Remains of a royal warship, sunk in 1682, carrying the future King James Stewart, have been found off the coast of Norfolk, reports BTA. 

HMS Gloucester stranded about 28 miles from Great Yarmouth after a dispute between James, then Duke of York, and the ship's pilot, James Ayers, over navigation off the treacherous sandy shores of Norfolk.

The ship sank in about an hour.

Of the 250 crew, 130 died. 

James survives.

He continued to rule as King James II of England and Ireland and as James VII of Scotland from 1685 to 1688, when he was overthrown during the Glorious Revolution.

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The wreckage of the HMS Gloucester was discovered in 2007 by brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell and others after a four-year search.

The vessel was finally identified in 2012 with the opening of the ship's bell.

The discovery was made public only today because of the time needed to confirm the ship's identity and because of the need to protect the historic site.

Claire Joyit, an expert on maritime history at the University of East Anglia, notes that the shipwreck is one of the most important "nearly happen" moments in English history.

The sinking of the HMS Gloucester nearly led to the death of the Catholic heir to the Protestant throne at a time of great political and religious tension in England.

"If he had died, we would have had a completely different British and European history," says Joyit.

"I think it's a time capsule that gives us the opportunity to understand so much about life in the 17th century," she added. 

There are currently no plans to lift the wreckage of the HMS Gloucester, as most of it is buried under the sand.

Artifacts rescued from the remains include clothing, shoes, navigation equipment and many bottles of wine. 

An exhibition is planned for next spring at the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, which will showcase the wreckage of the ship and present ongoing research.

Great Britain

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