ABSTRACT
The act reserved all pardons for treasons and felonies to the crown, laid down that judges and justices of all kinds anywhere in the realm (including counties palatine, Wales, and the marches thereof) could be appointed only by the king, provided that writs in counties palatine were to run in the king's name, and in general extended the operation of the royal justice and shire administration to all England. Though a few minor exceptions were made, in effect all franchisal rights of any consequence \vere destroyed: for the first time, the whole realm, without qualification, became subject to government from Westminster. In particular this ended the independence of the county of Durham which alone of all the great palatinates had escaped absorption into the Tudor crown lands.
