The Mary Rose is rightly one of the most famous archaeological discoveries in Britain, shedding unprecedented light not only on Tudor naval warfare but the lives, experiences and beliefs of the men who served on her and tragically lost their lives when she sank in 1545.
Studies of religion in Tudor and Stuart England invariably focus on the strife between Protestants and Catholics, but everyday beliefs and religious practices went beyond such ‘High Church’ definitions, including those more related to superstition and even witchcraft.
In a fascinating blog post on the Mary Rose’s website which may be of interest to followers of this blog, Alice Mew has explored evidence for apotropaic markings and activity on the ship and how the sailors may have (perhaps ineffectually considering its fate) attempted to avert misfortune.
Image of the Mary Rose by Geni, used under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license
Religion & Collections 