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 A rudder, hung at the centre line of the stern, had at this date superseded the steering oar; the ship’s boats were carried in the waist when they could not be towed.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

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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.

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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.

Phoenician Galley

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; image. 1 shows a model of a Phoenician ship, while image. 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

Image 2 Roman Galley

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.

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