nce Royal was
docked, and fitted for a voyage to Spain. She was sent thither with
Charles Prince of Wales and the Duke of Buckingham, the former going in
search of a Spanish wife. Pett, the builder of the ship, was commanded
to accompany the young Prince and the Duke.

The expedition sailed on the 24th of August, 1623, and returned on the
14th of October. Pett was entertained on board the Prince Royal, and
rendered occasional services to the officers in command, though nothing
of importance occurred during the voyage.

The Prince of Wales presented him with a valuable gold chain as a
reward for his attendance. In 1625, Pett, after rendering many
important services to the Admiralty, was ordered again to prepare the
Prince Royal for sea. She was to bring over the Prince of Wales's
bride from France. While the preparations were making for the voyage,
news reached Chatham of the death of King James. Pett was afterwards
commanded to go forward with the work of preparing the Prince Royal, as
well as the whole fleet, which was intended to escort the French
Princess, or rather the Queen, to England. The expedition took place
in May, and the young Queen landed at Dover on the 12th of that month.

Pett continued to be employed in building and repairing ships, as well
as in preparing new designs, which he submitted to the King and the
Commissioners of the Navy. In 1626, he was appointed a joint
commissioner, with the Lord High Admiral, the Lord Treasurer
Marlborough, and others, "to enquire into certain alleged abuses of the
Navy, and to view the state thereof, and also the stores thereof,"
clearly showing that he was regaining his old position. He was also
engaged in determining the best mode of measuring the tonnage of
ships.[31] Four years later he was again appointed a commissioner for
making "a general survey of the whole navy at Chatham." For this and
his other services the King promoted Pett to be a principal officer of
the Navy, with a fee of 200L. per annum. His patent was sealed on the
16th of January, 1631. In the same year the King visited Woolwich to
witness the launching of the Vanguard, which Pett had built; and his
Majesty honoured the shipwright by participating in a banquet at his
lodgings.

From this period to the year 1637, Pett records nothing of particular
importance in his autobiography. He was chiefly occupied in aiding his
son Peter--who was rapidly increasing his fame as a shipwright--in