A method of attack from windward is also provided for the case where the enemy stays to receive it.

Amongst less important developments we have an article making the half-cable's length, originally enjoined under the Commonwealth, the regular interval between ships, and others to prevent the line being broken for the sake of chasing or taking possession of beaten ships.

Finally there are signals for tacking in succession either from the van or the rear, which must have given the fleet a quite unprecedented increase of tactical mobility.

Nor are we without evidence that increased mobility was actually exhibited when the new instructions were put to a practical test.
It was under the old Commonwealth orders as supplemented and modified by these noteworthy articles of April 1665, that was fought the memorable action of June 3rd, variously known as the battle of Lowestoft or the Second Battle of the Texel.

It is this action that Hoste cites as the first in which two fleets engaged in close hauled line ahead, and kept their formation throughout the day.