He
was allowed to go freely about the city for a week, and then he was
arrested.
The rest of Kidd's story is soon told; he was sent to England for trial,
and there he was condemned to death, not only for the piracies he had
committed, but also for the murder of William Moore. He was executed,
and his body was hung in chains on the banks of the Thames, where for
years it dangled in the wind, a warning to all evil-minded sailors.
About the time of Kidd's trial and execution a ballad was written which
had a wide circulation in England and America. It was set to music, and
for many years helped to spread the fame of this pirate. The ballad was
a very long one, containing nearly twenty-six verses, and some of them
run as follows:--
My name was Robert Kidd, when I sailed, when I sailed,
My name was Robert Kidd, when I sailed,
My name was Robert Kidd,
God's laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did, when I sailed.
My parents taught me well, when I sailed, when I sailed,
My parents taught me well when I sailed,
My parents taught me well
To shun the gates of hell,
But 'gainst them I rebelled, when I sailed.
I'd a Bible in my hand, when I sailed, when I sailed,
I'd a Bible in my hand when I sailed,
I'd a Bible in my hand,
By my father's great command,
And sunk it in the sand, when I sailed.
Pages:
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295