William Brand

In droves.

how about a nice slice of Wild Maine Blueberry?

July 24, 1704 - The Ward Room of the 'Dog Four bells of First Watch The women ate and talked. The subjects of the conversation were varied, as much as the company itself was varied. You could not have gathered together a more eclectic and unusual list of guests to one table. Tempest sat, glass always poised as if in thought, quiet but for her occasional insights and unusual interjections. She brought to the table a mix of suggested histories and secret, unspoken anecdotes. Even when they chanced to call her by name throughout the meal, they could not have known that this, even this, was a borrowed title. Siren, born to a station both high and low, by its very definition, brought no small amount of interesting tales and half forgotten experiences to the conversation herself, often dropping names of great elevation as easily as one drops the names of old friends, though in truth, many of the names she mentioned had had only a passing influence in her life. Meg, daughter to an unremarkable parentage, but of good stock, made her share of comments throughout the evening touching on each subject with her country humor. She seemed to be possessed of a great many wisdoms in the form of old sayings and quaint cliches. Murin, who was the most like Meg of anyone there, and yet of a vastly different cloth herself, was able to make enough conversation to carry herself in the room. She had known hard work, like Meg, but little of the reward. Still, even the quiet Murin was spilled from her shy corner by the drink which was passed liberally around the table and the food which followed by courses. All the while, as the women of so many origins talked, Tudor kept the table. She did this as hospitably as any Captain might, enjoying every interjection, story and song which crossed the table before her. She didn't mind the vast differences in her guests, for she delighted in experience, and she had a chance to reflect then on something which Captain Brand had said almost a month prior. "Equal courage should be rewarded by equal celebration. That equality shared shoulder to shoulder in blood, should also be shared at supper." She came back from her thoughts to a bawdy song which Siren was trying to remember as she went through the first verse amidst her own laughter.

Patrick is not allowed to do my laundry.

Is this a product you'll carry in stock for awhile or a limited availability? I am very interested in several yards.

William secured the heavy medallion found by the Master-at-Arms in the lock box holding the Ilex fortune. Then the two men vacated the ward room as Miss Smith arrived to take possession of it for the evening. "I have preparations to make, gentlemen." William and Mister Pew both tipped their hats as they went out. William was mindful to take a bottle of his best as he left. Mister Youngblood was forward of the gun deck, half way up the stairs to the fo'c'sle. He stood there without a hat, which was uncommon for him. He was packing his pipe for a smoke as the Captain and Master-at-Arms came forward. They all went up to the fo'c'sle to drink and speak on subjects regarding women. They talked at length on the subject, passing advice both real and comical between them. A few anecdotes were shared until a lull in the conversation came and remained awhile. "I could use some music." Mister Pew mused allowed, interrupting the silence and the Master Gunner's smoke rings. "Aye. A shame to have the carpenter aboard the Maastricht." William said, looking towards the fluyt. The third bell of the Second Dog Watch rang and for a moment they listened to the echo of bells from the Heron and the Maastricht. The Heron's bell was diminished some for its distance, as was the Maastricht's due to the wind. "One of the Dutchies plays the fiddle, Cap'n." Mister Pew said, when they bells were silent again. "Is that so...? I shall have to procure him one at port." "And a fife player." Mister Pew added with emphasis. "We 'ave enough women aboard f' dancing." "And men for fighting over them." Mister Youngblood returned. "Aye." William said, nodding. "The sooner we are ashore, the better for all." July 24, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Between three and four bells of Second Dog Watch

Mmmm...

And for Chole...

To be proprietor of any pub is to be wed three score times a day to grateful patrons. But it is true...one woman for me, one ship and one sea. My wife is the fortune upon which all of my mirth, joy, attentions and passions are turned, compass and course.

Bananas Foster.

Some very nice pics, indeed.

Perhaps when a few more things are answered. Let's secure a few more facts and put together an email at the start of the year.

These are just some of the crews and performers from Florida that I know of... http://www.westcoastmutineers.com/ http://www.henrymorgankrewe.com/ http://www.arrrink.com/ http://www.brothersofthecoasts.com/ http://www.fernandinapirates.com/index.html http://www.piratesofthecoast.com/ http://www.theebleedingrose.com/theebleedi...rose/index.html http://www.thetortugamutineers.net/ http://www.pyratesofthegulfcoast.com/

Perhaps you can set up a coffee house under the arches, somewhere near the pub. Then you would have a permanent structure with masonry walls. The barracks or the Northwest corner of the fort might serve very well.

Only Friday through Sunday? hmm. How early may we come out and camp?

Agreed. We just need more waking traffic.

"Year one (2007): Strong encouragement towards period appropriate gear, but with a mindset on recruitment first. We must increase our overall numbers for the sake of the festival. Quantity first. Then Quality in the near future. Please choose people who show the enthusiasm to work and play well together." Let's talk recruitment. We need to up our volume. My largest complaint, and the complaint of many others, was the lack of sufficient numbers to give the encampments a feel of period traffic. The battles were also on the small side. First, let's focus on the locals. There are a great number of pirate enthusiasts who live in Florida, yet some of them did not and have not attended PIP. This is unfortunate given their relative close proximity to the festival. We need to find as many of them as possible in the next few months and encourage them to attend early, so each of them has time to ask questions and have them answered. The locals might also benefit the rest us because they can drive down and perhaps offer rides to those who are flying in from distant locations. Then, we need to simultaneously focus on the long distance pirates. We should encourage those who live far away to begin setting aside amounts of money now, so that they might be able to afford passage before the end of August wherever possible. There will be those who have unexpected expenses that creep up on them, but we should still focus on early ticket purchases. This means we will need the dates for next year's PIP within the next few months if possible.

William noted that the scarf seemed heavily weighted down by the object inside, so he was not surprised to find the soft gleam of gold staring back at him when he opened it. Still, the object itself was surprising. When it was all unwrapped, William found himself staring a a very large medallion of gold hung on a heavy torque of a chain. The interlocking and twisted links of the chain were woven together in tight, overlapping patterns, so that the weight of the chain alone was significant, and as a result of the craftsman who made it, beautiful. The medallion which hung upon it was also amazing. It was fashioned entirely of gold but for a single, small, unremarkable stone set in the center. It was ancient to be sure, for the design was a woven one which first hinted at some Pictish or Northern origins. Like the work of Celts, the figures upon it were woven into patterns and shapes which interlocked like knots. However, closer examination did not yield more answers to its origin, but rather more possibilities. The volume of gold and some of the work in the piece also hinted towards the possibility of Mayan make or some other New World nation outside the scope of William's understanding. "The work is exceedingly fine." William said, and for the moment he was able to set aside the value of the piece by weight alone and appreciate it for its craftsmanship. "I give you permission to discover as many more of these as you may, Mister Pew." William added smiling.

I am serving a nice Belgium dubbel. Malty with a red hue. And perhaps a Trappist beer or two.

William invited the Master-at-Arms to follow him to the ward room. It was quiet there, and the women of the ship had not yet arrived to take possession of it for the night. William closed the door and gestured to the table at the center of the room as he laid his hat aside. "Should I sit down, Mister Pew?" "You may wish to, Cap'n." "Very well. " William said, and in truth his feet were tired. He drew out the chair and placed himself in it, smiling at the fevered excitement on the face of Mister Pew.

A sandwich and an ale for Mister Tar!

What Patrick said. You would get the buckles in just as I finished spending my money away on Christmas stuff. Will you have enough for those of us that desperately want them but can't buy them until next month? I want a pair of each.

Steady people. WE...ARE...ONLY...TALKING...ABOUT...THE...ENCAMPMENT. First, jurying, even if we were to do it, was recommended three years out. Maybe even more. Second, it was only recommended. It was never going to be as harsh as a death sentence. It would only be in place to keep the following things out of the encampment itself...Zombies, plushie dragons, mini-skirts, feather boas, etc. Cotton slops would never be turned away. We aren't going to put people under a microscope. Jurying was just a word I grabbed out of thin air as a recommendation. Think of it more as a "Review of costume" for recommendations and improvements, or as Patrick put it, a "standard." Example: Some body wants to go and put up a tent in the encampment. We ask them what they have. It turns out that they have slops, but no shirt or waistcoat. We make recommendations. We lend out extra gear. We see that they have what they need. We would judge kit based on a standard we all agree on. Pragmatic standards. Fair and partial reviews. And last, but certainly not least... WE...ARE...ONLY...TALKING...ABOUT...THE...ENCAMPMENT.

Welcome aboard.