Brayles.
Are small-Roapes reeved through blocks, which are sea∣sed on either side the ties, some small distance off, upon the yards, and so come-downe before the sayle, and are fastned to the Creengleyes, at the skirt of the sayle: The use whereof is to haile-up the bunt of the sayle, when we doe farthell our sayles a-crosse, which are in this, com∣modious for a man of war, that he may instantly make up his sayles, and let them fall, if in fight he should fall a sterne: for note, that in fight we desire to use as few sayles as we can, both for the trouble in trimming them, for saving our sayles, for hiding our sight, and for avoiding of fire which might light in them; and therefore when we say we will ship our selves into our fighting sailes, it is meant we have only the missen maine-top-sayle, with which sayles, a ship will work every way: These brailes doe only belong to the two courses and to the Missen: Haile up the brayses, and braise up the sayle, is all one; when Marchant-men will seeme to brave a man of war, if he chase them, they will brayle up their sayles, which is as much as to make a signe, they will fight with them.