o_199m9vaui14ib1cnu10di10pocoj4h.pdf

THE ENERGY OF DESPAIR 191
of the mutiny must have been the energy of despair, and
their defiance a make-believe. 1
They were probably scheming to make their fate as
pleasant as possible, whatever the issue of the mutiny
might be. The fact that they were instant in proclaiming
their loyalty to the King 2 suggests a desire so to
influence the authorities in their favour that if they were
driven to surrender at discretion, and were brought to
trial, they might still avoid the penalty of treason. And
it is clear that many of them meditated escape by sea :
some of them, indeed, did actually escape to continental
ports. Thus, as there was little hope that their enterprise
would be successful, they were taking thought for their
personal safety in case of failure ; and, knowing that the
mutiny must soon come to an end, they were determined
to enjoy to the full the short lease of freedom and power
still left to them.
They discovered when it was too late that they had
only been kicking against the goad. It would have been
better for them if they had allowed the North Sea fleet to
go to the Texel, and had surrendered to the Lords of the
Admiralty at a time when the royal pardon might have
been extended to the whole body of the mutineers. But
in order to understand the reason of their failure it is
necessary to turn back and consider the means adopted
by the Admiralty and the government to suppress the
mutiny.
1. Cf. Mr. Hannay's observation in the Saturday Review :
(Parker) himself obviously felt that the game was going against him,
but an air of defiance was kept up, painfully enough."
2. e.g., in the "Final Determination" and Parker's letter of 3 June,
and in the Petition to the King, below, p. 216.
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