[1] The original draft corrected by Lord Addington, principal secretary of state, is in S.P.  Domestic, Car.  II, 158.

[2] See post, p. 170.

[3] Cf.  Hoste’s second Remark, post, p. 180.

[4] In the Instructions which Sir Chas. H. Knowles drew up about 1780, for submission to the Admiralty he has at p. 16 a remark upon rear concentration which helps us to see what was in the author’s mind.  It is as follows:  ’N.B.—­In open sea the enemy (if of equal force) will never suffer you to attack their rear, but will pass you on opposite tacks to prevent your doing it:  therefor the attempt is useless and only losing time.’

THE DUKE OF YORK, 1672.[1]

[+Spragge’s Second Sea Book.  Dartmouth MSS.+]

Instructions for the better ordering of his majesty’s fleet in fighting.

1.  Discovery of a fleet, striking the admiral’s flag and making a weft.[2]

2.  To come into the order of battle.[2]

3.  A red flag on the fore topmast-head, to engage.[2]

4.  If overcharged or distressed, a pennant.[2]

5.  Ditto, a weft with his jack and ensign.[2]

6.  A pennant on the mizen peak or ensign staff if any ship bear away from the enemy to stop a leak.

If any ship shall be necessitated to bear away from the enemy to stop a leak or mend what is amiss which cannot otherwise be repaired, he is to put out a pennant on the mizen peak or ensign staff, whereby the rest of that ship’s squadron may have notice what it is for; and if the admiral or any flagship should be so, the ships of the fleet or of the respective squadrons are to endeavour to get up as close in line between him and the enemy as they can, having always an eye to defend him in case the enemy should come to annoy him in that condition; and in case any flagship or any other ship in the fleet shall be forced to go out of the line for stopping of leaks or repairing any other defects in the ships, then the next immediate ships are forthwith to endeavour to close the line either by making or shortening sail, or by such other ways and means as they shall find most convenient for doing of it; and if any ship, be it flagship or other that shall happen to be disabled and go out of the line, then all the small craft shall come in to that ship’s assistance, upon signal made of her being disabled.  If any of the chief flagships or other flagships shall happen to be so much disabled as that thereby they shall be rendered unable for present service, in such case any chief flag officer may get on board any other ship which he may judge most convenient in his own squadron, and any other flag officer in that case may go on board any ship in his division.

7.  A blue flag on the mizen yard or topmast.[3]

8.  To make sail, a red flag on the spritsail, topmast shrouds, &c.[3]

9.  A red flag on the mizen shrouds, to come into the wake or grain of us.[3]