The Rules Of THE PIRATE CODE OF CONDUCT (the pirate's code)

Cap'ain Valentine

Wanted Pirate
i hadnt posted for a while but now im givin you this great thread pleaseread, comment and like (if you like of course)
A specific Pirate Code of Conduct was agreed by Bartholomew Roberts' in the Shipboard Articles of 1721.
Bartholomew Roberts, also known as "Black Bart" or "Black Barty", was one of the most successful pirates, The following Code of Conduct was agreed by Bartholomew Roberts and his Pirate Crew - an important element of the success of this particular Pirate.
The Pirate's Code is a long list of rules on how a pirate should behave. This code was set down in the Pirata Codex by the Brethren Court, authored by Henry Morgan and Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) to promote limited cooperation among pirates and to protect piracy in general.
The code is based on agreements made by historical pirates and their crews for the running of their business. These guidelines were to ensure order and mutual benefit.
SO FOR THE RULES (the KNOWN rules)
1- Make Friends Wisely!!
2-All adherents of the Code pledge to be bound together as a brotherhood of pirates, sharing alike in one's fortunes and troubles. Every member shall have an equal vote in the affairs of the moment and equal share of the provisions. Every pirate shall obey the Code. Anyone who fails shall be marooned on a desert island, and left ashore with a loaf of bread or hardtack, a bottle of water, and a pistol with one load. (jack only got the pistol part)
3-The captain of a ship is to be elected by a majority vote of its crew. If any time a crew, with sufficient evidence, finds their captain to be lacking in ability or offensive in nature, a new captain may be freely elected amongst the ship's members. The captain shall be made aware of the situation and will graciously step aside, assuming another position on the crew. Failure to follow this procedure will be deemed mutiny.
4-Any pirate who has suffered an injury from pillaging, plundering, hijacking, swashbuckling, or other pirate duties shall receive compensation for the wound from common stock.
  • Loss of right arm: 800
  • Loss of left arm: 750
  • Loss of right leg: 500
  • Loss of left leg: 400
  • Fight wound: 100
  • Loss of eye: 200 (Although Ragetti got 300)
  • Loss of ear: 30 Ducats
  • Loss of finger: 100
  • Trigger finger: 200
  • Pinky finger: Life be cruel, mate
  • Head: A watery place to rest at the most(seems fare to me (y) )

5-Every member shall have an equal share of fresh provisions, however they may be acquired, and may take pleasure in such provisions at will, except in times of scarcity. Until said scarcity is voted over, it is necessary for the common good of the crew to adhere to rations. Anyone who takes more than his equal share of provisions at any time shall be marooned. Any Pirate susceptible of eating any foodstuff rendered pernicious shall see the ship surgeon post haste
6-Each man shall keep his weapon, whether it be a cutlass, sword, pistol, or other piece, clean at all times and ready for action (i know mine is)
7-If a pirate is the first to locate a prize and should find among this plunder a weapon that is better than his own, he may take it as his own. The rest of the items will be chosen in turn with the captain first, master second, and so forth in seniority. Ship's musicians may lay claim to any instruments found among the spoils.
8-No pirate shall strike another while onboard the ship. In the event of such an occurrence, the quarrel shall be resolved on the shore by a pistol, sword, or in another agreed upon manner as deemed by the captain. Limbs or other body parts lost in duel are not to be compensated as those lost in battle.
9-No man shall game for money in any form, whether it be with cards, dice, crab claws, barnacles, or any other means. (Though it appears Davy Jones doesn't enforce this part)
10-Lights and candles must be suffed out of eight o'clock. If any man desires to drink after such time, he shall do so on the open deck without lights
11-No man shall smoke tobacco in the hold without cap to his pipe or hold a candle without lantern shield. If he is discovered doing so, he shall receive such punishment as the captain and company see fit
12-All musicians shall have their only day of rest on the Sabbath. Any other day, musical pirates shall be granted leisure time only by favour of the captain or quartermaster.
13-Every member of the crew shall be allowed a shift of clothes. These may be obtained by plundering, stealing, or borrowing.
14-If a pirate is captured by an enemy ship, he has the right to declare parlay, or temporary protection, until he may have an audience with the enemy captain. At this point, he cannot be harmed. Parlay is not considered concluded until said captives and captains have completed negotiations. (this feature is NOT included in the POTCO game)
15-The captain shall have two shares of a prize. The quartermaster shall have one-and-three-quarter shares. The surgeon shall have one-and-one-half shares. The master gunner, carpenter, sailmaker, and boatswain shall receive one-and-one-quarter shares. All others shall have one share each. The company may vote to temporarily withhold the cook's share should his food kill a shipmate.
16-If any Man shall steal anything in the the value of a piece of eight, he shall be marooned or shot
17-Good quarters to be given when craved.(IOW: mercy should be given when begged)
18-He who falls behind shall be left behind.
19-Take what you can, give nothing back.
20 No boys or women on board any porate found seducing women and carriying them to the sea in disguise shall suffer DEATH
21- If you leave your ship or you quarters in the time of battle to be shot or marooned
Thats it for now please check put the other thread i just posted "HOW TO BE A PIRATE LORD. "
happy plundrin' yall
 
Um..."rule #10." Seriously, lol? Geez...

The crazy thing about that is (as a pirate) having too much to drink & doing so in the dark...you could mistaken a shipmate accidentally for that beautiful lass you happened to see the last time you ported in Signapore!!!

I'm taking a wild guess here but...most guys I know dance "horribly" even WITH all of the lights on!
 
Um..."rule #10." Seriously, lol? Geez...

The crazy thing about that is (as a pirate) having too much to drink & doing so in the dark...you could mistaken a shipmate accidentally for that beautiful lass you happened to see the last time you ported in Signapore!!!

I'm taking a wild guess here but...most guys I know dance "horribly" even WITH all of the lights on!

but pirates are asleep at that time remember they have to wake up at dawn to continue sailing
 
wait a minute! what if ye are left handed?! do they burn you at the stake as a devil (that has happened before O.O) or do you get the payment of losing a right arm!
 
Darn! My jaw dropped reading those rules ...

SO FOR THE RULES (the KNOWN rules) ...
- Interesting ... I wonder how many are the UNknown rules, must beat the known ones ...

#4 - Sounds like "worker's compensations" to me ... I guess, the Capt pays those golds? Losing 'head' ... be buried at sea, I guess, or be sent to the water (Davy Jones' locker).

#10 - I agree with Shamus, worse than Mom's rule while we were at elementary school!

#15 - Punishment for poisoning (read: killing) your ship mate ... no share.

#16 - Punishment for stealing ... marrooned or shot.

#20 - Punishment for bringing a child or a woman on board ... death.

I'd rather poison (read: kill) then. :p
 
I disagree with number 7. It was said that the mate would get the best pistol, not the best weapon.
I'm just a stickler for the rules :p
 
Hmm I actually enjoyed reading all the rules. They all seem fair yet piratey and all have a good purpose.
 
Those 'Pirate *Guidelines*' are from the Disney Published book entitled 'The Pirates Code Guidelines', and are a mix of real guidelines and made up ones.

If you want some real known pirate 'guidelines', continue reading.

First thing to know, there was no 'universal' pirate code, almost each captain had their own guidelines.

Bartholomew Roberts' articles

(Note some of his articles are similar to the ones from the Disney Pirate Code book)
One of the best known sets of pirate articles was set down by the famous Welsh pirate in 1720.
I. Every man has a vote in affairs of moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity (not an uncommon thing among them) makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
II. Every man to be called fairly in turn, by list, on board of prizes because, (over and above their proper share) they were on these occasions allowed a shift of clothes: but if they defrauded the company to the value of a dollar in plate, jewels, or money, marooning was their punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, they contented themselves with slitting the ears and nose of him that was guilty, and set him on shore, not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere, where he was sure to encounter hardships.
III. No person to game at cards or dice for money.
IV. The lights and candles to be put out at eight o'clock at night: if any of the crew, after that hour still remained inclined for drinking, they were to do it on the open deck.
V. To keep their piece, pistols, and cutlass clean and fit for service.
VI. No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man were to be found seducing any of the latter ***, and carried her to sea, disguised, he was to suffer death; (so that when any fell into their hands, as it chanced in the Onslow, they put a sentinel immediately over her to prevent ill consequences from so dangerous an instrument of division and quarrel; but then here lies the roguery; they contend who shall be sentinel, which happens generally to one of the greatest bullies, who, to secure the lady's virtue, will let none lie with her but himself.)
VII. To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was punished with death or marooning.
VIII. No striking one another on board, but every man's quarrels to be ended on shore, at sword and pistol. (The quarter-master of the ship, when the parties will not come to any reconciliation, accompanies them on shore with what assistance he thinks proper, and turns the disputant back to back, at so many paces distance; at the word of command, they turn and fire immediately, (or else the piece is knocked out of their hands). If both miss, they come to their cutlasses, and then he is declared the victor who draws the first blood.)
IX. No man to talk of breaking up their way of living, till each had shared one thousand pounds. If in order to this, any man should lose a limb, or become a cripple in their service, he was to have eight hundred dollars, out of the public stock, and for lesser hurts, proportionately.
X. The captain and quartermaster to receive two shares of a prize: the master, boatswain, and gunner, one share and a half, and other officers one and quarter.
XI. The musicians to have rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six days and nights, none without special favour.

Articles of Edward Low and George Lowther (English Pirates)

I. The Captain is to have two full Shares; the Quartermaster is to have one Share and one Half; The Doctor, Mate, Gunner and Boatswain, one Share and one Quarter.
II. He that shall be found guilty of taking up any Unlawful Weapon on Board the Privateer or any other prize by us taken, so as to Strike or Abuse one another in any regard, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall see fit.
III. He that shall be found Guilty of Cowardice in the time of engagements, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.
IV. If any Gold, Jewels, Silver, &c. be found on Board of any Prize or Prizes to the value of a Piece of Eight, & the finder do not deliver it to the Quarter Master in the space of 24 hours he shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.
V. He that is found Guilty of Gaming, or Defrauding one another to the value of a Royal of Plate, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.
VI. He that shall have the Misfortune to lose a Limb in time of Engagement, shall have the Sum of Six hundred pieces of Eight, and remain aboard as long as he shall think fit.
VII. Good Quarters to be given when Craved.
VIII. He that sees a Sail first, shall have the best Pistol or Small Arm aboard of her.
IX. He that shall be guilty of Drunkenness in time of Engagement shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority of the Company shall think fit.
X. No snapping of Guns in the Hold.

Captain John Phillips' articles

Captain John Phillips also set a code for his men in 1724:
I. Every Man Shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have one full Share and a half of all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain and Gunner shall have one Share and quarter.
II. If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from the Company, he shall be marooned with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, and Shot.
III. If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of a piece of eight, he shall be marooned or shot.
IV. If any time we shall meet another Marooner that Man shall sign his Articles without the Consent of our Company, shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.
V. That Man that shall strike another whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive Moses’s Law (that is, 40 Stripes lacking one) on the bare Back.
VI. 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.
VII. That Man 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.
VIII. If any Man shall lose a Joint in time of an Engagement, shall have 400 Pieces of Eight ; if a Limb, 800.
IX. 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.
Henry Morgan's Articles

I. The fund of all payments under the articles is the stock of what is gotten by the expedition, following the same law as other pirates, that is, No prey, no pay.
II. Compensation is provided the Captain for the use of his ship, and the salary of the carpenter, or shipwright, who mended, careened, and rigged the vessel (the latter usually about 150 pieces of eight). A sum for provisions and victuals is specified, usually 200 pieces of eight. A salary and compensation is specified for the surgeon and his medicine chest, usually 250 pieces of eight.
III. A standard compensation is provided for maimed and mutilated buccaneers. "Thus they order for the loss of a right arm six hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves ; for the loss of a left arm five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves ; for a right leg five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves ; for the left leg four hundred pieces of eight, or four slaves ; for an eye one hundred pieces of eight, or one slave ; for a finger of the hand the same reward as for the eye.
IV. Shares of booty are provided as follows: "the Captain, or chief Commander, is allotted five or six portions to what the ordinary seamen have ; the Master's Mate only two ; and Officers proportionate to their employment. After whom they draw equal parts from the highest even to the lowest mariner, the boys not being omitted. For even these draw half a share, by reason that, when they happen to take a better vessel than their own, it is the duty of the boys to set fire to the ship or boat wherein they are, and then retire to the prize which they have taken."
V. "In the prizes they take, it is severely prohibited to every one to usurp anything, in particular to themselves. . . . Yea, they make a solemn oath to each other not to abscond, or conceal the least thing they find amongst the prey. If afterwards any one is found unfaithful, who has contravened the said oath, immediately he is separated and turned out of the society."
_______________________________________________________________________
As you can see, some of the codes are similar to others, while others are completely different.

Which captain set the best codes?
 
Found another set of code set by Scottish pirate John Gow (1698-1725)

Articles of John Gow

I. Every man shall obey his commander in all respects, as if the ship was his own, and as if he received monthly wages.
II. No man shall give, or dispose of, the ship's provisions; but every one shall have an equal share.
III. No man shall open, or declare to any person or persons, who they are, or what designs they are upon; and any persons so offending shall be punished with immediate death.
IV. No man shall go on shore till the ship is off the ground, and in readiness to put to sea.
V. Every man shall keep his watch night and day; and at the hour of eight in the evening every one shall retire from gaming and drinking, in order to attend his respective station.
VI. Every person who shall offend against any of these articles shall be punished with death, or in such other manner as the ship's company shall think proper.
 
DANG! I didn't know that some Pirates back then were lawyers too! Those are some mouthful of rules ... I guess some of them were tired of working 8-5 and decided to give their job up for piracy, OR, they hired some good lawyers to write those down for them. I'm not done reading it, after finishing the first one. They're slightly different from each other, and I need my thinking cap in order to do that (never thought I would've needed it to become a pirate ... :confused:), and 2 days ... :rolleyes:
 
in regard to if he has any gold what if he brang it aboard himself because they were to port at a different island and they found it?
 
Darn! My jaw dropped reading those rules ...

SO FOR THE RULES (the KNOWN rules) ...
- Interesting ... I wonder how many are the UNknown rules, must beat the known ones ...

#4 - Sounds like "worker's compensations" to me ... I guess, the Capt pays those golds? Losing 'head' ... be buried at sea, I guess, or be sent to the water (Davy Jones' locker).

#10 - I agree with Shamus, worse than Mom's rule while we were at elementary school!

#15 - Punishment for poisoning (read: killing) your ship mate ... no share.

#16 - Punishment for stealing ... marrooned or shot.

#20 - Punishment for bringing a child or a woman on board ... death.

I'd rather poison (read: kill) then. :p
wait... whats wrong with drinking in the dark?! lol
:rumgone:
 
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