Witchcraft

Under 33 Hen. VIII. c.

8 appointed magistrates, and regulated the coin and 1 Jac. I. c. 12, the offence of witchcraft, of the kingdom. It also provided for levying or supposed intercourse with evil spirits, was upon the people all such sums as the public punishable with death. These acts were not necessities required; and no property of a repealed till 1736. 4 Bla. Com. 60. freeman was, in fact, taxable without the A charge to a jury was upheld that, if consent of the gemote. Bede, lib.

2, c.

5; the accused believed in witchcraft founded 3 Turner, Angl. Sax. 209; 1 Dugdale, Mon. on the belief that the Scriptures taught it 20; Sax. Chron. 126, 140. and, that if, as a result of such belief, The deliberations of their body had great he considered he had a right to kill one ac- weight; all important actions, such as lawcused of causing deaths among his people, making, were done by their advice; but they though he knew such killing was contrary to could not and did not pretend to do without human law, it was not an insane delusion; the consent of the freeholders when a capital Hotema v. U. S., 186 U. S. 419, 22 Sup. Ct. decision — such as the voting of a tax, the 895, 46 L. Ed. 1225. election of a king, the passing of a law — was in question. At first the king of the Eng-