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Henry Strangways (pirate)
Encyclopedia
Henry Strangways also sometimes known as Strangwish, was an English "Gentleman Pirate" who attacked Spanish and other shipping. He was repeatedly imprisoned, and pardoned by highly-placed friends, during his approximately eight-year piratical career, from about 1552 to 1560. His portrait painted by a fellow prisoner, Gerlach Flicke
, resides today in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
to a well-known family of good standing, thus he is sometimes referred to as a "Gentleman Pirate".
Strangways began his life as a pirate in 1552-53, plying the Irish Sea
for plunder. There he joined forces with the Cornish Killigrews, successful pirates themselves, using Portland Castle as a den to store loot. His achievements were such that two men-of-war were prepared at Portsmouth to apprehend Strangways. He next appears in the historical record in 1555 imprisoned in the Tower of London
. However nothing came of it and it is probable he had highly placed friends helping him out. In 1559 he was condemned to death after being arrested with eighty of his men, but he managed to avoid the sentence just before execution.
That same year in 1559 he was recorded as wanting to "steal an island" from the King of Spain. However, piracy seems to have taken precedence, he attacked not a Spanish island but Spanish ships. This is known to us because of an official complaint and request for damages which was made out to Philip II of Spain
in which a ship, belonging to Johannes de Bagnes, was plundered by Enrriex Tranquaz (i.e. Strangways). The demand was made via Basilio Pignatelli, the Bishop of Aquila in 1559. Strangway's imprisonment in December 1560 is probably related to his Spanish piracy; but he was released once again, this time under a promise of good conduct, further suggesting he had powerful friends and/or served a political state purpose behind his activities.
Strangways died a free man in 1562, pardoned once again by well placed friends, this time the highest, Queen Elizabeth I
. The Royal Pardon after his death, the many releases from jail, and the seemingly complicit co-operation by authorities (the use of Portland Castle as a pirate den for instance), has suggested to later historians that Strangways reputation is as much a "privateer
" as pirate.
_by_gerlach_flicke.jpg)
. Flicke, who had been working as a portrait painter in England for about ten years (although born in the German town of Osnabrück
), painted a double portrait of Strangways and Flicke while in prison. Why Flicke was imprisoned is not known but Strangways was known to have been imprisoned for his piracy.
The double portrait of Strangways and Flicke is in the National Portrait Gallery in London. The portraits are both miniatures, being less than 4 inches (10.2 cm) high. The self-portrait has a Latin inscription that may be translated, Such was the face of Gerlach Flicke when he was a painter in the City of London. This, he himself painted from a looking glass for his dear friends. So that they might have something to remember him after his death. Although the two portraits are on the same piece of material, Flicke's inscription is in Latin, whilst Strangways' in in English and reads, Strangwish, thus strangely depicted is One prisoner, for thother, hath done this/ Gerlin, hath garnisht, for his delight This woorck whiche you se, before youre sight.
Gerlach Flicke
Gerlach Flicke , Latin name Gerbarus Fleccius, and at least once referred to as "Garlicke", was a German portrait painter who is known for his work in London as an artist of the Tudor court. Flicke was imprisoned in London and he made a portrait miniature whilst there...
, resides today in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Biography
Strangways was born in DorsetDorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
to a well-known family of good standing, thus he is sometimes referred to as a "Gentleman Pirate".
Strangways began his life as a pirate in 1552-53, plying the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
for plunder. There he joined forces with the Cornish Killigrews, successful pirates themselves, using Portland Castle as a den to store loot. His achievements were such that two men-of-war were prepared at Portsmouth to apprehend Strangways. He next appears in the historical record in 1555 imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. However nothing came of it and it is probable he had highly placed friends helping him out. In 1559 he was condemned to death after being arrested with eighty of his men, but he managed to avoid the sentence just before execution.
That same year in 1559 he was recorded as wanting to "steal an island" from the King of Spain. However, piracy seems to have taken precedence, he attacked not a Spanish island but Spanish ships. This is known to us because of an official complaint and request for damages which was made out to Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
in which a ship, belonging to Johannes de Bagnes, was plundered by Enrriex Tranquaz (i.e. Strangways). The demand was made via Basilio Pignatelli, the Bishop of Aquila in 1559. Strangway's imprisonment in December 1560 is probably related to his Spanish piracy; but he was released once again, this time under a promise of good conduct, further suggesting he had powerful friends and/or served a political state purpose behind his activities.
Strangways died a free man in 1562, pardoned once again by well placed friends, this time the highest, Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. The Royal Pardon after his death, the many releases from jail, and the seemingly complicit co-operation by authorities (the use of Portland Castle as a pirate den for instance), has suggested to later historians that Strangways reputation is as much a "privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
" as pirate.
Portrait
During one of Strangways' imprisonments in 1554 he became friends with fellow prisoner Gerlach FlickeGerlach Flicke
Gerlach Flicke , Latin name Gerbarus Fleccius, and at least once referred to as "Garlicke", was a German portrait painter who is known for his work in London as an artist of the Tudor court. Flicke was imprisoned in London and he made a portrait miniature whilst there...
. Flicke, who had been working as a portrait painter in England for about ten years (although born in the German town of Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
), painted a double portrait of Strangways and Flicke while in prison. Why Flicke was imprisoned is not known but Strangways was known to have been imprisoned for his piracy.
The double portrait of Strangways and Flicke is in the National Portrait Gallery in London. The portraits are both miniatures, being less than 4 inches (10.2 cm) high. The self-portrait has a Latin inscription that may be translated, Such was the face of Gerlach Flicke when he was a painter in the City of London. This, he himself painted from a looking glass for his dear friends. So that they might have something to remember him after his death. Although the two portraits are on the same piece of material, Flicke's inscription is in Latin, whilst Strangways' in in English and reads, Strangwish, thus strangely depicted is One prisoner, for thother, hath done this/ Gerlin, hath garnisht, for his delight This woorck whiche you se, before youre sight.