HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE. *s$

rosin , so the Hollanders with our timber did not buy also our art of shift *building.

Now the ships of other countries are generally made of fir, and other suchslight wood, whereby it cometh to passe, that, as in the battle in the forest ofEphraim (wherein Absolon was slain) the wood devoured more people that daythen the sward , the splinters of so brittle timber kill more than the shot in asea fight,

3. Comely ness ..

Our frigots are built so neat and snug , made long and low , so that (as themake of some women’s bodies hansomely eoncealeth their pregnancy , or greatbelly') their contrivance hideth their bigness without suspicion, the enemy notexpecting thirty, when (to his cost) he hath found sixty pieces of ordnance >1*them. Our masts stand generally very upright, whereas those of the Spaniardshang over their poop, as if they were ready to drop by the board. Their decksare unequal, having many risings and fallings, whereas ours are even. Theirports some higher in a tier then others, ours drawn upon an equal lipe. Theircables bad, (besides subject to rot in these eountries) because bought at the-second hand, whereas we make our best markets, fetching our cordage from thefountain thereof.

4. Force.

Besides the strength inherent in the. structure, (whereof before)' this is acces-sary, consisting in the weight and number of their guns. Those of the

Sixth

Fifth

Fourth

Third

Second

Rates carrying ^385060

12

26

40

54

64

14

28

44

56

70

16 18 20'

30

48 50

60

(►Ordinance mounted^.

The Royal Soveraign being one of the first rates when she is fittedTor the seajcarrieth one hundred and four peeces of ordnance mounted..

5. Seamen.

Couragious and skilful. For the first we remember the proverb of.Solomon ;■Let another praise thee , not thy own mouth , a stranger, not thy own lips. The

Spaniards