In the second week of the June of 1617 Raleigh
set sail from Plymouth with his little fleet of eleven
vessels, which had been fitted out at the expense of
the State, for South America. His son Walter was
in command of the ship ' Destiny,' which had been
especially built for the purpose, and was the Admiral's
flagship. The most prominent of the other captains
was Lawrence Keymish, who had been up the
Orinoco before, but who had failed to find the mine.
Several gentlemen accompanied the expedition, and
the total strength of the fleet, inclusive of sailors,
labourers, and soldiers, numbered some five hundred
men. The orders issued by the Admiral for the main-
tenance of discipline lie before me.' Divine service
was to be read every morning before dinner, and
every evening before supper, ' with the singing of a
psalm at the setting of the watch.' All blasphemy
was to be punished if continued in after remonstrance ;
* those of the meaner sort to be ducked at the yard-
arm, and the better sort to be fined out of their

1 State JVipert, Domeitie. Cutle Ashby, Jul; 28, 16la
* State Paptr*. Domettie. May 3, 1617. 'Orden to beobeerred by
the commandera of the fleet and lud comjMiiiea nndn the charge and
cooduct of Sir Walter Raleigh, Kt., honnd for the wnth part of America
01 elsewhere.' Given at Plymouth,



^d by Google



184 STUDIES RE-SrtlDlEl).
