the Wake; The wake of the shipp is the smoth water wch the shipp doth make a Stearne her, showinge the waye that the shipp hath gone in the sea: By this wee give a Iudgement what waye the shipp doth make: for if the wake be right the Stearne, then we knowe she makes her waye good as she lookes But if the wake be apoynt two or more to Leeward, Then the shipp goes to Leeward of her Course - when a shipp doth staye a weather her wake: That is when shee doth not fall to Leeward it is a signe she feeles her helme well and is a nimble shipp: In Chaseinge they saye wee have gott her wake; that is wee are gott as farr into the wynd as shee, and soe goe right after her as she goes

Henry Mainwaring, Nomenclator Navalis (1620-23)