Chapter X: Introduction: 1.--The Shipwrights (7)

The 11th day I was sent for from Chatham by a messenger, to attend the Lord Admiral, lying then at Chelsea; which accordingly I presently performed and rode to London, where I stayed full three days, the Lord Admiral sitting every of those in council, attended by the Principal Officers of the Navy, the Masters and Master Shipwrights, to resolve not only for the preparation of the fleet to attend the transportation, but also for preparing many vessels, to be built upon long boats and barges, for ships and galleys for a sea-fight to be presented before Whitehall against the marriage of the Lady Elizabeth; the manner whereof concluded and ordered in writing, I was licensed to go to Chatham, to take order for the Disdain and sending up of as many long boats and sea barges as could be spared from the Navy; which having ordered, I returned again presently to London, and did there attend daily in overseeing these businesses, which were put out by the great[401] to divers yardkeepers,[402] by reason of the shortness of time limited for making them ready against the marriage. By reason of this my continual attendance, not only upon that service but also upon the Admiral and Sir Robert Mansell (principally entrusted for the ordering of the whole service), I first took a lodging at Westminster, near Sir Robert's house, in St. Stephen's Alley,[403] which I continued many years after. Amongst other vessels fitted for this piece of service was an old pinnace of the King's called the Spy, of the burden of 60 tons, having 9 pieces of brass ordnance, appointed to serve as an Argosy, whereof I was (somewhat against my will, by the Lord Admiral's persuasion) made to serve as a Captain, in which jesting business I ran more danger than if it had been a sea service in good earnest.

After the sea fight was performed, I was entreated by divers gentlemen of the Inns of Court, whereof Sir Francis Bacon was chief, to attend the bringing of a mask by water in the night from St. Mary Overy's[404] to Whitehall in some of the galleys, but, the tide falling out very contrary, and the company attending the maskers very unruly, the project could not be performed so exactly as was purposed and expected, but yet they were safely landed at the Privy Stairs at Whitehall; for which my pains the gentlemen gave me a fair recompense.

The marriage consummate and these royalties ended, the Lord Admiral gave me a present despatch to post to Chatham, to make all possible haste for to make ready the fleet, the Prince being appointed to go Admiral,[405] and to transport the Lady and the Palsgrave's[406] person and the Lord Admiral to command her. So that upon the 21st day of February I took my journey from London to Chatham, and about the middle of the week ensuing I caused the Anne Royal and the Lion to be brought on the ground and graved.

On the 27th of this month I launched the small ship I had begun to build the summer before, which the Lord Admiral was pleased to call by the name of the Phœnix, and was also appointed to be one of [the] Fleet for the transportation, being commanded by Sir Allen Apsley, then Victualler of the Navy.

The 5th and 6th days of March I careened the Prince, and might with much ease have brought her keel above the water but that I received a strict commandment from the Lord High Admiral that I should not careen her but within six strakes[407] of the keel, to which purpose Mr. Thomas Aylesbury,[408] then his Lordship's secretary, was sent down to see me perform it.

About the 14th of this month the Lord Admiral, very careful to have all things ordered as befitted the royalty of such a service, came down to Chatham in person, where he stayed two days to direct all things according to his liking; wherein I gave his Lordship much satisfaction, and by the end of this month I had by my care and diligence fitted the whole Fleet to set sail to Gillingham.

The 1st of April, being Maundy Thursday, the Prince set sail over the chain,[409] Captain John King being master. The Lord Admiral, being newly come to Chatham, came on board of us as we were under sail and went down in her to Gillingham, coming to an anchor at St. Mary Creek's mouth. His Lordship lay at Mr. Legatt's.

On Easter day, being the 4th of April, the Lord Admiral with his retinue received the holy sacrament in the parish church at Chatham. Doctor Pay that was chaplain to the Lord William Howard, Baron of Effingham and Vice Admiral in the Anne Royal, preached and delivered the sacrament.

On Easter Tuesday in the afternoon the Lord Admiral with all his retinue removed from Chatham, and came on board their several charges at St. Mary Creek at Gillingham, and lay on board in his own cabin this night. So soon as prayers were done this evening and the tables covered, the Lord Admiral, out of his noble favour to me, called me unto him and there gave me special charge to take my place at his own table all the voyage; and would not commonly have grace said before his Lordship had seen me set down, except I had been upon some earnest business, giving charge also to all his officers to let me have any thing of his own provisions which I should send for at any time. I lay in a settle bed on one side of the master's cabin.

Wednesday being the 7th day, at quarter flood, being about eleven of the clock, we set sail from Gillingham, the wind at south-west, a pretty fresh gale: the ship wrought exceedingly well and was so yare[410] of conduct, as a foot of the helm did steer her: we came to an anchor at Queenborough a great while before high water, where we rode all that night.

The next day, being Thursday, the wind south-west and a very fair gale, the Admiral had given order we should weigh betimes to get out, and accordingly the Anne Royal, being Vice Admiral, in whom Hugh Meritt served Master, was fitted and prepared for the purpose, having one anchor on board by the time the ship was went up upon the flood, and was ready with his other anchor on peak,[411] supposing we had been so provident to have our ship in the like readiness; but our master, willing to do his countryman a courtesy, that lay by our side in a hoy with forty tons of beer of our provision to take in, neglected the time so long, being not accustomed to command such great ships, that it was more than half flood before we could get our anchor on board; by reason whereof, the tide running very strong and the wind hartening[412] in, it was almost high water before we were fitted to set sail and our other anchor got up. The wind then having power on our weather quarter, and the tide upon the lee bow, kept our ship from flatting;[413] and in the setting of our sails, many seamen being with us that were prime commanders and captains, attending the Lord Admiral as his retinue, had every one their voice in commanding and countermanding one another, that they bred a mere[414] confusion and put the master clean besides almost his senses; so that in fine the ship was put on ground at the top of high water, upon the tongue of the spit of the sand going into Queenborough, where, do what we could with all our wits and endeavours, she sat all the tide of ebb and almost ebbed dry; which unfortunate accident gave not only great discouragement to the Lord Admiral, to have such a chance befall him, but also gave great advantage to the enemies of the ship, of whom the Lord Northampton was chief, to persuade the Lady Elizabeth not to venture her person in such a vessel that had so ill a beginning, but rather to embark herself in some other and to return her[415] home.

When we saw we were so fast as there was not hope of getting the ship off that tide, I desired liberty to sound the place where she sat, which the Lord Admiral easily gave his consent to do. I then calling into the boat with me some of the captains that were masters and mariners, amongst which I chose Captain Robert Bradshaw and Captain Geare for two principal, with others, and John Reynolds, then Master Gunner of the ship, taking lead lines with us, we sounded both on head, stern, and sides; and finding soft ground and little difference in depth, we were satisfied that the ship could take no hurt if she had strength sufficient to bear herself with so massy a weight as she had in her of ordnance, victuals, and other things in hold, and her masts and sails above head, with so much company, both of the mariners belonging to the ship and the Lord Admiral's retinue, being not so few in all as 800 persons; but God be thanked, the ship took no harm at all; and we, having sounded the depth of the same furrow she made in running on shore, we caused an anchor to be laid right a-stern as her dock[416] directed us, and so with little difficulty she was heaved afloat into the channel in the morning tide, to the great satisfaction and content of[417] the Lord Admiral and general joy of the whole company, for which we gave God thanks.

The next days, being Friday and Saturday, we lay still to prytly[418] the ship and take in such provisions as were wanting.

The 11th day, being Sunday, we weighed and set sail, and anchored for that night at The Spits[419]; next day we weighed and anchored short of the Long Sand head[420]; next day we weighed and anchored middle of the Channel[421]; next day anchored short of the North Foreland.

The 15th day, being Thursday, we came to an anchor in Margate Road.

The next day the Lord Admiral went on shore to Margate, where he lay 3 days at the house of Mr. Roger Morice, one of the 4 Masters of His Majesty's Navy, and then returned on board.

The 21st day, being Wednesday, [the] Lady Elizabeth's Grace [and] the Palsgrave, with all their train, came to Margate; there were embarked in barges and the ships' boats, and were received on board the Admiral, where they lay all the night.

The 22nd day, the wind being got easterly and likely to be foul weather, her Highness, with the Palsgrave and most part of her train, were again carried on shore to Margate and there landed.

The 25th day, being Sunday, they were all again embarked in the barges and boats and received on board the ships; presently we set sail and that night anchored without the Foreland.

The 26th day the wind shortened[422] upon us, so that we were constrained to anchor in the midst of the Channel in 25 fathom, being a windy, rainy, foul night.

The 27th day, being Tuesday, was a very wet forenoon, but about 11 of the clock whilst her Highness was at the sermon, it cleared up and the wind veered southerly, so that we weighed, both having fair weather and a fair wind; standing our course, quarter winds, a little before we made the land we lost a man through his own wilfulness. This evening we anchored under Blankenberghe[423] Sconce,[424] being very fair weather.

The 28th day we weighed about noon, and anchored thwart of Sluis,[425] where came on board us with his yachts,[426] the Prince of Orange, Grave[427] Maurice, with a great train of gallantry and followers, who all lay this night on board the Admiral.

The 29th day we weighed upon the flood and turned up to Flushing. Some mile short of the town, her Highness, with the Palatine and most part of her train, were embarked in the barges and boats, being very fair weather, and was saluted with all the ordnance of the whole fleet, and landed at Flushing, where they were received with all royalty and saluted with all the ordnance of the town and castles and guarded with the soldiers and garrison of the town; our ships anchored a little above the Rammekens.[428] This afternoon I went on shore to attend the Lord Admiral and lay in Flushing, our charges being defrayed by the town. The 30th day, being Friday, the Count Palatine took leave of her Highness and went post to the Palatinate.

This afternoon I, with others of the Lord Admiral's retinue, took coach to Middelburg and were lodged and billeted for our diet at the English house with him.

This forenoon, being May Day, divers of our retinue took a coach and rode to Camphire[429] to see the Island; this afternoon her Highness and her train were received into Middelburg with all royalty.

The second day, being Sunday, the Burghers feasted her Highness at the Town House; this evening the Lord Admiral brought me to take leave of her Highness and to kiss her hand; the next day her Highness took leave of the Lord Admiral and his train, having attended her to the place where she was embarked; which done, the Lord Admiral returned from Middelburg in his barge on board the Prince, where he found such a multitude of people, men, women, and children, that came from all places in Holland to see the ship, that we could scarce have room to go up and down till very night, which confluence of people lasted from the time we anchored at Flushing till we weighed thence.

Fourth day; [the] Lord Admiral gave order we should weigh from Flushing to avoid the trouble of people, which accordingly was done, and we fell down to Cassant Point,[430] where we anchored all that day and next night.

The 6th day, in the morning, we weighed with the wind at east-north-east, a fresh gale and very fair weather, and this evening we anchored under the Gunfleet.[431]

The 7th day, the wind continuing easterly, we weighed and set sail, and by 12 of the clock we came to anchor at Gillingham, from whence I attended the Lord Admiral in his barge to Chatham, where he lay that night at Mr. Legatt's house. I found my wife and family all in health, and gave God thanks for his preservation of us in our journey and safe return home to our mutual comforts.

Sir Robert Mansell lay at my house. On Saturday morning, being the 8th day, the Lord Admiral went from Chatham, on whom I attended to Gravesend, and there taking leave returned back to my house [at] Chatham.

At Whitsuntide Sir Robert Mansell was committed to the Marshalsea,[432] upon some displeasure[433] his Majesty took against him by the instigation of the Lord Northampton, where he was detained prisoner, till the 13th June following [he] was released at Greenwich.

In the latter end of July I received commandment to take the charge of new building the Defiance, being then in dry dock at Woolwich. Old Mr. Baker having the charge of new building the Merhonor at the same time in the same dock with her, upon which business I was entered the second August.

About the middle of August, old Mr. Baker sickened and, perceiving his sickness was to death, was desirous to recommend the finishing of the Merhonor to me, and to that end importuned me to ride to Windsor to the Lord Admiral to signify his earnest suit to his Lordship in that behalf; which was willingly condescended unto, and I had his Lordship's warrant at the same time for it; he deceasing the last of this month, and his funeral was solemnized at Deptford, the second of September, where myself was present.

About the midst of September, my good, faithful friend, Mr. Sebastian Vicars, the carver, departed this life; and the 27th day of this month my second son Henry departed this life at Chatham; and at the very instant my noble, worthy friend, Sir Thomas Button, then Captain Button, alighted at my house, newly being returned from the dangerous voyage of the North-west Passage, where he had wintered.

The 16th of October, I escaped a great danger by the fall of my horse within one mile of Dartford, being riding to Chatham.

The 28th of October, I was taken very sick, going by water from Woolwich to Westminster to accompany the ordinary shipwrights and other of Chatham to move the Lord Admiral about their pay, being much behindhand. I was forced this night to lie at the King's Head in Fish Street, whither I came from Westminster on foot, to have prevented my sickness. The whole company having appointed to dine there, most part of them waked with me all that night. The next day, accompanied with my brother Peter, I took oars to Gravesend, and from thence rode home, being taken with a fit upon Gad's Hill, with much ado recovering my own house, presently taking my chamber, and being dangerously sick; from whence I did not stir down stairs till Christmas holidays after; which happened ill for my business at Woolwich, where in my absence, through the careless neglect of the foremen, the workmen made wonderful spoil and havoc.

The next week after I took my sickness, and the news thereof, brought to London, came to the ears of the Lord Admiral, who acquainted his Majesty therewith; whereupon I received two several letters from the Lord Admiral by post, and special commandment from his Majesty to be certified the truth, and to let me know that, if I needed, some of his own physicians should be sent unto me; which exceeding great grace from his Majesty and expression of love from the Lord Admiral was no small comfort unto me in my extremity.

The end of this month my wife's cook-maid died in the house, and was buried on New Year's Day.

The seventh of January, I returned from Chatham to Woolwich with my wife and some of my children and family; and because my lodgings at the Dock were not fitted, I lay in the town at the house of a widow woman called Mistress Spicke, for the space of a month, till the lodgings in the King's Yard were prepared and made ready.

The 14th of February, I began to victual all the shipwrights and workmen employed upon the Merhonor and Defiance at Woolwich.

The 28th of March it pleased God miraculously to preserve me from loss of life by a fall on board the Honor, which was only from deck to deck, by God's merciful providence very hardly escaping to fall into the hold, which would have beat me all to pieces.

The 14th of June, my honourable and implacable enemy, the Earl of Northampton, departed this life at his house at Charing Cross.

The 22nd of July, the King of Denmark came suddenly to Somerset House unexpected.

The first of August, my gracious master, King James, accompanied with the King of Denmark, Prince of Wales, Lord Admiral, and many other lords, came to Woolwich and went on board the Merhonor, then being in dry dock and almost finished, which ship liked them wondrous well: here our King took leave of his Majesty of Denmark and returned to Whitehall. From hence the King of Denmark took barge to Gravesend, being accompanied with the Prince and Lord Admiral; Sir Robert Mansell and myself were commanded to attend them.

The second of August, the King of Denmark was entertained on board the Prince, riding at her moorings in the river of Chatham, the Prince of Wales and the Lord Admiral of England accompanying him, Sir Robert Mansell and myself attending. The ship was completely rigged and all her sails at the yards, and richly adorned with ensigns and pendants, all of silk, which gave very great content to the King of Denmark; yet it was a very foul rainy day. From thence they returned to Gravesend, where they took leave and the King of Denmark embarked in his own ships.

In the end of November, all the workmen that wrought upon the Merhonor were discharged from Woolwich.

The 6th of March,[434] the Merhonor and Defiance were both launched out of the dry dock at Woolwich in one tide, and the 25th day of April following they set sail from Woolwich, and the next day came to their moorings at Chatham.

In May the dock at Woolwich was prepared for the receiving in of the Elizabeth Jonas and the Triumph, who were appointed to be new built; which ships were accordingly brought from Chatham, and were both brought into the dock, the first and second days of June, and the gates shut again and the ships shored.

The 25th of July, the Lord's Grace of Canterbury lay at Rochester, and went on board the Prince, riding at her moorings, where he was entertained with a banquet of sweetmeats by Sir Robert Mansell, myself attending there.

The 29th of August, I removed from Woolwich to Chatham with my wife and family, and the next day after my wife sickened of a surfeit, eating too many grapes, which had like to have cost her her life.

The 9th of October, my wife was delivered of her 7th child, being a son, between the hours of 10 and 11 [o']clock at night: the 22nd day after he was baptized at Chatham Church and called by mine own name, Phineas; the witnesses were Mr. Robert Yardley and Mr. King, godfathers, and my sister Simonson, the godmother.

About the 27th day of March I bargained with Sir Walter Ralegh[435] for to build him a ship of 500 tons, which I procured leave for from the Lord Admiral, to build her in the galley dock in his Majesty's Yard at Woolwich, towards which I presently received 500_l._ to begin withal, and the 8th day of April following I began to set men on work upon her.

The 8th day of April, I bought a piece of ground of one Christopher Collier, lying in a place called the Brook at Chatham, for which I paid him 35_l._ ready moneys.

The 18th day of April, I was elected and sworn Master of the Corporation of Shipwrights at our common hall and meeting place at Redriff.

The 13th day of May, I bought the rest of the land at the Brook, of John Griffin and Robert Griffin, brothers, and a lease of their sister, belonging to the College of Rochester.

The 22nd of May, I removed my wife and some of my family from Chatham to Woolwich.

In July Sir Henry Mainwaring caused me to build a small pinnace of 40 tons for the Lord Zouch, being then Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, which pinnace was launched the 2nd of August and presently rigged and fitted, all at my charge; and the 6th day we set sail with her from Woolwich accompanied with Sir Walter Ralegh and his sons, Sir Henry Mainwaring, Mr. Christopher Hamon,[436] cousin William Hawkridge,[437] myself, son, and divers others. The first tide we anchored [at] Gravesend; next night at the North Foreland; next tide in the Downs, where we landed and rode to Dover Castle in the Lord Warden's coach, sent purposely for us, leaving the pinnace to be brought in to Dover Pier with the pilot and mariners. We stayed at Dover till the 16th of August and then took leave of the Lord Warden, and came to Woolwich the 17th day at night.

Towards the whole of the hull of the pinnace and all her rigging and furniture I received only 100_l._ from the Lord Zouch, the rest Sir Henry Mainwaring cunningly received in my behalf, without my knowledge, which I could never get from him but by piece-meal, so that by the bargain I was loser 100_l._ at least.

The 3rd day [of] December following, died my brother Cooper at Chatham. The 16th of December I launched the great ship of Sir Walter Ralegh's called the Destiny, and had much ado to get her into the water, but I delivered her to him on float in good order and fashion; by which business I lost 700_l._ and could never get any recompense at all for it, Sir Walter Ralegh going to sea and leaving me unsatisfied.

This year of 1617 proved a very fatal and troublesome year unto me. The 14th day of March I removed my wife and family from Woolwich to my house at Chatham, she being so big with child that I was forced to carry her by coach, and that very leisurely for that she was with child with two twins. The 20th of this month my wife's own father died at his house at Highwood Hill.

The 15th day of April my wife was safely delivered of two daughters at 12 of the clock at night: they were both baptized in Chatham Church the 22nd day in the afternoon, being Tuesday; the eldest named Mary; the other Martha.

About the midst of May, I was sent for by the Lord Treasurer, then Earl of Suffolk, and Sir Fulke Greville, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, and by them employed in a most troublesome business into the New Forest in Hampshire, where one Sir Giles Mompesson[438] had made a vast waste in the spoil of his Majesty's timber, to redress which I was employed thither to make choice, out of the number of trees he had felled, of all such timber as was useful for shipping; in which business I spent a great deal of time, and brought myself into a great deal of trouble.

The 6th of November my daughter Mary, the eldest of the twins, departed this life at Chatham, and was buried 2 days after at Chatham.

The 8th day of December my young son Phineas departed this life after he had lived 2 years 2 months and odd days,[439] and was buried at Chatham.

My dear loving wife sickened at Chatham the 29th day of December, and hardly escaped with life, yet it pleased God she did recover.

The last of this month my brother Simonson made himself away in the garret of his own house at Ratcliff, to the utter undoing of his poor wife and children.

In the month of June[440] there was a commission granted by his Majesty to certain Commissioners for the reformation of the abuses in his Majesty's Navy, the names of which Commissioners were Sir Lionel Cranfield,[441] Sir Thomas Smith,[442] Sir Richard Weston,[443] Sir Francis Gofton,[444] Sir Richard Sutton,[445] Mr. John Coke,[446] Mr. Pitt[447] of the Exchequer, Sir John Osborne, Sir John Wolstenholme,[448] Mr. Burrell, and Captain Thomas Norreys.

The 6th day of July these Commissioners came to Chatham in great state, having called to assist them divers masters of the Trinity House and divers shipwrights of the river of Thames, where, commanding also the masters and master shipwrights of his Majesty's Navy, they went on board the Prince and there publicly caused their Commission to be read, the Officers of the Navy being present; which done they proceeded to give order for a general survey of all the ships in the Navy, with all their furniture, and all other things belonging unto them; in the which was spent a great deal of time, for they returned not to London till the 16th day of the month after. Myself was commanded in particular from his Majesty to give them the best assistance I could, which accordingly I did with all diligence and carefulness; which proved afterwards to the ruin and undoing to me and all mine, the whole bent of Mr. Burrell tending only to overthrow me and root my name out of the earth, by his means procuring most part of the Commissioners to join with him in his malicious practice; so that from the time that he was settled, I was sequestered from meddling with any business, and all employments and privileges taken from me, Captain Norreys being brought over me, and I forced to live as a slave under them the whole of the time of their Commission, undergoing many disgraces and contempts which I could not possibly have undergone had not the Lord been exceedingly merciful unto me in giving me patience to submit myself to his will and pleasure.

The whole year of '18, '19 and part of '20, I attended altogether at Chatham, being employed upon the making of the new dock and other businesses under the command of the Commissioners; the reward of my extraordinary pains was recompensed with no other reward than base usage and continual counsels and plats to ruin me, wherein they obtained the sum of their desires to the utter undoing of me and mine; Mr. Burrell and Norreys my greatest enemies.

The 24th of January in this present year my wife was delivered of a young son at Chatham, who was, the 3rd day of the next month, being Sunday, baptized in Chatham Church by Mr. Pyham; his name called Phineas. The witnesses were my wife's sister Russell and niece Hawkridge, godmothers, my nephews Peter and William Pett, godfathers.

The 19th day of this present month of July in the year 1619, the great Duke of Buckingham, lately made the Lord Admiral of England, came to visit the Navy then riding at Chatham, being accompanied with divers lords and Sir Robert Mansell; who in his being here used me with such extraordinary public respect that wrought me much prejudice in the opinion of the Commissioners, who ever after plotted to ruin me and to bring me out of favour both with the Lord Admiral and the King himself.

The 20th day of November, attending at Theobalds to deliver his Majesty a petition, his Majesty in his princely care of me, by the means of the honourable Lord High Admiral, had before my coming bestowed on me for supply of my present relief the making of a knight baronet,[449] which I afterwards passed under the broad seal of England for one Francis Radclyffe[450] of Northumberland, a great recusant,[451] for which I was to have 700_l._, but by reason that Sir Arnold Herbert[452] (that brought him to me) played not fair play with me, I lost some 50_l._ of my bargain.

About this time the Commissioners of the Navy had finished two new ships built by Mr. Burrell at Deptford in his Majesty's Dockyard, and had procured the King's Majesty to come thither and see them, and named[453] the one the Happy Entrance, and the other the Reformation.

The 14th day of May in the year 1620, my wife was delivered of her eleventh child, being the last she had, being a son born at my house in Chatham. The 25th day after, it was baptized and called Christopher. Sir Christopher Cleve[454] and his brother-in-law, Mr. Samuel Heyward, being godfathers, and my good neighbour, Mistress Legatt, godmother.

The 12th day of June this present year, Sir Robert Mansell being ordained Lord General of the Fleet for the expedition against the Pirates of Algiers, by his great importunity with his Majesty I was commanded to go in hand with building two new pinnaces for that voyage, whereof the one was to be of burden 120 tons, and the other, 80 tons; for which I did contract with certain merchants of the city that were appointed Committees for that business, whereof Sir Thomas Smith, Mr. Burrell, and divers others of my great enemies were of the quorum; but I, upon some hopes of thanks and reward, enlarged them to a greater proportion than my contract, making the one wherein I was myself to serve as Captain in the voyage, of 300 tons, called the Mercury, and the other, called the Spy, of 200 tons, wherein Captain Edward Giles served; and for that I exceeded the contract, the unconscionable merchants and Committees cast upon me all the whole surplusage[455] of the charge, to the value of 700_l._, notwithstanding I was forced to hasten the business and to keep extraordinary numbers of workmen at great rates, and in a place where the provision and materials were nightly stolen and embezzled to my utter undoing; whereof I never could obtain any recompense, though to my great expense and charge I made means both to his Majesty and the Lords of the Council, and had warrant against the Committees, but was continually overborn by their greatness and malice.

The 16th and 18th days of October, both the pinnaces were launched at Ratcliff, where they were built, and all expedition was used to rig and make them ready to set sail; I preparing myself, to my great charge, to proceed in the voyage and to get the ships to Erith, because of ice in the river, where we rode till we were cleared thence by the Committees, which was about the 22nd of December; at what time Mr. Puniett the pilot came on board me to carry me into the Downs, and Sir John Ferne,[456] that went passenger with me to the Fleet; my wife also came then on board of me.

The 27th day of December, we weighed and turned down from Erith into Tilbury Hope, where we rode till the 29th day, and then weighed, and anchored at the buoy of the Oaze Edge.[457]

The 30th day of December, I parted with my wife and sent her to Gravesend in a light horseman that came to the ship with some provisions.

We set sail from the buoy of the Red Sand[458] the first of January, being New Year's Day, and anchored in the Gore, where we rode one day, and thence into the Downs, where we landed our pilot.

We rode in the Downs till the 13th day, and then set sail and were put into the Needles, and anchored at the Cowes two days; then set sail, and the 4th of February we made the South Cape.[459] The 8th day we entered into the Straits of Gibraltar,[460] and the 8th day at night came to an anchor in Malaga Road.

The 19th day of September, 1621, we arrived in the Downs, and the 20th day at night, I came safe to my house at Chatham, finding my wife and children all in good health, for which mercy of God I gave God thanks, as did also my whole family.

All the year 1622 I did nothing but follow the Court with petitions, to my infinite charge and trouble, and all to little purpose, for I could never prevail against my adversaries, who detained all my entertainment for the Algiers voyage, both for myself, son, and servants; which cost me 300_l._ setting out, and the expense of the voyage.

I must not forget that in the beginning of the year 1621, before I was two months out of England, [through] the malice of Mr. Burrell and some of the rest of the Commissioners for the Navy, that there were divers master shipwrights of the river of Thames and some masters of the Trinity House sent down to Chatham to survey the state of the Prince;[461] amongst which Commissioners was, beside old Burrell and his son, my fellow,[462] Stevens, Graves,[463] Dearslye,[464] Bourne,[465] Thomas Brunning of Woodbridge, and one Chandler,[466] a creature of Mr. Burrell's, and divers other mariners, who maliciously certified the ship to be merely unserviceable and not fit to be continued, and what charge soever should be bestowed upon her would be lost, which they certified under their hands. But the 24th of February succeeding, by special command from his Majesty, who well understood their malicious proceedings, the selfsame surveyors were again sent to Chatham and under their hands certified that the ship might be made serviceable for a voyage into Spain with the charge of 300 pounds,[467] to be bestowed upon her hull and the perfecting her masts, which certificate was returned under their hands and delivered to his Majesty. Whereupon present warrant was granted to have the ship docked and fitted for a Spanish voyage; which was accordingly done, and brought into the dock the 8th of March, 1623, at Chatham, and was launched the 24th day of the same month.

About the 17th of this month of February, I attended at Theobalds the very morning that the Prince's Highness and the Lord Duke of Buckingham took leave of the King to take their journey for Spain, being carried so privately that few knew of their intent. At their taking horse I kissed both their hands and they only gave me an item[468] that I should shortly come to sea in the Prince.

After the Prince and the rest of the Fleet were all fitted and prepared to set sail from their moorings, the St. George fell down to Gillingham with the Antelope, being both appointed to go before to Santander with the jewels and other provisions. The noble gentleman, my honoured friend, Sir Francis Steward,[469] commanding in her, whom my eldest son, John Pett, attended as one of his retinue in that journey, and Captain Thomas Love[470] commanded in the Antelope.

The 2nd of May being on a Friday, the Prince removed from her moorings to St. Mary Creek, where she anchored. Thither came down from London many of the Commissioners of the Navy, with Sir Thomas Smith and the Lord Brooke,[471] who all plotted together to have hindered me from going the voyage which the King had commanded me unto, but their malicious practices were prevented and their purposes frustrated.

The 17th day of May I took leave of his Majesty in the park at Greenwich and kissed his hand, with many expressions of his favour, which was not very pleasing to Sir John Coke, then there present.

The 20th of May, the Prince set sail from St. Mary Creek and anchored at Queenborough; the 21st day we set sail from Queenborough and anchored at Whitaker;[472] 23rd day anchored [at the] Gunfleet; 24th day anchored short [of the] North Foreland; 25th day we came and anchored in the Downs, where we rode till the 28th day of June, having three several times proffered to go on, but were still put room[473] again; but the 28th day, being Saturday, we weighed and got as high as Fairlight,[474] where we anchored all the flood and so plyed to windward all the ebbs, being fair weather. On Tuesday after, being the first of July, we came to anchor in Stokes Bay by Portsmouth. The 20th day of August, his Majesty, then lying in the New Forest at Beaulieu[475] House, embarked himself and train and came on board the Prince, then riding in Stokes Bay, accompanied with Marquis Hamilton,[476] the Lord Chamberlain,[477] Holderness,[478] Kellie,[479] Carlisle,[480] Montgomery,[481] and divers other attendants, who all dined on board the Prince; our Admiral, the Earl of Rutland,[482] being absent at London. His Majesty was very well pleased, and after dinner, again embarking in the barge, lay hovering in the midst of the Fleet till all the ships had discharged their great ordnance, and then returned on shore at Calshot Castle.

In the interim of our stay in Stokes Bay I procured leave of the Admiral to go to London, and the 2nd day of August, being Saturday, I met my wife at Lambeth with my son Richard. There we lay that night, and the next day took oars to Kingston, where we lay till Tuesday following, on which day I went to Hampton Court to take leave of my honoured lord and good master, the Earl of Nottingham, who then lay there in his old lodgings, which was the last time I ever saw him, being the fifth of August. The next day I took leave of my wife and friends at Kingston; she returned home, and myself to Portsmouth on board the Prince again.

The 24th day of August, being Sunday and Bartholomew's day, we set sail out of Stokes Bay in the afternoon; the 25th day, the wind taking us short[483] put us into the grass[484] at Weymouth, where we rode till the 26th at night; and thence setting sail with the wind easterly, on the 28th day, being Thursday, we came to anchor in Plymouth Sound.

The 2nd day of September, being Tuesday, in the morning betimes we set out of Plymouth Sound, and by contrary winds we beat it up till, the 9th day following, being Tuesday, we made the Cape of Ortegal[485] bearing south-west of us. The 10th day we lay becalmed, and the 11th day about 2 of the clock in the forenoon we came to an anchor in the river of Santander.

The 12th day, it pleased God, the Prince and all his train came to Santander and presently took his barge, being there ready attending for him, and came on board the Prince, accompanied with all the Spaniards that attended him thither, where we all joyfully received him. After some stay on board, his Highness resolving to lie at Santander Town that night, where provision was made to entertain him and his train, he took his barge to go back; whereinto we, being overjoyed with his safe arrival, forgot to send either master, pilot, or mariner to conduct him to the town, being a dangerous rocky way, and the tide of ebb bent,[486] which runneth there with a very swift stream; which had likely to have proved a very dangerous accident, for that at the instant of embarking there arose a very great tempest of rain and wind and darkness withal, so that the barge could not possibly row ahead[487] the tide, whereby she was in great danger to have been driven to sea out of the harbour's mouth, to the utter loss of all in her, had not God in mercy prevented it by the vigilant care of the captain and officers of the Defiance, Sir Sackvill Trevor[488] being the commander,[489] who seeing the danger they were in, veered out casks and buoys with lights fastened unto them, by small warps, of which they taking hold, were rowed and haled on board the ship, where the Prince with all his train were entertained and lodged all this night, the weather proving so stormy and rainy that no provision from any other ship could be brought unto them.

The 13th day, being Saturday, the Prince came on board his own ship and lodged in his own cabin.

The 14th day, being Sunday, the Prince feasted all the Spaniards that accompanied him to the waterside, the Cardinal Zapata and his brother, who was a grandee, being the chief, with Gondomar[490] and divers others of the King of Spain's servants; whom he feasted with no other provisions than such as we brought out of England with us: stalled oxen, fatted sheep, venison and all kind of fowls and other varieties in abundance, wanting no ordnance to welcome them withal, loudly speaking every health; but it was a very foul rainy day. Notwithstanding, at their going from the ship all the ordnance was discharged in our ship, all the rest of the Fleet following in order as they passed by to the town of Santander.

The Rainbow, wherein Sir Henry Palmer commanded as captain, and John King, one of the four Masters, being master, by neglect of following the Admiral, could not get within the river's mouth, but was forced to leeward, where she rode three days and nights in such extremity as every hour it was expected when she should drive upon the shore, which she hardly escaped by God's great mercy, and upon the Tuesday after, came safely off and anchored under the Prince's stern.

On Thursday, being the 18th day of September, we set sail out of Santander River, the wind somewhat southerly, from whence we beat it to and fro with contrary winds till the 26th day after, being Friday, at which time a little before noon we had sight of Scilly, which bore north-east of us, about some 8 leagues off.

This day we met 4 Dunkirk men-of-war, very well fitted, chased by Holland men-of-war, whom the Prince caused to come to leeward, and their commanders to come on board; whom his Highness laboured to have accepted a peaceable course, which the Hollanders durst not accept, whereupon they were dismissed, the Dunkirkers having liberty to have the start of the Hollanders, which many disliked.

Saturday all day we plied to and fro, and got within some four leagues of the Islands, the wind at north-east but fair weather.

On Sunday a Council of War was summoned, wherein was principally propounded his Highness landing upon the Island of Scilly[491] in the ketch, some pilots of the island being come off unto us, but it was generally protested against under all the Council's hands, and so were dismissed to their charges; but after supper, beyond expectation, order was given to make ready the long boat and to call the ketch, and the Prince made choice of all the company should accompany him on shore, and so about one of the clock after midnight, with great danger to his Highness' person and to the Lord Duke of Buckingham, they were put into our long boat, which was veered astern by a long warp, where the ketch, laying the long boat on board, and the sea going somewhat high, they entered the ketch disorderly, without regard to any, but everyone shifting for themselves. Being all shipped, the ketch was so over burdened as she could make but little way, so that after we had taken farewell with the discharge of a volley of our great ordnance we tacked into the sea and left the ketch to ply into the island, which she safely gained by 7 of the morning, and had landed the Prince and all his company on St. Mary's Island.

The next morning our Admiral advised with me what course we should take with ourselves, for the Prince had commanded Sir Henry Mainwaring, who was Captain under the Admiral, and Mr. Walter Whiting, the Master of the ship, to attend him in the ketch, I being left purposely to supply both their places in their absence. After serious consultation with the master's mates and two pilots of the island, who all assured us we might safely go in, the Admiral resolved on that course, and after two or three boards we laid it in quarter winds,[492] and came to an anchor in the best of the road about 2 of the clock afternoon; the Prince and all his train standing upon the lower point of land, and welcomed us in as we passed close by with much expression of joy and heaving up their hats. The Prince and his train lay in the Castle[493] four nights.

On Friday morning, being the 3rd of October, we set sail out of Scilly, and on Sunday following, being the 5th day, we came into St. Helen's and anchored on Nomans Land,[494] and shipped the Prince and his train into our long boat and other ships' boats, who were safely landed at Portsmouth about 11 of the clock; we taking our farewell with discharge of all our great ordnance, seconded by all the Fleet, with general thanksgiving to God for our safe arrival, to the joy and comfort of all true hearted subjects.

The 14th day of October, we set sail from St. Helen's Point, being Tuesday. The 16th day after, being Thursday morning, we came to an anchor in Dover Road, where, having leave of the Admiral, I went into a fisher boat, and taking in my son John out of the St. George, wherein he had served the whole voyage under Sir Thomas Steward, we landed at Dover, from whence we took horse to Chatham, where we alighted at my house about 4 of the clock in the evening, finding my wife and family in good health; for which great mercies in our preservation in the whole journey and safe return we all gave thanks to our good God.

The 24th of May, 1624, being sent for to St. James's, I there received from Sir Robert Carr,[495] by the Prince's Highness' order, a gold chain of the value of 104_l._ in way of reward for my attendance in the voyage into Spain in bringing his Highness home, which chain I was commanded to wear one day, and to wait upon the Prince to the Parliament, which I accordingly did and received very gracious respect from his Highness.

About this time I was joined Commissioner with Captain Love, Captain Edward Giles, and Mr. John Reynolds, the Master Gunner of England, to take up divers colliers, and to put them out to sundry shipwrights to be fitted for men-of-war, for which service I never received allowance.

In the beginning of October this present year, happened a wonderful great storm, through which many ships perished, especially in the Downs, amongst which was riding there the Antelope of his Majesty, being bound for Ireland under the command of Sir Thomas Button, my son John being then passenger in her. A merchant ship, being put from her anchors, came foul of her, and put her also from all her anchors, by means whereof she drove upon the Brakes,[496] where she beat off her rudder and much of the run[497] abaft, miraculously escaping utter loss of all, for that the merchant ship that came foul of her,[498] called the Dolphin, hard by her utterly perished both ship and all the company. Yet it pleased God to save her, and got off into the Downs, having cut all her masts by the board, and with much labour was kept from foundering. My son John was sent post from the ship to Sir Thomas Button, who was presently sent by the Lord Admiral on board, and brought warrant for me to attend him to the ship, to use the best means we could to save her. After our coming on board, by placing chain pumps into the steward's room, we kept the water easily under, and then fitted a rudder and jury masts, by which means she was safely brought to Deptford Dock and her defects perfected.

About the end of December this present year, the Prince was docked, to be prepared and fitted to sea, meanwhile the Duke of Brunswick[499] came to Chatham accompanied with divers of the Prince's servants, and went on board the ship in the dock.

The 29th day of January after, the Prince was launched, and soon after had her masts set; and divers other ships graved and made ready for a voyage to sea.

The 28th of March 1625, certain news was brought to Chatham of King James' death; and the next day after, his Majesty was proclaimed amongst us in the Navy at the Hill House;[500] the Masters, Boatswains, Gunners, Pursers, and all belonging to the Navy were present.

All April and May I attended at Chatham, to prepare the Fleet that was then bound to fetch over the Queen. In the latter end of May his Majesty came to Rochester, where I presented myself unto him in the Dean's Yard and kissed his hand and had speech with him, till he came into the house, where he dined and I attended him all the dinner while. Thence I hasted home, and waited his Majesty's coming by towards Canterbury, who alighted at my house and stayed there awhile and gave me leave to drink his health, and then returned to his coach, giving me charge to follow him and to hasten on board the Prince, being then in the Downs. According to his command, I presently took horse and followed him, and lay at Sandwich that night, and next day came into the Downs; went on board to the Vanguard, commanded by Captain Pennington, bound for France, where I met Sir Thomas Button, Captain Ned Giles, and other good company; there dined, and after was set on board the Prince.

Saturday the 4th of June, his Majesty came on board the Prince, riding then in Dover Road, where he dined and was safely landed again. Yet this evening we let slip and went room[501] for the Downs with very foul weather.

Thursday the 9th of June, we got over to Boulogne[502] and anchored in Boulogne Road. The 10th day we had a great storm, the wind north-west, where all our ships drove,[503] and we brake our best bower and were forced to let fall our sheet anchor, which put us both to great danger and puzzle[504] of loss of men and boats, and had also one of our men belonging to the steward-room drowned.

Sunday morning, being the 12th day, all things prepared fit and the great storm allayed, about 11 of the clock we received our young Queen on board, and having a fair leading gale, fitting the entertainment of a Queen, we set sail out of Boulogne Road about one [of the] clock, and before 8 had safely landed her and her train at Dover.

Monday morning I left the ship and went on shore at Dover, and missing my horses was forced to go to Sandwich, where I lay all night, and next day hired post horse home. The boatswain of the ship, John Handcroft, died so soon as I was landed upon the beach.