The Faithful Wanderer

Plunder? Sounds like Pirates

I can’t help it. When I think of “plunder” my mind automatically jumps to pirates in ancient sailing vessels. Historians have called 1650 to 1720 AD “The Golden age of Piracy.” Watching pirate movies and reading “Treasure Island,” I thought these “wolves of the sea” only wanted gold and precious jewels. But that’s only a small part of the story. After all, ships sailing from England or France carried merchandise for sale to the colonies, not chests of gold.

So what other loot did pirates steal?

The answer is surprising, yet it makes perfect sense.

Tools of the Pirate’s Trade

Because piracy was a violent seafaring profession, the items below had immediate, practical value.

• Barrels of gunpowder, shot, rifles, pistols and cannons.
• Sabers, knives and swords.
• New sails, ropes, rigging, tackle and anchors.
• The outlaw crew would also take masts, wood and any other parts of the captured ship they needed in order to make repairs.

Occasionally, a pirate captain would admire a captured vessel so much, he’d just steal it, by forcing the survivors to trade ships. Blackbeard acquired his large flagship, “Queen Anne’s Revenge” from a French captain that way.

Practical Plunder

At heart, pirates were practical men and some goods made the seagoing life easier. Here’s a second list of items they liked to seize and use at sea.

• Candles.
• Kettles
• Soap
• Flour
• Carpenter’s tools
• Navigational Instruments and maps
• Surgeon’s knives
• Thread
• Thimbles
• Frying pans
• Nails
• Rum, ale and beer. The fresh water barrels would become contaminated by the salty air and sea water, developing a green algae scum which made it awful to drink.
• Provisions such as dried meat and other foodstuffs.

Interestingly enough, in 1718, Blackbeard blockaded Charleston South Carolina’s harbor for a week, until his demands were met. His crew plundered eight or nine cargo ships and also took hostages, whom he threatened to kill. Defeated, Governor Johnson finally gave in and Blackbeard’s four ships lifted the blockade.

So what ransom did this ruthless pirate captain receive?

A chest full of medicine.

Piracy for Profit

Just like the modern day “fence,” crooked shopkeepers would buy stolen goods for a low price and make a handsome profit re-selling them. Some ports in the Bahamas or Jamaica came to became known as safe places for the pirates to do business.

So what did the pirates steal?

• Tobacco
• Cotton
• Wood
• Cocoa
• Tea
• Game pieces
• Tanned animal skins
• Sugar
• Spices
• Dyes
• Barrels of wine or brandy

Dishonest merchants in a few Caribbean towns could be trusted to convert the stolen items into quick cash. Of course, when available, pirates also stole gold, silver and precious jewels.

Before Jesus’ death, the number of human souls entering Heaven equaled zero. Because every person who ever walked the earth had his or her own sins to pay for, and the price was too high.

Then Jesus came and died on the cross in payment for our sins.

Martin Luther once said, “Even the Devil is God’s Devil.” and that’s true. Sometimes Satan unwittingly helps achieve God’s purpose. That became clear at the cross. The enemy’s goal was to torture and kill Christ, so the Son of God would no longer walk on the earth. Why? Because Jesus was ruining everything! But instead, the Devil helped our Savior open up eternal life to for every human who believed. 

Ever since, Godly men and women have been rescuing souls. They “plunder Hell to populate Heaven.”

All these images came from Pixabay.com.

Resources:

This 1:49 minute video answers the question, “Why did sailors swab the deck?”

This Is What Pirates Like Blackbeard Actually Ate While At Sea.