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History's Hinge - 'Ain Jalut

[Administration]

With the Whydah and Queen Anne's Revenge projects, the age of piratical mythology is becoming history. Reality has caught up. There is so much more to do. Let us report and discuss this here.

[Sovereign]

Great topic 

[Solomon]

English Letter of Marque Against Genoa
Henry IV, 1413

The King to all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting.

Our well-beloved lieges William Waldern, Drugo Barantyn, Walter Cotton, John Reynewelle, William Flete, Thomas Brown, William Brekespere, John Glamville, John Sutton and their fellows, merchants of the city of London, have shown unto us that of late they, with our licence, despatched certain factors and attorneys of theirs with a great quantity of wools and other merchandise, to the value of 24,000 ? shipped in divers ships, to be carried carefully and in safety by way of the Straits of Morocco to Western parts, there to be sold for the advantage and increase of our realm; and, to the end that the aforesaid ships so laden should have sure and safe passage, we caused our letters of recommendation to be sent to the Governors, worthies, and community of Genoa, which letters were, as we hear, duly presented to them by certain of the aforesaid factors; but they of Genoa, paying no regard at all to our letters aforesaid, and wickedly scheming, to the injury of the commonweal of our realm aforesaid, to hinder their passage, first of all detained the aforesaid ships, and afterwards compelled them to enter the harbour of Genoa, and, after their entry, spoiled them of the wools and merchandise aforesaid, and took them into their own hands, and sold them for their own use and profit; and, further, that the aforesaid factors were prevented from writing to their own magistrates upon the matter, and were, and now are, to the grievous hurt and injury of our said lieges, unable to get possession of any part of the aforesaid wools and merchandise, for their own support, or of any of the money arising from the sale thereof.

Wherefore they have prayed us that we should think fit to issue to them our letters of marque and reprisal.

And we, in compliance with their prayer, of our especial grace, and with the assent of our council, have, for ourselves and our heirs, given and granted to the aforesaid William, Drugo, Walter, John, William, Thomas, William, John, John, and their fellows aforesaid that they of themselves or by their deputies may seize, keep, and retain such and so many Genoese, or subjects or inhabitants of Genoa or the confines of Genoa, or their factors or agents, as they think fit, whether on this side of the sea or beyond it, and whether on land or sea, together with their ships, vessels, goods, and merchandise of what kind soever, until full restitution and satisfaction shall be made to them for the value of the aforesaid wools and merchandise, to the amount aforesaid, together with their costs, damages, outgoings, and expenses, which by fair estimate amount to the sum of 10,000 ? and that they have liberty to put into execution or cause to be put into execution these present letters of marque and reprisal so often as they think fit, without hindrance by us or our heirs or by the Admirals of us or our heirs or by their lieutenants or other our officers or ministers whatsoever, and that notwithstanding any letters of safe-conduct granted or hereafter to be granted to the aforesaid Genoese, or subjects or inhabitants of Genoa or its confines, or their factors or agents, or anyone else of the country or territory of their community or confederacy.

Moreover, we straitly command all and singular our Admirals, captains, castellans, and their lieutenants, customers, keepers of ports, keepers of the sea and sea coasts, sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, constables, ministers and other our lieges and subjects, as well on this side of the sea as beyond it, that in the execution of the premises they be aiding, helping, and assisting to the aforesaid William, Drugo, Walter, John, William, Thomas, William, John, and John, and their fellows, as beseems them, &c.

In witness, &c.

Witness the King at Westminster the 3rd day of February.

[Solomon]

Letter of Marque Against Scotland and France
Henry VIII, 1543

The King's most royal Majesty being credibly informed that divers and many of his most loving faithful and obedient subjects inhabiting upon the sea coasts, using trafic by sea, and divers others, be very desirous to prepare and equip sundry ships and vessels at their own costs and charges to the sea for the annoyance of his Majesty's enemies, the Frenchmen and the Scots, so as they might obtain his most gracious licence in that behalf, Hath, of his clemency, tender love, and zeal, which he beareth to his subjects, by the advice of his most honorable counsel resolved and determined as hereafter followeth:

First his Majesty is pleased, and by the authority hereof giveth full power and licence to all and singular, his subjects of all sorts, degrees, and conditions, that they and every of them, may, at their liberties, without incuring any loss, danger, forfeiture, or penalty, and without putting in of any bonds or recognizance before the Counsel, or in the Court of the Admiralty, and without suing forth of any other licence, vidimus, or other writing, from any counsel, court, or place, within this realm, or any other his Majesty's realms and dominions, prepare and equip to the seas such and so many ships and vessels furnished for the war, to be used and employed against his Grace's said enemies, the Scots and Frenchmen, as they shall be able to think convenient for their advantage and the annoyance of his Majesty's said enemies. And his Majesty is further pleased, and by this presents granteth to every of his said subjects that they, and every of them, shall enjoy to his and their own proper use, profit, and commodity, all and singular such ships, vessels, munition, merchandise, wares, victuals, and goods of what nature and quality soever it be, which they shall take of any of his Majesty's said enemies, without making account in any court or place of this realm or any other of the King's realms or dominions for the same, and without paying any part or share to the Lord Admiral of England, the Lord Warden of the Five Ports, or any other officer or minister of the King's Majesty, any use, custom, prescription, or order to the contrary hereof used heretofore in any wise notwithstanding. And his Majesty is further pleased that all and every his said subjects which upon the publication of this proclamation will sue for a duplicate of the same under the great seal of England, shall have the same, paying only the petty fees to the officers for writing the same.

And, seeing now that it hath pleased the King's Majesty, of his most gracious goodness, to grant unto all his subjects this great liberty, his Highness desireth all mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, aldermen, and all other his Grace's faithful officers, ministers, and subjects of this realm, and other his Highness' realms and dominions, and especially those which do inhabit in the port towns and other places near the seaside, to shew themselves worthy of such liberty, and one to bear with an other, and to help an other, in such sort as their doing hereupon may be substantial, and bring forth that effect that shall redound to his Majesty's honor, their own suerties, and the annoyance of the enemies.

Provided always that no man which shall go to the sea by virtue hereof presume to take any thing from any his Majesty's subjects, or from any man having his Grace's safeconduct, upon the pains by his Majesty's laws provided for the same. And his Grace is further pleased that no manner of officer, or other person, shall take any mariners, munition, or tackle from any man thus equipping himself to the sea, but by his own consent, unless his Majesty, for the furniture of his own ships, do send for any of them by special commissions, and where need shall require. His Majesty will also grant commission to such as will sue for the same for their better furnitures in this behalf.

[Solomon]

Letter of Marque of the Dutch West India Company, 1626

De Staten Generael der Vereenichde Nederlanden Allen den geenen die dese jegenwoordige zullen sien ofte hooren lesen, Saluit.

Alsoo ons bij die van de West Indische Compagnie te kennen gegeven is, dat sij inde laestgehoudene Vergaederinge van de Negenthien, beslooten hadden, omme wederom de Compagnie ten besten, ende tot afbreuck der Spaignaerden, in zee te brengen een groot aental van Schepen, ende die aen verscheiden oorden ende gewesten in haere Limiten te gebruijcken, op onse Commissie onder het beleit van een ervaren Admirael ende Capitein Generael, versien met sodanige macht ende Instructie, dat alle andere Admiralen, Commandeurs, Capiteinen en andere Officieren, het sij te land ofte te water met haere onderhebbende Schepen, besette plaetsen, Boots- en Crijchs-volck ter sijner aencomste sich datelick sullen begeven onder sijn commandement ende gebiet, denzelven obedieren, ende naercomen, hetgeen henluyden, respecivelick ende de haere bij hem, met advis van zijnen Raet, volgens de Instructie ende intentie van de Compagnie sal worden belast: Waeromme oock door desen Admorael ende Capiteijn Generael, ofte sijn ordre, geduijrende sijn verblijff bij de voornoemde schepen, sterckten, ofte troupen van de Compagnie, alleen de vergaderinge van de generale, secrete ende crijchsraden, volgens de Instructie bij Bewinthebberen te geven, het sij te water ofte lande, beroepen sullen werden, waerinne hij geduijrich sal presideren, ende met de meeste stemmen, het best van de Compagnie besluijten, oock geduijrende sijn onthout, Justitie, soo int criminel als civil, doen administreren, cesserende op het vertooch van desen, voor die tijt, alle commissien, bij ons aengaende het gebiet aen eenige Admiralen, Commandeurs, Capiteinen generael van eenige particuliere Custen, ofte andere Officieren, voor desen verleent, tot dat hij wederom van haer sal gescheijden sijn, als wanneer ende eerder niet, de voornoemde haere vorige authoriteit ende commissie wederom sullen aenvaerden, ende hem in conformit? van dien doen respecteren, welverstaende nochtans dat desen Admirael comende (17 verso) bij den Generael Bouwen Heijnsen gehouden sal wesen, hem ende sijne onderhebbende macht, onder desselfs vlagge en commandement te begeven, in manieren als in sijn regarde hiervoren aen de andere geordonneert is.

Soo Ist: dat wij op het goet aenbrengen, ende de presentatie tot dien eijnde ane ons gedaen, van wegen de Bewinthebberen der West Indische Compagnie, van den persoon van onsen lieven getrouwen den erentfesten ende manhaften Pieter Pietersz Heijn, denselven gestelt, gecommitteert ende onthouten hebben, stellen, committeren ende onthouden bij desen tot Admirael ende Capitein Generael in de limiten van de voorszegde Compagnie, om voortaen met de Raden nevens hem gestelt, ofte noch te stellen, het ampt van Admirael en Capitein Generael aldaer te bedienen, ende in deselve qualiteit over alle landen, forten, schepen, personen en contoiren van de voorszegde geoctroijeerde West Indische Compaignie te commanderen, alle saecken, soo den handel als oorloch aengaende te dirigeren, mitsgaders alles aldaer in goede ordre tot dienste der Vereenichde Nederlanden, ende de gemelde Compagnie te onderhouden, op de verseeckeringe van de plaetsen ende fortressen, reede vercregen, ofte noch te vercrijgen, goet reglement te stellen, recht ende Justitie, zo in het crimineel als in het civil te adminisreren, ende voorts alles te doen sijn Ampt ende offitie aengaende, volgende (de) generale ende particuliere instructien - - die hij gehouden sal wesen, op sijne aencomste den Generael Bouwen Heijnsz ende den Admirael Jan Dircxsen Lam te vertoonen - - hem gegeven ende noch te geven, dat een goet ende getrouw Admirael ende Capitein Generael schuldich is te doen, behoudelick nochtans dat hij sal cederen en hem in alles onderwerpen het commandement van den Generael Bouwen Heijnsz (sulcx als hiervoren verhaelt staet, waerop ende van hem wel ende behoorlick te quiten) den voorszegden Pieter Pieterszen Heijn, doen sal in onse handen ofte van onse Gecommitteerden den behoorlijcken Eedt, 'Twelck gedaen sijnde, ontbieden, lasten ende beveelen allen den ijegelijck, het sij Admiraels, Commandeurs, Capiteinen Generael van particuliere Custen, ende alle andere, van wat soort ofte conditie, die mochten wesen, den voorgemelden Pieter Pieterszen Heijn, als haren Admirael ende Capiteijn Generael te erkennen, te respecteren, ende te gehoorsamen, haer gewillich ter zijner aencomste op het vertooch van desen, onder zijn commandement te begeeven, bij hem ontbooden sijnde, so te water, als te lande, te raet ofte in gespreck te comen, eijndelijck in het volbrengen van desen alle hulp ende bijstant te doen, een eijder voor soo, veel hem aengaen sal, op de pene (18) in den Articulbrieff gementioneert, en als wij sullen achten sodanige noch meer te meriteren, Alzoo wij sulcx ten dienste van den Lande ende van de voorszegde Compagnie bevonden hebben te behooren.
Gegeven in 's Gravenhage onder onsen Contre zegel, paraphure ende signature van onsen Griffier op den 28sten Martij 1626.

G. van Hertevelt
ter ordonnantie van de Hoochgemelte
Heeren Staten Generael,
J. van Goch.

Op den 28 Martij heeft Pieter Pietersz Heijn als
Admirael en Capiteijn Generael gedaen den behoor-
lijken eed in handen van den Heere President
Mij present
J. van Goch.

[Diving Doc]

We will have to get 99* or Corny to translate the Dutch for us as I can only read about half and that badly.
Cheers,
Doc

[Solomon]

There is a trick to reading Dutch: pretend it's English. 
That's half true, too.

Solomon

[Solomon]

French Letter of Marque
Tortuga, 28 July 1669

Copie de la commission de Fran?ois Tr?butor, arm? en guerre ? la Tortue

Nous, Gouverneur pour le Roi en l'?le de la Tortue et C?te de Saint Domingue, sous l'autorit? de Messieurs de la Compagnie des Indes Occidentales, avons donn? cong? ? commission au sieur Fran?ois Tr?butor, capitaine d'une fr?gate arm?e en guerre, de faire la guerre aux Espagnols ennemis d?clar?s de sa Majest?, ? condition qu'ils am?neront de chaque prise deux principaux officiers pour parcourir ? l'adjudication de ladite prise. Enjoignons ? tous ceux pour qui notre pouvoir s'?tend, de rendre audit capitaine Tr?butor et son ?quipage toutes les assistances possibles s'il en a besoin. Prions et supplions g?n?raux, lieutenants g?n?raux, capitaines, de faire de semblables offres et ? faire les m?mes pour eux en cas pareil.

Fait ? la Tortue, le 28 de juillet 1669.

Ogeron.

par la main du sieur Cordier.

Commission to Fran?ois Tr?butor, manned in war at Tortuga

We, Governor for the King on the Isle of Tortuga and Coast of St. Domingue, under the authority of My Lords of the West India Company, have given pass and commission to sieur Fran?ois Tr?butor, commander of a frigate manned in war, to make war to the Spaniards, His Majesty's open enemies, upon condition that he will bring in, from each prize, two chief officers to proceed to the jugment of the said prize. We order to all those under our juridiction to give to the said captain Tr?butor and to his crew all possible help if required. We pray and implore generals, lieutenant generals, captains, to do the same and the same will be done for them in such case.

Done at Tortuga, 28 of July 1669.

Ogeron.

copy by the hand of the sieur Cordier.

[Bart]

He has some good points... - Bart

Pirates pursued democracy, helped American colonies survive

Blackbeard and Ben Franklin deserve equal billing for founding democracy in the United States and New World, a new University of Florida study finds.

Pirates practiced the same egalitarian principles as the Founding Fathers and displayed pioneering spirit in exploring new territory and meeting the native peoples, said Jason Acosta, who did the research for his thesis in history at the University of Florida.

?Hollywood really has given pirates a bum rap with its image of bloodthirsty, one-eyed, peg-legged men who bury treasure and force people to walk the plank,? he said. ?We owe them a little more respect.?

Acosta, a descendant of a pirate who fought for the United States in the Battle of New Orleans, studied travel narratives, court hearings, sermons delivered at pirate hangings and firsthand accounts of passengers held captive by pirates. Comparing pirate charters with the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, he said he was amazed by the similarities.

Like the American revolutionaries, pirates developed three branches of government with checks and balances. The ship captain was elected, just as the U.S. president; the pirate assembly was comparable to Congress; and the quartermaster resembled a judge in settling shipmate disputes and preventing the captain from overstepping his authority, he said.

Colonists and pirates also were alike in emphasizing written laws, democratic representation and due process, Acosta said. All crew members were allowed to vote, ship charters had to be signed by every man on board, and anyone who lost an eye or a leg was compensated financially, he said.

These ideals grew out of both groups? frustration at being mistreated by their leaders; the British forced the colonists to quarter troops and pay taxes, and captains on merchant ships beat their shipmen, starved them and paid less than promised, Acosta said.

?It?s no wonder that many sailors seized the opportunity to jump ship and search for a better way of life, namely piracy, which offered better food, shorter work shifts and the power of the crew in decision-making,? he said.

A golden age of pirating emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries as these Brethren of the Sea sailed the world?s waterways, plundering hundreds of millions of dollars worth of gold, silver and other merchandise, shaping the modern world in the process, Acosta said.

Pirates mapped new territory, expanded trade routes, discovered good ports and opened doors with the native peoples, Acosta said. ?They really helped European nations explore the Americas before Europeans could afford to explore them on their own,? he said.

By selling stolen silks, satins, spices and other merchandise in ports and spending their booty in the colonies, pirates created an economic boom, helping struggling settlements and making Port Royale in Jamaica and Charleston, S.C., huge mercantile centers, Acosta said. ?They didn?t bury their treasure, they spent it, helping colonies survive that couldn?t get the money and supplies they needed from Europe,? he said.

Without the infusion of money into the New World from piracy, it is possible that Britain and France may not have been able to catch up with Spain, Acosta said.

?Had it not been for pirates, Britain might have had trouble holding onto the American colonies,? he said. ?Pirates decimated the Spanish so badly that Spain finally had to give up some of its American empire just to get pirating to stop.?

Native Americans and black slaves oppressed by the Spanish in the Caribbean gave pirates inside information on where to dock ships and find supplies, Acosta said. Slaves fleeing plantations were welcomed on pirate ships, where they shared an equal voice with white sailors, he said.

Acosta said he believes pirates would be given a place in the history books if they had been able to write their stories and leave diaries like the more literate American colonists.

A Gainesville middle school teacher, Acosta occasionally brings up pirates in his classroom, where he has a captive audience, thanks to the popularity of the movie ?Pirates of the Caribbean,? which has a sequel opening July 7. ?I had one group of students in my class who just went around the playground all the time saying, ?Aaar, we?re the pirates,?? he said.

Richard Burg, an Arizona State University professor and expert on pirates, said Acosta is performing a great service by emphasizing pirates? democratic and egalitarian ways. ?The men who sailed under the skull and crossbones were ordinary folk, like America?s revolutionaries, standing firm against oppressive governments and economic systems,? he said. ?Mr. Acosta is one of the few scholars who understand this.?

Source: by Cathy Keen, University of Florida

[Solomon]

The eleven-article contract below was used by Black Bart Roberts. It must have been effective, for he was one of the most successful pirates of all time?capturing more than 400 ships over the 30-month span of his career.

The Pirate Code of Black Bart Roberts

   1. Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of moment. He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized...
   2. Every man shall be called fairly in turn by the list on board of prizes. But if they defraud the company to the value of even one dollar, they shall be marooned. If any man rob another he shall have his nose and ears slit, and be put ashore where he shall be sure to encounter hardships.
   3. None shall game for money either with dice or cards.
   4. The lights and candles shall be put out at eight at night, and if any of the crew desire to drink after that hour they shall sit upon the open deck without lights.
   5. Each man shall keep his piece, cutlass and pistols at all times clean and ready for action.
   6. No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man shall be found seducing any of the latter sex and carrying her to sea in disguise he shall suffer death.
   7. He that shall desert the ship or his quarters in time of battle shall be punished by death or marooning.
   8. None shall strike another on board the ship, but every man's quarrel shall be ended on shore by sword or pistol...
   9. No man shall talk of breaking up their way of living till each has a share of 1,000. Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have 800 pieces of eight from the common stock and for lesser hurts proportionately.
  10. The captain and quartermaster shall each receive two shares of a prize, the master gunner and boatswain, one and one half shares, all other officers one and one quarter, and private gentlemen of fortune one share each.
  11. The musicians shall have rest on the Sabbath Day...

[Diving Doc]

Now I do have a problem with capturing 400 ships in 30 months because it would scarce have left any time to work on the ship. I mean capturing 13 ships a month leaves no time for maintenance, shore leave, or much of anything else except amusing yourself on board.
Perhaps that explains the part I like best,  where the musicians get Sunday off. It does make you wonder if it was because Sunday was the Lord's Day or because they were worn out from keeping the party going all week. LOL

Doc

[Solomon]

Even the Royal Navy allowed women on board in port. When awaking men for a night watch, it was sometimes impossible to see who was who in the hammock, which gave rise to the custom of shaking, or showing a leg, to see if it was hairy, or not.

From this came the term, used for centuries.

CAPULET
Welcome, gentlemen. The ladies who don't have corns on their toes will dance with you. Ha, my ladies, which of you will refuse to dance now? Whichever of you acts shy, I'll swear she has corns. Does that hit close to home? Welcome, gentlemen. There was a time when I could wear a mask over my eyes and charm a lady by whispering a story in her ear. That time is gone, gone, gone. You are welcome gentlemen. Come on, musicians, play music. (music plays and they dance, ROMEO stands apart) Make room in the hall. Make room in the hall. Shake a leg, girls. (to SERVINGMEN) More light, you rascals. Flip over the tables and get them out of the way. And put the fire out?it's getting too hot in here. (to his COUSIN) Ah, my man, this unexpected fun feels good. No, sit down, sit down, my good Capulet cousin. You and I are too old to dance. (CAPULET and his COUSIN sit down) How long is it now since you and I last wore masks at a party like this?
Romeo and Juliet - Will Shakespeare

Solomon

[Diving Doc]

Well, I for one will not open the discussion on Mateloge (sp?) although Le Goliffe goes into it in some detail, hairy legs and all. 
Doc

[Bobadilla]

Hello Doc and Solomon,

It seems that I need your help again.
I have been trying for couple of months now to get any possible information about the pirate Turkish ship (yes musulman ship...) raiding Caribbean waters in the first half of the 17th century. I do not know the name of the ship. What I have found out was that this ship was relatively big and her operational area was south of Santo Domingo around Saona island. Island of Saona served for decades as a pirate 's net where they were waiting in ambush for Spanish galleons leaving or coming to Santo Domingo. This particular ship sunk in big storm in 1625 loaded with treasures and with loss of 225 lives. The disaster ocurred close to the island of Saona on the southern coast of Dominican Republic. If you could find any data about this ship, it would be really great.

Regards
Lobo

[Diving Doc]

Lobo, are you talking about reports of a Corsair??
Doc