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You are not to suppose that this command was dictated by any sense
of mercy. Lord Churchill was no more than just when he spoke of the
King's heart as being as insensible as marble. It had been realized
that in these wholesale hangings there was taking place a reckless
waste of valuable material. Slaves were urgently required in the
plantations, and a healthy, vigorous man could be reckoned worth at
least from ten to fifteen pounds. Then, there were at court many
gentlemen who had some claim or other upon His Majesty's bounty.
Here was a cheap and ready way to discharge these claims. From
amongst the convicted rebels a certain number might be set aside to
be bestowed upon those gentlemen, so that they might dispose of them
to their own profit.
My Lord Sunderland's letter gives precise details of the royal
munificence in human flesh. A thousand prisoners were to be
distributed among some eight courtiers and others, whilst a
postscriptum to his lordship's letter asked for a further hundred
to be held at the disposal of the Queen.


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