letter of marque

A document given to a privateer giving him amnesty from piracy laws as long as the ships he plunders are of an enemy. A large portion of pirates begin as privateers with this symbol of legitimacy. The earnings of a privateer were significantly better than any of a soldier at sea. Letters of marque were not always honored, however, even by the government that issued them. Captain Kidd had letters of marque and his own country hanged him anyway.