Pirates of the Carolinas

  Punishments for Breaking the Code- Punishments for breaking the pirate's code were always swift and rarely without exception, an attitude carried over from their previous time aboard a sailing vessel.The quartermaster would deliver the punishment determined by the captain or vote of the crew, which might be legs in irons, flogging, or keel hauling. More serious crimes were answered with marooning or death....

These were the articles used by Captain John Phillips' ship 'Revenge':

• Article One
  Every man shall obey civil command; the captain shall have on full share and a half in all prizes. the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain, and Gunner shall have one share and quarter.
• Article Two
  If any man shall offer to run away, or keep any secret from the Company, he shall be marroon'd with one bottle of powder, one bottle of Water, one small Arm, and shot.
• Article Three
  If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game, to the value of a piece of Eight, he shall be Marroon'd or shot.
• Article Four
  If at any Time we should meet at another Marrooner (that is, Pyrate) that man shall sign his Articles without Consent of our Company, shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.
• Article Five
  That man that shall strike another, whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive Moses's Law (that is 40 Stripes lacking one) on the bare Back.
• Article Six
  That Man that shall snap his Arms, or smoak Tobacco in the Hold, without cap to his Pipe, or carry a candle lighted without lanthorn, shall suffer the same Punishment as in the former Article.
• Article Seven
  That Man that 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 Company shall think fit.
• Article Eight
  If any man shall lose a joint in time of Engagement, shall have 400 Pieces of Eight: if a limb, 800.
• Article Nine
  If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer Death.

Summary for the Pirate Code of Conduct- In the years before the founding of democratic nations, pirates were groups of violent men in rebellion against the restraints of harsh rule and society. The pirate code helped them to live under their unique social contracts. Although the goal was still to have the quickest route to riches and leisure as the tyrants they fled from, the pirate code elements such as: equality, rules and decisions by group vote, just punishments, and division of power, contributed to the framework upon which democracies would later be built.... Ain't that a pretty punch!