"Successful sea rovers were careful practitioners of a complex profession that sought wealth by stratagem and force of arms. Drawn from the European maritime tradition, yet of various races and nationalities, they raided both ship and town throughout much of the world from roughly 1630 until 1730. Using a variety of innovative tactics and often armed with little more than muskets and grenades, many of these self-described "soldiers and privateers" successfully assaulted fortifications, attacked shipping from small craft, crossed the mountains and jungles of Panama, and even circumnavigated the globe. Successful sea rovers were often supreme seamen, soldiers, and above all tacticians. It can be argued that their influence on certain naval tactics is felt even today."

1.The perils of wealth by stratagem and force of arms, part I : of greed and desperation -- 2. Sea rovers : freebooters, filibusters, cruisers, corsairs, buccaneers, privateers, and pirates -- 3. Wealth by force of arms : of purchase as purpose -- 4. Roving spirits, charter parties, and stout commanders : the recruiting, organization, and leadership of adventurers -- 5. Piraguas, sloops, and ships : tools of the trade, part I -- 6. Of small arms and fireworks : tools of the trade, part II -- 7. Cruising for purchase : forewarned is forearmed -- 8. Baptisms, pissdales, and dog watches : the routine at sea -- 9. Riches and dangers at sea : pirate prey and pirate hunters -- 10. "A sail! a sail!" : descrying and espying the prey.