DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9697#0038
xxii
INTRODUCTION.
salary of ,£1,800 per ann. from the Company, besides
a portion of the consulage and other advantages, but
at the same time he was forbidden to carry on a
trade of any kind. During this period the Levant
Company continued to make satisfactory progress,
and the only thing to remark is the controversies
which, during the reigns of James I and Charles I,
raged between the regulated Companies, namely, the
Levant Company and Merchant Adventurers, against
the East India Company, which, as then constituted,
they considered as the monopoly of a few which told
against the monopoly of larger corporate bodies.
In 1643 further privileges were granted to the
Levant Company. In an ordinance of both Houses,
upholding the Levant Merchants, dated 9th of
March 1643, ^e following points occur :—
"That for the better supportation and encouragement of the
Fellowship of merchants of England, trading to the Levant Seas,
which, besides the building and maintaining of divers great ships,
both for defence and burthen, the venting of kerseys, sages,
perpatuanas, and several other commodities hath been found
very serviceable and profitable to the State, by advancing naviga-
tion, and transporting into foreigne parts for severall years to-
gether above 20,000 broadclothes per annum, besides other
commodities whereby the poor people are sett at worke, and the
whole kingdome receive benefit. The Lords and Commons do
ordaine :—
"That the Fellowship of Merchants trading to the Levant
Seas shall continue a corporation; that they shall have free choice
and removal of all ministers by them maintained at home and
abroad, whether they be dignified and called by the name of Am-
bassadors, Governours, Deputies, Consulls, or otherwise.
"That they shall have power to levie monies on the members
of their corporation, or on strangers; on goods shipped in English
bottoms, 01 on English goods in strange uottoms, wmch shall goe
INTRODUCTION.
salary of ,£1,800 per ann. from the Company, besides
a portion of the consulage and other advantages, but
at the same time he was forbidden to carry on a
trade of any kind. During this period the Levant
Company continued to make satisfactory progress,
and the only thing to remark is the controversies
which, during the reigns of James I and Charles I,
raged between the regulated Companies, namely, the
Levant Company and Merchant Adventurers, against
the East India Company, which, as then constituted,
they considered as the monopoly of a few which told
against the monopoly of larger corporate bodies.
In 1643 further privileges were granted to the
Levant Company. In an ordinance of both Houses,
upholding the Levant Merchants, dated 9th of
March 1643, ^e following points occur :—
"That for the better supportation and encouragement of the
Fellowship of merchants of England, trading to the Levant Seas,
which, besides the building and maintaining of divers great ships,
both for defence and burthen, the venting of kerseys, sages,
perpatuanas, and several other commodities hath been found
very serviceable and profitable to the State, by advancing naviga-
tion, and transporting into foreigne parts for severall years to-
gether above 20,000 broadclothes per annum, besides other
commodities whereby the poor people are sett at worke, and the
whole kingdome receive benefit. The Lords and Commons do
ordaine :—
"That the Fellowship of Merchants trading to the Levant
Seas shall continue a corporation; that they shall have free choice
and removal of all ministers by them maintained at home and
abroad, whether they be dignified and called by the name of Am-
bassadors, Governours, Deputies, Consulls, or otherwise.
"That they shall have power to levie monies on the members
of their corporation, or on strangers; on goods shipped in English
bottoms, 01 on English goods in strange uottoms, wmch shall goe