Page:The history of yachting.djvu/224

100 records in his diary that Jonas Shish was "a plain, honest carpenter, hardly capable of reading, yet of great ability; the family have been ship carpenters in this yard (Deptford) above a hundred years."

Shish died in 1680, and three knights, assisted by John Evelyn himself, "held up the pall at his funeral." This ancient master-shipwright was no doubt something of a character; for Evelyn relates that he "used to rise in the night to pray, kneeling in his own coffin, which he had lying by him for many years." Nevertheless, none of these things appear to have prevented Shish from building some of the best ships of that day.

About this period Christopher Pett, like his brother Peter, seems to have been unable to find further favor with the King; he built no more yachts for him; for Pepys relates, under date of April 26, 1666, that the King, in his presence, contrasts the vacillating disposition of Commissioner Taylor with the firmness of master-shipwright Christopher Pett: "For Pett finds that God hath put him in the right, and so will keep him in it while he is in"; and adds, "I am sure it must be God put him in, for no art of his own could have done it." And, continues innocent Pepys, "he can not give a good account of what he do as an artist." Pepys considers this remark of Charles as commendation of the master-shipwright, though it appears to be susceptible of a slightly ironical interpretation.

At this time London had for its eastern limit the present site of the St. Katherine Docks, although these were not constructed till more than a century