The lady in waiting to Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia known as "Margaret Crofts" has sometimes been identified as his sister.
[4] During the Civil War he remained loyal to the king and queen, and was rewarded by the grant of several manors in Essex and Suffolk.
He followed Charles II into exile in France and in 1651-52 was sent on diplomatic missions to Eastern Europe, primarily to raise funds.
In 1658 he was ennobled as Baron Crofts of Saxham and in that year was given charge of James, the illegitimate son of Charles II by Lucy Walter, who had recently died.
In 1667 he succeeded his father, inheriting Little Saxham Hall, the family seat, which he made his home.