treasonable designs actually under way. Thus the treason law stood until 1848, when by the Treason-Felony act (n and 12 Viet., c. 12), the portion of the statute of George III. not relating to the king's person was repealed, and the offenses therein enumer ated were made felonies; but "open and ad-
State trials prior to the Revolution of 1688 generally began with the examination of the prisoner by the Privy Council. At the trial the crown lawyers opened the charges, which the prisoner answered as best he could. Every allegation of the prosecutors was in effect a question to the prisoner, and
SIR THOMAS MORE.
vised speaking" was added to the other modes of compassing treason. A word may also be added concerning procedure. Without distinguishing the spe cial characteristics of the various tribunals— the Court of King's Bench, the Star Cham ber, the Court of High Commission, and the High Court of Parliament—the procedure in
the trial was in fact a running argument be tween the prisoner and the counsel for the crown, in which the judges occasionally par ticipated. The proof usually consisted of depositions, confessions of accomplices, and the like. In conclusion the judges repeated the discussion to the jury. In the greatest crimes, involving life or death, the prisoner
