DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0071
THE LEVANT COMPANY 55
the growth of shipping,39 the increase of
sailors, and the consequent increasing of the
forces of the country.40 The company had
been instrumental in setting to work more
than 40,000 persons to make fustians ; they
had also been the means of freeing Christian
captives in Turkey. On the other hand,
Staper was not slow in pointing out what
harm might ensue if the intercourse with
Turkey were broken off. Apart from the fact
that the English navy would suffer and the
number of English sailors (for whom a great
number of houses had of late years been built
39 “ It is very strange that this trade should be so
much overburdened, more than any other, being the
most beneficial trade that is in this land for maintenance
of great shipping, increase of skilful mariners, setting
awork above 100,000 people in divers parts of this
land by making of fustians which hath been brought
in by our industry and charge.” S. P. D. James I.
vol. 15, No. 4.
40 Staper says, “ The use and trade of merchants,
what good it doth is seen by the ssourishing estates of
Italy, Holland and Zeland, whereby they, our neigh-
bours, have much increased their shipping, which the
French doth imitate. Therefore under your honour’s
correction we think it shall be for the safety of this
kingdom to be still furnished with ships and mariners,
thereby to be masters of the seas as heretofore we have
been.”
the growth of shipping,39 the increase of
sailors, and the consequent increasing of the
forces of the country.40 The company had
been instrumental in setting to work more
than 40,000 persons to make fustians ; they
had also been the means of freeing Christian
captives in Turkey. On the other hand,
Staper was not slow in pointing out what
harm might ensue if the intercourse with
Turkey were broken off. Apart from the fact
that the English navy would suffer and the
number of English sailors (for whom a great
number of houses had of late years been built
39 “ It is very strange that this trade should be so
much overburdened, more than any other, being the
most beneficial trade that is in this land for maintenance
of great shipping, increase of skilful mariners, setting
awork above 100,000 people in divers parts of this
land by making of fustians which hath been brought
in by our industry and charge.” S. P. D. James I.
vol. 15, No. 4.
40 Staper says, “ The use and trade of merchants,
what good it doth is seen by the ssourishing estates of
Italy, Holland and Zeland, whereby they, our neigh-
bours, have much increased their shipping, which the
French doth imitate. Therefore under your honour’s
correction we think it shall be for the safety of this
kingdom to be still furnished with ships and mariners,
thereby to be masters of the seas as heretofore we have
been.”