Trinity House MS. Transactions. 1609-1625.
(24 _October_ 1611)
The 9 men turned out of the ship:
Henry Hudson, master.
John Hudson, his son.
Arnold Ladley.
John King, quarter master.
Michael Butt, married.
Thomas Woodhoase, a mathematician, put away in great distress.
Adame Moore.
Philip Staff, carpenter.
Syracke Fanner, married.
John Williams, died on 9 October.
--Ivet [Juet], died coming home.
Slain:
Henry Greene.
William Wilson.
John Thomas.
Michell Peerce.
Men that came home:
Robart Billet, master.
Abecocke Prickett, a land man put in by the Adventurers.
Edward Wilson, surgeon.
Francis Clemens, boteson.
Adrian Motter.
Bennet Mathues, a land man.
Nicholas Syms, boy.
Silvanus Bond, couper.
After Hudson was put out, the company elected Billet as master.
Abacuck Pricket, sworn, says the ship began to return about 12th
June, and about the 22d or 23d, they put away the master. Greene
and Wilson were employed to fish for the company, and being at sea
combined to steal away the shallope, but at last resolved to take
away the ship, and put the master and other important men into the
shallope.
He clears the now master of any foreknowledge of this complot, but
they relied on Ivett's judgment and skill.
Edward Wilson, surgeon, knew nothing of the putting of the master
out of the ship, till he saw him pinioned down before his cabin
door.
Francis Clemens, Adrian Motter and Bennet Mathues say the master
was put out of the ship by the consent of all that were in health,
in regard that their victualls were much wasted by him; some of
those that were put away were directly against the master, and yet
for safety of the rest put away with him, and all by those men that
were slain principally.
They all charge the master with wasting the victuals by a scuttle
made out of his cabin into the hold, and it appears that he fed his
favourites, as the surgeon, etc., and kept others at only ordinary
allowance. All say that, to save some from starving, they were
content to put away so many, and that to most of them it was
utterly unknown who should go, or who tarry, but as affection or
rage did guide them in that fury that were authors and executors of
that plot.
Instance & Prize Records. (High Court of Admiralty). Examinations,
&c. Series I. Vol. 42. 1611-12 to 1614.
Die Sabbto XXV'to _January_ 1611.
EDWARD WILLSON, of Portesmouth Surgion aged xxij yeares sworne and
examined before the Right Wor'll M'r [Master] Doctor Trevor Judge
of His Matyes High Court of the Admiltye concerninge his late
beinge at sea in the Discovery of London whereof Henry Hudson was
M'r for the Northwest discovery sayth as followeth.
Being demaunded whether he was one of the companie of the Discovery
wherof Henry Hudson was M'r for the Northwest passage saythe by
vertue of his oathe that he was Surgion of the said Shipp the said
voyadge.
Beinge asked further whether there was not a mutynie in the said
Shipp the said voyadge by some of the companie of the said Shipp
against the M'r, and of the manner and occasion thereof and by
whome saythe that their victualls were soe scante that they had but
two quartes of meale allowed to serve xxij men for a day, and that
the M'r had bread and cheese and aquavite in his cabon and called
some of the companie whome he favoured to eate and drinke with him
in his cabon whereuppon those that had nothinge did grudge and
mutynye both against the M'r and those that he gave bread and
drinke unto, the begynning whereof was thus viz't. One William
Willson then Boateswayne of the said shipp but since slayne by the
salvages went up to Phillipp Staffe the M'rs Mate and asked him the
reason why the M'r should soe favour to give meate to some of the
companie, and not the rest whoe aunswered that it was necessary
that some of them should be kepte upp Whereuppon Willson went downe
agayne and told one Henry Greene what the said Phillipp Staffe had
said to the said Willson Whereuppon they with others consented
together and agreed to pynion him the said M'r and one John Kinge
whoe was Quarter M'r and put them into a shallopp and Phillipp
Staffe mighte have stayed still in the shipp but he would
voluntarilie goe into the said shallopp for love of the M'r uppon
condition that they would give him his clothes (which he had) there
was allso six more besides the other three putt into the said
shallopp whoe thinkeinge that they were onely put into the shallopp
to keepe the said Hudson the M'r and Kinge till the victuals were
a sharinge went out willinglie but afterwards findinge that the
companie in the shipp would not suffer them to come agayne into the
shipp they desyred that they mighte have their cloathes and soe pte
of them was delivered them, and the rest of their apparell was
soulde at the mayne mast to them that would give most for them and
an inventory of every mans pticuler goodes was made and their money
was paid by Mr Allin Cary to their friendes heere in England and
deducted out of their wages that soe boughte them when they came
into England.
Beinge asked whoe were the pties that consented to this mutynie
saythe he knoweth not otherwise then before he hath deposed savinge
he saythe by vertue of his oathe that this exãet never knewe
thereof till the M'r was brought downe pynioned and sett downe
before this eãxtes cabon and then this examinate looked out and
asked him what he ayled and he said that he was pynioned and then
this exãte would have come out of his cabon to have gotten some
victualls amongest them and they that had bounde the M'r said to
this exãte that yf he were well he should keepe himselfe soe and
further saythe that neither did Silvanus Bond Nicholas Simmes and
Frances Clements consente to this practize against the M'r of this
exãtes knowledge.
Beinge demaunded whether he knoweth that the Hollanders have an
intent to goe forthe uppon a discovery to the said Northwest
passadge and whether they have anie card [chart] delivered them
concerninge the said discovery saythe that this exãte for his parte
never gave them anie card or knowledge of the said discovery but he
hath heard saye that they intend such a voyadge and more he cannot
saye savinge that some gentlemen and merchants of London that are
interessed in this discovery have shewed divers cardes abroad w'ch
happelie might come to some of their knowledge.
Beinge asked further whither there bee a passadge throughe there he
saythe that by all likeliehood there is by reason of the tyde of
flood came out of the westerne ptes and the tyde of ebbe out of the
easterne which may bee easely discovered yf such may bee imployed
as have beene acquainted with the voyadge and knoweth the manner of
the ice but in cominge backe agayne they keepinge the northerne
most land aboard found little or noe ice in the passadge.
Beinge asked what became of the said Hudson the M'r and the rest
of the companie that were put into the shallopp saythe that they
put out sayle and followed after them that were in the shipp the
space of halfe an houre and when they sawe the shipp put one [on]
more sayle and that they could not followe them then they putt in
for the shoare and soe they lost sighte of them and never heard of
them since And more he cannot depose.
Rich: Trevor. Edw: Willsonn.