Mitchel- rest of the company which were in my ship, being near bourne to their junk, they resolved, at a watch-word between 1625 them, to set upon us resolutely in both ships. This being concluded, they suddenly killed and drove overboard all my men that were in their ship; and those which were aboard my ship sallied out of my cabin, where they were put, with such weapons as they had, finding certain targets in my cabin, and other things that they used as weapons. Myself being aloft on the deck, knowing what was likely to follow, leapt into the waist, where, with the boatswains, carpenter, and some few more, we kept them under the half-deck. At their first coming forth of the cabin, they met Captain Davis coming out of the gunroom, whom they pulled into the cabin, and giving him six or seven mortal wounds, they thrust him out of the cabin before them. His wounds were so mortal, that he died as soon as he came into the waist. They pressed so fiercely to come to us, as we receiving them on our pikes, they would gather on our pikes with their hands to reach us with their swords. It was near half an hour before we could stone them back into the cabin: in which time we had killed three or four of their leaders. After they were driven into the cabin, they fought with us at the least four hours before we could suppress them, often firing the cabin, burning the bedding, and much other stuff that was there. And had we not with two demy-culverins, from under the half-deck, beaten down the bulk-head and the pump of the ship, we could not have suppressed them from burning the ship. This ordnance being charged with crossbars, bullets, and case-shot, and bent close to the bulk-head, so violently marred therewith boards and splinters, that it left but one of them standing of two-and-twenty. Their legs, arms, and bodies were so torn, as it was strange to see how the shot had massacred them. In all this conflict they never would desire their lives, though they were hopeless to escape, such was the desperateness of these Japonians. bourne 1625 Only one leapt overboard, which afterward swam to our Mitchelship again, and asked for grace; we took him in, and asked him what was their purpose? He told us, that they meant to take our ship, and to cut all our throats. He would say no more, but desired that he might be cut in pieces. II AN ORDEAL BY FIRE THE seven-and-twentieth, all night being very tempest- Hore 1625 Hore 1625 more words than 'Lord have mercy upon me,' presently died. We in vain searched each bush and place about our house, and I went to call the Cowals (or waiters), who every night till this kept watch in a balley1 within twenty paces of our house; missing whom, I went instantly to the Pongolo Cowalla's house, and calling him, asked him, where was the watch? He said at the balley, which I denying, he affirmed to have charged one that night. Then I told him we had a man slain, and willed him to search narrowly if any suspicious person could be apprehended; he forthwith went and acquainted the King therewith, who presently came down with the Chief thereabouts, saw the dead body, and affirmed he would do what might be to find the murderer. Master Nichols charged the Cowals to be actors or authors hereof, and required to have them all sent for, and one after another to touch the corpse, whereto the King gave order. And when each one had taken him by the hand, and no cause to suspect any appeared, Master Nichols demanded if there were no more Cowals; it was answered, no more save one, who was sick, and kept his bed. Him the King commanded to be sent for, whose very looks and demeanour condemned him, in the opinion of all, to be the villain sought for. The King commanded to take the dead man by the hand, which with extreme quaking, and many distracted gestures and answers, he did, but would not hold it any time. Master Nichols urged this to be the man, and required justice. The King caused him to be bound, and professed in his conscience that was the man who killed him, but that he must be tried by their law also, whereto the fellow assented. And while preparation was made thereto, we sent word to Captain Bonner, who came ashore to see the event hereof: presently after whose coming, a fire was made, and an iron pan with a gallon of oil set thereon, which leisurely boiled 1 [?] till it came to such a degree of heat, that a green leaf but dipped therein was sodden and shivered. The prisoner then called, and persisting in denial of the fact, was, in testimony of his innocency, to take out of the said oil a small ball of brass, little bigger than a musket-shot, with his naked hand; and that if any burning or scalding appeared thereon, he was contented to die, which he addressed himself to perform. Stripping up his sleeve above the elbow, and taking a kind of protestation, desiring that as he was clear thereof, so he might prosper in this act; [he] dipped his hand to the wrist in the burning oil, took out the ball, held it fast, and crying, 'Olla Basar,' or 'Great is the Lord,' tossed it up, caught it again, and then cast it on the ground, showing his hand unto all that would, which had no more sign of hurt than if he had experimented the same in cold water-the devil, it seems, being loth at that time to lose his credit. The fellow was instantly released, and within an hour after returned in his holiday apparel, and none so lusty as he, though but a little before he had been sick, and so weak, as he was fain to be brought upon men's shoulders to his trial. And this was all the justice we could have for our murdered man, though in all likelihood, and their judgments also, he was the actor. Purchas his Pilgrims. Hore 1625 SOME UNIVERSITY CHARACTERS I. AN OLD COLLEGE BUTLER S none of the worst Students in the house, for he keeps the set hours at his book more duly than any. His authority is great over men's good names, which he charges many times with shrewd aspersions, which they hardly wipe Earle 1628 Earle 1628 off without payment. His Box and Counters prove him to be a man of reckoning; yet he is stricter in his accounts than a Usurer, and delivers not a farthing without writing. He doubles the pain of Gallobelgicus, for his books go out once a quarter, and they are much in the same nature, brief notes and sums of affairs, and are out of request as soon. His comings in are like a Tailor's, from the shreds of bread, the chippings, and remnants of the broken crust; excepting his vails from the barrel, which poor folks buy for their hogs, but drink themselves. He divides a halfpenny loaf with more subtlety than Kekerman, and subdivides the a primo ortum so nicely, that a stomach of great capacity can hardly apprehend it. He is a very sober man, considering his manifold temptations of drink and strangers, and if he be overseen, 'tis within his own liberties, and no man ought to take exceptions. He is never so well pleased with his place as when a gentleman is beholding to him for showing him the Buttery, whom he greets with a cup of single beer and sliced manchet, and tells him 'tis the fashion of the College. He domineers over Freshmen when they first come to the Hatch, and puzzles them with strange language of Cues and Cees, and some broken Latin which he has learnt at his Bin. His faculty's extraordinary is the warming of a pair of Cards, and telling out a dozen of Counters for Post and Pair, and no man is more methodical in these businesses. Thus he spends his age, till the tap of it is run out, and then a fresh one is set abroach. II A DOWNRIGHT SCHOLAR Is one that has much learning in the Ore, unwrought and untried, which time and experience fashions and refines. He is good metal in the inside, though rough and unscoured 1 Profits. |