34tt JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVII. 



of a heated knife and open them at their pleasure, thievishly- 

 abstracting thence ten bars of gold of about a palm's length, 

 a large silver belt, six St. Thomases, a lump of gold weighing 

 between three and four St, Thomases, four pearls, a quilted 

 Bengal bed-cover, three pairs of silk stockings, three pieces 

 of armosin, one or two pieces of croonra, each five yards long, 

 a few skeins of silk, together with a few more smaller 

 objects ; 



And the said Clement, having on account of his aforesaid 

 thievish acts been taken into safe custody by order of the 

 said Council, did one night, breaking his prison, use his 

 utmost exertions to run over to our common enemy, the 

 Portuguese, as has clearly appeared from various circum- 

 stances, but having been seized again and put to the torture, 

 he did, when released, several times charge the wife of the 

 said Christiaen Swart with having taken into her custody the 

 365 Thomases, the pigs, and the small bar of gold, the 100 

 pieces of eight in specie, and the gold chain ; 



The said woman having been strictly questioned, and other 



MS. page 111. 



circumstances proving this confession to have been 

 evidently mendacious, he was yesterday in the forenoon 

 tortured with water, and was about 5 o'clock in the evening 

 found dead in his prison, not without suspicion of having 

 made away with himself in order thus to escape his condign 

 punishment ; 



All which being matters of very dangerous consequence, 

 which should not be in the least tolerated in a place where 

 justice and the law are administered, and least of all in this 

 new-planted settlement, but should as an example to others 

 be most rigorously punished ; 



Therefore the said Council, having read the documents and 

 depositions against the conduct of the said Clement Marot, 

 having heard his free confession, having further duly 

 pondered and weighed whatever was deemed pertinent to this 

 matter and has been allowed to move their Worships' minds, 



