Editing Henry Grace à Dieu (section)

==History==

[[File:Morel-Fatio-MPB3.jpg|thumb|right|19th century depiction by [[Antoine Léon Morel-Fatio]]]]
The ship was built from 1512 to 1514 at the purpose-built Gun Wharf in [[Old Woolwich]]. This wharf became the origin of [[Woolwich Dockyard]], although in the 1540s the dockyard moved further west to an area known as "The King's Yard", where it would remain for more than 300 years. ''Henry Grace à Dieu'' was one of the first vessels to feature [[gunport]]s and had twenty of the new heavy bronze cannon, allowing for a [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]]. She was fitted out later in the Naval Dockyard in [[Erith]].<ref name=erithhistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/bexley/assets/histories/erith|title=A History of South London Suburbs|publisher=Ideal Homes|access-date=2015-02-01|archive-date=15 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715181811/http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/bexley/assets/histories/erith|url-status=dead}}</ref> In all she mounted 43 heavy guns and 141 light guns.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Parker |first1=Geoffrey |title=The Military Revolution: Military Innovation and the Rise of the West, 1500–1800 |year= 1996 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-47958-5 |page=90 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cIFiNRH3oWsC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=Gordon |title=The Oxford History of the Renaissance |date=2023 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-288669-9 |page=62 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i6a7EAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>

Very early on it became apparent that the ship was top heavy. She was plagued with heavy rolling in rough seas and her poor stability adversely affected gun accuracy and general performance as a fighting platform. To correct this, she underwent a substantial remodeling in Erith in 1539 (three years after the ''Mary Rose''), during which the height of the hull was reduced. In this new form<ref>Nelson, Arthur. ''The Tudor Navy'' Conway Maritime Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-85177-785-6}}</ref> she was 1000 tons burthen and carried 151 guns of varying size, including 21 of bronze (comprising 4 cannon, 3 demi-cannon, 4 [[culverin]]s, 2 demi-culverins, 4 [[Saker (cannon)|sakers]], 2 cannon [[Pierrier à boîte|perriers]] and 2 [[Falconet (cannon)|falcons]]),<ref>''The Anthony Roll of Henry VIII's Navy'', edited by C.S.Knighton and D.M.Loades, Navy Records Society, 2000, p. 41.</ref> her full crew was reduced to between 700 and 800.{{efn|The Anthony Roll gives this as 349 soldiers, 301 mariners and 7 gunners.}} She was given an improved and innovative sailing arrangement with four masts, each divided into three sections; the forward two [[square rig]]ged with mainsail, topsail and topgallants; and the aft two carrying five [[lateen sail]]s between them. This allowed for easier handling of the sails and spread wind forces more evenly on the ship, resulting in better speed and maneuverability, and allowing better use of the heavy broadside. The only surviving contemporary depiction of the craft is from the [[Anthony Roll]].<ref>Lausanne, Edita. ''The Great Age of Sail'', Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1967, p. 51.</ref>

The ''Henry Grace à Dieu'' saw little action. She was present at the [[Battle of the Solent]] against French forces in 1545, in which ''[[Mary Rose]]'' sank. Overall, she was used more as a diplomatic vessel, including taking Henry VIII to the summit with [[Francis I of France]] at the [[Field of the Cloth of Gold]] in 1520 (although smaller ships had to be used to take the King out of the harbours at Dover and Calais, as neither was deep enough to permit vessels of this draught to operate).<ref>Arthur Nelson, ''The Tudor Navy'', Conway Maritime, 2001. (p. 42)</ref>

After the accession of [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] in 1547, she was renamed ''Edward'' for him. She was accidentally destroyed at Woolwich by fire on 25 August 1553,{{sfn|Dear|Kemp|2007}}<ref>''Acts of the Privy Council'', 4 October 1553.</ref> 50 days after the death of Edward VI (and accession of [[Mary I of England|Mary]]) on 6 July 1553.