A True Description of His Majesty's Royal Ship, Built this Year 1637. at Wooll-witch in KENT. To the great glory of our English Nation, and not paralleled in the whole Christian World. Quae freta jam Circum Cingunt regalia Regna Deberi Sceptris Carole scito tuis, Auspicijs macte ergo bonis invicte Monarcha Parcere subiectis, perge, Domare feros. Published by Authority. LONDON: Printed by john Okes, for john Aston, and are to be sold at his shop in Cat-eaten-streete at the sign of the Bullshead, Anno 1637. TO THE HIGH AND Mighty Monarch CHARLES The first of that NAME, KING of Great BRITAIN, FRANCE AND IRELAND, Defender of the Faith, etc. Consecrateth these his humble endeavours, Thomas Heywood. To my much respected Friend, Master Thomas Heywood, and of his Book of his Majesty's Great Ship. NOw for an Homer whose immortal Verse, In well limned lines, and raptures might rehearse The bravery of this Vessel, he'd have found A way fit to express her, and have crowned Her stately Fabric, with invention, As large and stately as herself. Not one Calliope, but the whole Muse's Choir Had been invoaked, his fancy to inspire. He would have told, how jove in Counsel sat, And all the gods determined of Her fate. The Grecian Argo, that now shines in glory A Constellation, had been lost in Story. This only had been stellified, and made The Subject of an entire Iliad. He would have told how well she had been wrought, And all the Argive Heroes (were her fraught,) Such wonders of her frame, and all but truth, Would have so fired the Macedonian Youth, And his proud thoughts into such passions hurled, He would have prized her, 'bove another World. Her, Neptune at first sight embraced, and gave Her power to insult upon each swelling Wave. Then laid his Trident on her Deck, and swore To fill her womb with the rich Indian Ore. This Homer would have told, and for tuition, The Deities stood all in Competition. The Winds too should have struggled in their jails, And br●ake out, to salute her pregnant Sails. Scylla with her fierce Dogs, had barked no more; Nor should the Seaman heard Charybdis roar. This Ship alone had torn their stony jaws, And with her Bullets surfeited their maws. This Homer would have told, but in what state And strength of verse, no Muse can arbitrate. Achilles' brazen Lance had not been named, To shake down Towers, nor that great Machine framed By Pallas Art, wherein were Captive led A thousand Conqueror's, that ruined Priam's 〈◊〉 ●lion, and did levill lay With the base ground, the pride of Asia. Had this brave Ship rod there, no need had been Of Ajax, Nestor, or of Id●men, Nor of Achilles Myrmidons; each stone Had owed its ruin to her strength alone▪ Then after the long siege, and ten years' stir, Ulysses wanderings had been put in Her. Thus the true Prince of Poets, Homer would Have in Fame's lasting●Booke Her name in rolled. And they that shall of such a Subject sing, Their lines deserve acceptance from a King. But tell me Muse, though I must ever keep Close to the shore, not launch into the Deep. Yet deign to tell, by a Prophetic way, What neighbour Nations censure, what they say? The Spaniard with his politic shrug, cries out, There's some design in hand, and without doubt Against our late fleet: is there no way to take her, Or build the like? could not our Jesuits make her Turn Romist? and than they discourse the fight Of old Lepanto, and of eighty eight. The neighbour French, look only by mere show, And outside gaudiness, that think we owe Much for intelligence, 'cause they impose Their fancies on us, how to cut our clothes, And cringe, and congee; yet the j●st report Of this Ships Architecture, does extort This truth from their belief: she was no vain Invention, nor kick sh●we of ●heir brain; They never could aspire to i●; ('tis known) And I am glad this fashion is our own. The numerous Dutch, still thriving in their purse; That Worldlike, do enjoy the happy cur●e, To wander through the seas, that labour more Than Bees, and suck the honey from each shore: In all their travels swore they never saw One so much water, so much honour draw▪ What else should be supplied, I ●ust bequeath To thee, friend Haywood, who hast Royal leave To publish it unto the world's broad eyes, And art well skilled in all her properties. Shackerley M●rmion. Imprimatur Tho. Weeks. With permission likewise by Peter Pett, Master builder 7. of Septemb. 1637. A True Description of His Majesty's Royal Ship built this Year 1637. at Wolwitch in KENT, etc. NAvigation is as ancient, as the first great Deluge, and the Ark, which God Almighty commanded to be made, the first Vessel that was ever lifted upon the Waters. For as before the Earth was unplowed, so were the Seas unfurrowed. One Ship at once contained all the living people of the World, but now what a multitude of Ships doth the World contain? The first, had neither Mast, Saile, nor Oar, for what need was of these, or any of them; when He who made the ●eas and the Winds, was both Pilot and Steares-man? Noah, the first Navigator entered the Ark, in the year from the Creation, 1656. in the second Month, and the seventeenth day thereof, when he himself was six hundred years in age. His voyage was a full s●lary year, which containeth twelve Lunary Months, to which are added ten days, called Epactae. For so long he floated upon the Waters, ere he set footing upon the Earth. The Ark, after the Flood was somewhat abated (according to the testimony of Moses, first rested upon the Mountains of Ararat, which the best Cosmographers held to ●e Montes Gordaei the Gordaean Mountains, which have their situation in Armenia. Haitonus Armenus in his Book de Tartarijs Cap. 7. Writeth that in Armenia there is a Mountain, which is held to be one of the highest upon Earth, vulgarly called Arat, on which the Ark first touched: and though by reason of the abundance of Snow which clothed it Winter and Summer, it be altogether unpassable, yet in the very Apex and top thereof, there is still to be discerned a black shadow, resembling a Dark Cloud, which by the Natives of that Country, hath successively been held, to be the still remaining carcase of the Ark of Noah. Him, all the Ethnic and Gentile Writers, call janus, because he first planted the Vine, for the Hebrews call Vinum jajin, from whence he received the Denomination of janus' Vinitor, who after arriving in Italy, and there seating himself, from him that Country was called janicula, and the City janua, by corruption of time, since called Genua, was thought to have been by him Erected. My observation concerning the premises is, That he who was preserved in the Waters, was the first that taught the use of Wine. In which it may be supposed, more souls have since been Shipwrecked, then perished in the first Universal Cataclisme. Quintus Fabius Pictor, in his first Book de Aureo Seculo. i.e. the golden World, telleth us, that this janus (before said to be Noah) entertained banished Saturn into Italy, who came thither by Sea, entering at Ostia, and sailed up the River Tiber. This, Ovid in his First Book De fastis, Elegantly expresseth, who Demanding of Ia●us the reason why upon one side of the Roman Naval Coin, a ship was Figured, and on the other, his own double Portraiture? (According to the Poet) having resolved him of the latter, he thus proceedeth to satisfy him touching the former. Causaratis superest, Thuscum rate venit in Amnem, Primus aberrato falcifer orbe Deus. Hac ego Saturnum (memini) tellure recepi ●oel●tibus regnis, á jove pulsus erat. At bona Posteritas puppim formavit in aere, Hospitis adventum, testificata Dei, Ind, diu genti mansit Saturnia nomen, Et dicta est Latium terra, volente deo. Thus Interpreted. Why the Ship's there; it followeth I should tell Saturn, whom jove did from the heavens expel, After he travailed had the World so wide, First with his Ship this Tuscan River tried, For which posterity on their Coin impressed. A Ship, to show that he was here my guest. Saturnia's name, long after bore this Clime, Till (by his will,) 'twas Latium called in Time. But we read further of a second Inundation which happened in Greece. Athens was the first Academy that can be read of, the Town famous, the Inhabitants ingenious; as first teaching the Argives the use of Wool, by Carding, Spining, and Clothing, tutor them in the two beneficial Commodities of Oil and Wine. Instructing them in Agriculture, as to Blow, to Sow, and to Reap, and to sustain themselves with bread, who before fed on Acorns. Learning and Arts were there first Studied and Taught, in so much that the City was h●ld as sacred as a Temple Dedicated unto the gods. Cecrops was the first King thereof, whom Antiquity fabled to be Biformis, as participating two shapes and Sexes. For no other reason, but because he first coupled and joined men and Virgins in the modest and civil tie of marriage. Him Craunits succeeded, from whose beautiful Daughter Atthis, the whole Region and Province that lies betwixt, Achaia and Macedonia, took the Denomination of Attica: Craunus expiring Amphitrion was invested in the Throne, who first consecrated the City unto Minerva, and named it Athens: In whose time happened that great flux of Waters which covered the greatest part of Greece, and in which many thousands of the people perished. Such as could save themselves in skiffs or Boats, escaped into Thessaly, a more Mountainous Country, where being gently received, and comfortably relieved by Deucalion and Pyrrha, who at that time reigned King and Queen. The Poets to magnify their royal Hospitality, feigned, that when the whole World was destroyed by an Universal Deluge, (saving them two, who preserved their Lives by climbing up to the top of Parnassus) they were the sole miraculous restorers of Mankind. But this Flood which according to truth, only afflicted the most of Greece, and some part of 〈◊〉, happened in the year of the World tw● 〈◊〉 four hundred forty, after, Noah's stood seven hundred eighty four. By this 〈…〉 it manifestly appeareth, that Shipping hath been of old, and Exercised by sundry Nations: and so much briefly for the Antiquity of Navigation. BEfore I come to speak particularly of this Royal Ship itself, it will no● be 〈◊〉 altogether impertinent, to give you a Summary Relation of such several kinds, of Vessels as were used of old by sundry Nations; that the rudeness of the first, may the better set off the rareness of the Last. Nonnius speaks of Miaparo, a kind of Vessel most used by Pirates, and made much af●er the manner of our small Pinnaces. Varro and Budaeus, write of Parones' which were the same which we call Brigantines. Acatium was Navis Actuaria, that is a small nimble Galley. Anchiromacu● was made after the manner of our great Liters, and employed only to carry Anchors, Cables, Cordage, and other Nautical Instruments. Baris, was no other than Cymba, a small Boat, and in such as Propert. Lib 3. affirms, the Egyptians used to Ferry the bodies of their Dead to their places of burial. Catascopium, was Navis Exploratoria, a Ship of Watch and Discovery, and of such Caesar maketh mention in his Commentaries. Celox was a small and short kind of Boat or Crare, so called for the swiftness, of which Plautus in his Aulular maketh mention, and of which was grounded that old adage; Celocem qui regere nequit onerariam petit: He desireth to take charge of a great Ship, who knoweth not how to govern a small one. Cyrcerus was a Vessel of great burden used in Asia, employed in Merchandise, and the Transportage of all useful Commodities, from one Country to another. Fasellus was built after the same manner; and as Sallust in his History witnesseth, most Frequent in Campania. Lybrini were Ships of War and very swift of Sail, so called of Lyburnia an Harbour in Dalmatia; and of such Horace, remembreth us in Epod. Horia was a Fisherboat, Lembus a Bark short and swift, spoken of by Pliny. The names of several Vessels used in Navigation, according unto Gellius, are these that follow. Lib. 11. Cap. 25. Gaulae, Corbitae, Caudicae, Hippagines, Cercuri, Celoces, Oxiae, Remiculi, Actuaria, Prosumia, Gescortae, Orioles, Carrae, Scaphae, Pontones, Nuctuciae, Mediae, Phaselli, Parones', Myoparones, Lintres, Caupulicae, Mari-placidae, Cydarum, Ratariae, Catascopium, etc. Linter was a small Boat compact of hollowed Trees, joined together, and those the Germans Dwelling near unto the River Danubius first devised. Monocilon was a Boat made only of one Tree, not cut into planks, and such the Indian Canoes are imagined to be. Gaulae, were made almost together round, yet such as they ventured with, not only upon the Rivers, but in calms upon the Seas: Corbitae, were Ships for Traffic, big but very stow of sail. Caudicae, were Boats made out of the pieces of a Ship that were broken up. Hippagines, were Ferry Boats to carry over Horsemen. Circurus, was built much after the manner of the Spanish or Portugal Carvels. Of Oxiae, the name is only remaining, but of what Fashion or burden the Vessel was, is not left to us. Remiculi were much after the condition of the Venetian Gundeloes. Prosumiae, were small Barks, and swift of sail. Gescortae, were a kind of Spie-boates which waited upon a fleet at Sea. Oriolae, some do think to have been fashioned much like unto our English-Barges, others think them to be the same with Horia before spoken of. Carrae, takes the Denomination of Carras, Currum, or Currus, that is a Wagon or a Chariot, because in such as in our Barges they were Rowed upon the Water for pleasure. Scapha or Scaphula was a small Boat or Wherry. Ponto●es were Ferry-boates, in such a one Phaon transported Venus over the River. Catascopium a small Ship or Pinnace, and so of the rest. Trieris was a Vessel of great Burden first devised in Greece, which the Rowers, with three orders of Oars on either side, forced upon the Waters. The Latins called such an one Triremis, or a Ship of three orders, as we read Q●adremes, and Quinque-remes amongst the ancient Romans, and amongst the Greeks Epteres, and Enneres, and Deceres, those of seven, nine, and ten orders. Pliny telleth us, that Dam● sthenes was the inventor of the Bi-remis, Ammocl●s the deviser of the Triremis, Gorin of the quadri-remis, first used amongst the Carthaginians; Nesicthon the quinqueremis, who was borne is Salamine, the Country of Aiax, Xenagoras of Syracuse, in Sicil●a that of six orders, and Nesigiton that of ten. Alexander the great commanded one of twelve orders to be made: Ptolomaens Sother exceeded him, and brought them to fifteen. Demetrius Antigonus caused one to be built of thirty orders; Philadelphus increased them to Forty, and Ptolomaeus Philopater to Fifty, of which Calixenes in his first book Re●um Alexandrinarum makes an incredible mention, as that she was in length two hundred and fourscore cubits, and fifty cubits in height from the Keel to the upmost deck, that she had two beake-heads, and two Sternes; that she could not be rowed with less than three thousand and four hundred Oars: but the greeks so Hyperbolise in all things, that I should not without blushing give you a relation of her whole dimension. The like I read of the great ship of Hieron Syracusanus, described by Moschius after the like unbeleeveable manner, for thus he writeth: Much to be admired was Diocles Abderites for devising that rare Present which Demetrius brought to the City of the Rhodians, so Timaeus for that funeral Pile prepared for Dionysius the Tyrant of Syracuse; so Hi●ronimus, for that incomparable Chariot in which Alexander the great road in Triumph: so Polycletus for that inimitable Candlestick which was after presented to the great Sophy of the Persians: but above all these, H●eron the King of the Syracus●●ns, always a faithful colleague with the Romans▪ who much delighted in the building of Vessels of great burden, convenient for the transportage of grain from one Province to another. But above all, he is to be renowned for one Naval structure, to raise which he employed at once threescore Triremes, to fetch Timber from Aetna, the rest of the materials useful for such a great work, as nails, planks, etc. some out of Italy, some he had out of Sicilia: His cordage he had from Spain, his hempen sails were brought through the River Rhodanus, with diverse other necessaries to accommodate so great and rare a Fabric. He hired also many Officers belonging to the Sea, as Masters, Pilots, Pursers, boatswaines, and other ordinary Seafaring men, over whom he made one Archias Co●inthius prime governor and commander. There were three hundred Ship carpenters▪ daily at work, who perfected the half part of her in six months▪ and then she was launched into the River, which had been with great difficulty, had not the famous Archimedes devised new Engines to roll her out of the stocks into ●he water, which he did with great facility: In six Months after her upper d●cks were finished; the Nails which fashioned the planks together, were all of brass, some of which were of ten pound weight: Her inward parts contained Hall, Parlour, withdrawing and banqueting Rooms, and those of no small recepte, paved with Achates, Emeralds, & other precious stones f●und in his own Country▪ and those maritime and adjacent Regions. She had a kitchen furnished ●oth with earthen & brazen vessels, and in her Prore or forecastle a room shut, lined with shingle boards, or wainscot-plankes, in which were leaden Cesternes, and in them almost all sorts of Fishes preserved, holding many measures of water: There were sundry Bath-tubs made of Brass, every of which contained quinque metretae, that is, five vessels of water, every of them receiving three times thirteen Gallons. In her was a Schoole-house, and a Library; diverse chambers to dine and sup in, and Cabins with beds belonging unto them for all the prime officers of the Ship: There were moreover ten Stables for Horse, and room allowed both for their Hey and Provender: she had four Anchors of wood, and eight of Iron; but (which I had almost forgot) she had in her a Garden, and an Orchard, with Vines, and all kind of Flowers; the Trees and Plants being set in earthen and leaden vessels filled with choice earth, being well watered, producted according to the Season: Her sink drew no more water than one man might easily empty by a pump, which was devised b● the Art of Archimedes: she was first called Syracusia, and after Alexandria. I have not yet given you a Tithe of her description, only I thus end with her, that according to the same Author, as Athenaeus lib. Dipnosop. 5. cap. 7. witnesseth, besides all the former burden, her victualling was sixty thousand measures of Corn, ten thousand earthen vessels furnished with bread and salt, twenty thousand Talents of flesh, and of other necessaries belonging to Navigation, besides the Masts, Sails, and people that maned the Ship, twenty thousand after the former account. But the greeks were held to be the greatest fablers of the World, of every moale-hill, apt to make a Mountain; who out of an Ant would strive to beget an Elephant; or if such vessels were possible to be made, I would gladly know to what use or service: Alas, if two of our small whelps should meet such an unwieldy Bulk upon the Sea, should they but roar upon her, she must be either forced basely to veil and yield, or else, notwithstanding all her muniments and defences, be forced to founder, and perish with all her glorious Riches in the Ocean. Yet one thing I cannot here let pass, that for one Hyperbolising Epigram composed upon this ship by the Poet Archimelus, containing only nine Couplets, Eighteen lines in all, (according to the same Author) Centum frumenti medimnis decoravit, King Hieron rewarded him with an hundred measures of wheat, and every Medimnum contained six of our Bushels, etc. which after he carried to the Granary, and so much they then affected Poetry, that he solded it unto them at his own price. I will now give you the Names of some of the most famous devisers of Ships: Tiphis was the first amongst the Tyrians; Danaus brought shipping out of Egypt into Greece, of which Erythra made the first practice in the Red Sea. Boats were made of tanned leather, and such were first known in the British Ocean: In Nilus they were composed of Paper, and Reeds. jason and the Argonauts were the first that ventured to Sea in a long boat, or Galley, of which one Argus was the Architector; (for so saith Philostephanus) Egesius attributeth the honour of the first ship to Parthalus; Ctesius to Samira, Stephanus to Semiramis, Archimachus to Aegaeon, Moses to Noah: The Vessel called Oneraria, or of burden, Hippius Tyrius invented; the small Bark the Cyrenen●es; the Pinnace and Ferry-boate the Phaenicians; the Celox the Rhodians; the Cercurus the Cyprians. The first observation of the Stars, by which to direct their Navigation, the Phaenicians: The Capae devised the Oar, in managing of which the Plateae assisted; Icarus the Sail, Dedalus the Mast, and crosse-yard that beareth the sail: the Hatches the Thasians, the Beakhead Pysaeus, the Anchor the Tyrhians, Anacharsis the Grapples, Tiphis the smaller ropes assisting to the greater cordage; and King Minos of Crete was the first that hazarded his person in any naval conflict. These were great Navigators of old, remembered by the Historians and Po●ts. Tiphis, the first famous and renowned Pilot, is celebrated by Virgil in his fourth Eglogue, by Seneca in Medea, and by Ovid in many places of 〈◊〉 Poems. Pelorus was the Pilot of Hannibal's ship, when he fled from Scipio. 〈◊〉 in Melpomene maketh mention of one Colaeus, who was a prime Navigator amongst the Samians: Phereclus was the chief Architector of that Navy provided for Paris to rape Helen from Greece, in which fleet he was also chief commander: Amiclus was one to whom Caesar came in the time of the civil War, and by him was transported into Italy; for so saith Lucan Pharsal. lib. 5. Phraates was the son of Onetor, and governor of that ship in which Menelaus embarked himself in that expedition made against Troy. Erasmus in his Proverbs remembreth us of one Mandro, the Pilot of a small Bark, who by the favour of Fortune, after attained to the imperial dignity, and of a second called Acessaeus, whom he calls Ignavus Nauta. Plutarch reports from Simonides, that one Amarsiades Pereclus was the master of Theseus his ship, when he was sent to be devoured of the Minotaur, but Philocharus saith, that Nausithaeus and Pheacus were the two Rect●rs of that Vessels. The same Author in Themistocle testates, that Artomenes was the chief Admiral of Xerxes' fleet, when he came to invade Greece, who affirmeth also, that one Petitius was Master of that ship which carried Pompey in his flight, after the battle of Pharsalia. Ophel●es was a notable Pirate and Spy, remembered unto us by Sidonius. Another of the like condition I read of, whose name was Saro. Menesteus, Sergestus, Cloantus, are three Sea farers spoken of by Virgil, Aenead. Lib. 4. who tells us also of Palinurus, who was Pilot to Aeneas his ship, when he sailed into Italy. Lucan lib. 3. much commendeth one Telon Massilensis both for h●s Art in Navigation, and skill in the Stars, when he saith, Dirigit huc puppim miseri quoque dextrae Telonis, Qua nullam melius pelago turba●te ca●●nam Audivere manum, nec lux est not●or ull● Crastina, seu Phoebum vid●at, seu cornua L●nae, Semper venture is componere Carbasa ve●●●s. The wretched Telons hand doth hither steer His Vessel, nor did any ever hear Of one more expert to divide the waves With his sharp Keel, when most the Ocean raves. None could so well guess at the morrows light, Saw he the Sun by day, or Moon by night. To apt his Sails and Tables he well knew, And court the winds which way soe'er they blew. The same Author speaks farther in the great commendation of one Phoceus, who was both Nauta, and Urinator, a Sailor, and an excellent Diver, who would drown himself for a long space together, and then suddenly appear emergent above the waters, who thus speaketh of him: Eximius Phoceus▪ animam servare sub undis, Scrutarique fretum, si quid mersi●● et arenis. The nimble Phoceus, who beneath The waves could keep his wind, And what was dropped into the Sea, Upon the Sands could find. It was the custom also of the ancient times, to give several names to all their ships of note, (whom our Architectors even in these days imitate) as that Galley in which all the Grecian Heroes rowed, who went in the quest of the golden Fleece▪ to Colchos, was called the Argo: Some think she had her Denomination from her swiftness, but others are of opinion, that she received it from Argus, the Ship-carpenter: others think ab Argivis, because the Argive Princes manned her to Sea. Priests, Chimaera, Scylla, were names of ships, according to Virgil, Aenead. lib. 5. In his 10. book he speaketh of another called Tigris, of which one Massichus was Rector. Centaurus is also the name of another great ship; for h● saith, Ingentem remis Centaurum promovet: of her one Cupavones was Pilot. Coelius from the testimony of those who were the Interpreters of Aristophanes, informeth us, that there were two great Vessels belonging to the Commonweal of Athens, the one was only employed to transfer such as were summoned into the Courts of judgement, and was styled Salaminia: the other solely negotiated in porting and reporting such as were sent to inquire of any thing at the Oracle of Delphos, of the Ship named Castor and Pollux, we read in the Acts of the Apostles, etc. but I fear● I have made too long a voyage abroad, it is high time therefore that I now change my course, and steer nearer home. And here a fit occasion might be taken, to introduce a large Catalogue of many worthy and brave Seamen of our later times, as well foreign as homebred, whether they were Navarci, that is, Generals, Admirals, and Captains: Naucleri, that is, Masters, Pilots, and owners: or Nautici, that is, Pursers, Boatswaines, or other ordinary Navigators and Sailors, and enter into a voluminous narration, by telling how well, and worthily they have demeaned themselves to the honour of their Prince, and the profit of their Country, either in doubtful discoveries, or more dangerous Naumachies' or Sea-fights, but therein I should but deviate, and quite digress from my purpose, which is fully intentive upon brevity, and the subject now in agitation. Yet grant me so much liberty amongst infinites of our own Nation, and natives to commemorate, and commend unto you the neverdying fames of four great Archithalassi, (for what less can I term them) who wheresoever they voyaged, were Princes, and sole commanders at Sea, who flourished in the days of Queen Elizabeth, a Virgin, and a Virago of a masculine spirit, and of blessed and sacred Memory. And now (though long after their Deaths) let me bestow on each of them a surviving Character: The first, worthy Sir john Hawki●s, on whom I confer this merited Motto, Archithalassos expugnavi: the second, valiant Sir Martin Furbisher, on whom I bestow, Hostium classes profligavi: the third, famous Sir Francis Drake, who may justly challenge to himself, Orbem circum navig●vi: the fourth, Sir Charles Cavendish, who may truly write, Drachum praevium imitavi: all which for the vulgars' better apprehension I thus orderly interpret: Hawkins. Over Sea-princes triumphed oft have 1 Furbusher. Of Enemy's whole Fleets before me ●●y. Drake. A Girdle to the world my Voyage lent. Cavend●sh. And I Drake followed wheresoever he went. Then was a time, when in every brave Soldiers ● outh there was no discourse offered, but it either began, or ended with Pugnandum, non dormiendum: that is, Now is a time to fight, not to sleep; to be famous for our cou●age, not branded for our cowardice: which was almost no sooner spoken, than suddenly put in action. But I must ingeniously confess, that for many years together there hath been a long cessation of Arms, neither hath just occasion been ministered, wherein our noble Nation might give any full expression of the hereditary valour, and virtue of their Ancestors, till of late: And now me thinks I hear all our brave Heroic spirits, as our high-admiral, Vide-admiral, Captains, Commanders, and o●her Nautick Officers, as being so long kept from their wished employments, with a loud unanimous voice acclaime, and say, — Steriles transmissimus annos, — Nunc, o nunc tempus in hosts! Neither have I exposed those before named invincible Generals to their view, that they might Admirando desperare; but Imitando, superare: Not by admiring them, despair to arrive unto their height, but rather by imitating them, ●antecell them in their honour: Of which there is no doubt or diffidence to be made, considering how forward and indulgent his sacred Majesty hath been, and still is, not only in the repairing, but increasing his Royal Navy above all the Princes that have preceded him. But in this last incomparable structure, he hath made an inimitable precedent for all the Kings and Potentates of the Christian World, or else where: No River, no Flood, no Sea, whether Mare, Fretum, Aequor, Caeruleum, Pontus, Salum, Altum, Hadria, Pelagus, Oceanus, that could ever boast of the bearing so glorious a Vessel: which considering, and withal, his Royal Majesty, at whose great, and almost infinite charge and expense her building is undertaken, it put into my thoughts this fortunate and auspicious presage, — Quicquid habitabile, tellus Sustinet, hujus erit, pontus quoque serviet ill●. And concerning the Ship itself, at my first view of her bulk only, being yet unperfected, it compelled me to break out suddenly into this Epigrammaticall rapture which followeth. An Epigram upon his Majesty's Great Ship, lying in the Dock at Wooll-witch. WHat Artist took in hand this Ship to frame? Or who can guess from whence these tall O●●s came? Unless from the full grown Dodonean grove, A Wilderness sole sacred unto Jove. What Eye such brave Materials hath beheld? Or by what Axes were these Timbers field? Sure Vulcan with his three Cyclopean Swains, Have forged new Metals from their active brains, Or else, that Hatchet he hath grinded new, With which he cloven Jove's skull, what time out flew The armed Virago, Pallas, who inspires With Art, with Science, and all high desires, She hath (no doubt) raptured our Undertaker This Machine to devise first, and then make her. How else could such a mighty Mole be raised? To which Troy's horse, (by Virgil so much praised, Whose bulk a thousand armed men contained) Was but a toy, (compared) and that too feigned. For she bears thrice his burden, hath room, where Euceladus might row, and Tition steer: But no such Vessel could for them be made, Had they intent, by Sea the gods to invade. The Argo, stellified because 'twas rare, With this Ships long Boat scarcely might compare▪ Yet sixty Greek Heroes even in that With Oars in hand, upo● their Transtrae sat. Her Anchors, beyond weight, expanst, and wide, Able to wrestle against Wind, and Tide: Her big-wrought Cable like that massy Chain With which great Xerxes bounded in the Main Between Sestos and Abydos, to make one, Europe and Asia, by that Line alone. Her five bright Lanterns lustre round the Seas, Shining like five of the seven Hyadeses: Whose clear eyes, should they (by oft weeping) fail By these, our Sea men might find Art to sail. In one of which, (which bears the greatest light) Ten of the Guard at once may stand upright: What a conspicuous Ray did is dart then? What more than a Titanian Luster, On Saturday, being june 17. last. when Our Phoebus, and bright Cynthia jointly sphered In that one Orb, together both appeared: With whom seven other Stars had then their station, All luminous, but lower Constellation. That Lamp, the great Colosse held, who bestrid The spacious Rhodian Sea-arme, never did Cast such a beam, y●t Ships of tallest size, Past, with their ●asts erect, between his thighs. Her main Mast like a Pyramid appears, Such as the Aeg●p●ian Kings were many years To their great charge erecting, whilst their pleasure To mount them high, did quite exhaust the●r treasure. Whose brave Top top-top Royal nothing bars, By day, to brush the Sun; by night, the Stairss. Her M●ine-sayle, (if I do not much mistake) For Amphitrite might a Kirtle make: Or in the heat of Summer be a Fan, To cool the face of the great Ocean. She being angry, if she stretch her lungs, Can rail upon her enemy, with more Tongues (Lo●der than Stentours, as her spleen shall rise) Than ever Juno's A●gus saw with eyes. I should but lose myself, Mendaeum mingun● 〈◊〉 regna tenentes M●llibus in ●lratis, etc. H●rmippus, Poeta Craecus. consul 〈◊〉 lib. de Dypnosop. pag. 50. and cra●ze my brain, Striving to give this (glory of the Main) A full description▪ though the Muses nine Should quaff to me in rich Mendaeum Wine. Then O you Marine gods, who with amaze, On this stupendious work, (emergent) gaze, Take charge of her, as being a choice Gem, That much out-valews Neptune's Diadem. — Semper bona causa triumphant. Before I come to give you a true and exact dimension of her Bulk, burden, etc. it is necessary that I make some satisfaction to the world concerning those Decorements which beautify and adorn her, and to r●nder a fair account of mine own invention and fan●y concerning the carving work, the figures, and Mottoes upon them, which some perhaps have too liberally taxed: Thus therefore to any who have formerly either doubted of their property, or are at this present desirous to understand their imagined obscurity, I thus freely deliver my s●lfe. Upon the Beak-head sitteth royal King Edgar on horseback, trampling upon seven Kings: now what he was, and who they were, I shall brie●ly relate unto you, rendering withal a full satisfactory reason to any unpartial reader, why they are there, and in that manner placed. This Edgar was the second son of King Edmund, who having reigned two years over the Mercians and Northumber's, in the days of Edwin his elder Brother, at sixteen years of age, was by an unanimos consent elected to succeed in all his Dominions: being indeed the first that could truly write himself an absolute Monarch of this Island; for there were diverse Reguli in those times, who were small Kings, and had absolute Dominion over diverse Provinces. I shall not need to tell you how, or into what parts this Land was divided, let it suffice to know so much only: That he by his valour made himself sole Sovereign, and all the rest were his Liegemen and Tributaries. The entire Monarchy, and all the royal Titles of the Kingdom, falling under his Sceptre. He was the Thirteenth King from Brute, and though a great Soldier, as may appear by his many battles and victories, yet the Chronologers of those times gave him the Characters of Just, and Peaceable; for that is the true end of War, to prepare and confirm a constant and settled peace. He was first crowned at Kingston upon Thames, by Otho Archbishop of Canterbury, in the year of our Redemption, according to Fabian, and others, 940. in the fifth year of Lotharius King of France, and yet not admitted for absolute King till twelve years after, when he was again crowned, and anointed in the City of Bath by Dunstane, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Oswald, Archbishop of York. The cause why his anointing was so long delayed, (as the most write) was by reason the King grew much enamoured of a beauteous Virgin called Wilfryd, who to avoid his many temptations, put on herself the habit of a Nun, who notwithstanding was at length brought to the King's Bed, for which act he was by Bishop Dunstane enjoined seven years' penance, etc. Concerning those Kings whom you may perceive to lie prostrate under his Horse's hooves, they were Kynadus King of the Scots; Malcolm, King of Cumberland; and of the petry Kings of Wales, Dufnall, Grifith, Huval, jacob, judithil. He moreover surprised by Sea a Prince of the Romans, whose name was Maxentius, who had done many outrages upon the Ocean, and was the greatest Arch-pirate that those times afforded. He also compelled Ludwallus, prime Prince and King of Cambria, which is Wales, (because he would have all the ravenous and dammageous beasts to be destroyed through his Land) to pay unto him yearly by way of Tribute, three hundred Wolves skins: by reason whereof within the space of four years after, in England, or Wales, both which (but especially Wales) who before were miserably infested with that kind of beast, there was scarcely to be found one Wolf alive: and so much for the Princes over which he had s●le dominion. His Navy King Edgar's Navy. Royal consisted of three thousand and six hundred Ships, (such as they used in those days) yet not any of them but serviceable either for Fight, or bearing victual, and munition, to furnish the Navy, which he divided into three parts, appointing to every of them a several Squadron: and this he did to secure Navigators, from Enemies and Sea-Rovers, as also from all other neighbour Princes who might challenge any interest in these our four Seas. And therefore every Spring and Summer, he in person sailed with those in the East-parts, to them that lay hover in the West. And sending them back again with their charge, would with the West quadrant, sail into the North, and after with the Northern fleet compass into the East, by which the Main Ocean rounding those Lands, of which he was sole Prince and Monarch, being at his only charge, both quieted and secured, he did (as justly he might) write himself Lord of the Four Seas. And therefore his sacred Majesty, claiming this unquestionable Title from Him, and being his true and undoubted Successor; and this claim being this thousand and odd years not any way controversied. I do not see but this Motto, Ab Edgaro quatuor Maria vindico, may genuinly to Him be approbriated, and to Him alone. But if any man shall either maliciously or peevishly make the least scruple of this His Majesty's just and undoubted challenge? Let them but read Pol●dore Virgil, Guido, Ranulphus Hidgim in his Polycronicon, Guli●lmus Malmsbury, Florentius, Landulphus, Marianus, Hovedaine, Harding, Matthew Paris, Matthew of Westminster, Froysart, Fabian, Holinshed, Speed, etc. (all of them Authentic and approved Chronologers,) and he shall find that they all agree and consent in this Musical Harmony. And as they comply in the premises▪ whosoever shall truly examine them shall find also that they differ not at all in the subsequence, which (as in the former) I study brevity, namely, That being at Chester, he provided himself of a most Princely Barge, which was to be rowed with Oars, which were silvered all over, with wh●ch he entered into the River Dee, and sitting at the Stern, took the charge of the Helm, and caused eight of the beforenamed Contributory Kings to row him up and down the River, Maxentius made the eighth, who was ●fter Emperor of Rome. unto the Church of Saint john's, from, and unto h●s Palace distant three miles, to let the World know that He was Lord and King●f ●f so many provinces. For his Religion; His Religion he favoured Churchmen above all the Princes before him, and gave to them great immunities and privileges; building and repairing no les●e than threescore decayed Churches, and Monasteries, within the compass of sixteen years; (for he reigned not longer) For his justice; His justice.. he used such rigour, yet intermixed with mercy, that never before his days was used les●e oppression and robbery. For his Temperance; His Temperance. he was of such contivency, that when the Danes, who were then frequent in the Land, had brought in drunken healths, to ●he evil example and hurt of his Commons and Subjects, he made a Law, and or dayned certain Cups of several sizes, with pins and nails driven into them, and whosoever drank past that mark or pin, was to forfeit a certain piece of money, whereof one half fell to the Accuser, and the other half to the Bailiff, or governor of that Burrow, to distribute to the use of the poor, but nothing to his own private use or benefit. Concerning his particular valour, His Valour. it is further thus reported of him: One of those subjected Kings, whom the History calleth Kinadus, a very personable and proper Gentleman, and of a strong and able constitution, rowing upon the River, when King Edgar himself, (being but of a low stature, and as we phrase it a middlesized man) steered the Barge, whispered to him who sat next, him, and said, Observe you not the insolence and pride of this Dwarf, whom Fortune, not Valour hath raised to this Eminence? I vow, if I had him singly, and alone in the field, I would cut him into pieces, and eat him after. This being told the King, he seemed to take no further notice thereof, than to say, That losers had liberty to speak freely; and no question but he was able to perform as much as he had boasted: neither did he once change his countenance upon him who had thus threatened him, but calling one of his own servants unto him whom he most trusted, commanded him to provide two swords of equal size and fashion, suitable to his strength, and such as he was well able to wield: which done, he laid them aside, and the next day he invited Kinadus to a Feast, and gave him more than ordinary welcome. Much familiar discourse passed betwixt them, and more than custom. Dinner being ended, the King desired him to walk abroad, and take the air; to which the other willingly assented, neither of them having more than one servant to attend them: All the way they interchanged pleasant discourse, till at length coming to a Grove, King Edgar commanded those who then waited upon them, to retire, and leave them. When entering the Thicket, and finding a convenient place fit for a single Duel, Edgar drew from under his garment those two Swords, and desired Kinadus to take the choice of them, saying unto him, We are now single, and alone; now prove thy courage with mine, and let us try which of us is most worthy to be subject to the other: It becometh not any generous spirit to boast that in private, which he will not make good in the Field: Here I am according to thy wishes, first cut me into pieces if thou canst, and then I will give thee leave to eat me at thy pleasure. Which having spoken, he distanced himself from him, and bravely stood upon his guard; which the other perceiving, and knowing that he was guilty of that language, withal, seeing the very fire of Anger sparkling in his eyes, he also out of an interchangeable brave humour began to meditate, and consider with himself, both how unadvisedly he had spoken, and how contrary to the condition of so great and heroic a spirit: therefore casting his sword away, he desired to embrace him, and said, Now I perceive O Royal King Edgar, it is thy true valour, and not thy fortune hath made us thy Tributaries, and thou art not only worthy to Empire over us only, but all the Kings of the Earth. I will always wear a Sword to draw on thy party; but against thee, or those who love thee, never. Which unexpected Answer King Edgar so accepted, that between them two there was an indissoluble League of Love confirmed after. My purpose is not to enter into a large discourse of his noble Acts and Achievements; what I have done, is only to give the World a true and authentic expression, that whatsoever his sacred Majesty challengeth concerning his absolute dominion over the four Seas, he justly, and with an unquestionable Title claimeth from this King Edgar, being his true and lawful hereditary Successor: but if any be desirous to be more fully informed concerning his Majesty's Title, I refer him to learned Mr. Seldon, in that exquisite and absolute work of his called Mare Clausum, etc. I have met with an Epitaph writ upon this King Edgar's Tomb, By one Henricus Historiographus in old English, which I thus deliver unto you. Aider of the poor, and punisher of trespass; The giver of worship, King Edgar is now gone To the kingdom of Heave●, which like to pra●se was As Solomon, that for wisdom above all shone: A father of peace, a Lion to his Fone. Founder of Temples, and of Monks strong Patron; Oppressor of all wrong, and of Justice guerdon. I began at the Beak-head, where I desire you to take notice, that upon the stemme-head there is Cupid, or a Child resembling him, bestriding, and bridling a Lion, which importeth, that sufferance may curb Insolence, and Innocence restrain violence; which alludeth to the great mercy of the King, whose Type is a proper Emblem of that great Majesty, whose Mercy is above all his Works. On the Bulk-head right forward, stand six several Statues in sundry postures, their Figures representing Consilium, that is, Counsel: Cura, that is, Care: Conamen, that is, Industry, and unanimous endeavour in one compartment: Counsel holding in her hand a closed or folded Scroll; Care a Sea-compasse; Conamen, or Industry, a Lintstock fired. Upon the other, to correspond with the former, Vis, which implieth force, or strength; handing a Sword. Virtus, or Virtue, a sphearicall Globe: and Victoria, or Victory, a wreath of Laurel. The Moral is, that in all high Erterprises there ought to be first Counsel, to undertake; then Care, to manage; and Industry, to perform: and in the next place, where there is ability and strength to oppose, and Virtue to direct, Victory consequently is always at hand ready to crown the undertaking. Upon the Hances of the waste are four Figures with their several properties: jupiter riding upon his Eagle, with his Trisulk (from which he darteth Thunder) in his hand: Mars with his Sword and Target, a Fox being his Emblem: Neptune with his Sea-horse, Dolphin, and Trident: and lastly Aeolus upon a Chameleon, (a beast that liveth only by the Air) with the four Winds, his Ministers or Agents, the Fast, called Eurus, Subsolanus, and Apeliotes: the Northwind, Septemtrio, Aquilo, or Boreas: the West, Zephyrus, Favonius, Lybs, and Africus: the South, Auster, or Notus. I come now to the Stern, where you may perceive upon the upright of the upper Counter, stands Victory in the middle of a Frontispiece, with this general Motto, Validis incumbite remis: It is so plain, that I shall not need to give it any English interpretation: Her wings are equally displayed; on one Arm she weareth a Crown, on the other a Laurel, which imply Riches and Honour: in her two hands she holdeth two Mottoes; her right hand, which pointeth to jason, bears this Inscription, Nava, (which word howsoever by some, and those not the least opinionated of themselves, mistaken) was absolutely extermined, and excommunicated from all Grammatical Construction, nay, jurisdiction; for they would not allow it to be Verb, or Adverbe, Substantive, nor Adiective: and for this I have not only behind my back been challenged, but even Viva voce taxed, as one that had writ at randum, and that which I understood not. But to give the world a plenary satisfaction, and that it was rath●r their Criticism, than my ignorance, I entreat thee Reader, but to examine Riders last Edition of his Dictionary, corrected, and greatly augmented by Mr. Francis Holy-oke, and he shall there read Navo, navas, (and therefore consequently nave in the Imperative Mood) ex navus, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is, to employ with all one's power, to act, to aid, to help, to endeavour with all diligence and industry; and therefore not unproperly may Victory point to jason, being figured with his Oar in his hand, as being the prime Argonaut, and say Nava, or more plainly, Operam nava; for in those Emblematical Mottoes quod subintelligitur, non deest. She pointeth to Hercules on the sinister side, with his club in his hand, with this Mottto, Clava; as if she should say, O Hercules, be thou as valiant with thy Club upon the Land, as jason is industrious with his Oar upon the Water. Hercules again pointing to Aeolus, the god of Winds, saith Flato; who answereth him again, Flo: jason pointing to Neptune, the god of the Seas, (riding upon a Sea-horse) saith Faveto; to whom Neptune answereth, No: These words Flo, and No, were also much excepted at, as if there had been no such Latin words, till some better examining their Grammar Rules found out Flo, flas, flavi, proper to Aeolus, and No, nas, navi, to Neptune, etc. In the lower Counter of the Stern, on either side of the Helm is this Inscription, Qui mare, qui fluctus, vent●s, navesque gubernat, Sospitet hanc Arc●● Carole magne tuam. Thus English●: He who Seas; Winds, and Navies doth protect, Great Charles, thy great Ship in her course direct. There are other things in th●● Vessel worthy remark, at least, if not admiration; namely, that one Tree, or Oak made four of the principal beams of this great●Ship, which was Forty four foot of strong and serviceable Timber in length, three foot Diameter at the top, and Ten foot Diameter at the stub or bottom. Another, (as worthy of especial Observation is) that one piece of Timber which made the Kel-son, was so great, and weighty, that 28. Oxen, and 4. Horses with much difficulty drew it from the place where it grew, and from whence it was cut down, unto the waterside. There is one thing above all these, for the World to take especial notice of, that she is, besides her Tonnage, just so many Tuns in burden, as their have been Years since our Blessed Saviour's Incarnation, namely, 1637. and not one under, or over: A most happy Omen, which though it was not at the first projected, or intended, is now by true computation found so to happen. It would be too tedious to insist upon every Ornament belonging to this incomparable Vessel, yet thus much concerning Her outward appearance, She hath two Galleries of a side, and all of most curious carved Work, and all the sides of the ship are carved also with Trophies of Artillery and Types of honour, aswell belonging to Land as Sea, with Symbols, Emblems, and Impresses appertaining to the Art of Navigation: as also their two sacred Majesty's Badges of Honour, Arms, Eschutchions, etc. with several Angels holding their Letters in Compartements: all which works are gilded quite over, and no other colour but gold and black to be seen about her, and thus much in a succinct way. I have delivered unto you concerning her inward and outward Decorements. I come now to Describe her in her exact Dimension. Her Length by the Keels, is 128 foot or there about, within some few inches. Her main breadth or wideness from side to side 48. foot. Her utmost▪ length from the fore-end of the Beakhead▪ unto the after end of the Stern, a prora ad puppim▪ 232. foot, she is in height from the bottom of her Keel to the top of her Lantern seaventy six foot, she beareth five Lanterns, the biggest of which will hold ten persons to stand upright, and without shouldering or pressing one the other. She●ath ●ath three flush Decks, and a Forecastle, an half Deck, a quarter Deck, and a round-house. Her lower Tire hath thirty ports, which are to be furnished with Demi-canon and whole Cannon through out, (being able to bear them. Her middle Tyre hath also thirty ports for Demi-Culverin, and whole Culverin: Her third Tire hath Twenty six Ports for other Ordnance, ●er forecastle hath twelve ports, and her half Deck hath fourteen ports; She hath thirteen or fourteen ports more within Board for murdering pieces, besides a great many Loopholes out of the Cabins for Musket-shot. She carrieth moreover ten pieces of chase Ordnance in her, right forward; and ten right off, that is according to Land-service in the front and the rear. She carrieth eleven Anchors, one of them weighing four thousand four hundred, etc. and according to these are her Cables, Masts, Sails, Cordage; which considered together, seeing his Majesty is at this infinite charge, both for the honour of this Nation, and the security of his Kingdom, it should be a great spur and encouragement to all his faithful and loving Subjects to be liberal and willing Contributaries towards the Ship-money. I come now to give you a particular Denomination of the prime Workmen employed in this inimitable Fabric; as first Captain Phines Pett, Overseer of the Work, and one of the principal Officers of his Majesty's Navy; whose Ancestors, as Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grand-father, for the space of two hundred years and upwards, have continued in the same Name, Officers and Architectures in the Royal Navy; of whose knowledge, experience, and judgement, I can not render a merite● Character. The Master Builder is young M. Peter Pett, the most ingenious son of so much improved a Father, who before he was full five and twenty years of age, made the Model, and since hath perfected the work, which hath won not only the approbation but admiration of all men, of whom I may truly say, as Horace did of Argus, that famous Shipmaster, (Who built the great Argo in which the Greci●● Princess Rowed through the Hellespont to fetch the golden Fleece from Colch●s. — Ad Charum I ritonia Devolat Argum, Moliri hanc puppim iubet— that is, Pallas●er ●er self flew into his bosom, and not only enjoined him to the undertaking, but inspired him in the managing of so exquisite and absolute an Architecture. Let me not here forget a prime Officer Master Francis Shelton, Clerk of the Check, whose industry and care, in looking to the Workmen employed in this Structure, hath been a great furtherance to expedite the business. The Master Carvers, are john and Mathias Christmas, the Sons of that excellent Workman Master Gerard Christmas, some two years since deceased, who, as they succeed him in his place, so they have strived to exceed him in his Art: the Work better commending them than my Pen is any way able, which putteth me in mind of Marshal, looking upon a Cup most curiously Carved. Quis labour in vial? Docti Mios? I●ne Mironis▪ Mentoris an manus est? an Polyclet● tua? What Labour's in this curious Bowl? Was't thine o Myus tell? Myrons'? Mentors? or Polyclets? He that can carve so well. And I make no question, but all true Artists can by the view of the Work, give a present nomination of the Workmen. The Master-Painters, Master joiner, Master Calker, Master Smith, etc. all of them in their several faculties being known to be the prime Workmen of the Kingdom, selectedly employed in this Service. Navis vade, undae fremitum posuere minaces, Et Freta Tindaridae spondent secura gemelli, Dessuetamque iubent pelago decurrere Puppim, Auster & optatas afflabit molliter auras. FINIS.