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his old position。 He was also engaged in determining the best
mode of measuring the tonnage of ships。＇31＇ Four years later he
was again appointed a commissioner for making 〃a general survey
of the whole navy at Chatham。〃 For this and his other services
the King promoted Pett to be a principal officer of the Navy；
with a fee of 200L。 per annum。 His patent was sealed on the 16th
of January； 1631。 In the same year the King visited Woolwich to
witness the launching of the Vanguard； which Pett had built； and
his Majesty honoured the shipwright by participating in a banquet
at his lodgings。
From this period to the year 1637； Pett records nothing of
particular importance in his autobiography。 He was chiefly
occupied in aiding his son Peterwho was rapidly increasing his
fame as a shipwrightin repairing and building first…class ships
of war。 As Pett had； on an early occasion in his life； prepared
a miniature ship for Prince Henry； eldest son of James I。； he now
proceeded to prepare a similar model for the Prince of Wales； the
King's eldest son； afterwards Charles II。 This model was
presented to the Prince at St。 James's； 〃who entertained it with
great joy； being purposely made to disport himself withal。〃 On
the next visit of his Majesty to Woolwich； he inspected the
progress made with the Leopard； a sloop…of…war built by Peter
Pett。 While in the hold of the vessel； the King called Phineas
to one side； and told him of his resolution to have a great new
ship built； and that Phineas must be the builder。 This great new
ship was The Sovereign of the Seas； afterwards built by Phineas
and Peter Pett。 Some say that the model was prepared by the
latter； but Phineas says that it was prepared by himself； and
finished by the 29th of October； 1634。 As a compensation for his
services； his Majesty renewed his pension of 40L。 （which had been
previously stopped）； with orders for all the arrears due upon it
to be paid。
To provide the necessary timber for the new ship； Phineas and his
son went down into the North to survey the forests。 They went
first by water to Whitby； from thence they proceeded on horseback
to Gisborough and baited； then to Stockton； where they found but
poor entertainment； though they lodged with the Mayor； whose
house 〃was only a mean thatched cottage！〃 Middlesborough and the
great iron district of the North had not yet come into existence。
Newcastle； already of some importance； was the principal scene of
their labours。 The timber for the new ship was found in Chapley
Wood and Bracepeth Park。 The gentry did all they could to
facilitate the object of Pett。 On his journey homewards （July；
1635）； he took Cambridge on his way； where； says he； 〃I lodged at
the Falcon； and visited Emmanuel College； where I had been a
scholar in my youth。〃
The Sovereign of the Seas was launched on the l2th of October；
1637； having been about two years in building。 Evelyn in his
diary says of the ship （l9th July； 1641）：… 〃We rode to Rochester
and Chatham to see the Soveraigne； a monstrous vessel so called；
being for burthen； defence； and ornament； the richest that ever
spread cloth before the wind。 She carried 100 brass cannon； and
was 1600 tons； a rare sailer； the work of the famous Phineas
Pett。〃 Rear…Admiral Sir William Symonds says that she was
afterwards cut down； and was a safe and fast ship。＇32＇
The Sovereign continued for nearly sixty years to be the finest
ship in the English service。 Though frequently engaged in the
most injurious occupations； she continued fit for any services
which the exigencies of the State might require。 She fought all
through the wars of the Commonwealth； she was the leading ship of
Admiral Blake； and was in all the great naval engagements with
France and Holland。 The Dutch gave her the name of The Golden
Devil。 In the last fight between the English and French； she
encountered the Wonder of the World； and so warmly plied the
French Admiral； that she forced him out of his three…decked
wooden castle； and chasing the Royal Sun； before her； forced her
to fly for shelter among the rocks； where she became a prey to
lesser vessels； and was reduced to ashes。 At last； in the reign
of William III。； the Sovereign became leaky and defective with
age； she was laid up at Chatham； and being set on fire by
negligence or accident； she burnt to the water's edge。
To return to the history of Phineas Pett。 As years approached；
he retired from office； and 〃his loving son；〃 as he always
affectionately designates Peter； succeeded him as principal
shipwright； Charles I。 conferring upon him the honour of
knighthood。 Phineas lived for ten years after the Sovereign of
the Seas was launched。 In the burial register of the parish of
Chatham it is recorded； 〃Phineas Pett； Esqe。 and Capt。； was
buried 21st August； l647。〃＇33＇
Sir Peter Pett was almost as distinguished as his father。 He was
the builder of the first frigate； The Constant Warwick。 Sir
William Symonds says of this vessel： 〃She was an incomparable
sailer； remarkable for her sharpness and the fineness of her
lines； and many were built like her。〃 Pett 〃introduced convex
lines on the immersed part of the hull； with the studding and
sprit sails； and； in short； he appears to have fully deserved his
character of being the best ship architect of his time。〃＇34＇ Sir
Peter Pett's monument in Deptford Old Church fully records his
services to England's naval power。
The Petts are said to have been connected with shipbuilding in
the Thames for not less than 200 years。 Fuller； in his 'Worthies
of England；' says of them〃I am credibly informed that that
mystery of shipwrights for some descents hath been preserved
faithfully in families； of whom the Petts about Chatham are of
singular regard。 Good success have they with their skill； and
carefully keep so precious a pearl； lest otherwise amongst many
friends some foes attain unto it。〃
The late Peter Bolt； member for Greenwich； took pride in being
descended from the Petts； but so far as we know； the name itself
has died out。 In 1801； when Charnock's 'History of Marine
Architecture' was published； Mr。 Pett； of Tovil； near Maidstone；
was the sole representative of the family。
Footnotes for Chapter I。
＇1＇ This was not the first voyage of a steamer between England
and America。 The Savannah made the passage from New York to
Liverpool as early as 1819； but steam was only used occasionally
during the voyage； In 1825； the Enterprise； with engines by
Maudslay； made the voyage from Falmouth to Calcutta in 113 days；
and in 1828； the Curacoa made the voyage between Holland and the
Dutch West Indies。 But in all these cases； steam was used as an
auxiliary； and not as the one essential means of propulsion； as
in the case of the Sirius and the Great Western； which were steam
voyages only。
＇2＇ 〃In 1862 the steam tonnage of the country was 537；000 tons；
in 1872； it