My meaning is not that the captaine or governour should be tyed to the
actuall toyle, or to intermeddle with all offices, for that were to
binde him to impossibilities, to diminish and abase his authoritie, and
to deprive the other officers of their esteemes, and of that that
belongeth unto them, which were a great absurditie: but my opinion is,
that he should be more then superficially instructed and practised in
the imployments. Yea, I am verily perswaded, that the more absolute
authoritie any commander giveth to his under officers, being worthy of
it, the sweeter is the command, and the more respected and beloved the
commander.
[Office of the master.]
For in matter of guide and disposing of the saylers, with the tackling
of the shippe, and the workes which belong thereunto, within bourd and
without, all is to be committed to the masters charge.
[Office of the pilot.]
The pilote is to looke carefully to the sterridge of the shippe; to be
watchfull in taking the heights of sunne and starre; to note the way of
his shippe, with the augmenting and lessening of the winde, etc.
[The bote swaine.]
The boateswayne is to see his shippe kept cleane; his mastes, yards and
tacklings well coated, matted and armed; his shroudes and stayes well
set; his sayles repayred, and sufficiently prevented with martnets,
blayles, and caskettes; his boate fitted with sayle, oares, thougts,
tholes danyd, windles and rother; his anchors well boyed, safely stopped
and secured, with the rest to him appertaining.
[The steward.]
The steward is to see the preservation of vittayles and necessaries
committed unto his charge; and by measure and weight to deliver the
portions appointed, and with discretion and good tearmes to give
satisfaction to all.
[The carpenter.]
The carpenter is to view the mastes and yards, the sides of the shippe,
her deckes, and cabines, her pumpes, and boate; and moreover to occupie
him selfe in the most forceible workes, except he be otherwise
commanded.
[The gunner.]
The gunner is to care for the britching and tackling of his artilery;
the fitting of his shott, tampkins, coynes, crones,[212] and
lin-stockes, etc. To be provident in working his fire workes; in making
and filling his cartreges; in accommodating his ladles, sponges, and
other necessaries; in sifting and drying his powder; in cleaning the
armes, munition, and such like workes, intrusted unto him.
In this manner every officer, in his office, ought to be an absolute
commander, yet readie in obedience and love, to sacrifice his will to
his superiors command. This cannot but cause unitie; and unitie cannot
but purchase a happie issue to dutifull travelles.
[Directions in secret.]
Lastly, except it be in urgent and precise cases, the head should never
direct his command to any but the officers, and these secretly, except
the occasion require publication, or that it touch all in generall.
Such orders would be, for the most part, in writing, that all might know
what in generall is commanded and required.