This was initially a translation of Spieghel der Zeevaerd published by Waghenaer. For some time they were known as ‘Waggoners“. the Shoe and Whittaker beacons are shown. Bawdsey Haven is not. Shoebury to St Peters is interesting.
The inset table shows English Leagues to be 3 Nautical Miles as opposed to the Dutch four.
1588 Mariners Mirrour text includes backstaff instructions etc., Thames Estuary part is here.
But if you will backe againe alongest the North coast out into the Sea, shunne Blactaeil poynt before the middle shoald, afterwards plie Northeast, and northeast and by north vntill you haue brought a certaine Sharpe steeple in the middest betweene two others. The great spire steeple is called S. Mat∣thevves Abbey. By these markes you may passe thorough the Spittes, within halfe a cables length off the shoare: then hold on alongest the shoare Northeast vnto the Nase, where two trees stand vpon a high hill: & when they are both in one, cond North Northwest, by the markes of Harvvich, vntill you come before the hauen: And from thence holde on northeast & by North to Orfordnesse, and so North Eastward into the sea. But when you shall be come to the Spittes, and the Beacon standing vpon the shoaldes of Shovv beare west Southwest. You are then in the Kings channel which lieth to the seaward North northeast, where at low water you haue 4. fatham.
Extract Harwich area
| From the west | |
| But if you will backe againe alongest the North coast out into the Sea, shunne Blactaeil poynt before the middle shoald, afterwards plie Northeast, and northeast and by north vntill you haue brought a certaine Sharpe steeple in the middest betweene two others. The great spire steeple is called S. Mat∣thevves Abbey. By these markes you may passe thorough the Spittes, within halfe a cables length off the shoare: | Swin Spitway |
| then hold on alongest the shoare Northeast vnto the Nase, where two trees stand vpon a high hill: & when they are both in one, cond North Northwest, by the markes of Harvvich, vntill you come before the hauen: And from thence holde on northeast & by North to Orfordnesse, and so North Eastward into the sea. | Naze |
| But when you shall be come to the Spittes, and the Beacon standing vpon the shoaldes of Shovv beare west Southwest. You are then in the Kings channel which lieth to the seaward North northeast, where at low water you haue 4. fatham. | Beacon on Shoals of Shovv? – Whittaker fits |
| If you will beare in with Harvvich, set the broad tower standing westward of Harvvich in the wood, Southward of Harvvich, and enter northwest and by north, and north northwest, vntill you are cleare of the fishers stakes. Then turne in westward or northward as you please, and anker in 6. or 7. fatham. | Tower W of Harwich, Wood S of Harwich. Harwich Church is a spire but may have changed – roughly right anyway. |
| About halfe a league from the northend of the red cliffe lieth the shoald of Bavvdsey. | Half a league = about 1.5 nM Cutler fits better than Bawdsey Bank |
| If you will enter neare Orfordnesse, hale along the shoare vntill Alborough lie north and by west from you, and then shall you be on the west side of VVhite Sand, and right against Orfordnesse hauen. From thence setting South and by west, passe by the shoald of Bavvdsey on the out-side: then hold on Southwest-ward, till you may see Har∣vvich open of the poynt of the hauen. Then commeth Bavvdsey to lie westward of the red cliffe: where is safe roade in 5. fatham. west northwest of Alborough lieth a shoalde called Abreknocke: from thence you haue vnto Galper 8. leagues South Southeast: | Whiting Bank. |
| And from Galper to the North foreland 4. leagues Southwest and by South, where the tide from the north and South doe crosse each other alongst the coasts of England, where also a north and a South moone maketh full sea. | When Moon is on the Meridian it’s Full & Change |
| In these coastes is very great traffique, but chiefely of English clothes, wooll, tinne, pewter, leade, safron, sea-coles, fire-wood, and other commodities, which these countries doe yeeld. Contrariwise all kinde of salt-fish, and great store of linnencloth, and other mer∣chaundises is brought thither from Holland, and Zealand, and there vttered and distributed. | |