Royal ship carrying Charles I’s treasure ‘found off Scotland’

 

A 17th century ship with treasure worth millions of pounds has been “located” off the Scottish coast after decades of searching.

The Blessing of Burntisland, a ship that was part of Charles I’s coronation tour, was thought to be lost forever.

Now, thanks to advances in underwater scanning technology, treasure hunters believe they may have made a breakthrough after discovering timber which could have come from the ferry 

 

 The Blessing capsized during a storm as it crossed the Firth of Forth from Fife to Leith during the coronation of Charles I in July 1633. 

 

Difficult conditions, poor visibility, and restrictions on diving in the Firth of Forth have made the search for the Blessing of Burntisland an uphill battle.

That was made significantly harder by the fact that the ship was expected to have been buried deep beneath the estuary silt over hundreds of years,

However, that hasn't put off volunteers from Burntisland Heritage, who have been diligently scouring the tidal estuary for the last 30 years. 

 

 

Although the ship's identity has not yet been confirmed, the report says that 'core samples now strongly point to the wreck being that of the Blessing'.

However, further tests will be needed to determine exactly what the investigators have found.

Most importantly, the team plan to test the age of the timber recovered from the wreck using carbon dating, which will allow them to work out when the trees used to build the boat were cut down. 

 

 If those dates line up with the construction of the Blessing of Burntisland, it would be very strong evidence for the wreck's identity.

 

 That would be a huge breakthrough for a centuries-old nautical mystery. 

 

 When King Charles I watched the Blessing sink from the deck of his own ship, the Dreadnought, he was so furious that he blamed the entire disaster on witchcraft. 

 

In Lancashire, 19 women accused of witchcraft were arrested and executed on his insistence that they had caused the storm that sank the Blessing of Burntisland.

However, in reality, the ship likely sank because it was so overladen with its enormous haul of treasure. 

That consignment reportedly included a 280-piece gold and silver dinner service commissioned by King Henry VIII himself. 

If the ship and its cargo are recovered, the Crown would be the official owner, with Burntisland Heritage standing as 'salvor in possession'. 

 

 Representatives from Burntisland Heritage and Burntisland Harbour Access Trust have reportedly met with senior officials from Fife Council, Crown Estate Scotland and the Scottish Government to discuss the find. 

 

 https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16066483/Royal-ship-sunken-treasure-discovered.html