The Emperor’s ships, were all of gold; but the merchants’ and skippers’, of leather; the golden ships were not much heavier than ours of wood, by reason they were neatly made, and required not such thickness, neither were they troubled with pitch, tar, pumps, guns, and the like, which make our wooden-ships very heavy; for though they were not all of a piece, yet they were so well soldered, that there was no fear of leaks, chinks, or clefts; and as for guns, there was no use of them, because they had no other enemies but the winds: But the leather ships were not altogether so sure, although much lighter; besides, they were pitched to keep out water.