Those that did were warships sailing in groups with enhanced security to fend off any pirates that might attempt an attack.

In addition, very few cargo vessels carried that kind of wealth. These things kept their ships and crews operating outside the reach of the law. Food, fresh water, weapons and ammunition, timber, ropes, and sails were all of more immediate value to the corsair than a chest full of gold (which, if they ever got any, would promptly be spent on food, fresh water, weapons and ammunition, timber, ropes, and sails, with what was left going to drinking and whoring before they got caught and hanged). The reality of piracy was a lot more pragmatic. Mundane cargoes carried in the ships' holds are completely ignored as cackling buccaneers make off with their ill-gotten riches, which they then buried or hid in a cave on a remote island, with only a Treasure Map to remind them of the location. In media the goal of every pirate is to plunder shipping for the large wooden chests overflowing with gold, jewels and other valuable trinkets invariably carried by every vessel on the high seas.

Pirates tides of fortune tv tropes