# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Clarges, Thomas

1904 Errata appended.
​CLARGES, Sir THOMAS (d. 1695), politician, seems to have been of Flemish extraction. As to his origin, there is some uncertainty, Aubrey (Letters, ii. 452) stating that his father was a blacksmith. Clarendon describing his sister Anne as a person 'of the lowest extraction,' while the baronetages identify the father with one John de Glarges, or Clarges, of Hainault, who married a certain Anne Leaver. Clarges is commonly referred to as Dr. Clarges during the earlier part of his career, and appears to have practised as a medical man. Hearne (Remarks and Collections (Oxford Hist. Soc), 220) says he was an apothecary. In 1654 his sister Anne married Monck. According to Willis (Not, Parl, iii. 286, 298), he sat for certain grouped "Scotch constituencies in the parliaments of 1656 and 1658-9. That he sat for a Scotch constituency in the first of these parliaments, and that he was a member of the second, is clear from 'Thurloe State Papers,' v. 366, vii. 617, 630. He was employed by Richard Cromwell shortly after his accession to the protectorate; in carrying despatches to Monck in Scotland, who gradually communicated to him his intention of restoring the monarchy. Claries returned to Richard Cromwell with a let ter from Monck expressing satisfaction with the accession of Richard, and a paper intended for the Protector alone, and containing the outlines of a policy craftily designed to embroil him with all parties. Thus he was advised 'to suppress the division in the church by countenancing a sober and orthodox ministry, to permit no councils of officers, and to model and put the army into the hands of the qualified nobility and gentry of the nation.' Clarges now acted as Monck correspondent in London, in which capacity he was chosen by Fleetwood, Lambert, and the rest to carry their overtures to him in Scotland, when it became apparent that he was about to march on Lonaon. Clarges set out for Scotland in October 1659, and reached Edinbuigh on 2 Nov., whence he was sent to York to communicate with Edward Bowles [q. v.], the cleivyman who enjoyed the confidence of Lord Fairfax. After this he returned to London, where he remained until Monck entered the city. He was appointed commissary-general of the musters in February 1659-60, also clerk of the hanaper about the same time. On 2 May 1660 he was commissioned to convey to Charles the message of the parliament inviting his return. He left England on 6 May, and arriving at Bergen-op-Zoom on the morning of the 8th, immediately proceeded to Breda. Charles knighted him as soon as he had read the communication from the parliament. Having been very well received by the dukes of York and Gloucester and the Princess of Orange, Clarges left for England on 10 May, but owing to bad weather did not arrive until the 14th, when he landed at Aldborough, Suffolk. He immediately sent an express to parliament. This year he represented Westminster in parliament, retaining his place of commissary-general of the musters. Through Monck's influence he was sworn of the Irish privy council, which led to his being placed m 1664 on the committee appointed to draw up the bill for the amendment of the Irish Act of Settlement. He became a member of the Pensionary parliament at a by-election in 1666, being returned for Southwark. He was a frequent speaker, particularly on questions of supply, being a rigid economist. In 1673 he advocated the exclusion of catholics from the benefit of the declaration of indulgence and the omission of the clause making the renunciation of the doctrine of transubstantiation part of the test. He also supported the motion for the removal of the Duke of Buckingham from his offices. In the debate on irregular adjournments in 1678 he made an animated attack upon the speaker, observing that his predecessor 'would sit till eight or nine o'clock, as long as any gentleman would speak,' and adding Mt is our birthright to speak, and we are not so much as a part, of a parliament if that be lost.' Between 1679 and 1685 (inclusive) he represented Christchurch, Hamp- ​shire, and in the Convention parliament of 1689 the university of Oxford. He opposed the exclusion bill, the bill for declaring the Convention a regular parliament, and also the bill for suspending the habeas corpus. He was again returned for Oxford university in 1690. In 1692 he was a strong supporter of the bill declaring the frequent summoning of parliament a part of the constitution. He died in 1695. Clarges married Mary, third daughter of George Proctor of Norwell Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, by whom he had one son, Walter, who was created a baronet in 1676. Clarges is said by Wood (Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, iii. 148) to have been the real author of that part of the fourth and succeeding editions of Sir Richard Baker*s 'Chronicle' which treats of affairs between the death of Charles I and the Restoration.
[Kimber's Baronetage, ii. 375; Whitelocke's Mem. 694, 697, 700; Sir Richard Baker's Chron. (ed. 1674), pp. 654-732; Notes and Queries, 5th ser. iii. 44; Willis's Not. Parl. iv. 1, 4; Lists of Members of Parliament (official return of); Cal. State Papers (Dom. 1660-1), p. 511; Carte's Ormonde, ii. 302; Clarendon Corresp. 181-2; Parl. Hist. iv. 467, 531, 562. 600, 633, 638, 903, 925, 1081, 1156, 1299, 1344, 1379. v. 30, 130, 155, 271, 545, 761; Luttrell's Relation of State Affairs, ii. 44, iii. 598.]
J. M. R.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.66 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 398 | i | 15-12 f.e. | Clarges, Sir Thomas: for That he sat clear from 'Thurloe read He was M.P. for Ross and Cromarty in 1656 and for Haddington in 1658-9. Cf. 'Thurloe |