False or foolhardy courage that comes from consuming alcohol. A term believed to have been circulated by English sailors during the Anglo-Dutch wars of the 17th and 18th centuries. A term of derision which accused the Dutch of being cowardly and only able to fight when intoxicated. Conflicts between the Dutch and the English took place 1652-1654, 1665-1667, 1672-1674 and 1780-1784, mainly fought over trade and overseas colonies. Another claim is that the term arose when the Dutch and English were allies. Gin in its modern form was reputedly invented by the Dutch physician Franciscus Sylvius in the 17th century and English soldiers fighting alongside their Dutch allies in the Low Countries appreciated the effects of Jenever, or Dutch gin. Cheap gin was widely available in London by the early 18th century, resulting a period called the gin Craze between 1695 and 1735.
William Kidd, better known as Captain Kidd, had an very unfortunate career. He is believed to have been born into a poor seaman’s family in Dundee, Scotland in around 1654, later settling in New York. Not much else is known about his early life except that he took to the seas like his father before him. Although active in the grey area of privateering, it is likely that he never intended to adopt a life of piracy and was simply a victim of circumstances.
The deeds and personalities of famous pirates have received significant attention in recent years: however, no detailed depiction of their vessels has ever been produced. This title redresses the imbalance, conducting a detailed exploration of the wide variety of pirate vessels that sailed the high seas during the ‘golden age’ of piracy (1690–1730), from gun-bristling warships to smaller craft such as sloops, brigantines and early schooners. It incorporates the latest archaeological evidence to produce a fascinating account of these vessels, detailing their origins, development and tactical engagement. Packed with contemporary illustrations and superbly detailed colour artwork, the ships of the ‘golden age’ are brought vividly to life.