouth, I hope to obtain, and then let Mr. Francis accept thereunto if he can; I desire no favour from him, nor any therein, for the more it is questioned the more my faithfulness to the Parliament will appear. Besides it is well known what I have done for the Parliament, and that I also stand bound and engaged for them above 4000 l. and there is also much money due to me upon my account, as I can sufficiently prove, besides many arms which I provided for the Parliament, which Mr. Francis had, and hath given no account of them.  
Now in the conclusion of my exceptions to Mr. Francis account, I say thus, (besides divers other things which may be excepted against in his account) whereby I intended to keep (a Reserve) if he should show any cause to avoid any of my exceptions, so that notwithstanding his Answer, I conclude as before; That by his own account he acknowledgeth that he hath received 2553 l. 19 s. 9 d. so that (the foresaid exceptions being allowed) there is 750 l. 2 s. 9 d. due from him to the Parliament, besides divers other things which may be excepted against in his account, and yet he demands 6000 l. 7 s. 6 d. as due to him from the Parliament, and would have the foresaid Pearl in part of satisfaction thereof, which being for the public benefit, I thought it my duty to acquaint the Honourable House of Parliament therewith.  
Now its true that Mr. Francis (in the beginning of his Majoralty held with the right side, which bred a good opinion of him both in the Country and here yet after, when he heard of Sir William waller's blow at the Vizes, etc. he fell off to Sir Alexander Carry, and that knot of Vtrusques who look only to their own preferment and estates, and from that time became a great friend to those whom before he accounted enemies and the more the West grew to be lost, the more he stuck to that side, and still doth, but by reason of his former carriage, and some friends, he was so represented, that all after well do were ascribed to him, and it was so carried by him, that it was believed by many worthy men, (though he were no way guilty of it) for instance.  
The keeping of the Island, or rather the recovery of it was attributed unto him whereas in truth he deserved to be punished for his neglect in that business; for the truth is, there were plain discoveries of Sir Alexander Caries intention, to revolt before it was done. As  
First, by his secret intelligence and correspondence with Mr. Edgecombe, and others of the enemy's side in Cornwall.  
Secondly, by his going over secretly to Mount Edgecombe to confer with them.  
Thirdly, the contents of a letter written by him, wherein he promised upon the procurement of his pardon, and security of his estate (which pardon was accordingly procured, and his stock marked with Mr. Edgecombes mark, to preserve them for him) to perform what he had promised to them.  
Fourthly, Overtures made to the soldiers in the Island to take his part, and to make their peace with the enemy, and divers other things of this kind, and all this made known to Mr. Francis with tender of proof upon Oath, and withal he was divers times urged, and pressed by some of the most considerable honest men of the town (when Sir Alexander was in the town) to have stayed him there, and secured his person, for prevention of the treachery, or at leastwise to have suffered them to do it, yet he would not be persuaded thereunto, but shown his dislike to those who brought such information, and solicited him therein, until in truth the Island was lost, and by a miraculous providence of God recovered again without any help of his.  
But it may be demanded, why I did not discover this, concerning Sir Alexander Cary and Mr. Francis till now.  
To which I answer, that Colonel Gould, and others at Plymouth, did send up Articles against Mr. Francis wherein this was complained, and many other foul misdemeanours against him, and Mr. Throtell was sent up by them to prosecute it, which he accordingly did, and retained Mr Prin, who (as I heard) desired a Commission to prove the Articles, because many of the witnesses were Officers and Soldiers in Plymouth, and therefore could not come to London, but it seems that by reason of Mr. Throtells neglect to prosecute further, the business was not proceeded in, which being understood by those at Plymouth (who sent up the said Articles) they were displeased with Mr. Throtell, and (as I heard) purposed to send up some other to prosecute therein, which I daily expected, and therefore thought fit to leave it to them, who much better know the business than I do.  
Much more might be said, and this might (by a more skilful pen) much better be expressed, but I have so much endeavoured to be brief, as I have omitted divers material things, desiring to be believed in nothing, but what I have under the hands or from the testimony of men worthy to be credited, and shall be proved by oath, if it may be examined, by such most godly Ministers and Gentlemen whose do and sufferings have made them appear to be most faithful to the Parliament.  
Charles Vaughan.   
FINIS.