The Jolly Roger is the name now given to any of various flags flown to ientify a ship's crew as pirates. The most popularised Jolly Roger today is the Skull and Crossbones, being a flag consisting of a skull over two long bones set in an X arrangement on a black field. This design, shown at right, was used by pirate captain Edward England. Despite its appearance in popular culture, regular black flags were often employed by most pirates in the 17th-18th century. Historically, the flag was flown to induce pirates' victims to surrender readily.