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 h