History
For those of you that would like a quick history lesson on the era the RP takes place and the political situations, cultural differences, and laws we've provided quite a bit of it here for easy access. After sifting through multiple articles and websites and even a textbook, here is some helpful information. If something is written in error, please point it out. Any notes referring to any changes for the RP or specific exceptions will be noted beneath and in dark gold, italicized font. This acts as a base for the setting but we do keep it loose when it comes to character types and period correctness. So, not everything happens in historical order but we do use some historical events to push the story along sometimes.
Basics of Society
Owning land was the main form of wealth in this time so landowners often held political power and influences in their towns or countries. In order of social status nobility was at the top, gentry (wealthy land owners), yeomen (farmers or leaseholders), merchants (middle class), craftsmen and laborers (lower middle class), and then the poor. The streets of towns were usually filthy with garbage and not all could be lit with oil lamps or torches. Some had paved roads while other simply had dirt paths. Houses were generally built from bricks or stones to withstand the harsh weather of the region. In larger towns there were charity schools put in place to educate children; usually from wealthy families. Girls in well off families went to schools to learn certain skills like embroidery and music (basically "women's work"); some didn't know how to read or write. Boys went to grammar school to learn about language and mathematics. Children from poor families went to work as soon as they were able. Orphanages did exist for unwanted children; when children became old enough (usually adolescence) they were given as apprentices to households. Girls were sent to a nunnery or apprentices as servants or wet nurses while boys went into a variety of occupations. During times of leisure people did a number of activities like read books, play games of cards, dice, or strategy, or watch 'cruel' sports like cock fights or bull baiting. Boxing was even around in certain circles; leather gloves were worn. Public executions also drew a crowd. The age of consent for girls is twelve and for boys it is fourteen; when single girls were subordinate to their fathers and then their husbands when married. Marriage did not legally require a clergyman and were unregistered with the government, both parties simply needed to agree to the union. This is why captains were allowed to marry couples; though a ban or marriage license was required and those lacking were considered "clandestine" by the government. When it came to breaking up a marriage, there were five ways: suing for separation, a private separation, desertion or elopement, and finally wife selling. Suing for separation was only possible on grounds of adultery or life-threatening cruelty; it was expensive and did not all remarriage. Private separation was a negotiation between both spouses embodied in a deed of separation; also expensive. Desertion or elopement was simply forcing the wife out of the home or the husband setting up a new home with his mistress. Wife selling is described as a husband and wife that were tired of each other and agree to part and the man could authenticate the separation by public notoriety.
When it came to justice and crime, the familiar system of felonies and misdemeanors was used in Great Britain - a common law country.
Felonies were serious crimes including treason, homicide, infanticide, theft, forgery, and fraud. Misdemeanors were petty crimes including offences against the peace such as riots and assault, petty theft, prostitution, vagrancy, misbehavior or treatment of apprentices, etc. After their arrest, criminals were jailed and held in prison to await their trial before a judge. Common punishment for misdemeanors was a fine between 3s.4d to 13s.4d, imprisonment or a whipping/flogging. Punishments for felonies was typically death by hanging or transportation to the British Colonies, though the ability to pardon was an alternative route that spared lives.
Spain, France, and the Netherlands were civil law countries. With France's House of Bourbon taking control over Spain's monarchy, the political fate of Spain depended on the result of France's power struggle with Britain. Spain, under Philip V, became the first Spanish monarch to rule over a single state governed by the rules and laws of Castile. With the Spanish port blockaded by British and Dutch vessels, they leaned heavily on France for support who offered great influence to better the country by the end of the century. Spanish laws leaned heavily on the church when it came to customs and punishments. In the lands that they conquered, they forced the indigenous people to learn Christianity and pulled them from their lands to live in shared lodging houses. Churches were built everywhere, even by mines, and mass was held on Sundays with a feast afterward. The indigenous people of lands they controlled essentially became slaves to the settlers but laws were enacted to be sure they were fed daily and that pregnant women were restricted to the house rather than working in the fields or mines. The Laws of Indies governed the Spanish territories in the New World and regulated social, political, and economic life - including the demand to construct cities a certain way.
When it came to justice and crime, the familiar system of felonies and misdemeanors was used in Great Britain - a common law country.
Felonies were serious crimes including treason, homicide, infanticide, theft, forgery, and fraud. Misdemeanors were petty crimes including offences against the peace such as riots and assault, petty theft, prostitution, vagrancy, misbehavior or treatment of apprentices, etc. After their arrest, criminals were jailed and held in prison to await their trial before a judge. Common punishment for misdemeanors was a fine between 3s.4d to 13s.4d, imprisonment or a whipping/flogging. Punishments for felonies was typically death by hanging or transportation to the British Colonies, though the ability to pardon was an alternative route that spared lives.
Spain, France, and the Netherlands were civil law countries. With France's House of Bourbon taking control over Spain's monarchy, the political fate of Spain depended on the result of France's power struggle with Britain. Spain, under Philip V, became the first Spanish monarch to rule over a single state governed by the rules and laws of Castile. With the Spanish port blockaded by British and Dutch vessels, they leaned heavily on France for support who offered great influence to better the country by the end of the century. Spanish laws leaned heavily on the church when it came to customs and punishments. In the lands that they conquered, they forced the indigenous people to learn Christianity and pulled them from their lands to live in shared lodging houses. Churches were built everywhere, even by mines, and mass was held on Sundays with a feast afterward. The indigenous people of lands they controlled essentially became slaves to the settlers but laws were enacted to be sure they were fed daily and that pregnant women were restricted to the house rather than working in the fields or mines. The Laws of Indies governed the Spanish territories in the New World and regulated social, political, and economic life - including the demand to construct cities a certain way.
Nobility of Europe
Kingdom of Great Britain
Queen Anne; House of Stuart
Spouse: Prince George of Denmark
Kingdom of France
King Louis XIV; House of Bourbon
Spouse: Françoise d'Aubigné
Spanish Empire
King Philip V; House of Bourbon
Spouse: Maria Luisa
Dutch Republic
King Frederick IV; House of Oldenburg
Spouse: Anne Sophie Reventlow
The monarchies of Great Britain and Denmark overlap a bit as Frederick IV is the King of Denmark and the uncle of Queen Anne's
spouse, George, who is currently very ill. For the record, George is Anne's second cousin. Anne's sister Mary II had moved to Holland
after marrying William III who was a stadtholder of the Dutch Republic at the time. Because of the relations between the families, Will
and Mary had a joint monarchy of Great Britain and Denmark and Norway; that is why some British coins were printed with their faces.
William and Mary died in the early 1700's and the sisters were still estranged after personal and political matters. Frederick IV married
Anne Sophie Reventlow, his third wife, whose family took the opportunity to aggrandize their name. Frederick found himself in the
middle of lawsuits and petitions regarding morganatic marriages (marriage between two of unequal social rank) of his kinsmen to
non-royal nobles while he engaged in warfare against Sweden and the involvement in the Spanish War of Succession.
The monarchies of France and Spain, as well as Italy, overlapped with various marriages over the years as well. King Philip V of
Spain's wife was an Italian woman from the House of Savoy, one of the oldest royal families in the world. Maria Luisa held great
influence over her husband during his reign as king. She acted as Regent while he was away due to the war and her great leadership
inspired those of Spain to support the war effort. King Louis XIV of France was previously married to Maria Theresa of Spain, from
the House of Habsburg, but she died in 1683. He remarried to a French woman Françoise d'Aubigné who dealt with a majority of
business before it was taken to the king. Both monarchies of the French and Spanish are from the House of Bourbon, which was
originally a house of France with the first king being Henry IV in the 16th century. Spain came under the rule of the Bourbon family
after Charles II died in 1700, members of the Bourbon and Habsburg families had married previously so the rulers of both countries
were of mixed descent. The House of Bourbon took the throne of Spain in the early 18th century with King Philip V.
Queen Anne; House of Stuart
Spouse: Prince George of Denmark
Kingdom of France
King Louis XIV; House of Bourbon
Spouse: Françoise d'Aubigné
Spanish Empire
King Philip V; House of Bourbon
Spouse: Maria Luisa
Dutch Republic
King Frederick IV; House of Oldenburg
Spouse: Anne Sophie Reventlow
The monarchies of Great Britain and Denmark overlap a bit as Frederick IV is the King of Denmark and the uncle of Queen Anne's
spouse, George, who is currently very ill. For the record, George is Anne's second cousin. Anne's sister Mary II had moved to Holland
after marrying William III who was a stadtholder of the Dutch Republic at the time. Because of the relations between the families, Will
and Mary had a joint monarchy of Great Britain and Denmark and Norway; that is why some British coins were printed with their faces.
William and Mary died in the early 1700's and the sisters were still estranged after personal and political matters. Frederick IV married
Anne Sophie Reventlow, his third wife, whose family took the opportunity to aggrandize their name. Frederick found himself in the
middle of lawsuits and petitions regarding morganatic marriages (marriage between two of unequal social rank) of his kinsmen to
non-royal nobles while he engaged in warfare against Sweden and the involvement in the Spanish War of Succession.
The monarchies of France and Spain, as well as Italy, overlapped with various marriages over the years as well. King Philip V of
Spain's wife was an Italian woman from the House of Savoy, one of the oldest royal families in the world. Maria Luisa held great
influence over her husband during his reign as king. She acted as Regent while he was away due to the war and her great leadership
inspired those of Spain to support the war effort. King Louis XIV of France was previously married to Maria Theresa of Spain, from
the House of Habsburg, but she died in 1683. He remarried to a French woman Françoise d'Aubigné who dealt with a majority of
business before it was taken to the king. Both monarchies of the French and Spanish are from the House of Bourbon, which was
originally a house of France with the first king being Henry IV in the 16th century. Spain came under the rule of the Bourbon family
after Charles II died in 1700, members of the Bourbon and Habsburg families had married previously so the rulers of both countries
were of mixed descent. The House of Bourbon took the throne of Spain in the early 18th century with King Philip V.
Wars in Europe
During this century Europe experienced several wars back to back between multiple countries. France, Spain, and Britain were constantly at war with one another, civil wars were common as well. Not only were these countries warring in Europe but also in the colonies they established in the New World and the Caribbean. Toward the end of the 1600's Spain's power in the New World was dwindling; demand of slave labor in the Caribbean was taken the labor from Spain. The lands in the Caribbean and the Americas was left with little protection, making them easy for other militaries such as Britain, France, and the Netherlands (Dutch) to take over. Though Spain was losing power they were earning large sums of money from their plantations. Britain, due to its treaties with neighboring countries, possessed the largest navy though the Dutch held the most powerful navy at the time. Britain and Dutch had been involved in trade war with one another that exploded into thre different Anglo-Dutch wars while fighting against the Holy Roman Empire, France, and Spain.
When it comes to militaries, the Dutch remains accurate, being that it is the most powerful in the world, but it is rather lax in the Caribbean.
Spain is a powerful maritime force in Europe but it's power in the Caribbean is equal with Britain; in the sense of manpower and vessels. The
French are currently small in involvement though their numbers are just below that of Spain and Britain. Remember the Spanish Was of
Succession is still ongoing in Europe.
When it comes to militaries, the Dutch remains accurate, being that it is the most powerful in the world, but it is rather lax in the Caribbean.
Spain is a powerful maritime force in Europe but it's power in the Caribbean is equal with Britain; in the sense of manpower and vessels. The
French are currently small in involvement though their numbers are just below that of Spain and Britain. Remember the Spanish Was of
Succession is still ongoing in Europe.
Piracy in the Caribbean
Pirates began swarming the waters of the Caribbean in the 16th century and flourished between the 1660's and 1730's due to pirate seaports such as Port Royal, Tortuga, and Nassau. During this time, there were about 2400 men sailing as active pirates and due to the massive quantity of warfare happening in Europe it was the perfect time for pirates and privateers to exacerbate their trade in the Caribbean. The governors left behind in the colonies across the Caribbean and the New World were left to deal with the pirates while the mother countries dealt with wars on the home front. Few military reinforcements were provided so the governors made use of the pirates as mercenaries and privateers to guard their colonies and fight the mother country's enemy. As the 1700's rolled around, some countries who were faring well in the previous wars were able to send more ships to protect their colonies in the New World which was troublesome to the prospering pirates and privateers.
When it came to ships, pirates favored speed over size so sloops were very commonly used. They also used barques, brigs, galleys, pinques, schooners, and frigates. Few pirates were able to get their hands on large ships such as Great Frigates, Man o' Wars, Galleons, etc.
In our world, the Pirates were able to grab Tortuga in the 1680's and keep hold of it for thirty years, making it a legitimate safe haven for all
pirates and a place for the wanted scallywags to live, settle down, and even retire. Nassau and Port Royal experience heavy pirate activity
but both cities are still owned by Britain - meaning soldiers are present.
(Below is a gallery if pirates doing what they do best and examples of their vessels. Credit to the respective artists.)
When it came to ships, pirates favored speed over size so sloops were very commonly used. They also used barques, brigs, galleys, pinques, schooners, and frigates. Few pirates were able to get their hands on large ships such as Great Frigates, Man o' Wars, Galleons, etc.
In our world, the Pirates were able to grab Tortuga in the 1680's and keep hold of it for thirty years, making it a legitimate safe haven for all
pirates and a place for the wanted scallywags to live, settle down, and even retire. Nassau and Port Royal experience heavy pirate activity
but both cities are still owned by Britain - meaning soldiers are present.
(Below is a gallery if pirates doing what they do best and examples of their vessels. Credit to the respective artists.)
Superstitious Sailors
Sailors, pirate and military alike, were a very superstitious crowd of people. There were a number of things considered to bring good and bad luck, which determined whether or not they were allowed on the vessel. Bad luck was caused by bananas, women, whistling, red heads, sirens, lurking sharks, and even certain words spoke at sea or leaving port. Bananas earned a bad reputation with sailors because the fruit rotted quickly in humid conditions, poisonous spiders hid in banana bunches and a number of cargo vessels carrying these fruits went missing. Women were bad luck because the majority of sailors were men and at sea for long periods of time, craving the attention of a women. Therefore men slacked on their duties to be around any women aboard or even fought one another for her attention, which never went over well with captains. It was believed that slacking on duties would anger the seas and so women were considered bad luck. Whistling wasn't a wise idea because it was believed to encourage dangerous winds and storms. Red heads were thought to bring bad luck if you happened to encounter one before boarding the ship. Sirens were considered to be bad luck because they used their beautiful singing to lure sailors into the water, where they would drown. Lurking sharks near the ship was a signed of inevitable death. Certain words such as "drowned" and "goodbye" were avoided when at sea and if someone wished "good luck" it was certain that bad luck would plague the journey. The only way to reverse the bad luck created by speaking a forbidden word was blood of the speaker. It was also considered bad luck to sail on Fridays. Good luck was caused by dolphin sightings, mermaids, albatrosses, naked women, male children, and gold. Dolphin sightings were considered good luck, especially when they swim with the ship. Seabirds, including the albatross, were thought to carry the souls of dead sailors and it was good luck to see one while sailing. Mermaids were believed to be good luck when sighted and it was believed that they helped those who fell into the sea get to shore safely. Though women weren't allowed on ships naked women were considered lucky, because they were believed to calm the sea. This is why a nude woman is usually the figurehead of ships, bare breasts shame the stormy seas into calm and open eyes guide the seamen to safety. Sailors often had gold jewelry because they believed it to be good luck, it possessed magic healing powers.
Tattoos were very common among sailors and were linked to their superstitious beliefs, though some had significant meanings. A pig on one foot and a rooster or hen on the other was believed it would protect the sailor from drowning if they fell into the sea and help them swim to shore. A fully rigged ship meant that a seaman sailed around Cape Horn, a bit of land off the coast of Chile and a difficult area to navigate with a ship. An anchor mean that he sailed the Atlantic Ocean. A shellback turtle shows that sailor crossed the Equator. The words "HOLD FAST" across the knuckles were said to allow better grip of the rigging. A rope around the wrist refers to a sailor who is or was a deckhand. A harpoon refers to someone who is part of a fishing fleet. The North Star, or Nautical Star, carried the belief that it would help a sailor find his way home when lost. A tattoo of a swallow held several meanings and was usually placed on the chest, neck, or hand. It showed that a sailor traveled 5,000 nautical miles originally but other meanings were adapted as time when on. Tattoos of barn swallows became a symbol of safe travel, sailors would get one swallow before leaving for a long journey and get a second when they returned home safely. Another belief is that when a sailor died at sea the swallow would carry their soul to heaven.
Tattoos were very common among sailors and were linked to their superstitious beliefs, though some had significant meanings. A pig on one foot and a rooster or hen on the other was believed it would protect the sailor from drowning if they fell into the sea and help them swim to shore. A fully rigged ship meant that a seaman sailed around Cape Horn, a bit of land off the coast of Chile and a difficult area to navigate with a ship. An anchor mean that he sailed the Atlantic Ocean. A shellback turtle shows that sailor crossed the Equator. The words "HOLD FAST" across the knuckles were said to allow better grip of the rigging. A rope around the wrist refers to a sailor who is or was a deckhand. A harpoon refers to someone who is part of a fishing fleet. The North Star, or Nautical Star, carried the belief that it would help a sailor find his way home when lost. A tattoo of a swallow held several meanings and was usually placed on the chest, neck, or hand. It showed that a sailor traveled 5,000 nautical miles originally but other meanings were adapted as time when on. Tattoos of barn swallows became a symbol of safe travel, sailors would get one swallow before leaving for a long journey and get a second when they returned home safely. Another belief is that when a sailor died at sea the swallow would carry their soul to heaven.
Suppression of Piracy
Britain - Piracy Act of 1698 made it easier to capture, try, and convict by lawfully enabling acts of piracy to be "examined, inquired of, tried, heard, and determined, and adjudged in any place at sea or upon the land, in any of his Majesty's islands, plantation, colonies, dominions, forts, or factories." Admirals could hold court sessions to hear trials of pirates in any place rather than requiring the trial to be held in England. Pirates were not provided with legal representation, allowing the trial to swiftly end and the pirate to be punished. Even those who were an accessory to piracy were criminalized under these statutes. Commissioners of these courts possessed full power and authority to issue warrants, summon witnesses, and do anything necessary for the hearing and final determination of any case of piracy, robbery, or felony.
Currently in the RP, pirates must be tried in a courthouse, so they must be brought back to land. The first capture of a pirate earns them a
brand on their right wrist, the letter P, and they are locked in a cell to await trial. Usually the punishment is a hefty fine or service to the
British military for a certain period of time. However, famous captains are usually given a brief trial before heading to the gallows;
sometimes the crew is punished just as harshly due to association. When it comes to anti-piracy laws from France and Spain, I have been
unable to find anything like the laws from Britain, if you know of any, please share.
Currently in the RP, pirates must be tried in a courthouse, so they must be brought back to land. The first capture of a pirate earns them a
brand on their right wrist, the letter P, and they are locked in a cell to await trial. Usually the punishment is a hefty fine or service to the
British military for a certain period of time. However, famous captains are usually given a brief trial before heading to the gallows;
sometimes the crew is punished just as harshly due to association. When it comes to anti-piracy laws from France and Spain, I have been
unable to find anything like the laws from Britain, if you know of any, please share.
The Slave Trade
It wasn't just Africans that were pushed into slavery, many "unwanted" members of society were sent off from Europe and over to the New World as slaves including gypsies, orphans, children and wives sold due to debt, and even criminals. Britain shipped it's criminals to Australia or New England as a punishment. Atlantic Slave Trade was lead by Britain but very few of the slaves captured saw the land, those who did worked as household servants despite the anti-slavery campaigns of portions of the population. The majority of slaves were transported from Africa, to the Colonies or the Caribbean to work on plantations. Slavery had become a major economic mainstay for British cities like Bristol and Liverpool who engaged in Triangular Trade. Ships loaded with manufactured goods such as copper, cloth, slave beans, guns, and ammunition left England and Europe and moved to West Africa to exchange for slaves. These unfortunate souls were from the following regions of West Africa: Senegambia, Sierra Leone, Windward Coast, Bight of Benin, Bight of Baifra, and West Central Africa (not shown). The ships then sail across the Atlantic for the Caribbean and Colonies to supply plantations with slaves. The ships were then loaded with export crops like sugar (usually in the form of molasses), tobacco, hemp, and cotton and commodities and returned to England. A secondary trade triangle was headed by New England with rum and manufactured goods going to West Africa where slaves were traded or bought and then brought to the Caribbean. The ships were cleaned before being loaded with sugar and sent back to New England. Countries involved in the Atlantic Slave Trade were the British, Colonies, Dutch, French, and Portuguese. Keep in mind that there were nearly as many European slaves as there were African slaves heading for the New World. The competition was mainly Barbary pirates from North Africa who kidnapped those of France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Britain, and Iceland while raiding cities. Those captured were brought back to North Africa and forced into slavery.
Technically, Spain is involved in the slave trade, supplying slaves but that is after they settle their issues with Britain. At this point in the RP,
Britain and Spain are still at war with one another. Those of the Atlantic Slave Trade are marked with a capital S on the nape of their neck.
Slave markets were present in several port towns across Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean; seriously the list is ridiculous.
The legal control over slaves was oppressive in the colonies, causing rebellions in many areas - especially Jamaica and Cuba. Rebelling slaves were brutally crushed and the slaves harshly punished via mutilation, torture, or death. Large groups of slaves that fled plantations sought refuge in areas free of European settlements and were known as Maroons. They lived in heavily forested and mountainous areas of the Antilles - especially in St. Vincent, Dominica, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Guadeloupe, and Cuba.
The British only freed slaves by the consent of their master and were considered property. There was no recognized marriage for slaves, family rights, education or right to religious practices. Freed slaves were also denied rights except for the right to a jury trial; they could not own property, vote, hold office, or even enter some trades. The French regulated slaves under Code Noir which recognized slave marriages, only at the consent of their master, and gave legal recognition to European men and black or Creole women. Spain also had a similar law recognizing slave marriages. Both French and Spanish laws were more lenient compared to the British when it came to manumission, slaves were allowed to purchase their freedom or become freemen. The French gave free slaves full rights to citizenship and extended limited legal rights to slaves - such as owning property and entering contracts.
Technically, Spain is involved in the slave trade, supplying slaves but that is after they settle their issues with Britain. At this point in the RP,
Britain and Spain are still at war with one another. Those of the Atlantic Slave Trade are marked with a capital S on the nape of their neck.
Slave markets were present in several port towns across Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean; seriously the list is ridiculous.
The legal control over slaves was oppressive in the colonies, causing rebellions in many areas - especially Jamaica and Cuba. Rebelling slaves were brutally crushed and the slaves harshly punished via mutilation, torture, or death. Large groups of slaves that fled plantations sought refuge in areas free of European settlements and were known as Maroons. They lived in heavily forested and mountainous areas of the Antilles - especially in St. Vincent, Dominica, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Guadeloupe, and Cuba.
The British only freed slaves by the consent of their master and were considered property. There was no recognized marriage for slaves, family rights, education or right to religious practices. Freed slaves were also denied rights except for the right to a jury trial; they could not own property, vote, hold office, or even enter some trades. The French regulated slaves under Code Noir which recognized slave marriages, only at the consent of their master, and gave legal recognition to European men and black or Creole women. Spain also had a similar law recognizing slave marriages. Both French and Spanish laws were more lenient compared to the British when it came to manumission, slaves were allowed to purchase their freedom or become freemen. The French gave free slaves full rights to citizenship and extended limited legal rights to slaves - such as owning property and entering contracts.
Fashion
Like modern times there was always a particular style of dress that was generally favored by the population and it defined different classes of people. The style of dress across Europe was pretty similar though some countries had their specifications as to what was in style. Ladies were women of money and class, often wearing long and elegant dresses, corsets, jewelry and sometimes hats. Gentlemen were of a similar type, often wearing frock coats, breeches, and stockings; sometimes a sword as well. Both genders often dressed in multiple layers to display their wealth.
Gentlemen's DressHats - Wide-brimmed hats with brims turned up became popular,
bicorne and tricorne hats are among these, decorated edges with colored threads, ribbons, or buttons Wigs - Different styles were worn for different occasions and by certain age groups; white being very popular with curls Cravat - Long neckcloth that wraps ones around the neck with the ends tied in a stylish knot; sometimes edged with fine lace Steinkirk - Type of cravat with the ends draped down the chest; typically a part of military dress Justaucorps - Type of knee-length frock coat with pockets, buttons that extended to the waist, a skirt (sometimes flared), and decorated with elaborate embroidery Frock - Knee-length coat with a flat collar, overlapping lapels with one or two columns of buttons down the front; densely knitted Jacket - Collared with long sleeves and cuffs, usually ended at the knee Chemise - Also called a shift or smock, undergarment to protect clothing from sweat and body oils Waistcoat - Sleeveless button-up garment worn under coats covering the chest, stomach, and ending at the hips; contained pockets Breeches - Clothing covering the body from the waist down with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping at the knee with buttons or a drawstring; some do go to the ankle; usually slim fitting Trousers - Loose fitting clothing with separate coverings for each leg ending at the ankle with a fall-front opening; row of buttons under each hip holding up a flap Stocking - Cotton, wool, or silk sock ending just above the knee Shoes - Square toes and small heels with a fastener over the instep, sometimes decorated by a buckle made of leather or silk; boots were worn for certain activities Accessories - A cane or sword (small sword or rapier) suspended by a loop from the waistcoat button, sometimes handkerchiefs or gloves Bedwear - Consisted of a long chemise, which ended just above the knee; sometimes drawers were worn as well Drawers - Similar to breeches, slim fitting lower body undergarment with a fall front groin and drawstrings or buttons at the knee; not often worn Three-Piece Suit - Consisted of a justaucorps or frock coat over a waist coat and chemise with loose or tight breeches and stockings |
Ladies' DressHats - Wide-brimmed hats with brims turned up became popular,
bicorne and tricorne hats are among these, decorated edges with colored threads, ribbons, or buttons; worn on certain occasions Bonnet - Brimless headcovering secured by ribbon under the chin, no part of the forehead was covered; helped keep hair tidy Coat - Fitted, thigh or knee-length coat similar to a man's was worn for certain outdoor activities Gown - Formally consisted of a stiff-bodices dress over a closed petticoat, sometimes worn with an apron; half or full sleeves Chemise - Undergarment to protect clothing from sweat and body oils Bodice - Covering of the body from neck to waist, usually fastened together by lacing Stay - Heavily boned garment that forced erect posture and pushed breasts up with a low neckline; almost showing nipples Corset - Lightly boned garment that holds and shapes torso for aesthetic purposes Stomacher - Decorated triangular panel that fills the front opening of the gown or bodice Waist cincher - Garment covering the lower ribs and stomach that ends above the hips, acts similar to a corset Waistcoat - Worn over the corset and under the gown for warmth Petticoat - Undergarment worn under a skirt/dress; not underwear Skirts - Often worn over small, domed hoops Garter - Strip of silk, cotton, or leather used to keep stockings up Stockings - Cotton, wool, or silk sock ending just above the knee Shoes - A slip on style shoe with a curved heel, pointed toe, and tie over the instep; though boots were worn for certain activities Accessories - Snug necklaces of lace or ribbon were tied high on the neck, sometimes decorated with pearls or diamonds; silk or linin gloves reaching half way up the forearm Makeup - White foundation with pink cheeks and deep red lip color; beauty marks and fabric in the shape hearts or stars were also added to the face with coded meanings for certain locations Bedwear - Consisted of a long chemise, which ended just above the knee; sometimes a robe is worn over it with a sash around the waist Knickers - Similar to drawers that men wear, light material that covered the body from the hips to the knees with separate coverings for the legs and a drawstring at the knees; not worn by many |
Above are several types of clothing worn by both genders throughout the social classes, upper class women wore more layers and clothing made from finer fabrics with decorative embroideries and designs where those worn by barmaids would be plain in design and made from cheaper fabrics. Since pretty much no one wore underwear, people hardly ever got completely naked to have sex. Men generally took off their coats and hats before unbuttoning their breeches while ladies merely hiked up the skirts of their gowns.
This is just here to help you feel more comfortable and familiar with the fashion of this era so that you can see the difference in dress for men
and women. Proper names of the clothing is used to keep from getting confused with modern clothing (i.e. trousers instead of pants or jeans).
Your ladies don't have to wear dresses but be prepared for social criticism; essentially you can mix and match these articles to describe your
character's outfit properly.
(Below is a gallery of fashion from this era. Credit to the respective artists and photographers.)
This is just here to help you feel more comfortable and familiar with the fashion of this era so that you can see the difference in dress for men
and women. Proper names of the clothing is used to keep from getting confused with modern clothing (i.e. trousers instead of pants or jeans).
Your ladies don't have to wear dresses but be prepared for social criticism; essentially you can mix and match these articles to describe your
character's outfit properly.
(Below is a gallery of fashion from this era. Credit to the respective artists and photographers.)
British Currency
The British currency consisted of pounds, shillings, and pence. The values of these coins are as followed: 12 pence equaled the cost of one shilling and 20 shillings equaled one pound. When written, the names of these coins are replaced with letters: pound = £, shilling = s, and pence = d. Two other coins are sometimes seen within English currency and that is the Roman coin, denarius (1 pence) pluralized as denarii, and the gold guineas (21 s.), silver marks (13 s. 4d.), silver nobles (6s. 8d.), silver crowns (5d.), silver half crowns (2s. 6d.), silver sixpence, silver three pence, copper halfpence, and brass farthing (one quarter of a pence).
For certain occupations, their food, lodging, and clothing was covered by their employer so their base pay was lower than someone of the working class who needed to pay for such things and have enough money to cover the rent and other necessities such as wood or coal. Soldiers, servants, and housekeepers generally had their food, lodging, and clothing paid for - meaning work uniforms, rationed meals, tents/hammocks or even rooms. Anything else desired was paid for by the worker such as beer, spare clothes, or small personal items. Below is a list of wages for various occupations and to put things into perspective, the middle class generally made around £100 a year and the rich made £500 a year and it cost about £40 to keep a family of three.
For certain occupations, their food, lodging, and clothing was covered by their employer so their base pay was lower than someone of the working class who needed to pay for such things and have enough money to cover the rent and other necessities such as wood or coal. Soldiers, servants, and housekeepers generally had their food, lodging, and clothing paid for - meaning work uniforms, rationed meals, tents/hammocks or even rooms. Anything else desired was paid for by the worker such as beer, spare clothes, or small personal items. Below is a list of wages for various occupations and to put things into perspective, the middle class generally made around £100 a year and the rich made £500 a year and it cost about £40 to keep a family of three.
Daily Wages of British Soldiers
£2 - Commodore £1.19s. - Captain £1.8s.6d - Master and Commander £1.4s.6d - Lieutenant Commander 16s.6d - Lieutenant Commander 7s.10d - Lieutenant 4s.8d - Ensign 1s. - Senior Petty Officer 10d - Petty Officer 8d - Seaman |
Various Labor Wages
1d - per bushel of coal shifted by a porter 1½d - hourly wage for a boy chopping wood 9s. - daily wage of a carpenter 13s. - weekly wage of handloom operator 14s.6d - weekly wage of a shoemaker 15s. - weekly wage of unskilled labor £1.2s - weeks wage of a bricklayer £2 - £3 - annual salary for domestic servant £15 - annual salary for skilled housekeeper |
To give you an idea of how these wages fared, below are a few lists of various goods and services.
Food and Drink
1d - pint of beer 2d - loaf of bread 2d - pound of flour 3d - meal of meat and broth and a pint of beer 3d - meal of bread, cheese, and beer 4d - quart of beer 4d - 6d - pound of cheese 8d - 10d - pound of butter 10d - 1s - one pound of fat bacon 1s - a dozen small oranges 1s - meal of beef, breed, and beer plus tip (From a steakhouse) 2s - bushel of wheat 4s - roasted pig 4s.9d - one pound of coffee 5s - gallon of rum (from British Colonies) 7s.6d - 16s - one pound of tea 10s - gallon of West Indies rums Clothing 1s - pair of white gloves 3s. - five yards of linen 5s - pair of cloth breeches 5s.7d - pair of women's stockings 6s - a women's stay 6s - man's waistcoat 8s - gold ring 10s - stout pair of shoes £1.1s - fine beaver hat £5.5s - silver watch £8 - man's three piece suit Furniture 1s.2d - one small trunk 8s - bed stead (frame) £2.6s. - one desk £2.10s - chest of drawers £5 - two-seater cushioned settee Weapons 6s - curved knife (simple design/no decoration) 8s - one sword (simple design/no decoration) £1 - pocket pistol £1.2s - £2.8s - flintlock pistol (depends on length/decoration) £1.6s - one musket £3 - military flintlock rifle* £3.15s.3d - pair of flintlock pistols £5 - pair of dueling pistols £5 - silver hilted sword £75 - iron 24-pounder gun £156 - bronze 24-pounder gun Large Purchases £6.1s3d - gun carriage £8 - wooden wagon £500 -1000 - military blockhouse £2300 - cargo (collier) barque £5000 - 10000 - fort with tall walls and bastions £8200 - 36 gun frigate £63100 - 104 gun ship of the line |
Supplies
1d - smoking pipe 1d - one day's allowance of coal 1½d - one pound of soap 3d - one pencil 4d - set of six dice 6d - one live chicken 7½d - scissors 9d - almanac 10d - one live cow 2s.6d - one checkerboard with pieces 2s.6d - one live pig 2s.10d - one pound of candles 5s - blank book 5s - one inkwell 6s - pair of irons 6s - handsaw 7s - powder bag (military) 7½s - playing cards 8s - nails (per pound) 8s.3d - chisel (common mortise) 8s.8d - one yard of flowered damask (15½ yards made one dress.) £5 - horse £15 - trained service horse £18 - per ton of iron £150 - per ton of bronze Blacksmith Services 2s. 6d. - Install a new tumbler lock 3s. (36d) - Clean a pistol, musket or rifle Labor Services 2d - grave plot in cemetery 2d - per mile fare for wagon ride 3d - postage for one-page letter 6d - cost of sweeping one's chimney 6d - making a will 6d - shave and dressing one's wig 7½d - lodging for one night 1s - bonus for military recruitment £8 - child slave £10-20 - female slave £26 - male slave Lodging Services 2d - one night w/shared bed (Lodging House) 1s.4d - one week in unfurnished room (Lodging House) 2s - weekly rent of a furnished room (Tavern/Inn) Tailor Services 1s.6d - mending a waistcoat 2s. 6d. - have measurements taken £2 - alter frock coat and waist coat Medical Services 3d - blood-letting for a pauper 2s. 6d - tooth extraction 2s.6d - fee to visit doctor (previous patient) 4s.6d - half pint of Daffy's Elixir** 10s - fee to visit doctor (new patient) 7s.6d - fix a dislocation 10s -fix and set a fracture |
For British currency, prices were described in pence and individual coins were referred to as pennies. Several hours were dedicated to
finding these historical costs of merchandise for us to refer to in RP. It has been very difficult find much information on the price of Spanish
goods and services though I have been able to find information about the exchange rate of currencies in this time.
* Military rifle stock is limited
** Daffy's Elixir was a very popularly used remedy for a variety of illnesses, some including an upset stomach, gout, convulsions, and
scurvy made from ingredients such as aniseed, brandy, cochineal, elecampane, fennel seed, jalap, manna, parsley seed, raisin, rhubarb,
saffron, senna, and Spanish liquorice.
finding these historical costs of merchandise for us to refer to in RP. It has been very difficult find much information on the price of Spanish
goods and services though I have been able to find information about the exchange rate of currencies in this time.
* Military rifle stock is limited
** Daffy's Elixir was a very popularly used remedy for a variety of illnesses, some including an upset stomach, gout, convulsions, and
scurvy made from ingredients such as aniseed, brandy, cochineal, elecampane, fennel seed, jalap, manna, parsley seed, raisin, rhubarb,
saffron, senna, and Spanish liquorice.
Spanish Currency
The Spanish coins were released in various denominations due to the predecimal system one type of coin was struck in different sizes and therefore values. In order of worth it went from the copper maravedís (1M, 2M, 4M, and 8M), silver reales (½R, 1R, 2R, 4R, and 8R), and gold escudos (½E, 1E, 2E, 4E, and 8E). The Spanish piece of eight is a silver coin, the 8-real coin, commonly referred to as the peso; it was considered the Spanish Dollar. The Doubloon, or the 8-escudo coin, is a roughly rounded coin made from gold and minted through cob coinage which caused it to have a slightly square appearance with the faces improperly paced. After the rounded discs were made and stamped with an image on each face, they were weighed and for each coin that was not 6.77grams, the excess metal was snipped off around the edges.
When it comes to the exchange value of these coins, one Doubloon is worth 128 Reals or 8 escudos. One escudo is worth 16 reals or 544 maravedís. One real de a ocho, piece of eight, is worth 8 reals or 272 maravedís. One real is worth 34 maravedís.
This money system is extremely confusing to be so I tried to keep it as simple as possible for us to use in the RP; if you can explain it better,
please do. The three coins were released in the various values listed and the higher the number, the larger the coin. So, if you have a handful
of maravedíes and want to buy something worth one real, you have several ways to do so. You can put together thirty four 1M coins, or four
8M coins with one 2M coin, etc. It is the same with the reals and escudos.
When it comes to the exchange value of these coins, one Doubloon is worth 128 Reals or 8 escudos. One escudo is worth 16 reals or 544 maravedís. One real de a ocho, piece of eight, is worth 8 reals or 272 maravedís. One real is worth 34 maravedís.
This money system is extremely confusing to be so I tried to keep it as simple as possible for us to use in the RP; if you can explain it better,
please do. The three coins were released in the various values listed and the higher the number, the larger the coin. So, if you have a handful
of maravedíes and want to buy something worth one real, you have several ways to do so. You can put together thirty four 1M coins, or four
8M coins with one 2M coin, etc. It is the same with the reals and escudos.
Weekly Military Wages *
42P - Contralmirante 36P - Capítan 30P - Comandante 24P - Teniente 16P - Alférez 12P - Guardiamarina 8P - Brigada 4P - Marinero |
Various Labor Wages
1R - Daily wage of agriculture or textile worker 2.4R - 4.8R - Daily wage of unskilled building laborers 2.5R - 3.5R - Daily wage of mine worker 3R - Daily wage of construction worker 25P - Yearly wage of ironworker |
* With very little information about the wages earned by Spanish naval soldiers, some are estimated guesses. Please keep in
mind, these listings do not include the deductions taken from soldier's pay for food, clothing, ammunition, and lodging.
mind, these listings do not include the deductions taken from soldier's pay for food, clothing, ammunition, and lodging.
There were several living in New Spain that could not make enough money to support their families, usually a unit of four, so the government issued bare-bones baskets that contained a number of important items commonly needed through the week. One basket consisted of wheat or oats, maize, beans, meat of beef or pork, butter, soap, linen or cotton, candles, lamp oil, and fuel of wood or coals. The price of a basket differed depending on locations throughout New Spain, anywhere between 3.4 - 10.2 reals; in Mexico, the cost is 3.9 reals.
Currency Exchange Rate
Kingdom of Great British
£1 = 3.5 Pieces of Eight
1s = 1R 11M
1d = 4 Maravedís
Spanish Empire
Doubloon = £1.4s
Escudo = 12s
Piece of Eight = 6s
Real = 9d
£1 = 3.5 Pieces of Eight
1s = 1R 11M
1d = 4 Maravedís
Spanish Empire
Doubloon = £1.4s
Escudo = 12s
Piece of Eight = 6s
Real = 9d
Ship Basics
The masts of a ship from bow to stern are the foremast (second tallest), the mainmast (the tallest), the mizzenmast (third tallest), and for those with a forth mast, the jiggermast (shortest). Each mast has a name for the section carrying a sail, there are three sections on each mast. The topmast holds the first set of sails, closest to the deck. Above them is the topgallant mast and then the royal mast. Off the bow is the bowsprit and further forward is the jib boom. The beams fastened to the masts that hold the sails are called yards. At the end of each a yard is a long piece of wood tapering toward the ends called a yard arm which could be rotated around the mast to allow the ship to change direction.
Thick ropes fastened to the deck reached up toward the tops of the masts and supported the masts, these vertical running ropes were called shrouds. The ropes running across and attaching to each shroud are called ratlines, which allowed sailors to ascend and descend the rigging.
The rigging refers to the apparatus through which the force of the wind is used to propel the vessel forward which includes masts, yardarms, sails, and cordage. A fully rigged ship is a vessel with three or more masts squarely rigged. Sails come in two different types, that being square to the keel and fore-and-aft sails that run with the line of the keel. Course sails were the first square sails above the deck. The foresail hung from the fore yard of the fore mast and actually lifted the bow rather than depressing like other sails. It threw the bow off the wind and was an essential sail for maneuvering. The mainsail hung from the main yard of the main mast and was the largest sail, the driving power; sometimes hauled in to avoid blanketing the foresail. The mizzen sail is hung from the mizzen yard (later replaced by a gaff) of the mizzenmast which acted as a balancing sail which could had a leveraging effect that could prevent the stern from coming up in the wind. A topgallant sail was the third sail above the deck which contributed to heeling and always set in moderate weather. The fore and mizzen topgallants were taken in when the main topgallant was left set to ease the ship's movement in waves. The topgallant sails had to be furled before the topsails which were the second square sails above the deck and the first to be set and last to be taken in; they were indispensable for all maneuvers. The royal sails are excellent light weather sails set above the topgallant sail. The spritsail was slung on the bowsprit and was important in maneuvering the bow of the ship. It worked in accordance with the other sails: it wasn't used if the topsails or topgallants were furled. It was never set at night, when approaching land, or sailing in convoy. The staysails were trapezoidal fore-and-aft sails running forward and downward from one mast to another, from one mast to the deck, or from one mast to the bowsprit which was responsible for catching the winds that the square sails let though. It is attached to the stay which is one of the ropes that hold the mast in place. These sails were useful over a narrow range of sailing. Staysails could be fitted to any mast and in front of almost any sail on that mast. (e.g. mizzen topgallant staysail, main royal staysail, etc.) The jib was attached to the fore topgallant mast and the jib boom and was effective at lifting a sail and throwing the bow of the wind. Large ships often used three different sized jibs depending on the weather.
For large ships with multiple decks like frigates, galleons, mano'wars, and other warships, a layout has been found and placed below. The layout for other smaller ships like sloops, barques, and pinques isn't a spacious and the attempts to find cross sections has been difficult.
Thick ropes fastened to the deck reached up toward the tops of the masts and supported the masts, these vertical running ropes were called shrouds. The ropes running across and attaching to each shroud are called ratlines, which allowed sailors to ascend and descend the rigging.
The rigging refers to the apparatus through which the force of the wind is used to propel the vessel forward which includes masts, yardarms, sails, and cordage. A fully rigged ship is a vessel with three or more masts squarely rigged. Sails come in two different types, that being square to the keel and fore-and-aft sails that run with the line of the keel. Course sails were the first square sails above the deck. The foresail hung from the fore yard of the fore mast and actually lifted the bow rather than depressing like other sails. It threw the bow off the wind and was an essential sail for maneuvering. The mainsail hung from the main yard of the main mast and was the largest sail, the driving power; sometimes hauled in to avoid blanketing the foresail. The mizzen sail is hung from the mizzen yard (later replaced by a gaff) of the mizzenmast which acted as a balancing sail which could had a leveraging effect that could prevent the stern from coming up in the wind. A topgallant sail was the third sail above the deck which contributed to heeling and always set in moderate weather. The fore and mizzen topgallants were taken in when the main topgallant was left set to ease the ship's movement in waves. The topgallant sails had to be furled before the topsails which were the second square sails above the deck and the first to be set and last to be taken in; they were indispensable for all maneuvers. The royal sails are excellent light weather sails set above the topgallant sail. The spritsail was slung on the bowsprit and was important in maneuvering the bow of the ship. It worked in accordance with the other sails: it wasn't used if the topsails or topgallants were furled. It was never set at night, when approaching land, or sailing in convoy. The staysails were trapezoidal fore-and-aft sails running forward and downward from one mast to another, from one mast to the deck, or from one mast to the bowsprit which was responsible for catching the winds that the square sails let though. It is attached to the stay which is one of the ropes that hold the mast in place. These sails were useful over a narrow range of sailing. Staysails could be fitted to any mast and in front of almost any sail on that mast. (e.g. mizzen topgallant staysail, main royal staysail, etc.) The jib was attached to the fore topgallant mast and the jib boom and was effective at lifting a sail and throwing the bow of the wind. Large ships often used three different sized jibs depending on the weather.
For large ships with multiple decks like frigates, galleons, mano'wars, and other warships, a layout has been found and placed below. The layout for other smaller ships like sloops, barques, and pinques isn't a spacious and the attempts to find cross sections has been difficult.
When it came to living space on the ship, being an officer certainly helped. It isn't just the captain who gets his own quarter, officers of higher standing did as well. The Captain and First Mate had their own personal quarters, the latter being smaller. Officers typically held positions such as Master, Boatswain, Purser, Surgeon, Carpenter, and Gunner and they shared cabin called the wardroom with wooden cots and tables in their quarters. Other crewman slept in hammocks either on the gundeck or in the crew's quarters or sleeping quarters where an open space was rigged with hammocks, sometimes bunkbed style, and small cubbies were offered to store person items.
Like all things crafted, ships needed to be maintained after years at sea and to do this, captains visited a Dock Yard. To care for the hull, ships were careened which is the practice of essentially beaching the vessel and securing the top halyard to a fixed object, like a tree, to pulled the mast over as far as possible and expose the hull. Maintenance for the hull included repairing damage from dry rot or cannon shot, using tar to seal the wood and prevent leakage, or removing barnacles and other marine life. Pirates who didn't have access to these Dock Yards would beach their vessels on shores to repair their hulls.
When it comes to the crew of a ship, keep in mind that there were men to operate the gun decks, men to operate the sails, and men to combat opposing vessels during battle. Though there were a few men such as the ship's surgeon, carpenter, cook, etc. that were considered noncombatants as they weren't trained by the military for battle like a soldier. This is why ships of the line with around 100 cannons and had crews of 800 men; six to fifteen men were required to operate one cannon to achieve those quick reload and fire times. The number of men per cannon depended on its size. Due to the length of the cannons and number of crew, no military power had enough crewmen or space to operate both sides of their gundecks at the same time. The only exception
No, you're not expected to know how to sail or know everything about a ship but to make you feel more comfortable in the environment your
character is in we've given several diagrams of ships to show their multiple deck layouts and the different areas of a ship.
(Below is a gallery of various ships to display what was discussed above. Credit to the artists.)
Like all things crafted, ships needed to be maintained after years at sea and to do this, captains visited a Dock Yard. To care for the hull, ships were careened which is the practice of essentially beaching the vessel and securing the top halyard to a fixed object, like a tree, to pulled the mast over as far as possible and expose the hull. Maintenance for the hull included repairing damage from dry rot or cannon shot, using tar to seal the wood and prevent leakage, or removing barnacles and other marine life. Pirates who didn't have access to these Dock Yards would beach their vessels on shores to repair their hulls.
When it comes to the crew of a ship, keep in mind that there were men to operate the gun decks, men to operate the sails, and men to combat opposing vessels during battle. Though there were a few men such as the ship's surgeon, carpenter, cook, etc. that were considered noncombatants as they weren't trained by the military for battle like a soldier. This is why ships of the line with around 100 cannons and had crews of 800 men; six to fifteen men were required to operate one cannon to achieve those quick reload and fire times. The number of men per cannon depended on its size. Due to the length of the cannons and number of crew, no military power had enough crewmen or space to operate both sides of their gundecks at the same time. The only exception
No, you're not expected to know how to sail or know everything about a ship but to make you feel more comfortable in the environment your
character is in we've given several diagrams of ships to show their multiple deck layouts and the different areas of a ship.
(Below is a gallery of various ships to display what was discussed above. Credit to the artists.)
The Weather Gauge
To be familiar with sailing winds and the advantages and disadvantages of positions, a bit of information will be provided. To sail upwind, or windward, is to be behind the point of reference To be downwind, or leeward, is to sail down wind from the reference point. The side of the ship towards the leeward is lee side. These terms were used in relation to the ship and in reference to islands in an archipelago and the different sides of a single island. The windward side is that side of the island subject to prevailing wind, winds that blow mainly from a single direction over a point on the earth's surface, or the wetter side. The leeward side is projected by elevation of the island from the prevailing wind, which is usually the drier side of the island. For the Caribbean, the Larger Antilles were windward and the Lesser Antilles were leeward.
Using the image as a reference for the imagination, the windward vessel is usually more maneuverable as it gives way to the leeward vessel. Captains of squarely rigged ships tried entering battle from the windward direction to gain the tactical advantage - he could choose when to engage and when to withdraw. The leeward vessel could do little but comply without exposing itself. Windward ships heeled away from the wind so that the leeward vessel was exposing part of her bottom to shot. If the ship is penetrated on a portion of the hull that is on or under the waterline, the risk of sinking is a very real danger. Another disadvantage of being leeward is the gunsmoke from windward blows down so it was common that battles lasted days as admirals strove to take the weather gage from his opponent to force action. Only in heavy weather was the windward gage a disadvantage, lower gun ports on the leeward side couldn't be opened due to the rise in water level. In strong winds, a ship attacking from windward wouldn't be able to use the heavy lower guns though their enemy would as the windward side of the ship would be raised from the heel.
When it came to where cannons were aimed in battle, it differed by country. The Dutch and British fried cannons on the downward roll of the ship to aim at the enemy hull, causing lethal splinters to maim the guncrews. The French fired on the upward roll to aim at the rigging and disable opponents so that they could flee. Rather than battling other navies to the death for command of the seas, La Royale focused on their missions. Because of this difference in tactics, the casualties of French fleets were larger. When the French and British did battle, France allowed Britain to get windward, upwind, until they were parallel before attacking. Then, rather than moving perpendicular like usual, they would move in slanting or curving lines causing the opponents line to askew to a "bow and quarter line" - the bow of one ship overlapping the stern of the one in front. It was difficult for Britain to maintain their formation and keep the French at an appropriate distance while having the wind in their favor.
Using the image as a reference for the imagination, the windward vessel is usually more maneuverable as it gives way to the leeward vessel. Captains of squarely rigged ships tried entering battle from the windward direction to gain the tactical advantage - he could choose when to engage and when to withdraw. The leeward vessel could do little but comply without exposing itself. Windward ships heeled away from the wind so that the leeward vessel was exposing part of her bottom to shot. If the ship is penetrated on a portion of the hull that is on or under the waterline, the risk of sinking is a very real danger. Another disadvantage of being leeward is the gunsmoke from windward blows down so it was common that battles lasted days as admirals strove to take the weather gage from his opponent to force action. Only in heavy weather was the windward gage a disadvantage, lower gun ports on the leeward side couldn't be opened due to the rise in water level. In strong winds, a ship attacking from windward wouldn't be able to use the heavy lower guns though their enemy would as the windward side of the ship would be raised from the heel.
When it came to where cannons were aimed in battle, it differed by country. The Dutch and British fried cannons on the downward roll of the ship to aim at the enemy hull, causing lethal splinters to maim the guncrews. The French fired on the upward roll to aim at the rigging and disable opponents so that they could flee. Rather than battling other navies to the death for command of the seas, La Royale focused on their missions. Because of this difference in tactics, the casualties of French fleets were larger. When the French and British did battle, France allowed Britain to get windward, upwind, until they were parallel before attacking. Then, rather than moving perpendicular like usual, they would move in slanting or curving lines causing the opponents line to askew to a "bow and quarter line" - the bow of one ship overlapping the stern of the one in front. It was difficult for Britain to maintain their formation and keep the French at an appropriate distance while having the wind in their favor.
Naval Communication
Communication between vessels happened mainly through signally with flags and cannon fire. A warning shot is a cannon round fired in front of the bow of the ship, intended to miss, to signal that a vessel must show her colors - raise the flag of their nationality - and fire a confirming shot. The British naval flag commands were strictly for military officers at sea and were not shared with or sold to civilians. Each ship had The Sailing And Fighting Instructions Or Signals of the Royal Navy to signal for various purposes and events - signals by day and night, in fog or fight. There were 48 signal flags that were used and hoisted on different parts of the ship, the flagship of the fleet would signal activities for the entire fleet - such as engaging in battle or fleeing. The French used ten colored signal flag that represented the numbers zero to nine. They were organized into sets of three to create various codes to transmit messages.
Ships battle initially through the line of battle - hence ship of the line - which allowed to efficient use of broadside fire. Though guns were very inaccurate except at close ranges so boarding was still the means of a true victory. There were three factors limiting what captains could do in battle. Vessels could not sail directly into the wind, not couldn't sail closer than 70 degrees off the wind. This limited the maneuverability of fleets during battles at close quarters - so being upwind of your opponent was considered a tactical advantage. Vessels were made with supporting ribs across their length which left the bow and stern vulnerable, especially the latter because of the cabin windows. Raking fire took advantage of this weakness, positioning one's broadside to face the enemies bow before firing. The shots would fly through the entire length of the ship and cause great damage without the risk of return fire. Communication during battles was very difficult due to the distance, noise, and the smoke from black powder. To solve this issue, signal flags were used on flagships.
Ships battle initially through the line of battle - hence ship of the line - which allowed to efficient use of broadside fire. Though guns were very inaccurate except at close ranges so boarding was still the means of a true victory. There were three factors limiting what captains could do in battle. Vessels could not sail directly into the wind, not couldn't sail closer than 70 degrees off the wind. This limited the maneuverability of fleets during battles at close quarters - so being upwind of your opponent was considered a tactical advantage. Vessels were made with supporting ribs across their length which left the bow and stern vulnerable, especially the latter because of the cabin windows. Raking fire took advantage of this weakness, positioning one's broadside to face the enemies bow before firing. The shots would fly through the entire length of the ship and cause great damage without the risk of return fire. Communication during battles was very difficult due to the distance, noise, and the smoke from black powder. To solve this issue, signal flags were used on flagships.