Letters of marque
This document would grant its holder permission to cross international borders in order to retaliate against an enemy by seizing goods and, in extreme cases, even taking hostages. The distinction between a true pirate and a privateer was highly subjective, as they both essentially performed the same function – raiding and plundering for profit. The government authorisation to undertake this
activity was the only distinction between them, and gave privateering an air of respectability. In fact, sailors as distinguished as Sir
Francis Drake worked as privateers from time to time. Some governments granted authorisa- tion fairly indiscriminately, which enabled a few real pirates to operate under a false veil of legitimacy as pretend privateers. Competition for places on privateer ships was strong, as the crew would take a share of any bounty, while
navy staff were simply paid a flat wage, and generally a low one at that. Privateers were, as the name suggests,
private individuals who did not take orders from the navy, even though they often worked in collaboration with them. The government’s letter of marque would normally specify the area the privateer could operate in, as well as which countries’ ships could be targeted. If the privateer strayed out of their allotted area, or
67
1625-1649
After James’s death in 1625, matters didn’t improve for privateers – as his son Charles I didn’t approve of the activity either! After his execution in 1649, the privateers’ lot improved a little.
1649-1653
The English Council of State, which took over from the monarchy, took much less interest in privateers’ activities, and they gradually re-emerged, many having been
true pirates. This was very fortunate for the country, as they were soon required to help support the Navy.
1652-1654
The First Anglo-Dutch War was brought about by fierce disputes over marine trade. The English Navy, supported by numerous new privateers, attacked the Dutch trade routes capturing over 1,000 Dutch merchant ships. It resulted in England gaining full control
over the seas around England, and the Dutch having to accept an English monopoly over trade with all the existing English colonies.
1654-1660
The Anglo-Spanish War of 1654 to 1660 was another conflict caused by commercial rivalry at sea, this time between England under Oliver Cromwell and the Spanish Monarchy under King Philip IV. Privateers played a key role
against the Spanish in the Caribbean. In 1657, England formed an alliance with France while merging the Anglo-Spanish War with the Franco- Spanish War, in which Spanish and Flemish
privateers captured 1,500 English ships.
1688-1697
The Nine Years War between France and a coalition of European countries saw France adopting a policy of
strongly encouraging privateers, and as a result, England lost around 4,000 ships largely to their forces.
1707
After the union of Scotland and England in 1707 to form the Kingdom of Great Britain, England and Scotland practised privateering to accumulate some of the wealth both Spain and Portugal were gaining from the New World, before beginning their own
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76