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 ...

A Preface: Shewing the Scope and Ʋse of this Booke.

MY Purpose is not to instruct those, whose Experience and Observation, have made them as sufficient (or more) then my selfe: yet even they should lose nothing by remem∣bring: (for I have profited by mine owne labour, in do∣ing this;) But my intent, and the use of this Book, is, to instruct one, whose Qualitie, Attendance, Indisposition of bodie (or the like) cannot permit to gain the knowledge of Termes, Names, Words, the Parts, Qualities and manner or doing things with Ships, by long Ex∣perience: without which there hath not any one arrived (as yet) to the least judgement or knowledge of them: It being so, that very few Gentlemen (though they be called Sea-men) doe fully and wholly un∣derstand what belongs to their Profession; having only so me scrabling Termes and Names belonging to some parts of a Ship. But he who will teach another must understand things plainly, and distinctly him∣selfe, (that in stead of resolving another mans doubts, he doe not puzell him with more confusion of Termes of Art) and so (to appeare to know somewhat) will still expound Ignotum per ignotius. And for professed Sea-men, they either want abilitie, and dexteritie to expresse them∣selves, or (as they all doe generally) will, to instruct any Gentleman: If any will tell me why the vulgar sort of Sea-men hate land-men so much, either he or I may give the reason, why they are so unwilling to instruct them in their Art: whence it is that so many Gentlemen goe long Voyages, and returne (in a manner) as ignorant, and as unable to doe their Countrey Service, as when they went out. These Words, Termes, and Proper Names, which I set down in this Book, are belonging ei∣ther to a Ship, to shew her parts, qualities, or some things necessary to the managing and sailing of her; or to the Art of Gunnerie (for so much

as concernes the use of Ordnance at Sea,) and those which are familiar words, I set them downe; if they have any use, or meaning about a Ship, other then the common sence: And in expounding them, I doe shew what Use, Necessitie, Commoditie, discommoditie, wherefore, and how things are done, which they import: And therewith the Proper Termes, and Phrases, with the different uses, in any kind appertaining to that word; which for better and easier finding-out, and to avoid confusion, I have brought into an Alphabet.

The Use and Benefit whereof is so apparent for any who hath com∣mand at Sea, or for any who may be called to censure and judge of Sea-affaires, that I need use two reasons, to enforce it: Only thus much: This booke shall make a man understand what other men say, and speake properly himselfe; which how convenient, comely, and necessary a thing it is, all men (of sence) doe know. Should not man be Leashed (being a hunting or hawking) if he should cry Hey,-Ret, to the Hownds, and hooke againe to the Spaniels: Or were it not ridiculous for a man (speaking of the wars) to call a trench a Ditch: Or (at Sea) the Star-boord, and Lar-boord, the right and the left-side of a Ship, and yet they doe simply the same, and both dogs and men will understand them alike.

To understand the Art of Navigation is far easier learned then to know the Practique of Mechanicall working of Ships, with the Proper, Termes belonging to them: In respect that there are helps for the first by many books (which give easie and ordinary Rules for the obtaining to it,) but for the other, till this, there was not so much as a meanes thought of, to informe any one in it: if a man be a sufficient Sea-man with whom I converse, and yet know not how to instruct me, I grant he may be fit to save his Countrey, but not his friend: But I will speake it with as much confidence as truth, that in six monethes, he, who would but let me read this booke over with him, and be content to look some∣times at a Modell of a Ship, & see things how they are done, shall with∣out any great studie, but conversation, know more, be a better Sea-man, and speake more properly to any businesse of the Sea, then any other Gentleman, who shall go (two or three yeares together) to Sea, without this: for by the perusing of this Booke, he shall not only know what to question, or doubt of, but likewise be resolved.

H.M.