Camp Courtesy

William Hawkes

William Hawkes, (Born July 11, 1553) was born into a naval family in the vicinity of the (now vanished) Stronghold of Dun Na Fianna in the northern reaches of the Barony of Calafia in the Kingdom of Caid.

Following his father to sea, he acquired the skills of a mariner (including a few years under John Hawkins of Portsmouth, England), and took command of a barque at the age of twenty. After a few years of transporting freight and passengers along the coast of Calafia, he was hired to captain an armed galleon for Mister John Randall, the owner of a small shipping company, the Randell Shipping Company. After completing a number of voyages to the New World, where he joined the fleet of Francis Drake in actions against the Spanish, he returned to find his employer teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, due to an over fondness for drink and the gaming tables. Upon further investigation, he discovered that the company was being kept afloat through the efforts of Mrs. Winnifred Randall, despite her husband's uncontrollable spending. Mrs. Randell commissioned a race-built galleon, which she named John's Folly, in honor of her husband's wild investment schemes.

John's Folly sailed once more, under Captain Hawkes, with Mr. Randell insisting on accompanying the ship. During a fierce storm, Mr. Randell, not known for being comfortable at sea, was washed overboard. Captain Hawkes returned to port, with the sad duty of reporting to Mrs. Randall the death of her husband, as well as the loss of one of the ship's eight pound guns.

Captain Hawkes continued to sail for the Randell Shipping Company for a few years, his time split between his voyages and assisting the Widow Randell in various business ventures. During this time, the success of the company caused a number of other business owners to conspire to put the Randell Shipping Company under.

Forewarned, Captain Hawkes slipped the Window Randell and her entourage from her estate, and fought his way to the John's Folly. The ship sailed in the middle of the night, fighting its way past the fleet of Balthazaar, headed north. The ship barely made it to the shores of An Tir, and broke up on a reef just off shore. The ship's company saved enough of Mrs. Randell's fortune to allow her to start anew, and she and Captain Hawkes were married shortly thereafter. She commissioned the Katherine Rose, with Captain Hawkes commanding.

The Katherine Rose An armed Merchantman.

alt text

built by Matthew Baker

Class and type: Race-built Galleon

Tons burthen: 440 long tons Length: 140 ft (43 m.)

Sail plan: Full rigged ship

Complement: 260 Officers and Men

Armament: Forty-six guns: 20 heavy guns on the gundeck (32 pound demi cannon and 17 pound culverin) 26 other pieces (including 8 pound demi-culverin, 5 pound saker, and smaller swivel mounted "falcon" arms).

---

William Benson joined the SCA in 1992, as a heavy weapons fighter with the Stronghold of Dun Na Mara Fianna (Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA). His first event was Estrella War 8. At that time, he was called "Draughir", and was qualified in polearm, sword and shield, and hafted weapon (with butt-spike endorsement), soon followed by a rapier authorization.

"Drau", as he was known, fought heavy weapons for the next five years, until he was pulled away from the SCA by the demands of the Marine Corps and life.

In 2010, upon his return from Iraq, he re-entered the SCA, choosing the 16th Century personna of William Hawkes, and intends on participating in rapier combat for as long as his knees will allow it. He resides in the southern reaches of the Barony of Wealdesmere (being Rockford, WA).

William's Associations:

The Warband Cannea Bellorum

The Fray

The Canis Belli

William's awards include: Award of Arms 17 day of July A.S. 28 (awarded as "Dreadghif MacNicdhu" for service to the Society)