Pirates are rutheless fearless and often toothless, but they’re certainly not rule-less. No no, if you want to be a pirate, you have to follow the code of conduct. Below are just a few examples of what such rules may have looked like.

• Every man shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have one full share and a half in all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain and Gunner shall have one Share and quarter.

• 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.

• If any Many shall steel any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marroon’d or shot.

• If at any Time we should meet another Marrooner (that is Pyrate) that Man that shall sign his Articles without the Consent of our Company, shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.

More here…

Personally, I quite like this one:

• 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.