as your captain-general Rui Lopez de Villalobos, here
present; and you will observe the instructions he
has given you, in so far as the good of the business
requires it; and you will be obedient and will hearken
to his orders. And you shall declare and advise,
each one of you, what you deem suitable and necessary
for the good of this expedition, whether he asks it
or not, although you think he may be vexed or angry
at hearing what you wish to tell him; only you shall
state the fundamental reason why your assertion is
good, in everything making it a point of your desire
to come directly to the question, and not to give your
advice with passion, or servilely, but with all freedom.”
If he send them on missions they must report to him
alone. “And none of you shall rouse up
mutinies, scandals, seditions, or conspiracies; nor
shall you talk against your captain-general or the
expedition; rather if you learn or foresee anything
of such matters, you shall tell and inform your general
thereof, so that it may be remedied.” The
soldiers swear to be obedient to the commands of Villalobos
and his captains, and to follow the general’s
banners, day or night, holding him as chief; they
must be loyal and true in every sense of the word,
both on sea and land. The pilots (who are named)
and the seamen also take like oath to fulfil their
duties completely, acknowledging Villalobos as general.
They are to obey the latter “both now on the
said voyage, and in the Western Islands.”
They must try to accomplish the voyage in the shortest
time possible, and must take part in no mutinies or
uprisings. In his instructions to his captains
Villalobos requires the following: No soldier
is to be admitted to the fleet who does not bear a
certificate of confession and communion. If there
be any such, he must confess within three days to
the religious in the fleet, or be put on short rations
of water until he does confess. Severe punishment
for blasphemy of “the name of God, our Lord,
his glorious Mother, or of any of the saints”
is stipulated, varying in degree according to the
blasphemy. The religious are to receive every
consideration, that the natives may see “how
we honor the ministers of the Gospel.” All
weapons are to be kept in a special place in each ship
and given to the men only when necessary, and they
shall be regularly inspected. Most stringent
rules are laid down as to the distribution of water,
and the water butts must be inspected each day by
the “steward, master, pilot, or boatswain,”
and every four days by the captain in person, to see
that the regulations pertaining thereto are strictly
observed. Likewise the amounts of food to be
given are carefully stipulated, the amounts, as in
the case of the water, being different for soldiers,
sailors, negroes, and Indians. Fire is guarded
against by ordering all fires, except the lantern,
out at four in the afternoon, unless to cook something
for a sick man, and then that fire shall be immediately
extinguished. Watches are to be maintained day