A) An offer to parley when really an ambush is intended B) A formal threat of violence unless monies are paid C) A license to attack another country’s ships at will ü D) A promise of safe passage through pirate waters
Countries issued letters of marque during war-time. With this authorization, the captain of an armed private vessel could legally harass and plunder enemy shipping, while remaining a free agent and keeping a large portion of any treasure obtained. To the enemy, pirates and privateers were equivalent, but from any point of view it was a blurry line at best that separated privateers (who carried a letter of marque) from pirates (who had no legal authority). Many who sailed under a letter of marque developed such a taste for enemy treasure that they turned to outright piracy when the authorization was unavailable.
