The Life and Death of Sir Henry Vane, Letter 1 – Letter 2
Certain PASSAGES in a Letter, sent from a Friend out of the Country, to one that accompanied Sir Henry Vane to the SCAFFOLD.
My loving and worthy Friend,
DIdst thou stand fast by my worthy Friend, and bear him company? Did thy soul suffer with him and rejoyce with him, riding in his Chariot of Triumph, to the Block, to the Ax, to the Crown, to the Banner, to the Bed and Ivory Throne of the Lord God thy Redeemer? Didst thou stand by, to see all these put upon him in the day of his Espousals, in his solemn Nuptials? Was he not (my Friend) most richly trimmed adorn'd, deck'd with all manner of fine Linnen, curious Embroyderies? Did not the Perfume of his Garments give a good smell to all the Room and Company? Was he not like the Lord's, the Lamb's Bride, made altother ready? Was not his Head richly crown'd, and his Neck like the Tower of David? Didst thou see the Chain about his Neck of one Pearl, dazling the Beholders? Were not his Eyes like the pure Dove's, fixed above upon his M…te, single and clear? Was not his Breast-plate strong like Steel? Did the Arrows, the sharp Tryals and cruel Mockings pierce it? Did not his Shield cover him like the Targets of Solomon? was it not beaten Gold? When it was tryed, did it yeeld to the Tempter? O precious Faith! Tell me, my Friend, how did he weild his glittering flaming Sword? Did not it behave it self valiantly, conquering, and turning every way, to preserve the Way of Truth, Liberty, Righteousness, and the Cause of the Lord and his People? Was not his whole Armour very rich? Was it not all from the Sanctuary, for beauty and strength? Oh mighty Man of Valour! thou Champion for the Lord and his Host, when they were defied! How hast thou spoyled them? The Goliah is trodden under foot. The whole Army of the Philistims fly. Is He fled? Is He gone from amongst men? Was not this Earth, this Kingdom worthy of Him? Wast thou upon the Mount of Olives with him, to see how he was lifted up, glorified, advanced? Didst thou see him ascend, and Chariots and Heavenly Hosts, the Glorious Train, accompanying Him to his Chamber, to the Palace of the great King, whether he is gone, we gazing below after him? But, will he not come again? Will not the Lord his Bridegroom bring him, when He shall come to reign, and his S…ints with Him? Make ready then, my Friend; G…r… up thy loins; Ride through gloriously, for the Day is a great Day of Battel. And he that overcometh, shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Prophets, the Apostles, and our late Friend VANE, in the Kingdom of Heaven, whither I shall ever long to be prepared to set forward with the first, and to meet thee, Friend, ascending into the Heavenly Place.
A LETTER from a Person of Quality, to a Relation of Sir Henry Vane, about a week after the Execution.
MADAM,
IF I do later than others, give you an account of the share I have, in the losse of your generous Kinsman, it is, because I would not rudely disturb the Motions of so just a Sorrow; but I hope, that you are assured, I have so real a concern in all that relates to you, that it was not necessary, by an early haste, to send you an Information of it. I have (Madam) whilst I own a love to my Country, a deep Interest in the Publick Losse, which so many worthy Persons lament. The World is robbed of an Unparallel'd Example of Vertue and Piety. His great Abilities made his Enemies perswade themselves, that all the Revolutions in the last Age, were wrought by his Influence, as if the World were onelyonly moved by his Engine. In him they lodged all the dying hopes of his Party. There was no Opportunity that he did not improve for the Advantage of his Country. And when he was in his last and much deplored Scene, he strove to make the People in love with that Freedom, they had so lavishly and foolishly thrown away.
He was great in all his Actions, but to me he seemed greatest in his Sufferings, when his Enemies seem to fear, that He alone should be able to acquaint them with a Change of Fortune. In his lowest condition, you have seen him the Terrour of a great Prince, strengthened by many potent Confederates and Armies; you have seen him live in high Estimation and Honour, and certainly he dyed with it. Men arrive at Honours by several wayes. The Martyrs, though they wanted the glittering Crowns, the Princes of those Ages dispensed, have Rich Ones in every Iust man's esteem. Vertue, though unfortunate, shines in spite of all its Enemies; nor is it in any Power, to deface those lasting Monuments your Friend hath raised of his, in every heart that either knew him, or held any Intelligence with Fame. But, Madam, I trespass too long upon your patience. This is a subject I am apt to dwell on, because I can never say enough of it. I shall now onelyonly desire you to make use of that Fortitude and Vertue, that raised your Friend above the malice and power of his Enemies; and do not by an immoderate Sorrow destroy that which was so dear to him, your Self; but live the lively Representation of his Vertue, the exercise of which, hath made you alwayes, the admiration of
Your humble Servant, &c. The 22d Iune, 1662.
FINIS.
Mistakes in Printing.
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There are also several mistakes in the pointing, Comma's and other points are wanting in some places, redundant in others, which obscure the sence; but the ingenuous and unprejudiced Reader will easily mend all.
End of the text · George Sikes, The Life and Death of Sir Henry Vane (1662)