WHereas by Act of Parliament made in the Sixteenth and Seventeénth Years of the Reign of Our late Royal Vnkle King Charles the Second , for avoiding the manifold Deceits , Exactions and Abuses used in the Measures and Sales of Coals , and for preventing the like , and for the better Regulation thereof for the time to come , It was Enacted , That from and after the Sixth Day of March , which was in the Year of Our Lord , One thousand six hundred sixty and four , all Sorts of Coals , commonly called , Sea-Coals , brought into the River of Thames , and Sold , should be Sold by the Chaldron , containing Six and thirty Bushels , heaped up , and according to the Bushel Sealed for that purpose at Guild-Hall in London , and so for a greater or lesser quantity ; and that all other Sorts of Coals coming from Scotland , and other Places , commonly Sold by Weight , and not by Measure , should be Sold by Weight after the proportion of One hundred and twelve Pounds to the Hundred of Aver du pois Weight , without any Falacy or Deceit , upon Pain of Forfeitures of all the Coals which should be otherwise Sold or Exposed to Sale by any Woodmonger or Retailer of Coals , and the Double Value thereof , to be Recovered by any Person or Persons that would Prosecute for the same in any Court of Record , or by way of Complaint made to the Lord Mayor of London for the time being , and Iustices of the Peace within the City of London , and Liberties thereof , or any Two of them , or to the Iustices of the Peace of the several and respective Counties and Places where such Coals should be Exposed to Sale , or any of them , who were by the said Act Impowered and Required to call the Parties before them , and to Hear and Examine such Complaint upon Oath , which by virtue of the said Act was to be Administred by them , or any Two of them , and upon due Proof thereof made to that satisfaction , to Convict the Offenders , and to give Warrant under their Hands and Seals for Levying the Forfritures accordingly , the one half to and for the use of the Person or Persons so Prosecuting or Complaining , and the other half to and for the use of the Poor , or Repairing of the High-ways within the same Parish , or any other adjoyning Parish or Parishes , to be appointed and apportioned by the direction of the said Lord Mayor and Iustices , by such their Warrant , as aforesaid : And the Lord Mayor of London , and the Court of Aldermen for the time being , and the Iustices of Peace of the several Counties respectively , or any Threé or more of them , whereof One to be of the Quorum , were by the said Act Impowered to set the Rates and Prices of all such Coals as should be Sold by Retail , as they from time to time should judge reasonable , allowing a competent Profit to the Retailer , beyond the Price paid by him to the Importer , and the ordinary Charges thereupon Accrewing : And that if any Iugrosser , or Retailer of such Coals should refuse to Sell , as aforesaid , that then the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen , and Iustices of Peace respectively , were by the said Act Authorized to Appoint and Impower such Officer or Officers , or other Persons as they should think fit , to Enter into any Wharfe , or other Place where such Coals were Stored up , and in case of Refusal , taking a Constable , to force Entrance , and the said Coals to Sell , or cause to be Sold , at such Rates as the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen and Iustices respectively should judge reasonable , rendring to such Ingrosser or Retailer the Money for which the said Coals should be so Sold , necessary Charges being deducted : And by the said Act provision is made , That no Person having any Interest in any Wharfe used for the Receiving or Vttering of Coals , or that should Trade by himself , or others in his own or any other Name , in the Sale of any Coals , or the Ingrossing the same in order to Sale , and not for his own private use only , should any ways Act or Intermeddle in the Setting of the Price of Coals : Which Act being made to continue for Threé Years , did long since Expire , but being found to be very useful and beneficial to this Kingdom , was , by Act of Parliament made in the Second Year of Our Reign , continued for the space of Seven Years , from the First Day of December One thousand six hundred and ninety , and from thence to the end of the First Session of Parliament then next following . And by the said last mentioned Act it is made lawful for any Owners of Ships or Vessels English built , and belonging to the Subjects of England , whereof the Master is an English Man , Trading with Coals to and from Newcastle , or the Parts adjacent , or any Parts of Wales to the Port of London , or any other Part of England , to Navigate the said Ship or Vessel with as many Foreign Seamen as the Master or Owners should think fit , during the present War with France , and no longer , notwithstanding the Act for Encouraging and Encreasing of Shipping and Navigation , made in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of Our said Royal Vnkle . Which good Laws being still in Force , yet for want of the due and effectual Execution of the same , the Prices of Coals are now Vnreasonably and Excessively Heightned , to the great prejudice of Our good Subjects ; We have therefore out of Our Princely Wisdom and Tender Compassion and Care for the good of Our Subjects , thought fit , by and with the Advice of Our Privy Counvil , to Issue this Our Royal Proclamation , and We do hereby straitly Charge and Command , as well the Lord Mayor , Aldermen , and Iustices of the Peace of and for Our City of London , as also all other Iustices of the Peace , Chief Magistrates and Officers respectively , That they and every of them in their respective Places and Stations , and within their respective Iurisdictions , do forthwith , and without any Delay , put in due and effectual Execution the said Act for Regulating the Measures and Prices of Coals , and all the Powers and Authorities thereby Given and Granted to the said Lord Mayor , Aldermen , and Iustices of Peace respectively , within their respective Iurisdictions , according to the Tenor and Intent of the said Act ; And that frequent Meetings , as well in Publick and Private Sessions , as otherwise , be for that purpose Had and Appointed . And Our further Pleasure is , and We do hereby Command , That there be a Present and Punctual Observation of this Our Royal Command ; And that the said Lord Mayor , Aldermen and Iustices respectively , do give an Account of their Proceédings in the Premisses unto Vs , and Our Privy Council , on or before the Eighteénth ●ay of this Instant April , as they tender Our Displeasure , and will answer the Contrary at their Perils .