This crime is also known as compassing, which signifies the design of the mind without verbalizing the wish to harm the king. The night of February 26, 1772, you have a vivid dream about the King of England. You dream yourself climbing into the king’s chambers covering his mouth with a pillow, stifling his screams, and plunging a dagger into his chest—hence—killing him. Soon thereafter, you marry the queen, despite her anger at your doing so, and you are crowned the King of England.

Generally, it is difficult to charge someone with compassing since one who commits this crime does not verbalize his/her wishes. Apparently you talk in your sleep, sometimes, even yell or walk. You wake up sweating, wondering why this has come to you in your dreams, it must be an action that you wish to take place. “No one must know,” you think to yourself, “I cannot even write this down in my daily scroll.” You then attend the breakfast table, wringing your hands wracked with the guilt of a crime you have not committed—an unthinkable act.