The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

Proposition III.

To conjecture to what Quarter the Ship is moved, and in what Rhumb, although the Signs be fal∣lacious.

IN this solution of the former Proposition for the finding out the place of a Ship, those things as noted were taken and observed, 1. The Quarter unto which the Ship is moved, and the Rhumb in which. 2. The way made. 3. The Latitude of the place unto which it hath arrived. Now therefore we must shew how these three may be observed on the Sea, that they may be used for the finding out the place; for if that these be not rightly known, or observed, the true place shall neither be found or discovered. First therefore let us see concerning the Quarter of the Course of the Ship, and the Rhumb.

The Pilots know the Quarter from the Com∣pass, or Loadstone; For what Quarter, or Rhumb of the Compass agreeth with the Line of the conceived Longitude of the Ship, the same is put into the Quarter of the Ship to be moved, and to describe its Rhumb. For they seldome use

the Sign taken from the Quarter of the appa∣rent rising and setting of the Sun, which they compute.

These Signs may be corrupted by divers causes, so that they may deceive in shewing the Rhumb, or Quarter. 1. If that the Declination of the Magnetick Needle, be uncertain in that place, and therefore the Quarters of the Compass do not shew the true Quarters. 2. If that the Sea in that place hath a Flux to a certain place; for it will [ 10] carry the Ship from the true Rhumb, although the Ship be directed to the same Quarter: The Fluxes and Refluxes are the frequent cause of this Error. And in many places of the Torrid Zone, a general motion is of force, and in many places a stated and fixed motion from stated Winds. 3. Winds, especially Storms remove the Ship from the Rhumb of their Voyage, although they ply in the same Quarter. 4. The Fluxes of the Sea, which are carried towards other Quar∣ters, [ 20] and carry the Ship with it. 5. The Rudder and Helm cannot be moved by him that steer∣eth unto any Quarter, as it ought to be, the Waves of the Sea obstructing it. All these hin∣der the Ship to be moved in the same Rhumb, whose Quarters are shewed by the Compass. But how much it is drawn aside must be learned by conjecture from the Vehemency of the Flood, and of its Quarter, and the like; but the Method is very imperfect. [ 30]