Final answer:
A letter of marque is a government-issued license that allowed privateers to capture enemy vessels, not a warrant for the arrest of a pirate. It was historically significant in naval warfare and different from piracy as it was sanctioned by the government, as seen in the actions of privateers like John Hawkins or during the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
A letter of marque is not a warrant for the arrest of a pirate, but rather a government license authorizing a person, known as a privateer, to attack and capture enemy vessels during wartime. It allowed them to bring the ships before admiralty courts where they could be tried and the vessels and their cargoes sold at a prize. Historically, this was a significant aspect of naval warfare. One example includes Queen Elizabeth I authorizing privateers like John Hawkins to participate in acts that today might be classified as piracy, such as the capture of Africans to be sold into slavery. Letters of marque and reprisal were also mentioned in the context of early American history, granting Congress the power to use private citizens to help in its fight against the British during the American Revolution.
These letters played a role in international relations and the law of nations, as they were a legal means by which states could fight their enemies indirectly and expand their naval capabilities without a formal navy. It is important to distinguish letters of marque from piracy because holders of these letters operated under the authority of their government such that their activities, while similar to pirate actions, were considered legitimate.