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Cmmdre
04-21-2013, 01:27
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 sex, 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.

Gunner
04-21-2013, 02:31
[QUOTE=Cmmdre;11749]
III. No person to game at cards or dice for money.
VI. No woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man were to be found seducing any of the latter sex, and carried her to sea, disguised, he was to suffer death;
QUOTE]


You go too far Captain.:shootleft:

Cmmdre
04-21-2013, 06:56
It's a harsh life at sea with pirates.

csadn
04-21-2013, 13:39
[QUOTE=Cmmdre;11749]
III. No person to game at cards or dice for money.
VI. No woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man were to be found seducing any of the latter sex, and carried her to sea, disguised, he was to suffer death;
QUOTE]


You go too far Captain.:shootleft:

Not really; it was understood that having a small number of females among a large number of men was going to result in a lot of brawling -- "doesn't matter how many hens are in the coop; the problems start when there's more than one rooster". (One of the sources for the notion of "having a female on a ship is unlucky".)

Gaming -- much the same, esp. when alcohol was involved. Remember how many pirates came from regular Navies, sometimes just ahead of a whole bucketload of lashes (or a long walk off a short rope) for such activity.

One notable feature of Pirate Articles was: Rather than being forced on sailors from On High, the sailor had to choose to sign them -- if he then screwed up, he had no excuses. This is why so many went on the account; they were looking for money, to be sure, but they also wanted a fair shake onboard, instead of the Regular Navy's "captain is master after god".

Gunner
04-21-2013, 15:06
[QUOTE=Gunner;11753]

Not really; it was understood that having a small number of females among a large number of men was going to result in a lot of brawling -- "doesn't matter how many hens are in the coop; the problems start when there's more than one rooster". (One of the sources for the notion of "having a female on a ship is unlucky".)


Having the only woman around is always worth a good fight.

Cmmdre
04-21-2013, 16:10
Hell hath no fury like...:girlieangry:

Capt P
04-21-2013, 17:17
There was a great show on the history channel about pirates and the Articles are mentioned. If you can get the show it is worth seeing.

Cmmdre
04-21-2013, 17:25
Thanks for the tip Bob. I'll look On-Demand for that episode.

Coog
04-21-2013, 17:30
I think this is the is the show:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj9dq7b5PJ0

7eat51
04-21-2013, 17:47
Thanks Bobby. I do believe your becoming the Anchorage's AV department, or at least the site's purveyor of videos.

Cmmdre
04-21-2013, 18:11
Wow. You're killin' me. My wife's birthday is tomorrow and I've been tied up watching all these videos. Thanks for posting them though. :happy:

csadn
04-22-2013, 18:20
I wish I could find a DVD set of Peter Woodward's _Conquest_ series -- they had a nice "starter" episode on pirates.