DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0075
THE LEVANT COMPANY 59
The charter 46 itself, (a verbose document)
makes this abundantly clear in the preamble.
We are there told that King James wished
the Levant trade to ssourish, but there was
to be no monopoly in it. Seemingly the
King was not alone in this ; the merchants
also inclined to that view.47 The broad out-
lines of the grant were considered at a Con-
ference held between royal commissioners
and those merchants who wished to enter the
Company. One hundred and nineteen names
were enumerated in the charter as forming the
nucleus of the present company, but this
number was not limited. Elaborate regula-
tions were laid down for admitting others.
Any English subject who was a merchant,
and over the age of twenty-six, might be
admitted on payment of £25, provided he
made application before the next Feast of the
Annunciation. If he did not and applied
after that date, the entrance fee would be £50.
This rule held good with regard to those who
wished to enter the Company on the occasion
46 The charter is given in sull in Appendix I.
47 Cf. S. P. D. James I. vol. 20, No. 25, and note
(45) on p. 58.
The charter 46 itself, (a verbose document)
makes this abundantly clear in the preamble.
We are there told that King James wished
the Levant trade to ssourish, but there was
to be no monopoly in it. Seemingly the
King was not alone in this ; the merchants
also inclined to that view.47 The broad out-
lines of the grant were considered at a Con-
ference held between royal commissioners
and those merchants who wished to enter the
Company. One hundred and nineteen names
were enumerated in the charter as forming the
nucleus of the present company, but this
number was not limited. Elaborate regula-
tions were laid down for admitting others.
Any English subject who was a merchant,
and over the age of twenty-six, might be
admitted on payment of £25, provided he
made application before the next Feast of the
Annunciation. If he did not and applied
after that date, the entrance fee would be £50.
This rule held good with regard to those who
wished to enter the Company on the occasion
46 The charter is given in sull in Appendix I.
47 Cf. S. P. D. James I. vol. 20, No. 25, and note
(45) on p. 58.