THE Lord Craven's CASE.  
COnsiderations humbly offered for the reading the Lord Cravens Petition, in order to his Relief, against the sudden Confiscation of his Estate, and the Sale, which thereupon ensued.  

See Mr. Luke Robinsons Report from the Council, and the Letters from Sir Charles coat, and the many Resolves past that day; all relating to Ireland onely.  I. For that, towards the latter end of the long Parliament( March 6. 1650) he was declared an Offender within an( Irish) Resolve of Parliament, of the 24 August, 1649. Grounded upon Letters from Sir Charles coat, then in Ireland, relating to the Earl of Ardes, and other persons who had deserted the Parliaments Service there, and revolted to the Enemy; and ordered to be sent into Ireland, there to be put in execution; the Lord Craven( being then by leave of Parliament( dated 10 of May, 1641.) residing beyond Sea, attending his Military Command there, had his 
For the truth of this, see the Journal of Parliament.  Estate confiscated upon the penalty of the said( Irish) Resolve, the same moment, the Informations were red against him.  
II. Without any 

Charge,  
Impeachment, 
For the truth of this, see the Journal of Parliament.   
Legal Summons,  
or Hearing.  —  

See the Summons in Print and in the Journal.  III. Four moneths after Confiscation, there was a Resolve of Parliament( in nature of a Summons) dated 3 July, 1651. Printed, requiring the Lord Craven to appear the Third of September, 1651. which he was to take notice of at his peril.  
( But) First, It was not directed to be served upon his person according to the Laws of the Land, he residing then in a State in Amity with England.  
Secondly, And in case of Personal notice, and a failer, to appear, It was by the Law but a seizure of his Estate Quousque, unt●● he come, admitting there had been a Charge.  
Thirdly, It required him not to Answer to any Charge or Impeachment depending against him in Parliament, or elsewhere; for( indeed) there was not then, nor at any time since, any Charge or Impeachment ever drawn up against the Lord Craven.  

See the Summons in Print, and in the Journals of Parliament.  Fourthly, The Summons only required him to Answer to such things as should be objected against him. A proceeding without President, upon future Objections never reduced into Writing in nature of a Charge, nor made a Record, for the party summoned to Answer unto; to expose to sale by Act of Parliament an Estate of a Peer and Free man of England, as forfeited upon such a failer.  

For the truth of this, see the Petition red in Parliament and still remaining on Record there.  Fifthly, The time for his Appearance was but two Moneths, he being at the time of that Printed Summons then in Upper Germany, near Five hundred Miles distant hence; and leave being formerly desired by Petition, red in Parliament, to sand to the Lord Craven to give him notice of the Proceedings against him here, it would not be granted.  

See the Petitions remaining on Record in Parliament.  IV. For that several Petitions were presented and red in the long Parliament before the Bill of Sale did pass, by, and on the behalf of the Lord Craven, desiring to be heard, and thereby offering to prove;  

1. That falconer the single Witness( as to matter of Crime, mentioned in the Petition at Breda, wherein the Parliament was styled by the name of Barbarous and inhuman Rebels; upon which the Confiscation was grounded) was a perjured person in what he swore in that particular against the Lord Craven, then offered to be proved by his own Hand-writing, and several Witnesses then ready to be produced.  

See the Indictment. And Petition remaining in Parliament.  2. That, not being granted, falconer was indicted,( sitting the Parliament) for the said Perjury, before the said Bill of Sale did pass; and the Parliament was made acquainted therewith by Petition that he was indicted; again praying, That they would hear the Lord Craven before his Estate should be Enacted to be sold; but it could not be obtained.   

See the Conviction under Seal.  V. For that the said Faulkoner( relief not being had in Parliament) was soon after convicted of P●rjury in the Upper-Bench, after five hour. Evidence for that very Deposition of his against the Lord Craven.  

Several Members of this present Parliament can witness this, who were present at the trial.  Where also it was proved 

1 That he drunk a Health to the Devil on his knees.  
2 That he usually said Christ was a Bastard, and the Virgin Mary a Whore.  
3 That he had been in Alisbury Goal and Newgate for Robbery and Felony.  
4 That he attempted a fact, worse then all these( if worse can be) here forborn to be mentioned.    

See the Journal of Parliament for the Ministers Examination, and falconers confession, and above 100 Members of this present Parliament heard the same testified at the Bar of the House the last Parliament.  VI. Since his Conviction before an earthly Judge, he hath been convicted by the great Judge of Heaven and Earth, with great terror and horror of Conscience, insomuch, as upon his Death-bed calling people to him to bear witness.  
He confessed 

1 That he had most falsely and wickedly swore against the Lord Craven.  
2 That being reduced to a low Condition, Lucre and Gain was a great inducement to it.  
3 That his Soul was afflicted and wounded for the thought of it.  
4 And desiring Pea, Ink, and Paper, in the presence of the people present, writ down how he was drawn to this horrid sin of Perjury; And sealing the truth thereof, by receiving the Sacrament, soon after died.    
VII. For that the Lord Craven hath continued his Appeal ever since the Confiscation and Sale, and dissolution of the long Parliament, to be relieved. 

1 To the Little Parliament, but they were shortly after dissolved. 
This appears by the several Addresses to the several Parliaments, and Governments.   
2 To the Lord Protector, who in the Instrument of Government, inserted a proviso, for hearing Appeals depending against Bills of Sale.  
3 The Lord Protector and the Council( in the Interval of Parliament) ordered a stop of Sale of the small remainder of that Estate unsold.  
4 To the Parliament( 1654.) who red and committed his Petition, and the Case was fully heard, but were dissolved that day they were ripe for a Resolution.  
5 That Parliament voted also a confirmation of that Clause, That all Appeals depending against Sale should be heard.    
VIII. For that most of the Members and others who have purchased that Estate, have by beneficial bargains made thereof, and by the vast destruction and profitable sale of Woods, and pulling down of stately houses, and selling the Materials thereof to great advantage, Reimbursed themselves what they have been out of purse, in the purchase of any part of that Estate.  
IX. For that the last Parliament, Ann. 1656. were pleased to hear the Lord Cravens Case at the Bar of the House, 
This appears by the Journal,& known to the present Members.  which did not take up above an hour and halfs time, and nothing was produced in evidence against the proceedings of that Parliament which confiscated his Estate, but the Journals of Parliament, and the conviction of Perjury, exemplified under Seal, and the Examination of the Minister, who was present at falconers Confession on his Death bed.  
For all which Reasons it is humbly prayed on behalf of the Lord Craven, that his Petition of Appeal may be speedily red, and a time appointed to be heard at the Bar of the House, and that he may have the Leave of Parliament to come over in person to attend the hearing of his Case upon the said Petition.  
FINIS.   

The Lord Cravens CASE.