What with his
building of ships, his attendance on the Lord Admiral to Spain,
and his selection of timber for the Government, his hands seem to
have been kept very full during the whole of 1605.
In July, 1606, Pett received private instructions from the Lord
High Admiral to have all the King's ships "put into comely
readiness" for the reception of the King of Denmark, who was
expected on a Royal visit. "Wherein," he says, "I strove
extraordinarily to express my service for the honour of the
kingdom; but by reason the time limited was short, and the
business great, we laboured night and day to effect it, which
accordingly was done, to the great honour of our sovereign king
and master, and no less admiration of all strangers that were
eye-witnesses to the same." The reception took place on the 10th
of August, 1606.
Shortly after the departure of His Majesty of Denmark, four of
the Royal ships--the Ark, Victory, Golden Lion, and
Swiftsure--were ordered to be dry-docked; the two last mentioned
at Deptford, under charge of Matthew Baker; and the two former at
Woolwich, under that of Pett. For greater convenience, Pett
removed his family to Woolwich. After being elected and sworn
Master of the Company of Shipwrights, he refers in his
manuscript, for the first time, to his magnificent and original
design of the Prince Royal.[22]
"After settling at Woolwich," he says, "I began a curious model
for the prince my master, most part whereof I wrought with my own
hands.
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