PoD

I have about 6 sets of these Scottish Buckle sets knocking about from an old order. They consist of the buckle, a keeper and a bolt on belt end. They fit a 2 and 5/8" wide baldric.

I am putting them up on here for $55 including shipping. Message me if you are interested.

This is a custom made King Charles the Second Letter of Marque we have just finished making for one of the bretheren.

It is 18"x25" like many of the original ones and has the strip of seals at the bottom like original documents of the era too. It was researched as much as I could from actual letters or marque, royal charters and indentures to make it as authentic as possible. The artwork has been reproduced by hand from an original 1669 Royal Charter and the text on this is taken from Henry Morgans 1669 commission. It is written by Thomas Modyford who was the Governor of Jamaica at the time, and witnessed by Prince James - the Duke of York who was Lord Admiral at this time too. All the signatures are actual reproductions of surviving examples where it has been possible to find them.

It is printed on a heavyweight parchment vellum which feels and looks as close to an original 17th century vellum indenture that I could get (I know as i own one. Modern leather vellum seems very brittle compared to this 18th century one). It folds down into a more transportable 4.5" x 8.5" also based on surviving indentures of this period.

The document can be customised with your name, the name of your ship and the type of ship.

http://www.etsy.com/...tters-of-marque

Are you there on the 24th of September? If so there is a pirate educational day at the Museum of London. I should be there and I believe one Mr Foxe is speaking.

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/London-Wall/Whats-on/Events/eventDetails.htm?eventID=3101

Other than that theres the National Maritime Museum, Execution Dock, and if you want some period examples of artifacts from the age of piracy theres the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London.

What other cities are you going too?

Just came across an interesting letter from a UK Tea company theorising on what Tea Bartholemew Roberts would have been drinking:

http://www.bartholomewroberts.com/

image link near the bottom of the page

I just came across a pretty interesting article about a pirate called Lines in a copy of The Dublin Weekly Journal from 1725. Theres a good description of the "black silk" pirate flag they are flying. Plus it seems Lines had his eye shot out but no mention of an eye patch unfortunately.

"Philadelphia, January, 22. We have Advice from Barbados, That the barbarous Lines, formerly Consort to Sprigs the Pirate, and his Crew were taken aud carried unto Curacoa.: The way they went to be try'd was thus, the Commander went at the Head, with about 20 other Pirates, with their black silk Flag before them, with the Representation of a Man in full proportion, with a Cutlas in one Hand, and a Pistol in the other extended, as they were much wounded, and no Care taken in Dressing, they were very offensive, and stunk as they went along, particularly Lines, the Commander, who had one Eye shot out, which, with part of his Nose hung down his Face; there was a Master of a Vessel re-taken with them, whom Lines had snapt his pistol at several times together with an Intent to shoot him thro' the Head, but it missing Fire so often, he threw it down on the Deck, and swore he would not kill another Man while he lived : One of the people immediately taking it up fired it off at the first Trial into the air; and it was God's Will to prevent him from breaking his Oath, by putting him in the Way of the two Sloops soon after. He confessed, upon his Tryal, that he had killed 37 Masters of Vessels, besides Foremast Men, during the Time of his Piracy."

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Dw0UAAAAQAAJ&dq=The%20Weekly%20Journal&pg=RA1-PA143#v=onepage&q&f=false on page 239

yeah it is. I don't know why i didnt just google it before i asked the question ha ha

Can you still buy snuff then?

this works but i don't know if its something i'd recommend. The scabbard i first made that was too tight so I got a rubber mallet and gave it a good bashing. Think it squashed it down that little bit so I could slide the blade in and out easier. Worked for me but theres a risk it could damage the stitching.

This was the one we made for a broadsword recently:

cool. It took me 3 goes to make one for my sword but that was a straight blade so probably wasnt as hard to make as the one you are going to do. Just watch you leave plenty of room as when the leather dries it shrinks slightly. The second one I made i had to cut the blade out of as it was jammed in good and proper.

"An universal etymological English dictionary" from 1675 has this to say:

CRACKER: a Squib, or Kind of Firework

It seems from the book linked below that squib usage became a bit of a nusciense (mentioning that losing eyes to them was a common event). So much so that the powers that be at the time deamed fit to ban them and any items used for making them:

http://books.google....epage&q&f=false

At least one period reference to a Squib being used on a ship can be found on page 209 of The Travels Of Monsieur De Thevenot Into The Levant: Volume 1 (1687)

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6q9EAAAAcAAJ&dq=making%20a%20squib&pg=PA209#v=onepage&q&f=false

I actually have a copy of the Queen Annes Navy book by Merriman and the details of the slops contract are from a letter from the Lord High Admiral to the Captains and Masters and Commanders of H.M. Ships and vessels.

Interestingly I was also just reading Journals of the House of Commons, Volume 12 which mentions proceedings bought against Richard Harnage for his refusal to account for where the money went that was given to him for a contract to cloth the Army. This was in 1697 though so obviously his accounts were proved to be kosher else he wouldn't have got the contract for the Navy slops in 1706. He was also mentioned several times as an agent (this may mean accountant?) for the Marquis of Camarthen's regiment of marines who had refused to pay members of the regiment their dues. All in All he sounds like a bit of a dodgy character

Ahhh further reading suggests that by 1705 he was rich and a member of parliament. No wonder he got the slops contracts.

The Navy's accounts for the year 1715 show he was paid over £7000 for what I assume was the 1715 Slops contract http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=85260

that was my plan too but I think they might be to expensive for most as they come in at $68 each and thats before shipping.

I don't know if those are any good. You better test them right away.

waaaay ahead of you on that one ha ha

ok my beer bottles arrived today (the guy turned out to be the potters husband not the actual potter)

Here is the original:

And here are mine:

the powder kegs I am in the process of making have steel straps but I am going to disguise these with withy loops so they cant be seen. Should make the barrels more durable.

I'm pretty sure i have read that they were leather. from the first 2 illustrations it seems to be soft leather though from the creases in the bag itself.

They are very similar. Some of the sets even come with small parallel rules and a gunter scale. I watch lots of them on ebay but they tend to go for a few hundred dollars/pounds. I havent seen one thats from the GaoP though. Most are from late 1700s or early 1800s through to victorian times

ahhh being in my early 40s we had evolved to making crossbows in my kids gang lol (well apart from my little side business of selling home made nunchucks at high school)

seems the reenactment world has lost a few of its master tradesmen over the last few years.

Are we allowed to own any of them penknife/folders in the Laguiole sites over here Grymm as they look like lock knives and I thought they were banned in the UK?

I commissioned a guy who specialises in historical pottery to make me a couple of these bottles and I pick them up next month. I'll post pictures when i get them

Wychwood Breweries Hobgoblin beer

Got my boarding axe from Kings Forge last month and I have to say it is awesome. The detail and quality is amazing. I would recommend them to anyone who wants a serious period accurate piece of kit.

ha ha you are not wrong.

at least his moustache stayed the same size.

theres another example here (this time german) from 1645-1700

I am wondering that that little sheath thing is that he has on his belt