Answer:
they were very different from the movies. unlike the ones from Pirates of the Caribbean, they were cut-throat and ruthless, since there wasnt much (if at all) bathing so they were smelly and dirty. many died of sickness. and the rumor of making people walking a plank is a myth. they'd much rather just shoot them. they were a bloody bunch of people, wanting to do what they wanted and take what they could. but each ship had its own set of rules to follow, so even then they werent entirely free.