The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-08-12
The Kings Pardon.

On the twenty-third of April, in the
wear of our Lord sixteen hundred and
seventv-seven, the sun rose over the
Old Dominion as clear and bright as
though in all the realms his rays shone
on there were no such things as tears or
clouded lives or broken human hearts,
1t was a warm spring day, and spring
day such as can be found in Virginia
alone. The sky brooded above the
earth, the air was caress, the warm
ground thrilled with the quickening of
the green things hid in her bosom ready
to bourgeon and blossom in few more
days.
Strange paradox All this sweetness
and brightness was but the background
of scene of suffering, and the sad
trappings of humiliating death. AS
Bryan Fairfax looked forth from the
barred window of his prison in the
midst of the ruins of Jamestown, he
felt sudden, bitter pang that Nature
should thus, as it were, hold high fes-
tival on the day of his death.
But to one man in the colony it
seemed altogether fitting that the day
should rise in unclouded brightness
for was it not the day of his final tri-
umph and revengeP
Sir William Berkeley had resolved
that Bryan Fairfax should hang. He
would listen neither to entreaties nor
expostulations on that subject. The
man who had turned the tide in the
field at Gloucester (for that too had
come TO the governors ears), who had
secured the safely-hidden commission
for Bacon, who had beyond perad.
venture planned his own taking off (of
this he would admit no shadow of
doubO,-that man must die.
But Fairfax once dead, Berkeley was
resolved to play the role of father of
the people. Nay, he had even pre-
pared proclamation of general am
nesty to be read from the scaffold, so
that the remainder of the day following
the execution should be given up to
popular rejoicing; and if there were
those who of late had murmured against
the harshness of the government, their
voices should be swallowed up in the
shouts and acclamations of the crowd.
So carefully had he planned all this,
that as the time drew near, he began to
feel nervous dread lest something
should go wrong, and his revenge and
his pardon alike slip through his fin
gers. For the last fortnight he had
scanned the surface of the river the
first thing each morning and the last
thing each evening, dreading lest he
should see thereon the broad, square
sails of bark from over seas, fearing
the vision that might mean doom to his
hopes.
Once, indeed, ship appeared, of
such size that fear smote him that
Penelope Payne might be standing on
her deck with the kings pardon held
like white dove in her hand. But
the vessel proved to be only thick-set,
round-sterned, tub.like packet from the
colony of New Netherland, and Sir
William breathed freely once more.
For his further consolation the coast
had been harassed by heavy storms,
which must, as he thought, have beaten
back any vessel coming this way, or at
least stayed her on her course.
This morning, as he stood upon the
bank and saw the broad yellow stream
stretching from shore to shore as far as
eye could reach, with not so much as a
pinnacle or canoe upon its bosom,
and the air above 80 calm that no sail
could fill to bear vessel on,-this old
man, unconscious of his blasphemy
lifted up his voice and thanked God
aloud that his enemy was delivered
into his hand.
Nay, the very words of holy writ did
he pervert to his evil purpose, saying
Il will tread on him in my anger and
trample him in my fury, and his blood
shall be sprinkled upon my garments
for the day of vengeance is in my
heart"
So buried was he in his thoughts OF
blood and vengeance, that he heard moi
the footsteps behind him till he felt 8
hand laid upon his arm, when, turning
he saw close beside him the tall form
and white head of Colonel Payne.
81 am favored, Sir William, to fine
you here, for l was about to seek yor
at your house."
GA visit from Colonel Payne is al
ways an honor" replied Berkeley; blu
there was little heart in the words.
A chill had fallen of late betwix
these two men who had been OF old
such dear friends; and when a bligh
once falls on friendship, there is ne
shower save tears of contrition that cal
revive it, naught but the breath of love
can perform the sacred miracle of resur
rectiOn.
1t was not visit of ceremony, but
on official business" said Coione
Payne. 81 have already in vain be
sought you for the sake of your owl
honor, as well as in the name of mercy
to delay the sentence of this unfortu
nate young man, Bryan Fairfax, til
the coming in of the ship, which ma,
be even now upon the ocean, bearing
the kings pardon"
- do appreciate your zeal in his be
half, and l might be moved to gran
your petition, and wish you Joy of
future son-in-law with the smell O
James City Jail on his garments, but
have duty to the state"
Colonel Payne redeemed with ange
at the first words; but as he looked OF
the governors livid face distorted will
hatred and malice, and all the evil pas
sions that spring up in their train, HI
felt great overwhelming pity for thi