Chap. II. between the' Inhabitants 
ct have a Care to look to yourfelves, for their Intent was 
“ to have brought you in alfo ; they afked concerning 
4t you, which, if they had tortured us, we muft have con- 
* 4 feffed you alfo, and fo farewel •, written in the dark. 35 
This Table-Book was afterwards delivered to M. Weldon 
beforementioned, by one that ferved the Dutch. Samuel 
Coif on alfo, another that accufed Captain Toiverfon , writ 
as followeth in the wafte Leaves of a Book, wherein were 
bound together the Common-Prayers, the Pfalms, and the 
Catechifm. In one Page thus : 44 March the fifth, N.S. 
being Sunday , on Board the Rotterdam , lying in Irons, 
« underftand, that I Samuel Colfon , late Faftor of Ilitto, 
44 was apprehended for Sufpicion of Confpiracy, and for 
&< any thing I know muft die for it •, wherefore, having no 
44 better means to make my Innocency known, have writ 
44 this in this Book, hoping fome good Englifhmen will 
44 fee it. I do here upon my Salvation, as I hope by his 
44 Death and Paffion to have Redemption for my Sins, that 
44 I am clear of all fuch Confpiracy, neither do I know any 
44 Englifhman guilty thereof, nor other Creature in the 
44 World. As this is true, God blefs me, Samuel Colfon.” 
On the other Side, upon the fir ft Page of the Catechifm, 
is thus written •, In another Leaf you foall underftand more, 
which, I have written in this Book. Samuel Colfon. In 
the Beginning of the Pfalms, and in the Leaf fo referred 
unto, is thus written, viz. 44 The Japonefe were taken with 
44 fome Viilany, and brought to Examination ; being moft 
44 tyranoufiy tortured, were afked, if the Englifh had auy 
44 hand in the Plot, which Torture made them fay yea. 
44 Th en was Mailer Tbomfon , and Mr. Johnfon , Mr. Col- 
44 tins , John Clark, brought to Execution, and were burned 
44 under the Arm-pits, the Hands and Soals of the Feet, 
45 with another moft miferable Torment, to drink Water ; 
44 fome of them almoft tortured to Death, and were forced 
44 to confefs that which they never knew, by reafon of the 
44 Torment which Flefli and Blood is not able to endure. 
44 Then were the reft of the Englifhmen called one by one, 
44 amongft which I was one, being wifhed to confefs, or 
44 elfe I muft go to Torment ; withal, caufed M. Johnfon , 
44 who was before tormented, to witnefs againft me, or 
44 elfe he fhould be tormented again ; which, rather than 
44 he would endure, he faid what they would have him 
44 fpeak. Then muft I confefs that I never knew, or 
44 elfe go to Torment, which, rather than I would luffer, 
44 I did confefs that which, as I fhall be faved before God 
44 Almighty, is not true, being forced, for fear of Tor- 
44 ment. Then did they make us witnefs againft Captain 
44 Towerfon ; and at laft made Captain Towerfon confefs all, 
44 being for fear of moft cruel Torment, for which we 
44 muft all die. As I mean and hope to have pardon for 
44 my Sins, I know no more than the Child unborn of 
44 this Bufmefs; written with my own Hand, the firft of 
44 March , N.S. Sam. Colfon.” 
Yet in another Page were thefe Words ; I was horn in 
New-Caftle upon Tyne, where 1 defire this Book may come , 
that my Friends may know of my Innocence. Samuel Colfon. 
This Book he delivered to one that ferved the Dutch , who 
fewed it up in his Bed, and afterwards, at his Opportunity, 
delivered it to Mr. IVeldon beforementioned. All thefe faid 
Writings are yet extant, under the Hands of the feveral 
Parties well known to their Friends here in England. 
The twenty- fixth Day of February, O. S. the Prifoners 
were all brought into the great' Hall of the Caftle, except 
Captain Towerfon , and Emanuel Tbomfon , to be prepared 
for Death by the Minifters. The Japonefe now all in ge- 
neral, as fome of them had done before in particular, cried 
out unto the Englifh , faying, Oh ! you Englifhmen , where 
did we ever in our Lives eat with you, talk with you, or 
to our Remembrance, fee you ? Hie Englifh anfwered, 
why then have you accufed us ? The poor Men perceiv- 
ing they were made believe each had accufed others, before 
they had fo done, indeed, fhewed them their tortured Bo- 
dies, and faid, if a Stone were thus burnt, would it not 
change its Nature ? How much more then we that are 
Flefli and Blood ? Whilft they were all in the Hall, Cap- 
tain Towerfon was brought up into the Place of Examina- 
tion, and two great Jars of Water carried after him; what 
he there did, or fullered, is unknown to the EnglifJo ; but 
it feemeth, they made him then to underwrite his Confef- 
Numb. LX. 
of Great-Britain, &c. 88 1 
fion. After Supper, John Vow eh Ephraim Ramfey , Tho- 
mas Laddorook , and John Sadler , who were found not guilty, 
as aforefaid, were taken from the reft, and put into another 
Room ; by and by alfo were Samuel Colfon and Edward 
Collins brought from the reft, into the Room where Ema- 
nuel Tbomfon lay : The Fifcal told them, it was the Gover- 
nor’s Mercy to fave one of thofe three ; and it being indif- 
ferent to him which of them were the Man, it was his Piea- 
fure they fhould draw Lots for it, which they did, and the 
free Lot fell to Edward Collins , who then was carried away 
to the Chamber, where John Rowel , and the reft that were 
quit, lodged ; and Samuel Colfon back into the Hall. Anon 
alfo John Beaumont was brought out of the Hall into the 
Chamber, where John Powef and the reft of the acquitted 
Perfons were, and was told, that he was beholden to 
Peter Johnfon , the Dutch Merchant of Loho , and to the 
Secretary, for they two had begged his Life. So then 
there remained in the Hall ten of the Englifh ; for Captain 
Towerfon and Emanuel Tbomfon were kept in feveral Rooms 
apart from the reft. To thefe that remained in the Hall 
came the Dutch Minifters, who telling them how fhort a 
time they had to live, admoniflied and exhorted them to 
make their true Confeffions ; for it was a dangerous and 
defperate thing to diffemble at fuch a Time. 
The Englijh ftill profefted their Innocency, and prayed 
the Minifters that they might all receive the Sacrament, 
as a Seal of the Forgivenefs of their Sins ; and withal, 
thereby to confirm their laft Profeffion of their Innocence ; 
but this would by no means be granted : Whereupon 
Samuel Colfon faid thus unto the Minifters, You manifeft 
unto us the Danger of Diftimulation in this Cafe ; but tell 
us, if we fuffer guiltlefs, being otherwife alfo true Believers 
in Jefus Chriji , what fhall be our Reward. The Preacher 
anfwered, by how much the clearer you are, fo much the 
more glorious fhall be your Refurreftion. With that Word 
Colfon ftarted up, embraced the Preacher, and gave him 
his Iforfe, with fuch Money as he had in it, faying, Domine , 
God blefs you : Tell the Governor I freely forgive him, 
and I intreat you, to exhort him to repent him of his bloody 
Tragedy wrought upon us poor innocent Souls. Here all 
the reft of the Englifh fignified their Confent to this Speech. 
Then fpake John Far do to the reft, in the Prefence of the 
Minifters, as followeth : My Countrymen and Brethren, 
that are here with me, condemned to die, I charge you all, 
as you will anfwer it at God’s Judgment Seat, if any of 
you be guilty of this Matter, whereof we are condemned, 
difeharge your Confciences, and confefs the Truth, for Sa- 
tisfaction of the World. Hereupon Samuel Colfon fpake 
with a loud Voice, faying, according to my Innocence in 
this Treafon, fo, Lord, pardon all the reft of my Sins, and 
if I be guilty thereof, more or lefs, let me never be Par- 
taker of thy heavenly Joys ; at which Words every one of 
the reft cried out, Amen ; for me. Amen ; for me, good 
Lord. This done, each of them knowing whom he had 
accufed, went one to another, begging Forgivenefs for 
their falfe Accufation, being wrung from them by the 
Pains or Fear of Torture ; and they all freely forgave one 
another ; for none had been fo falfely accufed, but he hirn- 
felf had accufed another as falfely ; ir> particular, George 
Sharrcck , who furvived to relate this Night’s Paflage, 
kneeled down to John Clark , whom he had accufed of the 
Tale at Hitlo abovementioned, and craved Forgivenefs at 
his Hands: Clark freely forgave him, faying, how fhall 
I look to be forgiven of God, if I fhould not forgive you, 
having myfelf fo falfely accufed Captain Tozverfon and others. 
After this they fpent the reft of the doleful Night in Prayer, 
ringing of Pfalms, and comforting one another,- though 
the Dutch that guarded them offered them Wine, bidding 
them drink luftily, and drive away the Sorrow, according 
to the Cuftom of their own Country in the like Cafes, but 
contrary to the Nature of the Englifh. 
Upon the Morrow Morning, being the Execution Day, 
the 27th of February , O. S.' John Rowel being freed, as 
before recited, came into the Room where the condemned 
Perfons were, and found them at Prayers. They all re- 
queried him to relate unto their Friends in England the 
Innocency of their Caufe, taking it upon their Deaths, 
that what they had confefied againft themfelves and others, 
touching this Crime, was all falfe, and forced by fear of 
10 P Torture, 
