Section 1 Judges to issue, in Vacation, Writs of Habeas Corpus returnable immediately, in Cases other than for Criminal Matter, or for Debt.C1

Where any person shall be confined or restrained of his or her liberty (otherwise than for some criminal or supposed criminal matter, and except persons imprisoned for debt or by process in any civil suit) within England, dominion of Wales, or town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, or the Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, or Man, it shall and may be lawful for any one of the barons of the Exchequer, of the degree of the coif, as well as for any one of the justices of one bench or the other, and where any person shall be so confined in Ireland, it shall and may be lawful for any one of the barons of the Exchequer, or of the justices of one bench or the other in Ireland, and they are hereby required, upon complaint made to them by or on the behalf of the person so confined or restrained, if it shall appear by affidavit . . . F1 that there is a probable and reasonable ground for such complaint, to award in vacation time a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum, under the seal of such court, whereof he or they shall then be judges or one of the judges, to be directed to the person or persons in whose custody or power the party so confined or restrained shall be, returnable immediately before the person so awarding the same, or before any other judge of the court under the seal of which the said writ issued.