"Miss Bulder was warmly welcomed by the Misses Clubber; the
greeting between Mrs. Colonel Bulder and Lady Clubber was of
the most affectionate description; Colonel Bulder and Sir Thomas
Clubber exchanged snuff-boxes, and looked very much like a pair
of Alexander Selkirks--'Monarchs of all they surveyed.'"

Here is a URL about Alexander Selkirk, on whom Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe' is based:
http://wy.essortment.com/alexanderselkir_rehj.htm

Why would the vessel be called:

"the ‘Cinque Ports’, a privateering ship captained by William Dampier"?

Why shouldn't it be called the "Cinque Ports"? It has to be called something.



Bingley

Why would the vessel be called:

Check it out:
http://www.digiserve.com/peter/cinque.htm

As a bonus we have an example of a woman with the title Lord. Just goes to show.

Well, Faldage, that was fascinating to read! Thanks very much for that link.

Bingley, you do have an answer for everything, don't you?

Dear Faldage: Nice link about Cinque Ports. How I wish the guy who wrote it had taken time to research that lovely list of privileges in the original charter!