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

126 THE EARLY HISTORY OF
weight at most. In order that this quantity,
and no more, be bought, an agent of the com-
pany was to be sent to Zant and Cepha-
lonia 42 and he should be made acquainted
with every bargain, though he himself was
forbidden to trade or to act as factor for
another.
These recommendations came before the
Assistants 43 who put them, together with one
or two other points, into the form of an Act
which the members considered.44 The first
recommendation they accepted : it was to
the esfect that means should be taken to
remove the exactions which the State of
Venice laid on currants from Zant and Cepha-
lonia. The second laid it down that no ship
should take in currants at either of the islands
before December i in each year. The mem-
bers agreed to this so far as that year was con-
cerned, but that later on, if occasion arose,
it should be amended. As to the price of
42 At the same meeting it was also resolved to make
proclamation in those islands, informing the inhabitants
that unless they cured their currants well the English
would not buy any.
43 Min. March 4, 1637.
44 Min. March 10, 1637.