TWO ACTS OF PARLIAMENT, The one for the preventing of the Inconveniences happening by the long intermission of Parliament.  
And the other for regulating of the Privy Council, and for taking away the Court, commonly called, The Star-Chamber.  
LONDON, Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: and by the Assigns of JOHN BILL. Anno Dom. 1640.   

ANNO XVI. Caroli Regis.  
¶ An Act for the preventing of Inconveniences happening by the long intermission of Parliaments.  
WHereas by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, the Parliament ought to be holden at least once every year, for the redress of Grievances, but the appointment of the time and place for the holding thereof hath always belonged, as it ought, to His Majesty and His Royal Progenitors. And whereas it is by experience found, that the not holding of Parliaments accordingly hath produced sundry and great mischiefs and inconveniences to the King's Majesty, the Church and Commonwealth, for the prevention of the like chiefs and inconveniences in time to come;  
Be it enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty, with the consent of the Lords spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, ●●t the said Laws and Statutes be from henceforth duly kept and observed, and your majesty's loyal & obedient Subjects, in this present Parliament now assembled, do hum●● pray, that it be enacted; An be it enacted accordingly, by the authority of this pre●●t Parliament; That in case there be not a Parliament summoned by Writ under the ●●at Seal of England, and assembled and held before the tenth day of Septem. which ●●ll be in the third year next after the last day of the last meeting and sitting in this ●●ent Parliament, the beginning of the first year to be accounted from the said last of the last meeting and sitting in Parliament, and so from to time to time, and in ●●mes hereafter, if there shall not be a Parliament assembled and held before the ●●th day of September, which shall be in the third year next after the last day of the meeting and sitting in Parliament before that time assembled and held; the be●●ning of the first year to be accounted from the said last day of the last meeting and sitting in Parliament; That then in every such case as aforesaid, the Parliament sh●● assemble and be held in the usual place at Westminster, in such manner, and by su●● means only as is hereafter in this present Act declared and enacted, and not otherwise on the second Monday which shall be in the month of November than next ensuir●● And in case this present Parliament now assembled and held, or any other Parliament which shall at any time hereafter be assembled and held by Writ lunder the great S●● of England: or in case any Parliament shall be assembled and held by authority this present Act: and such Parliaments, or any of them shall be Prorogued or Adjour●●ed, or continued by Prorogation or Adjournment, until the tenth day of September which shall be in the third year next after the last day of the last meeting and sitti●● in Parliament, to be accounted as aforesaid, that then in every case, every su●● Parliament so Prorogued or Adjourned, or so continued by Prorogation or adjournment, as aforesaid, shall from the said tenth day of September be thencefore clearly and absolutely dissolved, and the Lord Chancellor of England, the Lord Ke●●er of the great Seal of England, and every Commissioner and Commissioners the keeping of the great Seal of England for the time being, shall within six da●● after the said tenth day of September, in every such third year as aforesaid due form of Law, and without any further Warrant or Direction from His Ma●●stie, His Heirs or Successors, Seal, issue forth, and send abroad several and ●●spective Writs to the several and respective Peers of this Realm, commanding ev●● such Peer that he personally be at the Parliament to be held at Westminster, on the ●●cond Monday that shall be in November next following the said tenth day of September, then and there to treat concerning the high and urgent Affairs concerning ●● Majesty, the State, and defence of the Kingdom and Church of England: and sh● also Seal, issue forth, and send abroad several and respective Writs to the seve● and respective Sheriffs of the several and respective Counties, Cities, and Borough of England and Wales, and to the Constable of the Castle of Dover, Lord Warden●● the Cinque-Ports, or his Lieutenant for the time being, and to the Major and Bai●● of Barwick upon Tweed, and to all and every other Officers and Persons to wh●● Writs have used to be directed, for the electing of the Knights, Citizens, Barons, a●● Burgesses, of and for the said Counties, Cities, Cinque-Ports, and Borough England and Wales, respectively, in the accustomed form to appear and serve in Parliament to be held at Westminster on the said second Monday, which shall be in November aforesaid, which said Peers, after the said Writs received, and which said Knig●● Citizens, Barons, and Burgesses chosen by virtue of the said Writs, shall then a●● there appear and serve in Parliament accordingly. And the said Lord Chancellor Lord Keeper, Commissioner and Commissioners aforesaid, shall respectively take solemn Oath upon the holy Evangelist for the due issuing of Writs, according to ritenour of this Act, viz. in haec verba:  
YOu shall swear, that you shall truly and faithfully issue forth and send abroad all W● of Summons to Parliament for both Houses, at such time and in such manner a● expressed and enjoined by an Act of Parliament, entitled; An Act for the prevent● of inconveniencies happening by the long intermission of Parliaments.  
Which Oath is forthwith to be taken by the present Lord Keeper, and to be ministered by the Clerk of the Crown to every Lo. Chancellor, Lord Keeper, Comissioner and Commissioners aforesaid, and that none of the said Officers respectly shall henceforth execute any the said offices before they have taken the said Oath. And if the said Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper, or any the said Commissioners shall fail or forbear so to issue out the said Writs, according to the true meaning of this Act, than he or they respectively shall, beside the incuring of the grievous sin of perjury, be disabled, and become by virtue of this Act incapable, ipso facto, to bear his and their said Offices respectively, and be further liable to such punishments as shall be inflicted on him or them by the next or any other ensuing Parliament. And in case the said Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper, Commissioner or Commissioners aforesaid, shall not issue forth the said Writs as aforesaid: or in case that the Parliament do not assemble and be held at the time and place before appointed, Then the Parliament shall assemble and be held in the usual place at Westminster, in such manner, and by such means only, as is hereafter in this present Act declared and enacted, and not otherwise, on the third Monday which shall be in the month of January than next ensuing. And the Peers of this Realm shall by virtue of this Act be enabled, and are enjoined to meet in the old Palace of Westminster, in the usual place there, on the third Monday in the said month of November, and they or any twelve or more of them, then and there assembled, shall on or before the last Monday of November next following the tenth of September aforesaid, by virtue of this Act, without other Warrant, issue out Writs in the usual form, in the name of the King's Majesty, His Heirs or Successors, attested under the hands and seals of twelve or more of the said Peers, to the several and respective Sheriffs of the several and respective Counties, Cities, and Boroughs of England and Wales, and to the Constable of the Castle of Dover, Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports, or his Lieutenant for the time being, and to the Major and Bailiffs of Barwick upon Tweed, and to all and every other the said Officers and persons to whom Writs have been used to be directed, for the electing of the Knights, Citizens, Barons, and Burgesses, of and for the said Counties, Cities, Cinque-Ports, and Boroughs, to be and appear at the Parliament at Westminster aforesaid, to be held on the third Monday in January then next following: All and every Writs the Clerks of the Pettibag, and other Clerks to whom the writing of the Writs for Summons to the Parliament, doth and shall belong, or whom the said Lords, or twelve or more of them shall appoint, shall at the command of the said Lords so assembled, or of any twelve or more of them, make and prepare ready for the Signature of the said Lords or any twelve or more of them, under pain of the loss of their Places and offices, and of such other punishment, as in the next, or any other ensuing Parliament, shall be inflicted on him or them. And it is enacted, That the said Writs so issued shall be of the same power and force to all intents and purposes as the Writs or summons to Parliament under the great seal of England, have ever been or aught to be. And all the Messengers of the Chamber or others who shall be appointed by the said Lords, or any twelve or more of them, are hereby required faithfully and speedily to deliver the said Writs to every persons, Sheriff, Officers, and others to whom the same shall be directed: which if the said Messengers or any of them shall fail to perform, they shall forfeit their respective Places, and incur other pains and punishments as by that or any other ensuing Parliament shall be imposed on them.  
And it is also further enacted, That all and every the Peers of this Realm shall make their appearance, and shall assemble on the said third Monday in January, in such manner, and to such effect, and with such power, as if they had received every of them Writs of summons to Parliament, under the great seal of England, in the usual and accustomed manner. And in case the said Lords, or twelve or more of them, shall fail to issue forth such Writs, or that the said Writs do not cometo the said several Counties, Cities, Cinque-Ports, and Borroughs, so that an election be not thereupon made; And in case there be not a Parliament assembled and held before the three and twentieth day of the said month of January, and so from time to time, and in all times hereafter, if there shall not be a Parliament assembled, and held before the said three and twentieth day of January; then in every such case as aforesaid, the Parliament shall assemble, and be held in the usual place at Westminster, in such manner, and by such means only as is hereafter in this present Act declared and enacted, and not otherwise, on the second Tuesday which shall be in the month of March next after the said three and twentieth day of January: At which Parliament the Peers of this Realm shall make their appearance, and shall assemble at the time and place aforesaid, and shall each of them be liable unto such pains and Censures, for his, and their not appearing and serving then and there in Parliament, as if he, or they had been summoned by Writ under the great seal of England, and had not appeared and served, and to such further pains and Censures, as by the rest of the Peers in Parliament assembled, they shall be adjudged unto.  
And for the better assembling of the Knights, Citizens, Barons and Burgesses to the said Parliament, as aforesaid; It is further Enacted, That the respective Sheriffs of their several and respective Counties, Cities, and Boroughs of England and Wales, the Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of both and every of the Universities, and the Major and Bailiffs of the Borough of Barwick upon Tweed, shall at the several Courts, and places to be held and appointed for their respective Counties, Universities, Cities and Boroughs, next after the said three and twentieth day of January, cause such Knight and Knights, Citizen and Citizens, Burgess and Burgesses of their said Counties, Universities, Cities and Boroughs respectively, to be chosen by such persons, and in such manner, as if several and respective Writs of summons to Parliament under the great seal of England had issued, and been awarded. And in case any of the several Sheriffs, or the Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of either of the Universities, or the Major and Bailiffs of Barwick respectively, do not before ten of the Clock in the forenoon of the same day, wherein the several and respective Courts and places shall be held or appointed, for their several and respective Counties, Universities, Cities and Boroughs as aforesaid, begin and proceed on according to the meaning of this Law, in causing Elections to be made of such Knight and Knights, Citizen and Citizens, Burgesses of their said Counties, Universities, Cities, and Boroughs as aforesaid, than the Freeholders of each County, and the Masters and Scholars of every of the Universities, and the Citizens, and others having voices in such Election respectively, in each University, City and Borough, that shall be assembled at the said Courts or places to be held, or appointed, as aforesaid, shall forthwith, without further Warrant, or direction, proceed to the Election of such Knight or Knights, Citizen or Citizens, Burgess or Burgesses aforesaid, in such manner as is usual in case of Writs of summons issued and awarded.  
And it is further enacted, That the several and respective Sheriffs of their several and respective Counties, and the Constables of the Castle of Dover, and Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports, or his Lieutenant for the time being respectively, shall after the said three and twentieth day of January, and before the eighth day of February then immediately next ensuing, award and send forth their Precepts to the several and respective Cities and Boroughs, within their several Counties, and likewise unto the said Cinque-Ports respectively, Commanding them respectively to make choice of such Citizen and Citizens, Barons, Burgess and Burgesses, to serve in the said Parliament, at the time and place aforesaid; Which said Cities, Cinque-Ports, and Boroughs respectively, shall before the last day of the said month of February, make election of such Citizen and Citizens, Barons, Burgess and Burgesses, as if writs for Summoning of a Parliament, under the great seal of England, had issued and been awarded. And in case no such precept shall come unto the said Cities, Cinque-ports, and Boroughs respectively, by the time herein limited; Or in case any precept shall come, and no election be made thereupon before the said last day of February, That then the several Citizens, Burgesses, and other persons that ought to elect and send Citizens, Barons, and Burgesses to the Parliament, shall on the first Tuesday in March, than next ensuing the said last day of February, make choice of such Citizen and Citizens, Barons, Burgess and Burgesses, as if a Writ of summons under the great seal of England, had issued and been awarded, and precepts thereupon issued, to such Cities, Cinque-ports, and Boroughs: Which Knights, Citizens, Barons, and Burgesses so chosen, shall appear, and serve in Parliament at the time and place aforesaid, and shall each of them be liable unto such pains and Censures, for his and their not appearing and serving then and there in Parliament, as if he or they had been elected and chosen by virtue of a Writ under the great seal of England; and shall be likewise subject unto such further pains and Censures, as by the rest of the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses assembled in the Commons house of Parliament, he or they shall be adjudged unto. And the Sheriffs and other Officers and persons to whom it appertaineth, shall make returns, and accept and receive the Returns of such elections in like manner as if Writs of summons had issued, and been executed as hath been used and accustomed. And in default of the Sheriffs and others Officers respectively in not accepting, or making return of such elections, it shall and may be lawful, to and for ●he several Freeholders and other persons that have elected, to make returns of the Knights, Citizens, Barons and Burgesses by them elected, which shall be as good ●nd effectual to all intents and purposes, as if the Sheriff or other officers, had received a Writ of summons for a Parliament, and had made such returns. And that ●uch Elections, precepts and Returns shall be had and made at such times, by such perilous, and in such manner as before in this Act is expressed and declared, according ●o the true intent and meaning of this Law; Any Writ, Proclamation, Edict, Act, Restraint, Inhibition, Order or Warrant to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And in case any person, or persons shall be foe hardy to advise, frame, con●●ive, serve, or put in in execution any such Writs, Proclamation, Edict, Act, Restraint, Inhibition, Order, or Warrant thereupon; then he or they so offending shall ●●cur and sustain the pains, penalties, and forfeitures, limited, ordained, and provided ● and by the Statute of provision and praemunire made in the 16 year of King Richard ●e second, and shall from thenceforth be disabled during his life to sue or implead ●ny person in any Action real or personal, or to make any Gift, Grant, Conveyance, or other disposition of any his Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Goods or ●attels, which he hath to his own use either by Act executed in his life time, or by ●s last Will, or otherwise, or to take any Gift, Conveyance, or Legacy to his own se, or to take any benefit of any Gift, Conveyance, or Legacy to his own use. And 〈◊〉 any Sheriff, Constable of the Castle of Dover, or Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports, shall not perform his duty enjoined by this Act, than he shall lose and ●rseit the sum of one thousand pounds; and every County, City, Cinqueport, and ●orough, that shall not make election of their Knights, Citizens, Barons, and Burgesses respectively, shall incur the penalties following (that is to say) every County the sum of one thousand pounds, and every City which is no County, two hundred pounds, and every Cinqueport and Borough the sum of one hundred pounds. All and every of which several Forfeitures, and all other Forfeitures in this Act mentioned shall and may be recovered in any of the King's Courts of Record at Westminster, by and in the name of the Lord Major of the City of London for the time being, without naming the Christian name or surname of the said Lord Major for the time being, by Action of Debt, Bill, plaint or Information, wherein not Essogin, Protection, Wager of Law, Aid, prayer, Privilege, Injunction or Order of Restraint shall be in any wise prayed, granted or allowed, nor any more than one Imparlance. And if any person after notice given, that the Action depending is grounded or prosecuted upon or by virtue of this Statute shall cause or procure any such Action to be stayed or delayed before Judgement, by colour or means of any Order, Warrant, Power or authority, save only of the Court wherein such Action, as aforesaid, shall be brought or depending, or after Judgement had upon such Action, shall cause or procure the Execution of or upon any such Judgement to be stayed or delayed by colour or means of any Order, warrant, Power or authority, save only by Writ of Error or Attaint; that then the said persons so offending shall incur and sustain all and every the pains, penalties, and forfeitures limited, ordained, and provided in and by the said Statute of provision, and praemunire, made in the sixteenth year of King Richard the Second: And if any Lord Major of London shall at any time hereafter commence or prefer any such suit, Action or Information, and shall happen to die or be removed out of his office before Recovery and Execution had; that yet no such Action, suit, or Information sued, commenced, or preferred, shall by such displacing or death be abated, discontinued, or ended, but that it shall and may be lawful to and for the Lord Major of the City of London next succeeding in that Office and place, to prosecute, pursue and followed all and every such Action, Bill, plaint or Information for the Causes aforesaid so hanging and depending, in such manner and form, and to all intents and purposes as that Lord Major might have done which first commenced or preferred the same. The fifth part of all and every the Forfeitures in this Act mentioned shall go and be to and for the use and behoof of the City of London; and the other four parts and residue to be employed and disposed to and for such only uses, intents, and purposes, as by the Knight's Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled shall be declared, directed, and appointed. Provided, that in case the Freeholders of any County and Inhabitants or other persons having or claiming power to make election of any Knights, Citizens Barons, or Burgesses shall proceed to making of election of their Knights, Citizens Barons, and Burgesses, which Election shall afterwards fall out to be afterwards adjudged or declared void in Law by the House of Commons, by reason of equality o● voices, or misdemeanour of any person whatsoever; then the said County, City Cinqueport, or Borough shall not incur the penalties in this Law, so as an Election de facto be made.  
And it is further enacted, that no Parliament henceforth to be assembled, shall be dissolved or prorogued within fifty days at the least after the time appointed fo● the meeting thereof, unless it be by assent of His Majesty, His Heirs, or Successors, and of both Houses in Parliament assembled: And that neither the House o● Peers, nor the House of Commons shall be adjourned within fifty days at least, after the meeting thereof, unless it be by the free consent of every the said Houses respectively.  
And be it further enacted and declared by authority of this present Parliament, that the Peers to be assembled at any Parliament, by virtue of this Act, shall and may from time to time, at any time during such their assembly in Parliament, choose and declare such person to be Speaker for the said Peers, as they shall think fit: And likewise that the said Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses to be assembled at any Parliament, by virtue of this Act, shall and may from time to time, at any time during such their assembly in Parliament, choose and declare one of themselves to be Speaker for the said Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the House of Commons assembled in the said Parliament, as they shall think fit: which said Speakers, and every of them, aswell for the said Peers, as for the said House of Commons respectively, shall by virtue of this Act be perfect and complete Speakers for the said Houses respectively, and shall have as full and large power, jurisdiction, and privileges to all intents and purposes, as any Speaker, or Speakers of either of the said Houses respectively, heretosore have had, or enjoyed.  
And it is further enacted and declared, that all Parliaments hereafter to be assembled by authority of this Act, and every member thereof, shall have and enjoy all Rites, Privileges, Jurisdictions, and Immunities, as any Parliament summoned by Writ under the great Seal of England, or any Member thereof might, or aught to ●ave: And all and every the Members that shall be elected, and chosen to serve in any Parliament hereafter to be assembled by authority of this Act, as aforesaid, shall ●semble and meet in the Commons House of Parliament, and shall enter into the ●●me, and have voices in such Parliament, before, and without the taking of the several oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, or either of them; any Law or Statute to ●●e contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.  
Provided always, That if the King's Majesty, His Heirs or Successors, shall at ●y time during any Parliament hereafter to be assembled by authority of this Act, as foresaid, award or direct any Commission, or Commissions, unto any person, or person's whatsoever, thereby giving power and authority to him or them, to take and ●●ceive the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance, of all or any the members of the ●ommons House of Parliament, and any the Members of that House, being duly re●●ired thereunto, shall refuse or neglect to take and pronounce the same, that from ●●enceforth such person so refusing or neglecting, shall be deemed no Member of that ●●ouse, nor shall have any voice therein, and shall suffer such pains and penalties, as ●● he had presumed to sit in the same house without election, return or authority. ●nd it is likewise provided and enacted, that this Statute shall be publicly read yeer●● at every general Sessions of the peace, to be held next after the Epiphany, and every assizes than next ensuing, by the Clerk of the Peace, and Clerk of the Assizes for ●●e time being respectively; and if they or either of them, shall neglect, or fail to do ●●e same accordingly, than such party so neglecting or failing, shall forfeit the sum ●● one hundred pounds. And it is lastly provided and enacted, that His Majesty's ●all assent to this Bill shall not thereby determine this present Session of Parliament, ●● that all Statutes and Acts of Parliament, which are to have continuance unto the ●● of this present Session, shallbe of full force after His Majesty's assent, until this pre●●t Session be fully ended and determined: And if this present Session shall dete mine dissolution of this present Parliament, than all the Acts and Statutes aforesaid, ●ll be continued until the end of the first Session of the next Parliament.   

ANNO XVII Caroli Regis.  
¶ An Act for regulating of the Privy Council, and for taking away the Court, commonly called, The Star-Chamber.  
WHereas by the Great Charter many times confirmed in Parliament, It is enacted, That no Freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or disseised of his Freehold, or Liberties, or free Customs, or be Outlawed, or exiled, or otherwise destroyed, and that the King will not pass upon him, or condemn him but by lawful Judgement of his Peers, or by the Law of the land; And by another statute made in the fifth year of the Reign of King Edward the third, It is Enacted, That no man shall be attached by any accusation, nor forejudged of life or limb, nor his Lands, Tenements, Goods, nor Chattels seized into ●he Kings hands against the form of the great Charter, and the Law of the land. And by another statute made in the five and twentieth year of the Reign of the same ●ing Edward the third, It is accorded, assented and established, that none shall be ●ken by petition, or suggestion made to the King or to His Council, unless it be by indictment or presentment of good and lawful people of the same Neighbourhood ●here such deeds be done, in due manner, or by process made by Writ original at ●e common Law, and that none be put out of his Franchise or , unless he ●● duly brought in, to answer, and forejudged of the same by the course of the Law, ●●d if any thing be done against the same, it shall be redressed and holden for none, ●●d by another statute made in the eight and twentieth year of the Reign of the same ●●ng Edward the third, It is amongst other things Enacted, that no man of what estate ●●condition soever he be, shall be put out of his Lands or Tenements, nor taken, nor ●●prisoned, nor disinherited, without being brought in to answer by due process of ●●w, And by another statute made in the two and fourtieth year of the Reign of the said King Edward the third, It is Enacted that no man by pur to answer with out presenament before Justices, or matter of Record, or by due process and Writ are ginall, according to the old Law of the land, and if any thing be done to the contrary, it shall be void in Law and holden for error. And by another statute made in the six and thirtieth year of the same King Edward the third, It is amongst other things Enacted, That all pleas which shall be pleaded in any courts before any the King's Justices, or in His other places, or before any of his other Ministers, or in the courts and places of any other Lords within the Realm, shall be entered and enrolled in latin, And whereas by the statute made in the third year of King Henry the seventh, power is given to the Chancellor, the Lord Treasurer of England for the time being, and the Keeper of the King's privy seal, or two of them, calling unto them a Bishop and a Temporal Lord of the Kings most honourable Council, and the two chief Justices of the King's bench and common pleas for the time being, or other two Justices in their absence to proceed, as in that act is expressed, for the punishment of some particular offences therein mentioned, And by the statute made in the one and twentieth year of King Henry the eighth, The Precedent of the Council is associated to join with Lord Chancellor and other Judges in the said statute, o● the third of Henry the seventh mentioned, But the said Judges have not kept themselves to the points limited by the said statute, but have undertaken to punish where no Law doth warrant, and to make Decrees for things having no such authority, and to inflict heavier punishments then by any Law is warranted.  
And forasmuch as all matters examinable, or determinable before the said Judges, o● in the Court commonly called the Star-chamber, may have their proper remedy an● redress, and their due punishment, and correction by the Common Law of the Land and in the ordinary course of Justice elsewhere; And forasmuch as the reasons and motives inducing the erection and continuance of that Court do now cease, and th● proceed, Censures, and Decrees of that Court, have by experience been foun● to be an intolerable burden to the subject, and the means to introduce an Arbitra●● power and Government; And forasmuch as the Council-table, hath of late time assumed unto itself, a power to intermeddle in Civil causes and matters, only ●● private interest between party, and party, and have adventured to determine ●● the Estates, and Liberties of the Subject, contrary to the Law of the Land, and th● rights and privileges of the Subject, by which great and manifold mischiefs, an● inconveniencies have arisen, and happened, and much incertainty by means of su●● proceed hath been conceived concerning men's rights, and estates; For setli●● whereof, and preventing the like in time to come;  
Be it Ordained and enacted by Authority of this present Parliament, That t●● said Court commonly called the Star-Chamber, and all Jurisdiction, power, and a●● thority, belonging unto, or exercised in the same Court, or by any the Judges, Officers, or Ministers thereof, be from the first day of August, in the year or our Lo●● God, one thousand six hundred forty and one, clearly and absolutely dissolved, takeaway, and determined, and that from the said first day of August, neither the Lord Chancellor, or Keeper of the great seal of England, the Lord Treasurer of England the Keeper of the King Privyseal, or Precedent of the Council, nor any Bishop temporal Lord, Privy-councillor, or Judge, or Justice whatsoever, shall have an● power, or authority to hear, examine, or determine any matter, or thing whatsoever, in the said Court commonly called the Star-Chamber, or to make, pronounce, deliver any Judgement, sentence, Order, or Decree, or to do any Judicial, or Minsteriall Act in the said Court; And that all and every Act, and Acts of Parliament and all and every Article, clause, and sentence in them, and every of them, by which any Jurisdiction, power, or authority is given, limited, or appointed unto the said Court, commonly called the Star-Chamber, or unto all, or any the Judges, Officers, or Ministers thereof, or for any proceed to be had, or made in the said Court, or for any matter, or thing to be drawn into question, examined, or determined there, shall for so much as concerneth the said Court of Star-Chamber, and the power, and authority thereby given unto it, be from the said first day of August repealed, and absolutely revoked and made void.  
And be it likewise enacted, That the like Jurisdiction now used and exercised in the Court before the Precedent, and Council, in the Marches of Wales, and also in the Court, before the Precedent, and Council established in the Northern parts: And also in the Court, commonly called the Court of the Duchy of Lancaster, held before the Chancellor, and Council of that Court. And also in the Court of Exchequer, of the County Palatine of Chester, held before the Chamberlain and Council of that Court; The like Jurisdiction being exercised there, shall from the said first day of August, one thousand six hundred forty and one, be also repealed, and absolutely revoked and made void, any Law, prescription, custom, or usage, Or the said statute, made in the third year of King Henry the seventh; Or the Statute, made ●he one and twentieth of Henry the eight, Or any Act, or Acts of Parliament heretofore had, or made, to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding; And that from henceforth no Court, Council, or place of Judicature shall be erected, ordained, constituted, or appointed within this Realm of England, or Dominion of Wales, which shall have, use, or exercise the same, or the like Jurisdiction, as is, or ●ath been used, Practised, or exercised in the said Court of Star-Chamber.  
Be it likewise declared, and enacted by authority of this present Parliament, That ●either his Majesty, nor his privy-councel, have, or aught to have any Jurisdiction, power, or authority, by English Bill, Petition, Articles, Libel, or any other Arbitrary way whatsoever, to examine or draw into question, determine, or dispose ●f the Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Goods, or Chattels, of any the Subjects ●f this Kingdom: But that the same aught to be tried, and determined in the ordinary Courts of Justice, and by the ordinary course of the Law.  
And be it further provided, and enacted, That if any Lord Chancellor, or Keeper of the great seal of England, Lord Treasurer, Keeper of the King's Privy ●al, Precedent of the Council, Bishop, Temporal Lord, Privy Counsellor, judge, 〈◊〉 justice whatsoever, shall offend, or do any thing contrary to the purport, true in●nt and meaning of this Law, Then he, or they shall for such offence, forfeit the sum ●f five hundred pounds of lawful money of England, unto any party grieved, his Executors, or Administrators who shall really prosecute for the same, and first obtain ●●dgement thereupon, to be recorded in any Court of Record at Westminster, by ●●ction of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or information, wherein no Essoine, Protection, Lager of Law, Aid, Prayer, Privilege, Injunction, or Order of restraint shall in any wise prayed, granted, or allowed, nor any more than one Imparlance. And ●ny person, against whom any such judgement, or Recovery shall be had as afore●●, shall after such Judgement, or Recovery offend again in the same, than he, or ●●y for such offence, shall forfeit the sum of one thousand pounds, of lawful money 〈◊〉 England, unto any party grieved, his Executors, or Administrators, who shall ally prosecute for the same, and first obtain judgement thereupon to be Recorded any Court of Record at Westminster, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or information, in which no Essoigne, Protection, Wager of Law, Aid, Prayer, Privilege Injunction, or Order of Restraint, shall be in any wise prayed, granted, or allowed nor any more than one Imparlance. And if any person against whom any such second judgement, or Recovery shall be had as aforesaid, shall after such judgement, or Recovery offend again in the same kind, and shall be thereof duly convicted, by Indictment, Information, or any other lawful way, or means, that such person so convicted, shall be from thenceforth disabled, and become by virtue of this Act incapable, Ipso facto, to bear his, and their said Office, and Offices respectively, and shall be likewise disabled to make any Gift, Grant, Conveyance, or other disposition of any his Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Goods, or Chattels, or to take any benefit of any Gift, Conveyance, or Legacy to his own use.  
And every person so offending shall likewise forfeit and lose unto the party grieved by any thing done contrary to the true intent, and meaning of this Law, his triple damages, which he shall sustain, and be put unto by means, or occasion of any such Act, or thing done, the same to be recovered in any of His Majesty's Courts o● Record at Westminster, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or Information, wherein no Essoigne, Protection, Wager of Law, Aid, Prayer, Privilege, Injunction o● Order of Restraint, shall be in any wise Prayed, Granted, or allowed, nor any more than one Imparlance.  
And be it also provided and enacted, That if any person shall hereafter be committed, restrained of his liberty, or suffer imprisonment by the Order or Decree o● any such Court of Star-Chamber, or other Court aforesaid, now, or at any time hereafter having or pretending to have the same or like Jurisdiction, Power or Authority to commit, or imprison as aforesaid; or by the Command or Warrant of th● King's Majesty, his Heirs or Successors in their own person, or by the Command o● Warrant of the Councel-board, or of any of the Lords, or others of his Majesty Privy Council, That in every such case every person so committed, restrained of h● liberty, or suffering imprisonment, upon demand or motion made by his Counsel or other employed by him for that purpose, unto the Judges of the Court of King's Bench, or Common Pleas, in open Court, shall without delay, upon any pretend whatsoever, for the ordinary Fees usually paid for the same, have forthwith grantee unto him a Writ of Habeas Corpus to be directed generally unto all and every Sheriff Jailer, Minister, Officer, or other person, in whose custody the party committe● or restrained shall be, and the Sheriffs, Jailer, Minister, Officer, or other people in whose custody the party so committed or restrained shall be, shall at the return ●● the said Writ, and according to the Command thereof, upon due and convenie● notice thereof given unto him, at the charge of the party who requireth or procure●● such Writ, and upon security by his own bond given, to pay the charge of carrying back the Prisoner, if he shall be remanded by the Court, to which he shall be brought as in like cases hath been used, such Charges of bringing up and carrying back the Prisoner, to be always ordered by the Court, if any difference shall arise there about, bring or cause to be brought the body of the said party so committed, o● restrained, unto and before the judges or justices of the said Court, from whence the same Writ shall issue in open Court, and shall then likewise certify the true cause of such his deteinour, or imprisonment, and thereupon the Court within three Court days after such return made and delivered in open Court, shall proceed to examine and determine whether the cause of such Commitment appearing upon the said return be just and legal, or not, and shall thereupon do what to justice shall appertain, either by delivering, bailing, or remanding the prisoner. And if any thing shall be otherwise wilfully done or omitted to be done by any judge, justice, Officer, or other person afore mentioned, contrary to the direction and true meaning hereof, That then such person so offending shall forfeit to the party grieved, his triple damages, to be recovered by such means and in such manner, as is formerly in this Act limited and appointed for the like penalty to be sued for and recovered.  
Provided always and be it enacted, That this Act, and the several Clauses therein contained, shall be taken and expounded to extend only to the Court of Star-chamber, and to the said Courts holden before the Precedent and Council in the Marches ●f Wales, and before the Precedent and Council in the Northern parts; And also to ●he Court commonly called the Court of the Duchy of Lancaster, holden before the chancellor and Council of that Court: And also in the Court of Exchequer of the ●ounty Palatine of Chester, held before the Chamberlain and Council of that Court; ●nd to all Courts of like jurisdiction to be hereafter erected, ordained, constituted, ●● appointed as aforesaid; And to the Warrants and Directions of the Councel-board, ●nd to the Commitment, restraints, and Imprisonments of any person or persons ●ade, commanded, or awarded by the King's Majesty, His Heirs or Successors in ●●eir own person, or by the Lords and others of the Privy Council, and every one 〈◊〉 them.  
And lastly, provided, and be it enacted, That no person or persons shall be sued, ●●pleaded, molested, or troubled, for any offence against this present Act, unless ●●e party supposed to have so offended, shall be sued or impleaded for the same within ●●o years at the most after such time wherein the said offence shall be committed.