Whoever had the means of furnishing a ship, and could find a
plucky captain to command her, sent her out as a privateer. Even
the Companies of the City of London clubbed their means together
for the purpose of sending out Sir Waiter Raleigh to capture
Spanish ships, and afterwards to divide the plunder; as any one
may see on referring to the documents of the London
Corporation.[18]
The adventure in which Pett was concerned did not prove very
fortunate. He was absent for about twenty months on the coasts
of Spain and Barbary, and in the Levant, enduring much misery for
want of victuals and apparel, and "without taking any purchase of
any value." The Constance returned to the Irish coast, "extreme
poorly." The vessel entered Cork harbour, and then Pett,
thoroughly disgusted with privateering life, took leave of both
ship and voyage. With much difficulty, he made his way across
the country to Waterford, from whence he took ship for London.
He arrived there three days before Christmas, 1594, in a beggarly
condition, and made his way to his brother Peter's house at
Wapping, who again kindly entertained him. The elder brother
Joseph received him more coldly, though he lent him forty
shillings to find himself in clothes. At that time, the fleet
was ordered to be got ready for the last expedition of Drake and
Hawkins to the West Indies. The Defiance was sent into Woolwich
dock to be sheathed; and as Joseph Pett was in charge of the job,
he allowed his brother to be employed as a carpenter.
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