Post by King Adam Aberdeen I on Feb 23, 2010 22:54:39 GMT -6
A Privateer was an armed ship under papers to a government or a company to perform specific tasks. The men who sailed on a privateer were also called privateers. The papers were usually referred to as a Marque of Letters. Some times these letters would give the captain rights to act in the behalf of a certain company or government to commit acts of reprisal, escort merchants, or protect coastal areas or property. Often the limits of the Marque were vague, leaving it up to the captain and crew to determine what they could take or attack. Sometimes the privateers ignored the Marque and just did what they bloody well pleased. Most of the time, Privateers were engaged of act of reprisals against other nations, that is engaged in acts of war.
A key distinction between a Merchant and Privateer, is the privateer was not paid by the nation or company but paid by taking spoils from ships or properties they attacked or fought off.
Depending on the attitude of the government, this was sometimes actually appreciated, especially when the privateers' actions were against a foreign nation that was not on good terms with the hosting nation. During times of war, some governments would commission privateers to seek out and attack the ships of hostile nations. The Privateers would sail "on the account". That is they would loot, pillage, and plunder the country's enemies for King and Country. For their efforts the Captain and crew would receive a portion of the plunder, between 1/5 and 1/2 with the rest going to the Crown. In return the Captain and crew had safe harbor and was protected by the Crown.
Privateers often worked beyond the limits as detailed by their Letter of Marque, often attacking neutral countries as well as hostile nations. Rarely would privateers attack their own country's ships. This would have been an act of high treason.
Countries would often complain about the actions of privateers but most of the time the country would ignore the complaints unless they were in the middle of delicate negotiations, in which case the head of a privateer would be offered up as a small payment for what could be a large and generous reward.
Most importantly, the famous "Articles of Piracy" often did not apply to a ship of privateers. Often the ship belonged to a company, government or private owner. The owner of the ship would be the captain or the government or company would commission a captain by Letter of Marque. The Captain would then raise a crew of volunteer and the crew would be arranged along the lines similar to the navy of the nation served by the Captain. Typically a privateer would sign up for a mission and was free to go or stay after that mission was over.
Often privateers were simple merchant marines who were engaged in acts of war for profit. Other time they were hired mercenaries. Privateers, unlike pirates were quite open about what they did and were typically considered heroes by their host nations.
Spain considered what Privateers did as piracy so as far as they were concerned there was no difference between a pirate and a privateer. A pirate was a sea robber that for one reason or another looted under no flag other than Captain Death (the Jolly Roger). For the most part they organized their ship just as a privateering crew but with some exception. Many a privateer became pirates when they continued to stay on the account.
Corsairs were pirates who operated in the Mediterranean Sea. Muslim corsairs had bases along the Barbary coast of north Africa. They built many strong fortresses to defend the Barbary ports of Algiers, Tripoli and Tunis. Christian corsairs were based on the island of Malta. Muslim and Christian corsairs alike swooped down on their targets to carry off sailors and passengers. Unless these unfortunates were rich enough to pay a ransom, they were sold as slaves or put to work on the corsair galleys.
Marooners were yet another special breed of pirate harassing the Spanish Main. Marooner is a corruption of the Spanish word "cimarrona" which loosely translates to "deserter" or runaway.
The Spanish Navy is probably more ruthless than that of any Of the Gaelic Nations or her allies and many Spaniards desert the Navy at the first opportunity. Imagine, if you will, the prospect of protecting the gold on a galleon from pirates while being poorly fed and treated and you can see why Spain suffers from a high desertion rate. It is one thing to die trying to get rich, it is another thing to die poor while protecting a rich man's money.
By definition, a pirate is any person committing a criminal acts against public authority, on the high seas outside the normal jurisdiction and laws of any country. By law, they can be arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced by any country that captures them. Also, by definition, the criminal act is of a private nature, that is personal gain, and not for political reasons. Of course that is very narrow definition that all nations agree on. Needless to say, even today, most nations have a broader interpretation of what a pirate is. In the loosest terms, any of the above can be a pirate. If a privateer is fighting for another country, you would probably consider him a pirate. The term is very loose. Anyone who robs at sea is and was a pirate. When privateers exceeded the bounds of their commission, they became pirates. There is a thin line between smugglers and pirates. The thin line was smugglers didn't rob per-se, they just brought in goods that had been stolen or were not properly taxed by the authorities. Depending on the circumstance, pirates did their share of smuggling as well as robbing.
Pirates only remained successful so long as nations allowed them to roam. Often, a corrupt governor would allow a persons or persons perform piratical acts for a set fee, similar to the arrangements for privateering. Of course the acts committed were not against enemy vessels, it was just purely for financial gain. In return the pirate received safe harbor. Once nations and colonial authorities eliminated safe harbors, organized piracy began to dry up quickly.
Many pirates, particularly Skye pirates would not attack ship belonging to the Gaelic Nations. Their stated reasons were that they would never attack a Griffin ship out of respect for the King or Queen or because they were not at war with one of the Gaelic Nations, or they were pirates but not traitors. Their main reason, of course, was that they hoped that by not attack Griffin ships they would be given safe harbor or passage from the Nations of the Mo’r Triath. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.
Article I. The fund of all payments under the articles is the stock of what is gotten by the expedition, following the same law as other brethern, that is, No prey, no pay.
Article II. That no man shall open, or declare to any person or persons, who they are, or what designs they are upon; and any persons so offending shall be punished with immediate death.
Article III. Every man has a vote in affairs of moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity (not an uncommon thing among them) makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
Article IV. Every Man Shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have one full Share and a half of all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain and Gunner shall have one Share and quarter.
Article V. If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marooned or shot.
Article VI. The musicians to have rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six days and nights, none without special favour.
Article VII. Every man to be called fairly in turn, by list, on board of prizes because, (over and above their proper share) they were on these occasions allowed a shift of clothes: but if they defrauded the company to the value of a dollar in plate, jewels, or money, marooning was their punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, they contented themselves with slitting the ears and nose of him that was guilty, and set him on shore, not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere, where he was sure to encounter hardships.
Article VIII. No person to game at cards or dice for money. He that is found Guilty of Gaming, or Defrauding one another to the value of a Royal of Plate, shall suffer what punishment the Captain and the majority of the company shall think fit.
Article IX. The lights and candles to be put out at eight o'clock at night: if any of the crew, after that hour still remained inclined for drinking, they were to do it on the open deck.
Article X. To keep their piece, pistols, and cutlass clean and fit for service. That Man shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other punishment as the Captain and the company shall think fit.
Article XI. If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer present Death.
Article XII. No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man were to be found seducing any of the latter sex, and carried her to sea, disguised, he was to suffer death; (so that when any fell into their hands, as it chanced in the onslow, they put a sentinel immediately over her to prevent ill consequences from so dangerous an instrument of division and quarrel; but then here lies the roguery; they contend who shall be sentinel, which happens generally to one of the greatest bullies, who, to secure the lady's virtue, will let none lie with her but himself.
Article XIII. To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was punished with death or marooning. If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from the company, he shall be marooned with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, and Shot.
Article XIV. He that shall be found Guilty of Cowardice in the time of engagements, shall suffer what punishment the Captain and the majority of the company shall think fit.
Article XV. No striking one another on board, but every man's quarrels to be ended on shore, at sword and pistol. The quarter-master of the ship, when the parties will not come to any reconciliation, accompanies them on shore with what assistance he thinks proper, and turns the disputant back to back, at so many paces distance; at the word of command, they turn and fire immediately, or else the piece is knocked out of their hands. If both miss, they come to their cutlasses, and then he is declared the victor who draws the first blood. That Man that shall strike another without being struck back whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive Moses’s Law (that is, 40 Stripes lacking one) on the bare back.
Article XVI. That Man that shall snap his arms, or smoke tobacco in the Hold, without a cap to his pipe, or carry a candle lighted without a lanthorn, shall suffer the same punishment as in the former Article.
Article XVII. If any Man shall have the Misfortune to lose a Limb in time of Engagement, shall have the sum of 600 pieces of Eight, and remain aboard as long as he shall think fit.
Article XVIII. If any Gold, Jewels, Silver, &c. be found on Board of any Prize or Prizes to the value of a Piece of Eight, & the finder do not deliver it to the Quarter Master in the space of 24 hours he shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.
Article XIX. Good Quarters to be given when craved.
Article XX. He that sees a Sail first, shall have the best pistol or small arm aboard of her.
Article XXI. He that shall be guilty of Drunkenness in time of Engagement shall suffer what punishment the Captain and majority of the company shall think fit.
Article XII. Every person who shall offend against any of these articles shall be punished with death, or in such other manner as the ship's company shall think proper.
A key distinction between a Merchant and Privateer, is the privateer was not paid by the nation or company but paid by taking spoils from ships or properties they attacked or fought off.
Depending on the attitude of the government, this was sometimes actually appreciated, especially when the privateers' actions were against a foreign nation that was not on good terms with the hosting nation. During times of war, some governments would commission privateers to seek out and attack the ships of hostile nations. The Privateers would sail "on the account". That is they would loot, pillage, and plunder the country's enemies for King and Country. For their efforts the Captain and crew would receive a portion of the plunder, between 1/5 and 1/2 with the rest going to the Crown. In return the Captain and crew had safe harbor and was protected by the Crown.
Privateers often worked beyond the limits as detailed by their Letter of Marque, often attacking neutral countries as well as hostile nations. Rarely would privateers attack their own country's ships. This would have been an act of high treason.
Countries would often complain about the actions of privateers but most of the time the country would ignore the complaints unless they were in the middle of delicate negotiations, in which case the head of a privateer would be offered up as a small payment for what could be a large and generous reward.
Most importantly, the famous "Articles of Piracy" often did not apply to a ship of privateers. Often the ship belonged to a company, government or private owner. The owner of the ship would be the captain or the government or company would commission a captain by Letter of Marque. The Captain would then raise a crew of volunteer and the crew would be arranged along the lines similar to the navy of the nation served by the Captain. Typically a privateer would sign up for a mission and was free to go or stay after that mission was over.
Often privateers were simple merchant marines who were engaged in acts of war for profit. Other time they were hired mercenaries. Privateers, unlike pirates were quite open about what they did and were typically considered heroes by their host nations.
Spain considered what Privateers did as piracy so as far as they were concerned there was no difference between a pirate and a privateer. A pirate was a sea robber that for one reason or another looted under no flag other than Captain Death (the Jolly Roger). For the most part they organized their ship just as a privateering crew but with some exception. Many a privateer became pirates when they continued to stay on the account.
Corsairs were pirates who operated in the Mediterranean Sea. Muslim corsairs had bases along the Barbary coast of north Africa. They built many strong fortresses to defend the Barbary ports of Algiers, Tripoli and Tunis. Christian corsairs were based on the island of Malta. Muslim and Christian corsairs alike swooped down on their targets to carry off sailors and passengers. Unless these unfortunates were rich enough to pay a ransom, they were sold as slaves or put to work on the corsair galleys.
Marooners were yet another special breed of pirate harassing the Spanish Main. Marooner is a corruption of the Spanish word "cimarrona" which loosely translates to "deserter" or runaway.
The Spanish Navy is probably more ruthless than that of any Of the Gaelic Nations or her allies and many Spaniards desert the Navy at the first opportunity. Imagine, if you will, the prospect of protecting the gold on a galleon from pirates while being poorly fed and treated and you can see why Spain suffers from a high desertion rate. It is one thing to die trying to get rich, it is another thing to die poor while protecting a rich man's money.
By definition, a pirate is any person committing a criminal acts against public authority, on the high seas outside the normal jurisdiction and laws of any country. By law, they can be arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced by any country that captures them. Also, by definition, the criminal act is of a private nature, that is personal gain, and not for political reasons. Of course that is very narrow definition that all nations agree on. Needless to say, even today, most nations have a broader interpretation of what a pirate is. In the loosest terms, any of the above can be a pirate. If a privateer is fighting for another country, you would probably consider him a pirate. The term is very loose. Anyone who robs at sea is and was a pirate. When privateers exceeded the bounds of their commission, they became pirates. There is a thin line between smugglers and pirates. The thin line was smugglers didn't rob per-se, they just brought in goods that had been stolen or were not properly taxed by the authorities. Depending on the circumstance, pirates did their share of smuggling as well as robbing.
Pirates only remained successful so long as nations allowed them to roam. Often, a corrupt governor would allow a persons or persons perform piratical acts for a set fee, similar to the arrangements for privateering. Of course the acts committed were not against enemy vessels, it was just purely for financial gain. In return the pirate received safe harbor. Once nations and colonial authorities eliminated safe harbors, organized piracy began to dry up quickly.
Many pirates, particularly Skye pirates would not attack ship belonging to the Gaelic Nations. Their stated reasons were that they would never attack a Griffin ship out of respect for the King or Queen or because they were not at war with one of the Gaelic Nations, or they were pirates but not traitors. Their main reason, of course, was that they hoped that by not attack Griffin ships they would be given safe harbor or passage from the Nations of the Mo’r Triath. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.
Articles of Piracy
Article I. The fund of all payments under the articles is the stock of what is gotten by the expedition, following the same law as other brethern, that is, No prey, no pay.
Article II. That no man shall open, or declare to any person or persons, who they are, or what designs they are upon; and any persons so offending shall be punished with immediate death.
Article III. Every man has a vote in affairs of moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity (not an uncommon thing among them) makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
Article IV. Every Man Shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have one full Share and a half of all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain and Gunner shall have one Share and quarter.
Article V. If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marooned or shot.
Article VI. The musicians to have rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six days and nights, none without special favour.
Article VII. Every man to be called fairly in turn, by list, on board of prizes because, (over and above their proper share) they were on these occasions allowed a shift of clothes: but if they defrauded the company to the value of a dollar in plate, jewels, or money, marooning was their punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, they contented themselves with slitting the ears and nose of him that was guilty, and set him on shore, not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere, where he was sure to encounter hardships.
Article VIII. No person to game at cards or dice for money. He that is found Guilty of Gaming, or Defrauding one another to the value of a Royal of Plate, shall suffer what punishment the Captain and the majority of the company shall think fit.
Article IX. The lights and candles to be put out at eight o'clock at night: if any of the crew, after that hour still remained inclined for drinking, they were to do it on the open deck.
Article X. To keep their piece, pistols, and cutlass clean and fit for service. That Man shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other punishment as the Captain and the company shall think fit.
Article XI. If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer present Death.
Article XII. No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man were to be found seducing any of the latter sex, and carried her to sea, disguised, he was to suffer death; (so that when any fell into their hands, as it chanced in the onslow, they put a sentinel immediately over her to prevent ill consequences from so dangerous an instrument of division and quarrel; but then here lies the roguery; they contend who shall be sentinel, which happens generally to one of the greatest bullies, who, to secure the lady's virtue, will let none lie with her but himself.
Article XIII. To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was punished with death or marooning. If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from the company, he shall be marooned with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, and Shot.
Article XIV. He that shall be found Guilty of Cowardice in the time of engagements, shall suffer what punishment the Captain and the majority of the company shall think fit.
Article XV. No striking one another on board, but every man's quarrels to be ended on shore, at sword and pistol. The quarter-master of the ship, when the parties will not come to any reconciliation, accompanies them on shore with what assistance he thinks proper, and turns the disputant back to back, at so many paces distance; at the word of command, they turn and fire immediately, or else the piece is knocked out of their hands. If both miss, they come to their cutlasses, and then he is declared the victor who draws the first blood. That Man that shall strike another without being struck back whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive Moses’s Law (that is, 40 Stripes lacking one) on the bare back.
Article XVI. That Man that shall snap his arms, or smoke tobacco in the Hold, without a cap to his pipe, or carry a candle lighted without a lanthorn, shall suffer the same punishment as in the former Article.
Article XVII. If any Man shall have the Misfortune to lose a Limb in time of Engagement, shall have the sum of 600 pieces of Eight, and remain aboard as long as he shall think fit.
Article XVIII. If any Gold, Jewels, Silver, &c. be found on Board of any Prize or Prizes to the value of a Piece of Eight, & the finder do not deliver it to the Quarter Master in the space of 24 hours he shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.
Article XIX. Good Quarters to be given when craved.
Article XX. He that sees a Sail first, shall have the best pistol or small arm aboard of her.
Article XXI. He that shall be guilty of Drunkenness in time of Engagement shall suffer what punishment the Captain and majority of the company shall think fit.
Article XII. Every person who shall offend against any of these articles shall be punished with death, or in such other manner as the ship's company shall think proper.
