Chap. LIII. during the Reign

1596. 4t command all Captains to give Order," that, at Service Time, they may be“ openly read, twice every Week.

I. " Imprimis, that you take specif“ al Care to serve God, by Using of" Common Prayers twice every Day,“ except urgent Cause enforce the con-" trary, and that no Man, Soldier, or" other Mariner, do dispute of Matters" of Religion, unless it be to be refolv-tf ed of some Doubts, and, in such

Cafe, that he confer with theMinisters" of the Army: For it is not fit that“ unlearned Men should openly argue" of so high and mystical Matters." And if any Person shall forget him-“ self and his Duty herein, he fliall," upon Knowledge thereof, receive o-" pen Punishment, to his Shame, and" after be banished the Army. And if" any shall hear it, and not reveal it to“ Us, Generals, or to his Captain, or" some other especial Officers, where-" by the Knowledge thereof may come" to Us, the Generals, he shall, like-" wife, receive Punishment, and be" baniffied the Army.

II. " Item, You shall forbid Swear-" ing, Brawling, Dicing, and such" like Disorders, as may breed Conten-" tendon and Disorders in Your Ships," wherein you shall also avoid God’s" Displeasure, and win his Favour.

III. " Picking and Stealing you" ffiall severely puniffi, and if the" Fault be great, you ffiall acquaint" Us, Generals, therewith, that Martial“ Law may be inflicted upon theOffen-" ders.

IV. “ You ffiall take great Care to“ preserve your Victuals, and to ob-" serve such Orders therein, as youte fliall receive by particular Directions" from your Generals. And that every" Captain of each Ship receive an Ac-" count once a Week how his Victuals" are spent, and what remains, that" their Provision may be lengthened" by adding more Men to a Mess, in" Time.

V. " All Persons whatsoever, with-" in your Ship, ffiall come to the or-" dinary Services of the Ship, without“ Contradiction.

VI. “You ffiall give special Charge

of§&een Elizabeth. H2

“ for avoiding the Danger of Fire, and 1^96°" that no Candle be carried in your" Ship without a Lanthorn ; Which,

" if any Person ffiall disobey, You ffiallrc severely puniffi. And if any Chance" of Fire or other Dangers (which GoD" forbid) ffiould happen to any Ship,

" near unto you, then you ffiall, by" your Boats and all other your belt“ Means seek to help and relieve" her.

VII. " Your Powder you ffiall care-" fully preserve, from Spoil and" Waste, without which we cannot un-" dertake any great Service,

VIII. “ You ffiall give Order, that“ your Ship way be kept clean daily,

" and sometimes waffied which (with" God’s Favour) ffiall preserve from" Sickness,and avoid many other Incon-<c veniences,

IX. “ You fliall give Order and e~

" special Charge, that your Top-masts“ be favoured, and the Heads of your" Masts, and that you have Care not to" bear too high Sail, when your Ships" go by the Wind, and especially in a" Head-Sea ; For the Spoil of our“ Masts may greatly hinder us, and en-" danger the Enterprizes, which other-" wife (with God’s Help) we ffiould" perform with Safety,

X. tf All such as are in Ships under" the Government - - - - ge of a Squa-" dron, ffiall, as near as in them lieth" keep with it,and not for Chafe of othertr Ships, or any other Cause, go from“ that Squadron, but by the Command" of the Admiral of that Squadron ; un-" less any of the two Chief Generals" ffiall fend for them, or by Message(t appointed them to any Service, or" that, by Weather, they be fepara-" ted : And then, as they may, they“ ffiall endeavour to repair to the Place" appointed by such Instructions as ffiall" be let down. And if there be any" Sail perceived by any of the Ships of“ any Squadron, it ffiall be lawful for" the next Ship, having the Wind, to“ give Chafe, the Ship descried being" to the Windward, and the like of" any that ffiall be nearest to bear up,

“ if the Sail be descried to the Leeward.

" But because, upon every Chase, all" w ill be apt to follow the same, and" so be led away upon every Occasion

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