DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0080
64 THE EARLY HISTORY OF
on the civil authorities to back it up by the
arm of the law. It had the right, too, of
levying duties on Levant merchandise, either
exported or imported. And, of course, only
members of the company had the privilege
of trading in the Levant area.52 This privi-
lege appears to have been jealously guarded,
and breaches were punished by the seizure
of the offender’s goods to the extent of 20
per cent, of their value. To hedge round this
privilege still more the Custom House officers
were to levy duties only on goods for the
Levant which belonged to members of the
company.53
52 This area covered (roughly) the Eastern portion
of the Mediterranean Sea.
53 It is interesting to note that the company ap-
peared to be satisfied with this charter until the year
1632. In that year it was discussed at a meeting of
the Court of Assistants (Minutes, February 14, 1632)
whether to petition the king to renew the charter “ the
same being conceived to be defective in some main
material points.” It was decided that “ it were very
requisite to have the charter renewed.” This recom-
mendation was brought besore the General Court of
Members (Min. February 20, 1632) and accepted. A
committee was appointed to consider the clauses of the
charter and to suggest improvements. But it appears
that nothing came of this.
The only other charter issued to the company was
on the civil authorities to back it up by the
arm of the law. It had the right, too, of
levying duties on Levant merchandise, either
exported or imported. And, of course, only
members of the company had the privilege
of trading in the Levant area.52 This privi-
lege appears to have been jealously guarded,
and breaches were punished by the seizure
of the offender’s goods to the extent of 20
per cent, of their value. To hedge round this
privilege still more the Custom House officers
were to levy duties only on goods for the
Levant which belonged to members of the
company.53
52 This area covered (roughly) the Eastern portion
of the Mediterranean Sea.
53 It is interesting to note that the company ap-
peared to be satisfied with this charter until the year
1632. In that year it was discussed at a meeting of
the Court of Assistants (Minutes, February 14, 1632)
whether to petition the king to renew the charter “ the
same being conceived to be defective in some main
material points.” It was decided that “ it were very
requisite to have the charter renewed.” This recom-
mendation was brought besore the General Court of
Members (Min. February 20, 1632) and accepted. A
committee was appointed to consider the clauses of the
charter and to suggest improvements. But it appears
that nothing came of this.
The only other charter issued to the company was