424 ^' ^' 1^43* 



By an ordinance of the lords and commons in parliament in the year 

 1643, the fines for the freedom of the company of the merchant-adven- 

 turers of England were doubled, viz. Lioo for a Londoner, and L50 for 

 one in any of the outports ; with power alfo for this fociety to imprifon 

 fuch as refufed to pay the faid fines. The words of the ordinance of the 

 lords and commons (being one of the firfl ads or ordinances ifllied by 

 their authority without the royal afl^ent) are as follow, viz. ' that this 

 company having been found very ferviceable and profitable to this 

 ftate, and efpecially to the antient and great trade of clothing ; this 

 fellowfliip fliall therefor continue and be a corporation, with power 

 to levy monies on its members and their goods, for the neceflary 

 charge and maintenance of their government. And that no perfon 

 fhall trade within their limits but freemen of the corporation, upon 

 forfeiture of their goods ; provided, that this company fhall not ex- 

 clude any perfon from his freedom therein who fhall defire it by way 

 of redemption, if fuch perfon by their cuftom be capable thereof, 

 hath been a bred merchant, and fhall pay Lioo for the fame, if a 

 freeman of London, and trading from that port ; or L50 if not free 

 of London, and not trading from that port. They fhall have power 

 to imprifon members in matters of government, and to adminifler 

 fuch oaths to them, as fhall be approved by parliament; provided alfo, 

 that all rights confirmed by adl: of parliament or antient charters lliall 

 be hereby faved. And it was ordered, that a bill be prepared for pafiT- 

 ing an ad: in this prefent parliament for farther fettling and confirm- 

 ing the privileges of this fellowfhip, and this ordinance in the mean 

 time to remain in force.' 

 But this was in confideration of no lefs a fum than L30,ooo advanced 

 to the parliament by the merchant-adventurers. 



In the fiime year there came out a like ordinance of parliament in 

 favour of the Levant (or Turkey) company, declaring, ' that, for the 

 ' encouragement of that fellowfliip, which, befide the building and 

 ' maintaining of divers great fliips, and the venting of kerfies, fayes, 



* perpetuanos, and feveral other commodities, hath been found very 



* ferviceable to this flate, by advancing navigation, and tranfporting 

 ' into foreign parts, for feveral years together, above 20,000 broad 

 ' cloths yearly, befides other commodities, dyed and drefled in their 



* full manufadure, and for the better government and regulating of 

 ' trade, the faid fellowfliip fliall continue to be a corporation, and Ihall 



* have the free choice and removal of all officers, &c. who are to be 



* maintained by them either at home or abroad, whether anibafladors, 

 ' governors, deputies, confuls, &c. And fhall have power to levy mo- 



* nies on their members and on ftrangers upon all goods fliipped in 



* Englifh bottoms, or on ftrangers bottoms, going to, or coming from, 



* the Levant, for the fupply of their own necefl^ary expenfe, as well as 



