Page:Early English adventurers in the East (1917).djvu/122

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EARLY ENGLISH ADVENTURERS IN THE EAST

the seriousness of his outlook on life, for he was a man of deep piety as may be gathered from the records of the voyage. His disposition is well reflected in the regulations which he drew up for the conduct of the men under his charge. In these the sternness of a rigid disciplinarian is mingled with the finer qualities of a just and upright man. Those found guilty of theft were for the first offence to be "grievously punished," and if they offended a second time they were to be liable to the death penalty. Every man was "to carry himself with sobriety and meekness towards the people of the country that justly of our partes no offence is given." There were heavy penalties for swearing and cursing. "For the first oathe sworne or for the first time cursing or baneninge (the offender) to receive three blows from ye Master with the bole of his wissle, for the second time six, for the third nine and for the fourth to stand for 24 hours in the bilbowes without either meat or drink and for every time hereafter." Fighting was strictly prohibited. No challenge was to be given "under paine of 40 strippes upon the bare back, and to stand in the bilbowes at the discretion of the general." Then, following upon other articles, came this invocation as a final rule of conduct: "The God of Peace so order and guide us that we may continue in all piety and love each towards the other, according to place and calling; that the end of this our voyage may be with more glory to God and better reformation of our sinful lives than the beginning thereof, and that by our example other men may be encouraged and stirred up to like laudable enterprises."

A man of this character was not at all likely to be deterred from the pursuit of a purpose upon which he had deliberately embarked, and so the sequel proved. As far