Epstein, Mordecai: The English Levant Company: its foundation and its history to 1640 (London: George Routledge & Sons Ltd, 1908)

68 THE EARLY HISTORY OF
tunately there are a goodly number extant.
To begin with, the company had nine officials.2
The Governor stood at the head of the com-
pany ; at his side were the deputy Governor
and Assistants. The Treasurer had charge
of the company’s cash ; there was also a
Husband, whose duty it was to keep the
papers, bonds and seals of the company,3 as
well as to pass the Bills of entry for goods on
Ships 4 ; a Secretary ; a Bookkeeper ; and
a Beadle. Later on auditors were elected.
These are first mentioned in 1632 5 as having
been annually elected like the other officers.
Before 1632 they were elected as required.
Many of the men who held the position of
Governor 6 appear to have been men of
inssuence in their generation. Thus, Sir
Thomas Lowe, who was nominated in the
Charter of James I, as the first governor of
and gives a very good view of the development of the
company and of its policy.
2 The first list of officials is to be found in the Minutes
for February 14, 1614.
3 Cf. Minutes, February 9, 1617.
4 Cf. Min. October 5, 1631.
5 Min. February 5, 1632.
6 A full list of Governors is given in Appendix IT.
(page 211).