[28] Pett says she was to be 500 tons, but when he turned her out
her burthen was rated at 700 tons.
[29] This conduct of Raleigh's was the more inexcusable, as there
is in the State Paper Office a warrant dated 16th Nov., 1617, for
the payment to Pett of 700 crowns "for building the new ship, the
Destiny of London, of 700 tons burthen." The least he could have
done was to have handed over to the builder his royal and usual
reward. In the above warrant, by the way, the title "our
well-beloved subject," the ordinary prefix to such grants, has
either been left blank or erased (it is difficult to say which),
but was very significant of the slippery footing of Raleigh at
Court.
[30] Sir Giles Overreach, in the play of "A new way to pay old
debts," by Philip Massinger. It was difficult for the poet, or
any other person, to libel such a personage as Mompesson.
[31] Pett's method is described in a paper contained in the
S.P.O., dated 21st Oct., 1626. The Trinity Corporation adopted
his method.
[32] Memoirs of the Life and Services of Rear-Admiral Sir William
Symonds, Kt., p. 94.
[33] Pett's dwelling-house at Rochester is thus described in an
anonymous history of that town (p. 337, ed. l817):-- "Beyond the
Victualling Office, on the same side of the High Street, at
Rochester, is an old mansion, now occupied by a Mr. Morson, an
attorney, which formerly belonged to the Petts, the celebrated
ship-builders.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81