CAPTAIN KIDD'S HISTORY. 



391 



pirate and a freebooter. We shall shortly have occasion to 

 mention him again. 



We must now refer to another species of piracy, — privateer- 

 ing. This did not enjoy the same repute as in the days of 

 Drake and Hawkins; but several circumstances conspired to 

 render it a calling permissible, if not legitimate. England and 

 Prance were at war; and private armed vessels, bearing com- 

 missions from James II. and William III. against the French, 

 roved the seas and robbed all defenceless ships which fell in 

 their way. They attacked even the vessels of Great Britain, 

 and from privateers became pirates. Many of the Colonial 

 Atlantic ports of America received them and shared in their 

 spoils. Fletcher, the Governor of New York, was bribed to 

 befriend and protect them, while the officers under him were 

 regular contributors to the funds with which corsairs were 

 bought and equipped. 



The English Government determined to suppress this ne- 

 farious practice, and removed Fletcher in 1695, sending the 

 Earl of Bellamont to replace him. The latter suggested that 

 a frigate be fitted out to assist him in the attempt; but England 

 could spare none of her naval force from the war with France. 

 A proposition, however, to purchase and arm a private ship for 

 the service was received with favor, and several nobles, together 

 with Bellamont and Colonel Richard Livingston, of New York, 

 contributed a fund of six thousand pounds sterling. Livingston 

 recommended, to command the vessel, one William Kidd, who 

 had been captain of a merchant-vessel sailing between London 

 and New York, and of a privateer against the French. Kidd 

 was placed in command, and Livingston became his security for 

 the share he agreed to contribute,— six hundred pounds ster- 

 ling. To give character to the enterprise, a commission was 

 issued under the great seal of England and signed by the king, 

 William III., directed to "the trusty and well-beloved Captain 

 Kidd, commander of the ship Adventure Galley." This vessel 



