A brief overview from the
Funky Pirate
about Pirates.
Some of it
may be found disturbing by some,so ye be warned! Also,visit the
Swashbuckler's Cove
for more info.
For hundreds of years pirates scoured the high seas, menacing travelers,
plundering governments, and in the process profoundly affecting the course
of maritime history.
The Golden Age of Piracy came about in the late 1600's, almost 200 years
after Columbus had first sighted the Bahamas, and lasted until about 1722.
Although a brief period (just over thirty years), it was filled with marauders,
pirates, and scoundrels of every kind, all attempting to acquire immense wealth
and vast riches. The Pirates ranged their travels from Madagascar to the
eastern coast of North America, trading their stolen goods to whomever would
deal. Most operated mainly from the Caribbean waylaying unguarded merchant
ships for the precious cargos from the rich new land. When England made peace
with Spain in 1689, many privateering veterans had already turned to the
lucrative calling of piracy.
Privateers were men armed with a letter of marque who looted and pillaged
in the name of their country; therefore their actions were condoned.
Perfect examples of these mercenaries were men like Frances Drake and
Henry Morgan, both of whom were so successful they received knighthood
from the crown. Later Morgan actually became the lieutenant governor
of Jamaica.
Privateers had an appointed captain; where as, pirates elected theirs
with a majority vote, and he could be ousted just as easily by another
vote. Although there was a line between privateers and pirates, it was
more often a thin one and sometimes nearly indistinguishable. Admiral
Horatio Nelson was quoted as saying "...the conduct of all privateers
is, as far as I have seen, so near piracy that I only wonder how any
civilized nation can allow it."
In later years, during the coming of the 'Golden Age of Piracy',
countries were beginning to find peace which made it difficult
for privateers to make their living. The loss of their letter of
marque was, in fact, one of the major reasons piracy flourished
in this period. Men used to reaping the rewards of looting, often
making several hundred pounds a voyage, did not wish to go back to
the life of making ten pounds a year. Many of these men were in
the Royal Navy before becoming pirates. They left to escape the
harsh punishments inflicted by their officers. As well, being a
captain or helmsman on a pirate-ship allowed very few privileges
as opposed to the Royal Navy where rank definitely had its privileges.
Captain Bartholomew Roberts, who was one of the most successful
pirate captains of his time, had to endure men coming into his
quarters at any hour of the day or night, and drinking or eating
from his own stock. He was only allowed absolute power in the midst
of a battle or an emergency crisis; at any other time matters were
settled democratically. For being the captain you would be entitled
to two shares of the booty and nothing else.
Receiving a share and a half of the booty, the quartermaster was the
crews representative and the only one who was allowed to administer
lashings. Lashings however, were rarely used and unfailingly required
a majority vote of the crew. This is probably due to the over use of
this punishment in the Navy. The most familiar pirate retributions
are probably "walking the plank" and "marooning". Marooning was
actually more cruel than it sounds. A man would be left alone on a
deserted island with no food or fresh water and little or no equipment.
Coupled with the fact that they would probably have to deal with
hostile natives, this was likely a sentence of a long and drawn out death.
There is no evidence what-so-ever to support the legendary walking
of the plank. This is most likely the production of fiction writers'
imaginations. Customarily the punishments fit the crimes; for example
if murder was the offense the accused was often tied to the victim
and thrown over-board. This barbaric retribution was a custom the royal
navy practiced as well.
"No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself
into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the c
hance of being drowned. A man in jail has more room, better food,
and commonly better company."
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