INSTRUCTIOTs^S TO EDWARD FENTON ad. 



1582. 

 upon great occasion incident, that shall bee thought other- 

 wise good to you, by the advise and consent of your sayd 

 Assistants, or foure of them at the least. 



10 Item, you shall not passe to the Northeastward of 

 the 40 degree of latitude at the most, but shall take your 

 right course to the lies of the Malucos for the better 

 discovery of the Northwest passage, if without hinderance 

 of your trade, & within the same degree you can get 

 any knowledge touching that passage, whereof you shall 

 do wel to be inquisitive, as occasion in this sort may 

 serve. 



1 1 Item, you shall have speciall regard after your 

 departure from the coast of England, so to order your 

 course, as that your ships and vessels lose not one 

 another, but keepe companie together both outward and 

 homeward. And lest if they happen to sever the one from 

 the other by tempest or otherwise, it shall not bee amisse, 

 that you appoint to the Captaines and Masters certaine 

 places, wherein you will stay certaine dayes. And every 

 ship passing aforehand, and not knowing what is become 

 of the other ships, to leave upon every Promontorie or 

 Cape a token to stand in sight, with a writing lapped in 

 leade to declare the day of their passage. And if any 

 wilfulnesse or negligence in this behalfe shall appeare in 

 any person or persons that shall have charge of any of 

 the ships or vessels aforesayd, or if they or any of them 

 shall doe otherwise then to them appertaineth, you 

 shall punish such offenders sharpely to the example of 

 others. 



12 Item, we do straightly enjoine you, and con- 

 sequently all the rest imployed in this voyage in any 

 wise, and as you and they will answere the contrary at 

 your comming home by the lawes of this realme, that 

 neither going, tarrying abroad, nor returning, you doe 

 spoyle or take any thing from any of the Queenes 

 Majesties friends or allies, or any Christians, without 

 paying justly for the same, nor that you use any maner of 

 violence or force against any such, except in your owne 



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