Why the master-at-arms is lying is anyone's guess at this point, but people telling the truth don't give conflicting statements, though they may add or delete details as time progresses.
Somehow (according to his later memoirs) a rumour went around that he was dead or dying, and his gunner and carpenter, both wounded, hastily consulted with the master-at-arms.
Some carefully made examples were likely to have been used by a boatswain or ship's master-at-arms or ship's mate as a badge of office and discipline-enforcer.
