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 saylers, and strong chosen for the purpose, to sayle well and to beare good store of ordinance. In these two shippes are alwayes going and comming, two good knights men of warre, and Captaines and souldiers expert in the warres.
A Captaine in euery ship. And in euery other ship is a Captaine, which ruleth in all causes of controuersie, or fights in the seas; the Pilot directeth onely in gouernment and leading the shippe to her port.
All the Captaines, Masters, Pilots, Maryners, and passengers, and all others bee obedient to the two shippes, so appoynted to passe: they doe, as in all other commandments what is by them appoynted, hauing power to hang, or doe any iustice vpon any man, as to them seemeth good at sea, and this is the last commandment vpon payne of death, if the General please.
Sixe Iudges. Concerning the Contractation house, there are therein sixe Iudges of the highest sort.
Four visitours.
The reader of the arte of Nauigation.
There are visitours of shippes, as it is sayd before, to see
whether the ships goe in order well, and sufficient
in al things: and what manner of men the Masters
of the ships and Pilots are, whether they be able to
answere to all such articles, as the reader is able to
obiecte vnto them, in matters of Nauigation: if they be not
found sufficient, they are not admitted to take charge.
The booke of orders called in Spanish Pragamatica, common in writing among the masters. The master must knowe whether the ship be sufficiently calked, tackled, and furnished in all things accordingly, as with mastes, sayles, cables, ankers, and all other necessary furniture: that at such time as any of the high iudges with their ordinary visitours appointed for such causes doe come, there be nothing found out of order or lacking, according to The booke of orders, which euery shippe proportionable to her burthen ought to haue, which is not vnknowen to any of the masters, being in writing common among them: and all the charge giuen to the Master and Pilot serueth only to conduct the ship from port to port.
The counter Master, or masters mate is obedient in all things whereunto hee shall bee commanded by the master and Pilote, and at his commandement are all the maryners of the ship.
