Interesting facts about the code of pirates

Anyone interested in the history of the pirates knows that there are many codes, for example, written by Henry Morgan, George Lauter, Bartholomew the Portuguese, Bartholomew Roberts. Before entering into force of the code, each team member had to sign it. After this rule was placed in the most prominent place. We want to introduce you with articles four codes, which survived until our days.

Interesting facts about the code of pirates

Four complete or nearly complete pirate codes survived. First published in 1724 Pirate code from Henry Morgan is preserved thanks to the book by Alexander Exquemelin he wrote in 1678, traveling across seas and oceans with the American pirates. Codes were very much, but have been preserved not so much because the pirates to surrender burned any reminders of him to prevent the use of the code against them in court.

Code Henry Morgan

I. Everyone has the right to vote during decision making; each has equal rights of ownership of the production team. Also team member has an equal share in the stock of liquors seized at the time of work, and can use it at your pleasure, if at the moment the team is not experienced in the specific resource shortage.

II. Everyone has the right to share in turn. If a team member steals the property of another team member, in the case of evidence of guilt, the victim has the right to publicly cut off the ears or nose to the robber.

III. No one aboard the ship has no right to play cards or dice for money.

IV. At night aboard ship, you cannot use torches or candles. If anyone wants a drink, he is obliged to do so on the open deck.

V. to Store his sword, pistols, and cutlass clean and regularly check their purity.

VI. Prohibited on Board women and children. If someone, with the purpose of satisfying the flesh, will hold on Board disguised as a woman, he will be punished by death.

VII. Desertion from the ship is punishable by death.

VIII. Any disputes on Board. If you want to solve a controversial issue, we need to wait for the descent to the shore and solve the problem using the gun blade. During the duel, a representative of the captain, who places the duelists back to back. On command, competitors make ten steps, turn around and make the shot. If both miss, you are given the blades. The duel ends after first blood.

IX. The pirate is prohibited to boast of their scars and lost limbs.

X. the Captain and quartermaster receive two shares of the jackpot, helmsman, boatswain, and gunner — half of the share, others not rank and file get one and a quarter shares.

XI. Musicians have the right rest every Saturday evening, and at other times require the permission of the captain.

Captain John Phillips as well as Henry Morgan had established a code for his team in 1724:

I. the Captain has a half share of the jackpot, the helmsman, the carpenter, boatswain, and gunner receive one and a quarter shares.

II. If the pirate betrays the team will try to defect, or hiding a secret, he should be planted on a desert island with one bottle of powder and one bottle of water. The traitor goodbye sweep hand.

III. If on Board one pirate steals from another, it needs to be planted and killed.

IV. If a crew member sees a man on a desert island, he is not allowed to have contact with him. This information it must pass to the captain. The captain decides the fate of this man. (In most cases, the person left on the island, because he was left there by another ship, for any offence)

V. If a pirate, without cause, strikes another, comes into force the law of Moses. The law of Moses says that such act, the offender shall be punished by 40 lashes of the whip on the bare back.

VI. The man who smokes, uses candles near the gunpowder, ignites aboard the torches and candles at night, is obliged to pay the penalty, as in the previous paragraph.

VII. If the pirate doesn't keep the weapon clean, the captain has the right to deprive him of part of the award.

VIII. If a pirate gets in combat wounded, he is paid 400 pesos; if he loses a limb, he shall be paid 800 pesos.

IX. Anywhere, at any time, if You witness the attempts of violence against the Queen, You must punish the rapist by death by blade.

Pirate codes pirate Edward low and George Lowther

I. the Captain is entitled to two shares of the jackpot; the quartermaster, a half share; the doctor, helmsman, gunner and boatswain are entitled to one and a quarter shares.

II. On Board prohibits any illegal weapons, conspiracy and mystery. Violations of the rules punishable by death, the way the captain chooses.

III. Pirate is punished for cowardice during the battle. The punishment chosen by the captain.

IV. All hidden from the team gold, jewelry, silver and other values and resources are withdrawn. The offender shall be punished by the captain.

V. For cheating while playing cards or bones, the perpetrator shall be punished by deprivation of proportion.

VI. Lost in combat, the limb receives compensation in the amount of 600 pesos. He also has the right to remain on Board if it can benefit the team.

VII. Loyalty to the team is additionally awarded a quarter share.

VIII. Who wants to join the team must have a pistol and a short sword.

IX. The state of alcoholic intoxication at the time of a planned attack punished the captain of the ship.

The code of the pirate John Gow

The following set of rules was written by the pirate John Gow's own hand was found aboard his ship, in 1729, when he went ashore, and the crew was captured. The code reads as follows:

I. Everyone must obey my captain in all respects as if the ship was his own.

II. No one except the captain is not entitled to dispose of the ship, but everyone is entitled to an equal share.

III. Insulting and obscene language on the ship is punishable by death.

IV. No one has the right to leave the ship, when the ship is about to sail.

V. In the course of eight hours night to use fire for lighting and drinking alcohol on Board is prohibited.

VI. Anyone who doubts the paragraphs of the code, deserves death.

Also, I would like to cite some additional paragraphs from the code of Henry Morgan.

I. the Jackpot will be divided after the resupply ship. There is no catch — no fee.

II. The salary of the carpenter or ship is fixed at 200 pesos. The salary of a doctor is 250 pesos.

III. Compensation is maimed and mutilated pirates.

The loss of a right arm six hundred pieces of eight or six slaves;

The loss of a left arm five hundred pieces of eight or five slaves;

The loss of a right leg five hundred pesos, or five slaves;

The loss of the left leg four hundred pesos or four of a servant,

Loss eyes one hundred pesos or one slave,

Loss of thumb one hundred pesos or one slave.