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The Compleat MARINER, OR NAVIGATOR. The First Book. (Book 1)
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