The Black Book of Corsairs

III. On Preparations

1. Careful planning does not increase the chances of success - it creates them. Maps and charts teach a Captain information without which he could not survive. Always plan a route carefully. Prepare yourself to alter the plan en route. Make sure there are safe havens at reach. A damaged ship may sail slower than expected or even sink before the home port.

2. When raiding, load the ship with enough supplies for both ways. Do not be concerned with the hold space taken by supplies; half of the space will be free for loot.

3. Store your water in well-made barrels.

4. Do not take more slaves on the journey than you will need. Slaves may be practical for hauling cargo at trading ports, but mostly they are rowers. Corsairs may row as well, but slaves are useful in battles, for a rowing man grows swiftly tired and weak for battle. Yet on the other hand, no slave fights for his Master unless taught to do so from his childhood. The more slaves you have, the less warriors may your ship bear.

5. Recruit no more crew than you will need. A small prize may provide a small crew with great riches, but a large one it leaves as poor as before. It is unnecessary to pay for warriors if there is no battle. When recruiting, do not recruit potential troublemakers. When recruiting, prepare to treat everyone equally on the voyage. 

6. When loading, store the heavy cargo in the bow. Otherwise, your ship might break asunder when ramming. Load food and water above water level. When sailing with an unfamiliar crew, store weapons behind locks.

7. When departing, load planks and sailcloth into the hold for possible repairs. When recruiting, keep an eye on men with carpenter's gifts.

So much for preparations

IV. On the Crew

1. The Captain is the leader of a voyage. The crew are the ones whose work takes the Captain where he desires. The Captain desires discipline and authority. The crew desires consensus and equality. A harmony must exist between the two.

2. The Captain is the one with authority delegated by a Lord, the blessing of a noble House, or the Letter of Commission. The crew must obey the Captain if they wish to raid legally. The Captain must understand his responsibility, however, for too strict a discipline and too tyrant attitudes weaken the crew's effectiveness and eventually lead to mutiny. On the other hand, a crew without discipline and obedience is ineffective and hazardous, and doomed to fail.

3. The best of the Captains lead with skill and precision, but trust their men to know their tasks. The best of the Captains concentrate on decisions, not on their personal position amongst the crew. The best of Captains are admired by their crews, for they are the most fearless, experienced, cunning and bold of all men onboard.

4. The First Mate leads the crew. He is the one who maintains discipline and command. It is up to the First Mate to see that the crew is held in value; it is up to the First Mate to see that no seeds of mutiny thrive onboard. When boarding an enemy ship, the First Mate has the right to choose the boarding parties should the Captain decide not to lead himself.

 5. The Quartermaster is in charge of rations and the treasury. The Quartermaster should be a man with wisdom, experience and cunning in the arts of trade and recognition of valuable items. The Boatswains are in charge of ondeck orders and carrying out specific tasks. A Boatswain should be a man with experience and will, and a loud voice.

6. On a ship serving a Tower, the Captain is chosen by a Lord. In a crew of equal men, the Captain is chosen by the crew by vote. The First Mate is chosen by the Captain. Let the crew choose their Boatswains and the Quartermaster by vote. It is crucial that these men be trusted. If necessary, let the crew choose the First Mate as well.  

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