In the sixteenth century England turned from being an insignificant part
of an offshore island into a nation respected and feared in Europe. This
was not achieved through empire building, conquest, large armies,
treaties, marriage alliances, trade or any of the other traditional
means of exercising power. Indeed England was successful in few of
these. Instead she based her power and eventual supremacy on the
creation of a standing professional navy which firstly would control her
coasts and those of her rivals, and then threaten their trade around the
world.
This emergence of a sea-power brought with it revolutionary ship designs
and new weapon-fits, all with the object of making English warships
feared on the seas in which they sailed. Along with this came the
absorption of new navigational skills and a breed of sailor who fought
for his living. Indeed, the English were able to harness the avarice of
the merchant and the ferocity of the pirate to the needs of the state to
create seamen who feared God and little else. Men schooled as corsairs
rose to command the state's navy and their background and self-belief
defeated all who came against them.
This is their story; the story of how seizing command of the sea with
violent intent led to the birth of the greatest sea borne empire the
world has ever seen.
