| The Royal Navy's Articles of War have changed slightly over the centuries
they have been in force, but the 1757 version is representative. The Articles of War were used to govern British ships at sea in
the Napoleonic Wars and have been used as models for later military and maritime law.
Sample articles:
Article 19: If any person in or belonging to the fleet shall make or endeavor to make any mutinous assembly upon any pretence
whatsoever, every person offending herein, and being convicted thereof by the sentence of the court martial, shall suffer death:
and if any person in or belonging to the fleet shall utter any words of sedition or mutiny, he shall suffer death, or such other
punishment as a court martial shall deem him to deserve: and if any officer, mariner, or soldier on or belonging to the fleet,
shall behave himself with contempt to his superior officer, being in the execution of his office, he shall be punished according
to the nature of his offence by the judgment of a court martial.
Article 20: If any person in the fleet shall conceal any traitorous or mutinous practice or design, being convicted thereof by
the sentence of a court martial, he shall suffer death, or any other punishment as a court martial shall think fit; and if any
person, in or belonging to the fleet, shall conceal any traitorous or mutinous words spoken by any, to the prejudice of His
Majesty or government, or any words, practice, or design, tending to the hindrance of the service, and shall not forthwith reveal
the same to the commanding officer, or being present at any mutiny or sedition, shall not use his utmost endeavours to suppress
the same, he shall be punished as a court martial shall think he deserves.
See also captain ship maritime navy
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