I have come up against an odd statement by Sidney in a letter to
Walsingham, from Middelburg in Zeeland, of 14 December 1585, as S.
was settling into his governorship of Flushing. He is discussing the
condition of the garrison and the arrangements made for them, and
complains of the victuallers, one Brown(e) and one Bruin (I know, it
sounds parodic, but they did exist). These last, he says, "do but
badly satisfy the soldiers, and in my opinion they are merely
hurtful, after a Gomorrha fashion by means of friendship of the
officers forcing the poor men to take it [the victualling] dearer
than here they might provide for themselves."
It is clear that Brown and Bruin (who was "commissary for the
victualling" and wrote to Walsingham about his difficulties)
initially had a monopoly, and that Sidney thought they were using
their cozy relationship with the captains to maintain this, to the
soldiers' disadvantage.
What puzzles me is the expression "after a Gomorrha fashion". Various
checks show that Gomorrha's sin was variously described as either
homosexuality or (the Jewish tradition) inhospitality. Neither really
seems to fit, though the second might be closer, esp. if Thomas Bruin
was Dutch or Flemish. A bit of a stretch, though.
If anyone has come across a similar phrase (preferably without Sodom)
or has any ideas that might help, I'd be grateful.
Roger Kuin
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