[1] The prevalence of piracy in American waters can best be traced in
the documents listed in the _Calendars of State Papers, Colonial_, for
the last decade of the 17^{th} century.
[2] The draft of this proclamation was referred to the Admiralty,
January 23, 1701, to propose the amount of the rewards to be offered,
and was sent to the Board of Trade, February 20, 1701, to fix the time
when pirates should be allowed to make confessions (_Acts of Privy
Council_, ii, 342).
[3] Two proclamations, dated July 17 and August 10, 1696, had been
issued offering a reward for the capture of Every for having committed
piracies in the seas of India and Persia (_Acts of Privy Council_, ii,
300).
1702, March 9.
[Continuing Officers in the Colonies.]