Pirate code of Edward Thatch

Pirate code of Edward Thatch

The pirate code of Edward Thatch was a set of articles created by Captain Edward Thatch which dictated the rules of conduct aboard his ship the Sea Dog's Bite while he operated as a British privateer. Upon Thatch's seizure of the Queen Anne's Revenge in 1717 for use in piracy, the articles were transferred to his new flagship.

The Code

Article 1

Every Man shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have one full Share & a half of all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain, & Gunner shall have one Share & quarter.

Article 2

Every Man has a Vote in Affairs of Moment; has equal Title to the fresh Provisions, or strong Liquors, at any Time seized, & may use them at Pleasure, unless a Scarcity makes it necessary, for the Good of All, to vote a Retrenchment.

Article 3

If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep Secret from the Company, he shall be maroon'd with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, & Shot.

Article 4

If any Man shall Steal any Thing in the Company to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be maroon'd or shot.

Article 5

If any Time we shall meet another Pyrate and that Man shall sign his Articles the Consent of our Company, he shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company see fit.

Article 6

The lights & candles to be put out at eight o'clock at Night: if any of the Crew, after that Hour still remain inclined to Drinking, they are to do it on the open Deck.

Article 7

The Musicians to have rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six Days & Nights, will have none without special approval.

Article 8

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 9

That Man that shall snap his Arms, or smoak [sic] Tobacco in the Hold, without a Cap to his Pipe, or carry a Candle lighted without a Lanthorn, shall suffer the same Punishment as in the former Article.

Article 10

That Man that shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Affairs, shall be cut off from his Share, & suffer such other Punishment as the Captain & Company shall think fit.

Article 11

If Any Man shall lose a Joint in time of an Engagement, shall have 400 Pieces of Eight; if a limb, 800.

Article 12

If any man should meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that attempts to meddle with her, without her consent, shall suffer present Death.

Behind the scenes

With the exception of Articles 2, 6, and 7, which are taken from Bartholomew Roberts' own code, the rest of Thatch's code is in fact the same one used by Captain John Phillips of the Revenge in 1724.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – Dead Men's Gold (indirect mention only)