Editing Articles

==Articles of Fortune's Madness==

'''I.''' Every Man Shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have two full Share of all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain and Gunner shall have one Share and half; Able Seamen one Share and quarter; other Seamen one full Share; Boys and Landsmen one half Share. A salary and compensation is specified for the surgeon and his medicine chest, usually 250 Pieces of Eight. The Public Stock shall Consist of two full Share of all Prizes and before any Share is paid all Provisions and Repairs are to be Funded.

'''II.''' Each 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 until the Hour of Eight O'Clock in the evening, unless a scarcity makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.

'''III.''' If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from the Company, he shall be marooned with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, and Shot. If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marooned as before or shot.

'''IV.''' No Man to talk of Breaking up their way of Living, till each had shared one thousand Pieces of Eight. If in order to this, any man should lose a Limb, or become a Cripple in Their Service, he was to have Eight Hundred Pieces of Eight, out of the Public Stock, and for lesser hurts, proportionately.

'''V.''' No Man to Strike another on Board, but every Man's quarrels to be Ended on Shore, at Sword and Pistol. (The boatswain of the ship, or most senior officer in his absence, 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.)

'''VI.''' That Man that shall snap his Arms, or smoke Tobacco in the Hold, without a Cap to his Pipe, or carry a Candle lighted without a Lanthorn, shall suffer Moses's Law (40 lashes less 1 upon the bare back).

'''VII.''' That Man 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.

'''VIII.''' No Man to Engage or to Enable the Impressment or Forced labors of another of the Company nor those Captives taken honorably in Combat. Such Persons who must be Bound while under way Shall have the same Protections from abuse as the Company and Shall be put off at the first Civilized Landing.

'''IX.''' 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.


''Here is a sample list of articles.''

Every pirate crew has its own articles that every man among them must sign to. One famous set of articles, used by the crew of Captain Roberts, ran as follows:

'''ARTICLE I.''' Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of moment. He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized and shall use them at pleasure unless a scarcity may make it necessary for the common good that a retrenchment may be voted.

'''ARTICLE II.''' Every man shall be called fairly in turn by the list on board of prizes, because over and above their proper share, they are allowed a shift of clothes. But if they defraud the company to the value of even one dollar in plate, jewels or money, they shall be marooned. If any man robs
another he shall have his nose and ears slit and be put ashore where he shall be sure to encounter hardships.

'''ARTICLE III.''' None shall game for money either with dice or cards.

'''ARTICLE IV.''' The lights and candles should be put out at eight at night and if any of the crew desire to drink after that hour they shall sit upon the open deck without lights.

'''ARTICLE V.''' Each man shall keep his piece, cutlass and pistols at all times clean and ready for action.

'''ARTICLE VI.''' No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man shall be found seducing any of the latter sex and carrying her to sea in disguise he shall suffer death.

'''ARTICLE VII.''' He that shall desert the ship or his quarters in time of battle shall be punished by death or marooning.

'''ARTICLE VIII.''' None shall strike another on board the ship but every man’s quarrel shall be ended on shore by sword or pistol in this manner. At the word of command from the quartermaster, each man being previously placed back to back, shall turn and fire immediately. If any man does not, the quartermaster shall knock the piece out of his hand. If both miss their aim they shall take to their cutlasses, and he that draweth first blood shall be declared the victor.

'''ARTICLE IX.''' No man shall talk of breaking up their way of living till each has a share of £l,000. Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have 800 pieces of eight from the common stock and for lesser hurts proportionately.

'''ARTICLE X'''. The captain and the quartermaster shall each receive two shares of a prize, the master gunner and boatswain, one and one half shares, all other officers one and one quarter, and private gentlemen of fortune one share each.

'''ARTICLE XI.''' The musicians shall have rest on the Sabbath Day only by right. On all other days by favour only.