Sir William Monson's Naval Tracts in Six Books; The Whole from the Original Manuscript Never Before Published (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1703 Excerpt: ...the Ship, to the great Inconvenience, and loss of Time and Opportunity, what sudden Occasion soever should offer. Moreover, if a Ship by mishap shall take Fire, out of her open Galleries Water may be suddenly drawn, and prove both the Safety of Ship and Men j whereas being close, as now they are, there will be no Remedy to quench them. It may be compat'd to a round Pigeon House, into which People fly from an Enemy for Refuge and what Defence can such a House make, that is compafs'd about with Foes? No more than to yield to Fire and Water. Now Now compare the James, by the true Description I have made of her, but with one or two Galleys in a Calm, having no Ship near to assist her, considering she carries but two Pieces in her Gun-Room, with what ease and little danger a Galley may run up in her Stern, and with her Prow and small Shot put her from her two Pieces, for every Galley carries Four Pieces a-head, besides her Cannon in the Cruzea, which Piece lies more to the Advantage than the other two, in that they are pla'cd low by the Water, and the Galleys standing still, they may moot as steddy out of her as out of a Platform. Indeed this Cannon in the Cruzea is of greater Danger and. Annoyance than all the rest, for it lies at an even stay, and not to be mov'd nor travers'd one way or other, and the use to be made of it is for the Master to bring the Mast of the Ship and the Mast of the Galley both in one, and then to call to the Gunner to give sire; by which Means it is impossible to misi the Ship, and hazard sinking of her. And as the James lies open to Galleys, as I have (hew'd, so does she in like manner to such Ships as shall board her, either afore in her Prow, or abaft in her Stern, where she has no Defence, either of her Forecastle or close Fights. ...