May 30, 2025 | Pirate Queens, and the Code of the Cutthroats

May 30, 2025   |   Read Online

Pirate Queens, and the Code of the Cutthroats

Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard? Pirate Codes Decoded & The Fearless Charlotte de Berry! Issue #6 – May 30th, 2025

Ahoy, Matey

The seas be restless, and the cannons primed—tales of treasure, queens, and rogues await. Sharpen yer cutlass and hold fast, matey—adventure’s dead ahead!

This Week in Pirate History

Low is back making history again this week!

May 28, 1722 – Edward Low Claims His Ship and His Infamy

Born into the grim gutters of Westminster, London, Edward Low was a brawler, a rogue, and by no means a gentleman. By 1722, the man who could barely read had carved himself a place in the bloody ranks of pirate legends.

On May 28th, 1722, Low’s fate shifted forever—after capturing a six-gun brigantine named the Rebecca, he was given the captainship. With 44 hard-bitten outlaws at his side and Francis Spriggs as quartermaster, Low set sail as a pirate captain in his own right.

He’d been sailing alongside George Lowther, a fierce pirate himself, but they parted ways on good terms—a rare peace in a world of cutthroat betrayals.

Low’s crew would swell with outlaws, drifters, and men driven by hunger and hate. They’d head south to the Cayman Islands, plundering as they pleased, spreading Low’s name in whispers across the waves.

Low was no dashing swashbuckler—he was a butcher with a cutlass, and from that May day forward, the seas were darker for his coming. Here’s hope’n we don’t have to hear from old Ed for a while!

⚓ Legacy: A man born of the streets, ruling the seas with fire and fury.

☠️ The Pirate Code: Deciphered

Ever wondered what pirate codes really said, matey? Well, let me be yer guide, so if ye find yerself on the deck of a cutthroat ship, ye might just make it to the next sunrise. These weren’t just rules—they were the law o’ the sea, holdin’ together the wild, rowdy lives of pirates in the Golden Age. Let’s crack open the code and see how a crew kept the ship runnin’… or risked swingin’ from the yardarm!

Let’s crack open the code and see what these black-hearted rogues swore by:

📜 The Articles of the Brethren Deciphered

📜 The Articles of the Brethren Deciphered

· I. The Shares of Plunder: The captain gets two full shares; the quartermaster gets one and a half. The doctor, mate, gunner, and boatswain each get one and a quarter. The rest? One share.

· II. No Brawlin’ Onboard: Settle yer disputes with words, not steel—lest ye want the lash or the plank.

· III. No Cowards in a Fight: Show fear in battle? Ye’ll answer to the captain—and likely the crew’s wrath.

· IV. No Lootin’ from Yer Mates: Find gold or silver? Hand it over within 24 hours—or else.

· V. No Cheatin’ or Gamblin’ Tricks: Cheaters be warned—yer fate won’t be a friendly one.

· VI. Compensation for Lost Limbs: Lose a leg or arm in battle? Ye’ll get 600 Pieces of Eight and a place on the ship as long as ye like.

· VII. Surrender When Asked: Show mercy to ships that beg for it... usually.

· VIII. First Spotter’s Reward: The first to spy a sail gets the best pistol aboard.

· IX. No Grog-Soaked Fools in a Fight: Drunk in battle? Prepare for punishment.

· X. No Firing Below Deck: Fire in the hold = disaster. Don’t do it.

⚓ Legacy: The Code wasn’t just words—it was the law o’ the sea for these rogues. A fair share, a steady hand, and a blade ready for action... or punishment.

⚓ Charlotte de Berry: The Vengeful Vixen of the Seven Seas

Born in England’s smoky alleys around 1636, Charlotte de Berry weren’t one to live by any man’s rules—least of all her father’s. They say she fell in love with a sailor, married him in secret, and—like a proper sea rogue—cut her hair, donned breeches, and joined him aboard a naval ship, disguised as a man.

She fought fierce as any in the King’s service, her cutlass singin’ through the air. But fate turned cruel—when a lecherous officer had her husband framed and killed, Charlotte ran the black-hearted dog through.

Later kidnapped and forced into marriage by a tyrant captain, Charlotte rose up, led a mutiny, and took the ship for herself. A pirate queen in all but name.

Shipwrecked, lost, and heartbroken, some say she walked into the sea to join her love in Davy Jones’ locker.

Or did she?

Some say her tale is truth, others a blend of whispers and legends of real women pirates like Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and Jeanne de Clisson. True or not, she’s a legend worth raisin’ a tankard to.

Fair winds, Charlotte—wherever ye may be.

🏴‍☠️ Plunder Pick o’ the Week

⚓ The Pirate Ship Kite – For High-Flying Buccaneers

Spotted on the shore—a savvy pirate dad captaining the skies with his young crew! This pirate ship kite soared over the beach like a ghostly galleon, sails billowin’, ready to raid the clouds.

Crafted with sturdy fabric and bold design, it’s the perfect way to turn a family outing into an airborne adventure. Whether ye be a seafaring scallywag or a parent lookin’ to raise the next generation o’ freebooters, this kite is a surefire way to catch the wind and a few admiring glances.

🛒 Claim yer Pirate Ship Kite here →

🏴‍☠️ Swanage Pirate Festival: Back from the Brink, Roaring Like a Broadside!

The winds o’ fate tried to scuttle the Swanage Pirate Festival, but she’s back—guns blazing, cutlasses raised, and a new crew at the helm!

Louise Hodgson and Jeremy Wren—two brave souls from the landlocked Midlands—rallied the townsfolk and saved the day. The festival returned with cannon fire, swordplay, treasure hunts, and shanties ringin’ through the streets.

The new crew says they’re “99 percent certain” the festival will return next May—bigger, bolder, and rowdier than ever.

⚓ Read more about Swanage’s bold return →

🗣️ Share the Spoils, Matey!

Know a landlubber who’d love tales of treasure, ghost ships, and real pirate history? Don’t keep the gold to yerself—send ‘em our way!

📜 Sign up here → https://www.piratefanclub.com/weeklynewsletter-thepiraterepublic

Fair winds and full inboxes!

Sail with us across the digital seas:📜 TikTok: @thepiraterepublic▶️ YouTube: The Pirate Republic

🎖️ Thanks for Embarkin’ on the Voyage

We set sail every Friday, storm or shine. Keep yer spyglass pointed at the horizon...and may yer week be full o’ plunder, parlay, and just the right amount o’ mutiny.

Share this letter with yer crewmates, an if ye find treasure or tales worth tell’n, send them to captainblackquill@gmail.com.

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