William Brand

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November 19 - On this day in 1620, the Mayflower reached Cape Cod and began exploring the coast. And on this day in 1718… "…the Willing Mind arrived at Green Turtle Key, and took the Goods out of the Neptune, being in a very bad Condition; and after they had taken out all her Cargo, finding the Neptune to be better than they did expect; and, having a fair Wind, brought both Ships up to Providence, the Neptune got in safe, but the Willing Mind struck on the Bar, and sprung a Leak, insomuch that she was forced to unload and careen, and, when down, found her to be very bad, a Piece of her main Keel being gone, so was forced to hawl her ashore; and when the Carpenters had done what could be done to her, she could not be got up again by all the Strength that could be made, and tried for several Days, breaking and tearing all to pieces, but all to no Purpose; so the Governor order'd a Warrant of Survey on her, and was found by the Surveyors not sufficient to proceed any further, being very much damaged in her Wood-Work and Iron-Work, &c. Whereupon the said King desired a second Survey of his Ship and Goods, they lying in a very bad Condition."

HEY! Long time no see! I wish I could have made it out there.

Redundant check in locations across social media... https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Zr6F11jAQNciE3W4/

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! We used to regularly do Fort de Chartres events and hope to again in coming years.

Welcome aboard! We have a number of Mercury crew members out that way.

First Bell of the Forenoon Watch "There can be only one outcome." Jim said, his tone a calm surface over depths. The Captain and Ship's Master had stood apart from everyone a long while. No one had thought to approach them, because there was a grave and solemn way they conversed. Once, Andrew Light had approached on some errand, but seeing something in their eyes he'd dismissed himself with a parting, "It'll keep." William watched Jim's face for something, anything to help him to a course. He didn't want to be what he had been the last time such things had happened. His own temper was getting him into waters he couldn't navigate clear of, and he needed some tempering before Trinidad, but what he saw in Jim was what he expected any mirror might show him. Saltash was a rat in need of drowning. . . . The rest of the crew was employed in so much of mending and hammering and sewing, that few if any of them had the time to discuss why Saltash was forward under guard. Of course they all knew he was there. The 'Dog was a country only 25 meters, stem to stern. The news had passed with the clumsy change in watches. Any sailor that didn't know of such business was too addled to put to sea. The news was passed along with the condition of every other thing aboard ship. No unnecessary explanations. Some gossip had gone about with the news, but it held too much seawater to be drink. So many had been wounded and lost, that any summation about what he' done could be summed up later, and like the work to be done, summed up quickly. Saltash was in chains in the cable tier. Brand had sent him there. The rest was...well...immaterial in the face of widespread work to be done.

Wonderful video. He touches on some citations I've come across in my own research, so it's good to see the same conclusions and interpretations. Thank you!

"Providence". He said without hesitation, adding, "From...du français". He held out an empty cup, accepting warm drink with a nod. He held the cup in both hands a moment, enjoying the heat for heat's sake. Then he brought it up to drink, but paused, with the barest hint of a smile. "And foolishness." He added, sipping once, then affecting a pantomime of his native tongue. "From thee Een-GLAYSSSH." He chuckled then, in spite of himself. It was deep sound from deep places and gone as quickly as it sounded. Somewhere forward something crashed upon the weather decks, but the cheer that followed spoke of accomplishment, not accident.

Durand let her finish, glanced once at Ajayi, who was watching them both, and plucked up a solitary potato while invoking a solitary reply. "Amen."

Great finds! I'm picking up some nice things here and there for the Market Tavern. Everything is coming together really nice at a fraction of the cost.

Aboard the Watch Dog Captain Brand came up again amidships and stood a moment with his eyes squinted and shaded as he adjusted to the light. All the decks of the 'Dog were briming with sailors at work, but for a wounded few. Brand's head tilted a little at some strangeness he couldn't put a finger too. The Coxswain's Mate was limping aft from the foredecks and Brand called to him. "Mister Marchande." "Sah." "The leg?" "eh...amélioré...IMPROVED, Sah." "We've too many not abed." Brand observed, gesturing to many points. "By my calculations we've two watches awake." "Pardon...the men of the Lucy..." "Right." Brand agreed at once, his mind and math catching up. "But so many..." Marchande didn't not know what to add to this and kept his peace while Brand seemed to ponder many things at once. When he realized Marchande was still there he thanked him and dismissed him to his duties. Brand called for Mister Warren, who drifted over with a smile on his face, expecting some added reprimand for his 'long watch'. Instead, Brand launched into the first of many questions, stopping for a long pause when the Bosun summed up the situation as a whole. "30 men. 22 of the Lucy and the 8 Spaniards. Almost all of Lassiter's Starboard Watch." William let a long slow breath and turned Fore and Aft. He nodded and said nothing. He walked in a tight circle and then another, stopping at Jim's left. "He sent them over for safety and...to see..." "...the cargo stowed." They finished together. William paused again. He closed his eyes for long periods of time and Jim waited for the orders which would come all at once. "We've a wounded and weary ship, so we shall take advantage of this boon and divide the load into a third watch of the Lucy's men." Jim nodded. "I'm of the same mind." "Claude Marchande is to take command of this...'Third Watch'." "Aye, Sah." Jim said, gesturing in Marchande's direction. The Coxswain's Mate mate reported as quickly as 'the leg' would allow. "Mister Marchande" Brand continued. "You are to take command of the men of the Lucy as a watch unto themselves. At such a time as Mister Tucker is on his feet, he shall have the command of that watch, but you shall remain with them along with Pascal." "Aye, Sah." "Add to this Misters Dorleac and Fenner. Mister Fenner is hereby promoted to 'Able Seaman'. "Sah." "What other..." William didn't finish this outward thought, but squinted a moment. "Do we have the pleasure of Mister Wayne's Company? And his friend Godfrey?" "Aye, Sah." "They are likewise promoted to 'Able Seaman'. Now go and bring back the names of any men of the Starboard watch capable of some Spanish so I may choose another." "Aye, Sah." Brand and Warren stood awhile after. When enough silence had passed, Jim chanced a compliment. "Excellent arithmetic, Sah." "Thank you, Mister Warren." Seven Bells of the Morning Watch, the Ward Room Seven sharp bells carried well through the windows of the Ward Room. They were open to the air against a warming day. Durand had drunk and eaten in deliberate slowness, closing his eye as he savored the sustenance. When he was two thirds through the broth and half the bread he paused, looking directly at the Captain's Steward. His face was stern and his tone the cold of pure business. "What 'animal'?"

Morning Watch aboard the Watch Dog If Mister Gage was surprised to find three so varied persons in the Ward Room, and no Captain to speak of, he didn't show it. He placed a tray of food before them in short order. He made no mention of the damp Durand. He simply placed a generous bowl of broth and a hunk of bread before him. If he noted the bruises and sheering of the batter Steward, it didn't show as he put a generous portion of meat, beans and young pears on a plate before her. If he found the presence of Ajayi strange in this place, again, he made no show of it at all. He simply proffered healthy portions again. All in all, Lazarus was generous with his silence as he was his portions, for the tray looked almost untouched, even after serving out from it. Lazarus had taken Brand's earlier instruction well in serving out all food that might be spoiled otherwise. The added stores of the Lucy, and the damaged crates and stores of the Dog, were now going outward to an appreciative crew. Lazarus accepted the 'thanks' from them in three different languages, stood a second's pause in deference and then returned to the galley. . . . William had reached all the spaces before the mast, first to find Andrew Light, whom Jim had sent to bed in place of himself. William called him out of the lightest of sleeps and when the man tried to stand out of his hammock William ordered him to as much ease as Andrew allowed himself. Brand leaned low, one hand on the beam above to protect his head and one on the hammock to keep Mister Light from swinging. "I'll have the name of the Bosun's Mate before the Dog Watches." This was all. No more. Andrew blinked and nodded, surprised to have gained Badger's place, but more than this, the Captain's confidence twice in a day. He hadn't thought to choose his own mate, but William was scare three paces removed when Andrew called him back with a name. "Mister Leerman". William paused and turned about slowly. He appraised Mister Light with a long look, asking only one question. "Do you speak any Dutch whatsoever, Mister Light?" "No, Sah. Not enough to mention." William continued his appraisal. It was a lengthy look. Andrew waited. "Make the change known to him." "Aya, Sah." . . . Eric Franklin and Miss Tribbiani were engaged in a lively, but whispered debate on the good of having dogs aboard ship, with the latter arguing that the mess and the added tax on provisions was of no consequence, given the benefits of the animal's sense, ferocity when called for and loyalty absolute. Eric was in the middle of arguing that all her points could be summed up in a good sailor who had better sense to relieve himself over the bow forward when William arrived. They were at attention in short order, which startled Argus just enough to huff a little. William scratched the mastiff's head behind one gratefully turned ear. "How is the prisoner?" Eric and Treasure exchanged a look. Then Eric fetched his hand into his pocket. There was some wriggling there as Eric tried to fetch something that clinked together. "Please..." Treasure implored. "Go ahead." Eric returned as he fetched out what could only be a generous smathering of mixed coins. They caught the light of the low lantern. "Sah." Treasure began. "Argus heard the prisoner at hiding them." William said nothing. His face darkened at the idea of a sailor carrying so much coin about his person, let alone secreting such. "It was the tinkling, Sah. Argus hear..." "Aye." William said flatly Then added, "Thank you." He said this three times. First to Miss Tribbiani, then to Argus and finally to Mister Franklin as he held out a hand to receive what was likely 'stolen goods'. William stood a long while holding the coins and weighing them up and down. He made no move to put them away, but looked up with a practiced solemnity. "The prisoner is to have no admonishment. Am I understood?" "Aye, Sah." They returned together. "The prisoner is to eat. No trencher. No knife." "Aye, Sah." "The prisoner is to be brought amidships at eight bells of the Forenoon Watch." "Aye, Sah." William almost turned to leave and added, "And Mister Franklin." "Sah." "Eight Marines...for his protection." "Aye, Sah."

Thank you for the review and the candor about previous weapons by the same manufacturer.