Literacy - Page 2 of 2

Objects purchased with money from the King's own accounts were marked with the broad arrow. This mark is still used today to indicate government property. Bronze sheaves for rigging blocks, spoked wheels for gun carriages, bowls and wooden tankards were found to bear this mark. The King's property was also marked with a capital "H" for Henry. This mark has been found stamped on many of the cast-iron shot and branded into the wood of a number of plates and bowls.

Close to the galley area, nine barrels containing cattle bones were found. Some of the barrels were scored with Roman numerals, others with "TV".

The largest dateable collection of early pewterware was found on the Mary Rose. Although mostly comprised of domestic utensils (dishes, spoons, plates, flagons and flasks), some items such as a syringe and ointment canisters, were for medical purposes. The pewter items would have been used by the officers on board.

Many of the pewter items carry makers' marks, sometimes in conjunction with owners marks. These makers marks were often symbols such as two swans or a pewterer's hammer. Pewter items recovered from the barber surgeons cabin bear the owners initials of "W.E." Several plates and saucers share the same makers mark, a gothic "TC", with a crowned rose between the letters.

They also had the owners mark "GC", and probably belonged to the vice-admiral, George Carew. The "TC" may be the mark of Thomas Chamberlyn, a member of the Pewterers Company, recorded as master five times between 1517 and 1536. Two of the pewter plates bear the initials of the admiral, Lord Lisle. John Dudley, Viscount Lisle, had held a dinner aboard his flagship, the Henry Grace a Dieu the night before the battle when the Mary Rose sank. His plates were marked with his shield of arms, encircled with the Garter. We know that George Carew was at that dinner, but quite how two of Lisle's valuable plates found their way onto the Mary Rose is a matter for speculation.

Whilst not everyone could read and write on board the Mary Rose, it was important that marks indicating ownership were clearly recognisable. Moreover, clear identifying marks were essential if the ship was to go to war safely and efficiently.

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