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

246 THE EARLY HISTORY OF

also the most part of the hitherpart of Europe
with such commodities as are transported
out of the said Turk’s dominions to the great
enriching of this realm.
Touching surety, which is the principal
matter we ought to have care of, we are first
to consider who will seek to impeach the
traffic by reason of the incomodity they shall
receive thereby.
The principal traders into his dominions
are the Italians, especially the Venetians, and
the French who do transport from Venice and
Marseilles the most part of the Kersies made
in this realm to his dominions, as also make
return of such commodities as are brought
from thence : somewhat also is done by those
of Ragousa, who also, it is to be thought, will
join with the other two in opposing themselves
to our trade that way.
It is also to be looked for that the King of
Spain who can never be long without wars
with the Turk will seek also to impeach any-
thing that may be to his benefit, being also
not the best affected towards us.
The ways they will take to impeach us will
be two—by fines and by force.