Coping with smuggling in the middle ages

The history of smuggling dates back to the Middle Ages. Smuggling reached its peak in the reign of James I. The illegal business was easy because the Customs officers were unable to cope with it adequately – they were far too few on land, and at sea their ships were slow and less easy to handle. Besides, many of smugglers worked in large armed gangs.

With the passing time methods of smuggling were changing, and the smugglers no longer relied mainly on large armed ships fighting their way through, handing over their contraband to the armed gangs. Instead they sank their goods near the shore when the danger threatened, and picked them up later, or stored them in caves. When contraband was landed, it had to be hidden until it could be safely disposed of.

Many of the old inns were very convenient for both hiding the smuggled goods and disposing of them.

The “White Horse” Inn at Gorleston, Norfolk, was the headquarters of a smuggling gang. Customs officer Hacon who was newly appointed in the Yarmouth area, got to know about it and went straight to the Inn. He announced there that he was going to put down smuggling with a firm hand. There was some good-natured talk and Captain Legatt waged fifty guineas that he would deliver a hundredweight of tobacco at the officer’s house without his knowledge and within fourteen days. Hacon accepted the challenge and put on extra guards. There was much interest among the townspeople.

Several days passed and nothing happened. Ships came and went, but there was no sign of tobacco.

Once a little schooner came in, flying a foreign flag. Three men came ashore in a boat, but only one of them spoke English a little. It seemed that a man on the ship was very ill and needed a doctor. The doctor went aboard and found his patient lying. The next day a message was sent ashore that the man was dead. A funeral procession was formed, and the curate met it at Gorleston Church, but it appeared that the dead man had wished to be buried at Yarmouth, so the curate led the way, saying he would help to arrange things.

Meanwhile the fourteenth day was drawing to a close. The Captain appeared, shook hands with Hacon, and said. “Well, you owe me fifty guineas, I think.” “The boot’s on the other leg,” said Hacon with a smile.

“I think you’ll find the tobacco ready for you at home,” said Legatt. “That poor dead sailor who whished to be buried at Yarmouth – well, go home and have a look – and keep the coffin as a small present,” and roared with laughter.

TASKS

Task 1. Comprehension questions.

1. What time does the history of smuggling date back?

2. Why was smuggling easy at that time?

3. What difficulties did the customs officer have in coping with smuggling in old days?

4. What methods did smugglers use?

5. What arrangement was made between officer Hacon and Captain Legatt?

6. How did Captain Legatt win fifty guineas?

Task 2. Say what you can remember about:

1. difficulties the Customs officers had in coping with smuggling adequately in old days;

2. the methods the smugglers used;

3. how Captain Legatt win fifty guineas.

Task 3. Use a dictionary to translate the following idioms:

1. to be at a loss for work;

2. to beat about the bush;

3. to get into hot water;

4. to give someone stick;

5. to pass the buck;

6. to sink or swim.

Task 4. Retell the story using as many idioms (see Task 3) as you can.

Task 5. Problems questions.

1. What are the methods of smuggling nowadays?

2. What methods of detecting smuggled goods do you know?