SPANISH SEAMEN IN THE NEW WORLD 633 



goods and to unstow them; and at every hour when the mate shall 

 order him to go and fetch spars and ropes, to carry planks, and to put 

 on board all the victuals of the merchants, to heave the vessel over, 

 to go and fetch spars and ropes, to carry planks, and to aid to repair 

 the vessel, and he is bound to do everything to improve the condition 

 of the ship and of all which belongs to the ship whilst he shall be en- 

 gaged to the ship. 9 



A passage rather curious from our viewpoint, but not from 

 the mariner's, attests the fact that he was never free from duty 

 for very long intervals: 



A mariner ought not to undress himself if he is not in a port for 

 wintering. And if he does so, for each time he ought to be plunged 

 into the sea with a rope from the yard arm three times; and after three 

 times offending, he ought to lose his salary and the goods which he has 

 in the ship. 10 



In those days, vessels were not always accustomed to draw up 

 alongside of wharves, so the mariner must be willing to step into 

 the water himself and carry the passengers ashore upon his 

 back; and if he was not willing, he was bound to reimburse the 

 passenger any loss he might incur. 11 



In general, freight was the mother of wages. But the mariner 

 was safeguarded against loss through unprofitable voyages, 

 for the Consulado held that in the last resort, the ship was liable 

 for wages, even to the extent of selling the vessel. 12 One source 

 of mariners is indicated by the following passage concerning 

 wages : 



. . . the managing owner may not dimmish the wages of any 

 one. And if a man is worth more than the managing owner believed 

 at the commencement, he ought to increase his wages; for many men 

 desire to leave a country, because they are not sufficiently appreciated, 

 and in order to get away from it, sell their personal services at a cheap 

 price. 13 



Ibid., Ch. ex. in Black book, III. 219. 



10 Ibid., Ch. cxxv. in Black book, III. 233. "Ought" should generally have been 

 translated as "must." 



11 Ibid., Ch. cxxxi. in Black book, III. 235. 



12 Ibid., Ch. xciii. in Black book, III. 199. 

 " Ibid., Ch. cv. in Black book, III. 215. 



