It was King Henry III of England who, in 1354, first issued Letters of Marque to privateers and allowed them to protect his nations shipping from attack by pirates.
Now ifInsurance syndicates at Lloyds of London have their way, armed parties of privately employed personnel are to be hired to protect shipping from the scourges of the Somalian based pirates that are currently wrecking havoc among today’s merchant shipping as it sails the world’s oceans well outside territorial waters while plying their lawful trade.
Perpetrators of the idea are keen to distance themselves from swashbuckling words the likes of Corsairs and Privateers but in all but name that is what the plans seem to amount to.
How long do you think it will be before we see a 70 metre SuperYacht take up the call to arms and enter the fray.
Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of Rum!