A MOST EXECRABLE ●ND BARBAROUS MURDER done by an East-Indian Devil, or a Native of Java-Major, in the Road of Bantam, Aboard an English Ship called the Coster, on the 22. of October last, 1641.  
Wherein is showed how the wicked Villain came to the said Ship and hid himself till it was very dark, and then he mudrdered all the men that were a Board, except the Cook, and three Boys. And Lastly, how the murderer himself was justly requited.  
Captain William Minor being an eyewitness of this bloody Massacre.   massacre of the men of the Coster 
LONDON, Printed for T. Banks, july the 18. 1642.   

A MOST EXECRABLE AND BARBAROUS Murder, done by an East-Indian devil, or a Native of Java-Major in the Road of Bantam, Aboard an English Ship called the Coster, on the 22. of October last, 1641.  
THe Blessings of gracious Favours, Mercies and Bounties (which God hath been pleased from time to time, to pour upon this our undeserving Nation) are innumerable and infinite: Of all which happinesses, amogst things Temporal; the knowledge of Building, Shipping, Skill, Strength Honour and profit of Navigation is not the least, the glory of God, the propagation of the Gospel, the discoveries of strange Empires, Kingdoms, and mighty Regions, the conversition of many Pagans, Heathens, and Infidels, the Exportation and Importation of native and foreign Commodities, the great increase of Traffic, the raising of Merchants and Merchandise the great nursery of Mariners and Seamen, and the strength of this Kingdom. by the multiplicity of goodly ships; all these blessings (or the most part of them) have been by pains, cares, happy successes & prosperous voyages of many worthy men, Adventurers and skilful seamen; by their trading to Moscovie, Turkey, Spain, Barbary, to the West-Indies, the Straits and Levant, but especially to the East-Indies.  
Amongst the many voyages that have been made into the Oriental Countries, (whereof some Ships have been 4. some 3. years in performing the said voyages out and home,) this treatise which followeth is exceeding remarkable, for the speediness of departing and return.  
On the 7. of April last 1641. Captain William Minor,) A Gentleman whose skill, valour, and industry is well approved,) being commander in the good Ship called the Royal Mary, of the burden of 1000 tuns, Set sail from the Lizar, (in Cornwall,) and after many variations of winds, weathers, and climates. From the Lizard, he sailed for Bantam, a city of Java Major, where he arrived in the Road the 14 of August, it is one of the Eastern Island of the Indies,) and having the Ships lading there and disburdened: He with all cellerity, began to lad again on the third of September and on the 9 of November, being richly laden, weighed Anchor for England, with such prosperous success (through God's great goonesse and mercy,) that by the 18. of April, made the Landsend; and on the 20. he Anchored in Plymouth Road, Arrived at London, having been in all out but 12 months and 11 days, of the which he stared 20. days by the way; that is 11 days, at the Cape Bona Spes, and 9 days at St. Helena. This is one of the shortest voyages to the East-Indies that ever was performed betwixt England and India.  
And now I proceed to the Relation of the murderous Masacre which was done by a Pagan or devil, aboard a Ship called the Coster, which Ship was in Burden 400. tuns, and manned with 100 English men and boys: But at this Masacre the men were most of them a shore to fetch fresh water, and on other occasions, by reason whereof those few that were a board the Ship, suffered as followeth.  
On Friday the 22. of October last 1641. towards night there came aboard an English Ship called the Coster, in a small Prow (or flat Boat with one paddle) a proper young man, (a Java which is as much to say, as a man born or native of the Territory of Java.) This man (or devil in man's shape,) with a pretence to sell some Hews, (hatching mischief in his damned mind,) did delay and trifle time, because he would have the night more dark for him to do his deeds of darkness: At last he sold 6. Hews for half a Royal of 8. which is not much above two shillings. There came also another Java aboard, (with the like small Prow or Boat) to whom he gave the half Royal, sent him away and bade him make haste; he being asked for what the other Java went for, the answer was that he had sent him for more Hews and Goats to sell.  
Night being come, and very dark, (for it was the last night of the wane of the Moon,) This inhuman dog stayed lurking under the half deck, having 2. Crests (or dangerous waving Daggers) and a Buckler, of which he would have sold one and the Buckler with it, and as he was discoursing, he took off one of the Crests hefts, and put cloth about the tongue of the Blade, and made it sure fast; on the other Crest he roled the handle with a fine linen cloth to make it also sure from slipping in his hand; these things he did whilsts the Master Robert Start, Stephen Roberts his mate, Hugh Rawlinson Chirurgeon, William Perks Steward, James Biggs Gunner, and 3. Boys or Youths attending. At supper they were very merry, and this Caitiff took notice of their carelessness of him, to suffer him to sit on the quarter deck upon a Cot close by them.  
Supper being ended about 6. at night; the Master went to his Cabin to rest, the Gunner asked leave to go a shore; (the ship riding but half a mile from landing. Afterwards Robert Rawlinson, and Perks walked upon the quarter deck; and the devilish Java perceiving the Master to be absent, he asked the Boys where he was, who answered he was gone to sleep, this question he demanded 3 or 4 times of the Boys, and finding it to be so, he arose from the place where he sat, which was on the starboard side, and went about the Table next the Mizzen Mast, (where Roberts, Rawlings, and Perks were walking,) with his Target about his Neck for defence against Pikes, or the like; and his 2 Crests in his hand, and upon a sudden ●…yes a Muck, which in that language is, I hazard or run my death: Then first he stabbed Roberts, secondly he stabbed Rawlinson, thirdly Perks, all three at an instant. After that, he let drive at the Boys but they leapt down, and ran forward into the fore castle, where they found the Cook, to whom the Boys related what had happened.  
The Villain presently went to the great  door, where the Master being wakened and heard some bustling opened the door, and was no sooner out, but stabbed dead. The Gunner's Mate hearing some stir, went out of the Gun-Roome, and coming up a Scuttle (where the Master was murdered,) there was he also stabbed that he fell down the Scuttle, but making shift to creep into the Gun-Room and was there found dead upon his knees, leaning upon a Chest: The Chirurgeon (Rawlinson) got into the fore Pick, and there sat down and died.  
The Java keeps his stand under the quarter Deck, where he had slain the Master and the Gunners Mate, and never proffered to pursue or assault those in the forecastle.  
John Taylor, seeing the danger he was in, made way to give fire to a piece of Ordnance in the Cook-room, and laying a Coal upon the Touchhole of the Piece, he foolishly blew the same with his mouth, whereas the Piece took fire, and so violently blew into his mouth, that he died of the same blast within 2 days after.  
In this time the Ships Longboat and Skiffe, had made a turn a shore for fresh water; which returned about 7 in the evening, which they in the forecastle perceiving, called unto them, telling them there was a Muke aboard who had slain the M●●●er; and all the men except the Cook and 3 boys at which the Longboat laid the Ship aboard in the Bow, and took into her the said Cook and Boys,) which were all that were left alive in the Ship;) except one John Taylor, who was not yet dead, for they took him into the boat, and he died 2 days after; and presently they went aboard the Royal Mary, and certified Captain Minor of the bloody Masacre committed.  
The Gunner and Carpenter (as yet) knew nothing of this mischief, for they went ashore together to fetch a bag of royals; and returning, the Gunner first entered, with the bag under his arm, and going to open a grating door under the quarter deck, where the Java kept his stand, there the Rogue also stabbed him into the left breast, but by the mercy of God in lighted glancing upon a rib, so that it pierced not into his body; he wondering who it should be that stabbed him and there being no light nor any that would speak or answer him; called to the Carpenter, and bade him stay in the Prow (or boat,) for I am stabbed in the dark (quoth he,) and so the Gunner and the Carpenter left the Ship Coster, and went aboard of the Royal Mary. But it is to be noted, that the Java did not pursue the Gunner after he had stabbed him but suffered him to go over the Ships side into the boat where the Carpenter was. Being come to the Mary, there related what had happened to them and likewise there they found their Longboat, with the Cook and the 3 Boys. And presently the Captain commanded his own Skiffe and the Costers, to be well manned, and because it was very dark, he gave them order that they should keep about the other Ship till it was day, and not to suffer any boats to board her: This charge was given to the Captain's Mate Master Gardner, who performed it discreetly, but by that time the boats got to the Coster, the lights were almost burnt out, and there no more to be had at that time. So the Skiffe being manned well, went and cut away the small Prow or boat which brought the cursed Cur aboard.  
The Maries Pinnace well furnished, being appointed by Captain Minors command, what to do in boarding the Coster, and that by no means they should enter till night was passed; but the giddy multitude overswayed Master Gardner, and forced the boats aboard, on each bow of the Ship, and the Mariners entered with Pikes, Halberds, Swords, Bucklers, and other Weapons necessary, they cleared the Cook-room, the Waste, and between the Decks, all this while the Java constantly kept his stand in the quarter deck, by the great  door. Our men (finding no resistance,) our Trumpeter too hastily entered the quarter deck door, would not stay till light came.  
But he; (poor man) had his fatal portion which the Master and Gunners Mate had in the very same place where they were killed, there fell he wounden mortally: Had he but stayed for light according to order, or for some Pikes they had with them, the Tragedy had been ended without the loss of him: for after the Halberds, Pikes and such Weapons, plied fast upon the Villain, that he was forced to retire Abafte the Mizzen Mast, and Bitacle, where they had him at a Bay, as it were in a snare or Net, for over his head was a Scuttle, where one of our men stood with a cross spit, who gave him a Launching wound into the breast, that the thrust went down into his belly, which made him turn, and then his Buckler did him no good, for he was fastened to the Bulk-head, (as if he had been nailed, and presently he had as many wounds upon him, as would have killed a score of his companions.  
Divers are the opinions of men concerning this Action, the King and Natives do say, that it was upon discontent; that he could not obtain a woman in marriage, (after their fashion,) and had vowed therefore he would be revenged on any whomsoever, he cared not who, and that affront was the period of his revenge, as sable as his soul. Some others do allege that Keyradding who is in that Country a Noble man; (one that is in good esteem with our Nation,) had been aboard the day before, and had seen some gold that the Master had to sell, and agreed with him for the price, and promised to come at that time that this Muck came aboard, and bring the money to pay for it, but it is otherways conjectured, that he supposed to have it by the attempt of this Muck, (for the java or Muck-hill) had seen the gold and enquired for it after he came aboard; but instead of that money Keyradding promised to send, he brought 2 Crests and a Target, (wherewith he did the mischiefs.) And when the 6 murdered corpse were in the boat, to be carried ashore to burial; the Precedent and Captain Minor were in another boat, and met Keyradding, showing him the dead Corpse, and the Weapons, whereat he was much abashed, he was demanded if he knew the Crests or Target, he presently answered that it was very eas●y to be known, being the Picture of a Sea-Devill, with a hand that held a Crest-handle with two blades, (the one forward, and the other backward.) The Precedent sent to the King for Howkame (which is justice,) and did intent to have gone himself after, to have seen the event: But whilst the Precedent was at Dinner, Keyradding came in, and said that the King with his great Counsel and Oronkeyes (who are as Earls, Dukes, or Princes) had Prichard (which is concluded that it was for the discontent for the denial of his love, that he had ran 〈◊〉 Muck, and therefore it was but vain to trouble the King any further in th●● matter; and this is the Javas Howkam, or strange kind of justice.  
Some 2 days after, there was a great Orankey confessed that the night before, he did tell him that he would run this Muck aboard an Engl●●● Ship: And this Orankey was the King's favourite, yet he never made th● King, or our Precedent acquainted with it; for which neglect of his, the King seemed to be very angry with this Orankey, (who hath a by name, and is called Turner.) It is observable, that of all these men that were thus Butchered the Hellhound did never stab any man twice, so sure did he strike, nor di● he pursue any man that kept clear of his stand, under the quarter deck t●●● there died in all (in this bloody action, Robert Start Master Stephen Robe●● his Mate, Hugh Rawlinson Chirurgeon, William Perks Steward, Walter ●●gers Gunner's Mate, and Francis Drake Trumpeter of the Mary; and 〈◊〉 the Muck, Java or Devil, had ended the first part of this bloody Tragedy there was only left in the Ship, the Cook, 3 Boys, and one John T●y●●● that was almost dead with a shot he foolishly made: So tha 7 men were 〈◊〉 fortunatly lost, (as you have heard, and the Gunner escaped very narro●●● through God's merciful prevention, from the like of these related disassent and suddiane mischiefs, Good Lord deliver us.   
FINIS.