A Discourse on Pirates, by Captain Henry Mainwaring

Introduction and Bibliography.

The copy of Sir Henry Mainwaring's discourse which was presented to James I is now among the Royal Manuscripts in the British Museum. The manuscript, which is not holograph, is a small quarto of forty-eight pages. The handwriting is a particularly good specimen of the Italian script of the period, and the first words in each chapter are illuminated in gold. There is no title-page, but following the dedication to James I, is, "Of the Beginnings, Practices, and Suppression of Pirates." The date of its composition has been assigned to 1617,<1> but from a statement in the dedication it may be assumed that it was partly written in 1616. Before presentation to the King it was evidently circulated among some of the leading personages of the day, and at the suggestion of one of them, possibly the Lord Admiral, Nottingham, it was presented to James I by Mainwaring in 1618 as a thank-offering for his own pardon. The information it contained was valuable and unique, and it is not improbable that Mainwaring's plans for the suppression of piracy on the Barbary Coast may have persuaded James to despatch the expedition to Algiers in 1620.

At any rate the information was opportune, for during the years 1618-20 English spies were busy surveying and contriving to bring back plans of the harbours and forts of Algiers and Tunis.<2> In accordance with the rules of the Society, the spelling of the original manuscript has been modernized, the contractions extended, and where necessary the punctuation has been altered. Besides the copy in the Royal Manuscripts, several other manuscript copies are in existence, and a bibliography of them is here given. Some of these lack the dedication to the King, and others substitute for the title the following description of the contents: "A Treatise of Piracy, discovering in what Ports, Havens, and Creeks, all alongst the Turkish and Spanish coasts pirates may sell their goods safely, have victuals, good refreshing and watering, and in what not; with the manner of their sailing and usual places of abode at all seasons of the year, with advice how to prevent and surprise them."

List of other MS. copies, with their various repositories.

British Museum, Sloane MSS. 1010.
'A Treatise of Pyracie, discoveringe in what Ports, Havens, and Creeks alongst the Turkish and Spanish Coasts Pyrates may sell theire goods safely, have victualls, good refreshinge and wateringe, and in what not; with the manner of theire Saylinge and usuall places of aboad at all seasons of the yeare; with advise how to prevent and surprise them: written by Sir Henrie Mainwaringe, Knight, and by him presented unto King James.' This copy, which is in splendid preservation, consists of twenty folios (i.e., forty pages), but has not the dedication. Begins: 'Daielie experience' etc. and ends: 'Deliberare lente, quod decreveris, constanter urge.'<3>

British Museum, Cottonian MSS. Otho E. viii.
In folio, bound up with other manuscripts, and slightly damaged by fire, each folio being remounted.<4> Folios 299-316 comprise the 'Discourse of Pirats.' It is in a contemporary hand, not unlike that of Mainwaring, and has the dedication to James I, but is unsigned. All that remains of the title is the word 'Piratts.' Then follows: 'The purpose of this discourse,' and the contents of the chapters, which are unnumbered. Begins: 'Dailie experience' etc. and ends: 'calle anything past in question.'

British Museum, Harleian MSS. 2204, ff. 148-166.
'A Treatise of Piracie; discoveringe in what Ports, Havens, & Creeks, all alonge the Turkishe & Spanische Coasts, pirates maie sell their Goods safelie: have Victualls, good Refreshinge & Wateringe; and, in what not. With the manner of their saylinge, & usuall Places of aboad at all Seasons of the Yeare; and advise how to prevent & surprise them. Written by Sir Henerie Mainwaringe, Kt., & by him presented unto King James.' In folio, evidently a contemporary transcript. It has not the dedication, and after the title, commences: 'Daylie experience' etc.

MSS. in the Library of the University of Cambridge.<5>
'A Discourse written by Sir Henrie Manwairing; and by him presented to the King's Majestie, A° 1618: wherein are discovered the beginnings and proceedings of the Pyrats, who nowe so much infest the Seas: Together with his advise and direction how to surprise and suppress them.' This copy consists of 26 folios, the 'Discourse' occupying folios 1-19, the rest blank. Begins: 'Dailie experience' etc., and ends: 'Deliberare lente; quod decreveris, constanter urge.'<3> This copy belonged to John Moore, Bishop of Norwich, and afterwards of Ely. The library which he collected was famous throughout Europe, and at his death (1714) the books (29,000), and manuscripts (1790), were sold to George I for 6000 guineas; his Majesty afterwards presenting them to Cambridge University.<6>

Bodleian Library, Tanner MSS. 121, ff. 107-17.
'A treatise of piracy, discovering in what ports, havens and creeks, along the Turkish and Spanish coasts, pirates may sell their goods safely etc., with the manner of their sailing and usual places of abode, with advice how to prevent and surprise them, written by Sir Hen. Manweringe and by him presented to King James.' (In Folio.)

Hatton MSS. belonging to The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Winchilsea and Nottingham.
'Sir Henry Manwayring's discourse on pirates.'<7>

Trinity College, Dublin.<8>
'Capt. Manwaring, his Discourse on Piracy.'

Manuscripts of Sir Harry Mainwaring, Bart.
' A discourse written by Sir Henry Manwaringe, and by him presented to the Kinges Matie Ano Dni. 1618, wherein are discovered the beginnings, practises and Proceedings of the Pyrates, who now so much infest the Seas, together with his Advice and direction how to surprise and suppress them.' In folio, bound in a parchment cover with two other manuscripts. This transcript, which is early seventeenth century, is badly done and imperfect. The dedication to the King ends at Pulchrum Scelus.<9>

Hodgkin MSS.
A copy was formerly in the possession of the late J. Eliot Hodgkin, and was afterwards sold at Sothebys.<10> It was found by Mr. Hodgkin among some odds and ends of fishing tackle in a shop in the Waterloo Road, and he records that in the ordinary course it would have probably gone to the mills.<10> It is entitled:-'A Discourse written by Sr Henrie Mainwaringe Knight, and by him presented unto Kinge James Ano dni 1618, wherein are discovered the beginninges and proceedings of Pyrats, wth theire usuall places of aboad at all tymes of the yeare, together with advise and direction for surprisinge and suppressing of them.' Contemporary manuscript on paper (48 pp.), small folio, and neatly written. Begins: 'Dailie experience' and ends: 'constanter urge.'<3>