Book Review
Welsh Pirates and Buccaneers
The Book of Welsh Pirates & Buccaneers
Illustration: Black Bart's flag
This is the third of Terry Breverton's books to be chosen by the Welsh Books Council for it's 'Book of the Month' promotion.
In certain circles Wales is synonymous with pirates and Newport can boast links with one of the most successful of them, Sir Henry Morgan. Former Governor of Jamaica, Sir Henry Morgan was described as a "murderous monster" a "depraved, vicious, treacherous, almost unparalleled human brute, who was born of respectable people in Wales…". Eldest son of Robert Morgan of Llanrymney and related to the Kemeys family the Morgans also owned the great Tredegar House on the Outskirts of Newport and is one of Newport, Monmouthshire's oldest families.
Beyond the local links, Terry Breverton's book is a mine of information about this nefarious occupation and recounts tales about Morgan, Black Bart Roberts and Hywel Davis and the infamous Colyn Dolphyn who terrorised the Bristol Channel during the late 15th century at about the time the Newport Ship laid up In the Usk.
Operating out of Lundy Island one of Dolphyn's most notorious conquests was the capturing of Sir Harry Stradling who was ransomed for a price of 2200 marks and forced to sell his manors of Bassaleg and Rogerstone and other estates to regain his freedom. Despite this there are few references to the pirates of South Wales in a book which naturally focuses on the rich history of the West Indies.
Nonetheless it is a fascinating read and well worth the money if only for the extensive (nearly 90 pages) glossary of definitions of ancient nautical and seafaring terms, many of which have been handed down over the centuries and now a part of our every day language. 'Booby prize', 'born with a silver spoon', 'above board', 'wasters', 'piss artist', 'barbecue', 'chew the fat'; 'let the cat out of the bag'; 'Dutch courage' and 'passed with flying colours' are a few of the hundreds of everyday phrases explained.
The Book of Welsh Pirates & Buccaneers
By Terry Breverton
ISBN 1-903 529-093
Wales Books - Glyndwr Publishing 2003 £17.50
