The Resistance was hired by the Government as a transport, and
Pett was put in command. He seems to have been married at this
time, as he mentions in his memoir that he parted with his wife
and children at Chatham on the 24th of March, 1605, and that he
sailed from Queenborough on Easter Sunday.
During the voyage to Lisbon the Resistance became separated from
the Ambassador's squadron, and took refuge in Corunna. She then
set sail for Lisbon, which she reached on the 24th of April; and
afterwards for St. Lucar, on the Guadalquiver, near Seville,
which she reached on the 11th of May following. After revisiting
Corunna, "according to instructions," on the homeward voyage,
Pett directed his course for England, and reached Rye on the 26th
of June, "amidst much rain, thunder, and lightning." In the
course of the same year, his brother Joseph died, and Phineas
succeeded to his post as master shipbuilder at Chatham. He was
permitted, in conjunction with one Henry Farvey and three others,
to receive the usual reward of 5s. per ton for building five new
merchant ships,[21] most probably for East Indian commerce, now
assuming large dimensions. He was despatched by the Government
to Bearwood, in Hampshire, to make a selection of timber from the
estate of the Earl of Worcester for the use of the navy, and on
presenting his report 3000 tons were purchased.
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