expressed when it is called a light shining in a dark place, that is, in our bodily and sensual part, which continues so for a long time our new birth. But those that are all glorious within, must have their time of manifestation, and be made all glorious without also. The outward man of the heart, and the outward court of the temple, must come to be measured, and be of account and estimation, in the sight of the world. Then the whole body shall be full of light, having no part dark, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give the light.

"This is the perfection which is near us, even at the very door, ready to be testified and witnessed to, who are after another manner than those do pretend to, who are for the subjecting and keeping under the body, but by those mutable and wavering principles of perfection, which amounts but to that visibility of saintship, which is the subject of apostacy, yet hath hitherto passed for current coin. Nor would I have it thought that I have already attained the powerful practice of this holy duty and perfection, but it is much in my desire, aim, and hope.

"The difficult circumstance I am in, and that I am still more and more every day cast into, by God's wise disposing providence, to the sequestering me from the world, and withholding all sensible comforts from me, so much as He doth make me in some sort confident, it is for a good end, and that out of love and faithfulness I am made to drink of this bitter cup, the better to help forward this necessary work in me, wherein consists the glorious liberty of the sons of God. If I may have and enjoy this, it would seem a very little matter to me to be in outward bonds,

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banishment, want, or any other afflictions. Help me then (in all your solicitudes and cares about me) to what will further advance this work in me.

"The Lord grant me and mine to be content, if He deny us to live of our own, and will bring us to the daily bread of His finding, which He will have us wait for, fresh and fresh from His own table, without knowing anything of it before hand. Peradventure there is a greater sweetness and blessing in such a condition, than we can imagine till we have tried it. This may add to my help, even our making little haste to get out of our troubles, patiently waiting till God's time come, wherein He will open the prison doors either by death, or some other way, as He please, for the magnifying His own great name, not suffering us to be our own choosers in anything, as hitherto has been His way with us."

"And why should such a taking up sanctuary in God, and desiring to continue a pilgrim and solitary in this world, whilst I am in it, afford still matter of jealousy, distrust, and rage, as I see it doth to those who are unwilling that I should be buried and lie quiet in my grave where now I am. where now I am. They that press so earnestly to carry on my trial do little know what presence of God may be afforded me in it, and issue out of it to the magnifying of Christ in my body by life or by death. Nor can Nor can they (I am sure) imagine how much I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which of all things that can befall me I account best of all. And till then I desire to be made faithful in my place and station, to make confession of Him before men and not deny His name, if called forth to give public testimony and witness concerning Him,

and to be herein nothing terrified. What then will the hurt be that I can or shall receive by the worst that man can do unto me, who can but kill the body, and thereby open my prison door, that I may ascend into the pleasures that are at Christ's right hand, prepared for those that testify and openly discover their love to Him, by not loving their lives unto the death? Surely they will prove better than to prefer sin or evil (so much as in appearance) unto affliction and the cross, which Christ would have one take up daily and follow Him in.

"If the storm against us grow still higher and higher, so as to strip us of all we have, the earth is still the Lord's and the fullness thereof; He hath a good storehouse for us to live upon. There is nothing more destructive to us every way than the uncertainty we are in.

"God can, and (if He thinks fit) will chalk out some way, wherein He may appear by His providence, to choose for us, and not leave us to our own choice; and being contracted into that small compass, which He shall think fit to reduce us unto, we may perhaps meet with as true inward contentment, and see as great a mercy in such a sequestration from the world, as if we were in the greatest outward prosperity.

"I know nothing that remains unto us, but like a tossed ship in a storm, to let ourselves be tossed and driven with the winds; till He that can make these storms to cease, and bring us into a safe haven do work out our deliverance for us. I doubt not but you will accordingly endeavour to prepare for the worst. March 7, 1661/62." In the meantime their enemies were busy.

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Shortly after his committal to the Tower an order was given by the king to seize and take possession of all his estates. Dr Cradock, with two deputies, then went to Raby Castle to put the warrant in execution, and demanded the rent books from Thomas Mowbray, Vane's steward, offering him place under them, which he refused. No particular charge had at this time been made against Sir Henry, and it was illegal that before indictment the goods or other things of any offender should be searched or inventoried or seized, nor after indictment be seized, removed, or taken away before conviction or attainder.

An order was obtained from the House of Commons, not confirmed by the Lords, requiring the tenants of such persons as were excepted out of the Act of Indemnity to detain their rents in their own hands. Under pretence of this order, though the parliament that had made it was dissolved, the tenants refused to pay their rents as they came due. When prosecuted in the court at Westminster for recovery of their rents, they complained to the House of Commons, which put the House into a great heat against the prisoner, so that they almost passed a vote to sequestrate all his estate, though as yet he was unheard and unconvicted. Sir Henry Vane, in his Bill of Exceptions, says, that by common fame several persons had begged for his goods and estate. He also said that he had been credibly informed that about December last a certain captain came from the Duke of Albemarle to Captain Linn, with threatening language, that if he would not confess things against Sir Henry Vane he should be fetched up before the council and made to do it. Linn answered he knew

nothing against Sir Henry Vane, nor had he any orders from him, but from the parliament and council. The same captain came again about a fortnight after from the Duke of Albemarle with a parcel of fine words, that if the said Linn would testify that Sir Henry Vane was in the head of his regiment and that he received orders from him, the Duke of Albemarle would gratify him with any civility he should desire. Linn replied he knew no regiment Sir Henry Vane had, but that it was the parliament and council of state's regiment. The same captain came again to him, and told him the duke desired him to testify Sir Henry Vane's being in the head of his regiment, and that he received orders from him to fight Sir George Booth. Linn replied he knew no such things. The captain told him, as from the duke, he should have any place or office in the court. "Be not afraid to speak," said he, "I warrant you, we shall hang Sir Henry Vane, for he is a rogue."1 Having been so helpful in getting Argyll condemned, "honest George Monk" was anxious to do further service against rogues by suborning evidence against Vane. Perhaps his enemies hoped that the hardships of his island prison would end the life of the man whom they feared, but though his health was seriously impaired, he lived too long for their peace of mind. Enough of the forms of law still remained in England to render it necessary that,

1 Tryal of Sir Henry Vane, Knight, at the King's Bench, Westminster, June 2 and 6, 1662, together with what he intended to have spoken the day of his sentence, June 11, for Arrest of Judgment (had he not been interrupted and overruled by the Court), and his Bill of Exceptions and other occasional Speeches; also his Speech and Prayer on the Scaffold, printed in the year 1662, p. 71.