This Indenture made the last day of February 1627 and in the third year of the reign of our
sovereign Lord Charles, by the grace of god king of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the
faith Between John Pennington of London, esquire and Phineas Pett esquire on the one part and Robert
Tranckmore of New Shoram in the county of Sussex shipwright on the other part.
Witnesseth that the said Robert Tranckmore for the considerations herein after in this act expressed
doth for him, his executors and administrators, covenant grant and agree to and with the said John Pennington
and Phineas Pett, their executors and administrators by their part that the said Robert Tranckmore, his
executors and administrators, workmen, servants and assigns or some of them shall and will at his or their own
and proper cost and charges in good orderly substantial and workmanlike manner before the Ninth day of May
next coming after the date of this act make and new build at New Shoram aforesaid for the use of the said John
Pennington and Phineas Pett, their executors and assigns, one good sound strong and substantial vessel or pinnace
of good sound and well seasoned and substantial timber and plank of oak and elm without using any wood or
shaken timber or plank in or about the same or any part thereof. And that the said vessel or pinnace shall be of
such length breadth and size and the work in and about the said vessel or pinnace shall be done and performed
in such manner as hereinafter is expressed. That is to say the said vessel or pinnace to be three score feet long by
the keel and twenty five feet broad from outside to outside and to be eight feet deep in hold from the lower edge
of the beam unto the upper (or as much as the said Robert Tranckmore shall think conveniant) edge of the sealing and to draw but eight
feet water. To have eighteen feet rake forward and three feet rake aft and twelve foot flat floor and to be fifteen
feet in the transom. To have three bend of footwales of four inch plank and the risings to be of four inch plank
and the middle band of three inch plank and all the rest of the footwalling downwards to be of three inch
plank and to be sealed up to the middle band with inchboard. The beams to be seven feet asunder with two knees
at each end and sufficient carlings and ledges for the bearing of ordnance and the orlop to be laid with two inch
plank and the beams to be of a proportionable scantling thereunto. The said vessel or pinnace to be planked
from the lower edge of the port down to the keel with three inch plank and to have two bend of wales wrought
six inches in and out and nine inches deep with good scarfe. To finish the upperworks with handsome rails and
gunwales and to have a handsome pigs nose. To make a quarterdeck with two ports right astern and two
quarter ports with a convenient bulkhead and sight for steerage. To make eight ports on each side from the
bulkhead of the steerage forward and to fit places to row with two oars betwixt each port and to be in length
from the top of the side to the upper part of the keel fourteen feet. To fit the said vessel or pinnace with rudder,
tiller and capstan and to make all partitions in hold and to find all iron work whatsoever and lead, and lead
nails necessary for the said vessel or pinnace. And also that the said Robert Tranckmore, his workmen, servants
or assigns shall do, perform and finish all and singular the premises and business aforesaid and all and singular
other the carpenter's work which is and shall be done and performed by carpenters in the building of the hull or
body of such a vessel or pinnace off the stocks whether named or not named with such substantial timber and
plank and other good materials as before is mentioned. And also at his and their own charges to cause the
said ship to be launched within the time aforesaid.
In consideration of all which work to be done performed and finished by the said Robert Tranckmore or
his assigns in manner and form as is before agreed upon, the said John Pennington and Phineas Pett for
them and either of them therein and either of their executors and administrators do covenant, grant and
agree jointly and severally to and with the said Robert Tranckmore his executors and assigns by these acts that
they the said John Pennington and Phineas Pett their executors or assigns or some of them shall and will well
and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said Robert Tranckmore his executors or assigns for every several
tonne that the said vessel or pinnace shall be of burthen when she shall be built as aforesaid, to be estimated by
such persons as by the Master and Wardens of the Company of Shipwrights shall be for that purpose appointed,
the sum of three pounds and five shillings per ton in manner following: That is to say at the sealing of this act one
hundred and twenty pounds thereof, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged accordingly and one hundred
and twenty pounds more thereof at the laying of the beams of the said vessel or pinnace and the rest and residue
of so much as the same shall amount unto after the said rate of three shillings a ton at the finishing and launching
of the said vessel or pinnace as aforesaid.
In Witness whereof the parties aforesaid to these indentures interchangeably have put their
hands and ...... (?) sealed the day and year first above written.
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To Robert Tranckmore of Shoreham, shipwright, the second of July 1628, for the hull of a pinnace
called the tenth Lions Whelp containing in length sixty foot, in breadth twenty- five foot and in depth nine foot.
By arrangement the sum of five hundred and forty pounds. Also for carpenters work done upon the said pinnace
and for sundry provisions expended upon the same viz:- for a knee for her boltsprit, making her shot-free,
sealing it over with deals, cutting out all the oar holes and loopholes through the shot-free. For rails and gunwhales
in the waist, cutting out the partners and step for the mast and for shutting in about the boltsprit. For four capstan
bars, sheathing under the hearth, laying it with tar and hair, and making of bulkheads about it, boring of all the
ringbolts, eye bolts and chain plates. For gunwhaling fore and aft, sealing of the breadroom, for kevels and cleats,
for a hearth to roast meat on, for making of the Steward room & bread room and making of all the lids for the oar
holes, with hinges for them and the bulkhead doors & ports, for wages of shipwrights and caulkers, also for the joining
in the great cabin, making of two cabins for Master & mates, finding of all material and workmanship, for placing
of the furnace, finding of brickworkers and ironworkers to them for plates for all the scuttles, for shackles for the
bowsprit, making of all the fight rails, ironworkers workmanship, and for a new boat the sum of forty-six pounds,
which in the whole sum amounts to five hundred and eighty-six pounds.
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Received by me, Mr Robert Tranckmore the 4th July 1628 from the right worshipful
John Pennington Esq, £540 being the full and entire sum due unto me for building of
a pinnace for his majesty’s service of 62 feet in length, 25 in breadth & 9 feet deep,
According to the contract & agreement made by Capt Pett, Mr Wells, Mr Andrew
Burrell & Mr Stevens, appointed by warrant from my Lord Admiral for the measuring
Of them and rating of their overworks done before the launching, I say recd-- £540
By me Robert Tranckmore

Received more for all overworks done upon her which were not agreed for at the
Last contract £22
By me Robert Tranckmore

Received more for deals, sealing of the cabins, Ironwork, Bricklayers work, placing
the furnaces & for a new boat, in full payment £34 17s 9d
By me Robert Tranckmore

I am very grateful to John Wassell for his help in providing information regarding the 10th Lions Whelp,
his most interesting pages regarding this subject can be found at http://homepages.which.net/~j.wassell/