Proceeds of the Protector, Title page – To the reader
The PROCEEDS of the PROTECTOR (ſo called) and his COUNCILL againſt Sir HENRY VANE, Knight.
A late Eminent MEMBER of the COƲNCILL of STATE of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND: As touching his Impriſonment in the Iſle of WIGHT.
Together with his Teſtimony delivered in writing to the ſaid Protector, by way of a peculiar addreſſe to himſelf, and faithfull advice of an old Friend and Acquaintance.
Faithfully Tranſcribed and Atteſted out of the Original Copy's,
And publiſhed by a reall Well-wiſher to SIONS Proſperity and ENGLANDS Liberty.
Prov. 29.1.
He that being often Reproved, hardeneth his Neek, ſhall ſudaenly be deſtroyed, and that without remedy.
Gal. 2.18.
For if I build again the things that I have deſtroyed, I make my ſelf a Tranſgreſſor.
Reader,
THou haſt here a true Narrative of the whole proceedings againſt Sir Henry Vane Knight, and his Impriſonment in the Iſle of Wight. Occaſion being taken (as thou wilt find) from his writing and publiſhing a diſcourſe Entituled, An Healing Queſtion, &c. tending to the Compoſure and Ʋniting all honeſt mens hearts and ſpirits, who from the firſt beginning of all the Warr all along have been engaged in the Cauſe of true Freedome, againſt Oppreſſion and Tyranny, unto which he was invited by the Declaration for a ſolemn Faſt, ſet forth by thoſe in power, the thirteenth day of March 1655. exciting the good people of England and Wales to wait upon the Lord for light and conviction, profeſſing in the ſight of God and man, a moſt willing mind readily to receive, when convincingly offered by any.
This being in ſhort the true ſtate of the Caſe, and falling providentially into my hands, out of duty to my Countrey, and reſpect to that worthy Patriot (who at this day ſo eminently ſuffers for the Cauſe of God, and true Freedome, and that from the hands of thoſe he hath deſerved better meaſure) I have expoſed the whole to publique view, that thereby thou mayeſt be informed of the truth, and the Nation may know what is become of ſo conſiderable a Member, who may deſervedly be a Pattern for all true Engliſh men to immitate, in this Apoſtatizing and back-ſliding Age.
The Copy of the Summons for Sir Henry Vane Knight his firſt appearance at White-hall.
In purſuance of an Order of his Highneſſe and the Councill, you are to attend the Councill on Thurſday the 12. of Auguſt next, at 11. of the Clock in the fore-noon, Dated at White-hall this 29. July 1656.
Subſcribed by Henry Lawrence Preſident.
To Sir Henry Vane Knight.
A true Copy of Sir Henry Vane his Anſwer ſent to this Sommons.
Sir,
LEaſt my ſilence might be miſ-interpreted upon the laſt Paper, I have received, ſubſcribed (as I ſuppoſe) with your hand, appointing my attendance at White-hall the 12. inſtant: I have held my ſelf obliged to returne you this account, that my purpoſe is (God willing) to ſet forward from this place to my Houſe in the Strand, the beginning of the next week, which is aſſoon as I can well expect to have a Coach to meet me half way, this very hot ſeaſon for travail, and my own being in no condition to performe ſo long a journey upon ſo ſhort a warning given to.
Belleaw the 4. of Auguſt 1656. Your humble Servant Hen. Vane.
To Henry Lawrence Eſquire, Preſident of the Councill at White-hall.
Sir Henry Vane's Letter to Mr. Jeſſop Clerk to the Councill at White-hall preſently after his coming to London.
Sir,
IT being declared by Parliament (as is very well known) that it is againſt the Laws and Liberties of England, that any of the people thereof ſhould be commanded by the King (when there was one, to attend him at his pleaſure) but ſuch as are bound thereunto by ſpeciall ſervice (which others therefore are not) It will I hope be permitted me without offence, to claim the ſame priviledge and liberty in theſe times, and in the caſe of the Sommons ſent me, wherein I find no cauſe for my appearance expreſſed but meer will and pleaſure: Yet in vindication of the innocent, and peacable deportment I live in according to the Laws; I have not refuſed to be upon the place at my Houſe here in the Strand ever ſince Thurſday night laſt, as I made known unto you by this Bearer the next Morning. And as ever ſince I have been, ſo I am ſtill ready to appear when I ſhall be ſent for, untill the preſſingneſſe of my occaſions (in reference to my Family concerns, which at this time by reaſon of my Fathers Debts are very great, and heavy upon me) ſhall require my attendance upon them in other places of the Nation. All which I held my ſelf obliged to make known unto you in the relation you ſtand in, eſpecially not having heard from you Yeſterday, as I ſuppoſe I might. I am
Charring-Croſſe Houſe the 20. Auguſt 1656. Your Servant H. V.
For Mr. Jeſſop, Clerk to the Councill at White-hall.
The firſt Order of the Councill concerning Sir Hen. Vane here followeth.
Thurſday, the 21. of Auguſt 1656. At the Councill at White-hall.
SIr Henry Vane having this day appeared before the Councill, and they having taken coſideration of a ſeditious book by him written and publiſhed, entituled a Healing Queſtion propounded and refolved &c. the ſame tending to the diſturbance of the preſent Government, and the peace of the Common-wealth, Ordered that if Sr. Henry Vane ſhall not give good ſecurity in five thouſand pond bond by Thurſday next to do nothing to the prejudice of the preſent Government, and the peace of the Common-wealth, he ſhall ſtand committed, and that Orders be drawn up accordingly.
W. Jeſſop Clerk of the Councill.