. The autobiography of Phineas Pett. obable that he was slightly in advance ofhis contemporaries in the profession of ship-building, but not to the extent commonly sup-posed. Here his autobiography has stood himin good stead, for it has attached, to his name apersonality that makes his existence seem morereal and of more moment to a later age in whichhis professional contemporaries have becomeshadowy names. It is difficult to say what washis real motive in writing it, but it was probablycommenced as an explanation of his position inregard to the Prince Royal dispute of 1608, andafterwards cont
. The autobiography of Phineas Pett. obable that he was slightly in advance ofhis contemporaries in the profession of ship-building, but not to the extent commonly sup-posed. Here his autobiography has stood himin good stead, for it has attached, to his name apersonality that makes his existence seem morereal and of more moment to a later age in whichhis professional contemporaries have becomeshadowy names. It is difficult to say what washis real motive in writing it, but it was probablycommenced as an explanation of his position inregard to the Prince Royal dispute of 1608, andafterwards continued partly for recreation ; partly,perhaps, for the edification of his children. Pepysappeals to have thought much of it, for he tookthe trouble to copy it into his collection of mis-cellanea ; but it is certainly wanting in the candourand honesty of the celebrated Diary, and seemsto have been written in order to convey a favour-able impression to the reader, and explain awaydoubtful deeds, rather than as a real revelationof AUTOBIOGRAPHY OFPHINEAS PETT I, Phineasi Pett, being the son of Mr. PeterPett of Deptford Strond ^ in the County of Kent,one of her Majestys Master Shipwrights, wasborn in my fathers dwelling house in the sametown one All Saints day in the morning, beingthe first day of November in the year of our Lord1570, and was baptized the 8th of the same monthand year aforesaid in the parish church of DeptfordStrond aforesaid. I was brought up in my fathers house atDeptford Strond until I was almost nine years ofage, and then put out to a free school at Rochester 1 MS. Phinees (the form also adopted in his signature),the Greek form of the Hebrew name Mouth of Brass, given as Phinehas by the translators of the Bible. MS. Deepforde Stronde. The etymology of this well-known name does not appear to have been satisfactorilydetermined. Antiquaries have been content to explain it asthe Strand or shorfe of the deep ford over the Ravens-bourne River, which enters the
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