Codes
of Conduct on a Pirate Ship
The rules
of each Pirate Captain were clearly stated to each member of the crew.
There was little ambiguity about acceptable behavior among pirates on a
typical pirate ship. When a rule was breached, the crew was often without
pity or remorse in punishing a guilty crew member. Although in cases of
particularly useful pirates such as skillful fighters, exceptions were
inevitably made. Below, a sample code of conduct is provided. Outlined
below is a sample.
Sample
Code of Conduct:
Every
man shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have one full share and
a half in all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain and Gunner shall
have one Share and quarter.
If
any man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from the Company, he
shall be marroon'd with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one
small Arm and shot.
If
any Many shall steel any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of
a Piece of Eight, he shall be marroon'd or shot.
If
at any Time we should meet another Marrooner (that is Pirate) that Man
that shall sign his Articles without the Consent of our Company, shall
suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.
That
Man that shall strike another whilst these Articles are in force, shall
receive Mose's Law (that is 40 stripes lacking one) on the bare Back.
That
Man that shall snap his Arms, or smoke Tobacco in the Hold, without a cap
to his Pipe, or carry a Candle lighted without a Lanthorn, shall suffer
the same Punishment as in the former Article.
That
Man that shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect
his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment
as the Captain and the Company shall think fit.
If
any Man shall lose a Joint in time of an Engagement he shall have 400 pieces
of Eight; if a limb 800.
If
at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle
with her, without her Consent, shall suffer present Death.
