The rest of the chapter is concerned with the treatment of the dead and wounded, pursuit of the enemy when victory is won, and the refitting of the fleet.

AUDLEY’S FLEET ORDERS, circa 1530

INTRODUCTORY

The instructions drawn up by Thomas Audley by order of Henry VIII may be taken as the last word in England of the purely mediaeval time, before the development of gunnery, and particularly of broadside fire, had sown the seeds of more modern tactics.  They were almost certainly drafted from long-established precedents, for Audley was a lawyer.  The document is undated, but since Audley is mentioned without any rank or title, it was probably before November 1531, when he became serjeant-at-law and king’s serjeant, and certainly before May 1632 when he was knighted.  It was at this time that Henry VIII was plunging into his Reformation policy, and had every reason to be prepared for complications abroad, and particularly with Spain, which was then the leading naval Power.

The last two articles, increasing the authority of the council of war, were probably insisted on, as Mr. Oppenheim has pointed out in view of Sir Edward Howard’s attempts on French ports in 1512 and 1513, the last of which ended in disaster.[1]

FOOTNOTE: 

[1] Administration of the Royal Navy, p. 63.

ORDERS TO BE USED BY THE KING’S MAJESTY’S NAVY BY THE SEA.

[+Brit.  Mus.  Harleian MSS. 309, fol. 42, et seq.+[1]]

[Extract.]

If they meet with the enemy the admiral must apply to get the wind of the enemy by all the means he can, for that is the advantage.  No private captain should board the admiral enemy but the admiral of the English, except he cannot come to the enemy’s, as the matter may so fall out without they both the one seek the other.  And if they chase the enemy let them that chase shoot no ordnance till he be ready to board him, for that will let[2] his ship’s way.

Let every ship match equally as near as they can, and leave some pinnaces at liberty to help the overmatched.  And one small ship when they shall join battle [is] to be attending on the admiral to relieve him, for the overcoming of the admiral is a great discouragement of the rest of the other side.

In case you board your enemy enter not till you see the smoke gone and then shoot off[3] all your pieces, your port-pieces, the pieces of hail-shot, [and] cross-bow shot to beat his cage deck, and if you see his deck well ridden[4] then enter with your best men, but first win his tops in any wise if it be possible.  In case you see there come rescue bulge[5] the enemy ship [but] first take heed your own men be retired, [and] take the captain with certain of the best with him, the rest [to be] committed to the sea, for else they will turn upon you to your confusion.