Definition of "vantage"

The Londoners seeing that they could get no vantage against the duke, who was without their reach, to bewreak their anger they took his arms, which in most despiteful wise they hanged up in the open places of the city in sign of reproach, as for a traitor; […]

1841, John Foxe, The History of John Wickliffe, page 21

From this point of vantage, we were able to gain an impression of the massive outlines of the main structure, and its intricate maze of girders.

1950 March, H. A. Vallance, “On Foot Across the Forth Bridge”, in Railway Magazine, page 149

O happy vantage of a kneeling knee!

1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene iii]

needlesse feare did never vantage none

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie