“Fifteen people for a dead man's chest, yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum! Thousand devils, whistle all up! " - so, in the opinion of many, the pirates among themselves and communicated. At the same time, in one hand the pirate had a bottle of rum, in the other a woman, with one eye he watched the game of dice, and the second he did not have at all.

Maybe some pirates had a green parrot on their shoulders that knew a couple of swear words, maybe someone had a wooden leg or one eye, but pirate life is the exact opposite of the intoxicating chaos that is associated with it.

On board everyone pirate ship there was a code that was signed by all crew members before launching the ship. And it was not just a piece of paper with a couple of prohibitions, but a real set of rules, we can say that this set characterized the pirates as valiant and fair. True, not in relation to merchant ships.

The complete set of rules of any of the captains has not reached us, but there are excerpts from the code that Sir Bartholomew Roberts compiled, for his own - Black Bart, or the author was no less famous pirate John Phillips is the captain of the Avenger.

1. Each of the team members has equal decision-making rights, an equal share of the loot and is free to use this share as he pleases, unless the team is experiencing hunger or other deprivation.

By the way, pirate codes are considered one of the brightest examples of people's democracy. On the ship, everyone was equal. The captain was chosen by voting, like the headman at the school, hands were stretching. At any moment, the captain could be removed from his post and a new one could be chosen.

2. Each team member must contribute a share in the total production and then has the right to participate in its division.

Regarding the division of the spoils, everything was strict, but honest. The captain received twice as much as an ordinary sailor, and in general, the share depended on the degree of responsibility of the pirate, which lay on him. The quartermaster was in charge of the division. This is the second person on the ship after the captain, his assistant. He was also elected by voting and was often a counterweight to the captain in order to maintain a balance of justice. The quartermaster had considerable responsibility, he monitored the condition of the ship and the situation on it, decided what to take from the trophies, what not, what to leave to the crew, what to sell, which ships to pick up, which to bury on seabed... Appraiser, economist, secretary - they are all Quartermaster. Aby who did not trust to share the loot. By the way, the pirates with severe wounds were the first to receive their share; for the loss of an arm or leg, they paid extra from a common cauldron. Everything was fair, in general.

The romantic picture of how at sunset, under the palm trees, pirates divide the stolen gold from the chest, crumbles to smithereens, because this could not be. The main prey was usually goods such as sugar, gunpowder, cereals, rum, fruits and textiles. Therefore, first some "Black Pearl" sailed to the port, where the crew was selling everything that the quartermaster had distributed for sale, and then the money was divided. The code provided for all expenses: a carpenter, fresh water, food, ship rent and even a surgeon.

Rum is a separate story. The holds have always been filled with this drink, but this does not mean that the pirates drank it without knowing when to stop. Firstly, rum was needed to quench thirst, secondly, to give courage in battle, and thirdly, it was drunk for fun. But few and rare. For example, Black Bart did not like alcohol at all, although he was a real pirate, because in three years of sailing he robbed almost 500 ships. A real storm of the seas.

3. Drunkenness on the ship is prohibited. The punishment is 40 blows with rods.

This point was not because the captain did not want to share the rum, but because a sober crew should operate the ship. The pirates had to be always ready, because at any moment they could stumble upon good prey.

4. If one of the team hits the other, then the offender is punished with 40 blows with the rods.

One point follows from the other, a sober team - no fights. After all, pirates are a wayward, hot-tempered people, and rum, as you know, warms up blood and ardor. Senseless fights were punished with rods, but duels were allowed as a noble solution to the dispute, but even here there were rules.

5. Fights on the ship are prohibited, duels with swords or pistols can only take place on the shore.

Pirates were punished not only with rods, the punishments were much worse.

6. If any of the team shows cowardice, tries to hide from others part of the common loot or tries to escape, the team must land the culprit on a desert island with a bottle of gunpowder, a bottle of rum, a bottle of fresh water and a loaded pistol.

7. If any of the team is convicted of theft or foul play, he must be landed on an uninhabited island with only a loaded pistol.

"A pirate landed on a desert island" Artist G. Pyle

But the pirate did not always die from such an execution, so such an item appeared.

8. If a man, sailor or pirate is found on a desert island, he must sign this agreement, but only with the consent of the entire crew and the captain.

By the way, on the board itself, gambling for money was also prohibited. And on some courts it was forbidden even to use foul language. The code contained not only the rules of conduct and communication between team members, but also the attitude towards cargo and personal belongings.

9. Whoever fires a pistol, smokes a pipe, or lights a candle near the ship's gunpowder will be punished with 40 strokes of the rods.

10. Anyone who does not keep weapons clean or does not carry out the assigned ship work, forfeits his share of the common booty, even if it is the captain himself.

As you know, a pirate without love for a woman is not a pirate. So there were several rules on the topic of relationships with a woman, some of them show that the fair sex was still treated with respect.

11. Women and children are forbidden to be on the ship, if someone disguises a woman and takes her to the ship, he will be sentenced to death.

12. If anyone tries to take possession of a woman without her consent, he will be sentenced to death.

Well, and a little more about the behavior in battle.

13. Anyone who leaves the ship during the battle will be executed or landed on an uninhabited island.

14. Pistols, sabers and other weapons must be kept clean and ready.

The pirate ship even had a daily routine.

15. Lights and candles must be extinguished at eight o'clock in the evening.

This, of course, is not the whole pirate code, but only a small part of it. But a real pirate had to comply with all his points. After each signed the code, he would take an oath, with his hands either on a Bible with a pistol, or on a human skull, or the pirate had to say this oath while sitting on a cannon.

Pirate code- this is an important historical document that proves not only the nobility, justice and, in some way, the honesty of pirates, but also testifies that people with almost complete freedom of action can create their own society, which will work harmoniously for themselves, where everyone will get what he deserves. Either doubloons or a bullet.

The Pirate Code or Articles of Agreement is a code of conduct for pirates. Their codes were written by Henry Morgan, George Lauter, Bartolomeo of Portugal, Bartholomew Roberts and other captains. Before the code came into force, each team member had to sign it. After that, the rules were placed in the most prominent place.

Four complete or nearly complete pirate codes survived. First published in 1724, Henry Morgan's Pirate Code has survived thanks to the book by Alexander Exquemelin, which he wrote in 1678 while traveling the seas and oceans with American pirates. There were a lot of codes, but not so many of them survived, because pirates burned any reminders of it before surrendering to prevent the possibility of using the code against them in court.

Henry Morgan Codex

I. Everyone has the right to vote when making decisions; everyone has equal ownership of the team's loot. Also, a team member has an equal share in the stock of liqueurs, withdrawn during work, and can use it for his own pleasure, if at the moment the team is not experiencing a shortage of a particular resource.

II. Everyone has the right to receive their share on a first come, first served basis. If a team member steals the property of another team member, then in case of proof of guilt, the victim has the right to publicly cut off the ears or nose of the robber.

III. No one on board the ship is allowed to play cards or dice for money.

IV. Torches or candles cannot be used on board the ship at night. If anyone wants to drink, they must do so on the open deck.

V. Keep your blade, pistols and dagger clean and check regularly for cleanliness.

Vi. Women and children are not allowed on board. If someone, for the purpose of satisfying the flesh, brings a woman in disguise on board, then he will be punished with death.

Vii. Desertion from a ship is punishable by death.

VIII. No disputes on board. If you need to resolve a controversial issue, then you need to wait for the descent to the shore and resolve the issue with a blade pistol. During the duel, a representative of the captain is present, who puts the duelists back to back. On command, the opponents take ten steps, turn around and shoot. If both miss, then blades are given. The duel ends after the first blood appears.

IX. The pirate is forbidden to show off his scars and lost limbs.

H. The captain and quartermaster receive two shares of the jackpot, the helmsman, the boatswain, and the gunner - one and a half shares, other non-privates receive one and a quarter shares each.

XI. Musicians have the right to rest every Saturday night, the rest of the time requires the captain's permission.

Captain John Phillips, just as Henry Morgan established a code for his team in 1724:

I. The captain has one and a half shares of the jackpot, the helmsman, carpenter, boatswain and gunner each receive one and a quarter share.

II. If a pirate betrays his crew, tries to desert, or hides a secret, then he must be landed on a desert island with one bottle of gunpowder and one bottle of water. The traitor is shot at parting in the hand.

III. If one pirate aboard steals from another, he must be disembarked and killed.

IV. If a crew member sees a person on a desert island, then he is prohibited from contacting him. He must convey this information to the captain. The captain decides on the fate of this person. (In most cases, a person was left on the island, because he was left there by another ship, for some crime)

V. If a pirate, for no reason, strikes another, then the law of Moses comes into force. The Law of Moses says that for such an act, the guilty person is punished with 40 blows with a rod on his bare back.

Vi. A person who smokes, uses candles next to gunpowder, lights torches and candles on board at night, must be punished, as in the previous paragraph.

Vii. If the pirate does not keep the weapon clean, the captain has the right to deprive him of part of the award.

VIII. If the pirate is wounded in battle, then 400 pesos are paid to him; if he loses a limb, he is paid 800 pesos.

IX. Anywhere, at any time, if you witnessed an attempt at violence against a lady, then you are obliged to punish the rapist with death from the blade.

Pirate Codes of Edward Lowe and George Lowther Pirates

I. The captain is entitled to two shares of the jackpot; quartermaster one and a half shares; doctor, helmsman, gunner and boatswain are entitled to one and a quarter share.

II. All illegal weapons, collusion and secrets are prohibited on board. Violations of the rule are punishable by death, the method is chosen by the captain.

III. The pirate is punished for cowardice during battles. The captain chooses the punishment.

IV. All gold, jewelry, silver and other valuables and resources hidden from the team are confiscated. The guilty person is punished by the captain.

V. For cheating during games of cards or dice, the culprit is punished with deprivation of a share.

Vi. A limb that is lost in battle receives compensation in the amount of 600 pesos. He also has the right to stay on board if he can be of benefit to the crew.

Vii. Team loyalty is rewarded with an additional quarter share.

VIII. Those wishing to join the team must have a pistol and a short blade.

IX. Drunkenness during a planned attack is punished by the ship's captain.

The Pirate John Gough's Code

The following set of rules was written by the pirate John Gough in his own hand and was found aboard his ship in 1729 when he went ashore and the crew was captured. The code reads as follows:

I. Everyone must obey his captain in all respects, as if the ship were his own.

II. No one except the captain has the right to dispose of the ship, but everyone has the right to an equal share.

III. Insult and foul language on the ship is punishable by death.

IV. No one has the right to leave the ship while the ship is about to go to sea.

V. It is prohibited to use fire for lighting and to drink alcohol on board the ship during eight hours of the night.

Vi. Anyone who doubts the points of this code deserves death.

Also, I would like to cite a few additional points from the Henry Morgan code.

I. Kush is divided after resupplying the ship. No loot, no pay.

II. The salary of a carpenter or shipbuilder is fixed - 200 pesos. A doctor's salary is 250 pesos.

III. Compensation is provided to crippled and disfigured pirates.

Loss right hand six hundred pesos, or six slaves;
Loss of the left hand five hundred pesos, or five slaves;
Loss of the right leg five hundred pesos, or five slaves;
Loss of left leg four hundred pesos or four slaves,
Losing an eye a hundred pesos or one slave,
Loss of a finger one hundred pesos or one slave.

When you watch pirate films, you get the impression that pirates - a thunderstorm of the seas and oceans - live outside any rules, are mired in a riotous life, villains, there is no discipline for them, they are greedy, vicious and prone to betrayal for their own benefit. My image of a pirate from my childhood - a cocked hat with a picture of a dead head, one-eyed, a beard, an earring in the ear, a parrot on the shoulder, a bone leg. What laws can be written to this type?

Nevertheless, the pirates had a code of honor. Moreover, each ship had its own, but they were all very similar. Each of the sailors put his signature on the agreement that was concluded between all members of the crew, a kind of pledged to abide by the Code of Honor. Only the doctor did not do this. Women were allowed to become pirates only if they were not inferior to men in determination, courage and willpower.

So, ride the waves of pirate ethics!

1. Gambling... Gambling (playing cards or dice) for money was prohibited.

2. Boatswain He was in charge of the technical condition of the ship and managed the crew.

3.Jolly Roger... Only a pirate had the right to touch the Jolly Roger. If a person, not being a pirate, touched the flag, he needed to be sure to be taught a lesson for it.

4.Theft... Punished. The thief landed on a desert island with a bottle of rum and a loaded pistol.

5.Share in production. Each team member had to contribute to the common loot and then had the right to participate in its division. Those who tried to conceal part of the captured were landed on an uninhabited island. I think that in the golden era of piracy, the uninhabited islands were overpopulated: just a little - on a desert island, poor fellow!

6. House... There was only one home for the pirate - the pirate ship.

7. Fights... It was forbidden on the ship, on the shore - fight as much as you want.

8. Duels... Like fights, they could only take place on the shore

9. Women... Evil. Worse than a hole. Women were not allowed to be on the ship. Anyone who dared to lead a woman aboard was doomed to death.

10. Pirate life... An incessant chain of battles.

11. Law... Pirates are free people living by the Pirate's Code of Honor. Any other law ends at the edge of pirate knives.

12. Name... Every real pirate should be proud of his big name.

13. Gunner... He was responsible for the serviceability of the guns, their readiness to fire, and also personally commanded their guidance during the battle.

14. Captain.

14.1. The most experienced and courageous member of the crew was elected captain.

14.2. The captain nowhere and never had the right to be the last.

14.3. If the captain showed cowardice or cruelty towards his crew, the pirates could revolt and throw the captain overboard, or land on a desert island.

15. Quartermaster... I was responsible for the condition of the vessel.

16.Punishment for disobedience. Usually, a guilty pirate was put on shackles on his legs, or he was given a good spanking. More serious crimes were punishable by death.

17. Obscene expressions. It was forbidden to use obscene language on the ship.

18.Role model... For the pirate, there was only one role model - his great predecessors.

19. Lights... The lights and candles were extinguished at eight o'clock in the evening. If someone was impatient to continue drinking alcohol, then he had to do so only on the upper deck.

20. Weapon... Pistols, sabers and other weapons had to be kept clean and ready.

21.First mate... Served as captain's duties during his absence.

22. Pirate. The main cell of the team. Freedom, riotous fun life, contempt for death are the basic principles of pirate philosophy.

23.Promotion. When a pirate fought a certain number of battles, acquired the necessary experience and skills, he was promoted in rank according to the Pirate rank.

24. Subordination... Each pirate was obliged to obey the superior in rank.

25.Loss of an arm or leg... The loss of an arm to the elbow was compensated by 400 ducats, to the shoulder - the compensation was doubled; loss of a knee-deep leg - 400 ducats were paid out of the total loot, the loss of an entire leg - the amount doubled.

26. Crimes... The worst crimes for a real pirate are betrayal and cowardice.

27.Risk... The pirate was always willing to risk his life.

28. Family... For the pirate, there was only one family - the Pirate Brotherhood.

29.The pirate's word is stronger than steel.

30.Cowardice in battle... Punished. Every pirate had to be desperate and brave.

31.Black Mark. A sign of punishment, a stigma on a pirate's reputation for non-compliance with the code:

- 1 black mark: a ban on participation in battles for 3 days;

- 2 black marks: demotion;

- 3 black marks: landing on a desert island with a bottle of rum, fresh water and a loaded pistol for a week;

- 4 black marks: capital punishment in one of the proven pirate methods, depending on the severity of the violations.

The opinion that anarchy reigned among pirates is erroneous. The life of pirates was subject to certain laws - the pirate code, the requirements of which had to be strictly followed. Each of the sailors put his signature under the agreement that was concluded between all members of the crew. The most respected and experienced sailor was elected at its head, who acted as the captain and was also obliged to adhere to the rules determined by the agreement.

In many ways, the pirate agreement resembled a letter of marque. Here is one example of a real-life piracy agreement drawn up by members of John Phillips's crew aboard the Avenger:

Each of the team members has equal decision-making rights, an equal share of the loot and is free to use this share as he pleases, unless the team is experiencing hunger or other deprivation.

Each team member must contribute a share in the total production and then has the right to participate in its division. Whoever tries to hide part of the captured will be landed on a desert island.

Playing cards or dice for money is prohibited.

The lights and candles must be extinguished at eight o'clock in the evening. If someone wants to continue drinking alcohol, then he should only do so on the upper deck.

Pistols, sabers and other weapons must be kept clean and ready.

Women are not allowed on the ship. Anyone who brings a woman to the ship will be executed.

Anyone who leaves the ship during the battle will be executed or landed on an uninhabited island.

Fights on the ship are prohibited, duels with swords or pistols can only take place on the shore.

If someone decides to leave the team, then he must pay a ransom at the rate of one thousand doubloons for each of the remaining ones.

Each of the team members must obey the requirements of this agreement. Everyone has the right to his own share of the total spoils. The captain and the quartermaster receive a double share. The boatswain, the gunner and the owner of the ship receive one and a half shares, the assistant, the carpenter and the rest of the officers receive a share and a quarter.

If any of the team shows cowardice, tries to hide part of the common loot from others, or tries to escape, the team must land the culprit on an uninhabited island with a bottle of gunpowder, a bottle of rum, a bottle of fresh water and a loaded pistol.

If any of the team is convicted of theft or foul play, he must be landed on an uninhabited island with only a loaded pistol.

If a man, sailor or pirate is found on a desert island, he must sign this agreement, but only with the consent of the entire crew and the captain.

If one of the team hits the other, then the offender is punished with 40 blows with rods.

Whoever fires a pistol, smokes a pipe or lights a candle at the ship's gunpowder is punished with 40 blows of the rods.

Anyone who does not keep weapons clean or does not carry out the assigned ship work is deprived of his share of the total loot, even if it is the captain himself.

If any of the team loses an arm up to the elbow, they are paid 400 ducats in compensation. If the arm is not up to the shoulder, the compensation is doubled. If a knee-deep leg is lost, 400 ducats from the total loot are paid, if the leg is completely cut off, the amount is doubled.

If anyone tries to take possession of a woman without her consent, he will be sentenced to death.

Division of the loot

Depending on the situation, the division of the booty could take place in different proportions. If the captain acted under the guise of a letter of marque, he was obliged to pay a commission to the state in the amount of 10 to 90% of the production, for example, according to the rules of Queen Elizabeth, the production was divided at the rate of 50/50. All the rest of the loot was divided into parts between the team members. Each part was called a share. The captain was usually entitled to two shares, the most important members of the crew: the quartermaster - 1 3/4, the rest of the officers (ship owner, carpenter, boatswain, gunner) - 1 1/4 share. The rest of the team members received a whole share, newcomers - 1/4. Members of the boarding team received an additional 1/4 share as a bonus. This division of the booty concerned goods and gold, while the weapon belonged to the one who took possession of it in battle and was not subject to redistribution.

One of the very interesting topics related to piracy is pirate code... On board the pirate ship, in a sense, equality reigned. Pirates were a kind of elite compared to other thieves and bandits. This behavior was a direct reaction to the lack of rights that many pirates experienced the hard way when they were still sailing ordinary sailors on merchants or served on navy... Historian Paul Gilbert notes: “ Almost a century before the American and French revolutions, an experiment to introduce egalitarian democracy was staged aboard hundreds of pirate ships«.

Fairness and equity were the watchwords of the pirate life. Everyone got their fair share of the booty, and everyone on the ship was equal.

True, in exchange for this freedom, all pirates were bound by the code, and the perpetrator of violating it faced severe punishment, and sometimes death. In his book “ Piracy history"Angus Constam cites Black Bart Roberts' pirate code as a typical example:

1. Everyone should have an equal voice in any day-to-day business. Everyone should have equal access to food and alcohol at any time and can use them for their intended purpose, unless suddenly there is a shortage of them and there is no need to save.
2. Everyone has the right to freely familiarize themselves with the list of prizes available on board. But if he shelters at least one dollar from the crew in the form of silver and gold dishes, jewelry or coins, he will be planted on. If one team member steals something from another, his nose and ears will be cut off and he will be disembarked, where he will no doubt have to face great difficulties.
3. It is forbidden to play dice and cards for money.
4. The extinguishing of lamps and candles should take place at eight in the evening, and if any of the crew wants to drink after this hour, he should do it on the deck in the dark.
5. Everyone should keep their pistols and boarding sabers clean and always ready for battle.
6. There should be no boys or women on board. If someone from the crew is seen forcing the latter to have a sexual relationship, and then in disguise will lead her to the ship, he is subject to death.
7. Anyone who leaves the battle during the battle will be punished with death or landed on an uninhabited island.
8. No one can kill another person on board the ship, the quarrel must be resolved on the shore by a duel with pistols or sabers.
9. No one can even talk about changing such a lifestyle until his share is 1,000 pounds sterling. Everyone who becomes a cripple during the service, loses an arm or a leg, will receive eight hundred coins from the general treasury, and for a lighter injury, accordingly, less.
10. The captain and quartermaster each receive two shares of the prize; boatswain and senior gunner - one and a half; the rest of the officers - one at a time; privates - a share for each.
11. The legal day for the musicians to rest is Saturday, on other days - only with the permission of the team.

If a pirate was seriously injured, the crew was thrown off for compensation on a sliding scale, depending on the severity of the wound. Exquemelin in his book Pirates of America writes that the highest compensation - 600 coins - was given for the loss of his right hand; left hand or the right leg was worth 500 coins; left leg - 400; eye - 100 coins.