About the beginning of August it pleased the Prince's Highness my master to send me word that he would come to Woolwich at his return out of Essex from the Lord Petre's,[268] whither his Grace was then going in progress; and on Saturday after, being the 13th day of August, his Highness took his barge at Blackwall, and came by water to Woolwich about noon, accompanied only with his own train, where I received him on shore at the yard stairs. On the poop of the Ann Royal was placed a noise of trumpets, an ensign, and two ensigns upon the heads of both the mizens. After my duty presented to his Highness with the best expression I could, to cause him to understand his welcome to that place and how much it would joy all seamen's hearts to perceive his Highness so well addicted to his Majesty's ships and the sight of them, I conducted his Highness round about the dock, and so directly aboard the Ann Royal to the very top of her poop where, after my duty performed, I gave a secret signal (as was before concluded between us) to my good friend Mr. William Bull, then Master Gunner of England, who stood ready prepared upon a mount in Mr. Hugh Lydiard's garden with thirty-one great brass chambers,[269] orderly and distinctly placed, which, with Mr. Gunner's help, I had procured from the Tower for that purpose. He, presently receiving the signal, diligently attending the same, gave fire to the train, and so discharged the whole volley with so good order as gave a marvellous pleasing content to his Highness (and the more because he expected no such thing, but that it was done suddenly).
When the ordnance gave over, I then kneeled down to his Highness and besought him to be pleased to accept this poor sea entertainment from me, as an unfeigned earnest of my duty to him, which I would hereafter strive to express in better manner if his Highness would be pleased graciously to receive this his first homely welcome. His Highness then, having answered my request with a princely acceptance, commanded me to lead into all the places of the ship; which having viewed with a great deal of delightful judgment, I led his Grace into the Yard, and so to the place where the keel, stem, and stern of his own ship, which was to be built, lay ready framed; which having perused very seriously, and caused the length of the keel to be measured, I besought his Grace to walk into the house to rest himself, which his Highness willingly condescending unto, I conducted him unto Mr. Lydiard's parlour where was prepared a set banquet of sweet meats and all other fruits the season of the year could yield, with plentiful store of wine, both Rhenish white, sack, Greek wine and claret. His Highness was well pleased to take his refection, and after the banquet done, giving his hand to kiss to divers gentlewomen of the town that were in the room together with my wife, his Highness desired to be brought to the mount where the chambers were placed, which were again laden in this interim and ranged in their first order with the train made ready. This sight so much pleased his Grace that he was very desirous to have the train fired, his Highness standing by, but at my humble entreaty, understanding what danger was incident to such a business, he gave me order that, at the holding up of his handkerchief in his barge, I should see them put off; and so taking notice of Mr. Bull and giving him his hand to kiss, taking his leave, I conducted his Highness to his barge, being the top of full sea; where kissing his hand upon my knee, he expressed how kindly he accepted his welcome, using many gracious speeches to me, and so putting off. I returned to the mount, and, upon his Highness' signal given me, the train was fired and the chambers delivered their loud voices in as distinct order as at the first, to the great delight of his Highness, and general applause of all others there present.
Having now finished, by God's providence and gracious assistance, the Ark, which I began to repair in Woolwich Dock in May, was twelve-month before, on the 29th day of September, 1608, I launched her. It was a very blustering day, the wind at south-west, but, thanks be to God, with a little difficulty she was launched and brought safely to her moorings. Her name was altered and given by the mouth of my very good friend Sir Oliver Cromwell, in presence of Sir Robert Mansell, Sir John Trevor and Captain Button, divers other gentlemen being on board, with his Majesty's trumpets and drums; her name was given the Anne Royal. These knights, with the Lady Mansell, the Lady Trevor, Mrs. Button, and sundry others, dined this day with me at Woolwich in Mr. Lydiard's parlour, my lodgings being as yet not altered, and therefore inconvenient for entertaining of any friends of account; which lodgings I after by warrant repaired and made as they now are, for which I was greatly questioned by the Lord of Northampton in his inquisition, and stand upon his book of reformation at large recorded.
The 20th October following, being Thursday, by God's good help I lay the keel of the new great ship[270] upon the blocks in the dock, and the 28th day following, of the same month, I raised her stern, and presently after the stem, and proceeded in order with the floor[271] as fast as I could, notwithstanding the many practices underhand attempted to have diverted the whole course of that building, as hereafter in his proper place shall be discovered.
During the time that I proceeded on with the new frame, the inquisition against the Navy then growing to the height and prosecuted with extremity of malice against Sir John Trevor, Sir Robert Mansell, and some others, amongst whom myself held not the least place, about the fine of March, 1609, there was discovered unto me (by Mr. Sebastian Vicars, Carver to the Ships, my ever true and faithful friend) a secret combination against me concerning the building of the great ship, suggested first by the practice of my fellows, old Mr. Mathew Baker and Mr. William Bright, old adversaries to my name and family, assisted by Edward Stevens, a Master Shipwright, who laid great claim to my place by a former patent to him granted under the broad seal of England, with some other shipwrights also joined with them by especial warrant from the great Lord of Northampton, my most implacable enemy; my fellows bearing me no small grudge because by the Prince's Highness' means, my master, I was preferred to that great business before them; and Mr. Stevens malicing me because he could not prevail against me to recover my place from me.
They had also won to their party by much importunity, and by means of a particular letter directed from the Lord Northampton to him to that very purpose, a great braggadocio, a vain and idle fellow sometime a mariner and master, called by the name of Captain George Waymouth; who, having much acquaintance abroad amongst gentlemen, was to disperse the insufficiency of my business, reporting how I was no artist, and altogether insufficient to perform such a service, of no experience, and that the King's Majesty was cosened and all the charge lost, and the frame of her was unfit for any use but a dung boat, with many other such false opprobrious defamations, wherein he was better practised than in any other profession.
These rumours being thus divulged, the report thereof coming to Mr. Sebastian Vicars' ears was the cause that he, out of his great love and honesty to me, wrote to me what he heard abroad, wishing me to keep a careful watch over myself, for that they would bend all their practices, powers and friends, to the disgracing of the building and ruining of me. But I, being very confident of the goodness of my cause (though I received that admonition as from a dear friend with much acknowledgment of his love and care of me), yet, little regarding what their malicious practices could bring forth, made small reckoning of their plottings till such time as the good honest man, understanding from some of their own mouths what was intended against me, made a purposed journey to me to Woolwich (though he was then scarce able to travel by reason of a tedious[272] sickness) and there thoroughly possessed me of the certainty of what he before by his writing had truly informed me.
I, now perceiving it was no idle flim flam[273] as I before supposed, considered that the goodness of my cause might by my secure[274] neglect either suffer hazard, or be overborne by greatness, began to call my wits about me and to advise what was to be done in the business; at which time, to make good the supposition, I received a message by word of mouth from a worthy gentleman, and good friend of mine, Mr. William Burrell, principal Master Workman to the East India Company, of all their project, which was discovered to him particularly by that Captain Waymouth, being at that instant time between drunk and sober.
The 13th of April this Waymouth was, by consent of the rest, sent to Woolwich to survey my work, and thereupon to deliver his opinion, and I in the mean time was appointed to be at Redriff at a meeting at a court held for the incorporation of Shipwrights, whereof I was then Master, that in my absence he might have the better opportunity to perform his malicious instructions, as he was directed by his great masters; of the which his purpose I receiving certain intelligence, leaving my intended journey to Redriff, I awaited his coming, and, receiving him after a courteous manner, after some discourse and ordinary compliments he returned back to his confederates, frustrate of his great purpose.