Tudor ships sailed all around the world…but the famous Mary Rose sank very close to home.
NEWSREADER: Throughout the Tudor period exploration and discovery were on the whole successful. Not only did they allow bragging rights, but they also allowed new opportunities for England to expand its wealth. Take John Cabot, an explorer under the reign of King Henry VII, whose voyages took him to the coast of Canada. And after him, Walter Raleigh, a favourite explorer of Elizabeth I, who explored the coast of North America and who is sometimes credited with bringing potatoes to Britain. But perhaps most famous of all Tudor explorers: Francis Drake - widely known for his circumnavigation of the globe, which means he sailed around the world. I'm Ann Kerr. Let's have a look at a reconstruction of the time to see what the man himself had to say.
CORRESPONDENT: Francis. Can you tell us what you're doing?
FRANCIS DRAKE: But of course. I, Francis Drake, explorer extraordinaire, am travelling around the world with the full backing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. We left England in December 1577, five ships strong, across the great Atlantic Ocean. We're heading around South America to explore the coasts beyond. And I… Er, you're a reporter you say?
CORRESPONDENT: Indeed.
FRANCIS DRAKE: Oh, well, I'm sure you can keep a secret.
CORRESPONDENT: Er, well…
FRANCIS DRAKE: Just between us then, I also have another goal: to raid Spanish holdings and intercept their treasure. It's sure to be a great plunder.
CORRESPONDENT: I'm sure. And tell us what it's like on your grand ship.
FRANCIS DRAKE: Well, life on board The Golden Hind, that's my ship by the way, is terrific. It's like a home away from home, you know? Without some of the usual comforts of course, but we love it out here. Don't we, fellas?
NEWSREADER: That must have been a fun day. Francis Drake completed his journey around the world in 1580, three years after he left England. Upon his return, he was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth I for his bravery and achievement. He kneeled on the deck of his faithful ship, The Golden Hind, to receive the honour in a much-celebrated event. But life in those times, wasn't all about making discoveries, exploring, smooth sailing and getting awards from your queen. In a tragic turn of events, Henry VIII's famous wife, Mary Rose, sank to the bottom…
PRODUCER: Not a wife! Not a wife! A warship. Mary Rose was a ship!
NEWSREADER: Oh, goodness, so sorry. With all those wives it's hard to keep track! Henry VIII's famous warship, the Mary Rose, sank in 1545 while on a mission to stop French ships landing on the Isle of Wight. Let's see what it was like for one of those sailors.
SAILOR: Oh, we love it on board the Mary Rose! 34 years she's been winning battles for our king, almost as long as King Henry's reign. She's such a grand ship, built for four hundred brave strong men to do battle. What a feat! There's more of us on board today, than she's built for - a bit cramped - but what harm can that do? When we're not warring, we're performing our duties, eating and sometimes even playing board games. Not a lot of elbow room though, with all those men. I was hoping to speak to the captain about the room on board, but it's unlikely I'll get the chance now!
NEWSREADER: Well then, in more recent times, 1982, the Mary Rose was carefully brought up from the bottom of the sea. When it sank, the ship was covered in a lot of mud really quickly, which helped to keep many artefacts onboard preserved. These things have helped historians work out what it was like for people alive back then. There were about 19,000 items preserved on the ship, things like bows, arrows, gold and silver coins, swords, clothes and even the bones of the ship's rat-catching dog. These are all now on display at a museum in Portsmouth. Only time will tell what other wonders we'll discover that can help us understand the Tudor times even better.
SAILOR: I hope it's something that will make sailing a bit safer.
6. Tudor travels and the Mary Rose
The Tudor period was one of great exploration, an activity that could provide both increased trade and new colonies.
John Cabot (c 1450 - c 1500) was an Italian navigator and explorer who sailed on the commission of Henry VII to the coast of North America, making the first European exploration there since the time of the Vikings. Walter Raleigh (c 1552 - 1618) sailed under the commission of Elizabeth I, making voyages to South America and arranging the founding of the colony of Roanoke in North America. Francis Drake (c 1540 - 1596) circumnavigated the globe between 1577 and 1580. He is also renowned for his part in fighting against the Spanish Armada (1588) and for his various acts of plunder against Spanish ships and settlements in the Americas.
The Mary Rose was launched in 1511 and served in the Royal Navy for 34 years. In 1545 she was part of the defence against a French invasion fleet, but sank in the Solent, just of the Isle of Wight. No one is sure why the Mary Rose sank. The ship is known to have listed suddenly and water enter through the open gun-ports. The ship sank quickly and approximately 90% of the crew are believed to have perished.
The wreck of the Mary Rose was located in 1971 and was raised in 1982. The remains of the ship included a wealth of Tudor artefacts including weapons, maritime equipment, personal items belonging to the crew - even the bones of the ship's rat-catching dog.
Video questions
- What is a 'circumnavigation of the globe'? (A continuous journey around the entire planet)
- In which year did Francis Drake set off on his circumnavigation? (1577)
- In the animation Drake gives a public reason for his activity and a secret one. What are they? (To explore the Pacific coastline of South America…but he also intended to plunder Spanish treasure, from which he gained great wealth)
- What did Drake receive from Elizabeth I on his return and where did he receive it? (A knighthood - received on the deck of his ship the Golden Hind)
- What was the Mary Rose and what happened to it in 1545? (A battle ship - which sank in 1545 defending the coast of England from the French fleet)
- Why is the ship so useful to historians? (The artefacts on board were very well preserved by the mud that the ship sank in. So historians can learn much about the Tudor period from the thousands of items recovered)
Further resources
Teacher Notes
Download / print the Teacher Notes for this episode.
Downloadable Transcript. document
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This film is relevant for teaching History within the National Curriculum at KS2 in England and Northern Ireland and equivalent levels in Scotland and Wales.
5. 'Trust me, I'm a Tudor doctor' video
Meet Tudor doctor Edward Strangeways, to discover the Tudors' weird and wonderful approach to treating illness.
7. Tudor jobs. video
Merchants, servants, farm workers, the Groom of the Stool - exploring the world of Tudor work.
8. Tudor sports. video
Discovering Tudor sports and pastimes - including jousting, football and tennis.
See also...
Music - Songs about life in Tudor times - a collection of songs about life in Tudor times
Dance - The reign of King Henry VIII - exploring the time of Henry VIII through movement and dance
The Tudors - Audio - comic sketches and powerful dramas exploring life during the Tudor dynasty
