More information : A number of vessels were reported to have sunk in the vicinity of Dunstanburgh Castle, however their remains have not been located. In 1514, during the reign of Henry VIII, a battle fleet was last seen at Dunstanburgh sheltering from a violent storm under the command of William Sabyn, it was not seen again. (1)
N.B. There is no mention of this incident in source (2), although it does state that a naval squadron under the command of William Sabyn attacked the Firth of Forth in May 1522, 8 years after the reported date of the incident at Dunstanburgh. This could mean that the report of the loss was false, or that Sabyn survived the wreck or was not aboard any of the missing ships, or that the date of loss had somehow become corrupted.
The increase of English naval activity against Scotland in the earlier 16th century does give some credibility to the notion of an English battle fleet in those waters at that period. (3)
'A report of January 1514 that two missing warships bound for Scotland were found at Dunstanburgh does not provide evidence that the site was functioning as a major port, as was once believed; the vessels remained offshore, although their captain evidently landed there, perhaps at the medieval quay south of the castle.' (4) [Original source not cited]
Date of Loss Qualifier: Reporting date of incident |