š“āā ļø This Saturday, the World Belongs to Pirates
Ahoy, Matey
This Saturday is our day me hearties.
September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, the worldwide holiday for pirates, buccaneers, scallywagsāand even those privateers still teetering on the rails.
We've got your official excuse to celebrate, a FREE Pirate PhrasebookĀ to make sure ye don't sound like a landlubber, and pirate gatherings from San Diego to Galveston.
Plus, in 1718, Woodes Rogers sends one notorious pirate to hunt another.
Hoist yer colors, mates. Talk Like a Pirate Day is almost here!Ā š“āā ļø
š THIS WEEK IN PIRATE HISTORY
September 14, 1718 ā Rogers Sends a Pirate to Hunt a Pirate
The Pirate Republic of Nassau was dying.
Only weeks earlier, Woodes Rogers had arrived in the Bahamas as the new royal governor, armed with the King's Pardon and orders to bring the pirates of New Providence back under British control.
Many took the deal.
Charles Vane didn't.
Vane had already made his feelings about the new government spectacularly clear. When Rogers arrived at Nassau, Vane escaped the harbor after setting a captured ship ablaze and sending the fire ship toward Rogers's squadron.
Now he was still out thereāand still a threat.
On September 14, 1718, Rogers received intelligence that Vane was at Green Turtle Cay near Great Abaco, about 120 miles north of Nassau. Even more troubling, some of Nassau's supposedly reformed pirates were slipping away to join him.
Rogers decided to send someone after Vane.
But not a Royal Navy captain.
He sent another pirate.
š“āā ļø Enter Benjamin Hornigold
Benjamin Hornigold had once been one of the leading pirates of Nassauāthe same world that had produced Blackbeard, Vane and many of the other captains now being hunted.
But Hornigold had accepted the King's Pardon.
And now Rogers was putting his knowledge of piracy to work for the Crown.
Rogers dispatched Hornigold and fellow former pirate John CockramĀ with an armed vessel and crew. Their job was to locate Vane, gather intelligence and, if the opportunity presented itself, bring him to battle.
Think about that for a moment.
Men who had once sailed beneath the same black flags were now hunting one another.
Hornigold sailed north toward Green Turtle Cay and found Vaneābut Vane's force was too strong to attack safely. Instead, Hornigold watched and waited. During the operation he discovered another vessel, the Wolf, whose captain Nicholas WoodallĀ had been permitted to leave Nassau ostensibly to hunt turtles but was instead supplying Vane. Hornigold eventually captured Woodall and his vessel and returned to Nassau with his prize.
Vane got away.
But something much bigger had changed.
ā ļø THE PIRATE REPUBLIC TAKE
For years, Nassau's pirates had survived because they formed their own loose community outside the reach of governments.
Rogers found a way to turn that community against itself.
Take the pardon, and you might become the hunter.
Refuse it, and you became the hunted.
And there may be no better symbol of the end of Nassau's Pirate Republic than this:
Woodes Rogers didn't need to send the Royal Navy after Charles Vane.
He sent Benjamin Hornigold.Ā š“āā ļø
š£ļøš“āā ļø SEPTEMBER 19 ā INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!
Hear ye! Hear ye!
September 19 is the worldwide holiday for pirates, buccaneers, scallywags, sea dogsāand we'll even give a pass to those privateers still teetering on the rails between respectable sailor and outright piracy.
For one glorious day, normal conversation is suspended.
āHelloā becomes āAhoy!ā
āYesā becomes āAye!ā
Your coworkers become ālandlubbers.ā
And any disagreement can probably be settled with a hearty āAvast, ye scallywag!ā
ā ļø Consider This Your Official Excuse
As a citizen of The Pirate Republic, you are hereby authorized to celebrate September 19 in whatever suitably piratical manner ye see fit.
Stay home from work.
Go sailing.
Drink some rum.
Sing a sea shanty.
Wear an eyepatch to the grocery store.
Or gather your crew and go plundering.*
*The Pirate Republic assumes absolutely no responsibility for bail money, attorney fees, impounded vessels, angry harbor masters, or explanations you may subsequently be required to provide to local authorities.
š“āā ļø Pirate responsibly, mates.
š But First... Learn the Language
Ye don't want to spend the biggest pirate holiday of the year sounding like a landlubber.
Fortunately, The Pirate Republic has you covered.
We've assembled 50 essential pirate words, insults, commands and phrasesāfrom Ahoy!Ā and Avast!Ā to Hornswaggler, Batten down the hatches, and plenty moreāto help ye properly hoist yer tongue for September 19.
Download the FREE Pirate Republic Pirate Phrasebook:
Print it. Study it. Keep it handy.
Because on September 19...
there'll be no excuse for speaking like a landlubber.Ā š“āā ļø
šš“āā ļø PIRATE EVENT OF THE WEEK
Pirates Take Over the San Diego Waterfront ā Again!
If ye missed the first invasion, the pirates are coming back.
The crew at the The Berkeley at Maritime Museum of San Diego sent word directly to The Pirate RepublicĀ about their September pirate takeoverāand this weekend is particularly appropriate.
Saturday, September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
On September 19ā20, dress like a pirate and descend upon San Diego's waterfront for two days of ships, rum and general piratical behavior.
Come wearing some pirate garbāeven a hat, bandana, eyepatch or other pirate accessory qualifiesāand receive 25% off walk-up General Admission. Spend $40 on eligible treasure in the Museum Store and get 25% off, too.
On September 19, dressed-up pirates can also save $10 on Boarded! A New Pirate AdventureĀ with promo code PirateInvasion, and Pilot Boat ticket holders may get selected to try their luck at Pirate Plinko.
And both Saturday and Sunday, from 11:30 AMā2:30 PM, keep a weather eye out for Captain JackĀ roaming the historic shipsāand for pirates 21 and older, the Rum BarĀ will be pouring beer, wine and specialty rum cocktails.
So if you're anywhere near San Diego this Talk Like a Pirate Day...
Don't just talk like a pirate. Go spend the day among them.
ā MORE PIRATE PORTS THIS WEEKEND
š“āā ļø Galveston Pirate Festival ā Galveston, Texas
Galveston has gone considerably further than simply recognizing Talk Like a Pirate Day: the city has proclaimed September 14ā20 āGalveston Pirate Festival Week.āĀ The big event is Saturday, September 19, from 11 AMā7 PM at Moody Gardens, with live music, cannon fire, sword demonstrations, treasure hunts, costume contests, blacksmiths, fire performers, mermaids and plenty more. Friday brings two pirate pub crawls, and Sunday includes tours of the historic 1877 tall ship ElissaĀ and a harbor boat tour.
š“āā ļø The Bawdy Wenches
Sail over to the SIPiratefest at Feather Hills winery in Makanda illinois from 12pm to 7pm this Saturday to avoid irritable feelings and catch more dad jokes from Daddy Shaggatha..
š°š“āā ļø PIRATE BOOTY OF THE WEEK
FREE Pirate Phrasebook
The most useful plunder for Talk Like a Pirate DayĀ won't cost ye a single doubloon.
Grab The Pirate Republic Pirate PhrasebookĀ and brush up on your pirate speak before September 19.
50 pirate words and phrases. ZERO doubloons.
ā ļø Captainās Log
That's all from the Republic this week, mates.
This Saturday, talk like a pirate, dress like a pirate, drink like a pirateāand perhaps exercise some discretion when it comes to plundering like a pirate.
Remember, The Pirate Republic does not provide bail money.
Fair winds, and Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!
Captain BlackquillĀ āš“āā ļø
āA pirate is known by the flag he flies... and the words he growls beneath it.ā
š£ļø SHARE THE SPOILS, MATEY
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New voyages, bold stories, and rich plunder await those who sail with us.
ā SAIL WITH US ACROSS THE DIGITAL SEAS
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šļø THANKS FOR SAILING WITH THE CREW
We set sail every Friday, storm or shine ā delivering pirate history, legends, and lore from across the seas.
Keep yer spyglass trained on the horizon,rest when the winds allow,and may your course be steady, your hold full, and your tales worth telling.
If ye stumble upon treasure, tall tales, or pirate lore worth sharing, send word to:š§Ā captainblackquill@gmail.com
Disclosure:Ā Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links, which means we may earn a few extra doubloons if you make a purchase ā at no extra cost to you. Thanks for keeping The Pirate RepublicĀ afloat, ya savvy sea dog. š“āā ļø
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