seal of the commonwealth of England AN ORDINANCE Impowring the COMMISSIONERS OF THE CUSTOMS, And others, for the better suppressing of DRUNKENNESS and profane CURSING and SWEARING, in persons employed under them.  
WHereas several persons, as Carmen, Porters, Watermens, and others, who are employed 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 Merchandise, and other affairs in matters relating thereunto, are very ordinarily Drunk, and do also profane and blaspheme the holy name of God by Cursing and Swearing, to the great dishonour 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 the 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 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-hous London, every person or persons whom they shall see to be Drunk, or shall hear to Swear, Curs, 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 aught 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 proceed shall be had and awarded against them, as by Law may be and aught to be upon every person that shall refuse to be aiding and assisting unto any sworn Constable or Constables, when required thereunto.   

Friday 30 June, 1654.  
ORdered by His Highness the Lord PROTECTOR and the Council, That this Ordinance be forthwith Printed and Published.  
Hen. Scobel, Clerk of the Council.