A General History of the Pirates · Chapter
Of Captain Martel, and His Crew explained
This chapter recounts the brief but successful pirate career of Captain Martel, who operated in the Caribbean after the Peace of Utrecht.
What happens
This chapter recounts the brief but successful pirate career of Captain Martel, who operated in the Caribbean after the Peace of Utrecht. It describes how former privateers turned to piracy in peacetime, Martel's capture of multiple vessels including the Berkley galley, the John and Martha, and the Dolphin, and his eventual refuge at Santa Cruz. The chapter concludes with the arrival of HMS Scarborough under Captain Hume, which destroys Martel's fleet, forcing him to scuttle his ship and flee into the woods, presumably to his death.
Themes in this chapter
Economic Despair as a Driver of Piracy
The chapter explicitly links the end of war and the lack of privateering employment to the rise of piracy, noting that idle men 'too readily engage in acts of piracy' when peace removes their livelihood.
Law, Injustice, and the Blurred Line Between Privateer and Pirate
The author observes that privateers and pirates engage in the same practices, the only difference being a commission, and suggests that pirates could be turned against each other by offering rewards.
Corruption of Colonial Governance
The chapter criticizes the colonial system for creating pirates through the proliferation of privateers in wartime, and implies that authorities could suppress piracy by incentivizing capture.
Characters to notice
- Martel
Captain of the pirate sloop; leads the crew on a successful cruise capturing multiple vessels before being cornered at Santa Cruz.
- Hume
Commander of HMS Scarborough; tasked with hunting pirates, he engages Martel's fleet at Santa Cruz and destroys them.
- Lane
Master of the sloop King Solomon, which was plundered by Martel's crew.
- John Evans
Captain of the Greyhound galley, which was captured and plundered of gold dust, elephants' teeth, and slaves.
Key passages
“I come now to the pirates that have rose since the Peace of Utrecht; in wartime there is no room for any, because all those of a roving advent’rous disposition find employment in privateers, so there is no opportunity for pirates”
The author turns to pirates who emerged after the Peace of Utrecht, noting that during war such men are employed as privateers, leaving no room for piracy.
Explains the historical context for the rise of piracy after the war.
“To bring this about, there needs no other encouragement, but to give all the effects taken aboard a pirate vessel to the captors; for in case of plunder and gain, they like it as well from friends, as enemies”
The author suggests that offering pirates the full value of captured pirate ships would incentivize them to turn on each other, as they care more for profit than loyalty.
Proposes a pragmatic solution to piracy by appealing to greed.
“Captain Martel made the men prisoners, and carry’d the ship with him.”
Martel took the crew captive and kept the captured ship for his own use.
Describes Martel's typical method of handling prizes.
“They concluded now, that ’twas high time to get into harbour and refit, as well as to get refreshments themselves, and wait an opportunity to dispose of their cargo; therefore ’twas resolved to make the best of their way to Santa Cruz”
The pirates decided they needed to find a harbor to repair their ships, rest, and sell their plunder, so they headed for Santa Cruz.
Shows the pirates' need for safe harbor and logistics.
“the pilot refused to venture in with the ship; all the while the pirates fir’d red hot bullets from the shore.”
The pilot of HMS Scarborough would not risk entering the harbor, while the pirates shot heated cannonballs from their shore batteries.
Highlights the difficulty of attacking the pirates' fortified position.
