By 1653 the Royal Navy had issued instructions by which an admiral could signal various orders by hoisting flags in various locations on his ship; this system was augmented and changed in various ways over the following century.
By 1653 the Royal Navy had issued instructions by which an admiral could signal various orders by hoisting flags in various locations on his ship. A ship's message had to be approved by the Officer of the watch, and his system was augmented and changed in various ways over the following century.