Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/154

 desireth to be a pilot. Vnto all which the examinate is very attentiue, and answereth to euery particular.

After they haue all asked him so much as they think expedient, they bid him depart out of the hall, to the ende that euery one of them may seuerally bee sworne vpon a booke, that they will speake the trueth. Then they put into a certaine vessell of siluer standing there for the same purpose so many beanes and so many peason as there are pilots within the hall: and euery one putting his hand into the vessell in order, he that thinketh the partie examined to be sufficient, taketh vp a beane, and he that thinketh him not sufficient, taketh vp a pease. And after that all haue taken out what they please, the Pilot maior looketh what voyces the examinate hath: and if he finde him to haue as many voyces for him as against him, he commandeth him to make another voyage:

but if he hath more voyces for him then against him, then they giue him letters testimoniall of his examination signed by the Pilot maior, by the Kings reader, and the secretary, and sealed with the seale of the Contractation house. And vpon the receipt of these letters testimoniall, the new pilot giueth a present vnto the Pilot maior, and the Kings reader, for their gloues and hennes, euery one according to his abilitie, which is ordinarily some two or three ducats.

And then he may take vpon him to be pilot in any ship whatsoeuer, vnto that place for which he was examined: and if he finde in the Indies any ship vnder the charge of a pilot not before examined, hee may put him out of his office, and may himself take charge of that ship for the same wages that the other pilot agreed for.

The pilots wages for making a voyage outward and homeward is according to the burthen of the ship. If shee be of 100 tunnes, hee hath 200 or 250 ducats: and if shee bee of 400 or 500 tunnes, he taketh for his wages 500 or 550 ducates: and if shee be bigger he hath a greater allowance: ouer and besides all which, he hath euery day while he remaineth on land, foure reales for his diet. And the greater shippes are alwayes committed vnto the more ancient pilots, because they are of greater experience and better skill, then the yonger sort which newly take vpon them to be pilots.

The pilot vndertaketh no farther travell nor care, but in