Proceeds of the Protector, Letter 2 – Warrant 2
Sir Henry Vane his Letter to Mr. Jeſſop upon the receipt of this Order of the Councill.
Sir,
IT is a great quiet to my minde, and ſatisfaction to my conſcience in the ſight of God and man; to perceive at the firſt entrance into my ſufferings, that the Witneſſe owned by me, under the title of a Healing Queſtion (when I was at White-hall 21. preſent) which aſſerts the Principles, Spirit, and Juſtice of the Cauſe we have profeſſed and fought for in our late Warrs) is now thought fit by thoſe that are in power to have the name given to it of ſeditious, eſpecially conſidering that the Healing nature, and great tendency, that cleerly ſhineth forth thorow-out that diſcourſe (to the uniting the whole party of honeſt men in the true publipue intereſt warranted by the Lawes of the Land, and in away of ſafety againſt common danger) doth with its own evidence wipe of the blemiſh of that reproach, with the ſame breath that it is caſton.
Nay I can truly ſay, I am very well content to take this as a marke of honour from thoſe that ſent it, and as the recompence of former ſervices, as knowing a better reward is laid up for me in his hands, thorough the wiſedome of whoſe providence, this may be the means prepared to keep me unſpotted, and undefiled from the evills of theſe back-ſliding times unto the day of Chriſts appearance, which ſhall be my joy, when my enemies ſhall be aſhamed.
Nor can I but obſerve in this proceeding with me, how exactly thoſe that have made this Order do in this (as in many other things at this day) tread in the ſteps of the late king whoſe deſigne being (as is expreſt in the Remonſtrance of the ſtate of the Kingdome 15. December 1642.) to ſet the Government free from all reſtraint of Laws concerning our perſons and eſtates, and to render the Monarchy abſolute, did thinke he could have no better means to effect it, than to caſt into obloquie and diſgrace, all thoſe that deſired to preſerve the Laws and Liberties of the Nation, and to mantain Religion in the power of it, under the names of Puritans, factious and ſeditious perſons, as well knowing that the light of their pinciples and practices, were like to ſtand moſt in the way of bringing to paſſe ſuch an evill deſigne.
And truly it is with no ſmall grief, at this time to be lamented, that the evill, and wreched principles of the miſgovernment, which the King then aymed to worke out his deſigne by, but could not effect, ſhould now revive, and ſpring up ſo evidently in the hands of men profeſſing godlineſſe (to the great prophaning, and reproach of Gods name) and arrived at maturity in practice, which former times abhorred to thinke of, and the deſigners themſelves with all their pollicy and power could never reach.
This appearing but with too much evidence in my conſcience, when the preſent Governours held themſelves obliged to call the people of theſe three Nations unto a day of publique humiliation, and to invite to the giving in of Light and conviction, with a free and open profeſſion of a ready ſubjection of mind thereunto, was a chief motive that induced me to prepare my Witueſs, as I did, which being asked for from me by one of the Councill, I delivered in writing and it continued in their hands about a Months ſpace, with out any prohibition to Print, & then was put to the Preſſe in the ordinary way of all other bookes, and had the uſuall warrant for the comming forth, and nothing laid to its Charge ever ſince, till (for what reaſon of State I know not) it is now thought meet to be called ſeditious, and occaſion is taken thereby to threaten me with Bonds, unto which I ſay the will of the Lord be done; through whoſe ſupporting grace I am made not carefull in this matter, and therefore have been willing (without any circumlocution or advantage I might have taken) to own with all readines that Witneſs for which the Lord hath given me a heart moſt freely to ſuffer whatſoever he ſhall call me unto, in the faithfull diſcharge of a good conſcience therein. And this being ſaid (as is needfull in my own vindication) my Anſwer to the Paper, that ordereth me to ſtand committed, unleſſe I will give ſecurity by Bond, &c. and ſo by my own voluntary Act, do that which may blemiſh and render ſuſpect my innocency, and the juſtice and Good of the Cauſe I ſuffer for; is this, That my purpoſe is God willing, to give no ſuch Bond, but rather expoſe my ſelf to the commitment mentioned; althoughl muſt ingeniouſly profeſſ, I neither know, nor acknowledge the Authority, which thoſe that have made the Order, do exerciſe over me in this Caſe: Nor do I conceive their Votes and Orders have a binding force by the Lawes of the Nation. This is my Anſwer to the Paper I received from you, which I deſire may be accordingly preſented to their view, that ordered my Commitment; my intentions being to make uſe of the little time of liberty, which is remaining to my own diſpoſe for the viſiting of my near Relations in Kent where I ſhall be ſure to be heard of, and however do propound to my ſelf not above a weeks ſtay, before my return again to my Houſe in the Strand, ſo ſubſcribes
Henry Vane
A true Coppy of the firſt warrant. To Edward Dendy Eſq. Serjant at Arms attending the Councill, or to his Deputies and every of them.
VVHereas upon conſideration of a ſeditious Book written and publiſhed by Sir Hen. Vane Knight, Enti…uſed An Healing Queſtion Propounded and Reſolved, &c. tending to the diſturbance of the Preſent Government and the peace of the Common-wealth. It was Ordered by his Highneſſe and the Councill on the 21. of Auguſt laſt, that if he ſhould not give good ſecurity in 5000 pounds Bond by Tweſday then next coming, to do nothing to the prejudice of this preſent Government, or of the peace of the Common-wealth, he ſhould ſtand Committed. And whereas he hath not given ſecurity according to the tenor of that Order, but refuſeth to do the ſame. Theſe are therefore to will and require you forthwith to apprehend, and take into your charge, the body of the ſaid Sir Henery Vane, and him to convey in ſafe cuſtody to the Iſle of Wight, and there to deliver him to the Governour of th…r Iſland, or to his D…puty, to be by him diſpoſed of according to the Order of his Highneſſe and the Councill. Hereof you are not to fail: And for ſo doing this ſhall be your ſufficient Warrant.
Signed in the Name and by Order of his Highneſſe and the Councill Henry Lawrence Preſident. Given at Whit-hall this 4. day of September 1656.
A Coppy of the Warrant to the Governour of the Iſle of Wight or his Deputy.
Whereas upon conſideration of a ſeditious Book written and publiſhed by Sir Henry Vane Knight, entituled an Healing Queſtion Propounded and Reſolved &c. tending to the diſturbance of the preſent Government and the peace of the Commmonwealth. It was Ordered by his Highneſſe, and the Councill on the 21. of Aug. laſt, That if he ſhould not give good ſecurity in 5000 l. Bond by …weſday then next coming, to do nothing to the prejudice of the preſent Government. or of peace of the Commonwealth, he ſhould ſtand Comitted. And whereas he hath not given ſecurity according to the tenor of that Order, butrefuſes to do the ſame. Theſe are therefore to will and require you, to receive into your Charge from the Bearer hereof, the body of the ſaid Sir Honry Vane, and him to ſecure, and keep in ſafe cuſtody in ſuch place within the Iſle of Wight under your Command, as you ſhall judge moſt convenient, not ſuffering him to ſpeak with any perſon during his abode there, but in the preſence of ſome Officer, and to continue him thus under cuſtody till you ſhall receive other Order; whereof you are not to faile. And for ſo doing this ſhall be your Warrant.
Signed in the name and by Order of his Highneſſe and the Council, Hen. Lawrence, Pr. Given at White-hall this fourth day of September, 1656.