Of Captain Charles Vane, and His Crew explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Law, Injustice, and the Blurred Line Between Privateer and Pirate

  Vane's refusal of the King's pardon and his subsequent capture and execution highlight the legal consequences of piracy versus the possibility of amnesty.

• Corruption of Colonial Governance

  The episode of Yeats surrendering and receiving a pardon, along with the authorities' efforts to hunt pirates, illustrates the colonial administration's attempts to impose order.

• Pirate Democracy Versus Maritime Tyranny

  The internal conflict between Vane and Rackam over engaging the French man-of-war demonstrates the democratic decision-making process among pirates, leading to Vane's deposition.

Characters to notice

• Charles Vane

  Captain of the pirate sloop; defies the King's pardon, escapes Providence, and later is deposed, shipwrecked, captured, and hanged.

• John Rackam

  Quartermaster on Vane's ship; argues for engaging a French man-of-war, leading to Vane being deposed and Rackam taking command.

• George Yeats

  Commander of Vane's consort sloop; abandons Vane, surrenders to the Governor of South Carolina, and receives the King's pardon.

• Holford

  Captain who refuses to help Vane after his shipwreck, later identifies and captures Vane, delivering him to justice in Jamaica.

• Robert Deal

  Vane's consort; captured and executed in Jamaica before Vane's own execution.

Key passages

• “Charles Vane was one of those who stole away the silver which the Spaniards had fished up from the wrecks of the galleons, in the Gulf of Florida, and was at Providence (as has been before hinted) when Governor Rogers arrived there with two men-of-war.”

  Charles Vane had previously taken part in stealing silver salvaged by the Spanish from sunken galleons in the Gulf of Florida, and he was at Providence when Governor Rogers arrived with two warships.

  Introduces Vane's background and the context of his defiance at Providence.

• “All the pirates who were found at this colony of rogues, submitted, and received certificates of their pardon, except Captain Vane and his crew; who, as soon as they saw the men-of-war enter, slipp’d their cable, set fire to a prize they had in the harbour, and sailed out with their piratical colours flying, firing at one of the men-of-war as they went off.”

  All the pirates at Providence accepted the pardon, except Vane and his crew, who cut their anchor line, burned a captured ship, and sailed out defiantly, firing at one of the warships.

  Highlights Vane's bold rejection of the King's pardon.

• “Vane made all the protestations of honour in the world to him; but, it seems, Captain Holford was too intimately acquainted with him, to repose any confidence at all in his words or oaths.”

  Vane swore he was honorable, but Holford knew him too well to trust anything he said.

  Shows Holford's distrust of Vane, leading to Vane's eventual capture.

• “I am now going down the bay, says he, and shall return hither, in about a month; and if I find you upon the island when I come back, I’ll carry you to Jamaica, and hang you.”

  Holford told Vane he would return in a month and would take him to Jamaica to be hanged if he was still on the island.

  Holford's threat foreshadows Vane's fate.

• “Do you make it a matter of conscience? said Holford, to steal a dory, when you have been a common robber and pirate, stealing ships and cargoes, and plundering all mankind that fell in your way?”

  Holford mocked Vane's reluctance to steal a small boat, pointing out his history of grand theft and piracy.

  Illustrates the irony of Vane's scruples after a life of piracy.