1. servant– a servant is generally thought of as a lowly person. he always has a master and must always perform duties of submissiveness. most of the time these services are rewarded by the master with some sort of payment. for example, “the gentleman told me if i would go and live with him, he would be my friend and relation, too.” and “i agreed with the captain to serve him three years more, for as many biscuits as i could eat.” this concept is also spiritual. through repentance and conversion, one’s ultimate goal is to become a servant of God performing Godly duties which will then be rewarded with a place in heaven.
2. guilt– being responsible for a crime, in Syllavan’s case always led to some degree of punishment, usually imprisonment, even if he was eventually acquitted. however, syllavan’s guilt led to other “torturous” punishments as well. “I received twenty lashes at the public whipping post.” and “i was branded in both cheeks with the letter R and cropt in both my ears.” these are significant because they are the first two accounts of “torturous” punishment used in any of these texts. in the 1700’s it seems that most offenses were at first punished with imprisonment which would hopefully result in the transformation of the soul. however, in syllavan’s case, the body, once again, became the target for punishment.
3. mercy– this forebearance was shown toward syllavan many times for his counterfeiting currency. the relationship between power and mercy becomes evident in this passage. the court having more power than syllavan granted him mercy by acquitting his crimes. at the same time, syllavan is left begging for God’s mercy-god being the supreme power-when the court no longer would.