Before me: 

Diego Lopez Carreno, notary of the fleet

On the coast of Mindanao, two leagues, more or less, from the said river, on the fourteenth day of the month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de Ribera ordered that the following instructions be imparted to all those in charge of the warships taken by the said captain for the conquest and pacification of the said river and island of Mindanao, and that they should keep it in its entirety.

First, the fragata acting as flagship shall enter first, having on its right the other fragata under command of Sergeant Lope de Catalaraga, and on the left, the two vireys—­in order that they may be at hand, if it is necessary that any message be despatched.

Immediately shall enter successively the two Bornean galleys, in charge, of Tome de la Ysla and Juan Rodriguez de Norvega, so that, should it be necessary to fire their artillery, they may do it when the fragatas discharge theirs, for which I shall have the trumpet sounded.

The two virocos shall form a rear-guard, preceding the other viroco, which has a lack of men.  All of them shall sail as closely together as possible, and those which sail faster shall await the others, so that we may all keep in order.

No arquebuse shall be fired unless it is necessary, and no one shall disembark without my permission and order.

I order you to observe great care in all the above, and even more in looking after the provisions in your vessels; for we do not know how long we shall stay in the said river, nor do we know whether we can procure provisions there, and because of the long distance from this said river to the town of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, where we could find the articles necessary for the support of the said fleet.  I order you to observe and obey all the above, and not to violate these provisions, under penalty of punishment.  I order that all the above instructions be read to each commander of the said vessels, so that he may know it.

Grabiel de Ribera

By order of his Lordship: 

Diego Lopez Carreno, notary of the fleet

(On the said day, month, and year aforesaid, I, Diego Lopez Carreno, notary of the fleet, certify that I read the entire instructions of the other part of this present to all those commanding the ships of the said fleet, to each one separately.  They all answered that they were ready to observe and obey the contents of the said instructions.  Witnesses are Tome de la Ysla and Sergeant Catalinaga, who were present the entire time.

Before me: 

Diego Lopez Carreno, notary of the fleet