These courts had powers of capital punishment, and also had power to treat all persons who gave assistance or countenance to pirates as accessories, and liable to the same punishments as pirates.

The Act was to be in force for seven years only.

In 1706 it was renewed for seven years, and in 1714 again for five years.
The amnesty granted to some pirates, the hanging of others,[5] and the new Act of Parliament, caused a great abatement of the evil.

The Madagascar settlements still flourished, but for a time European trade was free from attack.

Littleton's squadron had gone home, and was replaced by two royal ships, the _Severn_ and the _Scarborough_, which effected nothing against the pirates, but served by their presence to keep them quiet.
The _Severn_ and _Scarborough_ sailed from England in May, 1703, under Commodore Richards, who died at Johanna in the following March.