50 
MUTINY OF HUDSONS CREW. 
the other conspirators to turn the captain and the sick adrift, 
by which a greater quantity of provisions would fall to their own 
lot. So well organized was the conspiracy, that the conspirators 
bound themselves by an oath, which ran as follows, “ You shall 
swear truth to God, your prince and country ; you shall do nothing 
but to the g'lory of God and the good of the action in hand, and 
harm to no man.” This oath being taken by all the conspirators, 
Hudson was seized and bound, and with the sick and maimed, 
was lowered into the boat, making altogether nine persons. The 
provisions which was given them were scarcely sufficient for two 
days maintenance, consisting of only a small quantity of meal; 
but they were provided with a fowling piece, some ammunition, 
and an iron pot, in which to cook any victuals that might fall in 
their way. 
In this melancholy situation, with nothing but a slow and 
horrible death before them, the towing rope was cut, and the 
boat went adrift amongst the floating ice, in a situation in which 
death awaited them every moment. Vain was the hope of Hudson 
to fall in with a ship, which could rescue him from his perilous 
condition; and from the treatment which the natives of the 
country had received from former navigators, \vno instead of 
conciliating them by presents and other acts of kindness, had 
frequently kidnapped several and carried them away with them— 
it was considered as throwing themselves into the hands of their 
murderers, to land upon any part of the coast. Of the manner 
in which the brave Hudson, and his unfortunate companions met 
their death, no information was ever received; it was however 
ascertained, that the mutineers no sooner saw the boat with their 
late captain in it out of sight, than they quarrelled amongst 
themselves as to the course which they should pursue. They 
seemed to be aware of the consequences which would follow them, 
were they to return to England ; and Green, who was elected to 
be their captain, determined to keep the sea, until he had the 
king’s seal to show for his safety. On their arrival at Cape 
Digges, Green went on shore, and in a quarrel with the natives, 
was killed. The sufferings of the mutineers were now so great, 
that they were compelled to eat their candles, and to fry the 
