Sir HARRY VANE'S LAST SIGH FOR The Committee of Safety, Breathed forth in Discourses and Conferences with the Right Honourable, VICE-ADMIRAL LAWSON, On the Seventeenth of December 1659. aboard the GREAT JAMES.  
LONDON: Printed in the Year of our Lord. 1659.   

Sir HARRY VANE'S last Sigh for the Committee of Safety, etc.  
THe Committee of Safety, and the most Illustrious Council of Officers assembled at Wallingford House, having received the sad and doleful news of Lawsons' Revolt from their depraved Designs, were now in a peck of Troubles: Hath he, quoth they, forsaken us in the midst of our adversities, and deserted us in the most unfortunate Juncture of our Calamities? At this they sighed, and looked demurely toward Heaven, yet not so, but that a man might perceive such a kind of malice mixed therewith, as threatened God himself for not giving a satisfactory answer to the demands of their late public and private Fasts. From lamenting they fell to debating, and after they had turned over all the leaves of their Imaginations, they could find but one Receipt to stop the bleeding Wound of their almost perishing Interest: For to revive their dull and drooping spirits, up steps Sir Harry Vane, who opening his mouth, thus bespoke the Congregation of Warlike Saints, Quoth he, I did not think, dear Brethren, I profess I did not think our late Vice-Admiral would have left us in the Suds (God grant we may scape their scouring) I thought he had been a surer Card, I thought we might have played with him securely, and that he would have proved a Trump, yea a constant Van Trump unto us, even to the winning of our Game, but it seems it proves otherwise, yet it may be that I may reclaim him for all this; I am sure he owes muc● unto me, for when he was but an infant, and knew nothing of mischief, I suckled him with the sweet milk of State Policy, I brought him into employment, and taught him to climb the shaouds of Preferment, and having nursed him to full maturity, placed him where he is, 
* But Ahitophel was mistaken, and therefore may now go set his house in order.  hoping that he would prove unto us the Instrument of our salvation; therefore I will go speak with him, and put home his ingratitude to his heart, and if his heart be not over hardened, I may perchance cause him to relent. Oh, quoth Fleetwood, talk not of ingratitude, and then weeping more bitterly than St Peter, my ingratitude, said he, hath undone me, for I pulled out my Brother in Law by the ears, for which I could now tear my flesh; what hopes have we to find him other wise than ingrateful, that were so ourselves? But Sir Harry commending the oiliness of his tongue, and his Ulysses-like subtlety, prevailed with them that he might make a trial of them both, and was forth with commanded, without delay, to make the utmost proof of his skill in that their time of distress. Now that he might not go alone, there were added to him Major Saloway, in whom they imagined there was much Oratory, because he once dealt in Raisins, and Mr. Thankful Owen, a Priest of a late Edition, one who having missed the great Harvest wherein Marshal, Nye, and Peter reaped, is now come into play, thinking to pick up the glean of Ephraim, whose business doubtless was to urge Scripture, and with his Christian name to put the Vice-admiral in mind of Sir Harry's former kindnesses; with these went along one Mr. Courtney, famous for nothing, but that he was a chip of the same block. On the 17. instant they went aboard the James, where they found the Vice-Admiral not alone, but having his Assistants with him, Colonel Okey, and Mr. Scot, one able to encounter the subtleties of Sir Harry, well knowing every chink and cranny of his brain. Then retreating into the great Cabin, they fell to work.  Vane. 
Vice-Admiral, I am come.  Vice-Admiral. 
I see you are come, but to what purpose I know not; had your Lady come, I might have thought she had longed to eat some of our Ship-Beef.  Vane. 
I say Sir, I am come from the Committee of Safety.  Vice-Admiral. 
No, but you are not; for you are come from the Committee of Danger, or to speak more properly, you are come from the Committee in Danger.  Vane. 
They may thank you for it.  Vice-Admiral. 
I know no reason I have given them to be so courteous: but I have heard that there is craft in courtesy, which I believe is the reason that you give me this visit.  Vane. 
'Tis the good of the Commonwealth that draws me hither.  Vice-Admiral. 
Truly I cannot believe it; for you yet bear about you the badge of Kingship, and your Name still wears a Title received from Monarchy.  Vane. 
My wife will not let me leave it off, out of a resolution she has to die a Lady.  Vice-Admiral. 
But to board your grand Design: What is your Errand hither? I know you have seen a great Ship before; there was never a one launched, but you were invited aboard, when you were a Commissioner of the Navy. You got sweetly by that, Sir Harry.  Vane. 
And so may you get too, if you'll be ruled by me.  Owen. 
Sir, you have put your hand to the Plough, and it is a great sin to draw it back.  Vice-Admiral. 
Sir, I am not to answer for that sin, let it light on the head of your Major General Disborow.  Vane. 
But, Sir, will you not receive money? 'Tis the mark of a Saint not to refuse it.  Vice-Admiral. 
For what should I receive it? or who should give it me?  Vane. 

Honestly spoke, Sir Harry.  I, and my Faction will, so you engage to betray your Trust.  Vice-Admiral. 
'Tis fairly promised; but for aught I see, you have none, I will not say, for yourselves; but none to pay your small Army: and for us at Sea, you can hardly allow us Biscuit. But would you then have me to betray my Trust, Sir Harry?  Vane. 
Yes, for the good of the Public: and truly if you do not, I shall not take you for a Saint; for gold will tempt a Saint.  Scot 
Truly, Sir Harry, though you have an English Nose, yet you have got a Roman Conscience.  Vice-Admiral. 
But pray Sir Harry make good your Paradox.  Vane. 
That I shall, and with ease. You seem to be unwilling to take money to betray your Trust; now I shall make it out that you may: for, those things we call sins, are no sins, if he that commits them do direct his intention aright. As for example: Should you take money of us, out of a malicious design to betray your Trust, 
Excellent doctrine.  and be revenged upon those that employed you, than it were a sin: but your intention being directed to your own advantage and profit, which is a good to yourself, and a thing which a man may lawfully seek after, this makes it cease to be a crime. Thus an Incumbent may without any mortal sin, wish the death of him that hath a Pension out of his Living: And a Son may wish the death of his Father, and rejoice when it happens; provided, it proceed only from a consideration of the advantage which accrues to him thereby, and not out of any personal hatred.  Scot 
Truly Sir Harry I have writ many a Sermon in the Abbey, but never heard this doctrine before now.  Vane. 
It may be so, Sir, but I have seen it practised before now, and could bring you the example of many professors to prove it.  Scot 
I have heard you speak, Sir Harry, and the Vice-admiral may do what he pleases; but if he would be persuaded by me, I should not advise him to run into hell headlong.  Vane. 
Surely, Mr. Scot, I never feared any such place; and I thought you had been so much a Statesman as not to have feared it neither.  Salmon. 
Verily, I am persuaded in my spirit, Mr. Lawson, that you ought to obey the Present power, truly I have always obeyed the Present power, and I hope shall as long as I live.  Owen. 
I thank the Lord I can be comformable to my Superiors, when they conform to my interest, and therefore Mr. Vice-admiral, truly I would have you be conformable to them, since they seek to be conformable to you. Certainly if you will not own them, the Lord will own his own cause.  Courtney. 

With a tobacco pipein● mouth  For my part, I think out Divisions do but give advantages to the common Enemy, and therefore I would have you make an end of these differences.  Vice. 
Gentlemen, I see here you all speak me fair for your own Interest: 'tis true, your Intelligencer General said, that your Interest would not lie, but he is such a lying fellow himself, that I can neither believe him, nor you neither for his sake. But now I take of Interest, pray tell me what your Interest is.  Vane. 
Our Interest is the good of the Nation.  Vice. 
So says Charles Stewart, but what reason have I to believe you more than him?  Vane. 
'Tis that we have fought for. No Kingship, and the Liberty of the Subject.  Vice-admiral. 
What becomes then of the Privileges of Parliament?  Vane. 
My L. Lambert has taken them away, lest they should take away him: 
You know his son was to marry Lambert's daughter, but we doubt the Match is spoiled,  and truly my Interest is so woven with his, that I cannot safely forsake him.  Vice-Admiral. 
Why, then you are for a single Person?  Vane 
No! we will have Conservators joined with him.  Vice-Admiral. 
Conservators! I understand not the word: and truly, Gentlemen, I am clearly against a Government of Hard Names.  Vane. 
But the word may be explained; they are men elected to preserve the peace of the Nation.  Vice-Admiral. 
By what power?  Vane. 
By your Council of Officers, according to the Instrument of Government.  Vice-admiral. 
What is become of that Instrument?  Vane. 
We did light our Tobacco with it in the Council-Chamber.  Vice-admiral. 
And would you be governed by a thing which you have so contemptibly thrown away? Truly, Gentlemen, I see you would have something, but know not what yourselves: and therefore, as you may see in print, I do here again declare positively, for the last Parliament, whose subversion you did, and still do so laboriously intent.  Vane. 
That's no Parliament, or, at most, but the Rump of a Parliament.  Vice-admiral. 
The better able to sit, Sir Harry.  Vane. 
But they will turn me out; and then people will cry, There goes the Parliament Fart.  Scot 
'Tis very probable: and I wish that they could so turn you out, that you might leave no stink behind.  Saloway. 
Truly, I wonder at you, Vice-Admiral, that you should be for that which all the people hate, The Rump of a Parliament.  Vice-admiral. 
Then it seems, good man of Plums, the people do not hate you at all.  Saloway. 
Alas, We care not for their hatred: and would you but stick by us with your Navy, than we should have an Army to quell them, and we might then with as much ease ride upon the backs of the people, as on the backs of our Horses. Besides, it is a sign that you are Episcopal, it being the attribute of a Bishop to love Rumps.  Owen. 
I hope not so, Major; for I love Rumps and Kidneys too, and yet I am no Bishop.  Vice-admiral. 
Truly, Major, I find neither of your Reasons to be thorough-paced: for, as to the former, the Gentleman that spoke last, hath given you a sufficient answer: and as to the latter, give me leave to tell you, 'tis an ill time to ride the people, for I perceive them to be in a very skittish posture.  Sal. 
Really, Gentlemen, I think this difference might be easily reconciled: For I see the Vice-Admiral is for a Parliament; and if so, why may not another Parliament serve his turn as well as this? therefore, say I, let us have a new Parliament, and a free one, once more elected. For, to say truth, Vice Admiral, should that Parliament sit which you stand for, we are utterly lost: And what harm have we done you, that you should seek our confusion?  Owen. 
What think you of a Parliament of women? Truly Vice-admiral, I am confident they would settle the Ministry, for I find them very respective to me in particular.  Vice-Admiral. 
Sir, you speak gravely, but not at all wisely.  Salmon. 
Certainly we might bond and confine the Election to such qualifications, that neither you nor we might receive any prejudice by it. For my part I am clearly against Swearers and Whoremongers.  Vane. 
And I am for no Cavaliers.  Courtney. 
Nor I for Adulterers.  Saloway. 
I am for no Papists.  Owen. 
I would have them all gifted men, and Praise-God Barebones.  Scot 
You talk, gentlemans, as if you were to choose a Parliament in the Kingdom of Christ: for these Exceptions are not to be made on Earth, unless you, Master Owen, can take sin out of the World. And as for Praise God Barebones, let us have no more of them for they delivered up our Liberties before into the hands of a single Person. But, I pray Gentlemen, why do ye speak against them whom you call the Rump? What power have you to hinder them? Doth not Sir Arthur increase? and the Vice-Admiral stand bravely to his Tackling for it? Then with what impudent faces can you make these Proposals in the low ebb of your condition? for my part, I think we are as wise as you, and as cunning as you, and as good men as you, and therefore why we may not govern as well as you, I know no reason?  Vane. 
Truly, Vice-Admiral, this Gentleman hath spoke well; but the Government is now in our hands, and should there be another. Change, and that so suddenly, what would our Neighbours, but accuse us for the most light and inconstant Nation of the whole World.  Vice-admiral. 
In answer to this, I shall tell ye, that when you put them out, it was force, but if they put you out, you ought in Christi●n piety to suffer it: for you must do as you would be done unto. Now since you put the Change upon them, you must not take it ill that they put the Change upon you.  Saloway. 
But this is not the way to settle the Nation.  Vice-admiral. 
And when do you think Lambert will settle it? Surely, he loves himself too well, to settle the Nation before he settle himself; and when he will do that, who can tell, since he must ask Monck leave before he can do it. Or if he should settle it, who will secure us that Sir Harry Vane will not trouble it again? I am sure none of his friends in New-England, for they knew him too well, and were glad they were rid of him.  Vane. 
Had I known you would have been at this lock, I would soon have spoiled your troubling of us now.  Vice-admiral. 
But now 'tis past your skill and cunning, good Sir Harry.  Vane. 
The worse is my luck, and the better yours, Mr. Vice-Admiral. But give me leave, Sir, to tell you, You are not a little ungrateful.  Vice-admiral. 
Accuse not me, Sir Harry, are not you so, and does not all the world know that your Father was so before you?  Vane. 
Is it then Resolved upon the Question, Mr. Vice-Admiral?  Vice-admiral. 
'Tis without Question, Sir Harry, and that so steadfastly, that I am not to be moved by the most refined of your language.  Vane. 
Well! I have now been a Statesman this twenty years: And I have been the Anak of many Factions, but I was never so deserted, as now, before: and by a friend Vice-Admiral? Et tu quoque Brute.  Scot 
'Twas time, Sir Harry, to call for assistance from the Sea, when you, like a State-Phaeton, had put the Nation into such a flame.  Vane. 
Come, come, Mr. Scot, you know what belongs to Government, and you know what a sweet thing it is to be in Authority, and how sour a thing it is to leave it: and therefore you cannot blame me for endeavouring by all ways to secure myself and interest.  Salmon. 
Really, Sir, we have had experience of your diligence, and give you our hearty thanks; and shall justify the same to the Commissioners, who, no doubt, will not be backward in rewarding your good service.  Vane. 

Well said, Tom Telltruth.  But were not I more concerned than you or they either, ye might go drive Hogs all of ye, for me.  Vice-admiral. 
Come, this high-soaring spirit of yours must stoop. You that walk upon the stilts of Ambition, will fall at one time or other: and truly, I think, you had as good fall now as hereafter.  Sal. 
But Mr. Scot, I have done no harm, I hope you will let me keep my small employment still; though if you will not, I thank my God, I have made so good use of my time, that I can live without it.  Owen. 
Truly, Mr. Scot, I came only to give the Vice-Admiral a visit; therefore, I trust in the Lord, you will not put me out of my Living: Truly, I will preach for you too, when you are in authority.  Saloway. 
I care not a pin for any of ye all, so you will let me have talk enough for my life.  Vane. 
I scorn to beg; yet I believe I shall find a trick to keep my Head upon my shoulders for all this.  Okey. 
If you do, Sir Harry, 'tis more than three parts of four in the Nation desire to see.  
The Debate being thus broke off, they returned to Wallingford-House; The fruitlesness of the Journey was arrived at their ears before; so that when they saw Sir Harry, they looked all as melancholy as Cars. Quoth he. I can do no good. Then Fleetwood turning his face to the wall, lifted up his voice, and wept. Than one stood up, and said, Let us seek the Lord by fasting and prayer. But it was rejected, in regard that Fleetwood looked so thin, that if he should fast one day more, his Soul and Body could not hold together. Whereupon they fell to debate their Agreement, which is now in print: But whether they will get such terms as they require, a little time will make known. However, the people take the Parliament for wise men, and therefore they expect that they should so deal with this Hydra, as not to let one head thereof spring up any more, to violate their Privileges, or the Nation's Rights.  
FINIS.