The sea – or mariners’s astrolabe

AGRUPAMENTO DE ESTUDOS DE CARTOGRAFIA ANTIGA XV SECÇÃO DE COIMBRA THE SEA- OR MARINER'S ASTROLABE B Y DAVID WATERS JUNTA DE INVESTIGAÇÕES DO ULTRAMAR COIMBRA • 1966 Sepa a a da REVISTA DA FACULDADE DE CIÊNCIAS Vol. XXXIX The sea- o ma ine s's as olabe D. W. WATERS Cu a o o Na iga ion and As onomy, Na ional Ma i ime Museum, G eenwich «II appa aí a ec é idence que c'es au Po ugal qu'on é é p a- iques, pou la p emiè e jois, en Occiden , les p océdés de di ec ion du na i e pa l'obse a ion des as es, sans lesquels il eu é é impos- sible d'en ep end e des exipédi ions aussi a en u euses.» Joaquim Bensaude, L'as onomie nau ique au Po ugal à l'époque des g andes décou e es, Be ne, 1912, quo ed by P o- esso Luciano Pe ei a da Sil a in: «A As onomia náu ica das descobe as Po uguesas», Re is a da Uni e sidade de Coimb a, Vol. in (1914) and Ob as Comple as (1943), Vol. I, p. 16.1. «O as olábio e a conside ado o melho dos ins umen os. A al u a do sol oma-se «mejo eon es olábio...» diz Mes e João, na ca a esc i a de Ve a C uz a D. Manuel, em 1 de Maio de 1500. O as olábio é «O melho ins umen o de odos», diz D. João de Cas- o numa no a de Ro ei o de Lisboa a Goa...» [o • 15.38]. L. Pe ei a da Sil a, Ob as Comple as (1943), Vol. n, p. 263. The choice o subjec as a con ibu ion o a wo k in honou o P o esso Luciano Pe ei a da Sil a has been made wi h idelibe a ion. Luciano Pe ei a da Sil a was he i s schola o w i e scien i ically abou i he sea — o ma ine 's as olabe. O he o y- i e pape s comp ising his eollec ed wo ks no less han en deal di ec ly wi h he ma ine 's as o- labe and i s associa ed ables, i s cha ac e is ics, and use a sea C1); a numbe o his o he pape s a e conce ne d wi h (*) Pe ei a da Sil a, L., Ob as Comple as de Luciano Pe ei a da Sil a, 3 ols., Lisboa, '1943. Volume I: VI. A As onomia náu ica das descobe as po uguesas, pp. 159-186; VIII. A As onomia dos 5 planisphe ic as olabes, hose ins umen s which he Po u- guese modi ied in o he sea-as olabe o he use o hei pilo s ha hey migh : «A manei a de nu ens se começam A descub i os mon es que enxe gamos, As ânco as pesadas se ade eçam As elas, ja chegados, amainamos: E pe a que mais ce as se conheçam As pa es ão emo as onde es amos, Pelo no o ins umen o do As olábio In enção de su il juízo e sábio, Desamba camos logo na espaçosa Pa e, po onde a gen e se espalhou, De e cousas es anhas desejosa Lusíadas, pp. 199-2514, Esp. pp. 383401; Volume II: IX. As ábuas náu icas po uguesas e o «Almanach pe pe uum» de Zacu o, pp. 3-20; X. A ciência náu ica po uguesa ap eciada em Espanha, pp. 31-33; XI. O as olábio náu ico dos Po ugueses, pp. 49-62] XII. As olá- bios exis en es em Po ugal, pp. 63-72; Esp. pp. 70-72; XXI. A a e de na ega dos po ugueses desde o in an e a D. João de Cas o, 4—'O as olábio náu ico, pp. 223»432, Esp. pp. 257-265; Volume III: XXIX. O «Regimien o de Na egacion» de Ped o de Medina, pp. 91- -108, Esp. pp. 99403; XXX. O «Ro ei o da p imei a iagem do Gama», pp. 109426; XXXIX. Um As olábio náu ico do Século XVI, pp. 327- -330. O he pape s on ins umen s o nau ical as onomy o he pe iod we e: XXVI. Kamal, ábuas da índia e a ole as náu icas, Vol. III/744; XXXI. O «Ro ei o» da p imei a iagem do Gama e a supos a conju ação, Vol. IH/427460. Figu es: Vol. I, p. 384, As o- lábio náu ico — g a u a inse a no Compendio dei a e de na ega de Rod igo Çamo ano, Se ilha, (1591; . p. 386, As olábio náu ico do Obse a ó io As onómico da Uni e sidade de Coimb a. Vol. II; p. 52, Do; p. 71, Do; p. 361, Do; . p. 54, As olábio náu ico de madei a, cons uído no Ins i u o Supe io Técnico; p. 258, Pesagem do Sol no as olábio — g a u a inse a no Regimien o de na egacion, de Ped o de Medina, Se ilha, 1552; p. 259, As olábio náu ico — igu a da Ca a Uni e sal, de Diogo Ribei o, 1529; p. 260, As olábio náu- ico —' g a u a inse a no Compendio dei a e de na ega , de Rod igo Çamo ano, Se ilha, 1591; p. 262, As olábio náu ico suspenso de uma cáb ea; e p. 309, As olábio náu ico, guaduado de 0 a 180°. Vol. III, p. 100, «Pesagem» do sol com o as olábio, igu a ep oduzida do Regimien o de Na egacion [Ped o de Medina, 1552]; p. 329 «Roda de um as olábio náu ico do Século XVI». [D edged om San a C uz, 1903]. 6 Da e a que ou o po o não pisou: Po eém eu cos pilo os na a enosa P aia, po e mes em que pa e es ou Me de enho, em oma do sol a al u a E compass a a uni e sal pin u a» (2) Ra ens ein, in his g ea s udy o Ma in Behaim and his globe o 1492, i s p o ed decisi ely ha he sou ce o Po - uguese nau ical as onomy was Ibe ian, no Ge man; Ben- saúde in his magis e ial s udies o Po uguese nau ical science in he age o he g ea disco e ies showed conclu- si ely ha he almanacs, ules and ables used by he Po u- guese pionee s o he la e i een h and ea ly six een h cen- u ies we e Po uguese p oduc s; Luciano Pe ei a da Sil a demons a ed beyond easonable doub ha he ins umen s we e especially de ised o hei use by Po uguese schola s and ha he sea-as olabe was o long he bes . The e is an awa eness oday o he undamen al ole played by nau ical as onomy and i s associa ed ins umen s in he de elopmen o ci ilisa ion o e he las 500 yea s which ce ainly did no mani es i sel when Luciano Pe ei a da Sil a began his se ies o b illian s udies. His o ians a e indeb ed o him o helping o un a el he angled skein o he ea ly his- o y o nau ical as onomy and o kni ing he s ands in o a cohe en and in elligible pa e n he alidi y o which subsequen esea ch has bu con i med. «0 s . Joaquim Ben- saúde...», he w o e in 1914, « em pondo em plena luz a impo an e cul u a cien í ica que em Po ugal acompanha a os a ojados ei os dos descob imen os. É digna dos maio- es encómios es a ob a pa ió ica...» (3). This is, in u h, a i ing ibu e o his own wo ks. The ield o esea ch which Bensaude opened in 1912 wi h his L'As onomie Nau ique au Po ugal a Vl'époque des g andes décou e es, Luciano Pe ei a da Sil a sha ed b illian ly and ha moniously in cul i a ing un il his agic dea h in 1926. His w i ings illumina ed much conce ning he way o a ship h ough he ackless pa hs o he sea in he i s days o oceanic na iga ion ha had lain hidden o cen u ies in he (2) Camoes, Os Lusíadas, Can o , 25 and 26. (3) L. Pe ei a da Sil a, Ob as Comple as, (1943), ol. I, p. 166. 7 da kness o igno a nce o loomed niisileadingly in he wiligh o ill- ounded specula ion. The pu pose o his pape is o honou he memo y o Luciano Pe ei a da Sil a by summa ising whi h ou line d aw- ings o a s anda d scale, he main ea u es o ali known su i ing sea-as oiabes (including one des oyed in 1940), in o de o make hei main ea u es gene ally a ailable o s udy. «O as olábio e a conside ado», by he Po uguese pionee s, he w o e uly, «o melho dos ins umen os». I s signi icance in his o y lies An he ac ha o abou one hund ed and i y yea s i was one o he p incipie «pa h- inde s» o ci ilisa ion o e he ea u eless was es o he sea. Ea lies known use o an as olabe by a ma ine Manuel Telles da Sil a, Ma ques de Aleg e e, s a es ha Diogo d'Azambuja was he i s ma ine o use an as olabe. This was du ing a oyage down he wes coas o A ica in 1481 (4). Use o as olabe by o he ma ine s in he 15 h cen u y On his oyage o 1487-88 Ba holomew Diaz used as o- labes, as .did Vasco da Gama on his oyage o 1497, and Mas e John, pilo in Cab al's lee on his oyage o 1500 (5). On his i s oyage o disco e y Columbus a emp ed o use an as olabe —< «no pudo oma ;la al u a con ©I as o- lábio ni cuad an e» (3 Feb. 1493) (6). This was on he e um hal o he oyage s a ed in 1492. In ha yea Ma - in Behaim comple ed his globe on which is o be ound O Manuel Telles da Sil a, Ma quês de Aleg e e (1689), De ebus ges is Joanni II, Lisboa, p. 152. (5) Ra ens ein, E. G. (1908) Ma in Behaim, London, p. 15 ci ing Alguns Documen os, p. 122. (6) Guillen, J. F., El P ime Viaje de C is obal Colon, Mad id, 1943, p. 145. La pa la ma ine a en el Diá io dei p ime iaje de C is obal Colon, Mad id, 1951, p. 30. 8 « hose who na iga e his sea mus sail wi h he help o he as olabe» (7). Type o as olabe used by ma ine s in he i een h cen u y One au ho i y o Vasco da Gama's use o as olabes is João de Ba os (1496-1570) w i ing his Da Asia in 1539. Acco ding o his accoun , on eaching he Bay o S . Helena, da Gama wen on sho e o ake he al i ude o he sun wi h a la ge wooden as olabe, «un as olábio náu ico de ês pal- mos de diâme o» (abou 60 cms. o 24 ins. in dia ne e ), «el es olábio e a de palo». He did so because on boa d ship he had been unable o ake a sigh ei he wi h ha as olabe, o wi h -some o he smalle as olabes o b ass wi h which he had been supplied. De Ba os, ha ing asse ed ha he Po uguese we e he i s ma ine s o use hese al i udes o inding la i ude, explainad how King John II o Po ugal had assembled a jun a which had de e mine d upon and made a p ac icable me hod o seamen o na iga e sou h o he equa o by obse ing he al i ude o he sun. This jun a, he explained, made ables o deolina ion, such as a e now in use among na iga o s, and which a e now mo e exac han in he beginning, when he la ge wooden as olabes we e in use (8). We ha e an indica ion o he ype o b ass as olabes supplied o da Gama. Gaspa Co ea, in his Lendas da índia dese ibed how Zacu o, he Jewish as onome c-alled in o assis in he solu ion o Vasco da Gamas na iga ional p ob- lems, made a o m (pas a) o coppe o hickness o hal a inge , « ound, wi h a ing (a gola) wi h which i was suspended. In he cen e was moun ed ano he pla e (chapa), also o coppe , ( he alidade) which slid a ound he ci cum e ence, and on which we e placed some holes bo ed opposi e o one ano he , so ha he sun en e ing h ough (7) Ra ens ein, E. G., op. ci ., p. 14. (8) Ra ens ein, E. G., op. ci . p. 12. I is o in e es o no e ha when Hadley in en e d he e íec ing quad an in 1731 i was a la ge wooden ins umen and was de eloped in he cou se o he nex i y o so yea s in o a simila bu small me al ins umen . 9 bo h a he momen o midday, he ele a ion o he sun could he measu ed «and he named i as olabe...» (9). This desc ip ion is epi omised by Camões» «Pelo no o .ins u- men o do As olábio in enção ide su il juízo e sábio». A he ime o Cab als expedi ion as onomical obse a ions we e s ill a he he excep ion. In his le e o 1 May, 1500 o King Manuel he w o e om B azil ha who na iga ed bes , he o he pilo s «wi h he eha » o he «wi h he cha and as olabe», would be de e mined when hey eached he Cape o Good Hope. «I seems o me», he con inued, ha «a sea i is be e o be guided by he heigh o he sun, han by he .s a s and i is be e o use he as olabe han he quad an , o any .o he ins umen s» (10). The e is no good, p ac ical eason o suppose ha hese ea ly me al sea-as olabes we e no simple ins umen s. They we e in ended o be used by seamen, who a e essen- ially and o necessi y p ac ical men, o one o wo pu - poses: o obse e he me idian al i ude o he sun ^and o obse e he al i ude o Pola is o o he sui able s a s in o de o ind la i ude. Simpli ied as onome s' ables we e supplied o hei use o show he sun's daily ideclina ion a noon no h o sou h o he equa o — no i s posi ion on he eclip ic. The sailo nceded only one scale—an al i ude scale — and we can be su e ha ha was all he go o he e we e good g ounds o a oiding con using him wi h he com- plexi ies o he planisphe ic as olabe and souod economic easons o a oiding i s cos when some hing cheape would se e his pu pose. One eason why al i ude was measu ed o inding la i- ude by obse a ion o he sun, as well as o inding i by obse a ion o he Pole S a , when i would ha e been sim- ple ma hema ically o he sun's zeni h .dis ance o ha e been measu ed, can be ound in he i s use o as onomical (9) Gaspa Co ea (1869), The Th ee Voyages o Vasco da Gama, Hakluy Socie y. Fi s se ies, ol. 42. A ansla ion om he Lendas da índia o Gaspa Co ea, pp. 21-25, which I ha e adap ed o make clea e . (10) P es age, E. (11933) The Po uguese Pionee s, London, whose ansla ion I p e e . 10 ins umen s by ma ine s. A i s hey we e used omeasu e indi ec ly linea dis ance om a da um po , no angu- la dis ance om he equa o . The ma ine s we e augh o obse e he al i ude o he Pole S a wi h i s Gua ds (Kochab) in a gi en posi ion, o he al i ude o he sun a noon and, o compa e he esul wi h he al eady abula ed al i ude o he s a when he gua ds we e in he same ela i e posi ion, o o hen sun a noon a a p e-selec ed da um po , and o con e he angula di e ence in o leagues no h o sou h o he da um po ("). This was he me hod used by Diogo Gomes, o Sin a, when on a oyage o Guinea he made he i s eco ded as onomical obse a ion by a sea- man, in 1461 (o 1462): «Yo enia un cuad an e cuando ui a esos países...», he ecoun ed. A u he eason o obse ing al i ude was ha s ella obse a ions p eceded sola ones. The al i ude o he Pole is equal o he la i ude o he place o obse ía ion. The sim- ples nau ical obse a ion was, he e o e, one which meas- u ed he al i ude o he Pole S a und was co ec ed by adding o sub ac ing i s angula 'dis ance below o abo e he pole. When sola obse a ions we e begun he al i ude scale was hus al eady in use and he same ins umen was used o sola and s ella obse a ions. When he sea-as olabe was in o- duced he easies hing was o make no change o he scale. Again, he 'shadow' i ules o Regimen o he Sun we e de i ed om ules al eady codi ied in he hi een h cen u y and based on obse a ions o he sun's al i ude. When, as a esul o Vasco da Gamas and Cab als expe ience, he use o he as olabe o s ella sigh s was d opped by he Po u- guese na iga o s and he use o he as olabe was con ined o sola obse a ions he logical ma hema ical change was soon made—Po uguese as olabes we e eng a ed o zeni h dis ance — he eby simpli ying he calcula ion ( he bugbea o seamen) o ind la i ude om a sola obse a ion. The quad an was e ained o s ella obse a ions because i was much mo e sui able o aking hem. S ella Obse a ions. These we e aken by holding he (") Manual de Munich, c. 1509. 11 he ci cumna iga ion o he globe, wi h, amongs o he na i- ga ional equipmen , «1 wooden as olabe» and «6 wooden quad an s» made by Ruy Falei o, and «six me al as olabes wi h ule s». Nume ous me idian al i ude obse a ions Fig. 4—The ea lies ex an ilius a ion o a cas wheel- ype sea- -as olabe, 1542. De ail (Figs. 3 and 4 by cou esy o he T us ees o he B i ish Museum). we e made in Magellan's lee — daily when p ac icable — wi h as olabe and quad an . In 1523, so necessa y had he a o na iga ion by celes ial obse a ion become o Spanish seamen ha he Po uguese cosmog aphe and ca i og aphe Diogo Ribei o, was lappoin ed, as al eady men ioned in a di e en con ex , «nues o cosmóg a o y maes o de haze ca as y as olábios y o os yngenios». 18 In 1527 Sebas ian Cabo , by Royai cédula da ed Vallado- lid, 2 Augus , 1527, was espeeially ins uc ed on he exami- na ion o pilo s. His asks included ensu ing hei p o i- ciency wi h he «as olábio pa a el sol y quad an e pa a el no e». He was hen, and had been since 1518, Pilo o-mayo de la Casa de Con a açión a Se ille. Wha had happened o b ing he sea-as olabe in o a ou as he ins umen o sola obse a ions? A possible explana ion is ha he wide spaced pinnules cha ac e is ic o he planisphe ic as olabes had been eplaced by close spaced pinnules. As a esul o he modi ica ion, which ce - ainly had been made by 1525, i was easie o adjus he alidade o aking me idian al i udes o he sun su icien ly accu a e o na iga ional pu poses. This modi ica ion made i possible o a oid «missed» obse a ions — he esul o mo ing an alidade he adjus men o which, owing o he wide spacing o he pinnules, was oo ine o p ac ical ship-boa d use. The Ea lies Illus a ions o a cas wheel- ype ma ine s as olabe Howe e , his may no ha e been he only modi ica ion made a his ime o he design o he sea-as olabe. By 1542 a emendous ad ance had occu ed, he sea-as olabe was being made in he o m o a hea y cas b ass wheel. Fi een o y^ wo is he da e o he ea lies ilius a ion o his ype o sea-as olabe, and i was d awn and colou ed by a F eneh pilo in he se ice o King Hen y VIII o England, Jean Ro z (17). So a as I am awa e his ilius a ion has ne e p e iously been ep oduced. Such an ins umen had he ad an age o s abili y, low wind esis ance, and close-se pinnules. I would appea ha he a is has exagge a ed he size o he ins umen as six een h cen u y desc ip ions and illus a ions a e o much smalle ins umen s and su i ing ins umen s o he pe iod a e much smalle . In he se en- (17) Ro z, Jean (1542) Ms. Booke o Id og aphy, (B i ish Museum Royai 20.E.IX). 19 een h cen u y, howe e , he S . And ews sea-as olabe o 1616 and he Coimb a sea-as olabe o c. 1675 a e as massi e as ha d awn by Jean Ro z appea s o ha e been; hey a e espec i ely 396 mm. (15 5/8 ins.) and 508 mm. (20 ins.) in diame e . The nex ea lies ilius a ion o his wheel- ype sea-as olabe appea s o be in William Bou ne's An Alma- nacke and P ognos ica ion o h ee yea s... nowe newlye added in o my la e Rulles o Na iga ion, London, [1571], hough his was i s published in 1567 bu no copy su i- es (1S). The woodcu shows an ins umen en i led A sea As olabe g adua ed in one uppe quad an bu wi h he pinnules se ou owa ds he ends o he alidade close o he inne edge o he limb. The lowes spoke ia es ou o p o ide bo om ballas (19). When, in 1574, William Bou ne, published his Regimen o he Sea, a somewha simila ins- umen was depic ed on he i le^page bu now i was en i- led «A Sea as olob o ing», bo h uppe quad an s we e g adua ed, he wo pinnules we e much olose oge he , and had, like Co es's, la ge and -small pin-holes; (20). Se en yea s la e Çamo anos Compendio de la a e de na ega (Se illa, 1581) illus a ed he pa s, excep he suspension ing and sbackle, o a wheel- ype sea-as olabe bu his de- sc ip ion e e s o making i in wood o b ass (21). By 1583 he Du chman, Lucas Janszoon Wagenae , had illus a ed he wheel- ype sea-as olabe on he i le page o his Spieghel (1S) Wa e s, D, W., (1958) The A o Na iga ion in England in Elizabe han and ea ly S ua Times, London and Ha o d, Conn., 1958, p. 127. (») Taylo , E. G. R. (ed.), (1963), A Regimen o he Sea and o he w i ings on na iga ion by William Bou ne, Camb idge, o he Hakluy Socie y, 1963, p. '85. The i s English p in ed ilius a- ion o a sea-as olabe was in Richa d Eden's ansla ion o Ma in Co es's wo k, The A e o Na iga ion, London, '1561, when he igu e was simila o ha o 1551. (20) Wa e s, D. W., op. ci . PI. XXXIII (a), and Taylo , E. G. R., op, ci ., ig. 1. (21) Pe ei a da Sil a, L, (1943) Ob as Comple as, ol. 1, ig. 28 and pp. 383-386, bu his is based on he edi ion o 159(1. Çamo ano was hen Pilo o-mayo , p e iously he had been Cosmóg a o de Hace Ca as y Fab ica Ins umen os pa a la Na egacion de la Casa de Con a acion de Se illa. 20 i 1600 10 ani 1609 KNOWN SEA-ASTRDLABES I Pale mo Z Dundeg 3 K abbe 4 G eenwich 5 K onbo g 6 Ox o d (Ve a C uz) c. 1 7 Ba iow (Manila) 8 Ho man (Champ!ain's) 9 Flo ence 10 Ten i Uni e si y an e 1609 II S . And ews Uni e si y 181G 12 Skoklos e I 1626 13 Skoklos e II c. 1628 14 Skoklos e III c. 1626 15 BATAVIA I an e 1629 16 BATAVIA II an e 1829 17 Caudebec 1632 18 Coimb a Uni e si y c. 1675 19 Felix ea ly 18 ii c. *5 14 Scala [ is u a Fig. 6 — The su i ing sea- o ma ine 's as olabes known, 1695. (No 1 de Zee ae d , (Leiden, 1583), gi ing as his model one e y simila o Çamo anos (22). Thence o wa d illus a ions o wheel- ype sea-as olabes a e ound in mos Du ch and English na iga ion manuais and «waggone s» published dowii o he la e se en een h cen u y. Disuse o he Sea-as olabe By abou 1650 he sea-as olabe was ceasing o be used and he c oss a and Da is quad an o back-s a (in en- ed abou 1590 by Cap ain John Da is he English A c ic explo e and na iga o ) we e he a ou i e ins umen s. The la es ilius a ion in England o a sea-as olabe wi h s ic ly nau ical associa ioms would appea o be he ealis- ically ca ed one in he man lepiece in he hen new Admi- al y Boa d Room in Whi ehall. This is 1695. In Sco land a wall pain ing in Bu n island Chu ch, Fi e, o a sea-cap ain in he sea- ig o 1690 shows him holding a wheel- ype sea- -as olabe in his igh hand (and a c oss-s a in his le hand), ano he pain ing shows him using his back-s a (23). Spanish, English and Po uguese sea-as olabes In his Exe cises o 1594 Thomas Blunde ille w o e a leng h on he a o na iga ion and on sea-as olabes and explained ha «b oade As olabes, hough hey bee he eby he ue , ye o ha hey a e subjec o he o ce o he wind, and he eby e e moo ing and uns able, a e no hing mee e o ake he Al i ude o any hing, and especially upon he sea; which his o a oid he Spania ds doe commonly make hei As olabes o Rings na ow and weigh ie, which o he mos pa a e no much abo e 5 inches b oad, and ye doe weigh a leas ou pound, and o ha end he lowe pa is made a g ea deale hicke han he uppe pa (M) Wa e s, D. W., op. ci ., PI. in. (23) Gun he , R. T. ('1932), As olabes o he Wo ld, 1932, ol. 2, pl. CXLIII. «Na iga o s wi h c oss-s a , Back-s a , and As olabe». Pain ings in Ba n island Ghu ch, Fi e. Tbese can be da ed c. 1690 on he e idence o he sea-cap ain's d ess and in pa icula o his ha . 21 owa ds he Ring o handle. No wi hs anding mos o ou Englich Pilo s ha be skil al, .doe make hei Sea As olables o Rings sixe o se en inches b oad, and he ewi h e y massi e and hea ie, no easie o be mo ed wi h e e ie wind». Çamo ano, a e his chap e on «The making o he As olabe» (I quo e om he ansla ion includedby Edwa d W igh in his second, 1610 — and hi d, 1657 — edi ion o his Ce ain E o s in Na iga ion) included «Ano he manne o aceoun ing by he Sun, as hey use in Po ugall». He w o e, «Some As olabes he e bee, whoseaccoun beginne h no om he Ho izon, bu om he Zeni h, and ende h wi h 90 deg . in he Ho izon; and he heigh aken by hem is no hing else bu he dis ance o he Sun om ou Zeni h...» Çamo ano was hen «Cosmóg a o di Hace Ca as y Fab ica Ins umen os pa a la Na egacion de la Con a açiÕn de Se illa», and also «Ca ed á ico de a e de la Na egacion y Cosmog a ia de la Casa de la Con a açión de Se illa». He was he e o e pa icula ly well quali ied o w i e abou as olabes and wha he w o e seems clea , he Spania ds used as olabes g adua ed o al i ude, he Po uguese as o- labes g adua ed o zeni h dis ance (and he ga e hei Regi- men o he Sun o zeni h al i ude obse a ions). In ac João de Lisboa w i ing abou 1514 had, as p e iously obse - ed, gi en a «Regimen o da dis ancia zeni al» so he p ac ice was long es ablished in Po ugal (24). Manu ac u e o Ma ine s As olabes So a as he manu ac u e o Spanish as olabes is conce ne d he documen a y e idence is conclusi e ha ma i- ne s as olabes, a om being he p oduc o shipya d c a s- men and b ass- ounde s we e he handiwo k o especial- ised na iga ional ins umen make s, whose ins umen s had o be app o ed and s amped as sa is ac o y (o ejec ed and b oken up) be o e being used a sea. A possible explana- (24) Fon ou a d a Cos a, A. (1939), A Ma inha ia dos Descob i- men os, Lisboa, 1939, pp. 71-73. 22 ion o he « ade ma ks» ound in some su i ing examples is ha hey a e he s amp o inspec ing o icials. Fig. 5 —The oldes known da ed sea-as olabe, 1540. Mos p obably spanish (Fo mely in he Museo Nazionale di Pale mo). In 1674 Miguel Sue o was appoin ed «Cosmog a o de Hace Ca as y Fab ica Ins umen os pa a la Na egacion de la Casa de la Con a açión de Se illa» as a esul o a compe i i e examina ion on — amongs o he hings —• his 23 skill in manu ac u ing ins umen s o na iga ion. The epo on him an: «I ha e examined a b ass as olabe o aking he heigh o he sun and I ind he me al woll idis ib- u ed, he lines e y well d awn and he g adua ion on he ci cum e ence o one quad an weil done, he alidade wi h i s pinnules o ha e ali he quali ies necesssa y o make co - ec obse a ions as I ha e p o ed by expe imen , which I ha e compa ed wi h ano he As olabe es ed by obse a- ion, and on compa ision o gi e he same heigh as he old one (25). The Oldes Da ed Su i ing Sea As olabe In 1935 Lozenzo Caldo w o e an accoun o some as o- labes : «As olabi dei Museo Nazionale di Pale mo», Publi- cazioni delVOsse a o io As onómico di Pale mo, Memo ie, N. 65, Pale mo, 1936, which was ep in ed om A i delia R. Accademia di Scienze, Le e e e Belle A i di Pale mo, Vol. xix, ase. in. This included a desc ip ion o , and a pho og aph o he ace o , a sea as olabe o he cas wheel ype, da ed on one o he adii «1540». I has no been seen since he end o he Second Wo ld Wa . I is s ik- ingly like he sea as olabe illus a ed (see Fig. 8 p. 25) in Diego Ga cia de Palacio's Ins uc ion Nau hica, México, 1587. Wi h he Sicilian loca ion o he ins umen (2B) Rubio, J. P. (1950) El Pilo o Mayo de la Casa de la Con- a açión de Se illa, Se illa, 1950. pp. 343-344. June, 1674, «el o icio de Cosmóg a o y ab icado de Ins u- men os». «En la ziudad de se illa y casa dela con a açión de las índias en dos dias del mes de Ma zo de mill y seiscien os y se en a y qua o anos... Un As olábio de B once pa a oma Al u a dei sol lo han econocido y le halla on con buena dis ibucion de Me al, mui Bien i ados los a ame os y bien hecha la g aduacion desa ci - cun e ência en una qua a pa e delia la Allidada con sus Pinolas o ele as con odas las calidades necesa ias pa a hace cie as las obse a iones como se io po la expe cencia, que es co ejandolo con o o As olabio ap ouado en obse acion se bailo combeni y da la misma Al u a q el An iguo...». 24 his sugges s, wi h i s «cales o measu ing al i udes ha , i was o Spanish o igin. I was he oldes da ed one known. Fig. 7—The second oldes known da ed sea-as olabe, 1555. Mos p obably o Po uguese manu ac u e (By cou esy o he Di ec o , The Dundee Museum and A Galle y). The Second Oldes Da ed Su i ing Sea As olabe Some yea s ago a cas b ass wheel- ype sea-as olabe da ed 1555 was disco e ed in Dundee, Sco land. I s p o e- nance is unknown, i is pe ec ly p ese ed and he e is no 25 eason o suspec he da e s amped on he ins umen . I s la ge size, 222 mm. diame e , 16 mm. hickness, and he ac ha i is g adua ed o ead zeni h dis ances only, s ongly sugges ha i is o Po uguese manu ac u e. I is i ually ce ain ha no English sea-as olabes had been manu ac u ed a his ea ly da e. The a ious desc ip ions which ha e come down o us o Spanish sea-as olabes ali desc ibe hem as being small ins umen s. I is i ually ce ain ha no Du ch sea-as olabes had ye been manu ac u ed. On he e idence o Jean Ro z's ilius a ion o a sea-as olabe o 1542 i is possible ha he F ench we e making sea-as olabes. I incline o he iew ha he Dundee sea-as olabe is o Po - uguese manu ac u e. I is he second oldes da ed sea- -as olabe known oday. Su i ing Sea As olabes The main ac s abou he known su i ing sea as ola- bes a e summa ised in he acoompanying able and diag am con aining hei ou lines d awn o a s anda d scale. These as olabes would seem o all in o ou main yipes wi h sub-di isioins, as ollows : Type I (a) Wheel ype wi h base ballas . Type I (b) Wheel ype wi h c own ballas . Type II (a) Semi-sphe e wi h base ballas . Type II (b) Semi-sphe e wi h c own ballas . Type III Wheel ype wi hou ballas . Type IV Planisphe ic o ma ine use. Examples o Type I (a) a e: Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 17 Types Type IV Type I (b) Type II (a) Type II (b) Type III Nos. 13, 14 and 15. No. 5. No. 16. Nos. 18 and 19. Nos. 3, 20 and 21. 26 Nos. 12, 13 and 14) Skoklos e As olabes These h ee splendidly p ese ed sea-as olabes o m he iches single collec ion in he wo ld. Field-Ma shal Ca l Gus a W angel, who was also Admi ai o he Swedish lee in he Ba le o Fema , 1644, had p e iously s udied na iga ion and he mili a y a s in Holland in he 1620's. The sea-as olabes now p ese ed in Skoklos e Cas le, which he buil in 1650, we e almos ce ainly acqui ed by him in Holland du ing his pe iod o s udies and ha e emainod he e wi h o he easu es e e since. Tha hey a e o Du ch manu ac u e has been con i med by he eco e y o he sea- -as olabe i ually iden ical wi h Skoklos e (II) and (III) om he w eck o he Du ch Eas Indiaman Ba a ia, w ecked o Hou mans Ab olhos in 1629 (see No. 15, Ba a ia (I) sea- -as olabe). I am indeb ed o Coun R. on Essen, o Skoklos e Cas le, o he in o ma ion ela ing o Field- -Ma shal W angel. The insc ip ion o No. 13, Skoklos e (II) eads: «My oundness is o p aise. I sail wi h you o indica e he al i ude»; mode n Du ch would be: «Mijn onidheid is e p ijzen. Ik aa (me U) mee om de hoog e aan e wijzen». The name is p obably ha o he owne , i is no ha o a known ins umen make . I am indeb ed o his in o - ma ion o M . G. A. Cox, Di ec o o he Nede landsch His o- isch Scheep aa Museum, Ams e dam. No. 15) Ba a ia (I) As olabe S ikingly simila o he Skoklos e (II) and (III) sea as olabes and appa en ly by he same c a smen. O impo - ance because un il i s eco e y mo sea-as olabes wi h ballas a he c own could be posi i ely associa ed wi h a ship (29). (M) Halls, C. (íl%4) «The sea ch o he Ba a ia», The Annual Dogwa ch, No. 21, 19164, an Aus alian .publica ion, desc ibes and illus a es he ci cums ances o he eco e y o his sea-as olabe. 33 No. 16) Ba a ia (II) As olabe This semi-sphe e was eco e ed om he w eck o he BATAVIA in 1964 and is now in p i a e owne ship in Aus alia. Un il i s eco e y No. 5 was he only semi-sphe e known. No. 17) Caudebec As olabe This un o una ely was des oyed in 1940 by gene al con lag a ion which ollowed he bombing o Caudebec-en- Caux. Illus a ed Gun he , R. T. (1932) igu e 196, page 531. No. 18) Coimb a Uni e si y As olabe This as olabe is p ese ed in he Obse a o y o Coim- b a Uni e si y and is ema kable o i s size, weigh and ea u es. The uppe alidade has a la ge hole in i wi h a lens inse ed in i . The lowe alidade has wo e ossed lines, he sunligh being ocuscd upon his c oss when an obse - a ion is made. John Flams eed, he i s As onome Royai, in oduced a lens- ane o use wi h he back-s a abou 1675, henoe he en a i e da e asc ibed o his sea-as olabe, hough he de ices may weil ha e been in oduced qui e indepen- den ly o one ano he . No. 19) The Felix As olabe This is a p esen on loan o he Smi hsonian Ins i u- ion, Washing on. I is a e y cu ious ins umen as i has many o he ea u es o a sea-as olabe ye en i ely laks i s cha ac e is ic massi e obus ness. I is only 5 mm. hick and despi e i s diame e o 238 mm. weighs only 1530 gms. I s wo kmanship appea s o be o he ea ly 18 h cen u y. No e 1. I may be men ioned he e ha he ins umen signed «J. Renaud Ma seille» and illus a ed in M. Dau- mas,Xes Ins umen s Scien i iques aux XVII6 e XVIIF Siècles, Pa is, 1953, Fig. 5 as: «As olabe de Me » was 34 o iginally a ci cum e en o o measu ing ho izon al angles (i measu es om 0o o 360°) which has been inco ec ly es o ed. No e 2. Also, he New Yo k His o ical Socie y's ins u- men illus a ed in R. Gun he , As olabes o he Wo ld, Ox o d, 1932, Vol. 2, p. 323, as a Du ch as olabe is mode a. I was made abou 1909 o he Hudson-Ful on Celeb a ions. No. 20) No. 21) Flo ence As olabes (1166) and (1123) These wo planisphe ic as olabes a e ca alogued in he Flo ence, Ca alogo Degli S umen i, Del Museo di S o ia delia Scienza, «1116-1127-1124 As olábio náu ico di cm. 73 ci ca» and «1123» and «1124 As olábio náu ico dei diâme o di ci ca cm. 67», and al hough im en ed by Robe Dudley o he use o seamen hei g ea size, eombined wi h he ac ha hey we e planisphe ic, would seem o ha e ende cd hem imp aec icable o obse ing al i udes o zeni h dis ances accu a ely a sea. Acknowledgemen s. I am indeb ed o M . A. N. S imson o he Depa men o Na iga ion and As onomy, Na ional Ma i ime Museum, o p epa ing he scale d awings o he su i ing known sea-as olabes; o D . Sil io A. Bedini o he Smi hsonian Ins i u ion, Washing on, o supplying de ails abou s ea-as olabes in he Uni ed S a es o Ame ica; o P o esso D . Ma ia Bonelli o in o ma ion abou he as olabes in he Museo di S o ia delia Scienza, Flo ence; o D . J. D. Boyd, Di ec o o he Dundee Museums and A Galle ies o pho og aphs o he Dundee sea as olabe; o Monsieu E. B écho , Musée Bioche , Caudebec-en-Caux, o in o ma ion conce ning he sea-as olabe o me ly p ese ed he e; o P o esso A. Co esão, o Coimb a Uni e si y, o supplying de ails o he Coimb a sea-as olabe; o Monsieu M. Daumas, Di ec o , Musée ides A es Deco a i s, Pa is, o in o ma ion abou he Caudebec sea-as olabe; o Ba on R. on Essen, o Skoklos e Cas le, Sweden, o illus a ions 35 o and in o ma ion abou he sea-as olabes p ese ed he e; o Museumsinspeck o H. Henningsen o he S0 a smusee , K onbo g, Denma k, o de ails eonce ning he isemi-isphe e he e; o M . F. Maddison, Cu a o o he Museum o he His o y o Science, Ox o d, o much assis ance o e he pas yea s; o M . A. L. Ride, Di ec o o he Wes e n Aus alian Museum, o e e ing pho og aphs o and in o ma ion con- ce ning he sea-as olabe and semi-sphe e eco e ed om he w eck o he Du ch Eas Indiaman, Ba a ia, o me, and o Capi aine de Vaisseau Vicho , Di ec o , Les Musées de la Ma ine, Pa is, o aluable pho og aphic assis ance. The pionee wo k o he la e D . R. T. Gun he , o he Museum o he His o y o Science, Ox o d, and he esea ches o P o esso De ek ide Solla P ice, o Yale Uni e si y, on as o- labes o he wo ld ha e, o cou se, p o ided he amewo k o his pape . I am indeb ed o M. and M. s Robe S. Webs e o Winne ka, Illinois, o d awing my a en ion o he pape by Lo enzo Caldo on he Pale mo sea-as olabe and o p o iding a good pho og aph o i . 36 )R MARINERS ASTROLABES Ma ks Pin Na ionali y O igin Place P ese ed Secu ed o Make by 1540 o 000 - Facieba K abbe 1582 NIL 1600 4 leu s-de-lys à Lacking o iginal alidade 1602 x 1603 x x x 1608 x x G019 o 000 o Elias Allen eci 1616 1626 4 Fleu -ãe-lys (on back '24' and '8') 3 (on back «10- 16» and «6») (On back «10- 18» and «2») Obli e a ed i any. W. 4 sided nu W. [Spanish ?] Unkown [Po uguese] Unknown W.? W.? Rnd. nu B/F nu W. Sc ew h eaded pin B/F nu B/F nu B/F nu B/F nu Ge man Spanish ? [Du ch] Spanish? Spanish ? F ench English ? Po uguese English Du ch Du ch Du ch Du ch Unknown Valencia, I eland in 1845, ( om an A mada w eck?). Unknown D edged up in Ve a C uz Ha bou in 1903. D edged up in Manila Ha bou ea ly 20 h C. Los by Champlain in S . Law ence in 1613; ound 1867. Pu chased by Robe Dudley, Duke o No hum- be land, in 1608 o la e . Reco e ed in 1929 om w eck o Mad e de Deos, sunk m Nagasaki Ha bou in 1610. P obably acqui ed by P o . James G ego y in 1673 o he Uni e si y. Bough by Field Ma shall W ange- lin Holland while a s uden he e. d". do. Reco e ed in 1963 om w eck o Pale mo, Sicily [no lo- ca ed since second wo ld wa .] Albe Ins i u , Dundee. Na ional Pa k Se ice, Washing on, D. C, Na ional Ma i ime Museum, G eenwich. S^ a smusee , K onbo g, Denma k. Mus. o His o y o Science, Ox o d. On loan o Smi hsonian Ins i u ion. Washing on, D. C. (1965). On loan o Smi honian Ins i u ion, Washing on, D. C. (1965). Museo di S o ia delia Scienza, Flo ence. Ten i Lib a y, Na a-Ken, Japan. S . And ews Uni e si y Fi e. Skoklos e Cas le, Sweden. d«. do. Wes e n Aus aliau Musenm, Pe h. (On back «10- 18» and «2») Obli e a ed i any. B/F nu Du ch Obli e a ed i any. Nicolas Le Tellie Honne leu 1632* NIL NIL Planisphe ic B/F nu Du ch ? Du ch ? F ench Washe and F ench ? Fia wing nu . English d°. Reco e ed in 1963 om w eck o D. E. I. Ba a ia, s anded in 1629 on Hou man's Ab olhos. d°. Reco e ed 1964. Unknown B/F nu Po uguese Unknown Unknown Designed by and made o Robe Dudley o nau ical use p obably be ween 1616 and 1654. d°. Wes e n Aus aliau Musenm, Pe h. P i a e owne ship, Aus alia. Des oyd by bombing in 1940 when in Caudebec-en-Caux. The Obse a o y Coimb a Uni e si y, Po ugal. On loan o Smi hsonian Ins i u ion, Washing on, (1965). Museo di S o ia delia Scienza, Flo ence. Planisphe ic English do. d.o k 33, 1955, pp. 243-263, and 363-381. 5 Examina ion o de ailed pho og aphs o he ins umen illus a ed in Daumas, M., Les Ins umen s Scien i iques aux XVII* e XVIII* Siècles, Pa is, 1953, PI. 2, Fig. 5, leads o he conclusion ha his is no an o iginal sea- -as olabe bu is adap ed om an ins umen designed o measu ing ho izon al angles in su eying wo k.