The Trial of Henry Vane, Part 15
His SPEECH on the SCAFFOLD.
Gentlemen, fellow-Countrymen, and Chriſtians,
VVHen Mr. Sheriff came to me this morning, and told me he had received a Command from the King, that I ſhould ſay nothing reflecting upon his Majeſty or the Government; I anſwered, I ſhould confine and order my Speech, as near as I could, ſo as to be leaſt offenſive, ſaving my faithfulneſs to the Truſt repoſed in me, which I muſt ever diſcharge with a good Conſcience unto Death; for I ever valued a man, according to his faithfulneſs to the Truſt repoſed in him, even on his Majeſties behalf, in the late Controverſie. And if you dare truſt my diſcretion, Mr. Sheriff, I ſhall do nothing but what becomes a good Chriſtian and an Engliſhman; and ſo I hope I ſhall be civilly dealt with.
When Mr. Sheriffs Chaplain came to me laſt night about twelve of the clock, to bring me, as he called it, the fatal Meſſage of Death, it pleaſed the Lord to bring that Scripture to my mind, in the third of Zechary, to intimate to me, that he was now taking away my filthy garments, cauſing mine iniquities to paſs from me, with intention to give me change of raiment, and that my mortal ſhould put on Immortality.
I ſuppoſe you may wonder when I ſhall tell you that I am not brought hither according to any known Law of the Land. It is true, I have been before a Court of Juſtice, (and am now going to appear before a greater Tribunal, where I am to give an account of all my actions) under their Sentence I ſtand here at this time. When I was before them, I could not have the liberty and priviledge of an Engliſhman, the grounds, reaſons, and cauſes of the Actings I was charged with, duly conſidered: I therefore deſired the Judges, that they would ſet their Seals to my Bill of Exceptions; I preſſed hard for it again and again, as the Right of my ſelf, and every free-born Engliſh-man, by the Law of the Land; but was finally denied it.—
Here Sir John Robinſon (Lieutenant of the Tower) interrupted him, ſaying, Sir, you muſt not go on thus, and (in a furious manner, generally obſerved, even to the diſ-ſatisfaction of ſome of their own attendants) ſaid, that he railed againſt the Judges, and that it was a lye, and I am here (ſayes he) to teſtifie that it is falſe.
Sir Henry Vane replied, God will judge between me and you in this matter. I ſpeak but matter of Fact, and cannot you bear that? 'Tis evident, the Judges have refuſed to ſign my Bill of Exceptions—Then the Trumpets were ordered to ſound or murre in his face, with a contemptible noiſe, to hinder his being heard. At which Sir Henry (lifting up his hand, and then laying it on his breaſt) ſaid, What mean you Gentlemen? is this your uſage of me? did you uſe all the reſt ſo? I had even done (as to that) could you have been patient, but ſeeing you cannot bear it, I ſhall only ſay this, That whereas the Judges have refuſed to ſeal that with their hands, that they have done; I am come to ſeal that with my Blood, that I have done. Therefore leaving this matter, which I perceive will not be born, I judge it meet to give you ſome account of my Life.
I might tell you, I was born a Gentleman, had the education, temper and ſpirit of a Gentleman, as well as others, being (in my youthfull dayes) inclined to the vanities of this world, and to that which they call Good-fellowſhip, judging it to be the only means of accompliſhing a Gentleman. But about the fourteenth or fifteenth year of my age, (which is about thirty four or five years ſince) God was pleaſed to lay the foundation or ground-work of Repentance in me, for the bringing me home to himſelf, by his wonderful rich and free Grace, revealing his Son in me, that by the knowledge of the onelyonly true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, I might (even whilſt here in the body) be made partaker of Eternal Life, in the firſt-fruits of it.
When my Conſcience was thus awakened, I found my former courſe to be diſloyalty to God, prophaneneſs, and a way of ſin and death, which I did with tears and bitterneſs bewail, as I had cauſe to do. Since that foundation of Repentance laid in me, through Grace I have been kept ſteadfaſt, deſiring to walk in all good Conſcience towards God and towards men, according to the beſt light and underſtanding God gave me. For this, I was willing to turn by back upon my Eſtate, expoſe my ſelf to hazards in Forreign parts; yea, nothing ſeemed difficult to me, ſo I might preſerve Faith and a good Conſcience, which I prefer before all things; and do earneſtly perſwade all people rather to ſuffer the higheſt contradictions from men, than diſobey God, by contradicting the light of their own Conſcience. In this, it is, I ſtand with ſo much comfort and boldneſs before you all this day, and upon this occaſion; being aſſured, that I ſhall at laſt ſit down in Glory with Chriſt, at his right hand. I ſtand here this day, to reſign up my Spirit into the hands of that God that gave it me. Death is but a little word, but 'tis a great work to die, it is to be but once done, and after this cometh the Judgment, even the Judgment of the great God, which it concerns us all to prepare for. And by this Act, I do receive a diſcharge, once for all, out of Priſon, even the Priſon of the mortal body alſo, which to a true Chriſtian is a burdenſom weight.
In all reſpects, wherein I have been concerned and engaged as to the Publick, my deſign hath been to accompliſh Good things for theſe Nations. Then (lifting up his eyes, and ſpreading his hands) he ſaid, I do here appeal to the great God of Heaven, and all this Aſſembly, or any other perſons, to ſhew wherein I have defiled my hands with any mans Blood or Eſtate, or that I have ſought my ſelf in any publick capacity or place I have been in.
The Cauſe was three times ſtated.
1. In the Remonſtrance of the Houſe of Commons.
2. In the Covenant, the Solemn League and Covenant—Upon this the Trumpets ſounded, the Sheriff catched at the Paper in his hand, and Sir John Robinſon, who at firſt had acknowledged that he had nothing to do there, wiſhing the Sheriff to ſee to it, yet found himſelf ſomething to do now, furiouſly calling for the Writers-Books, and ſaying, he treats of Rebellion, and you write it. Hereupon ſix Note-Books were delivered up. The Priſoner was very patient and compoſed under all theſe injuries and ſoundings of the Trumpets ſeveral times in his face, only ſaying, 'Twas hard he might not be ſuffered to ſpeak; but ſayes he, my uſage from man is no harder than was my Lord and Maſters; And all that will live his life this day, muſt expect hard dealing from the worldly ſpirit—The Trumpets ſounded again, to hinder his being heard. Then again Robinſon and two or three others, endeavoured to ſnatch the Paper out of Sir Henry's hand, but he kept it for a while, now and then reading part of it; afterwards, tearing it in pieces, he delivered it to a Friend behind him, who was preſently forced to deliver it to the Sheriff. Then they put their hands into his pockets for Papers (as was pretended) which bred great confuſion and diſſatisfaction to the Spectators, ſeeing a Priſoner ſo ſtrangely handled in his dying words. This was exceeding remarkable, in the midſt of all this diſorder, the Priſoner himſelf was obſerved to be of the moſt conſtant, compoſed ſpirit and countenance, which he throughout ſo excellently manifeſted, that a Royalliſt ſwore, he dyed like a Prince.
The Priſoner, ſuſpecting beforehand the diſorder afore-mentioned, writ the main Subſtance of what he intended to ſpeak on the Scaffold, in that Paper they catched at, and which he tore in pieces, delivering it to a Friend, from whom the Sheriff had it as above-ſaid; the true Copy whereof, was by the Priſoner carefully committed to a ſafe hand before he came to the Scaffold, which take as followeth.
THe Work which I am at this time called unto, in this place, (as upon a Publick Theater) is, to Die, and receive a Diſcharge, once for all, out of Priſon; to do that, which is but once to be done; the doing or not doing of which well, and as becomes a Chriſtian, does much depend upon the life we have been taught of God to lead, before we come to this: They that live in the Faith, do alſo die in it: Faith is ſo far from leaving Chriſtians in this hour, that the work of it breaks forth then into its greateſt power; as if till then, it were not enough at freedom to do its office, that is, to look into the things that are unſeen, with moſt ſteadfaſtneſs, certainty, and delight; which is the great Sweetner of Death, and Remover of its Sting.
Give me leave therefore in a very few words, to give you an account of my Life, and of the wonderful great Grace and Mercy of God, in bringing me home to himſelf, and revealing his Son in me; that by the knowledge of the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, I might (even whilſt here in the body) be made partaker of Eternal Life, in the firſt fruits of it; and at laſt ſit down with Chriſt in Glory, at his right-hand.
Here I ſhall mention ſome remarkable paſſages and changes of my Life; In particular, how unſought for by my ſelf, I was called to be a Member of the Long Parliament; what little advantage I had by it; and by what ſteps I became ſatisfied with the Cauſe I was engaged in, and did purſue the ſame.
What the Cauſe was, did firſt ſhew it ſelf, in the firſt Remonſtrance of the Houſe of Commons.
Secondly, in the Solemn League and Covenant.
Thirdly, in the more refined purſuit of it by the Commons Houſe, in their Actings ſingle: with what Reſult they were growing up into, which was in the breaſt of the Houſe, and unknown; or what the three Propoſals, mentioned in my Charge, would have come to at laſt, I ſhall not need now to ſay; but only, from all put together, to aſſert, That this Cauſe which was owned by the Parliament, was the CAUSE of GOD, and for the Promoting of the Kingdom of his dear Son, JESUS CHRIST; wherein are comprehended our Liberties and Duties, both as Men and as Chriſtians.
And ſince it hath pleaſed God, who ſeparated me from the womb to the knowledge and ſervice of the Goſpel of his Son, to ſeparate me alſo to this hard and difficult ſervice at this time, and to ſingle me out to the defence and juſtification of this his Cauſe, I could not conſent by any words or actions of mine, that the innocent Blood that hath been ſhed in the defence of it, throughout the whole War, (the Guilt and moral evil of which, muſt and does certainly lye ſomewhere) did lye at my door, or at theirs that have been the faithful Adherers to this Cauſe. This is with ſuch evidence upon my heart, that I am moſt freely and chearfully willing, to put the greateſt Seal to it I am capable, which is, the pouring out of my very Blood in witneſs to it; which is all I ſhall need to ſay in this place, and at this time, having ſpoken at large to it in my Defence at my Tryal, intending to have ſaid more the laſt day, as what I thought was reaſonable for Arreſt of the Judgment, but I was not permitted then to ſpeak it; Both which may with time and God's providence, come to publick view.
And I muſt ſtill aſſert, That I remain wholly unſatisfied, that the courſe of proceedings againſt me at my Tryal were according to Law, but that I was run upon and deſtroyed, contrary to Right, and the Liberties of Magna Charta, under the form only of Juſtice: which I leave to God to decide, who is the Judge of the whole World, and to clear my Innocency; Whilſt in the mean time, I beſeech him to forgive them, and all that have had a hand in my Death; and that the Lord in his great mercy will not lay it unto their charge.
And I do account this Lot of mine no other, than what is to be expected by thoſe that are not of the World, but whom Chriſt hath choſen out of it; for the Servant is not greater than his Lord; And if they have done this to the green tree, they will do it much more to the dry.
However, I ſhall not altogether excuſe my ſelf. I know, that by many weakneſſes and failers, I have given occaſion enough of the ill uſage I have met with from men, though, in the main, the Lord knows the ſincerity and integrity of my heart, whatever Aſperſions and Reproaches I have or do lye under. I know alſo that God is juſt, in bringing this Sentence and Condemnation upon me, for my ſins; there is a body of ſin and death in me, deſerves this Sentence; and there is a ſimilitude and likeneſs alſo, that, as a Chriſtian, God thinks me worthy to bear with my Lord and head, in many circumſtances in reference to theſe dealings I have met with, in the good I have been endeavouring for many years to be doing in theſe Nations, and eſpecially now at laſt, in being numbred amongſt tranſgreſſors and made a publick Sacrifice, through the wrath and contradictions of men, and in having finiſhed my courſe, and fought the good fight of Faith, and reſiſted in a way of ſuffering (as you ſee) even unto blood.
This is but the needful preparation the Lord hath been working in me, to the receiving of the Crown of Immortality, which he hath prepared for them that love him, The proſpect whereof is ſo chearing, that through the Joy (in it) that is ſet before the eyes of my Faith, I can, through mercy, endure this Croſs, deſpiſe this Shame, and am become more than Conquerour, through Chriſt that hath loved me.
For my Life, Eſtate and all, is not ſo dear to me as my Service to God, to his Cauſe, to the Kingdom of Chriſt, and the future welfare of my Country; and I am taught according to the Example, as well as that moſt Chriſtian ſaying of a Noble Perſon that lately died after this publick manner in Scotland; How much better is it to chuſe Affliction and the Croſs, than to ſin or draw back from the Service of the Living God, into the wayes of Apoſtacy and Perdition.
That Noble Perſon, whoſe Memory I honour, was with my ſelf at the beginning and making of the Solemn League and Covenant, the Matter of which, and the holy Ends therein contained, I fully aſſent unto, and have been as deſirous to obſerve; but the rigid way of proſecuting it, and the oppreſſing Uniformity that hath bin endeavored by it. I never approved.
This were ſufficient to vindicate me from the falſe Aſperſions and Calumnies which have been laid upon me, of Jeſuitiſm and Popery, and almoſt what not, to make my Name of ill ſavour with good men; which dark miſts do now diſpel of themſelves, or at leaſt ought, and need no pains of mine in making an Apology.
For if any man ſeek a proof of Chriſt in me, let him reade it in his action of my Death, which will not ceaſe to ſpeak when I am gone; And henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jeſus.
I ſhall not deſire in this place to take up much time, but only, as my laſt words, leave this with you: That as the preſent ſtorm we now lie under, and the dark Clouds that yet hang over the Reformed Churches of Chriſt, (which are coming thicker and thicker for a ſeaſon) were not un-fore-ſeen by me for many years paſſed, (as ſome Writings of mine declare:) So the coming of Chriſt in theſe Clouds, in order to a ſpeedy and ſudden Revival of his Cauſe, and ſpreading his Kingdom over the face of the whole Earth, is moſt clear to the eye of my Faith, even that Faith in which I dye, whereby the Kingdoms of this world ſhall become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Chriſt. Amen. Even ſo, come, Lord Jeſus.