Travels of Captaine John Smith Volume II - Pages 250-276



Page 250 

Chap. VI.
What doth belong to the Boats and Skiffe with the definition of all those 
thirteene Ropes which are onely properly called Ropes belonging to a ship 
and the Boat and their use.

A long Boat. A Shallop. A Skiffe. Tarpawling.Bailes.

OF Boats there are divers sorts but those belonging to ships, are called 
either the long Boat or ships Boat, which should bee able to weigh her 
sheat anchor, those will live in any reasonable sea, especially the long 
Boat; great ships have also other small Boats called Shallops and Skiffes, 
which are with more case and lesse trouble rowed to and againe upon any 
small occasion. To a Boat belongs a mast and saile, a stay shear & 
Halyard, Rudder & Rudder irons, as to a ship, also in any discovery they 
use a Tarpawling, which is a good peece of Canvas washed over with Tar, to 
cover the Bailes or hoopes over the sterne of their Boat, where they lodge 
in an harbor which is that you call a Tilt covered with wadmall in your 
Wherries; or else an Awning, which is but the boats saile, or some peece 
of an old saile brought over the yard and stay, and boumed out with the 
boat hooke, so spread over their heads, which is also much used, as well a 
shore as in a ship, especially in hot countreys to keepe men from the 
extremity of heat or wet which is very oft infectious. Thoughts are the 
seats whereon the Rowers sit; and Thowles small pins put into little holes 
in the Gunwaile or upon the Boats side, against which they beare the oares 
when they row, they have also a Daved, and also in long Boats a windlesse 
to weigh the anchor by, which is with more case than the ship can. The two 
arching timbers

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against the Boat head are called Carlings. Man the Boat is to put a Gang 
of men, which is a company into her, they are commonly called the 
Coxswaine Gang who hath the charge of her. Free the Boat is to baile or 
cast out the water. Trim the Boat is to keepe her straight. Winde the Boat 
is to bring her head the other way. Hold water is to stay her. Forbeare is 
to hold still any oare you are commanded, or on the broad, or whole side. 
A fresh Spell is to releeve the Rowers with another Gang, give the Boat 
more way for a dram of the bottell, who saies Amends, one and all, Vea, 
vea, vea, vea, vea, that is, they pull all strongly together.

Free or Baile. Trim Boat. Winde Boat. Holde water. Forbeare. A Spell. Vea, 
vea, vea. The Entering rope.

The Entering rope is tied by the ships side, to hold by as you goe up the 
Entering ladder, cleats, or wailes.

Bucket rope.

The Bucket rope that is tied to the Bucket by which you hale and draw 
water up by the ships side.

Bolt ropes.

The Bolt ropes are those wherein the sailes are sowed.

Port ropes.

The Port ropes hale up the Ports of the Ordnances.

Jeare rope.

The Jeare rope is a peece of a hawser made fast to the maine yard, another 
to the fore yard close to the ties, reeved thorow a blocke which is seased 
close to the top, and so comes downe by the mast, and is reeved thorow 
another blocke at the bottome of the mast close by the decke; great ships 
have on each side the ties one, but small ships none: the use is to helpe 
to hoise up the yard to succour the ties, which though they breake yet 
they would hold up the mast.

Preventer rope.

The Preventer rope is a little one seased crosse over me ties, that if one 
part of them should breake, yet the other should not runne thorow the Rams 
head to indanger the yard.

Top ropes.

The Top ropes are those wherewith we set or strike the maine or fore Top 
masts, it is reeved thorow a great blocke seased under the Cap, reeved 
thorow the heele of the Top mast thwart ships, and then made fast to a 
ring with a clinch on the other side the Cap, the other part comes downe 
by the ties, reeved into the Knights, and so brought to the Capstaine when 
they set the Top masts.

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Keele ropes.

The Keele rope, you have read in the building, is of haire in the Keele to 
scower the Limber holes.

Rudder rope.

The Rudder rope is reeved thorow the stem post, and goeth thorow the head 
of the Rudder, and then both ends spliced together, serves to save the 
Rudder if it should bee strucke off the irons.

Cat rope.

The Cat rope is to hale up the Cat.

Boy rope.

The Boy rope is that which is tied to the boy by the one end, and the 
anchors flooke by the other.

Boat rope.

The Boat rope is that which the ship doth tow her Boat by, at her sterne.

Ghest rope. Shearing.

The Ghest rope is added to the Boat rope when shee is towed at the ships 
sterne, to keepe her from shearing, that is, from swinging to and againe; 
for in a stiffe gale she will make such yawes, and have such girds, it 
would indanger her to bee torne in peeces, but that they use to swift her, 
that is, to incircle the Gunwaile with a good rope, and to that make fast 
the Ghest rope.



Page 253 

Chap. VII.
The names of all sorts of Anchors, Cables, and Sailes, and how they beare 
their proportions, with their use. Also how the Ordnances should bee 
placed, and the goods stowed in a ship.

A Kedger. Streame Anchor. The first. Second. Third Anchor. Sheat Anchor.

THe proper tearmes belonging to Anchors are many: the least are called 
Kedgers, to use in calme weather in a slow streame, or to kedg up and 
downe a narrow River, which is when they feare the winde or tide may drive 
them on shore; they row by her with an Anchor in a boat, and in the 
middest of the streame, or where they finde most fit if the Ship come too 
neere the shore, and so by a Hawser winde her head about, then waigh it 
againe till the like occasion, and this is kedging. There is also a 
streame Anchor not much bigger, to stemme an easie stream or tide. Then 
there is the first, second, and third Anchor, yet all such as a Ship in 
faire weather may ride by, and are called Bow Anchors. The greatest is the 
sheat Anchor, and never used but in great necessity. They are commonly 
made according to the burthen of the Ship by proportion, for that the 
sheat Anchor of a small ship will not serve for a Kedger to a great ship. 
Also it beareth a proportion in it selfe, as the one flooke, which is that 
doth sticke in the ground, is but the third part of the shanke in length; 
at the head of the Shanke there is a hole called an Eye, and in it a Ring, 
wherein is the Nut to which there is fast fixed a Stocke of wood crossing 
the Flookes, and the length is taken from the length of the Shanke. These 
differ not in shape but in waight, from

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two hundred, to three or foure thousand waight. Grapells, or Graplings, 
are the least of all, and have foure flookes but no stock; for a boat to 
ride by, or to throw into a ship in a fight, to pull downe the gratings or 
hold fast.

A Cable, the first, second, and third. Sheat Anchor Cable. Keckell. 
Splice. A shot of Cable. Quoile. A Fake. Pay. Pay cheape. End for end.

The Cables also carry a proportion to the Anchors, but if it be not three 
stroud, it is accounted but a Hawser, yet a great ships Hawser may be a 
Cable to the sheat Anchor for a small ship: and there is the first, 
second, and third Cable, besides the Sheat Anchor Cable. If the Cable bee 
well made, we say it is well laid. To keckell or sarve the Cable, as is 
said, is but to bind some old clouts to keepe it from galling in the Hawse 
or Ring. Splice a Cable, is to fasten two ends together, that it may be 
double in length, to make the Ship ride with more ease, and is called a 
shot of Cable. Quoile a Cable, is to lay it up in a round Ring, or fake 
one above another. Pay more Cable, is when you carry an Anchor out in the 
boat to turne over. Pay cheap, is when you over set it, or turnes it over 
boord faster. Veere more Cable, is when you ride at Anchor. And end for 
end is when the Cable runneth cleere out of the Hawse, or any Rope out of 
his shiver. A Bight is to hold by any part of a coile, that is, the upmost 
fake. A Bitter is but the turne of a Cable about the Bits, and veare it 
out by little and little. And the Bitters end is that part of the Cable 
doth stay within boord. Gert, is when the Cable is so taught that upon the 
turning of a tide, a Ship cannot goe over it.

A Bight. A Bitter. A Bitters end. Gert. To bend. Unbend. Bending. Hitch.

To bend the Cable to the Anchor, is to make it fast to the Ring; unbend 
the Cable, is but to take it away, which we usually doe when we are at 
Sea, and to tie two ropes or Cables together is called bending. Hitch, is 
to catch hold of any thing with a rope to hold it fast, or with a hooke, 
as hitch the fish-hooke to the Anchors flooke, or the Tackles into the 
Garnets of the Slings. Fenders are peeces of old Hawsers called Junkes 
hung over the ships sides to keepe them from brusing. In boats they use 
poles or boat-hooks to fend off the boat from brusing.

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Brest-fast is a rope which is fastened to some part of the Ship forward 
on, to hold her head to a wharfe or any thing, and a Sterne-fast is the 
same in the Sterne. The use for the Hawser is to warp the Ship by, which 
is laying out an Anchor, and winde her up to it by a Capsterne. Rousing is 
but pulling the slacknesse of any Cables with mens hands into the Ship. 
The Shank-painter is a short chaine fastend under the fore masts shrouds 
with a bolt to the ships sides, and at the other end a rope to make fast 
the Anchor to the Bow. To stop is when you come to an Anchor, and veares 
out your Cable, but by degrees till the Ship ride well, then they say stop 
the Ship. To those Cables and Anchors belongs short peeces of wood called 
Boyes, or close hooped barrels like Tankards as is said, but much shorter, 
to shew you the Anchor and helpe to waigh it, there is another sort of 
Cans called Can Boyes much greater, mored upon shoules to give Marriners 
warning of the dangers.

Stop. Boyes. Can Boyes. Sailes. Maine Saile. Fore Saile. Maine course. 
Fore course. Bonits. Drablers.

The maine saile and the fore saile is called the fore course, and the 
maine course or a paire of courses. Bonits and Drablers are commonly one 
third part a peece to the saile they belong unto in depth, but their 
proportion is uncertaine; for some will make the maine saile so deepe, 
that with a shallow bonet they will cloath all the Mast without a Drabler, 
but without bonets we call them but courses; we say, lash on the bonet to 
the course, because it is made fast with Latchets into the eylot holes of 
the saile, as the Drabler is to it, and used as the wind permits. There is 
also your maine top-saile, and fore top-saile, with their top-gallant 
sailes, and in a faire gaile your studding sailes, which are bolts of 
Canvasse, or any cloth that will hold wind, wee extend alongst the side of 
the maine saile, and boomes it out with a boome or long pole, which we use 
also sometimes to the clew of the maine saile, fore saile, and spret 
saile, when you goe before the wind or quartering, else not. Your Miszen, 
and Miszen top-saile, your Spret and Spret top-saile, as the rest, take 
all their names of their yards. A Drift saile is onely used

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under water, veared out right a head by sheats, to keepe the Ships head 
right upon the Sea in a storme, or when a ship drives too fast in a 
current. A Netting mile is onely a saile laid over the Netting, which is 
small ropes from the top of the fore castle to the Poope, stretched upon 
the ledges from the Waist-trees to the Roufe-trees, which are onely small 
Timbers to beare up the Gratings from the halfe Decke to the fore-castle, 
supported by Stantions that rest upon the halle Decke; and this Netting or 
Grating, which is but the like made of wood, you may set up or take downe 
when you please, and is called the close fights fore and aft. Now the use 
of those sailes is thus, all head Sailes which are those belonging to the 
fore Mast and Boltspret, doe keepe the Ship from the wind or to fall off. 
All after sailes, that is, all the sailes belonging to the maine Mast and 
Miszen keepes her to wind ward, therefore few ships will steare upon 
quarter winds with one saile, but must have one after saile, and one head 
saile. The sailes are cut in proportion as the Masts and Yards are in 
bredth and length, but the Spret-saile is 3/4 parts the depth of the fore 
saile, and the Miszen by the Leech twise so deepe as the Mast is long from 
the Decke to the Hounds. The Leech of a saile is the outward side or skirt 
of the saile from the earing to the clew, the middle betwixt which wee 
account the Leech. The Clew is the lower corner of a Saile, to which you 
make fast your Sheates and Tacks, or that which comes goring out from the 
square of the saile, for a square saile hath no Clew, but the maine saile 
must bee cut goring, because the Tacks will come closer aboord, and so 
cause the saile to hold more wind; now when the Saile is large and hath a 
good Clew, we say she spreds a large Clew, or spreds much Canvas. In 
making those sailes they use two sorts of seames downe the Sailes, which 
doth sow the bredth of the Canvas together, the one we call a Munke seame, 
which is flat, the other a round seame, which is so called because it is 
round.

The Ship being thus provided, there wants yet her

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Ordnances, which should be in greatnesse according to her building in 
strength and burthen, but the greatest commonly lieth lowest, which we 
call the lower tier, if she bee furnished fore and aft. Likewise the 
second Tier, and the third, which are the smallest. The fore-Castle and 
the halfe Decke being also furnished, wee account halfe a Tier.

A Tier. Third. Second. Halfe a Tier. Stowage. To Stow. Ballast. Trench the 
Ballast. Shout.

Stowage or to stow, is to put me goods in Howle in order. The most 
ponderous next the Ballast, which is next the Keelson to keepe her stiffe 
in the Sea. Balast is either Gravell, Stones, or Lead, but that which is 
driest, heaviest, and lies closest is best. To finde a leake, they trench 
the Ballast, that is, to divide it. The Ballast wil sometimes shoot, that 
is, run from one side to another, and so will Corne and Salt, if you make 
not Pouches or Bulk-heads, which when the Ship doth heeld is very 
dangerous to overset or turne the Keele upwards. For Caske that is so 
stowed, tier above tier with Ballast, and canting Coines, which are little 
short peeces of wood or Billets cut with a sharpe ridge or edge to lye 
betwixt the Caske; and standing Coines are Billets or Pipe-staves, to make 
them they cannot give way nor stirre. The ship will beare much, that is, 
carry much Ordnance or goods, or beare much saile; and when you let any 
thing downe into the Howle, lowering it by degrees, they say, Amaine; and 
being downe, Strike.



Page 258 

Chap. VIII.
The charge and duty of the Captaine of a ship, and every Office and 
Officer in a man of Warre.

The Captaines charge.

THe Captaines charge is to command all, and tell the Master to what Port 
hee will goe, or to what Height; In a fight he is to give direction for 
the managing thereof, and the Master is to see the cunning of the ship, 
and trimming of the sailes.

The Master and his Mates.

The Master and his Mates are to direct the course, command all the 
Sailers, for stearing, trimming, and sailing the ship; his Mates are only 
his seconds, allowed sometimes for the two mid ships men, that ought to 
take charge of the first prise.

The Pilot.

The Pilot when they make land doth take the charge of the ship till he 
bring her to harbour.

The Chirurgion and his Mate.

The Chirurgion is to be exempted from all duty, but to attend the sicke, 
and cure the wounded: and good care would be had he have a certificate 
from Barber Chirurgions Hall of his sufficiency, and also that his chest 
be well furnished both for Physicke and Chirurgery, and so neare as may be 
proper for that clime you goe for, which neglect hath beene the losse of 
many a mans life.

The Cape-merchant or Purser. The Gunner with his Mate, and quarter Gunners.

The Cape-merchant or Purser hath the charge of all the Carragasoune or 
merchandize, and doth keepe an account of all that is received, or 
delivered, but a man of Warre hath onely a Purser.

The Master Gunner hath the charge of the ordnance,

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and shot, powder, match, ladles, spunges, wormes, cartrages, armes and 
fire-workes; and the rest of the Gunners, or quarter Gunners to receive 
their charge from him according to directions, and to give an account of 
their store.

The Carpenter and his Mate.

The Carpenter and his Mate, is to have the nailes, clinches, roove and 
clinch nailes, spikes, plates, rudder irons, pumpe nailes, skupper nailes 
and leather, sawes, files, hatchets and such like, and ever ready for 
calking, breaming, stopping leakes, fishing, or splicing the masts or 
yards as occasion requireth, and to give an account of his store.

The Boatswaine and his Mate.

The Boatswaine is to have the charge of all the cordage, tackling, sailes, 
fids and marling spikes, needles, twine, saile-cloth, and rigging the 
ship, his Mate the command of the long boat, for the setting forth of 
anchors, weighing or fetching home an anchor, warping, towing, or moring, 
and to give an account of his store.

The Trumpeter.

The Trumpeter is alwayes to attend the Captaines command, and to sound 
either at his going a shore, or comming aboord, at the entertainment of 
strangers, also when you hale a ship, when you charge, boord, or enter; 
and the poope is his place to stand or sit upon, if there bee a noise, 
they are to attend him, if there be not, every one hee doth teach to beare 
a part, the Captaine is to incourage him, by increasing his shares, or 
pay, and give the master Trumpeter a reward.

The Marshall.

The Marshall is to punish offenders, and to see justice executed according 
to directions; as ducking at the yards arme, haling under the keele, bound 
to the capsterne, or maine mast with a basket of shot about his necke, 
setting in the bilbowes, and to pay the Cobtie or the Morioune; but the 
boyes the Boatswaine is to see every Munday at the chest, to say their 
compasse, and receive their punishment for all their weekes offences, 
which done, they are to have a quarter can of beere, and a basket of 
bread, but if the Boatswaine eat or drinke before hee catch them, they are 
free.

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The Corporall.

The Corporall is to see the setting and releeving the watch, and see all 
the souldiers and sailers keepe their armes cleane, neat, and yare and 
teach them their use.

The Steward & his Mate.

The Steward is to deliver out the victuals according to the Captaines 
directions, and messe them foure, five, or six, as there is occasion.

The quarter Masters.

The quarter Masters have the charge of the howle, for stowing, romaging, 
and trimming the ship in the hold, and of their squadrons for the watch, 
and for fishing to have a Sayne, a fisgig, a harpin yron, and fish hookes, 
for Porgos, Bonetos, Dolphins, or Dorados, and rayling lines for Mackrels.

The Cooper and his Mate.

The Cooper is to looke to the caske, hoopes and twigs, to stave or repaire 
the buckets, baricos, cans, steepe tubs, runlets, hogsheads, pipes, buts, 
&c. for wine, beare, sider, beverage, fresh water, or any liquor.

The Coxswaine and his Mate.

The Cooke and his Mate. The Coxswaine is to have a choise Gang to attend 
the skiffe to goe to and againe as occasion commandeth. The Cooke is to 
dresse and deliver out the victuall, hee hath his store of quarter cans, 
small cans, platters, spoones, lanthornes, &c. and is to give his account 
of the remainder.

The Swabber.

The Swabber is to wash and keepe cleane the ship and maps.

The Lyar.

The Liar is to hold his place but for a weeke, and hee that is first taken 
with a lie, every Munday is so proclaimed at the maine mast by a generall 
cry, a Liar, a Liar, a Liar, hee is under the Swabber, and onely to keepe 
cleane the beake head, and chaines.

The Sailers.

The Sailers are the ancient men for hoising the sailes, getting the tacks 
aboord, haling the bowlings, and stearing the ship.

The Younkers.

The Younkers are the young men called fore-mast men, to take in the top-
sailes, or top and yard, for furling the sailes, or slinging the yards, 
bousing or trising, and take their turnes at helme.

The Lieutenant his place.

The Lieutenant is to associate the Captaine, and in his

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absence to execute his place, hee is to see the Marshall and Corporall doe 
their duties, and assist them in instructing the souldiers, and in a fight 
the fore-castle is his place to make good, as the Captaine doth the halfe 
decke, and the quarter Masters, or Masters Mate the mid ships, and in a 
States man of Warre, he is allowed as necessary as a Lieutenant on shore.



Page 262 

Chap. IX.
Proper Sea tearmes for dividing the company at Sea, and stearing, sayling, 
or moring a Ship in faire weather, or in a storme.

Steep Tubs. Starboord. Larboord. Cunning. Stearing. Mid-ships. Port.

IT is to bee supposed by this the Ship is victualled and manned, the 
voiage determined, the steepe Tubs in the chains to shift their Beefe, 
Porke, or Fish in salt water, till the salt be out though not the 
saltnesse, and all things else ready to set saile; but before wee goe any 
further, for the better understanding the rest, a few words for stearing 
and cunning the Ship would not bee amisse. Then know, Star-boord is the 
right hand, Lar-boord the left; Starboord the Helme, is to put the Helme a 
Starboord, then the ship will goe to the Larboord. Right your Helme, that 
is, to keepe it in the mid ships, or right up. Port, that is, to put the 
Helme to Larboord, and the Ship will goe to the Starboord, for the Ship 
will ever goe contrary to the Helme. Now by a quarter wind, they will say 
aloofe, or keepe your loofe, keepe her to it, have a care, of your Lee-
latch. Touch the wind, and warre no more, is no more but to bid him at the 
Helme to keepe her so neere the wind as may be; no neere, ease the Helme, 
or beare up, is to let her fall to Lee-ward. Steady, that is, to keepe her 
right upon that point you steare by; be yare at the Helme, or a fresh man 
to the Helme. But he that keepes the Ship most from yawing doth commonly 
use the lest motion with the Helme, and those steare the best.

A loofe. Keep your loofe. War no more. No neare. Ease. Steady. Yare. Geare.

The Master and company being aboord, he commands them to get the sailes to 
the yards, and about your geare

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or worke on all hands, stretch forward your maine Halliards, hoise your 
Sailes halfe mast high. Predy, or make ready to set saile, crosse your 
yards, bring your Cable to the Capsterne; Boatswaine fetch an Anchor 
aboord, breake ground or weigh Anchor. Heave a head, men into the Tops, 
men upon the yards; come, is the Anchor a pike, that is, to heave the 
Hawse of the ship right over the Anchor, what is the Anchor away? Yea, 
yea. Let fall your fore-saile. Tally, that is, hale off the Sheats; who is 
at the Helme there, coile your Cables in small fakes, hale the Cat, a 
Bitter, belay, loose fast your Anchor with your shank-painter, stow the 
Boat, set the land, how it beares by the Compasse that we may the better 
know thereby to keep our account and direct our course, let fall your 
maine saile, every man say his private prayer for a boone voyage, out with 
your spret saile, on with your bonits & Drablers, steare steady & keep 
your course, so, you go wel.

How they divide the company at sea, and set, and rule the watch.

When this is done, the Captaine or Master commands the Boatswaine to call 
up the company; the Master being chiefe of the Starboord watch doth call 
one, and his right hand Mate on the Larboord doth call another, and so 
forward till they be divided in two parts, then each man is to chuse his 
Mate, Consort, or Comrade, and then devide them into squadrons according 
to your number and burthen of your ship as you see occasion; these are to 
take their turnes at the Helme, trim sailes, pumpe, and doe all duties 
each halfe, or each squadron for eight Glasses or foure houres which is a 
watch, but care would bee had that there be not two Comrades upon one 
watch because they may have the more roome in their Cabbins to rest. And 
as the Captaine and masters Mates, Gunners, Carpenters, Quartermasters, 
Trumpeters, &c. are to be abaft the Mast, so the Boatswaine, and all the 
Yonkers or common Sailers under his command is to be before the Mast. The 
next is, to messe them foure to a messe, and then give every messe a 
quarter Can of beere and a basket of bread to stay their stomacks till the 
Kettle be boiled, that they

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may first goe to prayer, then to supper, and at six a clocke sing a 
Psalme, say a Prayer, and the Master with his side begins the watch, then 
all the rest may doe what they will till midnight; and then his Mate with 
his Larboord men with a Psalme and a Prayer releeves them till foure in 
the morning, and so from eight to twelve each other, except some flaw of 
winde come, some storme or gust, or some accident that requires the helpe 
of all hands, which commonly after such good cheere in most voyages doth 
happen.

The wind veeres. Tally. Flowne. Fly. A paire of courses.

For now the wind veeres, that is, it doth shift from point to point, get 
your Starboord tacks aboord, and tally or hale off your Lee-Sheats. The 
Ship will not wayer, settle your maine Topsaile, veere a fadome of your 
sheat. The wind comes faire againe and a fresh gale, hale up the slatch of 
the Lee-boling. By Slatch is meant the middle part of any rope hangs over 
boord. Veere more sheat, or a flowne sheat, that is, when they are not 
haled home to the blocke. But when we say, let fly the sheats, then they 
let go amaine, which commonly is in some gust, lest they spend their 
topsailes, or if her quicke side lie in the water, overset the ship. A 
flowne sheat is when shee goes before the wind, or betwixt a paire of 
sheats, or all sailes drawing. But the wind shrinkes, that is, when you 
must take in the Spretsaile, and get the tacks aboord, hale close the 
maine Boling, that is, when your Tacks are close aboord. If you would 
saile against the wind or keepe your owne, that is, not to fall to lee-
ward or goe backe againe, by halling off close your Bolings, you set your 
sailes so sharp as you can to lie close by a wind, thwarting it a league 
or two, or more or lesse, as you see cause, first on the one boord then on 
the other; this we call boording or beating it up upon a tacke in the 
winds eye, or bolting to and againe; but the longer your boords are, the 
more you worke or gather into the wind. If a sudden flaw of wind should 
surprise you, when you would lower a yard so fast as you can, they call A 
maine; but a crosse saile cannot come neerer the wind than six

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points, but a Carvell whose sailes stand like a paire of Tailers sheeres, 
will goe much neerer.

How to handle a ship in a storme. Try. Hull. Under the Sea. Weather coile.

It over-casts we shall have wind, fowle weather, settell your top sailes, 
take in the spret-saile, in with your top-sailes, lower the fore-saile, 
tallow under the parrels, brade up close all them sailes, lash sure the 
ordnance, strike your top-masts to the cap, make it sure with your sheeps 
feet. A storme, let us lie at Trie with our maine course, that is, to hale 
the tacke aboord, the sheat close aft, the boling set up, and the helme 
tied close aboord. When that will not serve then Try the mizen, if that 
split, or the storme grow so great she cannot beare it; then hull, which 
is to beare no saile, but to strike a hull is when they would lie 
obscurely in the Sea, or stay for some consort, lash sure the helme a lee, 
and so a good ship will lie at ease under the Sea as wee terme it. If shee 
will weather coile, and lay her head the other way without loosing a 
saile, that must bee done by bearing up the Helme, and then she will drive 
nothing so farre to Leeward. They call it hulling also in a calme swelling 
Sea, which is commonly before a storme, when they strike their sailes lest 
she should beat them in peeces against the mast by Rowling. We say a ship 
doth Labour much when she doth rowle much any way; but if she will neither 
Try nor Hull, Then Spoone, that is, put her right before the wind, this 
way although shee will rowle more than the other, yet if she be weake it 
will not straine her any thing so much in the Trough of the Sea, which is 
the distance betwixt two waves or Billowes. If none of this will doe well, 
then she is in danger to founder, if not sinke. Foundering is when she 
will neither veere nor steare, the Sea will so over rake her, except you 
free out the water, she will lie like a log, and so consequently sinke. To 
spend a mast or yard, is when they are broke by fowle weather, and to 
spring a mast is when it is cracked in any place.

Rowling. Labour. Spoone. Trough. Founder. To spend a mast. Spring a mast.

In this extremity he that doth cun the ship cannot have too much 
judgement, nor experience to try her drift, or how she capes, which are 
two tearmes also used in the

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trials of the running or setting of currants. A yoke is when the Sea is so 
rough as that men cannot govern the Helme with their hands, & then they 
sease a block to the Helme on each side at the end, & reeving two fals 
thorow them like Gunners Tackles brings them to the ships side, and so 
some being at the one side of the Tackle, some at the other, they steare 
her with much more ease than they can with a single rope with a double 
Turne about the Helme.

A head Sea.

When the storme is past, though the wind may alter three or foure points 
of the compasse, or more, yet the Sea for a good time will goe the same 
way; then if your course be right against it, you shall meet it right a 
head, so we call it a head Sea. Sometimes when there is but little wind, 
there will come a contrary Sea, and presently the winde after it, wherby 
we may judge that from whence it came was much winde, for commonly before 
any great storme the Sea will come that way. Now if the ship may runne on 
shore in ose or mud she may escape, or Billage on a rocke, or Ancors 
flooke, repaire her leake, but if she split or sinke, shee is awracke. But 
seeing the storme decreaseth, let us trie if she will endure the Hullocke 
of a Saile, which sometimes is a peece of the mizen saile or some other 
little saile, part opned to keepe her head to the sea, but if yet shee 
would weather coile, wee will loose a Hullocke of her fore-saile, and put 
the Helme a weather, and it will bring her head where her sterne is; 
courage my hearts.

Hullocke. Lardge. Laske.

It cleares up, set your fore-saile; Now it is faire weather, out with all 
your sailes, goe lardge or laske, that is, when we have a fresh gale, or 
faire wind, and all sailes drawing. But for more haste unparrell the mizen 
yard and lanch it, and the saile over her Lee quarter, and fit Gives at 
the further end to keepe the yard steady, and with a Boome boome it out; 
this we call a Goose-wing. Who is at Helme there? Sirra you must be 
amongst the Points; Well Master the Channell is broad enough; Yet you 
cannot steare betwixt a paire of sheats; Those are words

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of mockery betwixt the Cunner and the Stearesman. But to proceed,

Get your Larboord Tackes aboord, hale off your star-boord sheats, keepe 
your course upon the point you are directed, Port, he will lay her by the 
lee; the staies, or backe staies, that is, when all the sailes flutter in 
the winde, and are not kept full, that is full of wind, they fall upon the 
masts and shrowds, so that the ship goes a drift upon her broad side, fill 
the sailes, keepe full, full and by. Make ready to Tacke about, is but for 
every man to stand to handle the sailes and ropes they must hale; Tacke 
about is to beare up the helme, and that brings her to stay all her sailes 
lying flat against the shrowds, then as she turnes wee say shee is payed, 
then let rise your Lee-tacks and hale off your sheats, and trim all your 
sailes as they were before, which is cast of that Boling which was the 
weather boling, and hale up taught the other. So all your Sheats, Brases, 
and Tackes are trimmed by a winde as before. To belay, is to make fast the 
ropes in their proper places. Round in, is when the wind larges, let rise 
the maine tacke and fore tacke, and hale aft the fore sheat to the cats 
head, and the maine sheat to the cubbridge head, this is Rounding in, or 
rounding aft the saile; the sheats being there they hale them downe to 
keepe them firme from flying up with a Pasarado, which is any rope 
wherewith wee hale downe the sheats, blockes of the maine or fore saile, 
when they are haled aft the clew of the maine saile to the Cubbridge head 
of the maine mast, and the clew of the fore saile to the Cat head; Doe 
this when the ship goes large.

Round in. Rounding aft. Pasarado. Observe. Dead water.

Observe the height, that is, at twelve a clocke to take the height of the 
Sunne, or in the night the North star, or in the forenoone and afternoone, 
if you misse these by finding the Azimuth and Alnicanter. Dead water is 
the Eddie water followes the sterne of the ship, not passing away so 
quickly as that slides by her sides. The wake of a ship is the smooth 
water a sterne shewing the way shee hath gone in the sea, by this we judge 
what way

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she doth make, for if the wake be right a sterne, we know she makes good 
her way forwards; but if to Lee-ward a point or two, wee then thinke to 
the Lee-ward of her course, but shee is a nimble ship that in turning or 
tacking about will not fall to the Lee-ward of her wake when shee hath 
weathered it. Disimbogue is to passe some narrow strait or currant into 
the maine Ocean, out of some great Gulfe or Bay. A Drift is any thing 
floating in the sea that is of wood. Rockweed doth grow by the shore, and 
is a signe of land, yet it is oft found farre in the Sea. Lay the ship by 
the Lee to trie the Dipsie line, which is a small line some hundred and 
fifty fadome long, with a long plummet at the end, made hollow, wherein is 
put tallow, that will bring up any gravell; which is first marked at 
twenty fadome, and after increased by tens to the end; and those 
distinguished by so many small knots upon each little string that is fixed 
at the marke thorow the strouds or middest of the line, shewing it is so 
many times ten fadome deepe, where the plummet doth rest from drawing the 
line out of your hand; this is onely used in deepe water when we thinke we 
approach the shore, for in the maine sea at 300. fadomes we finde no 
bottome. Bring the ship to rights, that is, againe under saile as she was, 
some use a Log line, and a minute glasse to know what way shee makes, but 
that is so uncertaine, it is not worth the labour to trie it.

Log line. Land to. Kenning. To lay a land. Good land fall. Bad land fall. 
A head land. A Point. Lande marke. To raise a land. To make land. A Reach.

One to the top to looke out for land, the man cries out Land to; which is 
just so farre as a kenning, or a man may discover, descrie, or see the 
land. And to lay a land is to saile from it just so farre as you can see 
it. A good Land fall is when we fall just with our reckoning, if otherwise 
a bad Land fall; but however how it beares, set it by the compasse, and 
bend your Cables to the Anchors. A Head land, or a Point of land doth lie 
further out at sea than the rest. A Land marke, is any Mountaine, Rocke, 
Church, Windmill or the like, that the Pilot can know by comparing one by 
another how they beare by the compasse. A Reach is the distance of two 
points so

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farre as you can see them in a right line, as White Hall and London 
Bridge, or White Hall and the end of Lambeth towards Chelsey. Fetch the 
Sounding line, this is bigger than the Dipsie line, and is marked at two 
fadome next the lead with a peece of blacke leather, at three fadome the 
like, but slit; at 5. fadome with a peece of white cloth, at 7. fadome 
with a peece of red in a peece of white leather, at 15. with a white 
cloth, &c. The sounding lead is six or seven pound weight, and neere a 
foot long, he that doth heave this lead stands by the horse, or in the 
chaines, and doth sing fadome by the marke 5. 0. and a shaftment lesse,
4. 0. this is to finde where the ship may saile by the depth of the water. 
Fowle water is when she comes into shallow water where shee raises the 
sand or ose with her way yet not touch the ground, but shee cannot feele 
her helme so well as in deepe water.

Beare in. Beare off. Beare up. Hold off. Surges.

When a ship sailes with a large wind towards the land, or a faire wind 
into a harbour, we say she beares in with the land or harbour. And when 
she would not come neere the land, but goeth more Roome-way than her 
course, wee say she beares off; but a ship boord, beare off is used to 
every thing you would thrust from you. Beare up is to bring the ship to 
goe large or before the wind. To Hold off is when we heave the Cable at 
the Capsterne, if it be great and stiffe, or slimie with ose, it surges or 
slips backe unlesse they keep it close to the whelps, and then they either 
hold it fast with nippers, or brings it to the Jeare Capsterne, and this 
is called Holding off. As you approach the shore, shorten your sailes, 
when you are in harbour take in your sailes, and come to an anchor, 
wherein much judgement is required.

Neale to. A Roade. Offing.

To know well the soundings, if it be Nealed to, that is, deepe water close 
aboord the shore, or shallow, or if the Lee under the weather shore, or 
the lee shore be sandy, clay, osie, or fowle and rockie ground, but the 
Lee shore all men would shun that can avoid it. Or a Roade which is an 
open place neere the shore. Or the Offing which is the open Sea from the 
shore, or the middest of any

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great streame is called the Offing. Land locke, is when the land is round 
about you.

Land locked. To Ride. Ride a great Roade. Ride a stresse. Ride betwixt. 
Wind and tide. Ride thwart tide. Ride a pike. Ride crosse.

Now the ship is said to Ride, so long as the Anchors doe hold and comes 
not home. To Ride a great roade is when the winde hath much power. They 
will strike their top masts, and the yards alongst ships, and the deeper 
the water is, it requires more Cable; when wee have rid in any distresse 
wee say wee have rid hawse full, because the water broke into the hawses. 
To ride betwixt wind and tide, is when the wind & tide are contrary & of 
equall power, which will make her rowle extremely, yet not straine much 
the cable. To Ride thwart is to ride with her side to the tide, and then 
she never straines it. To ride apike is to pike your yards when you ride 
amongst many ships. To ride acrosse is to hoise the maine and fore yards 
to the hounds, and topped alike. When the water is gone and the ship lies 
dry, we say she is Sewed; if her head but lie dry, she is Sewed a head; 
but if she cannot all lie dry, she cannot Sew there. Water borne is when 
there is no more water than will just beare her from the ground. The water 
line is to that Bend or place she should swim in when she is loaded.

Sewed. Sew. Water borne. Water line. To More. More crosse. More alongst. 
Water shot. More Proviso.

Lastly, to More a ship is to lay out her anchors as is most fit for her to 
ride by, and the wayes are divers; as first, to More a faire Berth from 
any annoiance. To More a crosse is to lay one anchor to one side of the 
streame, and the other to the other right against one another, and so they 
beare equally ebbe and flood. To More alongst is to lay an anchor amidst 
the streame ahead, and another asterne, when you feare driving a shore. 
Water shot is to more quartering betwixt both nether crosse, nor alongst 
the tide. In an open rode they will more that way they thinke the wind 
will come the most to hurt them. To more a Proviso, is to have one anchor 
in the river, and a hawser a shore, which is mored with her head a shore; 
otherwise two cables is the least, and foure cables the best to more by.



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Chap. X.
Proper tearmes for the Winds, Ebbes, Floods, and Eddies, with their 
definitions, and an estimate of the depth of the Sea, by the height of the 
Hils and the largenesse of the Earth.

A Calme. A Breze. A fresh gale. A Loome gale. Eddie wind. It over blowes. 
A Gust. A Spout. A whirle winde. A Storme.

WHen there is not a breath of wind stirring, it is a calme or a starke 
calme. A Breze is a wind blowes out of the Sea, and commonly in faire 
weather beginneth about nine in the morning, and lasteth till neere night; 
so likewise all the night it is from the shore which is called a Turnado, 
or a Sea-turne, but this is but upon such coasts where it bloweth thus 
most certainly, except it be a storme, or very fowle weather, as in 
Barbaria, Egypt, and the most of the Levant. We have such Brezes in most 
hot countreys in Summer, but they are very uncertaine. A fresh Gale is 
that doth presently blow after a calme, when the wind beginneth to quicken 
or blow. A faire Loome Gale is the best to saile in, because the Sea goeth 
not high, and we beare out all our sailes. A stiffe Gale is so much wind 
as our top-sailes can endure to beare. An Eddie wind is checked by the 
saile, a mountaine, turning, or any such thing that makes it returne backe 
againe. It over blowes when we can beare no top-sailes. A flaw of wind is 
a Gust which is very violent upon a sudden, but quickly endeth. A Spout in 
the West Indies commonly falleth in those Gusts, which is, as it were, a 
small river falling entirely from the clouds, like out of our water 
Spouts, which make the Sea where it falleth rebound in flashes exceeding 
high. Whirle winds runneth round, and bloweth divers wayes at once. A 
storme is knowne to

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every one not to bee much lesse than a tempest, that will blow downe 
houses, and trees up by the roots. A Mounsoune is a constant wind in the 
East Indies, that bloweth alwayes three moneths together one way, and the 
next three moneths the contrary way. A Hericano is so violent in the West 
Indies, it will continue three, foure, or five weekes, but they have it 
not past once in five, six, or seven yeeres; but then it is with such 
extremity that the Sea flies like raine, and the waves so high, they over 
flow the low grounds by the Sea, in so much, that ships have been driven 
over tops of high trees there growing, many leagues into the land, and 
there left, as was Captaine Francis Nelson an Englishman, and an excellent 
Sea-man for one.

Becalmed. A Rough Sea. An overgrowne Sea. Surges. The Rut of the Sea. The 
Roaring of the Sea. Floods & ebbes.

We say a calme sea, or Becalmed, when it is so smooth the ship moves very 
little, and the men leap over boord to swim. A Rough Sea is when the waves 
grow high. An overgrowne Sea when the surges and billowes goe highest. The 
Rut of the sea where it doth dash against any thing. And the Roaring of 
the Sea is most commonly observed a shore, a little before a storme or 
after a storme.

A Tide of ebbe. A Tide of flood. A windward Tide. A Lee-ward tide. To Tide 
over. Tide gate. Tide and halfe Tide.

Flood is when the water beginneth to rise, which is young flood as we call 
it, then quarter flood, halfe flood, full Sea, still water, or high water. 
So when it Ebbes, quarter ebbe, halfe ebbe, three quarter ebbe, low water, 
or dead low water every one doth know; and also that as at a spring tide 
the Sea or water is at the highest, so at a Neape tide it is at the 
lowest. This word Tide, is common both to Flood and Ebbe; for you say as 
well tide of ebbe, as tide of flood, or a windward Tide when the Tide 
runnes against the streame, as a Lee-warde Tide, that is, when the wind 
and the Tide goeth both one way, which makes the water as smooth as the 
other rough. To Tide over to a place, is to goe over with the Tide of ebbe 
or flood, and stop the contrary by anchoring till the next Tide, thus you 
may worke against the wind if it over blow not. A Tide gate is where the 
tide runneth strongest. It flowes Tide and halfe Tide, that is, it will be 
halfe flood by the shore, before it begin to flow in the

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channell; for although the Tide of flood run aloft, yet the Tide of ebbe 
runnes close by the ground. An Eddie tide is where the water doth runne 
backe contrary to the tide, that is, when some headland or great point in 
a River hindereth the free passage of the streame, that causeth the water 
on the other side the point to turne round by the shore as in a circle, 
till it fall into the tide againe.

As touching the reasons of ebbes and floods, and to know how far it is to 
the bottome of the deepest place of the Sea, I will not take upon me to 
discourse of; as knowing the same to be the secrets of God unrevealed to 
man: only I will set downe a Philosophicall speculation of divers mens 
opinions touching the depth of the Sea; which I hope will not be thought 
much impertinent to the subject of this booke by the judicious Reader.

The height of mountaines perpendicular.

Fabianus in Plinie, and Cleomides conceived the depth of the Sea to be 
fifteene furlongs, that is, a mile and 7/8 parts, Plutarch compared it 
equall to the highest mountaines, Scallinger and others conceited the hils 
farre surpassed the deepnesse of the Sea, and that in few places it is 
more than a hundered paces in depth; it may bee hee meant in some narrow 
Seas; but in the maine Ocean experience hath taught us it is much more 
than twice so much, for I have sounded 300. fadome, yet found no ground. 
Eratosthenes in Theon that great Mathematitian writeth the highest 
mountain perpendicular is but ten furlongs, that is, one mile and a 
quarter. Also Dicæarcus affirmeth this to be the height of the bill Pelius 
in Thessalia, but Xenagoras in Plutarch observed the height of Olimpus in 
the same region to be twenty paces more, which is 1270. paces, but surely 
all those meane onely those mountaines in or about Greece where they lived 
and were best acquainted; but how these may compare with the Alps in Asia, 
Atlas in Africa, Caucasus in India, the Andes in Peru, and divers others 
hath not yet beene examined.

The height of the hils compared with the superficies [P. 49] of the earth 
and depth of the Sea.

But whatsoever the hils may be above the superficies of the earth, many 
hold opinion the Sea is much deeper, who suppose that the earth at the 
first framing was in

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the superficies regular and sphericall, as the holy Scriptures directs us 
to beleeve; because the water covered and compassed all the face of the 
earth, also that the face of the earth was equall to that of the Sea. 
Damascen noteth, that the unevennesse and irregularity which now is seene 
in the earths superficies, was caused by taking some parts out of the 
upper face of the earth in sundry places to make it more hollow, and lay 
them in other places to make it more convex, or by raising up some part 
and depressing others to make roome and receit for the Sea, that mutation 
being wrought by the power of the word of the Lord, Let the waters be 
gathered into one place that the dry land may appeare. As for Aquinas, 
Dionysius, Catharianus, and some Divines that conceited there was no 
mutation, but a violent accumulation of the waters, or heaping them up on 
high is unreasonable; because it is against nature, that water being a 
flexible and a ponderous body, so to consist and stay it selfe, and not 
fall to the lower parts about it; where in nature there is nothing to 
hinder it, or, if it be restrained supernaturally by the hand and bridle 
of Almighty God, lest it should over-whelme and drowne all the land, it 
must follow, that God even in the very institution of nature imposed a 
perpetuall violence upon nature. And this with all, that at the Deluge 
there was no necessity to breake up the springs of the deepe and to open 
the cattaracts of Heaven, and powre downe water continually so many daies 
and nights together, seeing the only with-drawing of that hand, or letting 
goe of that bridle which restraineth the water would presently have 
overwhelmed all.

How all the hils and dry land above the superficies of the Sea hath made 
roome for the Sea, therefore they are in equall height & depth.
But both by Scriptures, the experience of Navigators, and reason in making 
estimation of the depth of the Sea, reckon not onely the height of the 
hils above the common superficies of the earth, but the height of all the 
dry land above the superficies of the Sea, because the whole masse of 
earth that now appeareth above the waters, being taken as it were out of 
the places which the waters now possesse, must be equall to the place out 
of which it was taken; so

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consequently it seemeth, that the height or elevation of the one should 
answer the descending or depth of the other; and therefore in estimating 
the depth of the Sea, wee consider not onely the erection of the hils 
above the ordinary land, but the advantage of the dry land above the Sea; 
which latter, I meane the height of the ordinary maine land, excluding the 
hils, which properly answer the extraordinary deepes and whirle-pooles in 
the Sea. The rest is held more in large Continents above the Sea, than 
that of the hils is above the land.

That there is small difference betwixt the springs first rising out of the 
earth, and their falling into the Sea.

For that the plain face of the dry land is not level, or equally distant 
from the Center, but hath a great descent towards the Sea, and a rising 
towards the mid-land parts, although it appeare not plainly to the eye, 
yet to reason it is most manifest; because we find that part of the earth 
the Sea covereth descendeth lower and lower towards the Sea. For the Sea, 
which touching the upper face of it, is knowne by nature to be levell and 
evenly distant from the center, is observed to wax deeper & deeper the 
further one saileth from the shore towards the maine Ocean: even so in 
that part which is uncovered, the streamings of Rivers on all sides from 
the mid-land parts towards the Sea, sliding from the higher to the lower 
declareth so much, whose courses are some 1000. or 2000. miles, in which 
declination, Pliny in his derivation of water requireth one cubit of 
declining in 240. foot of proceeding. But Columella, Viturnius, Paladius, 
and others, in their conduction of waters require somewhat lesse; namely, 
that in the proceeding of 200. foot forward, there should bee allowed one 
foot of descending downeward, which yet in the course of 1000. miles, as 
Danubius, Volgha, or Indus, &c. have so much or more, which will make five 
miles of descent in perpendicular account, and in the course of 2000. or 
more, as Nilus, Niger, and the River of the Amazons have 10. miles or more 
of the like descent.

The determination of these questions.

These are not taken as rules of necessity, as though water could not runne 
without that advantage, for that respect the conveyers of waters in these 
times content

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themselves with one inch in 600. foot, as Philander and Viturnius 
observed, but is rather under a rule of commodity for expedition and 
wholsomnesse of water so conveyed, lest resting too long in pipes it 
should contract some unwholsome condition, or else through the slacknesse 
of motion, or long closenesse, or banishment from the aire, gather some 
aptnesse and disposition to putrifie. Although I say, such excesse of 
advantage as in the artificiall conveyance of waters the forenamed Authors 
require, be not of necessity exacted in the naturall derivation of them, 
yet certaine it is, that the descent of rivers being continually and their 
course long, and in many places swift, and in some places headlong and 
furious; the differences of height or advantage cannot be great betwixt 
the springs of the rivers and their out lets, betwixt the first rising out 
of the earth and their falling into the Sea: unto which declinity of land 
seeing the deepenesse of the Sea in proportion answer as I before 
declared, and not onely to the height of the hils: it is concluded, that 
the deepenesse to bee much more than the Philosophers commonly reputed: 
and although the deepnesse of the Sardinian Sea, which Aristotle saith, 
was the deepest of the Mediterranean, recorded by Posidonius in Strabo, to 
have beene found but 1000. fadome, which is but a mile and a fifth part, 
and the greatest bredth not past 600. miles: then seeing if in so narrow a 
Sea it be so deepe, what may we esteeme the maine Ocean to be, that in 
many places is five times so broad, seeing the broader the Seas are, if 
they be intire and free from Ilands, they are answerably observed to be 
the deeper. If you desire any further satisfaction, reade the first part 
of Purchas his Pilgrimage, where you may reade how to find all those 
Authors at large. Now because he hath taken neere 100. times as much from 
me, I have made bold to borrow this from him, seeing he hath sounded such 
deepe waters for this our Ship to saile in, being a Gentleman whose person 
I loved, and whose memory and vertues I will ever honour.