Pirate code: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:12, 9 June 2022

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[[Buccaneer]]s operated under a [[ship's articles]] that, among other things, governed conduct of the crew. These "articles of agreement" became authority independent of any nation, and were variously called the Chasse-Partie, Charter Party, Custom of the Coast, or Jamaica Discipline. In retrospect, these became known as the Pirate's Code. Pirate articles varied from one captain to another, and sometimes even from one voyage to another, but they were generally alike in including provisions for [[discipline]], specifications for each crewmate's share of treasure, and compensation for the injured.

Each crew member was asked to sign or make his mark ono the articles, then swear an [[oath]] of allegiance or honour. The oath was sometimes taken on a [[Bible]], but John Phillips' men, lacking a Bible, swore on an axe.<ref>Johnson, Charles (1724), ''A General History of the Pyrates'', p. 398 {{OCLC|561824965}}.</ref> Legend suggests that other pirates swore on crossed [[pistol]]s, [[sword]]s, on a [[human skull]], or astride a [[Naval artillery in the Age of Sail|cannon]]. This act formally inducted the signer into the pirate crew, generally entitling him to [[vote]] for officers and on other "affairs of moment", to bear arms, and to his share of the plunder. The articles having been signed, they were then posted in a prominent place, often the door to the captain's cabin.<ref>Little, Benerson (2005), ''The Sea Rover's Practice: Pirate Tactics and Techniques'', Potomac Books, Inc., {{ISBN|1-57488-910-9}}, p. 34.</ref>

After a piratical cruise began, new recruits from captured ships would sometimes sign the articles, in some cases voluntarily, in other cases under threat of torture or death. Valuable sea [[artisan]]s, such as [[carpenter]]s and [[navigation|navigators]], were especially likely to be forced to sign articles under duress, and would rarely be released regardless of their decision to sign or not. In some cases, even willing recruits would ask the pirates to pretend to force them to sign, so that they could plead they were forced should they ever be captured by the law.<ref>''Sometimes seamen who volunteered to join the pirates asked the quartermaster to go through the motions of forcing them in the presence of their officers. The quartermaster was happy to oblige and do a blustery piratical turn for them, with much waving of cutlasses and mouthing of oaths.'' Botting, Douglas ''The Pirates'', Time-Life Books Inc., p. 51. </ref> Generally, men who had not signed the articles had a much better chance of [[acquittal]] at [[trial]] if captured by the law.