CAROLINGIAN
I. VISCOUNT WIMBLEDON, 1625
II. THE EARL OF LINDSEY, 1635
THE ATTEMPT TO APPLY LAND FORMATIONS TO THE FLEET, 1625
INTRODUCTORY
From the point of view of command perhaps the most extraordinary naval
expedition that ever left our shores was that of Sir Edward Cecil,
Viscount Wimbledon, against Cadiz in 1625. Every flag officer both of
the fleet and of the squadrons was a soldier. Cecil himself and the
Earl of Essex, his vice-admiral, were Low Country colonels of no great
experience in command even ashore, and Lord Denbigh, the rear-admiral,
was a nobleman of next to none at all. Even Cecil's captain, who was
in effect 'captain of the fleet,' was Sir Thomas Love, a sailor of
whose service nothing is recorded, and the only seaman of tried
capacity who held a staff appointment was Essex's captain, Sir Samuel
Argall. It was probably due to this recrudescence of military
influence in the navy that we owe the first attempt to establish a
regular order of battle since the days of Henry VIII.
These remarkable orders appear to have been an after-thought, for they
were not proposed until a day or two after the fleet had sailed. The
first orders issued were a set of general instructions, 'for the
better government of the fleet' dated October 3, when the fleet was
still at Plymouth.
They were, it will be seen, on the traditional lines. Those used by
Ralegh are clearly the precedent upon which they were drawn, and in
particular the article relating to engaging an enemy's fleet follows
closely that recommended by Gorges, with such modifications as the
squadronal organisation of a large fleet demanded. On October 9, the
day the fleet got to sea, a second and more condensed set of 'Fighting
Instructions' was issued, which is remarkable for the modification it
contains of the method of attack from windward.[1] For instead of an
attack by squadrons it seems to contemplate the whole fleet going into
action in succession after the leading ship, an order which has the
appearance of another advance towards the perfected line.
Two days later however the fleet was becalmed, and Cecil took the
opportunity of calling a council to consider a wholly new set of
'Fighting Instructions' which had been drafted by Sir Thomas Love.
This step we are told was taken because Cecil considered the original
articles provided no adequate order of battle such as he had been
accustomed to ashore. The fleet had already been divided into three
squadrons, the Dutch contingent forming a fourth, but beyond this, we
are told, nothing had been done 'about the form of a sea fight.' Under
the new system it will be seen each of the English squadrons was to be
further divided into three sub-squadrons of nine ships, and these
apparently were to sail three deep, as in Drake's parade formation of
1588, and were to 'discharge and fall off three and three as they were
filed in the list,' or order of battle. That is, instead of the ships
of each squadron attacking in succession as the previous orders had
enjoined, they were to act in groups of three, with a reserve in
support. The Dutch, it was expressly provided, were not to be bound by
these orders, but were to be free 'to observe their own order and
method of fighting.' What this was is not stated, but there can be no
doubt that the reference is to the boarding tactics which the Dutch,
in common with all continental navies, continued to prefer to the
English method of first overpowering the enemy with the guns. This
proviso, in view of the question as to what country it was that first
perfected a single line ahead, should be borne in mind.
As appears from the minutes of the council of war, printed below,
Love's revolutionary orders met with strong opposition. Still, so
earnest was Cecil in pressing them, and so well conceived were many of
the articles that they were not entirely rejected, but were recognised
as a counsel of perfection, which, though not binding, was to be
followed as near as might be. Their effect upon the officers, or some
of them, was that they understood the 'order of fight' to be as
follows:--'The several admirals to be in square bodies' (that is, each
flag officer would command a division or sub-squadron formed in three
ranks of three files), 'and to give their broadsides by threes and so
fall off. The rear-admiral to stand for a general reserve, and not to
engage himself without great cause.'[2] The confusion, however, must
have been considerable and the difference of opinion great as to how
far the new orders were binding; for the 'Journal of the Vanguard'
merely notes that a council was called on the 11th 'wherein some
things were debated touching the well ordering of the fleet,' and with
this somewhat contemptuous entry the subject is dismissed.
Still it must be said that on the whole these orders are a great
advance over anything we know of in Elizabethan times, and
particularly in the careful provisions for mutual support they point
to a happy reversion to the ideas which De Chaves had formulated, and
which the Elizabethans had too drastically abandoned.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] 'Journal of the Vanguard' (Essex's flagship), and Cecil to Essex,
_S.P. Dom. Car. I_, xi.
[2] 'Journal of the Expedition,' _S. P. Dom. Car., I_, x. 67.
_LORD WIMBLEDON_, 1625, _No._ 1, _Oct._ 3.
[+State Papers Domestic, Car. I, ix.+]
_A copy of those instructions which were sent unto the Earl of Essex
and given by Sir Edward Cecil, Knight, admiral of the fleet,
lieutenant-general and marshal of his majesty's land force now at sea,
to be duly performed by all commanders, and their captains and
masters, and other inferior officers, both by sea and land, for the
better government of his majesty's fleet. Dated in the Sound of
Plymouth, aboard his majesty's good ship the Anne Royal, the third of
October_, 1625.
1. First above all things you shall provide that God be duly served
twice every day by all the land and sea companies in your ship,
according to the usual prayers and liturgy of the Church of England,
and shall set and discharge every watch with the singing of a psalm
and prayer usual at sea.
2. You shall keep the company from swearing, blaspheming, drunkenness,
dicing, carding, cheating, picking and stealing, and the like
disorders.
3. You shall take care to have all your company live orderly and
peaceable, and shall charge your officers faithfully to perform their
office and duty of his and their places. And if any seaman or soldier
shall raise tumult, mutiny or conspiracy, or commit murder, quarrel,
fight or draw weapon to that end, or be a sleeper at his watch, or
make noise, or not betake himself to his place of rest after his watch
is out, or shall not keep his cabin cleanly, or be discontented with
the proportion of victuals assigned unto him, or shall spoil or waste
them or any other necessary provisions in the ships, or shall not keep
clean his arms, or shall go ashore without leave, or shall be found
guilty of any other crime or offence, you shall use due severity in
the punishment or reformation thereof according to the known orders of
the sea.
4. For any capital or heinous offence that shall be committed in your
ship by the land or sea men, the land and sea commanders shall join
together to take a due examination thereof in writing, and shall
acquaint me therewith, to the end that I may proceed in judgment
according to the quality of the offence.
5. No sea captain shall meddle with the punishing of any land
soldiers, but shall leave them to their commanders; neither shall the
land commanders meddle with the punishing of the seamen.
6. You shall with the master take a particular account of the stores
of the boatswain and carpenters of the ship, examining their receipts,
expenses and remains, not suffering any unnecessary waste to be made
of their provisions, or any work to be done which shall not be needful
for the service.
7. You shall every week take the like account of the purser and
steward of the quantity and quality of victuals that are spent, and
provide for the preservation thereof without any superfluous
expense. And if any person be in that office suspected[1] for the
wasting and consuming of victuals, you shall remove him and acquaint
me thereof, and shall give me a particular account from time to time
of the expense, goodness, quantity and quality of your victuals.
8. You shall likewise take a particular account of the master gunner
for the shot, powder, munition and all other manner of stores
contained in his indenture, and shall not suffer any part thereof to
be sold, embezzled or wasted, nor any piece of ordnance to be shot off
without directions, keeping also an account of every several piece
shot off in your ship, to the end I may know how the powder is spent.
9. You shall suffer no boat to go from your ship without special leave
and upon necessary causes, to fetch water or some other needful thing,
and then you shall send some of your officers or men of trust, for
whose good carriage and speedy return you will answer.
10. You shall have a special care to prevent the dreadful accident of
fire, and let no candles be used without lanterns, nor any at all in
or about the powder room. Let no tobacco be taken between the decks,
or in the cabins or in any part of the ship, but upon the forecastle
or upper deck, where shall stand tubs of water for them to throw their
ashes into and empty their pipes.
11. Let no man give offence to his officer, or strike his equal or
inferior on board, and let mutinous persons be punished in most severe
manner.
12. Let no man depart out of his ship in which he is first entered
without leave of his commander, and let no captain give him
entertainment after he is listed, upon pain of severity of the law in
that case.
13. If any fire should happen in your ship, notwithstanding your care
(which God forbid!), then you shall shoot off two pieces of ordnance,
one presently after the other, and if it be in the night you shall
hang out four lanterns with lights upon the yards, that the next ships
to you may speed to succour you.
14. If the ship should happen to spend a mast, or spring a leak, which
by increasing upon you may grow to present danger, then you shall
shoot off two pieces of ordnance, the one a good while after the
other, and hang out two lights on the main shrouds, the one a man's
height over the other, so as they may be discernible.
15. If the ship should happen to ran on ground upon any danger (which
God forbid!) then you shall shoot off four pieces of ordnance
distinctly, one after the other; if in the night, hang out as many
lights as you can, to the end the fleet may take notice thereof.
16. You shall favour your topmasts and the head of your mainmast by
bearing indifferent sail, especially in foul weather and in a head sea
and when your ship goeth by the wind; lest, by the loss of a mast upon
a needless adventure, the service is deprived of your help when there
is greatest cause to use it.
17. The whole fleet is to be divided into three squadrons: the
admiral's squadron to wear red flags and red pennants on the main
topmast-head; the vice-admiral's squadron to wear blue flags and blue
pennants on the fore topmast-heads; the rear-admiral's squadron to
wear white flags and white pennants on the mizen topmast-heads.[2]
18. The admirals and officers are to speak with me twice a day,
morning and evening, to receive my directions and commands, which the
rest of the ships are duly to perform. If I be ahead I will stay for
them, if to leeward I will bear up to them. If foul weather should
happen, you are not to come too near me or any other ship to hazard
any danger at all. And when I have hailed you, you are to fall
astern, that the rest of the ships in like manner may come up to
receive my commands.
19. You shall make in every ship two captains of the watch, or more
(if need be), who shall make choice of soldiers or seamen to them to
search every watch in the night between the decks, that no fire or
candle be carried about the ship after the watch is set, nor that no
candle be burning in any cabin without a lantern, nor that neither but
whilst they are making themselves ready, and to see the fire put out
in the cook's room, for there is no danger so inevitable as the ship's
firing.
20. You shall cause the landmen to learn the names and places of the
ropes that they may assist the sailors in their labours upon the
decks, though they cannot go up to the tops and yards.
21. You shall train and instruct such sailors and mariners as shall be
found fit to the use of the musket, as you do your landmen, and
register their names in a list by themselves, making no difference for
matter of discipline between the sailors and soldiers aboard you.
22. You shall not give chase nor send aboard any ship but by order
from me, or my vice-admiral or rear-admiral; and if you come near any
ship in your course belonging to any prince or state you shall only
make stay of her, and bring her to me or the next officer, without
taking anything from them or their companies by force, but shall
charge all your company from pillaging between decks or breaking up
any hold, or embezzling any goods so seized and taken, upon pain of
severity of the law in that case.
23. You shall fall astern of me and the admirals of your several
squadrons unto the places assigned unto you, and follow their lights
as aforesaid, receiving such instructions from me or them in the
morning what course to hold. And if you shall at any time be separated
from the fleet by foul weather, chase or otherwise, you shall shape
your course for the southward cape upon the coast of Spain in the
latitude of 37, one of the places of rendezvous; if you miss me there,
then sail directly for the Bay of Cales or St. Lucar, which is the
other place assigned for rendezvous.
24. You must have a special care in times of calms and foggy weather
to give such a berth one unto the other as to keep your ships clear,
and not come foul one of another. Especially in fogs and mists you
shall sound with drum or trumpet, or make a noise with your men, or
shoot off muskets, to give warning to other ships to avoid the danger
of boarding or coming foul one of another.
25. If you or any other two or three of the fleet discover any sail at
sea to the windward or leeward of the admiral, which the admiral
cannot discern, if she be a great ship you shall signify the same by
striking or hoisting of your main topsail so often as you conceive the
ship to be hundred tons of burthen; and if you discover a small ship
you shall give the like signs by striking your fore topsail; but if
you discover many ships you shall strike your main topsail often and
put out your ensign in the maintop; and if such ship or fleet go large
before the wind, you shall after your sign given do the like, till you
perceive that the admiral and the rest of the squadrons have seen your
sign and your so standing; and if you went large at the time of
discovery of such ship or fleet, you shall for a little time hale aft
your sheets and then go large again, that the rest of the fleet and
squadrons may know that you go large to show that the ship or fleet
discovered keeps that course.
26. If the ship or fleet discovered have their tacks aboard and stand
upon a wind, then if you had your tack aboard at the time of the
discovery you shall bear up for a little time, and after hale aft your
sheets again to show us what course the ship or fleet holdeth.
27. If you discover any ship or fleet by night, and they be [to]
windward of you, the general or admirals, you shall presently bear up
to give us knowledge if you can speak with her; if not, you may keep
your luff and shoot off a piece of ordnance by which we shall know you
give chase, to the end that the rest may follow accordingly.
28. For a general rule let no man presume to shoot off any pieces of
ordnance but in discovery of ships or fleet by night, or being in
danger of the enemy, or of fire, or of sinking, that it may be unto us
a most certain intelligence of some matter of importance.
29. If any man shall steal any victuals by breaking into the hold or
otherwise, he shall receive the punishment of a thief and murderer of
his fellows.
30. No man shall keep any feasting or drinking between meals, or drink
any health upon the ship's provisions; neither shall the steward
deliver any candle to any private man or for any private use.
31. In foul weather every man shall set his sail to keep company with
the rest of the fleet, and not run too far ahead by day but that he
may fall astern the admiral before night.
32. In case the fleet or any part of us should be set upon, the
sea-captain shall appoint sufficient company to assist the gunners,
after which (if the fight require it) the cabins between the decks
shall be taken down, [and] all beds and sacks employed for
bulwarks. The musketeers of every ship shall be divided under captains
or other officers, some for the forecastle, some for the waist, and
others for the poop, where they shall abide if they be not otherwise
directed.
33. An officer or two shall be appointed to take care that no loose
powder be carried between [the decks] nor near any linstock or match
in hand. You shall saw divers hogsheads in two parts, and, filling
them with water, set them aloft the decks. You shall divide your
carpenters, some in hold, if any shot come between wind and water, and
the rest between the decks, with plates of lead, plugs and all things
necessary laid by them. You shall also lay by your tubs of water
certain wet blankets, to cast upon and cloak any fire.
34. The master and boatswain shall appoint a convenient number of
sailors to every sail, and to every such company a master's mate or a
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.
35. No man shall board any enemy's ship, especially such as command
the king's ships, without special order from me. The loss of one of
our ships will be an encouragement to the enemy, and by that means our
fleet may be engaged, it being a great dishonour to lose the least of
our fleet. If we be under the lee of an enemy, every squadron and ship
shall labour to recover the wind (if the admiral endeavour it). But if
we find an enemy to leeward of us the whole fleet shall follow in
their several places, the admirals with the head of the enemy, the
vice-admirals with the body, and the rear-admirals with the sternmost
ships of the chase, (or other leading ships which shall be appointed)
within musket-shot of the enemy, giving so much liberty to the leading
ship as after her broadside[3] delivered she may stay and trim her
sails; then is the second ship to give her side, and the third and
fourth, with the rest of that division; which done they shall all tack
as the first ship and give their other sides, keeping the enemy under
perpetual volley. 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 or drive them foul one of
another to their utter confusion.
36. Your musketeers, divided into quarters of the ship, shall not
discharge their shot but at such a distance as their commanders shall
direct them.
37. If the admiral or admirals give chase, and be the 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
[4] chasing ship have[5] a boat at her stern) shall take it.
38. Whosoever shall show himself a coward upon any landing or
otherwise, he shall be disarmed and made a labourer or carrier of
victuals for the army.
39. No man shall land anywhere in any foreign parts without order from
me, or by the sergeant-major or other officer upon pain of death.
40. Wheresoever we shall land no man shall force any woman upon pain
of death.
41. You shall avoid sleeping upon the ground and the drinking of new
wines, and eating new fruits, and fresh fish until it has been salted
three hours, and also forbear sleeping upon the deck in the night
time, for fear of the serene[6] that falls, all which will breed
dangerous fluxes and diseases.
42. When the admiral shall hang out the arms of England in the mizen
shrouds, then shall the council of war come aboard; and when that
shall be taken in and the St. George hung in the main shrouds, that is
for a general council.[7]
For any orders upon the land (if God send us thither) we shall
establish them. For matter of sailing or discipline at sea if there be
cause you shall receive other directions, to which I refer you.
Likewise it is ordered between the seamen and the landmen that after
the captain of the ship is cabined, he shall if possible lodge the
captain of the foot in the same cabin, after the master of the ship is
cabined the lieutenant, and after the master's mates the ensign.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] MS. 'if any suspected persons be in that office,' &c.
[2] This is the first known occasion of red, blue and white flags being
used to distinguish squadrons, though the idea was apparently suggested
in Elizabeth's time. See _Navy Records Society, Miscellany_, i. p. 30.
[3] MS. has 'to the leading ships as after their broadside,' &c.
[4] MS. 'a'
[5] MS. 'with.'
[6] Spanish _'sereno,'_ the cold evening air.
[7] The 'council of war' was composed of the flag officers and the
colonels of regiments. Sir Thos. Love was also a member of it, but
probably as treasurer of the expedition and not as flag captain. The
'general council' included besides all captains of ships and the
masters.
_LORD WIMBLEDON_, 1625, _No._ 2, _October_ 11.
[+State Papers Domestic, Charles I, xi.+]
_Instructions when we come to fight with an enemy, sent by the
Lieutenant-General unto the Earl of Essex_.
1. That you shall see the admiral make way to the admiral enemy, so
likewise the vice-admiral and the rear-admiral, and then every ship
[is] to set upon the next according to his order, yet to have such a
care that those that come after may be ready to second one another
after the manner here following.
2. If we happen to be encountered by an enemy at sea, you shall then
appoint a sufficient company to assist the gunners. You shall pull
down all the cabins betwixt the decks and use the beds and sacks for
bulwarks, and shall appoint your muskets to several officers, some to
make good the forecastle, some the waist, and others abaft the mast,
from whence they shall not stir till they be otherwise directed,
neither shall they or the gunners shoot a shot till they be commanded
by the captain.
3. You shall appoint a certain number of mariners to stand by sails
and maintops, that every of them knowing his place and duty there be
no confusion or disorder in the command; and shall divide carpenters
some in hold, some betwixt the decks, with plates of lead, plugs and
other things necessary for stopping up breaches made with great shot;
and saw divers hogsheads in halves and set them upon the deck full of
water, with wet blankets by them to cloak and quench any fire that
shall happen in the fight.
4. No man shall board any enemy's ships without special order, but
every ship if we be to leeward shall labour to recover the wind. If we
be to windward of them, then shall the whole fleet, or so many of them
as shall be appointed, follow the leading ship within musket-shot of
the enemy, and give them first the chase pieces, then the broadside,
afterwards a volley of small shot; and when the headmost ship hath
done, the next ship shall observe the same course, and so every ship
in order, that the headmost may be ready to renew the fight against
such time as the sternmost hath made an end; by that means keeping the
weather of the enemy and in continual fight till they be sunk in the
sea, or forced by bearing up to entangle themselves, and to come
[foul] one of another to their utter confusion.
_LORD WIMBLEDON_, 1625, _No._ 3.
[+The Earl of St. Germans's MS. Extract+.[1]]
_At a Council of War holden aboard the Anne Royal, Tuesday, the 11th
of October_, 1625.
The council, being assembled, entered into consultation touching the
form of a sea-fight performed against any fleet or ships of the King
of Spain or other enemy, and touching some directions to be observed
for better preparation to be made for such a fight and the better
managing thereof when we should come to action.
The particulars for this purpose considerable were many; insomuch that
no pertinent consultation could well be had concerning the same
without some principles in writing, whereby to direct and bound the
discourse. And therefore, by the special command of my lord
lieutenant-general, a form of articles for this service (drawn
originally by Sir Thomas Love, Kt., treasurer for this action, captain
of the Anne Royal and one of the council of war) was presented to the
assembly, and several times read over to them.
After the reading, all the parts thereof were well weighed and
examined, whereby it was observed that it intended to enjoin our fleet
to advance and fight at sea, much after the manner of an army at land,
assigning every ship to a particular division, rank, file, and
station; which order and regularity was not only improbable but almost
impossible to be observed by so great a fleet in so uncertain a place
as the sea. Hereupon some little doubt arose whether or no this form
of articles should be confirmed; but then it was alleged that the same
articles had in them many other points of direction, preparation, and
caution for a sea-fight, which were agreed by all men to be most
reasonable and necessary. And if so strict a form of proceeding to
fight were not or could not be punctually observed, yet might these
articles beget in our commanders and officers a right understanding of
the conception and intent thereof; which with an endeavour to come as
near as could be to perform, the particulars might be of great use to
keep us from confusion in the general. Neither could the limiting of
every several ship to such a rank or file [and] to such certain place
in the same, bring upon the fleet intricacy and difficulty of
proceeding, so [long] as (if the proper ships were absent or not
ready) those in the next place were left at liberty, or rather
commanded, to supply their rooms and maintain the instructions, if not
absolutely, yet as near as they could. In conclusion therefore the
form of articles which was so presented, read, and considered of, was
with some few alterations and additions ratified by my lord
lieutenant-general and by the whole council as act of theirs passed
and confirmed, and to be duly observed and put in execution by all
captains, mariners, gunners, and officers in every ship, and all
others, to whom it might appertain, at their perils, leaving only to
my lord lieutenant the naming and ranking of the ships of every
division in order as they should proceed for the execution of the same
articles; which in conclusion were these, touching the whole fleet in
general and the admiral's squadron in particular, namely:--
1. That when the fleet or ships of the enemy should be discovered the
admiral of our fleet with the ships of his squadron should put
themselves into the form undermentioned and described, namely, that
the same squadron should be separated into three divisions of nine
ships in a division, and so should advance, set forward, and charge
upon the enemy as hereafter more particularly is directed.
That these nine ships should discharge and fall off three and three,
as they are filed in this list.
Anne Royal Admiral
Prudence Captain Vaughan
Royal Defence Captain Ellis.
Barbara Constance Captain Hatch
Talbot Captain Burdon
Abraham Captain Downes.
Golden Cock Captain Beaumont
Amity Captain Malyn
Anthony Captain Blague.
That these nine ships should second the admiral of this squadron three
and three, as they are filed in this list.
St. George Vice-admiral
Lesser Sapphire Captain Bond
Sea Venture Captain Knevet.
Assurance Captain Osborne
Camelion Captain Seymour
Return Captain Bonithon.
Jonathan Captain Butler[2]
William Captain White
Hopewell Captain ----
That these nine ships should second the vice-admiral of this squadron
three and three, as they are filed in this list.
Convertine Rear-admiral
Globe Captain Stokes
Assurance of Dover Captain Bargey.
Great Sapphire Captain Raymond
Anne Captain Wollaston
Jacob Captain Gosse.
George Captain Stevens
Hermit Captain Turner
Mary Magdalen Captain Cooper.
These three ships should fall into the rear of the three former
divisions, to charge where and when there should be occasion, or to
help the engaged, or supply the place of any that should be
unserviceable.
Hellen Captain Mason
Amity of Hull Captain Frisby
Anne Speedwell Captain Polkenhorne.
2. That the admiral of the Dutch and his squadron should take place on
the starboard side of our admiral, and observe their own order and
method in fighting.
3. That the vice-admiral of our fleet and his squadron should make the
like division, and observe the same order and form as the admiral's
squadron was to observe, and so should keep themselves in their
several divisions on the larboard side of the admiral, and there
advance and charge if occasion were when the admiral did.
4. That the rear-admiral of the fleet and his squadron should also put
themselves into the like order of the admiral's squadron as near as it
might be, and in that form should attend for a reserve or supply. And
if any squadron, ship or ships of ours should happen to be engaged by
over-charge of the enemies, loss of masts or yards, or other main
distress needing special succour, that then the rear-admiral with all
his force, or one of his divisions proportionable to the occasion,
should come to their rescue; which being accomplished they should
return to their first order and place assigned.
5. That the distance between ship and ship in every squadron should be
such as none might hinder one another in advancing or falling off.
6. That the distance between squadron and squadron should be more or
less as the order of the enemy's fleet or ships should require,
whereof the captains and commanders of our fleet were to be very
considerate.
7. That if the enemy's approach happened to be in such sort as the
admiral of the Dutch and his squadron, or the vice-admiral of our
fleet [and] his squadron, might have opportunity to begin the fight,
it should be lawful for them to do so until the admiral could come up,
using the form, method, and care prescribed.
8. That if the enemy should be forced to bear up, or to be entangled
among themselves, whereby an advantage might be had, then our
rear-admiral and his squadron with all his divisions should lay hold
thereof and prosecute it to effect.
9. That the rear-admiral's squadron should keep most strict and
special watch to see what squadrons or ships distressed of our fleet
should need extraordinary relief, and what advantage might be had upon
the enemy, that a speedy and present course might be taken to perform
the service enjoined.
10. That if any ship or ships of the enemy should break out or fly,
the admiral of any squadron which should happen to be in the next and
most convenient place for that purpose should send out a competent
number of the fittest ships of his squadron to chase, assault, or take
such ship or ships so breaking out; but no ship should undertake such
a chase without the command of the admiral, or at leastwise the
admiral of his squadron.
11. That no man should shoot any small or great shot at the enemy till
he came at the distance of caliver or pistol shot, whereby no shot
might be made fruitless or in vain; whereof the captains and officers
in every ship should have an especial care.
12. That no man should presume or attempt to board any ship of the
enemy without special order and direction from the admiral, or at
leastwise the admiral of his squadron.
13. That if any of our fleet happened to be [to] leeward of the enemy,
every of our ships should labour and endeavour what they might to take
all opportunity to get to windward of them, and to hold that advantage
having once obtained it.
14. That the captains and officers of every ship should have an
especial care as much as in them lay to keep the enemies in continual
fight without any respite or intermission to be offered them; which,
with the advantage of the wind if it might be had, was thought the
likeliest way to enforce them to bear up and entangle themselves, or
fall foul one of another in disorder and confusion.
15. That an especial care should be had in every ship that the gunners
should load some of their pieces with case shot, handspikes, nails,
bars of iron, or with what else might do most mischief to the enemy's
men, upon every fit opportunity, and to come near and lay the ordnance
well to pass for that purpose, which would be apt to do great spoil to
the enemy.
16. That the cabins in every ship should be broken down so far as was
requisite to clear the way of the ordnance.
17. That all beds and sacks in every ship should be disposed and used
as bulwarks for defence against the shot of the enemy.
18. That there should be ten, eight, six, or four men to attend every
piece of ordnance as the master gunner should choose out and assign
them to their several places of service, that every one of them might
know what belonged properly to him to do. And that this choice and
assignation should be made with speed so as we might not be taken
unprovided.
19. That there should be one, two, or three men of good understanding
and diligence, according to the burden of every ship, forthwith
appointed to fill cartouches[3] of powder, and to carry them in cases
or barrels covered to their places assigned.
20. That the hold in every ship should be rummaged and made predy,[4]
especially by the ship's sides, and a carpenter with some man of trust
appointed to go fore and after in hold to seek for shot that may come
in under water; and that there should be provided in readiness plugs,
pieces of sheet lead, and pieces of elm board to stop all leaks that
might be found within board or without.
21. That in every ship where any soldiers were aboard the men should
be divided into two or three parts, whereof only one part should fight
at once and the rest should be in hold, to be drawn up upon occasion
to relieve and rescue the former.
22. That the men in every ship should be kept as close as reasonably
might be till the enemy's first volley of small shot should be past.
23. That the mariners in every ship should be divided and separated
into three or four parts or divisions, so as every one might know the
place where he was to perform his duty for the avoiding of confusion.
24. That the master or boatswain of every ship, by command of the
captain, should appoint a sufficient and select number of seamen to
stand by and attend the sails.
25. That more especially they should by like command appoint
sufficient helmsmen to steer the ship.
26. That the sailors and helmsmen should in no sort presume to depart
or stir from their charge.
27. That the mainyard, foreyard, and topsail sheets in every ship
should be slung, and the topsail yards if the wind were not too high;
hereby to avoid the shooting down of sails.
28. That there should be butts or hogsheads sawn into two parts filled
with salt water, set upon the upper and lower decks in several places
convenient in every ship, with buckets, gowns, and blankets to quench
and put out wild-fire or other fire if need be.
29. That if a fight began by day and continued till night, every ship
should be careful to observe the admiral of her squadron; that if the
admiral fell off and forbore the fight for the present every other
ship might do the like, repairing under her own squadron to amend
anything amiss, and be ready to charge again when the admiral should
begin.
30. That if any of the ships belonging to any squadron or division
happened to be absent or not ready in convenient time and place to
keep and make good the order herein prescribed, then every squadron
and division should maintain these directions as near as they could,
although the number of ships in every division were the less, without
attending the coming in of all the ships of every division.
31. And that these ten ships, in regard of the munition and materials
for the army and the horses which were carried in them, should attend
the rear-admiral and not engage themselves without order, but should
remain and expect such directions as might come from our admiral or
rear-admiral.
Peter Bonaventure Captain Johnson
Sarah Bonaventure Captain Carew
Christian Captain Wharey
Susan and Ellen Captain Levett
William of London Captain Amadas
Hope Sir Thomas Pigott, Knt.
Chestnut
Fortune
Fox
Truelove
There was no difference between the articles for the admiral's
squadron and those for the vice-admiral's and rear-admiral's, save in
the names of the ships of every division, and that their squadrons had
not any particular reserve, nor above five or six ships apiece in the
third division, for want of ships to make up the number of nine; the
munition and horse ships which belonged to their squadrons being unapt
to fight, and therefore disposed into a special division of ten ships
by themselves to attend the general reserve.
* * * * *
At the rising of the council a motion was made to have some of the
best sailers of our fleet chosen out and assigned to lie off from the
main body of the fleet, some to sea and some to shoreward, the better
to discover, chase, and take some ships or boats of the enemy's; which
might give us intelligence touching the Plate Fleet, whether it were
come home or no, or when it would be expected and in what place, and
touching such other matters whereof we might make our best advantage.
But nothing herein was now resolved, it being conceived, as it seemed,
that we might soon enough and more opportunely consider of this
proposition and settle an order therein when we came nearer to the
enemy's coasts; so the council was dissolved.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] _A Relation Touching the Fleet and Army of the King's most excellent
majesty King Charles, set forth in the first year of his highness's
reign, and touching the order, proceedings, and actions of the same
fleet and army_, by Sir John Glanville, the younger, serjeant-at-law,
and secretary to the council of war. [Printed for the Camden Society,
1883, N.S. vol. xxxii.]
[2] Elsewhere in the MS. spelt 'Boteler.' Probably Nathaniel Boteler,
author of the _Dialogues about Sea Services_.
[3] MS. 'carthouses.'
[4] MS. 'pridie'=Boteler's 'predy.' 'To make the ship predy,' he says,
is to clear for action. 'And likewise to make the hold predy is to
bestow everything handsomely there and to remove anything that may be
troublesome.'--_Dialogues_, 283.
THE SHIP-MONEY FLEETS,
_circa_ 1635
INTRODUCTORY
That Cecil's unconfirmed orders produced some impression beyond the
circle of the military flag-officers is clear. Captain Nathaniel
Boteler, in the work already cited,[1] quotes the system they
enjoined as the one he would himself adopt if he were to command a
large fleet in action. In his sixth dialogue on the 'Ordering of
Fleets,' after recommending the division of all fleets of eighty sail
and upwards into five squadrons, an organisation that was subsequently
adopted by the Dutch, he proceeds to explain his system of signals,
and the advantages of scout vessels being attached to every squadron,
especially, he says, the 'van and wings,' which looks as though the
ideas of De Chaves were still alive. Boteler's work is cast in the
form of a conversation between a landsman admiral and an experienced
sea captain, who is supposed to be instructing him. In reply to the
admiral's query about battle formations, the captain says that
'neither the whole present age [_i.e._ century] with the half of
the last have afforded any one thorough example of this kind.' In the
few actions between sailing fleets that had taken place in the
previous seventy-five years he says 'we find little or nothing as
touching the form of these fights.' Being pressed for his own ideas on
the subject, he consents to give them as follows: 'I say, then, that
wheresoever a fleet is either to give or take a battle with another
every way equal with it, every squadron of such fleet, whether they be
three in number as generally they are, or five (as we prescribed in
the beginning of the dialogue) shall do well to order and subdivide
itself into three equal divisions, with a reserve of certain ships out
of every squadron to bring up their rears, the which may amount in
number to the third part of every one of those divisions. And every
one of these (observing a due berth and distance) are in the fight to
second one another, and (the better to avoid confusion, and the
falling foul one upon another) to charge, discharge and fall off by
threes or fives, more or less, as the fleet in gross is greater or
smaller; the ships of reserve being to be instructed either to succour
and relieve any that shall be anyway engaged and in danger, or to
supply and put themselves in the place of those that shall be made
unserviceable; and this order and course to be constantly kept and
observed during the whole time of the battle.
Asked if there are no other forms he says: 'Some forms besides, and
different from this (I know well), have been found prescribed and
practised; as for a fleet which consisteth but of a few ships and
being in fight in an open sea, that it should be brought up to the
battle in one only front, with the chief admiral in the midst of them,
and on each side of him the strongest and best provided ships of the
fleet, who, keeping themselves in as convenient a distance as they
shall be able, are to have a eye and regard in the fight to all the
weaker and worser ships of the party, and to relieve and succour them
upon all occasions, and withal being near the admiral may both guard
him and aptly receive his instructions. And for a numerous fleet they
propound that it should be ordered also (when there is sea-room
sufficient) into one only front, but that the ablest and most warlike
ships should be so stationed as that the agility of the smaller ships
and the strength of the other may be communicated[2] to a mutual
relief, and for the better serving in all occasions either of chase or
charge; to which end they order that all the files of the front that
are to the windwards should be made up of the strongest and best
ships, that so they may the surer and speedier relieve all such of the
weaker ships, being to leewards of them, as shall be endangered or
anyway oppressed by any of the enemy.' All this is a clear echo of De
Chaves and the system which still obtained in all continental
navies. For a large fleet at least Boteler evidently disapproved all
tactics based on the line abreast, and preferred a system of small
groups attacking in line ahead, on Cecil's proposed system. Asked
about the campaign of 1588, he has nothing to tell of any English
formation. Of the crescent order of the Armada he says--and modern
research has fully confirmed his statement--that it was not a battle
order at all, but only a defensive sailing formation 'to keep
themselves together and in company until they might get up to be
athwart Gravelines, which was the rendezvous for their meeting with
the Prince of Parma; and in this regard this their order was
commendable.'
How far these ideas really represented current naval opinion we cannot
precisely tell, but we know that Boteler was an officer held in high
enough esteem to receive the command of the landing flotilla at Cadiz,
and to be described as 'an able and experienced sea captain.' But
whatever tendency there may have been to tactical progress under
Buckingham's inspiring personality, it must have been smothered by the
lamentable conduct of his war. Later on in the reign, in the period of
the 'Ship-money' fleets, when Charles was endeavouring to establish a
real standing navy on modern lines, we find in the Earl of Lindsey's
orders of 1635, which Monson selected for publication in his
_Tracts_, no sign of anything but tactical stagnation. The early
Tudor tradition seems to have completely re-established itself, and
Monson, who represents that tradition better than anyone, though he
approved the threefold subdivision of squadrons, thought all battle
formations for sailing ships a mistake. Writing not long after
Boteler, he says: 'Ships which must be carried by wind and sails, and
the sea affording no firm or steadfast footing, cannot be commanded to
take their ranks like soldiers in a battle by land. The weather at sea
is never certain, the winds variable, ships unequal in sailing; and
when they strictly keep their order, commonly they fall foul one of
another, and in such cases they are more careful to observe their
directions than to offend the enemy, whereby they will be brought into
disorder amongst themselves.'
Of Lindsey's orders only Article 18 is given here out of the
thirty-four which Monson prints in full. It is the only one relating
to tactics. The rest, which follow the old pattern, are the usual
medley of articles of war, sailing instructions, and general
directions for the conduct of the fleet at sea. We cannot therefore
safely assume that Article 18 fairly represents the tactical thought
of the time. It may be that Lindsey's orders were merely in the nature
of 'General Instructions,' to be supplemented by more particular
'Fighting Instructions,' as was the practice later.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] _Ante_, p. 27.
[2] The obsolete meaning of 'communicate' is to 'share' or
'participate,' to 'enjoy in common.'
_THE EARL OF LINDSEY_, 1635.
_Such instructions as were given in the Voyage in 1635 by the Right
Honourable Robert, Earl of Lindsey_.[1]
[+Monson's Naval Tracts, Book III. Extract+.]
Art. 18. If we happen to descry any fleet at sea which we may probably
know or conjecture designs to oppose, encounter or affront us, I will
first strive to get the wind (if I be to leeward), and so shall the
whole fleet in due order do the like. And when we shall join battle no
ship shall presume to assault the admiral, vice-admiral or
rear-admiral, but only myself, my vice-admiral or rear-admiral, if we
be able to reach them; and the other ships are to match themselves
accordingly as they can, and to secure one another as cause shall
require, not wasting their powder at small vessels or victuallers, nor
firing till they come side to side.
FOOTNOTE:
[1] This was a fleet of forty sail, designed, under colour of securing
the sovereignty of the Seas and protecting commerce against pirates, to
assist Spain as far as possible against the French and Dutch. It never
fought.