The Autobiography of Phineas Pett
Majesty came on board her, which was upon the 21st day of July,
being Saturday, coming down in his barge, and rowed some part of
the way against the tide. In the time of his being on board, his
Majesty observed the condition of the ship as she now rode ready to
sail, vidt. the draught of water, the distance of the ports of the
lower tier from the water, number of the ordnance, and all other
circumstances to her complete furnishing; wherewith he was so well
satisfied and pleased that he parted from her with as much expression
of content and satisfaction as we could expect from him, to the
general comfort of us all.
Before his Majesty took barge I had placed my then wife,
Bylande,[599] daughter Ann,[600] and many other gentlewomen, my
special friends, in the great cabin to kiss his Majesty's hand, and
prevailed with his Majesty to walk aft into the cabin, where his
Highness most graciously gave each of them his hand to kiss. His
Majesty then took his barge, and at his going from the ship we gave
him 72 pieces of great ordnance. I then with my wife and friends went
on shore and took the coach and came directly home.
Thursday, 2nd of August, I took leave of my wife and friends at
Chatham after supper; so rode to Gravesend, thence on board the
Sovereign and lay on board in mine cabin, being the first night I
lodged in her.
Friday, my son Peter came on board from Woolwich; then about 10 of
the clock we weighed from Gravesend, and stood down beneath Hole
Haven, and there anchored that night, being little wind.
Saturday morning, 4th August, we weighed from Hole Haven and stood
down beneath the buoy of the Gunfleet, where we anchored all that
night.
Sunday we came to an anchor right before Margate town, where we rode
till Thursday morning following, then weighed and set sail with the
wind at west; but coming about the Foreland we met the wind so far
southerly as put us to go without the sand, and blew so much wind
as we could bear our topsails but half mast high, so that we could
not possibly weather the South Sand Head;[601] the tides running
also dead, we were forced to anchor in 32 fathom and there rode that
night, which proved reasonable fair.
Friday morning, the 20th August, we weighed; having the benefit of
a whole tide of ebb, we weathered the South Sand Head and stood in
right thwart of Dover; but neither the town nor Castle took notice
of us. So we put room into the Downs and anchored as near Sir John
Pennington, then riding Admiral, as we conveniently could do, being
about 8 of the clock in the morning; we were saluted by the Admiral
and all the ships in the road, whom we answered again, giving the
Admiral 21 pieces. This done we went on board the Admiral, Sir John
Pennington, to whom we were continual guests while we stayed in the
Downs.
Wednesday morning, being the 15th of August, we set sail out of the
Downs, the wind at south and sometimes south-west. We turned to
[and] fro with very foul weather till we came as high [as] thwart of
Shoreham, or thereabouts (the Garland attending us, who was not able
to keep way with us); which course we held till Saturday the 18th
day [of] August; then finding in that time we had sufficient trial
of the condition and working of the ship in all respects, and having
but a small proportion of victuals to stay out longer, we resolved
to bear up again for the Downs; which accordingly was done, and
about 3 clock, afternoon, we anchored close to the Admiral, Sir John
Pennington entertaining us on board his ship all the time we rode by
him.
Tuesday morning, the 21st of August, I took leave of the Sovereign
and the Admiral, and went on shore at Deal, where I found my man
attending ready with my horses, being the _night_[602] before
come thither, where I presently took horse and rode directly to
Canterbury, having visited Sir Henry Palmer by the way. I baited some
hour or more at Canterbury, and took horse again and came home to my
house [at] New Dock[603] a little after four in the afternoon; giving
God hearty thanks for my safe return, finding my wife, family and
friends in a reasonable health.
The 28th of August, the Sovereign came safe to her moorings at St.
Mary Creek, being Tuesday.
The 8th of September my dear wife sickened, taken with a violent
fever, being then great with child.
The 19th of September, being Wednesday, between 8 and 9 clock in
the morning, she departed this life in a most Christian manner,
surrendering up her spirit into His hands that gave it her; the
next day after, being Thursday, she was buried in a seemly manner
in Chatham Church, close by the side of my first wife, leaving me a
sorrowful and disconsolate husband.
Within few days after, deceased also my wife's one[604] sister and
next neighbour, wife to Mr. John Short, Clerk of the Check to his
Majesty's Navy.[605] They sickened together, she also being with
child, and knew not of one and tother's death. Soon after died Mr.
Etherington, their own father, at Mr. Short's house, who came thither
purposely to visit them.
After I had a little passed over this great and sudden affliction,
I prepared myself to go for London; and having set all things in
order, on Thursday morning, the 27th of September, 1638, I took leave
of my family at Chatham and rode to Gravesend, thence took boat to
Woolwich where I stayed one night, and next day, accompanied with my
son Peter, we went by water to Kingston, where we took up our lodging
in a private house, the inns being full. The next day, being Sunday,
we went by water to Hampton Court, where we presented ourselves to
his Majesty, who was pleased to use us very graciously, where we
spent that whole day, at night returning by water to our lodging at
Kingston.
Next morning, my son and myself rode to Sion,[606] to wait upon the
Lord Admiral, and was presently commanded by him to hasten to Chatham
to prepare barges and boats to be sent to Dover for the receiving on
shore the Queen Mother,[607] expected to arrive and land there
(_Here the manuscript ends._)
FOOTNOTES:
[178] MS. 'Phinees' (the form also adopted in his signature), the
Greek form of the Hebrew name _Mouth of Brass_, given as 'Phinehas'
by the translators of the Bible.
[179] MS. 'Deepforde Stronde.' The etymology of this well-known name
does not appear to have been satisfactorily determined. Antiquaries
have been content to explain it as the 'Strand' or shore of the deep
ford over the Ravensbourne River, which enters the Thames at Deptford
Creek. As a matter of fact, Deptford Strond lay on the shore of the
Thames some distance to the west of the Ravensbourne. It seems more
probable that Deptford Town, at the head of the creek near the bridge
by which the Dover Road crosses, was the original settlement, and
took its name from the deep creek (fiord), which was navigable for
ships of 500 tons up to that bridge, and that Deptford Stronde was
settled later from the 'Town' and took the addition 'Stronde' in
contradistinction. The dockyard was on the site now occupied by the
Foreign Cattle Market.
[180] Probably Thomas Howell, Rector of Paglesham.
[181] Throughout the MS. the name of the Deity is spelt without a
capital letter: the use of capitals in this connection appears to be
comparatively modern.
[182] 'Num' in MS., in which it occurs twice.
[183] _I.e._ apprentice.
[184] Benjamin Gonson, junior, and Buck were appointed jointly Clerk
of the Ships, with reversion to the longer liver, by letters patent
of 10 July 1596. Gonson died in 1600 and Buck succeeded him. Buck was
knighted in 1604 and died in 1625.
[185] A private man-of-war, called later in the 17th century a
'privateer.'
[186] Or Glemham. This was the second voyage. Neither appears to have
been a financial success. An account of this voyage under the title,
_News from the Levane Seas_ ... was published in 1594.
[187] Prize.
[188] MS. 'Divelinge,' apparently a phonetic attempt at the old name
of Dublin, '_Duibhlinn_,' pronounced _Divlin_. Pepys in his marginal
note writes 'travelled to Dublin.'
[189] This was destined to be the last voyage of Drake and Hawkyns.
The _Defiance_ was Drake's ship.
[190] Or _Due (Dieu) Repulse_.
[191] Built in 1561, this was a rebuilding.
[192] Advance.
[193] Howard of Effingham.
[194] On the north side of Deptford Green, overlooking the Thames,
afterwards the Gun Tavern. _See_ Dew's _History of Deptford_, p. 185.
[195] _I.e._ the Cadiz Expedition of 1596, under the joint command of
Howard and Essex.
[196] William Cecil, Lord Burghley.
[197] Pronounced 'Tibalds,' whence the form 'Tiballs' in which it
appears in the MS. Theobalds Park (near Waltham Cross) was afterwards
exchanged between Burghley's son, the first Earl of Salisbury, and
James I for Hatfield.
[198] MS. 'Pakellsum.'
[199] MS. 'estate.'
[200] MS. 'Hye Woodehill'; near Mill Hill.
[201] St. James's Day, 25th July.
[202] St. Bartholomew's Day, 24th August.
[203] Hugh Lydiard, senior, Clerk of the Check.
[204] The navigator, brother of Stephen Borough.
[205] Possibly the entrance to the dock.
[206] The 'income' was the fee or fine paid on entering upon the
lease.
[207] Thomas Wiggs, a subordinate of Lord Buckhurst, Commissioner of
State Trials. He is mentioned in a letter of Buckhurst to Cecil of
7th December 1600. _Salisbury MSS. (Hist. MSS.)_, x. p. 411, and in
Pepys' _Miscell._, x. p. 349.
[208] Southwold.
[209] Or 'Vugle.'
[210] _I.e._ districts.
[211] _See_ Introduction.
[212] Afterwards Lord Brooke.
[213] Like, favour.
[214] _See_ Introduction.
[215] An allusion to the game of bowls.
[216] Stepfather.
[217] MS. 'syses.'
[218] S.P. Dom. 28th May 1599; the name is given as 'Nun.'
[219] Probably John Hone, Advocate of Doctors' Commons, 1589; Master
in Chancery 1596-1602.
[220] The ecclesiastical 'Court of Arches' held at St. Mary-le-Bow.
[221] A Newcastle carvel-built ship.
[222] MS. 'Bulley'; the high ground south of Rochester Castle.
[223] 'All Hallows, Barking,' founded by the nuns of Barking Abbey,
whence the name.
[224] MS. 'raynam.'
[225] Thievish Dunkirker.
[226] Swatchway; the channel south of the Nore Sand.
[227] Christmas.
[228] Originally half a mark, or 6_s._ 8_d._, afterwards 10_s._
[229] 1602, according to the Old Style, as it is before the 25th
March.
[230] Or Avale, see p. 86; for many years the pilot for the river and
Downs. The Commission of 1618 proposed to pension him as 'aged and
blind.'
[231] MS. 'Dagnam.'
[232] MS. 'Grenehyve.'
[233] See Introduction.
[234] Band.
[235] Round shot. At that period salutes were fired with shotted
guns, not with blank charges.
[236] Immediately.
[237] South of St. Paul's, and on the east side of Baynard's Castle.
[238] _I.e._ Prince Henry.
[239] _I.e._ the Lord High Admiral.
[240] M.S. 'Ihon,' mis-transcribed in the _Harl. MS._ here and
elsewhere as 'Thomas.'
[241] M.S. 'Winebancke.'
[242] The words in italics are wanting in the original MS.
[243] The words in italics are wanting in the original MS.
[244] Coruña.
[245] San Lucar, at the mouth of the Guadalquivir.
[246] MS. 'Bonance': opposite San Lucar.
[247] MS. 'Civill.'
[248] C. de Sta. Maria.
[249] Bore away.
[250] Cadiz.
[251] Santander.
[252] In Hampshire, north of Havant.
[253] See Introduction.
[254] This is a mistake. He has already given the date of birth of
John as 23rd March 1601-2 and of Henry as 18th March 1602-3; see pp.
17 and 18.
[255] Suites.
[256] Of Hinchinbrook, a gentleman of the Privy Chamber, uncle of the
Protector.
[257] In 1608, see Introduction.
[258] MS. 'Alceholte' (Aisholt = Ashwood), near the Surrey border
S.W. of Farnham.
[259] At the northern approach to old London Bridge.