Page 228 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

228 EARLY ENGLISH ADVENTURERS IN THE
EAST
onus of administering the affairs of the English factory.
They, therefore, resolved to reprieve two of the prisoners
to look after the Company’s interests. Beomont, who had
a firm friend at Court in the person of a Dutch merchant,
was released on the latter’s earnest intercession. For
the other pardon it was settled that Coulson, Thomson
and Codings should draw lots. In due course the trio were
brought together for the fateful purpose. They prepared
themselves for the ordeal by devoutly kneeling in prayer.
Then uprising, with calm faces they submitted them­
selves to the arbitrament of the lottery box. Upon Codings
fed the selection of the paper which conferred life and
►
dberty. He bore himself, we may be sure from what
had passed previously, with becoming humility ; equally
ma y we be confident that the other two resigned themselves
to their fate without unmanly repining.
After condemnation the prisoners, with the exception of
Towerson, were removed to a room in the Castle, where
they were left to pass the night by themselves. They were
visited there by the Dutch ministers, who, “ teldng them
how short a time they had to five, admonished and exhorted
them to make their true confessions, for (they said) it was
a dangerous and desperate thing to dissemble at such
a time.” The prisoners in the most earnest language re­
asserted their innocence and asked the ministers to admin­
ister the Sacrament to them—“ as a seal of the forgiveness
of their sinnes and withad thereby to confirme their last
profession of their innocencie.” “ But,” says the narra-
tive, (t this would by no means be granted.”
Upon this Coulson, who throughout these dread last
hours seems to have played the part of leader, asked the
reverend visitors the following question—