The Boarding of the English Merchant Ship occurred in the summer of 1715 when the pirate crew formerly of the Walrus attempted to board an English merchant vessel after they acquired a Spanish Man O' War.
History[]
Background[]
Captain Flint led the pirate crew of the Walrus in hunting for the Spanish treasure galleon, the Urca de Lima. However, they were defeated by a Spanish Man O' War in the Battle in Division Bay. In order to convince the crew not to hang him after they learned of his myriad crimes, he hatched a scheme to take the Man O' War with his remaining 32 men. The plan is successful, and the pirates are able to escape with the ship and sail home for Nassau. As a result, he and John Silver are pardoned by the crew in a 17-15 vote, but will be expelled once they reach Nassau.
En route, Flint warns Dufresne, now acting captain, not to tack east around the coast, for it would taek them through the common trade route out of Kingston. The crew will want to take the firsst prize they come across, but Flint warns that they are too depleted and need to replenish their strength and numbers before sailing out again.
Dufresne talks this over with De Groot, and they both agree that Flint is just saying this to get in Dufresne's head, for he knows that if Dufresne successfully leads the crew in taking a prize, his leadership will be secure. They decide to tack east, and soon enough they find an English Merchant Ship.
The Boarding[]
The pirates hail the English ship flying Spanish colors, but as they close, Dufresne orders that they raise the Black. Upon seeing their true colors, the English strike their colors and raise the white flag. Dufresne then leads the vanguard aboard, where the merchant crew is waiting in the well deck while the Merchant Captain formally surrenders to Dufresne and promises that there are no men hiding belowdecks.
Dufresne orders his men to sweep the hold, starting at the bow. Back aboard the Spanish warship, Flint tells Silver that this part is the most dangerous, and points out the Merchant Captain. Flint says that his mind is drowning in questions, questioning his decision, how he'll explain to his proprietors that he gave up their goods without a fight, what kind of man he is. Furthermore, one has to hope that he has answers to those questions, that the thing he feared when he saw the Black is real. Flint tells Silver that the men in these waters are hard men, and they don't fear ships, swords or guns. Silver asks what it is they do fear.
Back aboard the merchant vessel, the Merchant Captain asks Dufresne if he is Captain Flint. Dufresne assures the Captain that he does not want to test them. The Merchant Captain then whistles to his men, who then begin fighting the pirates. Joji quickly cuts down the Captain, but his men overwhelm the outnumbered pirates. Dufresne is frozen, unable to react, and is forced to retreat back to the Man O' War with his remaining men, several of whom are killed during the retreat. Dufresne tries to rally the crew, and orders muskets to the rigging to suppress their front line. De Groot insists that they have lost the day, while Logan brings up that no one is in charge.
Flint steps up and says that the merchant ship has to be sunk, or else no one will every surrender to their flag ever again. Flint orders that they be cut loose and to get underway, and Logan relays the order. He then orders the gun crews to stand by, and Joshua relays his order. The pirates then sink the English ship.
Aftermath[]
As a result of Dufresne's ineptitude, Flint's scheme is successful and reelected captain. The crew then returns to Nassau, where they learn that Charles Vane has taken control of Fort Nassau. Fearing that Vane will extort the Urca gold should they be able to retrieve it, they ally with Benjamin Hornigold and his crew and prepare to assault Fort Nassau in order to remove him and reinstate Hornigold as Steward of the Fort.