William Brand

The shock from the noise and compression would be enough to push most men right out of the fight.

http://www.ssentinel.com/index.php/news/article/fire_destroys_deltaville_maritime_museum/ Wow. I am so very sorry. What a catastrophic loss.

If all the citations are good, there is a good treasure trove of short, halyard and capstan shanties discussed by a Harvard student named Eric Youngerman here... http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k59621&pageid=icb.page253584

You might look up lyrics and music for "Haul on the Bowline". It is a shanty that survives into the early 1900s, and while debated much in origin, it is similar enough in lyrics to a work found in the 'Complaynt of Scotland' that many people date it back to the mid 16th century. It's a very simple 'short-drag' shanty for hauling on the bowline.

The ditty bag and slops will be excellent excellent additions, Mister Smythe. Might I also suggest a good walking stick/cudgel and good combination whisk & vent pick to go with those pistols.

You are totally owning that mustache, Mister Smythe. What's next for the kit?

Welcome aboard, Dan.

For those pirates wishing to share the word about Fort Taylor Pirate Festival, we also have this convenient quarter page pdf flyer. FTPIPosterQuarterPage.pdf

I'm in the middle of 'The Name of the Rose' for the third time.

Some boathooks circa 17th/18th century.

An Australian/Hungarian poleaxe. The Portuguese foice.

I found this one from the 1640s.

The only mention of a rowing chant that I've found is in the work 'Sar Orain: Three Gaelic Poems', which makes mention of rowing chants and even defines which oarsman makes the chant and when. An excerpt from that work... "Brosnackadh Iomraidh The boat has to be rowed out from the shore, before the sail is hoisted , to be clear of rocks and to catch the wind. lonad seòlaidh is the place where ' sailing,' as contrasted with ' rowing,' begins. Metre The couplet consists of a long line of eight syllables, and a short line of four syllables, both ending on a dissyllable, and the couplets rhyme. This is Sneadhbhairdne, 2{S-+4:^f+' . In this section, however, the long lines of the quatrains also rhyme, except in the first. As dealbhach occurs again in the second quatrain, the first line may have been wrongly transcribed . The emendation dhionach is suggested by "An Duanag Ullamh," two quatrains of which are given below, from Rel. Celt. II. Compare with the "Birlinn" for metre and style. Loingis leathann laidir luchdmhor Dealbhach dionach, Sleamhuinn sliosreidh roluath ràmhach Dairchruaidh direach. Togbhar leo na gealchroinn chorrach Suas le 'nlonaibh, '' ''l^ ^'*^ ^^^ B' iomdha ball teann bhiadh ga n deanamh Nam dhuit seoladh. (This poem was composed by the "Mull bard," before 1558, and may have been known to MacMhaighstir Alasdair. See note on the poem in "Bàrdachd")."

We're considering a few new performance pieces at the Fort Taylor Pirate Invasion. In addition to any specific demonstrations such as Mission's fine surgical show and the battle scenarios, the crew of the Mercury has been offered an opportunity to have a 'trial' during the schedule. This could be a trial of one or more of us, overseen by English judges and guards concerning some pirate knavery or we could have a crew trial of some crew member for dereliction of duties aboard ship or ashore. If we do a crew trial it could be for some infraction of the Ship's Articles. We could try one of us for being drunk on duty, theft from a fellow sailor or cowardice in combat. The trial could also serve as a meeting of business concerning the payment of shares. Thoughts?

Movie Prop Collectors is selling original PoTC stuff from several of the franchise films in their June catalog. Not many of us can afford such collectibles, but I know there are no shortage of fans around these parts. http://www.moviepropcollectors.com/magazine/2012/06/23/screenused-entertainment-memorabila-july-21-auction-pdf-now-online/

The images are excellent. I love all the details shots that show the weathering, stitches and repairs.