and anchor a little below the Beacon Stone-Banks These are several small Banks which lie East from the Sporn-head If from the Point of Kelsey you steer South by East until the Point of the Sporn be West half northerly then are you clear of them Borcom Borcom is a Sand which lyeth off Stanningborough about a mile from the shore on the North-side hereof lyeth a Buoy which lyeth from the Sporn West by South half southerly seven miles and from the Buoy of the Bull East by South four miles and a half Sonk in the Humber The Sonk is a Sand that lyeth on the North-side of the River almost as far down as the Sporn if going up on the South-side you bring Pauls-Tower open of the Red-Cliff to the eastward then you are clear or about the Tayl of the Sonk Holms The Holms is a Sand which lyeth about a mile from the shore The East end cometh within the Tayl of the Sonk and on the West end lyeth a Buoy which beareth South a mile and half from Pauls-Church and from the Buoy of the Bull N. W. by West about 13 miles The Banks that lie off in the Sea The Dogger-Bank On the Dogger-Bank the ground is even for ten leagues together on the South-side of it there is 24 24 25 25 25 24 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 fathom fine white Sand and on the North-side it falls off with a flat and deepens by little and little in sayling four leagues North after you have sixteen fathom you will have your water every cast deeper at four leagues you will have twenty fathom fine white Sand the Bank lyeth nearest North-east from the Sporn and runneth near the Juttish-Riff On the South-side a mile from the Bank you will have 20 and 22 fathom fine white and gray Sand you will have 18 17 16 14 11 fathom fine whitish gray Sand and continueth in the depth of 11 fathom on the Dogger-bank for 7 leagues together in the Latitude of 55 deg 9 min. to the Eastwards of Flamborough-head 34 leagues The Soundings on the very Ridge of the Dogger-bank toward the West end are 11 11 12 11 10 and a half 10 and a half 10 and a quarter 10 and a quarter 10 and a half fathom In standing a mile southerly you will deepen from 10 and a quarter to 12 fathom and sayling Westerly you will find shoaler water In sayling 30 leagues East and West the ground is of the same nature For three leagues breadth North or South it is 11 12 10 and a half 11 11 13 14 15 14 fathom then the water grows deeper on either side but more steeper on the North than on the South yet towards the West part of this Bank you will find the South side to deepen more suddenly than to the East end It lyeth nearest S. W. by West and N. E. by East stretching within 16 leagues of Flamborough-head The Soundings on the West end Flamborough-head bearing East by North four degrees northerly distant eight leagues and steering W. S. W. you will have white and brown Sand 20 19 17 16 fathom with small stones of Gravel But further off towards the Dogger-bank 32 30 25 32 27 30 fathom fine brown and gray Sand. About two leagues to the southward of Flamborough-head you will have 10 fathom water small gravel stones and brown Sand. When Hornsey-spire-steeple bears W.S.W. about three leagues and Flamborough-head N. W. by North you may anchor in 17 fathom gravelly ground Flamborough-head lyeth in the Latitude of 54 deg 14 min. In the Latitude of 54 deg 3 min. to the East of the Meridian of Flamborough-head 5 â…“ leagues you will have 25 fathom gray Sand with small stones and pieces of shells The Soundings from 17 18 20 21 23 24 25 fathom fine gray Sand sometimes gravel and sometimes shells Crouch-Bank In the mid-way between Flamborough-head and the Naze lyeth this great Bank North by East and South by West in the Sea being in length 35 leagues the South end hereof is distant from the Dogger-bank five leagues and from Flamborough-head North-east half easterly 39 leagues on the South end of this Bank is 22 in the middle 38 39 and on the North end 28 fathom which beareth from the Naze W. S. W. 39 leagues The White-Bank About twenty leagues North from Friezland lyeth the White-bank being in length 27 leagues and in breadth five leagues being distant from the Dogger-bank 13 leagues lying East by North and West by South in the Sea on the West end is 23 fathom and on the South end 22. The White-Water North-West by West fourteen leagues from the Texel lyeth a Bank called the White-water lying N. E. by East and S. W. by South in the Sea being in length ten leagues on which is 16 fathom the West end being distant from the Well seven leagues where you will have 24 and 25 fathom and between it and the Dogger-bank 27 and 28 fathom The Well-Bank The Soundings of the Well-bank are 15 and 14 fathom brown sand and small gravel between Flamborough-head and it the distance being 20 leagues you will have 25 23 22 21 22 18 fathom near the West side of the Bank you will have 12 14 16 17 13 15 fathom brown Sand with small gravel stones in it red and black and some Casts fine brown Sand and pieces of shells On the South-west part of the Well-bank you will have 13 fathom brown Sand This Well-bank stretcheth far easterly towards the White-sand The depth of Water between both is 15 14 18 17 17 23 17 21 21 23 21 14 fathom brown Sand but no certainty in any ground to know the distance of places from the Land In the Latitude of 53 deg 6 min. Flamborough-head bearing N. W. by West five degrees westerly distant 43 leagues sayling South your depth will be 16 17 21 21 23 21 14. In the Latitude 52 deg 54 min. 20 18 23 19 fathom brown gritty Sand. The Tydes run North by East and South by West Flowing of the Tydes of an indifferent strength it is high-water here on the Change-day of the Moon A Description of the Sands Shoals Buoys Beacons and Sea-Marks upon the Coast of England from the Buoy of the Nower to Dover The Flats THE Flats are so called by reason of their general flatness on which you may sayl 4 or 5 miles and not alter one foot in depth In the course from the Narrow to the Red-sand you may have ten foot water to the eastward in some Holes you have 15 and 16 foot water The Dangers that are in these Flats are discoursed of in their place for he that keeps himself on the Course that leads from the Buoy of the Woolpack to the Buoy of the Red-sand which is N. W. by West a quarter North if he take Tyde according to the draught of his Ship shall not meet with any dangers The Gilman The Gilman is a Shoal that lyeth up from the Buoy of
A Description of the SANDS SHOALS BUOYES BEACONS ROADS CHANNELS AND SEA MARKS ON THE COAST OF ENGLAND From the Southforeland to Flamborough head being furnished with new exact draughts of the sands acording to the said descriptions By John Seller Hydrographer to the Kings most Excelent Majestie And are to be Sold by him at the Hermitage staires in Wapping Englands Famous Discoverers Cap. Davies Sr. Walter Rawleigh Sr. Hugh Willoughby Cap. Smith Sr. Fran Drake Mr. Tho Candish free holder LONDON A DESCRIPTION OF THE Sands Shoals Rocks and Dangers The Bayes Roads Harbours Rivers Ports Buoys Beacons and Sea-Marks c. upon the Coasts of England from the South-Foreland to Flambrough-head Shewing the Courses and Distances from one Place to another The Setting of the Tydes and Currents The Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea With Directions for the bringing a Ship into any Harbour on the said Coasts Being furnished with New and Exact Draughts Charts and Descriptions of every Harbour gathered from the Experience and Practice of divers Able and Expert Navigators of our English Nation Collected Described and Published by JOHN SELLER Hydrographer to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty A short Description of the River of Thames from London-Bridge to the Point of the Hope Shewing the Shelves and Dangers in each Reach The Pool IS that part of the River that lyeth from London-Bridge to Cuckolds-Point and is divided into three parts First From London-Bridge to Wapping-Ness which lyeth West-North-West and East-South-East And about the lower end thereof near to Fountain-stairs A Rock lyeth a Rock on the South side which is dangerous for Ships to come aground upon The second part reacheth from Wapping-Ness to Ratcliff-Check and lyeth N. E. and S. W. The third part reacheth from Ratcliff-Check to Cuckolds-Point and lyeth rounding upon four Points of the Compass from the N. E. to the East These three Reaches are noted in the Draught of the River with the letters a b c. Limehouse-Reach This Reach leadeth from Cuckolds-Point down to Deptford and lyeth North and South on the West side are two Windmills from the southermost of which about half a mile down the River A Shoal is very shoal and flat shoaling from the East side of the River called the Isle of Dogs Isle of Dogs there being not above six foot at low-water This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter d. Greenwich-Reach This Reach lyeth from Deptford to the lower end of Greenwich and is much winding but about the middle it lyeth East and West At the lower end thereof is a convenient place for Ships to ride Greenwhich-hole called Greenwich-Hole and there is in this Hole about two fathom at low-water There is a Shoal A Shoal at the upper end of this Reach that lyeth off from Sanders-Ness This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter e. Blackwall-Reach This Reach lyeth from the lower end of Greenwich to Blackwall Town Blackwall This Reach is very good for Ships to ride in any part thereof but especially on the West side which is the best of the Channel from Layness or Blackwall-point which lyeth right against Blackwall from whence runneth off a Shoal which is dry at low-water A Shoal This Reach lyeth North by West and South by East and is noted in the Draught with the letter f. Nel-Hope alias Bugby's-Hole This Reach leadeth down from Layness to Hookness and lyeth N. W. and S. E. It is somewhat shoal off from Hookness wherein is not above two foot at low-water This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter g. Woolwich-Reach This Reach lyeth down from Bugby's-Hole to the lower end of Woolwich Town East by North and West by South On the North side is Ham-Creek a little to the southward of which lyeth a shoal called Woolwich-shelf Woolwich shelf whereon is not above two foot at low-water it lyeth one third of the Reach over from the Essex-shore In this Reach there is three fathom and a half water but below the Town deeper This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter h. Gallions-Reach This Reach lyeth from the lower end of Woolwich-Town almost to Barking-Creek and lyeth N. N. E. and S. S. W. On the West side thereof standeth a little House and some Trees called Gallions House and Trees right against them is good riding for Ships and at the lower end of this Reach is a Point called Maggot-Ness This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter i. Barking-shelf-Reach This Reach lyeth down from Maggot-Ness to Cross-Ness a little above Cross-Ness on the Kentish-shore stood one of the half-way Trees Half-way-Tree and the other opposite to it on the Essex-shore they bear that name because it is reputed to be half-way between London and Gravesend This Reach lyeth somewhat crooked going in with a Bight on the Kentish-side In this Reach is the greatest shoal in the River Barking-shelf called Barking-shelf from whence this Reach taketh its name which lies in the middle of the River Between the Shelf and Barking-Creek there is not above six foot at low-water but the best of the Channel is between the Shelf and the Kentish-shore it is narrow and there is but two fathom and two fathom and a half at low-water This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter k. Half-way-Tree Reach This Reach extendeth it self down from Cross-Ness to Gillion-Tree Gillion-Tree which stands on a Point of Land on the Kentish-shore almost against Raynham-Ferry it lyeth in two parts the westermost lyeth E. S. E. and W. N. W. and the other part East by South and West by North in this Reach is four fathom and four fathom and a half at low-water In most parts of this Reach off the Point where Gillion-Tree stands lyeth a shoal but not very dangerous there being about eight foot at low-water On the Essex-side lyeth out a Jetty to secure the Bank from the strength of the Tyde which setteth very much on that shore it is called Dagenham-Jetty Degeham-jetty A shelf between which and Cross-Ness on the Kentish-shore lyeth a small Shelf which is sometimes dry at low-water This Reach is exprest in the Draught with the letter l. Erith-Reach This Reach lyeth N. N. W. and S. S. E. and extendeth it self from Reynham down to a Point on the Essex-shore Gold-harbour called Cold-harbour In most part of this Reach there is about four fathom water but right against the Church is the best place for great Ships to come to an anchor because it is somewhat deeper This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter m. The Rands Is a short Reach extending it self from Cold-barbour to Crafford-ness which lyeth on the West side of Dart-ford-Creek bearing East by North and West by South Right against which Creek lyeth a shoal in the middle of the River called Rand-hill but not dangerous A shoal called Rand-hill This Reach
is noted in the Draught with the letter n. Long-Reach This Reach taketh its Name from its Nature being the longest Reach in the River and lyeth E. S. E. and W. N. W. and extendeth it self from Crafford-ness to Greenhith-Town On the North side between Pursleet and Sleepers-hole lyeth a shoal but not dangerous A shoal in the upper part of this Reach there is five fathom and a half at low-water and all down the North Reach there is seven fathom water This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter o. St. Clements-Reach This Reach lyeth in two parts first from Greenhith to St. Clements and lyeth N. N. E. and S. S. W. and from St. Clements to Grayes it lyeth East and West This Reach is the most dangerous in the whole River being very subject to foul weather by reason of its scituation especially with some Winds as a South-west and North-east wind which doth make very bad weather so that here are more Boats cast away than in all the Reaches in the whole River and by reason of the bad weather that annoys this Reach Fidlers-Reach it is called Fidlers-Reach because any little wind will raise the Waves and make the Boats dance At the lower end of this Reach a little above Grayes-Town Black-shelf lyeth a shoal called Black-shelf whereon Ships sometimes come aground taking no harm but sit upright This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter p. North-fleet-Hope This Reach leadeth from Grayes-Town down to North-fleet which is on the Kentish-shore and lyeth North-west by North and South-east by South there is about eight fathom water all along this Reach and is bold enough having no danger on any side This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter q. Gravesend-Reach This Reach lyeth East and West and extendeth it self from North-fleet below the Town of Gravesend to a place called the Piles Piles there is good riding on any part of this Reach The water riseth here three fathom and a half above the Town you will have eight and below six fathom This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter r. Lilbury-Hope This Reach lyeth North-east by North and South-West by South and extendeth it self from the Piles aforesaid down to Mucking-Creek which is on the North shore and Hope-ness alias Sands-head-Point on the South side Here is in most parts of this Reach five six and seven fathom at low-water Ships may conveniently ride in any part of it This Reach is noted in the Draught with the letter s A Description of the Sands Shoals Buoys Beacons and Sea-Marks on the Coast of England from Thames-Mouth to Flambrough-head Shewing their Bearings and Distances from the most Eminent Places on the Land with the Depths of Water on them as well as in the Channels between them Blyth-Sand THis Sand begins at the lower end of the Hope from Hope-ness alias Sands-head-point on the South side and runneth down below Hull-haven it lyeth E. N. E. the lower down the broader there is some distance between the eastermost end and the shore but the westermost end joyneth to the Land Those that turn either going up or down must come no nearer it than five fathom at low-water and seven fathom at high-water On the North side you will have five and six fathom at low-water This Sand is noted in the Draught with the letter a. Hole-Haven-Scarrs Hole-Haven-Scarrs is a dangerous shoal being very hard ground and joyning to the shore a little below Hole-Haven stretching off from the Land about two Cables length being very steep and having ten fathom close by it This and the lower end of Blyth-Sand makes the Channel more narrow than either above or below and causeth the Tyde to run very strong In Spring-Tydes it is dry at low-water This shoal is marked in the Draught with the letter b. The Chapman The Chapman is a shoal that lyeth about two miles below the Scarrs on the North side Chapman head The West end thereof joyns to the shore and is called the Chapman-head it lyeth down nearest from the Scarrs East is near half a mile in length and steep too having nine fathom close to it a good part of the East end thereof appeareth dry at low-water being hard strong and uneven ground having six fathom water close aboard of it The thwart mark for the East end of the Chapman is to bring Hadley Church and Hadley Castle both in one This Sand is noted in the Draught with the letter c. From hence runneth a shoal which reacheth below Canvey-Island High-Sand and is called High-sand Middle-Ground This Middle-Ground is a shoal that lyeth against Lee in the middle of the Channel and at low Tyde there is no more than 11 12 or 13 foot water and on each side about 4 or 4 fathom and a half The South side is the deepest it is about two miles in length and lyeth down East as the River doth Marks of the middle Ground The Mark for this Sand is to bring Lee Church on the East Point of the Marsh which is the East end of Canvey-Island then are you thwart of the shoalest part of it where you have but ten foot at low-water To avoid it you may go on either side thereof This Shelf is noted in the Draught with the letter d. The Nower and Buoy The Nower is a Sand that lyeth from part of the Isle of Grean and runs down nearest East two little miles on the East Point thereof lyeth a Buoy in twelve foot at low-water this Sand is broader in some places than in other by reason of some Swatches that are in it Marks of the Bouy and dries every low-water Minster-Church in the Isle of Sheppy bears South by East from the Buoy of the Nower and Shyrness West half southerly about three miles From the Buoy of the Nower to the Buoy of the Oaze-edge the course is East one quarter southerly near five miles This Sand and Buoy is marked in the Draught with the letter e. The Cant. The Cant is a great Flat that lies on the North side of Sheppy and joyns to the shore and begins a little to the eastward of Shyreness and so runs to the East end of the Island where the West end of the Red-sand and Spaniard joyns to it this shoal lyeth off from Sheppy in some places a mile in others two the more to the East the farther off by means of its joyning with the Red-sand There is no mark for this Sand only the depth of water being four five or six fathom so near the Ship may go the time of Tyde considered But from the lower part of the said Cant begins deep water close to it down to the Spile as 11 12 Spile or 13 fathom and is called Bradgate-hole Shooberry-Ness Shooberry-Ness is part of a great Flat that beginneth below Lee-Town and runneth down the River northerly to the North-east of Whitaker This Ness lyeth right
off a mile from the shore and falleth dry at low-water is steep too having ten fathom close to it To avoid this come no nearer it than eight fathom Thwart Marks of Shooberry Ness The thwart Marks of it Is to bring two high Trees a little open to the West of Shooberry-steeple which is a spire Steeple To go clear of Shooberry-flat Longst Marks keep the high Land of Lee open of the Land on the North-east of it and that will go in the best of the Channel Black-Tayl This is a part of the foresaid great Flat and lyeth below Shooberry-ness E.N.E. about four miles being steep too and having six seven and eight fathom above and below it but you must come no nearer it than 8 fathom The Warp The Warp is a shoal that lyeth in the Fair-way coming out of the Swin up the River beginning near to the Buoy of Oaze-edge and tayleth up as high as the Middle-ground of Lee upon it there is but four fathom at low-water On the North side there is eight and ten fathom and on the South side ten and eleven fathom This Sand is noted in the Draught with the letter f. The Shooe and Beacon The Shooe is also a part of the forementioned great Flat being very steep too The course from the Black-tayl to the Shooe and Beacon is North-east half easterly about four or five miles You must not come nearer the Beacon then nine or ten fathom and you may stand over towards the Mouse in ten fathom and so nearer From this Beacon to the Buoy of the Oaze-edge the course is South-west by South distant about four miles Between this Beacon and the Whitaker you may come in six fathom on the North-side and on the South-side near the Mouse in ten fathom In the Fair-way is seven eight or nine fathom The Shooe-beacon and Buoy of the Red-sand do bear North and South nearest one of the other betwixt five and six miles Middle-Ground and Buoy This Sand lyeth between Buxey-sand and the East-Barrows being about five miles in length and lyeth near North-east and South-west upon the South-west end is placed a Buoy which bears from the Shooe-beacon North-east by North two degrees easterly about five miles you may sayl from the Shooe being below it by your Lead towards the Whitaker in 6 6 fathom and a half and 7 and a half and on the Barrow side in 8 fathom and in the Fair-way is 9 or 10 fathom the Buoy at low-water lyeth in 18 foot And on this Sand at low-water is 4 5 and 6 foot water The Middle-Middle-Ground This is a small Shoal that lyeth W.N.W. half a mile from the Buoy of the Middle-ground and extends it self a little below the Whitaker-beacon on this Sand there is no more then 14 foot at low-water To avoid it you must keep within two Cables length of the Buoy of the Middle-ground At the North end of this shoal there is 5 or 6 fathom water This is noted in the Draught with the letter g. The Whitaker and Beacon The Whitaker is also a part of the forementioned great Flat and is the North-east Point thereof on which standeth a Beacon from whence runs off a tayl of the foresaid Flat a little to the northward of the Beacon To avoid which come no nearer then seven fathom betwixt this and the S. W. end of the Buxey goeth in a small Channel up towards Foul-ness called North-fletch useful only for small Vessels From Whitaker to the Buoy of the Buxey you may sayl in 6 or 7 fathom and towards the Middle-Ground in 8 fathom in the Fair-way there is 7 fathom and on this tayl there is but two fathom at low-water The Burey and Buoy The Buxey is a Sand that lyeth on the North side of Whitaker and stretcheth it self South-west and North-east falling dry at low-water At the North end thereof lyeth a Buoy betwixt this Buoy and the South-west end of the Gunfleet goeth in a Channel called the Spits where there is but six and seven foot at low-water being a quarter of a mile broad Marks for the Spits The Mark for it is a flat Steeple called great Holland bring it into a small Swamp or Gaul in a red Cliff then doth the Church bear North half westerly then steer in North-west till your water deepen then bear down toward the Naze according to your Wind the neerer the Gunfleet the deeper the Water is as you sayl you shall have 5 6 7 and 8 fathom water The Gunfleet and Buoy The Gunfleet is a long Sand by judgment eight or nine miles and hath in it some small Swatches the South-west end of it and the North-east end is flat and good shoaling but on either side steep in some parts of it more than other You may sayl alongst it on the South side from the South-west end downwards in seven fathom till you come within a large mile of the Buoy come no nearer then nine fathom Here lyeth a Hook E.S.E. off from the Sand a long Cables length A Hook on the South-east side of which goeth a small Swatch quite through the Sand to the North-west which causeth the Tyde to set in there so that when Vessels pass near it if not careful in time it draweth them into the Swatch or upon the Hook to avoid which come no nearer this part of the Sand then ten fathom From this Hook to the North-east end this Sand is very steep too but at the end flat as aforesaid This Sand lyeth North-east and South-west a good part of it dryeth in some parts half a mile and other parts one third of a mile broad and if you stand from this Sand to the Heaps come no nearer them than ten fathom in the middle of the Channel is eight fathom The Buoy of the Gunfleet lyeth from the Naze South-east by East four miles The Heaps The Heaps are several Banks of Sand as it were By some called the Hurdles joyning to the North-east end of the Middle-Ground E.N.E. and W.S.W. on which at low-water is but seven foot and very steep too and runs down about three miles the North-east end thereof doth bear from the Naze South by East half easterly The Channel betwixt them and the Gunfleet is four miles broad in turning up or down come no nearer them then ten fathom Some of these Heaps do dry on Spring-Tydes These are noted in the Draught with the letter b. The Andrews The Andrews is a narrow Point of small stones that lie out from Landguard Point near half a mile and dryeth at low-water On the South-west side of this Spit lyeth several heaps of small stones that also dry at Spring-tydes but when you have the two Light-houses in one sayling so it directeth you free of them and as you sayl out of Harwich to the northwards when you have brought Bawdsey Steeple open of the Land to the South of Bawdsey then are you clear of the Andrews and may
Marget-sand there is two fathom and on the North-side 7 8 and 9 fathom Marget-Sand The East end of Marget-sand lyeth before Marget and Westgate-bay and up till you are thwart the Reculvers And by reason of some Swatches that are in it it is divided into more names the Searn the Woolpack The East end of this Sand beareth from Marget-Church North half West four miles distance and as it runs up to the westwards so it grows nearer the shore Marks for the East end The Marks for the East end is to bring Marget-steeple and the Mill in one The Depths you have along this Sand as you turn up or down are at the East end and so upward 9 8 7 6 5 fathom On the North side of this Sand a quarter of a mile off lyeth another Sand called the Wedge The Wedg which runs down alongst by it and a Channel of 4 3 2 1 fathom water at the lower end it joyns with the other Sand At the East end the most part of this Sand dries at low-water The Colborn The Colborn is a Shoal that lyeth to the northwards of White-dike and a little to the southwards of Broad-stairs-Peer which sometimes ebbs dry it lies a large half mile off the Shore and there is nine foot water between it and the shore The Mark for a small Ship to avoid it Is to keep the top of St. Peters-steeple open over the Land This Shoal is noted in the Draught with the Letter u. The White-Dike The White-dike is a Shoal that runs off from the shore a large half mile and lies half a mile to the northwards of Ramsgate all the inner part of it dries every Ebb and on the outer part it is two foot at low-water and at sometimes there is but eight or nine foot in the Channel betwixt this and the Querns Inner Channel This Shoal is noted in the Draught with the letter t. The Querns The Querns is a small shoal that lyeth W.N.W. from the Brake The Inner Channel between them both is a Channel for good Ships at high-water it is a mile broad only at the South end there lies a small Middle-ground near to the Brake on which there is but seven foot at low-water The longst Mark for this Middle-ground Longst Mark. Is to bring St. Margets-Church near the South-Fereland a Ships length open to the southwards of Deal-Castle The thwart Mark Thwart Mark Is to bring Winsborough-steeple a Ships length open to the northwards of Sandwich-steeple then are you to the northward of this Middle-ground The leading Mark through this Channel Leading Mark. Is to bring St. Margets-Church in the middle between Wamor and Deal-Castle the Middle-ground excepted for when you come near that you must keep the Church as aforesaid Or you may turn the Church from the middle between Deal and Wamor-Castle If you bring the Church more than half over towards Wamor-Castle you will be near the Brake if not on it The Mark for the North-end of the Querns Is to bring St. Lawrence-steeple a Ships length to the Southward of the Cliff For the South-end Bring the Mill near Ramsgate to the northward of Ramsgate-Peer Depths in this Channel at low-water are two and a half three and a half and four fathom the nearer the Brake the deeper This Sand is noted in the Draught with the letter s The Brake The Brake is a Sand that lyeth to the westwards of the North part of the Goodwin between this and the Goodwin is the Channel for great Ships to pass the North end of it is the narrowest and most steep too and dries most at low-water The Mark for the North end Is to bring St. Lawrence-steeple on the South end of the Cliff to the northward of Ramsgate-Peer This Sand lyeth N.N.E. and S.S.W. The Mark for the South end Is to bring Ash-steeple open a hand-spikes length to the South of Sandwich-steeple then are you clear to the southward of the South end or else the Wind-mill on the Cliff at the S. E. end of the Town of Ramsgate The Depths in this Channel are 7 8 9 10 11 and 12 fathom The Mark to lead through to the northwards of the Cliff of the South-Foreland Point or else Marget-Church on the third Cliff from the Foreland northward to te northward of the Bunt-bead The Goodwin is not so steep too but you may come there in 8 fathom and to the Brake in 6 and 7 fathom according to the time of Tyde This Sand is about two miles long and a quarter of a mile broad The Goodwin The Goodwin is a Sand that lyeth before the Downs and is from the shore in some parts four miles and in some five the southern half lies S.S.W. and N.N.E. rounding towards the South-Foreland the northern part of it lies North and South rounding to the East side and is in most places steep too at the North end there is indifferent good shoaling The Sand by storms and strong Tydes alters every year is very broad and dries a great part of it but most to the North end The Marks for to go clear of the North-sand-head Marks for the North-sand-head Is to bring St. Peters-steeple on Broad-stairs-Peer this Mark will direct you by it in 5 and 6 fathom according to the Tyde and in the Night the Light on the North-Foreland N. W. half West The Mark for the South-sand-head Marks for the South-sand-head Is the steeple of Ring-joul on the Village called Kings-down or the light-Houses on the South-foreland together From this Sand spits out against the Brake a Sand called the Bunt-head Bunthead which is very steep too having 11 sathom close to it The North end lyeth off Broad-stairs about six miles and the South end about 3 miles off the shore If you coming from the West do keep folkston-Folkston-Land open of dover-Dover-Land it will carry you without the South-sand-head The Fatts The Falls is a long narrow Sand that lies South by West from the Galloper about 12 miles it is 15 miles in length and lyeth South by West and North by East The South end lies about 7 miles without the Goodwin-sand and bears from the Light-house on the South-fore-land E. N. E. about 13 miles The North end bears from St. Peters Church on the North-foreland E. N. E. about 16 miles the South end is shoalest where there is but 20 and 21 foot at low-water This end hath a broad round flat Head like the Galloper where the Tyde doth ripple and whelm very much close to it there is 20 fathom some say they have been on it in 15 foot water on the North part of it 4 4 and a half 5 and 5 fathom and a half Whether it alters or not we cannot learn of any the ground is gross Gravel and the Soundings about it are very uneven a mile within and without the North end there is 27 fathom it is steep too on both sides The
fathom water because it is narrow and so the shoaling of the Middle-ground doth continue till you come down as low as the Buoy of the Spits Buoy of the Spits The Channel begins to be broader and if the Wind be so that you must turn be sure to keep hold of the Gunfleet Gunfleet but if the wind be fair that you may lead it run down in the shoaling of the Gunfleet till you bring the Naze N. N. W. and then go thence North-east by East also that it will lead you clear of the Sonk and go still that course till you have brought the Naze-land W. N. W. or West by North. The Sonk doth lie from the Naze North-east and South-west so that if you bring the Naze-land to lie West by North you may be bold to go a more easterly course until you come to 16 or 18 fathom for 14 or 15 fathom will go hard by the Kentish-Knock Note also that you may see the Trees over the Naze when you cannot see the Naze The Kentish-Knock doth lie from the Long-sand-head Kentish-Knock Long-sand-head three or four miles E. S. E. And when you have the aforesaid sixteen fathom then you may judge the naze-Naze-Land to be W. N. W. or West by North then go thence S. S. W. upon an Ebb and upon a flood South or S.S.E. as the Wind is or the weakness of the Tyde so must you work and that will carry you clear with the North-Foreland and if you go about the North-sand-head or about all or the Goodwin then you must keep more easterly and note North-sand-head that the North-sand-head and the Long-sand-head lyeth South and North and the Kentish-Knock lyeth from the North-foreland North by East and South by West there is nothing between Marget-sand and the North-foreland and therefore you need not fear And as I said before to go about the Goodwin run off till you come to 26 or 30 fathom for 18 or 20 fathom goeth near the Sand and so run in this depth until you have brought the Land of Dover open of the South-foreland then you may be bold to hale in with the Foreland there is nothing between the Goodwin and Marget-sand or North-foreland to fear To sayl unto Cowen and Malden-Water When you are at the Buoy of the Spits Spits your course is W. N. W. in 4 or 5 fathom as the Wind serves for the Ebb setteth upon a Shoal that lyeth to the Eastward called the Eagle Eagle and the Tyde of Flood setteth on a Shoal called the Knowl and is to the westward of your going in and you may run down to the southward borrowing in five fathom upon the Main until you bring Banbury-land which is the high Land that lies above Malden a Sayls breadth open with Bradwell-point which Mark will bring you between the Eagle and the Knowl and run with these marks until you bring a steeple that stands on the North-shore open of the red Cliffs end and so run with these marks open and shut North up Marzey-Block-House until you come to Marzey-Block-house and there you may come to an anchor in six or seven fathom water Directions to sayl into Harwich coming from the southwards If you come from the southward keep Harwich-steeple open a good Birth off the Cliff-end and on the North end keep Farberry-Clifts open of the Beach on the East side and so you may go in bearing close by the Beach for fear of the Altar Altar which lies within a Cables length of the Beach and so you may go along clear keeping by the Beach till you come to the Wore-bore-head and then you may steer up with Ipswich-water and anchor with Harwich S. S. W. in five or six fathom water and the higher up the better ground till you bring the Town South of you Other Directions for Harwich coming from the Northwards When you come from the northward and are shot past the Whiting as far as Bawdsey-Cliff keep Orford-Church and Castle open of the Cliff and that will carry you clear of the Andrews and then when you see the Light-houses bring them one into another and get into four or five fathom water or somewhat more towards high-water then run in about by the Point The Channel lyeth in due North but in the midst of the Havens lyeth a sunken Rock called the Altar which you must avoid by sayling on either side by one Shore or the other but along by the East-shore is best being within it you cannot sayl amiss or take hurt except you run against the shore There you may anchor all over where you please before the Town in 4 5 6 or 7 fathom-water or you may go further into the Bight for it is every where clean Other directions to sayl into Harwich The Mark in this Channel to sayl into Harwich is to keep the top of Harwich-steeple half way betwixt the Fire-beacon on Harwich and the North end of the Cliff or the lower Light-house a little open of the North end of Harwich-Cliff and so sayl in N. N. W. keeping those marks so till you come within half a mile of Harwich-Cliff then bear to the North-eastwards so far till you bring the body of the Church open to the northwards of the Cliff then edge toward Land-guard-Fort till you bring both the Light-houses in one then run in with them so till you see your self within the South Point of the Andrews which you shall know by having Bawdsey-Church open and shut on the Land to the Southwards of Bawdsey or if there be any Sea or half-tyde the Andrews is plain to be seen then you must edge near to the Beach where the Fort stands to shun the Altar another Shoal that lyeth directly against the Fort. To sayl out of Harwich In the North-Channel you may sayl out as is before described in the going in till you come without the Fort then bring the two Light-houses into one and so sayl out till you bring the steeple open of the Land to the southward of Bawdsey-Cliff then are you clear of the Andrews and Ridge then steer North-east by East until you bring Harwich-Church on the North side of a black House called the Brew-house which stands a little to the northward of Land-guard-Fort keeping them Marks so standing until you bring Bawdsey-Church open a little to the northward of the North end of Bawdsey-Cliff then are you open of the Sledway Between Alborough and Dunwich half way lyeth a Wood which is high at both ends and the midst low in form of a Saddle this you shall commonly see first when you fall with the Land thereabouts and is the best to know the Coast by for the Land without and to the southwards is very low and shingly ground about two leagues to the southward of Alborough lyeth Orfordness between them both there standeth two Woods which sheweth at a distance like Castles and Towers on Orfordness standeth a flat steeple
and a broad Castle which hath also a thick flat steeple almost in fashion like the steeple of Ranop open above with Holes in it like Bell-holes before Dunwich you may anchor there is good lying in eight or nine fathom water somewhat soft ground Before Alborough is the best Road of all the Coast thereabouts in six or seven fathom To know Bawdsey Oasly and Alterton Churches Bawdsey-Church is the highest and biggest steeple being flat at top as the others are it stands to the southwards of all the rest a mile from the Shore Oasly-Church hath a flat large steeple but is lower than the other two and stands a mile to the northwards of Bawdsey-steeple three quarters of a mile from the Sea Alterton-steeple stands to the northwards of Oasly-Church a mile and a half it is a very high square steeple but much smaller than the other two and stands about a mile from the Sea Some say that Oasly-Church is the northermost of the three and if you keep Alterton-Church the middle of the three open to the northward of Bawdsey-Church a sayls breadth you may run out clear of the West-Rocks To sayl out of the Sledway to the North-Foreland First Bring the North end of Bawdsey-Cliff North-West from you then shall you see a flat steeple right with a Cliff which you must keep on or a little open of the Cliff-end until you bring Beamont-Tree on the naze-Naze-land W. N. W. and then you may steer South-East or South-east by South if the Wind serves having not less water than seven or eight fathom and when you have laid the Netherland to water you may sound for the Kentish-Knock and come no nearer it thau eight or nine fathom as the Wind and Tyde serves and being about the Knock you may go S. S. W. as you see occasion To sayl out at the back-side of the Gunfleet If you will sayl out at the back-side of the Gunfleet being in the Sleds in seven fathom borrow on the West-Rocks in four or five fathom steering S. S. W. or South-west by West but go not to the southwards of five fathoms till you be over the tayl of the Rocks and when you are over the Rocks you shall have 7 or 8 fathom but go not without 8 fathom on the West side and borrow on the Gunfleet in 6 or 7 fathom going S. W. by South or S. W. till you come up to the Spits or as you see occasion To sayl by the Naze to the Northwards From the Eagle to the Naze you may borrow to the shore and the course is N. E. by North or N. N. E. To go by the Naze you must bring Harwich-steeple unto the East part of the Saddle in the Cliff-end be sure you shut not St. Hellen into the Naze before you bring the Steeple into the Saddle and so you may steer with the Steeple until you bring the Dove-house with the Naze or the Naze-end unto a Tree on the lower end of the Hedge-row that is to the southward of the House and being in one then may you have your other marks and steer to the eastward keeping the House and Tree in one and more to the southward of the Hedge-row in the lower end of the Field a stones cast from the Hedge is a lively Tree or great Bush which you may bring into a Tree between two high Trees that are to the southward of the House and these marks you may keep in one steering North-east by North keeping Harwich-steeple open of the East end of the Cliff and then you may bear in with the Harbour but the best water is when the Steeple is on the Hommock between the Beacon and the Cliff and so steer to the northwards as you please To sayl clear of Alborough-Knapes East from Alborough two leagues lyeth Alborough-Knapes which is a Sand that at low-water is not deeper than seven or eight foot you may sound round about it in five fathom but it is not good to come nearer with Sea-winds you may discern it plainly by the breaking of the Sea but with northerly and westerly winds the Sea breaks not at all upon it if it be fair weather he that runneth by it to the northwards with an Ebb shall see it ripple much upon it likewise upon most of the English Banks and indeed not upon the Banks but against them for upon the shoalest of them is alwayes the smoothest water as experience teacheth every where When-as Alborough is West from you and the two Steeples of Orfordness one in the other there you shall find Alborough-Knapes These are sure marks of that Sand. To sayl to the westward of the Whiting-Sand The Whiting is somewhat a small long Sand lying to the southward of Orfordness and the shingly ground to the southward of Alborough lyeth alongst the Reach but the South end lyeth further from Land than the North end there is not above six or seven foot water upon it at low-water Coming from the northward men most commonly sayl to the westward of it that is through between the Land and the Whiting towards the Naze Men may also sayl along to the eastward of it through between the Whiting and the eastermost points of Bawdsey-sand the North end of the Whiting lyeth near the Shore and lyeth from the Steeple of Orfordness S. W. by South it is so exceeding steep and sharp that at one cast you have 9 fathom and the next but five and then you are but a Ships length from it and before you can heave the Lead again you shall be upon it when you sit with the Fore-ship against it you have 5 or 6 fathom at Stern Alongst the inward side it is also every where so steep that you cannot sound it but on the out-side you may run alongst by it in 5 fathom till you come within the Sands When you come from the northwards and will sayl through within the Whiting you must run close alongst by the Shore and South-west about by the Point of the Shingle to the southward of Alborough until you come within the North Point of the Whiting When the Steeples of Orfordness come to the N. W. by North from you then you are right thwart of the North Point of the Whiting being within it go again more southerly viz. S. W. by South towards Barzey-Cliff To run in to the Eastward of the Whiting Bring the Steeple of Bawdsey W. S. W. from you and so sayl in right with it until you come by the Whiting in 5 or 6 fathom and lead it in so by it upon the Lead until you come by Bawdsey or can get deeper water When you come near Bawdsey whether you come in from the northward or southward of the Whiting you must keep somewhat off from the Shore because of a small tayl that shooteth off from the Shore thwart of Bawdsey-Cliff which you must avord with Ships of great draught for there remaineth upon it at low-water no more than two fathom
of the Cockle Cockle borrowing upon the Main in 6 5 or 4 fathom until you come thwart of Winterton and that depth will lead you until you come within the Middle-ground that hath not above twelve foot water And when you have brought Winterton Light-houses S. S. W. from you you may steer out N. N. E. until you come to 8 or 9 fathom water and then you may be sure you are without the Ness and may steer alongst the Coast or direct your course as you have the Wind. But if you be in Yarmouth-Road with a Ship that draweth 17 or 18 foot water your best course is to go to the Northward between the Cockle and Scroby Marks of the Channel are as follows You must bring the Southermost round Tower of Yarmouth to bear with the two Southermost Windmills To sayl between the Cockle Scroby and so run until you bring the said Tower open of the Mills the breadth of the Tower and so steer into the Northward with that Mark which will carry you out between the two Sands Also there is another nearer Mark which is therefore better but they come all to one which is The Wind-mill which stands on the North-west part of the Town a little Sayls breadth to the Westward of the North-west Tower of Yarmouth it sheweth like unto a Dove-house this Mark will lead to the Northwards and you shall not have less than six or seven fathom until you come to the Sea-heads which is a Shoal that lyeth thwart between the two Sands on which there is not above four fathom or four fathom and a half at low-water and when the Wind-mills come one upon another then you enter upon the South part of the Shoal which will continue without deepning or shoaling until Winterton-Church and the Light-house be one in the other and then you may presently come into deeper water and may steer away unto the Northward N. W. or N. W. by West or N. W. by North and this course shall carry you clear within the Rock that lyeth E. N. E. and W. S. W. from Winterton on which you shall not find fifteen foot at low-water in some places If you be coming from the Northward and would go into this Channel follow this direction To the North-west of Haseborough you shall see a low flat Church keep that a Sayls breadth off Haseborough-Cliff and steering directly with this Mark will bring you into the Channel before mentioned Yarmouth-Road To bring you into Yarmouth-Road and to know the right Church when it is open and shut of the Cliff of Haseborough is this When Haseborough-Church doth bear N. W. by West from you and steering away S. E. by East will bring you into the Marks and Channel aforesaid and within all the Over-falls that lie short of Wintertonness From Winterton to Haseborough-Point the course is N. W. three leagues From Haseborough to Cromor the Coast lyeth N. W. and West by North and W. N. W. 3 or 4 leagues Directions for sayling from the Buoy of the Nower over the Flats and through the Narrow into the Downs From the Buoy of the Nower to the Buoy of the Oaze-edge the course is East one quarter Northerly and West one quarter Southerly distant about five miles betwixt the Buoy of the Oaze-edge and the Buoy of the Red-sand lyeth a round Shoal called the Spile Spile and bears South from the Buoy of the Oaze-edge on which shoal there is but six foot at low-water the Buoy of the Red-sand bears from the Buoy of the Oaze-edge East half Northerly and West half southerly four miles If the weather be clear you may have a direct longst Mark that will lead you down directly between the Oaze-edge and the Red-sand viz. you will see a round Tree on the Island Grean A mark to go between the Buoys keep that Tree in the Valley between the little Hills that are upon the High-lands next to the Westermost end of the Isle of Grean and this Mark so kept will lead you down The eastermost part of the Red-sand lyeth out with two Tongues Red-sand on the northermost of which is placed the Buoy The Marks for the Buoy of the Red-sand from the Land is to bring the Lands-end of Sheppy S. W. and St. Nicholas-Wood in the Gore open of the Reculvers South-east the Channel goeth in betwixt the Oaze-edge and the Red-sand The depth between them is 10 and 11 fathom From the Buoy of the Red-sand to the Buoys of the Spell and Woolpack the course is N. W. by West one quarter northerly and S. E. by South one quarter southerly over the Flats where you will have at low-water on this course 10 foot and in somes Holes 15 or 16 foot water About a quarter of a mile S. E. by South from the East end of the Spaniard lyeth the Gilman Gilman which falls dry at Spring-tydes but if you keep the aforesaid course you will not come near it The Buoy of the Woolpack is the westermost Buoy in the Narrow Woolpack on the North side of the Channel and lyeth on the West Spit of the Woolpack-sand and bears from the Reculvers-steeple North by West then have you two little Hills like two Paps on the upper Land to the southwards just open and shut of the Reculvers-Steeple The Buoy of the Spell lyeth on the South side of the Channel Spell a little to the Eastward of the Buoy of the Woolpack betwixt these Buoys the Channel is a Cables length and a half broad and but nine foot deep at low-water The Buoy of the Searn is the eastermost Buoy that lyeth on the North side of the Channel Searn the Steeple of the Reculvers bearing from the said Buoy South by West then have you a Wind-mill a little open of the Channel of Reculvers-Church The course upwards from this Buoy through the Narrow is W. N. W. and downwards it is E. S. E. The longst Mark on the shore is to bring Birchington-Church right over a Gaul or black Hole in the Western part of the Cliff-end On the North side of a Channel a little below the Buoy of the Searn Hook of Margaret-Sand shooteth out a Shoal from Margaret-Sand S. E. called the Hook it runneth so far to the southwards that it maketh the Channel very narrow The thwart Marks for this Sand is to bring Birchington-Steeple into a great Dauk or Valley of a Cliff then the Steeple will bear from you South-east five degrees southerly the longst Mark is to bring St. Peters Church upon the West end of the Cliff The longst Mark to carry you clear of the Hook to the Buoy of the Searn is to bring St. Peters-Steeple over the East side or Cliff of Westgate-bay You must keep them so till you bring Birchington-Steeple over the Gaul when you take hold of that Mark to go through a little above the Hook on the South side of the Channel A little below the