When we think about piracy most of us have the impression that it was the only lighthearted way of life during the 18 th century. Actually it was quite the opposite. With piracy as a profession comes along with it the high possibility of sudden death especially from battle. There also was the threat of ‘dancing the hempen jig’ or in other words being hung. There were a great many pirates that we convicted and hung for the crimes of piracy. During this time some pirates could get a pardon in exchange for testifying against their other crew members. Before the pirates where hung and killed they were given the opportunity to speak to the crowd, some seemed to be repenting of their crimes in hopes of being saved while others made crude jokes to the crowd. The bodies of the notorious captains where hung in places by the sea to warn pirates and people leaning towards the profession of the sincerity of the crimes that come with it. While the low life pirates that were hung were usually buried face down to show the disgust or hatred towards them.