Manuel de Caceres, notary
The order which we must regard and observe in the voyage and navigation from here to Borney is as follows.
The galleys shall follow the flagship, without preceding it, and at night they shall be vigilant, both in following the lantern, and in watching for certain shoals such as are wont to be in the sea, and for strange ships, as well as all else advisable.
When any galley encounters any danger, and needs help, it shall discharge a cannon as sign of distress; and all the other ships shall go to its assistance, to see what has happened.
The Neapolitan vessel shall go as much as possible in advance of the flagship; and, in case it should come upon any shoal or promontory that juts out too far, if it be daytime it shall return to give advice thereof; but if at night, besides turning to give advice, it shall fire a small piece of its artillery so that we may stop and take the necessary steps.
If perchance any galley should lose the route through either bad weather or any other cause not malicious, it shall continue its voyage to the island of Malaca, where the one arriving first will await the other.
Should any enemy attack us at sea, with intent to annoy us, the two
Bornean galleys shall go to the flagship—that in charge of Ensign
Francisco Rodriguez on the right, and that in charge of Antonio
Cañedo on the left. The Neapolitan ship shall take up a position at
the stern of the flagship, in order to assist in what is ordered.
The vessels shall take care always to anchor near the flagship, keeping watch over their oars. They shall be alert. From Malaca each afternoon they shall ask for a watchword, so that, if they meet any hostile ship, it may be known. A copy of these instructions shall be given to the other galleys, so that they may keep them. Given on the seventh of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine.
Don Juan Arce
Before me: