THE KING’S SHIPS 1500 - 1599 The story begins with the creation of a Royal Navy under orders of King Henry VIII with ships such as GREAT HARRY and the MARY ROSE and continues through the daring exploits of Sir Francis Drake’s GOLDEN HINDE and the revolutionary innovations of John Hawkins’ race-built Galleons. Finally the climatic showdown with Spain’s Invincible Armada in 1588 laid the groundwork for Britannia's Rule of the Seas in the years to come. WOODEN WALLS 16..
