View source for Bartholomew Roberts

{{Short description|Welsh pirate (1682–1722)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox pirate
|name=Bartholomew Roberts
|birth_date=17 May 1682
|death_date= {{death date and age|df=yes|1722|2|10|1682|5|17}}
|image= File:BartholomewRoberts.jpg
|nickname= Black Bart ({{langx|cy|Barti Ddu}})
|type=Pirate
|birth_name=John Roberts
|birth_place = [[Little Newcastle|Casnewydd Bach]], [[Pembrokeshire]], [[Wales]]<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |title=Bartholomew Roberts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bartholomew-Roberts |website=britannica.com |access-date=2024-06-09}}</ref>
|death_place = At sea off of [[Cape Lopez]] (present-day [[Gabon]])
|allegiance=None
|serviceyears=1719–1722
|base of operations= Off the coast of the [[Americas]] and [[West Africa]]
|rank=Captain
|commands= ''Royal Rover'', ''Fortune'', ''Good Fortune'', ''Royal Fortune'', ''Ranger'', ''Little Ranger''
|battles= [[Battle of Cape Lopez]] {{KIA}}
|wealth= 400 vessels
|laterwork=
|death_cause=Grapeshot wound to the throat suffered during naval battle
|resting_place=At sea near Cape Lopez
|known_for=Being among the most successful pirates in the Golden Age of Piracy}}

'''Bartholomew Roberts''' (17 May 1682 – 10 February 1722), born '''John Roberts''', was a Welsh [[pirate]] who was, measured by vessels captured, the most successful pirate of the [[Golden Age of Piracy]].<ref>Rediker p. 33.</ref> During his piratical career, he took over 400 [[Prize (law)|prize ships]], although most were mere fishing boats.{{sfn|Conlin|2009|p=32}}<ref name="G&G: Roberts">{{cite web |title=The Pirate That Hated Literally Everyone... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGDPKwuMOz |website=youtube.com |publisher=Gold and Gunpowder |access-date=2024-06-09}}</ref> Roberts raided ships off the [[Americas]] and the [[West Africa]]n coast between 1719 and 1722; he is also noted for creating his own [[pirate code]], and adopting an early variant of the [[Jolly Roger|Skull and Crossbones]] flag.

Roberts' infamy and success saw him become known as ''The Great Pyrate'' and eventually as '''Black Bart''' ({{langx|cy|Barti Ddu}}, though this was a later attribution and was not used in his lifetime), and made him a popular subject for writers of both fiction and non-fiction.<ref>Sanders, p. 18. "Black Bart" was coined as the title of a 20th-century poem by Welsh poet [[Isaac Daniel Hooson]], who apparently picked that name because Johnson described Roberts as having a "black" complexion.</ref><ref name="walesonline.co.uk">{{cite news |title=Barti Ddu: the Welsh pirate king who ruled the waves |url=https://www.Walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/barti-ddu-welsh-pirate-king-2427291 |access-date=12 March 2021 |agency=Wales Online |date=25 August 2004}}</ref> To this day, Roberts continues to feature in [[popular culture]], and has inspired fictional characters (such as the [[Dread Pirate Roberts]]).

== Early life ==
[[File:Bart Roberts.jpg|thumb|Bart Roberts' memorial stone in [[Casnewydd Bach]]]]

He was born John Roberts in 1682 in [[Casnewydd Bach]],<ref>Yount p.74</ref> between [[Fishguard]] and [[Haverfordwest]] in [[Pembrokeshire]], Wales. His father was most likely George Roberts.<ref>Burl p. 55</ref> It is unclear why Roberts changed his name from John to Bartholomew,<ref>Yount p.64</ref> but pirates often adopted aliases. He may have chosen his first name after the well-known [[buccaneer]] [[Bartholomew Sharp]].<ref>Sanders, p. 18.</ref> He was thought to have gone to sea when he was 13 in 1695, but there is no further record of him until 1718, when he was mate of a [[Barbados]] [[sloop]].<ref>Richards p. 20</ref>

In 1719, Roberts was [[second mate]] on the [[slave ship]] ''Princess'' under Captain Abraham Plumb. In early June that year, the ''Princess'' was anchored at [[Anomabu]] (then spelled Annamaboa, which is situated along the [[Gold Coast (British colony)|Gold Coast]] of West Africa, present-day [[Ghana]]) when she was captured by pirates. The pirates were in two vessels, ''Royal Rover'' and ''Royal James,'' and were led by captain [[Howell Davis]]. Davis, like Roberts, was a Welshman, originally from [[Milford Haven]] in [[Pembrokeshire]]. Roberts and several other of the crew of the ''Princess'' were forced to join the pirates.

Davis quickly discovered Roberts' abilities as a [[navigator]] and took to consulting him.<ref>Burl p. 59</ref> Roberts is said to have been reluctant to become a pirate at first, but quickly came to see the advantages of this new lifestyle and saw it as a great opportunity for him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bartholomew Roberts - Famous Pirate - The Way of the Pirates |url=http://www.thewayofthepirates.com/famous-pirates/bartholomew-roberts/ |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=www.thewayofthepirates.com}}</ref> Captain Charles Johnson reports him as saying:
{{blockquote|In an honest service there is thin commons, low wages, and hard labour. In this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst is only a sour look or two at choking? No, a merry life and a short one shall be my motto.|''A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates'' (1724), p.213–214<ref>Johnson p. 213–214</ref>}}

== Life as a pirate ==
=== Commander or commoner ===
[[File:HowelDav.jpg|thumb|The death of Captain Howell Davis in an ambush on Príncipe]]

In the merchant navy, Roberts' wage was less than £4 per month ({{Inflation|UK|4|1719|fmt=eq|cursign=£}})<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator | title=Inflation calculator }}</ref> and he had no chance of promotion to captaincy.

A few weeks after Roberts' capture, ''Royal James'' had to be abandoned because of [[Teredo navalis|worm]] damage. ''Royal Rover'' headed for the island of [[Príncipe]]. Davis hoisted the flags of a British man-of-war and was allowed to enter the harbor. After a few days, Davis invited the governor to lunch on board his ship, intending to hold him hostage for a ransom. Davis had to send boats to collect the governor, and he was invited to call at the fort for a glass of wine first. The Portuguese had discovered that their visitors were pirates. They ambushed Davis' party on its way to the fort, shooting Davis dead.<ref>Burl p. 62</ref>

A new captain had to be elected. Davis' crew was divided into "Lords" and "Commons", and it was the "Lords" who had the right to propose a name to the remainder of the crew. Within six weeks of his capture, Roberts was elected captain. This was unusual, especially as he had objected to serving on the vessel. Historians believe he was elected for his navigational abilities and his personality, which history reflects was outspoken and opinionated.
{{blockquote|He accepted of the Honour, saying, that since he had dipp'd his Hands in Muddy Water, and must be a Pyrate, it was better being a Commander than a common Man.|''A General History of the ... Pyrates'' (1724), p.162<ref>Johnson p. 162</ref>}}

Roberts' first act as captain was to lead the crew back to Príncipe to avenge the death of Captain Davis. Roberts and his crew landed on the island in the darkness of night, killed a large portion of the male population, and stole all items of value that they could carry away. Soon afterwards, he captured a Dutch [[Guineaman]], then two days later a British ship called ''Experiment''. The pirate ship took on water and provisions at Anamboe, where a vote was taken on whether the next voyage should be to the [[East Indies]] or to [[Colonial Brazil|Brazil]]. The vote was for Brazil.<ref>Johnson p. 163</ref>

The combination of bravery and success that marked this adventure cemented most of the crew's loyalty to Roberts. They concluded that he was "pistol proof" and that they had much to gain by staying with him.<ref>Yount p. 78</ref>

=== Brazil and the Caribbean (July 1719 – May 1720) ===
Roberts and his crew crossed the Atlantic and watered and boot-topped<ref group="note">"Boot-topping" was similar to careening, except that only the upper part of the hull was cleaned.</ref> their ship on the uninhabited island of Ferdinando. They spent about nine weeks off the Brazilian coast but saw no ships. They were about to leave for the [[West Indies]] when they encountered a fleet of 42 Portuguese ships in the [[Baía de Todos os Santos|Todos os Santos' Bay]], waiting for two men-of-war of 70 guns each to escort them to [[Lisbon]]. Roberts took one of the vessels and ordered her master to point out the richest ship in the fleet. He pointed out ''Sagrada Familia,'' a ship of 40 guns and a crew of 170, which Roberts and his men boarded and captured. ''Sagrada Familia'' contained 40,000 gold [[moidore]]s and jewellery designed for the King of Portugal, including a cross set with diamonds.<ref name="Johnson p. 172–173">Johnson p. 172–173</ref>

''Rover'' next headed for [[Devil's Island]] off the coast of Guiana to spend the booty. A few weeks later, they headed for the River Surinam where they captured a sloop. After they sighted a [[brigantine]], Roberts took 40 men to pursue it in the sloop, leaving [[Walter Kennedy (pirate)|Walter Kennedy]] in command of ''Rover.'' The sloop became wind-bound for eight days, and when Roberts and his crew finally returned to their ship, they discovered that Kennedy had sailed off with ''Rover'' and what remained of the loot.<ref>Richards p. 31–32</ref> Roberts and his crew renamed their sloop ''Fortune'' and agreed on new articles, now known as a [[pirate code]], which they swore on a Bible to uphold.<ref>Yount p. 79</ref>

In late February 1720, they were joined by French pirate [[Montigny la Palisse]] in another sloop, ''Sea King''. The inhabitants of [[Barbados]] equipped two well-armed ships, ''Summerset'' and ''Philipa'', to try to put an end to the pirate menace. On 26 February, they encountered the two pirate sloops. ''Sea King'' quickly fled, and ''Fortune'' broke off the engagement after sustaining considerable damage and was able to escape.<ref>Burl p. 122–126</ref> Roberts headed for [[Dominica]] to repair the sloop, with twenty of his crew dying of their wounds on the voyage. There were also two sloops from [[Martinique]] out searching for the pirates, and Roberts swore vengeance against the inhabitants of Barbados and Martinique. He allegedly had a new flag made with a drawing of himself holding a flaming sword and standing upon 2 skulls, one labelled ABH (A Barbadian's Head) and the other AMH (A Martiniquian's Head), although this is not corroborated by period sources.<ref name="G&G: Hoist the Colors">{{cite web |title=Hoist the Colors: History of the Pirate Flag |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auGOEwHOxu4 |website=youtube.com | date=21 October 2022 |publisher=Gold and Gunpowder |access-date=2024-05-03}}</ref><ref name="G&G: Roberts flags">{{cite web |title=The Pirate That Had WAY Too Many Flags... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XO8tvGFS1A |website=youtube.com | date=12 March 2022 |publisher=Gold and Gunpowder |access-date=2024-05-03}}</ref>

=== Newfoundland and the Caribbean (June 1720 – April 1721) ===
''Fortune'' next headed northwards towards [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]], raiding [[Canso, Nova Scotia]],{{sfn|Conlin|2009|p=28}} and capturing a number of ships around [[Cape Breton Island|Cape Breton]] and the Newfoundland banks. Roberts also had a hidden shipyard for careening his fleet in the Mira River.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://novascotia.com/listing/mira-river-provincial-park/ | title=Mira River Provincial Park }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://capebreton.lokol.me/mira-river-once-the-site-of-pirate-shipyard | title=Mira River Once the Site of Pirate Shipyard | date=27 September 2018 }}</ref> Roberts raided the harbour of Ferryland, capturing a dozen vessels. On 21 June, he attacked the larger harbour of [[Trepassey, Newfoundland and Labrador|Trepassey]], sailing in with black flags flying. In the harbour he discovered 22 merchant ships and 150 fishing ships.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Pirates|url = https://archive.org/details/pirates00bott|url-access = registration|last = Botting|first = Douglas|publisher = Time-Life Books|year = 1978|isbn = 978-0809426508|location = Alexandria, Virginia|pages = [https://archive.org/details/pirates00bott/page/164 164]–165}}</ref> All of these vessels were abandoned by their panic-stricken captains and crews, and the pirates were masters of Trepassey without any resistance being offered. Roberts had captured all 22 merchant ships, but was angered by the cowardice of the captains who had fled their ships. Every morning he had a gun fired and the captains were forced to attend Roberts on board his ship; they were told that anyone who was absent would have his ship burnt. One [[brig]] from [[Bristol]] was taken over by the pirates to replace the sloop ''Fortune'' and fitted out with 16 guns. When the pirates left in late June, all the other vessels in the harbour were set on fire. During July, Roberts captured nine or ten French ships and commandeered one of them, fitting her with 26 cannons and changing her name to ''Good Fortune''. With this more powerful ship, the pirates captured many more vessels before heading south for the West Indies, accompanied by Montigny la Palisse's sloop, which had rejoined them.<ref>Burl p. 133–143</ref>

In September 1720, ''Good Fortune'' was [[Careening|careened]] and repaired at the island of [[Carriacou]] before being renamed ''Royal Fortune'', the first of several ships to be given this name by Roberts. In late September, ''Royal Fortune'' and ''Fortune'' headed for the island of [[Saint Kitts|St. Christopher's]] and entered Basse Terra Road, flying black flags and with their drummers and trumpeters playing. They sailed in among the ships in the Road, all of which promptly [[Striking the colours|struck their flags]].<ref>Richards p. 47–48</ref> The next landfall was at the island of [[Saint Barthélemy|St. Bartholomew]], where the French governor allowed the pirates to remain for several weeks to carouse. By 25 October, they were at sea again off [[St. Lucia]], where they captured up to 15 French and English ships in the next three days.<ref>Richards p. 50</ref> Among the captured ships was ''Greyhound'', whose chief mate [[James Skyrme]] joined the pirates. He later became captain of Roberts' consort, ''Ranger''.{{fact|date=March 2024}}

During this time, Roberts reportedly caught Florimond Hurault de Montigny, the [[List of colonial and departmental heads of Martinique|Governor of Martinique]], who was sailing aboard a 52-gun French [[warship]]. The Governor was caught and promptly hanged on the yardarm of his own ship, which the pirates converted into the new ''Royal Fortune''.{{sfn|Konstam|Kean|2007|p=174}} According to Sanders as well as Konstam and Rickman, this reported capture was an embellishment by Captain Charles Johnson in his ''A General History of the Pyrates''.{{sfn|Konstam|Rickman|2011|p=54}}<ref>Sanders, p. 161.</ref> French sources confirm that while Roberts did capture and torture some French officials by pretending to hang them, he in fact released them, and Hurault was not among them.<ref name="Porcher-Guadeloupe">{{cite journal |last1=Porcher |first1=Kevin |title=La piraterie en Guadeloupe dans les années 1720 |journal=Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire de la Guadeloupe |date=2019 |number=183 |pages=15–38 |doi=10.7202/1064935ar |s2cid=213602797 |url=https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/bshg/2019-n183-bshg04898/1064935ar.pdf |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref>

[[File:General History of the Pyrates - Captain Bartholomew Roberts with two Ships.jpg|thumb|Roberts at [[Ouidah]], now in [[Benin]], West Africa, with his ship and captured merchantmen in the background.]]

By the spring of 1721, Roberts' depredations had almost brought seaborne trade to a standstill in the West Indies.<ref>Richards p. 59</ref> ''Royal Fortune'' and ''Good Fortune'' therefore set sail for West Africa. On 18 April, [[Thomas Anstis]], the commander of ''Good Fortune'', left Roberts in the night and continued to raid shipping in the Caribbean, with future captains [[John Fenn (pirate)|John Fenn]] and [[Brigstock Weaver]] aboard.<ref name="Gosse - Who’s Who" /> ''Royal Fortune'' continued towards Africa.{{fact|date=March 2024}}

=== West Africa (April 1721 – January 1722) ===
By late April, Roberts was at the [[Colonial Cape Verde|Cape Verde]] islands. ''Royal Fortune'' was found to be leaky and abandoned there. The pirates transferred to ''Sea King'', which was renamed ''Royal Fortune''. The new ''Royal Fortune'' made landfall off the Guinea coast in early June, near the mouth of the Senegal River. Two French ships, one of 10 guns and one of 16 guns, gave chase, but were captured by Roberts. Both ships were commandeered. One, ''Comte de Toulouse'', was renamed ''Ranger'', while the other was named ''Little Ranger'' and used as a storeship. [[Thomas Sutton (pirate)|Thomas Sutton]] was made captain of ''Ranger'' and James Skyrme captain of ''Little Ranger''.<ref>Burl p. 207–208</ref>

Roberts next headed for [[Sierra Leone]], arriving on 12 June. Here he was told by retired pirate [[John Leadstone|John "Old Crackers" Leadstone]] that two [[Royal Navy]] ships, {{HMS|Swallow|1703|6}} and {{HMS|Weymouth|1693|6}}, had left at the end of April, planning to return before Christmas.<ref>Sanders, p. 178-179.</ref> On 8 August, he captured two large ships at Point Cestos, now [[River Cess]] in [[Liberia]]. One of these was the frigate ''Onslow'', transporting soldiers bound for [[Cape Coast Castle|Cape Coast]] (Cabo Corso) Castle. A number of the soldiers wished to join the pirates, and they were eventually accepted, however they only received a quarter of a pirates pay because they were not sailors most of their lives. ''Onslow'' was converted to become the fourth ''Royal Fortune''.<ref>Burl p. 211–213</ref> In November and December, the pirates careened their ships and relaxed at Cape Lopez and the island of [[Annobón]].<ref>Burl p. 215</ref> Sutton was replaced by Skyrme as captain of ''Ranger''.

They captured several vessels in January 1722, then sailed into [[Ouidah]] (Whydah) harbour with black flags flying. The eleven ships at anchor there immediately struck their colours, but were restored to their owners after a ransom of eight pounds of gold dust per ship was paid.<ref>Burl p. 218–219</ref><ref name="Edwards(Captain.)2007" /> When the master of one of the ships refused these terms, Roberts had his crew climb aboard the ship and set her on fire. The captured vessels were slave ships, and the one set on fire had around eighty enslaved Africans on board. They perished either as a result of the fire or by drowning or shark attack after jumping overboard.<ref name="Edwards(Captain.)2007">{{cite book|author1=Bernard Edwards|author2=Bernard Edwards (Captain.)|title=Royal Navy Versus the Slave Traders: Enforcing Abolition at Sea 1808-1898|year=2007|publisher=Pen & Sword Books|isbn=978-1-84415-633-7|pages=37}}</ref>

=== Death in battle ===
{{Main|Battle of Cape Lopez}}
[[File:BartRobCrew.jpg|thumb|upright|Roberts's crew carousing at the [[Calabar River]]. Most of the crew were drunk when ''Swallow'' appeared.]]

On 5 February 1722, Captain [[Chaloner Ogle]] of [[HMS Swallow (1703)|HMS ''Swallow'']] came upon the pirate ships ''Royal Fortune'', ''Ranger'', and ''Little Ranger'' at [[Cape Lopez]]. ''Swallow'' veered away to avoid a [[shoal]], making the pirates think that she was a fleeing merchant ship; some sources claim Ogle spotted Roberts' ships and turned ''Swallow'' as a ruse.<ref name="Gosse - Who’s Who">{{cite book|last1=Gosse|first1=Philip|title=The Pirates' Who's Who by Philip Gosse|date=1924|publisher=Burt Franklin|location=New York|page=265|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19564/19564-h/19564-h.htm|access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref> ''Ranger'' departed in pursuit, commanded by James Skyrme. Once out of earshot of the other pirates, ''Swallow'' opened her gun ports and opened fire. Ten pirates were killed and Skyrme had his leg taken off by a cannonball, but he refused to leave the deck. Eventually, ''Ranger'' was forced to strike her colors, and the surviving crew were captured.

On 10 February, ''Swallow'' returned to Cape Lopez and found ''Royal Fortune'' still there. On the previous day, Roberts had captured ''Neptune'', and many of his crew were drunk and unfit for duty just when he needed them most.<ref>Yount p. 81-82</ref> At first, the pirates thought that the approaching ship was ''Ranger'' returning, but a deserter from ''Swallow'' recognized her and informed Roberts while he was breakfasting with Captain Hill, the master of ''Neptune''. As he usually did before action, he dressed himself in his finest clothes:
{{blockquote|Roberts himself made a gallant figure, at the time of the [[Battle of Cape Lopez|engagement]], being dressed in a rich crimson [[damask]] waistcoat and breeches, a red feather in his hat, a gold chain round his neck, with a diamond cross hanging to it, a sword in his hand, and two pairs of pistols slung over his shoulders ..."|''A General History of the ... Pyrates'' (1724), p. 212<ref>Johnson p. 212</ref>}}

The pirates' plan was to sail past ''Swallow'', which meant exposing themselves to one broadside. Once past, they would have a good chance of escaping. However, the helmsman failed to keep ''Royal Fortune'' on the right course, and ''Swallow'' was able to approach to deliver a second broadside. Captain Roberts was killed by [[grapeshot]], which struck him in the throat while he stood on the deck. Before his body could be captured by Ogle, Roberts's wish to be buried at sea with all his arms and ornaments on (a request he had repeated in life) was fulfilled by his crew, who weighed his body down and threw it overboard after wrapping it in his ship's sail. It was never found.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/12216/12216-h/12216-h.htm|title=The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Pirates Own Book, by Charles Ellms|website=Gutenberg.org|access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>

=== Aftermath ===
{{Wikisource|Death sentence for Roberts' crew}}
The battle continued for another two hours until ''Royal Fortune''{{'}}s mainmast fell and the pirates signaled for quarter. One member of the crew, John Philips, tried to reach the magazine with a lighted match to blow up the ship, but was prevented by two men. Only three pirates had been killed in the battle, including Roberts. A total of 272 pirates serving under Roberts had been captured during the battle; of these, 65 were former African slaves that Roberts had emancipated, and they were sold back into slavery. The remainder were taken to [[Cape Coast Castle]], apart from those who died on the voyage back. 54 were condemned to death, of whom 52 were hanged and two reprieved. Another twenty were allowed to sign indentures with the [[Royal African Company]]; Burl comments that they "exchanged an immediate death for a lingering one".<ref>Burl p. 254–255</ref> Seventeen men were sent to the Marshalsea prison in London for trial, where some were acquitted and released.

Of the captured pirates who told their place of birth, 42% were from [[Cornwall]], [[Devon]], and [[Somerset]], and another 19% from London. There were smaller numbers from northern England and from Wales, and another quarter from a variety of countries including Ireland, Scotland, the West Indies, the Netherlands, and Greece.<ref>Burl p. 263–264</ref>

Captain [[Chaloner Ogle]] was rewarded with a knighthood, the only British naval officer to be honoured specifically for his actions against pirates.<ref name=Cawthornep135>Cawthorne p. 135</ref> He also profited financially, taking gold dust from Roberts' cabin, and he eventually became an admiral.<ref name=Cawthornep135/>

This battle proved a turning point in the war against the pirates,<ref>Cordingly p. 8</ref> and many consider the death of Roberts to mark the end of the Golden Age of Piracy.<ref name=Cawthornep135/>

{{blockquote|The defeat of Roberts and the subsequent eradication of piracy off the coast of Africa represented a turning point in the [[Atlantic slave trade|slave trade]] and even in the larger history of capitalism.|''Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age'', Rediker (2004)<ref>Rediker p. 143</ref>}}

== Roberts' pirate code ==
{{Main|Pirate code}}<!-- This section is quoted from the original publishing in the 1700s with commentary removed. Do not change it to match some other rendition.-->

As recorded by [[Captain Charles Johnson]] regarding the articles of Bartholomew Roberts:

{{Blockquote|1=<nowiki />
'''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.''' Every man to be called fairly in turn, by list, on board of prizes because, (over and above their proper share,) they were on these occasions allowed a shift of clothes: but if they defrauded the company to the value of a dollar in plate, jewels, or money, [[marooning]] was their punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, they contented themselves with slitting the ears and nose of him that was guilty, and set him on shore, not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere, where he was sure to encounter hardships.

'''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.''' No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man were to be found seducing any of the latter sex, and carried her to sea, disguised, he was to suffer death;

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

'''VIII.''' No striking one another on board, but every man's quarrels to be ended on shore, at sword and pistol.

'''IX.''' No man to talk of breaking up their way of living, till each had shared one thousand pounds. If in order to this, any man should lose a limb, or become a cripple in their service, he was to have eight hundred dollars, out of the public stock, and for lesser hurts, proportionately.

'''X.''' The [[Captain (nautical)|Captain]] and [[Quartermaster]] to receive two shares of a prize: the [[master (naval)|master]], [[boatswain]], and [[Gunner (rank)|gunner]], one share and a half, and other officers one and quarter.

'''XI.''' The musicians to have rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six days and nights, none without special favour.<ref name="Johnson1726">{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Charles|author-link=Captain Charles Johnson|title=A General History of the Pyrates|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oipEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA230|access-date=20 March 2017|year=1726|publisher=T. Woodward|pages=230–232}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis|last1=Fox|first1=Edward Theophilus|title='Piratical Schemes and Contracts': Pirate Articles and their Society, 1660-1730|url=https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10871/14872|publisher=University of Exeter|access-date=20 March 2017|pages=317–318}}</ref>}}

== Roberts' black flags ==
In modern history, Roberts has been attributed a variety of black flags from description, however, only two are corroborated by period eyewitness reports, of which one might be two separate designs.<ref name="G&G: Roberts flags"/><ref name="G&G: Hoist the Colors"/>

One period eyewitness report is found in the [[Boston Gazette]], 22 August 1720. It describes Roberts' Jolly Roger as “a Black Flag with Death's head and a cutlass in it”.<ref name="G&G: Roberts flags"/> This design is corroborated by a separate period eyewitness report, given by a William Matthew, as used during the battle of [[Trepassey]] harbour, 1720. He describes the flag as featuring “a death's head and an arm with a cutlass”.<ref name="G&G: Roberts flags"/> These two accounts could describe the same flag or two similar but separate designs. The swordarm was a common motif on naval flags at the time, among others, found on some Dutch [[bloody flag]]s.

A second black flag design of Roberts is also known from period eyewitness reports. This design was used onboard one of his [[Consort (nautical)|consort ships]], captained by [[James Skyrme]], in the [[Battle of Cape Lopez]] (1722), and was described by British Royal Navy officer [[Chaloner Ogle]], who defeated Roberts and Skyrme in the aforementioned battle, as “a black flag, having a white skeleton in it”.<ref name="G&G: Roberts flags"/>

<gallery widths="180" heights="120">
File:Jolly Roger flag of pirate Bartholomew Roberts (early).svg|Interpretation of Roberts' [[Jolly Roger]] based on the Boston Gazette-description 
File:Jolly Roger flag of pirate Bartholomew Roberts (Trepassey).svg|Interpretation of Roberts' Jolly Roger based on the William Matthew-description
File:Jolly Roger flag of pirate James Skyrme.svg|Interpretation of Skyrme's [[Consort (nautical)|consort]]-flag based on the [[Chaloner Ogle]]-description
</gallery>

== Personal characteristics ==
Most of the information on Roberts comes from the book ''[[A General History of the Pyrates]]'', published a few years after Roberts' death. The original 1724 title page credits one [[Captain Charles Johnson]] as the author. (The book is often printed under the byline of [[Daniel Defoe]] on the assumption that "Charles Johnson" is a [[pseudonym]], but there is no proof that Defoe is the author, and the matter remains in dispute.) Johnson devotes more space to Roberts than to any of the other pirates in his book, describing him as:

{{Blockquote|... a tall black [i.e. dark complexioned] Man, near forty Years of Age ... of good natural Parts, and personal Bravery, tho' he apply'd them to such wicked Purposes, as made them of no Commendation, frequently drinking 'Damn to him who ever lived to wear a Halter'.|''A General History of the ... Pyrates'' (1724), p.213<ref>Johnson p.213</ref>}}

Roberts is commonly described as wearing a red waistcoat with scarlet breeches and a scarlet flamingo plume. The red costume may have been to disguise any blood in battle or as a demonstration of his disregard for anonymity. Roberts also wore a large diamond cross which was reputedly the property of the King of Portugal.<ref name="walesonline.co.uk"/><ref name="Johnson p. 172–173"/>

After his exploits in Newfoundland, a state Governor from [[New England]]<!-- Sentence originally stated "the governor of New England," which never existed. --> commented that "one cannot with-hold admiration for his bravery and courage".{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} He hated cowardice, and when the crews of 22 ships in Trepassey harbour fled without firing a shot he was angry at their failure to defend their ships.{{Citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Roberts was the archetypal pirate captain in his love of fine clothing and jewelry, but he had some traits unusual in a pirate, notably a preference for drinking tea rather than rum. He is often described as a [[teetotaler]] and a [[Sabbath in Christianity|Sabbatarian]], but there is no proof of this. He certainly disliked drunkenness while at sea, yet it appears that he drank beer.<ref>Johnson p. 211</ref> Ironically, Roberts' final defeat was facilitated by the drunkenness of his crew. The Sabbatarian claim arises from the fact that musicians were not obliged to play on the Sabbath – this may merely have been intended to ensure the musicians a day's rest, as they were otherwise obliged to play whenever the crew demanded. <!-- This unreferenced sentence was removed from this article's lead section, not sure whether it is notable:   He also had "Sunday services" on his first vessel. -->

Roberts was not as cruel to prisoners as some pirates such as [[Edward Low]] and [[Francis Spriggs]], but did not treat them as well as did [[Samuel Bellamy]], [[Howell Davis]], or [[Edward England]]. Roberts sometimes gave gifts to cooperative captains and crews of captured ships, such as pieces of jewelry or items of captured cargo. He would sometimes ill-use prisoners if he felt that the crew demanded it, but:

{{Blockquote|When he found that rigour was not expected from his people (for he often practised it to appease them), then he would give strangers to understand that it was pure inclination that induced him to a good treatment of them, and not any love or partiality to their persons; "For", says he, "there is none of you but will hang me, I know, whenever you can clinch me within your power."|''A General History of the ... Pyrates'' (1724), p.183<ref>Johnson p. 183</ref>}}

== Popular culture ==
[[File:Bart Roberts, Trying Deserters, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes MET DP835008.jpg|thumb|''Bart Roberts, Trying Deserters'', from the "Pirates of the Spanish Main", for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes]]

{{unordered list
|Bartholomew Roberts is one of four pirate captains mentioned in [[Robert Louis Stevenson]]'s ''[[Treasure Island]]''. In it, [[Long John Silver]] says that the surgeon who amputated his leg was one of Roberts' men:
{{Blockquote|It was a master surgeon, him that ampytated me – out of college and all – Latin by the bucket, and what not; but he was hanged like a dog, and sun-dried like the rest, at Corso Castle. That was Roberts' men, that was, and comed of changing names of their ships – ''Royal Fortune'' and so on.|Robert Louis Stevenson, ''Treasure Island''<ref>Chapter 5 "What I Heard in the Apple Barrel"</ref>}}
|Several historical novels feature Roberts as the protagonist, including ''The Corsair King'' (1852-53) by [[Mór Jókai]], ''The Devil's Captain'' (1992) by Philip Shea, ''The Requiem Shark'' (1999) by [[Nicholas Griffin]], and ''The Devil's Captain'' (2000) by Frank Sherry. Roberts' 1720 kidnapping of navigator Harry Glasby and Glasby's ultimate escape are the basis for the novels ''Glasby's Fortune'' (2017) and ''Glasby's Pirates'' (2020) by James H. Drescher.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
|A number of novels and poems have been published in Welsh featuring Bartholomew Roberts, notably a ballad by [[Isaac Daniel Hooson|I. D. Hooson]], for which a vocal score was later composed by [[Alun Hoddinott]], and a novel by [[T. Llew Jones]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Barti Ddu o Gasnewy Bach |isbn=0715400746 |last1=Jones |first1=Thomas Llew |date=1973 |publisher=C. Davies }}</ref>
|In the novel ''[[The Princess Bride (novel)|The Princess Bride]]'' and its [[The Princess Bride (film)|film adaptation]],<ref>Barbara Karg, Arjean Spaite, ''The Everything Pirates Book: A Swashbuckling History of Adventure'', Page 228, 2007</ref> protagonist Westley dons the mantle of the [[Dread Pirate Roberts]], a mythical figure inspired by Bartholomew Roberts.
|Black Bart appears in several sketches in ''[[Horrible Histories (2009 TV series)|Horrible Histories]]'', including one focussing on his pirate code.
|In 2013 his character was featured as one of the antagonists in the Ubisoft game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Black Flag]]''.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
|In 2017, [[Bwncath]], a Welsh folk-rock band from [[Caernarfon]], published their self-titled album, ''Bwncath''. This album features a song titled Barti Ddu, with lyrics that romanticize the life and times of Bartholomew Roberts.
|In 2019, his character appeared as Rider-class Servant in ''[[Type-Moon]]'''s mobile game ''[[Fate/Grand Order]]''.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
|In 2020, the [[Perth Mint]] issued silver and gold commemorative coins (under the authority of [[Tuvalu]]) featuring The Royal Fortune and Black Bart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://onlinecoin.club/Coins/Country/Tuvalu/Silver_Ounce_2020_The_Royal_Fortune/ |title=Silver Ounce 2020 The Royal Fortune - Black Bart |work=Online Coin Club |access-date=10 February 2022}}</ref>
}}

=== Modern flags ===
In modern history, Roberts has been attributed a variety of flags from description, however, only two (of one possibly being two designs) are corroborated by period eyewitness sources. The following flags can not be corroborated by period eyewitness sources.<ref name="G&G: Roberts flags"/><ref name="G&G: Hoist the Colors"/>

<gallery widths="150" heights="100">
File:Bartholomew Roberts Flag.svg|Said to be Roberts' first flag, showing himself and [[Personifications of death|Death]] holding an [[hourglass]].
File:Bartholomew Roberts Flag1.svg|Said to be Roberts' new flag, showing him holding a sword and standing on two skulls, representing the heads of a Barbadian and a Martiniquian.
File:Bartholomew Roberts Flag1A.svg|Said to be an early rendition of Roberts' second flag with [[Saint George's Cross]] in the [[Canton (flag)|canton]].
File:Jolly Roger flag of pirate Bartholomew Roberts.svg|Said to be a later rendition of Roberts' second flag, showing him holding a flaming sword.
File:Jolly Roger flag of pirate Bartholomew Roberts (Johnson).svg|One of Roberts' flags described in Johnson's General History: "The Flag had a Death in it, with an Hour-Glass in one Hand, and cross Bones in the other, a Dart by it, and underneath a Heart dropping three Drops of Blood."
File:Jolly Roger flag of pirate Bartholomew Roberts (Defiance).svg|One of Roberts' flags described in Johnson's General History: "it had the figure of a skeleton in it, and a man portrayed with a flaming sword in his hand, intimating a defiance of death itself."
</gallery>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* Botting, Douglas (1978) ''The Pirates''. Time-Life Books. {{ISBN|978-0809426508}}
* Burl, Aubrey (2006) ''Black Barty: Bartholomew Roberts and his pirate crew 1718–1723''. Sutton Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7509-4312-2}}
* Cawthorne, Nigel (2005) ''Pirates: an Illustrated History''. Capella. {{ISBN|1-84193-520-4}}
* {{cite book|last1=Conlin|first1=Dan|author-link=Dan Conlin|title=Pirates of the Atlantic : robbery, murder and mayhem off the Canadian east coast|date=2009|publisher=Formac Pub.|location=Halifax, N.S.|isbn=9780887807411|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oYNYxvZvigsC&q=bartholomew+roberts&pg=PA31|access-date=9 November 2016}}
* Cordingly, David (1999) ''Life Among the Pirates: the Romance and the Reality''. Abacus. {{ISBN|0-349-11314-9}}
* Johnson, Charles (1724). ''A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates'' (1998 ed.). Conway Maritime Press. {{ISBN|0-85177-732-5}}.
* {{cite book|last1=Konstam|first1=Angus|last2=Kean|first2=Roger Michael|title=Pirates : predators of the seas|date=2007|publisher=[[Skyhorse Pub.]]|location=New York, NY|isbn=9781602390355|url=https://archive.org/details/piratespredators0000kons|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/piratespredators0000kons/page/174 174]|quote=governor of martinique bartholomew roberts.|access-date=9 November 2016}}
* {{cite book|first1=Angus|last1=Konstam|first2=David|last2=Rickman|title=Pirate: the Golden Age|date=2011|publisher=Osprey Pub.|location=Oxford|isbn=9781849084987|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oDu3CwAAQBAJ|access-date=9 November 2016}}
* [[Marcus Rediker|Rediker, Marcus]] (2004) ''Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age''. Beacon Press. {{ISBN|0-8070-5025-3}}
* Richards, Stanley (1966) ''Black Bart''. Christopher Davies.
* Sanders, Richard (2007), ''If a Pirate I Must Be ... The True Story of "Black Bart," King of the Caribbean Pirates''. Aurum Press, Ltd. {{ISBN|1-60239-019-3}}
* [[Robert Louis Stevenson|Stevenson, Robert Louis]] (1994) ''Treasure Island'' Puffin Books. {{ISBN|0-14-036672-5}}
* Yount, Lisa (2002) ''Pirates''. Lucent Books. {{ISBN|1-56006-955-4}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.worldhistory.org/Bartholomew_Roberts/ World History Encyclopedia - Bartholomew Roberts]
* [http://www.piratesinfo.com/cpi_The_Great_Pirate_Roberts_533.asp PiratesInfo.com biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223190421/http://www.piratesinfo.com/cpi_The_Great_Pirate_Roberts_533.asp |date=23 February 2020 }}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028160620/http://geocities.com/captcutlass/bio/roberts.html |date=28 October 2009|title=Biography of Roberts}}
* [http://www.thewayofthepirates.com/famous-pirates/bartholomew-roberts.php Biography of Bartholomew Roberts]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/deorllewin/enwogion/adarbrith/pages/barti_ddu.shtml BBC Article] ('''Welsh''')

{{Pirates of the Modern Age}}
{{Pirates}}
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