The Rigging of Ships: in the Days of the Spritsail Topmast, 1600-1720

Hanover

LIST OF PLATES

ENGLISH 100-GUN SHIP ROYAL GEORGE, 1715.

on facing page

From the model in the Techniches Hofschule, Hanover. The rigging is slightly damaged in places. It shows the jib-boom and the spritsail topmast carried at the same time. The channels are now above the middle-deck guns. Spare topmasts are seen amidships. Photograph by Max Bau-mann, Hanover.

DUTCH SHIP OF THE END OF THE 16TH CENTURY.

From a print of 1594, by W. Barentsoen. Shows the spritsail stowed in the head, in sixteenth-century fashion. There is no spritsail topmast. The fore topsail and topgallant halliards and the mizzen and mizzen topsail lifts are very complicated.

LARGE MAN-OF-WAR OF THE BEGINNING OF THE 17TH CENTURY.

From a Dutch print intended to represent the English Prince Royal, in 1613, but really a fancy ship based on Dutch practice. The furled spritsail is kept outboard and there is a spritsail topmast. The single bumkin for the fore tacks is shown.

ENGLISH MERCHANTMAN OF THE BEGINNING OF THE 17TH CENTURY.

From the model of an "English Merchantman of the size and date of the Mayflower," designed and built by the Author and L. A. Pritchard, for the Pilgrim Society of Plymouth, Mass. This shows a simplified rig suitable for a small ship, there being neither spritsail topsail nor mizzen topsail. Photograph by E. P. McLaughlin, Plymouth, Mass.

DUTCH SHIP OF ABOUT 1620.

From Furttenbach’s Architectura Navalis, a German book of 1629. Many details of this drawing suggest that it was made from a model. For instance, the distortion of the stays by the pull of the braces is a thing that often occurs in a model. There is a square mizzen topsail and the spritsail topsail is shown set. The tackles hanging beneath the lower yards are presumably the martnets, but it is difficult to understand their action.

LARGE DANISH MAN-OF-WAR OF ABOUT 1625.

From a print after a drawing by C. Möller. The date is unknown, but it is probably not later than 1625. There are still lateen mizzen topsails. The rigging is similar to that of the ship in Plate 1, but more complicated. The bowlines for a main royal are shown. This is probably a fancy ship, but evidently based on real knowledge on the part of the artist.

FRENCH MAN-OF-WAR BUILT IN HOLLAND IN 1626.

From a print published by H. Hondius, at Amsterdam. Five ships and some small craft were built in Holland for the French Navy in 1626. This is probably the Saint Louis. A copy of this print was used in error as the basis for the modern model of the Couronne of eleven years later. This is an early example of a large ship without the bonaventure mizzen. The whole rigging is much less complicated than in the Danish ship in Plate 5.

ENGLISH 100-GUN SHIP SOVEREIGN, 1637.

From a print by J. Payne. The most remarkable feature about this print is the presence of fore and main royals and of a mizzen topgallant sail. These sails were not adopted officially till more than a century later, but there is no doubt that they were occasionally in use in the first half of the seventeenth century. The Sovereign was probably the first large English ship to dispense with the fourth mast. It will be noted that there are martnets on the main topsail and leechlines on the fore.

DANISH SHIP NORSKE LÖVE, BUILT IN 1634.

From the model in Rosenborg Castle, Copenhagen. The actual ship was built in 1634, but the model was not completed till 1654. It is probable that the model shows a mixture of styles of the two dates. Some portions of the rigging have been replaced wrongly.

ENGLISH RIGGING-PLAN OF 1655.

From Miller’s Complete Modellist. This book is really concerned with the drawing of rigging-plans and their use in cutting the rigging to the right length. The plate is taken from the second edition of 1664, but there is little doubt that it had been used in the first edition which must have been printed about 1655. Each yard is shown twice, in the hoisted and lowered position. This is necessary to get the full lengths of the different ropes. For example, the lifts are at their longest when the yard is lowered, whereas the opposite is the case with the braces.

DUTCH MEN-OF-WAR, ABOUT 1655.

From an etching by R. Nooms (or Zeeman) showing Two new frigates equipped for war against the Parliament of England. This refers to the first Anglo-Dutch war of 1652-4. Fore and main preventer stays are shown at a date when they are hardly to be expected. Probably they were fitted as a precautionary measure before going into action.

DUTCH MAN-OF-WAR OF 1665.

From a model made as a half-size copy of the large Dutch model in the Hohenzollern Museum in Berlin. The rigging, carried out by Miss B. P. Derrick, under the supervision of the Author, is based partly on photographs of the original (which has sails) and partly on other Dutch authorities of the same period. The hull and spars were made exactly half the size of the original and are by Capt. W. Brandt, formerly of the Imperial German Navy. Official photograph, South Kensington Museum.

RIGGING-PLAN FOR AN ENGLISH SECOND-RATE OF 1670.

From a manuscript by Sir Anthony Deane, in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge. As in the case of Plate 9 the yards are shown both hoisted and lowered. There is an unusual lead for the main topsail brace, right down to the poop instead of to the mizzenmast. The topgallant and mizzen topsail braces are shown single; crojack braces are omitted. Photograph by J. Palmer Clarke, Cambridge.

RIGGING-PLAN FOR AN ENGLISH FOURTH-RATE OF 1670.

From the same manuscript as Plate 12. In this case the topgallant and mizzen topsail braces are shown double. The crojack braces go forward to the main rigging and the mizzen topsail braces aft to the mizzen yard. The fore topmast stay is set up with deadeyes instead of having a more or less elaborate tackle as was more usual. Photograph by J. Palmer Clarke, Cambridge.

ENGLISH 50-GUN SHIP ASSISTANCE, 1673.

From a colored drawing in the British Museum showing the Assistance with two merchantmen and a ketch. Reef-points, stunsail booms and staysails are well shown. Photograph by Donald Macbeth.

ENGLISH MERCHANTMAN, 1673.

From the same drawing as Plate 14. The mainsail shows holes at the foot for attaching a bonnet and both it and the foresail have a row of holes near the head for some obscure method of reefing which is also indicated for the second reef in the topsails. Photograph by Donald Macbeth.

FRENCH MAN-OF-WAR OF ABOUT 1685-90.

From a drawing in the Naval Museum at the Louvre, in Paris. This drawing, reproduced from Le Musée de Marine du Louvre, is there ascribed to Puget and dated 1650. Many features make this date impossible, and 1685 is about the earliest possible date for it. There is a bobstay-tackle and the stays and preventer stays are shown snaked together. The fore and main channels are above the middle-deck ports; in an English ship they would be below.

ENGLISH MAN-OF-WAR OF ABOUT 1690.

From a drawing by C. Bouwmeester. This is an example of an English ship drawn by a Dutch artist and given Dutch rigging. The hull and the flags are English, but the caps and other details of the rigging are Dutch.

RUSSIAN MAN-OF-WAR PREDESTINATSIA, 1701.

From an engraving in a Russian book, of 1864, after the original print of 1701. Not very much detail is shown, but the general effect, both in hull and rigging, is that of a mixture of English and Dutch fashions. The Predestinatsia was a fifty-eight gun ship belonging to the first Russian Black Sea fleet. She was designed by Peter the Great and launched in 1700.

MAIN TOP AND FORE TOP OF THE ST GEORGE MODEL, 1701.

From the model formerly in the Sergison collection at Cuckfield, Sussex, now. the property of Col. H. H. Rogers of New York. This is probably the finest example of contemporary rigging still surviving.

ENGLISH RIGGING-PLAN OF ABOUT 1700.

From a print in the Author’s possession. It appears to have belonged to an encyclopedia. The presence of heavy wreaths round the ports shows that its date cannot be much later than 1700. The rigging is numbered and a key is given.

DUTCH RIGGING-PLAN OF ABOUT 1700.

From the Dictionnaire de Marine (French-Dutch) of 1702. The rigging is numbered and a key is given.

ENGLISH MEN-OF-WAR OF ABOUT 1720.

From a print by J. Sartor, after T. Baston; one of a series of twenty-two prints dating from about 1720. These ships, being Third-Rates, have given up the spritsail topmast in favour of the jib boom. This change was officially established in 1719 for all ships except three-deckers.

DUTCH EAST-INDIAMAN GERTRUDA, 1720.

From a drawing reproduced in Souvenirs de Marine, Vol. 1. The drawing was probably made from a model. Several very similar models of Dutch East-Indiamen of about this date still exist. The channels, which in Dutch men-of-war would have been above the upper-deck guns, are here kept below. There is no sign of a jib boom. The later Dutch form of lower lifts is well shown. It will be noted that the fore half of the mizzen has been cut off. This is a very early example of this typical eighteenth-century fashion. Another early example is also Dutch.

ENGLISH RIGGING-PLAN OF ABOUT 1720.

From a print, from an encyclopedia, in the Author’s possession. The date is certainly after 1715 and probably before 1725. This plan illustrates the complication caused by trying to carry the jib and the spritsail topsail at the same time. There is a key to the numbering of the rigging.

I. DUTCH SHIP OF THE END OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY

From a print by W. Barentsoen, 1594

2. LARGE MAN-OF-WAR OF THE BEGINNING OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

From a Dutch print of 1613

3. ENGLISH MERCHANTMAN OF THE BEGINNING OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

From the model of an English Merchantman of the size and date of the Mayflower

4. DUTCH SHIP OF ABOUT 1620

From Furttenbach’s Architectura Navalis, 1629

5. LARGE DANISH MAN-OF-WAR OF ABOUT 1625

From a print by C. Möller

6. FRENCH MAN-OF-WAR BUILT IN HOLLAND IN 1626

From a print published at Amsterdam by H. Hondius

7. ENGLISH 100-GUN SHIP SOVEREIGN, 1637

From a print by J. Payne

8. DANISH SHIP NORSKE LOVE, BUILT IN 1634

From the model in Rosenborg Castle, Copenhagen

9. ENGLISH RIGGING-PLAN OF 1655

From Miller’s Complete Modellist

10. DUTCH MEN-OF-WAR, ABOUT 1655

From an etching by R. Nooms

11. DUTCH MAN-OF-WAR OF 1665

From the model in the Science Museum, South Kensington

12. RIGGING-PLAN FOR AN ENGLISH SECOND-RATE OF 1670

From a manuscript in the Pepysian Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge

13. RIGGING-PLAN FOR AN ENGLISH FOURTH-RATE OF 1670

From a manuscript in the Pepysian Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge

14. ENGLISH 50-GUN SHIP ASSISTANCE, 1673

From a colored drawing in the British Museum

15. ENGLISH MERCHANTMAN OF 1673

From a colored drawing in the British Museum

16. FRENCH MAN-OF-WAR OF ABOUT 1685-90

From a drawing ascribed to Puget, in the Naval Museum at the LouvreParis

17. ENGLISH MAN-OF-WAR OF ABOUT 1690

From a drawing by C. Bouwmeester

18. RUSSIAN MAN-OF-WAR PREDESTINATSIA, 1701

From an engraving after a print of 1701

19a. FORETOP OF THE ST GEORGE MODEL, 1701

From the Sergison Collection at Cuckfield Park, now owned by Col. H. H. Rogers of New York

19b. MAINTOP OF THE ST GEORGE MODEL, 1701

From the Sergison Collection at Cuckfield Park, now owned by Col. H. H. Rogers of New York

20. ENGLISH RIGGING-PLAN OF ABOUT 1700

PLATE 20. KEY

(Spelling as in original)

MIZZEN MAST AND RIGGING:

Mizzen Mast

Yard and Sail

Sheet

Shrowds and Laniards

Bowlines

Brayles

Jeer

Peak Hallyards

Crossjack Yard

Lifts

Braces

Puttock Shrouds

Mizzen top

Top Armour

The Capp

Crowfoot

Stay and Sail

Halliards

MIZZEN TOP MAST AND RIGGING:

19. Topmast

20. Yard and Sail

21. Braces

22. Lifts

23. Shrowds

24. Halliards

25. Backstays

26. Bowlines

27. Sheets

28. Clewlines

29. Stay

30. Crosstrees

31. Cap

32. Stump

33. Stay

34. Truck

35. Spindle

36. Vane

37. Slings of the Crossjack Yard

MAIN MAST AND RIGGING:

38. Main Mast

39. Runners and Tackles

40. Tackle

41. Shrowds and Laniards

42. Stay and Sail

43. Staysail halliards

44. Yard and Sail

45. Jeers

46. Sheets

47. Tacks

48. Buntlines

49. Bowlines

50. Braces

51. Leachlines

52. Puttock Shrowds

53. Crowfoot

54. Lifts

55. Top

56. Top armour

57. Top rope

58. Cap

59. Mainyard Tackles

MAIN TOP MAST AND RIGGING:

60. Main Topmast

61. Tackles

62. Shrowds

63. Back Stayes

64. Halliards

65. Stay and Sail

66. Staysail halliards

67. Yard and Sail

68. Braces

69. Bowlines

70. Sheets

71. Clewlines

72. Lifts

73. Runner

74. Buntlines

75. Crosstrees

76. Cap

77. Stump

78. Stay

79. Truck

80. Pendant

FORE MAST AND RIGGING:

81. Foremast

82. Runner and Tackles

83. Tackle

84. Shrouds and Laniards

85. Stay

86. Yard and Sail

87. Sheets

88. Tacks

89. Braces

90. Bowline

91. Buntlines

92. Leachlines

93. Yard Tackle

94. Jeers

95. Puttock Shrowds

96. Crowfoot

97. Top

98. Top Armour

99. Top Rope

100. Lifts

101. Cap

FORE TOP MAST AND RIGGING:

102. Fore Topmasts

103. Tackles

104. Shrowds

105. Back Stays

106. Halliards

107. Stay and Sail

108. Halliards

109. Yard and Sail

110. Runner

111. Lifts

112. Braces

113. Bowlines

114. Sheets

115. Clewlines

116. Buntlines

117. Crosstrees

118. Cap

119. Stump

120. Stay

121. Truck

122. Spindle

123. Vane

BOWSPRIT AND RIGGING:

124. Bowsprit

125. Horse

126. Yard and Sail

127. Lifts

128. Sheets

129. Clewlines

130. Braces

131. Bobstay

132. Top

133. Top Armour

SPRITSAIL TOPSAIL AND RIGGING:

134. Topmast

135. Shrowds

136. Halliards

137. Craneline

138. Yard and Sail

139. Braces

140. Lifts

141. Sheets

142. Crosstrees

143. Cap

144. Jackstaff

145. Truck

146. Jack

147. Best Bower Buoy

148. Cable

HULL:

A. The Cutwater

B. Stem

C. Hassholes

D. Catthead

E. Wastecloths

F. Fore Channel

G. Main Channel

H. Mizzen Channel

I. Chestree

K. Entering Port

L. Head

M. Gallery

N. Taffarell

O. Poop Lanthorns

P. Ensign Staff

Q. Truck

R. Ensign

21. DUTCH RIGGING-PLAN OF ABOUT 1700

From a print inDictionnaire de Marine, 1702

PLATE 21. KEY

A. Keel

B. Stem and Sternpost

C. Rudder

D. Counter

E. Gallery

F. Taffrail

G. Ensign-staff

H. Poop

I. Spare Topsail Yard

K. Half-deck

L. Forecastle

M. Cathead

N. Beak

O. Wales

P. Ports

Q. Chesstree

R. Anchor

S. Hawse-holes

T. Cable

V. Buoy

W. Mizzen Mast

X. Main Mast

Y. Fore Mast

Z. Bowsprit

a. Mizzen Topmast

b. Main Topmast

c. Main Topgallant Mast

d. Fore Topmast

e. Fore Topgallant Mast

f. Spritsail Topmast

g. Pendants

h. Flag at the Main

i. Ensign

k. Jack

Mizzen Yard

Crojack Yard

Mizzen Topsail Yard

Main Yard

Main Topsail Yard

Main Topgallant Yard

Fore Yard

Fore Topsail Yard

Fore Topgallant Yard

Spritsail Yard

Spritsail Topsail Yard

Mastheads

Caps

Tops

Topmast mastheads

Upper Caps

Mizzen Shrouds

Mizzen Channels

Main Shrouds

Main Channels

Fore Shrouds

Fore Channels

Mizzen Stay and Sail

Main Stay and Sail

Fore Stay

Mizzen Topmast Shrouds

Main Topmast Shrouds

Fore Topmast Shrouds

Main Topgallant Shrouds

Fore Topgallant Shrouds

Spritsail Topmast Shrouds

22. ENGLISH MEN-OF-WAR OF ABOUT 1720

From a print by J. Sartor, after T. Baston

Mizzen Brails

Main Clewlines

Fore Clewlines

Spritsail Clewlines

Mizzen Sheet

Main Sheet

Fore Sheet

Spritsail Sheet

Mizzen Tack

Main Tack

Fore Tack

Mizzen Bowline

Main Brace

Fore Brace

Spritsail Brace

Mizzen Lift

Main Lifts

Fore Lifts

Spritsail Lifts

Main Leechlines

Fore Leechlines

Main Buntlines

Fore Buntlines

Spritsail Buntline

Mizzen Topsail Sheet

Main Topsail Sheet

Fore Topsail Sheet

Main Topgallant Sheet, or Main Topsail Lift

Fore Topgallant Sheet, or Fore Topsail Lift

Spritsail Topsail Sheet, or Spritsail Lift

Mizzen Topmast Stay

Main Topmast Stay and Sail

Fore Topmast Stay and Sail

Main Topgallant Stay

Fore Topgallant Stay

Spritsail Topmast Backstay

Bowsprit Horse

Main Topmast Backstay

Fore Topmast Backstay

Crojack Brace

Mizzen Topsail Brace

Main Topsail Brace

Main Topgallant Brace

Fore Topsail Brace

Fore Topgallant Brace

Spritsail Topsail Brace

Mizzen Topsail Clewline

Main Topsail Clewline

Fore Topsail Clewline

Main Topgallant Clewline

Fore Topgallant Clewline

Spritsail Topsail Clewline

Mizzen Topsail Lift

Main Topgallant Lift

Fore Topgallant Lift

Spritsail Topsail Lift

Mizzen Topsail Bowline

Main Bowline

Fore Bowline

Main Topsail Bowline

Main Topgallant Bowline

Fore Topsail Bowline

Fore Topgallant Bowline

Flag Halliards

Mizzen Tie and Halliards

Main Tie and Halliards

Fore Tie and Halliards

Mizzen Topsail Halliards

Main Topsail Halliards

Fore Topsail Halliards

Main Topgallant Halliards

Fore Topgallant Halliards

Spritsail Topsail Halliards

:-: Main Tackles

-:- Fore Tackles

X... Draught Mark on the Stem

23. DUTCH EAST-INDIAMAN GERTRUDA, 1720

From a plate in Adm. de Paris’ Souvenirs de Marine

24. ENGLISH RIGGING-PLAN OF ABOUT 1720

PLATE 24. KEY

(Spelling as in original)

BOWSPRIT

Yard and Sail

Gammoning

Horse

Bobstay

Spritsail Sheets

Pendants

Braces and Pendants

Hallyards

Liffts

Clewlines

Spritsail Horses

Buntlines

Standing Liffts

Spritsail Top

Flying Jibboom

Flying Jibb Stay and Sail

Hallyards

Sheats

Horses

SPRITSAIL TOP MAST

Shrouds

Yard and Sail

Sheats

Liffts

Braces and Pendants

Cap

Jack Staff

Truck

Jack Flag

FORE MAST

Runner and Tackle

Shrouds

Lanyards

Stay and Lanyard

Preventer Stay & Lanyard

Wooldings the mast

Yard and Sail

Horses

Top

Crowfoot

Jeers

Yard Tackles

Liffts

Braces and Pendants

Sheats

Fore Tacks

Bowlines and Bridles

Fore Buntlines

Fore Leechlines

Fore Toprope

Puttock Shrouds

FORE TOP MAST

Shrouds and Lanyards

Yard and Sail

Stay and Sail

Runner

Backstays

Hallyards

Liffts

Braces and Pendants

Horses

Clewlines

Bowlines and Bridles

Reeftackles

Sheats

Buntlines

Crosstrees

Cap

FORETOPGALLANT MAST

Shrouds and Lanyards

Yard and Sail

Backstays

Stay

Liffts

Clewlines

Braces and Pendants

Bowlines and Bridles

Flagg Staff

Truck

Flagg Staff Stay

Flagg Lord High Adml.

MAIN MAST

Shrouds

Lanyards

Runner and Tackle

Pendant of the Gornet

Guy of Do.

Fall of Do.

Stay

Preventer Stay

Stay Tackle

Woolding the mast

Jeers

Yard Tackles

Liffts

Braces and Pendants

Horses

Sheats

Tacks

Bowlines and Bridles

Crowfoot

Toprope

Top

Buntlines

Leechlines

Yard and Sail

MAIN TOP MAST

Shrouds and Lanyards

Yard and Sail

Puttock Shrouds

Backstays

Stay

Staysail & Stay & Hallyard

Runners

Hallyards

Liffts

Clewlines

Braces and Pendants

Horses

Sheats

Bowlines and Bridles

Buntlines

Reeftackles

Crosstrees

Cap

MAINTOPGALLANT MAST

Shrouds and Lanyards

Yard and Sail

Backstays

Stay

Stay Sail & Hallyards

Lifts

Braces and Pendants

Bowlines and Bridles

Clewlines

Flagg Staff

Truck

Flagg Staff Stay

Flagg Standard

MIZON MAST

Shrouds and Lanyards

Pendants and Burtons

Yard and Sail

Crowfoot

Sheat

Pendant Lines

Peckbrails

Stay Sail

Stay

Derrick and Span

Top

Cross Jack Yard

Crossjack Liffts

Crossjack Braces

Crossjack Slings

MIZON TOP MAST

Shrouds and Lanyards

Yard and Sail

Backstays

Stay

Hallyards

Liffts

Braces and Pendants

Bowlines and Bridles

Sheats

Clewlines

Stay Sail

Crosstrees

Cap

Flagg Staff

Flagg Staff Stay

Truck

Flagg Union

Ensigne Staff

Truck

Ensigne

Poop Ladder

Bower Cable

HULL

A. Catt head

B. Fore Channells

C. Main Channells

D. Mizon Channells

E. Entring Port

F. Hause holes

G. Poop Lanthorns

H. Chesstree

I. Head

K. Stern

CHAPTER I

THE LOWER MASTS AND BOWSPRIT

I. Their Positions

WHEN what may be described as a ready-made model is to be rigged, the positions of the masts are decided beforehand and there is nothing to do except to conform to what one finds. The same holds good if one builds a model from drawings which have the masts marked. On the other hand, if drawings have to be made, the positions of the masts have to be settled early in the process, because many other details of the hull depend on them.

The first and most natural tendency is to say that the mainmast should be amidships. Within reasonable limits this is true enough, but on investigation it will be found that the matter is not quite so simple. Thomas Miller, who wrote a small book on rigging under the deceptive title The Complete Modellist, in 1655, is very emphatic in saying that everyone knows the mainmast should be stepped in the middle of the keel, but plans both before and after his date are equally emphatic in contradicting him. Sir Anthony Deane, one of the leading English shipbuilders, prepared a manuscript on shipbuilding for Samuel Pepys, in 1670, and in all his plans (Plates 12 and 13) he puts the mainmast either at the middle of the gundeck or about its own diameter further aft. This means that the mast is well before the middle of the keel, because the gundeck obviously overhangs the keel far more forward than aft. Another plan of similar date published in The Mariner’s Mirror in 1925 also shows the mainmast about its own diameter abaft the middle of the gundeck. Still, there are cases where it is stepped at the middle point of the keel. I have two models in my own collection where this is so; one, a 3-decker of about 1670-5, has had too much done to her at various times to be a very reliable authority; but the other, a 2-decker of about 1695, is quite convincing. Later on, about 1720, English plans put the mainmast about 1/25 of the length of the gundeck abaft its middle point. Even then it is well before the middle of the keel.

Really this is a question to which it is impossible to give a definite answer. One can say that the middle of the gundeck marks the forward limit and the middle of the keel the after; one can also say that in a general way the mast moved aft as time went on, but the exceptions must always have been numerous and it would only be misleading to lay down a hard and fast rule of any kind.

With foreign ships the matter is a little different. In them the length was nearly always measured between perpendiculars dropped from the heads of the stem and sternpost. Witsen, whose book on Dutch shipbuilding, published in 1671, is one of the classics of the subject, contradicts himself a good deal, but does say clearly that the step (in his typical ship of 134 ft. long) should be 5½ or 6 ft. abaft the middle of the ship. This agrees with his plan, though there the mast is shown with the incredible rake of about 1 in 5. Van Yk, in 1697, says the mainmast should be exactly amidships, but the so-called "William Rex" model of a year later and Allard’s section of a Dutch 3-decker of the same period, both show it about 1/20 of the length between perpendiculars further aft. This is a trifle more than the proportion in Witsen’s ship or in the Dutch model of 1665 in the Hohenzollern Museum in Berlin (Plate 11), in which it works out to about 1/22 of the length abaft the middle point. Probably, therefore, this position, about 1/20 to 1/25 of the length abaft the middle point between stem and