4 ms·

"supported piracy against the Spanish Armada" I wish your statement of fact on this issue had been as well placed as your sentiments.

• lazyant 12y ago
  It's semantics but just in case "Viewed from London, buccaneering was a low-budget way to wage war on England's rival, Spain. So, the English crown licensed buccaneers with letters of marque, legalizing their operations in return for a share of their profits." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buccaneer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buccaneer
  • yareally 12y ago
    Pretty much all the major European powers handed out letters of marque to privateers/mercenaries though and the practice predated buccaneers and the Spanish Main. However, the British probably exploited their usage more than any other nation against the Spanish from the 16th to the 18th century. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_marque http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_marque
    • lazyant 12y ago
      indeed