“CAPTAIN KIDD,--Mr. Emmot came to me last Tuesday night telling me he came from you: but was shy of telling where he parted with you. Nor did I press him to it. He told me you came by Oyster Bay in Nassau Island and sent for him to New York. He proposed to me that I would grant you a pardon. I answered that I had never granted one yet, and that I had set myself a rule never to grant a pardon to anybody without the King’s express leave or command. He told me you declared and protested your innocence and that if your men could be persuaded to follow your example, you would make no manner of scruple of coming into this port, or any other within His Majesty’s Dominions. That you owned there were two ships taken, but that your men did it violently and against your will, and had used you barbarously, in imprisoning you and treating you ill the most part of your voyage, and often attempting to murder you. Mr. Emmot delivered to me the two French passes taken on board the two ships your men rifled,[10] which passes I have in my custody, and I am apt to believe they will be a good article to justify you, if the late peace were not by the Treaty between England and France to operate in that part of the world at the time the hostility was committed, as I am almost confident it was not to do. Mr. Emmot told me that you showed a great sense of honour and justice in professing with many asseverations your settled and serious design all along to do honour to your Commission and never to do the least thing contrary to your duty and allegiance to the King. And this I have to say in your defence, that several persons in New York, who I can bring to evidence it, did tell me that by several advices from Madagascar and that part of the world, they were informed of your men’s revolting from you in one place, and I am pretty sure they said was Madagascar, and that others compelled you much against your will to take and rifle two ships. “I have advised with His Majesty’s Council, and shewed them this letter, and they are of opinion that if you can be so clear as you (or Mr. Emmot for you) have said, _that 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 for those few men you have left who I understand have been faithful to you, and refused as well as you to dishonour the Commission you have from England._ “_I assure you on my Word and Honour I will perform nicely what I have promised_, though this I declare beforehand that whatever goods and treasure you may bring hither, I will not meddle with the least bit of them: but they shall be left with such persons as the Council shall advise until I receive orders from England how they shall be disposed of.”