Proposed new Articles

All,

I volunteered to compile a new set of Articles, and here they are. Please read and make comments or suggestions. If the old articles are preferred, that is fine too. These articles are more detailed, and some are really just for flavour.



Ships articles

I. Every man has a vote in affairs of moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.

II. If any Gold, Jewels, Silver, &c. be found on Board of any Prize or Prizes to the value of a Piece of Eight, & the finder do not deliver it to the Quarter Master in the space of 24 hours he shall suffer marooning with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, and Shot, or what Punishment the Captain and the Majority of the Company shall think fit.

III. No person to game at cards or dice for money.

IV. The lights and candles to be put out at eight o'clock at night: if any of the crew, after that hour still remained inclined for drinking, they were to do it on the open deck.

V. To keep their piece, pistols, and cutlass clean and fit for service.

VI. 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.

VII. To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was punished with death or marooning.

VII. Good Quarters to be given an enemy when Craved. Ransom of prisoners to be split amongst the Company or alotted as spoils at time of division as Quartermaster shall think fit.

IX. No striking one another on board, but every man's quarrels to be ended on shore, at sword and pistol. (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, and turns the disputant back to back, at so many paces distance; at the word of command, they turn and fire immediately. If both miss, they come to their cutlasses, and then he is declared the victor who draws the first blood.)

X. That Man that shall strike another whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive Moses’s Law (that is, 40 Stripes lacking one) on the bare Back.

XI. That Man that shall snap his Arms, or smoke Tobacco in the Hold, without a Cap to his Pipe, or carry a Candle lighted without a Lanthorn, shall suffer the same Punishment as in the former Article.

XII. That Man shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the Company shall think fit.

XIII. If any Man shall lose a Joint in time of an Engagement, shall have 400 Pieces of Eight ; if a Limb, 800.

XIV. He that sees a Sail first, shall have the best Pistol or Small Arm aboard of her.

XV. The captain and quartermaster to receive two shares of a prize: the master, boatswain, and gunner, one share and a half, and other officers one and quarter, all other crew receive 1 share.

XVI. Prior to plunder being divided, the Captain shall determine what percentage of the plunder will go to equipping and outfitting the ship(s).

XVII. Every person who shall offend against any of these articles shall be punished with death, or in such other manner as the ship's company shall think proper.

Some possible adds/mods I had.

1. I don't believe the regular crewman are listed as getting a share.
   
   
2. Should we allot a share of the treasure to a "General Fund"? This could be used to cover repairs and upgrades to the ship, investments in cargo, bribes, provisions, etc.
   
   
3. Perhaps an extra quarter share to one general crewman that shows uncommon valor in an engagement? This could maybe incentivize the red shirts to fight harder.
   
   
4. The punishment of death in Article XVI seems harsh for such things as gambling
   
   
5. Article X seems contradictory to Article IX.
   
   
6. An Article to cover how loot should be divided in place of a share or partial share. i.e. masterwork weaponry, armor, etc.
   

Article X is the punishment for breaking Article IX.

I didn't see where the crew received a share. Other than that, I vote aye.

I have added that the regular crew get 1 share.

We do have a provision that all other officers get 1 and a quarter shares, so any red shirt that shows promise could be promoted to be a bosun's mate or something similar.

Do we want to add that 1 or 2 shares go to a general ships fund for supplies and outfitting? I would propose 2 shares after seeing how much things cost.

It seems that each share is going to be significantly smaller now that we have many more crew members. Perhaps 4 shares for the ship?

To make it easier for you guys I would suggest an Article that allows the Captain to assign a percentage, of his choosing, to the ship fund after every action, that way you can do what you like with refitting the ship and the math is easier. If the crew doesn't like how much you are taking out they can always vote a new Captain.

We need some way to adjust the ship's share to how much it costs to fix the boat. Should the shares be paid out after the expenses of fixing the ship?

I like the idea of a % pulled out before the shares are determined.

TKurtBond wrote:

We need some way to adjust the ship's share to how much it costs to fix the boat. Should the shares be paid out after the expenses of fixing the ship?

This is basically what I was proposing. You deduct what you want before dividn the plunder and set aside for the ship. Remember it is the Captain's decision (or forced by vote) when to divide the plunder.