AttheaccessionofJamesI。in1603，PettwascommandedbytheLordHighAdmiralwithallpossiblespeedtobuildalittlevesselfortheyoungPrinceHenry，eldestsonofHisMajesty。ItwastobeasortofcopyoftheArkRoyal，whichwastheflagshipoftheLordHighAdmiralwhenhedefeatedtheSpanishArmada。
Pettproceededtoaccomplishtheorderwithalldispatch。Thelittleshipwasinlengthbythekeel28feet，inbreadth12
feet，andverycuriouslygarnishedwithinandwithoutwithpaintingandcarving。Afterworkingbytorchandcandlelight，nightandday，theshipwaslaunched，andsetsailfortheThames，withthenoiseofdrums，trumpets，andcannon，atthebeginningofMarch，1604。AfterpassingthroughagreatstormattheNore，thevesselreachedtheTower，wheretheKingandtheyoungPrinceinspectedherwithdelight。ShewaschristenedDisdainbytheLordHighAdmiral，andPettwasappointedcaptainoftheship。
AfterhisreturntoChatham，Pett，athisowncharge，builtasmallshipatGillingham，of300tons，whichhelaunchedinthesameyear，andnamedtheResistance。Theshipwasscarcelyoutofhand，whenPettwasorderedtoWoolwich，topreparetheBearandothervesselsforconveyinghispatron，theLordHighAdmiral，asanAmbassadorExtraordinarytoSpain，forthepurposeofconcludingpeace，afterastrifeofmorethanfortyyears。
TheResistancewashiredbytheGovernmentasatransport，andPettwasputincommand。Heseemstohavebeenmarriedatthistime，ashementionsinhismemoirthathepartedwithhiswifeandchildrenatChathamonthe24thofMarch，1605，andthathesailedfromQueenboroughonEasterSunday。
DuringthevoyagetoLisbontheResistancebecameseparatedfromtheAmbassador’ssquadron，andtookrefugeinCorunna。ShethensetsailforLisbon，whichshereachedonthe24thofApril；andafterwardsforSt。Lucar，ontheGuadalquiver，nearSeville，whichshereachedonthe11thofMayfollowing。AfterrevisitingCorunna，“accordingtoinstructions，“onthehomewardvoyage，PettdirectedhiscourseforEngland，andreachedRyeonthe26thofJune，“amidstmuchrain，thunder，andlightning。“Inthecourseofthesameyear，hisbrotherJosephdied，andPhineassucceededtohispostasmastershipbuilderatChatham。Hewaspermitted，inconjunctionwithoneHenryFarveyandthreeothers，toreceivetheusualrewardof5s。pertonforbuildingfivenewmerchantships，[21]mostprobablyforEastIndiancommerce，nowassuminglargedimensions。HewasdespatchedbytheGovernmenttoBearwood，inHampshire，tomakeaselectionoftimberfromtheestateoftheEarlofWorcesterfortheuseofthenavy，andonpresentinghisreport3000tonswerepurchased。Whatwithhisbuildingofships，hisattendanceontheLordAdmiraltoSpain，andhisselectionoftimberfortheGovernment，hishandsseemtohavebeenkeptveryfullduringthewholeof1605。
InJuly，1606，PettreceivedprivateinstructionsfromtheLordHighAdmiraltohavealltheKing’sships“putintocomelyreadiness“forthereceptionoftheKingofDenmark，whowasexpectedonaRoyalvisit。“Wherein，“hesays，“Istroveextraordinarilytoexpressmyserviceforthehonourofthekingdom；butbyreasonthetimelimitedwasshort，andthebusinessgreat，welabourednightanddaytoeffectit，whichaccordinglywasdone，tothegreathonourofoursovereignkingandmaster，andnolessadmirationofallstrangersthatwereeye-witnessestothesame。“Thereceptiontookplaceonthe10thofAugust，1606。
ShortlyafterthedepartureofHisMajestyofDenmark，fouroftheRoyalships——theArk，Victory，GoldenLion，andSwiftsure——wereorderedtobedry-docked；thetwolastmentionedatDeptford，underchargeofMatthewBaker；andthetwoformeratWoolwich，underthatofPett。Forgreaterconvenience，PettremovedhisfamilytoWoolwich。AfterbeingelectedandswornMasteroftheCompanyofShipwrights，herefersinhismanuscript，forthefirsttime，tohismagnificentandoriginaldesignofthePrinceRoyal。[22]
“AftersettlingatWoolwich，“hesays，“Ibeganacuriousmodelfortheprincemymaster，mostpartwhereofIwroughtwithmyownhands。“Afterfinishingthemodel，heexhibitedittotheLordHighAdmiral，and，afterreceivinghisapprovalandcommands，hepresentedittotheyoungprinceatRichmond。“HisMajestywhowaspresentwasexceedinglydelightedwiththesightofthemodel，andpassedsometimeinquestioningthediversmaterialthingsconcerningit，anddemandedwhetherIcouldbuildthegreatshipinallpartslikethesame；forIwill，saysHisMajesty，comparethemtogetherwhensheshallbefinished。ThentheLordAdmiralcommandedmetotellHisMajestythestoryoftheThreeRavens[23]IhadseenatLisbon，inSt。Vincent’sChurch；whichIdidaswellasIcould，withmybestexpressions，thoughsomewhatdauntedatfirstatHisMajesty’spresence，havingneverbeforespokenbeforeanyKing。“
Before，however，hecouldaccomplishhispurpose，Pettwasovertakenbymisfortunes。Hisenemies，verylikelyseeingwithspitethefavourwithwhichhehadbeenreceivedbymeninhighposition，stirredupanagitationagainsthim。Theremay，andthereveryprobablywas，agreatdealofjobberygoingoninthedockyards。Itwasdifficult，underthesystemwhichprevailed，tohaveanypropercheckupontheexpenditurefortherepairandconstructionofships。Atallevents，acommissionwasappointedforthepurposeofinquiringintotheabusesandmisdemeanorsofthoseinoffice；andPett’senemiestookcarethathispastproceedingsshouldbethoroughlyoverhauled，——togetherwiththoseofSirRobertMansell，thenTreasurertotheNavy；SirJohnTrevor，surveyor；SirHenryPalmer，controller；SirThomasBluther，victualler；andmanyothers。
WhilethecommissionwasstillsittingandholdingwhatPettcallstheir“maliciousproceedings，“hewasabletolaythekeelofhisnewgreatshipuponthestocksinthedockatWoolwichonthe20thofOctober，1608。Hehadaclearconscience，forhishandswereclean。Hewentonvigorouslywithhiswork，thoughheknewthattheinquisitionagainsthimwasatitsfullheight。
Hisenemiesreportedthathewas“noartist，andthathewasaltogetherinsufficienttoperformsuchaservice“asthatofbuildinghisgreatship。Nevertheless，hepersevered，believinginthegoodnessofhiscause。Eventually，hewasenabledtoturnthetablesuponhisaccusers，andtocompletelyjustifyhimselfinallhistransactionswiththeking，theLordAdmiral，andthepublicofficers，whowereprivytoallhistransactions。Indeed，theresultoftheenquirywasnotonlytocauseagreattroubleandexpensetoallthepersonsaccused，but，asPettsaysinhisMemoir，“theGovernmentitselfofthatroyalofficewassoshakenanddisjoinedasbroughtalmostruinuponthewholeNavy，andafargreaterchargetohisMajestyinhisyearlyexpensethaneverwasknownbefore。“[24]
Inthemidstofhistroublesandanxieties，Pettwasunexpectedlycheeredwiththepresenceofhis“Master“PrinceHenry，whospeciallytravelledoutofhiswayfromEssextovisithimatWoolwich，toseewithhisowneyeswhatprogresshewasmakingwiththegreatship。Afterviewingthedrydock，whichhadbeenconstructedbyPett，andwasoneofthefirst，ifnottheveryfirstinEngland，——hisHighnesspartookofabanquetwhichtheshipbuilderhadhastilypreparedforhiminhistemporarylodgings。
OneofthecircumstanceswhichtroubledPettsomuchatthistime，wasthestrenuousoppositionoftheothershipbuilderstohisplansofthegreatship。Thereneverhadbeensuchafrightfulinnovation。Themodelwasallwrong。Thelinesweredetestable。Themanwhoplannedthewholethingwasafool，a“cozener“oftheking，andtheship，supposeittobemade，was“unfitforanyotherusebutadung-boat！“Thisattackuponhisprofessionalcharacterweighedveryheavilyuponhismind。
HedeterminedtoputhiscaseinastaightforwardmannerbeforetheLordHighAdmiral。Hesetdowninwritinginthebriefestmannereverythingthathehaddone，andtheplotsthathadbeenhatchedagainsthim；andbeseechedhislordship，forthehonouroftheState，andthereputationofhisoffice，tocausetheentiremattertobethoroughlyinvestigated“byjudiciousandimpartialpersons。“AfteraconferencewithPett，andaninterviewwithhisMajesty，theLordHighAdmiralwasauthorisedbythelattertoinvitetheEarlsofWorcesterandSuffolktoattendwithhimatWoolwich，andbringalltheaccusersofPett’sdesignofthegreatshipbeforethemforthepurposeofexamination，andtoreporttohimastotheactualstateofaffairs。MeanwhilePett’senemieshadbeenequallybusy。TheyobtainedaprivatewarrantfromtheEarlofNorthampton[25]tosurveythework；“whichbeingdone，“saysPett，“uponreturnoftheinsufficiencyofthesameundertheirhands，andconfirmationbyoath，itwasresolvedamongstthemIshouldbeturnedout，andforeverdisgraced。“
ButthelordsappointedbytheKingnowinterferedbetweenPettandhisadversaries。Theyfirstinspectedtheship，andmadeadiligentsurveyoftheformandmanneroftheworkandthegoodnessofthematerials，andthencalledalltheaccusersbeforethemtoheartheirallegations。Theywereexaminedseparately。First，Bakerthemastershipbuilderwascalled。Heobjectedtothesizeoftheship，tothelength，breadth，depth，draughtofwater，heightofjack，rakebeforeandaft，breadthofthefloor，scantlingofthetimber，andsoon。Thenanotheroftheobjectorswascalled；andhisevidencewassoclearlyincontradictiontothatwhichhadalreadybeengiven，thateitheroneorbothmustbewrong。Theprincipalobjector，CaptainWaymouth，nextgavehisevidence；buthewasabletosaynothingtoanypurpose，exceptgivingtheirlordships“along，tediousdiscourseofproportions，measures，lines，andaninfiniterabbleofidleandunprofitablespeeches，cleanfromthematter。“
Theresultwasthattheirlordshipsreportedfavourablyofthedesignoftheship，andtheprogresswhichhadalreadybeenmade。
TheEarlofNottinghaminterposedhisinfluence；andtheKinghimself，accompaniedbytheyoungPrince，wentdowntoWoolwich，andmadeapersonalexamination。[26]Agreatmanywitnesseswereagainexamined，twenty-fourononeside，andtwenty-sevenontheother。TheKingthencarefullyexaminedtheshiphimself:“theplanks，thetree-nails，theworkmanship，andthecross-grainedtimber。““Thecross-grain，“heconcluded，“wasinthemenandnotinthetimber。“Afterallthemeasurementshadbeenmadeandfoundcorrect，“hisMajesty，“saysPett，“withaloudvoicecommandedthemeasurerstodeclarepubliclytheverytruth；whichwhentheyhaddeliveredclearlyonourside，allthewholemultitudeheaveduptheirhats，andgaveagreatandloudshoutandacclamation。AndthenthePrince，hisHighness，calledwithahighvoiceinthesewords:’WherebenowtheseperjuredfellowsthatdarethusabusehisMajestywiththesefalseaccusations？Dotheynotworthilydeservehanging？“’
ThusPetttriumphedoverallhisenemies，andwasallowedtofinishthegreatshipinhisownway。BythemiddleofSeptember1610，thevesselwasreadytobe“struckendownuponherways“；
andadozenofthechoicemastercarpentersofhisMajesty’snavycamefromChathamtoassistinlaunchingher。Theshipwasdecorated，gilded，draped，andgarlanded；andonthe24ththeKing，theQueen，andtheRoyalfamilycamefromthepalaceatTheobald’stowitnessthegreatsight。Unfortunately，thedayprovedveryrough；anditwaslittlebetterthananeaptide。
Theshipstartedverywell，butthewind“overblewthetide“；shecaughtinthedock-gates，andsettledhardupontheground，sothattherewasnopossibilityoflaunchingherthatday。
Thiswasagreatdisappointment。TheKingretiredtothepalaceatGreenwich，thoughthePrincelingeredbehind。Whenheleft，hepromisedtoreturnbymidnight，afterwhichitwasproposedtomakeanotherefforttosettheshipafloat。Whenthetimearrived，thePrinceagainmadehisappearance，andjoinedtheLordHighAdmiral，andtheprincipalnavalofficials。Itwasbrightmoonshine。Aftermidnighttherainbegantofall，andthewindtoblowfromthesouthwest。Butabouttwoo’clock，anhourbeforehighwater，thewordwasgiventosetalltaut，andtheshipwentawaywithoutanystrainingofscrewsandtackles，tillshecameclearafloatintothemidstoftheThames。ThePrincewasaboard，andamidsttheblastoftrumpetsandexpressionsofjoy，heperformedtheceremonyofdrinkingfromthegreatstandingcup，andthrowingtherestofthewinetowardsthehalf-deck，andchristeningtheshipbythenameofthePrinceRoyal。[27]
Thedimensionsoftheshipmaybebrieflydescribed。Herkeelwas114feetlong，andhercross-beam44feet。Shewasof1400
tonsburthen，andcarried64piecesofgreatordnance。ShewasthelargestshipthathadyetbeenconstructedinEngland。
ThePrinceRoyalwas，atthetimeshewasbuilt，consideredoneofthemostwonderfuleffortsofhumangenius。Mr。Charnock，inhis’TreatiseonMarineArchitecture，’speaksofherasaboundinginstrikingpeculiarities。Previoustotheconstructionofthisship，vesselswerebuiltinthestyleoftheVenetiangalley，whichalthoughwelladaptedforthequietMediterranean，werenotsuitedforthestormynorthernocean。ThefightingshipsalsoofthetimeofHenryVIII。andElizabethweretoofullof“top-hamper“formodernnavigation。Theywereoppressedbyhighforecastlesandpoops。Pettstruckoutentirelynewideasinthebuildandlinesofhisnewship；andthecoursewhichheadoptedhaditseffectuponallfuturemarinestructures。Theshipwasmorehandy，morewieldy，andmoreconvenient。ShewasunquestionablythefirsteffortofEnglishingenuityinthedirectionofmanageablenessandsimplicity。“Thevesselinquestion，“saysCharnock，“maybeconsideredtheparentoftheclassofshippingwhichcontinuesinpracticeeventothepresentmoment。“
ItisscarcelynecessarytopursueindetailthefurtherhistoryofPhineasPett。Wemaybrieflymentiontheprincipalpoints。
In1612，thePrinceRoyalwasappointedtoconveythePrincessElizabethandherhusband，ThePalsgrave，totheContinent。Pettwasonboardtheship，andfoundthat“itwroughtexceedinglywell，andwassoyareofconductthatafootofhelmwouldsteerher。“WhileatFlushing，“suchamultitudeofpeople，men，women，andchildren，camefromallplacesinHollandtoseetheship，thatwecouldscarcehaveroomtogoupanddowntillverynight。“
Aboutthe27thofMarch，1616，PettbargainedwithSirWaiterRaleightobuildavesselof500tons，[28]andreceived500L。
fromhimonaccount。TheKing，throughtheinterpositionoftheLordAdmiral，allowedPetttolayherkeelonthegalleydockatWoolwich。InthesameyearhewascommissionedbytheLordZouche，nowLordWardenoftheCinquePorts，toconstructapinnaceof40tons，inrespectofwhichPettremarks，“towardsthewholeofthehullofthepinnace，andallherrigging，I
receivedonly100L。fromtheLordZouche，therestSirHenryMainwaringhalf-brothertoRaleighcunninglyreceivedonmybehalf，withoutmyknowledge，whichInevergotfromhimbutbypiecemeal，sothatbythebargainIwasloser100L。atleast。“