DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0073
THE LEVANT COMPANY 57
of conscience which the Turks allow all Chris-
tians.42
Now if the trade was to be continued, an
Ambassador and consuls would have to be
maintained as before, and for this some organi-
zation was clearly necessary. All things
seemed to point in the direction of continuing
the Company. But the King was deter-
mined to have no monopoly 43 of the trade
nor to reserve it for any limited number of
merchants.44 And so, when the new charter
was issued, on December 14, 1605, it was no
narrow clique that was formed into the
Levant Company.
The aim of this, the first perpetual, charter
may perhaps be best expressed in the words
42 “ And notwithstanding that the Turks in general
be a most wicked people, walking in the works of dark-
ness . . . yet notwithstanding do they permit all
Christians, both Greeks and Latins, to live in their
religion and freely to use their conscience, allowing
them churches for their divine service, both in Con-
stantinople and very many other places, whereas to the
contrary by proof of 12 years residence in Spain I can
truly affirm, we are not only forced to observe their
popish ceremonies but in danger of life and goods. . . .”
43 S. P. D. James I. vol. 20, No. 25.
44 This notion is expressed in the charter of the
Company. See Appendix I. page 154.
of conscience which the Turks allow all Chris-
tians.42
Now if the trade was to be continued, an
Ambassador and consuls would have to be
maintained as before, and for this some organi-
zation was clearly necessary. All things
seemed to point in the direction of continuing
the Company. But the King was deter-
mined to have no monopoly 43 of the trade
nor to reserve it for any limited number of
merchants.44 And so, when the new charter
was issued, on December 14, 1605, it was no
narrow clique that was formed into the
Levant Company.
The aim of this, the first perpetual, charter
may perhaps be best expressed in the words
42 “ And notwithstanding that the Turks in general
be a most wicked people, walking in the works of dark-
ness . . . yet notwithstanding do they permit all
Christians, both Greeks and Latins, to live in their
religion and freely to use their conscience, allowing
them churches for their divine service, both in Con-
stantinople and very many other places, whereas to the
contrary by proof of 12 years residence in Spain I can
truly affirm, we are not only forced to observe their
popish ceremonies but in danger of life and goods. . . .”
43 S. P. D. James I. vol. 20, No. 25.
44 This notion is expressed in the charter of the
Company. See Appendix I. page 154.