Chapter 89: Sail
May, 1612
Robert fought hard to contain his excitement as they walked down the Woolwich docks toward where his ship-he still couldn’t believe that-was being built. Henry was walking with him, shortening his steps to make it easier for Robert to walk with him. He couldn’t wait to see what had been created, Henry had said the ship was nearly ready, that it would be another few weeks before it could be allowed to set sail, and so he eagerly awaited that.
They stopped, and Robert gasped. Before them was a tall beast of a ship, three decks, guns protruding out, a lion carved into the bow, the Royal Flag flying proudly up high. Robert looked at the ship and then at Henry.
“Well?” His brother asked.
“It’s beautiful.” Robert said.
“You like it?” Henry asked.
“I love it.” Robert said, he turned and hugged his brother and whispered. “Thank you!”
Henry chuckled softly and patted his hair. “Good.” Robert broke the hug and then looked at the ship again.
“Your Highnesses.” A voice said, breaking into Robert’s mind. They turned to their right and saw Phineas Pett the chief shipbuilder walking toward them. The man stopped before them then and bowed.
“You have done some very good work, Pett.” Robert said adopting as imperious a tone as he could.
Pett rose and smiled. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“How long until I can sail her?” Robert asked.
“Another week, Your Highness.” Pett replied. “We just need to make sure that she is stable and then add the name onto her.”
“You’ve chosen a name, haven’t you?” Henry asked looking at him then.
Robert looked back at his brother and nodded. “I have.” He’d spent most of last night dreaming of the name.
“And?” Henry asked.
“I want to call it the Royal White Lion.” Robert said.
“An interesting name, Your Highness, might I ask why that one?” Pett asked.
Robert looked at Pett and smiled. “Because it is a rarity like me. The three decks suggest it will have roughly thirty guns, which is unusual for a Royal Ship. Plus, the name sounds brilliant.”
Pett nodded, whilst Robert heart Henry snort. He ignored that and then asked. “Why did you decide to go for three decks?”
Pett seemed slightly taken aback by the question as if he’d not expected Robert to ask it. That was his mistake, Robert read obsessively about everything to do with ships and the navy. “Well, three decks seemed an appropriate ship for Your Highness, Sir.”
“Why?” Robert asked.
“Well…” Here Pett hesitated, Robert saw him glance at Henry imploringly and frowned at that. Was there some dark secret they were keeping. Clearly Henry didn’t give Pett what he was looking for, for the man sighed and continued. “I do not think that this ship will be engaged in combat, Sir. It is more of a leisure ship.”
“But it has cannons on it!” Robert protested nodding to the cannons he could see on the ship.
“They are ceremonial.” Pett said.
“What?” Robert replied.
Henry replied then, forcing Robert to turn around and look at his brother. “That means that they are there to dissuade anyone from trying to attack the ship, they will only be used in extreme circumstances.”
“Why?” Robert asked, trying to wrap his mind around this.
“The King’s orders.” Henry said simply. “He doesn’t want you getting any ideas.”
“So, what am I going to use the ship for?” Robert demanded. He’d wanted to use the ship to fight alongside his brother. He couldn’t do that if the guns were useless.
“Sailing, travelling, exploring.” Henry said simply.
Robert wanted to protest, but Henry was looking at him in the same way that their mother would often look at him when she knew he was about to be difficult, so he stopped and sighed. “Fine.”
He turned and looked at Pett and asked. “Will the ship be able to go on rapid sailing?” Rapid sailing was something he’d heard about. Apparently, it was where merchants took their ships into favourable waters and raced one another.
“Rapid sailing, Sir?” Pett asked surprised.
“Racing.” Robert replied.
“Ah…” Pett hesitated for a moment and Robert closed his eyes, if the ship couldn’t go rapid sailing then what was the point? Thankfully Pett cleared up his doubts by answering. “Yes, Sir, it will be able to. Indeed, I think it’s designed for that.”
“Excellent.” Robert replied clapping his hands together.
There was a moment’s pause and then Henry spoke. “Do you want to go for a ride on the Prince Royal?”
Robert looked at his brother, his eyes widening. “Truly?”
“Truly.” Henry said.
“Where would we go?” Robert asked.
“Wherever the wind takes us.” Henry said. “We have the time, and the patience. We don’t need a set route.”
“You are sure?” Robert asked. He knew that Henry had some sort of thing with Anna Maria later in the week, he didn’t want to keep his brother from that.
“I am. I think it would be good for us to go out onto the water and explore.” Henry said.
“Then let’s go.” Robert said, bounding toward where the Prince Royal was docked. Henry laughed and followed him. Robert stopped at the board that led to the Prince Royal, there were three men standing there. They were part of the crew that handled the ship, he raised an eyebrow and looked back at Henry who shrugged.
“I figured it would be good for us to go on the water so asked the men to prepare.” He said simply.
Robert didn’t need telling twice, he bounded over the board and onto the ship, then bounded up the steps, taking them two at a time before coming to the top deck, where he could stare out onto the water. It was a little windy which was good, though the sun was out. He closed his eyes and smiled. He wanted to be a sailor, he wanted to be the sailor for the family.
He opened his eyes as he felt someone put a hand on his back. He turned and saw Henry standing behind him smiling. “Are you ready?” His brother asked.
“I am.” Robert answered.
“Then let’s go.” Henry said, an order was given then the ship was sailing.