repairing and building first-class ships of war. As Pett had, on an
early occasion in his life, prepared a miniature ship for Prince Henry,
eldest son of James I., he now proceeded to prepare a similar model for
the Prince of Wales, the King's eldest son, afterwards Charles II.
This model was presented to the Prince at St. James's, "who entertained
it with great joy, being purposely made to disport himself withal." On
the next visit of his Majesty to Woolwich, he inspected the progress
made with the Leopard, a sloop-of-war built by Peter Pett. While in
the hold of the vessel, the King called Phineas to one side, and told
him of his resolution to have a great new ship built, and that Phineas
must be the builder. This great new ship was The Sovereign of the
Seas, afterwards built by Phineas and Peter Pett. Some say that the
model was prepared by the latter; but Phineas says that it was prepared
by himself, and finished by the 29th of October, 1634. As a
compensation for his services, his Majesty renewed his pension of 40L.
(which had been previously stopped), with orders for all the arrears
due upon it to be paid.

To provide the necessary timber for the new ship, Phineas and his son
went down into the North to survey the forests. They went first by
water to Whitby; from thence they proceeded on horseback to Gisborough
and baited; then to Stockton, where they found but poor entertainment,
though they lodged with the Mayor, whose house "was only a mean
thatched cottage!" Middlesborough and the great iron district of the
North had not yet come into existence.

Newcastle, already of some importance, was the principal scene of their
labours. The timber for the new ship was found in Chapley Wood and
Bracepeth Park. The gentry did all they could to facilitate the object
of Pett. On his journey homewards (July, 1635), he took Cambridge on
his way, where, says he, "I lodged at the Falcon, and visited Emmanuel
College, where I had been a scholar in my youth."

The Sovereign of the Seas was launched on the 12th of October, 1637,
having been about two years in building. Evelyn in his diary says of
the ship (19th July, 1641):--"We rode to Rochester and Chatham to see
the Soveraigne, a monstrous vessel so called, being for burthen,
defence, and ornament, the richest that ever spread cloth before the
wind. She carried 100 brass cannon, and was 1600 tons, a rare sailer,
the work of the famous Phineas Pett." Rear-Admiral