The Sea Rover's Practice: Pirate Tactics and Techniques, 1630-1730

321 Pages·2005·3.26 MB·English

by  Benerson Little

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6
P T T ,
IRATE ACTICS AND ECHNIQUES
1630–1730
BENERSON LITTLE
Potomac Books, Inc.
Washington, D.C.
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Copyright(cid:2)2005byPotomacBooks,Inc.
PublishedintheUnitedStatesbyPotomacBooks,Inc.(formerlyBrassey’s,Inc.).All
rightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanymannerwhatsoever
withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher,exceptinthecaseofbriefquotations
embodiedincriticalarticlesandreviews.
IllustrationsbyDavidJ.Meagher.
MapsbyDonaldS.Frazier
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Little,Benerson,1959–
Thesearover’spractice:piratetacticsandtechniques,1630–1730/BenersonLittle.
—1sted.
p. cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN1-57488-910-9(alk.paper)
1.Pirates—History—17thcentury. 2.Pirates—History—18thcentury.—I.Title.
G535.L58 2005
910.4(cid:2)5—dc22 2004024777
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaonacid-freepaperthatmeetsthe
AmericanNationalStandardsInstituteZ39-48Standard.
PotomacBooks,Inc.
22841QuicksilverDrive
Dulles,Virginia20166
FirstEdition
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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For Courtney and Bree
who love the sea,
and for my parents
who raised me by the sea.
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Contents
ListofIllustrations ix
Preface xi
1 ThePerilsofWealthbyStratagem andForce ofArms,
PartI:OfGreedandDesperation 1
2 SeaRovers:Freebooters,Filibusters,Cruisers,Corsairs,
Buccaneers, Privateers,andPirates 10
3 WealthbyForceofArms:OfPurchaseasPurpose 23
4 Roving Spirits,Charter Parties,andStoutCommanders:
TheRecruiting,Organization,andLeadershipof
Adventurers 29
5 Piraguas,Sloops,andShips:ToolsoftheTrade,PartI 41
6 OfSmallArmsandFireworks: ToolsoftheTrade,PartII 57
7 CruisingforPurchase:ForewarnedIsForearmed 75
8 Baptisms, Pissdales,andDogWatches:TheRoutineatSea 84
9 RichesandDangers atSea: PiratePreyandPirateHunters 95
10 ‘‘ASail!ASail!’’ DescryingandEspyingthePrey 105
11 ColorsTrueandColorsFalse: InNoneWeTrust 111
12 StandtoHerForefoot: GivingChase 120
13 HailingandShowingTeeth:ThePreyinRange 129
14 PluckingaCrow:SmallArmsandGreatGuns 134
vii
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viii i Contents
15 Volleys,Grenades,andCutlasses:LayingHerAboardunder
Fire 153
16 SurprizalsatSea:‘‘Jesus!TheseMenAreDevils!’’ 162
17 SurprizalsatAnchor:Quiet Waters,Quiet Oars 167
18 MoreSurprizalsatAnchor:OfTradeandOtherPretenses 175
19 SendingaSmokerandCatchingaTartar:MoreStratagems
atSea 180
20 Houses,Towns,andCitiesSacked:TheSea Roverasa
Soldier 190
21 PlunderandPrisoners:TheSanguineSpoils 196
22 Rum,Women,Dice, Turtle,andHonor:TheRoutine
AshoreandSoonAnotherVenture 206
23 ThePerils ofWealth byStratagem andForce ofArms,
PartII:DyingbytheSword 214
Appendix1 Comparative ActionsofSeaRovers 219
Appendix2 Privateer,Buccaneer,andPirate:A SeaRover’s
Lexicon,PartI 221
Appendix3 Galley,Sloop,andPiragua:ASea Rover’s
Lexicon,PartII 228
Appendix4 Mariner’sLanguage,1630to 1730:ASeaRover’s
Lexicon,PartIII 239
Appendix5 Roving WritersandSome IWishHadBeen 243
Appendix6 SpiritsandBellyTimber:Some CulinaryHistory
andRecipesfortheAdventurous 246
Appendix7 Ranges,Distances,Weights,andMeasures 251
Notes 255
Bibliography 285
Index 293
TheAuthor 303
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Illustrations
Sloop 42
Ship 44
VesselsatPointsof Wind 46
TypicalPirateWeapons 58
Swords 67
ImplementsandAmmunition 138
EnglishTypeGunCarriage 139
FrenchTypeGunCarriage 140
Muzzle-loadingSwivelGun 140
Breech-loadingSwivelGun 141
BoardingPositions 156
ix
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