HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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and the peculiarity of placing four masts in the first rates, or ships of the largestsize *, is particularly attended to. Indeed, the general contour or shape ofvessels so nearly similar, especially above the water-mark, was so tenaciouslyretained both by the Hollanders and Spaniards, even so late as the commence-ment of the reign of king Charles the Second, that we can have little to dis-credit or doubt respecting the fidelity of the representation.

Sir Walter Raleigh, speaking of the improvements made in Marine Archi-tecture about this time, or within a few years immediately subsequent to it,says, “ Whoever were the inventors, we find that every age has added some-what to ships ; and in my time, the shape of our English ships has been greatlybettered. It is not long since the striking of the top-masts, a wonderful easeto great ships, both at sea, and in the harbour, hath been devised, together with

A List of the English Fleet in the Tear 1588.

Men of War belonging to her Majesty - - - - - 17

Other Ships hired by her Majesty for this service - - - - 12

Tenders and Store-ships - - - - - -6

Furnished by the City of London, being double the number the Queen demanded, all well

manned, and thoroughly provided with ammunition and provision - - - 16

Tenders and Store-ships ------ 4

Furnished by the City of Bristol large and strong Ships, and which did excellent service - 3

A Tender - ' 1

From Barnstable, merchant Ships converted into Frigates - 3

From Exeter ------ 2

A stout Pinnace - - - - - 1

From Plymouth stout Ships, every way equal to the Queen’s Men of War - 7

A Fly-boat ------- 1

Under the command of Lord Henry Seymour in the narrow seas, of the Queen’s Ships and

Vessels in her service - - - - - - 16

Ships fitted out at the expence of the Nobility, Gentry, and Commons of England - 43

By the Merchant-adventurers prime Ships and excellently well furnished - - 10

Sir William Winter’s pinnace - - - - - i

In all - 143

N. B. That benevolent and admirable Institution for the Benefit of wounded Seamen, calledthe Chest at Chatham, was founded in 1588.

* No ship in the Spanish armament, though two or three were superior in size to any in the Englishfleet, had more than three.

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