June, 1654
[30 June, 1654.]
Commissioners for the Customs shall put in execution the Laws against Drunkenness, Swearing and Cursing.; Who may apprehend such persons.; Assistance.
Whereas several persons, as Carmen, Porters, Watermen, and
others who are imployed upon the Keys, as also upon the River
of Thames, in Ships, Boats and Lighters, and in Thames-street
and other Streets and Lanes adjacent within the City of London,
for shipping and unshipping, packing, carrying, craning, and
removing goods and Merchandize, and other affairs in matters
relating thereunto, are very ordinarily Drunk, and do also
prophane and blaspheme the Holy Name of God by Cursing and
Swearing, to the great dishonor of God, the scandal of the
Professors and Profession of the Gospel among us, and of the
present Government; for the preventing whereof, Be it Ordained
by His Highness the Lord Protector, by and with the consent of
His Council, That the Commissioners for the Customs for the
time being, be, and are hereby authorized and required to take
care that the Laws of this Nation against Drunkenness, Swearing
and Cursing be put in execution, against all such persons as shall
be guilty of the crimes aforesaid; and for that purpose shall, and
hereby have the power and authority of Justices of Peace within
the said places. And every Officer and Officers, Deputy and
Deputies of the Commissioners of the Customs, having a
Commission whereby they are deputed and are authorized to be
Officers and Deputies under the hand and Seals of the said
Commissioners, shall have, and hereby have power and are
authorized to apprehend and attach, and in safe custody to bring
before the said Commissioners, or any one of them, sitting at the
Custom-house London, every person or persons whom they shall
see to be Drunk, or shall hear to Swear, Curse, and Blaspheme
the holy name of God, as is aforesaid, and shall have power, and
hereby have power to execute any power or powers, authority or
authorities in this case, which by Law any Constable may or
ought to exercise or use, although the said Officer or Officers
have no particular Warrant of the Commissioners aforesaid, for
apprehending any the offenders for the offences aforesaid, as in
the like cases are usually issued unto sworn Constables by
Justices of the Peace upon the like occasions; And all person
and persons whom any of the said Officer and Officers shall
require to be aiding and assisting unto them, in the apprehending
and bringing before the said Commissioners any such offenders,
are hereby required to be aiding and assisting unto them therein
accordingly; and in case of refusal, such punishment and proceedings shall be had and awarded against them, as by Law may
be and ought to be upon every person that shall refuse to be
aiding and assisting unto any sworn Constable or Constables,
when required thereunto.