REGULATIONS FOR SPANISH SHIPS 



Judge doeth command the masters to hoyse up the yards 



acrosse unto the howndes of the mastes ; and many times, 



if they perceive the shippe to be walty and overladen, as 



many covetous masters doe, then hee hangeth the boates 



in the fore and maine tackle, to see whether the sayd 



shippe will make any helde downewarde, in laying downe 



her side : if she doe helde, he commandeth barkes abourd, 



to discharge her of such lading, as is thought to be too 



much in her : and there can no ship depart before they 



cary the Register of the said Judges, howe that shee goeth T'he Register 



by their order : and every shippe carieth her owne Register, ^J" ^^^^^ •^'^^^• 



and in the Register the quantitie of al the goods that are 



laden in her, and if there be any more goods, they be 



forfayted in the Indies, both shippe and goods. 



The masters are bound to keepe the course that the ^^^ ^^^''^ ^^'^P^ 

 Admiral doeth leade, and every shippe to follow her, and y'^J^^^^n 

 shee must goe alwayes in the Sea before all the rest of the i^ time of 

 fleete, and by night cary light, that all may knowe where peace. 

 she goeth. The viceadmirall must come behinde all, and 

 so every shippe in the fleete before her : if any be ill of 

 sayle, all are bounde to fit their sayles in such order, that 

 they goe no faster then she doeth. 



The Admiral and the viceadmirall goe never but halfe 

 laden, but very well armed of men, and artillery, three 

 times double and more then any of the other have : 

 because they may help to defend all the rest, if neede doe 

 require : and the dead freight of these two shippes is 

 alwayes borne upon the whole goods that are laden in the 

 fleete, as also at the least there be two hundred souldiers 

 in every of these two shippes besides the mariners, great 

 gunners, gromettes, and other officers. 



The voyages bee so appointed, that alwayes they goe Islote. 

 and come in the best of Summer, and bee there all the 

 winter in the ports to discharge their lading and recharge 

 backe againe. 



The ships that are Admirall and viceadmirall be neither 

 the greatest nor the smallest shippes, but of 3 hundreth 

 or 4 hundreth tunnes at the most : but they be very good 



445 



