About this time I was joined Commissioner with Captain Love, Captain Edward Giles, and Mr. John Reynolds, the Master Gunner of England, to take up divers colliers, and to put them out to sundry shipwrights to be fitted for men-of-war, for which service I never received allowance.
In the beginning of October this present year, happened a wonderful great storm, through which many ships perished, especially in the Downs, amongst which was riding there the Antelope of his Majesty, being bound for Ireland under the command of Sir Thomas Button, my son John being then passenger in her. A merchant ship, being put from her anchors, came foul of her, and put her also from all her anchors, by means whereof she drove upon the Brakes,[496] where she beat off her rudder and much of the run[497] abaft, miraculously escaping utter loss of all, for that the merchant ship that came foul of her,[498] called the Dolphin, hard by her utterly perished both ship and all the company. Yet it pleased God to save her, and got off into the Downs, having cut all her masts by the board, and with much labour was kept from foundering. My son John was sent post from the ship to Sir Thomas Button, who was presently sent by the Lord Admiral on board, and brought warrant for me to attend him to the ship, to use the best means we could to save her. After our coming on board, by placing chain pumps into the steward's room, we kept the water easily under, and then fitted a rudder and jury masts, by which means she was safely brought to Deptford Dock and her defects perfected.
About the end of December this present year, the Prince was docked, to be prepared and fitted to sea, meanwhile the Duke of Brunswick[499] came to Chatham accompanied with divers of the Prince's servants, and went on board the ship in the dock.
The 29th day of January after, the Prince was launched, and soon after had her masts set; and divers other ships graved and made ready for a voyage to sea.
The 28th of March 1625, certain news was brought to Chatham of King James' death; and the next day after, his Majesty was proclaimed amongst us in the Navy at the Hill House;[500] the Masters, Boatswains, Gunners, Pursers, and all belonging to the Navy were present.
All April and May I attended at Chatham, to prepare the Fleet that was then bound to fetch over the Queen. In the latter end of May his Majesty came to Rochester, where I presented myself unto him in the Dean's Yard and kissed his hand and had speech with him, till he came into the house, where he dined and I attended him all the dinner while. Thence I hasted home, and waited his Majesty's coming by towards Canterbury, who alighted at my house and stayed there awhile and gave me leave to drink his health, and then returned to his coach, giving me charge to follow him and to hasten on board the Prince, being then in the Downs. According to his command, I presently took horse and followed him, and lay at Sandwich that night, and next day came into the Downs; went on board to the Vanguard, commanded by Captain Pennington, bound for France, where I met Sir Thomas Button, Captain Ned Giles, and other good company; there dined, and after was set on board the Prince.
Saturday the 4th of June, his Majesty came on board the Prince, riding then in Dover Road, where he dined and was safely landed again. Yet this evening we let slip and went room[501] for the Downs with very foul weather.
Thursday the 9th of June, we got over to Boulogne[502] and anchored in Boulogne Road. The 10th day we had a great storm, the wind north-west, where all our ships drove,[503] and we brake our best bower and were forced to let fall our sheet anchor, which put us both to great danger and puzzle[504] of loss of men and boats, and had also one of our men belonging to the steward-room drowned.
Sunday morning, being the 12th day, all things prepared fit and the great storm allayed, about 11 of the clock we received our young Queen on board, and having a fair leading gale, fitting the entertainment of a Queen, we set sail out of Boulogne Road about one [of the] clock, and before 8 had safely landed her and her train at Dover.
Monday morning I left the ship and went on shore at Dover, and missing my horses was forced to go to Sandwich, where I lay all night, and next day hired post horse home. The boatswain of the ship, John Handcroft, died so soon as I was landed upon the beach.