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The
Pirate Code of Conduct
'Marooned,'
by Howard Pyle. Pirates who broke
the code of conduct could be marooned on a
deserted island.
In order
to prevent disputes, most pirate crews imposed rules of
conduct upon themselves. These sets of rules were called
charters.
One
of the most important rules regarded the electing of the
captain. Captains had absolute authority during raids, but
could be removed from authority by a vote of the crew if
they disapproved of his actions.
The
following is a charter drawn up by the crew of a pirate
captain named Bartholemew Roberts:
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Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of moment.
He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or
strong liquors at any time seized, and shall use them
at pleasure unless a scarcity makes it necessary for the
common good that a retrenchment may be voted.
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Every man shall be called fairly in turn by the list on
board of prizes, because over and above their proper share,
they are allowed a shift of clothes. but if they defraud
the company to the value of even one dollar in plate,
jewels or money, they shall be marooned. If any man rob
another he shall have his nose and ears slit, and be put
ashore where he shall be sure to encounter hardships.
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None shall game for money, either with dice or cards.
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The lights and candles shall be put out at eight at night,
and if any of the crew desire to drink after that hour
they shall sit upon the open deck without lights.
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Each man shall keep his piece, cutlass and pistols at
all times clean and ready for action.
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No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man
shall be found seducing one of the latter sex and carrying
her to sea in disguise, he shall suffer death.
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He that shall desert the ship or his quarters in time
of battle shall be punished by death or marooning.
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None shall strike another aboard the ship, but every man's
quarrel shall be ended on shore by sword or pistol in
this manner: at the word of command from the Quartermaster,
each man being previously placed back to back, shall turn
and fire immediately. If any man do not, the Quartermaster
shall knock the piece out of his hand. If both miss their
aim, they shall take to their cutlasses, and he that draws
first blood shall be declared the victor.
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No man shall talk of breaking up their way of living till
each has a share of £1,000. Every man who shall
become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have
eight hundred pieces of eight from the common stock, and
for lesser hurts proportionately.
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The Captain and the Quartermaster shall each receive two
shares of a prize, the Master Gunner and Boatswain, one
and one quarter, and private gentlemen of fortune one
share each.
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The musicians shall have rest on the Sabbath Day only,
by right, on all other days, by favor only.
The
pirates' charter emphasized division of plunder, giving
the elected officers a higher share. Also, the charter provides
an insurance policy for pirates who were injured.
END
OF PIRATE HISTORY
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