I was brought before him as a criminal before a bar, without counsel, to be tried and condemned by a tyrant's law.

My arms were bound with a cord, my spirit broken, and my little family standing by weeping.

I was not allowed to plead my own cause, and there was no one to utter a word in my behalf.
He ordered that the field hands should be called together to witness my punishment, that it might serve as a caution to them never to attend a prayer meeting, or runaway as I had, lest they should receive the same punishment.
At the sound of the overseer's horn, all the slaves came forward and witnessed my punishment.

My clothing was stripped off and I was compelled to lie down on the ground with my face to the earth.

Four stakes were driven in the ground, to which my hands and feet were tied.