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

Description

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. Cover Contents Maps Preface 1 Yo Ho, Yo Ho: A Life on the Margins for Me 2 Water, Water Everywhere: The Means of Freedom on the Main 3 Biscayers, Indians, Africans, and Greeks: Spain in the New World 4 Boucaniers, Flibustiers, and Buccaneers: Hunters Along the Main 5 Petit Goave and Port Royal: Pirate Asylums and Sanctuaries 6 Muscovado, Indigo, and Urcas, Not to Mention Sweet Virginia 7 Slaves, Monopolies, and Maroons: Africa on the Main 8 Contraband Cargaroon: The Sloop Trade 9 Pirates and Puritans: The New England Connection 10 Gods, Devils, and Castaways: Faith, Religion, and Superstition on the Main 11 Lost Ships and Souls: Wrecks, Wrecking, and Wreckers 12 To the Slaughter, Gentle Beasts: The Sea Turtle, Manatee, and Seal 13 The Beginning of the End: Native America Enslaved and Enraged 14 Tarpaulin Cant and Spanish Lingua: The Language of the Buccaneer 15 Armadillas, Galleons, and Canoes: Sea Battles in the Great South Sea 16 Battle Wounds and Belly Timber: Chirurgery, Physic, Diet, and Health 17 The Torrid Zone: Sex and Romance on the Main 18 Ladrones! Ladrones! Towns Plundered, Lives Violated 19 Honor With An Edge: Dueling and Swordplay on the Main 20 Clean Bottoms and Lost Souls: Keys, Cays, Isles, and Inlets 21 Cannon, Sword, and Garrote: Spain Strikes Back 22 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 Notes Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z About the Author