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The Tudor navy was the navy of the Kingdom of England under the ruling Tudor dynasty (1485–1603). The period involved important and critical changes that led to the establishment of a permanent navy and laid the foundations for the future
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
.


Henry VII

Henry VII fostered sea power. He supported the old 1381 act that stated "that, to increase the navy of England, no goods or merchandises shall be either exported or imported, but only in ships belonging to the King's subjects." Although there is no evidence for a conscious change of policy, Henry soon embarked on a program of building merchant ships larger than previously. He also invested in dockyards, and commissioned the oldest surviving
dry dock A dry dock (sometimes drydock or dry-dock) is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform. Dry docks are used for the construction, maintenance, ...
in 1495 at Portsmouth, with the ''
Sweepstake A sweepstake is a type of contest where a prize or prizes may be awarded to a winner or winners. Sweepstakes began as a form of lottery that were tied to products sold. In response, the FCC and FTC refined U.S. broadcasting laws (creating the ...
'' and the ''
Mary Fortune Mary Helena Fortune (c. 1833 – 1911) was an Australian writer, under the pseudonyms "Waif Wander" and "W.W." She was one of the earliest female detective writers in the world, and probably the first to write from the viewpoint of the detective. ...
'' being the first ships built there. With the crown he acquired the ''Grace à Dieu'', the ''Governor'', the ''Martin Garcia'', the ''Mary of the Tower'', the ''Trinity'', the ''Falcon'', and possibly the ''Bonaventure''. He purchased the ''Carvel of Ewe'' (''Caravel of Eu'', in Normandy), and perhaps also a small craft called the ''King's Bark''; he captured the ''Margaret'' in 1490; and he built the ''Regent'', the ''Sovereign'', the ''Sweepstake'' (Constructed, partly out of the remains of the broken-up ''Grace à Dieu'', under the superintendence of Sir Reginald Bray, and, in all likelihood, was launched in 1488.), and the ''Mary Fortune'' (Later rebuilt as the Sparrow).


Henry VIII

Biographer Jack Scarisbrick says that Henry VIII (reigned 1509–1547) deserved his traditional title of "Father of the English navy". He inherited seven small warships from his father, and added two dozen more by 1514. In addition to those built in England, he bought up Italian and Hanseatic warships. By March 1513, he proudly watched his fleet sail down the Thames under command of Sir Edmund Howard. It was the most powerful naval force to date in English history: 24 ships led by the 1600 ton " Henry Imperial"; the fleet carried 5000 combat marines and 3000 sailors. It forced the outnumbered French fleet back to its ports, took control of the English Channel, and blockaded Brest. Henry was the first king to organize the navy as a permanent force, with a permanent administrative and logistical structure, funded by tax revenue and supervised by the new Navy Board. His personal attention was concentrated on land, where he founded the royal dockyards, planted trees for shipbuilding, enacted laws for inland navigation, guarded the coastline with fortifications, set up a school for navigation and designated the roles of officers and sailors. He closely supervised the construction of all his warships and their guns, knowing their designs, speed, tonnage, armaments and battle tactics. He encouraged his naval architects, who perfected the Italian technique of mounting guns in the waist of the ship, thus lowering the center of gravity and making it a better platform. He supervised the smallest details and enjoyed nothing more than presiding over the launching of a new ship. He drained his treasury on military and naval affairs, diverting the revenues from new taxes and the sales of monastery lands. In 1512 Sir Edward Howard took over as Lord Admiral, and attacked on 10 August at Pointe Saint-Mathieu, with inconclusive results despite a memorable slugging match between the English '' Regent'' and the French ''Cordelière'' resulting in the destruction of both. Additional combat in 1513 resulted in the death of Sir Edward, and his brother Thomas Howard took his place. In 1514 the 1,500-ton
carrack A carrack (; ; ; ) is a three- or four- masted ocean-going sailing ship that was developed in the 14th to 15th centuries in Europe, most notably in Portugal. Evolved from the single-masted cog, the carrack was first used for European trade fr ...
''
Henry Grace à Dieu ''Henry Grace à Dieu'' ("Henry, Thanks be to God"), also known as ''Great Harry'', was an English carrack or " great ship" of the King's Fleet in the 16th century, and in her day the largest warship in the world. Contemporary with ''Mary Rose' ...
'' was launched, the first English two-decker and one of the earliest warships equipped with gunports and heavy bronze
cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during ...
s. Henry also commissioned the
Anthony Roll The Anthony Roll is a written record of ships of the English Tudor navy of the 1540s, named after its creator, Anthony Anthony. It originally consisted of three rolls of vellum, depicting 58 naval vessels along with information on their size, ...
(now in the Pepys Library), a survey of his navy as it was around 1546, from which comes much of the pictorial evidence for his ships. Henry VIII initiated the casting of cannon in England. By the late Elizabethan age (see the Aldernay wreck survey) English iron workers using
blast furnace A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally pig iron, but also others such as lead or copper. ''Blast'' refers to the combustion air being "forced" or supplied above atmospheric ...
s developed the technique of producing cast iron cannons which, while not as durable as the prevailing bronze cannons, they were much cheaper and enabled England to arm its navy more easily. In the end, the chief result of the war with France was a decision to keep the 30 ships active during peacetime. This entailed the establishment of a number of shore facilities, and the hiring of additional administrators; a royal
shipwright Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to befor ...
appears in 1538. By 1540 the navy consisted of 45 ships, a fleet of 20 ships were sent to Scotland in 1544 to land troops to burn Edinburgh, and in 1545 Lord Lisle had a force of 80 ships fighting a French force of 130 attempting to invade England in conjunction with the
Battle of the Solent The naval Battle of the Solent took place on 18 and 19 July 1545 during the Italian Wars between the fleets of Francis I of France and Henry VIII of England, in the Solent, between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The engagement was inconclusi ...
(where the ''
Mary Rose The ''Mary Rose'' (launched 1511) is a carrack-type warship of the English Tudor navy of King Henry VIII. She served for 33 years in several wars against France, Scotland, and Brittany. After being substantially rebuilt in 1536, she saw her ...
'' sank). In the same year a memorandum established a "king's majesty's council of his marine", a first formal organization comprising seven officers, each in charge of a specific area, presided over by "
Lieutenant of the Admiralty The Lieutenant of the Admiralty is a now honorary office generally held by a senior retired Royal Navy admiral. He is the official deputy to the Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom. He is appointed by the Sovereign on the nomination of the First ...
" or Vice-Admiral
Thomas Clere Sir Thomas Clere (died 14 April 1545) was a successful poet at the court of Henry VIII. He is commemorated in several poems by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, with whom he had a very close friendship. He was engaged to Mary Shelton, a former mistre ...
. When war was not at hand the Navy was mostly occupied in chasing pirates. Historian G.R. Elton argues that Henry indeed build up the organization and infrastructure of the Navy, but it was not a useful weapon for his style of warfare. It lacked a useful strategy. It did serve for defense against invasion, and for enhancing England's international prestige.


Edward and Mary

Edward VI and
Mary I Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" by her Protestant opponents, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain from January 1556 until her death in 1558. Sh ...
added little new to their father's navy. Although the navy was involved in the maneuverings following the death of Henry VIII, it was ineffective.
Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also call ...
maintained the building program, the navy performed satisfactorily if not outstandingly (it did not prevent the loss of Calais) in the war with France of 1557 to 1559. However, the marriage of Mary I and
Philip II Philip II may refer to: * Philip II of Macedon (382–336 BC) * Philip II (emperor) (238–249), Roman emperor * Philip II, Prince of Taranto (1329–1374) * Philip II, Duke of Burgundy (1342–1404) * Philip II, Duke of Savoy (1438-1497) * Philip ...
led to trade with Spain, allowing English shipwrights to examine and adapt modern Spanish galleon design to the needs of the English Navy as English ports were soon visited by both Spanish warships and merchantmen. This would later prove crucial to the growth and development of the race-built galleon and the Elizabethan Navy that would obtain some triumphs against the Spanish Armada during the war between Protestant England and Catholic Spain.


Elizabeth I

While Henry VIII had launched the Royal Navy, his successors King Edward VI and Queen Mary I had ignored it and it was little more than a system of coastal defense. Elizabeth made naval strength a high priority. She risked war with Spain by supporting the "
Sea Dogs The sea, connected as the world ocean or simply the ocean, is the body of salty water that covers approximately 71% of the Earth's surface. The word sea is also used to denote second-order sections of the sea, such as the Mediterranean Sea ...
," such as
John Hawkins John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
and Francis Drake, who preyed on the Spanish merchant ships carrying gold and silver from the New World. A
fleet review A fleet review or naval review is an event where a gathering of ships from a particular navy is paraded and reviewed by an incumbent head of state and/or other official civilian and military dignitaries. A number of national navies continue to ...
on Elizabeth I's accession in 1559 showed the navy to consist of 39 ships, and there were plans to build another 30, to be grouped into five categories (a foreshadowing of the rating system). Elizabeth kept the navy at a constant expenditure for the next 20 years, and maintained a steady construction rate. By the 1580s, tensions with Spain had reached the breaking point, exacerbated by Elizabeth's support for the privateering expeditions of Hawkins,
Drake Drake may refer to: Animals * A male duck People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name * Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name ...
, and others, and capped by the Cadiz raid of 1587, in which Drake destroyed dozens of Spanish ships. In 1588, Philip II of Spain launched the Spanish Armada against England, but after a running battle lasting over a week, the Armada was scattered and limped home. These famous battles were early actions in the long and costly Anglo-Spanish War of 1585–1604.


Technological advances

The Navy yards were leaders in technical innovation, and the captains devised new tactics. Parker (1996) argues that the
full-rigged ship A full-rigged ship or fully rigged ship is a sailing vessel's sail plan with three or more masts, all of them square-rigged. A full-rigged ship is said to have a ship rig or be ship-rigged. Such vessels also have each mast stepped in three s ...
was one of the greatest technological advances of the century and permanently transformed naval warfare. In 1573 English shipwrights introduced designs, first demonstrated in the ''
Dreadnought The dreadnought (alternatively spelled dreadnaught) was the predominant type of battleship in the early 20th century. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's , had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her ...
'', that allowed the ships to sail faster and maneuver better and permitted heavier guns. Whereas before warships had tried to grapple with each other so that soldiers could board the enemy ship, now they stood off and fired broadsides that would sink the enemy vessel. When Spain finally decided to invade and conquer England it was a fiasco. Superior English ships and seamanship foiled the invasion and led to the destruction of the Spanish Armada in 1588, marking the high point of Elizabeth's reign. Technically, the Armada failed because Spain's over-complex strategy required coordination between the invasion fleet and the Spanish army on shore. But the poor design of the Spanish cannons meant they were much slower in reloading in a close-range battle, allowing the English to take control. Spain and France still had stronger fleets, but England was catching up.Geoffrey Parker, "Why the Armada Failed," ''
History Today ''History Today'' is an illustrated history magazine. Published monthly in London since January 1951, it presents serious and authoritative history to as wide a public as possible. The magazine covers all periods and geographical regions and pub ...
,'' May 1988, Vol. 38 Issue 5, pp. 26–33


Structure of the Tudor Navy


Key officials from 1485 to 1546

''Officers from 1485 to 1546'' included:
: Admiral of England, Ireland and Aquitaine *
John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford (8 September 1442 – 10 March 1513), the second son of John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford, and Elizabeth Howard, a first cousin of John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk (2nd creation), was one of the principal ...
, 1485-1512 *
Sir Edward Howard Sir Edward Howard, KG (1476/1477 – 25 April 1513) was an English naval officer. He was the first of the Howards to win fame as an admiral, participating in his first naval battle while in his teens. He was in command during the Battle of ...
, 1512-1513 * Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, 1513-1525 * Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset, 1525-1536 * William Fitzwilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton, 1536-1540 * John Russell, 1st Lord Russell, 1540-1542 * John Dudley, 1st Viscount Lisle, 1542-1546 : Clerk of Marine Causes * Thomas Rogers, 12 December 1480 d.1488 * William Commersall, 1488-18 May 1495 * Robert Brygandine, 19 May 1495 – 1523 * Thomas Jermyn, and William Gonson, 1523–1533, (jointly) * Leonard Thoreton 1533-1538 * Vice-Admiral
Sir Thomas Spert Vice-Admiral of England Sir Thomas Spert (spelled in some records as Pert) (died December 1541) was a mariner who reached the rank of vice admiral in service to King Henry VIII of England. He was sailing master of the flagships ''Mary Rose'' and ...
, 1538-1543 * Edmund Wynter, 1544-1545 *
John Wynter Vice-Admiral Sir John Wynter or Winter (1555–1638) was an explorer and naval officer in the English Navy Royal. As a ship's captain in the Drake expedition of 1577-1580, he was the first European to cross the Strait of Magellan from west to ...
1545- d. 1546 : Clerk Comptroller of the Navy * John Hopton, 1512-1524 * Vice-Admiral, Sir
Thomas Spert Vice-Admiral of England Sir Thomas Spert (spelled in some records as Pert) (died December 1541) was a mariner who reached the rank of vice admiral in service to King Henry VIII of England. He was sailing master of the flagships ''Mary Rose'' and ...
, 1524-1540 * John Osborne, 1540-1545 * William Broke, 1545-1561 :Keeper of the Storehouses * Vice-Admiral, Sir William Gonson, 1524-1545 * Richard Howlett, 1545-1546


Key officials from 1546 to 1603

:''Officers from 1546 to 1603'' :Lord High Admirals of England * Thomas Seymour, 1st Lord Seymour of Sudeley, 1546-1549 *
John Dudley, 1st Earl of Warwick John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1504Loades 2008 – 22 August 1553) was an English general, admiral, and politician, who led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until 1553, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jan ...
, 1549-1550 * Edward Clinton, 9th Lord Clinton, 1550-1554 * William Howard, 1st Lord Howard of Effingham, 1554-1558 * Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln, 1558-1585 *
Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham, KG (1536 – 14 December 1624), known as Lord Howard of Effingham, was an English statesman and Lord High Admiral under Elizabeth I and James I. He was commander of the E ...
, 1585-1603 In 1546 Henry VIII establishes a
Council of the Marine The Navy Board (formerly known as the Council of the Marine or Council of the Marine Causes) was the commission responsible for the day-to-day civil administration of the Royal Navy between 1546 and 1832. The board was headquartered within the ...
to oversee the administrative affairs of the Navy initially presided over by the
Lieutenant of the Admiralty The Lieutenant of the Admiralty is a now honorary office generally held by a senior retired Royal Navy admiral. He is the official deputy to the Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom. He is appointed by the Sovereign on the nomination of the First ...
reporting to the Lord High Admiral. :Lieutenants of the Admiralty * Sir
Thomas Clere Sir Thomas Clere (died 14 April 1545) was a successful poet at the court of Henry VIII. He is commemorated in several poems by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, with whom he had a very close friendship. He was engaged to Mary Shelton, a former mistre ...
1545-1552 * Sir William Woodhouse 1552-1565 ''Note:(post is vacant till 1604)'' :Treasurers of Marine Causes * Sir Robert Legge, 1546-1549 *
Benjamin Gonson Benjamin Gonson (c. 1525–1577) was an English Naval Administrator, and the first Surveyor of the Royal Navy. He was a founding member of England's Navy Board during the Tudor period. Career Benjamin Gonson began his career as a private shipw ...
, 1549-1547 *
Benjamin Gonson Benjamin Gonson (c. 1525–1577) was an English Naval Administrator, and the first Surveyor of the Royal Navy. He was a founding member of England's Navy Board during the Tudor period. Career Benjamin Gonson began his career as a private shipw ...
and Sir
John Hawkins John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
, 1549-1577 * Sir
John Hawkins John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
, 1577-1595 * Sir Roger Longford, 1595-1598 * Sir
Fulke Greville Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, ''de jure'' 13th Baron Latimer and 5th Baron Willoughby de Broke KB PC (; 3 October 1554 – 30 September 1628), known before 1621 as Sir Fulke Greville, was an Elizabethan poet, dramatist, and statesman who ...
, 1st Baron Brooke, 1595-1603 :Surveyors and Riggers of the Navy *
Benjamin Gonson Benjamin Gonson (c. 1525–1577) was an English Naval Administrator, and the first Surveyor of the Royal Navy. He was a founding member of England's Navy Board during the Tudor period. Career Benjamin Gonson began his career as a private shipw ...
24 April 1546 * Vice-Admiral, Sir
Thomas Spert Vice-Admiral of England Sir Thomas Spert (spelled in some records as Pert) (died December 1541) was a mariner who reached the rank of vice admiral in service to King Henry VIII of England. He was sailing master of the flagships ''Mary Rose'' and ...
, 1524-1540 * Vice Admiral Sir William Wynter 8 July 1549 (also Master of Naval Ordnance) * Sir Henry Palmer 11 July 1589. * Sir John Trevor 20 December 1598 -1603. : Masters of Naval Ordnance * Vice-Admiral Sir William Woodhouse, 1546-1552 * Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Wyndham, 1552-1553 * Vice Admiral Sir William Wynter 1557-1589 (also Surveyor) ''Note:Office is discontinued after 1589.'' : Comptrollers of the Navy * William Broke, 1545-1561 * Vice-Admiral, William Holstocke, 1561–1580 *
William Borough William Borough (1536–1599) was a British naval officer who was Comptroller of the Navy and the younger brother of Stephen Borough. He participated in the British attack on Cádiz in 1587. He was responsible for the drawing of several early ma ...
, 1580–1598 * Sir Henry Palmer 1598–1603 : Keepers of the Storehouses * Richard Howlett, 1546-1548 * William Holstock, 1548-1560 ''Note: (office is merged with Treasurer of the Navy)'' : Surveyors of Marine Victuals *
Edward Baeshe Edward Baeshe or Bashe (1506 or 1507 – 1587) was an English naval administrator and politician. He was born the son of Richard Baeshe of Worcester. He worked under Thomas Cromwell, and in 1550 became General Surveyor of Victuals for the nav ...
, 1550-1587 * James Quarles, 1587-1595 * Sir
Marmaduke Darrell Marmaduke Darrell or Darrel or Dayrell (died 1632) was an English courtier, accountant, and naval administrator. Darrell's estates were at Fulmer in Buckinghamshire. He was a Clerk of the Avery to Elizabeth I. Darrell kept an account of the exp ...
, 1595-1603 :Clerk of the Navy (also known as Clerk of the Ships) * Richard Howlett, 24 April 1546- 10 October 1560. * George Wynter, 10 October 1560 – 2 June 1567. *
John Hawkins John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
, 2 June 1567, (appointed but did not succeed). * George Wynter, 2 June 1567 – 24 March 1582. * William B. B. Gonson, 24 March 1582 – 6 July 1596. *
Benjamin Gonson Benjamin Gonson (c. 1525–1577) was an English Naval Administrator, and the first Surveyor of the Royal Navy. He was a founding member of England's Navy Board during the Tudor period. Career Benjamin Gonson began his career as a private shipw ...
, 6 July 1596 – 17 April 1603.


Legacy

Important though this period was, it represents a soon-lost high point. After 1601 the efficiency of the Navy declined gradually, while corruption grew until brought under control in an inquiry of 1618.


See also

*
Admiralty in the 16th century The Admiralty and Marine Affairs Office (1546-1707), previously known as the Admiralty Office (1414-1546), was a government department of the Kingdom of England, responsible for the Royal Navy. First established in 1414 when the offices of the s ...
* History of the Royal Navy#1500-1601 *
Navy Board The Navy Board (formerly known as the Council of the Marine or Council of the Marine Causes) was the commission responsible for the day-to-day civil administration of the Royal Navy between 1546 and 1832. The board was headquartered within the ...
*
William Winter (admiral) Admiral Sir William Wynter (c. 1521 – 20 February 1589) was an admiral and principal officer of the Council of the Marine under Queen Elizabeth I of England and served the crown during the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604). Personal Wynter wa ...


References


Further reading

* Corbett, Julian S. ''Drake and the Tudor Navy, With a History of the Rise of England as a Maritime Power'' (2 vol 1898
online
* Glasgow, Tom. "Vice Admiral Woodhouse and ship keeping the Tudor navy," ''Mariner's Mirror,'' 63 (1977), pp 253–63 * Konstam, Angus, ''Sovereigns of the Sea: The Quest to Build the Perfect Renaissance Battleship'' Wiley. 2008. * Loades, David, ''The Tudor Navy: An administrative, political and military history.'' Scolar Press, Aldershot. 1992. * Loades, David. ''The Making of the Elizabethan Navy, 1540-1590: From the Solent to the Armada'' (2009) * Nelson, Arthur. ''The Tudor navy: the ships, men and organisation, 1485–1603'' (2001) * Parker, Geoffrey. "The dreadnought revolution of Tudor England." ''The Mariner's Mirror'' 82.3 (1996): 269–300. * Rodger, Nicholas A. M., ''The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain 660–1649.'' W.W. Norton & Company, New York. 1997. * Rodger, Nicholas A. M., "The Development of Broadside Gunnery, 1450–1650." ''Mariner's Mirror'' 82 (1996), pp. 301–24.


Primary sources

* Knighton, C. S. and David Loades, eds. ''The navy of Edward VI and Mary I'' (2011) 652pp of original documents {{Kingdom of England History of the Royal Navy Maritime history of England Navy