Science: Raising a Tudor Rose

A venerable warship once again sees daylight

She was the first man-o'-war of England's fledgling Royal Navy and a special source of pride to Henry VIII, founding genius of that noble institution. In 1509, Bluff King Hal named the 130-ft., 700-ton, four-masted carrack, which became the vice flagship of his royal fleet, Mary Rose, after his favorite sister. But on July 19, 1545, the willful monarch looked on appalled at Southsea Castle, near the historic naval town of Portsmouth, as the top-heavy Mary Rose capsized and sank in 40 ft. of water while repelling the attack of a French armada. "Oh,...

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