parts, wherefore Captain Kid was recommended by the Lord Bellamont, then
governor of Barbadoes, as well as by several other persons, to the
Government here, as a person very fit to be entrusted with the command
of a Government ship, and to be employed in cruising upon the pirates,
as knowing those seas perfectly well, and being acquainted with all
their lurking places; but what reasons governed the politics of those
times I cannot tell, but this proposal met with no encouragement here,
though it is certain it would have been of great consequence to the
subject, our merchants suffering incredible damages by those robbers.

Upon this neglect the Lord Bellamont and some others, who knew what
great captures had been made by the pirates, and what a prodigious
wealth must be in their possession, were tempted to fit out a ship at
their own private charge, and to give the command of it to Captain Kid;
and to give the thing a great reputation, as well as to keep their
seamen under the better command, they procured the King's Commission for
the said Captain Kid, of which the following is an exact copy:--

"WILLIAM REX,--William the Third, by the grace of God, King of
England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To our trusty and well-beloved Captain William Kid, Commander of the
ship the _Adventure_ galley, or to any other the commander of the
same for the time being, greeting; Whereas we are informed, that
Captain Thomas Too, John Ireland, Captain Thomas Wake, and Captain
William Maze, or Mace, and other subjects, natives or inhabitants of
New York, and elsewhere, in our plantations in America, have
associated themselves, with divers others, wicked and ill-disposed
persons, and do, against the law of nations, commit many and great
piracies, robberies, and depredations on the seas upon the parts of
America, and in other parts, to the great hindrance and
discouragement of trade and navigation, and to the great danger and
hurt of our loving subjects, our allies, and all others, navigating
the seas upon their lawful occasions. Now know ye, that we being
desirous to prevent the aforesaid mischiefs, and, as much as in us
lies, to bring the said pirates, freebooters and sea-rovers to
justice, have thought fit, and do hereby give and grant to the said
William Kid (to whom our Commissioners for exercising the office of
Lord High Admira