CHAP. II. How to build a ship with the definitions of all the principall names of euery part of her prin∣cipall timbers, also how they are fixed one to another, and the reasons of their vse.
THe first and lowest timber in a ship is the keele,* 1.1 to which is fastened all the rest; this is a great tree or more, hewen to the propor∣tion of her burden, laid by a right line in the bottome of the docke, or stockes. At the one end is skarfed into it,* 1.2 the Stem, which is a great timber wrought compassing, and all the butt-ends of the planks forwards are fixed to it.* 1.3 The Sterne post is ano∣ther great timber, which is let into the keele at the other end somewhat sloping,* 1.4 & from it doth rise the two fashion pee∣ces, like a paire of great hornes, to those are fastened all the plankes that reach to the after end of the ship, but before you vse any plankes,* 1.5 they lay the Rungs, called floore tim∣bers, or ground timbers, thwart the keele; thorow those you cut your Limberholes to bring the water to the well for the pumpe,* 1.6 the vse of them is when the ship is built to draw in them a long haire rope, by pulling it from sterne to stem, to scowre them, and keepe them cleane from choaking.
* 1.7Those ground timbers doe giue the floore of the ship, being straight, sauing at the ends they begin to compasse, and there they are called the Rungheads,* 1.8 and doth direct