The Renaissance Faire is a peculiar event that sprouted from a high school history project in Southern California during the early 1960’s. It has grown into a sub-culture that spans across the United States, Canada and Europe. Some events are solid historically based events, others are hysterical spectacles of flesh and fantasy, clinging to a thread of Renaissance history…
Captain Henry Strangeways...or Strangways, Strangewish or Strangwish...depending on the source, was a mid 16th-century pirate...or privateer...again, depending on the source. His activity at sea and subsequent imprisonment in the waning years of Mary's reign, and again in the early years of Elizabeth's, mark him as one of the better known pirates of the Tudor Era, but the historical record on Captain Henry is still very silent.
What we know is this...
Stangeways was minor nobility and he had some high-placed connections. Hence, when he was in prison, facing execution, he was pardoned by Elizabeth I. This may allude to him receiving the moniker "privateer" as opposed to being labeled a "pirate", bringing with it a more lenient outlook as well as a "get out of jail free" card.
He operated in the Irish Sea (and other oceans no doubt), he raided Spanish shipping (as every aspiring "privateer" did, because Spanish ships were packed with sparkly goodies) and was planning to take a Spanish island and plunder it for its wealth or keep it for the prestige. In September of 1559, the Spanish Bishop of Aquila spoke in Elizabeth's court on behalf of Johannes de Bagnes, a Spanish merchant. He complained that the English pirate "Enrriex Tranguaz" had plundered Bagnes' ship, robbed all the money, stole all the stores, drank all the ale, guzzled all the rum, raped all the goats and proceeded to barbeque what was left for a midnight snack...
Unfortunately, because of his depredations and the Bagnes complaint reaching Her Majesty's ears, Captain Henry Strangeways was jailed in December of 1560....presumably for "piracy" ...and not for goat molestation. Like most, if not all Elizabethan "sea dogs", he walked after the token show of imprisonment. Either his powerful friend's influence sprung him from the gaol, or Elizabeth wanted him to keep on robbing her nemesis, Phillip II. I tend to think it would be the later, because nothing smells more like success than Spanish silver, gold and goods.
Strangeways died in 1562, bringing to an end the dream of snatching an island from greedy King Phillip's grasp...however, he did nab a ship or two...and that made the Holidays very bright. One last thing...very few, if any pirates of this era had their portrait made. Luckily, while in prison (he was in the clink at least two times), Henry Strangeways did...
With that really catchy, odd name and knowing what he looked like, in addition to the documentation (scant though it is), this individual is ripe for a first-person portrayal at Faire...
