of March being the day when the execution should have been done but the examination of Towerson was ended the 18. of February so many dayes before This is the substance of the confessions of 10 Japonians of 14 English and of a Neatherlandish Merinho or Captain of the Slaves who all confirmed these their confessions with their own hands What crime this intended prodition was is hence very manifest and undoubted what punishment is due to treacherie according to the Law and Customs of all Nations is also well known no true Christian man will patronage any such horrible attempt but will adjudge it worthy of death as it was determined upon the complices of this conspiracie according to order of Justice as there in Amboyna it is exercised according to desert by the Governour and Councel in the name of the High and Mighty Lords the States Here you have Sir the very substance of the Truth both of the Fact and punishment other than which many things are spread abroad in England but upon what pretence or intendment I know not let the matter it self speak for it self The first point Object 1 which is objected against this Justice done in Amboyna is concerning the proceedings which are said to be holden without formality and with extremity against these conspiratours Your Worship and each reasonable man knoweth that every land hath their Laws and Ordinances and their particular manner of proceedings as well in Civil as in Criminal causes England hath hers France Spain Dutchland Neatherland and all other Kingdoms and Governments have also theirs which are just and lawfull to every one in their Dominion so that when any man will judge of the equitie or injustice of a proceeding used in any Land he must examine the same according to the Laws customs of that Kingdom or Dominion where the Justice Proceedings were holden These Proceedings were holden by the Neatherlandish Governour in the name of the Illustrious Lords the States having supream Power many years since in the Isles of Amboyna which were conquered in the name of the said Lords the States from the Spaniards or Portugals who held that Castle in the name of the King of Spain our hereditarie enemy therefore they are now possessed in the name of the Lords the States and are under their Dominion by a just and Lawfull Title of War according to the Law of Nations There among other things Justice is administred according to the Law of the Neatherlands in that manner as was used in the proceedings against these conspiratours I know that the Laws of England are divers from ours in Criminal cases yea and from all the Nations in Europe howbeit therefore no man hath any ground of reason to say that the proceedings of the English judges holden in England against Delinquents are not legitimate though the said English proceedings do varie in the manner from the proceedings of France Spain c. where other customs are for that is lawfull which agreeth with the Laws of that Land where the fact is committed Now then the Japonian Souldidiers being in the service of the Neatherlands Company in Amboyna are discovered to have conspired against the Castle and the Governour there under whose Oath and pay they were they were apprehended and examined and convicted of the said conspiracie This proceeding is Lawfull and toucheth no man because the said Japonians knew no other Master than the Neatherlanders under whose Oath service and pay they stand All these Japonian conspiratours with the said Merincho a Captain of the Neatherlands Slaves confessed with one mouth that they were moved and induced to this conspiracie by the English Merchants resident in Amboyna whose names they named Now not onely the right of Neatherland but of England and of the whole World requireth that the Authours abettours and complices of Murder and Treason should be punished with death whereto according to the common Laws as also the particular Laws of every Kingdom or Dominion the suspected persons first and before all should be imprisoned not onely for preventing the effect of their evil purpose but that they might also receive their deserved punishment which apprehensions could not in that place be done by any other man than by the command of the Neatherlands Governour to whom it belongeth to take care to see every act concerning Supream power to be there observed and especially all other reasons ceasing the highest English Officers there could not apprehend these English Conspiratours because all the chief of the English Merchants in Amboyna were themselves of the conspiracie and complices of the fact upon which the apprehension was made Therefore the apprehension of the English complices must be done by the Dutch Governour who therefore hath therein proceeded according to the custom of all Nations of the world And that these apprehensions may be holden more Lawfull it appeareth out of the written process that the said English complices were not imprisoned upon the first suspitions gross evidences which were had against them but then at last when all the Japonian Souldiers were taken examined and convicted and had discovered by the uniform confession of all the eleven the names and surnames of such English as had perswaded and hired them to this fact of which English viz. one Abel Price Barber was before apprehended as an Incendiary for burning and violence done upon other houses who also was first examined first confessed as the other 11 Japonians that he by name Gabriel Towerson other English Merchants whom he named by their names had suborned the said Japonian Souldiers and that all the English Merchants in the Forreign Cantores in Amboyna had knowledge of this conspiracie c. So that it may be seen out of that which went before that the Dutch Governour dealt no otherwise in the apprehension and examination of the English than according to his place and power and that with great discretion according to the Laws of these United Provinces The second point which is abusively dispersed in England Oubject 2 against this execution is that it is said that it did not appertain to the Neatherlanders in Amboyna to imprison the said English and to proceed against them or to punish them but that it did belong to the Councel of Defence resident at Jaccatra consisting half of English and half of Neatherlanders according to the Treaty of the year 1619. made between his Majestie and the Lords the States between the two East-India Companies That I might the better inform my self thereof I took in hand and perused the general Treaty of 1619. with the explication following thereupon but I profess that as I think every understanding man not loving discord must confess that neither in the said Treatie nor in the enlargement any one Article or word could be perceived whereby according to that which is untruely said in England either this or any such thing is ordained or decided by the said Treaty as it ought to have clearly been
not to be lenified or eased at all but ended by death But to the sufficient fatisfaction of my self and your Worship and all men and not to speak according to the sentence and conscience of others I have used all diligence to get into my hands the written Process concerning the Conspiratours in Amboyna which I obtained authentically and read carefully and I find that all that is by me abovesaid is confirmed to wit That the Japonian Complices were examined and made their confessions as aforesaid for three dayes viz. the 23 24 25. of February 1623. and that all this being done and consummated before then at last is Gabriel Towerson first with the rest of the English Complices imprisoned the said 25. of February when their examination and confession began continued divers dayes without over-hasting till the third of March. And the said examinations and confessions being so finished the Neatherlands Governour and Councel deliberated whether the punishment might be deferred to any long time or referred to any other place but it was so concluded by joynt consent of all that the said punishment there deserved must be executed in the same place for example and that it could not in any wise be delayed without extream danger for reasons there related and among others ' because the Tarnatanes and Indians about Amboyna had otherwise than they were wont rebelled neither could it be fully known what great cōfederacie these Conspiratours had made with them and others And touching any extraordinarie and cruel Torture I have accuratly over-looked every ones confession but I find not one word in any one which maketh any mention of such Torture as is unjustly spoken of in England nay scarce find any mention of that ordinarie Torture which is in use save onely these words in one act of the 25 February 1623. viz. The Councel being gathered together have thought meet that all the English should be presently examined one after another as accordingly it was instantly done and some of them before any torture others after a little or rather a touch of it confessed as followeth Unto which followeth presently the particular confession of each one subscribed with his own hand as aforesaid So that hence it is manifest that no extraordinarie Torture was used in such manner as is given out there by those that wish us evil nay that those few that felt any were onely touched not punished with ordinarie Torture And thus your Worship hath the upright and impartial truth of this business touching the whole passage as it proceeded and the punishment as it was inflicted from which some English were exempted by favour that the English goods should not be lost cording as order hath been given to that end And I find that the sentence was given the ninth of March 1623. by a competent assembly of 14 Judges who as it appeareth in the sentence in the doing thereof did before earnestly call upon the Name of the Lord that he would please to be President and Predominant in every one of their hearts in this their sorrowfull assembly and that he would inspire them onely with that which might be judged to be expedient and just c. So that out of all that is above said nothing else can appear but that this business was managed lawfully and orderly by men of honesty and conscience against such as had undertaken against the State against the wealth and advantage of this East-India Company the lives of their Officers there placed against the estate and welfare of many who had little deserved and as little expected such wickedness from their friendly confederates in the same societie of Merchants there resident with them And now considering the premisses I hope it shall be far from every Christian in any wise to protect or excuse this wicked Fact but rather to mourn and grieve as we do for this conspiracie and for the evil the Conspiratours have so deservedly drawn upon their own heads and to honour them who in Justice have punished villany according to the due merit thereof for we all know that without JUSTICE without reward of that which is Good and punishment of that which is Evil no societie of mankind can consist And of this information which I send in love and honour to your Worship as unto a lover of Truth and a hater of Treacherie you may make such use as to you shall seem good in any place where you come both for refutation of any thing already reported contrarie thereunto and for prevention of any further false rumours or clamours and finally for propagation of that undoubted truth which here to my best I have endeavoured to discover And if you shall meet with any thing of worth which can be truly avowed to be contradictorie unto any thing I have written I desire to understand it from you and you to suspend your wise and impartial judgement till I have cleared it unto you TRUTH remaineth ever the same So I commend you to the God of Truth desiring him to give us minds Not to judge according to outward appearance but to judge with a righteous judgement From my Lodging July 23. 1624. AN ANSWER To the Dutch Relation touching the Pretended Conspiracie of the English at AMBOYNA in the Indies THe Compiler of this Relation perceiving that he had an hard task to make it probable that eighteen Englishmen Merchants and their servants all un-armed should with the help and assistance of ten Japons likewise un-armed undertake the surprize of a Castle so provided every way as that of Amboyna is before in the Relation of the English truly described to be as also the same Author well weighing that albeit all that he was to write of this pretended Conspiracie should be taken for true yet the fact would seem very poor to bear so rigorous a punishment in persons of that quality and of that Relation to those that inflicted it provides more skilfully than fairly for both these points in the preamble of this Relation To this end he rakes and heaps together all the jealousies and dangers that the Dutch had in the Indies yea and more than they truly had at or about the time of the pretended conspiracie and applies them all to the suspicion of this business as if all their enemies were likely to conspire with the English and therefore the fact under colour whereof they were condemned and executed were possible and probable and as if the state of the time had been then so dangerous that every shadow of conspiracie was to be exquisitely enquired of the least offence to be severely punished Wherefore although this be no direct charge of the English but used by the Author to supply the want of probabilities in the process it self it will not be amiss to examin the several circumstances and how far they may yield any suspicion against the said English Now this Authour taketh the main grounds of this suspicion of some great plot against
Stilo novo being Sunday aboard the Rotterdam lyin Irons UNderstand that I Samuel Colson late Factour of Hitto was apprehended for suspicion of conspiracie and for any thing I know must die for it wherefore having no better means to make my innocencie known have writ this in this book hoping some good English men will see it I do here upon my salvation as I hope by his death and passion to have redemption for my sins that I am clear of all such conspiracie neither do I know any English man guilty thereof nor other creature in the World As this is true God bless me Sam. Colson On the other side upon the first page of the Chatechism is thus written IN another leaf you shall understand more which I have written in this book Sam. Colson In the beginning of the Psalms and in the leaf so referred unto is thus written viz. THe Iapons were taken with some villany and brought to examination being most tyrannously tortured were asked if the English had any hand in theâ—â—â—lot VVhich torture made them say Yea. Then was Master Tomson M. Johnson M. Collins John Clark brought to examination and were burned under the arms arm-pits the hands and soals of the feet with another most miserable torment to drink water some of them almost tortured to death and were forced to confess that which they never knew by reason of the torment which flesh and bloud is not able to endure Then were the rest of the English men called one by one amongst which I was one being wished to confess or else I must go to torment withall caused M. Johnson who was before tormented to witness against me or else be should be tormented again which rather than he would endure he said VVhat they would have be would speak Then must I confess that I never knew or else to go to torment which rather than I would suffer I did confess that which as I shall he saved before God Almightie is not true being forced for fear of torment Then did they make us witnesse against Captain Towerson and at last made Captain Towerson confess all being for fear of most cruel torment for which we must all die As I mean and hope to have pardon for my sins I know no more than the child unborn of this business VVritten with my own hand the first of March Stilo novo Sam. Colson Yet in another page were these words I VVas born in New-Castle upon Tyne where I desire this book may come that my friends may know of my innocencie Sam. Colson This book he delivered to one that served the Hollanders who sowed it up in his bed and afterward at his opportunity delivered it to M. VVelden before named All these said writings are yet extant under the hands of the several parties well known to their friends here in England The six and twentieth of February Stilo veteri the Prisoners were all brought into the great Hall of the Castle except Captain Towerson Emanuel Tomson to be prepared for death by the ministers The Iaponeers now all in general as some of them had done before in particular cryed out unto the English saying Oh you English men where did we ever in our lives eat with you talk with you or to our remembrance see you The English answered Why then have you accused us The poor men perceiving they were made believe each had accused others before they had so done indeed shewed them their tortur'd bodies and said If a stone were thus burnt would it not change his nature how much more we that are flesh and bloud Whil'st they were all in the Hall Cap. Towerson was brought up into the place of examination and two great Jarres of water carried after him What he there did or suffered was unknown to the English without but it seemeth they made him then to underwrite his confession After supper John Powl Ephraim Ramsey Th. Ladbrook and Iohn Sadler who were found not guily as aforesaid were taken from the rest and put into another room By and by also were Samuel Colson and Edward Collins brought from the rest into the room where Emanuel Tomson lay The Fiscal told them it was the Governours mercie to save one of them three and it being indifferent to him which of them were the man it was his pleasure they should draw lots for it which they did and the free lot fell to Edward Collins who then was carried away to the Chamber where John Powl and the rest that were quit lodged and Samuel Colson back into the Hall Anon also John Beomont was brought out of the Hall into the Chamber where John Powl and the rest of the acquitted persons were and was told that he was beholding to Peter Iohnson the Dutch Merchant of Lobo and to the Secretarie for they two had begged his life So then there remained in the Hall ten of the English for Captain Towerson Emmanuel Tomson as is said before were kept in several rooms apart from the rest To these that remained in the Hall came the Dutch Ministers who telling them how short a time they had to live admonished and exhorted them to make their true confessions for it was a dangerous and desperate thing to dissemble at such a time The English still professed their innocencie and prayed the Ministers that they might all receive the Sacraments as a seal of the forgiveness of their sins and withall thereby to confirm their last profession of their innocencie But this would by no means be granted Whereupon Samuel Colson said thus unto the Ministers You manifest unto us the danger of dissimulation in this case But tell us if we suffer guiltless being other wise also true believers in Christ Jesus What shall be our reward The Preacher answered By how much the clearer you are so much the more glorious shal be your resurrection With that word Colson started up imbraced the Preacher gave him his purse with such money as he had in it saying Domine God bless you tell the Governour I freely forgive him and I intreat you to exhort him to repent him of his bloudy tragedy wrought upon us poor innocent souls Here all the rest of the English signified their consent to this Speech Then spake John Fardo to the rest in presence of the Ministers as followeth My Countrey-men and Brethren all that are here with me coÌ„demned to die I charge you all as you will answer it at Gods judgement seat if any of you be guilty of this matter whereof we are condemned discharge your consciences and confess the truth for satisfaction of the World Hereupon Samuel Colson spake with a loud voice saying According to my innocencie in this treason so Lord pardon all the rest of my sins and if I be guilty thereof more or less let me never be partaker of thy heavenly joyes At which words every one of the rest cried out Amen for me Amen for me good Lord. This done each
executed by Hollanders upon the English Nation in a place where both lived under Terms of partnership and great amity confirmed by a most solemn Treaty A TRUE DECLARATION Of the News that came out of the East-Indies with the Pinnace called the HARE arrived in Texel in June 1624. CONCERNING A Conspiracie discovered in the Island of Amboyna and the punishment following thereupon according to the course of Justice in March 1624. comprehended in a Letter Missive AND SENT From a Friend in the Low-Countries to a Friend of note in England for information of him in the Truth of those passages Printed Anno 1651. Right Worshipfull and Worthy SIR THe great out-cries which have been made in England upon the last News which came out of the East-Indies about a certain execution which was done in the Island of Amboyna in March 1623 because we see the great desire that your Worship hath to keep good correspondence betwixt these two Nations it hath caused me beyond my own curiosity to search and inquire after the right and true beginnings proceedings and issues of these affairs upon which this execution followed Wherein I perswade my self I have attained good success by such means as I have used and by my good acquaintance so that at the last I am come to the clear light of the matter partly by the Letters that have been sent home to the Company here and declared to the States General as also by a particular examination of the process made against them in Amboyna before their execution and sent over hither in writing which at this present hath caused me to write this unto your Worship that so the truth may be made known concerning this business in all places where your Worthiness and respect can or may bring it to pass that so your Worship and all true well-willers of our Countrey may be no otherwise thought of than we deserve A True Declaration of the News that came out of the East-Indies with the Pinnace called the HARE which arrived in Texel in June 1624. THe very causes and beginnings through which the Governour and Councel established in the name of the United Neatherlands in Amboyna came into suspicion that some thing was plotted against that Province did first flow from the great licentiousness of the Tarnatanes in Moluque and Amboyna Who contrarie to the contract of alliance 1606. made with the High and Mighty Lords the States attempted without our consent and knowledge to make peace with the King of Tidore as also truce with the Spaniards their and our ancient adversaries by which the said Tarnatanes had too much cast off all respect which they both in regard of our confederacie and manifold assistance did owe to this State The Spaniard also was master enough at Sea in the Moloque because the English Merchants there in the East-Indies were unwilling to furnish us with Ships of War toward the common defence as they were bound to do according to the Treaties 1619. to the number of ten Through which the voyages to Mannila coming to cease the Enemy traded there without any interruption and procured power to send Gallies Ships and Pinnaces to the Moloque with great succours of people and provision and that because against the same through the default of the English Merchants there were no Ships of War kept as there should have been The Subjects of the King of Tarnata begun to commit great insolencies otherwise than they were wont against our Nation having outragiously assaulted divers of us divers wayes and also slain some and we notwithstanding could not obtain any punishment upon them And as one outrage unpunished provokes many more through hope of the like impunity or other considerations so were the said Tarnatanes of Amboyna dwelling at Loho Cambello and those near adjoyning places proceeded further and have armed themselves at Sea and invaded divers Islands and places standing under the Neatherlands Governour in Amboyna spoiling them and killing our Subjects and taking others and carrying them away for Slaves And notwithstanding the instant request of the Neatherlands Gouernour no satisfaction or Justice hath followed but the said Tarnatanes are yet gone further and openly threatened to murder the Dutch Merchants and to spoil and to burn the Logie or Factorie which our people have many years there enjoyed so that our Merchants have taken out the Dutch goods to avoid dammage And the Tarnatanes at Loho did actually set on fire and ruined the said Neatherlands Factorie In the Manichels an Island being under the Province of Amboyna they have in like manner shortly after burned the Neatherlands Logie with the loss of all the goods therein The Neatherlands Governour that by his presence and Authority he might cause such Rebellions to cease and to give order for time to come and also to seek satisfaction and punishment upon the aforesaid insolencies went toward Loho with a small power of Sloops and coming thereabout was met otherwise than was wont by a Navie of Sloops of the Tarnatans of Loho stronger than his were These by their conference gave him well to know how little reverence they gave the Dutch Governour they braved him without hope of restitution of any thing to come so that nothing done he was fain to return to his Castle of Amboyna By reason of these things the said Tarnatanes became so stout and daring that they gave out openly that they would come and spoil our Subjects by a general Army with above an hundred Friggots with these they said they would come against Amboyna to make a universal spoil of our people through which there came a great fear upon the Indians standing under the Subjection of the High and Mighty Lords the States as also over the Neatherlanders In the Islands lying far Eastward of Banda it was also said and the News went currantly there That the Hollanders were sure enough quit of the Castle of Amboyna And at that time there were divers secret correspondencies between the Indians others which gave us great suspition By this means the Neatherlands Governour and Councel of Amboyna were moved to have special regard and look narrowly unto all things seeing that it might be thence clearly gathered that something might be plotted against the State in Amboyna and that the Indians of themselves durst not offer to undertake any such great design without some great help of some of Europe either of Spaniarnds Portugals or some other and also they understood that they of Loho Cambello c. had great secret correspondence with the English Merchants When things were in such a state in Amboyna there came forth and was wonderfully discovered in February 1623. a horrible conspiracie against the Castle and Person of the Dutch Governour and the whole state of Amboyna and first by the apprehension of a certain Iaponian a complice of the feat who at an unseasonable time was often seen upon the wall of the Castle where he also over-curiously enquired of the most