John Hawkins
• Born 1532
• Learned sailing
skills working with
his father and
later fighting the
French
• 30 began first
slave trading
expedition
• Through friendships and family ties
Hawkins able to secure backers from
the centre of power
– Treasurer of the Navy – Benjamin Gonson
– Traders such as William Garrad
• First journey conceived as purely
commercial
• Allowed Elizabeth I to claim that it
contravened no treaty
– still freedom on the High Seas
• Next problem navigation
• Hawkins proficient in techniques of
16th C Navigation
• But without
– maps
– longitude calculations
– familiarity of the region
• voyage was potentially disastrous
• Here Hawkins experience paid off
• Over the years developed a
partnership with a trader on the
Canaries
• Juan Martinez
–A Spanish Pilot form Cadiz
• Knowledge and expertise of both
sides of the Spanish Atlantic
–profit overcoming loyalty
• Hawkins was also meticulous
• Journey was long and unhealthy
• Offered higher wages than anyone
else
• He also held out an additional carrot
–Possibility to supplement pay through
pillage and private trade
• Also not be afraid to use the stick
–Crew new that discipline would be firm
• They also knew that Hawkins would
look after them he loaded prodigious
supplies
– Adequate water
– Beer
– Biscuit
– Fresh beef & salt beef
– Fresh and salted fish
– Salt, butter, cheese
• Also live pets, that later could be
used as food
• Alongside food Hawkins provided
other necessities
– Broad cloth and cotton for trade
– items to replace broken and lost items and
repair the ship
• As well as
– carpenters
– cooks
– barber-surgeon
• And a company of musicians
• Three ships
– Salomon, Jonas And Swallow
• Spent four moths in Africa
• Guinea was a huge area of 2000 miles
– Guinea “the land of the black men” in Berber
• Initially attempted to gain cargo by
capturing slaves
– With the help of competing nations
• However, this was to change
• Hawkins soon worked out how to
gain profit more easily
– British ships better armed and more
maneuverable than Spanish and Portuguese
ships
• Easier to coast along the coast and
find other Europeans
• Hawkins began attacking ships as
they were leaving port
• As one recorder noted Hawkins
• “stayed some good time, and got into
his possessions, partly by the sword and
partly by other means, to the number of
300 Negroes at the least, besides other
merchandise, which the country yields”
• Gained so much smallest ship
–the Swallow
• sent back to England with goods
–Francis Drake on board
• April 1563 Hawkins left Africa and
headed across the Atlantic
• Only half slaves survived the
journey
–In poor condition
• Despite this Hawkins initially had
no trouble selling his cargo
• Merchandise was untaxed and
therefore cheap
• Eventually local authorities began to
take notice
• Lorenzo Bernáldez
–young officer dispatched to confront
Hawkins
• Facing a much better armed vessel,
Bernáldez quickly granted Hawkins
a license
–Something he had no authority to do
• Hawkins quickly off loaded his goods
– Profit was huge
• Ships were so loaded with
– Pearls, gold, silver, hides, ginger and other
goods
• had too much to sail
• Rented two Spanish ships
• loaded them up and sent them back
to Spain
– with instruction to report to an English
merchant there
• Ships confiscated by the Spanish
– Hawkins lost the profit
• confiscated because of letters from the
Caribbean
• One ended with the statement that
• “Tomorrow all this land could be come
part of England if steps are not taken”
• This is the only indication of the value of
the trip
• Confiscated goods had value of £2000
– $701,372 in today’s money
• Upon return to England welcomed as a
hero
• Despite the loss of the Spanish ships
he brought huge profits
– for his backers and the men who had
sailed with him
• Also granted an audience with the
Queen
• With new support and fame easily able
to gain support for a second voyage
• Hawkins not only problem for the
Spanish
• Confiscated ships and news of his trip
alarmed the Spanish
• Both
– piracy of the coast of Africa
– trading and undercutting of Spanish authority
in the Caribbean
• Fellow former Channel pirate, Thomas
Stucley was also causing problems
• Stucly had been working
together with French
pirate Ribault
– Who had founded the failed
French settlement in Florida
• In Caribbean with fleet of
six ships and over three
hundred men
• Less well known about
because his acts were
more provocative
• Stucly wrought havoc all over the
Caribbean attacking merchants and
colonist equally
• Elizabeth I had no choice but to issue a
warrant for his arrest
• She also disowned Stucly
– However, she hesitated for a long time
before issuing the order
• Acts of adventurers were proving very
useful to Elizabeth's plans for the
rebuilding of England
• Actions of Hawkins and Spanish
reaction to it
• Symptomatic of the worsening
relationship of Catholic Spain and
Protestant England
• The situation came to a head on
February 25, 1570 with the
publication , by Pope Pius V, of
• Regnana in Excelsis
• We declare the said Elizabeth heretic
and fautress of heretics, and her
servants to have fallen under the
sentence of anathema, and to be cut
of from the unity of the Body of
Christ, and her, Elizabeth, to be
deprived of her pretended right to the
said realm and of all and every
dominion, dignity and privilege…
• In effect an act of Religious
Imperialism
• By the time the document had
been nailed to the door of Lambeth
Palace
–Archbishop of Cantebury’s residence
in London
• It had become an open invitation
to assassinate Queen Elizabeth
• Declaration of War
in the eyes of
Elizabeth’s Sea
Dogs
• The age of hostile
commerce
– As seen with
Hawkins
• Was over
– now it was time for War
• Enter Francis Drake
• But First……
• In response to the Papal Bull
• Drake went to war
–To Protect his Queen
–To Enrich Himself
–Spread the Glory of the English
• Decided to hit directly at source
of Spanish power
• $$Wealth of the Americas
• Question:
– How had the Spanish brought that wealth
home without trouble for so long?
• Answer
– people had attacked at the wrong place
• Rather than attacking the Flota
• Attack the Treasure house at
Nombre de Díos and the treasure
Train
• Feb 1571 Drake returned to the Caribbean
– knowledge of how to get there as sailed with
Hawkins
• But no intimate knowledge of the region
• Through capture and interrogation of
Spanish vessels and their crew
• And importantly the help of Cimaroons
• Gained the missing knowledge
• Drake spent three month on the River
Charges and surrounding region
attacking shipping
– Gained increasing knowledge from each
attack
• 3 expeditions sent out to capture him
– cost of 4000 pesos (approx. $470,000)
• Drake’s private/public war netted
£66,000 ($23.22 Million)
•Drake returned to England
•May 24, 1572 he left again for
the treasure house of Spain
•With explicit blessing of
Elisabeth
•Beginning of Privateers
–state sponsored piracy
• Returning to the location from his
previous journey,
–Which had been found by the Spanish
• Drake constructed a base to began
his new attacks
• After meeting up with a fellow
privateer
–Raunce
• Drake advanced on Nombre de Díos
Nombre de Díos 1909
•Drake took 73 men aboard
three small boats
–made his way to the
“Treasure house of the World”
•Between 2-3am clouds
parted revealing a full moon
•Drake ordered the attack
• Advantage of surprise Drakes attack
was successful
–To a degree
• Drake hurt
• they collected some silver
• failed to get into the treasure house
–(which they would later find was
empty)
• Alcalde of Nombre de Díos counted his
losses
• Sent an envoy to
drake
• Drake Advised the
governor to
• hold open his eyes,
before he departed,
if God lent him
life and leave, he
meant to reap some
of their harvest,
which they get out
of the earth
• While recovering from wounds
became friendly with Diego
–former slave
• Hatched plan to hit treasure train
before it got to Nombre de Díos
• Spent time attacking in the region
waiting for the next train
• Lost some men to Spanish attack
–Including his Brother
• Moral beginning to drop
–Running out of supplies
• Recovered somewhat when they
captured a 90 ton Spanish supply
vessel
• Shortly after Drake and remaining
men
–With 30 cimaroones
• headed out again in to the forest
• Leader of Cimaroons, Pedro, asked
Drake to climb a tree
• Puzzled but OK
• Sees both sides of the Panama
Isthmus
– both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
• Spanish get news that Drake is on
move
– Separate the wealth
• Drake stuck made off with limited
goods
• March 31, 1573 headed back out
• This time successful
• Adding $23 Million to their haul
• Of which $2.13 million belonged
personally to Philip
• Returning to ships headed back to
England
• Returning in Plymouth Harbor on
Aug 9, 1574
• Drake had now made two
successful and profitable journeys
• “Singeing the King of Spain’s
Beard”
• Upon Drakes return to England
following his second voyage
• Was praised by many
• But his deeds had been privately
motivated
• In order to prove his loyalty
without question he was sent to
help in the “pacification” of
Ireland
• Having worked in Ireland for several years
– Or he may have been in prison
– Or he may have met and married wife
• Drake returned to England for his next
venture
– Conceived while at the top of a tree in
America
• Perfectly timed
• Several factors came together to make his
next voyage not only possible but
probable
• Second cousin and man who
had first taken him to America
• John Hawkins
• On November 18, 1577
• Was appointed as “treasurer
for marine courses”
• Basically head of Navy and
naval affairs
• In addition Martin Frobisher and
his promoter Michael Lok
• pushing the (false) news that
during trip to North America
• Frobisher had discovered Gold
• Spain’s wealth may now be
countered by gold for England?
• International exploration was
booming
• In addition British trade
into the region known as
the Barbary coast had
grown from 1572
• Elizabeth was promoting
the trade and encouraging
voyages to the region
• And in 1576 an important
and influential book was to
be published by Dr. John
Dee
• Within book was a shorter piece called
• “A Petty Royal Navy”
• Dee laid out a 13 point plan for a standing
navy to act as Britain’s defense
– also first to refer to the British Empire
• Planned for a fleet of 75 ships
• Claiming that pirates of good character
would be happy to join this fleet
• It would also provide work for vagrants
• Dee went on to write that
• “This Petty Navy Royal is thought to be the
only Master Key wherewith to open all the
locals that keep or hinder this incomparable
British Empire from enjoying . . . such a
yearly revenue of Treasure . . . with so great
ease”
• All things seaborne were in favor at this
time
• A third voyage for, the already successful,
Drake was assured
• All things seaborne were in favor at this
time
• A third voyage for, the already successful,
Drake was assured
• Drake permitted audience with the Queen
• She permitted him the use of a ship and
supplied a cash investment
– That is she invested personal not
government funds
• Also agreed to his terms that included that
• “the Queen’s Majesty may be made
privy to the truth of the voyage, and
yet the color [cover] to be given out to
Alexandria”
•True intent of Drake’s voyage
•Attack the Spanish in what
was known as the “Spanish
Sea”
–Pacific
•July 1577, Elizabeth decided
that Drake would be allowed
to go to Alexandria
• Drake set sail with five ships
–Pelican
–Elizabeth
–Marigold
–Swan
–Christopher
• Leaving Plymouth he headed
south for Africa
• Captured Portuguese ship
– Santa Maria – renamed the Mary
• Took navigator, Nuño de Silva to aid his
voyage
• Worked his way down coast of Africa
– instead of heading east he headed west
• Course was clear and crew now knew for
certain what they may have only suspected
before
• They were not heading for Alexandria
• On April 5, 1578 they reached Brazil
• En route he
renamed the Pelican
the Golden Hind
• In honor of his main
benefactor Sir
Christopher Hatton
–His Coat of Arms was
topped by the image
of a Golden Hind
•With aide of
Portuguese maps
worked his way
south and headed
for the
•Strait of Magellan
• First European ship to pass through
captained by Magellen
• Magellan, had died during a battle in
the Philippines
• But ship returned to Europe
• The journey through the straits is
notoriously rough and dangerous
• It did not disappoint on this occasion
Pen Gwiins – White Shirt
• As he headed down the coast to the
Straits
• Two boats abandoned
– Swan and Christopher
• Caught in storms for two months at
entrance to Straits
– Marigold went down with all on board
• Elizabeth got caught up in storms and
headed back to England
• Golden Hind limped on alone
• After entering the Pacific
• Drake landed and made necessary repairs
• A short time later came across a native
canoe
– “persuaded” its occupant to become his new
Navigator
• Using small boats
– brought with him for the purpose
• attacked and plundered cities and ships
along the coast
• However the big
prize was the
• Señora de la
Concepcion
• Commonly know as
• CacaFuego
• A Peruvian treasure
ship
• Capture told by
captain
• When they heard this, a whistle sounded in the
English ship and a trumpet responded. At once,
they discharged what seemed to be about sixty
arquebuses, and then many arrows which struck
the side of my ship. Shortly, a heavy gun was fired
with chainballs which carried away the mizzen-
mast into the sea with the sail and the yard.
Another heavy gun was fired, someone saying that
I should strike. At this point, the launch came
alongside on the portside with a matter of some
forty arquebusiers, who climbed up the channels to
which the shrouds are fas-tened and came aboard
my ship. The English ship lay alongside on the
starboard and thus they made me strike sail.
• the English ship crossed the stern of my ship, and
shortly came along-side, abreast of the tack. I
hailed her, but the Corsair did not answer. On
asking what ship it was, the answer came that it
was a ship from Chile, and believing this, I went to
the side, the English ship having al-ready run
foul of me [taken the wind from his sails]. Some
one said "Englishmen—strike sail," and another
said "Strike sail, Senor San Juan de Anton! If
not, see that we will send you to the bottom." I said,
"What old tub is that to order me to strike sail?
Come on board and do so yourself."
• The haul was huge
• It took three full
days to transfer
goods
• “Our ship shall no
more be called the
Cacafuego but the
Cacaplata”
• Drake continued
up the coast
• On July 23, 1759 Drake struck out West
• Why?
• No one knows for sure as his orders were
kept secret
• Was this his initial plan or did he head that
way to avoid the Spanish who were now
hunting him
• Either way he and crew spent 68 days out of
sight of land before hitting Micronesia on
Sept 30, 1579
• September 26, 1580
• The Golden Hind, weather worn but loaded,
limped into Plymouth
• On the way in a few local fishermen heard
a voice from the ship
• “Is Elizabeth still Queen”
• An odd question they thought but they
answered in the affirmative
• These few men were the welcome party for
one of the world’s greatest adventures
• Unsure of his welcome
• Would his actions be treason or
patriotism?
• But Drake need not have worried
• The money he brought back smoothed
any doubts
• Elizabeth Knighted Drake on Board the
Golden Hind, calling him
• “the master pirate of the known world”
• The money also dispersed quickly
• No full accounting was taken but nobody
complained
•Drake received at least
£10,000 ($3.43 Mill)
•The Queen’s personal take
exceeded more than a full
years expenditure for the
whole country
•This was Piracy on a grand
scale
And now back to
Tortuga
• When we left Tortuga
the buccaneers had just
moved in
• Over the next few
years the island
swapped hands
frequently
• Finally in 1640 a group
of French Calvinist's
arrived on the island
• They had arrived from
St Kitts, and were led
by an engineer
• Led by the engineer the group built a strong
hold
• Cutting steps into a cliff face until to steep
for steps they then affixed an iron ladder
• On the top of the cliff they built a strong fort
and armed it with cannon
• When a Spanish fleet returned, the cannon
opened fire
• Sank several ships and forced the Spanish to
retreat
• The settlement would prosper for almost a
century
• The fort became
a depot for trade
• Meat, hides,
tobacco, sugar,
brandy and rum,
gunpowder and
guns, cloth for
sails
• All of which could
be purchased or
bartered by
anyone
• Plundered goods
were welcome
• The strength of the fort attracted not only
the buccaneers trade
• But also the buccaneers themselves
• It became a base for many
• The society formed was unusual
• Egalitarian
• Two men would form a compact and work
together until death
• At death all good would pass to the second
who would have support the wife of the
dead partner
• Once the agreement was made
–one partner headed out to sea to
plunder
–second remained on the island to hunt
and provide for the group
• Gradually the community grew
attracting more members
• Both buccaneers, farmers and
merchants
• And gradually became more powerful
• Francois Lolonois
• Indentured servant
• Reputation for
courage and cruelty
• “expect no quarter
give no quarter”
• Recruited 500 men
and planed to raid the
Spanish settlement of
Maracaibo
• Fleet able to take
Maracaibo and
Gibraltar
• Next plan was for attack on settlements
on Lake Nicaragua
– sacked the town, little money was taken
• This is where Lolonois reputation for
violence was secured
• When one of the captives showed
defiance
• Lolonois cut open his chest, ripped out
his heart
• Taking a bite he held the blooded heart
in front of a second captive
• After failed attack buccaneers split up
• Lolonois left with a number in one
ship
– Ran aground
• Took lots to see who would go for
help in a small row boat
– Lolonois was one to leave
• Local natives captured Lolonois, they
knew of his violent reputation
• He was roasted and eaten
• Over the years Spanish wore down
Buccaneers
• Additionally religious and national
disputes weaken the cohesiveness of
the group
• 1655 the British took control of
Jamaica
• Fearful of a Spanish counter attack
• The British welcome the Buccaneers
for the protection they offered
Well known Port Royal Buccaneers
• Rock Brasilliano
– unpredictable, feared
when drunk, Governor of
Jamaica moved to avoid
him
• Bartholomew the Portuguese
– unlucky in keeping treasure
but, good at escape
• Red Leg Greaves
• Scottish,
– grew up a slave, known to be
humane to captives
• And now a little visit to Port
Royal……
•And now over to
Christopher Wood
Graduate Student
studying Pirates
Henry Morgan
More popularly known
as……..
Meanwhile….Back in England…
• The English Civil War,
1641–1649 (1651)
• The Commonwealth,
under Cromwell, from
1649 to 1660
• The Restoration,
Charles II, in 1660
• The Glorious
Revolution, in 1688
– Henry Morgan’s Death
Pirates of the Caribbean
• After the capture of Jamaica by the English,
Port Royal became the centre for a new
stage of Piracy
• No longer would the Spanish have to face
sporadic attacks by individuals
• Now it had to face organized large scale
government sponsored attacks
• And the big man, the big name, in this phase
of Privateers was Henry Morgan
Henry Morgan
• Born in Wales in 1635
– Grew up in a country torn by war and strife
• 1654 sailed with British expeditionary
force to capture Hispaniola
– Failed
• Took Jamaica instead
• After cashing out of service stayed on as
buccaneer
• 1662 purchased own ship
• Came under the tutelage of
Commodore Sir Christopher Myngs
• Joined him in attack on Santiago
Cuba
• However- Attempting to secure peace
with Spain
• 1663 King Charles II recalled
warships from region
• Governor Modyford of Jamaica
• Fearful of attack began issuing letters of
marque
– For a fee and a percentage
• With Myngs recalled, Captain Edward
Mansfield became de facto Naval leader
• 1664- Morgan bought a commission and
headed out with four other captains
• Raided numerous cities and town along
the coast of the mainland
Hispaniola
Jamaica
Villahermosa
Gran Granada
Portobello
Maracaibo
Panama
• Due to his capabilities Morgan became leader
of the expedition
• After several successful attacks he led the
group to Gran Granada
• Persuading local Indian guides he headed into
Nicaragua
• Only to come out on a city much larger than
expected
• With a bold move Morgan attacked in broad
daylight
• Taken by surprise the city quickly fell
– He then proceeded to torture people to learn the
whereabouts of their personal wealth
• Morgan returned to Jamaica in 1665 a
hero
• Upon return Morgan discovered his Uncle
Edward Morgan had become Lieutenant
Governor
– He married Edward Morgan’s daughter
– Purchased the first of several plantations
• Captain Mansfield died in 1668 at the
hands of the Spanish
• Morgan was elected
• Leader of the Brethren
– At 30 he had wealth, property and power
Attack on Portobello-1668
• After his successful attack at Gran
Granada
• Morgan planed his next mission
• Initial idea Havana
• To big and to well defended
• Second choice Portobello
Portobello
• ALSO Well defended-
– BUT mainly by badly trained
garrison troops
• 460 buccaneers
• Attacked using captives
as human shields
– Nuns and Priests, carrying
ladders
• Allowed his men to sack the
city but not burn it
• Threatened Spanish that he
would destroy it
– Eventually received large
ransom
Next Attack: Maracaibo
Maracaibo
• People had fled Maracaibo
–They didn’t want to be “eaten alive”
–Morgan attacked Gibraltar instead
• Spanish turned up and defended the narrow
straits out
•Overwhelming forces
•Demanded surrender
• Morgan’s Crews: “We’ll meet you in battle”
• Spies reported to Spanish:
–Captured ship was being made into flagship
–A small sloop was to be used as a fire ship
• Morgan and his crew headed into battle
• The flagship leading the way
• But Morgan had tricked them
• Flag ship was a fake – it was the fire ship
• Defeated Spanish fleet, but Fort still held
– Split the treasure between ships, ready to flee
– Prepared for a secret attack of the fort by land
• Ferried men to shore in canoes, leaving ships
unmanned
• But the Spanish saw this, turned their cannon inland
• But Morgan had tricked the Spanish again
– Men simply laid down in canoes
• Fully manned ship sailed away
Morgan at Maracaibo