Richard Cornish's Trial for Buggery

William Couse aged 29 years or thereabouts sworn and examined sayeth, that xxviith day of August last past about one or 2 of the clock in the afternoon, being aboard the good ship called the Ambrose then riding at anchor in James River Richard Williams alias Cornishe Master of the said ship called the Ambrose, being then in drink called to this examinant to lay a clean pair of sheet into his bed, which this examinant did and the said William went into the bed, and would have this examinant come into the bed to him, which this examinant refusing to do so the said Richard Williams went out of the bed and did cut this examinant cod piece . . . and made this examinant unready, and made him go into the bed and then the said Williams alias Cornish went into the bed to him, and there lay upon him, and kissed him and hugged him, saying that he would love this examinant if he would now and then come and lay with him and so by force he turned this examinant upon his belly, and so did put this examinant to pain in the fundament and did wet him and after did call for a napkin which this examinant did bring unto him, and sayeth that there was but one man aboard the ship, which was Walter Mathew the boatswain’s mate being . . . And further sayeth that he was sore 3 or 4 days after and that after this the next day after in the morning the said Williams alias Cornish said to this examinant though I did play the fool with you yesterday, make no wonder further he sayeth that after this many times he would put his hands in this examinant’s cod piece and played and kissed him, saying to this examinant that he could have brought them to sea with him, if he had . . . him, that would have played with him, And after this examinant being called and refusing to go he . . . him before the mast and forbade all the ship’s company to eat with him, and made this examinant cook for all the rest.