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 1. INTRODUCTION—SOME FAMOUS OLD SHIPS.

Brief Description of some Old-time Ships and their Performances, together with Notes on the Part played by them in the development and expansion of World Trade—Illustrated with Photographs of Fine Old-time Ship Models.

Contemporary models of old-time ships are nowadays very scarce and precious things; most of them have found permanent homes in the great museums of the world, others in the collections of wealthy connoisseurs. Those that come into the market are keenly sought for, and when in perfect condition command very high prices. There are, on the other hand, a number of quasi-ancient models consisting in part of original work, with modern additions.

To the historian, the student, and the ardent collector the only models worthy of note are those made years ago by men who saw and knew the ships they modeled. Unfortun­ately there are not very many reliable and authentic models prior to 1700 or thereabouts; there are exceptions, for example, the Votive ship models and ancient Badarian and Egyptian models, some of which are 10,000 years old. Recent explor­ation at Ur of the Chaldeans has revealed some interesting ship models, particularly a silver model of a boat circa 3600-4000 B.C., which is now exhibited in the Museum at Bagdad. The model, exquisitely made, is about 2 feet long, and has the characteristic  high  stem  and  stern  posts,   leaf-shaped  oars, an awning stanchion amidships and five seats for rowers.

A somewhat similar model made of bitumen and clay is exhibited in the British Museum, probably dates from 2600-2700 b.c. is obviously hand-made, rather roughly finished, and was found in the tomb near to the body of the dead. There are practically no known contemporary models of mediaeval ships, although there are some reconstructions and many examples made in modern times.

Fig.  1. Phoenician Galley, by Dr. J. Sottas.

Roughly speaking, the world's knowledge of ships—and hence the possibilities of accurate ship modelling—is fairly complete for a period of about 2000 years B.C. Dr. J. Sottas of Paris has spent much time in the study of early ships, and with his own hands has made some beautiful models to express the present state of knowledge of the subject. Thanks to his courtesy it is possible to reproduce two specimens of his art; Fig. 1 shows a model of a Phoenician ship, while Fig. 2 represents a Roman ship of the type described in the Holy Bible and elsewhere. It was in such a ship that the epoch-making voyage was made by St. Paul on his journey to Rome. Much could be written about these old ships, particularly the voyages of the Phoenicians who opened up trade with England and the East in dim, almost forgotten past days. Some actual Viking ships are in existence, dating about 900 a.d., but for the next seven hundred years there is a great scarcity of information.

Fig.  2. St. Paul's Ship, by Dr. J. Sottas.

A rigged model of a Flemish Carrack in the Science Museum, South Kensington, London, represents a ship of the largest class known in Flanders about 1450. With the exception of the long-boat and the deck arrangements which are based on other contemporary sources, every detail of the model is copied from a contemporary print by the Flemish master "W. A." The print, which bears evidence of being a portrait of some ex voto church model, and is thus an excellent guide to the rig of the period, is so completely and carefully executed as to leave little or nothing of the original unrecorded, the perspective alone being at fault.

An interesting collection of early ship models are to be seen in the Musee de Marine in Paris, and others are to be found in other museums in the principal cities of the world.

Fig. 3. Merchant Ship, by F. H. Mason, R.B.A.

A rigged model of a merchant ship, shown in Fig. 3, made by Mr. F. H. Mason, R.B.A., and exhibited in the Science Museum, London, represents a type of ship of about 150 tons burden developed largely by the Genoese, Portuguese and Spaniards, during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries for the purpose of sea-borne commerce.

Striking features of these vessels include the high over­hanging forecastle and a heavy superstructure at the stern, which provided accommodation for the crew and afforded means of defense. The vessels usually carried from three to four pole masts; lateen sails were always used, but upper and lower square sails were hoisted on the fore and main masts in the later and larger examples.

Fig.  4. Elizabethan Man-o'-war, by Freke Field.

A rudder, hung at the centre line of the stern, had at this date superseded the steering oar; the ship's boats were carried in the waist when they could not be towed.

A model of an English man-of-war, lent by Freke Field, Esq., exhibited in the Science Museum, London, and illustrated in Fig. 4, represents an English galleon of the Elizabethan period, a type of warship in use at the time of the Spanish Armada. She carried 20 pieces of ordnance on the main deck and was pierced for 6 small guns on the upper deck. Many lighter guns would be mounted on the bulwarks. Interesting details worthy of notice include two cressets or hollow vessels for carrying lights fitted on brackets at the stern; the flames were obtained from ropes smeared with pitch or resin. The whip staff, by which vessels of this period were steered, consists of a pivoted handle, the lower end of which engages with the end of the tiller while the upper end is moved from side to side by the helmsman, who was protected by a raised structure. Other noticeable features are the figure-head in the form of a lion, the carved cable molding running round the ship, and the basket-worked tops.

A great many Elizabethan and contemporaneous ships have been modeled from time to time with more or less regard for historical accuracy; without doubt, ship models of this period are extremely picturesque and attractive, and form admirable ornaments, and their construction in simple materials is fully described in Chapters III. and IV.

A contemporary scale model illustrated in Fig. 5 shows a seventeenth century line-of-battle ship of the first rate and represents H.M.S. Prince, sometimes called the Royal Charles, which was built at Chatham in 1670 by Phineas Pett, and was pierced for 100 guns. Her armament varied from 100 guns for war in home waters to 90 for war abroad. The Prince was broken up in 1692, her sound timbers being used in the construction of the Royal William. The model was rigged at the Science Museum, London, in 1898, and is now exhibited there. Information for the work was collected from several drawings and models of the period. Although shown without topgallant yards, it is not to be inferred that such spars were not then in use; in fair weather they were commonly fitted, but during the winter season the usual rig was that represented on the model.

National expansion, the development of world resources, the intermingling of peoples and the civilization of the human race is largely due to the development of ships and shipping. In prosperous times ships were improved and their design perfected; stagnant periods of the world's history—for instance, the dark ages in Britain, following the fall of the Roman Empire—were marked by a decline in shipbuilding and a stagnation of design.

Fig.  5.  H.M.S. Prince.    Exhibited in the Science Museum, London.

Despite the ups and downs of the world's history the ships have improved from age to age each with its own characteristic style, crude though it might be compared to modern achievements.

In their unwieldy craft the old-time mariners braved wild uncharted seas; survived untold hardships although ill fed, racked with scurvy and other loathsome disease; attacked by savages, harassed by pirates; unaided by charts and lighthouses, yet they endured, and carried the flag to the uttermost parts of the earth. The very existence of the British Empire is due in no small measure to the intrepid navigators of the Middle Ages, and its subsequent develop­ment has been and still is indissolubly bound up with the mariners of England.

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