elanya

I am sick, and a little out of it, and I've been re-re-acquianting myself with Charles Johnson's A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates. This is probably the book that I have read the most, strangely enough. Anyway, I was reminded again why Howel Davis was the best, most clever pirate of his age. And because I feel like sharing, I'm going to stick up some excerpts to show his character and cunning. Also, I'm cross-posting to my own journal, and another pirate community or two. Typos are mine, but grammar and spelling belong firmly to the eighteenth century ^-^


The set up is that the crew has spotted a 24-gun french ship that hey would like to capture, but have only one little boat, and a captured prize full of French prisoners...

Davis then proposed to his men to attack her, telling them she would be a rare ship for their use, but they looked upon it to be an extravagant attempt, and discovered no findness for it, but he assured them he had a stratagem in his head wuld make all safe; wherefore he gave chase, and ordered his prize to do the same. The prize being a slow sailor, Davis first came up with the ennemy, and standing alongside of them, showed his piratical colours. They, much surprized, called to davis, telling him, they wondered at his impudence in venturing to come so near to them, and ordered him to strike. But he answered that he indended to keep them in play, till his consort came up, who was able to deal with them, and that if they did not strike to him, they should have but bad quarters; whereupon he gave them a broadside, which they returned.

In the meantime, the prize drew near, who obliged all the prisoners to come upon deck in white shirts, to make a show of force, as they had been directed by davis; they also hoisted a dirty tarpaulin, by way of black flag, they having no other, and fired a gun. The frenchmen were so intimidated by this appearance of force, that they struck


Davis has conceived a plan which will let them seize Gambia Castle without losing a single man... All he tells his crew is (to paraphrase), "I have a cunning plan..."

They began now to conceive so high an opinion of his conduct, as well as courage, that they thought nothing impossible to him, therefore they agreed to obey him, without inquiring further into his design."

I was going to copy out his plan, but it is several pages long. Trust me, it was clever!


Davis and co. hook up with two other pirate captains and their companies - Cocklyn and La Bouse. Can it last forever? No. Will it all end in heatache? Not if Davis can help it!

Having called a council of war, they agreed to sail down the coast together, and for the greater grandeur, appointed a commodore, which was davis, but they had not kept company long, when drinking together on board of Davis, they had like to have fallen out by the ears, the strong liquor stirring up a spirit of discord, but Davis put an end to it, by this short speech: 'Hark ye, you Cocklyn and La Bouse, I find by strengthening you, I have put a rod into your hands to whip myself, but I'm still able to deal with you both; but since we met in love, let us part in love, for I find that three of a trade can never agree.'

Upon which the other two went on board the respective ships, and immediately parted, each steering a different course.


Davis had a habit of tricking the Portuguese. He did it a lot. This is probably my favourite of his schemes. It's a little long, so bear with me... it's worth it! :) This is at Princes island, which is somewhere near Camroon...

As soon as he came in sight of the island, he hoisted English colours; the Portugueze observing a large ship sailing towards them, sent out a little sloop to examine what she might be; this sloop hailing of Davis, the told them he was an English man-of-war, in quest of pirates, and that he had received intelligence there were some upon that coast; upon this they received him as a welcomed guest, and piloted him into the harbour. he saluted the fort, which they answered, and he came to anchor just under their guns, and hoisted out the pinnacle, man-of-war fashion, ordering nine hands and a coxen in it, to row him ashore.

The Portugueze, to do him the greater honour, sent down a file of musketeers to receive him, and conduct him to the governor. The governor did not in the least suspecting what he was, received him very civilly, promising to supply him with whatever the island afforded; Davis thanked him, telling him, the King of England would pay for whatever he should take; so after several civilities passed between him and the governor, he returned again on board.

It happened a French sip came in there to supply itself with some necessities, which Davis took in his head to plunder, but to give the thing a colour of right, he pursuaded the Portugueze, that she had been trading with the pirates, and that he found several pirate goods on board, which he seized for the kings use. This story passed do well upon the governor, that he commended Davis's dilligence.

Alas, he gets betrayed to this governor when he starts to plan to plunder the fort, and gets shot and killed in the process...