blackjohn

THE HOWARD PYLE FESTIVAL...

I've done a lot of reenacting over the years, and I've seen and done more than my fair share of cool stuff... went to an evening ball at the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, stood guard over George Washington's tomb, drank 173 year old rum recovered from a shipwreck, marched in Clinton's second inaugural parade, fired a Boys anti-tank rifle from an Bren gun carrier at a Nazi armored car while mocks bombs were exploding in a field next to us and allied fighters flew overhead, and then there was marching along a dusty road and looking up to see Mel Gibson no more than ten feet away, riding by on horseback, with the American flag streaming behind him, silhouetted in the sun...

Those were just brief moments, some with fleeting glimpses of that feeling of “being there.” With Howard Pyle, it was more than a fleeting glimpse. That feeling lasted a good hour or two. From the moment the Kalmar Nyckel cleared the bay and we were in open ocean til the time we pirates climbed over her side, sat ourselves down in the boat for the long haul to shore, and rode a breaking wave onto the beach to a cheering crowd, it was like stepping back in time.

Add to that not one, but two, battles with the Crown’s Forces, on the beach mind you, and what more could one ask for!?!?

Sadly, the second Howard Pyle Festival didn’t come off as nicely as the first. Maybe the problems could have been fixed if a third Howard Pyle Festival was held. One was planned, but Delaware State Parks cancelled. Why? Who can say? And what was once an event with tremendous potential is now lost to us...

pps - I'm not sure how much experience Cap has with land battles... I'll have to ask him next time I see him. As for me, I spent alot of time in the lines, serving as grunt, coporal, sergeant, ensign, and maybe even as lieutenant once. Well do I know the taste of blackpowder...

That be true, that be true... from there we're Tortuga bound... exceptin' that there be one small problem, named the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

If yer interested in joining our little venture, write to me askin' fer details.

In all seriousness, I have a great respect and admiration for her Cap, and that's one of the reasons I'm hesitant to call myself captain, because that man has worked hard for the title. I'd sail with that man to hell and back, such is my admiration for him.

Blackjohn

ps - I'd be qualified as navigator, seein' as how I make the stinkin' nautical charts fer a livin'

Ahoy Gute!

We'll have to do the rum for real some time!

Would you be interested in joining us on the Kalmar Nyckel on October 23rd for a three hour private pyrate cruise from Alexandria? Tickets are $60 per person. I think we have about nine spots left.

As for signing... I asked around at our meeting today, and no one seemed particularly interested. Sorry.

And if anyone out there is reading this... I'd love to have a few musicians in the group. Rev war or F&I drummers would be nice. Even ECW drummers. If you know any who live in the mid-atlantic region who might want to reenact pirate drummers, send them my way!!!

Blackjohn

Thank all of ye!! I be loving the looks of the Queen Anne pistol me lads

I have a love/hate relationship with QA pistols. They look really cool. They are very affordable. But generally, they were turn-off pistols. That's why the repro doesn't have a ramrod. So I'm always looking around for one when I need to load it. Of course, if it was a turn-off pistols (i.e., a screw-barrel) I'd be looking around for the spanner to unscrew/rescrew the barrel.

Blackjohn

The Bess, or, to give the correct name, The King's Arm...

Interesting, in all my years of reenacting I've never heard it called the King's Arm. The official term is, from what I've read and been told, the Long Land Pattern or Land Land Service Musket. At least for early models, that is.

What's your source for the King's Arm? I certainly can envision it being called that in some circles, so I'm not saying I don't believe you, I'm just trying to satisfy my intellectual curiousity.

Of course, we pyrates we probably just call it musket, or firelock. Certainly not the King's Arm.... phhhttt!

Blackjohn

Duncan, Blenderwench... hope your cruise went well. The weather here in Columbia was rather crappy this evening.

WHERE WE'VE BEEN...

The Pirate Brethren has done a small number of events over the years. As mentioned in "Who We Are," we started life as part of a group attempting to do a Pirate Camp at Jamestown's Military through the Ages in the mid to late 1990s. At the time, Jamestown wasn't friendly to pirates (maybe things have changed there now, I don't know), and we found ourselves without a camp. A decision was made to return next year as privateers. Some of us, not being interested in privateering, decided to part ways with our companions, a friendly parting, and the Brethren was formed.

Then we spent a year or so trying to figure out what to do, until one day we found ourselves with too many events, and people who wanted to give us money!!! Something generally unheard of in the reenacting world.

National Geographic filmed us for a National Geographic Explorer television program on the Whydah. They also hired us to do numerous stints as piratical entertainment to accompany the Whydah exhibit then at Explorers’ Hall.

What happened to the money, you ask? Well, we are pirates. It was divided in the proper manner, each getting his fare share.

Then for 1998 and 1999 things slowed down a bit. Or maybe we slowed down from too much drink after our previous success? In 1998 we helped provide pirate antics at BucConeer, the World Science Fiction Convention, held in Baltimore that year. The following year we did the Horatio Hornblower promo in Baltimore. Horatio Hornblower, and pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy? Yes, it was silly, but it was fun, and we got to be on the tv!

For 2000, things went well. There was the Hampton Blackbeard Festival, a very nice event, with a surprising amount of fighting for those interested in such things. And then there was... the Howard Pyle Festival!!!

(To be continued)

At 50 yards maximum, let's say, just how inaccurate is a smoothbore? Especially when as a practical matter you can back up the ball with a few buck rounds?

Capt. William

At the last Governor's Cup Firelock Match I attended (Ft Frederick, Maryland), at 50 yards, firing right-handed (and I'm a southpaw), without practicing for a year, I was able to hit a man-sized target 2 or 3 times out of ten.

The guy who regularly won the musket competition used a Charleville, and he hit 10 for 10, all head shots as I recall.

Blackjohn

Doh-eth!

That was me.

Bad pyrate, bad, forgot to sign in.

I've always wanted to visit Bath, and next year sounds like a good time to do it!

WHO WE ARE...

The Pirate Brethren, as a group, has been around since the mid-1990s, originally going by the name Brethren of the Bay. We share a common ancestry with Merrick's Privateers, both units springing from an ill-fated attempt to have a Pirate Camp at Jamestown's Marching Through Time event, an idea which was in itself born of the annual Adelphi Mill Pyrate Feast.

Our group is composed of experienced reenactors -- twenty years isn't unusual -- with one member having close to 40 years, not bad consider he is only 40. Many of our members do other time periods, ranging from ancient Rome to WWII 15th (Scottish) Recce, and almost everything in between. Our interest in history has lead us to seek a more accurate portrayal of pirates -- pirates as common sailors, pirates as soldiers and so on. This doesn't mean we don't want to have fun. It just means that our notion of fun, and who pirates really were, might be a different interpretation than what you are used to seeing.

If you find this historical approach to piracy appealing, we are always looking for new members. No experience is needed, just a willingness to learn, and an open mind. If you are interested, feel free to visit our site, www.piratebrethren.com, and join our mail list.

No problem... I just wanted to avoid some confusion.

And actually, at this point, we may cancel due to lack of attendance.

But if we do, I have a "cunning plan."

Thanks Bloody Buckets!

I have seen random posts of those who live in or around the murky waters of Baltimore, and was curious...

Is anyone planning on attending Opening Day of the Maryland Renaissance Festival?

I have a large crew of ruffians that will be attending - partially to help commemorate me birthing day....

But, perhaps we can find a time/place to raise some hell and watch the Pyrates Royale and put a face to the name?

Here - if interested, I propose meeting at the White Hart Tavern at 12:45, right before the first showing of the Pyrates Royale on Opening Day, August 28th.

Any takers???????

Not for the opening, but will certainly do my best to be there for the Pyrate Invasion Weekend!

Blackjohn

Tis me understandin' that there will be a 3 hour pirate cruise aboard the Kalmar Nyckel leaving from Alexandria, VA on July 23rd.  Pirates only!  I'll not be able to make it as I be raiding the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament on the 23rd.

The cost, says you? A modest $60 says I!

If you are interested, please email jbmacek@yahoo.com

Btw, space is limited to 49 people. So first come, first served as it were.

Me hopes ye all can make it and have a good time.

Cap'n Pern

Ahoy!

Actually, my group is trying to charter the KN for a three hour private pyrate cruise from Alexandria on OCTOBER 23rd. The cost is $60 per person, and we have about 33 people of 49 signed on at present.

Blackjohn

I am awaiting on a email back, but it looks like this is actually for October 23rd, not July.

I will post more once I have the details

Ahoy!

Here's the lay of it...

July 24th and July 31st, at Lewes DE, the KN will be having a 2 hour public pyrate cruise.

On October 23rd, my group, the Pirate Brethren, will be (if all goes as planned) chartering the KN for a three hour tour (a three hour tour) from Alexandria VA.

However, we are a few hands short. Tickets are $60 per person, if anyone is interested, please email me asap.

Regards,

Blackjohn

My group (www.piratebrethren.com) is trying to get some events going. If anything works out I'll let you know.

Blackjohn

ps - we are spread out between Md, Va, and Pa.