And if the admiral please to retreat without anchoring, then he will fire four guns, one after another, so as the report may only be distinguished; and about three minutes after he will do the like with four guns more.[24]

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] The later Admiralty MS. is prefaced by the following Observation:  ’There have happened several misfortunes and disputes for want of a sufficient number of signals to explain the general’s pleasure, without which it is not to be avoided; and whereas it hath often happened for want of a ready putting forth and apprehending to what intent the signals are made, they are contracted into a shorter method so that no time might be lost.  It is most certain that in all sea battles the flags or admiral-generals are equally concerned in any conflict, and no manner of knowledge can be gained how the rest of the battle goes till such time as it is past recovery.  To prevent this let a person fitly qualified command the reserve, who shall by signals make known to the general in what condition or posture the other parts of the fleet are in, he having his station where the whole can best be discovered, and his signals, answering the general’s, may also be discerned by the rest of the fleet.’

[2] The Admiralty MS. has this Observation:  ’Unless you can outstretch their headmost ships there is hazard in breaking through the enemy’s line, and [it] commonly brings such disorders in the line of battle that it may be rather omitted unless an enemy press you near a lee shore.  For if, according to this instruction, when you have got the wind you are to press the enemy, then those ships which are on each side of them shall receive more than equal damages from each other’s shot if near, and in case the enemy but observed the seventh instruction—­that is, to tack with equal numbers with you—­then is your fleet divided and not the enemy’s.

[3] The Admiralty MS. here inserts an additional instruction, numbered 5, as follows:  ’If in time of fight any flagship or squadron ahead of the fleet hath an opportunity of weathering any of the enemy’s ships, they shall put abroad the same signal the general makes them for tacking, which, if the general would have them go about, he will answer by giving the same again, otherwise they are to continue on the same line or station.’

Observation.—­’For it may prove not convenient in some cases to break the line.’

[4] The Admiralty MS. adds, ’And as soon as they have the wind to observe what other signals the general makes; and in case they lose sight of the general, they are to endeavour to press the headmost ships of the enemy all they can, or assist any of ours that are annoyed by them.’  The whole makes Instruction VI. of the Admiralty MS. An Observation is attached to the old instruction as follows:—­’This signal was wanting