The Buccaneer's Realm : Pirate Life on the Spanish Main, 1674-1688

In 1674, it is three years since Henry Morgan’s pirates sacked Panama. England is now at peace with Spain, and soon France, Holland, and Spain will briefly be at peace among themselves. But soon buccaneers and their French counterparts, the filibusters, will seize the opportunity of material gain presented by the far-flung and failing Spanish Empire. And Spain will produce its own notorious pirates, whose depredations against the English and French will become legend. These men of opportunistic calculation and desperate courage live in a wilder, larger, and richer time and place than any other frontier in modern history—the Spanish Main. Unflinchingly, unhesitatingly, unabashedly, they will take to the peaceful seas for riches by force of arms. The world will witness piracy on a grand scale. While Benerson Little’s previous work showed brilliantly how pirates actually plied their trade, The Buccaneer’s Realm focuses on their cultural and physical environments. It describes not merely their deeds but their world—the New World of the Spanish Main and its many peoples, freedoms, dangers, and exploits that are the foundation of the Americas. A detailed and lively description of pirate life, it will especially appeal to readers with an interest in maritime, naval, military, and colonial history, as well as sociologists, anthropologists, and armchair adventurers. In 1674, It Is Three Years Since Henry Morgan's Pirates Sacked Panama. England Is Now At Peace With Spain, And France, Holland, And Spain Will Briefly Be At Peace Among Themselves. But Soon Buccaneers And Their French Counterparts, The Filibusters, Will Seize The Opportunity Of Material Gain Presented By The Far-flung And Failing Spanish Empire. And Spain Will Produce Its Own Notorious Pirates, Whose Depredations Against The English And French Will Become Legend. The Buccaneer's Realm Focuses On The Cultural And Physical Environments Of These Pirates. It Describes Not Merely Their Deeds But Their World - The New World Of The Spanish Main And Its Many Peoples, Freedoms, Dangers, And Exploits That Are The Foundation Of The Americas. A Detailed And Lively Description Of Pirate Life, It Will Especially Appeal To Readers With An Interest In Maritime, Naval, Military, And Colonial History, As Well As Sociologists, Anthropologists, And Armchair Adventurers.--book Jacket. Yo Ho, Yo Ho: A Life On The Margins For Me -- Water Water Everywhere: The Means Of Freedom On The Main -- Biscayers, Indians, Africans, And Greeks: Spain In The New World -- Boucaniers, Flibustiers, And Buccaneers: Hunters Along The Main -- Petit Goave And Port Royal: Pirate Asylums And Sanctuaries -- Muscovado, Indigo, And Urcas, Not To Mention Sweet Virginia -- Slaves, Monopolies, And Maroons: Africa On The Main -- Contraband Cargaroon: The Sloop Trade -- Pirates And Puritans: The New England Connection -- Gods, Devils, And Castaways: Faith, Religion, And Superstition On The Main -- Lost Ships And Souls: Wrecks, Wrecking, And Wreckers -- To The Slaughter, Gentle Beasts: The Sea Turtle, Manatee, And Seal -- The Beginning Of The End: Native America Enslaved And Enraged -- Tarpaulin Cant And Spanish Lingua: The Language Of The Buccaneer -- Armadillos, Galleons, And Canoes: Sea Battles In The Great South Sea -- Battle Wounds And Belly Timber: Chirurgery, Physic, Diet, And Health -- The Torrid Zone: Sex And Romance On The Main -- Ladrones! Ladrones! Towns Plundered, Lives Violated -- Honor With An Edge: Dueling And Swordsmanship On The Main -- Clean Bottoms And Lost Souls: Keys, Cays, Isles, And Inlets -- Cannon, Sword, And Garotte: Spain Strikes Back -- Yo Ho, Yo Ho: A Pirate's Life For Me -- Appendix A: The Chasse-partie -- Appendix B: Buccaneer Organization -- Appendix C: Captains And Their Vessels -- Appendix D: Roving Books And Authors, 1674-1699 -- Appendix E: A Boucanier Barbecue -- Appendix F: Pieces Of Eight! Pieces Of Eight! -- Appendix G: Places Plundered, 1674-1688 -- Appendix H: New World Exports And Plunder -- Appendix I: Weights, Measures, And Containers -- Appendix J: A Brief Glossary Of Sea Terms. Benerson Little. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 307-324) And Index. 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Ladrones! Towns Plundered, Lives Violated 188 19 Honor With An Edge: Dueling and Swordplay on the Main 206 20 Clean Bottoms and Lost Souls: Keys, Cays, Isles, and Inlets 218 21 Cannon, Sword, and Garrote: Spain Strikes Back 224 22 Yo Ho, Yo Ho: A Pirate’s Life for Me 232 Appendix A: The Chasse-Partie 240 Appendix B: Buccaneer Organization 248 Appendix C: Captains and Their Vessels 252 Appendix D: Roving Books and Authors, 1674–1699 260 Appendix E: A Boucanier Barbecue 264 Appendix F: “Pieces-of-Eight! Pieces-of-Eight!” 266 Appendix G: Places Plundered, 1674–1688 270 Appendix H: New World Exports and Plunder 272 Appendix I: Weights, Measures, and Containers 276 Appendix J: A Brief Glossary of Sea Terms 280 Notes 286 Bibliography 324 Index 342 A 342 B 343 C 344 D 346 E 347 F 347 G 348 H 348 I 349 J 349 K 350 L 350 M 351 N 352 O 352 P 352 Q 354 R 354 S 355 T 357 U 358 V 358 W 359 Y 359 Z 359 About the Author 360