 | A SEA GRAMMAR. |  |
Chapter V.
How all the Tackling and Rigging of a Ship
is made fast one to another, with their
names, and the reasons of their use.
THE rigging a Ship, is all the Ropes or Cordage belonging to the
Masts and Yards; and it is proper to say, The Mast is well rigged,
or the Yard is well rigged, that is, when all the Ropes are well sised
to a true proportion of her burthen. We say also, when they are too
in her sailing; for a small waight aloft, is much more in that nature
than a much greater below, and the more upright any Ship goeth,
the better she saileth.
All the Masts, Top-masts, and Flag-staves have staies, excepting
the Spret saile top-Mast, the maine Masts stay is made fast by a
Lannier
head and Boulspret, the other end to the head of the maine Mast.
The maine top-Masts stay is ∥ fastened to the head of the fore Mast by
a strop and a dead mans eye. The maine top-gallant Masts stay in
like manner to the head of the fore top-Mast. The fore Masts and
stayes belonging to them in like manner are fastened to the Boulspret,
and Spretsaile top-Mast, and those staies doe helpe to stay the
Boulspret. The Misen staies doe come to the maine Mast, and the
Misen top-Mast staies to the shrouds with Crowes-feet: the use of
those staies are to keepe the Masts from falling aftwards, or too much
forwards. Those Lanniers are many small Ropes reeved into the dead
mens eyes of all shrouds, either to slaken them or set them taught;
also all the staies have their blocks, and dead mens eyes have Lanniers.
Dead mens eyes are blocks, some small, some great, with many
holes but no shivers, the Crowes-feet reeved thorowthem are a many
of small lines, sometimes 6. 8. or 10. but of small use more than for
fashion to make the Ship shew full of small Ropes. Blocks or Pullies
are thick peeces of wood having shivers in them, which is a little
Wheele fixed in the middest with a Cocke or Pin, some are Brasse,
but the most of Wood, whereon all the running Ropes doe runne,
some are little, some great, with 3. 4. or 5. shivers in them, and are
called by the names of the Ropes whereto they serve. There are also
double blocks, that where there is use of much strength will purchase
with much ease, but not so fast as the other, and when wee hale any
Tackle or Haleyard to which two blocks doe belong, when they
meet, we call that blocke and blocke.
The Shrouds are great Ropes which goe up either sides of all
Masts. The Misen maine Mast and fore Mast shrouds have at their
lower ends dead mens eyes seased into them, and are set up taught
by Lanniers to the chaines; at the other end, over the heads of those
Masts are pendants, for Tackels and Swifters under them. The top-Masts
shrouds in like manner are fastened with Lanniers and dead
mens eyes to the Puttocks
over the head of the Mast as the other: and the Chaines are strong
plates of iron fast bolted into the Ships side by the ∥ Chaine-waile.
When the Shrouds are too stiffe, we say, ease them, when too slacke,
and all those small ropes doe crosse the Shrouds like steps are called
Ratlings. The Puttocks goe from the Shrouds of the fore Mast, maine
Mast or Misen, to goe off from the Shrouds into the Top, Cap, or
Bowle, which is a round thing at the head of either Mast for men to
stand in, for when the Shrouds come neere the top of the Mast, they
fall in so much, that without the Puttocks you could not get into the
Top, and in a manner they are a kinde of a Shroud. A Pendant is a
short rope made fast at one end to the head of the Mast or the Yards
arme, having at the other end a blocke with a shiver to reeve some
running rope in, as the Pendants of the backe staies and Tackles hang
a little downe on the inside of the Shrouds: all Yards-armes have
them but the Misen, into which the Braces are reeved, and also there
are Pendants or Streamers hang from the yards armes, made of
Taffaty, or coloured flanell cloth to beautifie the Ship onely: Parrels
are little round Balls called Trucks, and little peeces of wood called
ribs, and ropes which doe incircle the Masts, and so made fast to the
Yards, that the Yards may slip up and downe easily upon the Masts,
and with the helpe of the Brest-rope doth keepe the Yard close to the
Mast. The standing ropes are the shrouds and staies, because they
are not removed, except it be to be eased or set taughter.
The Tackles or ropes runne in three parts, having a Pendant
with a blocke at the one end, and a blocke with a hooke at the other,
to heave any thing in or out of the ship; they are of divers sorts, as the
Botes tackles made fast the one to the fore shrouds, the other to the
maine, to hoise the Bote in or out: also the tackles that keepe firme
the Masts from straying. The Gunners tackles for haling in or out the
Ordnances: but the winding tackle is the greatest, which is a great
double blocke with three shivers to the end of a small Cable about
the head of the Mast, and serveth as a ∥ Pendant. To which is made
fast a Guy, which is a rope brought to it from the fore mast, to keepe
the weight upon it steady, or from swinging to and againe: Into the
blocke is reeved a hawser, which is also reeved thorowanother double
blocke, having a strop at the end of it; which put thorowthe eye of
the slings is locked into it with a fid, and so hoise the goods in or out
by the helpe of the Snap-blocke.
Cat harpings are small ropes runne in little blockes from one
side of the ship to the other, neere the upper decke to keepe the
shrouds tight for the more safety of the mast from rowling. The Halyards
belong to all masts, for by them wee hoise the yards to their
height, and the Ties are the ropes by which the yards doe hang, and
doe carry up the yards when wee straine
thorowthe Hounds, with a turne in the eye of the slings which are
made fast to the yard; the missen yard and top yard have but single
Ties, that is, one doth but run in one part, but the Spretsaile yard
hathnone, for it is made fast with a paire of slings to the boltspret. A
Horse is a rope made fast to the fore mast shrouds, and the Spretsaile
sheats, to keepe those sheats cleare of the anchor flookes.
To sling is to make fast any caske, yard, ordnances, or the like
in a paire of Slings, and Slings are made of a rope spliced at either
end into it selfe with one eye at either end, so long as to bee sufficient
to receive the caske, the middle part of the rope also they seaze
and so maketh another eye to hitch the hooke of the tackle,
another sort are made much longer for the hoising of ordnances,
another is a chaine of iron to Sling or binde the yards fast aloft to the
crosse trees in a fight, lest the ties should bee cut, and so the mast
must fall. The Canhookes are two hookes fastened to the end of a
rope with a noose, like this the Brewers use to sling or carry their
barrels on, and those serve also to take in or out hogsheads, or any
other commodities. A Parbunkel is two ropes that have at each end
a noose or lumpe that being ∥ crossed, you may set any vessell that
hathbut one head upon them, bringing but the loopes over the
upper end of the caske, fix but the tackle to them, and then the vessell
will stand strait in the middest to heave out, or take in without
spilling.
Puddings are ropes nailed round to the yards armes close to the
end, a pretty distance one from another, to save the Robbins
galling upon the yards, or to serve the anchors ring to save the clinch
of the cable from galling. And the Robbins are little lines reeved into
the eylet holes of the saile under the head ropes, to make fast the saile
to the yard, for in stead of tying, sea men alwayes say, make fast.
Head lines, are the ropes that make all the sailes fast to the yard.
Furling lines are small lines made fast to the top saile, top gallant
saile, and the missen yards armes. The missen hathbut one called
the smiting line, the other on each side one, and by these we farthell
or binde up the sailes. The Brales
Blockes seased on each side the ties, and come down before the saile,
and at the very skirt are fastened to the Creengles, with them we
furle or farthell our sailes acrosse, and they belong onely to the two
courses and the missen: to hale up the Brales, or brale up the saile,
sailes belonging to the maine and fore mast, to which the bolings
bridles are made fast, and to hold by when we shake off a Bonner.
Boltropes is that rope is sowed about every saile, soft and gently
twisted, for the better sowing and handling the sailes. Bunt lines is
but a small rope made fast to the middest of the Boltrope to a creengle
reeved thorowa small blocke which is seased to the yard, to trice or
draw up the Bunt of the saile, when you farthell or make it up. The
Clew garnet is a rope made fast to the clew of the saile, and from
thence runnes in a blocke seased to the middle of the yard, which in
furling doth hale up the clew of the saile close to the middle of the
yard, and the clew line is the same to the ∥ top sailes top gallant and
spret sailes, as the Clew garnet is to the maine and foresailes. The
Clew of a saile is the lowest corner next the Sheat and Tackes, and
stretcheth somewhat goaring
and according to the Goaring she is said to spread a great or a little
clew. Tackes are great ropes which having a wall-knot at one end
seased into the clew of the saile, and so reeved first thorowthe
chestres, and then commeth in at a hole in the ships sides, this doth
carry forward the clew of the saile to make it stand close by a wind.
The Sheats are bent to the clews of all sailes, in the low sailes they
hale aft the clew of the sailes, but in top sailes they serve to hale them
home, that is, to bring the clew close to the yards arme. The Braces
belong to all yards but the missen, every yard hathtwo reeved at
their ends thorowtwo pendants, and those are to square the yards,
or travasse them as you please. The Boling is made fast to the leech
of the saile about the middest to make it stand the sharper or closer
by a wind, it is fastened by two, three, or foure ropes like a crows foot
to as many parts of the saile which is called the Boling bridles, onely
the missen Boling is fastened to the lower end of the yard, this rope
belongs to all sailes except the Spret-saile, and Spret-saile Top-saile,
which not having any place to hale it forward by, they cannot use
those sailes by a wind: sharp the maine Boling is to hall it taught:
hale up the Boling is to pull it harder forward on: checke or ease the
Boling is to let it be more slacke.
Lee fanngs is a rope reeved into the creengles of the courses,
when wee would hale in the bottome of the saile, to lash on a bonnet
or take in the saile; and Reeving is but drawing a rope thorowa
blocke or oylet
made fast to the Leech of the top-sailes, for they belong to no other;
and are reeved into a blocke at the yard close by the top-saile ties, to
hale in the Leech of the saile when you take them in. The Leech of a
saile is the outward side of a skirt of a saile, from the earing to the
foure corners of the saile is left open as it were a ring. The two upmost
parts are put over the ends of the vards armes, and so made fast to the
yards, and the lowermost are seased or Bent to the sheats, and tackes
into the clew. The Lifts are two ropes which belong to all yards
armes, to top the yards; that is, to make them hang higher or lower
at your pleasure. But the top-saile Lifts doe serve for sheats to the top
gallant yards, the haling them is called the Topping the Lifts, as top
a starboard, or top a port.
Legs are small ropes put thorowthe bolt ropes of the maine and
fore saile, neere to a foot in length, spliced each end into the other in
the leech of the saile, having a little eye whereunto the martnets are
fastened by two hitches, and the end seased into the standing parts
of the martnets, which are also small lines like crow feet reeved
thorowa blocke at the top mast head, and so comes downe by the
mast to the decke; but the top-saile martnets are made fast to the
head of the top gallant mast, and commeth but to the top, where it
is haled and called the top martnets, they serve to bring that part of
the leech next the yards arme up close to the yard. Latchets
small lines sowed in the Bonnets and Drablers like loops to lash or
make fast the Bonnet to the course, or the course to the Drabler,
which we call lashing the Bonnet to the course, or the Drabler to the
Bonnet. The Loofe hooke is a tackle with two hookes, one to hitch
into a chingle of the maine, or fore saile, in the bolt rope in the leech
of the saile by the clew, and the other to strap spliced to the chestres
to bouse or pull downe the saile to succour the tackes in a stiffe gale
of wind, or take off or put on a Bonnet or a Drabler, which are two
short sailes to take off or put to the fore course or the maine, which
is the fore saile, or maine saile.
The Knave-line is a rope hathone end fastened to the crosse
trees, and so comes downe by the ties to the Rams head, to which is
seased a small peece of wood some two foot long with a hole in the
end, whereunto the line is reeved, and brought to the ships side, and
haled taught to the ∥ Railes to keepe the ties and Halyards from turning
about one another when they are new. Knettels
yarnes twisted together, and a knot at each end, whereunto to sease
a blocke, a rope, or the like. Rope yarnes are the yarnes of any rope
untwisted, they serve to sarve small ropes, or make Sinnet, Mats,
Plats, or Caburnes, and make up the sailes at the yards armes.
Sinnet is a string made of rope yarne commonly of two, foure,
they use it to sarve ropes or Mats. That which we call a Panch, are
broad clouts, woven of Thrums and Sinnet together, to save things
from galling about the maine and fore yards at the ties, and also from
the masts, and upon the Boltspret, Loufe, Beake-head or Gunwaile
to save the clewes of the sailes from galling or fretting. Caburne is a
small line made of spun yarne to make a bend of two Cables, or to
sease the Tackels, or the like. Seasing is to binde fast any ropes together,
with some small rope yarne. Marline is any line, to a blocke,
or any tackell, Pendant, Garnet, or the like. There is also a rope by
which the Boat doth ride by the ships side, which we cal a Seasen. To
sarve any rope with plats or Sinnet, is but to lay Sinnet, Spun yarne,
Rope yarne, or a peece of Canvas upon the rope, and then rowle it
fast to keepe the rope from galling about the shrowds at the head of
the masts, the Cable in the Hawse, the flooke of the Anchor, the Boat
rope or any thing. Spunyarne is nothing but rope yarne made small
at the ends, and so spun one to another so long as you will with a
winch. Also Caskets are but small ropes of Sinnet made fast to the
gromits or rings upon the yards, the longest are in the midst of the
yards betwixt the ties, and are called the brest Caskets, hanging on
each side the yard in small lengths, only to binde up the saile when
it is furled.
Marling
is a small line of untwisted hemp, very pliant and welltarred, to sease the ends of Ropes from raveling out, or the sides of
the blockes at their arses, or if the saile rent out of the Boltrope, they
will make it fast with marlin ∥ till they have leisure to mend it. The
marling spike, is but a small peece of iron to splice ropes together, or
open the bolt rope when you sew the saile. Splicing is so to let one
ropes end into another they shall be as firme as if they were but one
rope, and this is called a round Splice; but the cut Splice is to let
one into another with as much distance as you will, and yet bee
strong, and undoe when you will. Now to make an end of this discourse
with a knot, you are to know, Sea-men use three, the first is
is called the Wall knot, which is a round knob, so made with the
stronds or layes of a rope, it cannot slip; the Sheates, Tackes, and
fastened by the bridles into the creengles of the sailes, they will
breake, or the saile split before it will slip. The last is the Shepshanke,
which is a knot they cast upon a Runner or Tackle when it is too long
to take in the goods, and by this knot they can shorten a rope without
cutting it, as much as they list, and presently undoe it againe, and
yet never the worse.
| A SEA GRAMMAR. | |