In August in the thirteenth year of his reign, according to Gardiner, King Charles created a new corporation of free hostmen in Newcastle, and granted a lease to Sir Thomas Tempest and others, for the selling of all coals exported from the Tyne; who were to receive 11s. 4d. per chaldron custom, and 12s. from all strangers, and to have 2d. per chaldron towards their charge, and were empowered to seize all coals sold by the owners of such coals. The chaldron to consist of twenty-one bolls (47 cwt.). The lease to continue for twenty-one years from January then last past.

An agreement was likewise entered into for the same length of time in 1638, between the King on the first part, the Governor, Stewards, and Brethren of the Hoastmen of the second part, and the Coal Owners of the third part, for all coals to be sold only to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, at the price, in the first instance, of 11s. per chaldron for coals loaded into English, and 12s. per chaldron for coals loaded into foreign ships, with a clause providing for an advance of price, if necessary, at the end of any seven years of the term. To this agreement the following colliery owners subscribed their names:

1 Nicholas Blaxton
2 John Marley
3 Henry Eden

Source: Annals of Coal Mining and the Coal Trade by Robert L. Galloway. Published in 1898.