John Noble (privateer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Captain
John Noble
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Died | June 1574 |
Cause of death | Hanged |
Era | Elizabethan |
Known for | cruising off Veraguas |
Opponent(s) | Pedro Godínez Osorio / Gov. |
Criminal charge(s) | Piracy |
Criminal penalty | Death |
Piratical career | |
Type | Privateer |
Allegiance | England |
Years active | 1574 |
Rank | Captain |
Base of operations | |
John Noble was an English privateer who sailed the Caribbean Sea in the 1500s. He was active during the Elizabethan era, a time when England was often in conflict with Spain. Privateers like Noble were like legal pirates. They had permission from their government to attack and capture enemy ships.
Noble was known for sailing along the coast of Veragua, which is now part of Panama and Costa Rica. He was active for a short time in 1574 before he was captured.
Contents
Who Was John Noble?
John Noble was an English privateer. This means he was a sailor who attacked ships from other countries, especially Spain. He did this with the approval of the English government. His actions were part of a larger struggle between England and Spain.
Noble's Caribbean Adventures
Exploring the Veragua Coast
In early June 1574, Captain Noble and his crew of 28 men arrived at the Escudo de Veraguas Island. This island was a good spot for them. It was located right in the path of Spanish ships sailing to Veragua.
Noble's ship had several cannons. From the island, he used two smaller boats to patrol the coast. He and his crew captured many Spanish merchant ships near the Cativas headland and the Chagres River.
How Noble Was Caught
In mid-June, Noble and his crew tried to capture another Spanish merchant ship. However, this ship managed to escape. The crew quickly told the governor of Veragua, Pedro Godinez Osorio, about the English privateers.
The governor immediately sent out a fast boat with 30 soldiers from Nombre de Dios. This boat found Noble and his men. The soldiers fired several shots at them. Noble and his crew quickly got into a small boat and tried to escape.
The governor chased them with two more boats. They managed to capture two of Noble's crew members. Four others drowned while trying to get away. The rest of the privateers were forced to land near the Chagres River. There, they were caught by someone they had previously robbed.
All the captured privateers were found guilty of piracy. They were put to death, except for two young boys. The boys were given life sentences instead.
What Happened After?
Some people believe that John Noble might have also sailed along the coast of Honduras in early 1573. This would have been around the same time as other famous English privateers, like Francis Drake or John Oxenham, were active in the area.