Of Captain William Kid.
Commanded a Privateer in the West-Indies, recommended to the Government by Lord Bellamont, &c. [65]. Not encouraged, he is sent out in a private Man of War with the King’s Commission, [66], [67], [68]. He sails for New York, in his Way takes a French Banker arrived there, ships more Hands, [68]. Sails to Maderas, Bonavista, Cape de Verd Islands, and Madagascar; meets 3 English Men of War; meets with nothing at Madagascar; goes to the Malabar Coast, cruizes about Mohila and Johanna, borrows Money and repairs his Ship, [69]. At Mabbee he takes some Corn; from thence steers for Bab’s Key; he sends a Boat along the Coast, and gains Intelligence, [70]. He falls in with a Fleet, but is obliged to sheer off; goes to the Malabar Coast, takes a Moorish Vessel; treats the Men cruelly, and discharges the Vessel; touches at Carawar, and is suspected of Pyracy, [71]. Engages a Portuguese Man of War sent after him and gets off; takes a Moor Ship, under Pretence of her being French, [72]. Keeps Company with a Dutch Ship; quarrels with and kills his Gunner; plunders a Portuguese Ship on the Malabar Coast and lets her go; his Cooper is murder’d in one of the Malabar Islands; he burns and pillages several Houses; commands a Native to be shot, [73]. He takes the Queda, and shares 200 l. a Man amongst his Crew, [74]. He cheats the Indians; goes to Madagascar; meets there Culliford the Pyrate, shifts into the Queda, and shares the rest of her Cargo, [75]. His Men desert from him to 40; goes to Amboyna, hears he is declared a Pyrate in England; Lord Bellamont prints his Justification; a Pardon granted to Pyrates, Avery and Kid excepted, [76]. Kid goes to, and is secured at New York; some of his Crew depending on the Pardon, are confined; sent to England and condemn’d, 3 excepted, [77]. A Distinction of the Lawyers; Kid found guilty of the Murder of his Gunner; some plead the King’s Pardon to no Purpose, [78]. Mullins his Plea, [78], [79]. Kid’s Plea useless, he and his Men indicted, executed, [80].