Pirate Nation

Elizabeth I and her Royal Sea Rovers

Nonfiction, History, Military, Naval, British, Modern
Cover of the book Pirate Nation by David Childs, Pen and Sword
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: David Childs ISBN: 9781848322936
Publisher: Pen and Sword Publication: October 14, 2014
Imprint: Seaforth Publishing Language: English
Author: David Childs
ISBN: 9781848322936
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication: October 14, 2014
Imprint: Seaforth Publishing
Language: English

For all the romantic mythology surrounding the court of Queen Elizabeth I, the financial underpinning of the reign of 'Gloriana' was decidedly sordid. Elizabeth's policy of seizing foreign assets made her popular at home but drew her into a public/private partnership with pirates who preyed on the state's foes and friends alike, being rewarded or punished depending on how much of a cut the Queen received, rather than the legitimacy of their action. For this reason the rule of law at sea was arbitrary, and almost non-existent. Even those, such as the Lord Admiral and the Court of Admiralty, who were tasked with policing the seas and eliminating piracy, managed their own pirate fleets. While honest merchants could rail and fail, the value to the exchequer of this dubious income was enormous, often equalling, on an annual basis, the input from all other sources such as taxation or customs dues.
However, the practice of piracy taught English seamen how to fight and, when the nation was at its greatest peril, in 1588, it was pirates who kept the Armada away from the coast. Effingham, Grenville, Ralegh and Drake, became 'admirals all for England's sake', but this highly original book argues that their deeply ingrained piratical approach to naval warfare almost allowed the Armada to succeed. This is only one of a number of startling insights into the reality of Elizabethan naval policy offered by this honest and eminently readable reappraisal.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

For all the romantic mythology surrounding the court of Queen Elizabeth I, the financial underpinning of the reign of 'Gloriana' was decidedly sordid. Elizabeth's policy of seizing foreign assets made her popular at home but drew her into a public/private partnership with pirates who preyed on the state's foes and friends alike, being rewarded or punished depending on how much of a cut the Queen received, rather than the legitimacy of their action. For this reason the rule of law at sea was arbitrary, and almost non-existent. Even those, such as the Lord Admiral and the Court of Admiralty, who were tasked with policing the seas and eliminating piracy, managed their own pirate fleets. While honest merchants could rail and fail, the value to the exchequer of this dubious income was enormous, often equalling, on an annual basis, the input from all other sources such as taxation or customs dues.
However, the practice of piracy taught English seamen how to fight and, when the nation was at its greatest peril, in 1588, it was pirates who kept the Armada away from the coast. Effingham, Grenville, Ralegh and Drake, became 'admirals all for England's sake', but this highly original book argues that their deeply ingrained piratical approach to naval warfare almost allowed the Armada to succeed. This is only one of a number of startling insights into the reality of Elizabethan naval policy offered by this honest and eminently readable reappraisal.

More books from Pen and Sword

Cover of the book In Presence of My Foes by David Childs
Cover of the book The Germans in Flanders 1915–1916 by David Childs
Cover of the book The History of Air Intercept Radar & the British Nightfighter 1935–1959 by David Childs
Cover of the book The Hunger War by David Childs
Cover of the book Montauban by David Childs
Cover of the book Nachtjagd, Defenders of the Reich 1940-1943 by David Childs
Cover of the book Public Schools and The Great War by David Childs
Cover of the book Ebony and Scarlet by David Childs
Cover of the book Discovering Classical Music: Richard Strauss by David Childs
Cover of the book Recollections of Rifleman Bowlby by David Childs
Cover of the book Sieges of the English Civil War by David Childs
Cover of the book SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) at War 1939 - 1945 by David Childs
Cover of the book British Expeditionary Force - The Final Advance by David Childs
Cover of the book Front-Line and Experimental Flying with the Fleet Air Arm by David Childs
Cover of the book One More River To Cross by David Childs
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy