WHereas the loathsome and odious Sin of Drunkennesse is of late grown into common use within this Realm, being the Root and Foundation of many other enormous Sins, as Bloodshed, Stabbing, Murder, Swearing, Fornication, Adultery, and such like; to the great dishonour of God, and of our Nation; the overthrow of many good Arts and Manuall Trades; the disabling of divers Work-men; and the generall Impo­verishing of many good Subjects, abusively wasting the good Creatures of God:

Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie, the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That all and every person or per­sons, which shall be Drunk, and of the same offence of Drunkennesse shall be lawfully convicted, shall for every such offence, forfeit, and loose five shillings of lawfully Money of England, to be paid within one week next after his, her, or their conviction thereof, to the hands of the Church-Wardens of that Parish, where the offence shall be committed, who shall be accomptable therefore to the use of the poor of the same Parish: And if the said person or persons so convicted, shall refuse, or neglect to pay the said forfeiture, as aforesaid, then the same shall be from time to time, levyed of the Goods of every such person or persons so refusing or neglecting to pay the same, by Warrant or Precept from the same Court, Judge or Justices, before whom the same conviction shall be: And if the offender or offenders be not able to pay the said sum of five shillings, then the offender or offenders shall be com­mitted to the Stocks for every offence, there to remain by the space of six houres.

And it is further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons, being once law­fully convicted of the said offence of Drunkennesse, shall after that be again lawfully convicted of the like offence of Drunkennesse; That then every person and persons so secondly convicted of the said offence of Drunkennesse, shall be bounden with two sureties to our Soveraign Lord the Kings Majestie, His Heirs, and Successors, in one Recognisance or Obligation of ten pounds, with condition to be from thence forth of good behaviour.

FOrasmuch as all prophane Swearing and Cursing is forbidden by the Word of God; Be it there­fore enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament, That no person or persons, shall from henceforth prophanely Swear or Curse: And that if any person or persons, shall at any time or times hereafter offend herein, either in the hearing of any Justice of Peace of the County, or of any Major, Justice of Peace, Bailiff, or head Officer of any Citie or Town Corporate, where such offence is, or shall be committed, or shall thereof be convicted by the Oaths of two Witnesses, or by confession of the party, before any such Justice of Peace of the County, or head Officer, or Justice of the Peace in the Citie or Town Corporate, where such offence is or shall be committed; to which end, every Justice of Peace, and every such head Officer, shall have power by this Act, to minister the same Oath; That then every such offender shall for every time so offending, forfeit, and pay to the use of the poor of that Parish, where the same offence is or shall be committed, the sum of twelve pence; and it shall also be lawfull for the Constable, Church-Wardens, and Overseers of the poor of that Parish, by Warrant from such Justice of Peace or head Officer, to leavy the same sum and sums of Money, by destresse and sale of the offenders Goods, rendering to the party the overplus: And in defect of such distresse, the offenders, if he or she, be above the age of twelve yeers, shall by Warrant from such Justice of the Peaee, or head Officer, be set in the Stocks by three whole hours; but if the offender be under the age of twelve yeer, and shall not forthwith pay the said sum of twelve pence, then he or she by Warrant of such Justice of Peace, or head Officer, shall be whipped by the Constable or by the Parents, or Master in his presence.