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.