fore you
must plead."

_Clerk of Arraignment_. "William Kidd, hold up thy hand."

_Kidd_. "I beg your Lordship I may have counsel admitted, and that my
trial may be put off, I am not really prepared for it."

_The Recorder_. "Nor never will, if you could help it."

_Dr. Oxenden_. "Mr. Kidd, you have had reasonable notice, and you know
you must be tried, and therefore you cannot plead you are not ready."

_Kidd_. "If your Lordships permit those papers to be read, they will
justify me. I desire my counsel may be heard."

_Mr. Coniers_. "We admit of no counsel for him."

_The Recorder_. "There is no issue joined, and therefore there can be
no counsel assigned. Mr. Kidd, you must plead."

_Kidd_. "I cannot plead till I have those papers that I insisted upon."

_Mr. Lemmon_. "He ought to have his papers delivered to him, because
they are very material for his defense. He has endeavored to have
them, but could not get them."

_Mr. Coniers_. "You are not to appear for anyone, (Mr. Lemmon) till he
pleads, and that the Court assigns you for his counsel."

_The Recorder_. "They would only put off the trial."

_Mr. Coniers_. "He must plead to the indictment."

_Clerk of Arraignment_. "Make silence."

_Kidd_. "My papers are all seized, and I cannot make my defense
without them. I desire my trial may be put off till I can have them."

_The Recorder_. "The Court is of opinion that they ought not to stay
for all your evidence; it may be they will never come. You must plead;
and then if you can satisfy the Court that there is a reason to put off
the trial, you may."

_Kidd_. "My Lord, I have business in law, and I desire counsel."

_The Recorder_. "The course of Courts is, when you have pleaded, the
matter of trial is next; if you can then show there is cause to put off
the trial, you may, but now the matter is to plead."

_Kidd_. "It is a hard case when all these things shall be kept from
me, and I am forced to plead."

_The Recorder_. "If he will not plead, there must be judgment."

_Kidd_. "Would you have me plead and not have my vindication by me?"

_Clerk of Arraignment_. "Will you plead to the indictment?"

_Kidd_. "I would beg that I may have my papers for my vindication."

It is very obvious that up to this point Kidd was concerned only with
the charges of piracy, and attached no importance to the fact that he
had been indicted for the murder of his gunner. Regarding the mat