June 2013
46 posts
Korean History: Justice as told by a Dutch in Old Korea
Justice is severely executed among the Coresians, and particularly upon criminals. he that rebels against the King, is destroy’d with all his Race, his Houses and thrown down, and no Man does ever rebuild them, all his Goods forfeited and sometimes given to some private person. When the King has once made a Decree, if any man is so presumptuous as to make any objection to it, nothing can protect him from severe Punishment, as we have often seen it executed.
Among other particulars I remember, that the King being inform’d that his Brother’s Wife made great Curiosities at Needlework: he desir’d of her, that she would embroider him a Vest; but that Princess bearing him a mortal Hatred in her Heart, she stich’d in betwixt the Lining and the Out-side some Charms and Characters of such nature, that the King could enjoy no pleasure, nor take any res while he had that Garment on. After he had long study’d to find what might be the cause of it, at last he guess’d at it. He had the best rip’d, and found out the cause of his trouble and uneasiness. There was not much time spent in trying that wretched Woman. The King condemmn’d her to be shut up in a Room, the Floor whereof was of Brass, and order’d a great Fire to be lighted under it, the Heat whereof tormented her till she dy’d.
Hendrick Hamel, 1668