Har be a website that does be shootin at some sacred cows as it applies to pirate flags:

http://www.bonaventure.org.uk/ed/flags.htm

Be thar any comments?

Me readin has been from derivative text, so this har webpage claimin of orginal text research leaves me perplexed and a flappin in the breeze.

-Greydog

arrrr... what be th' blasphemous tales... i 'ave come across many a different rendition of pyratical flags over th' years... and through much of me research flags and their meanings/depictions 'as been a great bone of contention amongst scholarly types.. me research found many a pirate 'ad their own flags but many flew the red jack or warning flag... if'n they flew any at 'all.. perhaps some of us 'ere pyrates would like ta share arr findin's ..

Example it states fer Blackbeards flag, with the devil skeleton stabbing a heart

"is the flag usually depicted as Blackbeard's, but there is no period source to support this"

It then goes on to state he be flyin a simple death's head flag (no bones)

"Blackbeard's flag is described in at least one Colonial Office document as a "Death's Head"."

While the page website is a fascinatin read about pirate flags, it does very greatly from the norms I have read and I have nary a clue whether the research it speaks of be true or be that other kind of wonderful research so often found on the web.

aye Greydog... it be 'ard ta tell what be truth or tale aboard the cyber sea...

this be of some relevance: it is a paragraph outta a book titled A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates, CHAP. IX. OF Captain Bartho. Roberts, And his Crew... wrote by a chap called: Charles Johnson in 1724... it 'as a direct reference ta th' use of a black flag.. although it does nigh go beyond the mention as ta anything else adornin' said black flag...

"The Pyrates now drew nigh enough to fire their Chase Guns; they hoisted the black Flag that was worn in Whydah Road, and got their Spritsail Yard along-ships, with Intent to board; no one having ever asked, all this while, what Country Ship they took the Chase to be; they would have her to be a Portuguese, (Sugar being then a Commodity among them,) and were swearing every Minute at the Wind or Sails to expedite so sweet a Chase; but, alass, all turned sour in an Instant: It was with the utmost Consternation they saw her suddenly bring to, and hawl up her lower Ports, now within Pistol-shot, and struck their black Flag upon it directly. After the first Surprize was over, they kept firing at a Distance, hoisted it again, and vapoured with their Cutlashes on the Poop; tho� wisely endeavouring at the same Time to get away. Being now at their Wits end, boarding was proposed by the Heads of them, and so to make one desperate Push; but the Motion not being well seconded, and their Main-Top-Mast coming down by a Shot, after two Hours firing, it was declin’d; they grew Sick, struck their Colours, and called out for Quarters; having had 10 Men killed out right, and 20 wounded, without the loss or hurt of one of the King’s Men. She had 32 Guns, mann’d with 16 French Men, 20 Negroes, and 77 English. The Colours were thrown over board, that they might not rise in Judgment, nor be display’d in Tryumph over them."

Wonderful quote!

Thank ye kindly fer takin the time to be a transcribing it.

-Greydog

thank ye Greydog... of course ye realize now ye 'ave started a monumental out pouring of information from me pyratical brain.... good ta put me degree ta use for somethin.. arrrrr....

Here be another reference with some interesting info/examples of flags. Today the black flag with skull-and-crossbones has been the A rare real pirate flag from the 19th century (Click for full image)stereotypical image of a pirate flag. However, real pirate flags were much more diverse in appearance and varied from individual pirate to pirate. Commonly known as the "Jolly Roger", the sight of the black flag hoisted on an approaching ship often caused enough fear in the targeted ship's crew that it was often reason enough for an immediate surrender to the pirates. Contrary to modern belief, the pirate's black flag generally only began widespread use in the late 1600's and early 1700's. Previous to this, pirates as a whole flew several different type of flags, ranging from standard national flags to solid colors (generally red or black.) An 18th century gravestone (Click for full image)The Jolly Roger often displayed death or scary images (some images were commonly found on gravestones of the time) - skulls, bones, swords/daggers, and also hourglasses. While bones and weapon images obviously were signs of death, the hourglasses were used to denote that time was running out for the pirates' enemy to surrender before the pirates were unleashed upon them. The main reason for the pirate flag was to make the enemy surrender without much of a fight, if at all, so the more fearsome the flag (or the pirate's reputation too) then the chances were higher of an initial surrender. There are several theories as to the origin of the term "Jolly Roger", the main belief is that it is a French to English translation. Initially, a plain red flag was flown to show that the no mercy would be given ("no quarter given"), or in another words - death to all. So a ship flying a red flag actually caused more fear because it meant no life would be spared. It is from this red flag that it is believed the term "Jolly Roger" was derived from. In French, "jolie rouge" translates approximately into "beautiful/lovely red" which may have been altered into "jolly roger" over time. Another theory suggests that "Jolly Roger" was a take on the devil's nickname. Around that time (18th century) the devil was known as Old Roger, so it is possible that the pirate flag's nickname was derived from the devil's nickname since both dealt with death...

As it happens, the lad above be havin' a fine site about all things Pyratical - a fairly decent telling includin' tales o' ships and those as sailed 'em...done 'is research, 'e 'as! The Pirate's Life - Dead Men Tell No Tales

wit' that bein' said... here be something along the line of what me thesis fer me lesser degree in history contained...

The use of the term 'Jolly Roger' is not a myth, and is derived from several historical sources. The French name for the privateering flag was Jolie Rouge (Jolly Red) pertaining to it's colour. This term may have later been converted into what we now call the 'Jolly Roger'. Another possible derivative comes from the word "Rouge/Roger".
In the latter part of 17th century England the word rouge was associated with the rogue laws which limited vagrancy. The pronunciation of Rouge was bastardized to Roger and hence forth sprang the slang word for a vagabond, beggar or vagrant.
The Dutch term 'Sea Beggars' was used in the early 16th century to describe a large group of nobles who had presented a petition to Margaret of Parma. The story states that one of her councilors was overheard making reference to the nobles as a group of beggars. After originally being suppressed by Alba, the 'Sea Beggars' were successful in plundering Spanish ships and ports. However, in 1572, Elizabeth I refused them entry to her harbours, in an attempt to retain peace with Spain. This led to a desperate attack on Brielle by the privateers, and later Flushing, which were both under the control of the Spanish. The attacks were unexpected and successful. The resistance spread southward and in doing so dealt a massive blow to the Duke of Alba and Spain.
Eventually the 'Jolly Roger' became the privateering symbol, whether a red or black flag. It later changed from the deion of a privateering symbol to a piratical one. Yet another possibility come from the fact that the devil was sometimes referred to as 'Old Roger', so the flag suggested the wrath of the devil.

In popular legend, pirate flags display either a skull and crossed bones or a skull and crossed swords. In fact there was many variations. The first historical reference to a modified 'Jolly Roger' was in 1700, when the French privateer Emmanuelle Wynne flew a black flag embellished with a skull, crossed bones and an hourglass and as early as 1696, the reference is to both a red and black flag.
There appears to be no actual historical reference to when the black flag became known as the full-blown pirate ensign. What is known is that following 1700, additional emblems on the basic red or black flag were increasingly associated with piracy, and different symbols were in turn associated with individual pirate captains.
Historically we have only written accounts of pirates using self designed flags as a symbol of defiance. To date no actual evidence to affirm or discount this has surfaced.
However, many of the symbols most often used can be found in allegorical paintings of death, or on gravestones.