Pirates Codes And Codes

The Pirate Codes Pirates in the late 17th century and early 18th century were essentially shrewd businessmen that skillfully planned robberies to increase their riches. Many of the accounts that historians have seem to describe pirates as mean-spirited and gallant. Nowadays, pirates are romanticized and idolized. They would ruthlessly take what wasn’t theirs, and even though they were thieves, they also had codes, rules and customs unique and important to them. Several of the codes were consistent throughout several pirate ships. Things like every man has a vote in every affair regarding the ship or no woman shall be allowed amongst them; these were two of the many rules set upon pirate ships. They had more codes and rules, but these two …show more content…
The rule that states that no boy or woman shall aboard the ship or the pirate will be put to death was one that wasn’t respected in some ships like: Captain Rackam’s. Captain Rackham was voted captain when the crew was divided and was in favor of him instead of Captain Vane. Along the way, Captain Rackam gave himself a name and sailed through the seas and gaining riches. As a pirate the codes and rules were set to create an understanding of ranking, roles and rules that the crew had to respect and follow in order to be part of the ship’s beneficial exploits. Captain Rackam ignored one of the codes and brought a woman aboard the ship as his mistress: Anne Bonney. It is said she was married, but she soon became enamored with the gallant pirate. She is described as follows; “…Anne 's affections were soon estranged from her husband by Captain Rackam; and eloping with him, she went to sea in men 's clothes. Proving with child, the captain put her on shore, and entrusted her to the care of some friends until her recovery, when she again accompanied him in his expeditions.” (“The Life and Exploits of Anne Bonney” Ch. 25). Anne Bonney then, with the help of Captain Rackam, becomes a woman pirate seemingly deceiving the rest of the crew by disguising herself as a man. Captain Rackam did not respect or follow the rule, and with hypocrisy continued to deceive his crewmen as they …show more content…
It set the tone of the relationship between Captain and crew so that there could be harmony and peace even though they were considered thieves or criminals in the face of society. Although mostly honored, some codes of conduct were not followed and that opens the question about how severe the punishment could be to a captain that doesn’t follow the pirate code. There’s a certain extent to the Pirate code of conduct that was established for pirates; it won’t be respected if it doesn’t pleasure or serve them, especially when it comes to Captains. They will follow them for the crew’s benefit, but if it doesn’t hurt anyone, what’s the harm. These men were ruthless, brutal and crude; breaking a rule wouldn’t hurt a pirate’s conscience. So even though for the most part the rules established as the pirate code of contact were honored; pirates will be