Aduertisements touching the shippes that goe from Siuil to the Indies of Spaine; together with some notes of the Contractation house in Siuil.
The Pilot. Your Pilot must be examined in the Contractation house, and allowed by such as be appointed for the examination of Pilots, that hee bee a sufficient man to take the charge in hand, and that which belongeth thereunto, and to gouerne and lead the same ship directly by his onely commandement to such ports as are conuenient for the voyage that hee taketh in hand.
The Master. You must haue a Master, that must giue in sureties to the value of 6000 dukats: and such as be his sureties must be landed men, and their lands worth to the value of that summe aforesayd, if the said ship be betweene three or foure hundred tunnes. And if shee bee more or lesse of burthen, then he must giue sureties of a greater summe or lesse, according to the proportion of her burden.
He shall in all his voyage giue a iust and true accompt of all such goods, and marchandizes, as shall in all that voyage come into the ship: as also of such plate and money, as shalbe registred in the Kings Register, appertayning to the King, or any other particular marchant; and if any default be, hee or his sureties are to pay all such losses as thereof shall growe: as also to see the mariners payed well and truely, the third part of all such fraights, as the sayde shippe shall get going and comming.
The Purser. The ship being fraighted by her merchants, the Master shall take order that there be sufficient mariners abourd her to take in such lading from time to time, as the marchant shall send to her: And also the Purser must be a man sufficient of abilitie to take, and to giue account of all such goods, marchandize, siluer and golde, as shall come in and out of the sayd shippe that present voyage, as also giue sureties of 1500 dukats at the least to come backe from the Indies in the said shippe, and not to tarrie there, if hee liue.
A Romager. The Master must prouide a perfect mariner called a Romager, to raunge, and bestow all marchandize in such place as is conuenient: and that it be not put in place, where it may perish for lack that it be not fast, sure, and drie, according to the qualitie and forme of the sayd merchandize.
When it is all bestowed, and the shippe able to beare no more,
