I doe affirme, that they haue many times termed vs slaues to the King of Holland, and that we should all be sent to the Moluccas to rowe in their Gallies, and so bee kept bond-slaues vnder them during our liues. [ 10]
More I affirme, that they haue kept twelue of vs in a Dungeon at Pooloway, and foure and twentie at Amboyna, by the command of Laurence Riall then Generall, but now returned into Holland, where they pist and () vpon our heads, and in this manner we lay, vntill such time as we were broken out from top to toe like Leapers, hauing nothing to eat but durtie Rice, and stinking raine-water, insomuch as if it had not beene for a Dutch woman, named Mistris Cane, and some poore Blackes that brought vs a little fruit, we had all starued in that place, as many of our Company did, besides the extremitie which they vsed to many others which they had in Prison at other Ilands wher they perished, leauing their Wiues and Children heere in England readie to starue for want of maintenance.
[ 20]The names of the ten men which lay in Pooloway, are these:
Bartholomew Churchman. Iacob Lane. Kellam Throgmorton. Matthew Willis. William Burris. Cassarian Dauid. George Iackson. George Pettice. Walter Stacy. Richard Phillips.
At Amboyna, Richard Swanley, William Brookes, and twelue more, whose names I well know not, nor cannot remember, put into a Dungeon, with fortie Indians all in a hole, hauing no place to ease themselues. Bartholomew Churchman.
The last of October, 1617. Iohn Tucker affirmeth: That the Dutchmen tooke the Dragon, the Expedition, the Beare, and the Rose, and deliuered onely the Rose, and that there being in the Dragon a Present from the King of Achen for the King of England, called by them a Creeze, (that is to say) a Dagger, which they doe detayne to this houre. [ 30]
This is true, I vnder-written doe affirme, and testifie that it was not done by base Rogues (as they terme it) but some of the principall Commanders. Iohn Tucker.
After the taking of these ships, there were aboue three hundred and fiftie men set out of the foure ships which were on shoare, exposed vnto the mercie of the Indians, where they found more courtesie then of the Hollanders, otherwise they had all perished.
That all these abuses, and many more which wee haue formerly receiued by them, are true, we will maintayne vpon our oathes, and with our liues against any of their Nation, or others that shall gain-say this truth. Yet notwithstanding all this being (by the goodnesse of Almigh∣tie God) returned into our owne Country, we haue no satisfaction for these intollerable iniuries, nor any consideration for two thirds of our wages most barbarously kept from vs. [ 40]