 The Anthony Roll is the only known fully illustrated inventory of ships of the English navy in the Tudor period . As the work of a successful state official in 16th century England , the artistic value of the Anthony Roll has been described as being characterised by " naive draughtsmanship and conformity to a pattern " though its artistic aspects display " a decent amateur grasp of form and colour " . While the inventories listed in its text have proven to be highly accurate , most of the ship illustrations are rudimentary and made according to a set formula . The level of detail of the ship design , armament and especially rigging has therefore proven to be only approximate . Nevertheless , through their depiction of the ceremonial ornamentation the illustrations in the Roll have provided relevant secondary information to the study of Tudor period heraldry , flags and ship ornamentation . 
