Tall Tales Under the Tall Sails

Much to the delight of my story-telling heart, we had a story time Saturday. This drew a nice crowd of kids, especially for an unpublicized event. Three tales entertained, nay, entranced the youngsters on deck. Keeping twenty little ones in line may have been like herding cats for the purser but our lovely pied piper had just the tune for this herd of bilge rats. I so hope we can continue this delightful time at fairs future. I want to join in the fun as well, telling seafaring tales of swashbuckling daring-do, but it may take a while to develop the purser's material.

Big C and the Big Sword!

Big C (The pursers eldest child) seems to have found an unexpected niche slinging a sword among the ship's marines. Showing both enthusiasm and aptitude for learning, Big C had great fun with rapier in hand and is quite ready for daily practice with Dad. The marines can be sure they have a new young recruit here!

Unimprest - Free Pass Against the Press Gang

These are to certify all whom it may concern that the bearer, (bearer's name) , is employed as a mariner-recruit in port at Cain’s Crossing to the good shippe Dauntless sailing under Letter of Marque in service of the Queen. You are therefore to let this person pass quietly to and again between the said port village and his own habitation, during the space of four days from the date hereof, without otherways imprest. Dated this 9th of May, Year of our Lord 1594

Attested, Purser of the Dauntless,

Ewan MacGowan

Text of the Deed papers for a ship taken as prize

Royal Grant of Deed of Shippe

Elizabeth, by the Grace of God of England, Queen. To all persons whomsoever in whose Custody power or possession resides the undermentioned Shippe and her Tackle apparel and furniture and the goods seized therein, Greeting. Whereas by a Sentence read signed and promulgated in our High Court of Admiralty of England a certain Shippe called Santa Lucia, whereof José de Córdoba is Commander, and her Tackle apparel and furniture and the goods Wares and Merchandizes therein taken and seized by our Shippe of Marque called the Dauntless, whereof Thomas Maclaren is Commander, and brought to our shores have been adjudged for good and lawful Prize. At the petition of Ewan MacGowan on behalf of the Commander, Officers and Mariners on board and in the Service of our said Shippe the Dauntless at the time of the Capture of the said Shippe and Goods, the High Court of Admiralty hath decreed the said Shippe the Santa Lucia and her tackle apparel and furniture and all the goods wares and Merchandizes laden and seized therein to be delivered to the said Ewan MacGowan for the Use of the said Commander, Officers, and Mariners of the Dauntless according to Her Majestie's letter of marque. We do therefore give power and Authority unto you, and do hereby strictly charge and command that you deliver the said Shippe the Santa Lucia and her tackle apparel and furniture and all and singular the Goods Wares and Merchandizes laden therein unto the said Ewan MacGowan or to his Substitute to be by him distributed for the use aforesaid pursuant to our Royal Declaration issued in this behalf. Given at London in our aforesaid Court under the Great Seal thereof the twenty sixth day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy five.

John Balsall, Purser

I got my hands on the accounts of John Balsall, purser of the Trinity of Bristol. These accounts ended up being bound with other unrelated documents from years later and were discovered accidentally in a library. They date from 1480-81 and give an interesting look at the accounting of a merchant ship in that period. Seeing historical records of cargo and supplies from that period is interesting. The spelling and money math is both colorful and informative. It will take me a little while to understand the books, and some of the vocabulary is new to me as well, but it is good primary source material for content and feel of a ships accounts.

Bristol is on the West of England, above the Cornish peninsula, and figures significantly in trade and privateering in the Tudor age and beyond. There are very good records from the port and the university has a remarkable library. I have found some other great sources of information there on trade and privateering in the age of Elizabeth.

I love old maps and charts

I have found a number of old map images on the internet. I am still not sure about copyright, even though the source for these says they are public domain. I am planning on drawing this one full size on vellum to use on board ship at fairs. I will not bother to copy the furniture, i enjoy drawing my own. I especially like the little ship graphics on the old charts. I am making a collection of the ships for my own amusement. I plan to also draw charts of the region around Perth, which is our home port, Portugal, and part of the coast of India.

Example of lading a ship

“When Drake returned to Plymouth, the provisioning of his ships was virtually completed. He had left James Stydye, one of the captains who had served with him in Ireland in charge of lading the vessels. In addition to the pieces and equipage of the four prefabricated pinnaces, there were carpenter’s stores for their assembly and for the repair of the Pelican herself, including extra spars, timbers, and planks; kegs of tar, pitch, and rosin; and spare anchors, canvas and cordage as well as a portable blacksmith’s forge accompanied by quantities of iron bars and plate and a supply of charcoal. Also, for construction of fortifications and other works on land, there were a large number of axes, machetes picks, and spades. All these had to be fitted into the Pelican’s hold along with three tons of gunpowder and shot, sufficient water storage in casks to sustain the ship’s company for sixty days, and as much food as could be carried.

For victuals, Stydye had acquired the usual staples: biscuit, meal, pickled or dried beef, pork, and codfish; cheese, butter, rice, dried peas, raisins, salt, vinegar, sweet oil, mustard, honey, and numerous casks of wine and beer. Meals were cooked over a fire lit in an iron firebox, for which purpose quantities of firewood also had to be carried.

Then came the racks of arms and armor and a long list of miscellania, including lanterns, candles, buckets, fishnets, twine, hooks, needles, and cloth, shoes, bedding, plates, bowls, and tankards.“

from The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake 1577-1580 by Samuel Bawlf