The mariners magazine, or, Sturmy's mathematical and practical arts containing the description and use of the scale of scales, it being a mathematical ruler, that resolves most mathematical conclusions, and likewise the making and use of the crostaff, quadrant, and the quadrat, nocturnals, and other most useful instruments for all artists and navigators : the art of navigation, resolved geometrically, instrumentally, and by calculation, and by that late excellent invention of logarithms, in the three principal kinds of sailing : with new tables of the longitude and latitude of the most eminent places ... : together with a discourse of the practick part of navigation ..., a new way of surveying land ..., the art of gauging all sorts of vessels ..., the art of dialling by a gnomical scale ... : whereunto is annexed, an abridgment of the penalties and forfeitures, by acts of parliaments appointed, relating to the customs and navigation : also a compendium of fortification, both geometrically and instrumentally / by Capt. Samuel Sturmy.

CHAP. I. The Argument or Description of the Art of Navigation in general.

NAVIGATION of all Arts and Sciences (setting Divinity aside) hath much reason to have the preheminence, it being of such necessary and publick Concernment; and what use there is made of it by Seamen at this present, as well as hath been in times past, All men know, to whom the Countries are beholden for their good Service, whose Courage hath kept Great Britain, Queen and Regent of the Sea, and deserves it well, in respect of the Skill and Valour of her Mariners, and Goodness and Number of her Ships. I wish as long as the Sun and Moon endures, That they may maintain their Courage, and improve their Art, as they ever have, against all Nations that have been England's Enemies; and ever may they crown their Undertakings with everlasting Credit.

The Art of Navigation being such, I think I may be bold to affirm without pre∣sumption, This Art is more necessary for the well-being and honour of our Nation, than any other Art or Science Mathematical, which is more carefully kept in the Uni∣versities. Look upon Grammar, Rhetorick, and Logick, these are but Introductions to other Arts; Musick is but of little use.

The chief Professions now in the Universities are Physick and Law. Without en∣vy be it spoken, we may as well live as the ancient Romans without Physicians, and as honest Neighbours without Lawyers, better than without skilful Seamen, which are the chief Importers of our Wealth, and Supporters of our Warfare.

Besides that, of all Mathematical Sciences and Arts professed in the Universities, of this Art of Navigation is made the most general and profitable use; for what can the Scholar make of his Geometry, with all the nice and notional Problems thereof: or of Astronomy, with all his curious Speculations about the motion of the Planets, without they be applied to some more Mechanical and Practical Arts, as Cosmography, Geogra∣phy, Surveying, Dyalling, Architecture, Military Employments, which shall in some measure (sufficient for the help of Mariners) be shewn in the following Treatise, wherein it will appear, That the Art of Navigation comprehends them all in the use thereof?

And those that will be compleat Sea-Ariists, had need to endeavour to have some skill and understanding in most of these Arts, namely, the Theorick and Practick parts, whereby they may be fully informed of the Composition of the Sphere in ge∣neral; and in particular for the Figure, Number, and Motion made in the Heavens by

the highest Moveable called Primum Mobile, and likewise of the first, fourth, eighth, and ninth Heavens. It will also inform them how the Elements are disposed, with their quantities and scituations, especially in the Composition of the Sphere of the World, which is commonly understood to be the whole Globe of the Heavens, with all that therein is contained; which is divided into two parts, Elemental and Coelesti∣al. The Elemental hath again four parts, viz. The first is the Earth, which together with the Water, as the second, maketh a perfect Round Globe, whereupon we dwell; therefore the Nature and Circles which are supposed to be contained in that Sphere, are fit to be known. The next is the Air, comprehending the Earth; and the fourth the Fire, which according to the opinion of Philosophers containeth the space which is between the Air and the Heavens, or Circle of the Moon. Out of these Elements, which are the beginning of all things that are subject to change, together with the warmth of the Heavens, all things do come forth, and decay, as we see and find upon the Earth, by the continual Change and Motion of the One into the Other.

The Coelestial part (containing within the concavity thereof the Elemental) is transparent and perspicuous, shining, severed, and free from all mutability; and is divided into eight Spheres, or round hollow Globes, which are called Heavens, whereof the greatest doth contain the next unto it Globe-like; the seven Inferior have in each of them but one Star or Planet only, whereof the first (the next to the Earth) is the Heaven of the Moon; The second of Mercury; The third of Venus; The fourth of the Sun; The fifth of Mars; The sixth of Jupiter; The leventh of Saturn; And the eighth of all the Fixed Stars. The number of these Heavens are known by their Courses round about the Poles of the Zodiack. The Moon runneth through her Heaven by her Natural Course from the West to the East in 27 days 8 ho. Mercury, Venus, and the Sun, their course in a year, and some less than a year; Mars his course in two years, Jupiter in 12, and Saturn in 30 years; The Eighth Heaven, according to the Observation of Tycho Brahe, in 25400 years.

These Heavens are carried all together in 24 Hours upon the Poles, about the Axle∣tree of the World thorow the ninth Heaven, by vertue of the Primum Mobile, that is, the First Moveable; by which Motion to our appearance is caused the Day and Night, and the daily Rising and Setting of the Coelestial Lights; But more of this in another place, for here I have made a Digression. So that no Art is more capacious; and were the Excellency well understood, and put in practice, as it might be (as Mr. Philips saith in the like case) no Employment would be more honourable and advantageous for the most generous Gentleman, and Learned Student, than this of Navigation; thus it was in esteem in the days of Queen Elizabeth,

When Drake and Candish Sayl'd the World about, And many Hero's found new Countries out, To Britain's Glory, and their lasting Fame; Were we like-minded, we might do the same.

The Practick part of Navigation is properly placed in making and using of Instru∣ments, which is shewn in the second Book. Yet there is a certain Composition in the Practick, more rare than all the rest, in the compleat Sea-Artist; and that is the right Words and Phrases used in guiding, governing, and constraining, to perform the expert Navigator's pleasure in the Sea; In ruling the unparallell'd Fabrick of a gallant Ship, which hath been omitted by most men that have writ of this Art; therefore I shall explain it with my Pen, because I know with proper Phrases how to perform it, not hindring any other, as they not me, to shew truly and lively their Skill in controlling, guiding, and working a Ship, according to all Weathers at Sea; although it be of no use to Sea-men, that have been all their life-time at Sea: but for Gentlemen on Shore to read for their Recreation, the Words of Command at Sea, which may be delightful unto them. But for experienced Sea-men, they have all those things imprinted in them, and make use thereof according as their business shall fall out at Sea, but after the same manner.

In regard all Arts and Sciences are divided into two principal parts, that is, the Theorick and Practick, I tooke upon me to demonstrate according to my ability,

which will give the most reasonable men satisfaction; for the unreasonable, I care not a fig for them; for I know it to be impossible for any man to be a compleat Sea∣man, wherein this Knowledge is wanting, they being both inseparable Companions which always wait upon Perfection. I shall draw out the Description in as small a compass as it can be, and hasten to the most material Practice.