WHereas at a Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the nineteenth day of February , in the one and twentieth yeere of the Reigne of our late most deare and Royall Father , King Iames of euer blessed memory ( amongst other good and wholesome Lawes then made and established for the Weale-publike of this Realme ) it was enacted by the authority of the same Parliament , that no person or persons should from thenceforth prophanely Sweare or Curse , vnder the penalties therein contained . We taking into Our Princely consideration , the great increase of those sinnes , which are the more audaciously practised , and frequently committed by loose and wicked persons , in regard the said Statute made for preuention and restraint thereof , is not constantly put in execution , Haue therefore with the aduice of Our Priuie Councill ( for the better repressing of those odious sinnes ) by Our Letters Patents dated the one and twentieth day of Iuly last past , erected an office for the receiuing of the forfeitures incurred by such profane Swearers and Cursers : And reposing much trust and confidence in the fidelity , industry , wisedome , and piety of Our welbeloued seruant Robert Leslie Esquire , one of the Gentlemen of our Priuie-Chamber , haue thereby ordained and appointed , that he by himselfe , or his sufficient Assignes or Deputies , and none other person ( except the Iustices of Peace , Constables , Churchwardens , Ouerseers of the poore , and others by the said Statute authorized ) shall in euery Parish within this Our Realme of England , and Dominion of Wales , attend that seruice and office , and for a certaine number of yeares therein contained , shall and may receiue the Penaltie appointed by the said Statute , from all and euery person and persons liuing within Our said Realme and Dominion , offending against the tenor of the same ( who haue not paid the said Penalty to any the persons authorized by the said Statute , to receiue the same before it be demanded by Our said seruant , his Assignes or Deputies ) wherein We haue taken especiall care , that security be giuen for the faithfull collecting of those Penalties , and for a true accompt and payment of the same twice euery yeere vnto the Bishops of the Diocesses , wherein the same shall be receiued , by whose care and order the moneys thereby arising shall bee iustly distributed amongst Our poore subiects of the Parishes where the Offences are or shall be committed , according as by the same Statute is limited and appointed .

And therefore We do hereby strictly charge and command all manner of persons liuing in Our said Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales , to be conformable in all things vnto Our Royall will and pleasure in Our said letters Patents mentioned and contained . And to the end Our said seruant , his Assignes and Deputies may the more readily and sincerely performe the trust in them reposed : We do hereby grant , publish , and declare , that Our said Seruant , his Assignes and Deputies , and euery of them shall be hereafter exempted and freed from bearing any other office or charge in the Parishes where he and they shall dwell , during the time that they shall be imployed in this seruice , to the end that they may the better looke to the execution of the foresaid Statute , in regard the same so highly tendeth to the aduancement of piety , and reliefe of the poore .

And We doe hereby require and command all our Iustices , Iustices of peace , Maiors , Sheriffes , Magistrates , Bafliffes , Constables , Church wardens , Ouerseers of the poore , and all other Our Officers , Ministers , and Subiects , within Our said Kingdome and Dominion of Wales , to whom it shall appertaine , to be aiding , helping , and assisting to Our said Seruant , his Assignes and Deputies , in all things concerning the Premises , as they tender Our pleasure , and will auoid the contrary at their vttermost perils .