Aprivateer is an armed ship owned by private persons and holding a goverment commission to attack and capture.

True, privateers are shipowners who have trained troops that, with a countries consent, is allowed to attack and effectively take control of other nations (within the boundaries set by the paying nation of course) ships without exactly being called a pirate. A privateer basically have the backing of at least one or more countries.

hope this helps

The tenure of kings and magistrates