In 1683, a certain Captain William Phips arrived in England, coming from the British North American colony, with an ambition that seemed to have few odds: to persuade some of the mighty day – even the king, if it were possible – to invest a great idea: a recovery of sunken treasure from Spanish ships, vessels, many years after the discovery of America by Columbus, New World riches căraseră to Europe. Some of these vessels had arrived safely in European ports, but other, less protected by fate, had been caught in storms, izbiseră rock and shattered the hull is scufundaseră, bringing with them the deep sea, and treasures – sometimes giant – which they wore. For centuries after these tragic events, treasure hunters dream to bring these treasures to the surface, and some of them, the bolder and more fortunate – but it Romans, fortune helps the bold – even managed to fulfill dreams. Even today.

William Phips was one of those lucky hunters. Born in British territories in North America, home not very high (but, nevertheless, well placed in England some relatives), he prepared for the job shipbuilder, and even opening its own shipyard. But in 1682, he started a new job: hunting for treasure. He made a first attempt in the Bahamas, where he managed to recover part of its cargo of Spanish ships sunk, was not a spectacular success, but was nevertheless a success involved bringing a profit of several thousand pounds in money today – enough to encourage future ambitions.

For a large-scale operation, as needed funds so that in 1683, came to London, seeking funding for his project. With the help of family and letters of recommendation, came not only important people in the British navy, but also to King Charles II. He agreed to lend him a frigate navy Phips English, taking care, however, that in addition to the 10 percent of potential treasure appropriate under the law, the British crown, to ensure for him personally, 25 % of what was to find Phips (who, as it turns out, was very convincing and persuade everyone that there were indeed large sunken treasure that could be brought to the surface. After all, it was not hard to believe just had its British navy in its history, the sinking of Spanish ships enough, during the naval war for economic supremacy, in the previous centuries).

Happy consequences of a fixed ideas