The Jolly Roger, used by Capt. Sam Bellamy
It's Talk Like a Pirate Day, where people worldwide are encouraged to imitate a bundle of behaviors and accompanying accent popularized by English actor Robert Newton (thanks for that bit of info, Josh Ellis).
Meanwhile, it's worth remembering how pirates (according to the romanticized accounts we have, mind), actually talked:
"I am sorry they won't let you have your sloop again, for I scorn to do any one a mischief, when it is not to my advantage; damn the sloop, we must sink her, and she might be of use to you. Though you are a sneaking puppy, and so are all those who will submit to be governed by laws which rich men have made for their own security; for the cowardly whelps have not the courage otherwise to defend what they get by knavery; but damn ye altogether: damn them for a pack of crafty rascals, and you, who serve them, for a parcel of hen-hearted numbskulls. They vilify us, the scoundrels do, when there is only this difference, they rob the poor under the cover of law, forsooth, and we plunder the rich under the protection of our own courage. Had you not better make then one of us, than sneak after these villains for employment?"
That's Captain "Black Sam" Bellamy, quoted by Daniel Defoe, ranting at the captain of one of his prizes. A brilliant raider, he was one of the originators of the Jolly Roger, capturing slave ships and assembling his own fleet. Also, given that he was elected to his spot by a gang of fierce raiders assembled from all corners of the globe, Bellamy had to be pretty damn cunning.
Say what you will about piracy, the man had dash:
"I am a free prince, and I have as much authority to make war on the whole world as he who has a hundred sail of ships at sea and an army of 100,000 men in the field; and this my conscience tells me! But there is no arguing with such snivelling puppies, who allow superiors to kick them about deck at pleasure."
Comments