It looks like a rescue operation going on in very rough seas. Maybe from a wrecked Mercurius?
HIGH HOPES, WILD MEN AND THE DEVIL’S JAW - Willem Barentsz Kolderstok 1:50
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Dear Friends
Are you complaining about life? Do you find your boss unreasonable? Does your wife not understand you? Do you have no spare time to do what you really want? Are you looking for some much needed excitement in your life? Well, why not pour yourself a glass of your finest, kick back in your chair and come join me aboard one of the ships of the Second Expedition of Barentsz?
Comfortable? - Good! But let's just first look at a few house rules to make sure that your journey is an enjoyable and safe one.
1. In the first instance the crew will acknowledge that the ships they are sailing on are provided by the Grace of God. Therefore, their demeanor and general behaviour should be worthy of and reflect that. During a sermon, everyone will remain silent and listen with attention.
2, No one will use God’s name in vain or in jest. If this rule is breached the offender will be tied to the mast and will receive a lashing – the severity of which will be at the discretion of the captain.
3 In case of the captain being sick sick or absent, the command will pass to the chief pilot. All crew members will comply with his commands and will obey all rules without questioning and without complaint. By the right given to him by these ordnances, the chief-pilot will be able to execute all punishments – including capital punishment in the case of mutiny.
4. The provost/quartermaster shall at all times be worthy of his position and will be responsible for maintaining all rules and regulations as per the issued ordnances.
5. In order to maintain good order at all times, the Captain or Chief Pilot (in the absence of the captain) will ensure that crew members are fairly and justly treated at all times as stipulated in their signed Code of Conduct.
6. The Captain or Chief Pilot will at all times act as Judge and Jury in the case of arbitration or in any case brought against a crew member. In this the captain will be assisted by the pilot and will pass sentence only after thorough deliberation with the latter. Punishment will be in accordance to the Letter of Article issued by the Admiralty of Amsterdam.
7. After sentencing, it will be the duty of the provost to ensure that execution of the sentence is swiftly carried out. In case of him being prevented (in any way whatsoever) by any member of the crew, this act will be punishable by a full month’s salary, or, will be seen in extreme cases as an Act of Mutiny. In such case, the offender will be punished as a mutineer.
8. Any member of crew who leaves his position of duty, without the express permission of the captain or chief pilot or who leaves the ship without his passport, will be hanged.
9. No member of crew shall during the trip use the lifeboat/s of the ship to go on land or row to any other ship without the express permission of the captain. Any breach of this rule will be punished by lashing.
10. No member of crew will go on land or onboard any other ship without the express permission of the captain. In the same vein, no crewmember is allowed to overnight on land or onboard any other ship without the express permission of the captain. Any breach of this rule will be punished by lashing.
11. Any member of crew who is found guilty of mutiny will be punished with death.
12. No member of crew will injure, insult or distribute an unfair workload on another member of crew. In case, false testimony is born by a crew member during such a case, he will be punished by caning. In case of a repeat offender, the punishment will become more severe exponentially.
13. Any member of crew who strikes another crewmember with the fist or open hand will be put in irons and will only be given bread and water for a duration of time as seen fit by the captain after deliberation with the chief pilot. In case of the offender being an officer, he will further be fined 12 stuivers and 6 stuivers in case of a non-ranking crew member.
14. Any member of crew who assists a prisoner who has been struck in irons by giving him food or drink or assisting him in any other way, will himself be put in irons for a period of 8 days.
15. Any member who pulls his knife on another crew member and wounds him, will be thrown three times from the ra and be keel-hauled during the return journey.
16. Any crew member who injures or harms another - both aboard the ship or on land during the course of this expedition - will be put in irons without mercy. In case of an instigator, he will be tied to the mast indefinitely. Should he lose his hand in the process, then so be it. In addition to that, he will forfeit his monthly pay.
17. Any crew member who causes the death of a fellow crew member while onboard, will be tied back-to-back and in an upright standing position to the dead man and be thrown overboard,
18. Any member of crew who is found guilty of theft onboard, will repay the crew member he has stolen from, four-fold. In addition, he will be tied to the mast and lashed.
19. Any member who is found guilty of stealing any item of the ship under the supervision of the bottler and or cook be it wine or food for personal use or to sell, will be punished by hanging.
20. No one will insult or abuse the bottler and cook in word or deed. No one will ask for extra food or liquor after a meal. Such a person will be struck in irons and be given a diet of bread and water. Anyone who hits or shoves the bottler and/or cook will be punished by the chief-pilot or jury according to the severity of the incident.
21. Any crew member who throws food and/or drinks overboard will receive corporal punishment at the discretion of the jury. In the case of any food not being edible, it needs to be presented to the chief pilot who will then take a decision after consultation with the jury.
22. Any member of the crew who spills alcohol while onboard the ship in a quantity which cannot be covered by hand or by foot will be tied to the mast for a period of time as determined by the chief-pilot.
23. No crew member will be allowed to voice any dissatisfaction about the portions/rations of food and drink they receive during the journey/ In case of a breach of this rule, punishment will be carried out by the Chief-pilot and the jury and the sentence will amount to once month’s salary being forfeited.
24. Being on watch (day or night) is regarded as an appointed position, and any crew member who is late for duty. sleeps on duty, leaves his post or allows someone to board the ship without the express permission of the captain, will be punished by the Chief Pilot and the ship’s jury according to the severity of the offense.
25. Access to the artillery will only be for officers namely the constable and riflemen/musketeers. No one will be allowed to enter the powder room unless so ordered. In such a case, each crew member will wait his turn. No crew member will be allowed to fire a rifle unless consented to by the appointed officers and chief pilot. Failure to adhere to this rule will be corporal punishment.
26. No crew member will be allowed to fire a rifle or musket onboard of the ship or in a foreign land unless ordered so by the chief pilot.
27. In case of the Officers issuing too much gunpowder, the responsibility lies with the crew member to return the unused powder to the powder room. Any crew member who is found carrying gunpowder in flasks, horns, or any means of measurement on his person will be charged with theft and will be hanged in accordance with the punishment of a thief.
28. Constables and riflemen who do not keep proper control of the ammunition in their care, will be charged with neglect of duty and will be punished accordingly.
29. No crew member will have any straw or hay inside his bed unless permission is granted by the chief pilot. Any other person giving such consent will be deemed guilty of the same offense and will be tied to the mast for a duration seen fit by the chief pilot.
30. It is the responsibility of all crew members to keep clean and maintain all rifles allocated to them. No one is allowed to lose, misplace or hide any instrument necessary for the operation of the ship. In such a case the carpenter, helmsman, doctor, cook and riflemen will be co-opted onto the jury. In case a crew member is found guilty, he will be punished by being tied to the mast and lashed.
31. Any crew member found to have opened any Kist, barrel or sealed package without the consent of the chief pilot, will suffer corporal punishment and forfeit a month’s salary.
32. No one will bring onboard any Kist or coffer other than what is necessary for his clothes and instruments.
33. In the unlikely event of both the captain and chief-pilot being killed or permanently indisposed, command will be transferred to the vice-chief pilot unless the jury chooses to co-opt a more suitable member of the expedition. Such a person will have the same authority and power as that of the late captain and/or chief pilot and will have as his sole mission, the completion of the journey.
34. In case of the ship floundering because of a storm, tempest or heavy mist, or for whatever reason, all effort must be made to salvage food, water anchors, and rope. During such a time of distress all members must behave in a way conducive to the well-being of all onboard and the salvaging of the abovementioned items. Any person who is found to place his self-interest first will suffer corporal punishment and will forfeit his monthly salary.
35. Gambling and games have led to much unrest in the past among crew members and as such the bringing of dice, cards and such games onboard, without the consent of the chief-pilot will be punishable by being tied to the mast and lashed.
36. Any crew member who falsely accuses another of being a liar will be punished in accordance with the severity of the lie.
37. In order to combat stench, dirt and possible infection, the crew quarters will be washed inside and outside every morning. It is the responsibility of every crew member to keep the ship as dry as possible – no urination is allowed onboard the ship and clothes and bedding will be washed in accordance to a pre-determined roster. Anyone breaching this rule will be tied to the mast for a duration as seemed fit by the chief pilot.
38. Should it be deemed necessary that any additional articles be added to this list, the chief-pilot, in accordance with the jury, may do so on the condition that is announced to the crew prior to it taking effect.
39. All crew members will undertake to follow and assist others in following these articles faithfully and to the best of their abilities. All crew members will undertake to follow the laws of any foreign country and strive to conserve them, unless these laws are deemed to jeopardize the success of the mission.
40. All crew members hereby pledge their allegiance to the United Provinces of the Netherlands and the General State and acknowledge the admiral of such state as the highest-ranking official appointed by God. To him they swear obedience and will at all times endeavor to serve him without question or doubt. Therefore, they will strive to adhere to all the abovementioned articles and help their fellow crew-members to do the same.
Are you complaining about life? Do you find your boss unreasonable? Does your wife not understand you? Do you have no spare time to do what you really want? Are you looking for some much needed excitement in your life? Well, why not pour yourself a glass of your finest, kick back in your chair and come join me aboard one of the ships of the Second Expedition of Barentsz?
Comfortable? - Good! But let's just first look at a few house rules to make sure that your journey is an enjoyable and safe one.
1. In the first instance the crew will acknowledge that the ships they are sailing on are provided by the Grace of God. Therefore, their demeanor and general behaviour should be worthy of and reflect that. During a sermon, everyone will remain silent and listen with attention.
2, No one will use God’s name in vain or in jest. If this rule is breached the offender will be tied to the mast and will receive a lashing – the severity of which will be at the discretion of the captain.
3 In case of the captain being sick sick or absent, the command will pass to the chief pilot. All crew members will comply with his commands and will obey all rules without questioning and without complaint. By the right given to him by these ordnances, the chief-pilot will be able to execute all punishments – including capital punishment in the case of mutiny.
4. The provost/quartermaster shall at all times be worthy of his position and will be responsible for maintaining all rules and regulations as per the issued ordnances.
5. In order to maintain good order at all times, the Captain or Chief Pilot (in the absence of the captain) will ensure that crew members are fairly and justly treated at all times as stipulated in their signed Code of Conduct.
6. The Captain or Chief Pilot will at all times act as Judge and Jury in the case of arbitration or in any case brought against a crew member. In this the captain will be assisted by the pilot and will pass sentence only after thorough deliberation with the latter. Punishment will be in accordance to the Letter of Article issued by the Admiralty of Amsterdam.
7. After sentencing, it will be the duty of the provost to ensure that execution of the sentence is swiftly carried out. In case of him being prevented (in any way whatsoever) by any member of the crew, this act will be punishable by a full month’s salary, or, will be seen in extreme cases as an Act of Mutiny. In such case, the offender will be punished as a mutineer.
8. Any member of crew who leaves his position of duty, without the express permission of the captain or chief pilot or who leaves the ship without his passport, will be hanged.
9. No member of crew shall during the trip use the lifeboat/s of the ship to go on land or row to any other ship without the express permission of the captain. Any breach of this rule will be punished by lashing.
10. No member of crew will go on land or onboard any other ship without the express permission of the captain. In the same vein, no crewmember is allowed to overnight on land or onboard any other ship without the express permission of the captain. Any breach of this rule will be punished by lashing.
11. Any member of crew who is found guilty of mutiny will be punished with death.
12. No member of crew will injure, insult or distribute an unfair workload on another member of crew. In case, false testimony is born by a crew member during such a case, he will be punished by caning. In case of a repeat offender, the punishment will become more severe exponentially.
13. Any member of crew who strikes another crewmember with the fist or open hand will be put in irons and will only be given bread and water for a duration of time as seen fit by the captain after deliberation with the chief pilot. In case of the offender being an officer, he will further be fined 12 stuivers and 6 stuivers in case of a non-ranking crew member.
14. Any member of crew who assists a prisoner who has been struck in irons by giving him food or drink or assisting him in any other way, will himself be put in irons for a period of 8 days.
15. Any member who pulls his knife on another crew member and wounds him, will be thrown three times from the ra and be keel-hauled during the return journey.
16. Any crew member who injures or harms another - both aboard the ship or on land during the course of this expedition - will be put in irons without mercy. In case of an instigator, he will be tied to the mast indefinitely. Should he lose his hand in the process, then so be it. In addition to that, he will forfeit his monthly pay.
17. Any crew member who causes the death of a fellow crew member while onboard, will be tied back-to-back and in an upright standing position to the dead man and be thrown overboard,
18. Any member of crew who is found guilty of theft onboard, will repay the crew member he has stolen from, four-fold. In addition, he will be tied to the mast and lashed.
19. Any member who is found guilty of stealing any item of the ship under the supervision of the bottler and or cook be it wine or food for personal use or to sell, will be punished by hanging.
20. No one will insult or abuse the bottler and cook in word or deed. No one will ask for extra food or liquor after a meal. Such a person will be struck in irons and be given a diet of bread and water. Anyone who hits or shoves the bottler and/or cook will be punished by the chief-pilot or jury according to the severity of the incident.
21. Any crew member who throws food and/or drinks overboard will receive corporal punishment at the discretion of the jury. In the case of any food not being edible, it needs to be presented to the chief pilot who will then take a decision after consultation with the jury.
22. Any member of the crew who spills alcohol while onboard the ship in a quantity which cannot be covered by hand or by foot will be tied to the mast for a period of time as determined by the chief-pilot.
23. No crew member will be allowed to voice any dissatisfaction about the portions/rations of food and drink they receive during the journey/ In case of a breach of this rule, punishment will be carried out by the Chief-pilot and the jury and the sentence will amount to once month’s salary being forfeited.
24. Being on watch (day or night) is regarded as an appointed position, and any crew member who is late for duty. sleeps on duty, leaves his post or allows someone to board the ship without the express permission of the captain, will be punished by the Chief Pilot and the ship’s jury according to the severity of the offense.
25. Access to the artillery will only be for officers namely the constable and riflemen/musketeers. No one will be allowed to enter the powder room unless so ordered. In such a case, each crew member will wait his turn. No crew member will be allowed to fire a rifle unless consented to by the appointed officers and chief pilot. Failure to adhere to this rule will be corporal punishment.
26. No crew member will be allowed to fire a rifle or musket onboard of the ship or in a foreign land unless ordered so by the chief pilot.
27. In case of the Officers issuing too much gunpowder, the responsibility lies with the crew member to return the unused powder to the powder room. Any crew member who is found carrying gunpowder in flasks, horns, or any means of measurement on his person will be charged with theft and will be hanged in accordance with the punishment of a thief.
28. Constables and riflemen who do not keep proper control of the ammunition in their care, will be charged with neglect of duty and will be punished accordingly.
29. No crew member will have any straw or hay inside his bed unless permission is granted by the chief pilot. Any other person giving such consent will be deemed guilty of the same offense and will be tied to the mast for a duration seen fit by the chief pilot.
30. It is the responsibility of all crew members to keep clean and maintain all rifles allocated to them. No one is allowed to lose, misplace or hide any instrument necessary for the operation of the ship. In such a case the carpenter, helmsman, doctor, cook and riflemen will be co-opted onto the jury. In case a crew member is found guilty, he will be punished by being tied to the mast and lashed.
31. Any crew member found to have opened any Kist, barrel or sealed package without the consent of the chief pilot, will suffer corporal punishment and forfeit a month’s salary.
32. No one will bring onboard any Kist or coffer other than what is necessary for his clothes and instruments.
33. In the unlikely event of both the captain and chief-pilot being killed or permanently indisposed, command will be transferred to the vice-chief pilot unless the jury chooses to co-opt a more suitable member of the expedition. Such a person will have the same authority and power as that of the late captain and/or chief pilot and will have as his sole mission, the completion of the journey.
34. In case of the ship floundering because of a storm, tempest or heavy mist, or for whatever reason, all effort must be made to salvage food, water anchors, and rope. During such a time of distress all members must behave in a way conducive to the well-being of all onboard and the salvaging of the abovementioned items. Any person who is found to place his self-interest first will suffer corporal punishment and will forfeit his monthly salary.
35. Gambling and games have led to much unrest in the past among crew members and as such the bringing of dice, cards and such games onboard, without the consent of the chief-pilot will be punishable by being tied to the mast and lashed.
36. Any crew member who falsely accuses another of being a liar will be punished in accordance with the severity of the lie.
37. In order to combat stench, dirt and possible infection, the crew quarters will be washed inside and outside every morning. It is the responsibility of every crew member to keep the ship as dry as possible – no urination is allowed onboard the ship and clothes and bedding will be washed in accordance to a pre-determined roster. Anyone breaching this rule will be tied to the mast for a duration as seemed fit by the chief pilot.
38. Should it be deemed necessary that any additional articles be added to this list, the chief-pilot, in accordance with the jury, may do so on the condition that is announced to the crew prior to it taking effect.
39. All crew members will undertake to follow and assist others in following these articles faithfully and to the best of their abilities. All crew members will undertake to follow the laws of any foreign country and strive to conserve them, unless these laws are deemed to jeopardize the success of the mission.
40. All crew members hereby pledge their allegiance to the United Provinces of the Netherlands and the General State and acknowledge the admiral of such state as the highest-ranking official appointed by God. To him they swear obedience and will at all times endeavor to serve him without question or doubt. Therefore, they will strive to adhere to all the abovementioned articles and help their fellow crew-members to do the same.
These are almost word for word the rules we gave our children...
What is interesting is that rules like this typically have their origin in actual events/activities that caused the rule to be written. Yikes.
I think these rules should be brought back in action in todays community. A lot of people would feel a lot safer i think. 
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Oooh yes. This is hard-won experience at work here - the same as in parenting.
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I( agree 100%, Peter! Discipline has never hurt anybody ... in fact ...I think these rules should be brought back in action in todays community. A lot of people would feel a lot safer i think.
Good rules for how to get along in close quarters, especially when the going gets rough!
OH Boy, I'm glad my military experience was in the Calvary.
You rode with Custer, Jan?
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Absolutely Daniel. And when you factor in how closely the men must have lived (one cabin only for the captain - and it is unsure whether even Barentsz shared that cabin with captain Van Heemskerck) onboard a 65-feet vessel, there had to be discipline to maintain order. And that we can clearly see by the fact that 12 out the 17 men survived the ordeal.
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I hope not Paul - otherwise I will have to watch my build partner very carefully. How he behaves in sunlight and that kind of thing ...You rode with Custer, Jan?
OK, Paul. How did you know that? You must have read my memoirs?You rode with Custer, Jan?
Heinrich. No silver bullets or wooden stakes required!!!
My horse was a UH-1. Custer would have loved one of those.
While clearing out a drawer, I found something nice. In 1996, it was announced that the Euro would be introduced in Europe, and at that time I bought a 10 euro coin with Willem Barentsz on it, never knowing that I would make a kit of his ship one day. 
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Being able to speak a little English makes it a heck of a lot easier to move about in the States as well!
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Extremely harsh rules in our 21st century eyes, but understandable and necessary in the extreme conditions those crews had to endure.
The call to bring those rules back to society is understandable, given the current state of affairs, but capital punishment is just one step too far for me. That is a definite no-go.
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I agree However, I do have a little trouble in the Deep South and the Northeast. I even lived in NH for twelve years and could never get the hang of where to pahk my cah.
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What a horse that was! Guys the most brilliant joke I have ever heard in my entire life and one which is engraved in memory is about a French who sculptor who depicted Custer's last words, but I cannot post it on the forum - not even in a PM. You will have to visit for that!OK, Paul. How did you know that? You must have read my memoirs?
Heinrich. No silver bullets or wooden stakes required!!!
My horse was a UH-1. Custer would have loved one of those.
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That is a stunner Hans! I have actually read about these so it is great to see what they look like! Those depictions on the coin are excellent - even right down to the Polar Bear.