Pett applied to his elder brother Joseph, who would not help him, although he had succeeded to his father's post in the Royal Dockyard.

He was accordingly "constrained to ship himself to sea upon a desperate voyage in a man-of-war." He accepted the humble place of carpenter's mate on board the galleon Constance, of London.

Pett's younger brother, Peter, then living at Wapping, gave him lodging, meat, and drink, until the ship was ready to sail.

But he had no money to buy clothes.

Fortunately one William King, a yoeman in Essex, taking pity upon the unfortunate young man, lent him 3L.