samedi 4 août 2007

09 Note de Thomas Wydowse

.
THe tenth day of September,
1610. after dinner,
our Master called all the Companie together,
to heare and beare witnesse of the abuse of some of the Companie
(it having beene the request of Robert Juet)
that the Master should redresse some abuses and slanders,
as hee called them, against this Juet :
which thing after the Master had examined and heard with equitie
what hee could say for himselfe,
there were prooved so many and great abuses,
and mutinous matters against the Master, and action by Juet,
that there was danger to have suffred them longer : an dit was fit time to punis hand cut off farther occasions of the like mutinies.
It was prooved to his face, first with Bennet Mathew
our Trumpet upon our first fight of Island, and hee confest,
that hee supposed that in the action would bee man-slaughter,
and prove bloodie to some.
Secondly, at our comming from Island,
in hearing of the companie,
hee did threaten to turne the head of the Ship home from the action,
which at that time was by our Master wisely pacified,
hoping of amendment.
Thirdly, i twas deposed by Philip Staffe our Carpenter, and Ladlie Arnold,
to his face upon the holy Bible,
that hee perswaded them to keepe Muskets charged,
and Swords readie in their Cabbins,
for they should bee charged with shot,
ere the Voyage were over.
Fourthly, wee being pestered in the Ice,
hee had used words tending to mutinie,
discouragement, and slander of the action,
which easily tooke effect in those that were timorous;
and had not the Master in time prevented,
it might easily have overtbrowne the Voyage :
and now lately beeing imbayed in a deepe Bay,
which the Master had desire to see,
for some reasons to himselfe knowne,
his word tended altogether to put the Companie into a fray of extremitie,
by wintering in cold :
lefting a tour Master hope to see Bantam by candlemasse.

For these and divers other base slanders against the Master,
hee was deposed; and Robert Bylot,
who had shewed himselfe honestly respecting the good of the action,
was placed in his stead the Masters Mate.
Also Francis Clement the Boatson, at this time was put from his Office,
and William Wilson, a man thought more fit, prefered to his place.
This man had basely carryed himselfe to our Master and to the action.
Also Adrian Mooter was appointed Boatsons mate :
and a promise by the Master,
that from this day Juets wages should remaine to Bylot,
and the Boatsons overplus of wages should bee equally divided
betweene Wilson and one John King, to the owners good liking,
one of the Quarter Masters,
who had very well carryed themselves to the furtherance of the businesse.
Also the Master promised, if the Offenders yet behaved themselves henceforth honestly, hee would bee ameanes for their good,
and that hee would forget injuries, with other admonitions.
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