The earliest known Sailing Directions in English

[KompetentKrew]

Whilst looking for something only tangentially related, I just stumbled upon what appears to be an academic treatise on historical sailing guides, dating to the 15th century or so, and thought the forum might be interested.

The whole thing seems to be about 100 pages in length, including transcripts of old English.

It begins:

By early in the fifteenth century, northern shipmasters had access to hand-written copies of sailing directions to purchase, copy or simply memorise, as aides mémoires to familiar waters or as pilots for areas new to them. The number of copies of these sailing directions (or rutters) for northern waters was small and unsurprisingly, given conditions at sea, no used examples are known. The oldest surviving rutters compiled by northern seamen are copies which have been preserved in private libraries; they are a Middle English rutter, in several MS copies of variable length and accuracy2, and the Low German ‘Seebuch’, in a MS copy of each of two editions.3 The two better copies of the English rutter are bound with other MS treatises in two mediæval ‘Grete Bokes’, the Hastings collection (the rutter section of which is hereafter referred to as H) and the Lansdowne collection (the rutter hereafter referred to as L).

Full PDF: https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstr...ard-The_earliest_known_sailing_directions.pdf

 

[Laminar Flow]

Thank you for that, very interesting.

I wonder how many contemporary sailors would, safely or otherwise, arrive at their destination armed only with a medieval rutter, a sounding lead and an iffy compass?

 

[MarkCX]

I know of a few who have attempted it with less. Often with unfortunate results.

 

[Uricanejack]

I am sure quite a few would do ok,
or At least any who could actually read and comprehend Medieval English.
it is interesting.
The first time I heard the term ”Rutter” was a James Clavell book Shogun I think, There actually was a Contemporary Englishman living in Japan in the time period. How he got there, I can’t recall.
According to Cavell the term “Rutter“ was Dutch.
Even in relatively recent times I recall seeing Arab Dow’s sailing with the monsoons down to Dar Es Salam, little having changed since Sinbad was a toddler.
When I was young, I tagged along fishing, with my Dad and Uncles, and occasionally helped crew on small passenger boat on a Loch.
Never saw a chart or a pilot book yet certainly not a set of tide tables. They just knew where we were, when it was determined I had picked up enough, I was left to steer.
of course we would not know where we were if we went somewhere new.
Even so skills I didn’t have.
My uncle could tell where the rocks were just by watching the waves.

Almost 50 years later, I chat to old fishermen in the bar, some of whom having struggled thier way through certificates late in life.
Most of them have tremendous amount of local knowledge handed down by oral tradition.
Or as one of my good friends says, He knows where most of the rocks on the coast are, because he has hit most them.

I would imagine pilot books started to develop, As pilots became literate.

 

[LittleSister]

Thank you for that, very interesting.

+1

I agree with Uricanejack that there was almost certainly a much higher level of skill in spotting signs and hazards, and much knowledge learnt by oral tradition and experience.

I feel that for those using these rutters, the compass courses would have been an approximate indication of direction to travel, and would never have been intended to be stuck to exactly (not that anyone at the time would have been able to) nor to clear every hazard.

I think it is difficult to appreciate the extent to which our understanding of where we are (or are going) is so culturally and temporarily specific - heavily shaped by 'scientific' culture and the maps and geometrical types of geographical understanding we have grown up with - and how very different it is likely to have been perceived by others in earlier times and from other cultures.

 

[Wansworth]

As man has sofisticated hie navigational skills,first the compas now whatever he has steadily lost the ability to know where he is or how to get to another place

 

[Roberto]

Thanks!
On the same subject, an exposition made at the French national library a few years ago, showing among the oldest remaining charts and documents.
Hi-res images can be had by clicking on the figures
BnF - Nautical Maps

Original 2012 (sic) thread
Ancient charts and pilot books (very)

 

[Stemar]

I wonder how many contemporary sailors would, safely or otherwise, arrive at their destination armed only with a medieval rutter, a sounding lead and an iffy compass?

You have to add an intimate knowledge of the ways of the sea, the wind and the weather, so deeply ingrained it became an instinct. I'll bet few of us have it to anywhere near that extent today but, back then, those who didn't have it didn't come back. Even those who didn't often didn't come back, but more of them did, more often.

 

[Frogmogman]

Whilst looking for something only tangentially related, I just stumbled upon what appears to be an academic treatise on historical sailing guides, dating to the 15th century or so, and thought the forum might be interested.

Fascinating stuff. Thanks for posting.

 

[HissyFit]

The first time I heard the term ”Rutter” was a James Clavell book Shogun I think, There actually was a Contemporary Englishman living in Japan in the time period. How he got there, I can’t recall.

William Adams, born 1564, Gillingham. His father died when he was 12, leading William (and presumably his younger brother Thomas) to be apprenticed to Master Diggins, shipbuilder of Limehouse. During his time with Diggins, Adams became an adept in astronomy and navigation, along with gaining knowledge of the construction of ships. In 1588, at the age of 24, Adams took command of a resupply vessel, the Richard Duffield (actual spelling is archaic), during the English defence against the Spanish Armada. He had other positions in the Royal Navy, serving as Master and Pilot. After the Armada action, there were many sailors in need of employment (I believe the Crown reneged on wages, leaving them to starve on ship waiting for their money to arrive, forcing them to jump ship, unpaid). It is not known if William Adams left the Royal Navy at this point, but he did seek work abroad. His letters told of his work for the Barbarie merchants. Later Jesuit documents site him as having search for the Northeast passage, but this may be a mis-attribution.

In 1598, Adams was taken on as Pilot Major by a private Dutch merchant group that was a precursor to the Dutch East India Corporation, accompanied by his younger brother, Thomas. Their fleet consisted of five ships, all with names relating to the bible or the Christian faith. Adams originally sailed on the lead ship, 'De Hoope' ('The Hope'), but transferred to 'De Liefde' (variously translated as 'The Love' or 'Charity') to balance out command. One ship, 'Geloof' ('Faith') failed to make it through the Magellan Strait, and returned to Rotterdam in July 1600. In need of resupply, 'De Hoope' headed to Mocha Island, off Chile, but whilst there 27 men were killed, including the captain and Thomas Adams. Of the two other ships, I have seen referance to 'Blijde Boodschap' ('Gospel') being seized later in Valparaiso; the other, 'Trouw' ('Loyalty') was captured in Tidore.

It is theorised that 'De Hoope' and 'De Liefde' arrived at the Hawaiian islands, which would have made them the first Europeans to reach there, some 170 years before Cook. This cannot be verified however, since through malnutrition and changes of command, record keeping had become lax. William Adams simply referred to them as 'certain islands'. Eight crew deserted at these 'certain islands' before 'De Hoope' and 'De Liefde' sailed on. Between there and Japan, 'De Hoope' was caught in a storm and was lost with all hands, leaving Adams, on 'De Liefde', as the most senior officer of the (now one ship) expedition.

In April 1600, the battered 'De Liefde' arrived off Kuroshima, a small island off Bungo prefecture, in Kyushu, Japan. Of the original 100 crew, only 23 were alive when the ship reached Kuroshima, and only nine survived to make landfall. Those nine were captured and taken before the local daimyou (lord), Tokugawa Ieyasu (portrayed as 'Lord Toranaga' in 'Shogun'). The Portuguese Jesuits wanted the nine to be executed as pirates, but Tokugawa saw that they had done his land no harm, so refused this demand. Instead he imprisoned them in Osaka Castle, giving him the opportunity to question them at length.

Communication was difficult at first, but Tokugawa sent for someone who could speak Portuguese. I surmise that William Adams would have gained a working knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish during his time in the Royal Navy, in order to decipher navigational records. When asked what his faith was, Adams said he believed in God, the creator of heaven and Earth, the same as the Portuguese, but he demonstrated his disdain for Catholicism by tearing the crucifix from around the neck of a Jesuit Priest and throwing it to the ground. The Portuguese had portrayed Catholicism as the only, and undisputed, representation of the Christian faith, however this was now shown to be a lie. Tokugawa already distrusted the Portuguese; they had ulterior motives. Their trading activities were accompanied by them preaching their religion.

The arrival of the Dutch ship had come at an opportune moment for Tokugawa. Japan was divided, an Tokugawa was a member of the guardian council for the 5yo heir to the Imperial Throne, but as the last living ally of the former defeated Shogun, he was in a perilous position, politically. Aware of plotting by other clans to seize power, Tokugawa requested the use of the guns off De Liefde. Adams agreed (perhaps knowing on which side his bread was buttered). Japanese historians may downplay the impact of Western weaponry at the Battle of Sekigahara, but it would have been like taking a gun to a knife fight, and Tokugawa's victory was decisive.

Adams also confirmed Tokugawa's suspicions about the Catholic mission to spread their faith and to steal authority from the lands that they took over, with the Portuguese and Spanish given permission to do so by the Pope. This led to the Portuguese being thrown out of Japan and the banning of the Christian faith, except for amongst the Dutch and English traders, when they eventually arrived at their respective trading bases in Nagasaki. Not everybody complied, and a large number of priests and samurai that had converted to Christianity took refuge in Osaka Castle. The Battle of Osaka was bloody, decisive, and Tokugawa won. It may have taken another three years, but these battles were pivotal in the creation of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which lasted until the return of Imperial rule, under the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

As Adams's proficiency in Japanese grew, he instructed Tokugawa Ieyasu in astronomy, navigation and science, and eventually became Tokugawa's translator and international relations adviser. He also designed and built the first Western style ships for Tokugawa, thus instigating the Red Seal trading with other parts of Asia. Although Adams had a wife and son back in England, Tokugawa Ieyasu declared that the pilot, William Adams was dead, and that the samurai, Miura Anjin was born, and ordered Adams to remarry. Adams was given the two swords of rank for the social status of a samurai, an estate in Hemi on the Miura peninsula, overlooking modern day Yokosuka, a town house in Edo (now Tokyo) and was paid a retainer, enough to pay for several servants. Adams also had trading rights to the goods arriving in Edo Bay. He negotiated the trading rights for the Dutch trading factory in Herado, and for the English when they eventually turned up in 1614. Adams did get remarried, to Megumi Oyuki , the daughter of a highway official. Although her father was important, he wasn't of noble blood, so it is believed that Adams married for love rather than power. Together they had a son and a daughter. Despite this, Adams continued to send support money to his English wife throughout his life.

Adams took a position with the English traders when they set up a factory in Herado. This eventually failed due to constantly being sent inappropriate goods to trade and the corruption of its workforce, so Adams returned to leading Red Seal trading missions for the Japanese. It was on one of these missions that Adams contracted malaria, which lead to his death on May 16th 1620. William Adams is noted for having two graves: one in Herada, where he is actually buried, and one in Hemi, set up to overlook Yokosuka with Oyuki by his side. To this day, the life of William Adams is celebrated in Japan, by the Anjin Matsuri (Anjin Festival), which is rated as one of the best Summer firework festivals. It is held over two days, between 8 & 10 August, in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, on the Izu peninsula. There is also the William Adams Festival, held in Gillingham in September (cancelled this year due to coronavirus).

The fate of De Liefde is not known accurately. What is known is that it fell into the sea in 1605, through a lack of maintenance. Where that was is disputed. Some say it was off Kuroshima, where it had first arrived, but I believe that it would have been off Edo, having been ordered there by Tokugawa, passing via Osaka. The waterfront of old Edo has been developed greatly as Edo developed into Tokyo after 1868. If there were any remnants of De Liefde, they are more likely than not to be buried under Haneda Airport. There is, however, one remnant of De Liefde that still exists: a carving of Erasmus, an ironically Catholic theologian. De Liefde had been named 'Erasmus' when it was launched, and had a carving depicting the man on its stern (Dutch ships did not have figureheads at that time). This carving had been taken by one of the surviving Dutch crew, and had been housed in a Buddhist temple. When it was sent to the National Museum of Japan, in Tokyo, it had been mis-attributed as a Buddhist carving.

The location of Miura Anjin's Edo townhouse is marked by an inscribed stone in Anjin Dori (Anjin Street), just over from the main Mitsukoshi department store, Nihonbashi, Tokyo. This area would have been part of Minatoku (Harbour District), and wouldn't have been far from the old warfes.

The life of William Adams was not just inspiration for James Clavell's 'Shogun', but also Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels'. Pity so few are aware of the true story of William Adams. He is also depicted as a character in the electronic game title 'Niho'. (Eat your heart out Drake!)

 

[AntarcticPilot]

There is, however, one remnant of De Liefde that still exists: a carving of Erasmus, an ironically Catholic theologian. De Liefde had been named 'Erasmus' when it was launched, and had a carving depicting the man on its stern (Dutch ships did not have figureheads at that time). This carving had been taken by one of the surviving Dutch crew, and had been housed in a Buddhist temple. When it was sent to the National Museum of Japan, in Tokyo, it had been mis-attributed as a Buddhist carving.

All perfectly correct - but the inclusion of Erasmus on a Dutch ship isn't surprising. Although Erasmus remained Catholic, he was the leading Humanist philosopher of the day, and worked for reform within the Catholic Church. His writings were one of the intellectual supports for the Reformation, and his work in making Greek texts of the New Testament available were indispensable to the spread of translations of the Bible in vernacular languages. Despite his catholicism. Erasmus was widely respected and honoured in the protestant world.

 

[HissyFit]

All perfectly correct - but the inclusion of Erasmus on a Dutch ship isn't surprising. Although Erasmus remained Catholic, he was the leading Humanist philosopher of the day, and worked for reform within the Catholic Church. His writings were one of the intellectual supports for the Reformation, and his work in making Greek texts of the New Testament available were indispensable to the spread of translations of the Bible in vernacular languages. Despite his catholicism. Erasmus was widely respected and honoured in the protestant world.

I hadn't really got a handle on how well respected Erasmus was amongst Protestants. I know that he corresponded with Martin Luther and that some are surprised that he didn't leave the Catholic church. He probably wouldn't have been able to continue his philosophical work otherwise, or at least he could have been declared heretical, which was bound to put a crimp in one's activities in those days.

 

[HissyFit]

As man has sofisticated hie navigational skills,first the compas now whatever he has steadily lost the ability to know where he is or how to get to another place

Rather like me halfway along a motorway.

 

[michael_w]

I always scribble in my pilot books. It keeps them up to date and serves as a aide-memoire when next in the area. The ones from the RCC pilotage foundation need the most work. They seem to specialize in photos taken from the shore looking out to sea. Utter waste of time, only can be used for advanced reconnaissance by hire car!

 

[Kukri]

I always scribble in my pilot books. It keeps them up to date and serves as a aide-memoire when next in the area. The ones from the RCC pilotage foundation need the most work. They seem to specialize in photos taken from the shore looking out to sea. Utter waste of time, only can be used for advanced reconnaissance by hire car!

I’ve never been anywhere that looks like it’s picture from seaward. The UKHO takes all theirs from seaward and records the bearing but I can never make out much from the thin grey smudge.

 

[jbweston]

Whilst looking for something only tangentially related, I just stumbled upon what appears to be an academic treatise on historical sailing guides, dating to the 15th century or so, and thought the forum might be interested.

The whole thing seems to be about 100 pages in length, including transcripts of old English.

It begins:



Full PDF: https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstr...ard-The_earliest_known_sailing_directions.pdf

It was written by Tom Cunliffe. At the time spelled Tomme Cunleaf (or phonetically in the south of England as Tam Cannluff), before they standardised the spellings of British names.