Description

The shrouds and stays would have been served to protect them from chafing and moisture. Witsen (Hoving, 2012, p. 117) states that before serving, “the rope had to be wormed and parcelled”, no evidence of parcelling can be seen on any of the Swash samples but one piece of the rigging had worming, as well as the breaching line from the gun.

Several pieces of cordage have been interpreted as belonging to the shrouds or the stays. These lines were approximately 52-58mm diameter (6½ – 7¼ inch in circumference).

SCW520 consisted of three served 56-58mm diameter (7 –7 ¼ inch circumference), with c.75 yarns to a strand. The material used for serving is S laid, 3 strand stuff, about 4-5mm diameter, each of its strands is a single Z laid yarn.