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228 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 Collings 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 themselves to the arbitrament of the lottery box. Upon Collings fell the selection of the paper which conferred life and liberty. He bore himself, we may be sure from what had passed previously, with becoming humility; equally may 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, "telling them how short a time they had to live, 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 reasserted their innocence and asked the ministers to administer the Sacrament to them—"as a seal of the forgiveness of their sinnes and withall thereby to confirme their last profession of their innocencie." "But," says the narrative, "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—