William Brand

^Is blessed with a childlike enthusiasm for the period and will go far as a pirate.

My buttons arrived the other day and I like them very much. They are very sturdy and of a good quality. Uniform in size and shape and I even like the patina. I believe that they will look most striking on my new coat. If I had but one complaint, it would be that they are almost too uniform. Call me a perfectionist, but in reenacting, sometimes imperfection is perfection. I'll just be forced to scratch them up a bit by attending some 5,000 events or more. Woe is me, eh? Wonderful stuff. I highly recommend the buttons and I'm now wondering if 130 is enough.

Aye...more of what the French refer to as a certain I don't know what. That special something that sets a person apart, not because it actually elevates or removes them. They just have a certain something. They just ARE. I've also known the opposite. I've met those few people who have the finest costuming I've ever seen, but who have no more presence than a turnip.

Has anyone mentioned elegance? It isn't a word we often use today, I know, but I have seen a few re-enactors in my time that had the 'poise' of the period.

No thank you, I think I've had enough Trypto...Trypto...Tryptophaaannnn...for... THUD.

We had slated Tate as a cook, but money and vacation time conspired against him and he and Nacny cannot make it this year. They were very sad. We don't have an offical 'cook'. but Callenish and several others have offered to help with the cooking. You are welcome to join all of us in the preparation of a few meals whenever you would like. We may have several late night meals of roasted meats over the fire and the like. We'll discuss the matter of food when we are a bit closer to the event, but Callenish is bring much of the cooking equipment, along with a few other volunteers.

"Capitaine Voulet was..." Avendano began, then he turned to the Lieutenant. "¿cómo usted dice pertinacité?" "Voulet showed pertinacity..." The Lieutenant explained, then amended. "...no...he was tenacious. He remained on deck despite his injuries." With the door open to this new line of questions, Tudor pressed forward. "I believe that Captain Lasseter is curious about the tactics of the battle...not the valor." If the Lieutenant was bothered by her tone or explanation, he did not show it. He simply shrugged, as if the battle was of no consequence to him. The fact that it was won and won alone seemed enough to him and Avendano, but he saw that their guests waited for a response, so he continued. "Voulet fired upon the Navarra." There were a few subtle changes in everyone's appearance. Dorian nodded and William thought he understood at once, but as a matter of course he said, "I beg your pardon...?" The Lieutenant simply shrugged a little again and sipped his wine before repeating himself. "Voulet caused the English to think that he was English also. He fired upon the Navarra and the three ships closed upon us with no threat to Le Vedette. When we began to engage these two faster sloops, he fired upon them. He wounded both sloops sufficiently enough as to allow our escape." The Lieutenant left his narrative here, as if this short explanation was enough to answer the matter in full. The story from end to end was as empty a retelling as any of them had ever heard, but the Lieutenant simply refilled his glass and showed no sign of continuing.

July 31, 1704 - Aboard the Navarra on the Cul du Sac Royal 2 bells of First Watch Dorian was not disappointed. Not only did Tudor sway the Lieutenant by the use of several, carefully answered questions, she also managed a few inquiries of her own. Within half an hour's time the Lieutenant had given up not one, but several bits of information about the Navarra's most recent anchorages, including several trade ports of West Africa. Even more than this, they learned the name of the Navarra's crippled escort ship, Le Vedette, a French manned ship which had come under fire from the English during the Atlantic crossing. William used this information to ply Capitán Avendano with a few questions. "What was the size of that force which came against you?" Capitán Avendano seemed hesitant to answer at first. William guessed that this pause might stem from some embarrassment on his part, but this proved to be wrong. The Navarra and Le Vedette had fought off a surprising host of two sloops and a frigate. Georges Voulet, Captain of Le Vedette had been wounded a total of four times during the engagement and had perished from his wounds just before making anchorage at Martinique. Le Vedette had also witnessed the loss of her Master Gunner, Bosun's Mate and some thirty-seven able seamen. It was likely that several more would be dead within the week. "And the Navarra's losses, Capitán...?" Tudor asked, and William was glad that the question had come from someone else. "Twenty-one." Capitán Avendano said simply, and it was impossible to say whether he was glad or not of the small losses against such odds. "The arithmetic of war." William said solemnly, and Capitán Avendano agreed. "And...how many have you lost, Capitán?" Avendano asked, then added. "We have seen the prize at anchor." It wasn't right to say that William was embarrassed just then to admit that he had lost only two in the taking of the Maastricht, but in comparison to the losses of Avendano and Voulet, William thought it might be uncouth to give the exact, and insignificant amount, so he said, "Only a few. We were blessed enough to take them unawares." "You were fortunate." Avendano said, as solemn in his tone now as William had been before. "Aye." William, Dorian and even Tudor said together, all of them two aware that two lives lost was as good a victory as anyone might hope for. What followed was yet another long pause, and perhaps it was fitting to have a moment of silence, given the subject at hand. In the end, it lasted only as long as the next long sip of wine before the Lieutenant plied Miss Smith with another question. "Do you favor the small sword, señora?" "No, Teniente. I favor minions and sakers, but I prefer a quick surrender most of all." "Aye." William agreed, and a toast to quick surrenders went round the table. ~Starboard Watches on Duty~

Here is a map that shows the rampart where the cannons are fired from, the privies and the main gate to the park from the road through the Truman Annex.

Harry Smid just sent me these preliminary maps of the fort and surrounding areas which show the setup spots for the festival. As Harry stated in his email to me, "Folks should think of these maps as a guide to how the event will be set up. Things can change at the last minute."

The Kate is never too crowded. It is both a blessing and a curse, but those who remain have all gained a stone weight since Jenny started cooking in our kitchen. Graaaaavy.

Thank you for all of the updates. I understand that we shall have an additional local crew at the festival, so I'm hoping to add their names very soon.

A small correction...Callenish and Harry will be working together on the matter of Callenish's location. He may be selling his wares with the Mercury encampment.

A merchant may stay within their merchant booth. Merchants at PIP often camp within the large tents which they bring to the festival. As far as your 'folding cottage' and your wares, that is a matter you should take up with Harry directly at Fort Zachary Taylor.

All pirates relish in self-invitations.

Wonderful pictures. Thank you ever so much for sharing the event with us.

Looks...? The crisp is for eating. Dig in!

Here, here. Speaking of dessert...apple crisp ala mode.

As stated in the Fort Zachary Taylor updates thread, The port Royal camp will be inside the fort. The Mercury Careening Encampment and the Sutlers camp will be outside the fort near the beach. The Red Coat camp may be inside the fort and the Archangel crew has not yet decided.

Well, it has happened. We've had our first official retractions. A few people cannot make it and have asked to have their names removed. Vacations unapproved, financial turns, etc. It's never to late to recruit a few more people.

A toast. To all habitations of fine food and drink. Would that chefs went to war in place of whole armies.

Captain Bo, my good fellow. Welcome back.

My dear Miss McDonough. I do hope that you are much recovered since the news. Having been away on work, I haven't had a chance to inquire after you and your health. All of my prayers.

Welcome to the Kate, Mister Roberts. We'll start you off with some brandy, shall we?

67 days to Baconfest.