Mitchell Loughlin’s Reviews > Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates > Status Update

Despite the barbaric nature of many pirates the court cases regarding their guilt were often somewhat fair. The Pirates were not allowed legal counsel but they were given the chance to prove their innocence based on testimony of others and crew of the boats they ransacked. It was often common for the state to provide religious services in the hopes they’re souls can be saved by confession

As the wars England and surrounding nations began to end in the early 1720s the this began to free up the massive warships that were previously occupied. These massive 60+ gun ships instantly outclassed any pirates ships and there larger numbers made patrolling and convoying much easier. This along side the increased bounty on pirates rapidly deminished the threat

BB fired his broadsides filled with 8 pound shot, nails and other scrap metal at the following ship killing 5 men on board. The rest hid under the deck before springing an ambush on the pirates that boarded. BB was shot 5 times before dueling swords with the captain. He told the captain “nice job lad” before having his head cut off. The captain hung his head from the stern

The governor of N Carolina commissioned a ship to capture blackbeard. When they found his ship “the adventure” it was under manned according to its normal capacity. Early in the morning all the pirates were hungover but still able to avoid immediate confrontation. While evading capture they ran into a sand barge where the battle took place. BB was reported to say. “Damnation take my soul if I accept quarter”

As we have learned it’s more likely that they just spent it on boobs and brews. It was noted early that a pirate in Jamacia offered a women £500 to see her naked. With inflation each euro back then is worth about 55 today meaning he offered her the equivalent of £25k

Of the £400k he allegedly made during his time as a pirate only £14k was recovered. This is the main reason that people now associate pirates with barrier treasure. Due to the size of the trial and the notability of his patrons many this was huge news causing many people to search for kidds hidden treasure.

Also notable. When Blackbeard was captured his boat and goods sold for only £2.5k. More hidden treasure?

In need of friends to help him, he returned to Massachusetts to visit his patron, now the governor of ms, NH, NY. Along the way he made several, curious, business deals with old freinds, vastly overpaying for goods. His patron had him arrested and sent back to England for trial where he was held in solitary confinement for 2 years before sentencing. Not allowed a lawyer he poorly represented himself.

They attacked a reading boat owned by the east India trading company (owned by the king. Whoops) followed by a few smaller French vessels. The crew had turned nearly mutinous and Kidd had to become cruel to control his men. He ended up killing his first made by smashing his skull with a ring of iron (in self defense of course).
All the time he was slowly raking up a reputation, and a rap sheet.

The difference being that the prizes secured by the pirates would be owned by capital investors and the king would get a stake. The crew was not allowed to take any portion of the prize until it was sold legally.
They also received no pay until the goods were sold.

While an interesting idea this put Kidd and his crew in a time crunch to find a prize and fast. They ended up being….creative….with the rules