Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 6.djvu/732

 666 C. 19-^-21. Anno decimo nono Georgii II, A. D. 1746. CAP. XIX. An Aft for enlarging the Term and Powers granted by an Aft paffed in the twelfth Year of the Reign of his late Majefty King George the Firft, for repairing and enlarging the Road from Liverpoole to Prefcot, and other Roads therein mentioned, in the County Palatine of Lancafter ; and for amending the Road leading from Prefcot to the Chapel of Saint Helen in the faid County. PR. The Aft 12 Geo. i. c. 21. continued for 21 Years. Set CAP. XX. An Aft to indemnify fuch Perfons as have acted in Defence of his Majefty's Perfon and Go- vernment, and for the Prefervation of the publick Peace of this Kingdom, during the Time of the prefent unnatural Rebellion ; and Sheriffs and others, who have fuffered Efcapes oc- cafioned thereby, from vexatious Suits and Profecutions. EXP. ' TT 7 HEREAS, during the unnatural Rebellion, which begun in or about the Months of July or ' tenants, Deputy Lieutenants, Juftices of the Peace, Mayors, Bailiffs of Corporations, Conftables, and ' other Officers and Perfons well affefted to his Majefty, and his Government, in order to preferve ' our prefent happy Eftablifhment, and the Peace of this Kingdom, and to Supprefs and put an End to - the faid Rebellion, apprehended, and put into Cuftody, and imprifoned, or caufed to be apprehended, ' put into Cuftody, and imprifoned feveral Criminals, and feveral Perfons who they fufpefted might ' difturb the puBlick Peace, or foment or promote Riots, Tumults, Rebellions, or evil Defigns againft ' the Government ; and alfo feized and ufed feveral Horfes, Arms, and other Things ; and alfo preffed ' divers Horfes, Carts, and Carriages, for the Service of the Publick; and did, for the Purpofes afore- ' faid, enter into the Houfes and PoiTeffions of feveral Perfons, and did quarter, and caufe to be quar- 4 tered divers Soldiers, and others, in the Houfes of divers Perfons, and did divers Afts, which could ' not bejuftified by the ftri ft Forms of Law, and yet were neceffary, and fo much for the Service of ' the Publick, that they ought to be juftified by Aft of Parliament, and the Perfons by whom ' they were tranfafted ought to be indemnified : And whereas divers Sheriffs, Gaolers, and other Per- 4 fons, may be or are in danger of being fued, indifted, profecuted, or proceeded againft by reafon of 4 Efcapes of Prifoners, let out or discharged by the Perfons engaged in the faid Rebellion ;' Be it there- forcertafted, 13c. 19 Gt». z. " All pejrfonal Aftions, &c. for Afts done before 30 April 1746, on Account of the PremiiTes, or againft 39. /. 18. « Sheriffs, &c. for the Efcape of Prifoners, &c. to be void." C A P. XXL An Act more effectually to prevent profane Curfing and Swearing. Refer ton Jac. j. c. 20. 6&f 7 V.3.C.11, The Penalty or" profane Culling ■iud Swearing. FORASMUCM as the horrid, impious, and execrable Vices of profane Curfing and Swearing (fo highly difpleafing to Almighty God, and loathfome and offenfive to every Chriftian) are become io frequent and notorious, that unlefs fpeedily and effectually' punifhed, they may juftly provoke the Divine Vengeance to inereafe the many Calamities thefe Nations now labour under : And whereas the Laws now in Being for punifhing thole Crimes, have not anfwered the Intents for which they were de- figned, by Means of Difficulties attending the putting fuch Laws in Execution :' For Remedy whereof, may it pleafe your moft Excellent Majefty, that it may be enafted ; And be it enafted by the King's moft Excellent Majefty, by and with the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Com- mons, in this prefent Parliament affembled, and by the Authority of the fame, That from and after the firft Day of June one thoufand feven hundred and forty-fix, if any Perfon or Perfons fnall profanely Curfe nr Swear, and be thereof convicted on the Oath of any one or more Witnefs or Witneffes, before any one Juftice of the Peace for any County, City, Riding, Div-ifion, or Liberty, or before the Mayor, Ju- itice, Bailiff, or other Chief Magiftrate of any City or Town Corporate, or by the Confeffion of the Party offending, every Perfon or Perfons fo offending, fhall forfeit and lofe the refpeftive Sums herein after mentioned ; (that is to fay) Every Day Labourer, Common Soldier, Common Sailor, and Common Seaman, one Shilling ; And every other Perfon under the Degree of a Gentleman, two Shillings ; And every Perfon of or above the Degree of a Gentleman, five Shillings. And in cafe any fuch Perfon or Perfons fhall, after Conviction, offend a fecond Time, every fuch Perfon fhall forfeit and lofe Double ; and for every other Offence after a fecond Conviction, treble the Sum firft forfeited by any Offender, for profane Curfing and Swearing as aforefaid. 1 II. And
 * VV -Auguft in the Year one thoufand feven hundred and forty-five, and ftill continues, divers Lieu-