1660. and vicious man. And now in his imprisonment he delivered himself up to vice and blasphemy. It was said, that this helped him to so many friends, that upon that very account he was spared. John Goodwin and Milton did also escape all censure, to the surprise of all people. Goodwin had so often not only justified, but magnified the putting the king to death, both in his sermons and books, that few thought he could have been either forgot or excused for Peters and he were the only preachers that spoke of it in that strain. But Goodwin had been so zealous an Arminian, and had sown such division among all the sectaries upon these heads, that it was said this procured him friends. Upon what account soever it was, he was not censured. Milton had appeared so boldly, though with much wit, and great purity and elegancy of style, against Salmasius and others, upon that argument of the putting the king to death, and had discovered such violence against the late king and all the royal family, and against monarchy, that it was thought a strange omission if he was forgot, and an odd strain of clemency if it was intended he should be forgiven. He was not excepted out of the act of indemnity P. And afterwards he came out of his concealment, and lived many years, much visited by all strangers, and much admired by all at home for the poems he writ, though he was then blind; chiefly that of Paradise Lost, in which there is a nobleness both of contrivance and execution, that, though he affected to write in blank verse without rhyme, and made many new • He censures even mercy. S. P His life was spared by the means of the famous sir Wil liam Davenant, whose life he had saved under the former powers. O. and rough words, yet it was esteemed the beautiful- 1660. est and perfectest poem that ever was writ, at least in our language 9. 1661. Vane's But as the sparing these persons was much censured, so on the other hand the putting Sir Henry character. Vane to death was as much blamed: for the declaration from Breda being full for an indemnity to all, except the regicides, he was comprehended in thatr; since, though he was for changing the government, and deposing the king, yet he did not approve of the putting him to death, nor of the force put on the parliament, but did for some time, while these things were acted, withdraw from the scenes. This was so represented by his friends, that an address was made by both houses on his behalf, to which the king gave a favourable answer, though in general words. So he reckoned that he was safet; that being equivalent "the rebels' council of state on t So did every body at that 1661. to an act of parliament, though it wanted the necessary forms. Yet the great share he had in the at164 tainder of the earl of Strafford, and in the whole turn of affairs to the total change of government, but above all the great opinion that was had of his parts and capacity to embroil matters again, made the court think it necessary to put him out of the way". He was naturally a very fearful man: this one who knew him well told me, and gave me eminent instances of it. He had a head as darkened in his notions of religion, as his mind was clouded with fear for though he set up a form of religion in a way of his own, yet it consisted rather in a withdrawing from all other forms, than in any new or particular opinions or forms; from which he and his party were called seekers, and seemed to wait for some new and clearer manifestations. In these meetings he preached and prayed often himself, but with so peculiar a darkness, that though I have sometimes taken pains to see if I could find out his meaning in his works, yet I could never reach it. 1661. And since many others have said the same, it may be reasonable to believe he hid somewhat that was a necessary key to the rest. His friends told me he leaned to Origen's notion of an universal salvation of all, both of devils and the damned, and to the doctrine of pre-existence. When he saw his death was designed, he composed himself to it, with a resolution that surprised all who knew how little of that was natural to him. Some instances of this were very extraordinary, though they cannot be mentioned with decency Y. He was beheaded on Tower- And execuHill, where a new and very indecent practice was begun. It was observed that the dying speeches of the regicides had left impressions on the hearers, that were not at all to the advantage of the government. So strains of a peculiar nature being expected from him, to prevent that, drummers were placed under the scaffold, who, as soon as he began to speak of the public, upon a sign given, struck up with their drums. This put him in no disorder. He desired they might be stopped, for he understood y His lady conceived of him the night before his execution. S. He cohabited with his lady the night before he was executed, and declared he had done so, next morning; for fear any reflection should be made upon her, if she proved with child which occasioned an unlucky jest when his son was made a privy-counsellor with father Peters in king James's reign. The earl of Dorset said, he believed his father got him after his head was off. D. (Cole, in a MS. tion. 1661. what was meant by it. The king gave him his plea sures. Then he went through his devotions. And, as he was taking leave of those about him, he happening to say somewhat with relation to the times, the drums struck up a second time: so he gave over, and died with so much composedness, that it was generally thought the government had lost more than it had gained by his death z. The act of indemnity passed with very few exself up to ceptions; at which the cavaliers were highly dissatisfied, and made great complaints of it. In the disposal of offices and places, as it was not possible to gratify all, so there was little regard had to men's merits or services. The king was determined to 165 most of these by the cabal that met at mistress Palmer's lodgings. And though the earl of Clarendon did often prevail with the king to alter the resolu dorsed in Lord Clarendon's hand, The King, 7th June. Sir Henry Vane was beheaded that day sennight, viz. 14th of June, 1662. See among the State Trials that of sir Henry Vane, especially the latter end of what is printed there. 16th of April, 1766. The above letter I had copied from the original, which is in the possession of -(James West, of Covent Garden, Esq.) and which I saw, the 24th of June, 1759. Arthur Onslow. I find this letter is lately printed in Dr. Harris's Account of king Charles the second. But how he came by it, I do not know. O. Vane was beheaded for new attempts, not here mentioned. S. |