nd fetch away that
ship and cargo. I had agreed for a ship of 300 tons, 22 guns, and I
was to man her with 60 men to force (if there had been need of it) the
men to yield who were left with the ship.

"I was just going to seal the writing, when I bethought myself 'twere
best to press Kidd once more to tell me the truth. I therefore sent to
him two gentlemen of the Council to the gaol, and he at last own'd that
he had left a power (of attorney) with one Henry Bolton, a Merchant of
Antigua, to whom he had committed the care of the ship, to sell and
dispose of all the cargo. Upon which confession of Kidd's I held my
hand from hiring that great ship which would have cost 1700 pounds by
computation, and now to-morrow I send the sloop Kidd came in with
letters to the Lieut. Govn'r of Antigua, Col. Yoemans, and to the
Governors of St. Thomas Island and Curacoa to seize and secure what
effects they can that were late in the possession of Kidd and on board
the _Quedah Merchant_.

"There is one Burt, an Englishman, that lives at St. Thomas, who has
got a great store of the goods and money for Kidd's account. St.
Thomas belongs to the Danes, but I hope to retrieve what Burt has in
his hands. The sending this Sloop will cost but about 300 pounds, if
she be out three months. I hope your Lordships will take care that
immediate orders will be sent to Antigua to secure Bolton who must have
played the Knave egregiously, for he could not but know that Kidd came
knavishly by the ship and goods.

"'Tis reported that the Dutch at Curacoa have loaded three sloops with
goods and sent them to Holland. Perhaps 'twere not amiss to send and
watch their arrival in Holland, if it be practicable to lay claim to
'em there.

"Since my commitment of Kidd, I heard that upon his approach to this
port, his heart misgave him and he proposed to his men putting out to
sea again, and going to Caledonia, the new Scotch settlement near
Darien, but they refused. I desire I may have orders what to do with
Kidd and all his and Bradish's crew, for as the Law stands in this
Country, if a Pyrate were convicted, yet he cannot suffer death; and
the Council here refused the bill to punish Privateers and Pyrates,
which your Lordships sent with me from England with a direction to
recommend it at N. York and here, to be passed into a Law....

"You will observe by some of the information I now send that Kidd did
not only rob the two Moors' ships, but also a Po