_Flag Signals_
(i) EARLY SIGNALS
The few scattered references to signals found in early Greek literature
are so vague in their terms that they leave us in doubt whether the
ancient Greeks or their predecessors on the waters of the Eastern
Mediterranean made any use of flags for signalling purposes. It
seems probable that the earliest signals were given by raising the
naval standard which, as we have seen, found a place at the stern of
the Phoenician ships of war at least as early as 400 B.C., and that
the Greeks adopted this method from the Phoenicians, substituting a
cruciform standard for the Phoenician Crescent and Globe.
When Thucydides tells us that the "semeion" was raised in the Greek
fleet we may, in default of some better explanation, assume that the
officer in command seized the cruciform standard and elevated it at
arms' length. Such a signal might be rendered more conspicuous by
throwing a military cloak of bright colour over the arms of the cross
before raising it and, as already remarked, it seems highly probable
that the sign known as Phoinikis (φοινικὶς [Greek: phoinikis])
originated in this manner.
The earliest recorded instance of a signal at sea is probably
that mentioned by Herodotus[338] as having been made by Xerxes in
the year 480 B.C., when on quitting Therma in his expedition to
Greece he embarked in a Sidonian ship and "gave the signal (σημήιον
[Greek: sêmêion]) to the rest of the fleet to get under way." A more
characteristic--or more frequently mentioned--use of the "semeion" was
as a signal to commence action. The fleet fitted out by the Corinthians
against the Corcyreans in the year 433 B.C. met with a joint fleet of
Corcyrean and Athenian ships. Both the opposing fleets drew up in rank
and the "semeia" were then raised on both sides (τὰ σημεῖα ἑκατέροις
ἤρθη [Greek: ta sêmeia hekaterois êrthê]) as a signal for beginning
action[339].
Thucydides mentions two other instances[340] in which a fleet awaited
the signal before commencing to fight, but the only strictly tactical
signal which he has recorded was one made to the Peloponnesian fleet
in 429 B.C. The Peloponnesians had enticed the Athenian fleet into a
disadvantageous position by a feigned attack upon Naupactus. At a
given signal (ἀπὸ σημείον [Greek: apo sêmeion]) the Peloponnesians
suddenly turned their ships round and attacked the Athenians[341].
Towards the end of the Peloponnesian War (if we may suppose that
Polyaenus, writing in the second century A.D., was not guilty of
anachronism) the purple cloak signal (φοινικὶς [Greek: phoinikis])
comes into evidence. Conon, the Athenian commander, was in the year 406
B.C. off Mitylene, flying before Callicratidas the Spartan, who had
twice as many ships. Observing that the Lacedaemonian ships had, in the
ardour of pursuit, broken their ranks, Conon raised the "Phoinikis,"
which was the signal he had pre-arranged with the commanders of his
ships, and, turning together, the Athenian ships bore down on their
pursuers, then in disorder[342].
The Rhodians, in the second century B.C., made signals in the early
manner by raising the "signum" or military ensign. Livy relates that
Eudamus, when hard pressed in his action against the Syrian fleet under
Hannibal (191 B.C.) made use of such a signal to call his unengaged
ships to the rescue[343].
The earliest code of naval signals is that drawn up in the ninth
century A.D. by the Emperor Leo VI in his treatise on Tactics[344]. Leo
in the Introduction to his nineteenth chapter explains that he has been
unable to find anything on this subject among ancient Greek writers
except a few scattered references and that his knowledge is mainly
derived from the experience of his Generals.
In this nineteenth chapter, which deals with Naval Warfare (Περὶ
ναυμαχίας [Greek: Peri naumachias]) he says:
39. Let there be some standard (σημεῖον [Greek: sêmeion]) in your
ship, either a banner (βάνδον [Greek: bandon]) or a streamer
(φλάμουλον [Greek: phlamoulon]) or something else in some
conspicuous position, to the end that you may be able, thereby,
to make known what requires to be done, and that the rest may set
themselves to carry out the course of action decided on, whether it
be to fight or to withdraw from fighting; to open out to surround
the enemy, or to concentrate to the relief of an endangered portion
of the fleet; to slow the rowing or increase speed; to make an
ambush, or, emerging from ambush to attack the enemy; or, in
general, whatever the signal that has its origin in your ship, that
the others, by keeping an eye on her, may be able to execute it.
40. For in such an emergency you will not be able to make use
either of the voice or of the trumpet to communicate what is
necessary, because of the uproar and the tumult, and the sound of
the sea, and the crash of ship against ship, the noise of the oars,
and above all the clamour of the combatants.
41. Further, let the signal be given by setting the standard
upright or by inclining it to the right or to the left, or by
moving it twice to the right or left, or by shaking it, or lifting
it up, or lowering it or altogether withdrawing it or altering its
position, or by varying the appearance of the head by means of
devices or colours as was the practice amongst the ancients; for
in time of war they gave the signal for battle by raising what was
called the Phoinikis (φοινικίδα [Greek: phoinikida]). There was
also what was called the "cap" (μαμελαύκιον [Greek: mamelaukion])
raised upon a pole, red in colour, and they had some other signals
which were made known in like manner. Perhaps however it would be
safer to make your signals by your own hand.
42. And thus, O General, let the exercise of these signals be
practised, so that all the officers in command of ships under you
may have certain knowledge of all such signs; of the reason why
each is made, and when, and how, and may not fail. So that, well
familiarised with the signals, they may readily understand them in
time of emergency and carry out the orders indicated.
In reading the above paragraphs one cannot fail to be impressed by the
profound grasp of the essential requirements of the subject exhibited
by the writer. Nothing like it appears again until modern times, and
the concluding words might well have been written by Kempenfelt and the
other reformers of the Signal System in the British navy at the end of
the eighteenth century.
After Leo we meet with nothing further on this subject until the
middle of the fourteenth century, and from what we then find it is
clear that the art had not only made no progress in the interval, but
on the contrary had decidedly deteriorated. Two sets of instructions
preserved in the _Black Book of the Admiralty_, to which Sir Travers
Twiss assigns a date between 1337 and 1351[345], contain each one flag
signal; one for calling a council, the other for notifying the presence
of the enemy:
_A xviii._ Item est assavoir que a
quel temps convenable il plest a
ladmiral dassembler les capitaynes
et les maistres de la flotte conseiller
avecques eulx il prendra hault en
mylieu du mast de sa nef une banniere
de conseil parainsi que en
toutes parties de la flotte, soit en
ports ou dehors sur la mer, ce pourra
estre congnu et apperceu &c et
doncques tantost les capitaynes et
maistres de nefs sont tenuz dassembler
sans delay avec leurs bateaux
bien eskippez de mariners
pour nager et aler en la nef de ladmiral
pour illecques oyr et faire ce
que le conseil de ladmiral aura ordonne.
_B vi._ Item en cas que aucune nef
ou outre vessel de la flotte apperceyue
aucun vessel ennemy sur la
mer doncques il mettra une banere
en hault par laquelle la nef de ladmiral
et autres nefz de la flotte pourront
avoir congnoissance qu'il a veu
ung vessel ennemy ou plusieurs et
ainsi apres ordonner le mieulx quilz
sauront pour lencontrer, &c.
xviii. Also it is to be noted that
at whatever convenient time it
pleases the admiral to call together
the captains and masters of the fleet
to take counsel with them he will
carry high in the middle of the mast
of his ship a banner of council so
that in all parts of the fleet, whether
in ports or out at sea, this may be
recognised and perceived etc., and
then immediately the captains and
masters of ships are bound to assemble
without delay with their
boats well manned with seamen to
row and go on board the ship of the
admiral there to hear and do what
the council of the admiral shall have
ordained.
Item in case any ship or other
vessel of the fleet perceive any
enemy vessel upon the sea then he
shall put a banner aloft by which
the ship of the admiral and other
ships of the fleet may have knowledge
that he has seen one or more
enemy vessels and thus afterwards
give the best orders they know of to
encounter it.
The very primitive tactics in use at this period in northern waters
called for none but the most primitive signals. When at sea, the fleet
gathered each evening round the admiral to take his orders for the next
day, and if by any chance he wished to consult the captains or had
orders to communicate before that hour he took the banner, which was
normally planted on the aftercastle, and placed it halfway up the mast.
When the enemy was seen, the sighting ship displayed a banner in the
top, and thereupon all the ships met together to discuss what to do.
Nothing could be simpler; nothing, one would suppose, more inefficient
in time of emergency; certainly nothing could be farther from the
well-practised organisation inculcated by the Emperor Leo.
In the waters of the Mediterranean the tradition of a more scientific
method of warfare than simple _mêlée_ fighting had its natural
influence on the method of signalling. The orders issued by Amadeo
VI of Savoy in 1366 for the combined fleet of galleys provided by
Genoa, Venice and Marseilles and sailing under his command[346] show a
considerable advance upon those recorded in the _Black Book_. This may
be judged from the following excerpts which include all the articles
relating to flag signals.
Ce sunt les chouses ordonnees
pour larmee Monseigneur de Savoye
sur le gouvernement daler sur la
Mer.
10. Item quand le dit seigneur
voudra avoir conseil qui facet mettre
son estendart aut et que toutes les
gallees doivent venir vers le dit seigneur
et oui ce quil voudra ordonner
des autres gallees ce que le dit seigneur
voudra ordonner.
11. ... et que la ou ilz sont dessendu
a terre que chascun tirat celle
part soubz la banniere quil est.
22. Item se ensi est que monseigneur
vueille parler es gallees que
monseigneur doye lever une banniere
a ses armes a muy de la galee
et tantost chascune des gallees se
doit aprochier du dit seigneur sur
la penne dicte.
23. Item se ainsi est que monseigneur
vueille parler a lung ou a
deux ou au plus des gallees que
quant monseigneur fera lever une
bandiere a dues ou plus que le patron
du quel seront les armes de la
bannere ou dues bannieres que
monseigneur fera lever se doivent
tantost aprochier de la galee de
monseigneur pour oir ce que leur
voudra dire sur la penne dessus
dicte.
26. Item si ainsi fut que aucune
des dictes galee veist aucune nef ou
galee ou autre navile estrange que
tantost deust lever une bandiere e
baissier la bannere vers celle part ou
il verra le naviles estrange sur la
penne dicte et tienne tant la bandiere
que la galee monseigneur li ait
rendu enseigne et quil ait lever sa
bannere.
27. Item en cas avenoit que aucunes
des dites galees eist aucun cas
de necessite quil eust besoing dayde
que elle doye fere enseigne dune
banniere onmy de la galee et tantost
les autres galees doivent aprochier
celle par vers telle gallee pour ly
aydier sur la dicte penne.
28. Item que nulle des gallees ne
doivent esguarder lune contre lautre
devant que elles verront pointer une
banniere sur la galee monseigneur
de pope en proue et tantost chascune
des galees sur la penne dicte regardera
lune contre lautre.
29. Item se ainsi estoit que une
des galees fut esperdue des autres et
ensi fut quelle se retornast avec les
autres pour faire seigne de cognoissance
de jour celle qui sera dessoubz
vent ou celle doivent ou qui sera
lancre doivent lever lestandart de
son commun onmj lieu de sa galee
et l'autre galee li doit rendre l'enseigne
et lever lestandart de son
commun en la proue chascune doit
porter son estandart en lon lieu de
la poupe adonques se feront cognostre
qui sont amis et ce sur la
penne dessus dict.
These are the ordinances for the
armed force of My Lord of Savoy
concerning the regulation of going
upon the sea.
10. Item when the said Lord
wishes to take counsel let him order
his standard to be placed on high
and then let all the galleys come towards
the said Lord and hear what
he shall wish to command of the
other galleys what the said Lord
shall wish to command.
11. ... and there where they have
landed let each one go to that place
where is the banner under which he
serves.
22. Item, if it happens that my
Lord wishes to speak to the galleys
then my Lord shall raise a banner
of his arms amidships of the galley,
and immediately each one of the
galleys shall approach the said Lord
under the penalty named.
23. Item if it happens that my
Lord wishes to speak to one or to
two or to more of the galleys, then,
when my Lord shall cause to be
raised one banner or two or more;
the captains whose arms are those
of the banner or two banners that
my Lord shall cause to be raised
shall immediately approach the galley
of my Lord to hear what he
wishes to say to them, under the
penalty aforesaid.
26. Item if it has happened that
any one of the said galleys has seen
any strange ship or galley or other
vessel then immediately it shall
raise a banner and lower the banner
towards that part where it sees the
strange vessels, under the penalty
named, and hold the banner in that
position until the galley of my Lord
has returned the signal and has
raised its banner.
27. Item in case it shall happen
that any of the said galleys has any
occasion of necessity that it has need
of aid, then it shall make a signal
with a banner amidships of the galley
and immediately the other galleys
shall approach that place, towards
such galley to aid it, under
the penalty named.
28. Item none of the galleys shall
face one another before they shall
see a banner on my Lord's galley
pointed from the poop towards the
prow, and immediately each of the
galleys, under the penalty named,
shall face one another[347].
29. Item if it has happened that
one of the galleys has lost the others
and then returns to them to make a
recognition signal by day, that one
which shall be to leeward, either
that one or the one which is at anchor,
shall raise the standard of its
Commune amidships of the galley
and the other galley shall return the
signal and raise the standard of its
Commune in the prow. Each one
shall (then) carry its standard to its
place on the poop[348]. Then they will
know which are friends, and this
under the penalty aforesaid.
It will be seen that both these sets of instructions give prominence
to a signal for calling a Council and both, curiously enough, betray
the same confusion of thought. From the opening sentence it would be
supposed that the captains of the ships are assembled to advise the
Admiral in Council; from the closing sentence it would appear that they
are only called to hear the result of the council's deliberations. The
"etc." in the English Instructions and the repetition at the end of
Article 10 in the Savoy Instructions seem, however, to indicate that
the texts have not reached us in their original state. In the English
fleet the "Banner of Council" signal remained in use until the close
of the eighteenth century[349]. As a rule this signal was made with
the royal standard, though in 1369 a special gonfanon was provided and
in the reign of Henry V the "Trinity Royal" had a banner of council
containing the royal arms and the cross of St George[350]. When the
fleet was large, as in the Cadiz Expedition of 1596, the royal standard
was hoisted for the "selected" or inner council while the flag of St
George called the captain and the master of every ship to the flagship
for a general council.
But while in the English fleet the Banner of Council signal
underwent no development until the end of the sixteenth century, the
Mediterranean instructions of 1366 contain three signals of this
nature: one to call the council, another to call all the ships when
some order had to be communicated, and a third to call one or more
particular vessels. These, with the addition of one signal for calling
aid, one manoeuvring signal, and a recognition signal, to which were
added signals by sails and, at night, by lanterns, contain the germ of
a complete system of signalling.
It is not until the middle of the seventeenth century that we meet
with so advanced a system in the English navy. If an explanation of
this be sought it will be found in the fact that the rowing galley was
not suited to the waters of the English Channel and North Sea. If the
Mediterranean nations had, in the Middle Ages, a comparatively advanced
system of tactics and therefore--for the one inevitably follows the
other--a comparatively complete method of signalling, it was because
they had inherited the foundations of it with the galley from the
Romans and Greeks. The sailing-ship did not assert its superiority over
the older weapon until the early part of the sixteenth century, and it
was another century before the seamen who manned it could be persuaded
that the methods of tactics invented for the despised galley could be
of use when applied to vessels whose motive power was of another order.
It was the soldier-admirals, who were well acquainted with the value of
formal tactics on shore, who taught the English navy the lesson it was
so loath to learn.
The Instructions of 1366 just quoted may be taken as representative
of the fourteenth century. For the fifteenth century we have at least
two good examples; the orders for the Venetian navy drawn up by
Mocenigo[351] in the year 1420 and the orders for the navy of Castile
drawn up by Fadrique Henriquez[352] in 1430. It will be sufficient to
extract from the Venetian orders, which are the more interesting for
our immediate purpose, the various articles relating to flag signals.
Questi sono i ordeni et commandamenti
dati per il magnifico
M. Piero Mozenigo del mar Zeneral
Capitan--1420--
5. Quinto che andando à uela nulla
Galia ardisca passar el fogo à Misser
lo capetanio saluo quella Galia che
sarà de guarda, ma tuttauia debia
attendere à non spartirse da lui sotto
pena de lire diese à zaschedun che
contrefarà, massime quando se uorà
raggattar. Misser lo capetano farà
metter la bandiera al mezzo. In
quella uolta à chi piaserà ragattar
habbi libertà di poterlo fare non
si luntanando da lui mia dò al più,
sotto la detta pena.
13. Quando messer lo capitanio
uorà domandar da parte el farà
meter una bandiera in la popa, in
quella fiada tutte le Galie se debia
accostar à lui perche el possa saper
el sò parer.
14. Quando misser lo capitanio
uorà che alguna de so Galie uegna
da lui, el farà leuare in pope la bandiera
di qual sopracomito el uorà
che uegna da lui. In quella fiada
quel tal sopracomito di chi sarà la
bandiera uegni de presente à lui sotto
quella pena che à lui piaserà.
These are the ordinances and
commands given by the eminent
M^r Piero Mocenigo, Captain General
at Sea--1420--
5. Fifthly, when proceeding under
sail, no galley shall attempt to
pass the lantern of the Captain except
the galley which shall be on
guard, but should always take care
not to part company from him under
penalty of 10 lira for each one contravening,
especially when they are
racing. The Captain will place the
flag amidships. In that case anyone
wishing to race shall have liberty to
do so; not however outdistancing
him more than two miles at the
most, under the aforesaid penalty.
13. When the Captain desires to
call the ships to him he will put a
flag on the poop, in which case all
the galleys ought to approach him
in order to learn his intentions.
14. When the Captain desires any
particular galley to come to him, he
will raise on the poop the flag of
that commander whom he wishes to
come to him. In that case the commander
whose flag it is shall at once
repair to him under such penalty as
seems fit.
Signals for the galley on guard.
Primà sel uederà fusta over fusto
armado, debia leuar l' Insegna di
misier San Marco et puoi tor quela
uia tante fiade quanti sarà i nauilij
che l' hauerà descouerto, et se queli
sarano da uno in suso debia uegnir
du miser lo capitanio, et farli sauer
de queli fusti lui hauerà descouerto.
Se la sara coca zoe naue lieue la soa
bandiera dal ladi sinestro, se la sarà
barca leua un penon dal ladi destro;
fazando segni cum quela bandiera
in la qual uia queli nauiglij i sarà
descouerti et se miser lo capitanio
uorà che la Galia de guarda uada ad
algun de quali nauiglij i quali sarà
descouerti el farà leuar una bandiera
quara à pope al ladi destro à la
uia del nauilio, obseruando i ordini
infrascritti. Et se l' occorese che la
Galia de guarda andando ad algun
nauilio per l' ordene dato de sopra,
et se miser lo capitanio uolese che
quela tornase, non andase più auanti,
se miser lo capetanio andarà à remi
el farà fer uela de presente, et fara
calar, et uezudo questo segno la
Galia de guarda debia tornar subito
à lui.
Item comanda misier lo capetanio
che sel fose descouerto più fusti e
lui terminase andare a queli jn quela
fiada el farà leuar el sò stendardo
d'oro cum la so arma al fanò a pope,
et de presente tute le Galie se debia
redure appreso lui, é andare à se soe
poste, e faza dar arme in couerta, et
ordene le sue pauexade à proua segondo
uxantia, et lo resto de pauixi
sia per imbrazar et andar per couerta,
et per suso le pertegete sia meso
schiauine segondo usanza et à la
prima trombeta zascadun se debia
armar, à la segonda leuar l' Insegna
de San Marco et rinfrescarti i corpi.
A la terza quando serà leuado à meza
Galia el standardo quadro con la
Insegna del nostro signor Jesu
Christo all' hora ognun uada arditamente
et come buon' ordene che una
galia non impaci l' altra à inuestir i
diti navilij ouer fuste e non se desparta
dalla battaia fina 1' ultima
sconfita.
Et perche molte fiade ocore che
le Galie se separa una dall' altra, et
squarase da misier lo capetanio, però
lè de necesità dar ordene ò segno
per el qual posa recognoserse dalle
nostre Galie, una dall' altra si de
zorno come de note come è dito qui
de soto.
Se alguna Galia se smarirà de
miser lo capetanio per poterla recognoser,
sel sarà de zorno miser lo
capetanio farà un fumo à prua, et
uezando questo segno la Galia che
sarà squarada, responda per si fato
segno et poi farà leuar una bandera
a pope a cauo de banda destra, et per
el simel lui debba responder, et poi
lui farà leuare una bandiera quara à
prua à ladi senestro, et per el simel
quela Galia debia responder, et poi
lui farà leuar una bandiera quara à
prua et per el simel questa Galia debia
responder, e farà i diti segni, miser
lo capitanio farà leuar l' Insegna
di Misier San Marco, et cosi debia
responder la dita Galia e sia ben
prouezuda à non se acostar, sel nò
cognosese bene i deti segni.
Item zonzandò m^r lo cap^o in algun
liogo...non uoiando che algun sopracomito
faci butar i sò copani in acqua
fara butar el suo e leuerà la soa
bandera de uento, à cao de banda.
E in questo caso algun no dieba butar
lo suo, fia la deta bandiera sarà
alzada, mà mouesta sara quela cadaun
posi butar soto quela pena à
lui parerà.
Item quando m^r lo capitanio uorà,
che tuti i soracomiti uegna à lui, el
farà meter la so bandiera da uento in
pope à la scaza inuerso prua, alora
debia uegnir da lui, perche altrimenti
bisognaraue mandar per cadaun.
First, if he shall see a light galley
or armed galley, he ought to raise
the Ensign of Saint Mark and then
lower it as many times as there may
be ships which he has discovered,
and if there are more he should go
to the Captain and acquaint him
how many galleys he shall have discovered.
If that be a boat or ship he
shall raise his flag on the left side,
if a bark, a pennant on the right
side, making signals with this flag
in the direction in which these ships
are discovered, and if the Captain
wishes the Guard-galley to go to
any of these ships which shall be
discovered, he will raise a square
flag on the right side of the poop
towards that ship, in conformity
with the regulations given below.
And if it shall come to pass that the
guard-galley on going to any ship
under the above order and the Captain
should wish her to turn back
and not to advance further, if the
Captain shall proceed under oars, he
shall order sail to be taken in at
once and shall strike sail, then
having seen this signal the guard-galley
ought to turn at once to him.
Likewise the Captain commands
in case more ships are discovered
and he is determined to go to them;
in this case he shall order his own
standard to be raised, the gold
standard with his arms, at the lanthorn
on the poop, and immediately
all the galleys ought to repair close
to him, and proceed each to her own
post, and order the arms on deck
and order their pavisades to the
prow according to custom, the rest
of the shields to go round the deck,
and on the supports of the awning
the galley slaves' clothes are to be
put as is customary, and at the first
trumpet each man is to arm himself;
at the second to raise the ensign
of Saint Mark and to take refreshments
for their bodies. At the
third, when the square standard
with the ensign of Our Lord Jesus
Christ shall be raised amidships
each ship shall proceed boldly and
in good order, so that one galley
may not hinder another, to board or
come up with the said ships or galleys
and not to leave the battle until
they are finally routed.
And as it often happens that the
galleys are separated one from the
other and are dispersed from the
Captain, therefore he must necessarily
give an order or signal of
recognition by which they may be
recognised by our ships one from
the other by day as well as by night,
as is mentioned below.
If any Galley shall stray from the
Captain, in order to recognise it, if
by day, the Captain makes smoke
on the prow and seeing that signal
the galley which had separated shall
answer by the same signal, and then
the Captain shall order a flag to be
raised on the forward end of the
poop on the right side; and with the
same signal he is to answer and the
Captain shall order to raise a square
flag on the left side of the prow, and
likewise that galley is to answer and
make the aforesaid signal. The Captain
will raise the Ensign of St Mark
and this the galley ought to answer,
and be very attentive not to go
alongside if it does not well recognise
the above signals.
Item the Captain, cruising in any
place, ... not wishing any commander
to lower his boat into the water, will
launch his own boat and raise his
flag on the windward side of the
poop forward, and in this case no
one shall lower his boat as long as
the said flag is hoisted, and if any
does so it shall be under the penalty
which he thinks fit.
Item if the Captain wishes all the
commanders to come to him, he will
put his flag to windward, on the
poop near the ladder, inclined towards
the prow, and then they must
go to him because otherwise he
would have to send for them.
The Venetian orders contain no provision for calling a Council, but
they include two flag signals for calling up the galleys to take
orders. Possibly the Venetians, anticipating Drake, did not assent
to the scriptural dictum that in the multitude of councillors is
wisdom. In the Castilian Instructions there is not only provision for
calling a council by day, by hoisting the royal pendant, but also for
calling an informal council at night. In daytime the captain and a
boatswain[353] from each galley had to come in a boat on board the
Admiral, but at night each galley ranged up with the Admiral in turn,
spoke with him, and then fell off again. Another signal not found
in the Venetian Instructions is that for calling assistance; in the
Castilian Instructions this is to be done by raising the royal pendant.
There are two signals for discovery of a fleet in those instructions;
if the fleet was recognised as an enemy the sighting galley hoisted
the royal pendant and rushed off to tell the Admiral all about it,
without attempting to denote by signal the number of ships, but if it
was merely a strange fleet the sighting galley contented itself with
hoisting a flag to the masthead and raising and lowering it as many
times as there were ships. The first galley to sight land raised a
flag to the masthead, kept it there a short time, and then lowered
it. The recognition signal differs from that provided in the Venetian
orders, but it contains the same serious defect found in most of the
early recognition signals--the two ships simply copy one another. In
the Savoy Instructions of 1366 it will be seen that there is a slight
variation in the signals made by the two galleys, sufficient to betray
any stranger not acquainted with the difference. One would have thought
that the necessity for some such device would have been apparent to any
seaman, for the use of an enemy's colours was a well-known artifice and
nothing could be simpler than to copy exactly the signals of another
ship.
For the early sixteenth century we have two important sets of signal
instructions. One of these, the "Ordonnances et signes pour nauiguer
jour et nuyt en une armée royale[354]," drawn up by Antoine de Conflans
about the year 1515 for use in a fleet composed of sailing ships and
galleys, is worth translation in full:
Ordinances and Signals for navigating by day and by night in a navy
royal, if his most Christian Majesty, whom God preserve, or other
prince of the realm, should set out to the conquest of the Holy
Sepulchre or other lands of the enemies of the Holy Catholic Faith,
and the Ordinances and Chapters written below, which are for the
recognition by day and by night of those who are of the party and
of the company of the said most Christian king or prince; Also if
other ships, either strangers or enemies, whether sailing ships,
galleys, foists or other vessels, should be found among the said
navy by day or night, they may be easily recognised by these said
ordinances, which must be well kept and observed by the whole fleet
and company of the said navy.
And First:
The King's ship, or that of his admiral and lieutenant if the said
lord is not himself present, shall ordinarily wear the banner in
the top called the "gabye" in the Levant; and this shall be the
mark by which the royal or admiral ship shall be recognised by day;
and by night, because the aforesaid banner can not be seen, the
said ship shall carry on its poop a lighted lantern, such as is
called a "fanal" in the Levant waters, which shall burn all night,
so that the whole fleet can see it; and by this means the royal or
admiral ship shall be recognised by all the fleet.
Item, all the ships of the fleet, whether galleys or other vessels,
shall come each morning to salute the King's or admiral's ship and
to ascertain the watchword (mot du guet), and in the evening to
learn the night-cry (cry de la nuyt); and in the evening they shall
come and salute the said lord and his ship, and enquire what route
and course he intends to follow, in order that if, through tempest
or for other reasons, any vessel should lose itself by night, it
will know what route to follow; and none of the said ships or
galleys, except the king's or admiral's, shall carry a banner in
the top, nor any lantern or beacon, except the Captain General of
the galleys, who usually may carry the banner at the stern, and by
night a stern lantern. If by chance bad weather should occur (which
God forbid) and it is feared that the vessels may become separated
from one another, the king will carry two banners by day and two
lanterns by night, and each of his fleet one; and in the same way
the Captain of the galleys and his fleet one other.
Item, no ship shall fail to change its course and go about when
the said lord does so, and generally, each one shall perform the
manoeuvre which the said lord shall perform.
Item, if the said lord wishes to speak with other ships he will put
a banner at the stern, and each ship shall be bound to approach the
said lord. And if the said lord wishes to speak with the galleys
only he will put the banner in the admiral's stern gallery.
Item, let each one carry as much sail as seems good to him, and
proceed at the same speed as the said lord and no more, so that he
does not pass his said ship, under the penalty afore-mentioned or
of being punished at his discretion. And also let each one take
care to keep near the said ship.
Item, if any of the said ships or galleys see one or more sail, the
ships shall show, as many times as they see sails, a banner in the
top on that side on which they see the said sails, and the galleys
shall show it on the mast-head[355]. Each one of them, whether ship
or galley, shall keep it there until the captain[356] has replied
with a similar signal.
Item, let no one, on pain of death, whether commanding a ship,
galley or brigantine, chase any ship of any sort or condition
without leave and licence of the said lord.
Item, let no vessel salute another whilst it is within sight of
the said lord, on pain of corporal punishment, except the galleys,
which shall salute the Captain as a mark of respect.
Item, if by day any of the said ships or galleys shall have
suffered any damage (which God forbid) that one to which the
accident has happened shall place in the top a pendant so as to
be seen by the said lord. It shall fire one gun and shall keep
the said banner flying until the other vessels have come to its
assistance. In the case of a galley it shall fly the said banner
at the masthead and shall fire one gun as already said, and each
of the said ships shall approach that to which the accident has
happened in order to render aid.
Item, if by chance the said ships have parted company, which God
forbid, and meet again by day, the one to windward shall lower and
raise the topsail once and fire one gun; and the one to leeward
shall lower and raise the said topsail once and fire two guns. In
the case of the galleys, the one to leeward[357] shall twice draw
up to the mast the lower end of the lateen yard and shall fire one
gun; and the one to leeward shall peak the lateen yard (by drawing
the upper end down to the corsia) and fire two guns, keeping the
said yard arm to the corsia[358].
Item, if any of the said ships is in need of aid from the galleys
it shall fire one gun and hoist a banner on the poop twice and the
Captain of the said galleys shall then, if possible, go or send to
it.
Item. [If any of] the said ships or galleys sights land [the ship]
shall hoist a banner at the lower yard arm and the galley at the
fore or at the after end of the lateen yard slung horizontally[359]
on the side on which land is seen, and shall keep it out until the
said lord has answered.
Item, if the said lord wishes the said ships to lower their boats
he will place two banners at the poop and fire one gun, and
immediately the said ships shall launch their boats and put out
towards the said lord or where he shall wish them to go.
Item, if the said lord, being at anchor, wishes to make sail,
he will place a banner at the edge of the top in addition to
the ordinary banner, and will fire one gun, and everybody must
thereupon return on board to hoist sail likewise.
Item, if by day one or several sail are sighted, and the said lord
wishes the galleys to chase and speak with them, he will place a
banner at each yard-arm and fire two guns.
Item, if the said lord wishes the whole fleet to chase he will
place two banners at the said yard-arms, and also two more on the
edge of the top in addition to the ordinary one, and he will fire
four guns, and every ship shall be bound to carry the requisite
number of sails.
Item, if the said lord and his fleet encounter enemy fleets where
they must fight, they shall show all the ensigns and banners they
have, so that each one may do his duty.
These articles will be changed every time that a fleet is set out,
however the substance of them remains the same.
Here follow the arrangements and chapters drawn up for night-time.
And first
If the said lord is at sea, and he wishes to make sail, he will
show two lanterns and will fire one gun, and he will keep the said
lanterns showing until the others have replied to him with two
other lanterns, but without firing guns; and each one shall be
bound to get under way and make sail like him.
Item, if, being under sail, the said lord wishes to speak with the
other ships, he will show two lanterns twice and twice conceal
them; and the last time he will keep them showing until the others
have replied by a similar signal, and each one shall be bound to go
to the said lord; and if he wishes to speak with the galleys only,
he will show a single lantern over the stern light, and if the
brigantine is to come he will show two.
Item, if any of the said ships or galleys sight one or several
sails it shall show a single lantern as many times as it sees
sails, and shall betake itself to the said lord as soon as it can,
and all the others shall do in like manner.
Item, if the said lord wishes to take off a bonnet, he will show
three lanterns, one after the other, until the others have replied
with three other lanterns, and each one shall be bound to do the
same.
Item, if the said lord wishes to set a bonnet and crowd on sail
he will show three lanterns one above the other and keep them out
until the others have answered with a similar signal, and each
shall be bound to crowd on sail to follow the said lord.
Item, if the said lord wishes to chase by night, he will show three
lanterns in a row three times, and will fire three guns, and will
keep the said lanterns showing until the others have replied by
similar lanterns. And to enable them to recognise one another each
ship shall carry four lanterns at the poop, and the said lord will
carry three on each side of his stern light.
Item, if the said lord wishes to take in sail he will show three
lanterns one above the other three times, and will fire one gun,
and the third time he will keep the said lanterns showing until the
others have replied by similar lanterns without firing guns.
Item, if the said lord wishes to come into port, he will carry two
stern lights, one above the other, and will fire one gun, and each
of the said ships shall be bound to follow him to the said port;
and when they shall have followed him and anchored, the first ones
must keep a lantern at the stern until they have all arrived in
the said port, in order that they may not hinder one another; and
when all the said ships have arrived they shall take in the said
lanterns, and the stern light of the said lord alone will remain
burning.
Item, if by night any accident shall occur to any one of the said
ships (which God forbid) it shall show four lanterns at the stern
and four at the bows, as it may be difficult to see all the said
lanterns; it shall also fire two guns until the other ships shall
come to its aid, whereupon the said ships shall be bound to come to
its succour.
Item, if one of the said ships should have need of galleys, it
shall fire one gun and keep a lantern at the poop until the said
galleys have arrived, and the Captain of the said galleys shall be
bound to go or send to it if it is possible.
Item, if it should happen that the ships part company by any chance
(which God forbid) and they find their companions by night, the one
to windward shall show six lanterns three by three and shall fire
two guns.
Item, the one to leeward shall show four lanterns one above the
other and fire four guns; and the watchword for the night shall be
cried; and thus each one will be easily recognised without having
to come right up with one another; and the said lord wills and
commands that when the fleet thus part company and find one another
by night, and some distance off find another ship not belonging
to their company, none shall dare to fire at one another without
first having made the above signals, as well by day as by night;
and moreover, the said lord wills and commands that they shall, in
addition, speak with one another.
The watchword or cry for the night, and all the other signals, as
well for day as for night, are changed and are at the discretion
and will of the lord and chief of the said fleet, with the council
of master mariners and pilots, and with the aforesaid council and
the assistance of this present collection, they can make use of as
much as seems good to them.
The instructions just quoted are plainly an ideal set; they represent
the best experience of the age, but there is no indication that they
were ever actually employed at sea.
The other important set of instructions of the early sixteenth century
is by no means so full as that of Conflans, but it was actually used at
sea, and reappears in various guises until the middle of the century.
It seems to have been first drawn up by Philippe de Cleves, to have
been used by the Emperor Charles V in his voyage from Flanders to Spain
in 1517, and finally to have been incorporated, with slight alterations
by Jehan Bytharne, Gunner in Ordinary to the King of France, in his
_Livre de Guerre tant par mer que par terre_[360] written in 1543. The
flag signals, which Bytharne says he had himself seen made at sea,
present no improvement on those already cited, and they may, as given
by Bytharne, be summarised as follows:
To assemble the Captains for
Council or to speak to them. The
Captains to bring their best pilot
and most experienced officer.
A square banner tied in a weft[361]
in the main mizen.
On sighting strange ships.
A square banner tied in a weft[362]
halfway up the shrouds on the side
on which the ships are seen.
If the strange ships are numerous,
then
Two flags as above, one over the
other.
If the Admiral, on receiving the
above signal from one of the scouting
ships, desires that they should
go forward and reconnoitre.
A banner on the fore mast inclined
forward.
All ships to chase.
A square banner between the
main top and the small banner
flown at the main topmasthead.
Sighting land.
A square banner in the main top
inclined on the side on which land
is seen.
Ship in danger.
Man in main top to swing banner
round and round. Three guns in
quick succession.
If we now turn to the contemporary instructions of the English navy
as given by Audley in his _Orders to be used in the King's Majesties
Navy by the Sea_ (c. 1530)[363], we are at once struck by the primitive
nature of the signals contained in them. They are as follows:
Whensoever, and at all tymes the Admyrall doth shote of a pece
of Ordinance, and set up his Banner of Councell on Starrborde
bottocke[364] of his Shippe, everie shipps capten shall with spede
go aborde the Admyrall to know his will.
When and at all tymes the Admyrall will anker or disanker, he
must shote a pece, that thereby the rest may know to do the same;
and that no Shippe ride in an others walke, for in that is greate
danger.
If they saile by night the Admirall must beare a greate light
in the stearne of his Shippe, and if his fleete be greate, the
Admirall must carie ij lights; and the Vice Admirall one, and the
said Admirall must make such Saile over night that all his fleet
may kepe about him; perchanse ells in the morning a greate parte of
his flete may be out of his sight, for everie Shippe saileth not
alike.
If it chance any Shippe in the night fall in leake, or breake his
maste, he may shote a pece of Ordinance, or ij to warne the flete
he hath harme and in perall, to the entent he may have helpe, and
the rest to tarie.
The Admyrall ought to have a swifte pynnes abord alwaies abrod to
askrie so farre of that he may se the flete out of his toppe, and
if he seeth any enemyes or any other sailes, geve knowlege to the
Admyrall if they be any enemyes let him shote ij or iij peces of;
in the meanetyme the Flete may put them self in order and councel
before hand. Allwaies foreseing the pynnesse prease not so nighe
the enemve that he might be apprehended, for by that the secrets
might be knowne to the enemye, and evrie night he to cum into the
flete agayne.
If in the night there chanseth any enemyes unlooked for to fall
into the flete, he that first doth askrie the same shall shote of
ij peces, and geve a token of ij fyers and by that token shal be
understande that they be enemyes that be in the Flete. Yf they do
flee, let everie man make after, and that Shippe that is nighest
beare a light in his Stearnye that the rest may know whether[365]
the enemye goeth, for otherwise they may lose them: and if he that
giveth the chace, se not the fleete follow, let him shoote of a
pece, that they may follow by his shotte, in case they should not
see his light.
The Admyrall ought to have this order before he joyne battell
w^{th} the enemye that all his shipps shall beare a flagge in their
missentoppe and himself one in the foremaste beside the Mayne mast,
that everie man may know his owne flete by that token....
Scanty and insufficient as are these signals, and they leave everything
to "councel" beforehand, there was no marked improvement on them until
the days of the Commonwealth and the First Dutch War. The Instructions
drawn up by Wynter[366] in the last year of Queen Mary's reign contain
only one flag signal--the banner of council--one night signal for
change of course, which is of interest as showing that the primitive
cresset was, in 1558, still in use in the English fleet:
Item, in the night we do change our Course then the Admiral will
bear a light in his Cresset for the space of one hour, whereby
every Man may know what he ought to do; And all the night after
none, and then he will show out a Lanthorn with a Candle light in
the Mizon Shrowds.
one elementary recognition signal:
Item, if any be separated as before said, and that they descry by
fortune one another, to the end they may be assured that they are
of one Company the one shall strike his foresail, and a Yaw[367],
and to howse it and strike it in that sort, until he do think that
the same be seen unto the other, and then shall the other answer
him by striking of his foresail, and shooting of one good piece, so
that by the signs they shall be certain the one of the other.
and one signal for use in fog, that seems as inefficient as the others:
Item, if there do happen any great Mists, in such sort, that one
cannot discern another, then according to the weather, or place
we be in, we must order ourselves, that is to wit, if there be so
room. The Admiral will strike his Sail, and shoot one piece then,
whereby every Man may be warned to do the same, and if the Admiral
will anchor, then he will shoot off two pieces, one after another,
and strike the Sail incontinent upon the same, but if it so fortune
that he can neither drive nor ride at Anchor, then every man mark
well at the beginning of the mist what course the Admiral keepeth,
and to do the same. And the said Admiral will within every Glass
running shoot one piece for acknowledge, and because one may be the
better warned of another, ye shall make noise with trumpets, drums,
or knocking.
If any tactical instructions were issued to the fleet that engaged
the Spanish Armada they have not been preserved to us, but there is
no reason to suppose that they were--or would have been--any less
rudimentary than those we have just considered. They may be taken to be
represented by the "Rules in Sir John Hawkins his tyme" preserved among
the State Papers of James I[368]:
5. Item that the fleetest pynassis doe waight still on the Admirall
and be at hand y^t he maye upon all occasions send them from shipp
to shipp as hee shall see Cause.
12. Item that upon the settinge up of a flagge in the quarter of
y^e Admiralls shipp every shipp come and speak w^h the Admirall.
13. Item that when the Admirall shall set up his flag of Counsell
in the shrowdes That then every Captayne shall repaire to knowe his
pleasure.
14. Item when the Admirall shall cause a pece of ordinance to be
shot of and a flagge of Counsell to be put out upon the mayne
yard then shall all the other shipp reporte to the Admirall and
the Captaynes w^h their M^r shall come in their boats aboard the
Admirall.
19. Item If it fortune a strange shipp to fall into the fleet
by night, that you dowbt them, you shall call unto them for the
watchword. And if he or they have not the same then you shall hange
up two lights one above the other on the same side of the shipp w^h
you shall perceave them of, so as the rest of y^e shipp maye have
warninge accordingly.
There is no provision in these "Rules" for any communication by
signalling. All orders are given either by word of mouth or by sending
a message by a pinnace.
The Instructions[369] for the Cadiz Expedition of 1596, elaborate as
they are in certain directions, provide few signals. There was, of
course, the "Flag of Council," half-mast high against the mizen-mast:
the royal standard for the "selected" council, and the St George for
all captains and masters. Each squadronal admiral might call the
captains and masters of his own squadron to his flagship for orders by
removing the white pendant (with which all ships were provided) from
his mizen yard and hanging it in the main yard "two men's height." If a
strange sail was sighted the nearest ship might chase it, but not more
than one was to do so unless the admiral of the squadron signalled for
two or three to go, by hanging out two or three flags (presumably any
flags that were handy) one over the other. If the squadronal admiral
himself bore up and chased, all might follow unless the Generals
(Essex or Howard) hung out the flag of council, when all were to give
over and keep their course. As a recognition signal, a ship that had
lost company was to strike and hoist the maintopsail twice, or in bad
weather the main mizen twice or as often as they liked.
The Instructions issued on various occasions during the next fifty
years present few points that concern us. They never contain more than
two or three signals, and those only of the type with which we are
already sufficiently familiar. It may, however, be of interest to note
the various forms taken by the "Flag of Council." In the Orders drawn
up by Raleigh in 1617 for his expedition to Guiana the form of this
flag is not indicated, apparently any flag might serve the purpose:
When the Admirall shall hang out a flagg in the main shrowdes, you
shall knowe it to be a flagg of counsell; then come aboard him[370].
For the voyage of Prince Charles to Spain in 1623 and for the Cadiz
Expedition of 1625 the arrangement was the same as in 1596--the royal
standard for the Council of War, or select council of the principal
officers, and the St George for a general council of all captains and
masters--but in August, 1628, Buckingham substituted the Union, or,
as he called it, the "Brittish," flag for the St George in calling
the general council. In September of that year, however, the Earl
of Lindsey was using the Union flag for the Council of War and the
St George for the council of Captains and Masters. The orders drawn
up by Pennington in 1631 and in 1639 present a fresh variation, the
separation of the Captains from the Masters:
44. Whensoever you shall see the Brittish flagg spred in my myson
shrowds, then all the Captains are to come aboard of me. If the Red
Antient then both the Captains and Masters.
In 1635 Lindsey used the Union flag for the General Council, or Council
of War, but the signal for captains and masters was altered to the red
ensign, and this form was adopted by the Earl of Northumberland in 1636.
Before we proceed to consider the signals of the First Dutch War, which
heralded a new era, it will be desirable to refer to those contained in
the _Dialogues_ of Nathaniel Boteler. Boteler had served as captain in
the Cadiz Expedition of 1625 and in the Rochelle Expedition of 1627,
and seems to have written the first draft of the _Dialogues_ shortly
after the latter event. Judging from the manuscripts that remain, he
re-wrote parts of them at various times until 1634, but his remarks
on signals remain practically unaltered[371], and may be taken to
represent the ideal of English seamanship of that period. On comparing
them with Conflans' suggested instructions of 1515 it will be seen that
the English ideal was by no means a high one, yet it was not surpassed
until the Commonwealth Instructions were issued in 1654.
Speaking in guise of a seaman "Captain," who is instructing a court
"Admiral" in his duties, Boteler says:
In the first place therfore, when the Generall entends upon such a
daye to make out to Sea with his whole Fleete; a fitt Signall to
expresse as much to every perticuler shypp may be, by causeinge his
Topp-sayles to lie loose upon the Capps, very early that morneinge;
and if itt prove to be hazie and darcke weather, soe that the
fleete being great, or lieing scattered att an Anchor, may not well
perceive it, Hee may then, about two or three houres before he
begin to waye his Anchors cause fire to be given to a single Piece
of Ordinance.
Secondly, if a fleete being att sea, and occasions require a
generall convention of the Captaines and Masters aborde the
Admiralls shypp: A fitt signall to lett them know itt may be, to
hang out a yellow flagge in the uppermost part of the Admiralls
Maine Shrowdes: But if ther be entended only the comeinge aborde of
the Counsell of Warre, then may ther be a blewe flagge hung out in
the same place; for I conceive that this part is more proper then
is the Missen Shrowdes, (though that be the most received place for
this purpose) in regard that itt is more perceptable and may better
be discovered.
Thirdly, if the Generall shall finde cause, to cast about in the
night (for if by daye, this asketh noe signall) besides the Light
or Lanthorne, which every Admirall is to carry in the Poope, the
most evidenceinge signe that I can thincke of may be, to put
another light in the Maine-topp: And if Hee entend to lie a-Hull,
to shewe two lights in the same place: If a-Trie, three lights, the
which lights are soe to be carried untill itt be founde that the
whole Fleete hathe taken notice of itt, and answere itt accordingly.
Fourthly, If any Squadron or parte of the fleete, by beinge too
forwards a-heade, shall be required to shorten sayle, and to attend
the comeinge up of the Admirall; a Signe appropriated may be, to
heave or wave an Ensigne abroade in the Admiralls Fore-topp, and to
give fire to a great piece withall; And on the contrary, whensoever
any of them keepe too farre a-sterne, to wave out the same flagge
in the Missen-topp.
Fifthly, If upon the discoverye of any straunge fleete or Shyp,
the Generall find itt fitt to have any of the Pinnaces, and best
saylers of his fleete, to stand in with them, and to require them
to come to speake with him; an apte signe may be to give fire to
a piece of Ordinance or two out of his own chase, and withall to
shewe a flagge in his Bolt sprites Topp.
Sixthly, Whensoever a Fleete shall meet with the Enemies fleete,
and after due consultation aborde the Admirall, itt shall be found
fitt to fight, the Admirall may take in his ordinary Ensigne from
the poope of the shyp and hang out another all redd, which is
tearmed the bloudy Colors; that soe all the fleete may dispose
and order themselves to fall on upon the Enemie in such forme and
fashion as they are before hand to be instructed in.
And thes are such necessary Causes, to require any signalls to be
expressed by the Generall himselfe, out of his perticuler Shypp:
It followes, to intimate in some other perticulers, wherin every
perticuler shypp of the fleete is to doe the like; hereby as well
to give notice to the Generall himselfe or any of the rest.
_Admiral._ And what are thes?
_Captain._ If any Shyp of a fleete shall discover any straunge
fleete, or any Squadron of straunge Shypps, or any single Shyp
whatsoever; itt being necessary that not only the Generall, but the
whole Armadoe, should with all expedition, receive advertisement
hereof. A convenient signall to this purpose may be, to shewe
abroade some flagge in that part of that Shyp which pointeth most
upon the discovered Straunger; and if it be a fleete that is soe
discovered, then to hang out two flagges in the same manner,
and withall to give to a great Gunne or two, that so notice may
generally be taken of what is done.
Likewise, whensoever a fleete comeinge out of the Sea, expecteth
a Landfall: the first Shyp of them that maketh Land is to give
present notice therof to all the rest of the fleete; and this she
is to doe, if itt be by daye, by shewinge her Colors abroade,
though itt be (for the time) in the Maine-topp itt selfe,
inclineinge and bendinge them towards that part whence Land is
discovered; and if this discovery happen in the night, she is
to shoote of two pieces of Ordinance and withall shewe a light
abroade; and instantly cast about and stand off, that the residue
of the fleete may take notice and beware.
If any Shyp of a fleete shall find her selfe in daunger of
founderinge in the Sea, by springeinge of a leake, or any the
like mischaunce; if this bee by daye shee maye shoote off three
pieces of Ordinance, and withall cause a youncker to goe upp to the
Maine-topp and shewe a waft: And if this happen in the night time;
then to continue this shooteinge ever and anon of a single piece,
and withall to shewe a light, that notice may be taken by the Gunne
and her selfe found out by the light, and so relieved. And because
ther may be many occasions wherby a fleete may be far dispersed,
and yet afterwards gett togither againe, and that itt is fitt, that
upon the first ken one of another, they may be knowne one unto
another and soe noe mistakeinges ensue, an apt Signall to this
purpose, may be by the puttinge out and takeinge in of a flagge soe
many times one after another as shall formerly be agreed upon, or
by the soe often strikeinge of a Topp-sayle or the like; the which
they are to answer one unto another.
Boteler's suggestion of yellow and blue flags as signals for calling a
Council is of especial interest as being the earliest proposal to use
special flags for making signals. Until the year 1654, signals--at any
rate in English fleets--were with two exceptions always made with the
flags already in use for other purposes, that is, with the Flags of
Command or Colours of Distinction, whose primary uses we have already
discussed. These two exceptions are the red flag of war and the white
flag of peace.
The red flag, or "bloody colours" as it was often called, and the white
flag are not mentioned in any of the early instructions. They were, in
fact, international signals and formed part of the traditional "Custom
of the Sea" which was never completely codified and, except so far as
it was gathered into such collections as the Rooles d'Oléron and the
Consolado del Mar, can now only be recovered by the laborious process
of collecting precedents.
The red flag, could we completely trace its descent, would no doubt
be found to have sprung from the "scarlet cloak" which the ancient
Greek navy seems to have borrowed from the Phoenicians, but we first
meet with it, so far as English ships are concerned, in the document
of _circa_ 1299 referred to above[372] in which is set forth the
injuries inflicted by the Normans on the shipping of England, Ireland
and Gascony (then subject to the English crown). In April a fleet of
English, Irish and Bayonne merchantmen set out from Portsmouth bound
for Bordeaux. Off St Mathieu, on the coast of Brittany, they anchored.
According to their own story, they were becalmed. News of their
presence reached a fleet of 290 ships of Normandy, then loading wine
in the river Charente. Leaving half their cargoes, in order that their
sailing might not be impeded, the Normans fitted up fore and after
castles and fighting tops at the mastheads and hoisted streamers of
red sendal two yards broad and thirty yards long, called "baucans," as
a sign that no quarter would be given[373]. A southerly wind having
now sprung up the Normans fell upon the other fleet, only to receive
a thorough beating. In refusing to give up the spoils taken on this
occasion, the allies explained to Edward I that when the "baucan"
had been raised in an engagement of this kind no one could be held
responsible for life or property taken[374].
Although the red flag was a recognised signal for combat among all
European nations, it was not until the year 1647 that it was formally
included in the English "Instructions." It remained in them until the
year 1799.
In the West Indies, so Cleirac tells us, the Spanish flag of combat was
blue: in European waters it was red, with the arms of Castile upon it.
The flag of peace, or truce, seems to have been adopted at sea about
the end of the fifteenth century, but although it may be regarded
from one point of view as a signal it will be convenient to defer our
consideration of it until we come to deal with the flag incidents
connected with the surrender of a ship[375].
(ii) THE FIRST ENGLISH CODES[376]
It is evident from the foregoing sketch of the early history of flag
signals that up to the middle of the seventeenth century the signals
of the English navy were of the most elementary description. The
first steps towards the introduction of a more efficient system were
taken in 1647 when the "Right Honourable the Committee of the Lords
and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports" issued "Instructions"
on a more elaborate plan. The general instructions, dated 6th April,
1647, are preserved; but, unfortunately, the "Instructions for
sailing," issued at the same time, which contained the signals, have
not yet been brought to light. From the "supplementary instructions"
preserved in the Harleian MSS., and printed by Sir Julian Corbett[377],
it may be inferred that the British navy was at length drawing on a
level with the navies of France and Spain in respect to its method of
communicating orders.
In 1653 a further great improvement was made[378], and a "code" of
instructions, with the accompanying signals, now appears, issued "By
the Right Honourable the Generals and Admirals of the Fleet," and
signed by Blake, Deane, and Monk. The following were the flags to be
used for signals: A weft of the ensign or jack, a pendant, and the
three flags--red, blue, and white--already in existence as flags of
command.
The signal to "Engage the enemy," doubtless that used by Monk in
fighting Tromp, and by Blake in his last glorious action of Santa Cruz,
was made "by shooting-off two guns and putting a red flag over the fore
topmast-head."
This Commonwealth code was further expanded in 1665, under the guidance
of the Duke of York, afterwards King James II. In a supplementary order
of the same year, a red and white striped flag first appears as the
signal to chase. In 1672 and 1673 the instructions and signals were
further amplified and then printed, being possibly the first set of
naval fighting instructions to be put into print.
In a finely bound manuscript copy of the 1673 Instructions, now in
the Admiralty Library, which, from internal evidence, was prepared
about 1689, we have the earliest surviving example of the "signal
book" proper. Hitherto the signals had been embodied in the various
Articles of Sailing and Fighting Instructions, the appropriate flag
being merely described in the text of each article, but no diagram or
coloured representation of the flag being given. In this MS. we have
for the first time coloured drawings of flags arranged in order, with
the meaning and place where hoisted against each in parallel columns, a
convenient method of systematising the signals that was not followed in
the official printed "Instructions" for a century.
The flags of the manuscript are as follows:
Union Flag.
The Standard.
Red Ensign.
Blue Ensign.
White Ensign.
Dutch Ensign (red, white, and blue in three horizontal stripes).
A flag striped red and yellow from corner to corner.
Red flag.
Blue flag.
White flag.
A "Jack coloured with colours." (This was a "Union Jack," or small
Union flag.)
A pendant.
A flag striped red and white horizontally.
A flag striped red and white from corner to corner.
White with red diagonal cross.
In other copies of the 1673 Instructions the last four are omitted, but
a flag striped yellow and white from corner to corner is mentioned as a
signal for fireships.