ch. xv] Early Voyages to Hudson s Bay 133 
days after the ship left winter quarters, assuring him 
that the course they proposed to take was unavoidable. 
He asserts that he entreated them to desist, but he 
never gave information to his Captain, and was evidently 
a time-serving rascal. Being a servant of Sir Dudley 
Digges the conspirators spared him to tell lies for them 
on their return. 
The day was fixed and the mutineers passed the greater 
part of the night in whispered talk, arranging details, 
and going to Mathews the cook and others to gain them 
over. Staffe, the carpenter, slept on the poop. In the 
morning they were on deck, standing at the hatchway, 
waiting for the Captain to come up. Hudson was 
entirely without suspicion. He got up as usual, and, 
stepping on the deck, was seized by Thomas and Bennet 
Mathews the cook, while W. Wilson tied his hands behind 
his back. The unfortunate captain struggled and called 
for help and Staffe the carpenter and two other loyal 
men ran to his assistance, only to be overpowered by 
the mutineers, who had got possession of the ship. The 
shallop, an open boat, was then hauled up alongside. 
The poor sick men were pulled out of their berths, and 
forced into the boat, including Mr Woodhouse. Hudson 
when he saw what was intended, as a last hope called 
upon Prickett to remonstrate with the mutineers, but 
the rascal kept in his berth, shamming illness, and said 
not a word. Staffe, the carpenter, would have been 
allowed to remain, but he declared that he would rather 
die with true men than live as the associate of cowards. 
He got into the boat with his chest. Then young Hudson, 
who had been his father's companion in all his voyages, 
was dragged out of his berth and forced into the boat. 
Arnold Ladley, another good man and true, went into 
the boat rather than remain with such infamous wretches, 
giving his candid opinion of them as he went over the 
side. John King, another loyal man, also got into the 
boat ; Captain Hudson followed. The shallop was cast 
adrift with nine men crowded into her, one fowling-piece, 
some powder and shot, an iron pot, and a little meal. 
One of the sick alone deserved his fate, a man named 
Michael Butt. He had readily agreed to the captain and 
his son being cast adrift, and so thought he was safe. 
