A.D. 



1586. 



Foure 

 Visitours. 



The orders of 

 the Contracta- 

 tion house. 

 [III. 868.] 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



according to his abilitie, which is ordinarily some two 

 or three ducats. 



And then he may take upon him to be pilot in any 

 ship whatsoever, unto that place for which he was ex- 

 amined : and if he finde in the Indies any ship under the 

 charge of a pilot not before examined, hee may put him 

 out of his office, and may himself take charge of that 

 ship for the same wages that the other pilot agreed for. 



The pilots wages for making a voyage outward and 

 homeward is according to the burthen of the ship. If 

 she be of 100 tunnes, hee hath 200 or 250 ducats: and 

 if shee bee of 400 or 500 tunnes, he taketh for his wages 

 500 or 550 ducates: and if she be bigger, he hath a 

 greater allowance : over and besides all which, he hath 

 every day while he remaineth on land, foure reals for 

 his diet. And the greater shippes are alwayes committed 

 unto the more ancient pilots, because they are of greater 

 experience and better skill, then the yonger sort which 

 newly take upon them to be pilots. 



The pilot undertaketh no farther travell nor care, but 

 in directing the course or navigation : for the masters ot 

 the ships take charge of the freighting and preparing 

 their ships, and to pay the mariners, and to doe all things 

 needefuU for the ship ; for the pilot commeth not unto 

 the shippe, untill the visitours come to visite the same, 

 to see whether he hath all things necessary for the voyage. 



The visitours are foure men which are appoynted by 

 the king, and these are men of great understanding : and 

 they come to visite the shippes before they take in their 

 lading, to see whether they be well prepared to make 

 the voyage. And after the ships bee laden, they returne 

 againe to visite them the second time, to see whether 

 they have all things necessary, according to the orders 

 of the Contractation house : and whether they have all 

 their mariners, victuals, pouder, shot, and ordinance, and 

 all other things necessary for the voyage. And if they 

 want any thing, they charge them upon grievous penalties, 

 to provide the same before they set out of the haven. 



456 



