Cutler Beckett's Letters of Marque

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Lord Cutler Beckett's Letters of Marque, signed by the King of England.

"These Letters of Marque, they are signed by the King?"
"Yes, and they're not valid until they bear my signature and my seal."

―Elizabeth Swann and Cutler Beckett

These Letters of Marque were official documents used as Letters of Marque and Reprisal by Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company. Signed by the King of England, these documents would pardon the recipient of prior crimes against the Crown and grant them a commission as a privateer in the employ of England. This document required the signatures from King George II, as well as Lord Cutler Beckett's own signature and seal, in order to be official.

Carte blanche for piracy from the King's Court, the Letters of Marque were used by Lord Beckett to blackmail Will Turner into retrieving Jack Sparrow's compass in exchange for Will and Elizabeth Swann's freedom. Beckett originally planned to use the Letters to make Sparrow a licensed pirate, with his earlier crimes forgiven, and he could legally attack the ships of any nation at war with England. With blank spaces waiting to be filled, the Letters of Marque were returned to Beckett with James Norrington's name written in blood, as much as ink, with the former commodore of the Royal Navy to be pardoned and given the promotion as admiral of Beckett's Armada.

History

"These Letters of Marque are supposed to go to me, are they not? Lord Cutler Beckett. He's the man wants my Compass?"

―Jack Sparrow

The East India Trading Company was known to use Letters of Marque after 1707. Signed by the King of England, these documents would make the recipient a privateer, or licensed pirate, with earlier crimes forgiven and the person in question could legally attack the ships of any nation at war with England.

The Letters of Marque bearing Lord Cutler Beckett's signature and seal.

During the search for the Dead Man's Chest, Lord Cutler Beckett offered one Letters of Marque that were signed by the King George II, and would not be legalized unless they bore Beckett's signature and seal. Following the arrests of William Turner and Elizabeth Swann, Beckett offered them pardons in exchange for Will finding Jack Sparrow and retrieving his compass. Using the Letters as blackmail, Beckett was also prepared to employ Jack as a privateer for England, though Will believed Jack would never agree, since the pirate likes his freedom. While Turner spent weeks searching for Sparrow, Elizabeth broke out of prison and confronted Beckett about the Letters of Marque. Forcing him to sign and seal the document, Elizabeth stole the Letters, stowed away on the Edinburgh Trader to find Turner, only to be reunited with Sparrow in Tortuga and sailed aboard the Black Pearl.

Aboard the Black Pearl, Elizabeth attempted to sign the Letters of Marque for herself and Turner, filling in their names, only to have them immediately snatched away by Sparrow. Having overheard their conversation about the pardon that came with it, Norrington later took the Letters of Marque from Sparrow's belongings along with the heart of Davy Jones, which would give Beckett control over Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman. Norrington arrived with the Letters and Jones' heart to give Beckett, earning a full reinstatement into the Royal Navy, his sword returned to him, and a promotion to admiral with Beckett's Armada to command.

Text

George, By the Grace

of God of England, Scotland, France & Ireland

King Defender of the Faith, & Whereas we having taken into Our Consideration the Injuries, Spoils and Acts of Hostility committed by Pirates, Sea Rovers and divers others wicked and ill disposed persons who, against the Laws of Nations commit many and great Piracies Robberies and Depredations unto and upon the Ships, Goods and Persons of our Subjects to the great Hindrance and Discouragement of Trade and Navigation and the great Danger and Hurt of our loving Subjects, and all others navigating the seas upon their lawful Occupations. We did there fore order that General Reprisals be granted against the Ships and Goods Reprisals be granted against the Ships and Goods of said Pirates, Sea Rovers or Declared Enemies of the Crown of England. And Whereas he is thought fittly qualified and hath equipped and furnished a Ship where of he be Commander. Know Ye therefore that we do hereby grant commission to and authorize him to fight, take, suppress and destroy any Pirates, Sea Rovers or other Subjects and Vessels of the Declared Enemies of the Crown of England in what place soever they are met with the Ships, Vessels, and Goods to take and make prize of. And we do command the company of the Ship to obey him as their Captain, and in the execution of his commission, we command he observe and follow the Orders and Instructions herewith given. And we do hereby request all Governors and Commanders in Chief, of any of His Majesty's Territories, Islands, Provinces or Plantations where the said Commander shall arrive with his said Vessel and Men. And all Admirals, Vice Admirals, and Commanders of His Majesty’s Ships of War and others that may happen to meet her at Sea to permit the said Commander and said Vessel, Men, and the Prizes taken, freely and quietly to pass and repass, without giving or suffering, or the Authority thereby this Captain, and in the execution of his commission, we command he observe and follow the Orders and Instructions herewith given. And we do hereby request all Governors and Commanders in Chief, of any of His Majesty's Territories, Islands, Provinces or Plantations where the said Commander shall arrive with his said Vessel and Men. And all Admirals, Vice Admirals and the Reprisals be granted against the Ships and Goods of said Pirates, Sea Rovers or Declared Enemies of the Crown of England. And Whereas he is thought fittly qualified and hath equipped and furnished a Ship where of he be Commander. Know Ye therefore that we do hereby grant commission to and authorize him to fight, take, suppress and destroy any Pirates, Sea Rovers or other Subjects and Vessels of the Declared Enemies of the Crown of England in what place soever they are met with the Ships, Vessels, and Goods to take and make prize of. And Whereas he is thought fittly qualified and hath equipped and furnished a Ship where of he be any Pirates, Sea Rovers or other Subjects and Vessels of the Declared Enemies of the Crown of England in what place soever they are met with the Ships, Vessels, and Goods to take and make prize of. And we do command the company of the Ship to obey him as their Captain, and in the execution of his commission, we command he observe and follow the Orders and Instructions herewith given. And we do hereby request all Governors and Commanders in Chief, of any of His Majesty's Territories, Islands, Provinces or Plantations where the said Commander shall arrive with his said Vessel and Men. And all Admirals, Vice Admirals, and Commanders of His Majesty’s Ships of War and others that may happen to meet her at Sea to permit the said Commander and said Vessel, Men, and the Prizes taken, freely and quietly to pass and repass, without giving or suffering, or the Authority thereby granted in In Witness, we have caused our Great Seal of England to be affixed to these Presents. By the Grace of God, I hereby commission

________________

as Privateer for His Majesty's Navy

George R

Lord Cutler Beckett

Behind the scenes

The Letters of Marque.

"The Letters of Marque—the letters Jack gave to you. Hand them over! Come, no time! Beckett used his ring to stamp this, yes?"
"Yes..."
"The symbol is the same, from the same ring. Might it work?
"It might. Magic is funny that way."

―Hector Barbossa, Elizabeth Swann, and Tia Dalma

• The Letters of Marque first appear in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
• The official website for Dead Man's Chest stated that King George I had signed the Letters of Marque. Furthermore, the portrait in the upper left corner of the letters depicts George I. However, due to the changes to the timeline in Dead Men Tell No Tales, which sets the first three films in the late 1720s, as well as King George II's appearance in On Stranger Tides set in 1750, this has been retconned. In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide and The Complete Visual Guide, the King who signed the letters was only referred to as "King George".
• In Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's screenplay for Dead Man's Chest, after giving the Letters of Marque and the heart of Davy Jones, James Norrington asks Lord Cutler Beckett if he has won commission as a privateer. Instead, a satisfied Beckett responds by giving Norrington his sword back, reinstating his former rank and status, with a promotion to the rank of admiral, then suggesting that they can add the Flying Dutchman as another ship to the fleet. The scene never made it to the final cut of the film but was retained in the deleted scene "The Map Is Finished" featured in Blu-ray releases beginning in 2011.
• In Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's first screenplay draft of At World's End, Cutler Beckett gives the Letters of Marque to Jack Sparrow during the parley meeting. However, Jack secretly hands Will Turner the Letters, which was ultimately used as one of the nine pieces of eight, as the previous version of Chevalle's piece of eight was Magellan's signet ring (the Letters of Marque were stamped with it).
• As the prop was likely not intended to be viewed up close, several lines of text on the Letters of Marque are repeated multiple times. Some of the text appears to be based on Captain William Kidd's privateering commission.

Appearances

• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (junior novelization) (First appearance)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (comic)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (original screenplay)

Sources

• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide
• The Secret Files of the East India Trading Company