England was experiencing a time of social disruption, with people moving from the countryside to the cities in search of employment. The conditions in these urban areas, however, were no better and many viewed working on a sailing ship as a way out of their predicament. Nevertheless, ordinary sailors had to work hard, were subject to strict discipline, and earned only modest wages. Piracy, on the other hand, provided these sailors an opportunity to amass their fortunes quickly, and also the chance to take command of their own destiny. Therefore, it is not too difficult to understand the allure of piracy, in spite of the risks it entailed.