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[Narrator]
Captain William Kidd's life
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is shrouded in mystery.
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A pirate hunter turned pirate,
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who was put to death
professing his own innocence.
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The ballad of his life,
trial and tribulations
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paints a picture of an evil
and ruthless operator.
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[Historian] It basically told
the story of who he was.
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He basically sold his soul
to the devil
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in order to be able to become
the most powerful pirate ever.
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[Narrator] But the truth
tells a different story.
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Kidd was commissioned
by King William III
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to hunt pirates in the Red Sea.
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[Author] Madagascar became
famous as a pirate island.
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[Narrator] But when his mission
starts to fail,
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a tragic story of murder,
theft, hidden treasure
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and lost evidence unfolds.
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[Historian] Pirate trials
at the time were just a show,
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it's pure humiliation.
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[Narrator] Kidd is used
as a political pawn
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in a scheme which would
ultimately find him on trial
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claiming his innocence but
facing execution as a pirate.
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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William Kidd arrives
in New York in 1690,
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already a decorated privateer
from Scotland.
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He quickly climbs
the social ladder
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within this bustling new city,
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which is, for now,
a colony of England.
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[Mark Hanna] We know that he had
a pew in Trinity Church,
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so he was
a well-respected individual,
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was a commercial captain.
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[Rebecca Simon] He was
really great at telling stories
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about the adventures he had.
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So as a result, he was able
to get in with the social elite
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who really loved hearing about
his adventures on the high seas.
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Kidd was
a very upstanding gentleman.
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He had a brilliant reputation of
working in the maritime world.
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And from there, he would meet
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a very wealthy widow
named Sarah Oort.
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And he would marry her,
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and this would really put him
into high society.
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[Narrator] As part
of New York's social elite,
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Kidd cultivates a reputation
as a fearless captain
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and forges a successful career
in the maritime world.
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♪ ♪
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[David Wilson]
With his partner in New York,
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they travel to London
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and they set up this partnership
with the Earl of Bellomont,
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who was operating on behalf
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of the most influential
politicians of the day.
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[Narrator] Gripped by tales
of Kidd's adventures at sea,
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the Earl of Bellomont is eager
to employ the Scotsman.
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He commissions
a 34-gun privateering vessel,
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the Adventure Galley,
for Kidd to captain.
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[Oliver Finnegan] The scheme was
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that they were going
to send Kidd
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into the Indian Ocean
as a kind of pirate hunter.
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[Simon] Pirate hunting
was a pretty lucrative career
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in the late 17th
and early 18th centuries.
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It was basically a job
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where you were set out
to go find a specific pirate.
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They're like bounty hunters,
in a way.
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[Narrator]
Kidd's instructions arrive
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in the form
of a letter of marque,
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signed by the king of England,
William III;
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Kidd's target,
the infamous Red Sea pirates.
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[Finnegan] A letter of marque
will be issued
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in the name of a king
or a queen,
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and it gives the captain
of a ship and the sailors on it
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the right to sail out
and to capture enemy shipping
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as is defined
by that king or queen.
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[Narrator]
As well as pirate ships,
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a second target is detailed
in Kidd's letter of marque.
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England is at war with France,
and he is given license
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to go after any vessel
in service of the French.
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Kidd now has two targets,
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offering great potential
for wealth and plunder.
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[Finnegan] This is quite
an unusual letter of marque
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because it was granted
to William Kidd
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and it gave him
very particular grounds.
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It didn't just say
that he could sail out
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and capture French shipping,
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it also instructed him
to capture pirate vessels
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and bring them in
to be condemned as lawful prize.
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He would have got a share
of the goods on that pirate ship
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for himself.
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The Crown would get
a cut as well.
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So it really was
a moneymaking scheme
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designed to suppress piracy
in the Indian Ocean.
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[people chatting]
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[Narrator] Kidd trawls the
taverns and waterways of London
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recruiting for this expedition.
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♪ ♪
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[Hanna] You can imagine this
is really easy for him to do.
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Kidd showed up with a commission
with the king's signature on it
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and a picture of the king
on the commission.
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So people flocked to his ship.
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[Simon] He was giving them
a lot of promises,
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saying, we're going to capture
a lot of pirates.
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We're going to be able
to capture
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a lot of other enemy ships.
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You're going to become
extremely wealthy.
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And not only that,
you're going to come home
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and have a lot of high wages,
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and so it really wasn't
difficult at all
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for Kidd to get himself
a very large crew
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who were pretty excited
about going onto these journeys
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into the Red Sea.
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[Narrator] Although Kidd was
respected by his investors
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and making connections
in high society,
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he now has a crew
of common seamen,
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some of whom
were known pirates.
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And already their behavior
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begins to rub off
on the captain.
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♪ ♪
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[Margarette Lincoln]
As they went past Greenwich,
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they failed to do
the customary naval salute.
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♪ ♪
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Warships there
reminded Kidd's crew
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that they were supposed
to fire a cannon.
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And worse,
what they did, actually,
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was climb the masts
and pat their behinds,
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which was very insulting.
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[Narrator] A disgruntled
naval vessel chases the ship
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towards the mouth of the Thames
to punish Kidd's arrogance.
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They capture
some of his sailors.
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Kidd is forced to return for
a second round of recruitment.
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It takes months, but finally
he's ready to begin his crusade
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against the Red Sea pirates.
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[Wilson] In the Caribbean
by the 1690s,
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pirates aren't making the same
sort of wealth they used to.
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[Narrator] The Spanish
treasure fleet,
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which had been
the largest target
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of the pirate attacks
in the Caribbean,
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now sails less often,
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meaning their chances
for a successful ambush
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were dwindling.
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[Wilson] So instead,
they start to undertake
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massive, long voyages
from North America
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around the Cape of Good Hope
in southern Africa
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and to the Indian Ocean.
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[Hanna]
So, many English captains
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began to sail
into the Indian Ocean
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to plunder ships that belonged
to the Mughal Empire of India.
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These ships would sail
from India
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on their way
to the pilgrimage sites
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of Jeddah and Mecca
in the Red Sea.
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And they were
incredibly valuable.
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Massive amounts of luxury items
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like calico and silk,
jewels, gold,
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and legend grew of the value
of these large ships.
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[Wilson] The pirate target
this Mughal shipping fleet
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because it's unprotected
at this point in time.
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There is no convoys,
no armed convoys
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with the Mughal pilgrim fleet.
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So the pirates see it
as an easier target,
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despite the costs involved
in terms of traveling
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from North America
all the way to the Red Sea,
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which is a substantial voyage.
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[Narrator] Brutal attacks
by the Red Sea pirates
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wreak havoc
across the Indian Ocean.
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[cannon fire]
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[Simon] The Mughal emperor
was so incensed by this
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that they blockaded the ports
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and they threatened
to block off all trade
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and almost cause an all-out war.
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[Hanna] This was
very frustrating in large part
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to the king of England,
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who had a long-standing
relationship
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with the Mughal emperor.
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It was more upsetting
to the East India Company,
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which is a company
that had a full monopoly
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on trade in the Indian Ocean.
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[Narrator] Founded in England,
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primarily to exploit
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the lucrative spice trade,
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the East India Company
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is becoming a powerful presence
across Asia.
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[Hanna] So, when
the Red Sea pirates came
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and started plundering ships
belonging to the Mughal Empire,
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this obviously created
a massive rift
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between the East India Company
and the Mughal emperor himself.
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♪ ♪
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In fact, the lives of employees
of the East India Company
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were threatened because
obviously the Mughal emperor
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saw no distinction between
East India Company employees
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and pirates.
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[Richard Blakemore]
So the East India Company
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and the English authorities need
to respond to these pirates.
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They need to repair
their international trade
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and diplomacy and connection.
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And William Kidd
is part of that.
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♪ ♪
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[Narrator] William Kidd sets
sail with a motivated crew,
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a state-of-the-art vessel
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and royal permission
to hunt Red Sea pirates.
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♪ ♪
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They are about to make
themselves very rich...
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if they can find their prey.
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[Hanna]
The Red Sea pirates originated
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in the American colonies.
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I think this is important.
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One of the first to sail
to the Indian Ocean
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actually came
from South Carolina.
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But others came
from New York City,
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some from Newport, Rhode Island,
one sailed from Bermuda,
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and they began to join
each other in armadas,
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and they based themselves
on the island of Madagascar,
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which was essentially a base to
shoot out and attack those ships
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as they made their way
to the Red Sea.
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So Madagascar became famous
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as a sort of pirate refuge,
pirate island.
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[Narrator]
Kidd and his crew head north
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towards the Gulf of Aden,
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in search
of the Red Sea pirates
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who have been terrorizing
the Mughal convoys.
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[Lincoln] So, Kidd's crew
expected to attack
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the Red Sea pirate ships
and gain riches.
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And this is normally referred to
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as a kind of no purchase,
no pay,
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whereby you weren't given
any wages;
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what you got was
what you managed to steal.
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You got your share of the loot.
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[Simon] So, this meant
that they really had no choice
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but to stay with Captain Kidd
for as long as it took
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for them to be able to rob
as many ships as possible,
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or else they were
going to go home,
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and they're barely going to have
any money given to them at all.
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[Blakemore]
So, early in the voyage,
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once they've reached
the Indian Ocean,
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things start to go quite badly.
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Kidd may well have intended
to attack pirates,
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but it doesn't seem
like he can find any,
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and tensions start to simmer
amongst his crew.
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Some of the crew,
according to Kidd's account,
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are really keen to start
attacking merchant ships
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and to capture plunder.
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And there also seem
to be personal arguments.
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The crew are not a happy ship,
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and Kidd doesn't seem
to have been particularly good
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at managing these resentments
and hostilities.
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[Simon] To the point
where eventually,
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when they would land,
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there would be people
who would abandon ship
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and decide it wasn't
worth actually sailing
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00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:02,960
with Kidd anymore.
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♪ ♪
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[Lincoln] You know, these crews
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00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:15,760
were incredibly difficult
to control.
250
00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:17,320
What they wanted was loot.
251
00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:18,840
They didn't want to be
lingering around
252
00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:20,440
on the open seas
doing a lot of work.
253
00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:26,080
[Simon] Some of the major risks
that would come about,
254
00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,040
oddly enough, is boredom.
255
00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,200
There are long periods of time
256
00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:31,960
where they might be
in between attacks
257
00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,160
or they're just really
far away from land,
258
00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:35,560
and so boredom can set in,
259
00:12:35,560 --> 00:12:37,720
and this could cause
tensions to rise.
260
00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,920
It's very hot in the places
that they're going.
261
00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,280
They are always at risk
of running very low on water.
262
00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:45,800
And so this meant
they're always going to be
263
00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,880
at risk for severe dehydration
264
00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:49,960
because of the lack
of the water.
265
00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:52,800
And so as a result,
you're getting a little weaker,
266
00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,280
your immune system
might not be very good,
267
00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,760
so you could get sick.
268
00:12:57,760 --> 00:12:59,000
If there was going to be
an illness
269
00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:00,520
that would sweep through a ship,
270
00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,040
it would be either scurvy or it
would be an intestinal illness,
271
00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:06,760
and this is because water can
get contaminated very easily.
272
00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:10,160
♪ ♪
273
00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:15,240
[Narrator] A sickness ravages
the Adventure Galley's crew.
274
00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:19,320
Kidd heads
for the Comoros Islands,
275
00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,760
pausing his mission
for two months
276
00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:25,600
whilst disease takes the lives
of many of his men.
277
00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,640
♪ ♪
278
00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:30,600
[Finnegan] When Kidd gets
into the Indian Ocean,
279
00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,120
the series of events
is in effect disputed,
280
00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,240
because there are multiple
accounts of what happened.
281
00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,200
[Narrator] Now leading
a skeleton crew,
282
00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,320
Kidd sets sail.
283
00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,520
Animosity continues to fester
284
00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,680
between the captain
and his men.
285
00:13:45,680 --> 00:13:49,240
They're yet to encounter
a single Red Sea pirate,
286
00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:53,560
let alone claim the plunder
they were promised.
287
00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:55,880
He sails towards
the Gulf of Aden,
288
00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,240
hoping to find
the Red Sea pirates
289
00:13:58,240 --> 00:13:59,760
in the same waters
290
00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,720
where they target and attack
the Mughal fleet.
291
00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:05,640
Kidd gets desperate;
292
00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,000
he's been floating
around the Comoros Islands
293
00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,440
for months with no result.
294
00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,920
[Wilson] But once there,
he is seen to be voyaging
295
00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,440
amongst the Mughal
pilgrim fleet.
296
00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:18,520
And it seems like he's acting
297
00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,440
just like
the Red Sea pirates are.
298
00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:27,320
[Lincoln] As luck would have it,
he found this hugely rich ship.
299
00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,760
[Narrator]
Kidd's crew spots the vessel.
300
00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:34,680
They make their approach.
301
00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,000
♪ ♪
302
00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,840
[Blakemore] There's an account
from an English sailor
303
00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:41,960
who commands
an East India Company ship,
304
00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:43,960
that a convoy of Indian ships,
305
00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:45,280
together with English
and Dutch ships,
306
00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,520
is sailing from Mecca to India,
307
00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,200
and that Kidd's ship,
the Adventure Galley,
308
00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:51,480
is spotted,
309
00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:56,080
and that at that time Kidd
is flying a pirate flag.
310
00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,800
[Narrator] But Kidd's target
is in convoy
311
00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:02,720
with powerful warships
from the East India Company.
312
00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:07,400
Outmatched, he must
rapidly make his escape.
313
00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:08,960
[Blakemore] So it seems
that at that point,
314
00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,080
even though he's scared off
by the East India Company ships
315
00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:13,680
and he doesn't attack
the convoy,
316
00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:17,200
he is deliberately signaling
his intentions.
317
00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,240
[Narrator] An attack
on the East India Company fleet
318
00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,200
would have been
in direct conflict
319
00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,360
with his letter of marque.
320
00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,280
His mission is
to repair the rift
321
00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,880
between the king
and the Mughal emperor,
322
00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:30,960
not make it worse.
323
00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,960
[Wilson] Maybe he expected that
if he was able to take a prize
324
00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,280
that was worth an extortionate
amount of wealth,
325
00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,360
and he was able to bring that
wealth back to his investors,
326
00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:40,840
maybe they would turn
a blind to it.
327
00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:42,960
That seems to be
what he's doing.
328
00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:44,640
[Narrator]
Having escaped the clutches
329
00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,680
of the East India Company's
officers,
330
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,120
Kidd and his crew
are still empty-handed.
331
00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,320
[Simon] The men on the ship
are threatening to mutiny
332
00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:54,640
because they're so upset
333
00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:58,160
that they haven't captured
any major prizes.
334
00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:01,920
[Narrator] The growing animosity
between Kidd and his crew
335
00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:05,200
is about to reach
breaking point.
336
00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,720
[Simon] It all came to a head
when one of the crewmen,
337
00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,680
William Moore, spotted
a ship in the distance
338
00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:16,240
and told Kidd,
we should capture this ship.
339
00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,520
[Hanna] They see a Dutch ship,
and the crew say,
340
00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:20,480
well, there you go, there's
a ship, let's plunder it.
341
00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:21,960
This sounds great.
342
00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:23,000
And Kidd says, well,
343
00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,800
did you notice the image
on my commission?
344
00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:27,040
It was an image of William III.
345
00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:28,560
And, you know, he's Dutch.
346
00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,080
So I don't think
this is a good idea.
347
00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,040
I think that's probably
a bad idea to attack a ship
348
00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,800
that belongs to the same
nationality of our king.
349
00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,840
[Narrator] The conflict
breaks out into a fistfight
350
00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,080
between the gunner
and the captain.
351
00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,920
Kidd grabs a heavy bucket
and strikes Moore.
352
00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:53,520
♪ ♪
353
00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:58,360
[Simon] And Moore dies the next
day from the head injury.
354
00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:01,400
[Narrator] Having killed
one of their fellow crewmen,
355
00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,360
Kidd's crew loses
any faith they had left
356
00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:06,920
in his leadership.
357
00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,840
But Kidd claims his actions
were justified.
358
00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:11,840
[Hanna] If you actually
pay attention
359
00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:13,240
to international law
at the time,
360
00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:16,120
if you could perceive him
as threatening and mutinous,
361
00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:19,600
I think many officers at
the time could have understood.
362
00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,280
[Simon] Now that he's killed
a crew member,
363
00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:28,280
he knows that he's pretty much
lost control of everything.
364
00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,520
[Hanna] Really nothing about
Kidd's story makes any sense.
365
00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:32,680
There's nothing about it
366
00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:36,640
that seems logical
or smart or a good idea.
367
00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,040
So you could see Kidd is
in a position
368
00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:41,000
where he is not sure what to do.
369
00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,320
His crew is being mutinous.
370
00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,240
They haven't had any prey, and
he's getting very frustrated.
371
00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,080
So he finally he sees a ship
in the distance
372
00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:48,720
and they say, that's it,
let's go after it.
373
00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:56,000
[Narrator] November 18, 1697,
Kidd spots another Dutch ship--
374
00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:57,880
the Rouparelle.
375
00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:02,160
Facing pressure from his crew,
Kidd agrees to attack.
376
00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:06,040
♪ ♪
377
00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:07,880
Kidd needs to do
whatever he can
378
00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,240
to bring his crew back on side.
379
00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:15,480
With his letter of marque
in hand, he formulates a plan.
380
00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:19,600
[Wilson] What's important to
remember at this point in time
381
00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,240
is in the Indian Ocean
382
00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:23,040
all the vessels that are
operating in the sea
383
00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,760
are carrying multiple passes,
384
00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,960
so any vessel can claim to be
French, Dutch or English.
385
00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,240
The European powers
that operated
386
00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,000
implemented this pass system,
387
00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,680
so the first to implement it
were the Portuguese.
388
00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,560
And what it meant
was that any vessel
389
00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:39,600
passing by Portuguese waters,
390
00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:41,480
or at least waters
that they claimed,
391
00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,440
those vessels had to carry
what was called a pass.
392
00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:46,760
Basically the merchants
had to pay for this pass
393
00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:47,800
at the Portuguese port,
394
00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:49,560
and it gave them protection
395
00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:52,720
against any
Portuguese reprisals.
396
00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:54,600
So if you didn't have
a Portuguese pass
397
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,880
and a Portuguese vessel
approached you,
398
00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:00,400
they could claim you
as a legitimate prize.
399
00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:02,360
Once the Portuguese
instituted that system,
400
00:19:02,360 --> 00:19:03,800
the English quickly instituted
the system,
401
00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,600
the Dutch instituted
the same system,
402
00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,640
and the French instituted
the same system,
403
00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,120
which meant
that most merchant vessels
404
00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:10,680
operating in that region
405
00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,800
had to carry a pass of every
single one of these nations
406
00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,880
to stop them being claimed
as a legitimate prize.
407
00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,240
♪ ♪
408
00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,840
But Kidd uses that system
as a means to dupe those vessels
409
00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:25,480
to claim that they are French.
410
00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:27,520
♪ ♪
411
00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:29,520
[Narrator]
Kidd runs a French flag
412
00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:32,160
and sails straight
for the Rouparelle.
413
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,440
His disguise works.
414
00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,720
The Rouparelle's captain
believes Kidd is an ally,
415
00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,080
so presents a French Pass.
416
00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,800
It's a fatal error.
417
00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:47,800
[Wilson] They present
themself as French,
418
00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,160
and then they fall
under his commission.
419
00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:52,200
[Finnegan]
Because his commission says
420
00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:53,480
he has the right
to seize French ships
421
00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:55,400
or to seize pirates,
422
00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,480
there are some grounds,
he believes,
423
00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,000
that he can actually seize
that ship legally.
424
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:01,080
[Wilson] It's interesting
425
00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:02,400
because it's not
technically piracy.
426
00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,560
Kidd does have a commission
to take French vessels.
427
00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,520
That vessel presented itself
as French,
428
00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:08,520
so therefore it's legitimate.
429
00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:10,520
[Narrator]
Kidd and his crew celebrate.
430
00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:13,680
They have finally taken
a significant prize
431
00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:17,680
using cunning
instead of violence.
432
00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,240
Will they now stick
to their royal commission
433
00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:23,520
and begin tracking down
Red Sea pirates?
434
00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,280
Or will they attack any ship
435
00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,880
Kidd believes is carrying
valuable goods?
436
00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,800
[Narrator] Whilst traversing
the southern tip of India,
437
00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,760
Kidd and his crew
face great temptation
438
00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,840
when he spots
the Quedagh Merchant.
439
00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:47,120
It's a legendary vessel
carrying priceless cargo,
440
00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:50,840
belonging to one of the
wealthiest Mughal merchants.
441
00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,120
[Simon] The Quedagh Merchant
442
00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:56,840
was one of the largest
ships in the entire region.
443
00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:58,080
It was one of those ships
444
00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:02,000
known to have loads of coins,
gold and silver.
445
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,160
It's going to be carrying
tons of goods
446
00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,640
such as linens and silks
and other textiles,
447
00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:09,800
which were always
really desirable.
448
00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,000
It's going to have
loads of sugar.
449
00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:16,440
Sugar was one of the most
lucrative goods during the time.
450
00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,560
It was intended to be
one of the largest prizes
451
00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:23,840
that one could ever capture
in the Indian Ocean.
452
00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:27,560
It was an Armenian ship that
was being used by the French.
453
00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,040
So the ship had what were known
as French passes,
454
00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,760
meaning that France
had given them jurisdiction
455
00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,800
to sail wherever they could.
456
00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,160
[Narrator] A French flag
hangs from the mast
457
00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:43,520
of the Quedagh Merchant,
making it fair game for Kidd.
458
00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:46,200
If he's able to repeat
his bloodless takeover
459
00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:49,360
of the Rouparelle,
this could be easy pickings.
460
00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:53,880
Kidd hoists a French flag,
461
00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:57,560
once again identifying himself
as an ally.
462
00:21:57,560 --> 00:21:59,320
If the captain
of the Quedagh Merchant
463
00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:01,200
falls for the ruse,
464
00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,120
he will present Kidd
with a French pass,
465
00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:07,760
giving him legal authority
to take the ship.
466
00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:09,000
[Simon] Pirate attacks,
for the most part,
467
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,920
were pretty orderly.
468
00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,240
Most ships,
such as the Quedagh Merchant,
469
00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,560
which as a merchant ship
is not going to have
470
00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,200
very many weapons on it
for defense purposes.
471
00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,240
Pirate ships,
on the other hand, will.
472
00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:22,680
They're all going
to have pistols,
473
00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:24,640
they're all going to have
swords and cutlasses,
474
00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:25,680
and if they're lucky,
475
00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:27,760
their ships are going
to have cannons.
476
00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:29,440
So what a pirate is going to do
477
00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,120
is eventually,
as they get close to the ship,
478
00:22:32,120 --> 00:22:33,960
they're going
to identify themselves
479
00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,400
by eventually raising up a flag.
480
00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,040
And around the turn
of the 18th century,
481
00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,560
there were two flags
a pirate might raise up:
482
00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,200
a red flag, which means
we will take no mercy,
483
00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:46,000
we are going to fight
to the death;
484
00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:47,560
or a black flag,
485
00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:49,840
and this meant that they
would be willing
486
00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:53,000
to negotiate and give mercy
if the people surrendered.
487
00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,480
And this was to give
the other ship kind of time
488
00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:57,760
in order to prepare themselves.
489
00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,040
[Narrator] Kidd stalks his prey
490
00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:04,840
and suddenly raises
the black flag.
491
00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:07,640
Grappling hooks are thrown
from the Adventure Galley
492
00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,560
so Kidd and his crew can board.
493
00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:13,800
♪ ♪
494
00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,960
Kidd demands to see
the captain's pass.
495
00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,080
It's handed over.
496
00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:22,600
Kidd's gamble is paying off.
497
00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,320
But then something strange
happens.
498
00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:29,360
[Lincoln] The so-called French
captain of the merchant ship
499
00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:31,400
wasn't really the captain.
500
00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:32,640
They had a captain underneath.
501
00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:33,920
It was a double bluff.
502
00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,080
And the captain
was actually English.
503
00:23:38,120 --> 00:23:40,160
So Kidd had done
a terrible thing.
504
00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,280
He'd actually captured a ship
505
00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,520
that was captained
by an English person,
506
00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:48,120
which wasn't what he
was licensed to do.
507
00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:52,640
[Narrator] Despite this, Kidd
seizes the Quedagh Merchant,
508
00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,440
along with all its treasures.
509
00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:56,800
[Hanna] And Kidd kept
that French commission
510
00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:57,920
and put it in his pocket
and held it
511
00:23:57,920 --> 00:23:59,120
because he knew if he ever
got in trouble,
512
00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:00,280
he'd need that commission.
513
00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:08,800
♪ ♪
514
00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:10,880
[Wilson] The problem
is that he's taken a vessel
515
00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,400
which is extremely rich
and extremely wealthy,
516
00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:17,040
but is also owned by
an extremely influential figure.
517
00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,960
[Simon] The value of these goods
in today's money
518
00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,680
would be hundreds of thousands
of dollars or pounds,
519
00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:27,480
or perhaps even going
into the millions.
520
00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:28,960
This was the type of capture
521
00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,440
that would set up every single
one of these sailors for life.
522
00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:34,600
[Narrator] Kidd and his crew
ransack the ship
523
00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:39,040
and take her to Madagascar,
where they split the prize.
524
00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:40,360
[Wilson] You're not meant
to split up the plunder
525
00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:42,960
until you get
to the admiralty court,
526
00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,440
but Kidd does it anyway.
527
00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,880
[Simon] Being the captain,
Kidd would get the lavish share
528
00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:49,120
and then the next below him,
529
00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:50,640
such as the quartermaster
or lieutenant,
530
00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,080
would get
a slightly smaller share,
531
00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:55,160
but still substantial, perhaps
maybe a share and a half.
532
00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:57,840
And then you would have
the skilled workers
533
00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:00,000
like the carpenter
and the surgeon,
534
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,400
the navigator, the gunner,
535
00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,120
they might get
a share and a quarter,
536
00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:05,840
and then everybody else
below them would get a share.
537
00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,480
So because it was
so equally divvied up,
538
00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:09,720
everyone looked forward
539
00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:13,120
to being able to get
their portion of the spoils.
540
00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:15,360
[Narrator]
Despite their newfound wealth,
541
00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:18,600
many of the crew are growing
tired of Kidd's captaincy
542
00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:22,720
and desert him on the pirate
island of Madagascar.
543
00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:26,200
Left with a depleted crew
and three ships to command,
544
00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:27,800
he abandons two vessels
545
00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:31,560
including his original ship,
the Adventure Galley.
546
00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:33,200
Keeping the Quedagh Merchant,
547
00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,280
he renames it
the Adventure Prize
548
00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:38,600
to avoid suspicion.
549
00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,920
But word of his
legally murky behavior
550
00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,840
finds its way back to England.
551
00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:49,840
[Simon] Kidd is in Madagascar
552
00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,520
looking to re-outfit his ship
and get more supplies
553
00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:54,520
when he finds out
that he's wanted as a pirate
554
00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,440
from the English government.
555
00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,760
[Wilson] And it must have showed
Kidd at that point in time
556
00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:03,320
how infamous his name had become
and how other individuals
557
00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,360
were acting against him
and against his name.
558
00:26:06,360 --> 00:26:10,400
[Simon] Now, Kidd adamantly
believed he was not a pirate.
559
00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,280
He adamantly denied this.
560
00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:15,080
He said that he was charged
to rob French ships
561
00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,360
and that the Quedagh Merchant
had French passes on it.
562
00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:20,320
And so what he did is he decided
563
00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:22,320
he had to kind of offload
his goods.
564
00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:24,920
So he sails to the West Indies,
565
00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,360
and there he writes letters
to Lord Bellomont,
566
00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:28,720
his friend and financier,
567
00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:31,160
basically saying, I am being
falsely accused of piracy.
568
00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:32,480
I need your help.
569
00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,280
I need you to help me convince
the British government
570
00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:36,600
that I did not betray anybody
571
00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:38,760
and that I did not violate
the letter of marque.
572
00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:41,040
♪ ♪
573
00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:42,960
[Narrator] Desperate to prove
his innocence,
574
00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:46,360
Kidd sends the French passes
from the Quedagh Merchant
575
00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:49,240
to his investor,
the Earl of Bellomont,
576
00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:51,960
who is currently
visiting Boston.
577
00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:54,360
[Hanna]
While Kidd was out at sea,
578
00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:56,120
the Earl of Bellomont
was actually appointed
579
00:26:56,120 --> 00:26:59,240
the joint governor
of New York and Massachusetts.
580
00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:02,320
And Bellomont had heard
suspicious rumors
581
00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,440
that Kidd might have been
a pirate.
582
00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,880
♪ ♪
583
00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:09,440
[Lincoln] But while Kidd
had been away
584
00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:10,640
for a number of months,
585
00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,120
things had changed
back in London.
586
00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:15,520
[Narrator] The two most
prominent political parties
587
00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:17,720
are fighting for power
in England.
588
00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:21,400
♪ ♪
589
00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,120
[Lincoln] And the Whigs
were losing power,
590
00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:26,200
and the rival party, the Tories,
were gaining power,
591
00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,120
and Bellomont was a Whig.
592
00:27:28,120 --> 00:27:31,680
And he could see that he was on
a very dangerous position here.
593
00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:35,080
[Simon] Bellomont knows that his
political standing and career
594
00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:39,040
will be ruined if they know
that he is in cahoots now
595
00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:42,040
with this accused pirate.
596
00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:44,480
[Blakemore] So the people
who were protecting him before
597
00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:46,640
are now trying
to disassociate themselves
598
00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,000
from these accusations
of piracy.
599
00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,000
♪ ♪
600
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:52,480
[Simon] We have to go
back in time a little bit
601
00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:53,880
to understand why.
602
00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,520
In 1695, the English pirate
Henry Avery
603
00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:58,320
captured loads of Mughal ships.
604
00:27:58,320 --> 00:27:59,640
And the problem is
605
00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,520
Britain was never actually able
to capture Henry Avery.
606
00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:03,960
He disappeared.
607
00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:09,320
And so, once again,
the Mughal Empire
608
00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,400
basically tells
the East India Company
609
00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:14,720
you have one chance
to go after Kidd
610
00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:16,680
and you have to make
an example of him.
611
00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:18,000
You have to capture him,
612
00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:19,760
or else we will
cut off all trade
613
00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:23,160
and consider this to be
an act of war.
614
00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:24,440
[Narrator]
Kidd finds himself caught
615
00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:26,720
in a clash of bureaucracies.
616
00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:28,200
His capture is being used
617
00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,920
to make an example
of the famous pirate
618
00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:34,640
regardless of his innocence.
619
00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:36,680
A manhunt is underway.
620
00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:38,280
Hiding in the West Indies,
621
00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:42,480
Kidd pens letters to Bellomont
pleading for assistance.
622
00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,200
♪ ♪
623
00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:47,440
[Lincoln] He thought that
if he was able to talk to him
624
00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:49,680
and explain that he thought
this was a French ship,
625
00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,080
he could smooth it over.
626
00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:55,840
[Simon] Bellomont writes
a letter back to Kidd,
627
00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:59,240
promising him protection
if he comes to Boston.
628
00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:01,720
[Narrator] Deciding to trust
his former patron,
629
00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,240
Kidd sails for Boston.
630
00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:08,200
Anxious to retain the fortune
he's risked everything to gain,
631
00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:11,680
he devises a plan
to protect his loot.
632
00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,360
[Hanna] And he stopped off an
island called Gardiner's Island.
633
00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,640
Gardiner's Island was owned
by a man named Mr. Gardiner,
634
00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:18,560
who is himself a former pirate.
635
00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,000
And while he was there,
Kidd decided
636
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,560
maybe he would leave
some of his treasure.
637
00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:25,200
[Blakemore] So that he then
has a bargaining chip to use
638
00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:26,920
with the authorities in London.
639
00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:30,520
If they let him go, maybe he'll
hand over some of the treasure
640
00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:33,360
to the English government.
641
00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:34,640
[Wilson]
And it's really from here
642
00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:38,040
that this idea of Kidd's
buried treasure appears.
643
00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:41,200
[Narrator] Kidd continues
his voyage to Boston,
644
00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:45,520
expecting to be welcomed
by his old friend Bellomont.
645
00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:47,160
[Simon] Once he steps on shore,
646
00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:52,280
he is captured and thrown
into Stone Prison in 1698,
647
00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:54,160
where he will spend
the next two years.
648
00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:58,200
[Hanna] One of the most
important things
649
00:29:58,200 --> 00:29:59,440
in the entire history of piracy
650
00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:01,600
happened while Kidd
was in prison.
651
00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:05,800
Kidd told the prison guard,
"I buried some of my treasure,
652
00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,720
and if you let me out,
I'll give you some of it."
653
00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:10,320
That seems like
a very small thing,
654
00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:12,520
but the entire history of piracy
has changed
655
00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:15,240
ever since that one moment.
656
00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,520
[Narrator]
Having shared his secret,
657
00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:19,600
rumors of Kidd's
buried treasure
658
00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,600
soon escape the prison.
659
00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:24,840
[Simon] And so Bellomont
actually did arrange
660
00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:27,320
an expedition to go search
for all these goods.
661
00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:28,520
And they were so desperate
662
00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:31,640
to find all of these
really expensive items
663
00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:33,560
that they even arrested
Kidd's wife
664
00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:34,920
and all of their servants
665
00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:38,840
to try to find out
where this might be.
666
00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:40,640
[Hanna]
It becomes a massive craze.
667
00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:43,320
And, in fact,
you could call it a mania.
668
00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:44,360
[Simon] And so this has led
669
00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:46,840
to all kinds
of treasure excavations
670
00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:48,760
going all up and down
the American seaboard,
671
00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:50,920
as far north as Canada,
672
00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:55,760
and even going as far inland
into Upstate New York.
673
00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:57,720
[Hanna] They come up
with all these strange
674
00:30:57,720 --> 00:30:59,640
paranormal strategies
to find the treasure,
675
00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:01,200
because the treasure isn't
just sort of something
676
00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:02,200
sitting in the earth,
677
00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:06,040
somehow has
mystical elements of it.
678
00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:11,120
They had to use divining rods
to find the treasure.
679
00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:13,360
There's other strategies,
you go in groups of three.
680
00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:14,480
Somehow it's a magical thing.
681
00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:15,880
You have to go
in groups of three.
682
00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:17,680
And the best way
to find pirate treasure
683
00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:19,640
is you find it around midnight.
684
00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:21,000
You have to be silent,
685
00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:24,000
because if you say anything,
the treasure can move.
686
00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,120
[Narrator] In the weeks
following Kidd's arrest,
687
00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:28,840
Bellomont tears up
Gardiner's Island,
688
00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,680
desperately seeking
buried treasure.
689
00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:34,640
[Wilson] Now a box of silver was
recovered from Gardiner's Island
690
00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:35,960
by the Earl of Bellomont.
691
00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:38,280
So it might be that
that was the box itself.
692
00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:39,680
So it's already been recovered.
693
00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:41,600
But regardless,
there was clear knowledge
694
00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:46,160
that there was some treasure
buried in Gardiner's Island.
695
00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:48,480
[Lincoln] Which actually
the Crown didn't dare keep.
696
00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:50,280
It was so controversial.
697
00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:51,560
Queen Anne dedicated it
698
00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:54,360
towards the Greenwich Hospital
for seamen,
699
00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:57,080
as if it was a patriotic act.
700
00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:00,400
[Narrator] Nobody believes
this single box of silver
701
00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:02,640
can be all Kidd left.
702
00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:04,680
The search continues.
703
00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,680
[Narrator]
Meanwhile, Kidd rots in jail.
704
00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,040
The world outside is changing,
705
00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:19,200
and not for the better
for a man accused of piracy.
706
00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:20,240
[Blakemore] Around the time
707
00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:22,160
of William Kidd's voyages
and trial,
708
00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:23,960
the government is also
bringing in legislation
709
00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:25,560
which gives British officers
710
00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:28,720
the right to prosecute pirates
anywhere in the world.
711
00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:32,880
This is a global expansion
of jurisdiction.
712
00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:37,120
It is an enormous assertion
of authority and power.
713
00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:39,760
It's a crucial part of the way
in which the empire
714
00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:43,560
is expanding and
developing at this time.
715
00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:45,480
[Narrator] As of 1700,
716
00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:49,520
piracy trials are now allowed
to take place in America,
717
00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:52,600
but Kidd's capture
predates the new law.
718
00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:54,520
He's sent to London.
719
00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:57,640
A trial there will be
a public spectacle
720
00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,840
with a much larger audience.
721
00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:02,400
[Wilson] And that's quite rare
because of the fact
722
00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:06,480
that a lot of the times pirates
who are captured in the Americas
723
00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:09,920
tend to escape
from imprisonment.
724
00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:11,320
So Kidd is quite rare
725
00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:14,120
in terms of actually a pirate
being taken back to London
726
00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:18,000
for piracies
committed elsewhere.
727
00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,000
Kidd is really a turning point
728
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:21,920
whereby you see
that crackdown on piracy
729
00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:27,360
that is at least attempting
to be made by the English.
730
00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:30,000
[Narrator]
1700, Captain William Kidd
731
00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,840
is shipped home to London
in chains.
732
00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:34,200
Many powerful people
733
00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:39,200
have much to lose or gain
from his trial.
734
00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:42,920
The leadership of both
the Whigs and the Tories,
735
00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:46,120
the East India Company
and Bellomont;
736
00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,080
everything is stacked
against Kidd.
737
00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:50,440
[Wilson] Kidd is isolated
738
00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:53,880
and kept in confinement
in Newgate Prison.
739
00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:55,160
And the reason for that
740
00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:57,800
is because both the Whig party
and the Tory party,
741
00:33:57,800 --> 00:33:59,560
as well as
the East India Company,
742
00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:02,080
are all trying to use Kidd
to advance their own interests,
743
00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:03,280
either to clear their name.
744
00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:05,760
The Whig party who had invested
in this voyage
745
00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:07,240
are really wanting
a speedy trial
746
00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:09,800
and execution of Kidd
to clear their own names
747
00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:12,600
because they are now being
accused of supporting a pirate,
748
00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:14,600
and the Tory party
are using this as a means
749
00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:20,040
to undermine and slander
the Whig party as well.
750
00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:21,040
And it's only after a year
751
00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:22,720
that he's given
some of the evidence
752
00:34:22,720 --> 00:34:24,240
that is put against him
753
00:34:24,240 --> 00:34:28,400
and given access to materials
to start to make his case.
754
00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,760
[Narrator] The trial
is fast approaching,
755
00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:36,160
and Kidd realizes he's been
betrayed by his former allies.
756
00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:38,640
He writes to Bellomont, begging
757
00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:41,760
for the Quedagh Merchant's
French passes.
758
00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:45,320
They may be his only chance
for freedom.
759
00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:48,280
Bellomont doesn't respond.
760
00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:53,080
Giving up hope, Kidd asks
the prison guards for a knife;
761
00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:56,200
taking his own life
now his only way out.
762
00:34:56,200 --> 00:34:58,760
His request is denied.
763
00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:02,240
[Lincoln] His trial was held
in the Old Bailey,
764
00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:06,880
and he was tried
for murder and for piracy.
765
00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,880
♪ ♪
766
00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:11,240
[Simon]
Pirate trials at the time
767
00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:12,840
were pretty much show trials.
768
00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:16,440
By law in England, everybody
had to have their fair trial.
769
00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:18,400
And so pirates got this as well.
770
00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:20,400
But the thing is,
pirates were considered
771
00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,400
to be kind of enemies
of humankind.
772
00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:25,760
The idea is a pirate
robbed a ship,
773
00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:28,920
and therefore they were trying
to destroy their country,
774
00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:30,320
they're trying
to destroy their king,
775
00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:33,560
and therefore they are
violating God in a way.
776
00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:35,080
So it's really just a show.
777
00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:37,520
It's pure humiliation.
778
00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:39,760
[Narrator] Despite being labeled
as a pirate,
779
00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:41,640
some of Kidd's
character witnesses
780
00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:44,400
highlight his previous
military service.
781
00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:47,000
However, this period
of Kidd's life
782
00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,560
took place a long time ago.
783
00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:53,680
The statements are dismissed
as irrelevant by the court.
784
00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:56,400
[Simon] One might think
this would add to his character
785
00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:58,760
and make it so he
could get off easy.
786
00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:00,560
No, it had the opposite effect.
787
00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:02,920
If anything,
he should have known better.
788
00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:05,240
He should have been
setting the example.
789
00:36:07,240 --> 00:36:09,120
[Hanna] Throughout his trial,
Kidd never said
790
00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:11,800
that he was anything
but innocent.
791
00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:13,760
[Simon] He is constantly
telling the prosecution
792
00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:15,760
that he had a letter of marque
793
00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:19,120
stating that he
could take French ships
794
00:36:19,120 --> 00:36:22,280
and that the Quedagh Merchant
itself had French passes
795
00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:24,720
and that he himself
had taken the passes
796
00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:28,120
and they just needed to be
reproduced for the trial.
797
00:36:28,120 --> 00:36:30,440
[Blakemore] Except that he left
the French passes
798
00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:32,360
with Lord Bellomont.
799
00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:35,040
These documents are never
produced in evidence
800
00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:36,320
at Kidd's trial.
801
00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,760
♪ ♪
802
00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:42,840
[Simon] And he is told
over and over in the trial
803
00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:44,520
you had time
to get them together.
804
00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:46,040
You didn't get them together.
805
00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:47,400
There's no way we have them.
806
00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:48,760
In fact, they've been lost.
807
00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:50,640
No one can find them.
808
00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:54,520
[Narrator] Kidd goes quiet,
refusing to name his investors,
809
00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:57,440
confident that his silence
will be rewarded
810
00:36:57,440 --> 00:36:59,480
once he's acquitted.
811
00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:02,000
In this misplaced act
of loyalty,
812
00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:04,000
he refuses to tell the court
813
00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:06,880
that the passes
were sent to Bellomont.
814
00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:08,720
[Simon] And then Kidd
thinks he's lucky
815
00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:11,320
because several members of
his crew do come to the trial.
816
00:37:11,320 --> 00:37:14,800
And so he thinks this will help.
817
00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:16,560
But instead,
what actually happens
818
00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:18,480
is they all speak out
against him.
819
00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:19,640
We have to remember,
820
00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:23,040
Kidd killed one of their
crewmates in a fight,
821
00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:25,200
and no one is going
to forgive him for that,
822
00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:28,560
even though they themselves got
a lot of wealth out of it.
823
00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:32,200
It doesn't matter.
Kidd killed one of them.
824
00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:34,200
[Narrator]
Enraged by their betrayal,
825
00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:38,240
Kidd pushes back, claiming
his former crewmates
826
00:37:38,240 --> 00:37:42,080
had threatened him
into carrying out the attacks.
827
00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:47,720
It's his word, that of one man,
against all of theirs.
828
00:37:47,720 --> 00:37:49,560
[Simon] Here's what's
really interesting.
829
00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:53,080
Kidd is not actually found
guilty for piracy.
830
00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:56,400
The evidence is just
a little too shaky to do that.
831
00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:59,480
But instead, he is found guilty
of robbery,
832
00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:00,920
having robbed many ships.
833
00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,400
And he's also found guilty
for murder--
834
00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:07,320
the murder of William Moore,
the member of his crew.
835
00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:11,960
As a result, he was sentenced
to hang by the neck until dead
836
00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:16,040
at Execution Dock in Wapping,
East London, on the Thames.
837
00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:18,560
And this occurred May 23, 1701.
838
00:38:23,720 --> 00:38:26,160
[Finnegan] This is a copy,
a speech that was given
839
00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:30,120
by Captain Kidd
around the year 1700
840
00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:33,040
when he was standing trial
for piracy.
841
00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:37,320
And it really,
it's a very emotive statement
842
00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:38,800
designed to pull
at the heartstrings
843
00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:40,160
of the person receiving it,
844
00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:44,760
who was perhaps the judge
of the High Court of Admiralty.
845
00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:47,440
[Narrator]
Kidd pleads to the court:
846
00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:50,960
"My Lord, it is
a very hard sentence.
847
00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:52,240
For my part,
848
00:38:52,240 --> 00:38:55,520
I am the innocentest person
of them all,
849
00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:59,960
only I have been sworn against
by perjured persons."
850
00:38:59,960 --> 00:39:03,600
♪ ♪
851
00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:08,440
[Finnegan] He states
that because of other events
852
00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:11,040
such as the capture
of Mughal shipping
853
00:39:11,040 --> 00:39:14,360
by the previous pirate
Henry Avery in the Red Sea,
854
00:39:14,360 --> 00:39:16,800
because Henry Avery
was never captured,
855
00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:19,400
Kidd implies that he
is being executed
856
00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:21,320
to placate
the East India Company
857
00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:23,560
and placate the Mughal emperor.
858
00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:28,160
He also states in it
that he's being executed
859
00:39:28,160 --> 00:39:31,320
so that other people who are
more powerful than him
860
00:39:31,320 --> 00:39:35,280
can effectively be acquitted.
861
00:39:35,280 --> 00:39:38,440
But the speech really, really
lays out Kidd's case
862
00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:39,680
that he's a victim
863
00:39:39,680 --> 00:39:42,840
of political circumstance
and misunderstanding
864
00:39:42,840 --> 00:39:44,960
and the deliberate withholding
of evidence
865
00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:47,680
rather than somebody that's
guilty of any kind of piracy.
866
00:39:47,680 --> 00:39:52,920
♪ ♪
867
00:39:54,920 --> 00:39:56,800
♪ ♪
868
00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:00,320
[Narrator] May 23, 1701.
869
00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:03,720
Kidd is taken from his cell,
transferred east
870
00:40:03,720 --> 00:40:06,080
through the cobbled streets
of Wapping
871
00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:09,920
to his fate,
at the rope of the hangman.
872
00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:12,640
♪ ♪
873
00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:16,600
The noose is placed
around Kidd's neck;
874
00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:22,040
his body drops,
but the cord snaps.
875
00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:25,200
[Wilson] So for a split second,
Kidd escapes execution.
876
00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:28,160
But he's quickly taken back up
the ladder and put off again,
877
00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:30,320
and this time, is executed.
878
00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:33,280
♪ ♪
879
00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:35,160
[Simon] There is
a wide amount of interest
880
00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:36,640
amongst these pirate trials
881
00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:39,760
because they were all
publicized very well.
882
00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:42,080
Kidd's trial
was printed and published
883
00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:44,280
the day after his execution,
884
00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:46,000
and within another day
after that
885
00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:51,280
they had to do a second printing
because that's how fast it sold.
886
00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,800
[Lincoln] I think really
it's the print of Kidd
887
00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:58,160
being hung at execution dock
888
00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:00,520
that grabs the imagination
889
00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:02,480
because whenever
you see pictures
890
00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:04,480
of pirates being executed,
891
00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:06,840
it's normally Kidd that you see.
892
00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:09,480
[Narrator] It is not only
the image of Kidd
893
00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:12,400
at the hangman's noose
that lives on.
894
00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:13,960
His legacy and actions
895
00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:18,880
continue to inspire writers and
storytellers across the world.
896
00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:20,720
[Simon] Every single idea
we have to this day
897
00:41:20,720 --> 00:41:23,040
about pirates burying anything
898
00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:25,480
really stems from the rumors
that were put forth
899
00:41:25,480 --> 00:41:28,240
by Captain Kidd.
900
00:41:28,240 --> 00:41:30,000
A lot of this was inspiration
901
00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:32,480
for Robert Louis Stevenson's
book Treasure Island,
902
00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:36,120
which was published in 1883
and was an absolute smash hit.
903
00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:39,760
It's about a treasure hunt,
and it was a smash hit
904
00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:41,160
in Britain and
in the United States.
905
00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:42,440
It's never gone out of print.
906
00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:46,360
It's been adapted
many, many, many times.
907
00:41:46,360 --> 00:41:47,720
So the novel Treasure Island,
908
00:41:47,720 --> 00:41:50,280
which was inspired a lot
by piracy
909
00:41:50,280 --> 00:41:53,080
and Captain Kidd specifically,
910
00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:56,920
is also what inspired what we
think about in terms of pirates.
911
00:41:56,920 --> 00:41:59,720
The eyepatch, the peg leg,
the parrot as a pet,
912
00:41:59,720 --> 00:42:02,640
and of course,
the buried treasure and the map
913
00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:04,040
and X marks the spot.
914
00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:06,480
♪ ♪
915
00:42:09,480 --> 00:42:11,000
[Hanna] Ballads were sung
on board ships,
916
00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:12,960
ballads were sung in taverns.
917
00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:16,120
It's one of the more popular
musical cultures.
918
00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:21,000
And Kidd's ballad
became incredibly famous.
919
00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:22,280
The story of Kidd
920
00:42:22,280 --> 00:42:25,880
is incredibly complicated
and complex and nuanced.
921
00:42:25,880 --> 00:42:27,920
In reality,
by writing the ballad,
922
00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:30,840
they made it uncomplicated.
923
00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:33,520
They made it about him
giving up his soul,
924
00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:36,560
which is not remarkably true
of the real story.
925
00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:38,440
He bought a pew
in Trinity Church
926
00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:41,800
where his daughters
prayed on Sundays.
927
00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:43,760
The idea that he was
a hellish figure
928
00:42:43,760 --> 00:42:45,360
who sold himself to the devil
929
00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:46,920
was a mythology
of the 19th century
930
00:42:46,920 --> 00:42:48,560
and it came out of the ballad.
931
00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:51,360
The reality was
he was a successful person,
932
00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:54,040
well-respected in New York,
had a family,
933
00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:55,920
never thought he committed
an act of piracy.
934
00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:58,160
He killed his gunner,
but his gunner was mutinous,
935
00:42:58,160 --> 00:42:59,840
and he killed his gunner because
he was trying to keep his gunner
936
00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:01,680
from forcing him
to attack allied shipping.
937
00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:03,640
He was trying to do
the right thing.
938
00:43:03,640 --> 00:43:05,680
I'm not saying it's okay
to kill his gunner,
939
00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:07,000
but there's a reason
why he did it,
940
00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:10,920
which had to do with him
trying to not be a pirate.
941
00:43:10,920 --> 00:43:12,640
[Narrator]
Kidd is best remembered
942
00:43:12,640 --> 00:43:16,680
as a murderous pirate
deserving of his execution.
943
00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:21,600
But in reality, was he a man
trying to follow the law
944
00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:24,640
caught in a tangle of politics
945
00:43:24,640 --> 00:43:29,600
or a gentleman pirate,
corrupted by greed?
946
00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:30,640
[Hanna] Whether he's
a pirate or not
947
00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:32,320
we could argue to this day,
948
00:43:32,320 --> 00:43:34,800
or you could say he had
a French commission,
949
00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:38,440
but he lost it.
950
00:43:38,440 --> 00:43:39,600
I think he would have
been exonerated
951
00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:42,760
had he had the commission.
952
00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:45,080
A historian in the 19th century
found the commission.
953
00:43:45,080 --> 00:43:46,720
So we know it's true.
954
00:43:46,720 --> 00:43:57,400
♪ ♪
77452
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