Act regarding coal miners

Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ratify the 11th act of the 18th parliament of King James VI of worthy memory, made regarding coal miners and salters, with this addition: that because watermen who bale and draw water in the coal mine head in this kingdom and gatemen who work the ways and passages in the said mines are as necessary to the owners and masters of the said coal mines as the coal miners and bearers, it is therefore statute and ordained that no person shall hire or seduce any watermen and windsmen and gatemen without a testimonial of the master whom they serve, under the pains contained in the former acts in all points. And because it is found by experience that the giving of great fees has been a method and way to seduce and bring coal miners from their masters, it is therefore statute and ordained that it shall not be lawful to any coal masters in this kingdom to give any greater fee than the sum of 20 merks in fee or reward under any colour or pretext. And because the said coal miners and salters and other workmen in coal mines within this kingdom do lie from their work at Easter, Yule, Whitsunday [May/June] and certain other times in the year, which times they employ in drinking and debauchery to the great offence of God and prejudice of their master, it is therefore statute and ordained that the said coal miners and salters and other workmen of coal mines in this kingdom work all the six days of the week under the pains following, that is to say: that every coal miner or salter who lies idle shall pay 20s for every day, in addition to the prejudice sustained by their master and other punishment of their bodies.

  1. NAS, PA2/22, f.196v-197r. Back