lubbardly
acting like a novice
Manzanilla Pasada
fino sherry
Ministry of all the Talents
the administration put together following Pitt’s untimely death
mort
a lot
Mr Vice
vice president of the wardroom; traditionally the most junior officer present
mucker
close friend on a potentially dirty job
neats-leather
cowhide treated to make it pliable
oragious
superlative
pawky
diminutive
pennon
long, narrow banner, normally atop a lance
poxy shicer
diseased and worthless
puckle-headed loon
fool with vacant expression, like a fish
put a reef in y’r jawin’ tackle
cease talking
Receiver of Wreck
appointed to ensure the Crown’s interest in a salvage
refulgence
bright quality of light emitted from an object
rhino
hard coin
runnel
a thread of water sufficient to flow
rutter
old style book of sailing directions
scroat
useless and of no ambition
shant o’ gatter
a quart of good dark ale
shicer
worthless person
shoal
water shallow enough to hazard a ship
skerries
dangerous half-submerged rocks lying just offshore
small repair
where a ship has no need to enter a dry dock
stayed traveller
a block free to move along a stay, sifting the point of lift
strake
one of the lengths of side-planking of a boat or ship
strop
a spliced circle of rope
syebuck
common sixpence
taphouse
common tavern
threepenny ordinary
cheap meal
to clap t’ your tally
to add to your reputation
train oil
whale oil; Dutch traan
trots
piles driven into the river or sea bed to enable vessels to moor
Ward’s drops
patent medicine of doubtful efficacy
younker
young person
Timeline
1773
Thomas Paine Kydd is born 20 June, in Guildford, Surrey, son of Walter and Fanny Kydd.
1789
The Storming of the Bastille, 14 July.
1793-1794
Louis XVI executed, 21 January 1793.
France declares war on England; Kydd, a wig-maker by trade, is press-ganged into the 98-gun ship-of-the-line Duke William.
KYDD
The Reign of Terror begins, 5 September 1793-28 July 1794.
ARTEMIS
Transferred aboard the crack frigate Artemis, Kydd is now a true Jack Tar who comes to love the sea-going life.
1795
The Netherlands is invaded by France, 19 January, and becomes the Batavian Republic.
SEAFLOWER
In the Caribbean, Kydd continues to grow as a prime seaman.
1797
Battle of Cape St Vincent, 14 February. Mutiny at the Nore, 17 April.
Kydd is promoted to acting lieutenant at Battle of Camperdown, 11 October.
MUTINY
1798-1799
Kydd passes exam for lieutenancy; now he must become a gentleman.
QUARTERDECK
From the Halifax station, Kydd and his ship are summoned to join Nelson on an urgent mission.
The Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798.
TENACIOUS
Britain takes Minorca as a naval base from Spain, 16 November 1798.
Siege of Acre, March-May 1799.
1801-1802
Prime Minister Pitt resigns February 1801.
Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801.
Kydd is made commander of brig-sloop Teazer but his jubilation is cut short when peace is declared and he finds himself unemployed.
Peace at Treaty of Amiens, 25 March 1802.
COMMAND
1803
War resumes 18 May, with Britain declaring war on the French.
Unexpectedly, Kydd finds himself back in command of his beloved Teazer.
THE ADMIRAL’S DAUGHTER
Kydd is dismissed his ship in the Channel Islands station.
TREACHERY
1804
Napoleon’s invasion plans are to the fore.
May, Pitt becomes Prime Minister again.
Napoleon is crowned Emperor, 2 December 1804.
INVASION
1805
Kydd is made post-captain of L’Aurore.
The Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805.
VICTORY
1806
The race to empire begins in South Africa. British forces take Cape Town, 12 January.
CONQUEST
A bold attack on Buenos Aires is successful, 2 July 1806.
BETRAYAL
Effective end of The Fourth Coalition, 14 October 1806.
In the Caribbean, the French threat takes a new and menacing form.
CARIBBEE
1807
Napoleon tightens his Continental Blockade and moves on the Levant to break out of Europe.
PASHA
Balked of empire by Trafalgar, Bonaparte strikes east and crushes proud Prussia.
TYGER
Crowning his vanquishing of all Europe with treaties at Tilsit, Bonaparte is free to strike at England but is thwarted by a desperate British assault on neutral Denmark.