“You’ll have to get up early if you want to catch Jean Bart,
You’ll have to get up early, and have a goodly start,
For the early bird can catch the worm, if the worm is fast asleep,
But not if it’s a privateer, who can through a window leap.”
This invincible corsair was also not idle, for in two weeks’ time he was again at sea in the Mars of thirty-two guns, and a fast sailer. Eagerly looking for prizes, he cruised far up the coast of Holland and was keenly hunting for either merchantman or frigate, when a small vessel neared him, upon which was flying a white flag.
“A truce!” cried Jean Bart. “The war must be over.”
When the little boat drew nearer, a fat Dutchman called out something which sounded like, “Amsterdam yam Goslam!” which meant, “Peace has been declared,” in Dutch.
So Jean Bart sailed back into the sheltering harbor of Dunkirk with tears of sorrow in his eyes, for he loved his exciting life.
“Helas!” said he. “It is all over!”
Thus, indeed, ended the career of Jean Bart as a privateer captain. In January, 1679, he was given the commission of lieutenant in the French navy, but, although he accepted, he was never happy in this service. From captain to lieutenant was a decided come down, and besides this, the aristocratic officers of the Crown made life very unpleasant for one who had entered their ranks from privateering.
“Bah!” said they. “He is only a commoner!” And they would turn up their titled noses.
But—mark you this!
Several hundred years have passed since those days, and Jean Bart’s name is still remembered. Who remembers the names of any of these titled nobles who held commissions from his Majesty, the King of France?