the English Parliament

“ And because the State of [1] the holy Church had been evil kept, and the Prelates and religious Persons of the Land grieved many ways, and the People otherwise intreated than they ought to be, and the Peace less kept, and the Laws less used, and the Offenders less punished than they ought to be, by reason where of the People of the Land feared the less to offend; the King hath ordained and established these Acts underwritten, which he intendeth to be necessary and profitable unto the whole Realm.
All Men shall be ready to pursue Felons. ”

“ And if the Sheriff, Coroner, or any other Bailiff within such Franchise, or without, for Reward, or for Prayer, or for Fear, or for any manner of Affinity, conceal, consent, or procure to conceal, the Felonies done in their Liberties, or otherwise will not attach nor arrest such Felons there, as they may, or otherwise will not do their Office for Favour born to such Misdoers, and [2] be attainted thereof; they shall have one Year's Imprisonment, and after make a grievous Fine at the King's Pleasure, if they have wherewith ”