DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0069
THE LEVANT COMPANY
53
Altogether, then, the state of the trade
was wholly unsatisfactory. It was unor-
ganized ; it suffered not only from the com-
petition of the Venetians but also from that
of the newly-founded East India Company.33
For whereas before, all spices, silks and other
Eastern goods had been brought through
Persia into Turkey and thence to England,
they were now brought to England direct
from the Indies. It became clear that some-
thing would have to be done if the trade was
to continue in a healthy condition. Salis-
bury evidently tried to get expert advice on
the whole matter. For there is a letter 34
of his extant, dated September 8, 1605, and
addressed to the Chief Justice, asking his
advice about various questions of trade,
including also the trade of the Levant. What
he specially wanted to know was whether it
would be better to form a limited company
for the Levant trade or for the trade to be
thrown open to all. Salisbury himself said
that he rather favoured an open company,
free to all on payment of an entrance fee of
33 Cf. S. P. D. James I. vol io, No. 27.
34 S. P. D. James I. vol. 15, No. 54.
53
Altogether, then, the state of the trade
was wholly unsatisfactory. It was unor-
ganized ; it suffered not only from the com-
petition of the Venetians but also from that
of the newly-founded East India Company.33
For whereas before, all spices, silks and other
Eastern goods had been brought through
Persia into Turkey and thence to England,
they were now brought to England direct
from the Indies. It became clear that some-
thing would have to be done if the trade was
to continue in a healthy condition. Salis-
bury evidently tried to get expert advice on
the whole matter. For there is a letter 34
of his extant, dated September 8, 1605, and
addressed to the Chief Justice, asking his
advice about various questions of trade,
including also the trade of the Levant. What
he specially wanted to know was whether it
would be better to form a limited company
for the Levant trade or for the trade to be
thrown open to all. Salisbury himself said
that he rather favoured an open company,
free to all on payment of an entrance fee of
33 Cf. S. P. D. James I. vol io, No. 27.
34 S. P. D. James I. vol. 15, No. 54.