[1621/6/48]¹

Commission regarding coals and coal pits

Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament, considering the evident appearance of harm to the whole lieges of this realm if coal, which is our best fuel, be lacking or be utterly exhausted within this kingdom, and specially beside the coast where the same may be easiest transported; and being willing to take some good solid order for preventing the said danger, which cannot be conveniently done unless some trial and cognition be first made and taken relating thereto, have therefore given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, give and grant full power and commission to the persons following: [...], James [Law], archbishop of Glasgow, Adam [Bellenden], bishop of Dunblane, John [Fleming], earl of Wigtown, David [Carnegie], lord Carnegie [of Kinnaird], Sir John Scrimgeour of Dudhope, knight, Alexander Lauder of Haltoun, Mungo MacCall and Sir George Bruce of Carnock, knight, to sight, view, try and consider the present estate of all and every coal pit lying within two miles to the water of Forth and coast-side thereof on both the sides of the same, if the same coal pits be costly and difficult to extract and in danger of drowning, if they be not speedily wrought and the work maintained by foreign sale, or if the same may be easily wrought with reasonable charges and have a competent sale in the country about and towards Leith and all the coast about, whereby it may be the more perfectly known if the restraint of exporting of coal be necessary or not. And ordain the said commissioners to meet in the town of Edinburgh upon the first Tuesday of April, and there set down and appoint their times of visitation and all other things requisite and expedient for furtherance of that which is hereby committed to their charge. And as they try and find the estate of the said pits and what is most necessary to be done relating thereto, ordain them to report their proceeding in writing in presence of the lords of council upon the first council day in the month of June thereafter, to the effect the same may be recorded in the books of council and at the first occasion of another parliament be offered to the consideration of the estates, that they may take such order relating thereto as the matter itself shall be found to require.