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

8o THE EARLY HISTORY OF
per annum over and above what he could
procure from the Grand Signior. In con-
sideration of the allowance he should defray
the cost of presents 36 out of his own purse.
His chief business was to help to collect the
consulage, “ which is the means of discharging
and paying the charges.”
Sir John Eyre did not occupy his position
long ; he quarrelled with the company and
seized their money and property at Constan-
tinople.37 Whereupon negotiations were en-
tered into with Sir Thomas Rowe, which
ended successfully. At a meeting of the
court on 31 July, 1621,38 Rowe was made a
Freeman of the company and is spoken of as
“ the now elect ambassador.” His term of
office expired in the spring of 1628, but already
in 1626 39 Sir Peter Wiche was made free of
the company and chosen successor to Rowe,
fix this rate of exchange for any particular year. It
must have been in Elizabeth’s reign, for “ her majesty ”
is mentioned in the document. In 1617 (Min. 24 Sept.,
1617) a chequin exchanged for eight shillings and six-
pence.
36 On presents, cf. Appendix VIII, No. 1 (p. 243).
37 Cf. Min. June 14, 1621.
38 See Minutes under this date.
39 Cf. Min. March 6, 1626.