DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0097
THE LEVANT COMPANY 81
The first letter of Wiche signifying his arrival
at Constantinople bore date 19, April, 1628,
and was read at the Court held on 2 July
1628.40
The election of Wiche as Ambassador is
interesting as showing the interference of
Charles I and his high-handed treatment of
the Company.41 When Sir Thomas Rowe’s
term of office was about to expire, Charles
requested the Company to choose a certain
Sir Thomas Phillipps in his place. The
company demurred and petitioned to be
allowed to have the privilege, as they had
40 See Minutes under this date.
41 James had also interfered with them, though
perhaps with some justice. He did not seek to inssu-
ence the company in their election, but he insisted that
there must be an ambassador in Turkey. It so hap-
pened that in 1617 Peter Pindar asked to be relieved
of his duties. The company recalled him (see p. 78),
and pleading poverty, decided not to appoint another
ambassador, but only an agent. The difference between
the two is not quite clear. Perhaps if a person were
sent who was to be called agent, it would not be neces-
sary to pay him so large a salary as if he were called
ambassador. But James insisted that an ambassador
should be sent, and after refusing several times, the
company gave way and elected Sir John Eyre. See
Min. May 7, 1619 ; May 25, 1619 ; June 8, 1619 ;
June 13, 1619 ; and July 1, 1619.
G
The first letter of Wiche signifying his arrival
at Constantinople bore date 19, April, 1628,
and was read at the Court held on 2 July
1628.40
The election of Wiche as Ambassador is
interesting as showing the interference of
Charles I and his high-handed treatment of
the Company.41 When Sir Thomas Rowe’s
term of office was about to expire, Charles
requested the Company to choose a certain
Sir Thomas Phillipps in his place. The
company demurred and petitioned to be
allowed to have the privilege, as they had
40 See Minutes under this date.
41 James had also interfered with them, though
perhaps with some justice. He did not seek to inssu-
ence the company in their election, but he insisted that
there must be an ambassador in Turkey. It so hap-
pened that in 1617 Peter Pindar asked to be relieved
of his duties. The company recalled him (see p. 78),
and pleading poverty, decided not to appoint another
ambassador, but only an agent. The difference between
the two is not quite clear. Perhaps if a person were
sent who was to be called agent, it would not be neces-
sary to pay him so large a salary as if he were called
ambassador. But James insisted that an ambassador
should be sent, and after refusing several times, the
company gave way and elected Sir John Eyre. See
Min. May 7, 1619 ; May 25, 1619 ; June 8, 1619 ;
June 13, 1619 ; and July 1, 1619.
G