❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation touching the surveying of the Seacoales of Newcastle, Sunderland, and Blythe.  
FOrasmuch as the commodity of Seacoales of Newcastle vpon tine, Sunderland, and Blythe, within Our County of Northumberland, and Our County Palatine of Duresme, and the places thereunto adjoining, is a merchandise so useful, as well in respect of the decay of wood already much wasted within this Our realm of England, as also in respect of the transporting of them into foreign parts to the aduancement of the Trade of this kingdom, by the native commodity thereof, as that We haue thought it a matter well worthy Our special care, and much importing the state and welfare of this Our Common wealth, to uphold and maintain the reputation and value of the same:  
And whereas vpon Information and Complaint made unto us heretofore, of the many and great deceits, and abuses, done and offered unto us, and Our loving Subiects of this Our realm of England by the Oastmen, Diggers, Getters, and Traders for coal in the Coalemines of Newcastle, Sunderland, and Blythe aforesaid, and in all other places thereabouts, where the said coals are digged and gotten, who in stead of good and merchantable coals, sand and bring unto Our city of London, and other parts of this Our realm of England, and elsewhere, much black earth, dross, state, and other unmerchantable stuff, which ariseth in, and about the said Coale-pittes, and is black like coals, but not fit to burn, or Fuelable, and which the Oastmen, Diggers and Traders in coals, do well know, and yet do purposely and voluntarily mingle the said deceitful black earth, state, ston, and other vnfuelable stuff amongst their good coals, and sell and utter the same for good and merchantable coals, to the enriching of themselves, the prejudice of the Common-wealth, and the disgrace, and discredit of the said commodity in foreign parts:  
Wee thereupon taking into Our princely care and consideration, the quality of these abuses, and the consequences thereof, and much desiring a reformation of the same, yet Our care was, that the said abuses informed of, might first evidently appear to bee such indeed, as they were alleged to be, and the offenders and their manner of offending discovered thereby, the better to find out a remedy to prevent the like inconveniences, and to that end Wee did refer the examination of the same, first unto some of Our counsel learned in the Law at that time, who made certificate thereof unto us, and afterwards the Lords, and others of Our privy counsel, vpon Petition exhibited unto them by the Traders, and Laders of Seacoales at Newcastle, did take consideration of the same, and did order and appoint a trial thereof, to bee had by a legal proceeding in Our high Court of starchamber; vpon which trial, as also by the certificate aforesaid, it did then appear, That there were, and are several sorts of coals, at, or near Newcastle, some of ten and eleven shillings the great cauldron, which are good and fuelable, and some of four or five shillings the cauldron, which are drossy, and vnfuelable, fit onely for Salt-pannes, and Lime-kilnes; And that albeit there are sufficient store of good coals to serve the realm of England, and foreign vent, without any mixture of the bad, yet nevertheless the Oastmen, and Traders for coals at Newcastle,( claiming a special privilege to sell them to the Shippers) haue used voluntarily to mingle the good coals with the bad and drossy coals, and to sell them so mingled to gether at the highest prices of ten and eleven shillings the cauldron, warranting them all to bee of the best coals, by this means gaining almost half in half, which said voluntary mingling, and corrupting of coals, Our said Court of starchamber found to be a great and general abuse and enormity to Our whole realm, and very meet to be suppressed, reformed and punished, And did then decree, that the offenders, then the Defendants, should be committed to the fleet, and fined twenty pounds a piece.  
And to the end that others might take notice, how far Our said Court did mislike,& condemn the said fraud and deceit, and their resolution to punish the same, The said Court thought fit, and so ordered, that the said Decree should bee publicly red in open market, in the town of Newcastle, where the said offence had been committed, on two Market dayes, when most people were assembled, for the more public declaration thereof to the country, as by the said Decree more at large appeareth.  
And whereas, notwithstanding that exemplary punishment, inflicted by Our said Court of starchamber, as aforesaid, and the public manifestation thereof, before declared, Our desire for a due reformation of the abuses before mentioned, did not take that effect which Wee expected, but the deceits, and abuses aforesaid, did rather more and more increase, insomuch as the Masters, Wardens, Assistants, and companies of Wood-mongers, Brewers, Chaundlers, and other Traders in London for Newcastle-Coales, became petitioners unto us, craving Our gracious favour and assistance for the due reformation thereof; whereupon, and vpon consideration again thereof had, by several committees from the Lords, and others of Our privy council, at several times, vpon several petitions exhibited, as well by the Wood-mongers, Brewers, Chaundlers, and Traders for coals in London, and other port towns within this Our realm of England, as also by the Shippers, Masters,& Owners of Ships, trading for coals from Newcastle aforesaid, and vpon survey, and examination of the true state of those Coale-mines, and Coale-pits, by their Lordships special directions had, and taken, it appeared, and was found, that the abuses and deceits aforesaid,( notwithstanding the pretences to the contrary) did yet continue, and that there was no means so probable for reformation of the same, as the vigilant care and pains of faithful and industrious persons, to be employed and attendant at the Coale-pits, and Wharfes, of Newcastle, and other places adjacent, and they to be furnished with absolute authority from us, for the prohibiting, and preventing of the deceitful mixture of coals, by the Oastmen and others, and to make certificates of the goodness, or badness of coals, for the buyers direction, and avoiding of deceits therein not discernible by the eye; And the said Lords, and others of Our privy council, did humbly propose unto us, diuers limitations, orders, and provisions, which they conceived fit and observable in the execution of the same. Wee therefore having well considered, and ●pprooued of the propositions, and provisions before mentioned, and of the great care, and extraordinary charge used in the discovery of the abuses aforesaid, and of providing, propounding, and settling a fit and apt means for the reformation thereof, haue graciously been pleased, not onely to revoke all former Letters Patents, by us made for that purpose,( they in some particulars being found to bee defective,) but by other Our Letters Patents under. Our great seal of England, bearing date the twentieth day of September, in the one and twentieth year of Our reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the seven and fiftieth, Haue for us, Our Heires and successors, straitly ordained, established, charged and prohibited, that thereafter none of the said low prized coals, called pan coals, nor dross, black Earth, or other unmerchantable stuff whatsoever, shall by any of the said Oastmen, Owners, and Diggers of the said Newcastle coals, or by any other person or persons whatsoever, be mingled, mixed, or put amongst good and merchantable coals, nor shall at any time, or times hereafter, being so mingled, be brought, or transported into any the Ports, or places of this Our realm of England, or transported into any the parts beyond the Seas, vpon pain of Our high displeasure, and other the penalties therein contained.  
And for the better observation and performance of Our will and pleasure in the same, We haue in, and by Our said Letters Patents, made, ordained, appointed, constituted, and erected an office to haue perpetual continuance, which for ever hereafter shall be, and shall be called the office of surveyor of coals to be shipped at Newcastle, Sunderland, and Blythe, or any of them, or at any other places adjacent, to be brought and transported to Our city of London, or other places of this Our kingdom of England, or any the parts beyond the Seas; Which said office, We, of Our especial Grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, and at the request and nomination of Our late right trusty and right well-beloved Couzen and counsellor, Lodowicke Duke of Richmond and Lenox, since deceased, Haue by Our said Letters Patents granted unto Our trusty and well-beloved Sir Robert Sharpeigh Knight, and Alexander Haitely Esquire, to hold to them and their assigns, for the space of one and twenty yeeres, with such Fees and Allowances, and such Cautions, Directions, Limitations, and Promsions for the execution thereof, as by the said Lords, and others of Our privy council haue been thought fit and advised, as in, and by the said Letters Patents nore at large may appear.  
Now, to the end Our loving Subiects may perceive with what care and caution ourself and Our privy council, haue proceeded in this business for the welfare of Our people, and the preuenion of all future inconvenience that may arise in a business of this nature, and to the end such as haue heretofore been Delinquents in the premises, may hereby take notice of Our pleasure, and not pled their ignorance, as an excuse for their misdemeanour; Wee haue thought fit hereby to make manifest and declare such special and necessary observations and directions, tending to the reformation aforesaid, and contained in Our said Letters Patents, as are most meet to be published, and of necessity to be observed in the performance of the same; And do therefore signify and declare Our will and pleasure to be, and We do hereby straitly charge, prohibit and command, as well all and every the said Oastmen, and all others trading for Seacoales at Newcastle, Sunderand and Blythe aforesaid, and the places adjacent, or working thereon, or employed in or about the ●… me, as also all and every the Masters and Owners of any ships, Boats, hoys, Crayer or ●… her vessels employed for the conveying, transporting, or bringing the said Seacoales unto Our ●id city of London, or unto any other Ports or places of this Our realm of England, or into any the ●rts beyond the Seas, That they, or any of them presume not to endeavour or attempt at any ●ne or times hereafter, directly or indirectly by any practise or devise whatsoever, to mingle or mix any of the said low prized and vnfuellable coals, dross, state, Blacke-earth, or other unmerchantable coals, not well picked or wealled, amongst, or with any the said good, pure and fuelable coals, neither shall buy, lad, or freight into any their Ships, Boats, or other vessels any of the said drossy, and unmerchantable coals, as aforesaid, mingled with the said good and merchantable coals; Nor shall at any time or times hereafter convey or transport any of the said base and unmerchantable coals in any ship or other vessel whatsoever, in which the said good and merchantable coals are conveyed or transported, nor together with the said good coals; And that no woodmongers, wharfingers, merchants, or other traders in coals whatsoever, shal at any time or times hereafter, lay or cause to be laid any of the said base sort of coals vpon one and the self same wharffe, together with the said good coals.  
And further, that none of the said Masters or Owners of Ships or other vessels, shall transport or convey any such mingled coals, or any other coals, of what nature or quality soever, without Certificate from the Officer or Officers of us, Our Heires and Successors appointed for the surveying of Seacoales, as aforesaid, their deputy or Deputies, under the seal of their said Office, testifying the goodness, quality, or badness of his and their coals, and the quantity thereof first had and obtained; And that no woodmonger, wharfinger, merchant, or trader in Seacoales in Our said city of London, or in any other place or places whatsoever, within this Our realm of England, shall at any time or times hereafter, presume or go about to buy or take any coals of any Shipper, Owner or Master of any Ship, or other vessel whatsoever, that shall not show and produce such certificate, as aforesaid, vpon pain of Our high displeasure, and such other pains, penalties and imprisonments, as by the laws and Statutes of this Our realm of England, or by Our prerogative royal, can or may be inflicted vpon them for their disobedience and contempt of Our royal commandement in this behalf.  
And Wee will, and Our pleasure is, that for the more certain prevention of the abuses aforesaid, All and every the Oastmen, Fitters, and Coale-owners, Staithes-men, Merchants for coals, and all and singular Masters and Owners of ships or other vessels, when they or any of them shall agree or contract together for any coals to be conveyed or transported, as aforesaid, that they and every of them, by themselves, their seruants, deputies or agents, shall from time to time deliver, or cause to be delivered unto the said officer or officers of us, Our Heires and Successors or his or their deputy, or deputies for the time being, true notes and tickets in writing, testifying the sorts and quantities of all such coals, as from time to time they shall contract for, and from what Staithes they shall be served and sent aboard, before the lading and clearing of the same, in such sort and manner, as by Our Letters Patents before recited is directed and set down.  
And whereas, in and by Our Letters Patents aforesaid, and vpon the offer of the Woodmongers, Brewers and other Traders for coals in Our city of London, and by the aduise of Our said privy council, Wee haue granted a Fee of four pence vpon every great cauldron of coals to be conveyed and transported, as aforesaid,( those that are to be transported beyond the Seas by strangers only excepted) to be paid unto the officer or officers of us, Our Heires and Successors for surveying of Seacoales, for their pains and charges in surveying of them, and making certificates, and keeping Registers concerning the same; Our pleasure is, that all and every Masters and Owners of ships or other vessels, shall from time to time, vpon their receiving of their Certificates aforesaid, pay or cause to be paid unto the said Officer or Officers of us, Our Heires or Successors, their Deputies or assigns the said Fee of four pence for every great cauldron of coals, by them to be conveyed or transported, as aforesaid.  
And that the said Woodmongers, Wharfingers, common Brewers, Dyers, Chaundlers, and others buying coals from the ships, or other vessels, and selling the same again in gross, or by retail, shall well and duly answer, and pay unto the said Shipper, Master, or Owner of any ship, or other vessel, producing such certificate, the said Fee, or Allowance of four pence vpon every great cauldron of coals, by him or them paid unto Our said Officer or Officers, as aforesaid, without enhancing the prices of the said coals unto Our loving Subiects, that shall buy them again for their private use and expense, according to the advice and order of the Lords, and others of Our privy counsel therein.  
And Our further will and pleasure is, and Wee do hereby straitly charge and command the said Sir Robert Sharpeigh, and Alexander Haiteley, unto whom Wee haue granted the said Office of surveyor of the Seacoales, as aforesaid, That they, the said Sir Robert Sharpeigh, and Alexander Haiteley, their Executors, Administrators, and assigns, by themselves or their sufficient deputies or seruants, do,& shall from time to time, during the said term in Our said Letters Patents to them therof made, contained, faithfully, industriously, and carefully endeavour to see Our will and pleasure in the premises strictly& duly performed& observed; And to make true certificates, from time to time, of the quality and quantity of the said coals, for the prevention of the abuses aforesaid, according to our particular directions in Our Letters Patents aforesaid to them given. And if at any time or times it shall happen, that the said surveyor or surveyors, their deputy or deputies, shall witting and willingly make any false certificate, and it be found at any ship or other vessel, that the said coals are contrary to such certificate, corrupted and mingled, and not such in truth, as they are certified to be; Then Our pleasure is, That the said surveyors, their Executours, Administrators or assigns, so witting and willingly falsifying the trust Wee haue reposed in them, shall make sufficient restitution and satisfaction unto such Merchant, Wood-monger, Wharfinger, and other Traders in coals, for the loss and damage that he or they shall sustain thereby.  
And lastly, Wee do hereby will and command all and singular Maiors, Iustices of Peace, Customers, controllers, Searchers, Waiters, bailiffs, Constables, Officers, and Ministers of us, Our Heires and successors, to whom it shall, or may appertain, that they, and every of them, be from time to time, aiding and assisting unto the said Sir Robert Sharpeigh, and Alexander Haiteley, their Executors, Administrators, Deputies and assigns,& to all other the Officers of us, Our Heires and Successors in this behalf, in all lawful manner, for the due execution of Our service herein, according to Our pleasure herein signified.  
And that they, and every of them, do from time to time, cause diligent survey, and inquiry to be made within their several precincts, limits, and jurisdictions, of all offenders in this behalf, and together with Our said Officer, or Officers, to make speedy certificate of their names without partiality, or connivence unto the Lords and others of Our privy council, or to Our attorney general for the time being, that they may be proceeded against in Our Court of starchamber, or otherwise, according to their demerits. And Our will and pleasure is, That as well the said Lords, and others of Our privy council, as Our attorney general for the time being, use all care and diligence, to punish with severity, as well the partiality, negligence, and remissness of the said Maiors, Iustices of Peace, surveyors of coals, and other Officers aforesaid, in not making due survey, or certificate, as aforesaid, as the contemptuous behaviour of such, as shall presume to violate this Our Proclamation, or the Letters Patents before recited.  
given at Our Court at Newmarket the sixteenth day of February, in the two and twentieth year of Our reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the eight and fiftieth.  
God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent majesty. M.DC.XXIIII.