Another look at life afloat in the sixteenth century brings us once more into touch with America; for the old sea-dog DIRECTIONS FOR THE TAKYNG OF A PRIZE were admirably summed up in The Seaman’s Grammar, which was compiled by ’Captaine John Smith, sometime Governour of Virginia and Admiral of New England’—­’Pocahontas Smith,’ in fact.

‘A sail!’

‘How bears she?  To-windward or lee-ward?  Set him by the compass!’

‘Hee stands right a-head’ (or On the weather-bow, or lee-bow).

‘Let fly your colours!’ (if you have a consort—­else not).  ’Out with all your sails!  A steadie man at the helm!  Give him chace!’

‘Hee holds his owne—­No, wee gather on him, Captaine!’

Out goes his flag and pendants, also his waist-cloths and top-armings, which is a long red cloth ... that goeth round about the shippe on the out-sides of all her upper works and fore and main-tops, as well for the countenance and grace of the shippe as to cover the men from being seen.  He furls and slings his main-yard.  In goes his sprit-sail.  Thus they strip themselves into their fighting sails, which is, only the foresail, the main and fore topsails, because the rest should not be fired nor spoiled; besides, they would be troublesome to handle, hinder our sights and the using of our arms.

‘He makes ready his close-fights, fore and aft.’ [Bulkheads set up to cover men under fire] ...

’Every man to his charge!  Dowse your topsail to salute him for the sea!  Hail him with a noise of trumpets!’

‘Whence is your ship?’

‘Of Spain—­whence is yours?’

‘Of England.’

‘Are you merchants or men of war?’

‘We are of the Sea!’

He waves us to leeward with his drawn sword, calls out ‘Amain’ for the King of Spain, and springs his luff[brings his vessel close by the wind].

’Give him a chase-piece with your broadside, and run a good berth a-head of him!’

‘Done, done!’

‘We have the wind of him, and now he tacks about!’

’Tack about also and keep your luff!  Be yare at the helm!  Edge in with him!  Give him a volley of small shot, also your prow and broadside as before, and keep your luff!’

‘He pays us shot for shot!’

‘Well, we shall requite him!’ ...

’Edge in with him again!  Begin with your bow pieces, proceed with your broadside, and let her fall off with the wind to give him also your full chase, your weather-broad-side, and bring her round so that the stern may also discharge, and your tacks close aboard again!’ ...

’The wind veers, the sea goes too high to board her, and we are shot through and through, and between wind and water.’

’Try the pump!  Bear up the helm!  Sling a man overboard to stop the leaks, that is, truss him up around the middle in a piece of canvas and a rope, with his arms at liberty, with a mallet and plugs lapped in oakum and well tarred, and a tar-pauling clout, which he will quickly beat into the holes the bullets made.’