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The Monarchs of the Main
The Monarchs of the Main

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Monarchs of the Main is here in full — 243 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HISTORY OF TORTUGA.
The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.
Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.
The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.
"No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Monarchs of the Main

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Monarchs of the Main is here in full — 243 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HISTORY OF TORTUGA.
Line 2
The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.
Line 3
Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.
Line 4
The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.
Line 5
"No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.
/noʊ piːs bɪˈɑːnd ðə laɪn wɑːz ðə ˈmɑːtoʊ ɑːn ðə flæɡ ʌv boʊθ dreɪk ənd ˈmɔːrɡən/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

Basque noun US /bæsk/

a member of a people of unknown origin living in the western Pyrenees in France and Spain

From this reading “The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.”

Buccaneers noun US /ˌbʌkəˈniːrz/

plural of “buccaneer” — someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without having a commission from any sovereign nation

From this reading “The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.”

Devon noun US /ˈdevən/

a county in southwestern England

From this reading “The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.”

Hispaniola noun US /hɪˌspɑːˈŋoʊlə/

an island in the West Indies

From this reading “The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.”

nooks noun US /nʊks/

plural of “nook” — a sheltered and secluded place

From this reading “The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.”

planters noun US /ˈplæntərz/

plural of “planter” — the owner or manager of a plantation

From this reading “The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.”

precursors noun US /priˈkɜːrsərz/

plural of “precursor” — a substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction)

From this reading “The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.”

spices noun US /ˈspaɪsəz/

plural of “spice” — aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative

From this reading “The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

precious stones adjective + noun counted as “precious stone”

a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry

In this reading “The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.”

agreeing with verb + particle counted as “agree with”

In this reading “The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.”

sailed from verb + particle counted as “sail from”

In this reading “The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.”

All words in this reading · 90

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

agreeingverbUS /əˈɡriːɪŋ/

-ing form of “agree” — be in accord; be in agreement

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

BasquenounUS /bæsk/

a member of a people of unknown origin living in the western Pyrenees in France and Spain

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading "No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading "No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.

BuccaneersnounUS /ˌbʌkəˈniːrz/

plural of “buccaneer” — someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without having a commission from any sovereign nation

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

buyverbUS /baɪ/

obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

captainsnounUS /ˈkæptənz/

plural of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

captureverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/

succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

carracks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

CavendishnounUS /ˈkævəndɪʃ/

British chemist and physicist who established that water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen and who calculated the density of the earth (1731-1810)

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

coastnounUS /koʊst/

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

CompanynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

ConquestnounUS /ˈkɑːŋkwest/

the act of conquering

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

corsairs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

D'Ogeron

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

DescriptionnounUS /dɪˈskrɪpʃən/

a statement that represents something in words

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

DevonnounUS /ˈdevən/

a county in southwestern England

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

DrakenounUS /dreɪk/

English explorer and admiral who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and who helped to defeat the Spanish Armada (1540-1596)

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

Elizabeth'snounUS /ɪˈlɪzəbəθs/

possessive form of “elizabeth” — daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

flagnounUS /flæɡ/

emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design

From this reading "No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.

FrenchnounUS /frentʃ/

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

GovernornounUS /ˈɡʌvərnər/

the head of a state government

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

heroesnounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/

plural of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

HispaniolanounUS /hɪˌspɑːˈŋoʊlə/

an island in the West Indies

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

HISTORYnounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading HISTORY OF TORTUGA.

huntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/

plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

IndianadjectiveUS /ˈɪndiən/

of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

ladenadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdən/

filled with a great quantity

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

LenounUS /lə/

a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading "No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.

MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

Maracaibonoun

a port city in northwestern Venezuela; a major oil center

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

MorgannounUS /ˈmɔːrɡən/

United States anthropologist who studied the Seneca (1818-1881)

From this reading "No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.

mottonounUS /ˈmɑːtoʊ/

a favorite saying of a sect or political group

From this reading "No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

navaladjectiveUS /ˈneɪvəl/

connected with or belonging to or used in a navy

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

nooksnounUS /nʊks/

plural of “nook” — a sheltered and secluded place

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HISTORY OF TORTUGA.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

OriginnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/

the place where something begins, where it springs into being

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

Oxenham

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading "No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.

pearlsnounUS /pɜːrlz/

plural of “pearl” — a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

PerunounUS /pərˈuː/

a republic in western South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; was the heart of the Inca empire from the 12th to 16th centuries

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

plantersnounUS /ˈplæntərz/

plural of “planter” — the owner or manager of a plantation

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

PlymouthnounUS /ˈplɪməθ/

a town in Massachusetts founded by Pilgrims in 1620

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

Potosi

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

precursorsnounUS /priˈkɜːrsərz/

plural of “precursor” — a substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction)

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

principlenounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/

a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

reignverbUS /reɪn/

have sovereign power

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

sailedverbUS /seɪld/

past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

shipsnounUS /ʃɪps/

plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

silksnounUS /sɪlks/

the brightly colored garments of a jockey; emblematic of the stable

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

SoundnounUS /saʊnd/

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

SpaniardsnounUS /ˈspænjərdz/

plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

spicesnounUS /ˈspaɪsəz/

plural of “spice” — aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

statelyadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtli/

impressive in appearance

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

stonesnounUS /stoʊnz/

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

sunnyadjectiveUS /ˈsʌni/

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

takesnounUS /teɪks/

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

TORTUGA

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HISTORY OF TORTUGA.

treasurenounUS /ˈtreʒər/

accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

unceasinglyadverb

with unflagging resolve

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

WarnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "No peace beyond the line" was the motto on the flag of both Drake and Morgan.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Drake, Cavendish, and Oxenham, indeed all the naval heroes of Elizabeth's reign, were the precursors of the Buccaneers.

WestnounUS /west/

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading The precursors of the Buccaneers--Description of Tortuga--Origin of the Buccaneers--Conquest of Tortuga by the French--The hunters, planters, and corsairs--Le Basque takes Maracaibo--War in Hispaniola--French West Indian Company buy Tortuga--The Governor, M. D'Ogeron.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The captains of those "tall ships" that sailed from Plymouth Sound, and the green nooks of the sunny coast of Devon, to capture stately carracks laden deep with silks, spices, pearls, and precious stones, the treasure of Potosi and Peru, were but Buccaneers under another name, agreeing with them in the great principle of making war on none but Spaniards, but on Spaniards unceasingly.

Chapter 2 of The Monarchs of the Main by Walter Thornbury holds 243 sentences, grouped into 49 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 2 of The Monarchs of the Main contain?

Chapter 2 holds 243 sentences of The Monarchs of the Main, unabridged, divided into 49 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Monarchs of the Main by Walter Thornbury exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 243 sentences, grouped into 49 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 2 of The Monarchs of the Main?

Work through the 49 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 49 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Monarchs of the Main

Common questions about reading The Monarchs of the Main by Walter Thornbury on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Monarchs of the Main?

Yes. All 2463 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #38631 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Monarchs of the Main is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #38631, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Monarchs of the Main take to read?

About 205 minutes of reading across 493 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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How to work through The Monarchs of the Main section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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Vocabulary met early in The Monarchs of the Main

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Monarchs of the Main, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Compared
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Monarchs of the Main; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
French
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Monarchs of the Main; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Writers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Monarchs of the Main; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Alexander
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Monarchs of the Main; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.