William Brand

December 23 - John Bannister, a pirate in command of the privateer Vlijt from the Netherlands during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, was accused of seizing the British Sally and was sentenced to death "at Justice Hall in the Old Bailey convicted of piracy". On December 23, 1782, Bannister received the pleasant news that he would be released at the next general pardon "for the poor convicts in Newgate". Bannister was released on the condition "of his entering and continueing to serve us in our Royal Navy". Fontaine, Joseph de la – From France. One of > Shelvocke’s men. When Speedwell was in need of provisions and wood, and repairs were necessary to the gale-battered vessel, De la Fontaine told Shelvocke that everything she wanted was to be found on the island of Chiloe off the Chilean coast. The soil of the island was very fertile, he said, producing fruits and grains, with fine pasturing for herds of sheep and cattle, there were plenty of fowl and geese. Some industry too, he said, carpets and clothes, and woodwork and furniture, expertly carved - the whole of Chili and Peru were supplied with hams and tongues, and lumber. What was more, the island and the main town Valdivia could be taken easily. On 30 November 1719 Speedwell entered the channel between Chiloe and the mainland, flying French colors. Shelcocke tried to barter rather than to plunder. The negotiations did not go well. On 5 December two piraguas full of armed men passed her to land the men on a small island commanding the harbor mouth (Isla Mancera) supported by two powerful castles at both sides of the entrance (Niebla and Amargos), built there after 1645 to repel Dutch invaders. (In fact there were ten to eleven batteries, each fort had to respond in a mathematical way.) A governor assumed Shelvocke was a pirate and asked him to leave immediately. Which was what Shelvocke did, after getting provisions from Indian plantations and farms. Had the decks packed with live cattle (including guanacos, or lama), poultry and plenty of wheat, barley, potatoes, maize – enough for four months rations. After setting sail, De la Fontaine was lauding the glories of the port of Concepción, a bit to the North. Claimed that in this roadstead “there were always five or six sail, and others coming and going, often with money and gold and silver plate.” If no treasure on board, he said, there would be cargoes of wine, brandy or jerked beef - rich ships, in short, to be ransomed at very great rates. Arrived in the bay on 23 December 1719. But the town (founded by Pedro Valvidia in 1550) had been destroyed twice and the Spaniards driven out by the Indians. One ship was taken there, “with nothing on board except a few cedar planks, and nobody minding the ship but an old black bosun and two Indians.” After setting sail, Joseph De la Fontaine (one of Shelvocke's men) was lauding the glories of the port of Concepción, a bit to the North. Claimed that in this roadstead “there were always five or six sail, and others coming and going, often with money and gold and silver plate.” If no treasure on board, he said, there would be cargoes of wine, brandy or jerked beef - rich ships, in short, to be ransomed at very great rates. Arrived in the bay on 23 December 1719. But the town (founded by Pedro Valvidia in 1550) had been destroyed twice and the Spaniards driven out by the Indians. One ship was taken there, “with nothing on board except a few cedar planks, and nobody minding the ship but an old black bosun and two Indians.” December 24 - On this day in 1593, a storm hit Texel of the Netherlands. Some 40 ships were effected and some 500 sailors were killed. Also on this day in 1651, John van Riebeeck departed to the Cape of Good Hope. And years later, the board for the Lords of Trade received a letter from London, dated December 24, 1698, which listed charges against one Colonel Fletcher. The principal charges were that Fletcher had accepted from one Edward Coats the pirate ship Jacob in return for his protection, which ship he had sold for £800; that he had granted like protections to other notorious pirates for stated sums, generally about one hundred pounds per man; that he had granted commissions to Thomas Tew, John Hoare, and others as privateers formoney, when it was notorious that they were pirates; that his intimacy with Tew, a well-known pirate,was scandalous; that the security for the good conduct of the privateers thus commissioned taken by Colonel Fletcher was insufficient, and did not appear in the public records; that he had granted vast tracts of land without accurate survey and for inconsiderable quit-rents; that he had exacted of the soldiers one halfpenny per day out of each man's subsistence, and had sent home full muster-rolls on which pay was drawn, when they were not half full. (from "The Memorial History of the City of New York") And also on this day in 1777, Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, was discovered by James Cook.

I got really ill, so I spent it wrapped up in blankets watching reruns.

It would be my pleasure. Do you have an exact way you'd like to be listed in terms of name and location?

December 22 - On this day in1522, the Knights Hospitallers of Jersusalem and St. John, having commanded the line of commerce between Alexandria and Istanbul (and a brisk trade in piracy on passing vessels) were expelled from Rhodos. Also on this day in 1609, the pirate John Downes and many other pirates were indicted for piracy. John Downes preyed from ports in Southern Cornwall, bribed local officials, and demonstrated the corruption that was symptomatic in the waters off Ireland, Wales and the Severn. For example: the conduct of H. Vivian and his son Francis in the vice-admiralty of South Cornwall left much to be desired. In 1606 Downes was allowed by Vivian’s deputy at Fowey to remain in harbor for several weeks, for which favor they were rewarded with a pipe of wine, a chest of sugar and several bolts of Holland cloth. On another occasion the deputy accepted a silver chain. “Capt. Harris, Jennings, Longcastle, Downes, Hanlsey and their companies were severally indicted on St. Margrets Hill in Southwarke, on December 22, 1609 and executed the Fryday following”. However, the pirates’ examinations were forwarded to the King who granted the pirates a stay of execution “in hope of farther confessions from them”. The pirates’ revelations had shown how low the standards of admiralty and naval officers had sunk under his administration. Downes is known to have tried to persuade the commander of the Scottish Royal of Leith to tell him the whereabouts of his money by whipping him and two young sailors. Downes also tied knotted chords around their heads, a way of torture called “wooling” that led to success in the shape of six bags full of reales of eight worth 400 pounds. Downes remained active till captured in 1631. And on this day in 1675, the Barbary Corsair and renegade from Holland, Corali (aka Koralli), arrived with his command ship Olive and a Portuguese prize coming from Brazil with 236 chests with sugar, 400 chests Brazilian tobacco, 4 chests cacao, and some elephants teeth. Later in command of the ship Orangetree he captured a small barque from Oran, loaded with corn, and suffered a defeat by a Dutch frigate some 50 miles off Cape Vincent in the Atlantic. Corali was purchased for 12 hours but escaped.

It's the longest night of the year, so find some good company, rum and do a pirate movie marathon! Happy Solstice!

December 21 - On this day in 1682, John 'Calico Jack' Rackham was born. And on this day in 1718, Alexander Spotswood sent a letter to Governor Eden about Captain Brand and Blackbeard claiming to have "no news from Captain Brand since he went from here, nor do I know any thing of the success of the men of Warr sloops, further than the common report of their taking of Tache's sloop, and killing himself".

December 20 - On this day in 1606, Virginia Company settlers left London to establish Jamestown, Virginia. And on this day in 1738, pirate James Buchanan was executed at Execution-Dock. It was a Wednesday.

December 19 - On this day in 1642, four of Abel Tasman's crew were killed at Wharewharangi (Murderers) Bay by Māori. Tasman's ships departed without landing. And on this day in 1675, The Barbary corsair Admiral Canary entered the port of Algiers in his ship the Rose, in company with Recip who commanded The New Moon and had captured two fluiten (Dutch merchant vessels) and two Portuguese caravels. One fluit was taken while on her way from Cape of Good Hope to Holland. The second fluit, called Hope, a 14-gun ship with a 24-men crew on her way from Venice to Amsterdam, had a cargo of 1.000 bales of rice and chests with raisins. The ship had defended herself against Recip some days before she was taken by Canary. And on this day in 1686, Daniel Defoe's fictional castaway, Robinson Crusoe left his island after 28 years. Also on this day in 1716, Thomas Davis, a Shipwright out of Carmarthenshire, Wales, was forced into piracy by Bellamy from the Bristol ship St. Michael. Thomas was told he would be transferred to the next ship captured. When Bellamy took the London built Whydaw Thomas reminded him of his promise but was told that, as a carpenter, he was too valuable to release. He was one of the two out of the 146 on board who got ashore alive after Whydaw was shipwrecked one year later. Thomas swam ashore from the bar on which the ship was breaking up quickly. After reaching the beach he had to climb up the face of the cliffs to avoid being beaten by the heavy rollers at high water. As soon as it became light Thomas looked for signs of life. He found a house about two miles distant from the cliffs. He was taken to Barnstaple gaol and a few days later to Boston and put in the Stone Gaol in irons. He convinced the court that he was a forced man and was acquitted in October of 1717. And on this day in 1739, the Dutch East Indiamen, Rooswijk, wrecked in a heavy storm with the loss of all hands at Goodwin Sands.

December 18 - On this say in 1603, the first fleet of the Dutch East India Company under Admiral Steven van der Haghen departed for the East-Indies. Also on this day in 1642, Abel Tasman's expedition sailed around Farewell Spit and into Golden Bay, first sighting the local Māori. And on this day in 1670, Henry Morgan's fleet quit the Isle a Vache to Attack Panama, having swelled to 38 vessels and more than 2,000 English, French and Dutch freebooters.

December 17 - On this day in 1718, Lieutenant Maynard wrote a letter to Lieutenant Symonds of HMS Phoenix about the battle and death of Edward Teach (Blackbeard). It was later abstracted and reprinted in The Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer in April of the following year.

December 15 - On this day in history, Henry Morgan recaptured the island of Santa Catalina on his campaign through Panama. Also on this day in 1716, Alonso Felipe de Andrade exited Campeche began bringing materials ashore at Laguna de Terminos to prevent access and to begin a fort there. December 16 - On this day in history, 1617, Spanish viceroy Hernando Arias de Saavedra founds provinces Rio de la Plata (Argentina)/Guaira (Paraguay) Also on this day in history, some Boston colonists threw a tea party, which was neither about tea or throwing a party.

December 14 - On this day in 1577, Sir Francis Drake set sail from England to circumnavigate the world. And on this day in 1604, "On the sea near the Islands of Bayon [-ne] five marauders attacked the Portuguese ship called Nuestra Señora de Concepción." Our Lady carried a valuable cargo of timber, sacks of hides and "an Alexandrian traveling carriage belonging to Gonsalvo." Gonsalvo's importance in society is not explained, but he might have been anyone of consequence from an ambassador downward. In the end of the verdict it is read: "Jennings, Curtys and Carbyn were hanged". The place of the execution is given as Wapping, but no date. Then on this day in 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sighted the South Island of present day New Zealand; initially he called it Staten Landt and changes it a year later to Nieuw Zeeland. Also on this day in 1679, William Cammock one of Sharp’s men, died at sea off the coast of Chili. "His disease was occasioned by a sunfit, gained by too much drinking on shore at La Serena; which produced in him a celenture, or malignant fever and a hiccough." He was buried at sea with the honors of "three French vollies". And on this day in 1720, one of Roberts’ men, John Clark, and a seaman aboard the snow Eagle when taken by Roberts were hanged. "The said Roger Hewer and John Clark to be taken to the Sands of Leeth within the floodmark upon the second Wednesday of December next being the 14th of the said month between the hours of two and four o’clock in the afternoon and there to be hanged by the neck upon a gibbet till they be dead." The pirates blew out their last painful breath "within the floodmark" (infra fluxum ac refluxum) because piracy was theft at sea and thus a crime against the admiralty, whose jurisdiction extended to the low tide mark. This writ extended throughout England.

December 13 - On this day in 1577, after years of financial and political preparations, Drake set sail with his small fleet bound for the Strait of Magellan. With the support of the queen, high officials and investors, he launched the voyage with 160 seaman and a dozen of what they then called “gentlemen adventurers”, in casu “angry, young men”, who also had invested in the enterprise. The fleet consisted of one large ship, the Pelican, later re-named Golden Hind, and four smaller ones. Also on this day in 1621, under the care of Robert Cushman, the first American furs were exported from the continent bound for England aboard the Fortune. One month before, Cushman and the Fortune had arrived at Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts with 35 settlers, the first new colonists since the settlement was founded in 1620. During Cushman's return to England, the Fortune was captured by the French, and its valuable cargo of furs was taken. Cushman was detained on the Ile d'Dieu before being returned to England. Within a few years of their first fur export, the Plymouth colonists, unable to make their living through cod fishing as they had originally planned, began concentrating almost entirely on the fur trade. The colonists developed an economic system in which their chief crop, Indian corn, was traded with Native Americans to the north for highly valued beaver skins, which were in turn profitably sold in England to pay the Plymouth Colony's debts and buy necessary supplies. And on this day in 1642, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman becomes the first European explorer to sight the South Pacific island group now known as New Zealand. In his sole attempt to land, several of Tasman's crew were killed by warriors from a South Island tribe, who interpreted the Europeans' exchange of trumpet signals as a prelude to battle. A few weeks earlier, Tasman had discovered Tasmania, off the southeast coast of Australia. Tasman had named the island Van Diemen's Land, but, like the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia, it was later renamed Tasmania in the explorer's honor. New Zealand, named after the Dutch province of Zeeland, did not attract much additional European attention until the late 18th century, when English explorer Captain James Cook traveled through the area and wrote detailed accounts of the islands. Whalers, missionaries, and traders followed, and in 1840 Britain formally annexed the islands and established New Zealand's first permanent European settlement at Wellington. And in 1720, George Shelvocke and his men departed Gorgona Island aboard the Jesus Maria, and operating under majority rule they attempted to steer Westward across the Pacific.

Properly amended! And if anyone else should like to be added or have their location altered, please let me know.

December 12 - On Friday, December 12,1718 gallows were erected in New Providence of the Bahamas for the hanging of nine pirates, captured by Benjamin Hornigold (the pirate turned pirate hunter). The group of nine pirates included William Cunningham and James Bendall. William Cunningham had served under Teach through 1716 and into 1717 as a gunner aboard the schooner Batchelor’s Adventure. He had refused the royal pardon offered at New Providence in 1717, but had accepted a pardon one year later, in July of 1718. Cunningham returned to piracy with John Augur because "he was asleep when Bunce went on board the Scooner [to which he belonged] at green Key, and that Bunce brought him punch and told him, that he must either join him or be put upon a maroon key, alias a desolate key." James Bendall was also offered a pardon by the English king and indeed "received the benefit of His Majesty’s most gracious pardon...bestowed to deliver from his former unlawful course of life", but could not resist the call of freedom and carried on his piracies around the Bahama’s and Virgin Islands. Bendall was captured at the island of Exuma after having "feloniously" taken three ships: Mary, Batchelor’s Adventure and Lancaster, "their cargoes and tackle; and further that they had marooned James Kerr, merchant, and others on Green Cay." During his trial, Kerr (aka Carr) was recalled to speak for him. Under oath Kerr declared that he "heard the prisoner [bendall] say that he wished he’d begun the life sooner for he thought it a pleasant one, that is the life of a pirate. He also said that he had a strong inclination to have smothered John Gravers Esq his Majesty’s Collector for the Islands as he lay ill and weak in his bed for the prisoner was for a short time a servant of mr. Graves before he shipped himself for the intended voyage and joined the other prisoners in their mutiny and piracy." Woodes Rogers, now governor, captain-general and judge of the local vice-admiralty (having debated the several circumstances of the cases), sat among the authorities awaiting the spectacle. A small crowd, composed of seamen, women and ex-pirates, milled about. A party of 100 soldiers escorted the condemned men to the fatal spot. They were charged with "Mutiny, Felony, Piracy". People say that William Cunningham behaved "very penitent and conscious of his guilt", but that James Bendall was totally unrepentant, behaved in a sullen and moody manner, his last words were that he repeated he had "wish’d he had begun the Life [of a pirate] sooner, for he thought it a pleasant one." They were hanged at ten o’clock in the morning and the execution of these pirates marked the end of New Providence as a pirate stronghold. William Dowling of Ireland was one of nine pirates hanged by order of Woodes Rogers on Friday December 12. Described as a hardened pirate “who had lived a wicked life” and as having made a fearsome confession during the trial: “I killed my mother. She spoke harshly to me, but I should not have split her skull with a coal scuttle.”

December 11 - Also on this day in 1695, Bellomont, who was now governing New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, asked the "trusty and well beloved Captain Kidd" to attack Thomas Tew, John Ireland, Thomas Wake, William Maze, and all others who associated themselves with pirates, along with any enemy French ships. This request, if turned down, would have been viewed as disloyalty to the crown, the perception of which carried much social stigma, making it difficult for Kidd to have done so. The request preceded the voyage which established Kidd's reputation as a pirate, and marked his image in history and folklore. Also on this day in 1719, the first recorded display of Aurora Borealis in the Colonies.

December 10 - In the 16th century. Francis Derham was arrested on a charge of piracy but tried because he “had carnal knowledge of the Queen [Katheryne] before her marriage.” He was sentence to be hanged at Tyrburn, cut down alive, disemboweled and beheaded.” He died thus the 10th day of December. On this day in 1652, at the sea battle at Dungeness, lt-admiral Maarten Tromp beat the English fleet. On the same day in 1672, New York Governor Lovelace announced monthly mail service between New York and Boston. Then on this day In 1690, Mass Bay became the first American colonial government to borrow money. And on this day in 1718, Stede Bonnet was hanged at White Point Garden, Charleston. Records of the day state that the hanging on December 10, 1718 took place near the corner of Water and Meeting Streets, also called White Point, Charleston, "another landmark in the war against piracy". Accompanied by the drumbeat sounding his death knell, the cart bore a stooped young man, holding a wilted bouquet in manacled hands and loosing a last shred of dignity when he nearly fainted as he approached the scaffold. The militia pirate was held upright by the deputies as the noose was tightened around his neck. His body and those of 29 of his crew (only 3 were acquitted) were all buried within the flowing of the sea "which had witnessed so many of their dark deeds". Then there is this account from that same year about the piracies and cruelties of John Augur, WiU Ham Cunningham, Dennis Mackarthy, William Dowling, William Lewis, Thomas Morris, George Bendall, and William Ling, who were tried, condemned, and executed at Nassau, on Friday, the 10th of December. Also, some account of the pirates, Vane, Rackham, and others. The following is the sentence pronounced upon the prisoners : — "THE COURT having duly considered of the evidence which hath been given both for and against you the said John Augur, William Cunningham, Dennis Mackarthy, William Dowling, William Lewis, Thomas Morris, George Bendall, William Ling, and George Rounsivel ; and having also debated the several circumstances of the cases, it is adjudged, that you the said John Augur, William Cunningham, Dennis Mackarthy, William Dowling, William Lewis, Thomas Morris, George Bendall,. William Ling, and George Rounsivel, are guilty of the mutiny, felony, and piracy, wherewith you and every of you stand accused. And the Court doth accordingly pass sentence, that you the said John Augur, William Cunningham, Dennis Mackarthy, William Downing, William Lewis, Thomas Morris, George Bendall, William Ling, and George Rounsivel, be carried to prison from whence you came, and from thence to the place of execution, where you are to be hanged by the neck till you shall be dead, dead, dead; and God have mercy on your souls. Given under our hands this 10th day of December, A. D. 1718." Here is an added account of John Augur, John… John was an indecisive person who first appeared pompous, then foolish. He accepted the 1718 New Providence-pardon but took to piracy hardly one week later when sharing a mutiny led by Phineas Bunce. He lost his ship to Spanish coast guards , but escaped to Long Island. Governor Rogers had Augur arrested through two ex-searovers, Hornigold and Cockran. One day after the trial, December 10 1718, Augur and some others "looked through the hemp window", a pirate's last chance to attract attention and to live on in the memories and tales of the living. Augur did not make a brilliant impression. He drank a small glass of a bottle of wine and toasted on the success of New Providence and governor Rogers. But alas, his neck remained in the noose, the governor extended the royal hand of mercy to George Rounsivil. The crowd, for the best part his former shipmates and a load of harlots, mockingly told Augur he better repent of his wicked ways of life. John Augur replied angrily: "I do heartily repent I have not done more mischief; and that we did not slit the throats of them that took us, and I am extremely sorry that you can't all be hang'd as well as we."

December 9 - On this day in 1658, Dutch troops occupied the harbor city Quilon (Coilan) India. On this day in 1718, Peter Courant and Josias Burgess, two pardoned pirate captains, had their crew drawn up in two lines to greet the new governor, Woodes Rogers upon his arrival in the Bahamas. Nothing more is known about him Peter Courant, except that he served as one of eight judges in the court of the new governor. Woodes Rogers, convened his court in the guardroom of his still unfinished fort and there brought the ten men captured by Captain Hornigold to trial. Nine were convicted, and Rogers had eight hanged three days later, reprieving the ninth on hearing he was of good family. One of the condemned, Thomas Morris, quipped as he climbed the gallows, "We have a good governor, but a harsh one." The executions so cowed the populace that when, shortly after Christmas, several residents plotted to overthrow Rogers and restore the island to piracy, the conspirators attracted little support. Rogers had them flogged, then released as harmless. William Dowling of Ireland was among those tried by Woodes, he was a mariner based in Nassau, New Providence in the Bahama’s. He was captured by Hornigold at the island of Exuma, 130 sm Southeast of New Providence. Along with Bunce and Morris, William Dowling had boarded the sloop Lancaster and Mary, on the 5th or 6th 5 of October 1718. Bunce asked for a bottle of beer for each of the men in their sloop Batchelor’s Adventure, which was given. “Then took up arms and took the captains and some loyal men prisoner and forced them to go ashore at Green Key Island, a desolate place.” William Dowling stood trial Tuesday December 9, 1718 with nine others. One of the charges against them was a damning one: having accepted a royal pardon, yet returning to piracy, combining together to mutiny, steal and take the vessels Batchelors Adventure, Lancaster and Mary, their cargoes, provisions and tackle and also having marooned some people on Green Cay.

December 8 - On this day in 1671, at Port Royal, Jamaica, acting Captain John Wilgress was dismissed from command of the largest Royal Navy warship, a 40 gun frigate named HMS Assistance for "wicked, drunken behavior,"

The Mercury is glad to welcome aboard Castaway Kat Drake!

December 7 - On this day in 1716, Alonso Felipe de Andrade exited Campeche with 100 soldiers and 280 volunteers under privateer Captain Sebastian Garcia, sailing aboard the hired frigate Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, two other frigates, a sloop, two coast guard galliots under Captain Jose de Leon, plus a pair of piraquas, toward the English logwood establishments in the Laguna de Terminos. En route, his flotilla was joined by another sloop and two piraquas from Tabasco, bearing an additional 220 men.

December 6 - On this day in 1677, D'Estrees arrived at Tobago, having destroyed the Dutch slaving station of Goree in West Africa while en route. Also on this day in 1699, the House of Commons convened to discuss the subject of William Kidd's original commission and its legality. The subject was so hotly debated between the Tories and Whigs that it went on for over nine hours and candles had to be brought in to light Parliament after dark. That first vote went in Kidd's favor with 189 votes for him and 133 against.

Jack Hall, folk song of 1707 Jack Hall was a criminal who, as a young boy, was sold to a chimney sweep for a guinea. In later life he became a notorious highwayman. In 1707 he was arrested along with Stephen Bunce and Dick Low for a burglary committed at the house of Captain Guyon, near Stepney.[1] All three were convicted and hanged at Tyburn on December 7, 1707 Oh my name it is Jack Hall, Chimney sweep, chimney sweep, Oh my name it is Jack Hall, chimney sweep. Oh my name it is Jack Hall, And I've robbed both great and small, And my neck shall pay for all When I die, when I die And my neck shall pay for all when I die. I have one hundred pounds in store, that's no joke, that's no joke, I have one hundred pounds in store, that's no joke. I have one hundred pounds in store And I'll rob for four hundred more, And my neck shall pay for all When I die, when I die And my neck shall pay for all when I die. Oh the judge he did tell me, "You shall die; you shall die." Oh the judge he did tell me, "You shall die." And they threw me into jail where I'll drink no more strong ale And my neck shall pay for all When I die, when I die And my neck shall pay for all when I die. They drove me up Tyburn Hill In a cart, in a cart They drove me up Tyburn Hill in a cart. They drove me up Tyburn Hill, and 'twas there I made my will, Saying, "The best of friends must part, Fare thee well, fare thee well." Saying, "The best of friends must part Fare thee well." Up the ladder I did grope, that's no joke, that's no joke Up the ladder I did grope, that's no joke. Up the ladder I did grope, and the hangman fetched his rope, O but never a word I spoke, coming down, coming down, O never a word I spoke coming down. There are numerous youtube versions of this song. Here's a nice one...

December 5 - On this day in 1492, Columbus discovered Hispaniola. On this same day in 1578, Drake reached Valparaiso, Chili, and from sheer joy captured a rich prize and sacked the town. On this day, Henry Carle, while in command of the ship Philip wrote that "on the Vth of December last 16[?], near Cape St. Vincent, did set upon and take St. Mary", a Portuguese ship of 180 tons burden ("and had a new gallery and was painted red besides, and had a new foremast and a new bowspritte in her, and two overloppes (...) in her XXVI great chests of sugar, one hundreth and twenty kintalls of brasill woode and a pipe and a haulfe of St. Tomas sugar, for the accompte of the poor of Zeeland.") The ship, bound for Venice, was owned in Middelburg in Dutch Zeeland (Sealand). After the ship was taken her master was "stripped and searched to his skin. And that night X of XII of his men were stripped naked on borde and pushed into pinnaces while their blood sprung oute." Apparently the Philip-crew had found nothing worthwhile for their efforts; with stripping and wounding and shoving them naked in small boats they probably hoped "to cause them to confess where every pearle, every jewell and money were stored." Carle did not have either a commission or a letter of reprisal or whatever to justify his deed. Also on this day in history, French buccaneer, Charles François d’Angennes, Marquis de Maintenon is born. As the oldest son of Louis d’Angennes de Rochefort de Salvert, Marquis de Maintenon et de Meslay, and Marie Le Clerc du Tremblay, and as oldest son, he inherited the title of Marquis de Maintenon and the castle which came with the title. He chose not to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and sold the castle and joined the Navy in 1669. And on this day in 1715, the seventeenth-century pirate and former officer under Henry Avery, Alexander Dalzeel was hanged. Dalzeel was born in Port Patrick, Scotland, Dalzeel and went to sea as a child. By the age of 23, he was captain of his own ship with six successful voyages to his credit. Earning a reputation for dishonesty, Dalzeel arrived in Madagascar in 1685 and soon enlisted into the ranks of Captain Avery. According to pirate lore, Dalzeel participated in the capture of the treasure ship Ganj-i-Sawai, which carried The Great Mogul's daughter to her arranged marriage. Avery, who had decided to take her as his own wife, gave Dalzeel his own ship and crew within Avery's fleet. Dalzeel would continue to serve under Avery until finally leaving for the West Indies on his own. His final words to the prison chaplain… “[He] would not attend in the Chapel nor receive any public or private admonition from me [chaplain P. Lorrain] but with his dying breath declared that I was the cause of his death, and he would do me some mischief or other before he died or haunt me afterwards.” Also this same day in 1717, Edward Teach stopped the merchant sloop Margaret off the coast of Crab Island, near Anguilla. Her captain, Henry Bostock, and crew, remained Teach's prisoners for about eight hours, and were forced to watch as their sloop was ransacked. Bostock, who had been held aboard Queen Anne's Revenge, was returned unharmed to Margaret and was allowed to leave with his crew. Biddy, Robert Biddy of Liverpool, England and a sailor in the sloop Margaret of St. Christopher when boarded and taken after a single shot over the bow by Edward Teach wrote that the pirates "did not seem to want provisions" but did seize a number of live cattle and hogs as well as books [on navigation], instruments, cutlasses and firearms." Blackbeard’s vessel was "a 36-gun Dutch built guinea man, manned by a crew of 300," Margaret’s master later reported. Three men were forced to serve aboard the pirate. Biddy joined Blackbeard ("a tall sparse man with a very black beard which he wore very long") voluntarily. And finally on this day in 1719, two piraguas full of armed men under the command of Shelvoke, landed on a small island commanding the harbor mouth (Isla Mancera) supported by two powerful castles at both sides of the entrance (Niebla and Amargos), built there after 1645 to repel Dutch invaders. A governor assumed Shelvocke was a pirate and asked him to leave immediately, which was what Shelvocke did, after getting provisions from Indian plantations and farms. He had the decks packed with live cattle (including guanacos, or lama), poultry and plenty of wheat, barley, potatoes, maize – enough for four months rations.

We have so many birthdays in December, so I'll just wish everyone a happy birthday at once. Especially Stynky. Our Pub runner and code builder!