I do not have Edmund Morgan's American Slavery, American Freedom... at hand 
but as I remember his discussion of the case, the colony authorities seemed 
at least as concerned that the proceedings remain secret than to punish sex, 
sodomy, rape.  A witness to the trial, apparently they were all sworn not to 
speak of the entire affair, but later terribly punished for telling 
Cornish's brother what had happened to Cornish and why.  As I remember it, 
this witness had his ears nailed to a post, then cut off, and he was then 
drummed out of the colony.

The law governing sodomy has a long, complex history.  There is a first-rate 
historical study by a Yale law school professor (I am blanking on his name), 
which has either just been published or soon will appear, that will 
transform our understanding of the legal sanctions on sexual behavior.

Harold S. Forsythe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Apple" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: gay, lesbian group honors controversial Jamestown figure


> On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 08:20:26 -0400, Brent Tarter wrote
>>  A review of the original manuscript
>> record disclosed that the person Cornish was hanged for committing
>> sodomy with was 19 years old, not 29, which may suggest the
>> propriety of reconsidering the nature of the relationship.
>
> Also GALA seems to ignore the fact that Cornish performed *forcible* 
> sodomy
> on Couse, which is rape. Why is GALA so interested in glorifying a rapist?
>
> Couse, as a cabin boy had little ability to refuse the advances of his
> captain who essentially was sovereign aboard his own ship.
>
> Adam Goodheart published an article a couple of years back where he broke
> into Jamestown Island and offered a wine toast to Cornish in the Jamestown
> Church. In his article he spun his own little revisionist tale making 
> Cornish
> out ot be some sort of victim/hero. Couse was the victim as witnessed by
> another crew member. He was subjected to rape and sexual harassment. I see
> little in Cornish's conduct to warrant glorification.  If GALA wants to 
> honor
> a gay person in history, I'm sure there are many others more much more 
> worthy
> of recognition than Cornish.
>
> Regards,
>
> Tom A.