"I desire to put off my trial as long as I can till I can get my evidence ready"

William Kidd’s statement reflects the precarious position he found himself in during his infamous trial for piracy in 1701. When he expresses his wish to postpone his trial, he is voicing a deep anxiety about not being adequately prepared to defend himself , particularly lacking essential evidence and witnesses who could speak to his character or to the circumstances of his actions. At the dawn of the eighteenth century, trials, especially those with such severe consequences, often moved swiftly and did not always guarantee the accused an ample opportunity to marshal a defense, gather documentation, or bring in witnesses, particularly if many of those witnesses were far away, such as at sea or in distant colonies.

Kidd’s words suggest a sense of desperation and strategic awareness. He is not merely stalling for time out of fear, but seeking a fair chance to present proof that might exonerate him or at least mitigate blame. The readiness of evidence was crucial for Kidd, as the line between piracy and privateering could be thin, often hinging on official documents like letters of marque or testimonies regarding the conduct and legality of a captain’s actions. Delays might allow for critical documents or depositions to arrive from busy sea routes or overseas authorities, given the slow pace of seventeenth-century communication and travel.

Moreover, Kidd’s plea signals distrust in the process and in the intentions of those prosecuting him, perhaps apprehensive that he would be railroaded by political or legal imperatives rather than actual justice. It also reveals a broader reality of the legal system of the time, in which the deck was frequently stacked against high-profile defendants. Far from a mere procedural convenience, his request is a poignant reminder of how the outcome of a trial could pivot on access to information and the ability to deliver it in one’s own defense, especially when facing the gallows.