I had forgotten[254] to insert in his proper place the birth of two sons, which it pleased God were born unto me, the eldest whereof named John was born at Highwood Hill, in my wife's father's house, in the Parish of Hendon in Middlesex, the 23rd day of March, 1600. The second son named Henry was born in my house at Chatham in Kent the 18th of March in anno Domini 1602.
The 12th of January following I began a journey into Hampshire, into the forest of East Bere, where I spent the rest of that month in making choice of the trees were bought of the Earl of Worcester; which business performed, and my good friend David Duck undertaking the whole charge of the same in the behalf of Sir Robert Mansell and Sir John Trevor, I returned home to my house at Chatham in the beginning of February.
The 21st of June succeeding it pleased God my wife was safely delivered of our third son Richard Pett at my house in Chatham.
The 8th day of July I took another journey into Hampshire into Bere forest, as well to survey how the business was ordered as to carry down money to David Duck; from whence I returned home the 14th day of the same month.
The 17th day of July, his Majesty the noble King of Denmark arrived in England, against whose coming, being but only supposed some two months before, I received private directions from the Lord Admiral and some of the Principal Officers to have all the ships put into a comely readiness, which accordingly was performed in a decent and warlike manner, as if they had been prepared to sea; but upon the news of his certain arrival they were all rigged and furnished with their ordnance, and a great preparation was made aboard the Elizabeth Jonas and the Bear, for entertaining the Kings, Queen, Prince, and all the other State and Troupes;[255] wherein I confess I strove extraordinarily to express my service for the honour of the Kingdom, but by reason the time limited was short, and the business great, we laboured night and day to effect it; which accordingly was performed, to the great honour of our sovereign King and Master and no less admiration of all strangers that were eye witnesses of the same.
The solemnity of this entertainment was performed the 10th day of August, being Sunday. At this time Sir Oliver Cromwell[256] and other gentlemen, my good friends, were lodged at my house.
Presently after the King of Denmark was returned into his own country, order was taken by the Lords of his Majesty's Council, together with the Lord Admiral, for the dry docking of four of his Majesty's ships, videlicet, the Ark Royal, the Victory, the Golden Lion, and the Swiftsure; the two latter being appointed to be docked at Deptford, commended to the charge of old Mathew Baker; the other two, being ships royal, appointed to Woolwich and committed to my charge (by reason the Victory was given by the King to the Prince, whose servant I being, it was held fit to be most proper to me, which bred me no small trouble and question afterward).[257]
About the beginning of September following I received warrant and directions from the Principal Officers of the Navy for preparing the dock at Woolwich to receive the ships formerly appointed for that place; which accordingly being effected, the 8th of October ensuing I docked the Victory, and the next day after, being Thursday, I docked the Ark, hastened the shutting in of the dock gates, shored them, and discharged my company the 3rd day of November following; but the 21st day of the same month I had order to press in new men, to rip and lay open the state of the ships, which in a short time being performed, I discharged my company the 11th of December after.
Towards the fine of January ensuing, I received warrant for the surveying of the forest of Alice Holt[258] in Hampshire, and the forest of Shotover near Oxford. I began my journey thither from London the 27th day of the same month, and returned back to London the second day of February, with a good account of my service; within short time after, warrants being granted for the number of trees to be taken in both these places, I substituted my brother Peter, my purveyor in Alice Holt, and one Richard Meritt, purveyor for Shotover.