Unless, that is, they can stage a mutiny and turn Archer over to the authorities in the Caribbean city of Port Royal, a popular homeport for privateers - and notorious for its gaudy displays of wealth and loose morals, the 'wickedest city on earth'. The crew is forced to sign the ship's articles consenting to their new piratical ways, thereby placing their heads in a noose. But when those governments abandon the practice of issuing letters of marque to privateers against the Spanish galleons, many of the crews turn pirate. Nipping at Spain's empire is common practice for state-sponsored privateers like the Atlantis at a time when lesser European powers dare not directly make war on Spain. But she also runs up the 'jolie rouge' - the Jolly Roger - whenever the prospect of plundering a Spanish treasure ship presents itself. The Atlantis, captained by veteran seaman Benjamin Archer, flies the colours of an English merchantman on the high seas between the English Channel and the Caribbean.
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