Period Re-enacting

[Misson]

This is sorta funny.

“[August 20, 1709] At 10 in the Morning we bore down I to the Dutchess, who had Spanish Colours flying, to make a sham Fight to exercise our Men and the Negroes in the Use of our great Guns and small Arms. Here I must not forget a Welchman that came to me, and told me, He took the Ship we were going to engage for the Dutchess, till he saw the Spanish Colours, and that being over-joyed with Hope of a good Prize, he had loaded his Musket with shot, and design'd to fire amongst the thickest of 'em, which he would certainly have done, had he not been forbid. By this it appears, that blundering Fools may have Courage. During this sham Engagement, every one acted the same Part he ought to have done, if in earnest, firing with Ball excepted. Our Prisoners were secured in the Hold by the Surgeons, who had their Instruments in order, and to imitate Business for them, I order’d red Lead mixt with Water to be thrown upon two of our Fellows, and sent ‘em down to the Surgeons, who, as well as the Prisoners in the Hold of the Ship, were very much surpriz’d, thinking they had been really wounded, and the Surgeons actually went about to dress them., but finding their Mistake, it was a very agreeable Diversion.” (Woodes Rogers, A Cruising Voyage Round the World, p. 135)

(You guys. Always funning with the surgeons...even 300 years ago.)

[Capt. Sterling]

hmmm looks to me as if "acting it out" was the best way to go even then...

[Dutchman]

misson, careful what ye ask for mate. all this talk of blood and guts and such. never know what might show up.

[Capt. Sterling]

Aye, we'll be only too happy to provide...

[Duchess]

I believe the parlance would be "practicing upon the surgeon."

[Misson]

Preying on the physician...

So long as you bring me fake people to fix and not real ones. The real ones on whom I operate...well, just cross yourself and look down despondently at the ground in their memory. (What's the old line...I'm not a doctor, I just play one at events?)

[Dutchman]

oh no no misson. beggars cant be choosers.

[Capt. Sterling]

Agreed!

[Cut-throat]

"...red Lead mixt with Water...." No thank you.

[Raphael Misson]

They do take their re-enacting seriously.

“[Feb 14, 1679] …and our noble Duke of Grafton (intending as is supposed for the sea) begins his warlike exploits; who, with his own pinnace and one more, is to fight Sir John Ernle’s barge and longboat and our barge, in the nature of Algerines. They turn for the advantage of the wind, at least an hour: at last the fight began very furiously; several broadsides passed, with muskets, blunderbusses, and peteraroes, and squibs and crackers, like hand-grenades: this continues at least an hour. Then at last (as it was ordered before) Sir John Earle’s squadron is worsted; his longboat driven on shore, where they forsake their vessels, but maintain them a good while by our small-shot from behind the rocks. At last the Duke takes the boats with his artillery and fire-balls, and so the fight ends (very pleasant to behold). And they all go on board Sir Roger Strickland to dinner in the Bristol, who, to entertain the Duke, caused his ship to be adorned with new waist-cloths, and a pendant at every yardarm, which, as soon as the Duke came on board, were all let fly at once; and fired thirteen guns of the lower tier. There they make merry; but, though the fight was only in jest, yet man of them were hurt by accidents, and burnt with fire-balls.” (Teonge, p. 240)

We need to use real fireballs. (I need to go out for conch chowder on the day that we do.)