While he was on the coast, Kidd was chased by two Portuguese armed vessels, a grab and a sloop.  The grab was a poor sailer, and Kidd had no difficulty in eluding it; but the sloop, a better sailer, allowed itself to be drawn on in chase, till Kidd, shortening sail, was able to give it several broadsides, which reduced it to a total wreck; after which he showed a clean pair of heels.  At Kidd’s trial it was stated he had ten men wounded in this business.

In April (1698) the Sedgwick, arriving at Fort St. David, reported that on its way from Anjengo it had been chased for three days and nights by Kidd, but had been saved by a stiff breeze springing up.  On its return voyage the Sedgwick was less fortunate, being captured off Cape Comorin by Chivers, a Dutchman, in the Soldado, otherwise known as the Algerine, of two hundred and fifty tons and carrying twenty-eight guns.  The cargo of the Sedgwick not being to Chivers’ liking, and being put into good humour with sundry bowls of punch, he let the Sedgwick go, taking out of her only sails and cordage.

The year 1698 saw the Company’s trade almost extinguished owing to the depredations of the sea rovers and the hostility aroused against Europeans.  Every letter brought accounts of the pirates and the losses occasioned by them.  In small squadrons they swept the coast from Madras to the mouths of the Indus, and haunted the sea from Cape Comorin to the Straits of Malacca.  In July, the Company’s ship Dorrill, bound for China, was attacked in the Straits of Malacca by the Resolution, late Mocha, commanded by Culliford, and, after a hot engagement of three hours, made the pirate sheer off, with heavy losses on both sides.  Bowen in the Speedy Return, for the taking of which Green was, with doubtful justice, hanged, Chivers in the Soldado, North in the Pelican, Halsey, Williams, White, and many others of less fame, were plundering and burning everywhere with impunity.  Early in the year, Kidd captured the Quedah Merchant a country ship bound from Bengal to Surat, belonging to some Armenian merchants who were on board.  The captain was an Englishman named Wright; the gunner was a Frenchman, and there were two Dutchmen.  This was the best prize made by Kidd, and yielded some L10,000 or L12,000, which was at once divided among the crew of the Adventure, Kidd’s forty shares being one-fourth of the whole.  Able seamen got one share; landsmen and servants a half-share only.  The Surat factory was filled with alarm, not without good reason.  In vain Sir John Gayer wrote to the Governor, and sent an agent to the Emperor to disclaim responsibility.  In August came an imperial order directing that the English, French, and Dutch should be held responsible for all losses, and that for the Quedah Merchant alone the English should pay two lakhs of rupees.  Guards were placed on the factories; all communication with them was