28.  The master and boatswain shall appoint a certain number of sailors to every sail, and to every such company a master’s mate, a boatswain’s mate or quartermaster; so as when every man knows his charge and his place things may be done without noise or confusion, and no man [is] to speak but the officers.  As, for example, if the master or his mate bid heave out the main topsail, the master’s mate, boatswain’s mate or quartermaster which hath charge of that sail shall with his company perform it, without calling out to others and without rumour[11], and so for the foresail, fore topsail, spritsail and the rest; the boatswain himself taking no particular charge of any sail, but overlooking all and seeing every man to do his duty.

29.  No man shall board his enemy’s ship without order, because the loss of a ship to us is of more importance than the loss of ten ships to the enemy, as also by one man’s boarding all our fleet may be engaged; it being too great a dishonour to lose the least of our fleet.  But every ship, if we be under the lee of an enemy, shall labour to recover the wind if the admiral endeavours it.  But if we find an enemy to be leewards of us, the whole fleet shall follow the admiral, vice-admiral, or other leading ship within musket shot of the enemy; giving so much liberty to the leading ship as after her broadside delivered she may stay and trim her sails.  Then is the second ship to tack as the first ship and give the other side, keeping the enemy under a perpetual shot.  This you must do upon the windermost ship or ships of an enemy, which you shall either batter in pieces, or force him or them to bear up and so entangle them, and drive them foul one of another to their utter confusion[12].

30.  The musketeers, divided into quarters of the ship, shall not deliver their shot but at such distance as their commanders shall direct them.

31.  If the admiral give chase and be headmost man, the next ship shall take up his boat, if other order be not given.  Or if any other ship be appointed to give chase, the next ship (if the chasing ship have a boat at her stern) shall take it.

32.  If any make a ship to strike, he shall not enter her until the admiral come up.

33.  You shall take especial care for the keeping of your ships clean between the decks, [and] to have your ordnance ready in order, and not cloyed with chests and trunks.

34.  Let those that have provision of victual deliver it to the steward, and every man put his apparel in canvas cloak bags, except some few chests which do not pester the ship.

35.  Everyone that useth any weapon of fire, be it musket or other piece, shall keep it clean, and if he be not able to amend it being out of order, he shall presently acquaint his officer therewith, who shall command the armourer to mend it.

36.  No man shall play at cards or dice either for his apparel or arms upon pain of being disarmed and made a swabber of the ship.