Early Voyages and Travels in the Levant - I.-The Diary of Master Thomas Dallam, 1599 1600; II.-Extracts From the Diaries of Dr. John Covel, 1670 1679; With Some Account of the Levant Company of Turkey Merchants #247859

Thomas Dallam went with the present of a marvel lous organ from Queen Elizabeth to the Sultan Mahomed III in 1599, our Company of Turkey Merchants had scarcely organised themselves. When Dr. Cove] went as chaplain to the embassy in 1670, the Company was still struggling to. Gain for itself those rights — or capitulations, as they are called — which formed the basis of the prosperity of the Company during the ensuing century and a half. Consequently, I think, a succinct account of the rise Of this Company will form a suitable intro duction to the perusal of the diaries themselves.