FOOTNOTES:
[615] Elsewhere spelt 'Planchers' and 'Plansters,' now usually spelt 'Planeshears.' The planks covering the tops of the timbers and forming a shelf below the gunwale.
[616] Terminal pieces.
[617] Cartouches; modillions or corbels.
[618] I.e. cantilevers, or projecting brackets.
[619] Harpins or ribbands.
VI
Petition to the Admiralty
[S.P. Dom., Chas. I, cxciv. 47]
Noble Sir,—I have nothing to tender you for many favours received from you but the return of my thanks, and particularly for this last courtesy about the petition delivered against me which I have, herein enclosed, returned together with my answer, desiring you to be pleased it may be both presented and read to the Lords Commissioners, whose order herein I shall with all humble submission assent unto, not doubting of your careful favour herein, which I shall study to requite with my best acknowledgments, beseeching you to be pleased so far to mediate for me that the plaintiff may not have power from their lordships to bring disgrace upon me, whereby his Majesty's service may suffer as well as myself, by giving leave to have me intercepted when I am to attend the ordinary meeting of the principal officers of his Majesty's Navy, within the city, where they wait for advantage. So leaving myself to your care I take leave and rest
At your service,
Phineas Pett.
Chatham, 22nd June, 1631.
I pray, sir, be pleased to return me word by this bearer when his Majesty is to go to Portsmouth.
(Endorsed) To my honoured friend Edward Nicholas, Esquire, Secretary to the right honourable Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of England these
Westminster.
47 I.
To the right honourable the lords and other Commissioners of the Admiralty of England.
The humble answer of Phineas Pett, his Majesty's servant, to the petition of Lewes Tayte, smith.
I do acknowledge I become debtor[620] to this petitioner for ironwork delivered to the building of a new ship called the Destiny, built by me for Sir Walter Ralegh, from whom I could never receive satisfaction for the said work by 700l., which I was forced to venture with him in his voyage, wherein he failing, and at his return the ship seized into his Majesty's hands, I suffered the loss of the whole debt.
I was contented to give this petitioner my bond for payment of his debt, notwithstanding my great loss, some part whereof was orderly paid, and the rest I should have easily satisfied had not a greater loss presently befallen me, through the occasion of building two small ships for the expedition of Algiers, wherein I sustained (by the overworks, and charge of the journey wherein I served as Captain in one of those ships) the loss of above 900l., towards which I could never hitherto recover one penny satisfaction.
By these two great losses suddenly befalling me, almost together, I was utterly disabled either to satisfy the debts arising from these businesses, or to raise means to maintain myself and poor family.
Notwithstanding I have out of the little remnants of my poor fortunes paid above 500l. of these debts within the space of 6 years, which I never so much as drank for, and I do yearly still contribute the better half of my small means towards the satisfying the rest as carefully as I can.
I have often entreated this petitioner's patience, as knowing his abilities better able to forbear than others, interested as himself in the same business, he having also made more gain by his commodities than any other. Always tendering satisfaction to him as I could take of other debts, to the utmost my fortunes would extend unto, and am very ready and willing yearly to pay unto him such a sum as your lordships in your honourable considerations of the premises, and my present fortunes, shall order me to do. Humbly submitting myself to your Lordships' favourable construction.
Phineas Pett.