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.