l of England, have granted a commission as a private
man-of-war, bearing date December 11, 1695), and unto the commander
of the said ship for the time being, and unto the officers,
mariners, and others, which shall be under your command, full power
and authority to apprehend, seize, and take into your custody as
well the said Captain Thomas Too, John Ireland, Captain Thomas Wake,
and Captain William Maze, or Mace, as all such pirates, freebooters
and sea-rovers, being either our subjects, or of other nations
associated with them, which you shall meet with upon the seas or
coasts of America, or upon any other seas or coasts, with all their
ships and vessels; and all such merchandises, money, goods, and
wares as shall be found on board, or with them, in case they shall
willingly yield themselves; but if they will not yield without
fighting, then you are by force to compel them to yield. And we do
also require you to bring, or cause to be brought, such pirates,
freebooters, or sea-rovers, as you shall seize, to a legal trial, to
the end they may be proceeded against according to the law in such
cases. And we do hereby command all our officers, ministers, and
other our loving subjects whatsoever, to be aiding and assisting to
you in the premisses. And we do hereby enjoin you to keep an exact
journal of your proceedings in the execution of the premisses, and
set down the names of such pirates, and of their officers and
company, and the names of such ships and vessels as you shall by
virtue of these presents take and seize, and the quantities of arms,
ammunition, provision, and lading of such ships, and the true value
of the same, as near as you judge. And we do hereby strictly charge
and command you as you will answer the contrary at your peril, that
you do not, in any manner, offend or molest our friends or allies,
their ships, or subjects, by colour or pretence of these presents,
or the authority thereby granted. In witness whereof we have caused
our Great Seal of England to be affixed to these presents. Given at
our Court of Kensington, the 26th day of January, 1695, in the
seventh year of our reign."

Captain Kid had also another commission, which was called a Commission
of Reprisals; for it being then war time, this commission was to justify
him in the taking of French merchant ships, in case he