The Adventure carried thirty guns and rowed twenty-six or thirty oars.  In May, 1696, Kidd sailed from Plymouth for New York with a crew of about seventy men.  On the way he captured a small French vessel, which was properly condemned, and the proceeds helped to complete the equipment of the Adventure.  In New York he filled up his crew to one hundred and fifty-five men, and people shook their heads when they saw the men of doubtful character that he enlisted.  It was felt at the time that, either his intentions were dishonest, or he was taking a crew that he would be unable to control.  The men were promised shares of what should be taken, while Kidd himself was to have forty shares.  Nothing was said as to the share of the owners or the Crown.  In September he sailed for the Cape.  There were plenty of pirates and French trading-ships close at hand on the American coast, but he did not waste a day in looking for them.

Within a few days of Kidd’s leaving Plymouth, a royal squadron consisting of the Windsor, Tyger, Advice, and Vulture, under Commodore Warren, sailed from Sheerness to visit the harbours and watering-places, used by East India ships, as far as the Cape, and clear them of pirates.  The squadron, with five East Indiamen under convoy, made its way slowly along the African coast, losing many men from sickness.  Two hundred leagues west of the Cape they sighted a strange sail that seemed to wish to avoid them.  Warren gave chase and forced it to heave to.  On being signalled to come on board, the commander proved to be Kidd, in command of the Adventure.  Asked to account for himself, he told how he was engaged to look for Every and destroy pirates, and showed his commission.  Apparently, this was the first that Warren had heard of him, but there was no gainsaying the royal commission, so the usual hospitality was shown him, and he was bidden to keep company as far as the Cape.  Warren had lost many men on the Guinea coast, and asked Kidd to spare him some.  No better opportunity could have been found for getting rid of troublesome men, but Kidd declined to part with a single one.  As Warren’s wine told on him, his true character showed itself.  He boasted of the feats he was going to do, and the wealth he would get, till Warren was filled with disgust and suspicion.  The Adventure wanted a new mainsail.  Warren could not spare him one.  No matter, he would take one from the first ship he met; and he was finally sent back to the Adventure, reeling drunk.  For six days he sailed in company with the squadron.  Then a calm came on, and at night, making use of his oars, Kidd stole away, and was nearly out of sight when the sun rose.