DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0081
THE LEVANT COMPANY 65
that of Charles II, which bore date April 2, 1661. It
states that whereas “ in these late years of libertinism
many of the known privileges of the company had been
violated,” the company had petitioned to have their
powers confirmed. This the charter did. The pre-
amble re-states the points of James’ charter as to the
name of the Society, as to its being a legal person, as
to its seal, its officers, the admittance of members, its
meetings, and its authority to levy duties on goods.
All these are confirmed by the charter of Charles and
other (new) points of importance are added. The
principal are these : (1) The company was given the
right of levying duties on aliens, such duties to be
double of what members of the company paid. (2) Eng-
lish subjects living or trading in the lands within the
influence of the company should be subject to English
justice and not to native justice. Should they show
themselves stubborn in this matter, power was given
to the company or its officers to transport such culprits
to England, where they would be dealt with according
to their deserts. (3) The company might administer
oaths to “ all merchants, factors, masters and pursers
of ships ” that they make a true entry of the goods on
board their ships. (4) “ And forasmuch as we are in-
formed that many inconveniences have happened to
the said trade by reason of too popular and general
elections of officers for government thereof by persons
not at ah interested or concerned in the said trade, We
therefore for us, our heirs and successors do will, ordain
and grant to the said governor and company and their
successors for ever by these presents, that no person or
persons whatsoever of the said company, from hence-
forth for ever hereafter, shall be admitted to vote or
give any voice or suffrage in the election, nomination,
choice and appointment of any officer or minister . . .
F
that of Charles II, which bore date April 2, 1661. It
states that whereas “ in these late years of libertinism
many of the known privileges of the company had been
violated,” the company had petitioned to have their
powers confirmed. This the charter did. The pre-
amble re-states the points of James’ charter as to the
name of the Society, as to its being a legal person, as
to its seal, its officers, the admittance of members, its
meetings, and its authority to levy duties on goods.
All these are confirmed by the charter of Charles and
other (new) points of importance are added. The
principal are these : (1) The company was given the
right of levying duties on aliens, such duties to be
double of what members of the company paid. (2) Eng-
lish subjects living or trading in the lands within the
influence of the company should be subject to English
justice and not to native justice. Should they show
themselves stubborn in this matter, power was given
to the company or its officers to transport such culprits
to England, where they would be dealt with according
to their deserts. (3) The company might administer
oaths to “ all merchants, factors, masters and pursers
of ships ” that they make a true entry of the goods on
board their ships. (4) “ And forasmuch as we are in-
formed that many inconveniences have happened to
the said trade by reason of too popular and general
elections of officers for government thereof by persons
not at ah interested or concerned in the said trade, We
therefore for us, our heirs and successors do will, ordain
and grant to the said governor and company and their
successors for ever by these presents, that no person or
persons whatsoever of the said company, from hence-
forth for ever hereafter, shall be admitted to vote or
give any voice or suffrage in the election, nomination,
choice and appointment of any officer or minister . . .
F