No one noticed the rock at the harbour mouth. But no one could mistake the sickening jolt as the ship struck. It took only minutes to sink. And in the freezing November waters, there was no hope of rescue. The chronicler William of Malmesbury wrote. No ship that ever sailed brought England such disaster. It was such a calamity that two days passed before anyone dared to break the news to King Henry. When eventually a stuttering boy was pushed forward to tell him that his son was dead, the King collapsed in anguish.