[1597/11/31]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ratify, approve and confirm the act made at Dundee, 13 May the year of God 1597 regarding the transporting of coal out of this realm, of the which the tenor follows: Forasmuch as it is understood to the king's majesty, his nobility, council and estates presently convened that the great charcoal is commonly transported out of this realm by diverse and sundry persons who at all times load their ships and other vessels therewith and transport the same at their pleasure, using the same as a common trade together without his majesty's licence or permission, to the great hurt of the commonwealth and expressly against his highness's laws, acts of parliament and sundry proclamations made in the contrary. For remedy whereof in time coming, his majesty, with advice of the said nobility, council and estates foresaid, statutes and ordains that no persons, as well as strangers as others born subjects of this realm, take upon hand to transport any great charcoal out of this realm at any time hereafter, nor yet load their ships, crayers or other vessels therewith to be transported as said is under the pain of confiscation of the same coal, ships, crayers and other vessels to his majesty's use; certifying them if they do in the contrary, that the same coal, ships, crayers and vessels shall be confiscated and intromitted with with all rigour and extremity in example of others, and to this effect that all provosts and bailies of the said burghs, customs officers and searchers whatsoever shall search, seek, take and apprehend all and sundry persons, contraveners thereof, keep and cause retain their persons in ward within their tolbooths, fence and arrest their ships, crayers and vessels, take the sails from the mast and keep them under arrestment at his majesty's instance through which they depart not, notifying their names to his highness that his majesty may give further direction towards them as appertains, as the said provosts, bailies, customs officers and searchers will answer to his majesty upon their office and obedience. The which act our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid ordain to stand as a law in all time coming.