When I say privateer, I mean being government hired pirates and such. I really want to know what they believed in, as in Protestantism, and what they're main jobs were. Also, what were some of the biggest problems French privateers created and what they led to. Thanks.
Edit: When I say problems they caused, I mean during wartime and how raiding ships affected their enemies.
That is a good question, and something different for a change when asking about pirate related topics.
To hit some of the easier points I can with this one:
I mean being government hired pirates and such
Some would tell you that's an oversimplification to the point of inaccuracy in terms of describing what a privateer was. Privateers should be viewed as a government utilizing the private sector to finance strikes against the commerce of an opposing country. Privateers have to be sanctioned by the government, have many laws and regulations to follow in being privateers, have to even put bonds of money up for their good conduct at sea, and have to go through a significant process of "condemning" any captures by a court to make sure things are legally taken. This is often why the privateers that were purely ships for raiding commerce (and not the other letters of marque given to many other vessels pursuing other activities and just getting permission to take prizes if they just happened to bump into an enemy in the course of their primary purpose of non-privateering activities) were referred to as "Private Men of War" since they were doing (and armed like) a regular man-of-war vessel, but was privately funded and specific to one purpose.
I really want to know what they believed in, as in Protestantism
For French Privateers (as in those who received their commission to sail as private men of war from the French government), their religion would mostly be Catholic since in 1685, the Edict of Nantes was revoked by King Louis XIV. What protestants were left in France mostly fled to other countries where they would be tolerated. Mind you, I'm going by "Golden Age of Piracy" being 1690-1725.
what they're main jobs were. Also, what were some of the biggest problems French privateers created and what they led to
Would you mind being more specific? Do you mean what activities a sailor on a privateer vessel would engage in on a daily bases or the role of privateers for France during wars? As for problems, you mean what problems they created for the English and other countries, right?
Good point of interest, not the same kind of questions we always get about pirates around here. I'll tag in /u/ETFox in here as well since he might have some more insights into this.