capnwilliam

Ahoy, Capt. Bayle! What waters and era(s) do ye sail in? I am William MacArthur: in the SCA, the Patron for the Loyal Guild of St. Erasmus for the Kingdom of Meridies, and Captain of the Seadogges Shiphold, a merchant ship in the 1580's that sometimes steers into sweet trade waters. Am also thinking about an alternate persona as an 1815-era Baratarian, as we are home-ported in New Orleans. Great to have ye aboard! Capt. William

Thanks for the web site reference, Jamaica Rose! I'm not sure if Lafitte was a pirate or not. (I'm here defining a pirate as one who plunders ships for gain and who doesn't operate under a letter of marque). Granted, the distinction between a pirate and a privateer becomes moot if you're on the receiving end; also, some pirates have turned privateer, and vice versa. But I see a privateer as being one who plunders the vessels of a belligerent nation under color of a letter of marque. To the extent that he plunders outside of his letter, he is a pirate. It is my understanding that the Lafitte brothers freely admitted that they were smugglers, and that they had a letter of marque from the city of Cartagena which authorized them to attack Spanish shipping. Does anyone have any evidence to the contrary? I'll be back to the debate after payin' me annual tribute to the Empire's revenue agents. Faire winds, lusty wenches, and rich plunder to ye all! (Lusty lads to Jamaica!) Capt. William

OK, goode shipmates, we're on! I've got to work this week on paying me annual tribute to the Empire's bloody collectors, but will be able to get the ball rolling shortly thereafter. There was a mention of Sir Francis Drake; what say ye, pirate or no? Queen Elizabeth referred to him as "my pirate", but methinks she had a thing for him, and got turned on by the term! Was he really a pirate? Well, he did have letters of marque against Spain, so he was licensed: something pirates aren't. The Spaniards referred to him as a pirate, and to them he surely was. So is everyone who preys on ships a pirate? What's the difference between a pirate and a privateer? Capt. William

But I'm of one mind with Coastie (hell, we have only one betwixt th' two of us); lure 'em in, says I; fire a round over their bow, and if that doesn't do th' trick, some bar shot at their riggin', followed by a boatload or two of lusty lads and lustier lasses with cutlasses in their hands and fire in their bellies! My vote; let's keep this a piratical forum. Oh, I'm all for being serious about the topic (at times) and learning about period ships and navigation and all that - yoo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum is fun, but gets juvenile if we don't learn about the topic beyond that - but as far as this becoming a forum for politics or sports or other non-piratical topics; I say, let's not! Capt. William

How many on the list are interested in Jean Lifitte and his Baratarian brethren? They were smugglers, privateers, but were they really pirates? Capt. William

Most pirate buffs are interested in the Golden Age (generally defined as 1670 to 1730, or somewhere within those dates). But what about EARLIER pyrates? Specifically, those of the 1570 - 1600 period? Anyone on the list interested in same? Capt. William

Sixty-seven, pirates always have been, and always will be! They are everywhere and always have been, ever since man first set to sea. But, ye dinna want to meet the real ones! Capt. William

Booga makes a good point about the utility of the articles (I confess I don't know what "A.C.A.B." means, but I get the point anyway!). The articles become both a carrot and a stick, a point of honor and a death warrant, to encourage you to fight harder, and not surrender. I'm also reading UNDER THE BLACK FLAG. I don't have it in front of me, but the author's name is David Cordingly. It's a terrific book, especially for a pirate newbie like me! Capt. William

Well, there ye be: one post, an' th' Rose sends me three good leads! I have heard of the Contraband Days; will look into same. Mate Jan and I did get to the Battle of New Orleans re-enactment. There were pirates there, but the crewmen from the U.S.S. Carolina were the ones shootin' off th' big guns (maybe Rene wasn't able to recruit the trained gunners he wanted, or maybe it was just not their turn to fire). I will check out Rene and Co., also! Much thanks to ye! Cap'n William

Well, Mate Animal, welcome to the list! At least ye ken that YER cutlass could actually CUT something; which is probably more than could be said fer many of the fancier and more expensive pieces! But, what sort of a scabbard do you keep it in? Cap'n William

Hell, I'LL sign the Artikles, Mates! Wot the 'ell, they are so mixed up as to not make any sense anyways, which is exactly what sea lawyers like mesel' WANT; that way, we can argue that they mean whatever we want them to mean! But here be a serious questions about real pirate articles: why do you suppose that real pirates would have been willing to sign Articles, considering that seizure of same would make for such a damning prosecution exhibit against them at trial? Cap'n William

Ahoy, shipmates! My First Mate and I are homeported in New Orleans and were wondering if there are any events coming up in the area over the next few months, or any crews to sign aboard? Anyone involved with the Baratarian crew at the Battle of New Orleans re-enactment? Also, we're taking a vacation in May in St. Augustine, Florida. Any particular points of interest there for us? Capt. William

Does anyone have any leads on a nice 1580's era cutlass? Capt.William

Ahoy, goode shipmates all! I be William MacArthur, the SCA's Patron for the Loyal Guild of St. Erasmus in the Kingdom of Meridies, and Captain of the Seadogges, an Elizabethan virtual vessel. I'm interested in corresponding with anyone, on or off list, on any of the following topics: medieval / renaissance nautical matters; pirates of any historical era; nautical weapons of any sort; and at this point, I'd be especially interested in hearing from any Baratarians! Also: anyone who will be with the SCA for Gulf Wars in March, please note that our theme this year is The Vikings Are Coming! We will have mock ship battles (heavy / combat archery, and rapier), Viking themed classes all day Thursday, followed by a party, and a Viking archery event on Saturday. Yours in the Brotherhood, William