The council of the three yachts shall consist of the following persons:—
| The commodore | Abel Jansz Tasman | Constantly President |
| The skipper chief pilot | François Jacobs | Of the Limmen |
| The skipper | Dirk Cornelisz Haan | } Of the Zeemeuw |
| Super cargo | Isaac Gissmans | |
| The skipper | Jasper Jansz Koops | Of the Brak |
| Cryn Henderiskz | First mate | Of the Limmen |
| Carsten Jurjansz[[21]] | First mate | Of the Zeemeuw |
| Cornelis Robol | First mate | Of the Brak |
| The junior merchant | Anthony Blauw, as councillor or secretary. | |
By this council shall all occurring business towards forwarding the voyage, fulfilling of our orders, and administering of justice, be concluded upon and transacted: if it so happen there is an equal number of votes the commodore is to have two votes; but in cases of navigation and discovery of countries, the second mates shall also assist with advising votes, all which the commodore shall collect, and determine by the majority of the concluding votes, taking care to have all resolutions instantly triply registered and strictly complied with for the service of the Company.
In the council of each particular yacht, the junior merchant or bookkeeper and high boatswains, shall be called as directed in the orders of our masters.
If the commodore Tasman (which God forbid) should decease, such a person shall succeed him as in our sealed act is nominated, which in every respect, conformable to this instruction, in manner his predecessor commanded, and (as is right) he shall be obeyed.
The yachts are manned with 111 persons, and amongst them one officer and 16 soldiers. Namely:—
| In the Limmen, | 45 | sailors, | 11 | soldiers; in all | 56 | persons. |
| In the Zeemeuw, | 35 | sailors, | 6 | soldiers; in all | 41 | persons. |
| In the Brak, | 14 | sailors, | 0 | soldiers; in all | 14 | persons. |
| 94 | sailors | 17 | soldiers: total | 111 | persons. |
Are well provided with all necessary ammunition, tools and utensils, and for eight months plentifully victualled. Manage everything well and orderly, take notice you see the ordinary portion of two meat and two pork days, and a quarter of vinegar, a half quarter of sweet oil per week, and a half-quarter of arrack per day, regularly distributed. Each yacht carries a leaguer and 120 quarts of strong arrack (the Brak is to be provided from the Zeemeuw), which must be carefully distributed in the cold climate for the health of the people. Notwithstanding you are plentifully stocked with waterbuts, manage particularly fresh water and fuel to prevent wanting it; as you would then be obliged to search after it, to the retarding of your voyage, or return without success, to your shame and the great detriment of the Company, which has been at great expense in equipping these yachts; and for these reasons, by industry and prudence, ought to be prevented from suffering.
We give then no further instructions, and leave to your and the council’s good conduct and advice what you will have more to do upon this voyage; only recommending seriously in all emergencies, to use such prudence as may keep the Company’s valuable ships and people out of all dangers as much as can be done. For the better to answer this purpose, we do not approve the commodore much to leave shipboard, but to stay in the yacht, unless (with advice of the council) the Company’s service may require the contrary, in order to avoid the object being neglected, by any unforseen misfortune in this important voyage.
To conclude this instruction, we wish you the protection and blessings of Omnipotence, which we pray to inspire you with manly courage for the intended discoveries, and after finishing to return in safety, to the expanding of His glory, reputation to the mother country, the service of the Company, our contentment, and to your own everlasting honour.