William Brand

Tonight's special is fried green tomatoes and a side of pulled pork. With iced tea to wash it down.

July 24, 1704 - Aboard the 'Dog One Bell of Second Dog Watch The last bell of the First Dog Watch came and went with little change marked on the 'Dog. The Maastricht was so slow, that William was able to ply whatever course he needed out of the frigate with the bare minimum of crew aloft and on deck. He was in a good mood, and so he also spent much time milling among the crew and conversing with crew members old and new. This luxury was not often afforded him, and it gave him a chance to know their minds. Most, were anxious to go ashore and know the finer things of life. Others were worried, given the increase in hostilities among so many nations. Some were just willing to face the days one moment at a time and looked forward to long nights ashore. One of the many conversations which William had involved him and the new sailmaker. As usual, Miss McDonough was finding it difficult to find her place within the machinery of the 'Dog. Her hand had given her no small trouble, and having labored so long in so short a lifetime, she seemed anxious not to disappoint anyone. William reassured her that any woman who would bleed her wounds to make sail, then take up an inexperienced weapon to fight enemies she had not known in defense of fellow shipmates she barely knew, had earned her rest and recovery without any further requirements of service. He ordered her to rest and enjoy the days to come without thought to labor. "You have done service enough and no more service will be asked of you until you are much recovered." He also invited her to take supper with all of the ship's women tonight in the great cabin. He would make it available to all and Miss Smith was to have the charge of the great chair there. "I will sup in the galley and drink at the taffrail, and all the ladies of the 'Dog shall have the privacy of the ward room to speak of French lads and petticoats ashore." William found his own idea so pleasing that he sent for Miss Smith to have her gather all the women at the ward room at First Watch Watch as reward for their good service. He wished that Miss Constance and Miss Rummy could be aboard for it, but nothing could be done of it, so he sent down orders that Mister Lazarus should serve at table, unless the women should prefer more privacy. "No woman is to work until they have finished whatever conversation and games they wish. I will go and tell the Doctor." And with that William went down to the surgery.

Greg, if you ever come in here and ramble like that again I will get you horribly drunk and take you out to sea and throw you out with the baby and the bath water. Kidding. Let us let Harry answer this, or we'll have ten more pages before we're all satisified that we have crossed the t's and dotted the i's six dozen times each.

We're beginning to repeat ourselves. Ideally, three camps demonstrating the beginning, middle and end of the GOAP would be wonderful, but unless there is sufficient numbers to do all three, then I will concede any desire to do 1704 and stick with 1720 next year. Then we will have one camp at the beginning and one camp at the end. Hurricane loves his time period so much, and knows it so well, that it would be a shame not to let him have his own period camp dedicated to Port Royal. So let us agree to let him do late Buccaneer, early GOAP. The rest of us will avoid the middle period camp for this coming year and go straight to 1720. Once the numbers are up, we might consider a middle period camp in 2008 or 2009. We might eventually have 1690s, 1704 and 1720 in three of the four corners of the field, with the pub in the fourth, but not for now. If we can agree on this point, we can move beyond any more reiteration.

Patrick is right. I bought the tent for pirate events, so I would like to keep using it. However, the tent can be draped with an awning made of sewn canvas strips to make it look like sailcloth that has seen better days. But no nylon.

July 24, 1704 - Aloft on the 'Dog Two bells of the First Dog Watch Ajayi had been aloft his share of times, but never as a lookout until now. For a man of his stature and courage, he was not overly fond of heights. It wasn't so much the altitude over the deck, but the attitude of the mast itself, which swayed considerably from side to side even in the best of weather. The Watch Dog was pointed into the wind. The Maastricht was now off the larboard quarter and maintaining a more northerly course. In the distance, the Heron passed before them at regular intervals as it tacked first one way and then another. As a slave, Ajayi had ignored the variations that a ship might employ with regards to wind and course, but now that he was a part of a crew, he paid close attention to every change. He noted how the helm and sails were employed together in order to compensate for wind and current at the same time. He also noted how the Heron's fore and aft rigging allowed her more egress through the tradewinds, while the Maastricht and Watch Dog plowed into the wind with less ease. He did not understand every principle which made this possible, but where education failed him, intuition took over. Now, the principles of a lookout were much more obvious to him. Having spent much of his life in open deserts and grassy lowlands, he was used to watching horizons. And as a slave, doubly so. ~Starboard Watch on Duty~

I think the proposal should reflect the camp first, since the short term goal is to teach and educate. A period accurate attack force should be a long term goal, and only when we have sufficient numbers. The public wants to see volume and flash when it comes to the battles. If accuracy was applied to the fort battles, we would have next to no one on the field, and that would be a shame. Actually, if accuracy were applied back in 2005, Patrick would have been the only suitable re-enactor in the fort, for neither Mike, Andria or I had accurate and complete kit. Patrick would have been the one lone camper on the field. There is something to be said for heart. Those who come after we have set up the period restrictions, will be encouraged and assisted by those who came before. Restrictions will never exclude people if we all do our best to help new people from the get go. Help people find good kit from the start and they need never replace it. Also, we should all be encouraged to make extra kit over time. As our kit gets worn out year to year, we can pass it along to other attendees. They'll look like well worn and able seamen. Our old clothes will just make the experience look that much more authentic on new recruits.

The prefered goal for jurying is three years out, with the next three years in this order. 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. Also, as always, an emphasis should be made on group discussions leading up to and during PIP of 2007. Ongoing education through group and individual exploration of period texts and archeology, but leaning towards enthusiasm before perfection. Those with a marked understanding of period clothing should always encourage new attendees to take pride in a carefully selected kit, while maintaining their enthusiasm to a sometimes costly hobby. Year two (2008): Correction of gear through instruction and alteration. Open encouragement to change non-period gear in preparation for a living historical camp in 2009. A few added restrictions on very obvious and inaccurate portrayals or camp gear. An added emphasis towards regular attendees on improving their personal kits. Hands on workshops in the form of sewing circles, craftsman workshops, etc. Open invitation to sutlers of period accurate wares. Recruitment should continue year to year, and like discussion and education, it should never be replaced. Year three (2009): A code of appropriate clothing based on the discussion, alteration and education from the previous two years. Possible judging prior to event through a selected, hand-picked circle of attendees. This is a porposal open to alteration. This allows us three years to perfection with a set goal in mind and a level of accuracy to climb to by degrees. Perhaps fours or five years might be necessary, but goals both short term and long term will vastly improve the outset of the festival. Education and recruitment should be the watchwords of every year. New people. New kit.

Two days...tragic. Welcome aboard.

No. Some more classical names... ARGO: Greek myth name of Jason's ship. NAGELFAR: The ship that will carry the dead to Ragnarok. PRYDWEN: Name of King Arthur's ship in Culhwch and Olwen. PALINURUS: The helmsman of a ship of the adventurer Aeneas, whose descendants would one day found the city of Rome.

I like the name Nemesis, Greek goddess of divine retribution, or something with "key" in it, such as keystone. And what type of ship?

There are a fair number of pirate crews down that way. Best of luck and welcome aboard.

Callenish Gunner had surgery.

While I will side with the majority, I do have a dissenting offer to make regarding the time period of the encampment. With so many of the Watch Dog's crew hoping to attend this next year, might we consider 1704, since that is the time period many of us write about all year long? Just a thought. I like being smack dab in the middle of the GOAP. That said, I'm glad the overall festival has chosen to do a wide period of time set in the GOAP. Now...somebody find us a very rich and eccentric benefactor, so that we might employ every good idea for 2007.

As the day slipped by, William ordered the 'Dog to fall off to the North by degrees until the Maastricht had moved well ahead of the frigate. Then he ordered a course which would take them across the Maastricht's waist to a position far off her Starboard quarter. This action occupied an otherwise unoccupied crew, though a few of them made minor repairs as they went. Still, the day remained uneventful, with mile after mile of open sea passing under them without sighting or sound. It was prize weather, and if their luck held, they would reach Martinique without incident. July 24, 1704 - Aboard the 'Dog Eight bells of Afternoon Watch With their new position set, William retired to the ward room to clean his personal arms. He laid out his cutlass and pistols and carefully cleaned and oiled each weapon. With a surplus of time available to him, he cleaned the arms at a leisurely pace, pausing to take supper when it came. He invited Misters Pew, Warren and Youngblood back with their arms, that they might clean and eat and talk of prize money spent in port. Miss Smith was also invited to join in at table. ~Starboard Watch on Duty~

Thank you for the vote of confidence yet again. I shall endeavor to do what I may to get as many new recruits as possible and to assist them in assembling gear appropriate to the time period set down between 1675 and 1725.

A close friend of mine can grill vegetables so well that he is often invited to do so at every gathering.

William remained in the ward room for some time, reviewing the lists of Dutch and English property aboard the two prizes. There was a significant number of personal items ranging from coin to effects. Clothing, bibles, hammocks, work knives and the like were piled below in the 'Dog waiting to be counted and cataloged, along with many unsorted crates and barrels of food stuffs, trade goods and weapons. William had a moment to wonder how the spoils would be divided. Some of it might go to the French and Spanish as part of the prize, and perhaps this was best. The men and women would want coin once ashore and coin they would have. Perhaps the crew could even be persuaded to give up some of their gain to fund those new recruits ashore. William though he might give up one of his own shares, that he might buy the loyalty of those all too recent enemies which had signed the articles. William took out the egg and the watch therein. He examined it carefully and polished it while he puzzled over the many duties he must attend to at Martinique. First, he would have to navigate the policies and politics of Fort Royal. He was a privateer, and even his marques would not be enough to find him favor with everyone there. Some would look upon him as little more than a mercenary, but since this is what he was by definition, then some added care might not be out of the question. He might have to keep back some of the Ilex fortune against futures bribes and favors. Second, he had to be certain that his crew did not invite retributions while ashore. Fortunately, Mister Pew would have dominion among the marines and William might not need to trouble himself on matters of shore leave. The Maastricht would be sold a prize, probably to the Navy, but the Heron was another matter. The more that William thought on the matter, the more he wished to keep her. She would make a fine companion to the 'Dog, and few if any might trouble them, even in dangerous waters. A cutter and a frigate could capture prizes a plenty and the 'Dog might not need to fight her battles alone. William put the watch away.

And she wasn't recruited. For shame.

A pistol as high art.

My birthday is but days away.

"When you have ample opportunity, Mister Pew. If the arms of the Heron are not aboard the 'Dog, she may choose a pistol when we make landfall. And the same may be said of Mister McGinty." "Aye, sah. " "Also, if you should find you need more sleep than a single watch will grant you, then you may have two watches together if you wish. Sleep as much as you need. We will be sailing and sailing with little else to do at present. With our carpenters on the Maastricht and Heron, the quarter galley will see no repairs, so enjoy the silence and sleep some."

The Captain and Master-at-Arms reached the ward room and William was able to secure a bottle which had survived the recent events. He poured two drinks and passed a glass over. "To sober men of courage." William said, and the underlying humor was not lost on Mister Pew. "To dry powder and willing targets." They both drank and William gestured to a chair at the table. He sat down himself and leaned in to refresh both glasses. "I have some business, but of no great importance to the whole company. Owing to their sightings before battle, McGinty and Tribbiani are due a pistol or small arm each from the Maastricht and Heron respectively. McGinty shall have to wait, of course, but Miss Tribbiani comes down at eight bells, and I should like her to choose her new prize from among the Heron's small arms. Have we any aboard ship?"

July 24, 1704 - Aboard the 'Dog Second bell of the Afternoon Watch The Afternoon Watch was already under way by the time William emerged from the Ward Room. He had spent half an hour's time updating the Watch Dog's logbooks with the simplest of notations. He understated the battle, but with the intention of returning to the volume later for more descriptive remarks. Now he squinted into a clear sky. The day was sunny and apart from a wind that threatened occasionally to back the sails, it was a good day for sailing. If they could maintain this speed unhindered, they might make landfall in less than three days, even with the limping fluyt. William went to the rail and drew out his glass, though the Maastricht was not far off. He noted Mister Badger on the quarterdeck. "Bring up the logline!" he ordered, and it was brought up in short order. He manned the line himself, while Miss Smith counted off the trailing knots and he was surprised to find their progress over the sea was faster than he would have supposed. "A blessing on all good Bosun's" William said, appreciation in his voice. He called out to the Maastricht. "How is it with you, Jacob!" Mister Badger turned and came to the rail of the Maastricht. "Lend me another degree North and I'll give you a full knot in return, Cap'n!" "Perhaps by nightfall!" William shouted back. "How does the fore fare?" "Stunted, but strong!" William thanked him and spared himself any more shouting. He went below to see how the new recruits were faring. This forced him a few times to use his poor Dutch as often as some of them used what little English they could manage. Almost half of them could speak a little English, some even spoke very good English, but many could speak none at all. Fortunately, some of those who had no grasp of English, could speak passable French, and would therefore do better ashore at Martinique than many of the original crews members. It was going to take weeks and months before everyone aboard could understand everyone else. William spoke with as many as he might before returning to the weatherdecks. As he went, he counted the languages known among the crew...English, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Arabic, Yoruban, Huron, Gaelic and a smattering of localized dialects. If you counted James Whiting alone, you had to consider his understanding of Greek and Latin, owing to his education as a man of the cloth. Jacobus Casteel had managed to pick up almost six languages in his short lifetime, a surprising revelation that William had just learned from one of the other recruits. "Six languages." William said, as he approached Mister Pew. "Six." "Sah?" "Casteel speaks six languages...at least well enough to make his way." Mister Pew made an appreciative nod. "Everyone speaks more of them than I, Cap'n." "Aye." William agreed empathetically. "I have forgotten enough Dutch to claim a second language, and my Arabic has more rust than the bowers. What shall we do with a man who speaks six, I wonder?" "Drown him for a knave." Mister Pew returned at once. "Any man that speaks six languages might mutiny anywhere." William smiled, but Mister Pew did not, and for a moment William could not be certain if the Master-at-Arms was joking. When a slow smile finally creased his face, William slapped him on the shoulder. "Mister Pew, I owe you a drink for your service." "Aye, Sah." Pew agreed at once with a widening smile. "But I believe you owe me two at least." They went off in search of an undamaged bottle.

They lady knows her shark well. Aye.