Theſe, we are aſſured, were ſome of Roberts’s Articles, but as they had taken Care to throw over-board the Original they had ſign’d 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 new Comers, who were initiated by an Oath taken on a Bible, reſerv’d for that Purpoſe only, and were ſubſcrib’d 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 infring’d them or no, a Jury is 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 Common-Wealth; which are pretty near the ſame with all Pyrates.
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 Pyrates, called the Quarter-Maſter, of the Mens own chuſing, 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 Arbitrement, with drubbing or whipping, which no one elſe dare do without incurring the Laſh from all the Ships Company: In ſhort, this Officer is Truſtee for the whole, is the firſt on Board any Prize, ſeparating for the Company’s Uſe,
