What's a "roguish commonwealth," you ask?

Daniel Defoe, author of A General History of the Pyrates (1724) knows!

Since we are now speaking of the Laws of this Company, I shall go on, and, in as brief a Manner as I can, relate the principal Customs, and Government, of this roguish Common-Wealth; which are pretty near the same with all Pyrates. (233)

Defoe does go on to relate said Customs and Governments which include a rather Hobbesian sovereign:

The Captain's Power is uncontroulable in Chace, or in Battle, drubbing, cutting, or even shooting any one who dares deny his Command. The same Privilege he takes over Prisoners, who receive good or ill Usage, mostly as he approves of their Behaviour, for tho’ the meanest would take upon them to misuse a Master of a Ship, yet he would controul herein, when he see it, and merrily over a Bottle, give his Prisoners this double Reason for it. First, That it preserved his Precedence; and secondly, That it took the Punishment out of the Hands of a much more rash and mad Sett of Fellows than himself. (231)

And a written social contract:

a Set of Articles, to be signed and sworn to, for the better Conservation of their Society, and doing Justice to one another (229-230).

Which includes a right to universal suffrage:

Every Man has a Vote in Affairs of Moment

A prohibition on gambling:

No Person to Game at Cards or Dice for Money.

And a formalized system of dispute resolution:

No striking one another on Board, but every Man's Quarrels to be ended on Shore, at Sword and Pistol, Thus; The Quarter-Master of the Ship, when the Parties will not come to any Reconciliation, accompanies them on Shore with what Assistance he thinks proper, and turns the Disputants Back to Back, at so many Paces Distance: At the Word of Command, they turn and fire immediately, (or else the Piece is knocked out of their Hands:) If both miss, they come to their Cutlashes, and then he is declared Victor who draws the first Blood.