Show edicts against coal it is said that when coal was first used in england the prejudice against it was so strong that the house of commons petitioned the king to prohibit the further use of the infernal and noxious fuel 11 A royal proclamation having failed to abate the nuisance a commission was appointed to ascertain who burned 11 coles within the limits of the city of london to punish by branding for the first firs t offense and by demolition of the furnaces for the second finally when minor punishments had no effect a law was passed making coal burning a capital offense in the records of the old tower there I 1 is s an account of a man who was hanged there for no other crime than that of using coal for fuel contrary to royal edict this in the time of edward dward F I 1 |