ad THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1553- 



direction, as the generall captaine, and the Councell shall 



establish and determine, to whose order and discretion 

 the same is left : for that of things uncertaine, no cer- 

 taine rules may or can be given. 



22 Item not to disclose to any nation the state of 

 our religion, but to passe it over in silence, without 

 any declaration of it, seeming to beare with such lawes, 

 and rites, as the place hath, where you shall arrive. 



23 Item for as much as our people, and shippes may 

 appeare unto them strange and wonderous, and theirs 

 also to ours : it is to be considered, how they may be 

 used, learning much of their natures and dispositions, 

 by some one such person, as you may first either allure, 

 or take to be brought aboord your ships, and there to 

 learne as you may, without violence or force, and no 

 woman to be tempted, or intreated to incontinencie, or 

 dishonestie. 



24 Item the person so taken, to be well entertained, 

 used, and apparelled, to be set on land, to the intent 

 that he or she may allure other to draw nigh to shewe 

 the commodities : and if the person taken may be made 

 drunke with your beere, or wine, you shal know the 

 secrets of his heart. 



25 Item our people may not passe further into a 

 lande, then that they may be able to recover their pin- 

 nesses, or ships, & not to credit the faire words of the 

 strange people, which be many times tried subtile, and 

 false, nor to be drawen into perill of losse, for the 

 desire of golde, silver, or riches, and esteeme your 

 owne commodities above al other, and in countenance 

 shew not much to desire the forren commodities : 

 neverthelesse take them as for friendship, or by way of 

 permutation. 



26 Item every nation and region is to be considered 

 advisedly, & not to provoke them by any disdaine, 

 laughing, contempt, or such like, but to use them with 

 prudent circumspection, with al gentlenes, and curtesie, 

 and not to tary long in one place, untill you shall have 



202 



