ow overboard the original they had signed and sworn to,
there is a great deal of room to suspect the remainder contained
something too horrid to be disclosed to any, except such as were willing
to be sharers in the iniquity of them. Let them be what they will, they
were together the test of all newcomers, who were initiated by an oath
taken on a Bible, reserved for that purpose only, and were subscribed to
in presence of the worshipful Mr. Roberts. And in case any doubt should
arise concerning the construction of these laws, and it should remain a
dispute whether the party had infringed them or no, a jury was appointed
to explain them, and bring in a verdict upon the case in doubt.

Since we are now speaking of the laws of this company, I shall go on,
and, in as brief a manner as I can, relate the principal customs and
government of this roguish commonwealth, which are pretty near the same
with all pirates.

For the punishment of small offences which are not provided for by the
articles, and which are not of consequence enough to be left to a jury,
there is a principal officer among the pirates, called the
quartermaster, of the men's own choosing, who claims all authority this
way, excepting in time of battle. If they disobey his command, are
quarrelsome and mutinous with one another, misuse prisoners, plunder
beyond his order, and in particular, if they be negligent of their arms,
which he musters at discretion, he punishes at his own arbitrament, with
drubbing or whipping, which no one else dare do without incurring the
lash from all the ship's company. In short, this officer is trustee for
the whole, is the first on board any prize, separating for the company's
use what he pleases, and returning what he thinks fit to the owners,
excepting gold and silver, which they have voted not returnable.

After a description of the quartermaster and his duty, who acts as a
sort of civil magistrate on board a pirate ship, I shall consider their
military officer, the captain; what privileges he exerts in such anarchy
and unruliness of the members. Why, truly very little--they only permit
him to be captain, on condition that they may be captain over him; they
separate to his use the great cabin, and sometimes vote him small
parcels of plate and china (for it may be noted that Roberts drank his
tea constantly), but then every man, as the humor takes him, will use
the plate and china, intrude into his apartment, swear at him, seize