Manor Place, South Lambeth.
_Quarter Waggoner_ (Vol. v., p. 11.).--As the editor, in the exercise of
his official functions, may class this scrap with the _Replies_, it
cannot be amiss to state that I offer its contents as mere conjectures.
In the _Sea grammar_ of captain John Smith, which was published in 1627,
we have a list of books adapted to the use of those who would _learn to
observe the altitude_, to _prick_ their _card_, or _say_ their
_compass_. It is as follows:
"Master _Wrights_ Errours of nauigation. Master _Tapps_ Sea-mans
kalender. The art of nauigation. The sea regiment. The sea-mans
secret. _Waggoner_. Master _Gunters_ workes. The sea-mans glasse
for the scale. The new attracter for variation. Master _Wright_
for vse of the globe. Master _Hewes_ for the same."
It thus appears that _Waggoner_ was either the title of a book, or the
name of an author; and we may infer, from the absence of particulars,
that it was quite familiar to the seamen of that period--as much so as
_Charles'-wain_. May it not indicate Lucas Jansz _Wagenaer_ of
Enchuisen, author of the _Spieghel der zeevaerdt_, or mirror of
navigation, published at Leyden in 1585. The _Spieghel_ became a
standard work; and a translation of it by Anthony Ashley was printed at
London, with a dedication to sir Christopher Hatton, about the year
1588. Mr. Joseph Ames, who gives the title of this translation,
observes: "Perhaps the sailors from this book call their sea charts
_Wagenars_." He was the son of a merchant-captain, and passed his life
as a ship chandler in Wapping: I need not search for a better witness.
With regard to the word _Quarter_, it seems to be an abbreviation of
quarter-deck; and if so, _Quarter Waggoner_ would mean the quarter-deck
charts, or the charts which were supplied to the commander of a ship for
the use of himself and the other officers.