
[1.] 
From and after the passing of this Act it shall be lawful for any judge of his Majesty’s courts of King’s Bench or Common Pleas of England and Ireland respectively, or any baron of his Majesty’s Court of Exchequer of the degree of the coif in England, or any baron of his Majesty’s Court of Exchequer in Ireland, . . .  at his discretion, to award a writ or writs of habeas corpus, for bringing any prisoner or prisoners detained in any gaol or prison before any of the said courts, . . .  or before any other court of record in the said parts of the said United Kingdom, to be there examined as a witness or witnesses, and to testify the truth before such courts, or any . . .  jury, in any cause or causes, matter or matters, civil or criminal, whatsoever, which now are or hereafter shall be depending or to be enquired into or determined in any of the said courts.
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