Howard was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, but was saved by a commission from London, which directed Spotswood to pardon all acts of piracy committed by surrendering pirates before 23 July 1718.
Howard foi declarado culpable e sentenciado á forca, pero foi salvado por unha orde procedente de Londres, que obrigaba a Spotswood a perdoar tódolos actos de pirataría levados a cabo por piratas que se tivesen entregado antes do 23 de xullo de 1718.