DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0025
THE LEVANT COMPANY
9
No doubt this was just a case of two
enterprising merchants who wished to open
up new markets. For though the Venetian
merchants, as we have seen, continued their
commerce with England as late as 1587, yet
it may be assumed that they were not very
numerous and could not adequately supply
the demand. Accordingly it was but natural
to find English merchants bent on making
an attempt for themselves. Sir Edward
Osborne and Richard Staper, about the
year 1575 sent two agents to Constantinople25
to procure a safe-conduct from the Sultan
for one, William Harborne, who was factor
for Sir Edward. The agents were successful,
and in July, 1578, William Harborne set sail
from London, travelling overland26 to Con-
stantinople where he arrived on October 28
25 Hakluyt V. p. 168.
26 Harborne travelled overland in order that no
attention might be directed to his journey. Walsing-
ham in his “ Considerations of the Trade into Turkey ”
(S. P. D. Eliz. vol. 144, No. 70) says that the Ambassa-
dor’s “ repair thither is to be handled with great secrecy
and his voyage to be performed rather by land than
by sea, for that otherwise the Italians that are here
will seek underhand that he may be disgraced at his
repair thither.” See Appendix VIII, No. 2 (page 248).
9
No doubt this was just a case of two
enterprising merchants who wished to open
up new markets. For though the Venetian
merchants, as we have seen, continued their
commerce with England as late as 1587, yet
it may be assumed that they were not very
numerous and could not adequately supply
the demand. Accordingly it was but natural
to find English merchants bent on making
an attempt for themselves. Sir Edward
Osborne and Richard Staper, about the
year 1575 sent two agents to Constantinople25
to procure a safe-conduct from the Sultan
for one, William Harborne, who was factor
for Sir Edward. The agents were successful,
and in July, 1578, William Harborne set sail
from London, travelling overland26 to Con-
stantinople where he arrived on October 28
25 Hakluyt V. p. 168.
26 Harborne travelled overland in order that no
attention might be directed to his journey. Walsing-
ham in his “ Considerations of the Trade into Turkey ”
(S. P. D. Eliz. vol. 144, No. 70) says that the Ambassa-
dor’s “ repair thither is to be handled with great secrecy
and his voyage to be performed rather by land than
by sea, for that otherwise the Italians that are here
will seek underhand that he may be disgraced at his
repair thither.” See Appendix VIII, No. 2 (page 248).