WHEREAS by an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament dated the foure­teenth day of January 1642. all persons are prohibited to fetch Coales at New­castle, Sunderland, and Blyth, upon paine of the forfeiture of their Ships and Coales; Notwithstanding which Ordinance, some pretending ignorance, o­thers, that in their voyage for Scotland, they were forced in by foule weather; have presumed to lade Coales at the aforesaid places: The consideration of whose severall cases, The Commons House of Parliament, having referred to the Commit­tee of the Navy, whose want of time to examine the truth of the said Allegations, have in fa­vour to the severall persons offending in this kinde, taken bond of the Masters and Owners of the ships and coales, with condition that they should be responsible to the Parliament, for the true value of their ships and Coales, when they should be thereunto required, and not to sell their coales above the rate appointed by the said Ordinance: Notwithstanding which care of the said Committee, It is informed, That the said Masters and Owners, taking advantage of the times, and coveting excessive gaines, have sold their coales at farre greater prices; For avoiding which abuse in time to come; It is ordered, That the Lord Mayor of London for the time being, be desired to appoint Officers of trust, who be commanded to attend on board the ships, and take care that the said severall Masters and Owners, who shall upon bond given to this Committee, and upon their order, have leave to sell off their coales, receive for a Chal­dron of the said coales, not above the summe of twenty three shillings. And that the said coales be not sold to any Woodmonger, Chandler, or others who sell the same againe, but unto the poore, and unto House-keepers, and those of the meaner sort, not sparing to any one person above the quantity of one Chaldron; And it is further ordered, That Mr. Solomon Smith Marshall of the Admiraltie doe not permit any Master or Owner to sell off their said coales, but in the presence of some persons deputed by the Lord Mayor of London, under his Lord­ships hand in writing, to see the due execution of this Order. Provided, That it shall be law­full for the Over▪ seers of the poore of any Parish within the City of London and the Suburbs thereof, to make provisions of coale for the use of the poore of such Parishes against the Win­ter in some such indifferent proportion as shall be thought fit by the Lord Mayor of the said City for the time being, signified under his hand in writing.

THe same order and rule to be observed in all other parts where New-castle coales are im­ported, to be sold to the poore by the direction and oversight of the chiefe Officers of the said Ports.

This order being this day presented from the Committee of the Navy, to the House of Commons; It was approved of and assented unto, and ordered to be Printed and sent unto the Lord Mayor.