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TWo things, are in euery instrument or vessell of speciall & most necessary consideration: The one, The body (as it were) and substance of it: The o∣ther, The end, and purpose wherevnto it serues: The body and substance of euery one, as namely of this lit∣tle Pynace (whereof is now spoken) we may call the
Materiall partes of which it consists, with their parti∣cular formes, such▪ as wherby that end may be best at∣tayned: I meane best, both with the greatest cer∣taintie, and most possible facilitie: The Purpose, or end, wee may tearme, either the commodities to bee reaped thereby, or the sin guler and pleasant vses wherevnto it is or may bee applyed. The materiall parts of this little Pynace beeing already set downe, with some partes of the vses, the rest follow thus.
For her passage by water, shee was very carefully calked, and pitched to kéepe the water forth: Shée had also a seat placed in her, iust in her middle part, and doubtles right opposite one against the other: she had oares likewise of an equall length and weight to rowe her with, and foure mastes and yardes of the most fine light timber that might be had, or procured: shée was orderly rigged with ropes and sailes, and in all poyntes had all manner of tacklings prouided for her as fit and necessarie, as belongeth to a ship of her burthen: Shée had twelue péeces of Ordinance in her, that went off by a strange deuise in iust order one after the other; They were planted on a platforme framed for that purpose vppon the Tower-decke in their equall proportions, and no man neere them at their discharging: Her forecastle was framed lower then the sterne by a foote; vpon euery toppe, and yard arme shée was garnished, and set forth with flagges, auncients, streamers, and pendents of rich Taffetie, the coulours sable, and argent, according to the cou∣lours of him that made and framed her: Her seue∣rall flagges were beautified with diuers Coates of Armes, as the Armes of England, the Essex coate, the Harecourtes, and the Waynemans: And the coate of the Shippewright, and his ancestors, with diuers other Gentlemen of woorthe, and wor∣ship in that Countrey. Had the speculation of this
matter come to our imagination by sence, or memo∣rie. The respect hereof had not so déepely resided in mens contentments, for ignoti nulla Cupido, But being an obiect presented to the eyes, and ratified to be true by the Testimonie of many thousand witnes∣ses (all one mans labour and workemanship) it hath or awne many mens humors and affections to concur in pleasure, and admiration, and (but that it hath bin séen) it might be thought a thing impossible to be com∣passed by humane vnderstanding. And yet it may be that some superficiall shippe-wrights, or vngrounded Schollers in that Arte, who, ad pauca respicientes de facili iudicant, will thinke this easy to bee performed, because they can say, they knowe it: But that will not suffice, because the sphere of knowledge doth infi∣nitely excéed the limits of coniecture, or not déepe, and profound capacities: yet they will oftentimes goe a∣bout to derogate from others woorth, for that they themselues hunt gréedily after admiration.
I haue heard a merry report: That ships of sundry Nations, lying in harbour in faire weather, The young Mariners were climing, and shewing feates of Actiuitie, one of one Nation to outbragge the other, At length a nimble yonckster gets him to the very top of the foremast, and raysing himselfe bolt vpright▪ tur∣ned round vppon his foote without any stay, challen∣ging his Antagonist or any of the Nation to doe the like: His Antagonist presently vndertaketh the chal∣lenge: But hauing turned scarce halfe about, fell downe, and (as god would) in his tumbling by good hap, caught hold of the shrowds: And as soone as e∣uer he had a litle recoured his spirits, being halfe dead for feare, yet set a bold countenance on the matter: & he also againe with a loud voice dared his aduersarie or any other of that Nation to doe the like: as though that which befell him by his error, he had done of very
purpose: Euen so diuers that haue performed some sleight matters, or voyages, wil take vpon them, and crack and boast they haue done great things, and ac∣cording to Artes and happely will speake and talke of strange wonderes such as haue neuer béene heard of, and of gulfes▪ and currents, more by many then euer God made, when indeede these shifts are but to shadowe their ignorance, and when all sauours of as much Art, as that was which the fellow before speci∣fied wrought his feare by.
To such I could with they would haue in remem∣brance a saying of Apelles vnto Megabysus a noble man of Persia, who comming into his shop, although his knowledge was but small, yet was hee loath to haue it, appeae that he was ignorant of any thing. And therefore began to question, a dispute of liues, of shadowes, and of such like matters belonging to the Art: But Apelles intreated him to make more spare of his speech, for (saith he) my youthes which grind my colours, hearing your idle discourses, doe derive them, which before had you in great admi∣ration for your gallant shew, & presence: Now to the manner of his further proceedings.