"In an honest
service there is thin commons, low wages, and hard labor; in this, plenty and
satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance
creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst, is
only a sour look or two at choking. No, a merry life and a short one, shall be
my motto."
~ The
Words of Bartholomew "Black Bart" Roberts
Bartholomew Roberts was born in Wales and is
considered the most successful pirate that lived during the Golden Age of
Piracy which spanned from 1650 to 1722. He invoked terror and invincibility to
all who crossed his path. Even his death shook the world. "The Blackest
Day" marks his death, February 10, 1722 and the end of piracy's Golden
Age.
Why did he or anyone for that matter become a pirate?
The largest source of information is from court records although a review of
personal memoirs and letters also provide valuable information.
During the early 17th century records
indicate that almost three-quarters of a pirate ship crew was made up of
seasoned seamen who previously served on merchant ships, warships, and even
privateers.
According to historian David Cordingly Caribbean crews
were made up of 35% English, 25% colonial Americans, 20% from the West Indies
(Jamaica and Barbados primarily), 10% Scottish and 8% Welsh. The remaining 2%
were from Sweden, Holland, France and Spain.
But, back to Bartholomew Roberts. What motivated him to
become a pirate?
The
Princess, the merchant ship on which Roberts crewed was
boarded by Welsh pirate Howell Davis. Captain Davis gave The Princess’ crew few options. Sign on or die by outright
execution or abandoned on a desert island. Roberts signed the charter.
Some sailors made a ‘career move’ from privateering to
pirate. A privateer was an individual with a government commission who owned or
officered an armed ship authorized to capture enemy merchant ships. In other
words, a sanctioned pirate. War ‘encouraged’ people to become privateers, but
once peace returned the privateers found themselves unemployed. These people
had few ways of making a living. Privateering/Pirating was the life they knew
and the financial benefits were still attractive. As a pirate all they pilfered
they shared among themselves. Although the consequences were dire, execution, for
them the alternative was dying of starvation, becoming a beggar, or a thief on
land.
Bartholomew Roberts went off to sail when he was
thirteen-years-old. He was 27 when he signed on with Captain Davis. Six weeks
after he joined the crew, Captain Davis was ambushed and killed. Bartholomew
Roberts had impressed his pirate mates. They took a vote for the Davis’
replacement and named him the new captain.
Reluctant to be a pirate, Roberts embraced his new
position. It is believed that Roberts felt if he must be a pirate, it was
better "being a commander than a common man." His first order was to
attack the town where Davis had been killed, to avenge his former captain.
Pirates plundered ships and villages for their gold,
silver, and jewels, but that wasn’t all. They also took clothing to barter and
to wear. They kept those items that suited them either to wear at sea or as
finery to wear ashore. There are records of pirates going to the gallows
wearing velvet jackets, taffeta breeches, silk shirts and stockings.
Pirate
captains were no different. They often dressed as a successful merchant, giving
him the appearance of a gentleman. Black
Bart, as Bartholomew Roberts was now called, was the fashion leader of elegance
among pirate captains. According to his crew he “dressed in a rich crimson
damask waistcoat and breeches, a red feather in his hat, a gold chain round his
neck, with a diamond cross hanging from it.”
Unfortunately, Black Bart’s fancy clothes did not make
him invincible. He was killed in a broadside attack of grapeshot fired from the
Royal Navy ship cannons tore out his throat. Obeying his standing order, his
men threw his body overboard.
The greatest pirate of his generation, it’s estimated
that over his three-year career, Black Bart took some 400 ships. He is not as
famous as some of his contemporaries, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, or Charles
Vane, but he was a much better pirate.
There were many reasons why Black Bart was successful,
his personal charisma and leadership, his daring and ruthlessness and his
ability to coordinate small fleets to maximum effect. Merchants feared him and
his men to the extent that commerce came to a halt. Merchant vessels did not
venture out of port when Black Bart and his men were about. He must have
secretly been one of the Pirates of Britannia!
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Deception
and family honor are at stake – so is her heart.
Wesley Reynolds will do anything to avenge his family’s banishment
from Dundhragon Castle even throw in with the notorious pirate, MacAlpin. His
plan, ruin Lord Ewan’s trading network. He has a more devious plan for his
father’s ‘best friend,’ the man who abandoned them at the eleventh hour. He’ll
ruin the man’s most precious jewel, his daughter Darla. Wesley’s so close to
ruining the trade network and succeeding he can almost taste it, but revenge is
not nearly as sweet as Darla’s kisses.
Darla Maxwell, beloved by her parents has no prospects of marriage.
Her father and Lord Ewan search to find her the right husband. Darla’s special
gifts are frightening to many. She has visions that often come true. The murky
image of a man haunts her, she’s sure it’s Lord Ewan’s soon-to-be son-in-law,
but the vision morphs when she meets Wesley. The meaning couldn’t be any
clearer to her, her destiny lies with Wesley.
When revelations
surface indicating Wesley has been deceived and his revenge misplaced. Will he
find the truth of what really happened to his family in time to stop the
pirates? Will Darla ever forgive him? Will he ever forgive himself?
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Who is your favorite
pirate, Captain Blood, Captain Jack Sparrow, Long John Silver, Captain Hook
(from the TV series) or anyone else? I’ve set anchor at RuthACasie.com or
better yet, drop me a line at Ruth@RuthACasie.com
