AN ACT For the more Effectual Suppressing of Profane Cursing and Swearing.   W R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE IE MEIN TIENDRAI 
DUBLIN, Printed by Andrew Crook, Printer to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty, on Ormonde-Key. 1695.   

An Act for the more Effectual Suppressing of Profane Cursing and Swearing. CHAP. IX.  
WHereas it is found by Experience that An Act of Parliament made in the Tenth and Eleventh Years of the Reign of King CHARLES the First, Entitled, An Act to prevent and Reform profane Swearing and Cursing, hath proved Ineffectual to the Suppressing of those Detestable Sins, by Reason of some Deficiency in the said A●●.  
Be it therefore Enacted by the Kings Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, and by Authority of the same, That if any Person or Persons shall after the Fifth Day of November, in this present Year of our Lord, One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety and Five, Profanely Swear and Curse in the presence or hearing of any justice of Peace of the County, Division, or of the Mayor, or other Head Officer or justice of Peace for any City or Town Corporate where such Offence is or shall be Committed, or that shall be thereof Convicted by the Oath of one Witness, or by the Confession of the Party Offending before any justice of the Peace of the County, or Mayor, or Bailiff or other Chief Officer or justice of the Peace of such City or Town Corporate where the said Offence shall be Committed, That then for every such Offence the Party so Offending shall Forfeit and pay to the use of the Poor of the Parish where such Offence or Offences shall be Committed the Respective Sums herein after mentioned, that is to say, Every Servant, Day Labourer, Common Soldier and Common Seaman One Shilling, and every other Person Two Shillings; And in Case any of the Persons aforesaid shall after Conviction Offend a second time, such Persons shall Forfeit and pay Double; and if a third time Triple the Sum Respectively by him or her to be paid for the first Offence.  
And it is hereby further Enacted, That upon Neglect or Refusal of Payment of the said Forfeiture, any justice of Peace of the County, or Mayor, or other Head Officer, or justice of Peace of any City or Town Corporate where the said Offence shall be Committed, shall and are hereby Authorized and Required to Direct and send his Warrant to the Constable, Tythingman, Churchwarden or Overseér of the Poor of the Parish where the Offence shall be Committed, or where the Offender shall Inhabit, thereby Commanding them, or some one or more of them, to Levy by Distress, and Sale of the Goods of the Offender, the Sum so Forfeited for the use of the Poor of the Parish, as aforesaid; And in Case no such Distress can be had, than every such Offender being above the Age of Sixteéns Years shall by Warrant under the Hand and Seal of the said justice of Peace, or other Officer, as aforesaid, be Publicly set in the Stocks for the space of One Hour for every single Offence, and for any Number of Offences whereof he shall be Convicted at one and the same time then Two Hours; And if the Party Offending be under the Age of Sixteéns Years, and shall not forthwith pay the said Forfeitures, than he or she shall by Warrant, as aforesaid, be Whipped by the Constable, or by the Parent, Guardian or Master of such Offender, in the presence of the Constable.  
And be it further Enacted, That if any justice of the Peace or Chief Magistrate shall wilfully and willingly omit the performance of his Duty in the Execution of this Act he shall Forfeit the Sum of Five Pounds; the one Moiety to the use of the Informer, to be Recovered by Action, Suit, Bill or Plaint, in any of His Majesty's Courts, wherein no Essoyn, Protection or Wager of Law shall be allowed, nor any more than one Imparlance granted.  
And it is hereby further Enacted, That if any Action or Suit shall be Commenced or brought against any justice of Peace, Constable, or other Officer or Person whatsoever for Doing, or Causing to be Done any thing in pursuance of this Act concerning the said Offences, the Defendant in such Action may plead the General Issue, and give the Special Matter in Evidence; And if upon such Action Verdict be given for the Defendant, or the Plaintiff become Nonsuit, or Discontinue his Action, than the Defendant shall have triple Costs.  
Provided always, And it is hereby Enacted, That no Person shall be Prosecuted or Troubled for any Offence against this Statute unless the same be proved or prosecuted within Ten Days next after the Offence Committed.  
And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act shall be Publicly Read Four Times in the Year in all Parish Churches and all Public Chapels, by the Parson, Vicar or Curate of the Respective Parishes or Chapels immediately after Morning Prayers on four several Sundays, that is to say, The Sunday next after the Fifth Day of November, in this present Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Five; The Fifth Day of February following; The Fifth Day of May, which will be in the Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Six; And the Fifth Day of August following, under the pain of Twenty Shillings for every such Omission or Neglect.  
And be it further Enacted by Authority aforesaid, That the justices of Peace, Mayor, or other Head Officer shall Register in a Book to be kept for that purpose all the Convictions made before him upon this Act, and the Time of Making thereof, and for what Offence; And shall Certify the same to the next General-Quarter-Sessions of the Peace for the said County, or place where the Offences are Committed, to be there kept upon Record by the Respective Clerks of the Peace, to be seéns without Feé or Rewards.  
FINIS.