When reading history or historical fiction, and especially when arguing about present mores based on past actions, it's easy to wonder how past people justified actions that to us seem obviously in contradiction with their beliefs. On the whole, I think they did what we do, and mostly failed to live up to their beliefs without trying to pretend they had... A snippet in support:
Afterward they mended the other ship from Saturday till Munday, during which time all those were shriuen that had not confessed, and receiued the communion, and it was resolued by charge of the confessors, that all those seale-skins which they had taken from the Indians should bee restored againe; and the Generall gaue charge to Francis Preciado to restore them all, charging him on his conscience so to doe.
This is a translated report of a very early Spanish investigation up the coast of California; the ships have put in for recaulking, because one of them is too leaky and they've both lost too much of their furnishing, but they aren't particularly in fear of their lives. From what context I get from proofreading the passage, they're actually having a good voyage and enjoying their harbor and expecting to make it at least halfway home.
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So wrote clew in History (17th c.).