Sodomy and the pirate tradition: English sea rovers in the seventeenth-century Caribbean

264 Pages·1995·61.087 MB·English

by  Burg, Barry Richard

SODOMY AND THE
PIRATE TRADITION
ENGLISH SEA ROVERS IN THE
SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY
CARIBBEAN
With a new introduction by the author
B. R . BURG
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
New York and London
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
New York and London
© 1983, 1995 by New York University
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Burg, B. R. (Barry Richard), 1938-
Sodomy and the pirate tradition : English sea rovers in the
Seventeenth Century Caribbean / B.R. Burg ; with a new introduction
by the author.
p. cm .
Rev. ed. of: Sodomy and the perception of evil. 1983.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 0-8147-1235-5 (cloth : acid-free paper)—ISBN 0-8147-1236-3 (paperback : acid-free
paper)
1. Homosexuality, Male—Caribbean Area—History—17th century.
2. Homosexuality, Male—England—History—17th century. 3 . Pirates—
Caribbean Area—Sexual behavior—History—17th century. I . Burg,
B. R. (Barry Richard), 1938- Sodom y and the perception of evil.
II. Title.
HQ76.2.C27B87 199 5
305.38'9664'o9729—dc20 94-2552 1
CIP
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and their binding materials are
chosen for strength and durability.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
To Bill Camwell and Alice Watterson

"No interviews!" the pirate cried. "Especially
no interviews granted to little girls."
—DONALD BARTHELM E

CONTENTS
Preface x i
Introduction to the New Edition x v
Introduction xxxvi i
ONE Sodomy and Public Perception 1
Seventeenth-Century England
TWO To Train Up a Buccaneer 4 3
THREE The Caribbee Isles 6 9
FOUR Buccaneer Sexuality 10 7
FIVE The Buccaneer Community 13 9
Notes 17 5
Bibliographical Essay 19 3
Index 21 1

PREFACE
I have chosen t o use the word "sodomy" in the title of this study
rather than the more fashionable term "homosexuality." In a literary
sense, sodomy fits more comfortably in a seventeenth-century context
than homosexuality—a linguistic derivation from the Victorian era—
but my reasons for selecting it are practical rather than ornamental.
"Sodomy" is unencumbered b y scientific meandering s an d sundry
psychological nuances associated in modern usage with homosexual-
ity, and it is the absence of layered academic or clinical definition s
that make it particularly valuable in a title. The antique simplicity
and directness of the word are sufficiently intimidatin g to discourage
readers from asking questions about all-male sexualit y immediatel y
upon taking up the work that are more appropriately asked and an-
swered in the later chapters.
In Tudor and Stuart England, "sodomy" and "buggery" were most
often used interchangeably, an d I have used them in that manner.
Like many sexual denominators, however, the meanings of the terms
are not always clear. A t various times sodomy and buggery, as de-
fined by law, included homosexual acts, homosexual child molesta-
tion (but never heterosexual child molestation), bestiality, heterosex-
ual anal-genita l contact , an d assorte d method s o f homosexua l
masturbation. In practice the meanings were more precise. Sodomy
or buggery, without qualifying explanation, referre d only to homo-