The second of August, being Tuesday, his Majesty came to Portsmouth accompanied with divers lords, and presently took boat and went on board each several ship, from thence treatably[542] returning, and the ships saluting him with their ordnance. His Majesty was landed by six of the clock and went directly to the Governor's house, where he was lodged, and called for supper as soon as he came. Next day I attended his Majesty for order for removing the ships, which presently was done by his Majesty's own mouth; and waiting at dinner, his Majesty commanded me to attend the Lord Treasurer and others, to transport them into the Isle of Wight and bring them back; which I carefully performed in his Majesty's pinnace, the Maria, appointed for that purpose, and safely landed him from the Cowes at Titchfield Haven, being attended with one of the Whelps. I returned to Chatham from Portsmouth the 10th of August after.
The 25th of this month, being Thursday, my son John's wife, lost in the sixth Whelp, was married to Edward Stevens,[543] a shipwright, in Chatham Church, the wedding being at my house in the new dockyard, where we gave entertainment to all his friends till Monday after, when they returned for London.
In[544] the beginning of this year, 1632, I was commanded from his Majesty to assist my son Peter in the building a new ship at Woolwich, which was begun in February, being of the burthen of 800 tons and tonnage; most part of the frame and provisions being made in the forests of Shotover and Stowood, Oxfordshire; my son had the oversight of the work. About the 8th of June, his Majesty came to Woolwich to see the work, where I entertained him afterwards in my lodgings and attended his Majesty to Deptford in his own barge, where he landed to view the other new ship built by Mr. Goddard.
The 30th day of January, 1633, the new ship at Woolwich was launched, the King's Majesty being there present, standing in my lodgings. It proved a fair day and good tide, so that the ship was put out without strain of tackle, which much contented his Majesty, who soon after took his barge and returned to Whitehall. The ship was named the Charles after his own name.
The next day the new ship at Deptford built by Mr. Goddard was launched, the King and Queen's Majesties being present, and was called after the Queen's name, Henrietta Maria.
By the beginning of March, the Henrietta being come to ride at Woolwich by the Charles, both being ready fitted to set sail for Chatham, his Majesty was pleased to come down in his barge on board the Charles. We presently weighed with both ships and set sail with the wind at south-west and better; his Majesty went in her a little beneath[545] Barking Creek, and then took his barge and returned, we taking leave after the manner of the sea with our voices and whistles, and the King's trumpets upon the poop. By low water we were got beneath the Nore a good distance, and there anchored all night, and the next flood we turned up as high as Oakham Ness[546] and there anchored, and on Monday after came over the chain.
The 22nd of March, I was appointed to make a journey to Portsmouth to take survey of all the business there, both on float and on the shore. Mr. Edisbury,[547] Mr. Goddard, Mr. Goodwin[548] the Master, Mr. Apslyn,[549] and our clerks going along with us. We took our journey from London on Friday morning, and came to Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon. It was the 6th of April following before I returned to home to Chatham. The 11th day, son Peter first time took his journey to Woodbridge in Suffolk to see Mrs. Cole's eldest daughter.
The 15th of June, 1633, I went a journey to Portsmouth from Chatham, through part of East Kent, accompanied with Sir Henry Palmer, Captain William Hawkridge, newly returned from captivity,[550] our clerks and servants. Saturday and Sunday night we lay at Buckwell,[551] at Captain Moyle's, whose wife was sister to the Lady Palmer. Monday we rode to one Sir William Campion's, where we were very kindly entertained till Wednesday morning; thence taking leave we rode to Lewes to dinner; thence to Shoreham,[552] where we lodged that night; thence to Chichester, there dined; then to Portsmouth where we stayed four days to despatch business there; which done, we came thence to Guildford; so to London; and the 26th day, being Wednesday, I came home to Chatham.
The 5th of July, 1633, being a Friday, I began a journey from Chatham by sea into Suffolk in the little Henrietta pinnace commanded by Captain Cook, one of the Master Attendants of his Majesty's Navy, accompanied with young Mr. Henry Palmer, Mr. Isackson, son Yardley, cousin[553] Joseph, my sons Peter and Christopher, man Charles Bowles, and George Parker.[554] We set sail from Gillingham in the morning, having a fair gale at south-west. We anchored against Harwich, between two and three of the clock, afternoon, and from thence shipped ourselves and company in boats for Ipswich, arriving there afore 6 in the evening, and lodged at the Angel Inn, which was then kept by my cousin Barwick. On Saturday morning we were horsed to Woodbridge on hackneys, whither we came about 11 of the clock and were lodged at the Crown. After dinner we went to visit Mrs. Cole and her daughters, with whom we had large discourse about the match of her daughter with my son Peter, and found our propositions entertained, I having great liking to the maid. Sunday, we and our train dined and supped at Mrs. Cole's. Monday, we invited mother and daughters and Mr. Fleming to dine with us at our inn, whither came to us divers of our friends to whom we gave the best entertainment the place could afford. In the afternoon we had private conferences together, and concluded the match and contracted the parties with free consent on both sides; we supped this night at Mrs. Cole's. Tuesday forenoon, having despatched all our business, we took our journey by horse to Landguard Point[555] accompanied with Mistress Cole, her daughters, and other their friends and neighbours, whom we entertained a while on board our pinnace, and there resolved the day of marriage; thence we accompanied them on shore, saw them horsed, and so took leave. My son and some other of our company accompanied them to Woodbridge, being overtaken with a mighty storm of rain, thunder and lightning all the way. All the next day proving very foul and wet weather, the wind contrary, and my son and his company not returned (who came not to us till almost 3, afternoon) we concluded to stay till next morning in the road. Myself and most of our company went on shore to Harwich and there lay that night.
Thursday morning we came on board betimes and set sail, and that tide came up as high as Bishop Ness in our river of Medway, where we anchored and had boats meet us from Chatham, in whom we embarked, and were safely landed at the new dock about seven, Friday morning, 12th July, giving God thanks for our prosperous voyage and safe return.