Piracy and the English Government 1616-1642

Piracy and the English Government, 1616-1642, explodes the myth that England was 'a nation of pirates', arguing that the English people were far more often victims of piracy. The costs to the economy and society resulting from piracy, which are critically examined here for the first time, reveal that not only were hundreds of English ships lost to pirates in the period, but an astonishing number of men, women and children (approximately 8,000) were carried away to Barbary by pirates and sold into slavery. The response of the government to these losses, which posed significant political problems for the early Stuart government, are explored and related to broader political concerns and influences.

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Contents: Acknowledgements; Conventions; Maps and Drawings; Abbreviations; Introduction; Part 1: James I and the suppression of piracy; Naval finance: the Algiers expedition; The Algiers expedition: diplomatic background; Anglo-Spanish negotiations; Part 2: The Algiers expedition; The Algiers expedition: assessments, aims and accomplishments; Captivity and redemption; Part 3: Diplomatic initiative: Sir Thomas Roe's embassy; Piracy, parliament and personal rule; Piracy and the origins of Caroline Ship money; The Sallee expedition of 1637; Epilogue and conclusion; Sources and bibliography; Index.