A Little Bit More About Me

Today I thought it would be fun to share a little bit more about me with you. I did some creative writing in High School and College, but stopped writing after graduation. Life just got in the way.

After attending the Real Pirates exhibit in Denver, CO, in June of 2011, suddenly I was writing again. I was writing down dreams in a journal and also doing extensive research which eventually led to my first published article, “Peter Cornelius Hoof and Me.”

While I did take some creative writing classes in High School and in College, I am not a graduate of a focused creative writing program. Writing Peter’s article was hard work, as I had to recall my research and writing techniques from school.

The floor desk

When I wrote Peter’s article I sat on pillows on the floor because I didn’t have enough desk space to spread out my books.  So the first draft was done by hand in a spiral notebook.

Now that I have a nicer desk chair, I do my writing at my desk and mostly directly onto the computer. I keep notebooks around, though because sometimes I need to have that touch with writing and real paper. Plus it’s fun to sit in a restaurant and have people staring at you because you’re handwriting in a notebook! I’ve also discovered that now that many kids aren’t being taught to read cursive anymore, I’m actually writing in a sort of code! (Now how perfect is that for someone interested in pirates?)

desk space!

Recently, though, I realized that it would be even more convenient to be able to take a small computer with me when I go somewhere to eat or spend an afternoon. Instead of having to transcribe everything onto the computer when I get home, I could type right into a computer while I’m out.

Silver

So a few weeks ago I picked up Silver, a 10” HP Pavilion computer which had the added bonus of coming with a full version of MS Office. It doesn’t have a DVD drive, but will be perfect for the simple word processing I’m planning on using it for while I’m out of the house.

So, that is a little bit more about me. Hope you enjoyed it!

Barnstable Gaol

You can see some photos of America's oldest wooden jail, which just happens to be the Barnstable gaol that the pirates from the Whydah were held in before being sent to Boston.

Here is the link:

http://www.caiprs.com/Theoldjail.htm

Levasseur in Pirate Fiction

This is an excerpt from the novel Master of the Sweet Trade, A Story of the Pirate Samuel Bellamy, Mariah Hallett, and the Whydah by Elizabeth Moisan, iUniverse, Inc., New York, Bloomington, 2009.

 

This scene describes the initial meeting of Sam Bellamy and Paul Williams with Olivier Levasseur:

 

“Paul!”

“Morning, Sam!” Paul came walking down the sandy road, his arm around a soft, curvy barmaid. “What's the matter? You look like hell! Remember Meg?” Meg untangled herself from Paul's embrace to grab Sam's arm and smile flirtatiously at him. Paul grinned. “Friendly, isn't she?”

“Levasseur is here,” Sam said, ignoring Meg.

“What? You've seen him?”

“No, He dropped anchor durin' the night. Not too far from us”

Sam nodded. “An; it's best to be getting' back to sea whilst we still got a crew.”

“Run along now,” Paul said, removing Meg from Sam's arm. “It's business.”

But Meg' saucy eye had already turned to another. “Oh, aye, now here's a rare one! Look at them laces an' ribbons an' frills an' such-like he done hisself up in, an' all t' make a lady swoon.” She touched the deep neckline of her bodice. “Might fine t' be havin' the touch o' them fancies near my skin. Mighty fine t' be havin' him there, too.”

The man who had caught her admiring gaze walked along the wharf-side in the company of three others, making a stately parade that attracted the attention of more than just the women of the town. He advanced to Sam. With a perfumed flourish he removed his broad-brimmed, fathered hat with a neatly gloved hand, and bowed deeply.

“Capitaine Samuel Bellamy, is it not? It is my greatest pleasure to meet you at last! I,” he bowed again, “am Olivier Levasseur!”

“Cap'n! Cap'n, sir!” The landlord of the tavern came scurrying out into the bright sunshine, broom in one hand, and bowed nervously to Levasseur. Flinging his free arm toward the building, he gasped, “Cap'n, they was so many – stayed so late! We was – You – It were so – I -” He stopped. With ingratiating politeness he bowed again, flashing a smile of broken brown teeth. “We ain't quite ready for your kind visit, cap'n, sir.”

“It is of no matter. We are here now.” Levassuer nodded at two of his men, who silently entered the tavern, each carrying a crate.

With a cry of dismay, the anxious proprietor dashed after them. Stopping short at his door, he turned and bowed to Levassuer, to Sam and Paul, and to the small crowd that had gathered to enjoy the scene. Flushing, he looked up at his tittering neighbors and bolted inside.

Meg had been slowly circling Levassuer, taking in every detail of his fine clothes and inhaling the spicy sweetness of his cologne. As she touched his lacy jabot, the landlord burst through the door again and rushed to her, grabbing her roughly by the wrist.

“Here, now! That's enough, you stupid piece o' baggage!” he snapped, and headed back to the tavern, tugging her behind him. At the door, when she turned to wave at Levasseur, the landlord pulled her inside.

Levasseur turned to Sam and Paul. “You will join me, s'il vous plait?” Without waiting for their answer, he entered the tavern.

“Well, split my sides,” Sam remarked. “A sport an' a entertainment all for one price.”

Paul looked straight ahead. “It's best not to laugh.”

They stepped into the cool darkness of the tavern. The landlord, still fussing about with his broom, cleared up the last remnants from the night before. Meg fetched bread and cheese.

The table and bench where Levassuer sat were covered with sailcloth. Knife in hand, he cut thick slices of the dark, brown bread. On a nearby table, also covered with canvas, he had neatly placed his hat, coat and one of his men unwrapped soft cloth from around four goblets, and the other placed two bottles of wine on the table.

Levasseur looked up. “Ah! Welcome! Come come, my friends! Please-!” He indicated the opposite bench. “I am on this little island three or four times a year, and the landlord, he obliges, n'est ce pas? You will now taste this wine from the Bordeaux region of my country. I think you will like it!” As he poured the wine, his quartermaster joined them. “You will meet Henri Eugene Benet. He is most interesting. Once, he collects gold – the taxes – for the king. And then – voila tout! He steals the gold for himself! It is a better life, non?”

As Paul, Levasseur, and Henri talked, Sam considered all he'd heard about the pirate who sat across the table from him. Sometimes during the twenty-odd years of his career, Levassuer had gotten the nickname “La Buze” - the vulture – and he'd earned it. Could it be that this vain, fashionable – and very clean – man was really as wild and merciless as the stories told? Time, Sam decided, would tell.

“And now, mon ami,” Levasseur said, turning to Sam and startling him out of his musings, “what are these reports I hear of you, eh? One hears about Samuel Bellamy everywhere! First Jennings, then Hornigold, and then – ah! Mon Dieu! A ship of his gracious majesty, le roi de France!” He crossed himself. “It is monumental! You must tell me all!”

He snapped his fingers, and as two more bottles of wine were placed on the table, Sam and Paul told their story.

“So!” He laughed when they had finished, “the little fish gobble bigger and bigger fish until they are the biggest fish of all! Congratulations, mes amis. C'est bon.” He turned to Sam, “I, too, once sailed with Hornigold. I did not like his ways, either, but then, I did not want his command. Tell me, the big man, he is with Hornigold still?
“You mean Teach?” Paul asked. :He stayed with Hornigold after we split up.”

“Of this, I am surprised. He has no limits, that black-bearded one. He will always do just as he pleases. Very untidy.” with the repellent vision of Edward Teach's dirty, black beard in his mind's eye, he adjusted his lace jabot and thoughtfully stroked his own well-groomed beard.

“Come to my hearin',” Sam said, taking a long look at Levasseur, “that you were once a priest.”

A look of delight brightened the Frenchman's face. “Ah, but this is superb! I am overcome with honor that you have heard my little story.” He bowed modestly.

“I haven't,” said Paul. “If monsieur will pardon the observation, it seems hard to believe, given what one hears about Capitaine 'La Buze'.”

“Oui, it does, does it not? Ah, but we were all someone else, once, non?” Levassuer sighed dramatically, and bowed his head. “Alas, I am but the second son. What does one do in such a lowly place? My maman, she lay dying, and sitting with her is her uncle, a bishop – a most unsavory an. But, to her, and to him, I make the promise to enter the priesthood, so at the end, she is happy.” He leaned forward. “Then, one week before my final vows – it is finished. This, I cannot do. I ask le bon Dieu to explain to maman that I tried, but I hear no such call from on high. She will not understand, but she is in paradise and will not be angry.” He reflected sadly for a moment, then flashed a wide smile. “And so mes ami, I am here! This life,” he picked up his leather gloves, “he fits me like les gants de cuir, non? But now, we will sail together, eh?”

Draining his glass, he put on his hat and coat. “Come, my friends. Aboard le Postillion, I have a wonderful wine from the Champagne region of my country I think you will enjoy. We will drink to our success!” He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Meg, who was smiling coyly from behind the bar...

As they headed to the dock where the jolly boats were tied up, Levasseur walked ahead, the feathers in his hat stirring in the ocean breeze.

“I'm told,” Paul said quietly to Sam, “he dresses like that all the time.”

“Tales of him rippin' an' cuttin' don't jibe with his manner of dress, none,” Sam replied.

 

To be continued…

 

More Sumptuary Laws

Colonial Laws of Massachusetts, 1651

Sumptuary Laws (Laws Regarding What One May or May Not Wear)

ALTHOUGH SEVERAL DECLARATIONs and orders have been made by this Court against excess in apparel [sic], both of men and women, which have not taken that effect as were to be desired, but on the contrary, we cannot but to our grief take notice that intolerable excess and bravery have crept in upon us, and especially among people of mean condition, to the dishonor of God, the scandal of our profession, the consumption of estates, and altogether unsuitable to our poverty.  And, although we acknowledge it to be a matter of much difficulty, in regard of the blindness of men's minds and the stubbornness of their wills, to set down exact rules to confine all sorts of persons, yet we cannot but account it our duty to commend unto all sorts of persons the sober and moderate use of those blessings which, beyond expectation, the Lord has been pleased to afford unto us in this wilderness.  And also to declare our utter detestation and dislike that men and women of mean condition should take upon them the garb gentlemen by wearing gold or silver lace, or buttons, or points at their knees, or to walk in great boots; or women of the same ran to wear silk or tiffany hoods, or scarves which, though allowable to persons of greater estates or more liberal education, we cannot but judge it intolerable. . . .

It is therefore ordered by this Court, and authority thereof, that no person within the jurisdiction, nor any of their relations depending upon them, whose visible estates, real and personal, shall not exceed the true and indifferent value of £200, shall wear any gold or silver lace, or gold and silver buttons, or any bone lace above 2s. Per yard, or silk hoods, or scarves, upon the penalty of 10s.  For every such offense and every such delinquent to be presented to the grand jury. And forasmuch as distinct and particular rules in this case suitable to the estate or quality of each person cannot easily be given: It is further ordered by the authority aforesaid, that the selectmen of every town, or the major part of them, are hereby enabled and required, from time to time to have regard and take notice of the apparel of the inhabitants of their several towns respectively; and whosoever they shall judge to exceed their ranks and abilities in the costliness or fashion of their apparel in any respect, especially in the wearing of ribbons or great boots (leather being so scarce a commodity in this country) lace, points, etc., silk hoods, or scarves, the select men aforesaid shall have power to assess such persons, so offending in any of the particulars above mentioned, in the country rates, at £200 estates, according to that proportion that such men use to pay to whom such apparel is suitable and allowed; provided this law shall not extend to the restraint of any magistrate or public officer of this jurisdiction, their wives and children, who are left to their discretion in wearing of apparel, or any settled militia officer or soldier in the time of military service, or any other whose education and employment have been above the ordinary degree, or whose estate have been considerable, though now decayed.

 

Reference:

 

http://www.constitution.org/primarysources/sumptuary.html

 

Sumptuary Laws

Recently I came across this article about sumptuary laws during America's colonial period. Part of the motivation for seamen to turn pirate was the opportunity it afforded them to flaunt these laws through dress and manners. What you could wear and what after-work activities you could participate in were highly regulated. I've included an excerpt of the article here:

The Puritan Experiment with Sumptuary Legislation

JUNE 01, 1974 by GARY NORTH

In 1651, both the magistrates and deputies of Massachusetts agreed on the following piece of legislation, one that is unrivaled in American history for its sheer medievalism — comprehensive, authoritarian, and thoroughly hierarchical:

Although several declarations and orders have been made by this Court against excess in apparel, both of men and of women, which have not yet taken that effect which were to be desired, but on the contrary we cannot but to our grief take notice that intolerable excesses and bravery have crept in upon us, and especially amongst the people of mean condition, to the dishonor of God, the scandal of our profession [i.e., profession of faith], the consumption of estates, and altogether we acknowledge it to be a matter of great difficulty, in regard to the blindness of men’s minds and the stubbornness of their wills, to set down exact rules to confine all sorts of persons, yet we cannot but account it our duty to commend unto all sorts of persons a sober and moderate use of those blessings which, beyond our expectation, the Lord has been pleased to afford unto us in this wilderness, and also declare our utter detestation and dislike that men or women of mean condition, educations, and callings should take upon them the garb of gentlemen, by the wearing of gold or silver lace, or buttons, or points at their knees, to walk in great boots; or women of the same rank to wear tiffany hoods or scarves, which though allowable to persons of greater estates, or more liberal education, yet we cannot but judge it intollerable in persons of such like condition….⁴

Unless a citizen was of a good education, or a military officer, or a civil officer, he could not wear such clothing unless his estate could be valued at £200 or more, according to a "true and indifferent value." For a violation of this statute, a ten shilling fine was imposed.

A similar, though shorter, statute had been passed by the Connecticut authorities a decade earlier.

The wearing of lace by social inferiors had been the subject of at least two pieces of Massachusetts legislation in the 1630′s. It was only to be used as a small edging (presumably only by the upper classes), and lace in general was prohibited from being worn extensively on any garment⁶ Special import taxes were placed on luxury items, "for preventing the immoderate expense of provisions brought from beyond the seas." Such goods as sugar, spice, wine, and tobacco were included. The tariff was 16% for direct purchasers, and 33% of the import price for retailers (thus making it more difficult for local retailers to compete in sales with the more distant, and presumably less compelling, London merchants).⁷

Tobacco

Tobacco consumption, which was regarded by Puritan leaders as another unnecessary excess, had been under fire [I couldn't resist] from some of the directors of the Massachusetts Bay Company right from its inception.⁸ All four of the Puritan commonwealths — Massachusetts, New Haven, Connecticut, and Plymouth — passed numerous provisions placing restrictions on the sale and consumption of the "noxious weed." These prohibitions were not really status oriented; they were motivated by a number of fears. One, understandably, was fire. Boston was forever burning down in the seventeenth century, as Carl Bridenbaugh’s Cities in the Wilderness reports in some detail. At one stage, Massachusetts prohibited the buying and selling of tobacco entirely, although it was legal to import it for re-export later.¹° They apparently thought it was all right to burn down other cities, if local merchants were to gain some profit in the transaction. Plymouth tried to ban its importation in 1641, but repealed the law six months later." Connecticut‘s ban is the most amusing in retrospect. It was directly tied to the issue of personal health, but in the exact opposite of today’s concern: no one under the age of twenty who had not already addicted himself to tobacco was allowed to buy it, unless he had a physician’s certificate "that it is useful to him," and he had to present the certificate to the Court in order to obtain a license to purchase the weed.¹¹

Time-Wasting

Taverns, brewers, and liquor retailers were under restrictions throughout the century. Indeed, some of these controls are as common today as they were in the New England colonies. Men were not to waste precious time in taverns, the magistrates believed, so they went to considerable lengths to protect men from their own weaknesses. Then, as now, licensing was the primary means of control, and it was equally a source of public revenue. The annual licensing of taverns, said the Massachusetts magistrates, is inescapable, "Seeing it is difficult to order and keep the houses of public entertainment in such conformity to the wholesome laws established by this Court as is necessary for the prevention of drunkenness, excessive drinking, vain expense of money, time, and the abuse of the creatures of God…"¹²

Although it seems incredible today, shuffleboard was regarded as a prime danger. There were not to be scenes of elderly men spending a leisurely afternoon in the park playing this Devil’s game. Such games were a sign of idling — a waste of God’s most precious resource, time — and they were especially prohibited in taverns and when practiced by servants and youths. The magistrates were willing to go to real extremes to stamp out games of chance and shuffleboard.¹^³ These regulations extended throughout the century, unlike virtually all other sumptuary laws, indicating a continuity of opinion against "vain pursuits." (It might be said that at least in New England, shuffleboard was not to be an old man’s pastime because old men were always regarded as fully productive until they grew feeble; if a man could work, he was expected to. If shuffleboard drew the wrath of Puritan magistrates, Leisure World or Sun City or retirement centers in Florida would have been regarded by them as nothing short of Satanic — the worst sort of wastefulness of men’s productive capacities.)

As in so many other cases, one colony did not participate in the sumptuary mania: Rhode Island.¹⁴ But Rhode Island was not a Puritan commonwealth. Its founder, Roger Williams, had argued for the separation of church and state — not primarily to protect the state, but to protect the church!

You can read the entire article here:

http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/the-puritan-experiment-with-sumptuary-legislation