The freebooters of the Golden Age of Piracy had, in effect, declared war on every country on the face of the earth, and they obeyed the laws of no nation.

They therefore developed their own laws. These laws were known as “the Articles” and were, in effect, a constitution or compact by which the pirates governed themselves.

In order for a would-be pirate to join a crew, and receive his share of the treasure taken, he was required to sign the Articles to show that he consented to be governed by these rules, and would accept punishment if he violated them.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, pirates and mutineers often signed such documents in the form of the “round-robin” shown here. With the signatures of the crew arranged like the spokes of a wheel, it would be harder for the authorities to figure out who the ringleaders of the crew were in the event the pirates were captured.

The Articles of the various crews tended to be fairly similar. The Articles given below were common to most, with the addition of a number of other rules known to have been in force among Bellamy’s pirates.

They show that the pirates were remarkably democratic and egalitarian for their time!

Ye Articles of ye Gentlemen of ffortune

Every Man Sworne by Book & Mirror to be true to these Articles, & to his Ship Mates, is to have a Vote in Matters of Importance. He who is not Sworne, shall not Vote.

Every Man to have Equal Right to ye Provisions or Liquors at any time & to use them at Pleasure, unless Scarcity makes a Restriction necessary for ye Good of All.

Every Man to be called ffairly a Board Prizes in turn by the List of ye Company. Every Boarder is to have a Suit of Cloaths from ye Prize.

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The Captain & Officers are to be chosen on Commencement of a Voyage, & on any other Occasion as ye Company shall deeme fit.

The Power of ye Captain is Supream in Chace or Battle. He may beat, cut, or shoot any who dares Deny his Command on such Occasions. In all other Matters whatsoever he is to be Governed by the Will of ye Company.

Every Man shall obey Civill Command.

He who first sees a Sail, shall have ye best Pistol, or Small Arm, from a Board her.

Ye Quarter=Master shall be first a Board any Prize. He is to separate for ye Company’s Use what he sees fit & shall have Trust of ye Common Stock & Treasurey until it be Shared. He shall Keep a Book shewing each Man’s Share, & each Man may draw from ye Common Stock & Treasurey against his Share upon Request.

Any Man who should Defraud ye Company, or another, to ye Vallew of a Dollar, he shall suffer Punishment as ye Company deeme ffit.

Each Man to keep his Musket, Pistolls, & Cutlass cleane & ffit for Service, upon Inspection by ye Quarter=Master.

No Prudent Woman, or Boy, is to be brought a board. No Married Man is to be fforced to serve our Company.

Good Quarters to be Granted when Called for.

Any Man who Deserts ye Company, keeps any Secret, or Deserts his Station in Time of Battle, shall be punished by Death, Marooning, or Whipping, as ye Company shall deeme ffit & Just.

Not a Word shall be Written by any Man unless it be nailed Publickly to ye Mast.

Any Man who Strikes or Abuses another of our Company shall suffer such Punishment as ye Company shall deeme ffit & Just. Every Man’s Quarrel to be settled a Shoar with Sword & Pistol & be Adjudged Fair Fight by ye Quarter=Master.

All Lights & Candles to be put out before 8 a Clock at night. If any Man continues Drinking after that Hour, he must do it on ye open Deck. That Man who shall Smoak Tobacko in ye Hold without a Cap on his Pipe, or carry a lit Candle without a Lanthorn, shall suffer Moses Law (40 Stripes less one) on his bare Back.

No Man to talk of breaking up our Way of Living until Each has Shared a Thousand Pounds.

If any Man should lose a Limb, or become a Cripple, he is to have 800 Dollars out of ye Common Stock, & for lesser hurts, Proportionably.

Ye Captain & Quarter=Master are to have two Shares of a Prize, the Sailing Master, Boatswain, Gunner & Surgeon, One Share & a Half. Other Officers One & a Quarter Share. Each Man shall share Plunder Equally. Boys shall have a Half Share.

One & All
One & Alll

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