Jib

John, Funny that you mention this. I am the Spanish Captian for the Royal Navy Experience and I hope to apply these techniques to my armor as well as my arms this year. Wearing a breast and back plate, morion, and sword everybody wants to "touch me". I am covered with rust and dust at the end of the day. I have been using Hoppes Gun Cleaning oil but wondered if one of you had a better idea.

How do you folks keep your blades looking good? I imagine events around salt water can make a real mess of decent sword, axe, or dagger. What is your process and materials to keep your items from falling apart.

If you could have any single super power what would it be and why? My wife takes flight but I don't know how helpful that would be. She gets cold easily and would most often take the car to work instead of fly anyways.

I think a few bullies grow up to become adult bullies. They get a taste at abuse and keep it up. I have encountered a few adults who like to use intimidation and body language to get others to do as they desire. I always imagine these people have very few friends.

So we can say that the Spanish were stretched thin over a large region and unable to keep all locations strong. What about tactics and weaponry? I think I read that the Spanish guns on the Armada ships lacked wheeled carraiges and were difficult to aim. Of course I would guess that they had improved on the battle field with all the wars going on in Europe by the time of the Buccaneers.

Thank you! I must have missed this thread.

Ever mount any with a tie tack pin or chicago screw?

Bess this is some great research! Thank you! I seem to recall reading an Irish play set in the time of the English Civil War when Cromwell was attempting to remove the native population for English resettlement. The play made reference to the Transportation of many women, children, and Catholic priests to the island of Barbados, Nevis, and Monserrat. Yet another example of people moved for religious ideas (although perhaps less radical ones).

So you want a new start and can not afford the cost of the journey to the new world. You sell yourself into bondage and end up in the colonies on the continent or in the islands working harder than the slaves. I believe the English kept a man for 7 years and the French 3. What else do we know of this bitter life? Indentured Servitude seemed like a curse that was hung around the neck of many a colonist and may have provoked them to sign articles and join a pirate crew. Do we know of pirates who owned indentured servants? What about those caught and convicted of crimes and sent (transportation) to the new world as a punishment?

Mission is indeed wise. I think that there is a "Pecking Order" in everything. Think about it... Ever been a member of a group {cliche} and didn't want a certain person to join? Not everyone always extends the hand of friendship, some show a cold threatening exterior to chase away those deemed 'unacceptable'. Can that be a form of bulling too?

While we can still experience bullies as adults this question is directed more toward your time spent in school. Were you the kid that was picked on because you were different or sought out for torture because you were weaker by bullies. Or did you prey about others as a bully? Do you have regrets either way? I know schools are always trying to curb the bullies but it never seems to go away. Most logic seems to be to notify the teachers but that only seems to provoke even a greater ammount of violence from the bullies as a reprisal. Woe be John should his mother call the school office about his torn shirt and bruised lip...

It is interesting that the Spain-as-world-super-power can mirror some elements of what is going on with the US today. Weak economy driven/ addicted to military action in foregin countries. And some people outside of the US view it as a nation of spoiled, immoral, devils. One note on the religious issue: Many of the reformer/ protestant faiths that condemed the Catholic Church saw the Pope as the Anti-Christ. That often made in unacceptable to practise the "old faith" at various times in Europe. Intolorance favors both sides in war of religion.

Although I did not see the entire series I did find many interesting things in the episodes I did see. The tools constantly breaking and hindering construction (I guess I would have never guessed this would be a problem since the tools of today are so well made). The frustration at milking a goat only to have it kick feces in the milk. The food going bad and the people still eatting it.

I seem to recall reading that the Spanish and the French treated the native poulations much better than the English and the Dutch. I also will mention "Empire of Blue Water". While not a favortie here I found the depiction of the Spanish very interesting. They constantly lost money in Europe fighting the wars and with a broken economy. The treasure fleets were like a pusher to a herion addict. They needed more and more and more! Do we have tales of failed Buccaneer attacks on the Spanish?

As I read more about the Buccaneer era it seems that the Spanish always loose in every encounter. They can out number the Buccaneers or be better defended yet they seem to be defeated. Why? The Empire was the strongest on the planet for a long time.

Stoopid Question Tyme: When is Talk Like a Pirate Day?

Thanks QM James! I can track it down!

I wonder if they have ever exhumed any of the graves in Port Royal (those that remain above sea level) of a well known lady of the evening? I imagine that you could get a great idea of what her life was like from the bones and teeth.

Appears that Youtube pulled this video... darn! I only got a chance to see the first installment! I remember seeing it on TV long ago but wanted to see it again. I wonder if legal reasons prevented the video from being viewed. I would be happy to buy a DVD of the movie if it was offered.

Picked up another bottle of Black Seal Rum over the weekend. The store did not carry Ginger Beer and looked at me as if I was crazy! I will try another place.

Thanks Hurricane! I will pick that book up!

I also remember a scene in the movie "From Hell" that showed a Victorian whore doing her trade standing up, clothed but with her bodice open, leaning against a wall. Fiction and a different time period but perhaps it might give us an idea of what the flesh trade looked like in Port Royal.

I am reading "The Buccaneers of America" for the first time (yeah I know, shame on me). I have the Dover edition. As I read over this book I often think back to posts I have seen here on the Pub. One topic I thought that might be worth re-visiting would be the idea of personal equipment carried by a sailor/ pirate/ or Buccaneer during the Buccaneer period. Now I know this topic was discussed for GAOP and that Patrick Hand has done tons of detailed research on the period. Perhaps we can use this thread as way to introduce new finds and re-invent the old topic with a new spin? In another post people spoke to the topic of hauling to much gear about. I think the thread spoke that historical pirates would never have all these items dangling from their belts like a "Ren Fest Attendee". As I read through the book I notice that Exquemelin often mentions that people are often hunting or traveling across Hispaniola. Now certainly these men would have carried supplies. Some might be unique or personalized? With the constant threat from the Spanish would not these brave fellows have been ready for war? I know that the soldier who fought in Vietnam often carried a good number of personal items. How about during the march across Panama? Might the Buccaneers carried items like small pots, mugs, pipes, whetstones, gun oil flasks, bed rolls, and other items of the ilk? What do you think?

Nice sea horse dagger Iron Bess. How about eating knives?