t.

He put to sea and happened to touch at _Amboyna_, one of the _Dutch_
Spice Islands, where he was told, that the news of his Actions had
reach'd _England_, and that he was there declared a Pirate.

The truth on't is, his Piracies so alarmed our Merchants, that some
motions were made in Parliament, to enquire into the commission that
was given him, and the persons who fitted him out: These proceedings
seem'd to lean a little hard upon the Lord _Bellamont_, who thought
himself so much touch'd thereby, that he published a Justification of
himself in a pamphlet after _Kid's_ execution. In the mean time, it
was thought advisable, to publish a Proclamation, offering the King's
free Pardon to all such Pirates as should voluntarily surrender
themselves, whatever Piracies they had been guilty of at any time,
before the last day of _April_, 1699--That is to say, for all
Piracies committed Eastward of the _Cape of Good_ Hope, to the
Longitude and Meridian of _Socatora_, and _Cape Camorin_. In which
Proclamation, _Avery_ and _Kid_ were excepted by Name.

When _Kid_ left _Amboyna_ he knew nothing of this Proclamation, for
certainly had he had notice of his being excepted in it, he would not
have been so infatuated, to run himself into the very jaws of danger;
but relying upon his interest with the Lord _Bellamont_, and fancying,
that a _French_ Pass or two he found on board some of the ships he
took, would serve to countenance the matter, and that part of the booty
he got would gain him new friends--I say, all these things made him
flatter himself that all would be hushed, and that justice would but
wink at him. Wherefor he sail'd directly for _New York_, where he was
no sooner arrived, but by the Lord _Bellamont's_ orders, he was secured
with all his papers and effects. Many of his fellow-adventurers who had
forsook him at _Madagascar_, came over from thence passengers, some to
_New England_ and some to _Jersey_; where hearing of the King's
Proclamation for pardoning of Pirates, they surrendered themselves to
the Governor of those places: At first they were admitted to bail, but
soon after were laid in strict confinement, where they were kept for
some time, till an opportunity happened of sending them with their
Captain over to _England_ to be tried.

Accordingly a Sessions of Admiralty being held at the _Old Baily_, in
_May_, 1701, _Captain Kid_, _Nicholas Churchill_, _James How_, _Robert
Lumley_, _William Jenkins_, _Gabrie