Mutineers Turn Pirate
The crew of the St George mutinied after failing as privateers. The Master assembled his new crew and asked them to abandon any vestigial obligation to the agreements made to the vessel’s owners and turn pirates.
‘and having given them a dram of Rum or Brandy or some other strong Liquor desired all who were willing to go along with him upon their own accounts exclusive of the Owners to go on the quarter-deck’.
Those who refused to turn pirate deserted in another ship. Their departure was violent. Capt Dampier said Bellhash, the Master, ‘took me by the Throat, and swore if I spoke a Word they would Dash my Brains out’. They turned all prisoners ashore to prevent him finding the route home. They stripped the ship of arms, food, liquor, silver plate and gold and took its license, it’s Letter of Marque.
1705
