178 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON
muslins, two hundred and fifty bales of sugar and
three bales of romels."
Kidd's defense was that the ships captured were
sailing under French passes and therefore lawful
prizes according to the terms of his commission.
These passes, he said, had been delivered into
Bellomont's hands. But the Court made no effort
to procure these passes or to inquire further into
the matter. The jury was out for a short time
only and brought in their verdict against or for
the mariners separately. All but three were found
guilty. In addressing them the Court said: "You
have been tried by the laws of the land and con-
victed and nothing now remains but that sentence
be passed according to the law. And the sentence
of the law is this: You shall be taken from the
place where you are and be carried to the place
from whence you came and from thence to the
. place of execution and there be severally hanged
by your necks until you be dead. And may the
Lord have mercy on your souls!"
Captain Kidd was hanged at Execution Dock
on May 23, 1701. Thus ended the most famous
pirate of the age. His career so impressed the
popular imagination that a host of legends sprang
up concerning him and his treasure ship, while