lxxxviii

PREFACE

in the West Indies, which in all probability had maimed the French so, asto break that attempt in the budd.

Ever since the year l6f>0, that gentlemen came to comand in the navy,these accidents have been too offt repeated upon us; to the loss of manyshipps and men unexpectedly, their numerous names and comanders yetto be recovered, most of which for want of seamanshipp in not timely andwell navigateing his shipp, by boarding an ennemy when they ought not,or by doeirtg it unskillfully.

It was once my happ to trace a gentleman captaine’s sea journall of a4th rate shipp, in which I found h e was at times 460 daies in port, and but164 daies at sea, dureing that voyage. More examples of this kind I havemett with.

Our gentlemen captaines have had the honour to bring drinking, game-ing, whoreing, swearing, and all impiety, into the navy, and banish allorder and sobriety out of their shipps. They have had further this illeffect, to bring seamen to covett to act like gentlemen, when gentlemenshould learn to act like seamen.

If wee continue this foolish way of fighting in a line, (only per form tobegin) and trust to that mode of conduct, wee may live to see ourselvesdestroyed by it, as the Spanish Armada in 1588, who kept to their line,till scattered and undone by one fireshipp.

By fighting in a line, the coward hides his cowardice, while the Dutchobserve it not, but value every mian’s .actions by the damage hee does, orreceives from the ennemy.

It’s true, that by fighting promiscously, men are subject too oft to shoottheir friends, as well as ennemys; therefore shoot with discretion, that is,hold your hand Avhile in smoke, amd be sure it is your ennemy, before youshoot, and that you are in halfe gunn shott of your ennemy. It is directcowardice to shoot at a greater distance, unless he is running away.

In