126 THE END OF THE STRUGGLE m±mmtmm lei.UI I flllEfe^BaiiiirirT^ra t± !^0<W^#tfrMt™ wrote much, but all was suppressed, except an unno- ticed sentence appended to his signature to a bill of debt due from the English Company: " Firmed by the Firm [i. e. signature] of me Gabriel Towerson now appointed to die, guiltless of anything that can be justly laid to my charge. God forgive them their guilt and receive me to His mercy. Amen." Samuel Colson, im- prisoned with six of the others, on board the Dutch ships in the roads, wrote the following in his prayer-book and had it sewed up in a bed: " March 5, stilo novo, being Sunday, aboard the Rotterdam, lying in irons.' ' "Understand that I, Samuel Colson, late factor of Hitou, was apprehended for suspicion of conspiracy; and for anything I know must die for it: wherefore having no means to make my inno- cence known, have writ in this book hoping some good Englishman will see it. I do here upon my sal- vation, as I hope by His death and passion to have redemption for my sins, that I am clear of all such conspiracy; neither do I know any Englishman guilty thereof nor any other creature in the world. As this is true, God bless me, Sam. Colson.' ' In another part THE OLD EAST INDIA HOUSE (ABOUT 1650).
