The Helme.
Is that peece of timber, which the helmes-man doth hold in his hand, to steere and governe the Rudder, and one end is made fast to the head of the Rudder, but so as that it may be taken off: Though the Rudder be the cause of the Ships working, yet the helme is the in∣strument which governes the Rudder, and therefore we impute it all to the Helme; as when we say, the Ship feeles the Helme, or doth not feele the Helme, that is, will worke, and be governed by the Helme, or not; for if a Ship be very foule, or out of her trym, or too deepe, or too light, many times she will not feele the Helme, but saile as if she had none. Port the Helme: Star-boord the Helme: A mid-ship, or right the Helme, termes of conding, to direct which way the Steeres-man should put the Helme: In smaller Ships under the rate of 500. Tun, they use to put a whip to the other end of the Helme, and so steere and governe the Helme by that.