HMS Elizabeth Jonas (1559)
Encyclopedia
The Elizabeth Jonas of 1559 was the first large English galleon
, built in Deptford
from 1557 and launched in July 1559.
With a nominal burden
of 800 tons, she was the largest ship built in England since Henry VIII
's prestige warship, the Henry Grace à Dieu. She was ordered under the reign of Queen Mary
and initially named Edward, after her late brother, but was renamed when Elizabeth I came to the throne. She was a square-rigged galleon of four masts, including two lateen
-rigged mizzenmasts. The Elizabeth Jonas served effectively under the command of Sir Robert Southwell
during the battle of the Spanish Armada
in 1588. In 1597-98 she was rebuilt as a razee
galleon, but at the time of the Commission of Enquiry in 1618 she was condemned and broken up.
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
, built in Deptford
Deptford
Deptford is a district of south London, England, located on the south bank of the River Thames. It is named after a ford of the River Ravensbourne, and from the mid 16th century to the late 19th was home to Deptford Dockyard, the first of the Royal Navy Dockyards.Deptford and the docks are...
from 1557 and launched in July 1559.
With a nominal burden
Burden
-As a surname:*Arthur Scott Burden , American equestrian*Chris Burden, American avant-garde artist*Doug Burden , American rower.*Henry Burden, 19th century industrialist*Jane Morris née Jane Burden , English artists' model...
of 800 tons, she was the largest ship built in England since Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's prestige warship, the Henry Grace à Dieu. She was ordered under the reign of Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
and initially named Edward, after her late brother, but was renamed when Elizabeth I came to the throne. She was a square-rigged galleon of four masts, including two lateen
Lateen
A lateen or latin-rig is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction....
-rigged mizzenmasts. The Elizabeth Jonas served effectively under the command of Sir Robert Southwell
Robert Southwell
Robert Southwell , also Saint Robert Southwell, was an English Roman Catholic priest of the Jesuit Order. He was also a poet and clandestine missionary in post-Reformation England. After being arrested and brutally tortured by Sir Richard Topcliffe, Father Southwell was tried and convicted of high...
during the battle of the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
in 1588. In 1597-98 she was rebuilt as a razee
Razee
A razee or razée is a sailing ship that has been cut down to reduce the number of decks. The word is derived from the French vaisseau rasé, meaning a razed ship.-Sixteenth century:...
galleon, but at the time of the Commission of Enquiry in 1618 she was condemned and broken up.