Mizen lifts, 16th century
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First we have to differentiate between the lateen sails of the Mediterranean which were often the only sails rigged, and the mizen lateen sails of ships which were otherwise square-rigged.
The Parral
The parral was fitted with two rows of trucks, and on square-rigged ships with ribs also; ribs were not used in the Mediterranean. It was not attached directly to the yard, but instead enclosed the halyard. If it reeved through a block, then it ended in a purchase at the foot of the mast; if it reeved through a two-hole deadeye, the purchase was- in many cases belayed to the yard.
The jeers
In the Mediterranean the jeers generally reeved through a sheave at the masthead. On square-rigged ships the jeers frequently reeved through blocks, which were attached to the crosstrees. The jeers were attached to a halyard, which reeved through blocks or through a kevel block.
The lift
The lift was only carried on square-rigged ships. It was attached to the peak of the yard with a more or less complex arrangement of crowsfeet, ran to the mizen topmast and/or the mainmast, and ended at the deck with a purchase.
The toggles
Almost all ropes, including the shrouds, were fitted with toggles in the Mediterranean, which facilitated rapid connection and disconnection of the ropes.
The tack tackles
The two tack tackles braced round the foot. On square-rigged ships they were attached to the aftermost main shrouds, and in the Mediterranean to the bulwarks. They reeved through blocks at the foot of the yard and belayed to belaying pins or cleats. In the Mediterranean a third tack tackle was often fitted in the centre.
The vangs
In the Mediterranean a pair of vangs was fixed to the upper third of the gaff, which were intended to prevent it bending, as they were often very long. In this case the weather vang was set up taut, and the lee vang left slack.
The sheet
Lateen sails were only fitted with one sheet. Its lower block was fixed to the ensign staff knee, to a ring bolt on deck, or to the outrigger while the sheet itself was belayed to a cleat.
The leech lines
The widest imaginable variety of leech lines was carried, sometimes in addition to brails, as shown in the drawings on the right.
The tack
If a bonnet was carried (never in the Mediterranean!) its forward end was held by a tack, similar in form to the sheet.
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