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The "Golden Age of Piracy" immediately followed the English Renaissance and ran from the 1650's to the 1720's.
Focused mainly in the Caribbean, it began as nations vied for Spanish riches taken from South America.
Privateering commissions were issued allowing ships to attack vessels from other countries.
Once commissions were halted, many privateers, now unemployed, turned to freelance piracy.
[Click Here for More Information on Golden Age Pirates]
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KnottyBits Sideshow
This innovative, family friendly traveling sideshow is designed to appeal to all audiences, young and old alike! The enchanting aerial acts will have you mesmerized while Gwyd the Unusual does everything he can to keep from being hurt by broken glass, pointy nails and more.
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Pickled Princess Pub
Woe to the princess, caught in a pickle, looking for romance in a pub... or so the story goes. In any case, the Pickled Princes Pub is a great place to kick back with a drink and listen to a tale or a song.Tavern Sing!
Come to the inn at 5:30 and join the Minstrels singing and laughing, ending a great day at the festival.
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Steel Lotus Dance Troupe
This trio of dancers has tribal fusion dance style offers a little something for everyone, from traditional to modern.
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Friar Finnegan
Where can you find a friar? In a pub of course! There you'll find the good Friar Finnegan singing songs, spinning yarns and telling the worst jokes. Don't forget to ask about Friar Finnegan's Floggers.
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Robyn the Bard
Robyn the Bard will serenade you from the stage and street with traditional, modern songs and his own music.
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Molotov
Stoopid Human Tricks: Fire-eating, Sword-swallowing, Comedy, Danger, and Stupidity!
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Red Rum
Enjoy a lively tune from the merry band of Pirates known as Red Rum. You'll hear traditional favorites and a few parodies to lighten your mood.
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Trivialities
Folk band performing Folk, Renaissance, Filk, and Traditional
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Golden Age Pirate Information Continued
For as long as ships have sailed, so have pirates. Ancient Greeks and Romans faced the menace of piracy on their waters, just as modern countries do today. While pirates have existed throughout most of recorded history, one period of marauding stands out above the rest: the "Golden Age of Piracy". The Golden Age of Piracy immediately followed the English Renaissance and ran from the 1650's to the 1720's. It is the period that has engaged, shocked, and romanced audiences for generations. Focused mainly in the Caribbean, it began as nations vied for Spanish riches taken from South America.
When gold was discovered in the Americas, South America in particular, the major European powers of the time began sending fleets to collect treasure and bring the wealth home. The countries soon discovered that it was far easier to take over a ship already full of gold and on its way home than it was to go all the way to South America and back, as well as pack your own ship. In support of this more efficient method of treasure-seeking, privateering commissions were issued allowing ships to attack vessels from other countries. Francis Drake is a prime example of a commissioned pirate, or privateer. Queen Elizabeth I of England gave Drake permission to loot foreign ships. He made a great deal of his fortune taking Spanish ships, and he and the Queen divided up the profits between them. Drake was knighted by Elizabeth for his great success on her behalf. Eventually commissions were halted, and many privateers, now unemployed, turned to freelance piracy.
Life on a ship was hard, no matter what one's trade. Compared to life of a poor, outranked merchant, piracy often seemed like a fast way to a happier life. Pirates had a high success rate, and spoils were divided equally among the crew, who governed the ship as a democracy behind their captain. When pirates attacked a merchant ship, they would fly a pirate flag to scare the crew into surrendering without a battle. Who wants a ship full of holes? Upon arrival, or after the battle if it occurred, the pirates would recruit men to their ranks from the ship, plunder whatever goods they could find, and often let everyone else go. Doctors and skilled craftsmen were especially pressured into joining the pirate crew. Not every case was a catch-and-release scenario, however. Sometimes more people were killed, or the ship was commandeered and made a part of the pirate fleet instead of being loosed. For the most part, it was in everyone's best interest to keep losses light, as that left more for the taking.
References: www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_piracy.htm
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