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

78 THE EARLY HISTORY OF

the salary.30 The first Ambassador mentioned
in the Minutes was Mr. Paul Pindar 31; but
as the Minutes recording his appointment
are lost, we are unable to discover the terms
of his appointment. His letters of recall
bore date 25 Jan., 1617,32 and his successor,
Sir John Eyre, was elected at the court held
on 1st August, 1619. His first letters home,
bearing date 28 April, 8 May, and 17 June,
were read at the court held on 4 Aug., 1620.33
30 But before recalling an Ambassador the Company
had to get permission from the Privy Council. Cf.
Min. 24 September, 1617, and Min. 4 Feb., 1617.
31 Min. November 4, 1614. In later documents he
is called Peter Pindar.
32 Min. February 4, 1617.
33 It may be of interest to note how long, in those
days, it took letters from the East to reach England.
Here is an example or two :
1. Letter dated November 18 from Aleppo, was read in
London February 25.
2. Letter dated December 24 from Constantinople was
read in London February 25.
3. Letter dated January 25 from Aleppo, was read in
London May 7.
4. Letter dated September 7 from Patras, was read in
London May 25.
5. Letter dated January 26 from Smyrna, was read in
London May 25.
6. Letter dated May 28 from Patras, was read in Lon-
don October 6.