at the consultation, with all the other circumstances in regular order, as asked.  He also told of having a letter from Clark, in which was a postscript excusing his brief writing at this time, as there was then a great business in hand.  But a Dutch merchant, named Kinder, who was present, told the governor that Webber and he were together making merry at Larika, on new-year’s-day, the time of this pretended consultation.  The governor then went away, but the fiscal held on with him respecting the letter and postscript, promising to save his life if he would produce these.

Captain Towerson was next brought in for examination, and was shewn what the others had confessed concerning him.  He deeply professed his innocence, on which Colson was brought in to confront him, being assured he should be again tortured unless he made good his former confession against Towerson.  On this he repeated what he had said before, and was then sent away.  Griggs and Fardo were next brought in, and desired to justify to his face what they had before confessed.  Captain Towerson seriously admonished them, as they should answer at the day of judgment, to speak nothing but the truth.  They then fell upon their knees, beseeching him to forgive them for God’s sake, and declared openly that all they had formerly said was utterly false, and spoken only to avoid the torture.  The fiscal then commanded them to be led to the torture, which they were unable to endure, and again affirmed their former extorted confessions to be true.  When Colson was required to subscribe this confession, he asked the fiscal, upon whose head he thought the sin would rest, whether on his who was constrained to confess falsely, or upon the constrainer?  After a pause on this home-question, the fiscal went out to speak with the governor, and returned again shortly, commanding him to subscribe.  Colson did so, yet with this remark,—­“You force me to accuse myself and others of that which is as false as God is true; for I call God to witness that I and they are as innocent as the child unborn.”

Having thus examined all the servants of the English company in the several factories of the island of Amboina, they began on the 21st of February to examine John Wetheral, factor at Cambello, in Ceram.  He acknowledged being at Amboina on new-year’s-day, but declared he knew of no other consultation but about certain cloth belonging to the company, which lay spoiling in the factory, which they considered how best to get sold.  The governor said he was not questioned about cloth, but treason; and protesting his innocence, he was dismissed for that day.  Next day he was again brought in, and Captain Towerson was produced to confront and accuse him, as he had formerly emitted something in his confessions against him.  But Towerson only desired him to speak the truth, and nothing but the truth, as God should put into his heart.  Mr Towerson was then removed, and Mr Wetheral tortured by water, with threats of fire being applied if he did not confess.  At length, they read over to him the confessions of the others, asking him leading questions from point to point, to all of which he answered affirmatively, to free himself from torture.