Didn't mess about with pilots in the past.

[Sybarite]

Admiralty Law

"It is established for a custom of the sea that if a ship is lost by default of the lodesman*, the mariners may, if they please, bring the lodesman to the windlass and cut off his head without the mariners being bound to answer before any judge, because the lodesman had committed high treason against the undertaking of the pilotage, and this is the judgement."

Article XXIII of the laws of Oléron 1190.

*Lodesman - Pilot taken on board to guide a ship.

Incorporated into English law by Eleanor of Acquitaine in 1190.

(Source : Brian Henry's excellent blog)

 

[Lodesman77]

Only just got around to reading the laws of Oléron?

 

[photodog]

Only just got around to reading the laws of Oléron?

Thank god for that eh??? If people were more up to date, you may have not lasted this long.......

 

[Lodesman77]

My dad was the Pilot; I'm safe...

 

[Searush]

Given that any trader arriving with a cargo in a strange port is utterly dependant on the local pilot to get him in safely & that it might be in that pilot's interest to wreck the ship so his pals/ family could claim salvage on the cargo it seems quite logical to kill the pilot if anything goes wrong.

 

[Lodesman77]

Yes, they showed a good deal of common sense in those days - in all sorts of ways...


Article XVII

The mariners of Britany ought to have but one meal a day from the kitchen, because they have beverage going and coming. But those of Normandy are to have two meals a day, because they have only water at the ship’s allowance; and when the ship arrives in a wine country, there the master shall procure them wine to drink.

 

[Capt Cautious]

I think the term "pilot" was widely used up until very recently to refer simply to the navigator. (I actually had an ex RN commander as Captain who called me "pilot" as 2nd officer many moons ago) Vessels bound for long deep sea voyages engaged a "pilot". The modern usage is derived from this - someone with specialist navigational knowledge. Though I'm always reticent about suggesting looking up facts online - google "ships crew lodesman" and you'll find a collection of google books where it is in regular use dating back into the dark ages - simply referring to the navigator. The punishment is an interesting HR dept tool though - I'll suggest it.

CC

 

[binch]

Pilot

While I was navigating officer of warships, I was always called Vasco in the mess, Pilot in the charthouse, and Hey, you on the bridge. Or that's the way it seemed.
When I became a Suez Canal pilot, why then, I was treated with respect. And well paid.

 

[Norman_E]

It seems logical that "lodesman" referred to the ocean pilot in the ships crew, rather than a local or harbour pilot, as the former would be observing the lodestar (usually Polaris, but also any other star used in celestial navigation) whereas the latter would navigate by observing local landmarks. Both would use the compass, which in early times was a lodestone.

 

[Searush]

Or maybe responsible for the "Lodestone" the original magnetic compass.

 

[prv]

If the ship was lost, how are they going to bring the Lodesman to the windlass anyway?

Pete