Note 15 — Chapter XXIV · THE COLONIES AFTER THE REVOLUTION OF 1688.
Reading edition
Yᵉ lamentable Ballad and yᵉ True Historie of Captain William Kidd, who was Hanged in Chains at Execution Dock, for Piracie and Murder on yᵉ High Seas.
You captains bold and brave, hear our cries, hear our cries,
You captains bold and brave, hear our cries,
You captains brave and bold, though you seem uncontroll’d,
Don’t for the sake of gold lose your souls.
Don’t for the sake of gold lose your souls.
My name was Captain Kidd, when I sail’d, when I sail’d,
My name was Captain Kidd, when I sail’d,
My name was Captain Kidd, God’s laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did, when I sail’d.
My parents taught me well, when I sail’d, when I sail’d,
My parents taught me well, when I sail’d,
My parents taught me well to shun the gates of hell,
But against them I rebell’d, when I sail’d.
I’d a bible in my hand, when I sail’d,
I’d a bible in my hand, when I sail’d,
I’d a bible in my hand by my father’s great command,
And I sunk it in the sand, when I sail’d.
Then, after narrating two cruel murders on the high sea, and the death of the mate, who called him to his bedside, and warned him of the great day of reckoning which would come, the ballad-writer, in the person of Captain Kidd, describes his short repentance and long career of wickedness; how he took three ships from France and three from Spain, all of which he burned; after which he found himself possessed of “ninety bars of gold and dollars manifold,” but finally was overtaken by fourteen ships, which being “too many for him,” he was taken, cast into prison, and condemned to die. He then bids a pathetic farewell to the “raging main, to Turkey, France and Spain, which he ne’er shall see again,” and concludes—
To Execution Dock I must go, I must go,
To Execution Dock I must go,
To Execution Dock will many thousands flock,
But I must bear the shock, I must die.
Take warning all by me, for I must die, I must die,
Take warning all by me, for I must die,
Take warning now by me, and shun bad company,
Lest you lose your souls like me, for I must die.