at you may safely come
hither, and be equipped and fitted out to go and fetch the other Ship,
and I make no manner of doubt but to obtain the King's pardon for you
and those few men you have left, who I understand have been faithful to
you and refused as well as you to dishonor the Commission you had from
England.

I assure you on my word and on my honor I will performe nicely what I
have now promised, tho' this I declare before hand that whatever
treasure of goods you bring hither, I will not meddle with the least
bit of them, but they shall be left with such trusty persons as the
Council will advise until I receive orders from England how they shall
be disposed of. Mr. Campbell will satisfie you that this that I have
now written is the Sense of the Council and of

YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT.
(Not signed but endorsed, "A true copy, Bellomont.")

These were fair words but not as sincere as might have been. Governor
Bellomont was anxious to lay hands on Kidd by fair means or foul, and
in the light of subsequent events this letter appears as a disingenuous
decoy. It was carried back to Narragansett Bay by Emmot, and with him
Bellomont sent one Duncan Campbell, postmaster of Boston, as an
authorized agent to advance the negotiations. Campbell was a Scotchman
who had been a friend of Kidd. He is mentioned in John Dunton's
"Letter Written from New England, A. D. 1686."

"I rambled to the Scotch book-seller, one Campbell. He is a brisk
young fellow that dresses All-a-mode, and sets himself off to the best
Advantage, and yet thrives apace. I am told (and for his sake I wish
it may be true) that a Young Lady of Great Fortune has married him."

In reply to Bellomont's letter, thus delivered, Captain Kidd replied as
follows:

FROM BLOCK ISLAND ROAD, ON BOARD THE SLOOP ST. ANTONIO,

June 24th, 1699.

_May It please your Excellencie_:

I am hon'rd with your Lordship's kind letter of ye 19th., Current by
Mr. Campbell which came to my hands this day, for which I return my
most hearty thanks. I cannot but blame myself for not writing to your
Lordship before this time, knowing it was my duty, but the clamorous
and false stories that has been reported of me made me fearful of
writing or coming into any harbor till I could hear from your Lordship.
I note the contents of your Lordship's letter as to what Mr. Emmot and
Mr. Campbell Informed your Lordship of my proceedings. I do affirm it
to be true, and a great deal mor