The Great Charter had laid the foundation of this valuable part of liberty; the petition of right had renewed and extended it; but some provisions were still wanting to render it complete, and prevent all evasion or delay from ministers and judges.

The act of habeas corpus, which passed this session, served these purposes.

By this act, it was prohibited to send any one to a prison beyond sea.

No judge, under severe penalties, must refuse to any prisoner a writ of habeas corpus, by which the jailer was directed to produce in court the body of the prisoner, (whence the writ has its name,) and to certify the cause of his detainer and imprisonment.

If the jail lie within twenty miles of the judge, the writ must be obeyed in three days; and so proportionably for greater distances.