| Title | the lead |
| Caption | Anchors from the same time period as the Roanoke voyages. |
| Source | Anchors: An Illustrated History by Betty Nelson Curryer |
| Date | 1999 |
| Creator | Mary Rose Trust (top) and Dr. Colin Martin (bottom) |
| Type | Drawing |
| Origin | Scans from book |
| Notes | The above anchor is from the English vessel Mary Rose (sunk in 1545). The anchor below is from the Trinidad Valencera (wrecked in 1588). |
The OED defines "lead" as follows: "A ‘bob’ or lump of lead suspended by a string to ascertain the depth of water; a sounding-lead. Phrases, to cast, heave the lead . to arm the lead : to fill the hollow in the lead with tallow in order to discover the nature of the bottom by the substances adhering (Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 1867 s.v. Arm). †Also, the leaden sinker of a net." - In this passage it is unclear whether the lead weight on a sounding line, as defined above, or an anchor is being referenced.