Epstein, Mordecai: The English Levant Company: its foundation and its history to 1640 (London: George Routledge & Sons Ltd, 1908)

54 THE EARLY HISTORY OF

£25, which, in his view, would cover all the
debts of the old company, and the expenses
which had grown up since the last charter
lapsed.
But Salisbury must have asked for infor-
mation as to the general state of the trade
also, for there is a letter from Richard Staper,35
dated July 8, 1605, giving a lengthy account
of the trade and what it meant for the coun-
try. Staper was one of the oldest of the
Levant merchants ; the first charter of Eliza-
beth for trade into Turkey, was issued to a
very few merchants, of whom he was one ;3C
he had been in Turkey as early as 1578,37
and was thus well qualified to give an opinion
on the question. He strongly advocated the
continuance of the trade and pointed out that
the greatest hindrance to its success was the
continued imposition on currants.38 Of the
advantages which arose to the country from
its continuance, the greatest in his view was
35 8. P. D. James I. vol. 15, No. 4.
36 Cf. 8. P. D. James I. vol. 10, No. 27 ; No. 30 ;
and see also above, p. 16.
37 8. P. D. James I. vol. 15, No. 4.
38 He gives a list of thirty-one ships, and also their
burden. See Appendix V, p. 225.