8
Commentary
It was at first assumed that the Mary Rose would be recovered without much difficulty, because of the relatively shallow water in which she had gone down. Indeed, when the Duke of Suffolk, who had overall responsibility for the defence of Portsmouth, reported to Sir William Paget on 31 July, he was more concerned about the shortage of pioneers for fortifying the haven than he was about the ship (65). It was not appreciated at that point that the French threat had gone away, and Suffolk was still anticipating an attack. Work upon the Mary was planned, and would be undertaken as soon as might be convenient. In fact a Venetian salvage expert had already been consulted (he must have been on the spot), and had drawn up a list of requirements which Suffolk passed on to Paget the next day (66). From this it appears that the intention was to run cables between two large merchant ships (great hulks), passing the cables under the sunken ship, which had not yet settled into the silt, possibly at low water. Perhaps the intention was merely to wait for the rising tide to lift the Mary Rose clear of the seabed, or to half submerge the hulks and then raise the wreck by pumping them out, or perhaps to draw it up by tightening the cables with winches. Possibly a combination of all three methods was envisaged. The presence of ten new capstans on the equipment list suggests as much.
Over the next few days Suffolk and Lisle both reported progress to Paget (67–9), and the work clearly acquired a higher priority as the French threat receded. The first target date for the attempt was 3 August, and at first there was complete confidence of success. However, it appears that the Italian experts were not quite as skilful as had been thought. Their first intention seems to have been to set the wreck upright by pulling on the masts (the tops of which were above the water), and then, having got her clear of the bottom by tightening the cables under her, to ease her into the shallows on the high tide. When the tide retreated, it would then have been possible to close the ports and pump out the remaining water. As the hull was undamaged, she should then have refloated. The Jesus and the Sampson are the hulks named as being used for the purpose. The former was probably the Jesus of Lübeck, which had been recently purchased for the navy; the identity of the latter is not known, but if she was to match the Jesus, she must have been of 600–700 tons. However, these plans did not work out. Firstly it took longer than anticipated to prepare the hulks and get them into position; the date of the attempt was put back from 3 to 8 August. By the 5th they had managed to recover her sails and some of her rigging, and had attached cables to her masts (70), but when they attempted to pull her upright on the 8th, the foremast, and possibly part of the mainmast, were broken. On the 9th permission was asked to try again, this time aiming to move her into shallower water without attempting to set her upright first (73). Lisle agreed to allow the hulks, which should have departed on that day with the fleet, to remain at the disposal of the salvors for a further six days. What happened then is not clear. In spite of (or because of) the consumption of 22 tuns of beer, the attempt to ‘weigh’ the Mary Rose failed, and her hull remained on the seabed for another 437 years. However, salvage attempts continued; anchors were recovered, more tackle, and some of her ordnance (77). An unnamed Italian diver was paid £20 for this work (78), and Peter Pawlo or Paule (who may have been the same man) a further £50. Pawlo was subsequently imprisoned for attempting to remove some unidentified salvage illicitly (80). The efforts continued for about four years, at a total cost of nearly £560, and in 1552 the value of the ordnance lost was put at £1,723 – about £1¾ million in modern money (81).
Documents
65. Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, to Sir William Paget, 31 July 1545.
Master Secretary, I commend me right heartily unto you, advertising the same that where I perceive that the King’s majesty is informed that there hath been great shot heard upon the sea about the Hurst, I promise you we have heard no such thing here in these parts, yet have we laid wait and hearkened for such purpose. And as for the western fleet, I can hear nothing of them. Finally, as touching the going forward of his grace’s things here, I assure you I never saw things so far out of order, for here have we nothing in a-readiness, neither pick-axes, mattocks […] else to set men a-work. And as touching […] for the Mary Rose, we intend with all speed to set men in hand for that purpose as shall appertain. Thus fare you heartily well. From Portsmouth, the last of July 1545.
Your assured friend, Charles Suffolk.
The Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, artist unknown. Charles Brandon and the Mary Rose were among the more enduring objects of Henry VIII’s affection, and there is a persistent tradition that the ship was named after, if not actually by, the Duchess, the King’s sister Mary. (Marquess of Tavistock and the Bedford Settled Estates)
[Postscript]: But as touching his grace’s works here, there is and shall be as much done as is possible, as difficult it is almost to get pioneers as tools; yet will we do our best to accomplish all things I doubt not to his grace’s contentation.
66. Suffolk to Paget, 1 August 1545.
Extract from a further letter from Portsmouth, with an enclosed paper listing the equipment required for the salvage operation.
Sir William Paget, later 1st Baron Paget of Beaudesert, whose competent service as principal secretary (of state) to Henry VIII led to promotion under Edward VI and Mary I. Artist unknown. (The Most Honourable the Marquess of Anglesey)
… And as concerning the Mary Rose, we have consulted and spoken together with them that have taken upon them to recover her, who desireth to have for the saving of her such necessaries as is mentioned in a schedule herein enclosed. Not doubting, God willing, but they shall have all things ready accordingly, so that shortly she shall be saved …
[Schedule]
A remembrance of things necessary for the recovery, with the help of God, of the Mary Rose,
First, 2 of the greatest hulks that may be gotten.
More, the hulk that rideth within the haven.
Item, 4 of the greatest hoys within the haven.
Item, 5 of the greatest cables that may be had.
Item, 10 great hawsers.
Item, 10 new capstans with 20ty pulleys.
Item, 50 pulleys bound with iron.
Item, 5 dozen ballast baskets.
Item, 40lb of tallow.
Item, 30 Venetians, mariners, and one Venetian carpenter.
Item, 60 English mariners to attend upon them.
Item, a great quantity of cordage of all sorts.
Item, Symond, patron and master in the foist doth agree that all things must be had for the purpose abovesaid.
67. Suffolk to Paget, 1 August 1545.
Conclusion of a letter dealing with other business.
… I trust by Monday or Tuesday, at the furthest, the Mary Rose shall be weighed up and saved. There be two hulks, cables, pulleys and other things made ready for the weighing of her. Fare your most heartily well. From Portsmouth, the first of August 1545.
Your assured friend, Charles Suffolk.
68. Suffolk to Paget, 2 August 1545.
Master Secretary, I commend me most heartily unto you. Forasmuch as I have thought it very expedient and necessary once a day to write unto you during mine abode here, to the intent you may thereby from time to time signify unto the King’s majesty how his things goeth forward here, which I will not fail, God willing, to accomplish accordingly. First, as touching the enemies, I can hear no more of them but as I have seen in a letter from Sir John Gage which I opened this morning, addressed to the lords of the Council.
And as concerning the Mary Rose, all things [is deleted] be put in good readiness for the weighing of her, which shall go in hand tomorrow, and so speedily done as may be for the serving of the tides.
A whetstone (centre) and two holders. Whetstones were used for sharpening tools as well as weapons. (Mary Rose Trust)
Also for the fortifications here, as much diligence as is possible is made, and men working as fast as may be, so that I trust all things shall proceed to his grace’s contentation. Thus fare you most heartily well. From Portsmouth, the second of August 1545.
Your assured friend, Charles Suffolk.
69. Lord Admiral Lisle to Secretary Paget, 2 August 1545.
Conclusion.
… We have much ado to frame everything for the Mary Rose, but all that may possibly be done is done for the same; the worst is we must forbear three of the greatest hulks of the fleet till the thing be done, which must be emptied of all her victuals, ordnance and ballast during the business, which will be a great weakening to the Navy if anything in the mean time shall happen. And where his majesty, as it appeareth by your said letter, in passing yesterday over Portisdown, found a disorder with lying of the ships, and that his majesty’s pleasure is they shall repair to the strait a-this-side St Helen’s Point, I require you to signify unto his majesty that the whole fleet remaineth in the same place that they came unto anchor by his majesty’s commandment the same day his highness departed from this town, saving the great Venetian [which is brought near the haven to take the ballast inserted] and the two hulks the Jesus and the Sampson which is brought unto the Mary Rose because they must weigh her up. Resting these, all the whole fleet abideth as his majesty left them. And thus I bid you farewell. Tomorrow I will visit you with my … book of the ships and the captains. Scribbled at Portsmouth in haste, this present 2nd of August.
Yours assured friend, John Lisle.
This groundplan of Portsmouth was made in 1545, and shows the fortifications that letter 68 mentions as under construction. Its very ordinariness represents a cartographic revolution, as it is the earliest scale plan of any British town, a world away from pictorial mapping such as on pp. 84 and 145. From British Library Cotton MS Augustus I, i, 81. (British Library)
70. Suffolk, Lisle and William Paulet, Lord St John (Lord Chamberlain) to Paget, 5 August 1545.
Extract.
… And as touching the Mary Rose, her sails and sail yards be laid on land, and to her masts there is tied three cables with other engines to weigh her up, and on every side of her a hulk to set her upright, which is thought by the doers thereof, God willing, to be done tomorrow one time in the day. And that done, they purpose, [God willing deleted] to discharge her of water, ordnance and all other things with as much diligence as is possible, and by little and little to bring her near to the shore; and as we shall from time to time work with her to save her, his majesty shall be advertised accordingly …
71. Lisle to Paget, 5 August 1545.
Extract.
… But the Mary Rose (which I trust, with the leave of God, shall be brought upright once tomorrow) hath so charged all the King’s majesty’s shipwrights with making engines for the same, that they have had no leisure to attend any other thing since his majesty’s departure hence, which I beseech you to signify unto his highness. And thus I wish you heartily well to fare. At Portsmouth, the 5th of August.
72. Suffolk to Paget, 7 August 1545.
Conclusion.
… My lord Admiral being this present Friday [that day] at dinner with me, told me that he had a good hope of the weighing upright of the Mary Rose this afternoon or tomorrow. Thus fare you well. From Portsmouth, the 7th of August 1545.
Yours assured loving friend, Charles Suffolk.
73. Lisle and St John to Paget, 9 August 1545.
Master Secretary, after our right hearty commendations. These shall be to advertise you that this day the Italians which had the doing for the weighing of the Mary Rose have been with my lord Chamberlain and me to signify unto us that, after this sort which they have followed hitherto, they can by no means recover her, for they have already broken her foremast, which they were coming to declare unto my lord Great Master. But his lordship were departed from hence a little before, and now they desire to prove [try] another way, which is to drag her as she lieth until she come into shallow ground, and so to set her upright, and to this they ask six days’ proof. And forasmuch as these great hulks which have been occupied all this while about the weighing of her may not well be spared out of this army if we should chance to meet with the enemies, and considering nevertheless the importance of the thing if she may be recovered, as well for the ship as also for the goodly ordnance that is in her, I the lord Admiral have appointed those two hulks which were stayed to have gone forth with the fleet to attend and to serve for the recovery of the said ship and ordnance, wherein assuredly they shall stand the King’s majesty in more stead than though they should go with the army; and also they would not be put in order for us to any purpose, for they must have spar decks and waist netting with ports cut, which appeareth unto us now that the same will not be overcome so soon as we thought it would. Wherefore, in our poor opinions, they cannot be so well employed as to be set on work about the recovery of this ship.
A seaman’s chest recovered from the orlop deck. (Mary Rose Trust)
And as touching the book of the ships with the captains’ names, I the lord Admiral do stay the return of the same until I have word again from you concerning the King’s majesty’s pleasure to be known for the placing of one captain or two to have the charge of his highness’s rowing pieces, whereof I beseech you that I may be advertised with speed. And thus we bid you right heartily well to fare. At Portsmouth, the 9th of August.
Your assured loving friends, John Lisle, W. St John.
74. Thomas, Baron Wriothesley, Lord Chancellor, to the King, 25 August 1545.
… Tomorrow or the next day we shall send to your majesty a particular declaration how the money received since my going hence hath been defrayed. It shall please your highness also, order is taken that by Wednesday there shall be laden and trussed in two rafts about 50 masts of all sorts; the rafts be made of the great masts which are too long to lie in any ship, and we have two boats ready for the lading of them, whereof the one shall serve for the Mary Rose and the other for necessary things to remain as a lighter at Portsmouth. They shall not depart till we hear from your majesty because of the danger of passage … And this I beseech Our Lord to preserve your majesty in perpetual felicity. From Ely Place the 25th of August,
Your majesty’s most humble and bounden subject and servant, Thomas Wriothesley, chancellor.
75. Edmond Harvel, English agent in Venice, to Paget, 3 September 1545.
Opening.
Honourable Master Paget, I salute you reverently. And by your letters of the 24 of July I have been certified of the occurrences in our country much copiously, which was to me passing grateful, not only for the repulsion of our enemies both by sea and land by great valour and virtue, but also to see the intolerable crakes of Frenchmen reduced to vain ostentation and cowardness, and their galleys (wherein they gloried so much) to have served them in small use and moment. The burning and sinking of both the French Admiral’s ships is undoubtedly malum omen to the enemies, and portendeth victory to Englishmen by the favour of God, although the infortunable case of Sir George Carew is by negligence so miserably successed; but the fortune of war is inevitable of sundry damages, and hereto, thanks to God, the King’s majesty hath continually had prosperous success in his wars, and like to have more, and more sustaining. This braw and last efforce [attempt] of the French King, who by the judgement of all men being totally exhausted, cannot sustain longer war, but shall be constrained to pacify with his majesty. And at the present is great bruit [rumour] that the things between both princes tendeth to agreement, which should be joyful news, being to the satisfaction of the King’s majesty our prince …
76. Extract from the register of the Privy Council, meeting at Westminster, 8 December 1545.
Warrant was addressed to the Treasurer of the Chamber to deliver to Petre de Andreas and Symone de Maryne, Venetians, 40 marks sterling, to be divided betwixt them by way of the King’s majesty’s reward for their pains taken about the weighing of the Mary Rose.
77. Extract from the account of the Treasurer for Marine Causes, 1547.
Charges in recovering of divers anchors and ordnance out of the Mary Rose.
The early salvors, interested mainly in the guns and the hull itself, would have paid no attention to everyday objects such as these ceramic pots. (Mary Rose Trust)
Also paid by the same accountant to Edward Vaughan, Captain at Portsmouth, for so much money by him paid to one Peter Pawlo, stranger, for the recovering of certain anchors and ordnance out of the Mary Rose, who was sent purposely by the King’s most honourable Council for the recovering thereof, as by the same particular book doth appear – £37 11s 5d.
78. Extract from the register of the Privy Council, meeting at Somerset Place, 17 May 1547.
Warrant to … Sir John Williams for £20 to a certain Italian, being a diver, undertaking the recovery of the ordnance of the Mary Rose.
79. Extract from the register of the Privy Council, meeting at Westminster, 3 August 1549.
Mr Carew had warrant for £50 imprest of the relief of spirituality, to Peter Paule, Italian, for recovering of certain ordnance out of the Mary Rose.
80. Extract from a list of prisoners in the Tower of London, 22 October 1549.
Peter Pawle, Italian, a diver into the sea, was committed to the Tower about five weeks past by the Duke of Somerset because he departed from Portsmouth (where he had taken certain guns out of the ship drowned) toward the Earl of Arundel’s to take certain of his stuff out of the sea, as he saith. To be examined by Mr Wotton etc. My lord Great Master can inform.
81. Extract from an account of military and naval expenses temp. Henry VIII and Edward VI, September 1552.
… Charges of the Mary Rose with wars. Drowned at Portsmouth, the weighing whereof, with the recovery of some part of her tackling, anchors and ordnance, cost in the said late King’s time – £559 8s 7d.
Ordnance with munition and habiliments of war. Spent, lost and employed in the King’s majesty’s ships serving upon the seas within all the time of the said wars, viz. in the said late King’s time, with £1,723 as of the price of certain ordnance lost in the Mary Rose at Portsmouth, and with £566 for like ordnance lost in the Lion Lübeck – £19,276 13s 10½d.