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hands were clean。 He went on vigorously with his work； though he
knew that the inquisition against him was at its full height。
His enemies reported that he was 〃no artist； and that he was
altogether insufficient to perform such a service〃 as that of
building his great ship。 Nevertheless； he persevered； believing
in the goodness of his cause。 Eventually； he was enabled to turn
the tables upon his accusers； and to completely justify himself
in all his transactions with the king； the Lord Admiral； and the
public officers； who were privy to all his transactions。 Indeed；
the result of the enquiry was not only to cause a great trouble
and expense to all the persons accused； but； as Pett says in his
Memoir； 〃the Government itself of that royal office was so shaken
and disjoined as brought almost ruin upon the whole Navy； and a
far greater charge to his Majesty in his yearly expense than ever
was known before。〃＇24＇
In the midst of his troubles and anxieties； Pett was unexpectedly
cheered with the presence of his 〃Master〃 Prince Henry； who
specially travelled out of his way from Essex to visit him at
Woolwich； to see with his own eyes what progress he was making
with the great ship。 After viewing the dry dock； which had been
constructed by Pett； and was one of the first； if not the very
first in England；his Highness partook of a banquet which the
shipbuilder had hastily prepared for him in his temporary
lodgings。
One of the circumstances which troubled Pett so much at this
time； was the strenuous opposition of the other shipbuilders to
his plans of the great ship。 There never had been such a
frightful innovation。 The model was all wrong。 The lines were
detestable。 The man who planned the whole thing was a fool； a
〃cozener〃 of the king； and the ship； suppose it to be made； was
〃unfit for any other use but a dung…boat！〃 This attack upon his
professional character weighed very heavily upon his mind。
He determined to put his case in a staightforward manner before
the Lord High Admiral。 He set down in writing in the briefest
manner everything that he had done； and the plots that had been
hatched against him； and beseeched his lordship； for the honour
of the State； and the reputation of his office； to cause the
entire matter to be thoroughly investigated 〃by judicious and
impartial persons。〃 After a conference with Pett； and an
interview with his Majesty； the Lord High Admiral was authorised
by the latter to invite the Earls of Worcester and Suffolk to
attend with him at Woolwich； and bring all the accusers of Pett's
design of the great ship before them for the purpose of
examination； and to report to him as to the actual state of
affairs。 Meanwhile Pett's enemies had been equally busy。 They
obtained a private warrant from the Earl of Northampton＇25＇ to
survey the work； 〃which being done；〃 says Pett； 〃upon return of
the insufficiency of the same under their hands； and confirmation
by oath； it was resolved amongst them I should be turned out； and
for ever disgraced。〃
But the lords appointed by the King now interfered between Pett
and his adversaries。 They first inspected the ship； and made a
diligent survey of the form and manner of the work and the
goodness of the materials； and then called all the accusers
before them to hear their allegations。 They were examined
separately。 First； Baker the master shipbuilder was called。 He
objected to the size of the ship； to the length； breadth； depth；
draught of water； height of jack； rake before and aft； breadth of
the floor； scantling of the timber； and so on。 Then another of
the objectors was called； and his evidence was so clearly in
contradiction to that which had already been given； that either
one or both must be wrong。 The principal objector； Captain
Waymouth； next gave his evidence； but he was able to say nothing
to any purpose； except giving their lordships 〃a long； tedious
discourse of proportions； measures； lines； and an infinite rabble
of idle and unprofitable speeches； clean from the matter。〃
The result was that their lordships reported favourably of the
design of the ship； and the progress which had already been made。
The Earl of Nottingham interposed his influence； and the King
himself； accompanied by the young Prince； went down to Woolwich；
and made a personal examination。＇26＇ A great many witnesses were
again examined； twenty…four on one side； and twenty…seven on the
other。 The King then carefully examined the ship himself： 〃the
planks； the tree…nails； the workmanship； and the cross…grained
timber。〃 〃The cross…grain；〃 he concluded； 〃was in the men and
not in the timber。〃 After all the measurements had been made and
found correct； 〃his Majesty；〃 says Pett； 〃with a loud voice
commanded the measurers to declare publicly the very truth； which
when they had delivered clearly on our side； all the whole
multitude heaved up their hats； and gave a great and loud shout
and acclamation。 And then the Prince； his Highness； called with
a high voice in these words： 'Where be now these perjured
fellows that dare thus abuse his Majesty with these false
accusations？ Do they not worthily deserve hanging？〃'
Thus Pett triumphed over all his enemies； and was allowed to
finish the great ship in his own way。 By the middle of September
1610； the vessel was ready to be 〃strucken down upon her ways〃；
and a dozen of the choice master carpenters of his Majesty's navy
came from Chatham to assist in launching her。 The ship was
decorated； gilded； draped； and garlanded； and on the 24th the
King； the Queen； and the Royal family came from the palace at
Theobald's to witness the great sight。 Unfortunately； the day
proved very rough； and it was little better than a neap tide。
The ship started very well； but the wind 〃overblew the tide〃； she
caught in the dock…gates； and settled hard upon the ground； so
that there was no possibility of launching her that day。
This was a great disappointment。 The King retired to the palace
at Greenwich； though the Prince lingered behind。 When he left；
he promised to return by midnight； after which it was proposed to
make another effort to set the ship afloat。 When the time
arrived； the Prince again made his appearance； and joined the
Lord High Admiral； and the principal naval officials。 It was
bright moonshine。 After midnight the rain began to fall； and the
wind to blow from the southwest。 But about two o'clock； an hour
before high water； the word was given to set all taut； and the
ship went away without any straining of screws and tackles； till
she came clear afloat into the midst of the Thames。 The Prince
was aboard； and amidst the blast of trumpets and expressions of
joy； he performed the ceremony of drinking from the great
standing cup； and throwing the rest of the wine towards the
half…deck； and christening the ship by the name of the Prince
Royal。＇27＇
The dimensions of the ship may