Chapter I: Preface

This history of sailing ships has been written primarily for the general reader, in the hope that the sons and daughters of a naval nation, and of an Empire that stretches beyond the seas, may find therein a record of some interest and assistance in enlarging and systematising their ideas on the subject, especially as regards the ships of earlier centuries. It is not necessary to look far—no further than the poster-designs on advertisement-hoardings—to observe the errors into which our artists of to-day are liable to fall owing to lack of historical knowledge in this subject; and to put (for instance) triangular headsails with a rectangular sail on the “bonaventure mizzen-mast” of an early sixteenth-century ship, is an inaccuracy scarcely to be pardoned.

Quite recently one of the chief librarians in one of our biggest national treasure-houses informed me that when an artist, who had been commissioned to illustrate a certain work, came to him for guidance as to the ships of a recent period, he was at a loss where to lay his hands on a book which should show him what he wished to know by picture and description. Only after much search was the requisite knowledge obtained.

I trust that both the yachtsman and sailorman will find in these pages something of the same exciting pleasure which has been mine in tracing the course of the evolutions through which their ships have passed. Those whose work or amusement it is to acquaint themselves with the sailing ship and her ways, and for lack of time and opportunity are unable to seek out the noble pedigree of what Ruskin truly described as “one of the loveliest things man ever made, and one of the noblest,” may care to learn what were the changing conditions which combined to bring about such a highly complex creature as the modern sailing ship. Perhaps at some time when handling a rope, a spar, a tiller or a sail, they may have wondered how it all began; what were the origins of all those various parts of a ship’s “furniture”; why some essential portions have scarcely changed; and how other portions are the outcome of time, experiment, and science. I hope that to neither the amateur nor the professional sailor I shall seem impertinent if I have attempted to tell them something about their ship which they did not know before. But if, on the other hand, I shall have succeeded in increasing their love for the sailing ship by outlining her career, I trust that this may be allowed to counterbalance the defects which, in a subject of so vast a scope, are hardly to be avoided in spite of considerable care and the generous assistance of many kind friends.

Finally, I make my appeal to the younger generation, to whom ships and the sea have in all times suggested so much that is bound up with adventure and brave deeds. The present moment sees us at a stage in the history of ships when the Royal Navy as a whole, and the Merchant Service almost entirely, have no longer any convenience for sail. There is a dire need in the latter for both officers and men, whilst on shore the conditions of employment are exactly the reverse. Surely it is only by a mutual adjustment of the two that both problems, on sea and land, can possibly be overcome; and it is only by winning the enthusiasm of the boy who is to become father of the man that the sailor’s love for the sea can be handed on from generation to generation. We have received from our ancestors a splendid heritage, a unique legacy—the mastery of the seas. That legacy brings with it a commensurate responsibility, to retain what our forefathers fought for so dearly. Perhaps to the healthy-minded Anglo-Saxon boy, not yet too _blasé_ and civilised to feel no thrill in reading his Marryat, Cook, Ballantyne, Henty, Fenn, or the glorious sea-fights and discoveries in history itself—perhaps to him this book may be of some assistance in visualising the actual ships of each historical period.

I desire to return thanks to many who, from motives of personal friendship or of love for ships, have so readily lent me their assistance in the course of this work. If I have omitted to include the names of any to whom my obligations are due it is from no sense of ingratitude. Especially I am anxious to return thanks to Dr. Wallis Budge and Mr. H. R. Hall of the Egyptian Department of the British Museum, as well as to the officials in other departments of the same institution, particularly those of the Coin Room, the Print Room, the Manuscript Room, Greek and Roman Antiquities, and British and Mediæval Antiquities: to Mr. Clifford Smith of the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, and to Mr. R. C. Flower of the Public Record Office for assistance in research: to Dr. Hoyle of the Manchester Museum for permission to use photographs of two Egyptian models: to the Board of Education for permission to reproduce photographs of models in the South Kensington Museum: to the Curator of the Royal Naval College Museum, Greenwich, for granting special facilities for studying the collection of models: to the British Consul at Christiania, for assistance in obtaining photographs of Viking ships: to M. Ernest Leroux for permission to use the illustration of the _navis actuaria_ found on the Althiburus mosaic: to the Elder Brethren of Trinity House, jointly with Messrs. Cassell and Co., for allowing me to reproduce Phineas Pett’s _Royal Prince_: to the Committee of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Ryde, for permission to reproduce Messrs. West’s photograph of the rare print of the _Alarm_, Fig. 113: to Captain Roald Amundsen for the plans of the _Gjöa_: to the authorities of the British Museum for many illustrations either sketched, photographed, or reproduced from their catalogues: to Lieut.-Colonel A. Leetham, Curator of the Royal United Service Museum, Whitehall, for permission to photograph models and prints: to Captain C. E. Terry for the illustration of the _Santa Maria_: to Mr. A. E. M. Haes for the photograph of the _Oimara_: to Messrs. Camper and Nicholsons, Limited, for the plans of the yacht _Pampas_: to Messrs. White Brothers for the lines of the yacht _Elizabeth_: to Messrs. Fores for the illustrations of the _Xarifa_ and _Kestrel_: and to Mr. H. Warington Smyth for the Nugger in Fig. 8, the two illustrations of Scandinavian and Russian ships in Figs. 30 and 31, and the American schooner in Fig. 91. I wish also to acknowledge Mr. Warington Smyth’s extreme courtesy in offering to allow me to use any of the other sketches in his delightful book “Mast and Sail in Europe and Asia,” and only regret that circumstances prevented my being able to avail myself more fully of so generous an offer.

The illustrations in Figs. 26 and 27 appear by arrangement with Mr. John Murray: Fig. 51 by arrangement with the Clarendon Press, Oxford: and Figs. 30, 31, 87-90, 92, 93, 95, 102, 104, 106, 111, 112, 114, 115, and the Plans, by arrangement with the editor of _The Yachting Monthly_. Thanks are also due to two artists skilled in marine subjects—to Mr. Charles Dixon for his two pictures in colour, at once lively and accurate; and to Mr. Norman S. Carr, not only for the initial letters of the chapters, but for thirty or more sketches specially drawn for this book.

Finally, I have to express my thanks to Mr. John Masefield, who has been kind enough to read the proofs, while the book was passing through the press, and to give me the benefit of his valuable advice.

E. KEBLE CHATTERTON.

_June 1909._

ERRATA

P. 60, line 8, _for_ “with three reefs already taken in” _read_
“close-reefed.” (Fig. 13 shows three turns taken with the brails or
bunt-lines, so as to make a close reef.)

P. 86, line 18, _for_ “tilt” _read_ “rake.”

P. 199, line 1, _for_ “foremast” _read_ “foresail.”

” line 15, _for_ “bill-hooks” _read_ “shear-hooks.”

” line 32, _for_ “anchor” _read_ “a foul anchor.”

P. 203, line 19, _for_ “face” _read_ “case.”

P. 214, line 34, _for_ “bill-hooks” _read_ “shear-hooks.”

P. 262, line 3, _after_ “driver” _insert_ “or spanker.”

P. 275, line 15, _for_ “iron” _read_ “wire.”

” line 17, _for_ “braces” _read_ “brace-pendants.”

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xiii

I. INTRODUCTORY 1

II. EARLY EGYPTIAN SHIPS FROM ABOUT 6000 B.C. 20

III. ANCIENT SHIPS OF PHŒNICIA, GREECE, AND ROME 46

IV. THE EARLY SHIPS OF NORTHERN EUROPE 89

V. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAILING SHIP FROM THE
EIGHTH CENTURY TO THE YEAR 1485 128

VI. FROM HENRY VII. TO THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH
(1485-1603) 170

VII. FROM THE ACCESSION OF JAMES I. TO THE CLOSE OF THE
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 222

VIII. THE SAILING SHIP IN THE NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH
CENTURIES 254

IX. THE FORE-AND-AFT RIG AND ITS DEVELOPMENTS;
COASTERS, FISHING BOATS, YACHTS, &C. 281

GLOSSARY 335

BIBLIOGRAPHY 339

INDEX 345

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

FIGURE PAGE

A Seventeenth-century English Warship _To face title-page_
From a painting by Charles Dixon.

Hay-Barge _Headpiece to Preface_
Sketch by N. S. Carr.

1. Burmese Junk 8

2. Norwegian “Jaegt” 13

3. Egyptian Ship of about 6000 B.C. 22
From an amphora found in Upper Egypt, and now in the
British Museum (Painted Pottery of Predynastic Period,
Case 5, No. 35324).

4. Egyptian Ship of the Fifth Dynasty 30
From wall-paintings in the Temple of Deir-el-Bahari.

5 and 6. Model of an Egyptian Ship of the Twelfth
Dynasty _To face_ 34
From a tomb at Rifeh, excavated 1906-7. Photographs by
courtesy of Dr. Hoyle, Director of the Manchester Museum,
where the model is preserved.

7. Egyptian Ship _To face_ 40
From wall-paintings in the Temple of Deir-el-Bahari.

8. An Egyptian Nugger 43
Sketch by H. Warington Smyth; from his “Mast and Sail,”
by courtesy of the author and Mr. John Murray.

9. Phœnician Ship 52
From a coin of Sidon, _c._ 450 B.C., in the British
Museum. Twice the actual size.

10. Phœnician Ship 54
From a coin of Sidon, _c._ 450 B.C., in the Hunterian
Collection, Glasgow. Twice the actual size.

11. Greek Ship 58
From a Bœotian fibula of the eighth century B.C., in the
British Museum (First Vase Room, Case D, No. 3204).

12. Greek War Galley 59
From a vase of about 500 B.C., in the British Museum
(Second Vase Room, Table-case H, No. B. 436).

13. Greek Merchantman 61
From the same vase.

14. Stern of a Greek Ship 64
From a coin of Phaselis, of about the fifth century B.C.,
in the British Museum (Greek and Roman Life Room, Case 1,
No. 36). Twice the actual size.

15. Boar’s-head Bow of a Greek Ship 64
From the same coin. Twice the actual size.

16. The Ship of Odysseus 66
From a Greek vase, _c._ 500 B.C., in the British Museum
(Third Vase Room, Case G, No. E. 440).

17. Terra-cotta Model of a Greek Ship 68
Model of the sixth century B.C., in the British Museum
(Greek and Roman Life Room, Case 53, No. A. 202).

18. A Coin of Apollonia, showing Shape of Anchor 72
Coin of about 420 B.C., in the British Museum (Greek and
Roman Life Room, Case 2, No. 21). Twice the actual size.

19. A Roman Warship 73
From Lazare de Baïf’s “Annotationes ... de re navali,”
Paris, 1536, p. 164.

20. Roman Ship 75
From the same book, p. 167.

21. Roman Merchant Ships _To face_ 80
From a relief, _c._ 200 A.D.

22. Roman Ship entering Harbour 82
From an earthenware lamp, c. 200 A.D., in the British
Museum (Greek and Roman Life Room, Case 53, No. 518).

23. Fishing-boat in Harbour 83
From another lamp, as the last.

24. Navis Actuaria 87
From a recently discovered mosaic at Althiburus, near
Tunis; reproduced by kind permission from M. Leroux’
“Monuments et Mémoires,” Paris, 1905.

25. The Viking Boat dug up at Brigg, Lincolnshire _To face_ 96
From a photograph, taken during its excavation in
1886, and supplied by Mr. John Scott, of Brigg.

26. Ancient Scandinavian Rock-carving 111
From Du Chaillu’s “Viking Age,” by courtesy of Mr. John
Murray.

27. Viking Ship-form Grave 114
From the same.

28. The Gogstad Viking Ship _To face_ 118
From a photograph by O. Voering, Christiania.

29. The Gogstad Viking Ship _To face_ 120
From a photograph by O. Voering, Christiania.

30. Norwegian Ship 120
From a sketch by H. Warington Smyth, by courtesy of
the artist.

31. Russian Ship 121
As the last.

32. Harold’s Ships; from the Bayeux Tapestry _To face_ 134
From a photograph of the replica at South Kensington.

33. William the Conqueror’s Ships; from the Bayeux Tapestry 136
As the last.

34. Lading Arms and Wine; from the Bayeux Tapestry 138
As the last.

35. Mediterranean Warship of the Thirteenth Century 142
From a drawing.

36. A Fourteenth-Century Dromon 144
From a drawing.

37. Seal of Winchelsea 150
From the original in the British Museum. Actual size.

38. Seal of Hastings 151
From the original in the British Museum. Actual size.

39. Thirteenth-century English Ship _To face_ 152
From the model by Frank H. Mason, now in the South
Kensington Museum.

40. Seal of Dam, West Flanders 155
From the original in the British Museum. Actual size.

41. Panel of the Shrine of St. Ursula, after Memling (1489) 165

42. Seal of La Rochelle 167
From the original in the British Museum. Actual size.

43. A Caravel of the End of the Fifteenth Century _To face_ 178
From the model by Frank H. Mason, now in the South
Kensington Museum.

44. A Fifteenth-century Caravel _To face_ 180
From the model in the United Service Museum, Whitehall.

45. Columbus’s Flagship, the _Santa Maria_ _To face_ 182
By courtesy of Capt. C. E. Terry, from the model constructed
by him.

46. The French _Cordelière_ and the English _Regent_ _To face_ 184
From MS. Fr. 1672 in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris;
reproduced by courtesy of Prof. W. Bang, Louvain, from
the “Enterlude of Youth,” 1905.

47. The Embarkation of Henry VIII. at Dover in 1520 _To face_ 186
Showing the _Henri Grâce à Dieu_. Photograph by W. M.
Spooner & Co., from the painting by Holbein at Hampton
Court Palace.

48. Two of Henry VIII.’s Ships—The _Murrian_ _To face_ 188

49. Two of Henry VIII.’s Ships—The _Struse_ _To face_ 188
From a roll of 1546 in the Pepysian Library, Cambridge,
by kind permission of the Master and Fellows of Magdalene
College.

50. The _Ark Royal_, Elizabeth’s Flagship. Built
in 1587 _To face_ 198
From a contemporary print in the British Museum.

51. Elizabethan Man-of-war _To face_ 138
From F. P. Barnard’s “Companion to English History”
(Clarendon Press, 1902).

52. The Spanish Armada coming up Channel _To face_ 206
From “The Tapestry Hangings of the House of Lords,”
engraved by John Pine, 1739.

53. The _Black Pinnesse_, which brought Home the Body of
Sir P. Sidney _To face_ 208
From “Celebritas et Pompa Funeris,” &c., by T. Lant, 1587.

54. A Galleon of the Time of Elizabeth _To face_ 210
From a contemporary print in the British Museum.

55. Spanish Galleons _To face_ 212
From a print in the British Museum, _c._ 1560.

56. Spanish Treasure-Frigate of about 1590 _To face_ 214
From the original drawing by an English spy, by
permission of the Records Office.

57. Mediterranean Galley 217
Sketched from a model in the South Kensington Museum.

58. An Early Seventeenth-century Galley _To face_ 216
From Joseph Furttenbach’s “Architectura Navalis,” 1629.

59. A Full-rigged Ship of the Early Seventeenth
Century _To face_ 218
From the same.

60. The _Prince Royal_ _To face_ 226
From the painting at Trinity House, by permission of
the Elder Brethren. Block by arrangement with Messrs.
Cassell & Co., from Traill and Mann’s “Social England,”
iv. 69.

61. The _Sovereign of the Seas_. Built in 1637 _To face_ 230
From an engraving in the British Museum.

62. Bomb Ketch _To face_ 236
From a print in the United Service Museum, Whitehall.

63. The _Royal Charles_. Built in 1672 _To face_ 240
From the model in the South Kensington Museum.

64. A Dutch Man-of-war of about the End of the
Seventeenth Century _To face_ 242
From the model in the United Service Museum, Whitehall.

65. The _Terrible_, a Two-decker captured from the
French in 1747 _To face_ 244
From a print in the United Service Museum, Whitehall.

66. H.M.S. _Royal George_. 100 guns, 2047 tons.
Foundered in 1782 _To face_ 246
From an engraving by T. Baston, in the British Museum.

67. Nelson’s _Victory_. 2162 tons. Built in 1765 _To face_ 248
From a photograph by S. Cribb.

68. The Stern of H.M.S. _Victory_, showing Poop
Lanterns _To face_ 250
From a photograph by S. Cribb.

69. Corvette, 340 tons, of about 1780 _To face_ 252
From the model in the South Kensington Museum.

70. The _Newcastle_, an East Indiaman _To face_ 258
Photograph by Hughes & Son, Ltd.

71. Spithead: Boat’s Crew recovering an Anchor _To face_ 226
From a photograph by Hanfstaengl of the painting by
J. M. W. Turner in the National Gallery.

72. A West Indiaman of 1820 _To face_ 260
From a print in the British Museum.

73. The _Ariel_ and _Taeping_, September 1866 _To face_ 266
From an engraving in the South Kensington Museum.

74. The Iron Clipper _Stonehouse_. Built in 1866 _To face_ 268
From the model in the South Kensington Museum.

75. The Iron Barque _Macquarie_. Built in 1875 _To face_ 270
Photograph by Hughes & Son, Ltd.

76. The _Desdemona_. Built in 1875 _To face_ 272
Photograph by Hughes & Son, Ltd.

77. The _Olive Bank_. Steel Four-masted Barque. Built
in 1892 _To face_ 274
Photograph by J. Adamson & Son, Rothesay.

78. A Modern Four-masted Barque, and the _Mauretania_ _To face_ 276
From a painting by Charles Dixon.

79. The _Queen Margaret_. Built in 1893 _To face_ 272
With Fig. 76. Photograph by Hughes & Son, Ltd.

80. A First-rater of 1815, showing Details of Spars and
Rigging _To face_ 280

81. Full-rigged Ship 279
Sail-plan, with referenced list of names.

82. From “River Scene with Sailing Boats.” By Jan Van der
Cappelle 285
Sketched from the original painting, No. 964 in the
National Gallery.

83. A Modern Dutch Schuyt 286

84. “A Fresh Gale at Sea.” By W. Van der Welde 287
Sketched from the original painting, No. 150 in the
National Gallery.

85. “River Scene.” By W. Van der Welde 288
Sketched from the original painting, No. 978 in the
National Gallery.

86. The Bawley 290

87. The Schooner _Pinkie_ (1800-50) 294

88. The _Fredonia_. Built in 1891 295

89. Gloucester Schooner, A.D. 1901 296

90. Gloucester Schooner, A.D. 1906 297

91. An American Four-masted Schooner 298
Sketched by H. Warington Smyth; from his “Mast and Sail,”
by courtesy of the author and Mr. John Murray.

92. A Barquentine off the South Foreland 299

93. Barquentine with Stuns’ls 300

94. The _Fantôme_, 18-ton Brig. Launched 1838 _To face_ 298
From the model in the South Kensington Museum.

95. H.M.S. _Martin_, Training-Brig. Launched 1836 _To face_ 300

96. A Hermaphrodite Brig 301

97. The _Tillikum_, Schooner-rigged “Dug-out” 302

98. Lowestoft Drifter 304

99. Thames Barge 305

100. Norfolk Wherry 306

101. Dhow-rigged Yacht _To face_ 306
From the model in the South Kensington Museum.

102. Suez Dhows, with a Sibbick Rater 308
Sketched by H. P. Butler.

103. Mediterranean Felucca 309
Sketched from the model in the South Kensington Museum.

104. Hailam Junk 311
Sketched by H. Warington Smyth.

105. Chinese Junk 313
Sketched from the model in the South Kensington Museum.

106. Blankenberg Boat 314

107. French “Chasse-Marée” 315

108. Scotch “Zulu” 316

109. Penzance Lugger 317

110. Deal Galley Punt 318

111. The Yacht _Kestrel_. Owned by the Earl of
Yarborough _To face_ 310

112. The Yacht _Xarifa_. Owned by the Earl of Wilton _To face_ 312

113. The Schooner _Alarm_. Rebuilt 1852 _To face_ 314
Photograph by G. West & Son from a print, by kind
permission of the Committee of the Royal Victoria
Yacht Club, Ryde.

114. The _Oimara_. Built in 1867 _To face_ 316

115. The _Bloodhound_. Built in 1874 _To face_ 316

116. The Schooner-Yacht _Sunbeam_. Owned by Lord
Brassey. _To face_ 318
Photograph by West & Son.

117. The Yawl _Jullanar_. Built in 1875 329
From the model in the South Kensington Museum.

118. The _Satanita_. Built in 1893 _To face_ 320
Photograph by West & Son.

119. King Edward VII.’s Cutter _Britannia_. Launched
1893 _To face_ 322
Photograph by S. Cribb.

120. The _Valkyrie I._ Owned by the Earl of Dunraven _To face_ 324
Photograph by West & Son.

121. The Ship-rigged Yacht _Valhalla_. Built in 1892 _To face_ 326
Photograph by West & Son.

122. The American Cup Defender _Columbia_. Launched
in 1899 _To face_ 328
Photograph by West & Son.

123. The Schooner-Yacht _Meteor_. Owned by H.M. the
German Emperor _To face_ 330
Photograph by S. Cribb.

124. _White Heather II._, 23-Mètre Cutter _To face_ 332
Photograph by West & Son.

125. _Shamrock IV._, 23-Mètre Cutter. Launched 1908 _To face_ 334
Photograph by West & Son.

PLANS.

(AT END OF VOLUME.)

PLAN

1. The _Gjöa_: Sail and Rigging Plan (see p. 291).

2. ” ” Longitudinal Section (see p. 291).

3. ” ” Deck Plan (see p. 292).

4. The _Royal Sovereign_, George III.’s Yacht (see p. 322).

5. Schooner _Elizabeth_: Sail Plan (see p. 331).

6. ” ” Deck Plan (see p. 331).

7. ” ” Longitudinal Section (see p. 331).

8. Schooner _Pampas_: Sail and Rigging Plan (see p. 332).

9. ” ” Longitudinal and Horizontal Sections
(see p. 332).