Pirates were complicated in the 15-17th century. They were usually backed by a kingdom. As a captain one way to get rich was to be given a "pirate pass" - in which you could terrorize shipping from from other hostile kingdoms. Example below. As a pirate you wanted a place where you could restock - so they would answer to and work for kingdoms that were expanding in the new world. The most treasured ships (in the entire world ) were leaving from south america so full of stolen gold they would often sink. That is why you see movies of pirates in the gulf of mexico. But honestly every nation had them - they operated throughout the known world.

One of the coolest 16th century castles - was created to stop pirates raiding spanish shipping in Florida. It is amazing with an amazing history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_de_San_Marcos

John Paul Jones was the first "American Pirate". He worked for the US / France and would raid british shipping.

https://museeprotestant.org/en/notice/huguenot-pirates-in-th...

The treaty of Tordesillas on the 7th of June 1494 declared that lands lying beyond the Atlantic Ocean, whether discovered in the past or the future, were to be shared uniquely between Spain and Portugal. In addition, Pope Alexander VI gave his approval in a papal bull. This treaty did not receive the agreement of France or England and they were all the more offended by it because soon after this, the Spanish refused to allow any other nation to tradewith their American colonies.

It was in such circumstances as this that both France and England allowed their corsairs to attack Spanish vessels in Europe and the West Indies, with the justification that they had letters giving official permission from their government, although these papers were sometimes false. Indeed, sometimes the politicians actively encouraged such ventures.

It's 'sodomy'. Reminds me of this classic:

https://nyupress.org/9780814712351/sodomy-and-the-pirate-tra...