ABOUT THE BOOK, A PIRATE'S TALE BY GERTJAN ZWIGGELAAR CONTACT

One of the earliest recorded retributions against pirates occurred in the Straits of Hormuz, where pirates would lurk in bays and shoals waiting to plunder ships coming into the Persian Gulf from the rich spice and silk lands; India and China. In 694 B.C. the Assyrian King Sennacherib launched raids to rid the area of pirates.

Alexander the Great tried to eradicate pirates in 330 B.C.

The Roman Emperor Trajan tried to rid the Mediterranean of pirates in the first century A.D.; as did the Persian King Shapur in the 4th Century.

Only moderate successes have been recorded. Piracy never went away and continued to be a perpetual problem for ancient and modern mariners.

A young Julius Caesar was captured by pirates on his voyage to Rhodes in 78 B.C. He was captured just off the coast of Pharmacussa, approximately 10 kilometres south of Meletus. The pirates charged a ransom of 20 talents. Legend has it that Caesar berated the pirates by telling them they had no idea whom they had kidnapped and that he was worth at least 50 talents. During his captivity he apparently continued in his haughty aristocratic manner; demanding quiet when he would sleep, writing poetry which he read to his captors, and demanding decent food and good wine. He also threatened to kill every pirate after his release. After nearly 40 days of captivity, the ransom was paid and shortly after his release, he returned and captured the pirates; crucifying every last one. Fortunately for the pirates, because of familiarity, the pirates were strangled first.

During this time, the Roman government was not very powerful and the pirates ranged far and wide throughout the Mediterranean; robbing ships and entire towns and regions; often threatening supplies meant for Rome. The pirates were so powerful and greatly feared that lots of wealthy people aligned themselves with the cuthroats, to secure favour and protect their goods. Eventually the pirates gained control of entire stretches of coast line which they protected with observation towers.

The pirate ships of the time were very seaworthy vessels, splendidly equipped with gilded masts, purple flags, and silver mounted oars. Musical instruments were abundant and often times, music, dancing, and singing could be heard and seen on beaches frequented by the pirates. At the height of their power, the pirates probably had about a thousand ships plying the waters of the Mediterranean. It is claimed that they attacked over 400 towns, including the Roman port of Ostia.

Eventually Pompey was given the task of dealing with the pirates. Within 89 days he had significantly reduced the problem; driving the pirates out of their hiding places and rounding them up. He acted with great mercy and clemency; not executing, but resetling the pirates in abandoned towns; one he named Pompeiopolis.

General Attitude Toward Piracy

Pirates have always been hated and reviled. Whenever pirates were caught, they were often executed by hanging or decapitation. In England, for example, condemned pirates were hung at execution dock in Wapping. Particularly notorious pirates; after execution, were smeared with tar and suspended in a cage for all sailors coming and going from the port of London to see and take note what piracy can lead to. The judges would state the sentence as follows: 'Ye and each of you are adjudged and sentenced to be carried back to the place from whence you came, from thence to the place of execution without the gates of this castle, and there within the flood marks to be hanged by the neck till you are dead, dead, dead. The Lord have mercy on your souls.'

-Captain Herdman, President of the Vice Admiralty Court, 1722.

This particular version of the time honoured sentence was invoked at the trial of 160 men under the famous pirate, Bartholemew Roberts, who had been killed by one of the first broadsides in a battle with the British ship, Swallow, off the coast of Cape Lopez. The trial was conducted in Cape Coast Castle. By the time the trial ended, 52 men had been hanged, 20 men were sentenced to seven years servitude in the mines at Cape Coast, and 17 had been condemned to incarceration in the notorious Marshalsea Prison in London.

Pirates hung at Wapping were usually exposed to the tide for three consecutive floodings before the body was removed for burial.

Why do People Become Pirates?

The foreword to my book, A Pirate's Tale explains this phenomenon fairly clearly. I have copied the relevant portion which follows:

Piracy has been a phenomenon I have been long interested in. People who have nothing often covet that which the rich possess. Albeit people are taught to be content with their lot, it is not an easy thing to see people living off the backs of others; indeed some of those wealthy people, the aristocracies and business leaders, literally beat their fellow creatures into submission through all manner of spurious laws and regulations governing the behavior of those who are not members of the elite. Jesus was very explicit in Matthew 23 regarding the members of an elite not at all interested or inclined to doing what they expect the rest of us to do. Against that sort of oppression I think piracy is perhaps the only option to get back what is rightfully belonging to everyone; that being the planet’s wealth. Indeed, if one believes that God is in us and we are in God, and that God is All Abundance, then abundance is our right. Piracy is a way of establishing that right, through force, if necessary.

When the king steals it is called, taxation. When we steal from him it is called theft. When the king murders hundreds of thousands of innocent people it is called war. When we do it, it is mass murder. When the state abducts people and sticks them in cells it is called, justice. When ordinary people do it, it is called kidnapping. And so on. Piracy, like guerilla warfare, or underground warfare, occurs in places where people are oppressed by some crown, or other oppressor, and seek to get their own back. Piracy, in light of the arbitrary poverty imposed by the elite on the majority of humanity, is a reasonable response, I think. Until everyone shares in the abundance the universe provides, there will always be pirates.

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Buccaneers, Corsairs, Pirates, and Privateers; what is the difference?

Buccaneers were rovers who plied their sweet trade in the Caribbean. The original name is Boucanier; meaning someone who barbeques meat. The original buccaneers were hard, strong men who were involved in the wood trade. When economic times were tough, they resorted to piracy to make ends meet.

Corsairs was the name given to pirates who plied their sweet trade off the coast of North Africa. The Barbary Corsairs were such a band of pirates who sailed off the Barbary Coast. The Barbary states were semi-autonomous Muslim cities along the coast from which the pirates hailed. Their chief claim to fame is the cruel manner in which they treated Christian captives, who were chained to the benches of Corsair galleys and made to row non stop for hours on end. If the rower quit, he was mercilessly whipped to death and tossed to the waves. Corsair forts were known to be places where prisoners were maltreated in a great variety of ways; including being tossed onto hooks which were imbedded in the outer wall of the fort's gate and left to rot in the hot sun.

Pirates are people who rob and plunder at sea; the sea worthy equivalent of highwaymen. Kings and Queens do both through their surrogates; privateers and tax collectors.

Privateers were often private boat owners who operated under a Letter of Marque from their government, which allowed them to plunder the ships of 'enemy' countries. Privateers also used their vessels to help protect their country in the event of war. 'As Samuel Johnson's dictionary definitions make clear, in the eighteenth century the difference between a pirate and a privateer was as thin as the piece of paper bearing a royal letter of marque.'

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FAMOUS PIRATES

Black Bart, (1682 - 1722) Also known as Bartholemew Roberts.

William Bartleby, (1736 - 1782) 'The Scourge of the West Indies.' Fictional character in, A Pirate's Tale, by Gertjan Zwiggelaar. Bill Bartleby convinces the protagonist of the tale, Peter Mann, to help him escape from the Halifax jail. Peter does so, and then joins the pirate's gang. Bill teaches Peter the tricks of the sweet trade and eventually Peter becomes the quintessential pirate.

Black Beard, (1680 -1718) Also known as Edward Teach. His flag ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, enabled him to take many prizes in the Caribbean, where he plied his sweet trade. A good link for general information regarding him and piracy go HERE.

Major Stede Bonnett, (1688 - 1718) The 'Gentleman Pirate.'

Anne Bonny, (1700 - 1782) One of very few female pirates. She sailed with Calico Jack and Mary Read. She and Mary were brave and skilled fighters; who could easily out fight a lot of men. Other links: An Artist's Conception, Famous Image of her, More information on Anne Bonny

Roche Brasiliano, (c 1630 - disappeared in 1671) A Dutchman, born in Groningen, but spent a long time in Brazil. Known and despised for his cruelty. A real cuthroat buccanear. Gave piracy a bad name.

Mrs. Cheng, (1775 - 1844) Also known as, Mrs. Ching, or Cheng I. Sao. An other amazing female pirate. She became the leader of a confederation of pirates that included a fleet of 226 junks when it surrendered, manned by 17,318 pirates. She was quite a lady. It was best not to cross her. If you did, she could order your head removed from your shoulders. What a creepy idea, to have your head lying there, as you see for about two more minutes in what ever direction your head has fallen. Aaargh!

William Dampier, (1651 - 1715) This guy did it all. He was a very educated, intelligent man, who predates Darwin with his observations of things natural. A marvelous book detailing the life of this incredible pirate is titled; A Pirate of Exquisite Mind by Diana & Michael Preston.

Elizabeth I, (1533 - 1603) Although she was a queen, she was a pirate at heart. This red headed vixen spurred many men to their deaths in search of plunder. She regaled herself in jewels and could be a cruel bitch, when she had to be. Elizabeth scared the bejeebies out of people but; was also greatly loved by the rabble, but, what did they know? If you crossed her, you could be disembowled, or have your hand chopped off; as in the case of a man who published an unfavorable broadside. Nobles went to great lengths to build massive, expensive houses, in the hope that she might favour them with a visit during one of her annual progresses. She traveled with a huge retinue and beleagered everyone. But, what did she care. She was royalty. What does royalty care for the pain and suffering of the peons? Peons are made to pee on.

Other Links To This Lizardbeth: HERE and HERE

Sir Francis Drake, (c. 1540 – January 27, 1595) English Vice Admiral, was a privateer, navigator, slave trader, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Queen Elizabeth I awarded Drake knighthood in 1581. (You see what sort of scoundrel can be advanced by a King, or Queen). Whether he poked her; that is the question. Some say he did and others say he didn't. Some say she was a virgin queen and others say she was ah, er, how to put this politely; a lady who partook of several lovers. So, who is right? Drake was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588, subordinate only to Charles Howard and the Queen herself. Did Charles do her, as well? I think it's possible she was enjoying them both. With royalty you never know for sure. Some of them are into perversions, no different than other perverts in the human cess pool. He died of dysentery after unsuccessfully attacking San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1595.

Sir John Hawkins, (1532 – 1595) Albeit he was not a pirate, per sé, he was a scumbag, none the less. One of the first English slave traders, kidnapping blacks from Africa. Kidnapping people and selling them into slavery is a form of piracy.

Captain Kidd, (c. 1645 – 1701) He wasn't kidding, when he said he had gone pirating. I kid you not. Aargh! Actually this privateer was not very successful as a pirate. He is famous mostly because of his hanging. You can read more about him by clicking, here.

Jean Lafitte, (ca. 1776 - ca. 1826) He has been called "The Corsair," "The Buccaneer," "The King of Barataria," "The Terror of the Gulf," "The Hero of New Orleans" HERE IS MORE

Captain Edward Low, (c. 1690 - c. 1724) This guy really gave piracy a bad name. Known for his cruelty. A dastardly, cuthroat. 'Sir Arthur Conan Doyle described Low as "savage and desperate," and a man of "amazing and grotesque brutality".' http://www.squidoo.com/edwardlow

Peter Mann, (1750 - 1838) Protagonist of, A Pirate's Tale by Gertjan Zwiggelaar. Peter begins his fictional life as a news paper reporter. Over the ensuing decades of the story, Peter becomes the quintessential pirate, with a hook, a patch, and a peg leg.

Sir Henry Morgan, (ca. 1635 – August 25, 1688) Admiral, Sir Henry was one of the most successful pirates in history, eventually becoming the lieutenant governor of Jamaica.

Chang Pao, a fisherman's son who joined Mrs. Cheng's pirates at age 15. Eventually Mrs. Cheng, having secured his loyalty through an unnatural act, handed the control of the pirate empire to him. She adopted Chang Pao as her son, eventually she married him. He and Mrs. Cheng, developed more formal codes of behaviour for their pirate confederacy. Anyone attempting to usurp power was quickly decapitated. He and Mrs. Cheng ran their operation in a most professional manner, unlike the methods of most other pirate groups. These Chinese pirates were strategists, who planned their plundering like generals planning a battle. Hence they were highly successful. Captives were held for ransoms for as high 7000 Spanish dollars. Their involvement in the salt trade; and service as escorts for convoys; also netted them huge profits.

Calico Jack or John Rackham, shipmate and partners with Anne Bonny and Mary Read. He got the name, Calico Jack from the striped trousers he liked to wear. When the three of them were sentenced to hang at a place near Port Royal, still named, Rackham's Cay; the two women were pardoned on account of their pregnancies. Alas, Mary died in prison from fever, before her baby was born. When Jack was being hanged, he asked to see Anne. When she arrived, she gave him a scornful look and spat out, 'If you had fought like a man, you would not be now hanged like a dog.' After that she disappeared from history; probably with the help of her well connected family.

Mary Read, (c. 1690 - 1721) She sailed with Anne Bonny and Calico Jack. She died, pregnant while in prison. Known to be a courageous fighter. 'Fought like a wildcat.'

Bartholemew Roberts, (May 17, 1682 - Feb 10, 1722) 'also known as Black Bart, was easily one of the most successful and deadly pirates in all of history.

Captain Woodes Rogers, (c. 1679 - July 16, 1732) With William Dampier as his navigator, Capt. Rogers made a great success by capturing Spanish treasure for the English Crown.
Rogers slogan, "Piracy Expelled, Commerce Restored," (Expulsis Piratis/Restituta Commercia) remained the national motto of the Bahamas until independence in 1973.

Cheng I. Sao, (1775 - 1844) Born in Canton, this amazing woman built a gigantic pirate empire. Read all about her; HERE, and Here, and HERE . This is the Mrs. Cheng mentioned above. We just can't get enough of her. Her adopted son certainly liked her.

Long John Silver. This one legged pirate, played so admirably by Robert Newton, was invented by Robert Louis Stevenson for his novel, Treasure Island. L. J. Silver is one of those quintessential pirates; like Captain Hook and Peter Mann.

Jack Sparrow. A fictional character played by Johnny Depp in the Disney series, Pirates of the Caribbean.

Captain Thatch, cf. Blackbeard,

Books About Pirates

This is a fabulous, illustrated hard cover book; one of the best on the subject.

David Cordingly Ed. , Pirates, Terror on the High Seas From the Caribbean to the South China Sea. , JG Press Inc, North Dighton, MA. , 1998, ISBN: 1-57215-264-8

This book is an incredible history of an amazing man, who predated Darwin with his observations of animals and plants. Dampier was one of those remarkably curious, gifted intellects of the 17th Century, who 'did it all'. He thrice circumnavigated the globe.

Diana & Michael Preston, A Pirate of Exquisite Mind; Explorer, Naturalist, and Buccaneer: The Life of William Dampier, Viking Canada, a division of Penguin Books, Toronto, Ontario, 2004.

Here is a fun piratical site, AAAARRRRGH!! Mateys.http://www.deadmentellnotales.com/

MORE BOOKS ABOUT PIRATES

AmAzOn

PublishAmerica.com

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Films About Pirates

TREASURE ISLAND, (1950) and LONG JOHN SILVER'S RETURN TO TREASURE ISLAND, (1954)

Starring the quintessential pirate, Robert Newton. Also starring: Connie Gilchrist and Lloyd Berrell There was also a TV series with the same actors. Robert Newton personified the mythical idea of what a pirate captain should look and act like. 'Aarrgh, mateys...'

CAPTAIN CALAMITY, (1936) Starring: George Houston and Marian Nixon. Yawn!

MUTINY, (1952) starring: Mark Stevens and Angela Lansbury. Ho hum, without the rum.

CAPTAIN KIDD, (1945) starring: Charles Laughton and Randolph Scott.

Charles Laughton is wonderful in this film. Alas the costume designer gave him a rather awkward coat to wear; with strange, huge cuffs half way up the arms.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN

Three films starring Johnny Depp as the pirate captain, Jack Sparrow . These Disney Company films portray a fantastical image of pirates which is more fiction than fact.

For a more complete list of movies go HERE! (Why reinvent the reel?)