HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE. 2 97

instead of their own servants use chair-folke in their houses, shall finde theirwork worse done, and yet pay dear for it.

Queen Elizabeth, sensible of this mischief, erected a navy royal (continuedand increased by her successors) of the best ships Europe ever beheld. Indeedmuch is in the matter , the excellency of our English oak', more in the making ,the cunning of our shipwrights ; most in the manning, the courage of our seamen ;and yet all to God’s blessing who so often hath crowned them with success.

If that man who hath versatile ingenium be thereby much advantaged for theworking of his own fortune , our ships, so active to turn and winde at pleasure,must needs be more useful than the Spanish gallions, whose unwieldiness fixeththem almost in one posture, and maketh them the steadier markes for theirenemies. As for Flemish bottoms , though they are finer built, yet as the slenderbarbe is not so fit to charge with, they are found not so useful in fight. Thegreat Sovereign, built at Dulwich *, a leiger-ship for state, is the greatest shipour island ever saw : but great medals are made for some grand solemnity,whilst lesser coyn are more current and passable in payment.

I am credibly informed, that that mystery of shipwrights for some descentshath been preserved successively in families, of whom the Petts about Chattamare of singular regard. Good success have they with their skill, and carefullykeep so precious a pearl, lest otherwise amongst many friends some foes attainunto it. It is no monopoly which concealeth that from common enemies, theconcealing whereof is for the common good. May this mystery of ship-makingin England never be lost till this fating world be arrived at its own haven, theend and dissolution thereof!

I know what will be objected by foreigners to take off the lustre of our navyroyal, viz. That (though the model of our great ships primitively were our own)yet we fetched the first model and pattern of our frigots from the Dunkerks ,when in the days of the Duke of Buckingham (then admiral) we took some fri-gots from them, two of which still survive in his Majesties navy by the nameof the Providence and Expedition.

All this is confessed, and honest men may lawfully learn something fromthieves for their own better defence. But it is added, we have improved ourpatterns, and the transcript doth at this day exceed the original: witnesse someof the swiftest Dunkirks and Ostenders, whose wings in a fair flight have failed

* Written Dulwich, should be Woolwich.

them,