The Articles of Captain Bartholemew (Black Bart) Roberts
I
Every man has a Vote in Affairs of Moment; has equal Title to the fresh Provisions, or strong
Liqours, at any Time seized, & use them at pleasure, unless a Scarcity make it necessary, for the
good of all, to Vote a Retrenchment.

II
Every Man shall be called fairly in turn, by List, on Board of Prizes, because, (over and above their
proper Share,) they there on these Occasions allow'd a Shift of Clothes: But if they defraud the
Company to the Value of a Dollar, in Plate, Jewels, or Money, Marooning shall be their Punishment.

III
No Person to game at Cards or Dice for Money.

IV
The Lights & Candles shall be put out at eight o'clock at Night.  If any of the Crew, after that Hour,
still remain inclined for Drinking, they shall do so on the open Deck.

V
To Keep their Piece, Pistols & Cutlash clean, & fit for Service.

VI
No Boy or Woman to be allow'd amongst them.  If any Man be found seducing any of the latter Sex,
and carrying her to Sea, disguised, he shall suffer death.

VII
To Desert the Ship, or his Quarters in Battle, shall be punished with Death, or Marooning.

VIII
No striking of another on Board, but every Man's Quarrels to be ended on Shore, at Sword & Pistol
Thus: The Quarter-Master of the Ship, When the parties will not come to any Reconciliation,
accompanies them on Shore with what assistance he thinks proper, & turns the Disputants Back to
back, at so many paces Distance.  At the Word of Command, they turn and fire immediately, (or else
the Piece is knocked out of their hands).  If both miss, they come to their cutlasses, and then he is
declared Victor who draws first blood.

IX
No man to talk of breaking up their Way of Living, till each has shared 1000∫.  If in order to this, any
Man should lose a Limb, or become a Cripple in their Service, he shall have 800 dollars, out of the
Publick Stock, and for lesser Hurts, proportionably.

X
The Captain and the Quarter-Master shall each receive two Shares of a Prize; the Master,
Boatswain, & Gunner, one Share and a half and other Officers, one and a Quarter.

XI
The Musicians shall have Rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six Days & Nights, none without
special favour.