Mission

It's in this picture: (Actually, I hadn't heard anything at all, I just wanted another excuse to post this picture.)

William actually created them several years ago: Articles of the Whole Company of the Mercury You may not have noticed them because the term "Pirate Code" is a POTC movie term. The actual term in use during period was 'articles.' There are basically four sets of extant articles from the period, which you can find in the thread The Pirate Code (Pirate Articles) That thread lists all the articles featured in Johnson's books from period: John Philips, Edward Low & Bartholomew Roberts. I stuck the articles from Esquemeling's book into the post so that all 4 sets are in one place. Esquemeling's are the articles are usually attributed to Morgan, although I don't see where it directly states that these are actually Henry Morgan's articles; they're just sort of referred to as the articles of the buccaneers. (I may be wrong on that point and they may attribute them to Morgan somewhere or it may just be general knowledge that this part of the text refers only to Morgan, but it didn't appear that way from my quick reading.)

Yeah, what Michael said. I'm pretty sure the Fort Taylor Pirate Invasion was split out of Pirates in Paradise in 2010. The two events ran separately for two years. Then Pirates in Paradise folded up shop after 2011, It seems to me that they were talking about restarting it in a year or a couple further up the coast in Florida. But the Fort Taylor Pirate Invasion is still alive and kicking. I believe last year was one of the best attended years by the public since the pirate events started happening in the fort in 2005. I know it was the best attended one by reenactors. http://www.forttaylorpyrates.com/

This isn't exactly where this belongs but I couldn't find a better topic for it so I'm throwing it in here. I was looking for a quote in John Woodall's book the surgions mate and I happened across this: "Hee that intendeth any part of this composition ['The juyce of Hioscyami, or Henbane with the extract of Opium mingled'] for women, must forbeare the muske and ambergrece, and use with it rather foure graines of good castroium, I meane in that one dose he intends to give the women; but in this I digresse from my scope of the Sea-practise, where women in long voyages are rare creatures." (Woodall, p. 229)

Foxe, do you have a link to that hat you guys were discussing from the Stirling Castle? I tried an image search but I either wind up here or on the Brethren website where the image link is broken.

Just for the heck of it, I started searching the Twill archives for discussions on the use of leather in clothing (other than footwear), but I didn't find a particular topic. (Not that this is such a topic, mind you, it just sort of turned in that direction briefly.) I did find one discussing a particular leather hat supposed to have been recovered from the HMS Stirling Castle which sunk in 1703. Alas, the image link has been broken: GAoP Leather Hat. There's also the Leather Capps faced with Red Cotton discussion, although that tends to run off the rails in several places. Then there are the admiralty slop contracts which everyone seems to love to cite when this topic comes up. GoF started a topic with these and what I found in there were leather pockets and caps: The Admiralty Slop Contracts Foxe also did a bang-up job assembling references from various sources for each piece of clothing in a thread called Colours and fabrics of sailors' clothing which lists four pair of leather breeches. As for buff coats, I only found them in the Clothing from Vassa 1628 thread that basically concludes that they probably wouldn't be worn at sea for multiple reasons which didn't include salt. although that is mentioned in a couple other places such as a discussion on shoes in the Sewing Room forum. In fact, there was a real nice running discussion about buff coats in the Sewing Room under the only thread I could find relating specifically to leather clothing other than that hat: Leather Waistcoat. And, of course, there are multiple thread on caps, tricorns and breeches that include brief verbal skirmishes on the appropriateness of leather in clothing, but they are many and varied in reliability of the poster's content, so that exercise is left to the student.

I just thought that was a curious name. For fun, try to invent a backstory for him. (It almost has to be a him.) To aid you in this endeavor, his email name is sw_bountyhunter. Get ready... Get set... Go!

Why would I put blue in it? It doesn't make intuitive sense.

The new logo:

There's just no pleasing some people, is there? Huh? What? Nautical perhaps, but not really piratey. As far as can be told, scrimshaw didn't really appear until well after the end of the golden age of piracy. Now if this was a whaling website, it would be de rigeur.

What happened to the blue in the logo? I loved that! It was so...blue. It was a hyperintelligent shade of the colour blue. Even.

Placing it here in it's own topic was a bit tongue-in-cheek - I know people who will give all manner of reasons why a leather waistcoat is period appropriate. In fact, it originally had another title that was much goofier, but it had a typo and as I was correcting it, I decided to make it sound more serious for the hell of it. But still tongue-in-cheek. (Sort of.) I found several facets of interest in the quote, though. Pomet said there was "a great trade carried out," He noted that it was used to make clothing of all sorts including minor items like stockings (which I had fun trying to imagine.) Plus he said it came in many different colors. On top of all that, it was washable "like linen is"! Well, that and I had never seen reference to this particular material being used during period before and I found it in a book I knew no one else was likely to read. If you want to find fault with the quote, the first criticism that came to my mind was about how widespread use of such material might be since he refers specifically to southern France. (As I mentioned, it was originally written in French.) It's difficult to say what "a great trade" meant, exactly. Although, as I'll be discussing this month, goats were in extraordinarily wide use as food by sailors, so their skin would have been available as well if anyone wanted to use it.

"UPON our Mountains, and especially on the Pyrenees, we meet with a kind of wild Goat, call'd, the Shamoy, or Rock Goat. There is a great Trade carried on with these Skins, by which they convey Oil, Wine, and other Liquids, out of the mountainous Countries, and of which they make several other Uses; for these Shamoy Skins, being dress'd, are converted into Gloves, Stockings, Drawers, Breeches, Waste-coats, Petticoats, Caps, &c. because they may be wafh'd as Linen is, and be dyed into what curious Colour you please, as Orange, Lemon, Buff, Buff, Black, Green, Red, Blue or the Like." (Pierre Pomet, The Compleate History of Druggs, 3rd Edition (1737), p. 260) I am guessing that Shamoy is the English version of 'Chamois.' Just by way of reference, the first English translation of Pomet's book appeared in 1712 and they kept adding bits to it from other authors. However, this quote is from the original translation of Pomet's 1684 French edition Histoire generale des drogues, so it quite covers all of our period.)

Eh. This woman's entitled to voice her opinion just as much as you folks are entitled to voice yours. Besides, she's probably generating far more free publicity for the exhibit than the museum could have done on their own. As for tattoos, that's a whole different discussion. What (very) few tats we can find evidence for during the golden age of the pirates seem to have mostly been colors and very simple single-color symbols like crosses - not distinct, detailed images. They were almost certainly not ones designed to give intentional offense. (See the many, many discussion on this in the Crow's Nest and particularly in Captain Twill for more info.) I don't know when racy native women first appeared on sailors arms, but I'll bet it wasn't the mid-19th century when, as Daniel notes, there was a puritanical (or, perhaps more properly described, Victorian) streak prevalent in much of society. Sailors traveled and saw more, but as Foxe noted a long time ago, they were still members of society and much of their behavior was informed by their environment just as yours is.

Here's another bunch of sea journals that I've never seen before, free for the asking: A Collection of Voyages and Travels, Assembled by Daniel Coxe. This contains TEN journals. Nearly the first half of the book is taken up by priest Dominic Navarette's Journal of his sea and land voyages in China from 1700. I have already read some of this and I found it to be pretty tedious going for the most part. I stopped reading that a couple dozen pages after he landed. However, following that there's a Journal for travels in the middle east beginning in 1473, one for Chili from 1642&3, a short one from Formosa (Taiwan), date unknown to me, another for Japan, John Monck's voyage beginning in Greenland in 1619, A description of Ukraine and parts of Poland, one to the Congo in 1667, yet another in the Congo in 1689, and Sir Thomas Roe's Journal of travels in the East Indies from the earth 17th century. They're all pre golden age of piracy, but you never know what insights you might find in a sea journal.

See, I knew you would know, Jim! (I have been working with him on a plaster box and his knowledge of period boxes and woodworking is unparalleled in my experience.) The way you explain it makes such sense! That would also explain why the thing would be called a hanging drawer - it hangs like an insert and slides like a drawer. (So I stand corrected on that point.) It gives us a bit more insight into the way these things were being made during period. It also tells us that there was no such thing as a "standard" medicine chest. I sort of figured this anyhow, but this actually backs up my unsupported thoughts on the topic. Of course John Woodall was making chests for both the EIC and the BRN at one point, but I suspect even he made changes between one lot and another. Besides that was 50 years before the GAoP.

Here is John Woodall's advice for newly minted surgeons from the 1639 Edition of the surgions mate. If you read this and then read the part of The Adventures of Roderic Random where a new surgeon is brought on board Random's ship when he was a surgeon's mate, you will be amused. (I've inserted paragraph breaks to make it more readable): "The first errour some young Surgeons are possest with, from which infinite others grow, is the want of the service of God, the example whereof to their Mates is very infectious; and this bringeth with it a blaspheming the name of the Almighty, a general deboist [debauched - be sure to use it in a sentence today] and base kinde of habite on them, ready for all unprofitable, idle, and unseemly actions, and unapt for to prosecute any good thing, either in their callings, or otherwise: And if they seeme to be anything, it is in boasting and brave phrases, censuring other men in many things, but not perceiving their own wretchedness at all. Being given and dedicated to the Pot and Tobacco-pipe in such an unreasonable measure, that thereby they become in themselves base, despising virtue and commending vice; and to their Mates they shew themselves most unkind, keeping that little knowledge they have from them, not instructing them at all in their Science, and holding them in more base subjection then their Masters ever did in the Apprentiships. Also of a proud lasie [lazy] disposition, commanding them (without due instruction) to doe the whole businesse, when indeed themselves ought to put their hands, even to those parts of Surgery which they esteeme basest; for the most lamentable diseases of poore men require the most care of the Surgeon, as for example, the ulcerations and slidings dowone of Ani or the Ars-gut, which some in disdaining to doe their office of fomenting, comforting, and restoring thereof to the due place, most inhumanely have cut it off, when with as good a conscious they might have cut their Patient his throat: and the same I say to him that is negligent, and suffereth such to perish in their infirmities, without doing his utmost diligence." (Woodall, The Office and Duty of the Surgeons Mate, pages 3rd – 4th)

Yes, there are surgeon's journals in your National Archives. (That link is to much later period journals which I actually wasn't aware they had put on-line until now.) They also have a bunch that aren't scanned in; I don't know if there are any from our period or not. The requirement to keep journals in the navy started in 1703, although it seems sort of fuzzy as to whether this was followed implicitly or not. it also seems to me that a bunch of material was destroyed in a fire at Surgeon's Hall at some point after that. (I'm going off something I read a long time ago, so don't quote me on that.) Moyle might mean lift out sections, although the word drawer has a definite meaning, doesn't it? On-Line Etymology says, "drawer - agent noun from draw (v.). Attested from 1570s in sense of a box that can be "drawn" out of a cabinet." Terminology was somewhat loose then, but that seems to be a bit extreme. Besides, we have examples of surgeon's chests from both before and after period and they both have drawers.

Just when I thought I'd seen all the info there was on period medicine chests, I decided to pick through some of my old, unread books saved in PDF and I noticed that John Moyle's Abstractum Chirurgæ Marinæ looked... different... than his Chirurgius Marinus. Oh, I know, the titles are different, but a lot of these authors would release a version of their book and then add to it and alter the name and keep building up their library by essentially publishing the same work in new forms. I should have known better. (Moyle is my favorite period sea surgeon author and it's precisely because he doesn't usually pull the same sort of shenanigans other authors like Woodall did.) Anyhow, he has this to say about the surgeon's chest in this ancient work I am just now discovering. I am hoping some of you knowledgeable sorts (Captain Jim) can clarify some points in this thing such as what the heck a drawing box and hanging drawer are. "The Twelfth Direction. To fit the Chirurgery Chest. Now for the greater safety of your Medicines, let me advise you, not to have drawing Boxes at the Ends of the bottom of your Chest, as some use to have, and carry their Seeds and other things in them; for when you shall need any thing that is in them, you must take out several Medicines that stand in the bottom of the Chest before them; which Pots or Glasses will be in danger of breaking, especially if there goes a great Sea, and the Ship rouls. Some Chyrurgeons (especially in small Merchant-men [who would also be the ones most likely to be captured by pirates incidentally]) carry their Drugs in the bottom of their Chests, together with some Medicines, which is altogether inconvenient (if you can avoid it) for there must be a preposterous displacing of things before you can come at the Medicines you would have, therefore if I am worthy to advise you, let not your Drugs be in your Chyrurgery Chest; but have Partitions all over the bottom, and let those partitions be bigger than them at top; and in them place your greatest Jars and Glasses __ (and especially your Oyles and Corrosive Medicaments, that if they should spill or break, they cannot fall on others to dammage them). Besides in one of those partitions, you may place four of such small square Glasses, as your Oyles of Sulphur or Vitriol are put in, if you wrapt them with Tow, and place them decently one upon another. Let each kind of Medicines be placed in glasses by themselves; as the Syrups in one Glass, the Electuaries in another; and so of the Oyles, and Unguents, or Waters; with every Medicament its Lybel upon it. And keep account in your Book whereabout each Medicine stands, that you may either go or send for the Medicine you want and find it (as it were) in the dark. Having thus fitted the bottom of your Chest, there is usually a hanging drawer under the middle of the top partitions, where some Chyrurgions use to keep their Instruments; Let that be for your Emplasters. And then fall in had with the top of your Chest. You are to place round the top the remainder of your bigger Jars and Glasses, because they are the bigger partitions: And as in the bottom, so here, let each kind of Medicines be in their peculiar Glasses and writ upon. __ And in the partitions of your top Drawers you may place some four, in others more, of your small square Glasses and Jars; as four ounces, two ounces, and ounces; and every thing written upon, and account taken in your book, you will know readily where to find each Medicine in the bottom of any partition, although its Lybel should be lost, and let your box of small Weights and Scales be fixed to the inside of the Lid of your Chest, as also your Electuary and Unguent Spatula's, and Tyle to mix Boluses on; with other Necessaries." (Moyle, Abstractum Chirurgæ Marinæ, p. 15-7)

"Have you or any of your family been diagnosed schizophrenic? Mentally incompetent?" "My uncle thought he was Saint Jerome." "I'd call that a big yes."

I wonder what would happen if they made a truly realistic movie? They have an amazing amount of info on Edward Low, probably the most successful pirate of the 'golden age.' My bet it that the public wouldn't accept it without all the trappings they expect - precise ship battles, bucket boots, elegant sword fights, a heroic upstart and all that stuff. Stevenson's Treasure Island created the romantic vision of pirates, Hollywood glommed on to it and they can't put the djinn back in the bottle. Nor do I suspect a 50s style movie would sell well at this point. Look at all the pirate movies in the traditional style that basically crashed and burned at the box office after the 50s and early 60s.

After resisting buying this movie for years, I finally decided to get it since I could do so for cheap. It then sat in my movie collection for months until last night when I wanted to see Patton, but didn't have it. So I watched this instead. You know what's wrong with this movie (as of this viewing)? It's the Man with the Golden Gun of the pirate movies. There are chunks of things going on, all strung together by a somewhat-less-than-satisfying storyline. (Well, two somewhat-less-than-satisfying storylines - one about Jack being chased by Davy Jones to get him to pay up and the other about the EITC trying to get hold of Davy Jones heart... or chest... or key... or whatever,) Some of the chunks worked really well - the bar scene on Tortuga, the fight on the water wheel, Davy Jones weird crew & kraken. Some of the chunks worked well enough, but seemed as much like filler as anything to me - Davy Jones key & chest & heart & whatever, the menace of Lord Cutler Becket and his slimy assistant, the Will & Elizabeth story. And some of it was bad - the hokey voodoo nonsense, the Pelagosas, the three man sword fight. But it all seemed like a bunch of "Ooh, Ahh" set-pieces strung together with two somewhat-less-than-satisfying storylines. The first movie flowed from thing to thing. This movie seemed more like, "Look! Will & Elizabeth arrested! Look! Evil corporation trying to take over the world! Look! Headhunters! Look! A scary sea-monster!" Etc. Still, it could have been a lot worse. (It could have been like Back to the Future 2. Bleh.)

This month's article, the second half of the article on Fluxes is now up. This part of the article features all the cures that period surgeons attempted when treating fluxes during the golden age of piracy. (If you go back a few posts, you will see that this article was originally suggested by Elena. I do take requests, although after spending the last three weeks working feverishly on all the herbal cures, I'm not taking any more requests like that one. The first person to ask about how surgeons treated fevers will be shot. ) Enjoy!

Are you planning to go fop, Jim? (Somehow I just can't see it. Although Jack Roberts also has a plan for a fop costume which I would never have guess in a million years, so my judgement is probably suspect in such things.)

It's from a book called Recueil de cent Estampes Representant differentes Nations du Levant by Monsieur de Ferriol, first published in 1705. You can find hand-colored images by entering that title into Google Image search.