The Pirate Code of Henry Morgan
Arguably the most successful pirate of all time, Henry Morgan eventually rose to become Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. One of his more legendary exploits was the sack of Panama, a fight in which he led over a thousand men. Prior to that action, he had his officers sign the following agreement, stipulating:
Arguably the most successful pirate of all time, Henry Morgan eventually rose to become Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. One of his more legendary exploits was the sack of Panama, a fight in which he led over a thousand men. Prior to that action, he had his officers sign the following agreement, stipulating:
I. That he should have the hundredth part of all that was gotten to himself.
II. That every captain should draw the shares of eight men for the expenses of his ship, besides his own.
III. To the surgeon, beside his pay, two hundred pieces of eight for his chest of medicaments.
IV. To every carpenter, above his salary, one hundred pieces of eight.
V. For the loss of both legs, fifteen hundred pieces of eight, or fifteen slaves, the choice left to the party.
VI. For the loss of both hands, eighteen hundred pieces of eight, or eighteen slaves.
VII. For one leg, whether right or left, six hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves.
VIII. For a hand, as much as for a leg.
IX. And for the loss of an eye, one hundred pieces of eight, or one slave.
X. Lastly, to him that in any battle should signalize himself, either by entering first any castle, or taking down the Spanish colours, and setting up the English, they allotted fifty pieces of eight for a reward.
All which extraordinary salaries and rewards to be paid out of the first spoil they should take, as every one should occur to be either rewarded or paid.
(Extracted for islademuerta.com from the 1678 book The Pirates of Panama, or, The Buccaneers of America, by Alexandre Exquemelin.)