1800: 39 & 40 George 3 c.93: The Treason Act

1800: 39 & 40 George 3 c.93: An Act for regulating Trials for High Treason and Misprision of High Treason, in certain Cases.

[28th July 1800.]

[Preamble.]

WHEREAS it is expedient that in cases of High Treason in compassing or imagining the Death of the King, and of Misprision of such Treason, where the Overt Act or Overt Acts of such Treason alleged in the Indictment shall be the Assassination or killing of the King, or any direct Attempt against his Life, or any direct Attempt against his Person, whereby his Life may be endangered, or his Person may suffer bodily Harm, the Trial for such Offence should not be different from Trials for Murder or wilful and malicious Shooting; Be it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,

[In cases of high treason, where the overt act alleged in the indictment shall be assassination of the King, or any direct attempt against his life, &c. the offender shall be tried in the same manner as if charged with murder, &c.]

That in all cases of High Treason in compassing or imagining the Death of the King, and of Misprision of such Treason, where the Overt Act or Overt Acts of such Treason which shall be alleged in the Indictment for such Offence shall be Assassination or killing of the King, or any direct Attempt against his Life, or any direct Attempt against his Person whereby his Life may be endangered or his Person may suffer bodily Harm, the Person or Persons charged with such Offence shall and may be indicted, arraigned, tried and attainted, in the same manner and according to the same course and order of Trial, in every respect, and upon the like Evidence, as if such Person or Persons stood charged with Murder; and none of the Provisions contained in the several Acts of the seventh Year of King William the Third and the seventh Year of Queen Anne respectively, touching Trials in cases of Treason and Misprision of Treason respectively, shall extend to any Indictment for High Treason in compassing and imagining the Death of the King or for Misprision of such Treason, where the Overt Act or Overt Acts of such Treason alleged in the Indictment shall be such as aforesaid; but upon Conviction on such Indictment, Judgement shall be nevertheless given and Execution done as in other cases of High Treason; any Law, Statute or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

Source: Pickering, Statutes At Large, vol. 42 part 2.

Further reading: Wikipedia.