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discovery。 Barents and Behring； above all others； proved the
courage and determination of their heroic ancestors。
The romance of the East India Company begins with an
advertisement in the London Gazette of 1599； towards the end of
the reign of Queen Elizabeth。 As with all other enterprises of
the nation； it was established by private means。 The Company was
started with a capital of 72；000L。 in 50L。 shares。 The
adventurers bought four vessels of an average burthen of 350
tons。 These were stocked with provisions； 〃Norwich stuffs；〃 and
other merchandise。 The tiny fleet sailed from Billingsgate on
the 13th February； 1601。 It went by the Cape of Good Hope to the
East Indies； under the command of Captain James Lancaster。 It
took no less than sixteen months to reach the Indian Archipelago。
The little fleet reached Acheen in June； 1602。 The king of the
territory received the visitors with courtesy； and exchanged
spices with them freely。 The four vessels sailed homeward；
taking possession of the island of St。 Helena on their way back；
having been absent exactly thirty…one months。 The profits of the
first voyage proved to be about one hundred per cent。 Such was
the origin of the great East India Companynow expanded into an
empire； and containing about two hundred millions of people。
To return to the shipping and the mercantile marine of the time
of Queen Elizabeth。 The number of Royal ships was only thirteen；
the rest of the navy consisting of merchant ships； which were
hired and discharged when their purpose was served。＇11＇
According to Wheeler； at the accession of the Queen； there were
not more than four ships belonging to the river Thames； excepting
those of the Royal Navy； which were over 120 tons in burthen；＇12＇
and after forty years； the whole of the merchant ships of
England； over 100 tons； amounted to 135； only a few of these
being of 500 tons。 In 1588； the number had increased to 150； 〃of
about 150 tons one with another； employed in trading voyages to
all parts and countries。〃 The principal shipping which frequented
the English ports still continued to be foreignItalian；
Flemish； and German。
Liverpool； now possessing the largest shipping tonnage in the
world； had not yet come into existence。 It was little better
than a fishing village。 The people of the place presented a
petition to the Queen； praying her to remit a subsidy which had
been imposed upon them； and speaking of their native place as
〃Her Majesty's poor decayed town of Liverpool。〃 In 1565； seven
years after Queen Elizabeth began to reign； the number of vessels
belonging to Liverpool was only twelve。 The largest was of forty
tons burthen； with twelve men； and the smallest was a boat of six
tons； with three men。＇13＇
James I。； on his accession to the throne of England in 1603；
called in all the ships of war； as well as the numerous
privateers which had been employed during the previous reign in
waging war against the commerce of Spain； and declared himself to
be at peace with all the world。 James was as peaceful as a
Quaker。 He was not a fighting King；… and； partly on this
account； he was not popular。 He encouraged manufactures in wool；
silk； and tapestry。 He gave every encouragement to the
mercantile and colonizing adventurers to plant and improve the
rising settlements of Virginia； New England； and Newfoundland。
He also promoted the trade to the East Indies。 Attempts
continued to be made； by Hudson； Poole； Button； Hall； Baffin； and
other courageous seamen； to discover the North…West passage； but
always without effect。
The shores of England being still much infested by Algerine and
other pirates；＇14＇ King James found it necessary to maintain the
ships of war in order to protect navigation and commerce。 He
nearly doubled the ships of the Royal Navy； and increased the
number from thirteen to twenty…four。 Their size； however；
continued small； both Royal and merchant ships。 Sir William
Monson says； that at the accession of James I。 there were not
above four merchant ships in England of 400 tons burthen。＇15＇
The East Indian merchants were the first to increase the size。
In 1609； encouraged by their Charter； they built the Trade's
Increase； of 1100 tons burthen； the largest merchant ship that
had ever been built in England。 As it was necessary that； the
crew of the ship should be able to beat off the pirates； she was
fully armed。 The additional ships of war were also of heavier
burthen。 In the same year； the Prince； of 1400 tons burthen； was
launched； she carried sixty…four cannon； and was superior to any
ship of the kind hitherto seen in England。
And now we arrive at the subject of this memoir。 The Petts were
the principal ship…builders of the time。 They had long been
known upon the Thames； and had held posts in the Royal Dockyards
since the reign of Henry VII。 They were gallant sailors； too；
one of them； as already mentioned； having made an adventurous
voyage to the Arctic Ocean in his little bark； the George； of
only 40 tons burthen。 Phineas Pett was the first of the great
ship…builders。 His father； Peter Pett； was one of the Queen's
master shipwrights。 Besides being a ship…builder； he was also a
poet； being the author of a poetical piece entitled； 〃Time's
Journey to seek his daughter Truth；〃＇16＇ a very respectable
performance。 Indeed； poetry is by no means incompatible with
ship…buildingthe late Chief Constructor of the Navy being；
perhaps； as proud of his poetry as of his ships。 Pett's poem was
dedicated to the Lord High Admiral； Howard； Earl of Nottingham；
and this may possibly have been the reason of the singular
interest which he afterwards took in Phineas Pett； the poet
shipwright's son。
Phineas Pett was the second son of his father。 He was born at
Deptford； or 〃Deptford Strond；〃 as the place used to be called；
on the 1st of November； 1570。 At nine years old； he was sent to
the free…school at Rochester； and remained there for four years。
Not profiting much by his education there； his father removed him
to a private school at Greenwich； kept by a Mr。 Adams。 Here he
made so much progress； that in three years time he was ready for
Cambridge。 He was accordingly sent to that University at
Shrovetide； l586； and was entered at Emmanuel College； under
charge of Mr。 Charles Chadwick； the president。 His father
allowed him 20L。 per annum； besides books； apparel； and other
necessaries。
Phineas remained at Cambridge for three years。 He was obliged to
quit the University by the death of his 〃reverend； ever…loving
father；〃 whose loss； he says； 〃proved afterwards my utter undoing
almost； had not God been more merciful to me。〃 His mother
married again； 〃a most wicked husband；〃 says Pett in his
autobiography；＇17＇ 〃one； Mr。 Thomas Nunn； a minister；〃 but of
what denomination he does not state。 His mother's imprudence
wholly deprived him of his maintenance； and having no