NISI DOMINVS FRUSTRA   blazon of city of Edinburgh  
ACT Against Profaneness.  
Edinburgh, the 9 of August 1693.  
THe which day, the Lord Provost, Bailies, Council and Deacons of Crafts, Ordinar and Extraordinar, being convened in Council, considering, that the Profanation of the Lords Day, excessive drinking and drukenness, profane Swearing and Cursing, and other Immoralities, are discharged by several Acts of Parliament, under certain Penalties therein contained, and particularly, that by the 3d Act of the sixth Parliament of King James the sixth; It is Statute and Ordained, that there be no Mercats holden, nor handle-labouring, or working used on the Sabbath-day, or passing to Alehouses or Taverns, or selling of Meat or Drink; or wilful remaining from their Paroch-Church in time of Sermon, under the respective penalties contained in the said Act: which Act is ratified by the first Act of the thirteenth Parliament, and by the sixth Act of the fourteenth Parliament of the said King James, as also particularly mentioned in the eighteenth Act of the first Session of the first Parliament of King Charles the second, whereby all former Acts made for Observation of the Sabbath-day are ratified, and all keeping of Mercats, or using any sort of Merchandise on the said day, and all other profanation thereof, is expressly discharged, under the Penalty of Ten pounds Scots at least; And if the Party Offender be not able to pay the Penalty foresaid, then to be exemplary punished in his Body according to the merit of his Fault: Likeas, by the Act, Ja. 6. Parl. 22. cap. 20. It is Statute, that persons convict of Drukenness, and haunting of Taverns and Alehouses after Ten of the Clock at Night, or any time of the day, except the time of Travel, or for refreshment, pay for the first Fault Three pounds Scots, or be put in Jogs or Goal six hours: For the second five pounds, or be put in Jogs or Goal twelve hours: And for the Third Ten pounds, or to be put in Stocks or Goal tw 〈…〉 ●ours. And if they thereafter transgress, to be put in Goal till they find Caution for their better Behaviour. And that by the 〈…〉 Parl. 1. Sess. 1. Cap. 19 All former Acts against Drunkenness are ratified. And it is further Statute, that who drink to excess 〈…〉, the Noblemen twenty pounds, the Baron twenty Marks, the Gentleman, Heretor or Burgess ten Marks, the Yeoman fo● 〈…〉ng, and the Servant twenty shilling toties quoties, and the Minister the fifth part of his Stipend, and that those unable to pay be punished in their Persons; Both which Acts are again ratified, Ch. 2d. Parl. 2d. Sess. 3d. Act 22. Likeas, by the Act & Mary, Parl. 5. Cap. 16. Profain Swearing of abominable Oaths and detestable Execrations is forbid, under the particular pains therein 〈◊〉 pressed, which pains arising gradually, for the repeated Transgressions do at length end in Banishment, or imprisonment for year and day; Which Act, is by the Act. Ja. 6. Parl. 7. Cap. 103, ratified with an Augmentation of the pains. And it is further Statute, that Magistrates to Burgh and Landwart, appoint Censores in public Mercats and Fairs, with power to exact the said pains, and that Householders dilate Offenders within their House, under the pain to be esteemed as Offenders themselves. And the said Acts against profain Swearing and Cursing are again ratified, Ch. 2. Parl. 1. Sess. 1. Act 19 Whereby it is further Statute, that who shall Blasphame, Swear or Curse shall pay, the Noblemen twenty Pounds, the Baron twenty Marks, the Gentleman, Heretor or Burgess ten Marks, the Yeamen forty shilling, the Servant twenty shilling toties quoties, and the Minister the fifth part of his Stipend, and the persons insolvent to be punished in their persons, which Acts are of new ratified, Ch. 2d. Par. 2d. Sess. 3d. Cap. 22. All which Acts are again ratified and revived by the 40 Act of the 4. Sess. of this current Parliament, and Ordained to be put to strict Execution with all diligence: Notwithstanding of all which Acts, and the most holy and express Law of God, the Foundation thereof, and the many Promises and threatenings contained in his Word, for the establishing the same, Yet it is most manifest, and cannot be enough regreted, that the aforesaid Transgressions and Excess do every where abound, to the Dishonour of God, and the Reproach of the Protestant Religion. Therefore the Lord Provost, Bailies, and Council of this Burgh, do hereby declare, that they will be careful to see the foresaid Acts of Parliament strictly observed, and the Pains thereof exacted, and execute within all their Bounds and Suburbs, without Exception; And for the better Observance of the foresaids Acts, made against the profanation of the Lords Day, they strictly prohibit and discharge, all Persons whatsoever within this City or Suburbs thereof to Brew, or to work any other handle-work, or labour on the Lord's Day, or to be found on the Streets standing or walking idly, or to go in Company, or vage to the Castle-hill, public Yards or Fields on that day, at any time thereof; And discharge all persons to go to Alehouses or Taverns, for Eating or Drinking the time of Sermon, or unseasonably or unnecessarly at any time on the Lord's Day; And all Keepers of Taverns & Alehouses to sell any time of the said day to the said's Persons, any Meat or Dri●● to be eaten or drunken otherwise than as above expressed as also all persons to bring in Water from the Wells to Houses on that day, in greater Quantities then single Pints; Certifying all such persons who shall contraveen their presents, as also all Parents and Masters, who shall not restrain their Children, Apprentices, and Servants, that they shall be fined in Ten pounds Scots for every such Deed of Contravention; And if the Party offender be not able to pay the Penalty foresaid, than He or She shall be exemplary punished in his or her Body, according to the Merit of the Fault. And appoints this Act to be printed and published, that none may pretend ignorance.  Extracted by AENEAS MCLEOD. 
GOD save King William and Queen Mary.   

Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to Their Most Excellent Majesties. 1699.