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.

TO THE Courteous Reader.

MAthematical Studies have for these many Years been much neglected, if not contemned; yet have there been so many rare Inventions found, even by Men of our own Nation, that nothing now seems almost pos∣sible to be added more. As in other Studies, so we may say in these, Nil dictum quod non dictum prius: We at the least must needs acknowledge, That in this we have presented thee with nothing new, nothing that is our own. Ex integra graeca, integram Comoediam hodie sum acturus,* 1.1 saith Terence, that most excellent Comedian, in his Heautontimorumenon. Translation was his Apology; Transcription, Collection, and Composition, ours. This only we have endeavoured, That the first Principles and Foundations of those Studies (which were not to be known until now,* 1.2 but by being acquainted with many Books) might in a due method, and a perspicuous manner, be as it were at once presented to thy view.

The Matter, being Mathematical and Practical Arts of my own pra∣ctice, I can the better avouch the ease and truth of them to all ingenuous Practicioners, and unto such as have as yet learned nothing but Arith∣metick.

To that purpose, we have at first laid down such Propositions, as all young Seamen are or should be perfect in, concerning the Compass, and the Moon's Motion, Instrumentally and Arithmetically; and by it, in the same manner, how to know the Rules of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea, with the Rules of Time of Flood and High-water in any Port in the World; with a Discourse of the Practick Part of Navigation, in working of a Ship in all Cases and Conditions of Weather at Sea, to the best of my Experience.

And the ABC of Geometry, its Definitions and Geometrical Pro∣blems, out of Euclid and others, as must be known to such as would know the Nature and Mensuration of Triangles. Next, We have proceeded to the Descriptions of all the most useful Instruments for Artists and Na∣vigators; as the Scale of Scales, which is a Mathematical Ruler, that re∣solves all Mathematical Rules whatsoever: And we our selves have fitted Tables and Diagrams in that manner, as we presume has not been done in that plainness, and so easie to be understood, by any Man before. There is the Diagrams and Tables together, both Natural and Artificial; and the Scale, and its Making and Use follows. Secondly, The Making and Use of the Traverse-Scale of Artificial Points and Quarters; The Ma∣king of the Quadrant and Index, and their ready Use in Astronomy and Na∣vigation; and the Protractor; The Projection and Use of the Nocturnal, and new Tables of the North Stars Declination. And on the back-side are 32 of the most useful Stars in the Heaven for Navigators, and its Use;

with Tables of the Longitude and Latitude, Right Ascension and Declinati∣on; The Description and Use of the Forestaff, Davis his Quadrant; as also a new Quadrant and Quadrat, that I use my self at Land and Sea; A Constant Kalendar, joyned with the Tables of the Suns Declination, for 32 years to come. And, Thirdly, The Nature and Quality of Triangles. And, Fourthly, Of Sailing by the Plain Sea-Chart, and the Uncertainty thereof; and of Navigation by Mercator, or Mr. Wright's Projection, and by the neerest way of Sailing by the Globe, or Arch of a Great Circle; with the making of the True Sea-Chart, Geometrically, Arithmetically, and Instrumentally, as the true way of keeping a Sea-Journal at Sea, very easie at once by Plain, Mercator, or Great Circle Sailing; with new Ta∣bles of Longitude and Latitude round the World, from the Meridian of the Lizard, terminating at 180 deg. East and West of that Meridian.

The Fifth Book, The Art of Surveying of Land by the Sea Azimuth or Amplitude Compass, very easie and useful for Sea-men: The Art of Gau∣ging of all sorts of Vessels, and Measuring of Timber, Stone, and Glass, and Ships, Geometrically, Instrumentally, and Arithmetically; and a most excellent Gunners Scale, with the easiest way of Gunnery that hath been writ by any: For what Nathaniel Nye hath done by Arithmetick, by the Square and Cube, and their Roots, which is the hardest sort of Arith∣metick, by Maltiplication and Division, I have done by the Logarithme Tables, by Addition and Substraction, and likewise Geometrically and In∣strumentally. The Scale shews at once, in a moment, the ready Dimensi∣ons of twenty sorts of most useful Ordnance, from a Base to a Cannon-Royal, their length, and weight of the Gun, Powder, and Shot, and Ta∣bles of weight of Shot of Lead, Iron, and Stone; with a Table of Right Ranges and Point Blanks; with a Plain Scale and Dialling Scale, Quadrant, and Quadrat, for taking of Heights and Distances; with a Line of Inches and Numbers, for the ready working all other Proportions of Solids, or otherwise; being a most useful Instrument for all Land and Sea Gunners: But most especially I do advise all Sea Gunners to carry one of those most useful Instruments in his Pocket, and by our Directions learn the Use per∣fectly of them. I am ashamed to hear how senslesly many Sea Gunners will talk of rhe Art, and know little or nothing therein, but only how to spunge, lade, and fire a Gun at Random, without any Rules of finding the Dispart, thickness of the Mettle in all places, and proportion any Charge of Powder thereto, and other Rules which should be known. Herein how many of them are defective? And to supply that defect, I have taken this pains in the Art, to the end to help all such as are ingenu∣ous, and willing to learn: As also, all manner of Artificial Fire-works and Rockets, with their Figures and Fiery Arrows, Granadoes, and Pots.

The Sixth Book is the Art of Astronomy, containing the Definition of the Circle of the Spheres, with the manner how to resolve all the most ne∣cessary Propositions thereto belonging, by a Line of Chords and Sines, and Chords and Tangents, and half Tangents, Geometrically and by Calcula∣tion, by the Logarithme Tables of Artificial Sines and Tangents: And all useful Astronomical Propositions appertaning to the First Motion; and Tables for finding always the Suns true place; being all of extraordinary use, and made plain to the meanest Capacity.

Seventhly, The Seventh Book is the Art of Dialling by the Gnomonical

Scale, with the Diagram and making of the said Scales, with Tables also in the Second Book described; with the Fundamental Diagram of all Scales on the Ruler, as also by Calculation, shewing the making of all sorts of Dials, both within doors and without, upon any Wall, Ceiling, or Floor, be they never so irregular, wheresoever the direct or reflected Beams of the Sun may come, for any Latitude; and how to find the true Hour of the Night by the Moon and Stars; and how to Colour, Guild, and Paint Dials; and how to fasten the Gnomon in Stone or Wood. We have in∣sisted the more upon it, and by our Explanation have endeavoured to make it plain and easie, it being all our own Practical Arts; so that nothing may be wanting, which either former Ages or our own (by Gods Bles∣sing and their Industry) have afforded to us. We have to the Artificial Canon added out of Mr. Wing's Harmonicon Coeleste, page 263. the Rules to be taken and observed in use of Mr. Gunter's Canon of Artificial Sines and Tangents, and Mr. Brigs his Canon of Logarithme Numbers, as in that Form, and in this Work, we have made use of his Directions in the Astronomical Calculation, and the Demonstration by our own Rules; and of Mr. Norwood's Advice in Navigation, and by Demonstration our own (the way of our usual practice at Sea in keeping our Journal) and for the Longitude and Latitude of Places, we have had the best Experi∣ence we could procure from the ablest Pilots and Masters that have been in the several Places of the World, and likewise of our own Observation of several Places in the West-Indies, and other Parts of the World; to∣gether comparing of them with several Tables, formerly made and lately corrected, and fitted for a Meridian of our own Country, and the prin∣cipal Cape of this Land, for thy ease; the Lizard being the farewel Cape to most Ships that sail out of the British Seas, any way to the South or West, and likewise the first Land made at their return home; and therefore it must needs be very useful for all Northern and Southern Navigators in their Voyages, with great ease and exactness.

It's nothing new, nor does it come by chance, That Art is envy'd still by Ignorance.

For the Art of Gauging, I have conferred with Mr. Philip Staynred, Ma∣thematician and Gager in Bristol; and all the Rules that have been laid down in the following Treatise, are most exact and easie to the meanest Capacity of such as are skilful in Arithmetick; but with a great deal of Labour, Study, Care, and Charge, in the Tryal of the Practice of them by our self: which may be considered by the Ingenuous Practicioners, though much more abused by ignorant Momus and his Mates, who make it their business to scoff, deride, affront, and abuse all such as are Inge∣nious, and pretend to have any thing more than themselves; and you shall know them by their railing Discourse of any Ingenious Work or Artist. For such Loiterers there is a pair of Stocks fitted in Hell by the Devil, where for their malice, abuses, cursed railings, and villainous revilings of those that Study the Honour of their Country to Posterity, the harm∣less study of Virtue, and praise-worthy commendation of all good honest-minded men; I say, such Momusses will have their Heads in such Stocks, and their Tails lash'd by the Devils for ever, for their malice and envy, if

they give it not over, and repent of it in time. But for all honest-minded men that love Arts and Sciences, Theorical and Practical, God doth give them his Spirit to guide them in all Lawful Arts, to the knowledge there∣of, according to their desire of him.

Others that have either spent more time, or made a farther progress in these ravishing Studies, might (if they would have taken the pains) have haply presented thee with more in a less room; but the most of this was at the first collected for our private use, and direction of our three Bro∣thers and Son; but now published for the good of others. Nevertheless, I am not ignorant, how that never any man living, in his writing, could please the phansie of all men, neither do I expect to be the first. To please the envious, I cannot; for they are resolute: To content the scornful, I will not attempt it: To flatter the haughty, were much folly: To disswade the capricious, were needless; and to perswade the courte∣ous, were unnecessary. Let every one do as his Genius doth best dispose him, take where he pleaseth, read what he liketh, and leave what he liketh not. For my own part, I have with much diligence and industry waded through many aenigmatical Difficulties, and have removed and drawn back the Curtain of Darkness from off our English Horizon, in our Mathematical and Practical Arts following.

Lastly, I desire the Judicious Reader, if he chance to meet with any Errata (as some may happen in a Work of this Nature) that he would courteously amend them, and not with cavillation ungratefully requite my painful Labours. Haply, if this find acceptance, it may encourage me to publish some other thing, which perhaps may give thee much sa∣tisfaction, and be commodious to my Country-men of England. Vale.

Yours, and Urania's Servant, SAMUEL STURMY.

St. Georges Pill, 10 Novemb. 1667.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Qui edesie en publick place, Faict maison trop haut ou trop basse.
• * 1.2

  Who builds i'th' way where all pass by, Shall make his house too low or high.