''Nonsuch'' was a galleon of the Kingdom of England, English Royal Navy, Navy. She was built on the orders of Mary I of England, Queen Mary (reign, 1553–1558) in 1555–56 as the ''Philip and Mary'' and renamed twice during her career — first to ''Nonpareil'' when she was rebuilt at Deptford in 1584, and later as ''Nonsuch'' when she was again rebuilt from 1603 to 1605.
[The "HMS" prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively]
Following her first rebuilding, she was mentioned in the Paris archives as part of Elizabeth I's fleet in 1588 in ''A Statement of the two fleets possessed by the Queen of England, with numbers and names of the ships'', listed as "400 tons, 17 pieces each side, four pieces at the prow and the same at the stern. Her complement was 250 comprising 150 mariners, 30 gunners and 70 soldiers". The ship was under the command of Francis Drake, Drake in 1588 - "Drake has also six large ships of the Queen's, namely :—''Revenge'', ''Hope'', ''Nonpareil'', ''Swiftsure'', ''Aid'' and ''Advice'', with 45 of the best merchant ships they could select, at the Isle of Wight."
On 14 February 1591 a warrant was made "to pay to Sir John Hawkins (naval commander), John Hawkins 1,566l. 13s. 4d. disbursed in setting forth the ''Nonpareil''".
In June 1602 she was off the coast of Spain and attacked Sesimbra Municipality, Cezimbra Bay near Lisbon (Portugal) which resulted Battle of Sesimbra Bay, in the capture of a large carrack loaded with treasure valued at a million ducats.
In 1603-05 she was rebuilt a second time as a great ship, and renamed ''Nonsuch''. Now of 454 tons, she carried 32 primary guns (2 cannon periers, 12 culverins, 12 demi-culverins and 6 sakers) and 6 smaller and more anti-personnel weapons (2 falconets and 4 fowlers).
She was sold out of the navy in late 1645.
Notes
Citations
References
* Lavery, Brian (2003) ''The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850.'' Conway Maritime Press. .
* Winfield, Rif (2009) ''British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603-1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates.'' Seaforth Publishing. .
* http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=87181&strquery=nonpareil
Galleons of the Royal Navy
Ships of the English navy
16th-century ships
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