Mothers concealing the death of a bastard baby shall suffer as for
murder, unless one witness proves the child was born dead.
Papists running a school must forfeit 40s. a day for such. Anyone
conveying a child beyond the seas to be educated in popery may not
sue in the courts, may not hold any office, and shall forfeit 100
pounds and all lands. But the child returning may have his family
lands restored to him if he receives the sacrament of the lord's
supper in the established church after reaching 18 years of age.
In 1604 it was decided that it was not necessary to prove
witchcraft caused the death of a person for there to be punishment
for it. All that was necessary now was the practice of witchcraft.
The punishment was death by hanging. Also, consulting or feeding
an evil spirit was felony.
As Attorney General, Coke introduced the crime of "seditious
libel" in a case before the Star Chamber in 1606. These written
slanders or libels were viewed as incitements to disorder and
private vengeance. Because the tendency to cause quarrels was the
essence of the crime, the truth of the libel was not a defense,
but might be an aggravation of criminality.
Edward Coke, former Chief Justice of both the Court of Common
Pleas and Court of the Queen's Bench, wrote his Reports on court
cases of all kinds through forty years and his Institutes on the
law, in which he explained and systemized the common law and which
was suitable for students.
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