The beginning of the year 1600 found Pett once more out of employment; and during his enforced idleness, which continued for six months, he seriously contemplated abandoning his profession and attempting to gain "an honest and convenient maintenance" by joining a friend in purchasing a caravel (a small vessel), and navigating it himself.
He was, however, prevented from undertaking this enterprise by a message which he received from the Court, then stationed at Greenwich.
The Lord High Admiral desired to see him; and after many civil compliments, he offered him the post of keeper of the plankyard at Chatham.

Pett was only too glad to accept this offer, though the salary was small.

He shipped his furniture on board a hoy of Rainham, and accompanied it down the Thames to the junction with the Medway.
There he escaped a great danger--one of the sea perils of the time.
The mouths of navigable rivers were still infested with pirates; and as the hoy containing Pett approached the Nore about three o'clock in the morning, and while still dark, she came upon a Dunkirk picaroon, full of men.

Fortunately the pirate was at anchor; she weighed and gave chase, and had not the hoy set full sail, and been impelled up the Swale by a fresh wind, Pett would have been taken prisoner, with all his furniture.[20] Arrived at Chatham, Pett met his brother Joseph, became reconciled to him, and ever after they lived together as loving brethren.

At his brother's suggestion, Pett took a lease of the Manor House, and settled there with his sisters.