Articles of the Capricious

Every good pirate ship has a code of conduct, governance, and procedures for dividing treasure. They are all signed by the crew before setting sail on their first voyage.


 * 1) Every member of the crew has a vote in affairs of the moment, except in battle and times of crisis, during which the captain’s word is absolute. If, after such a period, there are widely-held grievances concerning the captain’s conduct with this privilege, a vote to replace them may be held, and they may be held accountable as the crew sees fair and just.
 * 2) Each member of the crew has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
 * 3) Each member of the crew is entitled to an equal share of treasures seized, with the following exceptions: the Captain is to receive two shares, the Quartermaster is to receive one share and a half, all other officers one share and a quarter.
 * 4) If any member of the crew shall defraud the company or steal from any other member of the crew, then marooning shall be their punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, the robbed may content themselves with slitting the ears and nose of them that were guilty, and set them on shore in an unfriendly port.
 * 5) Lights and candles are to be put out at eight o'clock at night: if any of the crew, after that hour still remained inclined for drinking, they are to do it on the open deck.
 * 6) Each member of the crew must keep their pieces, pistols, and cutlass clean and fit for service.
 * 7) Deserting the ship or the quarters in battle, shall be punished by death
 * 8) None shall strike by either hand or cutlass, another member of the crew while on board. Every member’s quarrels are to be ended on shore, at sword and pistol. The quarter-master of the ship, when the parties will not come to any reconciliation, shall accompany them on shore with what assistance they think proper, and shall turn the disputant back to back, at so many paces distance. The crew member who draws first blood shall be announced the winner.
 * 9) Should any member of the crew lose a limb, or become a cripple in their service, he was to have five-hundred eighth gals or equivalent, out of the public stock, and for lesser hurts, proportionately.
 * 10) Should any member of the crew, while the ship is at anchor, commit an offense that brings excessive disrepute or hardship upon the crew or the company, or causes the ship and her crew to become unwelcome in a port, marooning or abandonment in a hostile territory shall be their punishment.