WHEREAS asthe law now stands great delays may be used by sheriffs, gaolers, and other officers to whose custody any of the King’s subjects may be committed for criminal or supposed criminal matters, in making return of writs of habeas corpus to them directed, by standing out an alias and pluries habeas corpus and sometimes more, and by other shifts to avoid their yielding obedience to such writs, contrary to their duty and the known laws of the land, whereby many of the King’s subjects may be long detained in prison, in such cases where by law they are bailable, to their great charges and vexation: for the prevention whereof, and the more speedy relief of all persons in prison for any such criminal or supposed criminal matters.