Did pirates use armor?

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The existance of armor during the pirate age does of course warrant the question: did pirates ever use armor? It is a question I receive on occasion, also regarding helmets and shields.

Modern sources:
A Most Fortunate Ship: A Narrative History of "Old Ironsides" - Tyrone G. Martin
Arms and armor in colonial America, 1526-1783 - Harold Peterson
Boarders Away: With Steel - William Gilkerson
Buccaneers and soldiers in the Americas - René Chartrand
Pillaging the Empire - Kris Lane
Soldiers of the English Civil War 2 Cavalry - John Tincey
The Sea-Rover's Practice - Benerson Little
The Spanish Army in North America - René Chartrand

Period sources:
The Expert Sword-man's companion - Donald McBane
The narrative of General Venables - Robert Venables
The Relation of Captain Pallano - From Spanish Narratives of the English Attack on Santo Domingo 1655
Traité Des Armes - Louis de Gaya
Two Voyages to Campechy - William Dampier

Timestamps:
0:00 A metal age
2:15 Colonial armor
15:06 Gorget
16:09 Shields
22:25 Helmut Kohl
25:21 Pirate Knights?
27:29 Ship armor
31:18 Conclusion

Music credits:
Cay by Jon Sayles of jsayles.com
Johann Fischer Musicalisches BlumenBueschlein Suite No2 in F major on Youtube
Johann CF Fischer Musikalisches Blumenbüschlein Suite N5 in E minor on Youtube
The Spanish Guitar in the Renaissance and Baroque Moreno on Youtube

#history #pirates #armor