A collection of gold and silver embroidered dresses found at the bottom of the North Sea belonged to the luxurious wardrobe of a countess during the reign of King Charles I of England.

Divers off the coast of the Netherlands have recovered treasure from a shipwreck after a storm washed away the silt that had covered the vessel for four centuries. While sorting through the items, they discovered a remarkably well-preserved dress and a book that traced its origins to the reign of King Charles Stuart.

The researchers also found a letter that showed that one of the ships carrying the entourage of Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I, to the Netherlands in 1642 sank in the same area as the newly discovered wreck. From this, they deduced that the evening gown may have belonged to Jane Ker, Countess of Roxburghe, an adviser who accompanied the queen on the voyage, which took place at the beginning of the English Civil War.

Divers from the Dutch island of Texel regularly come across old wrecks because the area was used as a safe harbor for ships traveling through the North Sea, and many vessels encountered problems entering or leaving the area. They found the Stuart cargo ship in August 2014, shortly after the treasure had been exposed under layers of mud in rough seas.

Queen Henrietta Maria traveled to the Netherlands to pawn her royal jewelry to raise money.

According to The Times, Rob van Eerden, who led the project, said the divers’ discovery was a bundle of muddy fabric. But upon closer inspection, they realized the fabric was actually made up of several ancient dresses, including a nearly intact dress.

A Dutch expert said the dress was the first complete garment from the period to be found. The dresses were made of silk and embroidered with gold and silver thread, suggesting they belonged to the rich and powerful. Other items found on the ship included boots, a comb and a velvet purse, all of which were likely from the wardrobe of a noblewoman.

Another piece of evidence is a Bible stamped with the Stuart crest, indicating that the owner was not only a nobleman but also had close ties to the royal family. On April 18, scientists unearthed a letter about Queen Henrietta Maria’s trip to the Netherlands.

The Queen travelled to the Netherlands in early 1642 to pawn the family jewels to raise money for the war against the Roundheads of King Charles I. She travelled with an escort of 12 ships, including the shipwreck containing the Queen’s silver and the wardrobe of the Countess of Roxburghe.

Jane Ker was a Scottish aristocrat who was very close to Anne, the mother of King Charles I. The countess also encouraged Anne to remain Catholic, even though England was Protestant at the time. Ker was banished by the court in 1617 and failed in her attempt to return to the royal family because of her beliefs. When Henrietta Maria was in trouble, the queen ᴀssigned the tactful courtier to accompany her to the Netherlands.

The Queen remained in the Netherlands for a year before returning to England, where she stopped in Yorkshire and joined the Civil War campaign.

Queen Maria was exiled to France in 1644, and did not return to England until her son Charles II restored the throne after the death of Oliver Cromwell. Treasures from her journey to the Netherlands are now on display at the Kaap Skil museum on the island of Texel.