A TRUE RELATION Of a most Horrid Conspiracy and Running away with the SHIP ADVENTURE, Having on Board Forty Thousand Pieces of Eight, and other Goods to a great Value. Together with the Cruel and Barbarous leaving and turning ashore upon the Island Naias, in the East-Indies, the Captain, and three Merchants which were Passengers, and Sixteen honest and able Seamen, Eight whereof miserably perished by Hunger and Hardship, and but Four of the Remainder yet come to England.  
Together with some short Account of what passed at the Trial and Condemnation of those who Committed that Fact.  
THE Ship Adventure, of which Thomas Gullock was Commander and Supra-Cargo, bound to Borneo in East-India, broke ground from Graves-End on the 16th of March 1697/8. and touched at Brava one of the Cape de Verdy Islands, and having there got plenty of Refreshment, Fowls, Hogs, Goats and green Trade, proceeded on their Voyage, and in the Month of August fell in with the Coast of Sumatra, went to Padang to get Refreshment for the Ships Company, lay there five days, bought there four Bullocks, Fowls, Fruit, green Herbs, Potatoes, etc. which was equally divided to the Ships Company, also about a Tun and half of Rice, and half a Butt of Arack, got one Boat-load of Water, and sailed thence; about 20 days after, being by calms and currents driven near Naias, an Island inhabited by a barbarous sort of People who have no Commerce with any Europeans, came to an Anchor, the Captain ordered the Long boat on shore with empt● Cask to fill Water, under the charge of Mr. William Hill his second Mate, with 24 Men well armed, with orders that if a Gale of Wind should spring up, or that they should see any Natives or tracks of them upon the Sand, then immediately to repair on Board without Water, being in no great want of it, but thought that the best use could be made of the time whilst lying at an Anchor. After the Longboat was put off, the Captain was in great perplexity lest the Boats-crew might be destroyed by the barbarous Natives, therefore went on shore himself in his Yaul after them, and stayed at the watering place, being two or three hundred yards distant from the Boat, until Mr. Hill sent him word the Water-cask were full; the Captain then sent him orders to send the Longboat on board with fifteen Men; Joseph Bradish Boatswains mate desired Mr. Hill to let him have the Yaul to tow the Long boat off from the shore, which he agreed to, intending only the Security of the Boat, but they continued to tow much farther than necessary, and then cast off the Tow-rope, laying the Yauls' Head to the shore, with only two Men as appeared in her; when the Long boat was near the Ship, two Men more risen out of the Yauls' hull, and then with four Oars rowed directly ●●●●board the Ship getting bo●● on board together; then did Joseph Bradish, John Lloyd, Thomas hugh's and others, seize Mr. Abraham Parrott the chief Mate, telling him he was their Prisoner, and the Ship and all that was in her was their own. He asked them what was the matter, and what they thought would be the end of it? They answered he need not trouble himself about that, they were for A short Life and a merry one. The Conspirators being immediately armed, made themselves Masters of the Ship, cut her Cable, loosed her Sails, and run away with her, leaving the Captain and 14 Men upon the said Island, exposed to inexpressiable Miseries and Dangers, not only from the barbarous Natives, but Tigers and other wild Beasts, etc. without any manner of Provisions, Moneys or clothes, except the worst, which they had on their backs, or any prospect of returning to their Native Country, or indeed of so much as preserving their Lives.  
Soon after the Ship was under Sail, they turned 〈◊〉 Yaul away, and in her five Men, viz. Mr. Dru Hacker, Rex Kempson, George Reyner, Jona● Grizley, and Francisco an Indian, being such as would not join with them in their Villainous Design, not giving them one Biscuit Cake, or any Sustenance, but refused to let them go to their own Chests to put on a Coat, Hat, or Shoes, insomuch that three were turned ashore without Coats or Hats, and two without Shoes, and being forced to travel over sharp Rocks, they, with others whose Shoes soon wore out, had their Feet torn and mangled, and bled in such a miserable manner, that they desired to lie down and die there, rather than to have gone on, if the Captain had not over persuaded them.  
The number left in this deplorable state were 16 of their fellow Seamen, with the Commander and three Merchants, who, besides the extreme danger of perishing there, were robbed of what they had aboard, frustrated of the fruits of their Voyage, and their poor Wives and Children left to starve at home. Eight have since perished by hunger and hardships, who, if they were present, would more livelily set out the horrid Cruelty of those unmerciful Men who run away with the Ship, and left them in that miserable and wretched Condition.  
This distressed Company being thus left, without any thing to eat, did remain so from Saturday morning the 17th of September till Thursday evening the 22th.  
But tho' the Barbarity of their fellow Seamen left them in such unspeakable distress, yet it pleased God wonderfully to bring about Means for the Preservation of a few of them to be Witnesses of so horrid a Villainy; for there happened to come two Boats to the said Island, which the Captain did hire with the Promise of 500 Pieces of Eight to pursue his Ship, and was on Monday the 19th within 4 or 5 Miles of her, but by a sudden Storm was forced ashore, and both those Boats staved to pieces, only himself with 5 Men in the Yaul escaped that Shipwreck. But it pleased God none of them lost their Lives, but all came by Land to a Creek or Cove, whither the Captain with much toil and difficulty got in the Yaul; the Number was now by these Atcheeners increased to 42 Men, and no Boat or Vessel but the Yaul, which could not carry in the Sea above Eight or Ten. The Atcheeners seemed most afraid of the Natives, begging the Captain to stand by them, or else the Natives would either kill or make Slaves of him and them; for they said there was a Boat of Atcheen which came there the Year before, the Men of which the Natives had knocked on the head, and halled the Boat up above High-water mark; this Boat was surveyed and found much rend with the Sun, but that the Malayers undertook to stop, and did so, with Moss, Bark, etc. whilst the Captain took care to get the Sail and some other things of one of the wracked Boats, and did Launch her that day, (tho' whilst they were about it they were attacked by 200 of the Natives, all armed with Swords, Targets, and Lances, who made a fierce onset, but by firing Twelve or Fourteen shot were put to flight) and with her and the Yaul got off to small Islands called Maroos, where they got some Coker Nuts, and from a Boat they met at those Islands got some Rice which had been wet with Salt water in the same Storm when the two Boats were lost, and was heated and stank abominably, but was eaten hearty: This Boat pretended to belong to Padang, so that the Captain agreed with the Master for transport to Padang, giving the launched Boat to the Acheeners in lieu of their two Boats, which was all the Recompense he could then possibly make them. Going with this Boat toward Sumatra they were chased with a Malaya Pirate, who came up with them, but seeing them stand to their Arms bore up round, and stood away without one word. Coming near Priaman there is a Shoal upon which the Malayar ran his Boat; and when the Boat was on ground, the Englishmen all leapt over Board to go to a dry Spot not far distant, but many had like to have been drowned by holes in the Rocks, which dipped them over head and ears, but others who could Swim assisted and got them safe to the dry Spot. The Captain went on shore with the Yaul, and begged the Assistance of the Dutch Corporal, who sent a Boat with Natives, which brought the Men all off from that Spot, which not long after was overflown with the Tide, otherwise they must have been drowned; for the Malayar, after they jumped out, got his Boat off, and went away without staying to expect his Freight, for what reason we know not. Two days after they went to Padang, where being ill treated, and labouring under great Want and Sickness, three soon died there. But it pleased God to raise them up there a Friend indeed, Mr. Antony Gillis a Native of India, who pitied their Miseries, relieved their Wants, and (under God) saved their Lives; whose inexpressible and almost inimitable Charity, extended to the Dead and Living, shrouding the one, and succouring the other, which is here mentioned to his honour, and in gratitude to him.  
The remaining part of this distressed Company got their Passage to Bencoolen, whereof one died by the way, and some remained there, of which three more soon died, and it is to be feared several of the rest which stayed there are since dead, for only six of the Company proceeded to Batavia, where, after a languishing Sickness, died one more, viz. George Rayner, from which place the Commander and three more got passage to England.  
The foregoing Account is given, not only by the Commander and poor surviving Seamen, but was (long before the taking of any of the wicked Crew who run away with the Ship) written from Padang in a Letter to the Owners by Mr. Robert Anby and Mr. Ralph Perk, two Gentlemen, who, with some others, were to have stayed at Borneo to have settled a Factory; which Letters, with two others from Mr. Nixon and Mr. Parrot at Batavia, may be seen at Mr. Crowches' a Bookseller at the Corner of Pope's head-Alley in Cornhill, out of which, for Vindication of the Commander from the base and unjust Aspersions of his ill usage of the Seamen, the Owners have permitted the following Paragraphs to be printed with this Narrative.  
NOW, honoured Sirs, we humbly crave your leave to do our worthy Captain Justice, by acquainting you of his particular care of the Ships Company, in respect to the health both of their Souls and Bodies; we never failed of Morning and Evening Prayers in public upon the Quarter Deck, when the Wether would permit, our Commander daily endeavouring to suppress all manner of Vice, and to encourage Virtue. As to the health of their Bodies, he was as tender as a Mother to any that were sick, daily minding the Doctor of his charge; and when he had fresh Provisions at his own Table, would ask the Doctor who was sick, and always sent them some. Those that were in health he endeavoured to keep so, by refreshing twice or thrice a day in bad weather with Drams. In fine, God Almighty knows our hearts that we speak the truth; he is the most religious, sober, careful and kind Commander that we knew or heard of ever.  
Robert Anby. Ralph Perk. P●dang the Twenty Third of October, 1698. Old Style.  
Mr. Samuel Nixon Chirurgeon, in his Letter to the Owners from Batavia, Nou. 27th. 1698. writes thus:  
I Do declare that I never saw in any of his Majesty's Ships, or any other where I have been, better Victuals or Victualling, nor never so much care taken, nor kindness shown, both toward Soul and Body, as was by the Commander, both to well and sick; for tho' it pleased God to bless us with so healthful a Passage, that we never had any Man lay down three days together, yet hath the Captain often circumvented me in sending Broth or other fresh Provisions to sick Men from his own Table, and hath sundry times ordered Fowls to be killed expressly for them only, and hath also several times in the Voyage given of his Fowls to the whole Ships Company, and never killed a Hogg, but a great part was given them; and the same by his Parsnips, Carrots, Pumkins, etc. allowing for the sick Men Water grewel with Fruit, Sugar and Spice, such as I thought fit. Insomuch that I am ready to give Oath, I have heard them say sundry times, that they never saw so good Victualling, nor a Commander so kind and careful of his Men.  
Also he so husbanded the Brandy allowed for them that they had Drams always when wet, and at the turning out of the Watches. And the Ships Company drank all Beer until near the Southern Tropic, and to the Eastward of the Cape, and then Beer and Water to the very last, giving the Seamen sometimes strong Beer. As for Abuses I never saw any or less striking in any Ship where I have been, the whole amounting to the punishment of four or five Persons, and that for great Faults, as Thievery, etc.  
Mr. Abraham Parrott Chief-mate, in his Letter to the Owners, gives the same account of Victualling and Punishments, etc. adding, That after the Seizure of the Ship it was freely discoursed, William Griffeth the Trumpeter had taken upon him to have shot the Captain.  
And now to return, to give some Account of the procedure of those who ran away with the Ship, taken from Three who by force were with them the whole Voyage, and gave Evidence upon Oath thereof, at their Trial, viz. John Westby, Robert Amsden, and William Saunders; the Captain only giving Evidence that the Prisoners were aboard the Ship when it was run away withal.  
After they had seized the Ship, and turned ashore the five Persons beforementioned, they sailed about 50 Leagues to Sea from the Island, and then turned away in the Long Boat Mr. Abraham Parrott the Chief Mate, William Whitesides the Boatswain, and Richard Heath Armorer 
* Note, These 3 poor Creatures were 23 days at Sea, and had there perished if they had not by accident met a Dutch Ship bound to Batavia, who carried them thither. , to each of whom they gave a Certificate in the following words; the Original whereof was produced and sworn to in Court, viz.  
Septemb. 21. 1698.  
NOT willing to venture ourselves near any Factory, and unwilling to keep any to breed Faction among us, have turned to Sea in the Longboat all such as were not willing to stay, except John Westby to act as Chirurgeon, and Robert Amsden Carpenter, Servant, which two per force we keep; the others, viz. Abraham Parrott, William Whitesi●es, and Richard Heath we forced away detaining likewise William Saunders.  


Joseph Bradish.  
John Lloyd.  
John Peirce.  
Andrew Marten.    
This being done, they began to divide the Clothes and Moneys of those whom they had so left and turned ashore, and some time after divided the Pieces of Eight belonging to the Owners, weighing to each Man his Proportion by the Stillyards, which came to about Fifteen hundred Pieces of Eight a Man.  
When they came near the Coast of New-England they agreed to destroy all the Journals and Writings aboard, which they did by putting them into a Bag, and sinking them with Shot, saying, They should not rise up against them.  
After this, near to Block-Island, they dispersed themselves into several Sloops, taking with them their Moneys, etc. and were not contented with that, but fired five Guns through the Ships bottom, and sunk her in deep Water, with the Cloth, Led, Iron, and other Commodities aboard; all which, as well as the Ship, were thereby irrecoverably lost.  
Notwithstanding their separating themselves into several distant Parts, Divine Justice has pursued them, and they have all been taken but one, who is supposed to be killed, and were brought to their Trial on the 21st of June last at the Old-Baily, where what they said for themselves, as to the Matter of Fact, was frivolous and inconsistent, but endeavoured to extenuate their Crime by charging the Commander with Severity and Ill usage, from which the Court was pleased to give the Commander an opportunity to vindicate himself, which he did ●pon Oath in the manner following, to the Satisfaction of the Court? Viz.  
That he was sorry to see so many Men so remorseless, as to endeavour the excusing one Villainy by committing another, as not content to have robbed him of his Ship and Cargo, exposed himself and 19 more to those inexpressible Hardships and Miseries, whereby the King lost eight of his Subjects by untimely death, and no more than three besides himself returned to England, of the 20 left on shore,) but farther endeavoured to Murder his Reputation with most unjust, and base Aspersions. As for the Victualling of his Ship, he said, that on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays they had every Mess a piece of good Beef and a Pudding of two pound and a half of Flower with ¼ of Suet, besides Butter or Cheese for Breakfast. That on Mondays and Fridays they had Pork and Pease, with Breakfast as before: On Wednesdays and Saturdays Fish and Burgoo; and they had Burgoo for Breakfast, with Butter and Sugar, on those days. That they had three Cans of Beer a Mess every day till far beyond the Cape of good Hope, and after that two Cans of good Beer and Water; and when they drank Water, there was a Cask with a Scuttle or Hole cut at the Bung enough to put a Cup in and drink when they pleased, lashed fast to the Mainmast upon the Main-deck, filled as often as there was occasion. Also that they had 28 pound of Bread per Week every Mess, until John Lloyd desired the Captain to let him put two bags of Bread about 50 pound each, (which his Mess alone had saved out of their Allowance) into the Bread-room, which was done accordingly. That then they were at no Allowance for a Fortnight or three Weeks, but had the Bread in an open Cask in the Steerage, to eat when and what they pleased, until they left it greasy up and down where they eat, and than 'twas retrencht to 25 pound per Week every Mess, and never less by his order or knowledge. Also that they had Drams Morning and Evening when fair, and as often as the Watches was changed when wet, never letting them go to their Hammocks wet without a Dram, to be sure of which he did not suffer the Steward to give it them below, but constantly his own Servant at his Round house door. Also that every Mess had on Sundays a Can of strong Beer; and when about the Cape in cold raw weather, they have often had, both Morning and Evening, Burgoo, and sometimes Fowls for the whole Ships Company●, with a very particular regard to all sick Men.  
The same Account John Westby, Robert Amsdem, and William Saunders upon Oath confirmed; except that Mr. Westby and Amsden said, they once heard or saw that one Mess had but Sixteen pound of Bread one Week, which the Captain said he never heard any Complaint of, for if he had, he should have as readily redressed it as he did the only Complaint was ever made him of Victuals, which was by William Griffeth, who brought him a piece of Pork very small, which he ordered his Servant to take from him, and give Griffeth a piece from his own Table in exchange for it; the truth of which was confirmed by the Witnesses, and cannot he denied by the Prisoners themselves, unless they will run the hazard of going from Man's Judgement to the most tremendous and eternal Judgement of God with guilt.  
As for Chastisement, he did acknowledge that Ham Edgell and Wetherell had been punished; Edgell because that he being a Quartermaster, working in the Lazaretta, did break open a Box, and stole about a dozen pound of white Sugar; the next day the Captain demanded at once all Keys of Chests, and did find the Sugar in his Chest: which Felony he thought fit publicly to punish, especially in him, who being a Quartermaster, might have the opportunity of the same Fact in Goods of far greater value, and that it might prove exemplary to the whole Ships Company.  
Edward Ham purely for the welfare of those who complain against it, because that he after many checks, and some blows, continued nasty to that degree, that upon a complaint of the copperishness of the Pease, the Captain himself went into the Cook-room, and took off the sides of the Copper a great quantity of Verdigreese, for which the Captain beat him with a Japan Cane, but not to that degree as at all to wound or break his Skin, as the Surgeon's Mate, Mr. Westby confirmed upon Oath. And Witherell was beaten for striking the Boatswain of the Ship. And if Correction in such Cases be not used aboard Ships, no order can be maintained, but all would run into Confusion.  
And these very Men themselves, sometime after Seizure of the Ship, did seize the same Edward Ham to the Gang-way, and severely beat him for the same Crime.  
The Names of the Prisoners which were Condemned, were Joseph Bradish, John Lloyd, Thomas hugh's, Ellmore Clarke, Edward Ham, Thomas Dean, William Griffeth, Robert Mason, Thomas Edgell, Francis Read, Cornelius Larking, Thomas Simpson, Tee Wetherell, Robert Knox, Thomas Davis, Andrew Marten, Rowland Marten, John Peirce.  
The Names of those left on shore, Capt. Thomas Gullock, Mr. Robert Anby, Mr. Ralph Perk, Mr. Drew Hacker, Edward Watts, Rex Kempton, George Reyner, Ionas Grizley, William Hill, Samuel Nixon, John Baker, John Hire, Daniel Gravier, Henry Barnet, Giles Brown, Thomas Barrow, John Templer, one Frenchman, and one Dutchman.  
Names of the Dead are Rex Kempton, Henry Barnet, Giles Brown, Daniel Gravier, Robert Anby, Ralph Perk, Edward Watts, George Reyner.   

Printed for Sam. Crouch, at the Corner of Popes-Head Ally, in Cornhill. 1700. Price 1 Peny