ing, and on the 24th of September it was launched. It is stated that the
garnishing of the ship began between Easter and Michaelmas, and that the
number of nobles, gentry, and citizens, resorting continually to Woolwich
to see it, was incredible. On the 9th of September, divers London maids,
with a little boy with them, visited the ship; the boy fell down into the
hold, and died the same night from the effects of his fall, being the first
accident during the building. About the middle of the month, the ship being
ready to be placed on the ways, twelve choice master carpenters of his
Majesty's navy were sent for from Chatham to assist in "her striking and
launching;" on the 18th she was safely set upon her ways, and on the 26th
was visited by the French ambassador. Preparations were made in the yard
for the reception of the king, queen, royal children, ladies, and the
council; and on the evening of the 23rd, a messenger was sent from
Theobalds, desiring the ship to be searched, lest any disaffected persons
might have bored holes privily in her bottom. On Monday 24th, the dock
gates were opened; but the wind blowing hard from the south-west, it proved
a very bad tide. The king came from Theobalds, though he had been very
little at ease with a scouring, taken with surfeiting by eating grapes, the
prince and most of the lords of the council attending him. The queen
arrived after dinner, and the lord admiral gave commandment to heave taught
the crabs and screws, though Pette says he had little hope to launch by
reason the wind overblew the tide; "yet the ship started and had launched,
but the dock gates pent her in so straight, that she stuck fast between
them, by reason the ship was nothing lifted by the tide, as we expected she
would; and the great lighter, by unadvised counsel, being cut off the
stern, the ship settled so hard upon the ground, that there was no
possibility of launching that tide; besides which there was such a
multitude of people got into the ship, that one could scarce stir by
another."

"The king was much grieved at the frustrate of his expectation," and
returned to Greenwich at five o'clock with the queen and her train; the
prince staid a good while after conferring with the lord admiral and Mr.
Pette, and then rode off to Greenwich, with a promise to return shortly
after midnight. The night was moonlight, but shortly after midnight became
very stormy, which Mr. Pette says made him "doubt that there were