Mission

The calender module may be broken as well.

Messaging doesn't seem to be working. I got email notices that I have messages, but no messages exist.

Check your local library. Start with the author field.

I dunno. I don't keep notes on that sort of thing. Get hold of those books and see if they say. (They're both very enjoyable reads.)

Both Henry Teonge and Edward Barlow mention this practice in their journals from this period. I don't keep notes on such things, however. I suggest you dig up their books and look into it further. There was also the episode of the crews of the Duke and Dutchess trading all their clothes for fruits and such during Woodes Roger's pirvateering voyage. The men weren't mindful of the cold temperatures they would be encountering later in the voyage, so Rogers had the sail-makers fashion clothes for the men out of sailcloth if I remember rightly.

Drake and Morgan may have taken Spanish vessels during peace without knowing of said peace. News traveled very slowly at this time. In the book on Hamilton I am reading, the editors noted how it took over a year for news to travel from England to India regarding just such an occurance. (I am not saying Drake and Morgan did or didn't know, just noting something that we sometimes forget in this day and age.)

No, we're not doing away with the post count icons. I just got sort of tired getting everything to work and neglected to upload the backup copies. . . . let me start a pot of coffee and I'll track them down. No rush. Honestly. The skull thing is just something I think is funny. (There's no accounting for one's sense of humor.)

No since confusing things. I am copying some of the OT posts from the Hand Hooks? Thread into here so that future searchers can find all the info related to privateers in one thread. These two posts preceded the three posts above, but the software automatically sorts things by date of the post, so they are appearing a bit out of order. Sorry about the mess. And these two quotes followed them: There. All neat and tidy. I think.

“…I was making to wards the Plain where our Factory stands, and falling on a Foot-path from the Mountains towards the Plain, I kept in that Road, and had not gone far, till I espied a Tiger of the largest Size standing in the same Path, with his Face towards me. As soon as he saw me, he squatted his Belly to the Ground, and wagged his Tail, and crawled slowly towards __ me. I thought it would be in vain to flee, so I stept leisurely forward, till I cam within ten Yards of him, I then clubbed my Fuzee, and made what Noise I could to frighten him, and he, out of Civility, rusht amongst the Thicket of Bushes, and left me the Road, which I did not think fit to accept of, but got in among the Bushes on the opposite Side to him (I dare say) much more frightned than he was. And, before I got to the Plain, I saw a wild Bull and a Cow grazing. The Bull grew angry, and snorted, but the Cow only gazed on me, but I soon got out of their Sight, and got safe to the Factory, but never went into the Woods again, but with a numerous Company.” (Hamilton, p. 223-4)

Looks like you also had to reset it in such a way that we lost some posts - those after the first crash or reset. (I'm not complaining, just noting it before others start complaining about missing posts.)

The skull is still missing. Are you doing away with the post count avatars?

So If wounted soldier would used those (practically in same time period) why not wounted sailor or pirate alike but certainly they were rare... and Foxe has your stance toward wooden legs changed after you wrote this: http://www.piratesin...legends_944.asp ? I doubt he's changed his views since he's basically saying the same thing I already told you. (Nor do I see how his quote you cited disagrees with any of his comments in that article from 2009.) While I had never read Ed's comment at Piracy.com (I left that site in 2004), I found the same material via my own research, so I'd say it stands on its own. Point being, a prosthetic was far more common at this time period than people seem to think, particularly for anyone involved in battles.

Hey, there's a Bonus Page this month, especially for today, February 14th! You can check it by clicking on this link. Happy VD!

One thing to be wary of with Hogarth is that he was a satirist and often exaggerated things. (Either I'm not seeing it right, or that guy is completely missing his right hand!) In addition, that man could have been either a seaman or a soldier. (If I have the uniform wrong, someone feel free to correct me. I don't claim to know the clothing styles.) Although, Swashbuckler, this is about hooks and pirates and that man doesn't strike me as being a pirate! Having said that... I would love to hear Foxe's take on Privateers vis-a-vis this discussion. As he will no doubt tell you from our decade-long acquaintance, I am strongly opposed to staying on topic in a forum, even when that is part of my job description. :) (Forums are like conversations, not lectures.)

The word here is linked to it in my first post. :)

"[in Surat] their Burials are quite different, for they enclose a small Piece of Ground, with a Wall about 4 Yards high, and place several Benches for the Corps to sit on, that the four Elements may each have a Share of the Matter their Bodies are composed of. The Sun or Fire exhales the putrid Effluvias. The Water or Rain carries the putrified Flesh and the Bones to the Earth, that gives Burial to them, and the voracious Fowls carry what they can pick into the Air in their Maws. They watch the Corps all Day, till one of the Eyes is pickt out. If the Bird begins with the right Eye, they rejoyce and feast, but if with the left Eye, they mourn and lament for the ill Fortune of the Defunct's Soul, for they attribute future Happiness to the right Eye, and Misery to the left. They build these Charnel Places far from the Town or Village, lest the Stink should annoy them." (Hamilton, p. 143) Yeah, that would be annoying... “There are three Species of Tigers in Carwar Woods. The smallest is the fiercest. It is not above two Foot high when it walks. It is very cunning, and delights much in human Flesh. The second Sort is about three Foot high, and hunts Deer and wild Hog, and little Creature called a Pissay [Footnote 174: The little creature described is the Mouse Deer. The Marathi called it Pissay.] Its Body has the Shape of a Deer’s, but its Head like a swine; and, as a Boar has two long Tusks growing downwards from the upper Jaw, and reach as low as the under Part of the lower Jaw. They are very harmless and fearful, and feed on Grass and Herbs. They are hardly so big as a full grown Cat, and their Flesh is black, and tastes like an Hare’s. The largest Size of the Tigers is above three Foot and than half high, when they walk. They are less rapacious than the others, seldom greedy of human Flesh, and sooner frightned. A poor Peasant in this Country had a Buffalo bemired in a Bog, and while he went to his Neighbours for Assistance, came a large Tiger that saved them the Trouble, for he pulled it out by his own Dexterity and Strength, and, when he had done, threw him over his Shoulder, as a Fox does a Goose, and was carrying it, with its Feet upwards, to his Den, but, when he saw the People, he let it fall, and went away; but he had killed the Buffalo, and had suckt his Blood. ‘Tis a small Buffalo that weighs not above 500 lb. Weight, and some weigh 1200.” (Hamilton, p. 223) How could you not love a mouse deer?

One of my Pirate Surgeon Facebook fans, Jon Peterson, posted a link to a PDF of John Woodall's much coveted sea-surgeon manual the surgions mate. You'll find it at the Internet Archive here. Although I don't claim to understand the complexities of publishing during this era (I would love to learn more about that as I mentioned when we were discussing it here a few months ago), I still maintain that the book would have been largely out of print by the GAoP. Its last edition was printed in 1655. It may still have been making it's way from ship to ship, as I imagine surgery manuals were dear, but 50 years... that's a long time. Closer to period (and much easier to read) is John Moyle's book The Sea-Chirurgeon, which was first printed in 1693 and then again in 1703. Still, everyone hears about Woodall's book and thinks it must be pirate-correct. It is now yours for the asking. (Have fun reading it. Woodall's language, spelling and writing style are nothing short of arcane. )

I recall reading somewhere about a second layer of wood being added to a ship to defend against the worms, but never metals. I am guessing the second layer of wood comment is from Edward Barlow, but I didn't note it because it is not related to medicine. What are you gathering all these odd bits of info for, Swashbuckler 1700? Are you writing a book or something?

Aha! A medically-oriented reference to the Cocoa-nut! Courtesy of Alexander Hamilton's book A New Account of the East Indies. “It [bombay] has but little good Water on it, and the Air is somewhat unhealthful, which is chiefly imputed to their dunging the Cocoa-nut Trees with Buckshoe, a Sort of small Fishes which their Sea abounds in. They being laid to the Roots of the Trees, putrify, and cause a most unsavoury Smell, and in the Mornings there is generally seen a thick Fog amongst those Trees, that affects both the Brains and the Lungs of Europeans, and breed Consumptions, Fevers, and Fluxes.” (Hamilton, p. 161) Here's another quote about the alcoholic beverage they make from the tree regarding the British in the East Indies. "The little Trade they [Goa] have, is mostly from their Arrack, which is distilled from Toddy of the Cocoa-nut Tree, which grows in great Abundance in the Territories of Goa. The English are their best Customers, for they buy great Quantities yearly __ for Punch. It is sold by the Candy, or two Casks, about 45 Gallons each, for 25 Xerapheens per Cask, but I have bought it for 20 when there was no great Demand for it. They also make a great Deal of Salt in Ponds made in low Grounds, where they may convey the Water at spring Tides. It may be bought for a Crown the Tun, and sometimes cheaper.” (Hamilton, p. 217-8)

Here's a quote I liked primarily for the comment on the corrosiveness of the water. “…in August there come a Stink from it [north of Gombroon], that is as detestable as the Smell of dead Animals on the Land, and vast Quantities of small Shell Fish are thrown on the Shore by the Surges of the Sea; from them I judge the intolerable Stink proceeds. It tarnishes Gold and Silver, as bad as the bilge Water of a tight Ship.” (Hamilton, p. 90) Here is a long one about the local Indian pirates that attacked the Phenix, Hamilton's ship the Morning Star and another ship, the Thomas. I have again inserted some paragraph breaks for easier reading. "I had several Skirmishes with them [the Sanganians, pirates out of Baet]. They, being confident of Their numbers, strive to board all Ships they can come at by sailing, Before they engage in a fight, they drink Bang, which is made of a Seed like Hemp-seed, that has an intoxicating Quality, and, whilst it affects the Head, they are furious. They wear long Hair, and, when they let that hang loose, they'll give no Quarter. In Anno 1686 a small Ship of theirs, that mounted 8 Guns, and mann'd with 300 of those furious Fellows, was cruizing on the Coast of India, between Surat and Bombay, and the Phenix, an English Man of War of 42 Guns, was bound for Surat. The Sanganian made towards her, and engaged her, but would fain have been gone again when they found their Mistake, but that was impossible. The Phenix sent her Boats, well mann'd, to try if they could make them yield, in order to save their Lives, but they scorned Quarter, and killed and wounded many of the English, so that Captain Tyrrel, who commanded the Phenix, was forced to run his __ lower Teer out, and sink them. And, after their Ship was sunk, and the Miscreants set a swimming, yet most of them refused Quarter, and only about 70 were taken alive. (I believe Sir George Bing can give a better Account of the Story than I, for, if I mistake not, he was a Lieutenant then on board the Phenix, and received a Commission, did.) In Anno 1717 they attackt a Ship called the Morning Star in her Passage between Gombroon and Surat. She was richly Aden, which they were appraised of, and two Squadrons were fitted out from two different Ports, to waylay her, and accordingly she fell in with eight Sail of those Pirates. One was a large Ship of near 500 Tuns, and three others were Ships between 2 and 300 Tuns, and the other four were Grabs, or Gallies, and Sheybars, or half Gallies. They reckoned in all there were above 2,000 Men, who were resolved to trust Providence, and fight for their Lives, Liberty and Estate. The first attack was by the greatest Ship alone, but was soon obliged to sheer off again, with the Loss of some Men, and the Captain of the Morning Star was wounded in the Thigh, by a Lance darted at him, that pierced his Thigh through and through [Footnote 69: Hamilton plays down his own part. He was Captain and owner of the Morning Star and it was he who was wounded during a most spirited defence.] The Pirates were not discouraged by this first Repulse, but joyned their Forces and Counsels together, and, after a Day's Respite and Consultation, they attackt the Morning Star a second Time, the two largest Ships boarding, one on her Bow, and another on her Quarter, and three more boarded them two, and entred their Men over them. The Combat was warm for above four Hours, and the Morning Star had seven killed, and as many wounded; but kind Providence assisted her. Whilst she was on Fire in three Places, and had burnt through her Poop and half Deck, she was disengaged of them, and left five of the largest so entangled with on another, that they could not pursue her. So she pursued her Voyage to Surat, but having no Surgeon on board, she called at __ Bombay, to get her wounded Men drest and cured. In the Time of the Combat, while the Pirates were on board of the Morning Star, twenty one Indian Seamen went on board of them, and twenty six Merchants had gone to them, to try if they could perswade them to take a Sum, and not put it on the Hazard of Battle. All those they detained, and carried along with them, and made them pay above 6,000 Pounds for their Ransom, who gave an Account afterwards of great Slaughter done on the Pirates. And the Commodore lost his Head as soon as he landed, for letting so rich a Prize go out of his Hands. In Anno 1698 one Captain Lavender, in the Ship Thomas, bound from Surat to Mocha encountred four Sail of those Freebooters, and fought them bravely; but they burnt the Ship and all her Crew, because he would not yield. They are very cruel to those they can master, if they make Resistance; but to those that yield without fighting, they are pretty civil." (Hamilton, p. 120-2)

No, they only takes ships with whom the country issuing the letter of the marque is at war with. They are technically a private extension of the issuing country's forces. Pirates take ships from any nation.

Good find! One I clearly missed. Which story is that from? (I may be wrong, but doubt Foxe will find evidence for or against such a mundane detail.) I still maintain privateers are a different species. If they are operating properly, they have a legal letter and only take ships of the nations their letter of the marque details. As for hand hooks, I had never seen evidence of them before you guys mentioned Christopher Newport, of whom I don't recall hearing of before now. (But then I am focusing on books published near or during the GAoP as my references and Newport pre-dates period by about 80 years or so.) Most of the surgical manuals don't mention prostheses except Pare (who seems to have been fascinated by them) and Dionis. I guess it's a French thing...

Ha ha ha! We can do book signings together. I'll bet that will get you more than a little media attention. A good thing for a writer.

You should write an annotated version of Johnson's work, refuting all the things you know are wrong with sources. I'd love to have something like that. It would sure create a hell of a stir in the pirate-loving community. :) (This is what the editors of Alexander Hamilton's book have done. It's most enlightening to read their comments about what he got wrong and why they think he got it wrong.)

I have never come across any evidence of a genuine pirate (not a privateer, which is decidedly different) having a prosthetic. This is not to say that none of them had them, in fact the opposite is likely true because amputation was a pretty common operation for men who engaged in battles on land and sea. (And I can probably find a dozen references to regular people having had the operation including noblemen, maids, and so forth.) However, you have to admit that a prosthetic could limit the abilities of seamen to perform some of the duties of a pirate or a regular seaman. This is why they would have been made cooks. (I believe I read that this was a BRN custom.) Note that hooks and peg-legs were not the only types of prostheses that existed at this time. Ambroise Paré has some pretty exotic renderings of prostheses in his book that was published nearly 200 years before the Golden Age of Piracy. (This last one is mostly theoretical - no working model of a spring-operated hand was successfully made that I am aware of up to the GAoP - as we'll see in a minute.) Of course, hooks and peg legs would have been the most practical prostheses to be made at sea. As you'll find below, a foot would probably be assembled for a leg prosthesis. So even if a sailor was given a footless leg prosthetic, he would most likely have eventually had a foot made for it if the author is correct. From the surgical manuals I have read to date, Pierre Dionis has the most to say on the topic in his book Cours de chirurgie which was published in French in 1707 and translated into English in 1733. (It is a fantastic reference.) “We draw two Advantages from this Addition [the prosthesis], the first is ornamental, as when we fix in an artificial Eye or Tooth; the second, is for Necessity, as when we add a wooden Arm or Leg; and ‘tis particularly this last Species of Prosthesis which is necessary, since without its help the Man can’t act. Every one knows how a wooden Leg ought to be made in order to go with it; the last Wars have reduc’d several Persons to a necessity of wearing it: I shall only hint to you, that its upper part is to be hollow, to comprehend the lower part of the Thigh; that it must have Ribbons or Tapes to tie and fasten it to the Thigh; that it must be provided with a small Cushion at the Place where the Knee lies, that the Part may not be hurt by the Hardness of the Wood, which is not to be brittle, but firm and strong for the Security of the Wearer. When we would adjust its Shape, we are to cause one to be cut by the Carver, of the same Figure with the other, observing the Dimensions exactly; on this we put a Shoe and Stocking as on the other, and if it reaches up the Thigh, the Knee being __ cut, we may make it bend when we sit, by taking away one Ring or Ferrel, and putting it in again, when we would go. An Officer of the Army was so habituated to his wooden Leg, that he mounted on Horseback, and exposed himself to all the utmost Dangers which offer’d: He received a Musquet-shot in it, which broke it, and cried out to the Enemy that he was horribly disappointed, for he had another in his Portmanteu." (Dionis, p. 416-7) He also talks about the fancy spring-loaded version a friar was working on that sounded like the one Pare had sketched which I why I say the second version probably never existed. The French would have had much to boast about if it did. "About a year since the Reverend Father Sebastian, a Carmelite-Friar, and one of the Honorary Academicians of the Academy of Sciences, presented an artificial Arm made of Tin, and fill’d with several Springs, by means of which he promised, that being fasten’d to the Stump, the Patient might lead a Horse, Write, and perform the same Functions as with the natural Hand: He assures us that the sole Motion of the Stump set the Springs at work, and would make the Patient move the Fist and Fingers as he pleased. This Machine was not perfected when ‘twas presented to the Academy: If it answers his Promises, the maim’d Persons cannot pay him a sufficient Tribute of Praises.” (Dionis, p. 417)