The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of the English Nation, vol 3 | Page 7

and places vnknowen, the 9. day of
May, in the yere of our Lord God, 1553. and in the 7. yeere of the reign
of our most dread soueraigne Lord Edward the 6. by the grace of God,
king of England, Fraunce, and Ireland, defender of the faith, and of the
Church of England and Ireland, in earth supreame head. [Footnote:
"Some of these Instructions now indeed appear rather childish, but
others might still be used as rules for any well-ordered exploratory
expedition."-- Nordenskiöld, Voyage of the Vega, vol. I, p. 58.]
First the Captaine general, with the pilot maior, the masters, marchants
and other officers, to be so knit and accorded in vnitie, loue,
conformitie, and obedience in euery degree on all sides, that no
dissention, variance, or contention may rise or spring betwixt them and
the mariners of this companie, to the damage or hinderance of the
voyage: for that dissention (by many experiences) hath ouerthrown
many notable intended and likely enterprises and exploits.
2. Item, for as much as euery person hath giuen an othe to be true,
faithfull, and loial subiects, and liege men to the kings most excellent
Maiestie, his heires and successors, and for the obseruation of all lawes
and statutes, made for the preseruation of his most excellent Maiestie,
and his crown Imperiall of his realmes of England and Ireland, and to
serue his grace, the Realme, and this present voyage truely, and not to
giue vp, intermit, or leaue off the said voyage and enterprise vntill it
shalbe accomplished, so farre forth as possibilitie and the life of man
may serue or extend: Therfore it behoueth euery person in his degree,

as well for conscience, as for dueties sake to remember his said charge,
and the accomplishment thereof.
3. Item, where furthermore euery mariner or passenger in his ship hath
giuen like othe to bee obedient to the Captaine generall, and to euery
Captaine and master in his ship, for the obseruation of these present
orders contained in this booke, and all other which hereafter shalbe
made by the 12. counsailers in this present book named, or the most
part of them, for the better conduction, and preseruation of the fleete,
and atchieuing of the voyage, and to be prompt, ready and obedient in
all acts and feates of honesty, reason, and duetie to be ministred,
shewed and executed, in aduancement and preferment of the voyage
and exploit: therfore it is conuenient that this present booke shall once
euery weeke (by the discretion of the Captaine) be read to the said
companie, to the intent that euery man may the better remember his
othe, conscience, duetie and charge.
4. Item, euery person by vertue of his othe, to doe effectually and with
good wil (as farre forth as him shall complie) all and euery such act and
acts, deede and deeds, as shalbe to him or them from time to time
commanded, committed and enioyned (during the voyage) by the
Captain generall, with the assent of the Counsell and assistants, as well
in and during the whole Nauigation and voyage, as also in discouering
and landing, as cases and occasions shall require.
5. Item, all courses in Nauigation to be set and kept, by the aduice of
the Captaine, Pilot maior, masters, and masters mates, with the assents
of the counsailers and the most number of them, and in voyces
vniformely agreeing in one to preuaile, and take place, so that the
Captaine generall, shall in all counsailes and assemblies haue a double
voyce.
6. Item, that the fleete shal keep together, and not separate themselues
asunder, as much as by winde and weather may be done or permitted,
and that the Captaines, Pilots and masters shall speedily come aboord
the Admiral, when and as often as he shall seeme to haue iust cause to
assemble them for counsaile or consultation to be had concerning the
affaires of the fleete and voyage.
7. Item, that the merchants, and other skillful persons in writing, shal
daily write, describe, and put in memorie the Nauigation of euery day
and night, with the points, and obseruation of the lands, tides, elements,

altitude of the sunne, course of the moon and starres, and the same so
noted by the order of the Master and pilot of euery ship to be put in
writing, the captaine generall assembling the masters together once
euery weeke (if winde and weather shal serue) to conferre all the
obseruations, and notes of the said ships, to the intent it may appeare
wherein the notes do agree, and wherein they dissent and vpon good
debatement, deliberation, and conclusion determined, to put the same
into a common leger, to remain of record for the company: the like
order to be kept in proportioning of the