[The work of Reinerius Saccho was first published by the Jesuit
Gretser in 1613, and has since been reprinted in the different
editions of the _Bibliotheca Patrum_. It has never been translated
into English.]
_Whelps._
The following extracts from the _Travels of Sir William Brereton_ may
answer the inquiry respecting the ships called "Whelps":--
"Waterford, 25 July, 1635. About six hour I went aboard one of the
kings ships, called the ninth _whelp_, which is in the king's books
215 ton and tonnage in kings books. She carries sixteen pieces of
ordinance, two brass rakers, six iron demiculverin drakes, four
iron whole culverin drakes, and four iron demicannon drakes. They
are called drakes. They are taper-bored in the camber, and are
tempered with extraordinary metal to carry that shot; these are
narrower where the powder is put in, and wider where the shot is
put in, and with this kind of ordinance his majesty is much
affected. This ship is manned with sixty men."--p. 164.
"1627. This 26th of February, attending the officers of the navy at
Sir Sackville Crowes house by Charing Cross, Sir John Pennington
came thither to acquaint them with a warrant from the Lord Duke (of
Buckingham) directed to him and myself, for present bargaining with
the yard keepers of the river for the building of ten small
vessels, for the enterprise of Rochel, of some 120 tons a piece,
with one deck and quarter only, to row as well as sail. The 28th of
the same month we concluded our bargains with the general yard
keepers, and drew convenants between us, and delivered to them
accordingly. In this business I was employed till the latter end of
July that the ships set sail to Portsmouth. My son John was placed
captain in the sixth _whelp_, built by my kinsman Peter Pett.
Having liberty from my lord Duke to make choice from among them
all, I chose that pinnace before the rest, supposing she would have
proved the best, which fell out afterwards cleane contrary. The 4th
September my son John took leave of me in the evening, and went on
board his ship, whom I never saw after, being unfortunately cast
away in the return from Rochel.
"1628. In this interim I received certain intelligence of the great
loss of my son John, his ship and all his company, who foundered in
the sea about the Seames in a great storm, about the beginning of
November; not one man saved to bring the doleful news, nor no ship
near them to deliver the certainty but a small pinnace belonging to
the fleet that was within ken of her, and saw her shoot nine pieces
of ordinance hoping of succour."--_Journal of Phineas Pett. MSS. in
Brit. Mus._ 9298.
"At the return of this fleet (from Rochel) two of the _whelps_ were
cast away, and three ships more, and some five ships who had some
of those great stones, that were brought to build Pauls, for
ballast and for other uses within them, which could promise no good
success, for I never heard of any thing that prospered which being
once designed for the honour of God was alienated from that
use."--Howel's _Letters_, sect. v. lett. 9.
The name _whelp_ was probably given them facetiously in reference to
their designation as barks.