3peice_pirates.gif (7557 bytes)3peice_middle.jpg (3743 bytes)top_fact_compressed.JPG (7199 bytes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAGE TRANSFERED TO:

http://www.piratesinfo.com/detail/detail.php?article_id=51

 

 

 

 

 

Pirates!- Pirate Ship: Pirate Rules

Fact Legend

skull.gif (150 bytes) Pirate Facts Main

skull.gif (150 bytes) General History

skull_gold.gif (148 bytes) Types of Piracy

skull_gold.gif (148 bytes) Famous Pirates

skull_gold.gif (148 bytes) Pirate Facts
skull.gif (150 bytes) Punishment
skull.gif (150 bytes) Rewards
dagger.gif (877 bytes) Pirate Rules
skull.gif (150 bytes) Jolly Roger
skull.gif (150 bytes) Life on land
skull.gif (150 bytes) Life at sea

skull_gold.gif (148 bytes) Pirate Ships

skull_gold.gif (148 bytes) Pirate Vocabulary

Welcome to Pirates! Fact- Pirate Ship- Pirate Rules.

Learn About:
[pirate injury compensation] [code of conduct for a pirate crew]

Code 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 Pyrate) 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 smoak 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.

Main Menu:

skull_gold.gif (148 bytes) Communications

skull_gold.gif (148 bytes) Knowledge Check

skull_gold.gif (148 bytes) Pirates! Help

lineblue_hr (1080 bytes)

skull.gif (150 bytes) Pirates! Main

skull.gif (150 bytes) Extra Resources

skull.gif (150 bytes) Map of Pirates!

skull.gif (150 bytes) Tour of Pirates!

skull.gif (150 bytes) Bibliography

skull.gif (150 bytes) About Pirates!

It is safe to say that life as a pirate was a very hazardous one prone to serious injury and even death. Besides death, a pirate's worst fear was becoming disabled. If the injured pirate survived the amputation (see the pirate prosthetic section), and received proper medical attention (which was highly unlikely aboard a pirate ship) he received some sort of primitive substitute for his arm or limb (usually a spare plank, or sometimes nothing at all). For obvious reasons an injured pirate was no longer as effective as an able bodied seamen, and for the most part could no longer carryout his designated duties. Such pirates were compensated for their loss (quite adequately for their times, see illustration below). Actually, most pirate crews organized fairly sophisticated and favorable conditions for injured crew members. Injured pirates were not only compensated financially, but oftentimes they were also offered to do non-physically demanding work on the ship. Such work could include operating cannons, cooking meals, and washing the ship decks.

The following diagram outlines what a typical pirate received when s/he lost a limb.

 Please help the Pirates! web site grow and contribute your pirate content for inclusion on one of our sections. Credit is always given to the author of the submitted content.

 Want more information on pirate conduct? Visit the Pirates! discussion board to discuss pirate related matters and ask pirate related questions. Visit the rest of our site by following this link to the Pirates! Main Page.

Copyright © 1996-2001 Krzysztof Wilczynski.