The Governor had no sooner recover’d, and had heard of the Menaces of
_Cæsar_, but he called his Council, who (not to disgrace them, or
burlesque the Government there) consisted of such notorious Villains as
_Newgate_ never transported; and, possibly, originally were such who
understood neither the Laws of God or Man, and had no sort of Principles
to make them worthy the Name of Men; but at the very Council-Table would
contradict and fight with one another, and swear so bloodily, that ’twas
terrible to hear and see ’em. (Some of ’em were afterwards hanged, when
the _Dutch_ took Possession of the Place, others sent off in Chains.)
But calling these special Rulers of the Nation together, and requiring
their Counsel in this weighty Affair, they all concluded, that (damn
’em) it might be their own Cases; and that _Cæsar_ ought to be made an
Example to all the _Negroes_, to fright ’em from daring to threaten
their Betters, their Lords and Masters; and at this Rate no Man was safe
from his own Slaves; and concluded, _nemine contradicente_, That _Cæsar_
should be hanged.
_Trefry_ then thought it Time to use his Authority, and told _Byam_, his
Command did not extend to his Lord’s Plantation; and that _Parham_ was
as much exempt from the Law as _White-Hall_; and that they ought no more
to touch the Servants of the Lord--(who there represented the King’s
Person) than they could those about the King himself; and that _Parham_
was a Sanctuary; and tho’ his Lord were absent in Person, his Power was
still in being there, which he had entrusted with him, as far as the
Dominions of his particular Plantations reached, and all that belonged
to it; the rest of the Country, as _Byam_ was Lieutenant to his Lord, he
might exercise his Tyranny upon. _Trefry_ had others as powerful, or
more, that interested themselves in _Cæsar’s_ Life, and absolutely said,
he should be defended. So turning the Governor, and his wise Council,
out of Doors, (for they sat at _Parham-House_) we set a Guard upon our
Lodging-Place, and would admit none but those we called Friends to us
and _Cæsar_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account