ORDERS, Set down by the Duke of Medina, Lord general of the King's Fleet, to be observed in the voyage toward England.  
Translated out of Spanish into English by T. P.   depiction of a galleon 
Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Gilbert, dwelling in Fleetstreet near to the sign of the Castle. 1588.   

Don Alonso Peres de guzman, the good Duke of Medina, Sidonia, County of Nebla, Marquis of Casheshe in Africa, Lord of the City Saint Lucar, Captain general of the Occian Sea, of the Cost of Andaluzia, and of this Army of his Majesty, and Knight of the honourable order of the golden Fleece.  
I Do ordain and command, that the general Masters of the field, all Captains, Officers of the Camp and of the Sea, Pilat's, Masters, Soldiers, Mariners, and Officers, & whatsoever other people for the land or Sea service cometh in this Army, all the time that it endureth, shall be thus governed, as hereafter followeth, viz.  
First, and before all things, 
The cause of the journey.  it is to be understood by all the above named from the highest to the lowest: that the principal foundation and cause that hath moved the King his Majesty to make and continue this journey, hath been and is, to serve God, and to return unto his Church a great many of contrite souls that are oppressed by the Heretics, enemies to our holy Catholic faith, which have them subjects to their sects, and unhappiness: and for that every one, may put his eyes upon this mark, as we are bound, I do command and much desire every one, to give charge unto the inferiors and those under their charge to embark themselves, 
Their Shrift.  being shriven, and having received the Sacrament with competent contrition for their sins: by the which contrition and zeal to do GOD such great service, he will carry and guide us to his great glory: which is, that which particularly and principally is pretended.  

For avoiding blasphemy and raging oaths, and others.  In like manner, I do charge and command you, to have particular care, that no Soldier, mariner, or other, that serveth in this Army, do blaspheme, or rage against God, or our Lady, or any of the Saints, upon pain that he shall therefore sharply be corrected, and very well chastened, as it shall seem best unto us: and for other oaths of less quality, the governors in the same ships they go in, shall procure to remedy all: they shall punish them in taking away their allowance of wine, or otherwise, as they shall think good. And for that the most occasions come by play, you shall publicly prohibit it, especially the games that are forbidden: 
Debarring play.  and that none do play in the night, by no means.  
And to avoid inconveniences that might ensue in this Army and force of his Majesty, if that the here written were not put for remedy, by these presents I do command, that particularly and generally, all quarrels, angers, defiances and injuries that are & have been before this day, and until the publication hereof, of all persons as well by Sea as land, 
Suppressing of quarrels.  of greater or less qualities be suppressed and suspended, so that none goeth in this Army for the time that this voyage continueth and lasteth, although they be old quarrels: yet for my express commandment shall break this truce and forbearance of Arms, directly, or indirectly, upon pain of disobedience and incurring into high treason, and die therefore.  
In like manner I do give charge, 
Digraces avoided.  that aboard the ships there be not any thing offered to the disgrace of any man.  
Declaring herewithal, that there cannot be any disgrace imputed to any man for any thing that shallbe offered, nor yet be a reproach whatsoever happeneth aboard any ship.  
And for that it is known that great inconveniences and offence groweth unto God, 
Carrying of common women.  by consenting that common women and such like go in like Armies:  
I do ordain and command, that there be none embarked nor carried in the Army: And if that any will carry them, I do command the Captains and Masters of the ships, not to consent thereto: who so doth, or dissembleth therewith, shallbe grievously punished.  

Giving the good morrow.  The company of every ship, one every morning at the break of the day, according to the custom, shall give the good morrow by the main mast, and at night the ave Maria: and some days the Salve Regine: or at least, the Saterdays with a Lettenie.  

Avoiding all occasions of Scandal.  And forasmuch as it importeth for the preservation and good success of this army, that there be between the Soldiers and Mariners much confirmed friendship, and such amity that there be not any difference, nor other occasions of murmuring, I command it to be published that no body do carry any Dagger, nor thwart one another, or give any occasions, but that all do obey the superior Officers: and if any Scandal or offence come, he that was the beginner, shall straightly be punished.  

Order for departure.  When the Gallion Saint Marten, wherein myself go, Admiral of this Fleet, doth make a sign with a piece of Ordinance, it shall be a sign of departure for the whole Fleet, that sounding their Trumpets shall follow without losing time, and without coming fowell of each other, and cutting sail shall do the like: having great care of the Sands and Catchops, carrying their Boats & skiffs ready for any thing that may happen.  
Being from the land a sea board, 
Order for coming to the Admiral.  every ship shall come to leyward, saluting the Admiral to know what he will command: & demand the word, without going a head the Admiral, either in the day or in the night, but to have great care to his sailing.  
Every afternoon they shall repair to their Admirals to take the word, 
Taking the word.  and to know if there be any thing to do.  
And for that so many great Ships, and so great may be, cannot come every day without boarding one another: to avoid the danger that may follow, the General of each Squadron shall have particular care, to take the word in time, to give it unto the Ships under their charge.  
The Admiral shallbe saluted with Trumpets, of them that have them: if not, 
Hailing the Admiral.  with their Whistles: and the people to hallow one after another, and answering them shall salute again: and if it be towards night to demand the word, and taking it shall salute one another in time, and departed to give room to others that follow.  

The watch word.  If it happeneth some days that wind will not suffer to take the word of the Admiral or Admirals, they shall have for every day in the week the words following.  

Sunday. jesus.  
Monday. The holy Ghost.  
Tuesday. The holy Trinity.  
Wednesday. Saint james.  
Thursday. The Angels.  
Friday. All Saints.  
Saturday. Our Lady.   

Disposing of their Squadrons.  And for that it importeth that all the Armies do go close together, I do command that the General and wings with great care, do procure to carry the Squadrons as nigh and in as good order, as is possible: and the Ship and pinnaces of the charge of Don Antonio de Hartado de Mendosa, keep next unto the Admiral, except six: whereof, two shall follow the Admiral Don Pedro de Valdezi, and two the Admiral of Martin Bretendona: the other two the Admiral of joan Gomes de Medina: the which shall be appointed presently, and have great care to repart themselves, without the one thwarting the other: and the Squadron of the Hulks shall go always in the mids.  
That no ship of the Navy, 
Departure without licence.  nor any that goeth with them shall departed, without my licence: And I do command upon pain of death, and loss of goods, that if by chance with a storm any be driven to departed before they come to the Cape Finister, that then they follow their course to the said Cape, where they shall have my order what to do: or else they shall sail to the Groin, where they shall have it.  
In departing from the Groin, 
The Rendezvous.  they shall set their course for Silley, and procure to make the Sowtherside of it, having great care of their sounding: And if by chance in this course any ship or ships do lose the Fleet, they shall not return into Spain, in any manner, upon pain of death and the loss of goods, and taken for Traitors, but follow the course, and make to the Southward of the said Island. And if any such do think the Navy to be asterne of him, he shall detain himself in the same height playing up and down, and not to departed from his course.  
And if it be thought that the Navy is a head, then shall you seek them in Monts bay, 
Directions from Monts bay.  which is betwixt the Lands end and the Lizard, there shall you have the whole Navy, or intelligence what he shall do: and yet for all this, if he do not meet with the Navy, yet shall he find pinnaces with order what shall be done.  

Watching of the Admiral.  In the night there shall be great vigilance for the Admiral, to see if she change her course, or make about. Before she goeth about, she will shoot off a piece: and being about, will put forth an other light upon the Poop a part from the Lantern: who that doth see it, shall answer with an other light.  

Marks by lights.  When he doth take away Bonnets, or shorten the Sails, he shall show lights, one in the Poop, and other two shrow high.  
When that for any occasion he shall strike all Sails, he shall show three lights, one in the top, an other in the Shrouds, and the third in the Forecastle: and the rest shall show it, with putting forth a light each upon his Poop.  

Shooting off pieces.  If any Ship have any occasion to strike all her Sails in the night, he shall shoot off a great piece, and put out a Lantern all night, and those that are nighest unto him shall show lights, for that other may procure it, and shall take in the Sails till day: And if necessity be great, shall shoot off an other piece, and those that do see it, shall answer with other two lights, making the like board.  
When the Admiral will have any communication, he will make a sign, 
Signs by Flags.  putting a flag in the after misne near the Lantern, and so they shall repair unto him to know what he would have. If (which God for his mercy permit not) there happen any Ship to take fire, the next unto her shall make from her, 
Remedy for fire.  sending first their Boats and skiffs to secure and help, and so shall all the rest.  
They shall have particular care to put forth their fire in every Ship, 
To put forth fire.  before the Sun go down.  
In taking of their allowance of victuals, 
Allowance of victuals.  the Soldiers shall let them that have the charge thereof, to deliver it, so that the said Soldiers shall not go down to take it, nor choose it perforce, as in times they have done: and for this cause shall be present the Sergeant or Corporal of the company or companies where they are, for avoiding disorder, and that timely they have their portions: so that before night every body may have supped.  
That no ship nor other vessel of this Navy, nor of any of those, 
Anckoring or harborough, or going a shore.  that goeth subject under my jurisdiction, shall not be so bold to enter into any Harborough, anchor, nor go a shore, without the Admiral doth do it first, or with my special leave, upon pain of punishment hereof.  

Armour kept clean.  The Corenalls of the field, Captains, Lieutenants, Ensign and officers, must have particular care, that the Soldiers have always their Armour clean, ready and in order, for time of necessity: causing them to make them clean twice every week, and using themselves with them in such sort, that they may be expert at the time of need.  

For preventing fire.  And for that in the way order shall be given in what form every man shall put himself, if we do fight, I do command that particular care be had, advising the Gunners to have half Butts with water and vinegar, as is accustomed, with Bonnets and old Sails, and wet Mantles to defend fire, that as often is thrown, as to have the like care to have shot made in good quantity, 
Shot, powder and Match.  and that powder and match be ready for Ship, and Soldiers of the store by weight, measure and length: according to the order that every Ship hath to deliver unto him that hath the charge thereof according to use and custom.  
Also I order and command that there be a care, 
Room clean of Chests and Cards.  that all Soldiers have their room clean and unpestered of Chests, and other things, without consenting in any case to have Cards: and if there be any, to be taken away presently: neither permit them to the Mariners: and if the Soldiers have any, let me be advertised, that I may command them to be taken away.  
And for that the Mariners must resort unto their work, tackle and Navigation, 
Mariners lodgings.  it is convenient that their lodgings be in the upper works of the poop, and forecastle, otherwise the Soldiers will trouble them in the voyage.  
The Artillery must stand in very good order, and reparted amongst the Gunners, 
Lockers for the Gunners.  being all charged with their balls, and nigh unto every piece his locker, wherein to put his Shot and necessaries, and to have great care to the Cartrages of every Piece, for not changing or not taking fire: and that the Ladles and Sponges be ready at hand.  
Every Ship shall carry two Boats lading of stones, 
Stones and half pipes.  to throw to profit in the time of fight on the Deck, Forecastle or tops, according to his burden: and shall carry two half Pipes, to fill them with water in the day of Battle, and repart them amongst the Ordinance, or other places, as shall be thought necessary, and nigh unto them old clothes or coverings, which with wetting may destroy any kind of fire.  

Wild fire.  That the wild fire be reparted to the people most expert, that we have for the use thereof at due time: for that if it be not overseen, giving charge thereof to those that doth understand it, and such as we know can tell how to use it: otherwise it may happen to great danger.  

The Navy close together.  By the commandment that no ship shall go a head the Admiral, at the least in the night, none shall tarry a stern the Vice-admiral, and every one to have a care to the trimming of his Sails, according to the charge he hath, and the sailing of his ship: for the much that it importeth that all our Navy do go close as possible as they may: and in this the Captains, Masters, and pilate's must have such great care, as of them is hopen.  

Reading these instructions.  These my instructions are delivered unto every Ship, and have their copy firmed by my hand, and registered by my Secretary, the which shall be read by every Purser of every Ship publicly, to come to the note of all Soldiers and Mariners, whereby they may not pretend ignorance: and to the said Pursers I ordain and command, that thrice in the week they be bound to read these my instructions publicly, and that they take witness of the fulfilling hereof, upon pain of him that doth the contrary, shall receive punishment to the example of others.  
All the above said, we command to be manifested, and be kept without any breach for the service of his Majesty, none to break them or any part thereof in no manner, upon pain they shallbe severely punished, every one according to his estate and offence: all others reserved to our discretion.  
Made in the Gallion Saint Marten, at the Road of Belline, the 28. of May. 1588. Th. N.