I rigged her and prepared her with all her furniture to attend the Lord High Admiral of England in his journey into Spain when he went Ambassador, and made ready the Bear and the rest of his Majesty's ships at Chatham that went that voyage, myself being commanded by his Lordship to wait upon him in his own ship, the Bear, which accordingly I performed.
The 24th of March I took my leave of the most noble Prince my master at Greenwich, being Sunday in the afternoon; and the 28th day of the same month following I took leave of my wife and children at Chatham and attended the Lord Ambassador on board the Bear in his own barge, the whole fleet then riding at Queenborough, from whence we set sail the last day, being Sunday and Easter day.
The 4th day of April we[243] came to an anchor in Dover Road, and the 10th day after we lost the sight of the Lizard. The next day, being the 11th, the Lord Ambassador sent me aboard my own ship, the Resistance, with one Captain Morgan, with certain directions, to the Groyne.[244] But by the overbearing of Captain Morgan, his Lordship altering his determination came into the Groyne two days before us, where we also arrived the 16th day, being Tuesday.
The 20th of April, being Saturday, I set sail with the Resistance out of the Groyne, with instructions to go for Lisbon, where I arrived the 24th after, and there stayed to despatch my affairs till the 9th day of May following; from whence I set sail for St. Lucar,[245] and arrived there the 11th day in the afternoon, being Saturday; from whence I went by passage boat, leaving my ship at Bonanza,[246] to Seville;[247] from whence, after three days stay there, I returned to my ship the 17th day of the same month.
From St. Lucar I set sail the 2nd day of June, and plying it up for Cape St. Mary's[248] with a contrary wind, I put room[249] the 5th day for Cales[250] road, from whence, putting to sea again the 8th day, I arrived back again at the Groyne the 19th day, according as my instructions directed me. Where going ashore to the Governor and understanding the fleet to be all gone to St. Anderas[251] and that the Lord Ambassador was already (as he said) embarked for England, I put to sea again presently, directing my course for England. The 23rd day I made the Start, and the 26th day of June, being Wednesday, I landed at Rye in the forenoon; from whence I came post to my house at Chatham, with much rain, thunder, and lightning all the way, where I lighted about 10 of the clock at night.
In the midst of July, after my return home, I let out my ship, the Resistance, to merchants for a voyage into the Straits by the month, one Mr. Burgess going master, and my friend William Gibbons, his mate and purser. I docked her, sheathed her, and fitted her, and she went from Gravesend the 23rd day of August following.
In the midst of October following I made a journey into Hampshire, to make a survey of a part of the forest of East Bere,[252] being then in the occupation of the Right Honourable the Earl of Worcester, of whom, after my return, Sir Robert Mansell and Sir John Trevor bought 3000 trees.
At my return to London from that journey I found my eldest brother Joseph Pett, then dwelling at Limehouse, very dangerously sick, of the which he never recovered but departed this life the 15th day of November about 9 of the clock in the forenoon, being Friday.
He was buried in the chancel in Stepney Church the 18th day of November in the forenoon, accompanied with my good friends Sir Robert Mansell, Sir Henry Palmer, Sir John Trevor, then Principal Officers of His Majesty's Navy, and many other good friends and neighbours, who after the funeral returned to my brother's house, where they all were welcomed with a very great dinner and feast.
Presently after my brother's decease, it pleased my very good lord, the Lord High Admiral, to grant his warrant for my entrance into my brother's place, to the effect of my letters patent, notwithstanding the claim made unto it by one Edward Stevens[253] of Limehouse, who had formerly procured a general reversion of all the Master Shipwrights' places, but by reason the fee was mistaken, wherein his Majesty was abused and charged with an innovation, he could not prevail in his claim, albeit he often petitioned the Lords of the Council and made great friends against me; yet it pleased God, by the noble favour of the Prince my master, and the Lord Admiral's countenance, I enjoyed my place with a general approbation both of the State and Officers; and so finished this year of 1605.