Hold the popular version up to the sources
Myths, shortcuts and labels
Some familiar lines about the Mary Rose are fair. Some compress a disagreement into a single tidy sentence. Try these, then read why.
Home · Myths
The Mary Rose sank on her maiden voyage.
It is settled fact that she was named after Henry’s sister, Mary Tudor.
The gunports were cut too low, and that is why she sank.
She was sunk by French guns — that is the settled account.
She sank before firing a single shot, and every good source agrees.
We know she was very overloaded, and that is not in dispute.
She was recovered in 1981, and no source uses 1982.