>In 1604, the year following James' accession to the English throne, the Elizabethan Act was broadened to bring the penalty of death without benefit of clergy to any one who invoked evil spirits or communed with familiar spirits. The Act's full title was An Act against Conjuration, Witchcraft and dealing with evil and wicked spirits, (1 Ja. I c. 12). It was this statute that was enforced by Matthew Hopkins, the self-styled Witch-Finder General.
1604 Witchcraft Act which some suggested was more harsh that the law introduced under Elizabeth I. One clause in it was more draconian that the Elizabethan statute; that was execution for the first offence of raising evil spirits.
James disliked dealing with witches, because he said, "They are all such extreme liars."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft_Acts