[A1625/10/13]¹

Regarding the custom of coal

That seeing the very vessels appointed only for carriage of coals afforded us plenty of serviceable ships at the last setting out of our navy, and seeing there is no small occasion of having the like in that kingdom wherein there is such plenty of coal if our subjects had the only traffick thereof and to prevent that henceforth that kingdom be not prejudiced as hitherto it has been by having that commodity only transported by strangers, it is our special pleasure that by act of convention the custom of 48s Scottish money be imposed on every tun of coal transported in stranger ships at any time hereafter, which is far less than they pay here in England. Neither will we any longer suffer that shameful abuse whereby for the filthy gain of a few the whole kingdom is wronged and strangers preferred to our natural subjects.