The Pirate Republic was the self-given name to the loose orginization of pirate crews that ruled Nassau in the early 1700s. These crews plagued the seas and sold their cargo through the Guthrie Trading Company, who carried the pirates' plunder disguised as legitimate cargo.
History[]
Founding[]
The beginnings of the Pirate Republic started with Henry Avery, who sailed into the port ofNassau with a ship full of plunder and bribed the Colonial Governor to look the other way. Avery and his men camped on the beach. Jack Rackham describes Avery as setting camp and declaring Nassau “a place for free men.” Henry Jennings,Benjamin Hornigold, Sam Bellamy and Edward Teach soon arrived to Nassau, establishing it as a pirate haven. The crews on the beach bribe Governor Robert Thompson in exchange for favors. Meanwhile, his wife and his friends inLondon make pamphlets describing, as Thomas Hamilton put it, “the scourge of the pirate menace.”
The pamphlet written by Mrs. Thompson and her husband's friends in London.
In London, Lord Thomas Hamilton and his liaison from the Admiralty, Lieutenant James McGraw begin planning to address “the pirate problem.” Thomas’ father is Lord Alfred Hamilton, the fourth Earl of Ashbourne, Lord Proprietor to the Carolina Colony, including the Bahama Islands and a peer of the realm. A man of great power in Whitehall, he wishes to use Her Majesty’s Navy to pacify the island which technically belongs to him. Thomas wishes to save Nassau, not raze it. Thomas and McGraw discuss the problems with Governor Thompson taking bribes from the pirates while he prints pamphlets about their misdeeds. McGraw points out that it is very difficult to keep a man honest when he’s on an island thousands of miles away with power over other men. They propose to Lord Alfred that they offer universal pardons to all the pirates. Alfred vehemently disagrees, and vows to oppose them in Parliament. Thomas attempts to convince the attendees of his salons to aid him, and all abandon him except Lord Peter Ashe. Lieutenant McGraw is sent to Nassau on a three month mission to observe.
A dispute arose between Governor Thompson and one of the captains on the beach,Edward Teach, known also as “Blackbeard.” Thompson feels that he is owed money by Teach, but Teach refuses to pay. He recruits others and they demand that Governor Thompson leave New Providence Island immediately. Thompson refuses and a dozen armed men break into the Governor’s Mansion and drag his wife and nine-year-old son into the street. Teach’s second,Israel Hands, slits their throats. The pirates let the governor leave, to spread the word of who has the power in Nassau.
McGraw returns to London at a time when Thomas’ campaign against his father has reached a critical stage. He attempts to enlist the aid of his superior, Admiral Hennessy, in obtaining pardons for the pirates of Nassau. However, McGraw’s affair with Thomas is revealed to Hennessy by Lord Alfred. Thomas is taken to a mental asylum, and his wife Miranda and McGraw ordered to leave London quietly in exile. Instead of going to Amsterdam or Brussels to Lord Ashe’s friends, they instead travel to Nassau.
Golden Age[]
At some point,Richard Guthrie moved to Nassau, first living in the Governor’s Mansion. He establishes himself as a fence for the pirates, selling their plunder on his company’s ships. The pirates raid Spanish and English ships. This prompts Spain to retaliate with the Rosario Raid. They lay waste to Nassau, leaving it a smoking wasteland after raping and murdering as they pleased. Fort Nassau did not hinder their invasion as those in charge had allowed it to fall into disrepair. Richard’s wife and Eleanor’s mother was killed in the raid, as were hundreds of slaves belonging to the landowners of the interior. After this, Richard left, moving to the interior and leaving Eleanor in the charge of a slave,Mr. Scott. Scott ran the fencing operation in Nassau, and the pirates continued as they did, with the new rule of avoiding Spanish ships to prevent further reprisals.
When Eleanor was 17, she decided to assume control of the operation and too solidify her power by ousting the captain the others were most afraid of- Teach. Teach had a new protege, Charles Vane. Hands had grown jealous of the favor Teach showed Vane, leading to a falling out between them. Hands was humiliated by being beaten in front of all the crews on the beach and being shot in the face with a pistol, just missing his eye, leaving him disfigured. Hands then retired to the Wrecks, living as a scavenger. Vane was groomed in Teach’s image and trained as a peerless fighter. Eleanor seduced Vane and won Benjamin Hornigold to her side. Hornigold sailed with Teach at the head of the fleet, and to win him over, Eleanor offered Hornigold the position of Steward of Fort Nassau. Teach, isolated from all his allies, fled the island.
After being exiled from England, Lieutenant James McGraw and Miranda Hamilton arrive in Nassau. Miranda moves into a house in the interior under the name “Miranda Barlow.” McGraw tells the pirates his name is Flint. He persuades the quartermaster of the well-respected crew of the Walrus, Hal Gates, to help him become captain. It takes four months for them to secure their first significant prize. Flint soon proves himself to be the highest earning captain on the island. Close behind him is Charles Vane, now captain of the Ranger. Sometime in 1710, Richard moved to his estate on Harbour Island, which was listed as the official headquarters of the Guthrie Trading Company in the area. The pirates flourished in Nassau, their cargo being sold at legitimate markets by Eleanor, who in turn procured leads on new prizes.
Season One[]
The Pirate Republic is past its heyday, as the Royal Navy has sent the HMS Scarborough, a man o' war, to Harbour Island, only 40 miles from Nassau. Her captain, Hume, attempts to arrest Richard Guthrie in his home, but is stopped by Captain Flint and his boatswain, Billy Bones. Richard is injured in the fight, and taken to the Walrus. Flint plans on capturing the Urca de Lima, a Spanish treasure galleon carrying five million Spanish dollars in gold. Flint hopes to make Nassau and the Pirate Republic a self sustainable country with the prize money, in order to force England to allow them to rejoin the empire and appoint a governor of their choosing. News of the Royal Navy's proximity scares many crews, frustrating Eleanor.
New arrival to Nassau James Bridge, captain of a crew of ten aboard the Demeter brings a cargo of 50 barrels of tobacco and a fluyt's worth of rare silks. He is rude to Eleanor and Mr. Scott, and dislikes the idea of paying them to sell his cargo. After threatening to take his cargo to Port Royal, Vane tells him that the last person who did this disappeared, but their cargo was sold to Eleanor by him. Bridge says he'll be more of a fight than the last one, but after learning that he would be fighting Vane, he acquiesces.
Flint plans to have Gates captain Benjamin Hornigold's ship, the Royal Lion, as a consort to the Walrus during their mission to capture the Urca. Jack Rackham, Vanes quartermaster, convinces Gates to have the Ranger be their consort. Charles Vane is deposed as captain of the Ranger after Eleanor learns that his crew had been abusing her former lover, Max. Most of Vane's men join Flint with their ship. Only eight remain with Captain Vane.
Eleanor attempts to have her father convince Captain Dyfed Bryson of the Andromache, the largest of the Guthrie's supply ships, to give Flint his twelve pounder cannons. Mr. Scott and Richard betray her however, and the Andromache leaves Nassau, prompting Flint to chase her. In Nassau, Richard proclaims to the street that there is a warrant out for his arrest, and his family can no longer sell the pirates' goods, causing an uproar. This leads to protests outside Eleanor's tavern, led by Captain Lilywhite, a longtime opponent of the Guthries. To save her enterprise in Nassau, Eleanor tries to create the Consortium. Captains Geoffrey Lawrence and Naft captain two of the largest but lowest earning ships on the island. Frasier, the local appraiser, has a charter from the Massachusetts Bay Provincial Authority to ship rare items abroad. Between them, Eleanor's preexisting connections with the customs officials at various ports, Lawrence and Naft ferrying the cargo and Frasier's license, they can recreate her father's business. Hornigold agrees to provide security and give it his blessing, but only if she rescinds her ban on Captain Vane. After hours of deliberation, she agrees.
In order to obtain an income, Rackham convinces Mrs. Mapleton that Noonan sold the brothel to them before leaving for Port Royal. In truth, Vane had killed Noonan after Noonan attempted to murder him due to Vane depriving Noonan of Max. While Max has convinced most of the crew to treat her well, Hamund still beats her. Eleanor, angry at having to rescind the ban on Vane's men, plans with Anne Bonny to lure them to the Wrecks, where they will be ambushed and killed. Silver lies to Hamund about half of the pearls being given up front to him, and after the former Ranger crew searches Rackham's tent, they find pearls planted there by Eleanor. Anne leads them to the Wrecks, where they are all slain by Eleanor's mercenaries, with Hamund being personally killed by Anne.
After a lengthy battle, Flint is able to acquire the Andromache's guns after the slaves in the hold, led by Mr. Scott, break free of their chains with the pirate's help and attack Bryson's crew. However, two pirates accidentally set off a powder trap created by Bryson that triggers a small explosion. This causes the Scarborough, who had been waiting nearby, to fire on them as they escape. The Walrus is slowed down by the Andromache's spritsail brace which is tangled with their bow. Billy and Flint attempt to cut it free, but the Scarborough's cannon fire causes Billy to fall overboard and they are forced to leave him behind.
Vane travels to a nearby island to confront his former owner, Albinus, a once notorious pirate who has since become the owner of a timber business. Albinus' crew function as lumberjacks and foremen, and slaves also perform much of the labor. He gets Albinus to agree to a deal where he lends Vane a dozen men, and a share goes to Albinus for every three men. Vane gives a speech before the entire camp about Albinus being weak, and fights him. Albinus beats Vane to a pulp, knocks him unconcsious and has him buried. Vane digs himself out once he comes to, and kills Albinus, claiming his crew of roughly forty men afterward.
After much preperation, Flint and Gates leave to hunt the Urca with the Walrus and the Ranger. However, they find a Spanish Man O' War in her stead. Flint wants to lure the warship between the two pirate ships, and defeat her before she can turn her broadsides on the pirates. Gates refuses, and after threatening to return home and revealing his role in the mutiny that has developed against Flint, Flint kills him. As they carry out his plan, Dufresne points a pistol on him and reveals his crimes to the crew. Flint attempts to fire the ship's cannons himself but is shot in the shoulder by Dufresne. In order to kickstart the battle, Silver fires a cannon while the crew is focused on Flint and Dufresne. The Spanish warship fires back at the Walrus with her stern chasers, and Dufresne orders the gun crews to fire. Despite landing a few good shots, and the Ranger attacking the Spanish ship's bow, the Man O' War is able to turn, and fires it's massive payload at the pirates. The Walrus is able to limp away and the crew beach it and make a temporary camp. The Ranger's powder magazine is hit and the ship explodes, going down with all hands. After sending out scouts, they find the Urca, wrecked on a beach as a result of the recent hurricane. Guarding it by the sea is the Spanish Man O' War, while numerous Spanish sailors work on picking up the gold spilled over the beach.
Meanwhile, in Nassau, Vane uses the crew he acquired after killing Albinus, his former owner, to take the fort. They come from the interior and with no warning and assault the fort, killing all thirty members of Hornigold's crew inside. They then begin firing the fort's cannons on the Royal Lion in the harbor, confusing the street. Vane then meets with Eleanor, forcing her to allow him to remain as Steward of the Fort lest he sink the ships in the bay if an attack is made. After this, he confronts Jack and Anne for getting the rest of the crew killed, having been told by Mrs. Mapleton, who was bitter over being fired for stealing by Jack. Vane places a black mark on Jack, telling him everyone will know he betrayed his brothers for a woman. After settling the issue of Vane and the fort, Captain Lawrence is allowed to depart on the maiden voyage of the Consortium.
Season Two[]
A new crew to Nassau, captained by [[]]of the [[]], board the [[]], a merchant ship that has surrendered. Once aboard, [[]]the quartermaster, begins going through the manifest while [[]]the pirze captain, attempts to strike up a conversation with Low. However, Meeks notices that [[]] the daughter of Lord [[]] the Governor of Carolina Colony, is a passenger aboard the ship. The pirates slaughter the crew and Jefferson is killed personally by Low. They then abduct Abigail and burn the merchant vessel, intent on ransoming the girl.
Eleanor visits [[]] in [[]], scolding him for not showing up to the Consortium meetings. Furthermore, he is not providing their operations with security, two watchmen were killed and 500 pounds worth of cargo were stolen from the warehouse. Vane clarifies that he wanted to protect the bay and commerce in Nassau, not protect Eleanor's partners who are too weak to protect themselves.
Silver pulls Flint away from their lookout spot over the Spanish camp to prevent his being seen. [[]]asks if Flint has any plan to retrieve the gold, telling him that if he helps them, Dufresne will guarantee that the crew commutes Flint and Silver's death sentences. Initially responding with anger, Flint formulates a plan to steal the Spanish Man O' War instead, which he relays to the crew. He tells them that there are too many soldiers on the beach, which means the watch on the ship is spare. While the sun is failing, but before the night watch arrives, an assault could be made. Two men should swim aboard the ship and eliminate the watch on the mainmast and hoist s signal, telling the rest of the crew to board, who will be waiting nearby in longboats. [[]] and [[]] voice their anger at Flint, as does the rest of the crew, who Dufresne settles down. Flint points out that the risk falls entirely on the first two men out, and volunteers in exchange for their pardon. Flint asks one more person to volunteer with him, and after no one does, Silver puts himself forward.
Once alone, Flint expresses his annoyance with Silver, telling him he needed a fighter. Silver is confused, thinking this is how Flint intended to escape before realizing Flint meant what he said. Silver almost leaves for [[]], but is warned that it is two weeks away on foot, with [[]] tribes in between, and Silver is going the wrong way. Flint and Silver discreetly board the Spanish Man O' War and obtain the bosun's whistle, killing two crewmen in the process. Silver is able to call down the watchman, and Flint kills him, but the rest of the Spanish crew catch him and Silver. They are interrogated by several Spanish crewmen, but are able to get free and kill them and barricade themselves in their cabin. Before the Spanish can break down the door, the rest of the Walrus crew board the warship and kill the Spaniards before sailing away from the beach. Later, Dufresne informs Flint that crew has reached a vote, 17 in favour and 15 opposed, to allow Flint and Silver to escape with their lives once they reach Nassau, however, they will be kicked off the crew and will forfeit their share of any profit. When Dufresne leaves them alone, Silver tells Flint that he knows him well enough to know that he plans to become a captain again, take control of the ship, and return to the beach to steal the Spanish gold. Flint confirms that.
At the The Tavern in Nassau, Low's quartermaster, Mr. Meeks, is demanding that they receive full price for the cargo they captured from the English merchantman. The Harbour Master explains to him that they are not going to receive full price for the cargo because the barrels are stained with blood. Eleanor arrives and explains to Meeks that she cannot resell the cargo in bloody barrels which means that she will incur the cost of having to repackage the goods and that she doesn't intend to suffer that financial loss.
Elsewhere in Nassau, Rackham is leaving an outhouse when he is assaulted by a group of men, beaten, and urinated upon. Rackham has become an unpopular man in the community as word has gotten out that he took part in killing members of his own crew. When he returns to his brothel, Anne Bonny confronts him to see what has happened. He bemoans to her the fact that he has lost everything that he has worked so hard to build in the past few years as a respected pirate.
At the Inn, Eleanor has a sit down meeting with Rackham, Bonny, and Max, and wants to know why the Good Fortune was captured by Ned Low's crew and not by Captain Hallendale and his ship, the Straight Arrow, whom she had given the lead. Max admits that she sold that lead to Low for 90 gold pieces. When Eleanor demands to know why Max would subvert her authority like that, Max fires back and states that she doesn't live her life according to what Eleanor thinks. Bonny in incensed that Max is actually such a schemer, figuring that she was just a helpless woman who needed to be saved from pirates. She tells Rackham that Max needs to be put on the streets by the next day or else she will deal with Max in her own way.
In the Tavern, Eleanor is confronted by Low, who proceeds to tell her why he is a good captain; it is not because he is smart or a good sailor, but rather it is because he is feared and has no remorse in his heart. He then asks for proper compensation for the goods he brought in earlier. Eleanor, holding firm, then tells him to get out of her bar.
The next day, Meeks confronts Captain Low about Low's encounter with Eleanor Guthrie the night before. Meeks states that the future value they will earn if they are in Eleanor's good favour far outweighs the short-change they bore following the first encounter with Eleanor, and that Low is being unnecessarily reckless by trying to intimidate her.
On the Spanish Man O’ War, Silver is brainstorming a way to get himself back in the good favor of the crew while Randall cooks a meal. Muldoon approaches and berates Randall for how long the food is taking to be prepared, and demands that Randall not spit in his food. When Muldoon walks away, Randall does indeed spit on Muldoon's plate.
In the captain's quarters, Flint approaches Dufresne who is sitting at the captain's table. Flint tells Dufresne a story about when Flint first found him. Flint says that Mr. Gates was opposed to the idea of bringing someone lettered like Dufresne on board. Gates claimed that he found lettered men to be more difficult to control and harder to persuade. Flint expresses to Dufresne his regret about killing Gates. Flint states that since Gates grew fond of Dufresne that if he were to help Dufresne that it might be some small penance for what he did to Gates. Flint then offers Dufresne some advice. He advises that someone will eventually suggest to Dufresne that they tack east because that would be the fastest way home but going that route runs a greater risk of encountering a merchant ship. Dufresne asks why that would be such a bad thing. Flint then explains that the men are not ready for a real fight with the numbers they have lost and that it might lead to disaster were they to engage another ship in their condition.
Silver continues trying to win over the crew. After multiple failed attempts, each of which ends with Silver being punched by a crew mate, he finally wins them over when he tells them one of the pirates had sex with the dairy goat, causing the crew to beat him. At that moment, a sail is spotted. The pirates sail towards an English Merchant Ship, which Logan theorizes to be sugar merchants out of Kingston. The prize crew surrenders when Dufresne raises the Black. However, the Merchant Captain orders his men to attack the pirates after realizing that Dufresne is not Flint. Many men of the boarding party are killed, and the rest retreat.
Dufresne tries to rally his men but De Groot insists that they have lost the day. Flint then comes up and insists they have to sink the merchant ship, or else no one else will ever surrender to their flag again. Flint takes command and orders the gun crews to open fire. That night, the crew reelects Flint as captain.
In Nassau, Meeks meets with Eleanor and explains that his men had suffered under a terrible rash of captains and saw Ned Low as the answer. Meeks asks Eleanor to depose Low, having heard that she has done so before. She replies that that was a special case and it nearly cost her her livelihood. Meeks tries to explain that his crew knows where their next payment is coming from and it isn’t from Eleanor. Before he can explain further, O’ Malley tells her the Consortium is waiting for her upstairs. Eleanor asks Meeks to wait in the bar.
Meeks is cornered by Low and Holmes. Low explains Holmes observed Meeks nervously entering Eleanor’s office. Low figures out that this has to do with Meeks’ concerns over Low’s fitness as captain. Meeks argues that he has a duty to his men to protect them from Low and from themselves. Low admits that he does, and maybe that’s why Meeks did this, but maybe it’s the act of a spineless traitor, in which case, Low has to answer it.
In the parlor, Eleanor is surprised that Captain Lawrence couldn’t get full price for his goods, all his papers and payments were in good order. Lawrence explains that her family name is not in good order, and he had to threaten the customs man that there would be reprisals against him by Captain Vane if he did not allow Lawrence to sell his goods. Once the rest of the members leave, Vane tells Eleanor that her venture is on shaky footing and soon a mob will be outside her door again. While the two argue, they are interrupted by a commotion downstairs and go to investigate. They find Low beheading Meeks. Eleanor orders Low to leave the tavern and leave the island. and O’Malley tries to encourage him with his sword. Low proceeds to kill Eleanor’s bodyguard and declare that he is simply having too much fun to leave.
Silver informs the former Walrus crew that they will be making their anchorage well outside Nassau Town and only Silver and Flint will be going ashore. Dooley is upset that Flint is already skirting the rules and wants a vote. Silver explains that they need to warn Hornigold that they are sailing a Spanish warship into the bay, and Hornigold’s fort ordinarily protects the bay from Spanish warships. Dooley is calmed down and they sight New Providence.
Ned Low approaches Charles Vane in Fort Nassau. Low asks that Vane take no part in the feud between him and Eleanor, no matter how bloody it gets. In return, Low offers a tribute of 10% of his most recent prize. Vane agrees to Low’s request.
Aboard the Spanish Man'o'War, Flint is detailing to Dufresne the reasons why they are mooring so far from sight of Nassau. He also tells Dufresne about his intentions to reach Captain Hornigold and attempt to get Hornigold to act as his consort in retreiving the Urca's gold from the beach. Atop decks, Flint sends two men back to spy on the movements of the Urca's crew so that when he returns, they'll know the schedule of the men they are going to be attacking.
Ashore, Silver and Flint find Hornigold in a shack on the beach instead of in his fort. Hornigold informs them that Vane is in command of the fort now.
In Rackham's brothel, Vane confronts Max. He asks that she find out what Low's crew is holding that is so special. Vane offers her the tribute that Low had given him. Max refuses and instead states that she will find out the information for him in exchange for him forgiving Rackham and Bonny so that they may sail again.
In Eleanor's tavern, Eleanor is in the process of hiring a new bodyguard to replace O'Malley, who was killed by Low. She is interrupted by Flint's arrival. Eleanor gives Flint a hug, but Flint then tells her the truth of what has occurred. Flint then demands that Eleanor do something about Vane before he attempts to bring the gold back. Eleanor balks at the idea of removing Vane, claiming that Flint doesn't really understand the situation. Flint goes to Hornigold's tent and tells him that he can't figure out which side Eleanor is on. Hornigold demands that they must act quickly, regardless of whether Eleanor will condone their actions or not.
Elsewhere in Nassau, Rackham is having problems raising a crew because no one wants to be associated with a "crew killer". He then confronts Bonny about her relationship with Max. He tells Bonny that it is painfully obvious to him that Max is trying to drive a wedge between him and Bonny. Bonny says that she realizes this but that she can do nothing to stop it. When Rackham and Bonny return to their brothel, they are confronted by Vane, who asks that they sit with him. Vane states his intentions to repair their reputations. Vane then shakes Rackham's hand and gives him a hug that all can see.
Aboard Low's ship, Low is eating his dinner when he is made aware that Vane is approaching his ship in a rowing boat. In Low's cabin, Vane makes an offer of partnership to Low. Low stops Vane in mid sentence and begins to tell Vane that he knows that Vane has feelings for Eleanor. He demands that Vane get off his ship, but Vane will not and the two begin a fight below decks whilst above decks Vane's crew is silently killing Low's crew. Vane comes out on top of the fight and beheads Low. He then places Low's head upon a stake with a sign that reads "I angered Charles Vane." Later, after seeing Low's head, Eleanor goes to the fort where Vane is and the two make love. When they are finished, Vane takes Eleanor to where he is holding Abigail Ashe and states that since her father is the governor of the Carolina colonies, that she will surely pull a handsome reward.
Aboard the Spanish Man'o'War, Flint's crew and Hornigold's crew have come together. Flint gives them a speech, stating that before they can achieve success with the Urca's gold, they must first neutralize the threat posed by Vane and his fortress.
Flint’s messenger offers terms to Vane; Vane must abandon the fort before sunrise or Flint will attack the fortress. Vane orders the fort’s guns moved to face Flint’s ship. However, Jenks informs him that the guns cannot face that direction because that side of the fortress is too weak to support any artillery batteries. Eleanor points out to Vane that Hornigold must have informed Flint about the fortress's specific weaknesses.
Aboard Flint's ship, Hornigold is discussing the fortress's weaknesses with the senior officers. Flint asks him how long it will take Hornigold to rebuild any sections that are destroyed in the attack. Hornigold tells him that it will take at least ten weeks. The fortress would need to be rebuilt as quickly as possible because the power of the fortress is the only thing keeping the British and Spanish fleets from approaching Nassau.
In the fortress, Jenks again informs Vane that Flint's ship is outside of the fortress's field of fire. When Eleanor offers to be a mediator between Flint and Vane, Jenks tells her that might want to keep quiet. Vane asks Jenks if he questions Vane's loyalties as it pertains to Eleanor and if he does have questions, then he should challenge and fight him. Jenks backs down.
In the bay, Eleanor approaches Flint's ship in a rowing boat. When she boards, she tells Flint what is occurring in the city, wherein Vane is attempting to turn the unaffiliated pirates in Nassau against Flint. When Eleanor suggests that Flint move his ship away and that he allow her, he, and Vane to have a sit down discussion, Flint completely rejects the idea and states that he is absolutely not abandoning his position where he has such a good advantage over Vane.
Inside the fortress, Vane enters the cell where Abigail Ashe is being held. When she asks what happened to Low, her original captor, Vane informs her that he has beheaded Low. Abigail is pleased to her that. Vane then demands that Abigal write a letter to her father, Lord Peter Ashe, and ask a ransom of £250,000 in exchange for her safe return.
Back aboard Flint's ship, Flint tells Silver to go to the beach and to use his particular skill set to try and persuade the unaffiliated pirates on the beach to join his side and not Vane's.
On the beach at Nassau, a man is telling terrible stories to other pirates about the atrocities that Vane and his crew committed when they first captured the fortress. It is later revealed that this man was paid by Silver. Later, a man spots Silver as being a member of the Walrus crew. He tells Silver that another Walrus man has washed up on shore. When Silver goes to see this man who washed ashore, it is Billy Bones.
In Rackham's brothel, Max lays out a plan to try and gain Rackham more crew members. Max takes him to Idelle, who states that she knows an influential pirate named Featherstone. Idelle tells Rackham that Featherstone has the trust of a large group of pirates who are currently conflicted about whether to support Vane or Flint. Rackham and Max feel that Featherstone and his men can be swayed to join Rackham's crew. When Idelle suggests that can accomplish this through purely erotic methods, Max instead recommends that Idelle seduce him and make him fall in love with her. Idelle tells Max that she completely understands this and will attempt it soon. Later that night, Max announces to Rackham that Featherstone has indeed been swayed by Idelle to join Rackham, along with 28 other men and their ship.
Back aboard Flint's ship, Hornigold is expressing his logistical concerns about the coming attack in regards to the number of men that each side has to fight against each other. Hornigold and Flint bring 90 men to bear on their own, with another 50 pledged by sister crews. Vane has roughly 65 men in the fort, plus or minus 10. Hornigold believes that on rough terrain and fighting an entrenched enemy, they will have at least 60 casualties.
Before dawn, Mr. Scott and Flint are talking aboard Flint's ship. Flint asks Scott his advice. Scott tells him that there must be another way other than open war among the pirates. Scott advices that if the pirates are divided, then they can easily lose Nassau to either the British or the Spanish. Below decks, the men are poised to launch their attack against the fortress. Flint tells them to open fire.
Flint and his men fire on the fort until a sizable breach is made. Flint and Hornigold then move their men ashore, with instructions to remain on the beach and not go to the Inn. Flint is met by Miranda Barlow, who insists he come with her.
Back in Nassau, preparations for the attack are being made by the men on the beach. Rackham asks Max if any of her workers have had any of Flint's crew as customers since Flint has returned. Charlotte has indeed been with one of Flint's men, but not recently. Rackham wants her to find out from him anything she can about the Urca gold. Rackham and Featherstone then have a discussion about the articles being created. Featherstone tells him that he has a problem with both Max and Bonny receiving such a significant share of any future profits. Later, Rackham goes and finds Bonny. He tells her that she must stay ashore and not be a part of the crew for awhile until Rackham can gain the trust of the crew. Upon hearing this, Bonny storms off.
In the parlor of Eleanor's tavern, Flint and Barlow begin to discuss what has occurred in the town since Flint has been gone. She informs Flint that Vane has captured Abigail Ashe and that Flint needs to take her from Vane and then return her safely to Ashe. She believes that Ashe would help Flint in his efforts to reform Nassau. Flint finds the proposition to be extremely unlikely because Ashe has changed since they knew him last and that he is now violent toward pirates. After Flint is left alone, Vane attacks him.
The two captains wrestle until Eleanor fires a shot from a musket above their heads, causing the two to stop.
Flint then tells Vane that he will stand his men down from attacking Vane's fortress if Vane will give Abigail Ashe to him. Flint then asks that Eleanor go and bring her father, Richard Guthrie, to a meeting at the tavern.
Out at sea, Rackham is enjoying being back out on the water aboard his new ship the Colonial Dawn. Following a lead from Max, Rackham's crew is looking for a ship called the True North, which is soon spotted right where it was supposed to be. However, another set of sails is spotted in the distance. Apparently another pirate ship is chasing the True North.
On the beach at Nassau, Flint's crew is waiting for Flint's orders. Logan can't take the boredom and decides to go see his favorite whore, Charlotte, despite the fact that Flint demanded that no one go see the whores for fear that they will let slip critical information about their hunt for the Urca gold. Soon after Logan leaves to see Charlotte, Billy Bones enters the camp. This is the first time that the majority of the crew know that Bones has survived his fall into the sea. They are elated to see him and Dufresne gives him a hug.
In Eleanor's tavern, Richard Guthrie appears along with Miranda Barlow and Flint begins to outlay his plan. He tells everyone that England is soon going to assault Nassau in an attempt to exterminate the pirates on the island. Flint states that there is a way that their downfall can be avoided and that Abigail Ashe is the key. Flint believes that if he returns Abigail to Peter Ashe, that Ashe will be more likely to promote the idea of providing pardons to all the pirates of Nassau. Vane demands that he will only hand Abigail over to Flint if he is given the Spanish Man of War. Flint states that he absolutely will not do this and Vane leaves the meeting. Later, Eleanor guarantees to Flint that everything will work out and that Vane will agree to the terms.
In Rackham's brothel, Max is going over the leads that are being supplied to her by the whores when Idelle walks in and tells Max about what Anne Bonny has been up to. Apparently after not being allowed to serve on Rackham's ship, Bonny tried to join another crew. When she was rejected by that crew, Bonny grabbed a marling spike and punched it in the man's jaw, causing him to lose several teeth. Idelle then asks why Max hasn't put men at her door, fearing that Bonny will soon take out her wrath upon Max herself. Max explains that Bonny would never harm her and that she has no fear for her safety and will not give the illusion to Bonny that she has something to fear from her, thus making herself seem like another enemy of Bonny's.
Back at sea, Rackham's crew has successfully captured the True North, but the other pirate ship has pulled up alongside and her crew boards the True North. The captain of the ship introduces himself to Rackham. His name is Linus Harcourt and his ship is named the Goliath. Harcourt explains to Rackham that one of three things is about to occur. First, the two crews can fight it out. Second, the two captains can fight it out. Third, the two captains can negotiate a reasonable split of the prize.
Back on the beach at Nassau, Bones is telling the crew about how his story. He claims that when he fell in the water, he was rescued by the HMS Scarborough and that there is a large British camp set up not 40 miles away. Dufresne interrupts him and states that what the crew really wants to know is how he fell in the water, not particularly how he got out. Dufresne tells Bones that they all believe that Bones was pushed into the water by Flint to silence his opposition to Flint.
n Rackham's brothel, Bonny is drinking when she spies Charlotte coming down the stairs in a hurry. Bonny stops Charlotte and tells her that she knows that one of Flint's crew is up there. She then threatens Charlotte and demands to know what valuable information was told to her. Charlotte tells her that the Urca gold is on the beach and that Flint still plans to go get it. Bonny then storms up to Charlotte's room where Logan is dressing and puts a knife to his throat and demands to know where the gold is. Logan, sure that Bonny won't harm him because he is one of Flint's men, insults her. Bonny then cuts his throat and then immediately stabs Charlotte to death.
Aboard the True North, Captain Harcourt and Rackham are trying to come to reasonable terms to split the ship. However, the terms that Harcourt comes up with give his crew 9/10ths of the profit. Rackham states that it is nowhere near a reasonable deal.
Elsewhere in Nassau, Silver tells Flint that Bones has told the crew that he fell into the water and that Flint had actually tried to save him. Flint then enters the tent where Bones is and gives him a hug, telling him that he is glad to have him back. Hornigold interrupts the reunion and tells Flint that his men are growing impatient and that he demands to know what Flint is going to do to win back Hornigold's fort from Vane. Flint then tells Hornigold and Dufresne his plan which would allow Vane to keep the fortress. Hornigold is furious that Flint has cast aside their arrangement to return the fort to Hornigold. He tells Dufresne to prepare the men for a vote and tells Flint that he intends to be placed in charge of both crews so he can lead the assault on the fort.
In the fortress, Eleanor approaches Vane and tells him that she knows that she has put him in a weakened position and that it is difficult for someone with Vane's pride to accept, but that they still control such a valuable asset: legitimacy. She tells him that once England ratifies their legitimacy that they will make more money than they ever had before through legitimate business. She asks that he give up the girl and that he therefore give them the chance to have a future together, free from piracy. Vane rejects this and tells Eleanor that she should never weaken her position and allow Flint to take from them what is already theirs. Eleanor appears moved by this and begins to passionately kiss Vane.
Back aboard the True North, Rackham is showing his quartermaster, Mr. Featherstone, the terms that Harcourt gave them. Featherstone agrees that it is nowhere near an even split, but that they should take the deal anyways, feeling that they have no other choice because they are so outnumbered by the Goliath'screw. Rackham realizes that if he were to accept such paltry terms, his men might be happy that they've escaped with their lives, but that he would be voted out of the captaincy before they returned to Nassau. Rackham then sits back down with Harcourt. Suddenly he throws his wine in Harcourt's face and slashes him across the neck with his sword. Harcourt then begins to savagely beat Rackham, clearly a man with more fighting experience. However, as he leans over Rackham preparing to strike again, the wound in his neck opens up and begins to gush blood. Harcourt soon falls on top of Rackham and dies. Rackham immediately jumps up and implores both crews to hold their fire. He lies and tells them that Harcourt refused to come up with any terms that would have allowed the crew of the True North to survive and that that was a condition that he simply could not abide by and that's why he fought Harcourt. He then orders his crew to cut the captured crew loose. The True North crew are then given guns which doubles Rackham's crew, giving him now the advantage over the Goliath's crew. He asks the crew of the Goliath if there are any among them who would volunteer to come forward and reach reasonable terms with him and one man does.
Back in Nassau, Bones is speaking privately with Dufresne. He admits that he didn't escape from the British crew, but that he was released by Captain Hume for a reason. He states that Hume offered him and nine men of his choosing full pardons if they would capture Flint and bring him to Hume at Harbour Island. Elsewhere, Silver approaches Flint who is sitting alone reading a book. He tells Flint that the vote is in Flint's favor by a half dozen votes. Flint believes that he needs to win by a margin of twenty to keep Hornigold from moving on the fort. Silver then tells him that there is one particular vote that he is having trouble with: his own. He asks Flint about Flint's commitment to retrieving the Urca gold. Flint responds that the gold is his top priority, nothing else. That settles it for Silver.
When Silver leaves Flint, he is intercepted by Muldoon who tells Silver that Logan has gone missing and can likely be found at the brothel. At the brothel, he finds Max who then takes him to the room where Logan still lays dead. Silver then comes up with an idea that may work to keep the crew from finding out about Logan's death. He creates a fiction where Logan and his lover have run off together to Providence, which he will tell the crew. He then demands that Max take care of the mess immediately before anyone else sees it.
At the fort, Eleanor quietly takes the keys from Vane as he is sleeping. She goes to the cell where Abigail is kept and tells her that she is no longer a hostage.
In the Guthrie Warehouse, the men are beginning to gather for the vote between Flint and Hornigold. Billy Bones approaches Flint and tells Flint that he is up in the vote count, but Flint is still nervous, knowing that men can switch their votes on a whim. When the meeting starts, Hornigold begins his speech, using the tactic that the men should never trust someone like Flint who has backstabbed men multiple times just in recent weeks. While Hornigold continues his speech, John Silver approaches and tells Flint that Vincent and Nicholas have returned from their mission in which they were to keep an eye on the Urca gold. They inform Flint that the gold is all gone, that two Spanish ships arrived and took every piece of gold off the beach. The men overhear this and begin to spread the word.
Back outside, Dufresne is explaining to Flint and Silver that Hornigold's faction has completely faded away and that the men are now concerned about what their next move is going to be since the gold has disappeared. Flint declares to Silver that they must now find a way to convince the men to continue to go along with the plan to return Abigail to her father. Silver stops Flint in his tracks and states that they quit being a team once the gold disappeared. Flint then convinces Silver to go speak to the men on his behalf by appealing to Silver's vanity. He tells Silver that there is no other place in the world where Silver matters other than with the crew of his ship. Silver then gives a speech to the men in which he tells them the value of Flint's plan. He tells them that by following Flint, they have the chance to one day live their lives not as wanted men, but as free men.
Close by, Dufresne and Bones are watching Silver give his speech. They begin to discuss Flint's plan. Dufresne thinks it is madness because he feels there is no way that Peter Ashe, the most dogged pirate hunter in the New World, would ever give pardons to pirates. Dufresne tells Bones that they both know what needs to be done: capturing Flint and giving him to the Navy in exchange for pardons for them and eight other men. Bones then tells him to go find eight men who would be willing to betray Flint and to meet up in an hour. Later, when Dufresne has gathered the men together, he meets up with Bones. However, Bones is not alone. He arrives with the rest of the crew who have all remained loyal to Flint. Bones tells Dufresne that there will be no more dissent and no more interference with Flint's plans and demands that Dufresne and the others leave.
On the beach, Flint is approached by Bones who tells him that they've lost about eighteen defectors in the past hour. Nevertheless, most of the men remain with Flint. Flint asks Bones why he is supporting his captaincy. Bones tells him that when he fell into the sea, he remembers slipping on the bow and remembers reaching out and grabbing Flint's hand. The last thing he remembers before going into the water is Flint's hand slipping away. He states that he doesn't know whether Flint intentionally dropped him or not and states that he doesn't really care. He believes that he needs to remain loyal to Flint because the last man who crossed him, Mr. Gates, wound up being killed by Flint.
Flint is then summoned to the tavern where he introduces himself to Abigail. He tells her his name is James McGraw and that he is friends with her family.
Elsewhere, Dufresne approaches Hornigold, who is saddling his horse preparing to leave. Hornigold tells Dufresne that he is finally leaving the island. He states that he knows he doesn't have many years left but that he doesn't want to spend his final years swallowed up there. Dufresne then states that there is a way for Hornigold to restore his name and live out his days as a free man.
In the brothel, Max is enjoying a drink alone when Silver interrupts her. He tells Max that they must discuss something. Silver admits to Max that when the two scouts arrived on the beach, they told him that the gold was actually still there and that what had occurred was that the Spanish sailors on the beach had all become ill and died, leaving the gold virtually defenseless. He then asks Max if she knows of a crew who would be willing to go there and collect the gold.
Elsewhere on New Providence, Richard Guthrie is riding in a carriage when they stop on a misty road. Guthrie gets out and with a lantern walks into the fog. Standing before him is a group of men, barely visible.
Flint and his crew sail for Charles Town with Miranda Barlow and Abigail Ashe.
Back in Nassau, Featherstone arrives, somewhat vexed, at Rackham's brothel. He is upset that he must lie to his men about why they are clearing everything out of the hull of the Colonial Dawn. Rackham reminds him that he must keep it a secret if they are to ever achieve the goal of taking the Urca gold. Once Featherstone leaves, Max reveals that Anne Bonny has left Nassau. Rackham is clearly distraught over her departure.
Downstairs in the brothel, a young prostitute observes Featherstone arguing with Idelle. She leaves the brothel and goes to a house where Mrs. Mapleton has resided since being dismissed by Rackham. She tells Mapleton about what is going on at the brothel, with Featherstone having secret meetings with Max and Rackham. Mapleton pays her extra for her silence before sending her away.
Aboard Flint's ship, John Silver is giving the "goings-on" to the crew. He begins to tell a story about the horrors that he had seen when he had last visited Charles Town. He tells them about the gunboats that patrol the harbour and about an execution he witnessed of a pirate. Mr. Scott and Billy Bones are observing this when Bones reveals to Scott that Silver is just retelling a story from another pirate, surmising that it would be unwise to believe anything that Silver says. As Silver is finishing his story, he sees Nicholas snickering in the back of the crowd. Following his speech, Silver confronts Nicholas and Vincent below decks, demanding that they shut their mouths and not do anything that might give their scheme away. When Nicholas walks away, Silver tells Vincent that Nicholas has the potential to be a serious problem for them both.
Elsewhere on the ship, Billy Bones tells Flint that De Groot thinks they can gain some speed by adjusting the sails, but since this is to be done at night, it is riskier than usual. Flint tells him to go ahead and do it. As Bones leaves, Abigail asks about him, since his demeanor is not like the other pirates on the crew. Flint tells Abigail that Bones's parents were Levellers from Kensington who spoke out about the impressment of men and boys into the Navy. One day, Bones had been handing out pamphlets supporting the abolition of impressment when he was, somewhat ironically, taken by a press gang. When he was rescued by Flint many years later, Bones killed the man who had captured him. However, he refused to go home because he did not think his father would approve of his becoming a murderer.
On the top deck, De Groot orders Nicholas to go up the main mast and release the sails. As he is up there, Vincent and Silver are below decks and Vincent reveals that he has taken care of the problem with Nicholas. He reveals that he has sabotaged the footing rope on the main mast, knowing that Nicholas was going to go up there, thus leading to Nicholas falling to his death. Silver is aghast and runs to the top deck just in time to see Nicholas fall and die.
Back in Nassau, Featherstone, Rackham, and Max are trying to figure out what they are going to do once they actually get the gold back to Nassau. They are brainstorming where they are going to hide it. The best Featherstone can do is suggest that they bury it in a hole. Rackham then comes up with the idea of storing the gold in the fortress.
In Eleanor's tavern, Frasier approaches Eleanor and tells her that the Colonial Dawn is most certainly emptying her hold, giving further credence to the theory Mrs. Mapleton had proposed. Frasier tells Eleanor about the damage that could be done were the gold ever to reach the shores of Nassau. He states that pirates with that much gold will only be more empowered than ever and that it would surely kill any hopes of reconciliation with England. Eleanor tells him that the only way to actually stop the plan is to have everyone killed, including Max and Rackham. She declares that is something that she absolutely will not do.
Back on Flint's ship, the men are sewing Nicholas into his burial bag. Silver confronts Vincent about his decision to murder Nicholas. Vincent tells Silver that earlier in the day Silver gave him a look that indicated that they should dispose of the problem. Silver denies ever giving such a look to Vincent. Later, the men above decks bury Nicholas at sea.
Soon, Flint's ship arrives in Charles Town harbour. Below decks, Abigail speaks to Flint and Barlow. She tells them the reason why her father had changed from a reasonable man to such a hater of pirates. She states that it was the murder of Alfred Hamilton aboard the Maria Aleyne by Flint and his men that changed his view and that from then on he would dedicate his life to eradicating piracy from the New World. In light of this, Abigail requests that as soon as she is returned that Flint should turn around and sail away.
Up on the top deck, Flint tells Bones and Scott that he wants them to stay out of range of the patrol boats in the harbour. If they stay out of range it is a sign that they mean no harm. He also tells them that he does not want a single gun port to be opened, and no men are to carry weapons on deck. Flint then tells Barlow that he wishes her to stay aboard because he fears that Ashe will see her as someone who is aiding a pirate and hang her as well as him. Barlow then tells Flint that she is the reason Alfred Hamilton was killed because she is the one who uncovered that he was going to be a passenger on that ship. So she feels that she is as culpable of that sin as Flint is. Flint reconsiders and allows her to join him in going ashore.
A man approaches in a small boat from the shore asking for Captain Vane. Flint responds that he is not Vane and that he has no demands, but that he is a request to see Peter Ashe. When he is rowed to shore, he is met by one of Ashe's subordinates, William Rhett. As Rhett is walking Flint and Barlow through the town, Flint is suddenly set upon by men who repeatedly kick him. Abigail intervenes and demands that they stop, explaining that Flint is an old friend of her father's. Once inside the governor's mansion, Abigail is reunited with her father. When Ashe walks into the room and stands in front of Flint and Mrs. Barlow, there is silence as he looks Flint in the eye. After a few moments a look of recognition comes across all their faces and Lord Ashe states: "welcome to Charles Town."
Back in Nassau, Rackham and Featherstone stand outside the fortress knocking on the door. They hear no noise and can see vultures flying over head. When it becomes apparent that no one is inside, Rackham and his men batter the wall down. Inside they find the fort abandoned, save for the crucified corpse of Richard Guthrie. When Eleanor arrives to see the body, she is given a note from Charles Vane which was pinned to her father's corpse. The note states that Vane is no longer a slave but is a free man and that he wishes Nassau to remain free. He writes that Richard Guthrie was engaged in an effort to return Nassau to the King of England and that he therefore deserved to die a traitors death.
He says he was warned about Eleanor betraying him but had hoped they shared enough history for that not to happen. He further states that he will be tracking Flint's ship to Charles Town. While Flint's attention is elsewhere, he plans to take the Spanish Man O War because that is the price he asked to give up Abigail to Flint, but Eleanor stole the girl and he was never compensated. The episode ends with Vane and his crew lying in wait near the Spanish Man O War in the shallow marshes outside Charles Town.
In Charles Town, Captain Flint and Miranda Barlow are meeting with Peter Ashediscussing Flint's proposal to move forward with his plans for reconciliation between England and the pirates of Nassau. Ashe makes it clear the only reason they are sitting down together is because Flint brought Abigail back unharmed. He then says although they knew each other in the past, he does not recognize the two people that sit before him. Flint encourages him to ask any questions and promises he will be truthful in answering. When the subject of Alfred Hamilton is brought up, Miranda admits she is the one who arranged his execution. Flint then asks that Ashe not judge him for his past deeds and instead offer him redemption. Flint then outlines his plan, stating most of the pirates will agree to stop pirating and work legally as merchant sailors. Ashe eventually agrees to consider the plan.
In the harbor at Charles Town, Billy Bones asks for volunteers among the riggers to repair the top sail footrope that killed Nicholas. When no one volunteers, Bones goes up the rigging to repair the footrope himself. As John Silverand Vincent look on, Silver asks Vincent if there is any way that Bones will discover Vincent's sabotage of the rope. Vincent tells him that it is unlikely. Elsewhere on the ship, Dooley tells Mr. Scott he thinks he sees something moving out in the marsh. Scott tells him to keep an eye on it.
Back on Flint's ship, Bones continues working in the rigging during the night. As Silver is walking below decks, he encounters Randall, who has been stabbed and killed. Up in the rigging, Billy looks down and sees that the ship is being boarded by Vane's men. During the attack, Joshua and many other crew members are killed. Vane and Bones square off in a prolonged sword fight, which results in Bones' being captured when some of Vane's men arrive. Among those alive but captured are De Groot, Joji, Dooley and Muldoon.
In Charles Town, Flint and Miranda are preparing for dinner. Flint tells Miranda about where the name Flint came from. He states that when his grandfather was a young man, he worked as a deckhand on a privateer off the coast of Massachusetts. One night while he was on watch, a man climbed aboard his ship and stated that his name was Mr. Flint. The man then said that he had fled from another ship because he was accused of killing another man. He never stated whether he was innocent of the crime or not. He asked for some rum and then disappeared, never to be seen again. Flint tells Miranda he likes the idea of discarding his persona and says he is ready to retire Captain Flint back to the sea.
Back aboard Flint's ship, Silver and Vincent continue to hide below decks. Silver tells Vincent that they are in a tight spot, either be killed by Vane's crew or swim to the beach and risk being hanged as pirates.
In Rackham's tent, Anne Bonny appears, having been away for some time. Rackham is overjoyed to see her, stating that he truly never thought he was going to see her again. Bonny states that she thought about leaving for good but before she can say why she returned, Eleanor's men enter the tent and attack Featherstone and then Rackham. Bonny quickly disposes of both the men, killing them. They seek refuge in the brothel. Max states that they must leave immediately. Along with Anne, Featherstone and Rackham go to their ship to begin the voyage.
On Flint's ship, Silver tells Vincent that he has a plan to delay Vane from leaving the harbor with the ship. Silver plans to sabotage the ship by cutting the fore-stay, which holds the fore-mast in place. With the fore-stay severed, the fore-mast would likely snap completely if the ship were to sail. Silver knows that Vane would then have to spend a good deal of time continuing to sit in the harbor to repair the damage. Silver climbs out onto the bowsprit and attempts to sever the fore-stay.
In the captain's cabin, Vane approaches Bones and confesses that when he and Rackham backed Singleton to depose Flint, it was mainly done to try and steal away certain crew members of the Walrus, including Bones, whom Vane greatly admires for his courage and loyalty. Bones explains to Vane why they are in Charles Town. He states that they are there trying to gain forgiveness from England because the Royal Navy is about to take Nassau back and reconciliation is the only way for all of them to survive. Suddenly, Silver succeeds in cutting the fore-stay and the whole ship lurches from the damage. Knowing there are saboteurs onboard, Vane goes below decks to neutralize the threat.
In Charles Town, Flint, Miranda, and Ashe are having dinner. Ashe states that he has given it much thought and the only way for Flint's plan to work is that they both return to London together where Flint will confess his crimes and ask forgiveness from Parliament. He states that Flint must tell the whole truth including the relationship with Thomas Hamilton. Ashe believes that this will work because Parliament will see that the most feared pirate in the New World is not a monster, but a very flawed man. Flint agrees. Just then, Miranda realizes why the clock is so familiar to her: it belonged to Thomas and was in their home in London. Ashe admits that it was a gift from Alfred Hamilton. It is then revealed that Ashe was the reason behind all of their misfortune. Miranda realizes that James McGraw was well liked and had a good reputation among the Navy and that there must have been another reason why everyone believed the affair between him and Hamilton was true. She stands to confront Ashe with the accusations and states that he sold them out to become governor of the Carolina colony. Ashe says that he was forced to betray them because Lord Hamilton was threatening his family. Miranda becomes increasingly aggravated and says she would like Ashe to take responsibility for ruining her life and that he should be swinging from the end of a rope. Suddenly, she is shot through the head and killed by Colonel Rhett. Flint then attacks Rhett but is subdued and knocked out by Ashe's men.
Aboard Flint's ship, Vane is searching for the saboteur below decks when he spots Silver. As he approaches Silver he is taken from behind by Vincent who puts a knife at his neck. Outside the ship, a launch approaches from shore. The men on the launch announce a message from Ashe. An agreement with Flint could not be met and he is now considered a threat to Charles Town and has been taken into custody. There will be a swift trial for Captain Flint the next day and if their ship is still in the harbor, they will seize or sink it. Vane then quickly disarms Vincent and Silver, taking them both prisoner. Vane, Silver and Vincent then come out on the deck and Vane proposes to Bones they attack the city and free Flint because if one of the most feared pirate captains in Nassau is hung then nobody will ever fear the pirates of Nassau again.
In Mrs. Barlow's house, Eleanor is concluding her business with Underhill when she is confronted outside by Benjamin Hornigold and Dufresne who take her prisoner. They deliver her to Captain Hume and request the ten pardons that Hume promised to Bones if Bones were to deliver Flint. Hornigold tells Hume what a terrific prize Eleanor will make when he takes her back to London, as she is responsible for brokering all the illegal pirate trade in Nassau. Hume throws the pardons on the beach for Hornigold and the men and takes Eleanor captive.
The pirates rejoice that Eleanor has been arrested and hang effigies of her around town. Max, sensing an opportunity, buys up all of Eleanor’s former businesses.
Vane and his quartermaster Jenks are arguing over Vane’s plan. Vane is taking half of the men to free Flint, and the half that think it is a bad idea are remaining with Jenks on the ship. Jenks feels that the men remaining on board may wish to just take the prize back to Nassau and leave Vane behind in Charles Town.
Flint’s crew are chained in the well deck of the ship. Vane approaches Bones and explains his plan to him and asks for Bones's help in restraining Flint's men from any foolish actions such as a revolt that would only result in bloodshed on both sides. Vane promises that once he returns with Flint, Bones and the other men will be released.
In Charles Town, a Crier is announcing the upcoming trial of Flint in the town square. Ashe approaches Flint, who is in sitting in chains, and tells him that if he just confesses to his crimes that he will be executed the next day privately and not that day in front of a jeering crowd. Flint asks Ashe to confess to him that he betrayed Flint and Miranda just because he was a coward. Ashe refuses to comment and walks away.
Aboard the Colonial Dawn, Featherstone begins to tell the crew about what their mission actually is, which is to retrieve the Urca gold. Rackhamapproaches Anne Bonny and asks her what kept her from leaving him behind and pursuing a new life. Bonny tells him that she realized that they were two halves of the same person and that she can never exist away from him. She tells him that they will be together until they are both dead.
Back aboard Flint's ship, Jenks and Yardley are discussing their odds of successfully escaping the harbour using only their skeleton crew. They realize that their chances are nil with only the men they have. As they are walking along the ship, Vincent, who is pretending to be ill, confronts Yardley and tells him that he has a plan to get them all out of there.
Elsewhere on the ship, Bones is telling Silver that the men are growing a support for Silver to be made Quartermaster. Bones tells Silver that the men know that if Silver had not cut the forestay that Vane would likely have sailed away and killed all of them. Yardley then appears and unchains Silver and takes him away. As he is being taken away, Bones and the rest of Flint's crew attempt to intervene and save Silver, but they are swiftly put back down.
In Charles Town, Flint's trial is taking place. The prosecutor is telling the assembled crowd about the numerous acts of piracy that Flint and his crew have committed. As the prosecutor continues to speak, he is interrupted by the arrival of Charles Vane. Vane states that he wants to be a character witness for Flint. He brings with him Abigail's diary that she wrote in during her trip to Charles Town wherein she wrote good things about Flint and Barlow and the other pirates. Later, in a closed session, the prosecutor tells Ashe that he could always throw the diary in the fire, but that he should not worry about allowing it into evidence because the jury has already made up their minds about Flint.
Aboard Flint's ship, Silver is brought into the captain's cabin where Vincent is sitting in front of Jenks. Jenks explains that he needs Silver to influence several men on Flint's crew to join his crew so that he can adequately sail the ship. Silver figures out that the men who do not join Jenks's crew will be slaughtered and so Silver refuses to help. When he states his refusal, Jenks pulls out a pistol and shoots Vincent, killing him. Jenks then has Silver laid out across the table and proceeds to crush his leg with the hard end of an axe.
In Charles Town, Abigail's diary is being read aloud to the crowd as Flint and Vane sit shackled on the stage. On the outskirts of the town, Vane's men climb up the walls of the city and take out the gun crews who are standing guard. They turn the cannon from facing the sea and place them where they face the city and on Vane's signal, they open fire on the town. During the chaos that ensues from the artillery fire, Flint confronts Ashe and stabs him through the gut, mortally wounding him.
Aboard the ship, Jenks continues to crush Silver's leg until he gets word that the city is being successfully assaulted by Vane's men ashore. As Jenks goes to kill Silver, the men of Flint's crew smash into the captain's cabin and rescue Silver. Jenks is killed by a sword slash from Billy Bones.
In the city, Flint and Vane fight their way to the jetty and begin to escape on a rowing boat. Colonel Rhett and his men begin to fire at the boat and even prepare to fire a cannon at them when they are killed by artillery fire from Flint's ship. Once Flint and Vane make it back to the ship, Flint orders that all of Vane's men be released and that they all fire indiscriminately at whatever target they can find in Charles Town.
Inside the ship, Dr. Howell is forced to perform an emergency amputation upon Silver's crushed left leg
Some time later, Silver awakens inside the captain's cabin. Flint informs him that they found out that Eleanor has been arrested by the Royal Navy. Flint also informs Silver that he has been elected as the ship's quartermaster. Silver then lies and tells Flint that Vincent had confessed to him that he had lied about the situation with the Urca gold and had sold the information to another crew.
In Nassau, Max is summoned to the beach where she finds Rackham and Bonny looking a bit beat up, but alive. Rackham tells her that the Spanish men on the beach put up an admirable fight, but that they won the day. Rackham's crew also had to salvage the Walrus in order to carry it all back to Nassau. Rackham asks Max if she would like to see "something shiny" and takes her into the hold of one of the ships, revealing the long-desired Urca gold. Max smiles in the light of the glittering gold.
Season Three[]
After Rackham brought the Urca gold to Nassau, he split some of it with Flint's crew and placed the rest of it in the vaults below Fort Nassau. Flint issued a decree that any magistrate in the New World who hnaged men for piracy would be visited by him. He sacked the colonies of Bridgetown, St. Kitts, Nevis and Martinique.
Hazzard, the magistrate of a colony in the New World, hangs men for piracy despite Flint's warnings. Flint sacks the colony and kills Hazzard and his wife.
On the high seas, Captain Vane's ship tracks a Dutch merchant ship. As his ship approaches the merchantman, the Dutch captain begins to throw his cargo overboard. His cargo are slaves. Vane puts out longboats to retrieve the slaves thrown overboard. Vane then boards the merchantman and murders the Dutch captain by throwing him overboard with weights tied to his legs.
In Eleanor's tavern, a play mocking Eleanor's trial takes place. Mr. Scott approaches Max and tells her that there has been no work on the fort in two weeks, not since Captain Vernon's crew walked off the site. Anne promises to talk to Jack about it.
In the Governor's Mansion, Anne Bonny confronts Rackham about his lack of oversight concerning the restoration of the fortress. Rackham is then confronted by Vane, who has returned from his last expedition. Vane suggests that Rackham purposely had Vane attack a ship that had slaves on it so that the slaves could be used to rebuild the fort. Vane is averse to using slaves for the fort's restoration, likely stemming from his experience as a forced laborer under Albinus, but Rackham's convinces him that it is the only way to rebuild the fort.
Aboard the Walrus, Quartermaster John Silver attempts to convince Flint that he needs to stop going ashore on the raids against magistrates. Silver states that there is an escalating danger of Flint being killed and that the men of Nassau can't afford to lose Flint. Flint rejects the idea, claiming that the name "Flint" is what scares people and that he must go ashore each time.
A ship is then spotted in the distance, with her sails up, flying the colors of Captain Hallendale. Silver gives the order to move in and investigate. Flint tells Silver that he feels that they shouldn't go investigate because it will cause unnecessary delay, but goes along with it anyways. When they board the ship, they find it completely empty, save for the corpse of Captain Hallendale, chained to his chair inside the Captain's cabin. He had apparently been marooned by his crew and went mad from drinking sea water. Billy Bones and Flint can't figure out why would he be marooned on a ship rather than being left on an island to be marooned. It soon dawns on both of them that it is a trap. At the same time as their realization, Silver spots sails in the distance; it is a large and powerful Royal Navy hunter heading right for them. Flint states the approaching ship has them in a terrible spot.
As the ship approaches, it is revealed to be Captain Hornigold and his crew who have now become pirate hunters, sanctioned by the Royal Navy. Hornigold tells the Walrus crew that if they surrender peacefully, he has the power to grant all of them pardons, as he had previously done with Captain Hallendale's men. Flint then gives an impassioned speech to his men, stating that he will never surrender to that thing, England, that has done so much harm to him. He then convinces his crew that they should never surrender either, stating that they are winning the war. Since he cannot outrun and cannot outgun Hornigold's ship, he sails the Walrus directly into a massive storm, knowing that Hornigold will not pursue.
When Flint is awoken by Billy Bones, who tells him that Captain Hornigold has began to close the gap between their two ships. Flint reaffirms his command to sail into a terrible storm to escape Hornigold. As usual, Flint’s orders are obsessive and with little regard for others.
Elsewhere on the ship, Quartermaster John Silver tells Bones that they should have taken Hornigold's pardons and then after they were safe to reject those pardons.
In Nassau, Rackham's quartermaster, Featherstone, is having to disperse more of a pirate's share after that pirate explains that he misplaced and lost his previous dispersement. They are interrupted by Max, who wishes to speak alone to Rackham. Max tries to persuade Rackham to exchange all of their gold, which sits perilously inside an unprotected fort, for commodities that are easier to transport should they need to abandon the island.
Back on the Walrus, the men prepare to head into the storm. Crew members stand ready in the top sails ready to pull them in at Flint's command. Beneath decks, Muldoon and Silver attempt to plug holes that have opened in the hull. Silver explains to Muldoon how useless he feels, but Muldoon explains to Silver how the entire crew is indebted to him. Back up top, Flint orders that the main sails and the topgallants be raised, but the topgallants are stuck.
Back in Nassau, Vane is surprised in his tent by Edward Teach. Vane is at first unclear of Teach's intentions, but Teach gives him a hug and tells Vane that he forgives him for betraying him for a girl all those years ago. Teach tells Vane that for years all he wanted to do was return to Nassau and that when he heard that the Guthries had been deposed that it was time for him to return.
Back on the Walrus, the men are still struggling to get the sails either reeled in or cut away when a massive squall approaches and nearly knocks the ship over. As the ship almost tips over, a cannon comes loose below decks and crushes Muldoon's leg against the side of the ship. Unable to free Muldoon's leg, the water below decks begins to rise. Silver holds Muldoon's hand as Muldoon slowly drowns. De Groot tells Flint that the only way that the ship can avoid being sunk is for the topgallants to be cut away. Flint finally grabs an ax and personally cuts them away, leading to the death of several crewmen as they fall into the sea.
In Nassau, Teach and Vane enter the Governor's Mansion to explain their plans to defend Nassau. Teach is less than impressed at Rackham's status as a partner, because he remembers Rackham as a scrawny crew member. Vane tries to defend Rackham, relating how he rose through the ranks. But, Teach sees it as a sign that Nassau has become weak. He demonstrates his ruthlessness, by having two potential crewmates fight to the death to join his crew. This convinces Rackham that Blackbeard is a volcano building towards its inevitable eruption, and to agree to Max's plan - as long as it's done quietly.
Back on Rogers's ship, Hornigold comes aboard. He is shocked to see Eleanor on the ship, but goes on to explain that he drove Flint's ship into a storm. He found enough wreckage to convince him that Captain Flint is dead.
On the Walrus, Flint wakes from another dream having been knocked out in the storm. On deck, he learns that the ship is badly damaged, and many of the crew injured. They are now becalmed in the Sargasso Sea, their food and fresh water mostly lost, and many miles from land.
Max and Anne Bonny are arranging the exchange of 46,121 pieces of eight for 316 black pearls, with the son of the wealthiest man in Saint Kitts, a notorious backstabber. Fortunately, these people also spill secrets. In the middle of insulting Max, he spills the beans about the approach of Woodes Rogers and his fleet.
Max and Anne raise the alarm. Jack Rackham insists they must rally the pirates for the defence of Nassau. However, with the fort not yet finished, the other pirate captains unreliable, and their only true navel strategist James Flint missing, some of them are resigned to defeat.
On the Walrus, the ship is still becalmed. Flint insists that they must divide the crew into an “A” list and a “B” list. The men critical to sailing the ship once the wind returns will be fed, the others not. Silver tries to refuse, but Flint contends that the ship is in a life-threatening situation, so as captain he has complete control.
In Nassau, Rackham gathers the pirate captains to discuss the defence of Nassau. When they try to refuse, Rackham shows his newly grown backbone, by threatening persuade their crews directly. The meeting is interrupted by Blackbeard, who announces that Flint is believed dead. He offers to step in and coordinate the pirate fleet, provided that, following the battle, Charles Vane would leave with him and become his protégé again.
Back on the Walrus, Billy Bones tries to encourage Silver to stand up to Flint, by making him see him as an equal. When Flint casually executes two men accused of stealing food to make a point, Silver is convinced.
In a cave near Nassau, Max and Bonny split the shares of the black pearls. Max persuades Anne that she must go with Rackham by telling her back story. She is the child of a slave and the slave-owner. She would watch her father whilst his legitimate daughter would eat, read and dance in the safety of the "big house". Max wants that life, Bonny wants freedom.
Back on the Walrus, a dead whale is spotted nearby; Flint and Silver, the only men still on full rations, row out to investigate. The whale is rotted, but they manage to kill a shark feeding on the corpse. During the trip, Silver uses his smarts, and reveals the truth of how he deceived him and stole the Urca gold, to finally win Flint’s respect. His audacity is rewarded by the fates with the return of the wind that they so desperately need.
Rogers's fleet approach Nassau, to find a resolute defence flying the flag of Blackbeard. Eleanor convinces Rogers to send Benjamin Hornigold into Nassau in a longboat, under the flag of truce, to make a pardon address. Much to the pirates' frustration, many of the men begin to lay down their arms.
On the Walrus, a fresh wind drives Flint, Silver and company to an uncharted island. Land at last… populated with hostile natives.
James Flint's crew recuperate after weeks stranded at sea. John Silver and Flint discuss all the pardons Benjamin Hornigold offered. Silver fears this is the prelude to a bigger force attacking Nassau. If so, Flint fears the battle is likely already over. However, they are interrupted by a large force of well-armed escaped slaves and maroons.
In Nassau, Jack Rackham, Charles Vane, Anne Bonny and their crew are stuck in the fort with men slowly gathering for the bounty on Vane’s head. With one man, (Paul), constantly demanding they open the door, Rackham finally does, shooting him point blank. Featherstone informs the three that the crew have voted to give up Vane. Rackham acknowledges Nassau’s defence is over and comes up with a new plan; to destroy a portion of the fort so Vane can escape.
Back on the Maroon Island, the whole crew is taken at gun point, through a trap infested forest, to a large settlement filled with possibly a thousand men, women and children. They are questioned by the Maroon Queen, who seems to react at Flint’s name. Silver explains how they ended up on the island and assures her no one else knows the location. They are imprisoned while the Queen corroborates the story, by torturing four of the crew to death. In the cell with them is another man, Ben Gunn, the last survivor of a slave trader crew captured before the Walrus.
Back in Nassau, Vane and Rackham exchange farewell pleasantries. Rackham wants to stay knowing Blackbeard does not respect him. He also reveals that a good portion of the gold has been put aside by Bonny. With a loud explosion Vane tries to fight his way to the docks, but is eventually trapped in a narrow alleyway. Thankfully, Blackbeard appears, and the two combine to slash, shoot and kick their way to Blackbeard’s ship. Afterwards, Mr. Scott meets with Hornigold and offers his services to repair the fort. Hornigold reveals the fort slaves have fled, but Mr. Scott claims he can get them to return as he can offer them fair treatment.
Back on the uncharted island, Billy Bones, Silver and Flint all deal with the direness of their plight in their own way. For Billy, he wants to escape through the trap laden forest with Gunn’s help. For Silver, he’ll talk his way out of it. And Flint, he doesn’t know if he has any more fights left in him. At night, Silver is taken to see the young daughter of the Queen, Madi. He tries to convince her that they have similar hatred toward England. It seems to no avail, but she goes to her mother and voices her concerns. The Queen rebuffs her, but Mali insists on talking to her father, the ‘away’ Maroon King.
On Blackbeard’s ship, Vane learns that Eleanor Guthrie is on Woodes Rogers’s ship, which is the reason for the price on his head. That night, with English fleet blocking any chance of escape from the harbour, Teach and Vane send one ship straight at their line. Confused by the ships intention, they delay firing until the pirates set it on fire and abandon the ship. The fire ship is hit a few times, but ultimately one of the English ships is set alight. Rogers’s fleet break their formation allowing Blackbeard to sail away.
In an isolated bay near Nassau, Mr. Scott is helping the fort slaves escape Nassau. He is the ‘away’ Maroon King who has been sending supplies and slaves to the unchartered island for years under everyone’s noses. Two English patrolmen come upon them, and a brief gun battle ensues, wounding Mr Scott in the crossfire.
With the escape of the Pirate Fleet, Rogers is able to move ashore into Nassau. The pirates of Nassau have surrendered en masse and accepted the pardon, effectively dismantling the Pirate Republic, aside from a few holdouts such as Teach and Vane's fleet and Flint on the Walrus. Flint allies with his Maroon captors, who are led by Mr. Scott and the Maroon Queen. Teach and his fleet make Ocracoke Island their base.
The capture of Jack Rackham when he tries to accept a pardon gives birth to the Pirate Resistance, a movement dedicated to defeating Rogers and rebuilding the Pirate Republic. They frustrate Rogers' efforts to transport Jack and his cache of gems to Havana, but Vane is captured. He is later hanged, which, combined with the defeat of Rogers' forces at the Maroon Island, begins a war over possession of New Providence Island.
Season Four[]
All resistance to reconciliation with England ends when Rogers' is imprisoned and his treaty offered to the pirate and Maroon leaders, who by and large accept it.
Governance[]
There was no true government in the Pirate Republic. Eleanor Guthrie kept crews in line, establishing some sense of order in Nassau Town, with the threat of refusing to sell their cargo. Some viewed Eleanor’s rule as tyrannical.
Captains retained control over their own individual crews. Rhe more distinguished captains had tremendous influence even with other crews on the island. However, captains could be voted out by their crews if they were displeased with them.
Founders[]
- Captain Edward Teach
- Israel Hands, Teach's second
- Captain Benjamin Hornigold
- Captain Henry Jennings
- Captain Sam Bellamy
Notable Figures[]
- Richard Guthrie, head of the Guthrie Trading Company in the West Indies.
- Eleanor Guthrie, his daughter, Chief Fence and Supplier in Nassau.
- Mr. Scott, a former slave and Eleanor's right hand man.
- Eleanor Guthrie, his daughter, Chief Fence and Supplier in Nassau.
- James Flint, Captain of the Walrus.
- Hal Gates, Quartermaster of the Walrus.
- Billy Bones, Boatswain of the Walrus.
- Charles Vane, Captain of the Ranger.
- Jack Rackham, Quartermaster of the Ranger.
- Anne Bonny, Rackham's lover and a crew mate of the Ranger.
- Benjamin Hornigold, Captain of the Royal Lion and Steward of the Fort.
- Geoffrey Lawrence, Captain of the Black Hind, one of the largest but lowest earning ships.
- Mr. Harrison, Quartermaster of the Black Hind.
- Captain Naft of the Intrepid, one of the largest but lowest earning ships.
- Reginald Walker, Quartermaster of the Intrepid.
- Jacob Garrett, Carpenter's Mate aboard the Intrepid.
- Captain Hallendale of the Straight Arrow.
- Edward "Ned" Low, Captain of the Fancy, a new arrival to Nassau.
- Mr. Meeks, Quartermaster of the Fancy.
- Captain Throckmorton, an influential captain.
- Tom Morgan, an influential captain.
- Captain Lilywhite, an opponent of the Guthries.
Quotes[]
"What's coming our way can't be outrun. But with the money I strip from the Hulk, we could add 50 guns to the fort. We could build ships to defend our shores and train new men to sail them. We could work the land, grow crops and raise cattle. Then whoever arrives on our shores first, be it England or Spain, will be in for a most unwelcome surprise. A nation of thieves."
- Flint's hopes for the Pirate Republic.
"So, one of two outcomes will result. Rogers will understand his defeat to be ultimately inevitable and leave this place, in which case I'll have it back. Or he'll stubbornly refuse and eventually Spain will raze this place to the ground. The English flag will burn, and a second Pirate Republic will be born from the ashes of the first. Only this time, every man who calls it home will know it came about because of me."
- Jack Rackham in XXIV.