He was allowed to go freely about the city for a week, and then he was arrested.
The rest of Kidd's story is soon told; he was sent to England for trial, and there he was condemned to death, not only for the piracies he had committed, but also for the murder of William Moore.

He was executed, and his body was hung in chains on the banks of the Thames, where for years it dangled in the wind, a warning to all evil-minded sailors.
About the time of Kidd's trial and execution a ballad was written which had a wide circulation in England and America.

It was set to music, and for many years helped to spread the fame of this pirate.

The ballad was a very long one, containing nearly twenty-six verses, and some of them run as follows:-- My name was Robert Kidd, when I sailed, when I sailed, My name was Robert Kidd, when I sailed, My name was Robert Kidd, God's laws I did forbid, And so wickedly I did, when I sailed.
My parents taught me well, when I sailed, when I sailed, My parents taught me well when I sailed, My parents taught me well To shun the gates of hell, But 'gainst them I rebelled, when I sailed.
I'd a Bible in my hand, when I sailed, when I sailed, I'd a Bible in my hand when I sailed, I'd a Bible in my hand, By my father's great command, And sunk it in the sand, when I sailed.
I murdered William Moore, as I sailed, as I sailed, I murdered William Moore as I sailed, I murdered William Moore, And laid him in his gore, Not many leagues from shore, as I sailed.
I was sick and nigh to death, when I sailed, when I sailed, I was sick and nigh to death when I sailed, I was sick and nigh to death, And I vowed at every breath, To walk in wisdom's ways, as I sailed.
I thought I was undone, as I sailed, as I sailed, I thought I was undone, as I sailed, I thought I was undone, And my wicked glass had run, But health did soon return, as I sailed.
My repentance lasted not, as I sailed, as I sailed, My repentance lasted not, as I sailed, My repentance lasted not, My vows I soon forgot, Damnation was my lot, as I sailed.
I spyed the ships from France, as I sailed, as I sailed, I spyed the ships from France, as I sailed, I spyed the ships from France, To them I did advance, And took them all by chance, as I sailed.
I spyed the ships of Spain, as I sailed, as I sailed, I spyed the ships of Spain, as I sailed, I spyed the ships of Spain, I fired on them amain, 'Till most of them was slain, as I sailed.
I'd ninety bars of gold, as I sailed, as I sailed, I'd ninety bars of gold, as I sailed, I'd ninety bars of gold, And dollars manifold, With riches uncontrolled, as I sailed.
Thus being o'er-taken at last, I must die, I must die, Thus being o'er-taken at last, I must die, Thus being o'er-taken at last, And into prison cast, And sentence being passed, I must die.
Farewell, the raging main, I must die, I must die, Farewell, the raging main, I must die, Farewell, the raging main, To Turkey, France, and Spain, I shall ne'er see you again, I must die.
To Execution Dock I must go, I must go, To Execution Dock I must go, To Execution Dock, Will many thousands flock, But I must bear the shock, and must die.
Come all ye young and old, see me die, see me die, Come all ye young and old, see me die, Come all ye young and old, You're welcome to my gold, For by it I've lost my soul, and must die.
Take warning now by me, for I must die, for I must die, Take warning now by me, for I must die, Take warning now by me, And shun bad company, Lest you come to hell with me, for I die.
It is said that Kidd showed no repentance when he was tried, but insisted that he was the victim of malicious persons who swore falsely against him.

And yet a more thoroughly dishonest rascal never sailed under the black flag.