Page 203 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

130. Parrels
The parrel was a syst em of ribs, pierc ed wooden balls (trucks), and rope, w ith which the yard was held against the mast. The larger yards often had a parrel of three rows of trucks; the smallest could suffice with one row.
The large parrels needed two pairs of single blocks and a fiddle block to be hoi sted, plus a bijvoet, a tackle with similar blocks. The falls of these tackles were belayed on cleats on the mast.
The spritsail had a truss, a simple noose of rope with- out trucks.
131. Lanterns
(274 II 3) The lanterns, which stand aft, are xed, or loose: the xed ones are ornamen tal, and therefore gilded, and splendidly adorned.
(275 II 26) Sometimes an arm is stretched out be- hind the poop, on which a lantern is set at night.
(281 I 40) 3 Lanterns to stand aft. 131. Lanterns
Witsen includes the number of lant erns for h is pinas in the inventory list (see section 1 37, “Loose Implements”) but does not provide any descriptive details. From other sources we know that these lanterns were made of wood with a c opper top; the s ides were usual ly thin sheets of horn or mica (so-called Moscovia glass). They cannot have given much light.
132. Guns
(282 II 21) Following is the war equipment, which these hu n- dred men are to be given; with which they could defend them- selves adequately on a voyage as proposed.
132. Guns
The number and specifications of the guns are part of Wit- sen’s inventory list for the pinas (see section 136, “Loose Implements”).
As is to be expected for a merc hantman, most of the guns are ma de of iron. Men- of-war generally had bronz e guns (Witsen calls them “metal guns”). These were stron- ger and lighter, allowing for a greater quantity and larger calibers, but were also more expensive.
The pinas had eight bronze guns and sixteen iron guns. The bronze guns were preferred over the iron ones in the vicinity of the compass to avoid unwanted magnetic influ- ence. They were light and long and were used for chasing. The taper-bored guns (called such because of their taper- ing chambers) had relatively short barrels and oc cupied
How Ships Are Built in Holland Today
8 these Metal Guns would weigh together
4 Iron guns of 12 pounds, weighing 8 Iron guns of 8 pounds, weighing 4 Iron guns of 4 pounds, weighing 16 Iron guns weighing
14391 lbs.
13600 lbs. 24000 lbs. 6000 lbs. 43600 lbs.
AllthesearetolieonadequateGuncarriages,which, when sailing in peacetime, are tied to the ship’s side with ropes, going through holes, w hich are in the middle. The heaviest guns are stowed in the middle of the ship, because it is able to carry more there.
(283 I 16)
250 Cannonballs of 12 pounds weighing
200 of 8 lbs. weighing
50 of 6 lbs. weighing
100 of 4 lbs. weighing together 600 Cannonballs, weighing
3000 pounds 1600 lbs. 300 lbs. 400 lbs. 5300 pounds.
A number of large and small stones, of which use can be made in di erent circumstances.
40 Bar shot of 12 pounds weighing 40 of 8 lbs. weighing
20 of 6 lbs. weighing
20 of 4 lbs. weighing together
120 Bar shot, weighing
480 pounds 320 lbs. 120 lbs. 8 0 lbs. 1000 lbs.
Inthepaststeelbogen,RondaszenenPanoizen [?], were added, but these are no longer used.
pounds. 2 Metal Guns of 12 lbs., 1525 taper-bored, weighing 1572 4 Metal Guns of 12 lbs., 2470 home-bored, weighing 2540 2480 2470 2 Metal cannon drakes of 6 pounds, 670 weighing 664
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