night and day to effect
it, which accordingly was done, to the great honour of our sovereign
king and master, and no less admiration of all strangers that were
eye-witnesses to the same." The reception took place on the 10th of
August, 1606.

Shortly after the departure of His Majesty of Denmark, four of the
Royal ships--the Ark, Victory, Golden Lion, and Swiftsure--were ordered
to be dry-docked; the two last mentioned at Deptford, under charge of
Matthew Baker; and the two former at Woolwich, under that of Pett. For
greater convenience, Pett removed his family to Woolwich. After being
elected and sworn Master of the Company of Shipwrights, he refers in
his manuscript, for the first time, to his magnificent and original
design of the Prince Royal.[22]

"After settling at Woolwich," he says, "I began a curious model for the
prince my master, most part whereof I wrought with my own hands."
After finishing the model, he exhibited it to the Lord High Admiral,
and, after receiving his approval and commands, he presented it to the
young prince at Richmond. "His Majesty (who was present) was
exceedingly delighted with the sight of the model, and passed some time
in questioning the divers material things concerning it, and demanded
whether I could build the great ship in all parts like the same; for I
will, says His Majesty, compare them together when she shall be
finished. Then the Lord Admiral commanded me to tell His Majesty the
story of the Three Ravens[23] I had seen at Lisbon, in St. Vincent's
Church; which I did as well as I could, with my best expressions,
though somewhat daunted at first at His Majesty's presence, having
never before spoken before any King."

Before, however, he could accomplish his purpose, Pett was overtaken by
misfortunes. His enemies, very likely seeing with spite the favour
with which he had been received by men in high position, stirred up an
agitation against him. There may, and there very probably was, a great
deal of jobbery going on in the dockyards. It was difficult, under the
system which prevailed, to have any proper check upon the expenditure
for the repair and construction of ships. At all events, a commission
was appointed for the purpose of inquiring into the abuses and
misdemeanors of those in office; and Pett's enemies took care that his
past proceedings should be thoroughly overhauled,--together with those
of Sir Robert Mansell, then Treasurer to the Navy; Sir John Trev