Jed, how about making a virture of necessity, e.g. Were we pirates, or privateers, or His Majesties etc...? as a verse. This would allow you to bring in my favourite Dutch-derived version of all this -- freebooter.

RE: Forester (why no one here seems to be able to spell the names of naval writers is a sea-going mystery to me). O'Brian's writings are far superior psychologically -- Hornblower is one rank above cardboard in uniform. They are also far better written. IMHO. Though, as said, the earlier O'Brian books are much better than the later ones.

yours, Peter T.