If you dont succeed the first time, try again!

The famous saying about failure is one that I connect with Sir Drake, if you don't succeed at first, try again. This man had failed multiple times before he succeeded in capturing treasure.

The first attempt was on the King's treasure house. Drake disguised himself as a Spanish worker to spy on where the treasure was located. Returning with 73 men and two boats, Drake was ready to attack the Spanish village. When arriving, the men split into two groups. One group played trumpets and drums while the other group went into the village to raid the house. Drake, leading the second group, was injured after the Spanish men opened fire. Drake determinedly decided to continue on the mission as well as harassed his crew to stay with him. Once in the house, the crew was dismayed that the treasure was no longer in the house.

Another failed attempt that followed was an ambushing carts on the way to Panama City. The crew was waiting for the perfect timing to surprise attack some carts caring treasure. However, one of the men was intoxicated and prematurely attacked. This caused the rest of the men transporting to have time and escaped. The few carts that were captured had little to no value on them.  

When another crew ship offered Sir Drake to join the attack a movement of silver. This was a success that caused Sir Drake to be more confident and daring than before. On the way to England, there were several attacks on Spanish ships. A famous capture was the Cacafuego, where Sir Drake released the crew unarmed with presents.

Once arriving home, Drake had the Queen Elizabeth on board for six hour. She then gave Drake 10,000 for himself and 8,000 for the crew.

Clever Morgan!

           After the famous Portobello operations led by Sir Henry Morgan, the caption and crew returned. Often the problem with seamen, the crew was known to be friendlier with the alcohol, addicted to gambling and rather crass with the women. This led to all of the earning being spent, leaving the men broke and in need of another raid. 

          Sir Morgan announced that he was planning another raid and sailed with his crew to Isla Vaca. There he meet up with several French buccaneers and thirty four gunships sent to help defined Jamaica. With 800 men and ten ships, Sir Morgan transferred his flag to Oxford in order to have a caption meeting. This meeting is told to discuss the next attack, city of Cartagena. Once agreeing, the men did what they knew best – got drunk. In the mix of the party some of the magazine powder was spilt and sparked. With the ending result of Oxford along with 200 men was destroyed. But have no worries, Sir Morgan and ten of his fellow shipmates did survive this event. Sir Morgan reported with all the lost in mind, he no longer was aiming for the city of Cartagena.

         After meeting and being convinced by a French caption, Sir Morgan agreed to join on the raid of Maracaibo. The first step was to land in San Carlos de la Barra Fortress, a town about 20 miles away from the Maracaibo. The aim on San Carlos was decided on the lack of men and power, as the place was guarded by nine men and eleven guns. After securing the area, Morgan disarmed the fuses that lead to the forts powder kegs and spiked all guns.

          Once the crew landed in Maracaibo, there was nothing to be treasure. The men spent a week searching at a easy pace. Until rumors reached Morgan that Armada de Barlovento was waiting for the ships to pass through a narrow passage near San Carlos. With this information, Sir Morgan came up with a plan to deceive that allowed Morgan to fight without losing any men. A ship that was captured was disgusted as a powerful ship, with logs dressed in clothes and loaded with gunpowder. He sent the ship in with only twelve buccaneers, who would board escape boats shortly before the ship was set to explode.

          Still trapped, Sir Morgan tried to negotiate with Don Alzo to be able to pass through the passage without any harm done to them. After threats of burning down towns fell on deaf ears, Sir Morgan had to think of a clever way out. As the crew of Sir Morgan were seen loading guns onto the land, it was assumed that Sir Morgan was planning an attack by land. When the ships floated by Don Alzo, they thought nothing of it as they saw no people. Once pass the passage, Sir Morgan's crew came out of underneath and returned home safely.

 





Flagship Definition
Thomas Modyford
Isla Veca map
San Carlos Map
Henry Mogan - Wiki

Fact Checking BP Chapter One

A young boy child is describing how he wants to be a pirate, envies the freedom. The young child describes how envisions himself a Robin Hood of pirates. He is the caption as a devoted crew. He is aware that pirates kill but states that he will kill nobody and nobody will want to kill him. All the while, he would find treasure, load it up and give it to the poor. When he is done pirating, the child dreams of retiring on an island with his shipmates and living ever after.

Under the Black Flag is a very informative books that allows the reader to see more of the facts and less of the Hollywood version. It states the fantasies of being a pirate, writers that romanced the idea of pirates being Robin Hoods. Although pirates were far from this romantic notion. To be a caption, you had to be the ruthless man on board. If this was not the case, they crew would vote you out and put another caption in charge. Pirates did much more than just kill, they were extremely violent people who were looking for an easy grab at all times. The surviving pirates would retire on land, some to never be seen again.