The sea-mans dictionary, or, An exposition and demonstration of all the parts and things belonging to a shippe together with an explanation of all the termes and phrases used in the practique of navigation / composed by Henry Manwaring ...

P (Book P)

A PAntch.

Those Matts made of Synnett, which are made fast to the Maine, and fore-yards (to save them from Gallinge against the Matts) are called Fanches, by a proper name.

A Parbunckle.

Is a Roape, which is used in the nature of a paire of Slinges: It is a Roape seased together at both ends, and so put double about the Cask, to hoyse it in by, and the hooke of the Run∣ner is hitched into it, to hoyse it in: this is the quickest way of Slinging the Cask, but not so sure a way for Slipping as the Slings.

To Parcell, or Parcelling.

Is to take a little Canvas (about the breadth of a hand) and so lay it over a Seame, which is first Caulked: and it is most commonly used alongst the Ships-sides, over the Cabbin. Then heate a little Pitch, and Tar every hott, and power upon this Can∣vas, and all this together is called Parcelling a Seame.

Parrells.

Are those things made of Trucks, and Ribbs, and Roaps, which goe about the Mast, and are at both ends made fast to the yard, and are so made with Truckes, and Ribbs, that the yard may slide-up easily. These also with the brest Roape, doe hold the yard close to the Mast.

The Partners.

Are those Timbers, which are Bolted to the Beames, and doe compasse the shoot in the Mast at the Deck: and are the strength that doe keepe up the Mast Steddy in the Stepp. And also that it should not Rowle-out the Ship-sides; There are Part∣ners at the second Deck, in the same nature, but the Missen hath but one paire of Partners: The Mast doth use to be wedged fast in these, from stirring or wagging; yet I have seene some Ships that would not saile well, unlesse the Mast were loose) and as they terme it, had leave to play in the Partners, but in a Storme it is dangerous to let the Mast have any play, for feare of wronging the Partners, which if they should give way, there is no remedie but to cutt the Mast by the Board.

A Passarido.

Or more properly, a Nepas-artua-Roape, is any Roape where-with we hale-downe the sheate-Blocks of the Maine, and fore-sailes when they are haled afft the Clew of the Maine-saile to the Cubbridge head of the Maine-Mast; and the Clew of the fore-saile to the Catt head, and this is done, when the Ship goes large.

The Pawle.

Is a little piece of Iron, bolted to one end of the Beames, or the Decke, close to the Capstaine, but so easily that it hath leave to turne about: This is it, against which the wheeles of the Capstaine doe beare, when they would have the Capstaine kept back from turning back a-gaine, and therefore they said heave a Pawle: that is, heave a little more, that the Pawle may catch hold∣of the whelpes: this is very necessary sometimes, when they heave up the Anchor in a great fea-gate, to hold fast, least the force of the Sea, yerking up the Ship suddenly, should fling men from the Can∣staine, That is called Pawling the Capstaine; and when they would have the Capstaine goe back they say, un-Pawle the Capstaine.

To Pay.

Is the same that Parcelling is, only wanting the Canvas: for we call it, Paying a Seame, when after it is Caulked, we heate Pitch to lay upon the Seame, to keep is from being preised with the water: we also use no Tar to this: Also when we grave a Ship, we call the laying on the stuffe (what ere it be, Rozen and Brimstone, and Oyle, or the like: Paying her, for they say, Pay her up to the Bends: Pay thick, or the like.) Also when a Ship is to Tack, and that all her Sailes are a-Back-Stayes (that is flat against the Shrowds and M•…•…, so as we are sure she will not fall back againe) we say she is Pay•…•…, and then we let rise the Tack, and hale the sheates, and so come to lay the head the other way.

A Peeke.

To heave a Peeke, Is to heave the Hawse of the Ship-Right-over the Anchor, so that the Cabell is then a right perpendicular betwixt them. To Ride a Peeke, is to have the Maine-yard, and fore yard hoysed-up, and so one end brought up close to the Shrowdes, the other being raised up, and so are they done to contrary sides: the Star∣boord-yard-Arme of the Maine yard comming downe to the Star∣boord side, and the Lat-boord of the fore-yard, so the yards seeme to crosse one another, like a S^t Andrew-crosse. The manner of doing it is from the Maine yard letting goe Star-boord-Top-saile sheates▪

and Topping up the Lar-boord Lists; and so contrary-wise for the fore-yard. To Ride a Broud Peeke, is to Ride in the same manner, but the yard must be but halfe mast high; they never likely Ride in this manner with their yards, but in a River, the reason, lest rideing with their yards a crosse, some Ship might by chance come fowse of them, and breake their yards: Also that Roome which is in a Ships-howld from the bitts forward unto the Stem, is called the Peeke, or fore-Peeke of the Ship: In the Kings Ships the Powder is placed there: Merchant-men place their victuals there outward-bound: but other men of warre (which are full of men,) will use it for to ledge some of the Companie.

Pendants.

A Pendant is a short Roape made fast at one end, either to the head of the Mast, or to a Yard, or to the Clew of a saile, and are in bignesse, according to the places wherein they are used, having at the other end a Block with a Sheever, to Reeve some Running-Roape into it, as the Pendames of the Tackle, which are made fast to the head of the Mast, and so of the Pendants of the Back-stayes which are there made fast, and hang a little way downe on the inside of the Shrowds: Generally, all the yard-armes (excepting the Missen) have Pendants, into which the Braces are reeved, and by them they are easily knowne. Also they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those Colours, which are hung-out on the yard armes, or from the head of the Mast for a shew, to beautifie the ship, Pendants.

The Pillow.

That Timber whereon the Bolt-sprit doth beare, and rest on, at the comming-out of the Hull of the Ship aloft, by the stem, is called the Pillow of the Bolt-spritt.

A Pintell.

Is a small iron Pin, which is fastned to murderers, as also to Harquabusses, a Crooke which is put into a Socket, or any hole, to keep the peece from recoyling: Also those Iron-Pins, which are made fast to the Rudder, and doe hang the Rudder to the Sterne-Post (being put into Icon Stockes) and called the Pintells of the Rudder.

Pitching.

Is not only laying Pitch upon any place (which yet is more properly called Paying, but it is also taken for the placeing of the Step of a Mast, as they say, the Maine Mast is Pitched a little too-farre aft (that is, stand and is placed too fat towards the Sterne of the Ship) but it is not meant by the head hanging too-farte-aft: So the fore-Mast is pitched too far-forth (that is) the Ship stands too far-fore-ward on. Also if a Ship fall moon into a Sea, they say, she Pitches

much into the Sea: or else she beates much against the Sea: so as to en∣danger the Top-masts with the stroake, they say, she will. Pitch her Mast by the Boord.

Platts.

Are flatt-Roapes, made of Roape-yarne woven one over another, and are for to save the Cabell in the Hawse foom galling. Also we use them in the flookes of the Anchor to save the Pendant of the fore-sheate, from galling against the Anchor.

A Plott.

And Sea-Card is all one, Vide Card.

To Pricke a Plott, is to Vote downe the Travers of the Ships way, and so comparing it to your observation, finding where the Ship is, to make a small Prick in the Plot in the Latitude and Longitude, where you suppose the Ship to be, and so still keeping account of the daies, you shall still see how neere, or farre off you are from the place, which you saile to.

A Point.

The shatpnesse to any head-Land, is called the point of the Land: when they say, that two points are one in another, that is, they are so just in a right line from us, one betwixt the other, that we cannot see the one for the other; Also the Compasse is divided into 32. points (representing 32. winds) so that we call sailing by the Compasse, sailing upon a point: They use also to undoe the Stroud at the end of a Cabell (some 2. foot long) and so make Synnet: of the Roape-Yarne, and lay them one over another againe, making it lesse to∣wards the end, and so at the end, make them all fast with a peece of Marling, or the like. This is called pointing the Gabell. The use where of is to keepe the Cabell from farsling, but chiefly to see that none of the end be stolne off, and cut away.

The Poope.

The Poope of the Ship is the upper most part •…•…terne of the Ships-Hull, and is the Deck over that, which is commonly the Masters Cabbin.

A Port.

Is that place out of which the Ordnance are put through the Ships-sides, and these are to be made so large that the Ordnance may have leave to Travers as much Bowing and Quartering as may be, (about 30. Inches is the ordinary rate for a Demi-Cuiverin.)

To Port.

Is a word used in Conding the Ship, when she is right before a wind, or if the weather-sheate be aft as farre as the Bulk head (which is more then Quarter windes, but not right afore) they will use the word steddy a-Port, or Steddy a Star-boord, the Ship heeles

to Port: bring things neere to port, or the like, termes easily un∣derstood.

Pouches.

Are small Bulk-heads made in howlde, either Thwart-Ships, or longst Ships. Those who carry Corne (or any such goods that will shoote over from one side to the other) doe make many bulke-heads, or severall Roomes (as it were) to keepe it up, and these are called Pouches, also when we Careen Ships, there are small bulk-heades, made some distance from the Keeleson, on either side in the holde, which serve to keep up the Ballast when we shirte it, either for the righting or bringing downe of the Ship when she is on the Carreen; and these are also called Pouches.

Powdor.

There are two sorts of Powder, the one serpentine Pow∣der, which powder is dust (as it were) without Corning, and this we never use at sea in Ordnance, not small short, both because it is of small force, and also, for that it will, with the aire of the Sea, quickly drie, and loose its force: The other is Corne Powder, whereof there are two sorts, Common powder (which is a great Corne, and not very strong) the other Musket-Powder (which is the finest, strongest, and best we can get:) The Ingredients, which make the powder, are, first, Salt-peeter (wherein the force of the Powder consists) next Brim∣stone, which is apt to flame, and once flamed, causeth the Salt-peeter to flame; (last, Cole, which is apt with any sparkle to kindle, but not to flame, yet doth maintaine the flame of the other two.) The best Salt-peeter is that which hath no fat, the best brimstone without drosse: and the best Cole, that which is made of the lightest wood: I only touch some chiefe things of this, because there are divers bookes concerning maine Conclusions touching the effect of powders in all kindes.

The Powder-roome.

Is that Roome, in howld where we lay the Powder; the great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in placing this Roome, must be to have it farthest from the use of any fire, and freest from the danger of short.

Proddy.

Is a word used amongst them, in the stead of Ready. As when we come to sight, the Commander bids them make the Ship Preddy, make the Ordnance Preddy, that is, make them ready for to use in sight. A Proddy Ship, that is, when her Deckes are all cleere, and the Ordnance and all things fitted for sight. Also make the howld Preddy, is to lay any things out of the way, so as that they may stowe the good in commodiously.

A Preventure Roape.

Vide Roape.

A Proviso.

Vide Mooreing.

The Prowe.

Is the fore-most part of the Ship considered aloft, and not below betweene the Decks, (or in howld) to enter into the Prowe, is to enter into the Fore-Castle. The Prowe peeces are those which lye aloft before: Goe fore-ward into the Prowe, that is, Goe into the fore-Castle, before the fore-Mast, and it is most truly understood for that part which is betwixt the Chase and the Loofe.

Priming.

Is so fitting, and filling the touch-holes, with fine-day Powder, and putting in a Priming Iron to pierce the Carthrage, so that that powder being fired, the powder in the Carthrage, may like-wise fire to: for if the powder in the touch-hole be fired, and the rest within the peece goe not off, we say she was not Primed, or not well primed: for this there is powder made very small, and extraordinary drie, and the Gunner hath it in a great home at his Girdle in fight, which horne he cals his Priming-horne: Also the first ground, or Co∣lour which is laid-on, for others to come over, it in painting the Ship is called Priming.

Puddings.

Are Roates nayled round to the yard-armes of the Maine and fore-yards, close to the end, and so (in ••. or 4. or more di∣stance one from another) upon each yard-Arme: The use of them, is to save the Robbins from Galling asunder upon the yards, when we hale-home the Top-saile-sheats: Also the Sarving of the King of the Anchor, which Roapes, to save the Clinth of the Cabell from galling against the Iron, is called the Pudding of the Anchor.

Pullies.

Are small Blockes, with one or two sheevers in them (and may either be so called, or by the name of small Bleckes) for great blocks are not usually called by the name of Pullies, as the Pullies of the Top-••aile. Brases, Clew, Lines, Manners, &c.

Pumps.

There are three sorts of Pumps used in ships: The first and most common, are ordinary Pumps, such as are used a shore, and th••se doe stand by the maine Mast, the next is a But-Pump, which is not used in English Ships, but Flemmings have them in the sides of their ships, and are called by the name of Bildge, Pumps, because they have broad long floates that doe hold much Bildge-water; The man∣ner of these is to have a staffe, some 6. or 7. foot long, at the end where∣of is a Bur of wood, whereto the Leather is nailed, and this doth serve

in stead of the box: and so two men standing right over the Pump, doe thrust downe this staffe, to the middest whereof is seased a Roape long enough for 6.8. or 10. or more to hale-by, and so they pull it up, and draw the water, this Pump doth deliver more water then the former, and is not so laborious to pump at: The third and last sort, are Chaine-Pumps; these deliver most water, and with most ease, for the Com∣pany, and are soonest mended if any thing faile, having spare Esses, if any chance to give way: these have a Chaine full of Barres and a wheele, which makes it deliver so much, and goe so easily. The terme is for Pumping, to Pump by Spell, and at ordinary, and Bur Pumps, they reckon by the stroakes: As to say, a Spell of ••00. Stroakes: b•…•…t a Chaine-Pump, the Spels goe by Glasses: the Pump suckes, that is, drawes wind, and hath no water that comes to it: There are also Pumps made of a Cane, or else of Lattin, which we put downe into the Caske, to Pump up the drinke: for at Sea, in howld, we use no spic∣ketts.

The Pump-brake.

Is the handle they Pump by in the ordinary sort of Pumps.

The Pump-can.

Is the Can which they draw water in to powre into the Pumps (and this is a great Can.)

The Pump-dale.

Is (as it were) the Trough, wherein the water doth run alongst the Deck, out at the Skupper-holes.

To Purchase.

We call the Caining, or comming in of a Roape by our haleing of it in with our hands, or heaveing it in at the Capstaine, or otherwise, Purchasing; as the Capstaine doth purchase apace, that is, drawes in the Cabell apace: Or, the Tackles doe purchase, and the contrary; when we cannot get in any thing, or hale it away, we say, we cannot purchase, with the Roape, Tackle, or the like. Note that the more parts that any Tackle, Halliard, or the like doe goe in, the more easily a man may purchase upon them (as it is easier to purchase with a Block which hath three sheevers then a Block which hath but two:) but then this is longer a doing.

Puttockes.

Are the small Strowdes, which goe from the Shrowdes of the Maine and fore-Missen-Masts, and allo to the Top-masts shrowdes, if the Top-mast have a Top-gallant-Top; the use whereof is to goe off the Shrowdes into the 〈◊〉〈◊〉: for when the Shrowdes come neere up to the Mast they fall in so much that otherwise they could

not get into the top from them. The Puttockes are from the bot∣tome seased to a Staffe; which is made fast there to the shrowdes, or some Roape which is seased there, and above to a plate of Iron, or to a dead-man-eye, to which the Lanniers of the fore-Mast-shrowdes doe come.