HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

221

3d Cause.

The weights in his Maj" storehouse at Deptford have continued many yearestoo light above a pound in a cwt. as the clerkes doe confesse, the losse whereof in2761'. 4*. 6 lb . of cordage received from these contracts is 822*. 6\ 6 lb . and whatmore hath been lost in the Muscpvia cordage, and all other provisions taken inby the weight wee are not able to estimate.

4th Cause.

As the weights have lesse, soe the booke sometimes have more weight thanthey ought; for there wee found cable of 16 inches entred 2'. w h is heavyerthen it bare upon the scale ; and when it was excused by two yeares drying:,wee compared for further tryall 46 of these with other 46 of like length and sizeof the best Muscovia provisions, as both weighed at y* first takeing in, andthese weighed more 7'. 2 C . \ 26 lb . which in money riseth to £.249 15/. 6 d.Againe, compareing a cable of 15 inches of the store with another from Mus-covia, of a latter makeing, y e English was found heavier 4'. •§-. And com-pareing the makeing with it selfe, a cable of seaventeen inches, 96 fatham,weighed but 50'. 3 s . 21*. and another of 17 inches, and but 93 fatham,weighed 56*. 6\ 1 i lb . which is 5'. difference, and above £.j in the price.But besides this probability of abuse in the cordage, wee finde by confession,that 1000 weight of iron was added to our bill for other worke then thekinges, and wee heare of much more in that kinde.

5th Cause.

Many necessary workes have been neglected, w ch might have kept the shippsfrom decay, and workemen suffered to clamour and dishonour the state,whilst his Ma“ treasure hath been expended upon superfluous emptions, namely,upon a masse of bad cordage, for which in y e yeare 1609, the Muscovian Com-pany received JT. 18,000, which, with the quantity then remayning, might seemsutfecient store before hand ; for upon survey taken 1611, there was then found699'. 13°. i q . 12 lb . enough to new rigg and furnish to sea as many shipps aswere then able to doe service, soe as if husbandry had been used, no furtheryearely supply had been required then for expence of moorings and services atsea. The moareings, when the shipps w'ere as many as now they are, wereundertaken by S r Jo" Hawkens for 1200 per annum, and hee gained by the

Vol, II. F f bargaine,