_'William_ the Third, by the Grace of God, King of _England_, _Scotland_, _France_ and _Ireland_, Defender of the Faith, _&c._ To our trusty and well beloved Captain _William Kid_, Commander of the Ship the _Adventure_ Gally, or to any other the Commander of the same for the Time being, GREETING; Whereas we are informed, that Captain _Thomas Too_, _John Ireland_, Captain _Thomas Wake_, and Captain _William Maze_, or _Mace_, and other Subjects, Natives or Inhabitants of _New-York_, and elsewhere, in our Plantations in _America_, have associated themselves, with divers others, wicked and ill disposed Persons, and do, against the Law of Nations, commit many and great Pyracies, Robberies and Depredations on the Seas upon the Parts of _America_, and in other Parts, to the great Hinderance and Discouragement of Trade and Navigation, and to the great Danger and Hurt of our loving Subjects, our Allies, and all others, navigating the Seas upon their lawful Occasions. Now KNOW YE, that we being desirous to prevent the aforesaid Mischiefs, and, as much as in us lies, to bring the said Pyrates, Free Booters and Sea Rovers to Justice, have thought fit, and do hereby give and grant to the said _William Kid_ (to whom our Commissioners for exercising the Office of Lord High Admiral of _England_, have granted a Commission as a private Man of War, bearing Date the 11th Day of _December_ 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, sieze, 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 Pyrates, Free Booters 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 Merchandizes, 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 Pyrates, Free Booters, or Sea Rovers, as you shall seize, to a legal Tryal, 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 whatsover, 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 Pyrates, and of their Officers and Company, and the Names of such Ships and Vessels as you shall by Vertue 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.