These revolutionary documents resulted from the sailing experiences of these men prior to their turning to piracy. Governments and institutions of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were autocratic and tyrannical. Life in general, but aboard naval and merchant ships in particular, was often harsh and short-lived. Insufficient food supplies, low wages, high death rates, and strict discipline led to frequent desertions. To prevent a recurrence of these experiences, those who chose piracy crafted a more equitable set of rules to follow in which no one person was above another. A pirate captain and possibly the quartermaster (whose powers equaled or surpassed those of the captain) might receive 1¼ to 2 shares of the loot taken while the master gunner, boatswain, and carpenter might receive 1¼ shares. The remaining pirates received one share each.
Pirates belonged to a brotherhood, and as such, they instituted an early form of medical insurance within their Articles of Agreement. Each crew decided the worth of each injury, assigning the right arm the most worth since many pirates were right-handed. Compensation was also given for the loss of the left arm, the legs, a finger, and one or both eyes. Sometimes a wooden leg or a hand hook would also be valued because a pirate who utilized either was as dependent on its use as the man who lost a leg or arm. At other times a pirate who survived his wounding but was disabled became a cook, carpenter, or sail maker, which enabled him to share in any treasure because he provided a valuable service to the ship and its crew. Recompense for injuries and dismemberment came from the booty prior to its being divided amongst the pirates.
When a pirate affixed his signature or mark to this document, he pledged his honor to obey each rule. While uttering this solemn oath, he placed his hand on a Bible or a pair of crossed pistols or axes. Occasionally he sat astride a cannon or held a human skull. No offense ever went unpunished. The most serious violations called for marooning or death. Lesser infractions might entail having his nose and ears split. Any pirate who sailed under John Phillips suffered Moses' Law if caught smoking belowdeck or carrying a lighted candle without the protection of a lanthorn. Why? Fire was an ever-present danger on board wooden sailing vessels.
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