However because privateering was no longer sanctioned by the crown, and privateers were being chased down by the English Navy, it was now losing it's adventuring appeal.
The flying of flags on ships has been customary and very important since the middle ages. Signals were sent from ship to ship and ship to shore by using various flags. With nations at war and ship's often switching sides, the flag you were flying often determined whether you would be attacked or not.
Pirate ship's had a different set of rules, they carried the flags of several different nations, they would fly what ever flag would bring them close to what ever ship they were preying upon. The pirates just like sharks were in a position of superiority when approaching their prey!
They would follow ships for hours if not days seeing how well they handled the ship, Blackbeard was famous for using this strategy. If the ship proved to be a well manned warship they could change course and seek a more vulnerable victim.
The pirates would either take their prey by surprise by getting close to them by flying flags of the same or friendly nations, or by a frontal attack. When the pirate ship hauled down the national flag and replaced it with a red flag it meant “no mercy”!
There were many flags of the Jolly Rodger, any of them would associate them with thee lost Templar fleet. The skull and crossed bones of the Jolly Rodger has always been the symbol of piracy, of master Masons and goes back to burial standards of the first century.
Other symbols on pirate flags include bleeding hearts, blazing balls, hourglasses, crossed cutlasses, spears and whole skeletons. All of these symbols were in white on black flags, prior to the mid 18th century red flags were being used while assaulting their victims and meant no mercy.
Often while being surveyed the merchantman would drop their sails and lay their cargo on deck and surrender it and be at the mercy of the pirates. This actually was a recruitment method of the pirates, and they usually left the merchantman unharmed.
When you are being pursued by the Jolly Rodger you have an excellent chance of surviving the ordeal, when being pursued by the Red Flag, it's time for your last will and testament! Edward Teach the North Carolina pirate known as Blackbeard flew a flag with a full skeleton holding a dart in one hand, striking a bleeding heart, and in the other hand a hourglass.
Historians believe that pirates flying the Jolly Rodger weren't cold blooded killers, just sailors going about their business. In David Cordingly's book “Under the Black Flag” he represents that quite a few pirates were quite “gentlemanly” in nature!
Cordingly represents that most merchantmen surrendered without a fight! They usually disarmed the merchantman, transferred the cargo from the merchantman and usually with the help of the merchantman’s crew. They would leave them unharmed with food and water.
Piracy was a democratic society, every one worked on shares of the treasure, they would agree on which ships to pursue and standard operating procedures, quite similar to modern day “outlaw biker gangs”.
On a modern day commercial fishing boat, like a tuna or swordfish long-liner, when the catch is sold the ship would get a percentage, usually half of the gross profit after the boats operating costs, fuel, ice, food and machine parts.
Of the adjusted gross profit the captain would usually receive 25% and the remainder split up amongst the crew, usually based on seniority and skills. Although the captain is responsible for everything that happens on his ship most often major decision's were put up for a vote, like when to return to port or how to handle a big storm.
This form of democracy was also used on pirate ships, but this was the only form of democracy used in the feudal times, what the land barons wanted from their tenants was law! Soon the new colonial congress in America would use this system of democracy as a blueprint for the constitution!
“Calico Jack” Rackham used a flag with crossed cutlasses below the skull. Calico Jack was a smart dresser and appeared like a distinguished gentleman rather than a pirate most of the time. He was educated and handsome and fearless in the face of his enemies. He was also a definite ladies man! Enter Ann Bonnie.
Ann Bonnie and Mary Read were probably the most famous of the lady pirates, and both served in the company of Calico Jack, Ann Bonnie was said to be the mother of his child.
Calico Jack centered his operations out of Honduras's Bay Island called Belize today. He eventually moved his area of operations to the mid Caribbean some believe Negril in Jamaica. Some historians just say a island south of Cuba.
Calico Jack had a wide area of operations, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Cayman's and the Northwestern Caribbean, Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. He raided cargo vessels throughout the Caribbean but making his home in Jamaica was a mistake. He was arrested there by order of the Governor of Jamaica.
Calico Jack and his crew were sentenced to death, Calico Jack was convicted in Spanish Town, Jamaica, executed by hanging in the “wickedest City” in the world, Port Royal Jamaica and then gibbeted on a small islet at the entrance of Port Royal Harbor, which today bears his name, Rackman Cay.
Both the ladies were given stays of execution their defense was they were pregnant! Mary indeed was and died while in labor and Ann Bonny disappeared from history, but not before being quoted as saying
“If he had fought like a man, he need not have died like a dog!”
It has often been said that Captain Kidd was the last of the Templar/Mason Pirates. That is a little bit debatable but we will give it some wiggle room! Capt Kidd was a mason pirate descended from the “Lost Templar” fleet, Capt Kidd was a Scotsman.
In 1689 William Kidd served on a pirate ship “Blessed William” which surrendered at the Island of Nevis in the West Indies. Capt. Kidd was given a license by the Governor of Nevis to attack the French. In the same year he was responsible for the plunder of the Island Marie Galante, as well as attacking several French ships.
While on shore and away from his ship his mutinous crew stole his ship fearing being involved in a war. Captain Kidd was given the ship Antigua and gave chase of the Blessed William, all the way to New York. New York at the time was in a civil war, Captain Kidd aligned himself with the winning side and married a wealthy widow in May 1691.
Captain Kid remained in New York for a few years being politically active, he made the acquaintance of Robert Livingston, First Lord of Livingston Manor and a colonial politician. In 1695 Robert Livingston accompanied Captain Kidd on a trip to London, where he introduced Captain Kidd to Richard Coote Earl of Bellomont and Governor of both Massachusetts and New York.
Captain kidd was hoping the introduction would secure a privateers license. These three gentlemen devised a plan to capture the pirates and keep the treasure for themselves, instead of returning it to it's rightful owners.
These three signed a contract with Governor Coote funding the outfitting of Captain Kidd’s ship. Governor Coote made several other arrangements with the King of England, Secretary of State, Lord of the Admiralty, Chief Justice of the Royal Courts.
Captain Kid was granted three commissions from the King of England; (1) allowed for capture of French ships. (2) Allowed for capture of pirates everywhere. (3) Allowed for the suspension of all captured booty from going through the court. This allowed for Captain Kidd to keep the booty until it was surrendered to Governor Coote in Boston.
These three gentlemen purchased the 300 ton, 34 gun “Adventure Galley”. Captain kidd left England in 1696, fetching New York where he recruited his crew. He promised his crew 60% of all booty even though he had already pledged 60% to Govenor Coote.
In September 1696 the Adventure Galley left New York fetching India by way of the African coast. He stopped at madagascar and careened his bottom at Johanna Island. In April 1697 the Adventure Galley departed Johanna Island for the Red Sea, where he was planning on plundering pilgrim ships returning from Mecca to India.
Although he probably intended to attack other ships, as his commission allowed, but it was unlikely to happen. His crew was unlikely to attack other pirates. Many of whom were their friends, small world as it is.
Attacking a ship full of experienced sailors and hardened from a life of piracy wouldn't be a easy task. One of the documents uncovered in researching Captain Kidd was the contract he had with his crew. His crew were all seasoned pirates, who unknown to them, were to go after other seasoned pirates.
Captain Kidd was a pirate from Scotland a center of piracy and now was a pirate hunter! Captain Kidd was entering a new era of maritime history. Piracy was now outside of all laws including those laws of the Templar’s and those of freemasonry.
When the Adventure Galley was outside of New York enroute to Africa, Captain Kidd gathered his crew and presented a employment contract of sorts; he informed the crew that he was commissioned to attack and plunder not only French shipping but all and any pirates that they may encounter.
The crew of the Adventure Galley had a diverse crew including a Jewish Jeweler by the name of Benjamin Franks, a Ceylonese cook, a Native American Indian, and 147 other pirates, freebooters and merchantmen looking for easy money.
Captain Kidd’s ship was very well equipped, better than most ships of the time, including naval ships and the crew was expecting to make a very healthy commission.
On September 10, 1697, each of the 150 men reported to the Captains quarters and met privately with Captain Kidd, where they signed the contract;
“...Articles of agreement...Between Captain William Kidd commander of the good ship Adventure Galley and John Walker Quartermaster on said ships company on thee other part, as followeth, vide...”
This contract is a negotiated treaty ( of sorts) between 150 men and the captain. On a Royal Navy Ship the Captains command is backed up by a force of armed marines; on this ship the captains command is only backed up by this written agreement and the personality of the captain and a handful of officers.
This very interesting document has survived throughout history and demonstrates the very democratic philosophy that existed in the masonic circles of piracy in colonial America. It is interesting to note that around 15 of the founding fathers were masons as well.
These document also gives us a idea of the code of conduct established on a pirate vessel—sort of a honor among thieves, if you will;
- Incentive Bonus: “The man who shall first see a sail. If
she be a prize, shall receive 100 pieces of eight.”
- Workman’s Compensation: That if any man shall lose an eye,
arme, legg or the use thereof{he} shall receive 600 pieces of eight,
or six able slaves.
- Discipline: “That whosoever will disobey a command will
lose his share or receive such corporall punishment that the Captain
and Major part of the company shall deem fit.” ( This important
clause means that the Captain couldn't punish his men without the
consent of the majority of the crew.)
- Cowardice: “That if a man was proven a coward in time of
engagement shall lose his share.”
- Sobriety: “That man that shall be drunk in time of
engagement before the prisoners been taken be secured, shall lose
his share.”
- Loyalty: “ That man that shall breed a Mutiny Riot Board
the ship or prize taken shall lose his shares and receive such
corporal punishment that the Captain and Majority of part of the
company should deem fit.( The Captain rules by democratic vote of
the crew.)
- Honesty:” That if any man should defraud the Captain or
ship's company of treasure, as in money, ware, merchandise, goods or
any other thing whatsoever to the value of one piece of
eight...shall lose his share and be put on shore upon the first
inhabited island or other place that the ship shall touch at.”
- Sharing: “That what treasure or money that shall be taken
by the said ship and company shall be put on board the Man of War
and there be shared immediately, and all wares and merchandises when
legally condemned to be legally divided amongst the ships company
according to articles.”( The Captain reserves 40% for himself and
the owners, 60% divided amongst the crew)
All other ships during this period of time payed the crews a fixed wage. Whether they were naval or merchant. The form of equitable sharing and democracy that was on pirate, privateers shows the Templar ideals of early piracy.
On pirate ships there wasn't discrimination based on race or creed or country of origin. On the Adventure Galley in 1698 there was a Jew, an American Indian, a Moslem, various Christians and sailors from all over Europe and Colonial America.
On a pirate ship all the crew were equal except for the Captain, Everything was based on the democratic process of majority rule, The Captain can not punish a sailor without a majority concurrence of the crew. This would come to be the blueprint for the Constitution of the United states of America.
Captain Kidd had a problem which was unique and never encountered before on a pirate vessel. The adventure Galley was now a pirate Hunter! Captain Kidd's pirate crew had never attacked there own group of sailors before! Captain Kidd’s crew were outlaws without any allegiance to any crown or authority.
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