are the same as are current throughout Turkey save that the neighbourhood of Tartaria and Muscovia makes the Coins of those places and Kingdoms likewise pass current there as it is found in all frontier Towns which border upon two Nations and that are either free of themselves or subject to other therefore for the same I will reset the Reader to the Coins current in those bordering Countreys The weight of Caffa Their weight is a Rotolo 100 whereof makes a Cantar which answers in Averdupois weight to 70 l. English which said Cantar is divided into several divisions according to the Commodity bought or sold thereby as sometimes to Batmas accounting 7½ Batmas to a Cantar and 12 Rotolo's to a Batma and then a Cantar is but 90 Rotolo's and sometimes to Sommas and Saggies as 124 Saggies makes a Somma and ten Somma's make a Cantar of 100 Rotolo's abovesaid and Silk is sold by this Somma and 20 Somma's to a Draught which is 2 Cantars and is English about 140 l. and in Venetia sotile weight 112 l. circa The Measures of Caffa Their measure so far as I could learn is but one which is the Pico the 100 whereof made in Venetia by trial of a friend silk Braces 130 and this Pico is divided into 8 Rups as at Constantinople Accounts in Caffa They have also a Coin which is called a Somma in which their Accounts are kept and to which other Coins current are reduced and the same is divided to Saggis which they account by 45 Saggis to a Somma and 4 Sommes to a Soltany or Chequin and thus much shall serve for the Trade of Caffa CHAP. LXXXV Of Astracan and the Trade thereof Astracan and the Trade thereof ASTRACAN is in Tartaria Asiatica as I shall shew hereafter seated in the Emboshure of the River Volga having 70 months and receives the Trade of all the Caspian-Sea into which the said River entreth it hath a very great confluence of Merchants who by the benefit of that Sea have here a very great Trade Volga bringing it all the Commodities of Muscovia Russia and Tartaria and this Sea the commodities of Persia Arabia and other Provinces abutting thereupon it is situate in an Island of 12 leagues compass defended by a wooden Castle and earthen Walls taken by the Muscovites in Anno 1552. from the Tartarians it is all Winter shut up by the immeasurable cold and all Traffick over and upon this great stream is performed on dry foot The Coins here current by reason of my ignorance I must refer to the better experienced The Weights of Astracan Their weights are here two a gross for gross Commodities and a sotile for fine Commodities the gross Cattar hath been observed to have in England yielded 268 l. the small Cantar hath made English 103 l. now in both these Cantars there is accounted 20 Rotolo's to a Lib and 5 Libs to a Cantar and 12 Tochats to a Rotolo which by the ingenious may easily be reduced to the sotile English pound therefore I pass it over and come in the next place to the measuras Measures of Astracan The common measure is a Pico and the 100 thereof hath made by observation in Venetia 126 Braces of Cloth measure which is in England about inches Corn and Wine Corn and all other grain is sold by a measure called the Chistetto which in Venetia comes to make 8½ Staios Wine and liquid Commodities is sold by the Butt which is 46 Mistaties and which also renders in Venetia 3¼ Bigonso Tartaria Asiatica In Tartaria Asiatica there are few Cities for the Inhabitants by borders or tribes travel with their substance from one place to another yet in this Tract is found Casan and Astracan afore-named which is a very great Town of Commerce considering these Regions commodiously seated as I said before on the mouth of the River Volga by which there is a passage sound from the Caspian-Sea in some seasons of the year up to Mosco and by which way as I noted in the trade of Persia some Merchants of Christendom more than once intended to transport the silks and other the riches of Persia to Muscovia and so to Europe but the design proved dangerous and chargeable by reason of such potent Princes that border upon that River and by reason that the same must pass against the current stream which in Winter is not found passable by reason of the Frost by which and other discouragements the design was given over and fell to nothing Tartaria antiqua In Tartaria Antiqua I find not any thing worthy of note nor yet City of import the Inhabitants living like Vagabonds Rhubarb only it affordeth Rhubarb which is so excellent in Physick by its proper nature that the whole World is beholding to these Barbarians for the same as a Cure for many Diseases CHAP. LXXXVI Of Zagathai and Cathai and the Provinces thereof Zagachai ZAgathai contains sundry Provinces and but few Cities Sarmacand the most famous is Sarmacand which gave both Cradle and Grave to mighty Tamberlain from whom the Great Moguls boast themselves to be lineally descended Cathai But Cathai is esteemed the richest and civilest Kingdom of all Tartary the which is furnished with sundry great and populous Cities Cambalu especially Cambalu the residence of the Great Cham and where Merchants of all Nations are found to reside and Traffick to as I shall shew hereafter Commodities of Cathai This Country is found to abound with Rice Grain Wooll Hemp Rhuharb Coral and abundance of Silks both growing and brought hither from China and other Countreys amounting to two thousand Carts yearly the City is held to be 30 miles about in compass and is replenished with all Artsmen Astrologers being here in great reputation which may considering their number found here being as some write 5000 be more properly termed Fortune-tellers or Gypsies but these Countreys resemble in customs the Muscovite and Chinois none being permitted to search into their Cities and manners except they come either as Ambassadors or Merchants yet what I have gathered of the Trade of this Country I will include under the title of Cambalu the principal City of this Empire CHAP. LXXXVII Of Cambalu and the Trade thereof Cambalu and the Trade thereof CAmbalu the Metropolis of Cathai as Sarmacand is of Zagathai is seated on the North-East bordering of this Countrey containing both the old and new City through which doth run the famous River of Polisanga it is accounted 28 miles in compass or rather in square each Angle containing 7 miles and in every square is placed three principal Gates which incloseth the Town with Earthen Walls or Rampiers of 10 paces in thickness and every Gate comprehending a sumptuous Palace and every Angle having also an excellent Palace where the Armours of the Garrison Souldiers are kept which is 1000 Souldiers at every Gate The Buildings are
especially to Spain and from thence to the West Indies The Stockings here vended may in time of Free Trade be estimated at 60000 l. per annum and are not under any Company or Government but are here put out to knitting by certain Citizens brought up thereto and so sent up to London to their Factors which sell them to Merchants who transport them to Spain France Portugal The Advancement of these Manufactures is Peace and Free Trade with those Nations whither they are exported and the chiefest Prejudice to the Makers of these Manufactures is the Decay of Sheep by the Rot and Casualties and the suffering our Wools to be exported unwrought into Holland and other places The Country hereabouts affords great quantities of Sheep and Conies and is well stored with Corn of all sorts especially Barly which is here converted into Malt whereof in former times great quantities have been lent to London and Scotland All Grain according to the Custom of the Country is here sold by the Score which is 20 Cooms every Coom being 4 Bushels and have 1 Coom allowed to every Score as in Measure or Courtesie The Weights and Measures both dry and wet here used and other things enquirable according to the Articles of Instruction not herein before expressed are agreeable and do correspond with London Cambridge 20 Cambridgeshire is the 20. which is found to abound in Corn and wherein is seen the University of Cambridge and Ely famous for being the Seat of a Bishop Huntington 21 Huntingtonshire is the 21. the chief Town being Huntington Northamp 22 Northamptonshire is the 22. abounding in Corn Peterborough being here the Seat of a Bishop and Northampton the chief City Leicester 23. Leicestershire is the 23. abounding in Corn Leicester the chief Town is more famous for the Antiquity than for the Beauty thereof Rutland 24. Rutlandshire is the 24. and accounted the least County in this Kingdom Uppinham being the chief Town Lincoln 25. Lincolnshire is the 25 rich in Corn and Pasture abounding in Fish and Fowl Lincoln once a great City is yet the greatest in this County Nottingh 20. Nottinghamshire is the 26. wherein is Nottingham the chief Town and the Forest of Sherwood seeding many fallow and red Deer Darby 27. Darbyshire is the 27. the chief City is Darby famous for the Ale thereof in this County are many Mines of Lead and other Minerals Warwick 28. Warwickshire is the 28. wherein is found Warwick the chief Town and Coventry a fair walled City and accounted the fairest Inland City of this Island wherein no great quantity of Cloth is made Worcester 29 Worcestershire is the 29. wherein is sound the City of Worcester famous now for Clothing and the Seat of a Bishop Stafford 30. Staffordshire is the 30. which affords Salt-pits and Wells and Coals taken out of the Earth Stone and Lichfield being the principal Towns in this County Shropshire 31 Shropshire is the 31. wherein is found Ludlow of more Beauty than Antiquity honour'd with a Council and Court of Justice for Wales and a Palace for the Princes thereof Shrewsbury the chief of this County much inriched by their Trade for Cottons and Frizes with their Neighbours the Welsh whom yet notwithstanding they greatly affect not Chester 32. Cheshire is the 32. abounding in Pastures and excellent Cheeses hence transported throughout England it hath Chester for the chief City seated on the River Dee Hereford 33. Herefordshire is the 33. and boasteth to be for its Fertility and Abundance of all things the first Shire in England Hereford is the chief City and Lemster justly boasteth of the Sheeps Wool feeding in those Grounds with which no part of Europe can equalize Yorkshire 34. Yorkshire is the 34. and largest County in all England abounding in Corn Pasture and Meadows yielding Clothing by the Industry of the Inhabitants in abundance York is the chief City and the second in England also the Seat of an Arch-bishop here is a Court of Justice held for the neighbouring Marches like that of Ludlow In this County is also the Town of Hull seated on the River Humber where are found Merchants of good quality and here is also the Castle of Scarborough where in the adjoining Sea is the great Fishing found annually for Herrings Richmond 35 Richmond is the 35. in which are found Mountains to yield plentifully Lead Pit Coals and some Brass and the chief City is called Richmond Durham 36 The Bishoprick of Durham is the 36. pleasant in Meadows Pastures and Groves and aboundeth in Sea-Coal which is dig'd out of the Earth Durham is the chief City Lancashire 37 Lancashire is the 37. wherein is Manchester an old Town inriched by the Industry of the Inhabitants by Cloth of Linen and Woollen the City of Lancaster being the first of the Shire Westmerl 38. Westmerland is the 38. the chief Town whereof is Kendal famous for making of Woollen Cloth Cumberlan 39. Cumberland is the 39. affording Mines of Brass and some Veins of Silver and Black Lead in abundance also there is made much Linen Cloth in this County Carlisle is the principal Town where they are lately set to the making of Dimities which may in time prove a very considerable Manufacture Here are found apparent Ruines of that Wall which the Romans built to keep out the Picts from making incursions upon the Britains being as it seems then so poor that they cared not to subdue them Northumb. 40 Northumberland is the 40. wherein is found the Sea-Town of Newcastle which affords such abundance of Sea-Coal that the same is thence transported into many Kingdoms of the World Berwick here is also Berwick one of the strongest fortified Towns of England formerly strengthned against the Incursions of the Scots by a strong Garrison of Souldiers and now dismissed by the Happy Union of England and Scotland The Measures used in Morpeth 12 miles beyond Newcastle for hard Corn viz. Wheat Rye Pease and Beans is the Bole containing 2 Bushels every Bushel makes 2 Canings a Caning makes 2 Pecks every Peck 2 Houps each Houp 4 Fourth Parts This Morpeth Bole makes 3 Bushels or the Bole and half of the hard Corn Bole of Newcastle There is another Bole used for Barley there called Big and Oats which is bigger than the former Bole by one fifth part The Bole of Alnwick 12 miles beyond Morpeth for hard Corn contains a Morpeth Bole and a Houp or 1 10 part more The Bole for Oats with the Alnwick Charity as they call it which is a Houp makes the Bole for Big and Oats of Morpeth Their Bole for Big is less than the Morpeth Bole for Big 1 8 part The Bole of Wooll 20 miles beyond Alnwick for all Corn is bigger than that of Alnwick by â…› part or a Peck The Measure for Salt all the County over is the same Shires of Wales Having thus
considerable though not the biggest being not above six or seven miles long lying in 15 Degrees Latitude it had once a fair Town called Riblera but sackt and burnt by Sir Francis Drake Anno 1585. and afterwards in Anno 1596. by Sir Anthony Sherley it run the same fate it is at present pretty well Inhabited and hath a convenient Harbour called the Pry secured by a Castle where Ships may ride with its leave in safety they have some quantity of Sugar Sweet-meats and Coco-nuts being their chief Commodities which they exchange for such Commodities as they want for Cloathing as Cloth Stuffs of several sorts Linnens Hats and the like They have very large and good Cattel which they sell at easy rates about 25 s. aplece also Horses of excellent shape and metal but they are Contrabando Goods and not to be dealt in without leave from the Governour under no less penalty than forfeiture of Ship and Goods if he get you in his Command but by Graruities and a particular Trade with him small numbers are sometimes admitted to be carried from thence Ocknam's brave attempt If I should silently pass over the attempt of one John Ocknam a follower of Sir Francis Drake in his Worlds Incompassment in this place I should much wrong the honour due to so much worth This Man as Mr. Hackluit hath it with 70 Companions in a Creek a little above these Towns drew on shore his Bark covered the same with boughs and leaves and so leaving it marched over with his Company guided by some Negroes until he came to a River which ran into the South-Sea which by relation and Mercator's Maps may be Tomobonda or the Creek of Ventura where he cut down Timber built him a Frigat entred the South-Seas went to the Isle of Pearls lay there 10 days and there inteicepted in two Spanish Ships 60000 pound weight of Gold and 200000 pound weight of Silver in Ingots with divers other rich Commodities and after that returned safely again to the Main Land where rowing up the same Stream where his Frigat was built he was discovered by some feathers pluckt from certain Fowl they had kill'd for their Provision which swam upon the River down the Current and though by this means he was taken and returned not into his Countrey nor yet his hidden Vessel yet it is an Adventure that deserves a Remembrance from all such as are Lovers of their Countreys Honour and it is held in admiration by the Spanish Writers that have made mention thereof Andalusia Nova Andalusia Nova is the second the chief Cities are Santa Margarita and Santa Sperita Nova Granada Nova Granada is the third the chief City is Jungia a pleasant and strong Town directly seated under the Aequator the next is St. Foy an Archbishops See and a Court of Justice Cartagena Cartagena is the fourth accounted a fruitful Soil but therein is found a Tree that whosoever toucheth doth hardly escape poysoning the chief City is Cartagena which our Country-man Sir Frances Drake in Anno 1585 surprized where besides inestimable sums of Moneys he took with him from hence 240 pieces of Ordnance Guiana second Province Guiana is the second Province directly situated under the Equinoctial Line and is the fruitfullest part of Peruana The Inhabitants in Winter-time dwelling in Trees for fear of Inundations on which they built many pretty Villages and artificial Mansions it is watered with two goodly Rivers the one hath the name of Orinoque or rather Raliana borrowing the same from Sir Walter Rawleigh who first of all to any purpose made a plenary Survey of this Countrey with the Commodities and situation thereof in An. 1595. and found this River navigable for great Ships of burthen 1000 miles and for Boats and Pinnaces 2000 miles The other River is called Orellana or the Amazons discovered 1543. the which is found navigable 6000 miles and 200 miles broad at the entrance into the Sea Manoa the golden City The chief City of this Country and if Spanish Writers may herein be believed the chiefest City of the World is here found and called Manoa or as Diego Ordas the Discoverer called it el Dorado or the golden from the abundance of Gold both in Coin Plate Armour and other Furniture which he there saw This Discoverer or Traveller for by that name the truth of his wondrous Relation may be the better considered is said to have entred into the City at Noon and to have travelled all that day and the next also until night through the Streets hereof before he came to the Kings Palace which peradventure was the policy of those people as I have seen it to be in Constantinople in Anno 1621. when as the Duke of Avarascah coming with a great Train in Embassie from the King of Poland to Sultan Osman the then Great Turk after his unfortunate Expedition to Poland caused him and his whole Train to be led a whole afternoon through the most eminent Streets of that City when he first entred the same and so to his appointed Lodging whereas an hours easie walk to him that bad known the direct way would easily have served the turn perchance imagining this a fit way to demonstrate to the Embassadour the beauty and vastness of that City together with his own Greatness in ostentation and to recover that Honour and Repute which he had a little before lost by the Insolencie and Cowardise of his Souldiers in his said Expedition thither Peru the third Province The third Province is Peru which above all others in America abounds in Gold and Silver the Mine whereof in divers places is better stored with Metals than with Earth the chief City whereof is St. Michael the first Colony the Spaniards placed there and fortified by Piscaro a famous Spanish Captain who subdued the Countrey took the King thereof prisoner and had for a ransom for his Liberty and Life a house piled up on all sides with refined Gold and Silver in estimation about ten millions which when he had received most perfidiously contrary to his Oath and Promise slew him by which appears the wonderful Riches of this Countrey Besides which the Soil is luxuriant in all manner of Grain fortunate in the Civility of her Inhabitants frequency of Cities and salubrity of Air and abundantly stored with that Herb Tobacco from hence brought first into England by Sir Francis Drake's Marriners in Anno 1585. Râ—…la Plâ—ta In this Countrey is also now found that famous River called of Plate being 150 Miles broad at the Embesheur and above 2000 Miles long and on this Stream is found certain Fig-trees the part towards the River bearing Fruit in Winter and the other part thereof towards the Land bearing fruit in Summer Brasilia the 4 Province Brasilia is the fourth affording a Soil fat by nature and always flourishing yielding great store of Sugars and wonderful rich in Mines and hence our Red-wood which
the fifth Arguer the sixth is Alcaser near to which the three Kings Sebastian of Portugal Mahomet of Fesse and Abdelmelech of Morocco competitors for this Kingdom were slain in one day together with many others of eminent quality and Stuckley that famous infamous English Rebel in An. 1578. and seventh FESSE the Metropolis which for its greatness merits a more serious consideration CHAP. XXI Of the City FESSE and the Trade thereof City of Fesse and the Trade thereof THis City bears the name of Fesse from the abundance of Gold as Writers record that was found in digging the Foundation thereof it is beautified with many goodly Buildings both publick and private it is divided by the River Sabu into three parts containing in all 82000 Housholds having 700 Moschs or Temples 50 of them being adorned with Pillars of Alabaster and Jasper and one seated in the heart of the City called Carucen is the most sumptuous containing a mile in compass in breadth cantaining 17 Arches in length 120 and born up by two thousand five hundred white Marble Pillars under the chiefest Arch where the Tribunal is kept hangeth a most huge Lamp of Silver incompassed with 110 lesser under every the other Arches hang also very great Lamps in each of which burn 150 Lights it hath 31 Gates great and high the Roof is 150 yards long and 80 yards broad and round about are divers Porches containing 40 yards in length and 30 in breadth under which are the publick Store-houses of the Town about the Walls are Pulpits of divers sorts wherein the Masters of their Law read to the people such things as they imagine appertain to their salvation the Revenues thereof in Anno 1526 was 200 Ducates a day of old rent accounted 100 l. sterling until the late Civil Wars it was a City of great Traffick and many Merchants of divers Nations resorted hither and were allowed a publick Meeting-place for their Commerce and lodging for their residence being in form of a Court or Exchange inclosed with a strong Wall with 12 Gates and limited with 15 Streets for several Nations to meet for their business and for the laying up of their Commodities and every night for security of their Goods and Persons the same was kept guarded at the Cities charge resembling the Besistens or Canes now in use in Turkey and other Southern Countreys There is here also divers Colleges where the Sciences are taught amongst which Madorac is the chief and accounted for one of the excellentest Pieces for Workmanship in all Barbary It hath three Cloysters of admirable beauty supported with eight squares Pillars of divers colours the Roof curiously carved and the Arches of Mosaique of Gold and Azure the Gates are of Brass fair wrought and the Doors of the private Chambers of in-laid work It is recorded that this Colledge did cost the Founder King Abuchenen 480 thousand Sultanies in Gold which is in English Money 192 thousand pound which would hardly in these days were it now to be built perform the twentieth part thereof and this was not above 150 years past and about that time Henry the Seventh King of England did build that sumptuous Chappel in Westminster which as I have been informed did in those days coâ— 7448 l. and let it be judged by Artists how much more would build the fellow of it in these our days They have also here for the commodity and pleasure of the Citizens 600 Conduits from whence almost every house is served with water besides what goeth to their religious uses at the entries of their Temples and Moschs but I have staid too long in surveying this City I will now see what Commodities and Merchandize this Kingdom affords Commodities in the Kingdom of Fesse The Commodities found in general as well in the Kingdom of Fesse as of Morocco and found transportable for Merchandize is Fruits of all kinds such as is principally of Dates Almonds Figs Raisins Olives also Honey Wax Gold and sundry sorts of Hides and Skins especially that excellent sort of Cordovant from this Kingdom of Morocco called Maroquins famoused throughout Spain France and Italy also Corn Horses Wools whereof the Inhabitants are observed of late days to make some Cloath here is found also for Merchandize fabricated here some sorts of Stuffs of Silks as Sattins Taffataes and some sorts of Linnen much in use in this Countrey made partly of Cotton and partly of Flax and divers other Commodities Moneys of Fesse and Morocco The Moneys of this Kingdom and generally of all the Kingdoms of Morocco is the Xeriff or Ducate in Gold deriving the name thereof from the Xeriffs who within these few years made conquest of these Kingdoms under Pretext and colour of the Sanctity of their Religion and is accounted to be about ten shillings sterling Money divided into 8 parts and esteemed â…› each part which may be compared to be about 14 d. in 15 d. sterling Accounts in Fesse and Morocco They keep their Accounts in these places by Ducates or old Xeriffs now almost out of use divided into 8 parts accounted in common value but 12 d. every â…› though worth more as above is declared Weights in Fesse Their Weight here is two one used in all ordinary Commodities which is the Rorolo containing ounces or drams it having been found by observation that the 100 l. Averdupois London hath made here 64 Rotolos and 100 Rotolos is here a Cantar The second Weight is here the Mitigal used in the weighing of Silver Gold Pearl Musk and the like agreeing with the Mitigal used in Argier and Tunis spoken of before Measures in Fesse The common Measure for length is here the Covado 12 whereof is accounted to a Cane and it hath been observed by Barbary Merchants hither trading that the 100 Yards of London make here about 181 or 182 Covadoes Customs of Fesse and Morocco The Customs of Fesse and Morocco are paid at the entrance thereinto as is likewise due at the entrance of any other the Cities of this Kingdom and is by the Subjects Natives upon all Commodities paid two in the hundred and by all Strangers ten in the hundred collected for what is sold or landed without leave for Exportation again if once landed which causeth divers of our Merchants bound for those parts to make their Ships their Shops and consequently land so much of their Commodities as they imagine their Market will vend and no more But because the Kingdom of Morocco obeyeth the same Rules in matters of Trade I will speak a word of that place likewise and then survey the Trade of them both together as they are known now to us to be as it were but one though indeed different Kingdoms CHAP. XXII Of the Kingdom of MOROCCO and the Provinces thereof Morocco and the Provinces thereof THE Kingdom of Morocco once of great splendor is now divided into six Provinces the first Tangovista having a Town also of that
both in gross and retail and besides their subtilty in driving of bargains and making of contracts between man and man as Brokers they are here found to be of all Professions and are the Professors of all Arts. The last which I reckon in this roll is the Armenian Graecian and Coptie all Christians who in their way set the wheel of Trade on work by being some Shop-keepers some Artificers and some Merchants principally trading by Caravans to and from Aleppo Damascus Amman and Baruti and in the Commodities of those Countreys of Armenia Georgia and Persia they carry the principal swayand stroke all which considered what doth the place want to make it absolute but only what it hath lost which is the vast Trade of India which of late years the Portugals English and Flemming hath deprived them of which I leave them to sorrow for as for a thing past remedy Commodities of Grand Cairo and Aegypt The Commodities that this Countrey and place principally affordeth to these Merchants whereby their Commerce is now preserved to them is Flax and all sorts of Pulse abounding in the Province of Sahid where the Pharaohs resided Fruits Rice Balsam c. abounding in Eriffic where the Ptolemies resided Cottons Sugars and some Drugs c. abounding in Marrema where the Romans and Graecians resided and all these annually foretold by the Inundation of the Rivor Nilus discerned by a Pillar seated in the Island Michias opposite to the City of Cairo beginning ever to increase about the 15 of June so continuing 40 days increasing and 40 days decreasing as I said before the height of the increase giving assured testimony of that years abundance and plenty at the end whereof a solemn days feast is kept to Nilus in which it is oftentimes seen the Aegyptian to spend as much in jollity as with great pain and industry he hath gathered the whole year before with penury Revenues of Aegypt out of this plenty and abundance is yearly drawn for Revenue of this Kingdom three millions of Sheraffies in value 8 shillings Sterling apiece the one whereof is now adays sent to the Grand Seignior by Land and Caravan for fear of surprizal at Sea by the Florentine or Malta Gallies the second Million is spent in the pay of the Militia and Souldiery of this Countrey and the third rebounds to the benefit of the Bassa here resident for the Grand Seignior for the maintenance of his own Court and Dependents Their principal parts for Traffick in the Mediterranean Sea is Alexandria as before I noted accounted a free Port for Friend or Enemy the Harbour cammanded by a Castle and the entrance guided by an eminent Watch Tower to give light to Sailers the Customs of which place is farmed by Jews at 20 thousand Medins per diem 30 Medins accounted for a Ryal of eight Spanish which here may be valued 5 shillings Sterling the which by the year may amount to 55 thousand pound Sterling Customs of Alexandria All Goods entring here pay the Custom in species or compounded for at 10 in the hundred only Moneys entring pay but one and half per cent but outward all Commodities pay 11 per cent but this is to be accounted the Soldans Custom and called the great Custom the other Customs raised here is as much or very near as much more as he shall find to his cost that tradeth into these parts whereto for better tryal I will refer him Merchants of Cairo Now for the Trade in general of Cairo the Merchants thereof are found at this day in some sort to have the reliques of that former great Trade which they lost out of the Red-Sea for hence they send by Caravans sundry European Commodities thither especially at the time when the yearly Caravan departeth hence for Mecca and Medina Talnabi the Sepulchre of their false Prophet Mahomet which arriving at Sues in the Red-Sea is there found to have a general dispersion some going for the City of Assuan which is commodiously seated upon their River Nile and upon the borders of the Kingdom of Nubia which hence sits it self with the Commodities both of Asia and Europe and is equally distant between Cairo and the City of Suachen or Suasuem once the principal Port of this Kingdom situated on the Red-Sea but now in the subjection of the great Emperour of the Abassins from which is commodious Navigation to Brava Melinda Quiloa and other places along the Coast of Abex and Mosambique as I have mentioned before And because it is the principal Town of trading on Africa side in the Rea-Sea I hold it here worthy a better and more serious survey CHAP. XXXII SUACHEN on the Red-Sea and the Trade thereof Suachen on the Red-Sea and the Trade thereof Suachen famous for four excellencies needful in Trade SUACHEN is one of the richest Cities of the Orient situated within the Arabique Gulf in the Coast of Aethiopia sub Aegypto and amongst all the famous Cities of Trade in the Orient this is accounted equal if not superiour to them in four things the first in the goodness and security of the Haven the second in the facility and good service for lading and unlading of Ships the third in the Traffick with very strange and remote People and Countreys and of divers behaviours the fourth in the strength and situation of the City As for the goodness and security of the Port Nature hath so made it that it is defended from all storms whatsoever the Haven is capacious and large of smooth Tides the ground good and able in circuit to hold 300 great Sail of burthen with water at all times from six to twelve fathom the Ships are laden round about the whole circumference of the City casting only a plank into the Merchants Ware-houses where their Wares are kept and the Gallies fastning themselves to the stones and doors of their houses set their Prows over the Streets and by them as by Bridges they are commodiously laden or unladen and secondly as touching the Traffick and Navigation thereof few Cities can in these parts be compared with it for this City is found to have Traffick with all India intra and extra Gangem that is Cambaia Tanacerim Pegu Mallacca and with the Arabick with Judea Cairo and Alexandria as I said above and with all Aethiopia and the Land of Abexi from whence it gathereth great abundance of Gold and Ivory Thirdly For the situation of it for it is such as if Nature had framed it purposely for a Royal Mart for it is an Island round in form incompassed with many sholds and flats for defence of the Port and City occupying and taking up the whole body of the Island so that it may as properly be termed an Island of a City as a City in an Island for there is no one foot of waste ground upon the whole Island but is imployed in Housing and Magazines the manner of Trade here as far as I
likewise of those former Provinces named 6. Bengala 7. Aristan The sixth and seventh is Bengala and Aristan where is found the Cities of Cattigan and Satigan and principally for Trade that of Bengala on the Banks of a Gulph known by that name and Orissa inhabited by Christians of St. Thomas so called because he converted them 8. Canora The eighth is Canora under the command of the Mogul the most Famous Cities are Ultabat Lispor Melinda c. 9. Dellia The ninth is Dellia the chief City being Dellie the sometimes residence of the great Mogul the other famous Cities are Tremel Fatabar and Chesmer famous for the study here of Magick all these mighty Provinces have been conquered by the Great Mogul's Forces within these 90 years to the astonishment of all India India extra Gangem India extra Gangem contains 12 potent Kingdoms and all under the command of the potent Kings of Barma which cursorily I will also run over 1. Macin The first is Macin Lignum vitae famous for that Sweet-wood which this Country doth produce called Aloes or Lignum vitoe valued at its weight in pure Silver serviceable only here for the pompous Funerals of great Princes the chief City is the said Macin 2. Aracan The second is Aracan Ava wherein is the City of Ava which through the World is so famous for the abundance of Gems 3. Cambaia The third is Cambaia famous for this City of Cambaia a place of great Traffick which affords plenty of Gold Silver Aloes and many other Commodities of great worth 4. Couchin-China The fourth is Couchin China aboundeth with the like Commodities brought to Couchin-China the chief City of this Kingdom and much frequented by Merchants of all Countreys for Porcelane and China-dishes here made and much in esteem and use in these Countries 5. Barma The fifth is Barma made famous only within 60 years for the Princes hereof have vanquished all the former Kingdoms and made them Tributaries to this Kingdom and this Scepter 6. Siam The sixth is Siam once the Lady of all India now subject to Barma the principal Cities are Mollacia in compass 20 Miles a Town of great resort for Merchants for the Traffick of Spices and now in subjection to the Portugals The next is Siam situate on the River Mean which every year overfloweth the Country for 120 miles and lastly Odin on the River Cuipomo on which 200000 Boats are found daily to be set on work and contains 400000 Families and is now known the residence of that Famous and Fortunate King of Barma before-mentioned 7. Pegu. The seventh is Pegu which gives name to a principal City having a rich soil and harborous Sea-shore the principal known Haven is Martaban and here is also Lasmin a City of great Commerce This Country hath suffered much by Sword Pestilence and Famine within these late years and is now as the rest a Province of this aforesaid powerful King of Barma Now having thus surveyed India in the general and in gross as it is divided into Kingdoms and Provinces it will be requisite it should next be surveyed in the particular so far as it may concern our present purpose which is the Commerce and Trade thereof so far forth as it is at this day known to our Nation wherein I could wish my Experience better to shew the particulars thereof in consideration of the large extent of ground that is comprised under this name of India stretching it self from Taurus to the Ocean one way and from China to Persia which is near 4000 miles another way at which place it will be fittest for me to begin my Trade and see what may be observed therein Yet before I enter into this discovery and give a particular relation of such materials wherewith Trade is in it self practised through this large tract of Lands Islands and Seas and before I shew the matter wherewith this Trade is in all this Country driven it will not be improper I should also see who they principally are that manage this Trade and to whom this great Traffick appertaineth either as they are Natives and here born or as they are Strangers and here are induced to reside attracted thereto by the sole motive of the great Commerce and rich Commodities found either naturally here growing or artificially here made and produced Commodities of India in general This Country then as I said before aboundeth in the general with all manner of Minerals Copper and Lead excepted with all sorts of Cattel Horses excepted with all manner of Spices with many sorts of Drugs Cotton Cloth precious Stones c. to which may be added the want of Wine and Wheat that here they have that so this Country may be beholding in some sort to others as others are for her commodities to this These being then the prime Commodities wherewith Trade is here maintained I will note the Traders and native Merchants that are here resident which properly I may account to be of five several sorts all acknowledging several Rites Religions and Customs and therefore partake of so many several forms and manners in the managing of their Affairs of Merchandizing The Merchants in general trading in India The Gentile Merchants are the first and are found of great Eminency in some parts of this Tract The native Christians converted by the discipline of St. Thomas are the second who in many places are found to manage a great and ample Trade through this Country the third are the Mahometans Persians and Tartarians especially since the great Victories of the Mogul found here also of great quality and estate The fourth are the Jews who live straglingly dispersed over and through all parts of this Country and in every Prince's Dominions exercise the same The fifth are Moors and Arabians who some 200 years past seized on some Haven-Towns here along this Coast driving the Natives into the Inland parts and at this day are seen to be very great Merchants The sixth are the Portugals who possessing some few Sea-Towns commodious for Traffick brag of the conquest of the whole Country which they are in no more possibility entirely to conquer and possess than the French were to subdue Spain when they were possessed of the Fort of Perpignan or the English to be Masters of France when they were only Sovereigns of Callis And now to the Cities of this Tract where at this day is found a Trade to be practised and first of Diu. CHAP. LXXXIX Of DIU and the Trade thereof Diu and the Trade there of THE Town and Island of Diu lieth about 20 Leagues from the Famous River Indus and not far distant from the firm Land It is now subject to the Portugals who have conquered both the Island and Town from the King of Cambaia and so fortified it as it is conceived to be now invincible This Town hath a very good and great Haven and
indeed the worst sort they call Aia of Cambaia and thus the price being by the men set thereon according to their sorts goodness and greatness there are Merchants of every Countrey which are ready with their Moneys in their hands to buy them so that in few days all the said parcels are bought up according to the said prices set upon them altering according to the carract beauty and shape thereof And this is the manner of the fishing and dispersing of the Pearls throughout India and thence through the World so far forth as I thought good to insert the same in this place CHAP. XCII Of the Trade in general practised alongst the Coast of India The general Trade of the Coast of India THE Coast of India known in these Regions is only so accounted from the Islands called las Vachas or from the Town of Daman to the Cape of Comarin not above 200 miles in length wherein besides the Metropolis Goa are found sundry others in subjection to the Crown of Portugal as first Daman to the North of Goa then Basain then Chaul Dabul and then Goa and to the South-ward which some call the Coast of Malabar they hold Romes Onor Barselor Mangalor Cananor Calicut Craganor Cochin Coulon and Cape de Comeri which is accounted the last end of the Coast of Malabar and India For the better understanding the Trade of these Sea ports it will be needful I should somewhat more particularly survey the same Daman Basasen Chaul First then It is to be understood that the Northern part of this Coast is held the wholesome and purest Air for habitation the principal places being Daman Basasen and Chaul which are found in themselves to have good Havens whereto great Traffick is maintained throughout India the Countrey hereabouts abounding in Rice Pease and other grains Butter and Oyl of Nuts also Cotton Cloth great quantity especially Baroches taking the name from a City of this Coast and in Chaul is found very great concourse of Merchants and Traffick to Ormus Cambaia Sinde Masquate Bengala having therein many rich Merchants and Ships of great burthen and here is also made divers kinds of Silk Stuffs as Grograms Sattim Taffata's and such like in such abundance that India and all other places bordering are served therewith and beholding thereto which brings a great Trade to the said City of Chaul for they bring in the raw Silk of China and being here spun woven and wrought carry it out again and distribute it throughout India and the neighbouring Countries here also they make fair and excellent wrought Bedsteds Boxes Desks Stools and other wooden Arts which bring them great profit and make this place famous throughout these parts Coast of Malabar and the Trade thereof As for the Coast of Malabar Onor is of good esteem where there is a great quantity of Pepper yearly laden by the Portugal's Factors accounted the best and fullest Berry in all India the Countrey hereabouts belonging to a Queen rich in Pepper who selleth the said Commodity only to the Portugals but receiveth her money six months beforehand and at the season delivereth the said contracted Pepper which by the Portugals is housed in their Fort which by her leave they have here built till their shipping come to fetch it away which is commonly but once a year Cananor Cananor is held the best Fort they have upon all this Coast and doth abound with Rice and Pepper and near the Fort is a fair Town which is plentifully stored with all the Commodities of this Coast and Shore especially abounding in all manner of Victuals and provision and Masts for Ships of all sizes and sorts Calicut Calicut was once the most famous Town of Trade of all this shore and gave name not only to the sorts of Pepper that here grow but also to that sort or Cotton Cloth that was first hence transported for Europe but the Emperour the then Sovereign Cochin being Enemy to the King of Cochin with whom the Portugals at their first arrival here sided and prospered by that means overthrew the great Traffick of Calicut and advanced the Traffick of Cochin whose Sovereign by means of the Trade is now become a mighty and rich Prince in this Countrey the City of Cochin it self thereby so inlarged inriched and so well inhabited by Portugals who are in part the new Masters by native Malabars and other Nations and seated upon a pleasant River and enjoying the commodity of a good Channel and Haven that it is accounted in these parts for Trade and concourse of Merchants the only second to Goa here is laden yearly great quantity of Pepper and a course sort of Cinnamon vulgarly called de Matte nothing comparable to Cinnamon of Zelan accounted the best and hither come all the Portugal Ships to lade homewards after that they have unladen their European Commodities in Goa which adds much to the Trade of this City Two Commodities hither imported do much inrich this place 1. The great store of Silk that cometh hither raw from China to be wrought and next the great store of Sugar that cometh from Bengala to be spent for which the married Citizens are found to pay no custom to the King of Cochin though for all others they pay 4 per cent but the stranger and unmarried pay at Cochin nothing to the King but to the Portugal 8 per cent The manner of the farming the Pepper in India by the Portugals And because this great Traffick for Pepper is only peculiar to some private Merchants or Farmers authorised by the Kings of Spain it will not be unproper I should here relate the manner thereof It is to be understood then that the Kings of Portugal the first European Traders into these parts in all their Navigations and Discoveries ever added the benefit of Commerce towards the supportation of the expences of their Conquests and having here built for conveniency of Trade and protection of their Merchants and Subjects many Fortresses and Castles they ever so settled them that the commodiousness of the Haven Port or Harbour joyned to the native Commodities of the place might add means and fair inducements to make by Traffick their conquests profitable This Coast then being found to abound with Pepper a principal Commodity then requested in Europe designed it to be converted to his peculiar profit by all the provident ways of a circumspect Merchant Chi crâ—po abrazia poca stringe but Princes that will imbrace all sometimes grasp but a little for the same could not be so profitably contrived considering the distance of way length of time and trust to be committed to Factors Captains of Forts and others but he found himself to come far short of his expectation in this point whereupon he was advised to let out the same to Farm and contracted it at certain conditions to certain great and eminent Merchants who should stand in his place strongly and
c. which the English fetch from them in great abundance so that it is of late years observed that the Planters of these Fruits and their Wine Merchants have by our over-greedy purchasing of these Commodities raised to themselves fair Estates Two things I observed during my abode here that are great lets and impediments to the Trade of this Nation the one is the banishment of the Moors that here in great numbers Inhabited who painfully and industriously manured their land and by their labour and thrifty living reised to their Landlords and to themselves good and great estates the which now for many thousand thousand Acres lie wast and desolate whole Towns and Villages being depopulate and the Lords Castles and Mannors appearing ruined and decayed want the pains of these poor People that gave their Lords and Lordships means of subsistency The second is the residence of many Genoa Merchants amongst them who are found in good number to abide in every good City especially on the Sea coasts whose skill and acuteness in Trade far surpassing the natural Spaniards or Portugals and who by means of their wealth and continual practice of Exchanges are found to devour that bread which the Inhabitants might otherwise be sufficiently sed with and by reason that the King of Spain is ever engaged to their Common-wealth for great and vast Sums at interest he is their Debtor not only for their moneys but a so for their favour which by many immunities throughout his Kingdom he is found continually to requite them and amongst the rest it is observed That there is no Genoa Merchant resident in Spain in any part but hath a particular Licence to export the Rials and Plate of this Kingdom to a certain round Sum yearly which they seldom use really to do but sell the same to other Nations that are constrained to make their returns in Plate for want of other more beneficial commodities which for the certain profit it is found ever to yield in other Countreys is often preferred before all the other Commodities of this Kingdom A third reason of hinderance I might add hereto which is tho current Coin wherein all Commodities are sold and bought for in many parts of this Kingdom being for the most part base and of Copper and Brass which to convert into Rials and good money is found to cost the change in some places 5 in some 10 in some 15 in some 20 per cent which is the first penny The great Customs also paid in many parts of this Kingdom is likewise a great let and hinderer of Trading in general which wherefoever the same is by the Sovereign levied will in a short time and insensibly devour and conâ—ume a flourishing Traffick and enforce the suffering Merchant either totally to give over or bend his Trade where he shall find the burthen thereof lighter and more easily to be born and endured Now as for Commodities which other Nations are found to bring unto them and of which they stand in need partly to supply their own necessities and partly to maintain their West-India Traffick as this England brings them great store of Newlandish fish Irish Salmon Pilchards Herrings Lead Tin Calves-skins Baies Saies Serges and other English Manufactures and in return have only thence Wines Fruits Oyls some Indico and Sugars Ginger and the like India Commodities East Countrey furnisheth them with Corn Cordage Masts Pitch Tar Rosin Fir-boards and other Timber and only return thence the Commodities above-named only it is ever lawful to him that brings Corn to carry out Rials of Plate in return thereof France sends them Corn Linnens Paper and some petty Manufactures and returns thence Plate Wine Fruits and some India Spices Italy affords them some Manufactures of Silk and hath in return some raw Silk Segovia Woolls Barillia and such like and herein is comprehended the general Traffick of Spain at this time so passing the Pyrenaeans I will enter into France CHAP. CXXII Of FRANCE and the Provinces and Cities thereof France and the Provinces thereof FRANCE is accounted one of the most Eminent Kingdoms of Europe and it is the best that can subsist without the help of others it is bounded on the North with the British Ocean on the West with the Aquitain Sea on the South with the Mediterranean Sea on the South East with the Alpes on the East with the River Rhine and an imaginary line drawn from Strasburg to Callais Commodities of France This Countrey affordeth for Merchandise to her Neighbours three natural notable Commodities Corn Wine and Salt the Farm of Salt onely yearly bringing into the King's coffen 100000 Crowns besides which it yieldeth Oyls Almonds Soaps Canvas Coral Paper Wool Linnen fine and course Nuts Beefs and of late some Stuffs and Cloth made of Woollen c. There is reckoned in this Kingdom 25 Provinces the notable Cities of Traffick found therein I shall orderly handle Aquitania The first Province is Aquitain wherein are sound the noted Cities of Tholousa Bourdeaâ—… and Rochel of which a word in brief CHAP. CXXIII Of Tholousa and the Trade thereof Tholausa and the Trade thereof THolousa is the Parliament seat of Aquitain and standeth on the banks of the River Gurâ—… which hence runneth to the Walls of Burdeaux and Blay and so to the Sea It is very plentiful in Pastil or Woad which hence is dispersed into several Countreys the Countrey 〈◊〉 affording any other notable Commodity worth mentioning Coins and Accounts Their Moneys is the same as throughout all France which in Parts the principal City of this Kingdom I shall handle their Accounts also here kept are as through all France in general in Livers or Franks Souls and Deniers 12 Deniers to a Soul 20 Souls to a Live or Frank. Weights of Tholousa The 100 l. or Kintar of Tholousa hath been observed in Woad for Diers to make in England 124 l. and the Cargo by which the same is commonly sold to be 372 l. Measures of Tholousa The Measure of this Countrey is called the Aulin and maketh in England 42 inches by the Rule Woad of Tholousa Note That in Tholousa there is a Cantar also of 112 l. which is in use in all other Commodities Woad excepted sold by the Cargo as above is mentioned and is hence sent to Narbon and thence dispersed into sundry parts of the Mediterranean Seas CHAP. CXXIV Of Burdeaux and the Trade thereof Burdeaux and the Trade thereof BUrdeaux is seated upon the Banks of the River Geronde before mentioned plentifully abounding in those Wines which being White and Claret are known by the names of this City here is also near this City the little Village of le Greve which gives name to those Grave Wines which we esteem so excellent and between this Town and Tholousa lie those rich grounds which yield those sweet Wines by us known by the name of High Countrey which the Inhabitants of Burdeaux knowing
be inquisitive and circumspect to inform himself in the true worth and value thereofere he part with his Commodities Weights of Paris The Quintal of Paris is 100 l. which hath been found to produce in London near 100 l. suttle 2 per cent more or less which In Lions renders of 16 ounces 116 l. In Venetia sotile 144 l. 100 l. sotile in Venetia making in Paris 62½ l. of 15 ounces per l. The Cargo or great Quintal in Paris is 300 l. of 12 ounces per l which makes in Florence 487 l. but the ordinary Quintal of 100 l. before-named is of 15 ounces to a pound Wine is sold by the Cistern 96 making a Tun and each Cistern contains 8 Pints so that it may be accounted two Cones of Florence which is Gallons English see London Measures of Paris They have two Measures in length one for Silks and another for Linnens the which are But note that all Merchants selling Silk Stuffs in gross in Paris the same is sold by the Pound weight which is better for the buyer for thereby he discerneth the weight of the Silk he hath for his Money Exchanges of Paris Paris doth exchange with many places which I here omit and place the same amongst the Exchanges in general in the Tract following at the end of this Book in the Chapters 277 and 302. The French not addicted to Trade It may be imagined that this Kingdom considering the Riches thereof should abound iâ— Trade and Navigation but the better sort of Men medling not with Traffick as conceiving the same to be both ignoble and base and consequently unfit for them leave the same to such whose spirits are elevated to that ripeness that they can but only be sorry for their erroneoâ— opinions Their Navigation also is not far the Marselicans greatest Voyage being to Turkâ—… and the Inhabitants of Rochel Saint Malo and Rochel seldom sailing into any Regions further than Spain their ill success in America's Plantations peradventure disswading them bâ—… he that shall wisely look into the beauty of their In-land Towns the Riches of the Countrey it self and especially the plenty of Corn Wines Linnens and Salt that France produceth and how much these Commodities are prized and sought after by other Nations will be more willing to excuse the French for their so little desire to traffick into remove Regions La Beause The next Province is la Beause Orleans wherein is Orleans a pleasant City and where the neatest and most Elegant French Tongue is conceived to be spoken seated on the Loire but affording little matter of Trade or Commerce save that it is found to be a great Through-Fair for all such Commodities as do enter into the heart of the Countrey as to Lions and other Cities upon the River of Loire and by this way and hath a growth of good Wines about it Berry The next is Berry Bourges wherein is Bourges seated as the prime and principal Town who are much addicted to Clothing and where great abundance of Sheep are found to pasture and feed The next is Bourbon wherein is contained Burbon Nevers Mollins Bourbon Nevers and Mollins wherein I never saw any Commodities worth relation save those excellent Instruments of Iron in small Cases here made in great abundance called Estuus and dispersed thence over all Christendom Beavois The next is Beavois the chief Town is Villa Franche Avergne The next is Avergne the principal City is Cleremont Limosin The next is Limosin the principal City is Limoges Perigort The next is Perigort the chief Town is Perigeux Quercu The next is Quercu the chief Town is Montalbon one of the Cautionary Towns in the Intestants possession and now lately by the French King reduced to his subjection Dauphine The next is Dauphine honoured with the Title of the Princes of France Vienna wherein is found Vienna excelling in the Art of making Sword-blades Valentia Valentia a fine City watered with the Rhone and lastly Lions once the principal Town of Traffick in all these parts where having occasion of residence 1616. I noted these particulars following in Trade CHAP. CXXVIII Of Lions and the Trade thereof Lions and the Trade thereof LIons hath ever been accounted a Fanious Mart-Town and doubtless before Navigation had its perfection a City of great Trade and Commerce but for as much as all In-land Towns must submit in this point to Maritime Cities by reason of the commodiousness of the Sea which is the greatest furtherer of all Traffick so must this Town now give place to many others that exceed her in the point of Traffick The Mart of Lions formerly in Geneva There Mart for Trade here setled was formerly holden in Geneva and by Lewis the Eleventh removed hither for the enriching of his own Kingdom and when Pope Julius the Second had excommunicated Lewis the Twelfth he commanded by his Apostolical Authority that the same should be again removed to Geneva but his Holiness herein was not obeyed for Trade must not be constrained but entreated though by Popes which would command all things and therefore stirred not from hence where yet it continueth The Town is watered with the streams of Rhoane and Soane which furthers it much for carriage it is most famous now for the many Fabricks of Silks here wrought and hence dispersed through all France and the Citizens to this end have their Factors in Marselia who trade for them to Aleppo in Syria to furnish them with that Commodity by land also they trade for Florence Lucca Millan Mesina and other parts of Italy but it is only for raw Silks and some such Commodities as these places do afford I resided here some years and found the greatest of their Trade to consist in Exchanges as the principal and most proper Town of France thereto the Bankers of Florence Venetia Lucca and Naples have here their Factors purposely for this occasion From England is here vended some Bays Tin Lead Cony-skins and but few Commodities else and to our Countrey it affordeth not any commodity worth mentioning what I have observed I shall only touch and no more Coins and Accounts in Lions As for Coins current and Accounts keeping it is the same as throughout France There hath been of long time in use an imaginary Coin here current in Exchanges called the Mark which briefly to explain is An ancient Mark in Exchange in Lions A Mark of Gold is 65 Crowns of Mark or 63 Crowns 11 s. 9 d. of Gold in Gold or 62 Crowns of Camera Vechia of Rome or 68 14 3 Ducates current of Venetia And they did use here to keep their Accounts by Crowns of Marks Sold. and Deniers advising one Crown de Mark to be 20 Solds of Mark but is 45 Sold Turnois by which Crown of Mark they did exchange by as briefly for example They gave in Lions one Crown
few Vessels in Venetia Naples and Legorn all the Merchants of Italy cannot shew a Ship of 100 Tuns Naples is a large and rich Country and Genoa rich though of little extent yet the great number of Nobility in the former and the great Usury practised in the latter hath reduced them to a neglect of all Trade except what the bosom of their Country doth naturally vend that they Traffick with and these being in themselves rich induce other Nations to bring them those few things they want for though Italy as it now stands acknowledgeth many Soveraigns yet one Country supplying another stands in need of little from Foreigners so that it may be said while they have Peace they have Plenty some Provisions of Fish Corn and Cloth England doth furnish them and in return have only their Silk Fabricks Oils and some few other Commodities so that putting aside the Trade driven thither by the English as being of greatest consequence the Trade of the Spaniard French or Dutch is but small and but of little moment amongst them which in particular may be thus surveyed for Venice I have given you the Anatomy of the Trade thereof now in the wane and almost at the last breath save where it is preserved by their new devised Edicts and the natural growing Currans and by their small Trade to Constantinople Cairo and Aleppo by Sea and to Austria Dalmatia Istria Italy and into the upper Germany by Land The next part of this Trade of Italy is challenged by Naples which in it self affords rich Silks Corn Oil and Wines with which they seem to be contented for they covet not much to Traffick among themselves nor yet with others further than for their meat and drink and clothing which to the poorer sort is most wanting The Papacy Her share in the Trade of Italy is not worth the nomination no more is Mantua Urbin and those other petty Signiories The Tuscans rightly demand a part and it shall be granted them both in their Florentine Fabricks and in their privileged Town of Legorn but I may fear it will not last long for the Dukes growing both rich and covetous and daily encroaching upon those Liberties at first liberally given to Strangers Merchants in Legorn and who every day are seen to lay some new petty Duties upon the Goods there as for Genoa were they as truly wise for the good of their Common-wealth as they are found to be to themselves they are of ability to do better and to have that Trade their Neighbours now deprive them of Milan likewise struggles for interest herein and shall have it by my consent but it shall be only in their Iron works which the Cantons serve themselves with and in their Fabricks of Silk which Lions doth help them to vend Lucca may be offended in my silence but this Cities Peace may further that Trade which otherwise her own or her Neighbours Wars would utterly ruin you may see then of how many parts and members this rich and pleasant Italy is composed and how the Trade thereof stands at this instant it enjoyeth a general peaceable and quiet inland Traffick consisting for the most part more of branches bred within her own Bowels than of forein helps their natural growing Corn Silk Grain and Oil induce them thereto and the benefit practised by Exchangers induce the rich to use that Trade only and no other wherein I will for this time leave them and in the next place turn my Head and Hand to the Surveying of the Netherlands CHAP. CLXXVIII Of Flanders and the Netherlands or the Seventeen Provinces and their Cities The Seventeen Provinces and the Cities thereof I Will here for good Method sake in the first place take a view of the 17 Provinces which are found this Day to contain 4 Dukedoms 1. Limburg 2. Luxenburg 3. Gelderland 4. Brabant then 1. Marquisate which is of the Holy Empire next 7 Earldoms which are 1. Flanders 2. Artois 3. Heinault 4 Nemurs 5. Zutphen 6. Holland 7. Zeland and lastly 5 Baronies 1. Westfriezland 2. Utrecht 3. Overysel 4. Machlin and 5. Groning of all which briefly Limburg In the Dutchy of Limburg Liege which I account the first Province is Liege or Luyck as the principal City whose Trade I must refer to the better experienced in these Countries and the like for the City of Limburg seated on the River Weser Luxenburg In the Dutchy of Luxenburg the chief City being Luxenburg seated on the River of Elze in this Country is the famous Waters of Spaw where many sick Men are found to drive a great healthful but costly Traffick Sedan here is also Sedan the Seat of the Duke of Bulloin but of small Commerce Gelderland In the Dutchy of Gelderland Nimeguen the chief City is Nimeguen seated on the Branch of the Rhine called the Whale and doth much abound in Cattel as affording fit Pasturage thereto Brabant In the Dutchy of Brabant I find noted many principal Cities Lovain as first Lovain Bruxels the second Bruxels the third is Bergen ap Zome Mastricht the fourth Mastricht Breda the fifth Breda in all which is found by the industry of the Inhabitants a reasonable Traffick but being ignorant in many necessary particulars I will also refer it to the more learned and better experienced Marquisate Antwerp In the Marquisate is found Antwerp by which all the former Cities are governed in Trade which by reason of the greatness of the Traffick in times past was therein accounted the first and principal of the known World wherein I shall observe according to my former method these necessary particulars of Traffick following CHAP. CLXXIX Of Antwerp and the Trade thereof Antwerp and the Trade thereof ANtwerp is accounted the principal City of Trade that is subject to the Arch-Duke in all these parts and having had the Prerogative above all others in times past neither yet to this Day being so decayed but that in many particulars it giveth Rule to all or the most of the neighbouring Cities round about which considered to abbreviate my task I think it will not be improper that I comprehend the Trade of all those Provinces that are under the Government in this Circuit to this particular City Antwerp then being seated upon the River of Scheld which by eight Channels cut runneth through this City is conceived to be eight Miles in compass some of these Channels being able to hold 100 great Ships which made the same more commodious for the Transport and Carriage of Wares to any part thereof The former and ancient Trade of this City was great and eminent and occasioned as some have observed by three means and had its decays also by three occasions First by reason of two free Marts holden yearly continuing five and forty days during which time no Man either in his Person or in his Goods could be Arrested or molested for either Debt
Cleveland The third Province is Cleveland containing the Earldom of Cleve the Dutchies of Gulick and Berge wherein are found the fair Cities of Cleve Calker Wesel Emrick Aken Gulick Dulkins and others which I omit for Brevity Alsatia The fourth Province is Alsatia wherein are found the Towns of Psaltberg Wesenberg Colmar and principally the famous City of Strasburg of which a Word CHAP. CLXXXVI Of Strasburg and the Trade thereof Strasburg and the Trade thereof STraâ—burg is one of the Imperial Cities before-mentioned seated a Musket-shot from the Rhine whereto there is a Channel cut for conveyance of all Commodities There is here also a wooden Bridge over the Rhine but of no great Strength The Circuit of the City may be aboâ—t 8 miles well fortified and is famous for many Rarities the principal being their Clock which cost so many years Labour to perfect and the Steeple of the Cathedral Church is numbred amongst the Seven Miracles of the World for its excellent Structure and Beauty The Courtesie of the Inhabitants to Strangers is not to be forgotten And here they are accustomed at the City's cost to give all Handicrafts entertainment that they may either teach if expert or learn if ignorant by which means they are found to have confluence of Artisans which doth both much further their City's Stock and inrich the Inhabitants Weights of Strasburg In Strasburg are found two Weights gross and suttle and by observation it hath been found that the 100 l. suttle of London hath made here incirca 70 in 71 l. of the gross weight for gross Goods of 16 ounces the Pound and 107 l. suttle weight of 12 ounces the Pound by which they use to weigh all fine Commodities as Drugs and Spices as Sugars Pepper Cloves Mace Cinnamon Almonds Dates and the like Measures of Strasburg The Measure of Length of Strasburg is the Ell which is in London inches The Coins current are the Bohemico gross or Blaphace whichis three Crusters one Cruster is two Pence and one Penny is two Hellers and one Heller is two Orchins by which Coins they keep their Account Vide further Chap. 206. Franconia The fifth Province is Franconia divided into eight Parts the lower Palatine is the first part wherein are found Worms Spiers and Heidelberg the chief City belonging to those Princes Bacarac Bacarac famous for the excellent Rhenish Wines here growing Coub Openham Frankendak and others Wittenberg The second part is Wittenberg the chief Towns are Toubing Stutgard 2 Stutgard the Duke's Seat 3 Marlach and others Auspach The third part is Auspach Haibram and others Baden The fourth is Baden wherein the City Baden Durlach and others Ments The fifth is Mentz wherein Lantsem Beinge and others Bainberg The sixth is Bainberg a fair City and some others Westberg The seventh is Westberg a City Arustine and some others The eighth part belongs to the Emperour Noremberg wherein is found Noremberg the fairest and richest City of Germany and seated in the Centre thereof Frankfort and also here is Frankfort seated on the River Menus famous for the two Book-marts here kept annually in Mid-lent and Mid-September A word of the most eminent of these before I proceed to the next Province CHAP. CLXXXVII Of Worms and the Trade thereof VVorms and the Trade thereof WOrms is a Town of great antiquity and yet wanteth not Magnificence in her Buildings On the West-side thereof grow in great abundance those Wines known to us by the name of Rhenish It is more famous for the many Imperial Parliaments held here of old than it is for Trade therefore I shall not have cause to insist much thereupon Near to this City stands the City of Frankendale a new modern strong fair and beautiful Piece which has made it self famous in the late Wars of these parts these Coasts affording the most excellent Wines above-mentioned here in great plenty abounding and are sound to grow especially on the West-side of the River which is the prime Commodity of the Inhabitants both of the City and Province The Weights and Measures here are found to accord with Spiers to which I refer the Inquirer CHAP. CLXXXVIII Of Spiers and the Trade thereof Spiers and the Trade thereof SPiers is half a mile from the Rhyne seated in a Plain on the west-side of the said River having more Antiquity than Beauty and yet more Beauty than Trade Here the Imperial Chamber is held in which Court the Differences of the Empire are judged and the Electâ—…s themselves may be called hither to Trial of Law The Weights and Measures are these Weights of Spiers First for the Weights of this place the common is the Pound of 16 ounces or 32 loots of which are made two several Quintals one of 100 l. another of 120 l. and the 100 l. here is in London 111 l. and the 100 l. of London is about 88 l. here of 32 loots per pound Measures of Spiers The Measure of Length used is the Ell which is in London inches CHAP. CLXXXIX Of Heidelberg and the Trade thereof Heidelberg and the Trade thereof THE City of Heidelberg is seated in a Plain invironed on three parts with high Mountains the fourth part open and beholding the River from which it is a mile distant and to which it conveyeth all Commodities by a small River that runs by the Walls thereof This is an University and the Seat of the Palsgraves and hath not been much famoused for the Trade thereof The Weights and Measures here in use are these Weights of Heidelberg The Weight common in use here is the Pound of 16 ounces of which are made three several Hundreds or Quintars the first of 100 l. for fine Goods the second of 120 l. for gross Goods and the third of 132 l. for Provision of Food as Butter Flesh c. The 100 l. hath been found to make in London 108 l. and the 100 l. suttle makes then here about 92 or 93 l. Measures of Heidelberg The Measure of Length is an Ell which makes in London inches CHAP. CXC Of Noremberg and the Trade thereof Noremberg and the Trade thereof NOremberg is seated in a barren Soil yet this Defect is supplied by the Industry of the Inhabitants It is absolute and of it self and accounted one of the Imperial Cities of the Empire and the richest of all the rest the Inhabitants by their subtle Inventions in manual Works and cunning Arts with the Encouragement they daily give to Artificers draw thereby the Riches of other Countries to them Every Child tho but seven or eight years old is here put to work and enabled thereby to get his own Livelihood and by this means is all Europe filled with the trivial Commodities of this Town known by the Name of Noremberg Ware which makes this City rich strong and powerful their Trade is not
Silk which because it very nearly agrees with Frankfort of which I have made mention before I pass the same over Bavaria Bavaria is the Tenth Province the chief Towns are Munchen on the River Aser and the Duke's Seat 2 Ingolstat an University 3 Ratisbona 4 Passave 5 Salsburgh and many other great Cities Northgoia Northgoia or the Upper Palatinate is the Eleventh and belongeth totally to the Palatines of the Rhine the chief Towns are Amberg whose Silver Mines yield yearly 60000 Crowns rent to the Prince's Coffers 2 Neuburg and others Austria Austria is the Twelfth wherein are found the famous Cities of Vienna seated on Danubius one of the most beautiful Towns of Germany and walled as Stories say with the Moneys that Leopold the Duke had for King Richard I. his Ransom being by him taken in his Return through Palestine Gratse 2 Gratse from whence the present Emperors have their Name 3 Santo Vitti the Metropolis of Carinthia 4 Newark the chief of Carniolo and in Triolis are found the Cities of Inspurg Triol Bolson and Trent famous for the Council here held and concluded after 40 years lingring and politick Delays CHAP. CXCV. Of Vienna and the Trade thereof Vienna and the Trade thereof VIenna is at present the Seat of the German Emperors and is now the Bulwark of this Country against the Incursions of the Turks who have more than once in vain attempted it on the North-side runneth the River Danow which here divideth it self into three Arms incompassing a good space of ground and then meeting again and all this is again united by three Stone Bridges one containing 29 Arches another 57 Arches and a third 15 Arches each Arch being 60 foot asunder Here are many Merchants of great quality who have their Factors in Venetia Florence and other parts of Italy to supply them with the Fabricks of Silks made there such as are Sattins Damasks Taffeta Velvets Cloth of Gold and such like Weights of Vienna The Weight in use here is the Pound which is in some Commodities divided into 32 Loots in some into 128 Quints and in somo into 512 Fennings of which Pound the Quintar is made which is 100 l. which doth render in London about 123 l. incirca and therewith are found Idra and Erford to agree the 100 l. of London making here 81 l. ½ Measures in Vienna Their Measure for Length is two one in Linen and the other in VVoollen the 100 Yards in London make here in Linen 103 Ells and in Cloth and Silk 113 Ells. Exchanges of Vienna There is here as being the Court of the Emperor a great Exchange in use and they are found to account and exchange by Rix Dollars of 8 s. Flemish and by Ducats of Gold of 12 s. Flemish Bohemia The Kingdom of Bohemia is the Thirteenth wherein are accounted about 780 Cities walled Towns and Castles the chief whereof is Prague the Metropolis of this Kingdom 2 Eger 3 Buates 4 Melmuke Pilsen and others Preslau and in this Tract is found Preslau the chief City of Silesia Gorlitse also Gorlitso the chief City of Lusatia and Brin and Olmuts Olmuts the chief of Moravia but the Trade of Bohemia I will comprise under the Title of Prague here following as being the Metropolis thereof CHAP. CXCVI. Of Prague and the Trade thereof Prague and the Trade thereof THE City of Prague includeth three Towns as new Prague old Prague and a City inhabited by Jews incompassed with one Wall neither strong nor beautiful the River Molda doth run through the same but is not navigable nor commodious for Carriage or Transportation of Merchandize to which the Inhabitants are not much addicted Corn and Wine being the prime Commodities the Country affordeth and Timber abundance of which the Walls of their Houses are for the most part made and that in whole pieces as the same grow and not so much as the Bark thereof taken away Weights of Prague and of Bohemia The Weight of Prague is the Pound of 16 ounces the 100 l. suttle of London hath made here about 83 l. Pasau and Regenborge agreeing also therewith as doth also the most part of this Country Measures of Prague and of Bohemia Their Measure is the Ell of which they have two one in Linen and the other in Cloth and Silk the 100 Yards of London hath made in Linen 148 Ells and in Woollen 160 Ells. Vide Coins current in Bohemia Brandenburg Brandenburg is the fourteenth wherein are reckon'd 50 Cities and 64 walled Towns the chief of which is Brandenburg then Frankfort for distinction called upon Oder next Berlin the residence of the Marquess Havelburg seated upon Havel and many others of consequence whereof little is come to my Observation therefore I will in silence pass them over Pomerania Pomerania is the fifteenth Province wherein is found Statin the residence of the Prince and Metropolis of this Country Wallen then Wallen once the famous Mart-Town of all these Countries the Russians Danes Saxons and Vandals had here their particular Streets of abode for Commence and Trade but ruin'd by War the Trade was removed to Lubeck where yet in some measure it is found to continue still Mecklenburg Mecklenburg is the sixteenth Province wherein are found the Cities of Malchan Sternbâ—…g Wismar and some others Saxony Saxony is the seventeenth Province wherein are found many Cities of Note the principal is first Erford one of the fairest in Germany 2 Irne an University for Physicians 3 Smalcald famous for the Protestant League here made 4 Dresden seated on the Albis and the Duke's Magazine for War and Arms for 30000 Horse and Foot over in readiness at a days warning 5 Lipsick an University which yearly doth yield the Duke for Custom of Beer drank and transported 20000 l. sterling 6 Wittenberg an University and the chief Seat of the Electâ— of Saxony and 7 Maidenburg where it is said Luther studied Divinity Of some of these a word CHAP. CXCVII Of Lipsick and the Trade thereof Lipsick and the Trade thereof LIpsick is seated in a Plain of most fruitful Corn ground the Streets fair and the chief Houses built of Free-stone of Roofs high it is accounted also an University but found to be of no great Note by reason of the Neighbourhood of Wittenberg they have for some trespass lost those great Privileges they formerly enjoyed and therefore their Trade is not accounted great they may now neither fortifie their Town nor wind a Horn in the night-watches as other Cities in Germany do nor yet use Red Wax in their publick Seals or Contracts which are all of them accounted in Germany Signs of Freedom The Weights and Measures in use are these Weights of Lipsick The Weight is the Pound of which are made three Quintars one of 100 l. another of 120 l. and a third of 132 l. Vide more
Discoverers were in London incorporated into a Society of Merchants by the name of the Moscovia Company by Grant of Queen Elizabeth which Company hath been subject to some Alterations and Contingencies of their Trade by reason of some cross Accidents happening Mr Henry Graway Alderman being at present Governour but being in England ordered by the Advice of a Governour Deputy and certain select Committee and in Moscovia by an Agent who regulate the same by whose Wisdom they have of late so prudently setled their Trade in general and reformed their past Errors that it is now seen to flourish and in likelihood to increase daily to the particular Benefit of that Company and the Good both of this and that Kingdom in general CHAP. CCXXII Of Polonia and the Trade thereof Poland and the Trade thereof POland is limited on the East with Boristhenes which parteth it from Germany on the West with Vistula which parteth it from Germany on the North with the Baltick Sea and Sinus Frinicus on the South with Hungary Commodities of Poland The chief Merchandize that this Country affordeth for Transportation is Barly Oats Anber Wax Honey Hemp Pitch Y ar Rosin and some Cordage with other Commodities Rivers of Poland The chief Rivers are first Vistula navigable 400 miles and endeth in the Baltick Sea Niger Reuben Bog Mimel and others The Provinces are accounted to be 11 and the principal Towns are as followeth Luconia Luconia is the first in length 500 miles in breadth 160 where are Riga an Archbishoprick Derpt a Town of great Commerce Ruialia and Narve two strong Towns Lituania Lituania is the second abounding with Beasts which yield the Inhabitants Furs for Commodities the chief Cities are Vilna Vilcomire and Brescia Volinia Volinia is the third wherein are found Kiovia and Circassia Samogitia Samogitia is the fourth the chief Town is Camia Podolia Podolia is the fifth affording three Harvests of one Sowing the chief City is Camiense held invincible seated on high Rocks Orkacow Wincecsa and others Russia Russia Nigra is the sixth wherein are found Leinburg Grodeck c. Prussia Prussia or Spruce is the seventh wherin upon the Sea-coast is Amber found the chief Cities are Dantzick a famous Mart especially for all sorts of Grain 1000 Measures whereof being here daily sold 2. Regiomount or Conisberg a famous University 3. Heilsperg 4. Manberg 5. Angenberg 6. Culne and others Podlasia Podlasia is the eighth wherein are Ticocksin where the Royal Treasury is kept Biesco Knisen and others Masovia Masovia is the ninth the prime City being Marksow Poland Poland is the tenth wherein is the Metropolis of Polonia which is Cracovia seated pleasantly on the River Vistula here are also the Cities of Lublins Guisna Siradia and others and of the principal of these or others seated in this Tract as followeth CHAP. CCXXIII. Of Cracovia and the Trade thereof Cracovia and the Trade thereof CRacovia is the chief and Metropolis of all the Kingdom of Poland where the King and his Council have their continual Residence it is seated in a Plain having Mountains on all sides but somewhat distant it is compassed with two strong Walls of Stone and a dry Ditch the Building is very fair of Free-stone 4 stories high but covered with Tiles of Wood or Shingles it is of round Form in the midst whereof stands a large quadrangular Market-place wherein is seated the Cathedral Church and the Senate house for the City about which are many Shops for Merchants upon the East-side of the City is the King's Castle fair and well built on a Hill lying open on the South-side without any Building above the Wall on the East side are the King 's and Queen's Lodgings on the North-side Lodgings for Feasting on the West a Chappel where the Kings are interred it hath not received any great Fame for Merchandising many Scotch-men have attained to some Estate here by Trading but it may more properly be called Pedlarising than Merchandising for they have a moveable Magazine which they transport by Horse from Town to Town wherein their Commodities are inclosed and not a few such are found to have begun this Traffick at first by their Backs and afterwards by Horses Their Coins current with their Weights and Measures I shall here insert Coins current in Polonia It is not above 300 years since the Polonians used Silver Coins stampt for before that time they did traffick with little pieces of uncoined Silver and by the Exchange of Skins and other such Commodities but at this day they make all Contracts by Silver Guildens but have no such real Coin amongst them the Coins current are these a Gold Ducat known by the name of Polander is of the same value with the Hungarian Ducat and worth 70 Polish Groshe a Silver Guilden or Florin is worth 30 Polish Groshe which is 2 s. sterling a Dollar in specie is worth 40 Polish Groshe but in all Contracts for buying and felling the Dollar is accounted 36 Grosh a Creitzer is worth 3 Potchanels 18 Deniers make 1 Grosh a Grosh of Poland or Bobenia is worth 7 Potchanels 16 Whites make 1 Ort 4 Orts make a Dollar valued at 4 s. 4 d. sterling Weights of Cracovia The common Weight of Cracovia is the Pound 136 l. whereof is here acounted a Quintar which makes in London 114 l. circa and the 100 l. of London hath yielded here about 120 l. but the common Pound is reduced to a Stone and to a Ship Pound which is 10 of the said Stâ—…es Measures of Cracovia The common Measure of Length is an Ell which is ½ an English Ell but they sell their Linen by Shocks which produceth 57½ Ells English the Shock CHAP. CCXXIV. Of Dantzick and the Trade thereof Dantzick and the Trade thereof DAntzick is a very fair City standing at the foot of a great Mountain that hangs over it the famous River Vistula passing by it on the East-side and running towards the North falls into the Baltick Sea a little Brook enters the City on the South-side and runs through it toward the North affording many Commodities to the City as first a Fair Water Conduit where by a Mill the Waters are drawn into a Cistern and thence by Pipes serving every private Citizens House then a Corn mill for the Senate besides their private Mills which affords them in every hour a golden Guilden throughout the year to their publick Treasury and besides many other Mills it hath one for sawing of Boards and Timber having an Iron Wheel which not only drives the Saw but hooks in and turns the Boards to the Saw without the help of Hands the Corn Granaries of this Town are also fair remarkable and many in number wherein the Citizens do lay up the Corn coming out of Poland and according to the Wants of Europe carry it into many Kingdoms and
competent amends and their Merchandize being altogether gross cannot give them therefore the attribute of Eminent Merchants CHAP. CCXXXIV Of Hungary and the principal Cities thereof Hungary and the Cities thereof HUngary is bounded on the East with Transilvania and Valachia on the West with Austria on the North with Poland on the South with Sclavonia c. This Kingdom now stands divided between the Grand Seignior and the Hungarians Buda the Great Turk enjoys Buda seated on Danubius once the Metropolis of this Kingdom and Court of the Kings also Guilia Pest Alba Regalis called by them Wesenberg next quinque Ecclesiae Rab and others of lesser note In the Hungarians possessions are these principal Cities Presberg Presberg the present Metropolis of this Country 2. Strigonium 3. Agraria 4. Comara in an Island of that name 5. Tertax 6. Cimista 7. Segith before which Solyman the Great Turk ended his days and some others of lesser consequence Commodities of Hungary This Country doth much abound in Cattel sufficient to feed all Germany the Store is so great that they yearly sell to their Neighbours 80 or 100 Thousand Oxen they have also some Copper and Tin some quantity of Corn Honey Wax and such like Commodities and from hence to Constantinople I have seen Hides Butter and Cheese that in great abundance have come out of these parts through the Black-Sea Further matter of Trade hath not remarkably faln into my hands therefore for the current Coins of this Country with their Weights and Measures in use I must refer to the better experienced and hence travel to Dacia and the rest of those Provinces comprehended within that circuit CHAP. CCXXXV Of Dacia and the Provinces and Cities thereof Dacia and the Cities thereof DAcia is bounded on the East with the Euxine on the West with Hungary on the North with the Carpathian Mountains on the South with Hemus dividing it from Greece The Rivers that inrich this Country are Danubius 2 Alata 3. Salvata 4. Cockle 5. Morâ—… and some others Commodities of Dacia The Commodities that this Country affordeth for Merchandize is Butter Cheese Honey Wax Hides Oxen Tallow and Warlike Horses of great worth The Provinces are these and are all under the command of the Grand Seignior Transilvania 1. Transilvania the chief Towns thereof are 1 Wisenberg 2. Clasenberg 3. Bristitia 4. Fogarâ—… and others and now in possession of Bethlem Gabar the Vaivode thereof Moldavia 2. Moldavia is the next the chief Cities are Saccania the second is Falsing 3. Kilim 4. Chermon c. under a Vavoide who is Tributary to the Great Turk Valachia 3. Valachia is the third Province the principal Towns whereof are 1. Salnium 2. Pracklabs 3. Tergovista the Vavoides Seat who is Tributary to the Turk This Country abounds in Mines of Gold Silver Salt-pits Wines Cattle and Brimstone and esteemed the richest of these Provinces Servia 4. Servia is the fourth and hath these Cities 1. Stoneburg the Seat of the Despot Tributary to the Turk 2. Samandria 3. Belgrade a famous Town which cost the Great Turk much Blood and Money the getting and was accounted before the Bulwark of Christendom on this side Rasia 5. Rasia is the fifth the chief City is Bodin a famous Mart. Bulgaria Bulgaria is the next wherein is found Sophia the Seat of the Beglerbeg of Greece who hath under him 21 Sansacks Next is Nicopolis and some others of lesser note Bosna Bosna is the last Province wherein is Casachium and Jasiga the residence of their former Despots All which afford not further matter of Trade for where the Great Turk once commandeth Traffick is accounted very rare and is seldom found of import and being ignorant in that little there is I am constrained to omit it CHAP. CCXXXVI Of Sclavonia and the Provinces and Cities thereof Sclavionia SClavonia hath on the East the River of Drinus and a line drawn from thence to the Sea on the VVest part of Italy on the North Hungary and on the South the Adriatick Sea Commodities The Commodities that this Country doth afford for Merchandize are Horses for Service Cattel Oxon Hides Tallow Butter and Cheese and hath some Mines of Silver and Gold now in the Great Turk's possession The Provinces and Cities of note in Sclavonia are these Illyria Illyria now by the Turks called Windismark hath in it Zatha seated upon Danâ—… 2 Zackaoes 3. Windisgreets and others Dalmatia Dalmatia is the second Province the chief City is Ragusa situated on the Adriatick Sea formerly a Town of great Traffick and Riches and now tributary to the Turk next is Sciâ—… 3. Zara both seated on the Sea-shore and subject to the Venetians 4. Spalatta a Sea-Town from whence to Venice that State keepeth many Gallies for transportation of Merchant Goods and by reason of an unreasonable Fraight by them taken they stand to the hazard and adventures thereof which they did to their Cost in Anno 1619. my self being in Nayle when as the Duke d' Ossuna then Vice-King took two of these their Galley grosses laden with a rich Booty as was reported to the import of 300000 Crowns which the State of Venice were enforced to make good principally to Merchants Turks of Constantinople to whom the greatest part thereof did at that time appertain and who are found at this day to be the greatest Traders this way The next Town is Scodra famous for the Resistance it made against the Turks and last Lissa famous here for the Sepulchre of Scanderbeg whose Bones were digged up and worn by the Turks at the taking of this City as conceiving them to be of excellent Vertue to make them partake of his good Fortunes This Province being now divided between the Venetians and the Turk Croatia Croatia is the next the chief Towns are Cardisca seated on the River Savus 2. Brumon 3. Nivograde 4. Sisgith and lastly Petrovia this Country is now subject in part to the Venetians and in part to the Austrians of the Trade of the most principal of this in brief and first of Ragusa and Spallatta CHAP. CCXXXVII Of Rhagusa and Spallatta and the Trade thereof THE Trade of Sclavonia is at this day but of small Account and little to our Mation the two Cities of Spalatta and Rhagusa seated therein merit the principal consideration Rhagusa and the Trade thereof Rhagusa then formerly called Epidaurus being situated on the Adriatick Sea a Common-wealth of great Traffick and Riches was in times past of far greater Fame and Name both in Trade and Navigation than now it is for from hence was the Original of those great Ships here built and in old times famous as then vulgarly called Argoses properly * Rhaguses Rhaguses the last which they were noted to have they lent Philip the Second King of Spain in 1588 to invade England and hath her burial in our British Seas and may
off called Watchet of the same bigness only the Key is ruined and another Port 7 miles from the Town called Bridgwater in which Town cometh a Salt-water River in which may come in at a full Tide Vessels of 60 Tuns and the River from the main of Severn is above 10 miles by which you may judg how many Vessels may arrive to these Ports there are but few Ships belonging to these Ports their Trade is to Ireland to Wales for Coals and Bristol and sometimes to France and Spain The Ports he against the Sea that runs to Bristol called the Severn What Trade they drive is set forth in the former Articles As for Fishing there is very little not worth mentioning Wiltshire 5. Wiltshire is the 5. altogether an inland Country the chiefest Towns are Malmesbury famours for the Cloths of Wool made here Salisbury for the Bishoprick and Wilton of old the chief of this County now a little Village Hampshire 6. Hampshire is the 6. wherein are found the little fair City of Southampton Winchester the pleasant and Portsmouth the only now Garrison Town of England Barkshire 7. Berkshire is the 7. wherein are found the Towns of Newbery famous for Clothing and Windsor for the King's Castle and where the Ceremony of the Knights of the Garter is solemnized Surrey 8. Surrey is the 8. wherein are seen Oatlands and Richmond two beautiful and stately Palaces belonging to the Kings of England Sussex 9. Sussex is the 9. Chichester being the chief City and Rhy the chief Sea-Town Kent 10. Kent is the next rich in Meadows Pastures Groves Apples and Cherries wherein are found seated the Cinque-Ports Deptford the King's Yard for building of his Ships Rochester the Seat of a Bishop Eltham and Greenwich two Palaces of the Kings Dover a famous Sea-Port and one of the Keys of this Island and lastly Canterbury the prime of this County and the Seat of the Archbishop and Metropolitan of all England Gloucester 11. Gloucestershire is the 11. the principal Towns are Tewksbury famous for Cloth-making and Gloucester the chief of the County here are also found the famous Hills of Cotswold upon which great Flocks of Sheep are found to feed yielding that excellent Wool so much esteemed amongst all Nations Oxford 12. Oxfordshire is the 12. which is a fruitful County both in Corn and Pasture and wherein is found Woodstock a House of the King 's an inclosed Park with a Stone Wall imagined the the first of this Land and Oxford an University famous through the World and chief of this Island Buckingh 13. Buckinghamshire is the 13. wherein are found the good Towns of Ailsbury Stony-stratford and Buckingham the principal of the County Bedford 14. Bedfordshire is the next and shews the Town of Bedford for the first of the County Hertford 15. Hertfordshire is the 15. wherein is the stately House of Theobalds a House of the Kings St. Albans a fair Thorough-fare and Hertford the principal of the County Middlesex 16. Middlesex is the 16. wherein are found the King's Palace Hampton Court and London the prime City of this Kingdom and the Chamber of the Kings of England so famous abroad in forein Countries that it needs no Mans Commendation it is beautified with sundry Colleges for the Study of the Municipal Laws with the Churches of Westminster and London besides divers others with the Hall of Westminster where the Parliaments extraordinary and Courts of Chancery Kings-Bench and other Courts are ordinarily kept with the 2 Palaces of Whitehall and St. James with an Exchange or Burse for Merchants to meet in with a sumptuous and wonderful Bridge of Free stone besides many other excellent private and publick Edifices Essex 17. Essex is the next abounding in Pasturage Corn and Saffron and in which are found Chelmsford the chief Town Colchester Coxal and others abounding with Bays Says and other new Drapery and lastly Harwich a safe Haven for Ships Suffolk 18. Suffolk is next which affords quantity of Butter Cheese and Cloths known by the names of Suffolk-cloth wherein is found St. Edmunds bury and Ipswich which hath a commodious Haven Norfolk 19. Norfolk is the 19. a large champain Country abounding in Conies and Sheep affording the two good Haven Towns of Lin and Yarmouth and Norwich the first of the County which deserves to be numbred amongst the chiefest Cities of England A Description of the City of Norwich and the Trade thereof It is seated in the County of Norfolk and is situate upon the River Yare which runs to Yarmouth and gives name to that Town passable for small Boats only on which River are 5 Bridges the City is well walled with many Turrets and hath 12 Gates for Entrance containing 36 Parishes in the midst whereof is a very fair Market-place â—and Town-Hall for the City Courts and Elections and one other Hall wherein the Citizens keep their great Feasts This City is also beautified with a fair Cathedral and Cloister not much inferior to any in the World tho now much ruinated by these unhappy Times There is also in this City the Ruines of an old Castle 3 Palaces viz. one belonging to the Dukes of Norfolk one formerly belonging the Earls of Surrey and one other for the Bishop of Norwich Here are also 3 Hospitals one for aged Persons one for Boys and one for Girls The Government of this City is by a Mayor 2 Sheriffs 24 Aldermen and 16 Common Council-Men This City being an Inland Place about 30 miles from the Sea by Water tho not above 16 by Land hath little forein Trade save only with Holland and that not considerable or worth taking notice of the chief Trade of this City being to London and that in these two Commodities especially viz. Stuffs and Stockings the Stuffs here vended in a time of Free Trade may be estimated at 100000 l. per annum and upward which said Stuffs are under the Government of two Companies one called the Worsted Company and the other the Russel Company those Manusactures under the Government of the Worsted Company and approved by the Wardens thereof have a Seal affixed to each End thereof the one Seal having this Word Norwich on one side and certain Letters on the other which stand for such of the Wardens Names as are present at the Sealing thereof the other Seal hath on one side these Words Worsted reformed and on the other side thereof in Figures the Quantity of Yards the Piece contains and those Manufactures under the Government of the Russel Company and approved by them have but one Seal which hath on one side the Representation of a Castle and on the other side these Words Fidelitas Artes alit This Stuff Trade is chiefly managed in Partnership between the London and Norwich Merchants great Quantities whereof have in formertimes in a Free Trade with other Nations been exported beyond the Seas to several places but
For setting aside the Worship and Service of God which is only fit and proper to Divines and Church-men the person and purse of the Merchant supplies in a fair measure all the other parts before-mentioned for first the Merchants Navigation and Traffick is seen to supply the City with Corn Grain Cloth c. and all manner of Provision both for back and belly delight and ornament tending either to pleasure or need and this way he performs the part of the Husbandman and Shepherd His Traffick is seen to supply the City with Arms Armour and all manner of Ammunition either offensive or defensive and thus far he performs the part of Souldier His Traffick likewise is seen to bring Riches into the common Purse by Customs Imposts and such Duties and thereby may be said to perform the part of the wealthy and most eminent thereof He is seen by his wisdom travel and experience abroad to be able oftentimes to sit at the Stern of the Cities Government punishing the vicious rewarding the virtuous and herein he performs the part of a Senator and Counsellor neither yet is he wanting in many other particulars to perform the duty of a good Patriot and Citizen not comprized within any of these aforesaid limits for his Traffick is seen to improve the Countries Commodities to set the Poor and Needy on work to invent new Fabricks Stuffs and the like to plant foreign Colonies to setle Peace and Amity amongst Princes to build warlike Ships to train up Seamen and to make the City and place of his abode famous and eminent by sundry other means which I could exemplifie if need were in this place and which at present I willingly omit Now then if the Merchant and the Art of Merchandizing be so excellent and consequently necessary in a City and bringeth with it so many benefits and commodities how happy then is that City where many notable and well-govern'd Merchants are found to reside and where their care of their own profit is so necessarily interwoven with the care of the Common-wealth's and its good that to themselves and to their Country their labours and adventures do bring in thus mutually not only a commodity but also an honour but to the matter All Cities and Towns are not found in themselves proper for Commerce and Traffick nor yet all of them fit residences for Merchants What Cities are found fit for Trade and Commerce therefore it is seen by experience that Trade hath settled it self principally in two sorts of Cities and Towns and in such first the Inhabitants by Inclination and then Foreigners and Strangers by Conversation are observed and noted to have planted themselves and established a Trade therein Two sorts of Cities of Traffick Traffick then residing and abiding principally in two several sorts of Cities and Towns by daily observation are found to be such as these the first is the Maritime and these are they that have their situation on the Sea-Shore or Coast or upon navigable Rivers and Streams and the second are they that have their situation within some Continent and may be called Land-Towns and Cities distant both from Sea and River And though that in both these Trade and Commerce is observable to be settled and driven yet the manner and common form of this Trade is found to differ much as being both of them proper to two several sorts of Traffick and Negociation Sea-Towns of Trade what The Trade observed then to be driven in Sea-Towns or Cities seated on Navigable Rivers is noted to subsist principally by Navigation and by the easie Transportation of Merchandize by that commodiousness from one place to another which is indeed the most proper and customary way whereby Traffick is in these days seen to be maintained and preserved for in many places thus situated it is noted that eminent Merchants do reside who by reason of this Neighbourhood of the Sea and consequently of Navigation do hold a correspondency and Trade from one fit place to another over all the known parts of the habitable World Importing the Commodities of all other Countries and Exporting the native Commodities of the place it self and of this sort is Masilia Amsterdam Genoa Venetia Sevil Lisbon London and many others c. Land Towns of Trade what But the Trade observed to be driven in Inland Towns and Cities subsists by carriage of Commodities by Land which in some places is done by Carts in some by Camels Caravans Mules Horses c. as is at this day seen practised in many great Cities of the World as at Aleppo in Turkey at Spahan in Persia at Agra in the Mogul Country and such other who enjoy neither the benefit of Rivers nor yet the commodity of the Sea it self by many miles distance yet therein are oftentimes found residing many Merchants of great eminency and an ample Trade is discerned therein as may be seen in this following Tract And sometimes to add some furtherance to this their want some of these have a Sea-Port or Haven as the nearest whereto Ships from other parts do come in and do there both land and relade as occasion requireth in which nature is Alexandria to Aleppo Combrone to Spahan and Sindy to Agra Towns of Trade in Manual Arts and Fabricks Besides which I might here add a third sort of Cities where yet Trade is noted to be settled differing from both the former and which cannot be comprised within either of the limits and these are such as subsist by some excellent or curious Manual Arts or Fabricks as is Norimberg and others in Germany Rouen in Normandy Florence in Italy and Norwich in England and some others whose Trade subsists by the benefit of Nature producing of it self special or needful Commodities for Traffick as doth Burdeaux by Gascoin Wines Zant by Corrants Smyrna by Cottons Gilan in Persia by raw Silk Ivisa by Salt and the like and where these are joined by situation proper for Traffick to the former they are found to be far more absolute eminent and compleat as shall be discerned also in this following Tract Cities of Trade mentioned in the Map of Commerce These are then the Cities and Towns which generally in this Map I handle relating as near as my observation and reading will permit me the Commodities that the place doth naturally afford for Merchandize and the Commodities the same is noted properly to vent together with the time when the same is either sent out or brought in the quantity how much with all other such circumstances as are thereunto belonging Five places in a City depending upon Trade Moreover it is to be noted that in all Cities and Towns of Traffick there are always found five particular places that only have a being and dependency upon the Trade thereof The Burse or Exchange The first place is it where Merchants and Tradesmen do assemble and meet at certain hours and limited times of the day to
of species wherein Merchants are observed to keep their Accompts in all the said places with the weights and measures there extant and in use and lastly the manner how the Par and Prices of all Exchanges in the said places are settled ordered continued and maintained I will now proceed to the particulars thereof making my entrance into AMERICA as furthest from us and as least known to us and first survey the Trade thereof according to my proposed Method in this universal MAP of COMMERCE And from thence coasting through Africa Asia and Europe conclude my Pilgrimage and finish my MAP in the desired Port of the City of London OF AMERICA AND THE PROVINCES THEREOF CHAP. XI America and the Provinces thereof THIS Body then contained in this Universal Map or as now I may term it this World is by Geographers divided as I said before into four parts Europe Africa Asia and America which last was altogether unknown to the Ancients and being of a large extent the Modern have divided it some into two some into three parts Mexicana Peruana Magellicana and each of these parts are found to contain several Provinces and Kingdoms which I will only superficially look over thereby the better to come to the Towns of Traffique situated in those Provinces and Kingdoms which my method and present intentions will enforce me the longer to insist upon and because this last mentioned part America as last discovered is least known unto us and the least frequented by our Nation I think it not improper there to begin to delineate my MAP of COMMERCE borrowing herein the liberty of those Navigators that publish their Cards leaving imperfect to the view of all men those Places Lands and Harbours which have not been fully discovered and found out and thence sailing homewards by Africa and Asia into Europe gathering in each Countrey as I pass more variety of colours to adorn and beautisie this Treatise and so at last to close my whole Labours and finish my MAP within the circumserence of London as better known unto us and as being better versed in their several manners of Negotiation This new World then called by us America and now a-days passing by the name of the West-Indies being West in respect of its Situation and India in respect of its wealth was at first discovered by Christopher Columbus a Genoese at the charges of Ferdinando and Isabella King and Queen of Castilia after 63 days sail from Sevil. Then secondly by Americus Vesputius a Florentine at the charges of Emmanuel King of Portugal And thirdly by John Cabot a Venetian at the charges of Henry the seventh King of England the first and last had their Adventures of discovering some Islands only in this part and Americus of the Main Continent and thereby gained the honour of giving name to that vast circuit of Earth which since by sundry others have been more exactly discovered as by our Countrey-men Drake Candish Frobisher Davies Willouby Burrows and others as desiring to share with the first discoverers in the riches and wealth which thence spread it self over all the other parts of the World This America then or more properly in honour of the first discoverer Columba bounded as I mentioned before is found by the Spaniard who challengeth all this large Territory for their own by Conquest to be divided into two parts Mexicana and Peruana of which briefly CHAP. XII Of MEXICANA and the Provinces thereof Mexicana and the Provinces thereof MExicana containeth the Northern Tract of America and comprehendeth these distinct Provinces 1 Mexico 2 Quivira 3 Nicaragua 4 Jucutan 5 Florida 6 Virginia and New-England 7 Nurembega 8 Nova Francia 9 Corterialis 10 Estotilandia Mexico Mexico giveth name to half America now known by the name of Nova Hispania whence the Kings of Spain style themselves Hispaniarum Reges it was very populous before the arrival of the Spaniards who in 17 years slew six millions of the Inhabitants rosting some cutting off the Members and putting out the eyes of others and casting them living to be devoured of wild Beasts to which place now is found no Trade nor Commerce by any Nation save only to the Subjects of this King and to such only as are known for natural-born Spaniards though at first the same was granted by Isabella to the natives of Castile only and Andalusia but now indifferently to all Commodities of Mexico The Commodities that this Countrey is found to afford for Merchandize are principally Gold and Silver Mines Sugar Tobacco Ginger Tallow Hides and some Spices not known to our Ancestors till the discovery thereof Metle an admirable Tree and amongst others not to be forgotten that admirable Tree called Metle which by them is planted and dressed as we do our Vines having 40 kinds of leaves serving to several uses for when they are tender they make of them Conserves Paper Flax Mantles Mats Shooes Girdles and Cordage on these leaves grow certain hard prickles so strong and sharp that they use them instead of Saws from the root of this Tree cometh a juyce like unto Syrup which being sod becometh Honey if purified becometh Sugar or otherwise thereof is made both Wine and Vinegar the rind rosted healeth hurts and sores and from the top-boughs issueth a Gum which is an excellent Antidote against Poyson This Countrey is divided into four divisions St. Michael The first is Nova Galicia the chief Town thereof is called Saint Michael a Colony of the Spaniards Sinsonso The second is Mechuacan one of the best Countreys of New-Spain abounding in Mulberry-Trees Silk Honey Wax and store of Fish of all kinds the principal Town is Sinsonso and the chief Havens are at Saint Anthonies and at Saint James or as the Spaniards call it Saint Jago Ilascalan The third Province is Gustacan the chief City is Ilascalan yielding for beauty and state precedency to Mexico and none other in all these parts the principal part is Villarico a wealthy Town as the place through which all the Traffique of old and new Spain doth pass City of Mexico The fourth is Mexico wherein that famous City of Mexico is seated now the Seat of the Spanish Vice-Roy and Archbishop of New-Spain this City is said to be situated in a Lake upon certain Islands as Venice doth every where interlaced with the pleasant currents of fresh and Sea-waters and carrieth a face of more civil Government than any other in America though nothing if compared with any in Europe the Lake is said to be 50 miles in compass on whose banks are found many pleasant Towns and Houses also it is said that fifty thousand Wherries are seen here continually plying and afford such quantity of Fish that the same is worth 20000 Crowns yearly The City of Mexico it self is six miles in compass containing 6000 houses of Spaniards and 6000 of Indians it hath also a Printing-house a Mint and an University and some Churches of
note that beautifie the same it was vanquished by Fernando Cortes in Anno 1521. with an Army of 100000 Americans only 900 Spaniards 80 Horse 17 pieces of small Ordnance in 13 Brigantins and 6000 Wherries most of the Americans were of Ilascalan who were ever adversaries to the Mexicans for which cause that City doth enjoy many immunities to this day and to conclude according to the opinion of an English Traveller whose relation I herein follow Four things are here remarkable for beauty their Appâ—rel their Women their Horses and their Sticats And thus much shall serve of Mexico Quivira 2. The second Province is Quivira seated on the most Western parts of America in which are two Provinces Cibola taking its name from the chief City subdued by Francisco Vasques in Anno 1540. and Nova Albion discovered by that famous Sea-man Sir Francis Drake An. 1585. and by him so called the chief Commodities and Riches of this Countrey are Kine some men being owners of forty thousand and these serve to the Inhabitants here as we say of our Ale to Drunkards in England meat drink and cloth and more too for first the Hides yield them houses or to say more properly the covering of them their Bones Bodkins their Hair Thred their Sinews Ropes their Horns Maws and Bladders Vessels their Dung Fire their Calf-skins Budgets to draw and keep water their blood for drink and lastly their flesh for meat c. Nicaragua 3. The third is Nicaragua being South-East from Mexico with which it agreeth in nature both of Soil and Inhabitants and accounted for its pleasantness Mahomet's Paradise An Admirable Tree having Trees in great abundance of that strange nature that a branch touched by the hand of any man withereth presently Nova Grenada The chief City is Nova Grenada and Lea a Bishop's See The Commodities thereof are Honey Wax Cotton and Balsam in great abundance it is extream hot and therefore not to be travell'd by day but by night their Winter beginneth in May and from thence raineth for six months the other six very fair and dry and the day and night being here of equal length Jucatan 4. The fourth is Jucatan and was discovered in Anno 1517. which in the language of the place signifieth What say you which was the answer the Inhabitants gave the Spaniards that first demanded of them the name of their Countrey and since by this means retains that name by the Spaniards Campechio The chiefest City is Campechio whence comes that wood so well known in Europe also here is the Island called by the Spaniard Santo Crux wherein is a City of that name well fortified by them Florida 5. The fifth is Florida discovered by the English under the conduct of Sebastian Cabot An. 1467. then possessed by the Spaniards in Anno 1527. and called Florida afterward the French got footing here in Anno 1562 but the Spaniards unwilling the French should be eye witnesses of their rich booty waged war with them so long that there was not a man left on either side to maintain the quarrel and then was Florida again in 1567 abandoned The Spaniards now hold there three strong Forts St. James St. Philip and St. Augustin which last was taken and burnt by Sir Francis Drake 1586. which since is repaired and that is all the Spaniards hold here at this day desiring as it seems neither to plant further himself nor suffer others to do it Virginia 6. The sixth is Virginia which was discovered by Sir Walter Raleigh Anno 1584 and in honour of our Queen called Virginia It lies in the height of 35 degrees Northerly Latitude extending to 38 degrees or thereabouts being seated and planted from 37 to 38 by the English under the Supream Authority of the King of England having the great Bay of Roanoke and Cape Florida to the Southward and Maryland to the Northward the main entrance into Virginia out of the Sea is about 10 leagues broad between two Points of Low-land that on the South being called Cape Henry that on the North Cape Charles by which they pass into a great River or Bay called the Bay of Chesapiake which runs away Northerly about 100 leagues into which River or Bay of Chesapiake many other great Rivers empty themselves all running up West and North-West into the Countrey 100 120 and some 140 or 150 miles being 3 4 5 and some of them 6 or 8 miles broad all which with some other smaller Rivers which fall into them are Navigable for Shipping having 4 5 6 7 8 fathoms and in the shallowest parts not less than three fathoms depth of water Ships that come out of the Sea are harboured so soon as they are within the aforesaid Capes and may ride safely in any of those Rivers where they please within a mile half a mile and in some places within a quarter of a mile of the shore which also they do Anchoring sometimes at one place sometimes at another for the delivering out and taking in of their Goods in the several Plantations and the several Rivers as stands best with their conveniency after they have given the Governour an account of their arrival and from whence they come The first River after they are within the Capes in the Bay of Chesapiake is called James River the next Pamunkee or York River then Payancatank Rapahanock Wicocomoce and some others upon the Western shore of that Bay and some on the Eastern shore thereof Most of which Rivers received their names from the Indians who were the only Inhabitants and Possessors of that great Countrey before the English came there and who still some of them live round about our people and in some places near unto them within three or four miles of some of our Plantations but are nothing so numerous as at the first being very much lessened and destroyed by the quarrels and Wars among themselves and with the English especially in and shortly after the years 1621. and 1644 at which times they treacherously fell upon our people and massacred about four or five hundred persons each time in one hours space The chief Port is James City a Town lying about 40 miles up in James River which is commonly the place of the Governours Residence and where the principal matters relating to Government and the Administration of Justice for the whole Countrey are transacted by the Governour and his Council four times a year called quarter Courts and once a year by the General Assembly who likewise meet there being such Burgesses as are elected in the several Counties by the people and sent thither to sit and act in the nature of our Parliaments here in London Matters of lesser consequence are heard and determined in the several Counties by Commissioners authorized for that purpose called the County Courts who sit every month or every two months In which Courts and all others their trials and proceedings are in all respects conformable as
Mediterranean Seas add joyning themselves with the abovesaid Levents make up a dissolute and resolute company of Sea-farers and Pirates and because these are not sufficient to work any matters of moment alone to make their strength the greater and their force the stronger there is of their own accord added thereto the Tagarins a poor desperate and naked rascality and the Spanish Moors or Moorish Spaniards of late years banished from the Kingdom of Spain who willingly some in purse and some in person undertake these designs to be revenged of their banishment from their native Countreys their case herein being most miserable for whilst they lived in Spain they were accounted for Moors and now being amongst the Moors are still doubted as Christians These last and some other Inhabitants of these Cities of Tunis and Argier do still profess more civility than the common sort and have some reliques of that honesty left them which peradventure they brought with them hither out of Europe and these are only they that in these Cities profess Merchandizing and are found to use some Trade alongst this Coast from one part to another and so to Marselia and Ligorn Towns seated on the Christian opposite shore enjoying many priviledges and immunities for Merchants of what Nation soever The Spaniards inhabiting in this Coast in sundry good and well fortified Towns are the second that here bear sway the Country for some certain miles in circuit over-awed by their Garrisons pay them Contribution and it is supposed that the charges in maintaining these exceeds the gain yielded thereby and here is but little Trade found The third sort I account the Genoese and the French Nations who upon this Coast by permission of the State do pay certain yearly Pensions for admission of Trade and have built themselves Fortresses and Castles for the defence of their Estates and Persons and Shipping and these are now found the only Merchants inhabiting this Coast here they have their scales for the Coral-fishing for Honey Wax Corn Hides Horses Spunges and many other Commodities which the Countrey-men willingly for love of their Spanish Plate do bring them in and here Traffick is made upon good terms and sure guard buying and selling as they list to inhanse or debase the Commodities the either buy or fell by which a great gain is yearly made unto them The Piratical Trade of Tunis and Argier And this is as much as I conceive necessary in this point of Merchantile Traffick in these two Kingdoms and Cities of Tunis and Argier but there is here a Piratical Trade also much practised by the people of these two places who set out Vessels in partnerships and shares to take Prizes or Gonimas as they term them which is ever performed by all manner of advantages without faith or promise either kept or regarded which spoils have been so great and their booties so beneficial that the desperate spirits of many of sundry Nations have come hither in hope to raise by rapine and theft what else by honest courses they could not elsewhere compass their manner of setting forth these Ships is upon a small cost and done with little charge considering the frugality in diet used in these Countreys and their division at their return is commonly allotted as I observed in these parts when for some time I abode amongst them and is still continued â…• for the body of the Vessel â…“ for the Victuallers and setters out and â…“ for the Captain and his company and this is truly and exactly made in species and kind for they hardly admit a Commodity taken or Slaves captivated to be sold at the Market and the dividend to be made in Money but they as I have often seen will divide it in kind as if a bag of Pepper then by dishfuls or a piece of Cloth or Linnen then by proportional shares according to their gross capacity which custom I understand is since by their better judgment rectified and Merchants Ships warned by their losses of latter days to go better arm'd mann'd and provided and seeing their prizes come in thinner they are more provident in their division though more venturous in their thefts Argier in this kind hath been able to set out near 300 sail little and great in those times now not a quarter so many and Tunis then had 20 in 31 good sail now it hath not a dozen so that I may conclude their Trade decreaseth and daily diminisheth which God of his goodness grant it may still do to the Merchants comfort and the Mariners joy and thus leaving these two Piratical Kingdoms and Cities with this Maritime Coast Of Sally and the Trade thereof Sally is divided by a River into two Towns called the Old and New inhabited by the race of those Moors which were banished out of Spain which profess the Mahometan Religion It is commanded by a strong Castle well fortified which commands the Harbour Ships may ride in the open road without command in fine to 30 fathom water good Anchoring all Vessels not drawing above 10 foot water may enter over the Bar into the Creek or Harbour where they lie in safety fastened ashore the Harbour will hold at least 100 Sail. Merchants for the most part that trade to this place will not venture to carry their Goods on shore without a Protection from the Governour nor hardly then neither because of the perfidiousness of the people and therefore for the greater security trade on Ship-board with the Merchants of the Town which are for the most part Jews of the worst sort Their Coin They Coin Money in the Town of Gold Silver and Copper their Gold is the Ducate worth about 8 s. Sterling their Silver is the Blanckhil worth about 2 d. being the 48. part of their Ducate their Copper Coin are Fluces passing for the 20. part of the Blanckhil or the 10. part of a penny Surling All Coins of Spain the French Crown the Venice Chequin are payable here and indeed the Coin of all Nations of Gold and Silver are here passable by weight for their value Weight Their Weights are those for the most as in Spain Measures Their Measure for Corn is an Armudo about 5 to our Bushel Their long Measure a Brace about 18 Inches Their Commodities are chiefly Cow-Hides Goat-Skins Wax Honey Oyl Dates Commodities carried thither are several sorts of Cloth both Linnen and Woollen great quantities of Fire-lock Muskets Pistols Knives and Iron-work of all sorts CHAP. XX. Of the Kingdom of FESSE and the Provinces thereof Fesse and the Provinces thereof FESSE is is divided into 7 Provinces which borroweth their names from the Towns seated therein the first is Hamlisnon seated in the mountainous part of this Kingdom the second is Seuta now in the possession of the Spaniard having a Town of this name strongly by them fortified the third is Tangier a City also fortified and belonging likewise to them the fourth is Mehenes
of the yearly progress of the Inhabitants from place to place in Families and Tribes the Countrey abounding in Dates the food here of Man and Beast Lybia Lybia hath on the East Nilus on the West the Atlantique Ocean on the North Numidia and on the South the Land of Negroes the Countrey altogether sandy barren and a Desert the Inhabitants altogether Heathenish and therefore not worthy the conversation of a civil Merchant or the residence of any Commerce CHAP. XXV Of NEGRITA or the Land of Negroes and the Trade thereof Negrita and the Trade thereof THis Land of Blackmoors hath on the East Aethiopia Superior on the West the Atlantique Ocean on the North Lybia on the South Manicongo in this tract of ground is accounted twenty five Kingdoms or Provinces through which runneth the famous River of Niger or Sanega in whose over-flowing consisteth the welfare of the Inhabitants even as in Aegypt it doth by the Inundation of Nilus for this as that increaseth for forty days and decreaseth for forty days more during which time the Inhabitants fail over the whole Land in Boats and Barges Tombutu This whole Tract principally now acknowledgeth three Sovereigns which is the Kingdom of Tombutu the Kingdom of Borneo and the Kingdom of Goaga each Kingdom giving name to a City the principal residence of the Kings The City of Tombutu lieth beyond the River of Sanega or Niger wherein is found a Trade driven by many French Dutch and English Merchants the manner thereof and the matter wherewith I shall hereafter as well as I can particularize Goago Four hundred miles from Tombutu is the City of Goaga wherein are found eminent Merchants and precious and sumptuous Merchandize of all sorts Borneo Borneo is the third the Inhabitants whereof are better versed in breeding of Cattle than in the Art of Commerce and better read in Mars than Mercury Commodities thereof The Commodities of these Countreys are Corn Sugars Cattel Horses Rice Fruits Gold in Sand which they term Siga and we Tibur and also in Ingots without Sovereign stamp or character and is distinguished by its fineness and goodness which the Inhabitants by way of Exchange do Barter with their Neighbours and other forein Nations against Cloaths Linnens Callico's Basons of Copper Iron-work Sword-blades Hand-Guns Glasses Beads and such like and principally against Salt which of all other Commodities this Countrey is most defective in and in some places affords not and therefore pays for it at an excessive dear price to Strangers The Trade of Guiney and Benin and the Golden Coast The Trade of all this Tract such as it is now in these days known to our Nation is comprised alongst the Sea-Coast which the Portugals by reason of their former Plantation here and rich Commerce have entitled the Golden Coast and we in common appellation term the Trade of the Coast of Genin and Benin two of the principal Provinces Maritime that are found included within the Circuits of these three before-mentioned Kingdoms which Trade that it may be a little better understood I shall more particularly survey according to some Observations made by some hands thereon The Portugals the first Traders into Guiney and Benin In the beginning and discovery of this maritime Coast for thereto I intend to apply the Trade of this Country the Portugals were the first that ranged this Shore and had some small knowledge of their Commodities and of the manner of trading with them who partly by fair means and partly by Constraint got footing in this Sea-coast building Forts in some and placing Garrisons and Factories in others which then was found so Golden and beneficial to that Country that it is conceived this only thing as what will not Gold attract drew them to search further the Maritime Coast of this Tract all along to Cape bona Esperansa and so consequently thereby unto the East-Indies fair quarter and courteous usage being then perceived in these Forts and Towns thus subjected to the Portugals drew the Inhabitants and Countrey-men to a fair and ordinary commutation and exchanging of Commodities with them which according to the custom of that Kingdom was maintained by Factors appointed for the King 's particular account in every Port and Town as if he intended to make the profits of Merchandizing to defray the charges of his Conquest and Garrisons furnishing them with Salt Iron Tin Copper Basons Knives Cloth Linnen and other European Commodities receiving in exchange partly the Commodities proper for their nourishment such as was Cattle Corn Rice and the like and principally Commodities beneficial as Gold it self in great abundance both in Sand and Ingots melted which gave a quickning and life to the further discoveries of those Countreys and continuance of the Trade which is found there maintained to this day though in a far lesser manner Who shewed the way to English and others The English and other Nations afterwards desirous to share in this rich Trade failed within a short time likewise hither and because they had not such Places and Forts for their Ware houses and the Protection of their Persons and Goods therefore would not or else might not with safety land their Commodities without danger of the falshood of the Portugals or treachery of the Inhabitants therefore at first failing hither were compelled to Anchor alongst the Coast nearest to the best Towns and of greatest concourse and signifie to the Inhabitants the Commodities they had brought to utter drew at length by their fair demeanour and courteous usage the Moors to come aboard their Ships and bring their Gold with them the manner of which Trade as being different from any other Country I shall briefly set down The manner of the usual Trade of Guiney and Benin In the morning betimes having for the most part then the Wind off the shore and calm weather the Moors came aboard in their Canoes and Scuts to traffique some for themselves and some which they call Tolkens or Factors for others who carry at their Girdles a Purse wherein small Clouts or Papers containing sometimes 10 several mens Gold are wrapped and laid up which though it should be of one and the same weight and goodness they notwithstanding readily distinguish and having made their Barters for Cloath Linnens or the like at noon return with the Sea-turn or as they call it the Brise again to the shore and besides their Bargains covenanted these Factors have some small thing for themselves as the reward of their pains by way of Brokage or Factorage which they called by the name of Dachio The undermining tricks of Guiney and Benin But in process of time the Netherlanders frequenting this Coast and well acquainted with the manner of this English Traffick and coming into the same parts where the English traded and were known were the first that spoiled this Golden Trade partly by their sinister dealing and partly by their undermining and
come to handle those particular places I shall do the same more exact for the better satisfaction of the Reader Measures in Aegypt The Measures of length in Cairo Alexandria and in general through Aegypt are found to be of two sorts the one the Pico Barbaresco or proper measure of the Countrey serving for Cloth Linnen and other Commodities being 25⅞ inches English The other the Pico Turchesco serving for Silks Cloth of Gold and fine Stuffs which is 22¼ inches English and with Venetia they are found to render viz. 100 braces of Silk in Venetia make here Barbaresco Pico 116. 100 braces of Cloth in Venetia make here Barbaresco 124½ But I have found some observations that have noted that the 100 Yards of London have made here and in these other Cities in Barbary thus in 100 Yards in London have made in Alexandria 165 pic Baruti 148 pic Tripoli Barbariae 165 pic Damasco 148 pic Bugia 210 pic Tripolia Suria 149 pic Rama 151 pic Tangier   Bursa in Natolia 150 pic Amano 133 pic Sidon 151 pic Gira 165 pic Salonica 145 pic Achria 151 pic Aleppo 133 pic Argier   Thunes   Oran   Bona   Morocco 181 cov Una   And forasmuch as Cairo is the Metropolis of Aegypt it will be proper I should travel thither and survey a little the present Trade and estate thereof before I leave this COMMERCE CHAP. XXXI Of CAIRO and the Trade thereof Cairo and the Trade thereof I Willingly omit the present Trade of Rosetto Damietta and some others of lesser note comprehended within the limits of Aegypt and also here pass over to a fitter place the present Trade of Sues in the Red-Sea till I come to survey that Gulf and the neighbouring Towns of Zebit Mecca Aden and others and now content my self to consider the present state of the place and condition of Traffick of Cairo as it is found at this day under the Scepter of the Grand Seignior Misraim Cairo is then commonly reputed to be one of the greatest and most famous Cities of the World called by the Arabians el Cahair seated in a beautiful Plain near the Mountain Mucatun and about two miles distant from the famous River of Nilus invironed with stately Walls and fortified with Iron Gates having therein many fair large and long Streets where are seen placed by themselves each Trade and Occupation and some Streets wholly beautified with Colledges for the studious Palaces for the honourable Temples for the religious and Caens or Burses for the Merchants and Negotiators the principal of which is called Caen Haleli formerly the residence only of Persia Merchants now admitting of other Nations built in manner of a King's Palace having three stories one above another the lower only containing Ware-houses for the keeping of heavy and bulky Commodities the middlemost for Spices Perfumes and richer Merchandize and the uppermost for Lodgings for those Merchants that have their Ware-houses therein near which and round about the same the richest Shopkeepers are found to have their dwelling and where in times past the principal Merchants of Christendom had a place of residence appointed for their Factors and Agents This City is surrounded with sundry large and spacious Suburbs which is peculiar to sundry Artizans and Artists the principal Suburbs is called Bullach distant two miles from the Walls of the City and stretching it self along the Banks of the River of Nile beautisied with many fair buildings and is now the common residence of the principal Merchants of this City and here are all such Commodities landed as either cometh out of the Mediterranean Sea by any the Channels of Nilus up this River or out of Arabia or other Countreys down this stream here lies all the Vessels moored either to lade or unlade and here do the Officers reside which receive the Customs of all Goods coming by Water from either Damietta Rosetra or Alexandria which in it self is but small the principal Custom and Duty being paid by these Merchants and collected by the Agents of the Customers at these Maritime Ports abovesaid but those Commodities that come out of the firm Land do here pay the said entire Customs as shall be mentioned hereafter Merchants of six sorts in Cairo This City is inhabited by six sorts of Merchants each of them trading by so many distinct ways the native Aegyptian I reckon the first ever accounted expert Merchants but never adventhring out of his own Country who buy from other forein Nations their Commodities in gross and supply the necessities of their own Country by retail The Arabian or Moor is the next here esteemed the greatest and most eminent Merchants for these are they who are found to furnish all Aegypt with the Spices and Gems of India and the Drugs of Arabia Importing the same by Camels and Dromedaries from Goa Ormus Aden Zebit Dangula Mecca and other places from and about the Red-Sea and in return thereof Exporting hence the Drugs of Aegypt and such other Commodities as are brought hither by those Nations neighbouring principally upon and about the Mediterranean Sea The principal Commodities accounted and fittest for them is the excellent Gold of this Countrey called the Soltanies and Sheraffie which Aegypt in great plenty affordeth The third sort of Merchants I account the Christians of Europe as principally the French and Venetians who have here their Consuls and Vice-Consuls for the Preservation of their Trade and Protection of their Nation by certain Capitulations agreed upon between their Sovereigns and the Grand Seignior in Constantinople paying such Duties and Customs here as their said Capitulations do nominate and these thus furnish Aegypt with Levantine Commodities and generally with all the Fabricks and Wares of the growth of Europe and these carry hence in returns these Commodities brought hither both out of Arabia and India and the native Commodities of this Countrey The Turks I account the next whose Emperour swayeth the Scepter of this rich Countrey and who in respect of their easie Customs reap a peculiar benefit by the Trade of this place but the most eminent of them residing far hence and in Constantinople and their adventure proving dangerous and hazardable by reason of the Incursions of the Malta and Florentine Gallies joyning thereto the dull temper of that Nation generally in matter of Commerce and the ill success their grand Gallions have of late years had doth much divert their minds from any eager pursuit of that so rich a Traffick The Jews here resident I account the fifth who by reason of their general knowledge in Trade and their general correspondence in all these Countreys before-mentioned partake of all the Commerce and Traffick practised by these several persons for from Venice Constantinople Ormus Goa and other eminent places of Traffick they are found to adventure and to have adventures they travel and return with the Arabian into India and Arabia they traffick here
proper that I enlarge when I come to speak of Aleppo which is seated in Syria as I shall shew hereafter CHAP. XLIII Of Pamphilia Lycia and Caria Pamphilia Lycia and Caria ALL these have not any thing now worthy note in them conducing to Trade and Merchandizing save the abundance of those Goats upon whom grows that Wooll whereof is made the Chamlets and Grograms of which I shall have cause to speak more at large when I come to treat of the Trade of Angora and in the interim it is to be noted that these Provinces having lost their former names are now known to us by the name of Garamania and are at this present under the command of the Grand Signior CHAP. XLIV Of Ionia and the Cities thereof Ionia and the Cities thereof Ephesus IOnia is the next Province wherein is that ancient famous City of Ephesus much ruined from its ancient recorded beauty famous for the direction of an Epistle by Saint Paul to the Inhabitants hereof famous also for the Temple of Diana and lastly famous for the burial of St. John the Evangelist who went here alive into the grave But this City is now become a poor Village and retains no monument of her pride that I could find in Anno 1624. but a porch of a Graecian Church of black Marble wherein is excellently engraven the life of our Saviour Christ much admired by all Artists Smyrna But now the only City of Trade in this Province is Smyrna one of the places that strove for the birth of Homer and wherein was found one of those Churches whereto St. John dedicated his Revelation seated in the bottom of a Bay or Gulph known to our Seamen by the name of the Gulph of Smyrna and where there is a Consul resident for the English as also for the French and Venetians to protect their Merchants and Trade where in Anno 1619. in matter of Traffick I noted these things CHAP. XLV Of Smyrna and the Trade thereof Smyrna and the Trade thereof THE principal Trade of this City was within these few years transported hither from the Island Scio where the Consuls abovesaid had their residence and from thence are intitled Consuls of Scio and Smyrna but by reason that scale both for sales and investments had then a dependency upon this it was found more proper and less chargeable to remove their abode and warehouse hither and by that means this became the principal Port the goodness of the Harbour much furthering the same being both under the command of the Grand Signior and within these latter years much inriched by the trade of English French and Dutch the Venetians drive great trade here under French Colours still Commodities of Smryna The Commodities that are found here to abound and that are hence transported into other Countries of Christendom are Cotton Woolls which in great plenty grow in the adjoining Plains of this City also Galls for Diers Anniseeds Cordovants Wax Cotton and Grogram Yarn Cute Carpets Grograms Chamlets Mâ—hairs and some Fruits and Drugs raw Persia Silk is likewise hither brought by Land from Persia and all other Commodities found in Turky or of that growth is here to be had and the Commodities here vended from England are Cloths of Suffolk Essex and Glocester Kersies of Yorkshire and Hampshire Lead Tin Callicoes Pepper Indico and other Spices which within these late years we had formerly from this and other places of Turkie and which now by the commodity of the East-India Trade and Navigation we carry to them and from Venice is brought some Cloth Paper Silks Velvets c. and from France some few Cloths and Paper c. great store of Bullion which never returns into Christendom more carried the greater part by the Armenians and Persians to their native Countries and there melted down into a light Standard The Coins of Smyrna and Accompts The Coins current of Smyrna are those of Constantinople and generally those of all that Empire which I shall shew when I treat of that City and for that cause here omit it and their Accounts they also keep here in the same nature with them and therefore refer you to that place in both these Particulars Weights usual of Smyrna The Weights of Smyrna and Scio for they agree both in one is the Quintar which contains 100 Rotolo's or 42 Oaks and every Oak being 400 drams and every Lodro being 176 drams and the pound Averdupois hath been found to be 148 drams and the Quintal of 42 Oaks above-said which produceth 119 l. English but in many Commodities it is found to answer but 117 l. so that in circa 9¼ drams is 1 ounce English Averdupois They have here in use two Measures one for Linnen and another for Woollen but because they nearly agree with Constantinople I will refer the same to that place Measures of Smyrna and Scio Customs of Smyrna and Scio by the English The Customs paid by the English here and throughout all Turkie by virtue of their Capitulations with the Great Turk is only three per Centum and oftentimes the Custom house of Scio and of Smyrna is in one mans hands and though by their Capitulations it is so agreed that those Goods that have once paid Custom in one port should not pay any more being thence Exported to any other place of his Dominions and that Commands have been granted to that end by the Grand Signior at several times yet the justice of that Countrey is so defective in this particular that the Commodities landed in Smyrna and paying their three per Centum and afterward transported to Constantinople pay there again another three per Centum or compound with the Customer which somtimes is done at 1½ per Centum and sometimes at less By Venetians and French Note that here as in all parts of Turkie the Venetians French and Dutch pay five per cent two per cent more than the English which is grounded upon their Capitulations with the Emperour Port-charges of a Ship The Port-charges of clearing a Ship in Smyrna is paid in Commodities of our Country and was to that end thus at first regulated but since converted into payment by mony as to the Cadie who is to have five Pico of Venice Cloath and a bundle of Cony-Skins for a vest which in the infancy of our English Trade was here found to be much requested The Cadies Servant to have 3½ Pico English Cloath The Cadies Caya to have 3 Pico of Ditto The Cadies Scrivan to have a Chicquine in Gold The Cadies Pages to have 2½ Dollars The Mosur Eashaw to have 1½ Pico Cloth The Cadies Janisaries to have a Chicquine All which Charges amount in circas to 68 Dollars To conclude The Trade of this Port is most noted for the abundance of Cottons which hence is transported to England France Holland and Italy estimated yearly to be about 20000 Quintals and is found here to
Signior and acknowledges his Coins for current in this place in matter of Trade which is the Asper common with all Turky Whereof 60 is here accounted for a Rial of 8 â— Spanish An hundred is accounted for a Soltany Chequin or Xeriff The common Gold here current 8 sh Sterling Weights in Mocha Their weights here used partake also somewhat of the common weight in appellation 〈◊〉 throughout all Turkey which is the dram 10 whereof are accounted here an ounce 14 Ounces is a Rotolo 24 Rotol is a Fracello which is 25 l. 12 ounces English 15 Fracellos makes a Cantar or as they term it 1 Babar making English incirca 386 l. Measures in Mocha The Measure here is the Pico accounted incirca 26½ inches English other notes have fallen into my hand of this place therefore hence I will bend my course to Aden CHAP. LXX Of Aden and the Trade thereof Aden and the Trade thereof ADen is the strongest and fairest Town of Arabia Foelix situated in a Valley and iâ—ompassed most part with Hills of Marble upon which it is conceived it never rainen it lieth on the North side of the entrance of the Read-Sea reaching 60 miles further inward than the opposite Cape Gardefuâ— it is fortified with five strong Castles kept by Garrisons and within late years surprized by the Bashaw of Aegypt for the Grand Signior in whose obeâ—ence it now quietly remaineth by the death and slaughter of the natural Sovereign thereâ—… It is now by the industry of man from a firm Land become an Island and yet commande by a strong Castle the residence of the Governour seated on an adjoyning hill It is accounted to have 6000 houses in it inhabited by sundry Nations or more pâ—perly a miscellany of Indians Persians Aethiopians Arabians and Turks which here do reâ—de for the benefiâ— of that great Trade and Commerce that is exercised in this City The Portugâ—lt had once got the possession thereof and were Masters of it for some few years but finding the charge of the Garrison to exceed the benefit afforded by the Trade and neighbouring câ—…fines they willingly surrendred the place to a Moor who paying them for some years certaâ— Tribute they seated as a Sovereign to command the same who ruled here till the Turks câ—me to be Masters thereof This City is now the principal Magazine for the Commodities of Persia India and Arâ—bia and affording naturally great store of Drugs as Myrrh Balsam Manna and many sorts of Spices The heat of this place is so excessive in the day time that all the bâ—rgains and contracts made here among Merchants are done by night as the coolest season to effect the same Now for the Coins here current the Weights and Measures here in use and other needful further Observations of the Trade of this place I am inforced to be silent in and refer the same to the more experienced to be hereafter added as occasion shall serve here unto CHAP LXXI Of Assyria Mesopotamia and Chaldea and the Cities thereof Assyria Mesopotamia and Chaldea A Ssyria hath on the East Media on the West Mesopotamia on the North Armenia minor on the fouth a part of Persia in which I find no City at present of any note here is seen to this day the ruins of that Ninivâ—h whose walls were of three days journey in compass about one hundred foot high and thirty foot broad and beautified with 1500 Towers of 200 foot-high through which ran that famous River of Euphrates and to which place was Jonas sent to preach here being 120000 persons sound so ignorant in the things of God that they are said in Scripture not to know the right hand from the left Mesopotamia In Mesopotamia is seated Caramit a famous Town and Bashaw-like of the Grand Signior whose Commerce is unknown unto us by reason of its situation in Genesis 12. it is called Padan Haran and is the place where Abraham dwelt after he had lest Ur and in this Countrey was Abraham born and to which place he sent his Servant to choose a Wife for his Son Isaac Paradise and here in some Authors opinion which in this description I followed did Paradise stand Chaldea In Chaldea we find many Cities to have been of old and amongst others Babel famous for the confusion of Languages that here happened in building that stupendious Edifice which was raised 5164 paces high and which had its basis and circumference equal to that height Babylon now Badgate it is now much lessened of its ancient greatness and from Babel it became first Babylon and now Badgate a Bashaw-like of the Grand Signior through which runs the River Euphrates which is in part the cause of her present traffick which daily is found to be maintained by the help of Aleppo where is kept by the intercourse of Merchants and the Commodity of Caravans and intelligence of Pigeons carrying Letters a neighbour-like Commerce Badgate oftentimes vending into the Land what Aleppo do receive by Seas CHAP LXXII Of Babylon now Badgate and the Trade thereof Babylon and the Trade thereof BAbylon now Badgate was at first founded by Nimrod but never finished till that warlike Semiramis took it in hand whose Walls were 60 miles in circuit 200 foot high and 75 broad seated upon the River Euphrates in those days a fair and beautiful City now having almost lost all that splendor and glory it then justly boasted of many famous accidents have here happened here died Alexander the Great after which his body lay eight days ere his ambitious Captains could have leisure to give it a fitting burial here it is also said that when this place was taken by Zopyrus the Macedonian with his Grecians it was full three days ere one part thereof took notice of the conquest since which it hath been subject to several Sovereigns and it is at this day a Town of very great Traffick between which and Aleppo are many Caravans found to travel with many thousand Camels laden with sundry Commodities the rich Commodities of India brought from Ormus by Sea to Balsara seated as the Maritime Port of the City in the Persian Gulf and so up the River Euphrates hither and hence to Aleppo Damasco and other Countreys which again returns them in exchange the Commodities of Turkey Aegypt and Europe Pigeons Letter or news Carriers In this Countrey and generally through many parts of Turkey they have a custom to give advice of their affairs by Pigeons who serve Merchants here for Posts and hereby the English are found in Aleppo to have advice from Alexandretta which is accounted 100 miles in 24 hours and hereby the Caravans here travelling give from time to time advice of their journeys and success which is done in this manner when the Hen Dove sitteth and hath young they take the Cock Pigeon and put him into a Cage whom when he is by the Garavan carried a days journey off they
set at liberty and he straight flieth home to his mate when by degrees they are thus perfectly taught the Carriers and Merchants on any accident fasten a Letter about one of their Necks and they being freed without any stay hasten to the place from whence they were brought and such as at home do watch their return climb their hole and take away their Letter are certified of the mind of their friends or any other tydings after a very speedy manner Commodities of Babylon The Commodities of this place are the common Commodities before nominated in Aleppo Coins of Babylon and their Coins current are the same that are found throughout Turkey as subject to one and the same Soveraign but the Coins of Persia are found here likewise to pass current for their value and so doth also their Gold without exception it being a received custom in Trade That frontier Towns of Trade admit the Coins of the bordering Inhabitants and Regions Weights of Babylon The weights of Babylon known amongst us is the Dram Mitigal Rotolo and Cantar Their Rotolo hath been observed to make 1 l. 10 ounces English and our 112 l. English hath made here 68 Rotolo's Their measure in length common in this place is the Pico found to be by trial about 27 inches English To conclude this Countreys Relation from hence came the three Wise men called of the East who worshipped Christ and presented him with gifts and the Inhabitants hereof are said to be the first inventers of Astronomy and Astrology and therefore hence have all such the title of Childeans and for other matter of Trade here is only found the famous Town of Mosull situated on the River Euphrates abounding with the Forests of Galls so much required and requested by divers throughout the World and now to MEDIA CHAP. LXXIII Of Media and the Provinces thereof Media and the Cities thereof MEdia is limited on the East with Parthia on the West with Armenia on the South with Persia on the North with the Caspian Sea being absolutely the greatest Sea of all others that hath no Commerce with the Ocean by some called the Hircanian Sea and by some the Sea Bacchu of a Town of that name thereon bordering Sultania The chief Cities of this Countrey are Sultania famous for the fair Mosque in the East Sumachia the strongest of all the rest taken by the Turks in Anno 1578 and now the seat of 2 Turkish Bashaw Ere 's Ardovile Shervan Bacchu and some others Tauris and lastly the most eminent Tauris of the trade hereof see hereafter Likewise in this Tract is comprehended the Province of Albania now Zairia little beholding to the industry or labour of the Husbandman yet of its own accord yielding for once sowing most times two and sometimes there reapings Derbent the chief City is Caucasiae Portae built hard upon the Hill Caucasus one of the best fortified Towns of the East now called Derbent a strong City invironed with two walls and fortified with Iron Gates yet nevertheless taken it was by the Grand Signior in his last wars against the Persians under whose command it now remaineth being now accounted one of the Keys of this Kingdom and the common entrance into Persia and lastly in this Countrey Phidon an Argive in Anno Mundi 3146. is said to find out the use of weights and measures which knowledge and concordance by this Tract I covet to obtain The weights of Derbent is the Moâ—e which is 3 l. 11 ounces Venice sotile And to conclude a word of the Trade of this Countrey in the general I find that the Moscovia Company were the first that sought the knowledge thereof in these parts for upon their discovery of Moscovia they traded down the River Volga to Astracan and thence in Barks sailed with their English Commodities to Bacchu Derbent and other places on the Caspian Sea and since some of the East-India Company have more narrowly traced it and have observed the same more particularly the principal Commodities proceeding hence is the raw Silk made at Gilan Zahaspa Rastiguan Chiulfal and others now known unto us by the name of Persia Ardasse and Lege Silks and from this last the dealers in Silk here are throughout Asia commonly termed Chiulfallins CHAP. LXXIV Of Tauris and the Trade thereof Tauris and the Trade thereof TAuris is the Metropolis of Media and the Summer seat of the Persian Sophies containing 16 miles in compass and including 100 thousand Inhabitants it hath within late years been three times conquered by the Turks and hath as often again returned to the Persians under whom now it resteth first by Selimus then by Solyman the Magnificent and lastly by Osman General to Amurath the third it is now in the possession of the Persian and strongly fortified and seated in a cold yet wholsome Countrey the Inhabitants more addicted to making of Silk than to the Sword distant six days journey from the Caspian Sea and indeed incompassed by several great Towns of note whose manual labours are famoused over the World as first Ere 's whence came the fine Silk called the Mamodean now out of use Gilan and Bilan the Gilan abounding with Lege Silk Sumachia Sumachia abounding in excellent Carpets whereto the people wholly addict themselves Arasse then Arasse the most eminent and opulent City in the Trade of Merchandize throughout all Servania partly by the abundant growth of Silk there nourished and hence called Arasse vulgarly Ardasse 2000 sums yearly going hence to Aleppo in Syria and partly by the growth thereof Galls Cottons Wooll Allom some Spices Drugs and sundry other Commodities so that to make this place the happy Scale of Merchandize Nature having plaid heâ— part there wanteth only peace between the Kings of Persia and Turkie which at present is denied them the further manner of Trade of that place I am constrained for want of due information to omit and refer what I have thereof collected to Persia CHAP. LXXV Of Persia and the Provinces thereof Persia and the Provinces thereof PErsia is bounded on the East with the River Indus on the West with Tygris and the Persian Gulph on the North with the Caspian Sea and the River Oxus and on the South with the main Ocean the People are much addicted to Hospitality and Poetry in their Complements Lordly in their Apparel phantastical in their Expences magnificent and in their Lives lovers of Learning Nobility and Peace This Empire containeth these several Provinces 1 Persis 2 Susiana 3 Caramania 4 Gedrosia 5 Drangiania 6 Arica 7 Arachosia 8 Parapomisus 9 Saccha 10 Hircania 11 Ormus Of all which in brief and no further than may concern my present purpose Persis Far. In Persis now called Far having the Gulph of Persia to the South limit Caramania for the East Susiana for the West and Media for the North was seated Persepolis the ancient Seat of this Empire
Manners and Forms of Government hinder all further particular knowledge of Trade to our European Merchants therefore leaving thus this Empire and City contented with this short Survey I proceed to India of late years become somewhat better known to Europe and to our Nation CHAP. LXXXVIII Of INDIA and the Provinces thereof The East-India is commonly divided into two Parts viz. The one is India within Ganges or that part thereof which lieth on the West-side of the River of Ganges which containeth 15 Provinces 1. Dulsinda 2. Pendab 3. Mandao 4. Delly 5. Agra 6. Sanga 7. Cambaia 8. Decon 9. Canara 10. Malabar 11. Narsinga 12. Oristan 13 Botanter 14. Patanaw 15. Bengala In which is Places of Note 1. Caximir Cascimir or Chusmur 2. Roree 3. Nigara 4. Seftan 5. Multan 6. Duckee 1. Labor 2. Saltan-paure 3. Athee 1. Mandac 2. Molton 3. Scernus Polymbothy 1. Delly 2. Tremel 3. Doceti 1. Fatapore 2. Agra 3. Hendee 4. Biani 1. Azmere 2. Citor The Province of 1. Sinda in which is found 1. Tata 2. Lawribander 3. Calwalla 4. R. Redempore 5. Nuraquemire 2. Guzarat in which is found 1. Diu 2. Sauran 3. Boldra 4. Ardovat 5. Madabat 6. Saringa 7. Periano 8. Sarkeff 3. Cambaia in which is 1. Cambaio 2. Barocho 3. Swalley 4. Surat 5. Neriand 6. Doman 7. Campanel 8. Dacaiotote 9. Netherby 10. Bandore 11. Tanai In which is Places of Note 1. Bidoe 2. Visapore 3. Danagar 4. Decan 5. Syntacora 6. Goa 7. Chaul 8. Balagnate 9. Brampore 10. Sara 1. Melinda 2. Onor 3. Baticalia 4. Mangalor 5. Mayendre 6. Lispor 7. Solsettee Is divided into seven Provinces viz. 1. Cononor 2. Callicut 3. Cranganor 4. Cochin 5. Cai-Colam 6. Conlax 7. Travancor where is 1. The City of Cononor 2. Cata 3. Peripatan 4. Marabia 5. Tramopatan 6. Main 1. Pandarane 2. Tanor 3 Partangale 4. Chatua 5. Chale 6. Capacote 7. Calicut 1. Cranganor a City of that Name 1. Augmale 2. Cochin 1 Caia-Colam the chief town 1 The City of Coulan 1 Travancer the chief City 2. Qualicare In which is of Note 1. Cael 2. Golconda 3. Chamdagrin 4. Prepeti 5. Chahambaram 6. Madura 7. Gingi 8. Tanaor 9. Moliapur 10. Choromandel 11. Casta 12. Negapatan 13. Tarnassari 14. Bisnagar 15. Penegardo 16. Narsinga the chief City 1. Oristan 2. Cateoba 3. Angeli 4. Bacalli 5. Sinnergan 6. Senerpate 1. Bottia 2. Clamur 3. Kucares 4. Couche 5. Gouren 6. Rame 7. Recan 8. Tripura 1. Patane 2. Banaras 3. Siripur 4. Ciandecan 1. Bengala the City 2. Gouro 3. Catigan 4. Taxdâ— 5. Porow Crande 6. Poror Pequeno 2. The Islands in the Gulf of Bengala are The other is India without Ganges or that part thereof which lieth on the East-side the River of Ganges which containeth six Provinces 1. Brama 2. Couchin-China 3. Cambaia 4. Jangoma 5. Siam 6. Pegu. Where is Places of Note 1. Melintay 2. Miranda 3. Bacan 4. Cavilan 5. Proâ—… 6. Tangu 7. Ana 8. Brema 1. The City of Couchin-China 1. Campa 2. Cambaia 3. Gudurmuch 4. Coul. In which is the Provinces 1. Jangoma 2 Lonea 3. Curroy In which is 1. The Kingdom of Malaca where is the City of 1. Malaca Sincapura 3. Polazimbilam 2. Jor alias Johor a City so called in that Kingdom 3. Kingdom is Patana where is the City of Patane 4. The Kingdom of Siam where is 1. Socotai 2 Quedoa 3. Tana 4. Lugar 5. Calantam 6. Siam 5. The Kingdom of Mountay where is the City of Odia alias Udie Is divided into five Kingdoms viz. 1. Verma the chief City thereof is Verma 2. Machin the chief City thereof so called 3 Orachan the chief Towns therein are 1. Dianga 2. Sundina 3. Arachan 4. Martuan the principal City therein so called 5. Pegu in which is 1. Cosmi 2. Jocabel 3. Diun 4. Coilan 5. Lanagon 6. Dala 7. Siluamped 8. Mecao 9. Siriangh 10. Pegu the principal City India and the Provinces thereof INdia is bounded on the East with China on the West with the River Indus on the North with Tartaria abovementioned on the South with the Ocean taking his name of Indus a famous River here running 1000 miles ere it meet the Ocean it lay after the conquest thereof by Alexander the Great for many years undiscovered the Merchants only thereof were found to bring their native Commodities to Sarmacand and Cambalu aforementioned to exchange against such Commodities as those Countries afforded as to the common Empories and likewise to Ormus where they provided themselves of all Aegyptian and Arabian Commodities by which means knowledge was got of their Countries but the great worth and wealth thereof was not fully known and discovered to us till of late years by the Navigation first of the Portugals then of the Dutch and English this Country became better surveyed Commodities of India finding that the same afforded and abounded in all manner of Minerals Lead and Copper only excepted with all manner of Cattel Horse excepted with all manner of precious Stones with all manner of Spices some Drugs and other Commodities as in their particular Provinces shall be more particularly remembred Ganges The famous River Ganges runneth through this Country to which the Indians go in Pilgrimage as if the water washed in or drunk could bring Salvation to them this divideth India into two parts called India intra Gangem and India extra Gangem both which include many large Provinces and Kingdoms and first India intra Gangem hath nine principal Kingdoms which I will briefly following some Authors opinions pass cursorily through 1. Narsinga First Narsinga the chief City Maleaper or St. Thomas where they hold the Body of this Apostle was burnt though the Spaniards hold his Body was found under I know not how many fathom of ground in Calamana by devout Fryers that after the religious receipt of the Sacrament of their Wafer-God digged for him and found it vide Mafe Jesuit 2. Malavar The second is Malavar 3. Ballasia Conanor and the third Ballasia in which are found three famous Mart-Towns Cochin and Calicute and Conanor the last having a large and safe Haven commodious for the Trade of these Countries distant from Calicute 30 miles and Calicute distant from Cochin 80 miles Calicute by reason of its great concourse of Merchants is here a famous Mart and extendeth it self for three miles all along the shore principally affording to Christendom that sort of Pepper taking its name hence of Calicute Pepper also Callicoes Cloth and the other sort of Pepper of the name of this Country of Malavar 4. Cambaia The fourth is Cambaia a Famous Kingdom very rich and populous the chief City is also of the same name and one of the richest of these Countries containing 800000 persons 5. Mandao The fifth is Mandao wherein is the City of Mandao being 30 miles in compass which held out a Siege of 12 years against the Mogul who is King hereof as
therein is found a great concourse of Merchants of all Nations as Turks Persians Arabians Armenians and others of sundry Countreys and because of the continual Traffick thereof it is accounted the best and most profitable Revenue the King of Spain hath in all India for that the Banians Gusurates Rumo's and Persians which Traffick in Cambaia and from thence to the Red-Sea and Mecca do both discharge their Wares and take in their Lading here at Diu by reason of the commodious situation thereof as lying at the entrance of Cambaia and from Diu it is shipt and sent to Cambaia and so brought back again to Diu. Commodities of Diu and that Coast The Commodities of this place and this Coast are first fine Cotton-Linnen of sundry sorts which they call Jorims Sluyers and Lamparads and which we call by the general name of Callicoes also Cocos Oyl India Nuts Butter Pitch Tar Sugar candied Iron good store and most excellent and fair Leather which is artificially wrought with Silks of all colours both flowers and personages and which is in India much esteemed to lay upon Beds and Tables instead of Carpets and Coverlets they make also here all sorts of curious Dseks Cupboards Chests Boxes Standishes and a thousand such like devices in Wood guilded with variety of colours wrought with Imagery and Mother of Pearl which are carried hence throughout all India but especially to Goa and Cochin against the time that the Portugal Ships come thither to take in their Lading to go homeward Other observations of the further Trade of this place I refer to Goa the Metropolis of India in possession of the Portugals to which all the other Forts possessed by the Portugals in some sort have a reference in the matter and manner of their Trade CHAP. XC Of Cambaia and the Trade thereof Of Cambaia and the Trade thereof CAmbaia the principal City of the Kingdom so called is a fair and large City and contained some years past 800000 persons it is seated on the inclosure of the Famous River Indus and there the River inlargeth it self to a great breadth till it come to the Isles of Vacas having the Island of Diu on the one side and the Cities of Deman and Surrat on the other it is absolutely the greatest City of Trade in these parts and therein is a Factory seated for the Traffick in these Countreys of the English and Dutch East-India Companies Here is also found a great concurrency of Merchants as well of Christians as of Persians Arabians and Armenians but the Natives which are called the Gusurates and Banians are esteemed the greatest and most politick Merchants of all India and held in subtlety equal with any Nation under the Sun Commodities of Cambaia The Commodities for Traffick that this Country either naturally affordeth or is artificially here fabricated is Corn Rice and such Grain Butter and Oyl wherewith for their abundance they furnish all the Countreys round about them also great quantity of Cotton Linnens are here made which we term Callicoes of all sorts called by them Canequins Boffetta's Jarins Cantares and others of sundry kinds of making from the very coarsest wherewith they make their Sails for Shipping to the finest which are by us known by the name of Callico Lawns Also here are made sundry fine Carpets called Alcatiffes and Banquies also many sorts of Coverlets called Codorins also many Manufactures of Wood carved and imbellisht some with Mother of Pearl and some with Silver and such like also here are found sundry sorts of precious stones as Spinals Rubies Granads Jacinths Amethysts Chrysolites Amber Agats Jaspes also sundry Drugs as Opium Camphora Bangue and Sandal-wood Sugars and lastly and principally Anil or Indico is here growing prepared and made ready and from hence carried throughout the whole World the principal places in this Country affording the same is Bianny Fetterbarre Sherkis Lahore and other places thereabouts Surrat and Baroche and the Trade thereof To this place I should add the famous Port of Surrat and Baroche being as is Cambaia under the subjection of the Great Mogul and seated in this Tract which because in matters of Traffick I do not find to vary from the former I willingly omit and therefore comprehend them under this Chapter and Title proceeding to the current Coins Weights and Measures found in use and practised in these Cities as in subjection to one and the same Prince who is Sovereignt hereof Coins of Cambaia and Mogul's Country The ancient current and general Coin of this Countrey is the Mahmudy stamped by that Famous King Mahmood in the first conquest of these Countreys which was accounted for Res of Portugal and by the English there resident estimated 12 d. sterling But the Grand Mogul being the last Conquerour prohibited the said coins of Mahmudis and therefore at this day they are found very scarce yet most frequent in Gusurat The most current Coin now throughout his Territories being the Ruppie of which there are divers sorts which are The Casanna Ruppia which is the common Ruppia worth in India ¼ Mahomudy and estimated incirca 2 s. 3 d. sterling The Jacquiree Ruppie 5 of which makes 6 Casanna Ruppies The Soway Ruppie 4 whereof makes 5 Casanna Ruppies The Hondee Ruppie of equal value with the Casanna Ruppie abovesaid Accounts kept in Surrat and Cambaia and in these last do the Merchants of Gusurat keep their accounts Besides which they have for smaller Coins current these The Pice accounting 24 to the Mamody which is 10 d. sterling The Shahee accounted to the 16 Picos or 10 Cosbegs And some there are that keep their accounts in Mahomodis accounting 2½ Mahomody to be one Hondee or Casanna Ruppie being thus estimated for 2 s. 6 d. sterling as 2 Ruppies are accounted for 1 ℞ ◠Spanish though indeed not found always of that value for the Ruppie is here observed with the right of a Prince's coin and the ℞ ◠for a merchandize or commodity rising and falling the said Ruppia in Agra is found to pass for 84 Pices but this is thus most current in Amadever Lahoro and other the places where the Christians of Europe and others do provide and buy their Indico c. and there two of the said Ruppia's make in ordinary payment for Merchandize 1 ℞ ◠Spanish Weights in Cambaia Surrat Agra and the Mogul's Dominions There is generally found throughout the Dominions of the Great Mogul two several weights the one proper to Silk and the other for all Merchandize besides and both of these have their foundation upon a weight of Copper called as the Coin aforesaid the Pice A Pice in Silk is accounted 5½ Mitigals A Mitigal is about 13 d. 10 Troy A Pice of Silk is also accounted for 2 Tolls 1 Toll is 12 Masses A Sear of which there is a small and great the small Sear is ordinarily used in Silk and accounted 30 Tolls Now for the common weight
for all other Commodities I will begin with the Sear which varies here in several parts of this Country A Sear of Surrat is 18 Pices weight of Copper money which is 13â…“ ounces Averdupois A Sear of Agra called the Sear Acoberg is 30 Pices which is 22 ounces Averdupois A Sear of Agra called the Sear Janquery is 36 Pices being the common Sear of all India and double the Surrat Sear which is 26â…” ounces A Sear of Puttana and Ganges is 37 Pices and those that have made a strict calculation have found that 22 common Pices makes 16 ounces Averdupois They have also in use in these Countreys two Maunds A Maund small of Surrat is 40 Sears of Surrat and the said Maund is 33 l. Averdupois But they have for some Commodities another Maund in Surrat about 27 l. Averdupois A Candil of Surrat Cambaia c is 20 of the said Maunds Sears 40 makes a small Maund of 33 l. English Sears 40 great make a great Maund of 54 3 â— l. English and some have observed it to be 55 l. English and this is the Maund of Agra Amadever In Amadever this difference is found in the said weight A Maund is 40 Sear which is 18 Pices and 33 l. English And the 100 Maunds of Amadever is 63 Maunds of Agra For Gold Silver Musk Civet Bezoar-stone they have another weight which they call the Toll being 12 Masses and is 7 d. 16 grain Troy weight in England as hath been observed both by the English and Portugal Merchants It is not to be questioned but that this so large tract of Country must admit of more diversity of Weights which I am inforced to pass over in silence by reason of my ignorance and refer what is here omitted to the better experienced Measures in Cambaia Surrat Agra and Mogul's Country There is used in these parts two common measures and both called a Covato a short and long Covado The short Covado of Surrat Cambaia c. used in the sales of many Commodities as Linnen and Silk is 27 inches English The long Covado of Surrat used for woollen cloth is 35 inches But in Agra Labore Dilly Brampore c. the ordinary and common Covado is found to hold 32 inches and called in some places of this Country Elahy At Puttana they have a Covado of 38 inches and by the observation of some it hath been found that 1 â— 3 Covado of Puttana is 5 Covado's of Agra which makes four Yards English And note That in all the Moguls Country they use no concave measures for any grain or liquid commodities but sell the same by weight in the same nature as they do all ponderous and massie commodities They measure their ground and days journeys by a measure which they call a Corso which is one thousand five hundred Geometrical paces and is accounted in common estimation of our late Travellers a mile and a half English Lahore In this tract and belonging to this Prince are many famous Towns of Trade the chiefest is Lahore famous for the Indico there growing and prepared and for that admirable High way to Agra of twenty days journey beset on each side with Mulberry-trees and whence there departeth yearly above twelve thousand Camels laden with Spices to Hispahan which are brought hither from India Amadabar The next principal town is Amadabar famous in these parts for the great trade and excellent situation thereof as being the most eminent City of the Gusurates Tutta Neither is Tutta here to be forgotten though an Island Town yet seated on the famous River of Indus and having dependency and belonging thereunto Lowribander and that excellent Port of Lowribander three days journey distant from it on the shore commonly intituled the Coast of Sindie wherein it hath been observed by our European Navigators that Ships may safely ride without receiving harm by the Worms which do much hurt in SURAT and all alongst the coast of India CHAP. XCI Of GOA and the Trade thereof Goa and the trade thereof GOA is the Metropolis of India I mean of those that are under the command of the Portugal or Spaniard where the Viceroy Archbishop and the King his Consul and Chancery do reside here is also the Staple of all India Commodities whereto Merchants of Arabia Armenia Persia Cambaia Bengala Pegu Siam Malacca Java Molucco China and of sundâ—y other Countreys do resort It is seated in an Island of three miles circuit but is but little distant from the firm Land the Port is capacious of good Ships but if they exceed 200 Tuns they unlade short of the Town a place called Bardes well built with fair houses both publick and private after the Portugal manner and hath in it many Cloisters Churches and Priories but is not fortified with any walls but the contrived and continued buildings of the houses serves both for the defence and inclosure in the heart of the City is a Street called the Leilon where a daily assembly is made from 7 to 9 in the morning not only of Merchants from all parts but also of Gentry and during the said hours the said Street is replenished with all Commodities and Merchandize from all the afore-named Kingdoms set forth in manner of our Fairs in England which daily is thus practised and wherein the rich Commodities of those Countrys are vended and put to sale besides which there are particular Streets where the native Indians do dwell together being found to be here great Merchants and for the most part inhabit near together especially such as are found to be of one and the same Art and Profession being bound by the strict Laws of this Country every man to marry within his own and the same Trade and to bring up likewise their children in their own and the same Profession which law being strictly observed giveth great perfection to all Arts here practised Their Winter begins here the last of April continuing till September and is called Winter not for the cold but for the continual rains that are found all this time the rest of the time is accounted Summer which is without rain and the pleasantest of all other seasons upon this Coast Commodities of Goa The Commodities natural of this place are not observableâ— the Island small and the firm Land plentiful in Palm trees Cocus and the like the City is the common Staple for all India Commodities brought hither by others and here bartered and exchanged for other but of it self not affording any of note or consequence Coins current in Goa They have here two sorts of Moneys a good and a bad and therefore in all contracts they are as well to bargain for the money that is to be received as for the commodity that is to be sold but because this place is neighboured with sundry great Nations that traffick hither it will be fit I should inlarge my self a little further on this subject The
amply priviledged and should enjoy a part of the gains for themselves and yet bring the greatest crop of their labours into his coffers hereupon it was first let out for five years the Farmers and Contracters binding themselves to send such a stock to India in ready money as would extend for 30 thousand Quintals of Pepper yearly conceived to be in those days as much as all Europe could annually vend in that Commodity but then the King was bound to send his Ships to India to lade the same in number five Ships of sufficient burthen yearly the Farmers bearing the adventure both of their moneys outward and of the said Pepper homeward lading it in India into the said Ships at their own costs and charges all which brought into Portugal they were to deliver to the King at the price of 12 Ducats per Quintal and what was either cast away lost or taken was to be born by the Farmers the King paying for no more than what was thus fairly laid on land into his store-house at Lisbon neither yet paid he ready money for the same but paid them with their own money when the Pepper was sold so that the King without disbursement or hazard had and hath a certain great gain without the loss of a penny in consideration whereof the Farmers have many great and strong Immunities and Priviledges as first that no man upon pain of death of what estate or condition soever he be may any ways deal or Trade in Pepper but themselves which is still strictly observed Secondly that they may not upon any occasion or necessity whatsoever diminish or lessen the said ordinary stock of money nor the King his said stint of shipping neither hinder not lett them in any sort concerning the lading thereof which is also strictly looked into for though the Pepper were for the King 's own Person or proper account yet must the Farmer 's Pepper be first laden Thirdly that the Viceroy and all other the Officers and Captains in India shall give them all assistance help and favour with safe keeping guarding and watching the same with all other needful offices as shall be by them required for the safety and benefit of the said Pepper The Ships of Pepper depart from Cochin about the months of December and January Fourthly that for the lading and providing thereof the said Farmers may send their Factors into India with their servants and assistants of what Nation soever they be English French and Spaniards only excepted and that unto every place to see the same laden and dispatched away and in later times it is observed that they have also farmed of the King the Ships and their fraightment with large conditions to build them and make the provision of all necessaries for them and all at their own adventures and if the Ship come safe home they give the King in lieu of licence a certain sum of money for every Ship and annually do furnish these five Ships at their own charges but for such Souldiers as are appointed to go in them they are bound to fail for the King and at his charge and have but only their meat and drink at the Farmers charges the Officers and Sailers being placed therein by the King's Admirality which the Farmers may not once deny or refuse so that the King adventureth nothing neither in Pepper nor in Ships but only if the Ships be cast away he loseth the Money that he should have and otherwise gain by the Farm of every Ship if it had returned safe and the profit of the Pepper that should have been delivered him at a certain price which is the cause now that the King doth not send out his Fleets to meet and wast them from the Flemish Islands as for long time he was accustomed to do and the King is found so nearly to look to this Farm that he will not abate the Farmers a penny how great soever their losses happen otherwise to be And thus much shall serve for Goa and the Trade of Portugal in India now in the next place I will come to the Coast of Chormandel CHAP. XCIII Of Musulipatan and the Trade thereof with the Coast of Chormandel Musulipatan and the Trade of the Coast Chormandel THE Coast of Chormandel beginnneth from the Cape Negapatan to the Town of Musulipatan between which said places is found a place called St. Thomas where the Apostle Thomas is said to have preached salvation to these Nations and whose Tomb is had still in great reverence to this day among the Native Christians of this Countrey besides which is found the Towns of Petipoli and Armagon where the English of late have setled Factories that have dependency on the Factory of Musulipatan under which therefore I will include the Trade of this Coast Musulipatan by reason of the commodious situation is the most eminent place of Trade of this Coast where the English have to that purpose planted a Factory both for providing and lading hence the Commodities of this Countrey this place is seated on the same Coast or rather Istmus as Goa is with the Cities before-mentioned which are seated to the Eastward as the Coast of Malabar is to the Westward the pleasantness of the adjoyning River running down from Bisnagar the Metropolis of this Countrey and the goodness of the Haven with the wholesomness of the Soil and the temperancy of the Air adds much to the excellency of it in matter of Trade and concurrency of Merchants to which if we add the industry of the Inhabitants and the fruitfulness of the Countrey bearing many Commodities naturally it is not to be reckoned as the least or the worst part of Trading in India Commodities of the Coast of Chormandel From this place and Coast then is found a great Trade to be driven into Bengala Pegu Siam Malacca and to India and the principal Commodities that this City is noted to be famous for are those excellent fine Cotton Linnens made here in in great abundance and of all colours and interwoven with divers sorts of Loom-works and Flowers very fine and cunningly wrought and therefore much worn in India and better esteemed there than Silk as indeed being both found finer and richer and used by the greatest women in those parts for their clothing wherein is found interlaced oftentimes threds of Silver and Gold and divers others rare fabricks of Cotton c. Coins current in Musilapatan and Coast of Chormandel The current usual Coins in Musulipatan Armagon Petiboli St. Thomas and all alongst the Coast is the Pagode of Gold and the Mahomody and Fanan of Silver and are thus valued A Pagode is worth 15 Fanans or in English 8 s. sterling A Fanan is 9 Cashees or as some call them Cupans about 6¾ d. sterling A Mamody is 32 Pices or as in some places they are called Docres A Rial of ◠Spanish is here 5 Mamodies or 9 Fanans or 5 s. And 10 Rials ◠is
here current for 6 and sometimes for 6½ Pagods And 10 R. â— are called in these parts a Sear incirca 50 s. sterling Armagon But in Armagon it is observed they have this difference Rials of â— 11 are accounted for 8 Pagods One Pagode is accounted worth 20 Fanans And 5 Pagodes here are accounted but 4 in Musulipatan The Pagode by this account may be said to be in value about 8 d. sterling equivalent with the Chequin of Venice or the Xeriff of Egypt or Sultany of Turkey and the Mamody accounted for 12 d. sterling and the Fanans about 6 d. ¾ or 7 d. per piece Weights current in Musulapatan and Coast of Chormandel Their common Weight used along this Coast is the Candil which in gross Goods is most accounted for 20 Maunds A Maund is 40 Sear or 22½ Masies or 26 l. 14½ ounces English A Sear is 17 Kashee which thus answers with England The Sear is two-fold the small Sear is of 16 Mass and found to be about 10 l. English or as some observe it 10â…› l. and the great Sear is accounted as above And the Candil of 20 Maunds of 26 l. 14½ ounce Averdupois brings it to be English pound Sotile 538 l. incirca But this finds some disagreement with the weight of Petiboli for their Candil is 20 Maunds found to be but 26 l. English in all 520 l. A Maund is here counted for 5 Visko 5 l. 3 ounces English One Visco or as the Portugals call it Fisco is accounted 8 Sears which is found to be 10 ounces ¼ Averdupois incirca Further Observations I find not of the Trade of Mesulapatan saving that the Governour of this City having setled a Trade with the English and that they should pay for Custom 4 per cent he afterwards raised the same to be 12 per cent till Anno 1614. one Floris and other English surprized the chief Customer being the Governour 's Son and brought him aboard their Ship then in Port who thereupon came to a new composition restored the over-plus taken and setled it for the future at the first agreed rate of 4 per cent as now it standeth CHAP. XCIV Of Satagan the Metropolis of Bengala and the Trade of that Coast and the River Ganges Satagan and the Trade of the Coast of Bengala AT the ending of the Coast of Coromandel beginneth this Coast of Bengala through the middle whereof the famous River Ganges runs making a large Bay or Gulph which carrieth the name of the Gulph of Bengala This Countrey is under the Command of the Greâ—… Mogul whose Coins are here current the holy and reverent opinion that the Gentiles through all India have of this River and the concourse of Pilgrims thereto for devotion sake adds much to the Traffick of Satagan the chief City of this Countrey which is pleasantly seated on another fair and large River whose imbosure is not far distant from the imbosure of Ganges and upon which Boats sail by the violence of the current a hundred miles in fifteen hours without the help of Sails or Oars and when the Tyde turneth it is found to be so violent that the Sallers are forced to make fast their Boats to certain Trees fixed on the shore side for they are not able to make way against the stream and current thereof At the entrance of this River is a place called Butter which the Inhabitants of the Countrey and Mechants there do yearly build in form of a Village of straw branches of trees reeds and the like and is of great largeness to which they bring all manner of Merchandize to meet the Ships which at certain set times with the Moonsoons come hither for Trade who are not able to go higher for want of water and when the Ships are gone with the change of the Moonsoon and that years Trading past they then burn their said Town and Houses and carry up their Goods and Merchandize to the City of Satagan whither also all small Barks and Boats do go to lade and unlade Commodities of the Coast of Bengala It is observable that thirty or forty sail of great Ships of sundry Countreys and Nations do here yearly at this time find lading the principal Commodities of this place and the Coast being Rice here growing in great abundance Cloth of Cotton of infinite sorts made here in great quantity Lacca good store great plenty of Sugars Myrabolans both dried and preserved Long Pepper Oyl of Zerseline and many other Commodities the City in it self is a fair City and abounding with rich Merchants that trade to Pegu Musulipatan Summatra and sometimes to Cambaia and the Red Sea their time of Traffick by reason of the heat is for the most part by night and when they have once burned their Town of Butter as hath been noted they then hire Galliots and Boats and therewith transport their Commodities up the River from one Town to another situated upon the same where every day is found in one or other a publick Fair and Market so that their whole life is still in motion and agitation providing in one place and putting off in another here buying and there selling Weights and Measures of the Coast of Bengala The Portugals are found to have some Trade hither but those that reside here are not subject to much government but make their will their law only two Forts they hold upon this Coast the one they call Porto Grande the other Porto Piquenom whereto there is driven an orderly Trade and thereby that Nation is kept within some order and discipline As for the Coins current here the Weights and Measures here in use I must omit them by reason of my ignorance therein and therefore shall refer them to the better skilled Custom in India for Debtors Before I leave this Coast I must not forget a strange Custom not only here much used but also alongst the Coast of Malabar and in many other parts of India which is thus If a Debtor break the day of payment with his Creditor and oftentimes disappoint him then he goeth to the principal of the Bramenes and receiveth of him a Rod with which he approacheth to the Debtor and making a circle about him chargeth him in the name of the King and the said Branâ—en not to depart till he hath satisfied the Debt which if he do not he must then starve in the place for if he depart the King will cause him to be executed and this is in use in many great parts of India but especially where the Bramans are reverenced it is daily seen practised amongst Marchants the Natives of these places CHAP. XCV Of Pegu and the Coast thereof with the Trade Pegu and the Trade of the Coast thereof IN order having passed the Coast and Gulph of Bengala the next in this Tract is the Sea-Coast of Aracan Pegu and Sian stretching it self to the Island and Fort of Malacca of which according to the
Observations in Trade as I have collected I will in brief touch Aracan The first on this Coast and Shore is Aracan situated upon the River of Cosmin which passeth through some part of Bengala and entreth into that Gulph at this City by which commodious situation it is found plentifully stored as well with the Commodities of that Countrey as the natural Commodities of the place it self Macoa The next is Macoa seated upon one of the mouths of that great and famous River Martaban which by ten mouths issuing into the Sea gives a great supply to this Countrey of all the Commodities that are found in India from whence this mighty River hath its source Pegu. The third is Pegu it self giving name to the whole Coast seated in like manner upon one of the said mouths which as being the principal Seat of the Princes of this Countrey I will a little more particularly survey River of Martaban The marvellous great Tides and violent current of this great River is not here to be omitted as appertaining to Trade for it is found to be in it self so swift that neither Wind nor Oar can make head or way against it and because it is found to keep a constant course of ebbing and flowing therefore in their sailing they still observe the Tides thereof and when those Tides are at highest there are certain stations on the banks whereto their Boats Galliots and Barges are fastned until the Tide do again serve their turn to proceed on their Voyage this one thing more I find wonderful here that these Tides come not in by a constant continued pace or measure but come rushing in at the first with a great violence with a hideous noise and roaring such as in some lesser sort is seen in the River of Rouen and in our River of Severn in England As for the City of Pegu it self it is divided into two parts in the one the King and his Nobility resideth lately built and richly beautified and therefore called the New Town the other part inhabited only by Merchants Artificers Sea-men and such like and called the old Town every House in the old Town where Merchants do reside hath a place built strongly of Brick which as a Ware-house serveth his occasion called by them Godon especially to prevent firing which this Town is much subject to by reason of the combustible matter it is made of the New Town is walled about and is a perfect square having twenty Gates five in each angle ditched about and watered wherein many Crocodiles are kept for watch of the place by night the Walls are beautified with many Turrets for Sentinels guilded with Gold the Streets are very fair straight as a line and so broad as fifteen Horsemen may ride abrest on both sides at each man's door are set Palm-trees which growing makes a fair shew and thereby all Passengers may walk daily in the shadow from one Street to another to prevent the extraordinary heat of the place and Climate The greatest Trade that is found at this day exercised in Pegu is from the Coast of Cormandel with Pintado's Cotton Cloth and other Bombasins much in request here but it is to be noted that these Ships must depart that Coast by the sixth of September and take the Monsione wind otherwise they lose their Voyage for that year From Bengala also cometh hither sundry Ships with Cotton Cloth and other such wearing Commodities which taking also the season of the wind arriveth here when the Cormondel Ships are ready to depart The principal Harbour or Port where these Ships do ride is called Cosmin and the place where the greatest Ships do Anchor to lade and unlade their Goods From Mecca come also sundry Ships laden with Woollen Cloth Damasks Velvets and Chickens From Malacca come many small Vessels laden with Pepper Sanders Porcelan of China Camphora and other Commodities From Summatra come also sundry Ships with Pepper and other Wares all which Goods are very strictly looked into for payment of the King's Customs at landing which is here paid in kind and amounteth unto twelve per cent and the King doth hold it for a great affront to be wronged of a penny of it Rubies Saphirs and Spinals paying here no Custom in or out as being the proper Commodities of this Countrey For the effecting of the Trade and Commerce of this place there is ordained eight Brokers oâ— Tareghes by the King's Authority who are bound to sell and vend all the Goods and Merchandize coming to Pegu for all mens account of what Nation soever they be having two per cent for their Brokerage and are liable to make good the debts they make which no Merchant there resident can avoid for they will have the said two per cent by the King's Authority granted them whether their help be taken or not In like manner there are ordained certain Brokers for the buying of all the Commodities bought in Pegu wherein is found amongst them such candid dealing that a stranger can hardly be wronged or abused if he have but so much discretion to provide such Goods as may be proper for the Countrey whither he sends them Strange manner of buying and selling in Pegu. The Commodities native of this place and Countrey are these Gold Silver Rubies Saphirs Spinals digged at Caplan six days journey from Avâ— in this Kingdom great store of Benjamin Long Pepper Lead Lacca Rice Niperwine and Sugar and many other Commodities The manner of their bargaining as being contrary to the custom and use in most parts of the World is here worth observing all their bargains by their Law must be made publickly and in open assemblies of and before all standers by who because they should yet not know what is bidden or demanded for any Commodity the Brokâ—rs either buyer or seller having seen the Commodity and liking of it putteth his hand under a cloth and toucheth the parties hand interessed and by nipping touching and pinching of certain joynts of each others hands they know what is bidden and demanded without words speaking which these Brokers again with the other hand covered in like manner give notice of to the party who sets him on work and either so orders him to proceed to bid more or less or else to give over and after this manner are all their Câ—…tracts here made and afterwards by the said Broker registred accordingly in leaves of Trees which with them is used as Paper with us Maids let out to serve both by day and night service to Merchants And when any strangers and forein Merchants arrive here these Brokers are bound by their place to provide them a house Magazine and lodging whilst they are here resident and when the house is taken the Governour of the Town sends to know how long time he intends to stay with them and withal appointeth certain Maids of the Town to go to him that out of them he may make choice of one
and Gold for rich Perfumes and the Wood Sapon used by Dyers also here is Camphora in great plenty Bezoar Stones and Gold in some measure good store also here is found Diamonds Nutmegs and some other Spices which the Country of it self affordeth for the maintenance of the Trade thereof Coins current in Siam and the Coast The Coins here current as I am informed are these following The first is a Tail which is worth 4 Ticals or seventeen shillings ten pence or eighteen shillings sterling A Tical is accounted 4 Mass or 4 s. 4 d. incirca sterling A Mass is accounted 4 Copans about 13 d. sterling A Copan is accounted 750 Cashe or 3¼ d. sterling A Tail is 16 Mass and accounted worth 14 Rials of Eight Spanish And 20 Tail is a Cattee worth 48 Rials of â— Spanish And 1 Tail of Siam is worth 2 Tails of Japan Coins at Pattana And note that in Pattana and elsewhere on this Coast Coins find little alteration in current prices and rates except upon some extraordinary occasions when some of these Species are sought out and provided by Merchants to transport into other places where the same do turn them better to benefit And note that at Pattana A Mass is as above worth 4 Copans A Copan worth 4 Conderies A Conderie is 100 Cashe which is 800 Cashe which is 50 more than at Siam as is above-mentioned The Measures and Weights are not come to my knowledge So leaving Siam and the Trade of this Coast I shall repair to Malacca inhabited and fortified by the Portugals and of great consequence in these parts CHAP. XCVII Of Malacca and the Trade thereof Malacca and the Trade thereof MAlacca is the next Country to the afore-named Siam seated between the Coasts of Siam and Pegu upon the utmost bound of a long tract of Land on which is found the City of Malacca in obedience to the Portugal and conquered by them 1511 and accounted the most profitable command of all India next after Ormus which of late they have lost and of Mosambique It is commodiously seated on the River Gasa which is here 10 miles broad as some write and is accounted the Staple for all India and China Commodities and hath a very great Traffick to China Moluccos Banda Java Summatra and all the Islands bordering thereabouts as also to Siam Pegu Bengala Coast of Chormandel and other the parts of India whereby many Ships are found daily to be imployed coming in and going out there lading and unlading selling buying and bartering the Commodities of these Countries together the Country affording of it self no Commodities to preserve Trade but all other Countries afford to this by reason of its proper situation for Trade their native Commodities a Ship or two coming hither yearly from Lisbon to traffick which thence departeth 30 days sooner than the rest for India and is at her return found commonly the richest that frequent these Countries Monsons at Malacca And here it is observable in Navigation that the Monsons or Trade winds here continue West and North-west from the end of August to the end of October and in November begin the Northerly and North-easterly winds which blow till the beginning of April and from Mâ—… till the end of August the South and South-west rule according to which the Trader hither must direct his Trade and course and take the proper season both for his coming and going When Albuquerk the Vice-King of Portugal took this City finding it inhabited and frequented by Merchants of sundry Nations he established Magistrates for both the Ethnicks Moors and Christians with appeal only reserved to the highest Sovereign the Conquerour one remarkable passage in this conquest I cannot omit which was That an Inhabitant of this place of eminent note in this City fighting naked in defence of himself and of his native Country was found to be wounded with many deep and wide wounds but on his arm be wore a chain whereto was fastened the bone of a Javan Beast called a Cabal by virtue whereof notwithstanding all those wounds which were many and large he lost not one drop of blood but when that chain was taken from him his veins suddenly and at once emptied themselves both of blood and life together The riches and greatness of the place may by this particular then happening be considered when as the King 's Tenths in the Sack thereof come to 200000 Ducates of Gold the Soldiers and Adventurers satisfied besides the concealed and pilfered booty there found and shared by them Coins of the Ciâ—y Malacca The current Coins are not as yet come to my knowledge therefore I refer the same to the better experienced Weights used in Malacca The Weights here common in use as far forth as I have collected is the Cattee Bahar and Pecul wherein I find the Observations made hereupon to disagree some making but one Bahar to be here in use and some two sorts of Bahars as thus One Bahar to be 100 Cattees of Malacca and each Cattee to be 4½ Cattees of Cantar and Couchin-china which is 21 l. English which thus estimated must be 590 l. English A second Bahar they account to be 200 Cattees of Malacca which here are 302 China Cattees and thus estimated the same should be 400 l. English Again They have a weight called the Pecul which is 100 Cattees of China and makes 132 l. English but if this observation be found true by trial the Cattee must be more than 21 l. English which I refer to the better experienced this is the late observation of some of our Merchants trading into these parts but by the observation of the Portugals I find the weight to be thus Weights of Malacca In Malacca they say are two sorts of weights used a great and small which is composed of the Bahar A Bahar great weight is 200 Cattees or 3 Pices One Pice is 66â…” Cattees A Cattee is 26 Tails A Tail is 1½ ounce Lisbon weight And by this great Bahar they weigh Pepper Cloves Nutmegs Sanders Indico Allum Sanguis Draconis Palo Dangula Camphora and many other Commodities The small Bahar is also 200 Cattees A Cattee is 22 Tails A Tail is almost an ounce â… Portugal weight And by this small Bahar they weigh Quicksilver Copper Vermilion Ivory Silk Musk Amber Lignum Aloes Tin Lead Benjamin Verdet and other Commodities c. Again Some observe that a Tail of Malacca is 16 Masses And 10¼ Masses is an ounce Averdupois and 1½ ounces is 16 â— Masses by which Masses they sell Bezoar Stones and some other Commodities I should here proceed to survey the Trade of this remaining Tract and Coast especially that of Cambaia Couchin-China and others but little having fallen into my hand of the Trade exercised there I willingly omit the same and next proceed to look only upon the Traffick of China it self and then to the Islands belonging to Asia CHAP. XCVIII Of China
and the Provinces thereof China and the Provinces thereof CHINA hath on the East Mare del Zur on the West India on the North a Wall extending 1000 miles in length between the Chinois and the Tartarians and on the South the Ocean The Trade of this Country is accounted very great the situation of the place the temperature of the air the disposition of the Inhabitants the peace which formerly they enjoyed amongst them concur to enlarge the same the many Navigable Rivers and the excellent Fabricks here wrought add to make it eminent Commodities of China and the Commodities that it yields to maintain the same are these Barley Rice Wooll Cottons Olives Vines Flax Silk raw and wrought into infinite sorts of Stuffs all kinds of metal Gold especially Silver and Copper is brought from Japan c. Fruits Honey Wax Sugars Rhubarb China Roots Purslain Dishes Camphire Ginger all kinds of Spices Musk Civet Amber and infinite abundance of Salt which Commodity only in the Town of Cantor yields Custom to the Prince yearly 180000 Ducats The greatness of China This Kingdom contains 15 large Provinces each Province having a Metropolis besides many Cities of lesser note so that in the whole Tract of this Country is accounted to be 30 Kingdoms and therein Writers have mentioned to be 1597 Cities and great Towns walled 1154 Castles 4200 Boroughs without Walls wherein Soldiers are quartered besides an infinite number of Villages and Hamlets Quinsay the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom being vulgarly called Quinsay Pequin and is said to contain in circuit 100 miles having in the midst thereof a Lake of 30 miles compass in which are two fair Islands and in them two magnificent Palaces adorned with all necessaries either for Majesty or Conveniency the Lake is nourished with divers Rivers on which is counted 12000 Bridges and in many Cities here seated on the banks of great and famous navigable Rivers are found oftentimes ten thousand Sail of great and small Vessels Nanquin the King himself having in the City of Nanquin accounted the second in this Kingdom seated upon a fair and large River if Writers relations may have credit Ten thousand Sail belonging to the King of China in one River ten thousand Sail of Ships of his own and the City being nine leagues from the Sea the whole distance is found to be as it were wholly imployed and taken up with Vessels and Boats for therein the Inhabitants make their abode dwell negotiate and remove at their pleasure from one place and City to another It is confidently affirmed by all modern Travellers that have been here that the Inhabitants are not permitted to issue out of this Kingdom nor yet strangers to enter into it and though for the commodiousness of Traffick this strict Law find some toleration for a certain limited time for the Natives to trade abroad yet is it most nearly lookt into on the behalf of strangers that would enter into their Country therefore this considered though the motives of Trade and Commerce be many yet this inviolable custom so severely executed hindeâ—… justly the particulars I should in this place set down of the Trade of this Mighty Empire howsoever it is observed that the Japaners and some neighbouring Islanders as also the Portugals and some other Christians have by the favour of the great Maritime Commanders in this Country and their own fair deportment procured a License of Trade in Canton Maccau Nanquin and some other Sea-Ports but with such strict limitations as that in some Cities it is death for them to lie or abide at night either in the Town or in the Suburbs but aboard their own Ships and in Canton where they find the most courteous usage they may not upon pain of death abide one night within the City Walls but as in the morning their names are registred at their entring into the City so they come at night and blot out the same with their own hands I can then but afford a taste of the whole Trade by a little that I have observed out of the Collections of others which must serve for a model to the frame and foundation of what is practised in other Cities throughout this Empire which I will comprehend under the Title of Maccau most frequented by our Nations CHAP. XCIX Of Maccau and the Trade thereof Maccau and the Trade thereof THE Island and Town of Maccau as the place best known upon this Coast to our Nation is seated on the North side of a Bay which is at the mouth of the great River of Canton which runneth out of the Lake of Quinsay spoken of before opposite to which standeth the great City of Canton which I mentioned as the place where is found the present Staple of all the Commodities of China and thither do Merchants of all parts frequent to buy and barter for other Commodities with the restrictions and limitations above specified and as for Maccau it is inhabited by Portugals intermixt with the natural Chinese the principal of their Commerce being with the Inhabitants of Canton from whence all the Commodities of China are found to issue and here the Portugals at the arrival of their Ships do choose out a Factor amongst themselves who is permitted in all their behalfs to go to trade for them at Câ—…ton but in the night he is to abide in the Suburbs under severe punishment as I have before remembred A particular Ship yearly touching here from Goa to Japan Here is found a Ship to come yearly out of India by a particular license of the King of Spain the Captain 's place is ever bestowed upon a Person of Quality in reward of some former service as indeed all the Captains places of the Fortresses of India are from Maccau the said Ship then having dispatch'd her business doth sail to Japan and there fully discharged her lading and thence returneth again to Maccau and from thence to Malacca and so to Goa in India and though this Voyage of Japan is ever granted by particular license to some one in particular yet to Maccau and Malacca any Merchant may go that will but none may yet lade or unlade in either place before such time as the Ships termed of the Kings are fully dispatched and laden and are ready to depart for India it is recorded by some Portugals that this Captain 's place may be worth to him for his part 200000 Ducates and that the said Ship is commonly 1500 Tuns in burthen and that the Voyage continueth for three years from India and so back for in April they set sail from Goa to Malacca where they abide some season for the winds or Monsons which at certain times blow certain set months together and then from Malacca they sail hither to Maccau where they stay at least nine months for the said Monsons and then sail to Japan where they must stay likewise certain months for the dispatch of their business
great Nations but my Ignorance herein doth silence me Therefore it shall content me to have surveyed it in the general and to have left behind me what Observations I have been able to collect of the Traffick and Traders of those vast and large Territories and Countries knowing that their strange Customs and the manner of their Laws and Government debar all easie access into their Dominions and what others must not dare to see I must not dare to offer to recount To conclude then having thus run over and surveyed the general Commerce and Traffick of ASIA I will now turn my self towards EUROPE the last division of the World and of this Work and as the best known to us and the best reputed of us OF EUROPE AND THE Provinces and Cities of Trade THEREOF CHAP. CX Of EUROPE the last Division of the World here handled and the Kingdoms thereof Europe 15 parts EUROPE which I have willingly omitted as last and principal cometh now to be surveyed that the Trade thereof may the better appear in her particular Provinces and Cities should be in prerogative of worth the chief and first but following the custom of Merchants I shew the best last and the worst first Europe then is divided into these Provinces and Islands 1 Spain 2 France 3 Italy 4 Belgia 5 Germany 6 Denmark 7 Norway 8 Sweden 9 Muscovia 10 Poland 11 Hungary 12 Dacia 13 Slavonia 14 Graecia The Islands of Europe are dispersed through these Seas 1 Greek Seas 2 Egean Seas 3 Cretan Seas 4 Ionian Seas 5 Adriatick Seas 6 Mediterranean Seas 7 British Seas 8 Northern Seas Of all which in order and of each of these Divisions in order CHAP. CXI Of SPAIN and the Cities thereof Spain SPAIN the most Western Continent of Europe is invironed on all sides with the Seas except towards France from which it is separated by the Pyrenaean Mountains and the Fortress of Pampelona on the North-west and Perpignan on the South-east Commodities of Spain The Commodities that this Countrey yields for Merchandise are Wines Sugars Oils Metals Liquorish Rice Silks Wooll Cork Rosin Steel Oranges Limons Raisins Almonds c. Anniseeds Anchoves Soda Barillia Figs Tunny-fish Iron Shumack Saffron Soap Coriander Hony Wax c. Spain is found at this day to be divided into twelve Provinces which formerly were petty Kingdoms viz. 1. Leon Oviedo 2. Navarre 3. Corduba 4. Gallicia 5. Biscay 6. Toledo 7. Murâ—ia 8. Castile 9. Portugal 10 Valentia 11. Catalonia 12. Aragon Of which in order with their Cities of note and traffick Leon 1. Oviedo 2. In Leon and Oviedo I find no City of Trade memorable the City of Leon being the principal and is the Principality belonging to the Princes of Spain under the name of Asturiaâ— Navarra 2. In Navarre is of note the City of Pampelona famous for her Fortification and not for her Negotiation Corduba 4. Corduba is accounted the most fertile soil of all Spain and hath Corduba for a principal City from whence cometh that excellent Cordovant Leather known to us 2. Marchena a principal breeder of the best Genets in Spain also 3. Medina Sidonia whose Duke was principal Commander of that pretended Invincible Armado 1588. Also Lucardi Barameda a great Haven-town Xeres which yields the Wines known Sherry Sacks because the Spaniards are found to pronounce x as sh in English and also Sevil which requireth according to my Method for her worth and eminency of Trade a Chapter by it self CHAP. XCIII Of SEVIL and the Trade thereof SEVIL is accounted the fairest City of all Spain in compass six miles invironed with beautiful Walls and adorned with many stately buildings as Palaces Churches and Monasteries one whereof is endowed with 25000 Crowns annual rent The River Baetis divides it into two parts yet joyned by a stately Bridge from hence the Spaniards set out towards the Western India and hither return again to unlade the riches of those Western parts of the World which principally are found to be Silver Tobacco Ginger Cottons Sugars Brasil and Ferinand Bucquewood and some Drugs Here is 30000 Geneâ—s maintained continually for the King of Spain his service and the Trade of this place is of that greatness that some are of opinion the Customs of this Town only is worth unto the King half a million of Gold yearly and the Archbishop of Sevil is held so rich that his rent amounts to 100000 Crowns yearly and hath under his Jurisdiction 2000 small Villages and consequently in his whole Diocese 2000 Benefices besides Frieries Nunneries and Hospitals and esteemed the next in degree to him of Toledo The rarities of this place I willingly omit as well known to out Nation Accounts kept in Sevil and Madera In Sevil Madera c. the Merchants keep their Accounts by Marvedies of which 375 are esteemed to make a Ducate of Exx o 11 Rials every Rial being 37 Mal. and so is but 374 Mal. But our English there resident keep their Accounts in Rials of 34. Mal. the Rial Coins of Sevil Their current monies are these A Ducate of Gold of Sevil is worth 375 Marvedies accounted 5 s. 6 d. sterl A Rial of Castile is worth in Sevil 34 Marvedies and is so worth throughout all Spain which is accounted 6 d. sterling money A Dobra current is worth of Carlin money â—1 â—7 Marvedies every 1000 Dobras are 80 V. 883 Marvedies and is accounted in Merchandise 71 Mar. and is worth in Valentia at even hand 4 Sold. 7. Den. 1 10 of Valentia money without charges of Exch. A Dobra of Castile is worth 375 Marvedies or is above a Ducate of Gold A Castilian of Merchandize is worth 485 Marvedies about 7 s. ster Vide monies in Castile current in all Spain Exchanges in Sevil. Their Exx o are made upon the imaginary Ducate of 375 Mar. payable in Banco with five per centum which is the Banco's salary or without the Banco to be paid without the same and this Ducate is commonly termed Ducato de Oro or de Peso and is worth as above 375 Marvedies In Sevil they make their payments as following if you say in Ducate di Oro oâ— de Castilia upon Banco those are then paid in Banco without loss at all but if you say to be paid in so many Ducates Doro in Pistolets forth of Banco they will pay in the said money but if it be said to pay in Carlins it will cost ½ and sometime ¾ per centum loss But because I have at large in the Tract of Exchanges in the Chapters 294 and 426 treated of the Exchange of this place therefore I will to avoid repetition refer the Reader thereunto for further and ampler satisfaction Weights of Sevil. There is used in Sevil three Weights or Kintars As first the smaller which comprehends 112 l. of four Roves of 28 pound a Rove The next is of 120 l. of four Roves of 30 l. to a Rove The
last is the great of 144 l of 4 Roves of 30 l. a Rove which last is accounted the common Kintar of Sevil upon which these observations have been made which for the certainty I refer to trial 100 l. in Sevil have been found to make in London 102 l. Marselia 113  Venetia Sotile 152  Venetia Gross 96  Steilia 56½  Lisbon 90½  Florence 129½  Antwerp 98  Lion 97  Dantzick 117  Genoa Gross 100  Spanish Wooll Wooll of Sevil is commonly here bought about Michaelmas and they pay 〈◊〉 ready money 〈◊〉 at Christmas and have from March to May for payment of the rest of which here is great quantity provided Raw Silk Silk is bought at Almeria commonly worth 28 Pesanti the l. Morisco which is 18 s. Florence for which place it is bought and this it will cost 1020 Mar. the said pound which is 30 Rials which is performed between June and October the best time being from July to August by reason of the heat for after that the weight of Silk will increase And as for other Commodities here found besides Wooll and Silk it cannot properly be said to be the Commodities of the place but for the most are comprehended under the natural Commodities imported from the West-Indies of which this is the principal Port and Scale in Europe and as a Countrey entirely challenged by the Spaniards Measures of Sevil. Their common Measure in Sevil is the Vare which hath been observed The 100 Vares to make in London ells 74 Anvers  123 Frankford  154 Dantzick  102 Vienna  107 Lions a. 75 Paris al. 70 Genoav Pal. 336 Rouen al 74 Lisbon V. 74 Madera Br. 76 Venetia  133 Lucca  148 Florence  151 Millan  170 Of Oyl Oyl is bought here by the Rove 64 Roves is in Venetia one Miaria 40 or 41 Roves make a Pipe a Rove is 8 Somer a Somer is 4 Quartiles and a Quartile is â…› of a Stoop of Antwerp and 2 Pipes or 81 Roves is 25 or 26 Florence Barrels or 252 Gall. Gallons of English measure but Sevil Gage is accounted but of these Pipes 236 Gallons at 118 Gallons the Pipe Of Corn. Corn is measured and sold by the Cassise which is 28 Staos of Florence and makes Bushels English St. Lucar Note that St. Lucar is the Sea-Port of this City whereto all Ships of burthen do first come and there lade and unlade and where the Officers of the Custom-house do come aboard to take notice of the Goodsboth landed and laden for the City of Sevil where the Custom-house is Customs of Sevil. The Customs of Sevil are great and arise upon some Goods to 10 15 20 and upon most to 25 per cent which I must refer to the better experienced only it is noted by some that have treated of the Kings of Spain's Revenues that the Custom-house yearly of this City doth yield him as I said before half a Million of Gold Andalusia To proceed in the precinct of Corduba lies Andalusia wherein I find Sevil to be seated Secondly Granado wherein the City of Granado Malaga and Almeria principal Cities are situated And lastly Estremadura wherein I find only Merida for a City of note but not of Trade Granada Malaga therefore a word of the two former Granada and Malaga better known to the English CHAP. CXIII Of Granado and the Trade thereof GRanado is the ordinary Parliament and Court of Justice for all the Southern parts of Spain as Valladolid is for the North and therefore it may be imagined Where Lawyers are found to abound little Trade is commonly concurrent it is of it self a stately Town and curiously built all of Free-stone it is fenced with a strong Wall having twelve Gates and 130 Turrets the Palace of the late Moorish Kings is the prime and most magnificent building of this City it it seated within the Land and hath Motril for the next Port the neighbourhood of Almeria and Malaga both Maritime Ports hinder much the Trade thereof therefore I shall insist the lesser upon the Trade of this City which principally depends upon the Râ—… Silk made here and upon the Fabricks wrought thereof Weights used in Granado The Weight here used is the Cantar of 100 l. which hath been observed by some English to make 118 l. Averdupois and by some Venetians to have made there 111 l. Gross and 175 l. Sotile The Measure is as at Malaga CHAP. CXIV Of Malaga and the Trade thereof MAlaga is seated on the Mediterranean shore abounding in Raisins and Wines that are known by that name and thence vented to our colder Climate which makes this Town famous for its plenty therein where touching Anno 1617. I noted this observation Coins in Malaga Their Moneys are general with all Spain the principal being A Rial which is 34 Marvedies and is 6 d. sterl A Pistolet of Gold is 23½ Rials and the double being 47 Rials Customs of Malaga Their Customs upon Merchandise here differ for Sugar Almonds Wine and Oyls are found to pay Custom outwards 7½ per cent Cochineal and other such fine Commodities 10. All Commodities which are found to issue out else 5. All Commodities transported from Port to Port 2. Weights of Malaga Their Weight is the 100 l. divided into four parts of 25 l. which they call the Rove and every pound is 16 ounces and 1 ounce makes 16 drams and each dram 28 grains and this 100 l. or Kintar hath been found to make 112 l. 5 ounces English but yet I find some the have made observations upon this place alledge That the 100 l. of Malaga will yield iâ— London 105 l Measures of Malaga Their measure of length is a Vare which is 27â…ž inches by Rule Their liquid Measure for Wine and Oyl is a Rove and divided into 8 Sombres 25 Roâ— makes a Pipe and is 100 Gallons English Of Corn. Their Grain Measure is a Hanock and is divided into twelve Almodes this Hand is ¼ of a Bushel and twelve Gallons English which weigheth by heap 144 l. and by strâ—… 29 l. English Almeria Note That Almeria agreeth in Weights and Measures with Malaga above-named Gallicia In Galicia I find only St. James of Compostella famous for the Sepulchre of St. James which is worshipped with incredible devotion Q. Baiona Baiona commonly called the Groine whereto some Trade is driven by the Merchants of England principally of Bristol which I briefly thus anatomize The Coins are the same as used throughout Spain Here is in use two Quintals the one proper to Iron which is London 122 l. and the other called the Sutle Quintal which is 108 l. and the Measure here in use is as in Biâ—… following Biscay and the Trade thereof In Biscay I find Bilboa and St. Sebastians two noted Towns for Trading much frequented by Merchants whereupon I have
Deniers per l. is only paid and no more Their payments in Customs and all other ways are in Valentia money and worth 3 per cent to be converted into Spanish Rials There is also a Duty called a Mottahecos which is a pound of Pepper on each Quintar and so upon other fine Goods And this is as much as I remember needful in this Argument and so I will proceed to the next Province which is Catalonia and as for the Exchanges here practised see farther in the 291 and 426 Chapters Catalonia In Catalonia is only famous the City of Barcelona the principal of this Province where having good cause of the remembrance of my being here by reason of my imprisonment in the Inquisition Anno 1618. I must according to my Method afford the Cities Traffick a 〈◊〉 of observation in acknowledgment of their love and pains in my Release moved thereto partly by the affection I had gained with many the chief Merchants but especially left the same might deter other English from coming to traffick and inhabit amongst them and furnish their necessities with English Commodities which they seem much to desire and oftentime much stand in need of CHAP. CXIX Of Barcelona and the Trade thereof Barcelona BArcelona is seated on the Mediterranean shore and entring into that Gulph which is so terrible to Navigators in these parts called The Gulph of Lions It hath a reasonable commodious and safe Harbour and the Citizens do winterly enlarge and lengthen the same by adding to their Mould that Ships of burthen may come within the same what I obserred here Anno 1618. I will briefly declare Coins in Barcelona Their Moneys current in Merchandize besides the Rial of Castile is a Liver which passeâ— here at 20 sold and a Ducate of Gold of Castile is worth 24 sold of the said money and the soldo is twelve Deniers of that money wherein they are found to keep their Accounts Weights in Barcelona Their Cantar is a 100 l. which is English 92 l. or thereabouts and hath made by observation In Florence 123 l. Genoa 130 l. Valentia 106 l. Marselia 104 l. Venetia Sotle 140 l. Measures of length Their Measure is a Can consisting of eight Palms and hath been found to make thâ—… Braces in Florence and in England found to produce 1â…œ Yards English and in Naples 〈◊〉 been found to make 6â…œ Palms Of Corn. Corn is sold by a Measure called the Quarter one Salmo is four Quarters sold always 〈◊〉 of all Customs 2â…“ Quarters making a Cargo or load which is accounted 360 l. as is that 〈◊〉 mentioned aforegoing in Valentia Woolls are sold by the Rove which is 30 l. making 26 l. of Venetia gross whither the same is commonly transported and in Florence 36 l. All gross Goods are sold by the Cargo accounted 3 Kintars which is 440 l. Sutle of Venâ—… and 278 l. gross there which is 372 l. in Florence and hath been found to make English 3000â— Averdupois Tortosa In this Province lieth also Tortosa a fine small City but the principal of the Inhabitants â—…ing accounted as Moors were some years before my being here banished this Country 〈◊〉 therefore most places lie waste and many Villages are here along found without Inhabitâ—… and the Grounds to want Labourers Aragon The next Province is Aragon wherein is Tarragon a fine and handsome City but 〈◊〉 the banishment of many of the Inhabitants as above is said now made poor in my 〈◊〉 there in 1618. I found it most to consist in making of Silk here bought and carried to Irlentia to be wrought Saragosa The principal City hereof is Saragosa which should challenge a 〈◊〉 particular relation as being commodiously seated for Traffick on the banks of the River 〈◊〉 Ebro but being an University it were too great an honour for an inland Town to prodâ— famous Scholars and eminent Merchants yet in the current Coins it is observed to rule as 〈◊〉 Vâ—dentia and because there is found practised here a great Exchange I have inserted 〈◊〉 same by it self Chapter 292 in the end of this Tract with all circumstances thereunto appeâ—taining And these are all the principal Cities of Traffick found at this day comprised 〈◊〉 the Kingdom of Spain CHAP. CXX Of the Weights and Measures of Spain reduced to the English hundred Weights of Spain reduced to the 100 l. of England THE principal Cities of Spain and Portugal thus surveyed it will not be unworthy our observation first to see how the Weights and Measures of some other lesser Cities here omitted concur with the Weights and Measures of England and then take a general view of the Trade which is in general found in the compass of those Kingdoms now united and subject to the Crown of Castilia First then to begin with the weights of Spain and Portugal I will reduce them to the suttle 100 l. of London which by observation hath been found to make in Sevil 108 l. by great Quintar of 144 l. of four Roves of 36 l. smaller Quintar of 112 l. of 4 Roves of 28 l. by lesser Quintar of 120 l. of 4 Roves of 30 l. Granado and Almeria bona 104 l. is the pound of 16 ounces 89 l. is of Silk and Copper of 18 ounces 52 l. great weight for Flesh 32 ounces Castilia Medina del Campo 98 l. Burgos 89 Rot. Aragon and Barcelona 102 l. 92 l. great weight for Woollen 126 l. small weight for Saffron Valentia 102 l. by Quintar of 4 Roves of 30 l. for Spices 129 l. by Quintar of 4 Roves of 36 l. the Cargo is those Quintars of 360 l. and the greater of 432 l. The 100 l. of London Leon 105 l. Saragosâ—… 108 l. and by the small Quintar 126 l. Savalonâ—… and Salanico 126 l. Viliaco 77 l. Note here that the Islands of the Canaries and all the Islands of Spain use the weights of Sevil as foresaid now for the Kingdom of Portugal 100 l. London makes in Portugal Rot. 104 l. the great Quintar of 128 l. the small Quintar of 112 l. containing each 4 Roves of 32 l. and 28 l. Note here that there is allowance made four upon the hundred upon Sugars and two and 3 per cent upon Cotton Woolls and such like the small Quintar is the weight of the Contractation-house of the Indies All Spice is weighed thereby but all are weighed by the great Quintal and reduced upon the lesser Quintar one Quintar of Wax is one Quintar and half of 112 l. is 168 l. Madera 104 Rotolos Cape Verd. 104 Rot. Saint Thomas 104 Rot. Guinea 104 Rot. Marocâ—… in Barbary 104 Rot. or Pounds by the Quintar of 128 l. Feas and Suus in Barbary 92 l. Calicut 77 Aracoles Note here they sell by the Baccar or Bahar being at Lisbon four Quintars of 112 l. and observe That the Bahar is 4 Quintars for 120 Aracoles The Bahar or Bahor is 20 Faracoles of
Linnen is measured and is accounted 1¼ yards English but those that have made tryal thereof find it is be 46 inches but it is here to de noted that in buying of Linnen Cloth of this Country there is allowed in the account of Measure 24 Aulns for 20 and is called the Merchants Auln or measure and by the same is oftentimes here again sold in England and it is found that Diep Caen and some other Cities of Normandy afford also this over-measure in the sale of Normandy Canvas here made so that it may be said this place hath a great and a small Auln the one exceeding the other 20 per Cent. or 120 for 100 and the smaller agreeing with 〈◊〉 English Ells. Fairs in Rouen Rouen is found to have 3 Fairs in a year at two whereof there is liberty given for fifteen days to buy and transport any Commodities in this City free of all Customs and Taâ—… provided the said Goods be laden and departed down the said River to a certain limited 〈◊〉 stance below the City by fifteen days after otherwise to pay the Custom as is accustomed The Fair beginneth the 3d of February and lasteth fifteen days The second beginneth the morrow after Whitsunday and lasteth fifteen days The third is not accounted a free Fair for Customs as the former and beginneth the 〈◊〉 day of October and continueth only eight days where note that these days are accounted so many working days Sundays and Holy-days according to the Church of Rome excepted The English Hall of Rouen for sale of woollen Cloth Here is in this City a publick Hall granted to the English for the Sale of all English Woolls Cloath whereto they are enjoyned to carry the same and have certain set days to lay open and sell the same and for the hire and custody they pay a Duty of Halledge or Warehousdoâ— they have had formerly here many Immunities and Priviledges and were accounted as hâ— Citizens but the civil wars of France the insolency of the Inhabitants and the great Authority of their Court of Parliament daily give new fashions and new Laws to the English Merchants here resident This City is the prime of Trade in this part of France and is accounted the principal Northern Scale of Traffick in the French Dominions for from hence are exported great quantity as I said before of Buckrams Canvas fine and course playing Cards Box Combs Paper Threal Teasles for Clothworkers and some Plushes and other Stuffs lately here made and in fine all the principal Commodities of Normandy Paris and those parts adjoyning to the River Sein Exchanges of Rouen as for the Exchanges here used see Lions in the Tract of Exchanges following which gives Rules thereto in Chapter 277 and Chapter 302. The Isle of France The next division of this Kingdom is the Isle of France which is in the heart of the Frend Dominions the principal City Paris being the Metropolis of the Kingdom here situated whâ—… though it consist not much in Trade save what may serve happily to feed and clothe the Court and Inhabitants yet all the other Cities taking hence the Rule of Government for Traffick may challenge justly a Chapter by it self CHAP. CXXVII Of Paris and the Trade thereof Paris and the Trade thereof PAris being the principal City of France and the ordinary residence of the King is esteemed to be ten miles in compass through which the River of Sein doth gently run and so to Rouen thence to the New-Haven or Haure de Grace and thence to our British Oceam It is not of great consequence in matter of Trade as neither affording Commodities to be exported nor yet venting store of Commodities imported though an ignorant French-man which had not seen further than this City calls it the greatest in the world for the Trade found therein and for the multitude of Merchants which I imagine he understood Shop-keepers some Cloth Lend Tin Baies and Stockings it venteth from England Satins and other Silk and Plushes from Italy some small wares from Germany and that is all the most important It is one of the three Cities in France where Exchanges have been placed Rouen and Lions being the other two and though I have divers times been here yet I could never find any remarkable observations in Trade which incleed is no where in France much practised because of the base esteem the French Nation do hold of Merchants and Merchandising every Cobler honouring his old Shooes with the Title of sa Merchandise with as great confidence as he that never handled any Commodity but Silks or Jewels in which foolish humour I will leave them and come to my purpose Paris giving rule in the matter of Coin to all other Cities of France I have purposely referred it here to avoid the reiteration in any other City of this Kingdom Coins of France The least piece then of Coin Current in France is a Denier two whereof makes a Double and twelve thereof is a Souls and Souls twenty make a Liver which some call a Frank and thus in Livers Souls and Deniers their Accounts are kept Accounts in France Their common Coins are pieces of 8 Sol which is the â…œ of a French Crown in Silver a piece of 16 Sold. which is the quarter Crown 4 of which makes 64 Sold. accounted for a French Crown and 4 Solds which is of 3 Livers Turnois They have also pieces of 21 Sold. 4 Deniers being the 〈◊〉 of the said Crown called by some Testons and the ½ and ¼ thereof and as the quarter Crowns were at first raised from 15 Sold to 16 Sold and thereby the 60 Sold to 64 Sold so were the said Testons also in proportion raised accordingly The Gold Coins are only two which is the common Crown of 3 Livers or 60 Sold. and the Crown of the Sun being 3 Livers 16 Sold or 76 Sol. All which Coins in their first coinage bare this true worth and value and then were conceived to hold equality with England thus 10 Sold to make 12 pence sterling 23 Sold to make 2 shillings sterling which is their Liver 60 Sold. to make 6 shillings or 72 pence which is the French Crown Note of Moneys inhansed lately in France But these inhansed to such rates as the necessities of the Prince or Commerce inforce them find net now any settled rate but according to the will of the payer and receiver for he that sells his Commodities in France now for ready moneys must contract it if he be wise at what rate he must have these Coins in payment lest he imagine he sell to good profit and yet by experience find he sells the same to a great loss and disadvantage And note That since the writing of the abovesaid the piece of 16 Sol. is raised to 20 Sol. 〈◊〉 on the whole which I place here as a Caveat for such as shall have occasion to traffick in these Kingdoms that he
places These Observations I have found true by my own experience Rotolo of Aleppo gave in Marselia 5 l. 6 ounces Rotolo of Damasco gave 4½ l. Rotolo of Tripoli in Syria 4½ l. Rotolo of Mantua 5½ l. Cantaro of Genoa 118 l. Cantaro of Civita Veccia in Allom 130 l. Cantaro of Alicant in Barsilia 133½ l. Rotolos 100 l. Malta in Olives 200 l. Loderos 100 l. of Constantinople 135 l. Cantaro of Sardinia in Cheese 100 l. Cantaro of Zant in Currans 116 l. Cargo of Valentia in Pepper 320 l. Cantaro of Argier 150 l. Rotolo of Cyprus in Cottons 5¼ l. Cantaro of Valentia in Cochineal 88 l. Hundred of London 112 l. gave in Tin 125 l. And the 120 l. English Stannery in Tin made 134 l. These Towns are said to agree with Marselia in their Quintal Measures of Marselia First Lepanto 100 l. Arches 100 l. Candia Sotile 100 l. Petras 100 l. Rochel 100 l. Tholosa 100 l. Montpelier 100 l. Avignion 100 l. which I refer to trial of him that shall have occasion because I question the truth of some of them The Measures of length is the Cane which is divided into eight Palms the Cane making 2â…› yards English Corn is sold by the Mine the Sack of Pisa and Legorn is found to be 1â…˜ Mines of Marselia Customs in Marselia The Customs here out and in are 1½ per cent but the City by reason of cleansing the Harbour and some Ships set out against Pyrats have made the 1½ inwards 3¼ per cent and only 1¼ out this is meant of Commodities of the growth of the Countrey but in Spices brought in as Pepper Ginger Indico or such as come not out of the Levant but as they call it out of the Ponent or out of the West-Seas it pays the King's Custom which is now about 15 per cent besides the City's Custom above named and thus much for Marselia Avignion The next Province is that of Avignion the principal City thereof called by that name it is a fair Town and seated upon the River of Rhone but hath no Trade that I could observe though I have often been there it is subject to the Pope and he permitting Jews to inhabit here are found the principal Pedlers for Merchants I cannot call them The City is said to have 7 Palaces 7 Parishes 7 Monasteries 7 Nunneries 7 Inns and 7 Gates and other things of note I observe not and as for Commerce the Weights and Measures differ not much from Marselia and the great Custom here paid is some prejudice to Passengers and Merchandise that passeth from Provence to Lions or from Lions to Marselia Orange The next Province is Orange the capital City here bearing that name belonging to the Prince of Orange a strong Town and sweetly seated near upon the Rhone here all Protestant Passengers are really welcomed and Papists narrowly lookt unto in requital of the contrary courtesie practised at Avignion not above six leagues off Picardy The next is Picardy wherein I find Amiens and Abbeville for fair Towns but of little or no Traffick Calais Calais also the In-let of France is strong but hath sent away its Trading with the Staple which by the English was planted and continued here for 200 years whilst it was in possession of the English the French Kings were accustomed to have the same put daily into their remembrance till it was regained and were it not that the Merchant Adventurers make mention thereof in their Oath taken at the entrance into that Brotherhood it is almost forgot that ever it was English which I the rather mention here that some noble English heart would daily put our Sovereign in mind thereof till it return again to be English in the mean time a word of the Trade thereof CHAP. CXXXII Of Calais and the Trade thereof Calais and the Trade thereof CAlais formerly was the great Staple for the Woolls of England and settled here Aâ—… 1347. by Edward the Third to make good his Conquest after eleven months siege bâ—… afterward it was hence removed and this place lost by Queen Mary Anno 1557. after 20â— years possession of the English and was by our then Kings of England ever called the Key thâ—… gave their Armies entrance into France the place is not now of any great noted Traffick though it and Bullen be accounted the best Maritime Ports in Picardy opposite to Dover from whence this is seven leagues distant The Coins here current are those in general of France Weights of Calais The Weights here in use are three First is the Weights proper of the Town the 100 l. whereof is in London about 92 l. The second is called the Merchants Weight the 100 l. whereof make in London 113 l. and the 100 suttle of London is here 88 l. The third is called the English Wooll hundred or Staple hundred 100 l. whereof is in London about 89 l. or 90 l. about 3 per cent different from the Town-weight The Measures used here is the Auln and makes in London inches Champaign The next is Champaign wherein is Rhemes the principal City where the Kings of France are anointed and where there is a College for the entertainment of the English Fugitives Jesuits I mean Burgundy The next is Burgundy famous for Dijon which is notable through France for good Mustard a note worthy our Tukesbury Bress The next is Bress Chastilion being the principal City and the last that I shall handle appeâ—taining to the King of France or under his Government Besanson The next in order according to my Method is the Franche Comte the principal City thereof is Besanson which in time past strove for precedency of Trade with Lions but being an Inland Town she hath lost that honour the Inhabitants of this Countrey bringing home great and more honourable Titles as famoused abroad for good Soldiers known by the name of Walloons and now is under the command of Spain The Exchanges of Placentia was once here seated from Cambray but the Merchants being not well used returned to Placentia 100 l. Besanson is 112 l. English Lorain The next is Lorain the principal City is Nants yielding plenty of Corn and Wine store of fresh-water Fish and Salt and famous in that it was the Dukedom of Godfrey Surnamed of Bulloign which won Jerusalem from the Saracens and was the first Christian Crowned Kitz of that Kingdom And now to Savoy as partaking with the French in the Trade as well as in their Garb. CHAP. CXXXIII Of Savoy and the Provinces thereof Savoy and the Cities thereof THE Dukedom of Savoy comprehends only this Dutchy and the Principality of Piedmont in the former is Cambray the residency of the Duke when he is in these parts in the latter is Nisa and Villa-Franca two Sea-Ports but not capacious nor safe for Ships of burthen next Aste a great Mart for all Italian Commodities and lastly
East Countrey and Holland brings them Cordage Tar Pitch Rosin Masts and Fir-Timber and returns Wines from Bourdeaux and Paper Canvas from Rouen and Salt from Ere 's Spain brings them fome Spices and they return them Corn and Linnens Italy brings them some Silk fabricks c. and they return them Oils Cloth Linnen and the like Turky affords them Cotton Wooll Raw Silk Cotton Yarn Hides Sheep woolls c. and they send thither Rials of Plate Woollen Cloth and little else and this is the gross of the present Trade of France CHAP. CXXXVI Of Geneva and the Trade thereof Geneva and the Trade thereof GEneva being a fair City and wholly in possession of Protestants is a Nursery of Learning and withal no stepdame to Trade It is seated commodiously to that end upon the River Rhme which within 16 leagues after saluteth the Walls of Lions and serveth out of Switzerland to convey many sorts of Merchandize to it and to transport the same thence to Lions Valence Avignion Arles to Provence and Languedoc Coins in Geneva and accounts Their Moneys are as in France and keep their Accounts in Livers Sold. and Deniers Turnois and here also is current the Coins of the United Cantons of Switzers and the Coins of Savoy Weights of Geneva The 100 l. here renders in London 107 l. and by some is found to agree with the gross of Venice and making of Venice sotile 158â…” l. incirca Measures of Geneva The Stab renders in London and 60 Ells here hath been found to make in Venetia 100 braces Cloth-measure and 106 braces Silk-measure But it is time that I should forsake these petty Provinces and Travel over the Alps and come into Italy which is my next Task CHAP. CXXXVII Of Italy and the Provinces thereof Italy and the Provinces thereof ITaly is girded round with the Ionian Tyrrhenian and Adriatick Seas except it be toward France and Germany from which it is parted by the Alps. The Countrey in general for Merchandizing yields Rice Silks Velvets Sattins Taffeties Grograms Rashes Bustians Armour Allom Glasses of all sorts as I shall mention in the particular Kingdoms and Provinces thereof Italy hath ever afforded eminent and ingenious Merchants yet such as merit not really in all things that Title because that their Trade consisteth more in Exchanges which is a branch of Merchandizing than in Adventures which is the principal point which gives the Title to all Bargainers it being a common speech though unmerchant-like yea unchristian-like among them That they are loth to trust God with their Estates at Sea when they may have the same safe on shore as if then it were out of his reach or Protection Italy is now divided into 10 Provinces which afford many principal Cities of Trade which following my intended Method I will handle in order 1. The Kingdom of Naples 2. The Papacy 3. The Common-wealth of Venetia 4. The Dukedom of Florence 5. The Dukedom of Milan 6. The Dukedom of Mantua 7. The Dukedom of Urbin 8. The Principality of Parma 9. The State of Genoa 10. The State of Lucca In each of which are found many notable Towns of Traffick which as belonging unto several Princes will require a more particular Survey than if otherwise it were commanded by one sole Soveraign and first of the Kingdom of Naples CHAP. CXXXVIII Of Naples and the Cities thereof Naples and the commodities thereof THe Kingdom of Naples is accounted the richest of Italy abounding in several Commodities for Merchandizing as in Mines of divers Metals in choice and rich Wines in Saffron Silks raw and wrought in Oils Brimstone Anniseeds Argals c. Here I have seen one field yielding at one and the same time three several crops the ground bearing Corn having Mulberry trees intermixed and Vines planted at the foot of each Mulberry which have made excellent Wines and this I have observed for twenty miles riding together on each haâ—d of the way which must needs be pleasant to the beholders and profitable to the enjoyeâ— and owners The Kingdom of Naples is divided into sundry Provinces which I will only nominate as first Terra di Lavoro Terra di Lavoro wherein is found Capua whose pleasures did effeminate Hannibal Câ—… where one of the Sybills resided near which is Lacus Avernus the stink whereof killed Birds as they flie over it Baca Nola and Puteilo famous in times past for many Antiquite and Baths which in Anno 1619. I curiously visited for divers days in search of shadoâ— Staio of Gaeta is 43 l. of that weight The next principal Town is Gaeta well fortified by the Spaniards and where Buthâ— that ransacked Rome lieth interred but the principle of this Kingdom is Naples of which CHAP. CXXXIX Of Naples and the Trade thereof Naples and the Trade thereof NAPLES the Metropolis of this Kingdom once called Parthenope and now Neapolis fortified with foâ— strong Castles in possession of the Spaniards Castle Capedna Castle Ermo Castle Ovâ— aâ—… Castle Novo It venteth out of England Baies Saies Serges Fustians Lead Tin Pilchuâ— Newland-fish red and white Herring some Cloth and other Commodities it consisteth mâ—… of Gentry few eminent Merchants Natives are here found the Taxes laid upon Merchâ—dises being so great that it ruines all Commerce yet what I observed here in Anno 1619. I shalâ— relate Coins of Naples The current Coins of Naples where then A Ducate of Gold large is worth in Naples 11½ Carlins A Ducate of Carlins is worth only ten Carlins so that 100 Ducates of Gold are worth 〈◊〉 Ducates of Carlins One Ounce is worth six Ducates A Ducate of Carlins is worth five Tarries A Tarrie is worth 20 grains A Carlin is worth 10 grains Account keeping Their accounts are kept in Naples by Ducates Tarries and Grains five Tarries making a Ducate and twenty Grains a Tarrie but these are accounted Ducates current every 110 Ducâ— current make 100 Ducates of Gold Weights of Naples The Weights of Naples are the Cantar and the 100. Their Cantar of Naples is 100 Râ—tolos which is 2 l. 9â…” ounces Naples and by which they weigh all their gross goods which is in Florence 32 ounces and 285 l. and is 196 l. Averdupois But the 100 l. hath been obseâ—… to produce in Florence 90 l. in Rome 93 l. in London 71 l. in Lions 68 l. in Venetia 106 l. Ditto gross 82 l. 1. l. suttle is in Venice suttle 15¼ ounces 1. l. suttle is in Venice gross 9 ounces 58 Note That in Gaeta is used another Quintar for some Commodities gross goods which hath been found to render in Legorn 254 l. and in Naples all gross goods are weighed by the great Cantar and all fine goods by the hundred Measures in Naples Their Measure is a Cone divided into 8 Palms which is in Florence after the opinion of some 3â…œ Braces just and it hath been observed in the measure of these two
Law it is seated within Land and is well known in matters of Exchanges as I shall shew in due place and hath those Moneys current that acknowledge the Popâ—'s Stamp as I shall declare in Rome Accounts in Bollonia Their Accounts are kept in Livers Sold. and Deniers 12 Deniers to a Sol and 20 Sols to a Liver the Liver may be accounted to be incirca 13½ d. Sterling Money and some are found to keep their Accounts in Duccatons Sols and Deniers cast up by 12 and by 20 as above is said Weights of Bollonia Their Weights common in use are these Their Quintal is 100 l. which makes In London 80 l. Rome 100  Milan 106  Florence 104  Genoa 133  Lions 77  Venetia sot 120  Venetia gr 75  1000 l. in Bollonia have given in Venetia suttle 1320 l. gross 750 l. so that the 1 l. hath rendred their gross 9 Ounces suttle 14 Ounces 2½ Sach Measures in Bollonia The Measure is a Brace and is found to be about 25 inches English 100 Braces here have made in Venetia Cloth-measure 96 Braces and of Silk 90 Braces Corn. Corn is here sold by the Corbe 100 whereof makes 92 Staios in Venetia and 100 Corbes in Wine make Amfora Venetiana 12 and 2 Quarters and in dry Measures 17 Quarters and in London Gallons Commodities of Bollonia From hence are accustomed to come to other parts Corn Almonds Oyls raw Silks and sundry sorts of wrought Satins Taffetaes and other called hence Bollonia Silk and of Bollonia making and to conclude this place here are found many eminent Exchanges the course of which Exchanging you shall find in the general Exchanges here practised vide Chapter 296. CHAP. CXLIV Of Ferrara and the Trade thereof Ferrara and the Trade thereof FErrara is the next principal City of Trade in this Circuit famous for the Iron mines about it seated on the Banks of the River Po and accounted one of the pleasantest Cities in Italy for in the midst thereof is a fair Green into which open about twenty Streets of half a Mile in length and so even and uniform that thence the utmost ends thereof may be discerned it affordeth Wines Oyls Olives Iron Steel and some Manufactures of Silk The Monies are as at Rome to which this City appertaineth admitting but of very little difference in the Rates current thereof Weights of Ferrara The Quintal of Ferrara is 100 l. which makes Venetia sot 112½ l. and Venetia gr 72 l. in London incirca 75 l. Averdupois and the 100 l. sutt Venice makes here 87 l. and the 100 l. gr 138 l. Measures of Ferrara The Measure is a Brace 100 Braces makes in London 72 yards Their Wine Measure is a Mastello 11 whereof make an Amfora of Venetia and is in England vide London Their Corn Measure is a Stare 100 Stares makes in Venetia 37 Star and so much shall serve for Ferrara and the Trade thereof CHAP. CXLV Of Modena and the Trade thereof Modena MOdena is the next City seated in this Tract yielding many Fabricks of Silks which it disperseth to its neighbouring Towns Accounts in Modena Their Accounts are kept in Livres Sold Deniers 12 Deniers to a Sold and 20 Sol to a Livre Weights in Modena Their Quintal is 100 l. which renders In Lions 77 l. London 72 l. Venetia sotile 109 l. Venetia gross 72 l. Florence 98 l. Measures in Modena The Measure is the Brace the same as in Mantua and 1 per Cent. longer than the Brace of Ferrâ—ra and by observation it hath been found that the 100 Braces of Modena have made 118 in Florence Corn is here sold by the Staro 100 whereof makes 93 or 94 Stares in Venetia and one Staio of Modena hath made 2½ Staios in Florence and hath made in Venice three Quarts and six Quarterols CHAP. CXLVI Of Rimno and the Trade thereof Rimno and the Trade thereof RImno anciently Ariminum seated on the Mouth of the River Rubicon affords much Silk which it partly sends abroad and partly converts here into Stuffs also some Wines Oyls Corn The Coins current as in Rome as being subject to the Papacy and the Accounts are kept in their same denomination Weights The Quintal is the 100 l. which makes in London 81 l. and some have made Experience that it makes in Venice gross 76. Measures Their Measure is the Brace and is in London 27 inches bare Their Corn Measure is a Stare 100 making 210 in Venetia and their Wine Measure is a Some which makes in London 10 Gallons CHAP. CXLVII Of Ravenna and the Trade thereof Ravenna and the Trade thereof RAvenna is seated on the Adriatick Sea and once beautified with one of the fairest Havâ—… in the World where Augustus Caesar always kept a Navy man'd to defend these parts of the Empire now choaked up with mud and rubbish The Neighbourhood of Venetia which Senators have as well followed Mercury by Merchandizing as Mars by Arms keeps this City from any notable Commerce yet I will note what I have observed hereupon both in matter of Weights and Measures Weights of Ravenna The Quintal of Ravenna is 100 l. which gives Venetia sotile 118 l. in London 78 l. and the gross 100 l. of Venetia made here 133 l. Measures of Ravenna The Measure is a Brace 100 Braces of Cloth in Venice is here 112 100 Braces of Silk in Venice is here 106. Corn is sold by the Stare 100 whereof makes in Venice 66â…” Staio so that 3 Staros Raveâ—… have made the two Staios of Venetia and these are the chief Cities of Romandiola Loretto The next Province is Marco Anconitana wherein is famous first Loretto for the Pilmmage to our Lady Church brought hither if you will believe it through the Air from Palestâ— whereunto a great Trade is driven by the superstitious Papists next is Adria which gave name to those Seas next Recanti and Ancona two fair Cities and of great Concourse of Merchant of which first CHAP. CXLVIII Of Recanti and the Trade thereof Recanti in Istria REcanti olim Aelia Recina as some Authors alledge is a fair City affording Corn Oyl and some Silk for Merchandise Weights The Weights thereof being 100 l. gives in London 75 l. And in Florence 96½ l. In Venetia sotile 112 l. In Venetia gross 72 l. Measures Their Measure is a Brace 94 whereof make Venetia Brace 100 l. Oyl is sold here by the Miare which is the same as that in Venetia CHAP. CXLIX Of Ancona and the Trade thereof Ancona and the Trade thereof ANcona is a fair City seated on the Hill Cinerius which shooteth into the Adriatick Sea like a Promontory having a commodious Haven built by Trajanus the Emperor it is fruitful as the rest of this Country affording principally Corns Wines and Oyls Weights The Quintal of Ancona is
of some of the late Kings of England to their own Subjects for their incouragement in Trade and their general inclinations thereto so they in themselves have been chiefly wanting to themselves and have suffered a loss to fall insensibly upon them that hath been the greatest Ruin of their Traffick comprised within Mystery the of these their new Imposts and the decay of the Shipping and Navigators which that Prince must ever carefully avoid that would have his Country and Subjects thrive thereby and having now lost all their Trade to all other places the Dominions of the Great Turk only excepted their Ships and Gallies are decayed and their Mariners fled from them some sparks are seen yet to remain but the great Fire of their mighty Traffick being extinguished it will not be needful for me to rake the Ashes and observe further that little Coal that is yet resting unconsumed amongst them CHAP. CLIX. Of Florence and the Cities of that Kingdom Florence and the Provinces thereof THE Dukedom of Florence containeth the greater part of Tuscany and now may be said to be comprehended under the Signiory of the Great Duke with the Republick of Pisa and Siena the principal marine Port whereof is Leghorn which may be accounted the best and one of the greatest Towns of Trade in all the Mediterranean Seas not only thus continued and preserved by the Industry of the Inhabitants alone but of other Nations which by reason of the great Immunities and Privileges of this place and the freedom given to Strangers and Merchants and principally because all sorts of Merchandize may be here landed free of all Customs Duties and Imposts this Scale is grown to that height that it is famous throughout all the Mediterranean and Ocean Seas In this Republick I find only four Cities of Consequence that challenge in matter of Commerce my Observation which is Florence it self the principal City of this Dukedom next Siena then Pisa and lastly the above mentioned Town of Leghorn Commodities of Tuscany These Countries afford for Merchandize some Marble Rice Wines Oils quantity of Silks both raw and wrought in Stuffs famous for their Fabricks throughout Europe as Satins Taffaties Velvets Grograms Plushes and the like called commonly of Florence From England is here vended Pepper Cloves Maces Indico Callicoes as being East-India Commodities and Lead Tin Clothâ— Bays Serges Perpetuanos as Native and the English also bring hither Herrings white and red pickled Salmon Newland Fish Pilchards Calves-Skins and many other Commodities The Duke of Florence a great Merchant The Duke of Florence hath ever been found to be a great lover of Merchants and Merchandizing and is conceived to be at this day the greatest Merchant in Europe forgetting not that his Ancestors did raise themselves by Traffick to the greatness and height he now doth hold and to this end is found in Leghorn a Stock properly running in Trade for his Account which is imployed in Traffick as occasion of Profit upon Merchandize doth present it self The Estate of the Great Duke of Tuscany and the Trade thereof Cosmi the Second was the first Duke of Florence that had the Title of Great Duke of Tuscaâ—y conferred upon him being crowned in the Court of Rome with that Title given to him and his Heirs for ever by Pope Pius the Fifth in the year 1570. Since which the Great Dukes Successors have desired of succeeding Popes the Title of King but it hath been always obstructed by the Kings of Spain who would indure no King in Italy but himself and refused by the Pope as too Lordly a Title This Duke and his Predecessors have ever been found to be great Lovers of Merchants and Merchandizing knowing that his Predecessors raised themselves by Traffick to the greatness he now doth hold His Territories are separated on the East from the Lands of the Church by the River Pisco on the West from the Commonwealth of Genoa by the River Macra on the North from Romandiola and Marca Anconitano by the Appenine Hills are bounded on the South by the Tyrrhenian Sea being about 260 Miles in length and in some places as much in breadth The Country between Florence and Leghorn being about fifty Miles is full of spacious Fields and fruitful Valleys here and there a pleasant Mountain equalizing them for fertility abundantly furnished with all sorts of delicious Wines and beautified with many delicate Cities and Towns and in a word plentifully stored with all the Benedictions of Nature The Inhabitants profess the Reman Catholick Religion and are governed by the Civil Law The Great Dukeâ— Dominions may be fitly divided into four Parts viz. The Cities and Territories first of Florence 2. Pisa 3. Siena 4. and lastly the Islands situated in the Tyrrhenian Sea The Estate of Florence taketh up the North Part of the Great Duke's Dominions being bounded on the South by the Territories of Pisa and Siena and on the North with the Appenine Hills so called from Florence the principal City for Beauty and Trade within this Territory Nicholas Machiavel that unhappy Man was once Secretary to the Duke of Florence who but for publishing that which was frequently practised by Princes hath intailed an edium upon his Name for ought any knows to all Posterity But to our Business next to be handled which is the Description and Trade of Florence CHAP. CLX Of Florence and the Trade thereof Florence and the Trade thereof THE City of Florence is seated near the confluence of the two Rivers Arne and Chian and is a very fair City and abounding with publick and private Buildings of great Beauty and therefore by some supposed to be called Florentia à situ Florenti it is in compass six Miles and is the Residence of the Duke who here hath a sumptuous Palace the greatest part of the Trade thereof doth consist in Fabricks of Silks that here are made and are hence properly call'd and in the Exchanges here are used and practised by Bankers for all Parts of Europe the Inhabitants having lost the honour of Merchandizing which anciently they had when eminent Factors from hence were sent into Flanders and England and to other Countries to reside who managed a very great Trade now totally decayed What I have found from others or observed my self 1619. when I was here I shall set down for the present occurrences of the place Accounts in Florence The Merchants do here keep their Accounts in Livres Sold and Deniers 12 Deniers making a Sol and 20 Sol a Livre and others again in Crowns Sol and Deniers of Gold of Livres 7½ per Crown accounting 12 Deniers to a Sol and 20 Sol to a Crown but all their Commodities are sold by Lavres Sold and Deniers of their Moneys and to reduce Livres into Crowns multiplied by 2 and divided by 15 because 15 half Livres make a Crown and to reduce the said Livres into Ducats 1 7 is to be taken Coins current in
Salm of Sicilia Sesterces 10½ of Arles is in Florence one Moggio And as for the Tomilo of Naples I find this Observation in the agreement thereof 36 Tomolos of Naples which is 1 Carr have made in Venice 22½ Stai Istria 22¾  Segnia 68¾ Quart In all Dalmatia 22¼ Stai Ragusa 19¼  Catarro 22½  Fermo Marca 9 â— 1 Somo Corfu 14¾ Mosa Candia 97 Mesn Canea 14¼ Moza Alexandria 7 Rob. Tripoli Barbaria 5  Cassise and 3 Jubes   Zerbe 5¼ Caf. Millan 3 Mos Parma 45½ Sta. Modena 26  Rimene 10â…™  Cesena 13  Ravenna 34  Forli 21½  Ferrara 62½  Mantua 56½  Bollonia 24¾ Corbe Florence 80 Stai Genoua 16½ Mine Padua 34â…œ Stai Treviso 20â…ž  Vicentia 34â…›  Verona 50 Min. Bressia 12½ Som. Bergamo 19 Stai Cremona 11â…œ Som. Mirandela 26 Stai For other particulars of these Measures I have observed the same in such other place as my Collections permitted As for the Exchanges of Florence which are here found daily practised for great Sums I refer the particulars thereof to the 282 and 400 Chapters of this Tract with all the Circumstances thereunto belonging and therefore hence come to Pisa the second City of Trade in Tuscany CHAP. CLXII Of Pisa and the Trade thereof THE Second Part of the Great Duke's Dominions is the City and Territory of Pisa bounded on the South by the Sea-Coast on the East by Siena and on the West by the Genoese The Pisans were in former times very considerable having under them the Islands of Corsica Sardinia and the Baleares and did at once War with the Venetians and Genoese they were at last conquered by the Duke of Millan and the Duke of Genoa the first taking the City of Pisa and sold it to the Florentines about the year 1410. and the latter seized upon the Town of Leghorn and sold it to the same Customers for 120000 Ducats about the same time These two being the only places of Trade within this Territory worthy taking notice of and chiefly the Town of Leghorn But first of the City of Pisa Pisa and the Trade thereof Pisa is the second City in the Dukedom of Tuscany seated in the entrance of the River Arâ—… into the Sea which cometh down from Florence and watereth the Walls thereof Here is the Custom-house placed by the Florentine for all Goods that are landed at Leghorn and enter into his Country or laden in Florence and going this way out of his Country so that though Leghorn be free of all Customs yet the Duke losing little thereby save what the Town it self can vent which is but small for it is but as a Scale and Port-Town to this City and the rest of his Territories Here is also kept his Principal Courts of Justice and the Knights of Saint Stephen have here their Alberge thereby keeping his Subjects from going to Malta to be there enrolled the Duke by these means using his best Art to make this City to have some splendour which by the strict subjection of the Inhabitants the City otherwise is wholly deprived of Those goodly Buildings which it yet sheweth testifies its ancient Magnificence and many things Anno 1619. I observed therein of Note though improper to the subject which bears in many places the Relicks of that Greatness it once had by its Command over divers Provinces and the Wars it maintained for a long time together against both the Venetians and Genoese but to my Business Weights The Moneys Weights and Measures and Accounts of Florence are here only in use and therefore I shall not need to reiterate Measures Only the Corn Measure is a Sacco which is 3 Staios of Florence The Wine Measure is a Barrel Cornuto which is 1½ Bar. Florence so that 7 Bar. Cornuto is 10½ Bar. in Florence which is in Candia 45 Mistate and makes in Naples Cogno 1 which 1 1½ But. For Custom of the place this hath been observed that a Bag of Pepper from landing at Leghorn to the dispatch in the Custom-House here is about a Crown of Gold per Bale and Herrings English have Charges from the arrival at Leghorn until dispatched in the Custom-House of Pisa 15 Sold of Gold the Bar. of 4000 Herrings and the like for other Commodities in general The Customs of this place is ordinarily 4 Cratches per Liver CHAP. CLXIII Of Siena and the Trade thereof THE third Part of the Great Duke's Dominions is the City and Territory of Siena sitâ—ated between the Lands of the Church and the Territory of Pisa They were sometimes under the Command of the Emperour then a free Commonwealth and after that under the Spaniards then in the hands of the French and again in possession of the Spaniards by whom it was made over unto Cosmi Duke of Florence all but the Port-Towns which he thought good to keep in his own possession about the year 1558. whose Successors have been since very careful in keeping thereof as a place of great Concernment beside they being a good addition to the Greatness and Strength of his Territories and once looked on a rival to Florence it self in the Government of Tuscany The chief and only place of Trade within that part of this Territory under the great Duke is the City of Siena of which briefly followeth Siena and the Trade thereof This City hath been of more note and greater consequence in times past but falling under the command of the Florentine they deprived them of all their Trade and ancient glory it is an Inland-Town adorned with beautiful both Publick and Private Buildings their great Church hath the Monuments reserved of all the Popes and of our famous Country-man Sir John Hawkwood who did the Florentine such good and valiant service that they have here honoured his memory with a stately Monument here is observed to be spoken the best Tuscan Language in Italy and further I could not note material Anno 1619. Accompts here and the Monies Current are the same as in Florence Weights in Siena In Siena they have two Quintals the one of 100 l. wherewith all fine Goods are weighed being incirca 3 per cent less than 100 l. of Florence The other is for Woolls and some gross Commodities which containeth 150 l. of the former 100. Measures in Siena The Braces and Measures agree with Florence formerly mentioned other Notes of Trade in this Dukedom I have not met withal therefore will pass hence to the Dukedom of Millan and will omit the rest to Legorn the only Sea-Port of note belonging hereunto The Port-Towns within the Territory of Siena are 1. Plombino 2. Port Tellamon 3. Orbitelo 4. Monte Argentoriana 5. Porta Herculis 6. Porta Longone These are only worth taking notice of for Trading The fourth and last part of the Great Duke's Dominions are the Islands in the Tuscan or Tyrrhenian Seas 1. Elba 2. Giglio 3. Capraria 4. Galienaria 5. Gorgona 6. Troja
These are only worth the mentioning as to our business of Trade CHAP. CXLIV Of the Dukedom of Millan Dukedom of Millan THE Dukedom of Millan being under the command of the Spaniard is rich in Natures gifts as esteemed the Garden of Italy affording plenty of Corn Rice Wines Oils Silks Raw and Wrought and sundry other Commodities it hath therein also many fair Cities the principal whereof are First Millan the principal of the whole Dutchy Secondly Pavia Thirdly Alexandria de la Pallia Fourthly Cremona And fifthly Como of as many of which as is needful I shall touch the particulars CHAP. CXLV Of Millan and the Trade thereof Millan and the Trade thereof MIllan is a fair City and the greatest of Lombardy the Castle whereof is accounted impregnable it is very populous and contains seven Miles in Circuit it is furnished in matter of Trade with many great Merchants or rather as I may more properly call them Shop-keepers abounding in many rich Manufactures of Silks and Iron for Sword-blades for Cannons Muskets and Pistols c. as Silk-Stockings Chamlet Fustians Gold-Thread and sundry other Commodities here dispersed into Savoy France and other adjoyning Countries Accompts in Millan Their Accompts are kept in Millan by Pounds Shillings and Pence Or as they call them Livres Sol and Deniers 12 Deniers make a Sol and 20 Sols a Livre which Livre may be sterl 12 pence as I shall shew in the Tract of Exchanges in 280 and 410 Chapters Coins in Millan The Coins Current in Millan are these A Ducate of Gold of Millan is incirca 100 Sol of that Money A Crown of Gold of the Sun is worth about 96 or 98 Sol. A Crown of Gold Italian is 5 Livres and 6 Sol Imperial A Ducate of Gold of Livres 5 and 18 Sol is Livres 6 Imperial A Ducace Imperial is esteemed 4 Livres A Ducate of Millan or Imperial of Livres 4 per Duc. and so they count it in Exchange the which they pay in Crowns of Italy at 101 Sol per Duc. Note that the Crown in Millan runs in Merchandise for Sol 110 and the Ducate for the same Note also that the Imperial Coins are the current of this Country but French Italian and Spanish pass here also in Merchandise as being placed between the two former and subject to the last Weights in Millan The Weight of Millan is the Pound and the 100 l. which is the Quintal which 100 l. is In Venetia sotile 108 l. Venetia gross 66  Florentia 97  Genoua 106  Lions 69  London 70  Measures of Millan In Millan they have two Braces the Cloth and the Silk upon the 100 Braces Silk hath been made these Observations and to have made In London 43 Ells. Antwerp 72  Frankfort 90  Dantzick 60  Vienna 63  Lions 44 Aulns Paris 41  Genoua 207 Palm Rouen 37 Auln Lisbon 43 Var. Sevil 58  Madera 44  Venetia 78 Brac. Lucques 86  Florence 88  Exchanges of Millan Which I refer to the experience of him that shall have occasion to make trial herein farther and so I will proceed to Cremona as for the Exchanges here practised I refer you to the general Chapter thereof in the end of this Tract viz. 280 and 410 Chapters CHAP. CLXVI Of Cremona and the Trade thereof Cremona and the Trade thereof CRemona is the second City of Trade in this Dutchy which endeavoureth by the Industry of the Inhabitants to imitate and second Millan in her Manufactures of Silk Gold-Thread c. Weights Their common Weight is the Pound and the 100 l. which hath by tryal been found to make in Venctia Sotile 104 l. and by the Gross of Venetia 65 in 66 l. in Florence 86 l. Measures Their Measure is the Brace agreeing the same as that of Florence Oil is sold by the Carigas 18 thereof is 1000 l. Venetia in Oil Carrigas 15 are accounted for a 1000 l. of Cheese in Venetia Carigas 11 are accounted of Honey 8¼ Staios of Venetia CHAP. CLXVII Of Como and the Trade thereof Como and the Trade thereof COmo is made more famous by the Lake whereon it is seated being 50 Miles about than by the Trade thereof though it may well be imagined the same doth add a good furtherance thereto by the benefit and commodity thereof and by Transporting Wares to Neighbouring places seated thereabout Weights The Weight thereof is the Pound and 100 l. which hath been observed to produce in Venice Suttle 108 and Gross 67 l. which in London is 72 l. Averdupois or thereabout Measures Their Measure is a Brace accounted to be Corn is sold by the Mosa which are here 14 Pesos and every Peso is 10 l. at â—0 oun per l. which in Venetia is 378 l. Suttle which is 305 l. Gross so that the said 14 Pesos is in Venetia 1â…› Staios And thus have I done with the Dutchy of Millan and proceed to Mantua and the Dukedom CHAP. CLXVIII Of Mantua and the Trade thereof Mantua and the Trade thereof MAntua hath some other Cities of quality subject thereto but being debarred from the Sea and environed with potent Neighbours that hinder the Commerce thereof I will therefore reduce what I have collected more-worthy to the City of Mantua it self which is a very fair and strong Town environed on three parts with a Lake of good breadth and with a strong Wall on the rest through this Lake runneth a River that leadeth into the Po which is a famous stream in these parts and much enricheth this Country and furthers the Trade of this Dutchy Commodities of Mantua The chief Commodities of this Dukedom are certain Fabricks of Silks such as are Taffetaes Sattins Camlets watered and the like Accompts in Mantua Their Accompts are kept in Livres Sols and Deniers 12 Deniers make a Sol and 20 Sols a Livre 5 of which Livres make a Ducate of Gold large 9. 12 Sol making a Ducatoon of Mantua or 115 Sols of Millan which is accounted Sterl Weights in Mantua They weigh in Mantua by a Peso and by the 1000 l. 25 l. being the Peso and 100 l. the Quintal which hath made in Venice Suttle 108 l. and Venice Gross 66â…” l. in Florence 98 l. and in London by Observation of some 71 l. Averdupois Measures in Mantua Their Measure of length is the Brace which doth agree with the Cloth brace of Venice within a small matter Corn is sold by the Staio 100 whereof are in Venetia 40 Staios and 1 Staios weighs about 80 l. of Mantua weight Aste a Fair. In this Dukedom is also Aste where is yearly kept a great and notable Fair for many sorts of Merchandise where many Immunities are granted to Merchants during the time that the said Fair doth continue and is held in the beginning of September and thus much I have observed of this Dutchy
CHAP. CLXIX Of Urbin and the Trade thereof Vrbin and the Trade thereof URbin is a fair City seated on the bottom of the Appennine where it hath for Sea-Ports Pisauro and Fano the English here do enjoy many Immunities and sundry Privileges the original whereof did arise in the Reign of Henry VI. of England who created the Duke of this place a Knight of the Noble Order of the Garter and he to requite the Honour to himself done returned it thus to the said King his Subjects It now affordeth the common Commodities of other parts of Italy which it also followeth in matter of Trade Accompts in Vrbin Their Accompts are here kept in Livres Sols and Deniers 12 Deniers making a Soldo and 20 Sols a Livre The Current Coins of this place are the Romaine and do as in most parts of these Italian Principalities partake one anothers Coins which passeth Current with some small distinction from one City to another Weights The weight is here the Pound and the Quintal being 100 l. which produceth in Venetia Suttle 112½ and Gross 72 l. and hath produced in London 77 l. Averdupois Measures in Vrbin Their Measure of length is the Brace the 100 Braces of Cloth in Venice rendring here 94 Braces and the 100 Braces of Silk rendring here 102 in 103 Braces which is in England Inches CHAP. CLXX Of Parma and the Trade thereof Parma and the Trade thereof PArma the chief City of this Principality affording the Commodities common with the rest of Italy doth over and above afford that excellent Cheese known through Europe by the name of Parmesane it is not noted for any eminency in Trade the greatest fame that of late it obtained was by being subject to that Alexander Farnese who was Duke thereof and made such a noise in the Netherlands during his Regency there to his Masters great Expence but to little purpose Accompts in Parma For Trade observe That their Accounts are kept in Livres Sols and Deniers 12 Deniers to the Sold and 20 Sols to the Livre which is Sterling The Coins current of Parma are Weights in Parma The Weight is the Pound of 12 Ounces and 100 l. to a Quintal which is in England about 60 l. and in Venice sotile Measures in Parma Their Measure is the Brace agreeing with the Brace of Florence and now to Placentia also subject to this Principality CHAP. CLXXI. Of Placentia and the Trade thereof Placentia and the Trade thereof PLacentia is a commodious City for Trade and seated properly to that end upon the River Po affording the ordinary Commodities of Italy but in nothing so famous as for the Fairs in Exchanges here quarterly hept to which place all Italy Germany and other Countries do make their Exchanges rather for the Fairs than for any Commodities wherein they intend to have the said Monies invested and for the Monies of the Country there is no account had therein thereof but only of that wherein the Exchanges is made which is called the Crown of Marque wherein only Bankers and Exchangers do keep the account of this City and of those Crowns Accompts in Placentia their Accompts are framed in Crowns Sols and Deniers of Marque as I have more at large treated of in several Chapters of Exchanges vide 276 and 382 and others following which by reason of the great concurrency I have there amply specified and to which I refer you Weights in Placentia The weight of Placentia is the Pound and 100 l. the Quintal which 100 l. is in Venice gross 66 l. Venice suttle 108 l. and by that computation in London suttle Pound 72 l. incirce Measures in Placentia The Measure is a Brace which is 27 Inches English in this Principality is Mirandola accounted of which a word passando CHAP. CLXXII Of Mirandola and the Trade thereof Mirandola and the Trade thereof MIrandola being a City also belonging to this Principality I thought good to insert in my way what I have observed in the Weights and the Measures thereof Weights The Weight of Mirandola is the l. 12 Ounces 100 l. whereof is a Quintal and found to be Averdupois 75 l. Measures The Measure is the Brace found to be 26½ Inches English and so much for Mirandole and now to Legorn therewith to finish the Trade and Commerce of Tuscany and of these petty Dukedoms CHAP. CLXXIII Of Legorn and the Trade thereof Legorn and the Trade thereof LEgorn is situated on a sandy Plain close to the Sea-side it hath an inward Mould where the Grand Duke of Tuscany's Gallies are kept and some small Vessels permitted to Ride and is accounted the strongest modern City in the Mediterranean Seas purchased not many years past for 120000 Ducates of the Genoese by the Duke of Tuscany who reedifying or rather building a new City to the old new fortified and walled the same giving safe Conduct to all Men of what quality and degree soever to live here so that at the first it was a Sanctuary for all Thieves Pirats Murtherers and wicked Rascals and because here was also granted a liberty in Conscience the Town was also stored with all Religions but as the City became populous and Merchants being granted a freedom in Customs the place became in a short time to be filled with Inhabitants and to add to these Immunities there were Dwellings for seven years given to any that would come hither to reside and all such should be free from all Arrests or Punishments for Acts committed in all other Countries of what nature soever they were found to be and by these means at first and since by the incouragement of the Great Duke of Tuscany it is become one of the principal Towns of Trade in all those Seas and is properly accounted the Scale of the Florentine Dominions In matters of Commerce it is ruled by Pisa and Florence which are the principal Cities of this Dutchy and which yield the Commodities that drives the Traffick of this place the principal Notes that I observed at my being in this place in several Voyages are as followeth Accompts in Legorn Their Accompts are kept in Livres Sols and Deniers 12 Denters to a Soldo and 20 Soldo accounted to a Livre which is Nine Pence Sterling Coins in Florence Their Monies are those of Florence which current is the Ducate of 10½ Julios or of seven Livres which is five Shillings three Pence Sterling and a Scudo or Crown of Gold is 7½ Livres and one Crown of Gold in Gold or as they say De Oro in Oro is 8 Livres Also Note That 12 Craches make a Livre which is 9 d. 8 Craches make a Julio which is 6 d. Sterling 5 Quadrins make a Crache â—0 Quadrins a Livre 3 Quadrins make a Sol. Mote That the Craches are ½ Silver and the Quadrine Copper To bring Ducates of Florence of seven Livres the Ducate into
Genoua Their Measure of length is the Cane containing 9 Palms which 9 Palms have made 4 Braces of Florence and the Measure is for Silks and Stuffs but 10 Palms in Linen makes a Cane and is in Florence 4 Braces and the said Cane by observation hath made in Venice 3½ Braces of Cloth and 3 11 16 of Silk Braces and upon the 100 Palms have been made these observations and to have rendred In London 27 Yards Anvers 34 Ells. Frankford 43  Dantzick 23¾  Vienna 30½  Lions 21 Aulns Paris 19  Rouen 18  Lisbon 20¾ Vares Sevil 28  Madera 21  Venice 37 Braces Lucca 41 1 20  Florence 42  Millan 47  1 Cane is in Barcelona 1⅗ Canes 9 Palms in Genoua is in Florence 1 1 16 Canes 1 Cane in Genoua is in London 2⅞ Yards Note that it hath been observed that five Palms hath made almost an Ell English or 25 Palms 6 Ells and ½ and 100 Palms thus is 26¼ Ells and 50 Yards have made here 17 Canes Of Corn. Corn is here sold by the Mine whereof 64 make the 100 Saches at Pisa and 100 Mines make 137½ Staios in Venetia and the Mine pays 6½ Sols for Custom in Genoua and weighs 170 l. and half a Mine is called a Corno the quarter of Harwich measure hath made here 2½ Mines but the London quarter not so much Of Oil. Oil is sold by the Barrel 7½ Barrels making a Neapolitan But called here Botta dimena Of Wine Wine is sold by the Meserole and 5 Meseroles is a Botta dimena and 2 barr make 1 Meserole which is also 100 Pints so that 500 Pints of Wine make a Botta dimena All Goods entring into Genoua pays for Consolato of the River 6 Deniers per Livre and is by the Buyer according to the price bought if a Contract be not made with the Seller for discharging of it And he that Lands Commodities here in his own name and cannot make sale thereof hath had formerly leave to carry the same out again without paying any Charges but this Privilege is now disannulled Many Silk Fabricks are here made common with all Italy the principal being Velvets watred Chamlets c. sold by the Pound weight as is usual through Italy Exchanges This City is famous for the Exchanges here practised as doth more fully appear in the Chapter of the Exchanges here in use vide Chapter 279 and so forward where all Circumstances are inserted And now to Lucca CHAP. CLXXV Of Lucca and the Trade thereof Lucca and the Trade thereof LUcca is the principal City of this Republick and is pleasantly seated on the River Serchio in compass about three Miles in a Plain the Walls being adorned with Trees make the City appear to the Travellers to be in a Wood till approaching near the Bulwarks give testimony of her strength and that these Trees are planted on the Walls where the Citizens in Summer walk for shade It doth wholly consist upon the Fabricks here made of Silk such as is Damasks Satins Tassaties c. which hence is vended in Forein Countries which are all sold by the Pound weight according as it is accustomed in Italy and as for other matters in Trade what I observed in 1619. is thus Accompts in Lucca Their Accompts are kept divers ways some in Livres Sols and Deniers of Picoli as in Florence 12 Deniers to a Sol and 20 Sols to a Livre some again in Crowns Sols and Deniers of Gold of Livres 7½ per Crown accounted by 12 and 20 as is abovesaid but Silks are sold by so many Ducates the Pound so that to reduce Ducates into Crowns the number of Ducates is to be multiplied by four and divide the Product by 71 adding what may rest with the Ducates and they shall be Crowns of 7½ Livres Note that to bring Ducates of Florence or as they term them Piastres of seven Livres the Ducate into Crowns of Gold of Florence of 7½ per Crown divide by 15 and subtract the Quotient from the sum divided and the remainder is the demand Again to bring Crowns of Gold of Florence of 7½ into Ducates of 7 Livres divide by 14 and the Quotient added to the sum divided will answer your desire Again to bring Livres of Lucca into Crowns of Lucca or Ducates of Florence take the sum of Livres and add as many more unto them the Product being divided by 15 then the same are Crowns of Lucca of 7½ Livres I say Livres for Crowns and Ducates of Florence of 7 Livres per Ducate for that the Crown of Lucca and Ducate of Florence are all one in value but in the Livre of Lucca and in that of Florence is some difference because the Livre of Florence is 7½ per cent greater than that of Lucca Note also that 75 Bolonins make a Florence Ducate of 7 Livres and 79 Bolonins make a Lucca Ducate by which they account in sale of Silk The Crown is commonly thus charactered C. The Piastre or Ducate is thus D. The Livre is thus L. The Sol is thus and the Denier d. Monies in Lucca Their Monies common is that of Florence Current called Bolonini the Crown of Gold is 7 Livres 10 Sol in Picoli as at Florence The Ducatoon is worth 7 Livres and is called the Crown of Silver but the Exchanges are made by Ducatoons Sols Deniers as more fully doth appear in the 283 Chapter of Exchanges practised in this City to which in that particular I refer you Weights in Lucca They have in Lucca two weights one of the Ballance weight whereby all Goods are bought and sold and the other whereby Merchants do pay the Customs wherein is about 12 per cent difference The Ballance pound is 12 ounces 100 l. whereof hath made in Lins 72½ l. The Customers pound is also 12 ounces 100 l. thereof hath rendred in Lions by tryal 81 l. The Ballance 100 hath made in Florence 97 l. Measures in Lucca The Measure of Lucca is a Brace which is 23 Inches of London and two Braces hath made an Auln of Lions and upon this 100 Braces have been made these Observations that it rendreth In London 50 Ells. Antwerp 83⅓  Frankford 104⅙  Dantzick 69⅙  Vienna 72½  Lions 50⅚ Aulns Paris 47½  Rouen 43½  Lisbon 50 Vare Sevil 67½ Vare Madera 51½ Vare Venetia 90 Braces Florence 102 Braces Millan 115 Braces Genoua 240⅓ Palms Accompts of Sale of Silks in Lucca Silks have been thus sold in Lucca Damasks were sold at 4 Ducates and 18 Sold the Pound Sattins were sold at 4 Ducates and 14 Sold the Pound Rich Taffeta sold at 4 Ducates 16 Sols the Pound It is here to be noted That in Lucca there is paid ¼ more for the colours than for Blacks therefore the Custom is to add for the colours that are in the parcel ¼ to the Weight reducing them all
the inquisitive As for the general present Trade of this Country I shall comprise it with the Trade of the Netherlands in the 181 Chapter following The first Earldom accounted one of the Seventeen Provinces is Flanders so called peradventure à flando as lying open to the Winds divided into Imperialem Gallicam and Tâ—…tâ—nicam Gaunt The chief City of Trade therein is first Gaunt whose Wall is seven Miles in Compass the two Rivers of Scheld and Ley running through the same and makes in it 26 Islands which are joyned together by an hundred Bridges and had not her often Seditions ruinated her Beauties she might have been Queen of all the Cities of Europe and here John Duke of Lancaster was born commonly in Histories called John of Gaunt Bruges The second City is Bruges once the most famous Mart-Town of Europe where sundry Nations for many years kept both their Magazines and Factors for the sale and providing of all the principal Commodities of the World now much decayed of its former Splendour by reason of the removal of the English Merchant Adventurers and of other Nations to Antwerp about the year 1503. It is seated about three Leagues from the Sea upon a fair and deep artificial Channel filled with the Waters of all the neighbouring and adjoyning Streams and Fountains which Channels in this Country are very frequent by reason of the level of the ground in general which doth both further the Traffick of the Cities and enricheth the Inhabitants There is in this Country accounted four principal Sea-Ports which giveth entrance by Sea into this part of Flanders Dunkirk The first is Dunkirk the Inhabitants whereof do in times of War infest the Seas by the name of Freebooters and because most of their Wars are with the Dutch whom they account Hereticks the Jesuits and other the Romish religious rabblement of this place joyn with these Pirats and bestow thus the Charity of the ignorant Secular towards the Ruin and Rapine of their fellow Countrymen and Christians an evident testimony of the goodness and zeal of their devout Orders Possessed by the English and fortified Anno 1657 and 58. Commanded by Lockhart who published his Declaration as followeth Old Jacobus's at 15 Guilders The new ones or Carolus's 14 Guilders English Shillings 13 Stivers or Pence half Crowns 32 Stivers and 1 half Gold Spanish Pistols 11 Guilders Gold Rials 8 Guilders Gold Soveraigns 18 Guilders Gold double Ducates 12 Guilders Gold French Crowns 5 Guilders 10 Stivers or Pence Gold Hungary Ducates 6 Guilders Gold Albertine 7 Guilders 10 Stivers Gold Reinis-Guilders 3 Guilders 15 Stivers Gold Riders of Zealand 7 Guilders 10 Stivers The double ones and half accordingly Gold Flemish Crowns 4 Guilders 16 Stivers Italian Pistols 9 Guilders 12 Stivers Gold Crown of Liege 3 Guilders 10 Stivers Silver Ducatoons 3 Guilders 15 Stivers Flemish or sealed Pattacoons 3 Guilders Silver Lewis's 3 Guilders Holland Rix-Dollars 3 Guilders The half c. accordingly Cardicues of weight 1 Guilder French Testoons of weight 19 Stivers French Silver Franks or Livres of weight 1 Guilder 7 Stivers The half and quarter accordingly Flemish Shillings 7 Stivers and ½ the ½ Shilling accordingly Zealand Shillings 7 Stivers Flemish Stooters 2 Stivers and ½ Flemish ten Stuyvers 12 Stivers Flemish 5 Stuyvers 6 Stivers Flemish Stivers and marked pieces at 1 Stiver or 4 Farthings As also all Flemish and French Farthings are hereby declared to be good but those of Liege and all others for Bullion provided that no Man be obliged to take more of the said Flemish and French Farthings than after the proportion of five Pence in ten Shillings or six Guilders And whosoever shall presume either to pay out or receive the fore-mentioned pieces of Monies at higher rates than those here exprest shall forfeit the said pieces of Monies and four times the value thereof Scluse The second is Scluse seated at the Mouth of the Channel of Bruges commanding a fair Haven capable of 500 Sail of good Ships and is now subject to the States and was taken from the Arch-Duke Anno Dom. 1604. with whose welfare it cannot stand to suffer the King of Spain to enjoy any safe and large Harbour in those Seas or adjoining Coasts Nieuport The third Port is Nieuport famoused in these our days by the great Battle fought near it Anno Dom. 1600. between the Arch-Duke Albertus and the States the Victory being acknowledged to be gotten next under God by the Valour and Courage of the English and their valiant Commanders Ostend The fourth Sea-Port of this Country is Ostend which held out a Siege against the Arch-Duke of three Years and three Months which hath made it for ever famous to Posterity Lisle In this Country of Flanders properly belonging to the French and whose Language is therein still used is found the Cities of Lisle accounted the third Town of Traffick in all the Netherlands and to the Inhabitants thereof some infer the first Invention of laying of Colours with Oil of making of Worsted-Says and many other Stuffs which to this day are seen to come thence Next is Doway an University Tournay Then Tournay which was surprized and taken by our Henry VIII Anno Dom. 1513. to whom the Citizens paid 100000 Crowns for their Ransom and it was restored afterward to the French for the same 600000 Crowns and from him finally taken by Charles V. Besides these there are accounted in Flanders 35 Towns and 1178 Villages of lesseâ— note which I willingly pass over briefly as intending to comprehend the Trade thereof in a Chapter by it self Artois The second Earld om is Artois containing twelve Towns of consequence and 750 Villages the chief whereof is The Town of Arras whence our Tapestry and Cloths of Arras have had their Invention and first Original S. Paul Then Saint Paul the Earl thereof Lewis of Luxenburg played so often fast and loose with Lewis XI of France with Edward IV. of England and with Charles of Burgundy that he kept them for many Years at continual strife which Duke Charles at length requited with the loss of his Head and Earldom Heinault The next Earldom is Heinault comprehending 950 Villages and 24 Towns of Note Cambray The most eminent being Cambray taken by the Spaniards from the French by the Earl of Fuentes Anno 1595. accounted a Free Town Then Mons. Beauvais The next is Beauvais at a Pillar whereof begin all the ways leading into France made all of paved Stone by Brunhault the French Queen Namure The next Earldom is Namure containing 180 Villages and but 4 Towns of Note Namure is the Principal this Country hath for Merchandize great store of Grain of all sorts and is inriched with Mines of Jasper and all sorts of Marble and so abundant in Iron that it is incredible making the Inhabitants thereby both Wealthy and Laborious and it is found moreover to produce
a Coal wonderful in Nature as kindled by Water and quenched by Oil. Zutphen Zutphen is the next Earldom being only a Town seated on the River Issel of good strength taken from the Spaniard Anno Dom. 1590. at the Siege whereof was slain that Honourable Knight Sir Philip Sidney of whom was said Digna legi scribis facis dignissima scribi Scripta probant doctum te tua facta probum Thou writ'st things worthy reading and didst do Things that are even most worthy writing too Thy Works thy learning praise Thy Deeds thy goodness raise Holland The next Earldom is Holland in Circuit 180 Miles no part of which is distant from the Seas three Hours Journey and comprehendeth 400 Villages and 23 Towns Dort The chief whereof is Dort where Anno 1618. was held a National Synod against the Arminians Harlem Secondly Harlem where Printing was invented Thirdly Leyden an University consisting of 41 Islands to which there is passage partly by Boats but principally by 40 wooden Bridges and by 110 of Stone the rarity whereof being the first City of consequence I noted in these parts Anno 1625. I could not chuse then but admire and here in this Town is a Castle said to be built by Hengist the Saxon at his return out of England if their Stories may be credited Delph The next Town is Delph a place of Residence for the Merchant-Adventurers of England where I was Anno 1625 admitted into that Society whose Welfare I am bound to desire and whose Prosperity I wish may still increase and tho these Citizens have since upon some discontent forc'd them to remove to Roterdam yet considering the Town is composed altogether of Brewers and that Men so qualified are apt to forget themselves it may be imagined they have since slept upon it and would peradventure regain their Companies at a greater Charge than can by any but by their Wisdoms be imagined Alkmer The next is Alkmer famous for the Defeat which the Duke d'Alva received before it to his great Loss of Reputation and to this City's Honour Roterdam The next is Roterdam famous for the Birth of Erasmus and noted for Lovers of the English Traffck in giving lately free and worthy Privileges to the Merchant-Adventurers of England who from Delph lately removed hither to reside to the future Prejudice of those Brewers Amsterdam Lastly Amsterdam has now the Honour of all these Countries for matter of Commerce and Traffick it hath raised it self to that height of Trade by the Industry Policy and Wealth of the Inhabitants that 1000 Sail of Ships have been seen at one Tide to go in and out and as one of their own hath it Quod Tagus atque Hemus vehit Pactolus in unum Vere hunc congestum dixeris esse locum What Tagus Hemus and Pactolus bear You would conjecture to be heap'd up here Now for the Manner and Matter of their Traffick I shall note the same such as I have observed it at my Residency there in 1625 above-mentioned CHAP. CLXIII Of Amsterdam and the Trade thereof Amsterdam and the Trade thereof AMsterdam is now by the late Addition of the New to the Old a fair City strong and beautiful the River Tay flowing like a large and calm Sea on the North-side thereof and the River Amster of which and the Word Dam this City is named running from the South through three Lakes entreth this City and passing through it falleth into the River Tay on the North-side This Town doth consist of 5 principal Streets through which the Water doth run and are divided therewith in which Ships Barges and Boats of all kinds are found both to come and go continually either to lade or unlade which is not only beneficial to the Inhabitants but also commodious and beautiful The Trade of this City is much inlarged since the Passage of Antwerp was stopt and the Trade of the Inhabitants to the East and West-Indies occasioned by their Industry their Love to Navigation and not the least by a great Plenty of Moneys which they deliver out at easie rates at Interest as wanting Land or other means to put out the same to better Benefit nothing being loft them but Commerce and Navigation to imploy the same and of late days England and other neighbouring Countries are found to have their Estate going at Interest according to the Custom of the place which is 8 per cent whereas in their own Countries 4 and 5 per cent is as much as the same will yield them But for the Coins Weights and Measures as I observed them I shall here insert and refer the rest to the better experienced Accounts in Amsterdam They keep their Accounts as in Antwerp by which all these Parts were regulated in former times for what concerned Traffick Moneys of Amsterdam and all the Netherlands Their Moneys have also a Correspondency with Antwerp Coins but inhansed or debased as they see occasion by reason of their great yearly Disbursments and ordinarily the same is found to be as in the Account of Antwerp so as that their Livre or Pound which is twenty shillings Flemish may be accounted twelve shillings sterling Florins 6 make that Pound of 20 stivers per Florin Stivers 120 make a Pound of Gross 6 Stivers a Flemish shilling Stivers 5 are accounted as much as 6 d. sterling or 5 Sold Turnois Stiver 1 is a Sold Turnois A Gross is 6 Deniers Turnois Carolus gulden is 20 stivers 2 shillings sterling or 20 sols Turnois Besides these as the Current Moneys of the Countrey All Coins of Europe do pass here currently for their Value and are received and paid in Payments for Merchandise accordingly Weights of Amsterdam Their Weight is the Pound 100 whereof makes their Quintal which 100 or Quintal is held in London to be incirca 111 l. English yet some allege that the same truly calculated will not produce above 108 l. suttle and for the Concordancy see further Measures in Amsterdam Their Measure is the Ell which reduced to Yards English is found to be 134 Ells for 100 Yards of London and the 100 Ells of London are here 167½ Ells so that the 100 El◠here makes in London about 74 Yards or 60½ Ells incirca and 40 Flemish Ells make in England 24 Ells. Exchanges in Amsterdam In the Exchanges this place is governed by Antwerp rising and falling according to their present Occasions and the Value Current of their Moneys which is often inhansed and debased it being very frequently observed in this City and the rest subject to the Netherlands or to the United Provinces that when they have occasion of great Receipts they are decryed in value and raised again where they have occasions by their Wars or otherwise of great Disbursements according to which diversity of needful Occasions the Exchange of the place is observed to alter therefore therein cannot be prescribed any direct
the Netherlands and then the Trade of Flanders as at this day it is observed and found in obedience to the Archduke First then these Netherlanders or Dutchmen are of late years become notable Mariners and have undertaken and fortunately atchieved many dangerous and long Navigations every particular City having both many and great Ships belonging thereunto And in some places where Houses are dear and scarce I have seen whole Families live in Lighters and such Vessels wherein they eat drink and sleep and have their continual Habitation their Children like Water-Rats seen continually dabling in the Water of which Element for the most part their Country is subsistent They are accounted better for Northern Designs and Voyages by reason of their Country's cold situation than for Southern yet their late Trade to the East and West-Indies and their good Successes there demonstrate they can also accommodate themselves to the hotter Climates Their Trade is generally throughout the World in imitation of their Neighbours the English whose steps for many Years they have followed only in Turkey they have but small Traffick by reason their Countrey wants those Commodities that are fit and proper for that Empire such as Cloths Lead Tin the main Staple of the English Trade thither As for their Judgment in Traffick it is singular by reason their want of many Necessaries both for Back and Belly enforceth them to pry nearer into Commerce than other Nations that 〈◊〉 in a more fruitful and fertile Country and the easie Rates that Money is to be found at interest addeth some help to their Inventions They were few Years past accounted of a heavy and duller temper but the Italians who in foreseeing Wisdom and Providence would be throughout the World accounted for Promethei were by them made Epimethei as wise after the deed too late repenting For when they came first to settle their Trade in Flanders they took young Youths of that Nation to be their Cashters and to copy their Letters whereby they came to learn the Secrets of their Trade and afterwards to the Italians great Prejudice exercised it themselves and not contented therewith as it were thus depriving them of the Trade of Flanders but they follow'd them into Italy and there living as sparingly as they and dispersing themselves into sundry Provinces and principal Towns have given a great blow to their great Traffick in Italy and that which adds much to their Knowledge and Gain is that they covet still to buy all Commodities at the Well-head as Merchants say and where that Commodity hath its first original and where the same is cheapest and then transport them not so much to their own homes as elsewhere where the same is dearest and not shaming to retail any Commodity by small Parts and Parcels which both English Merchants and Italians disdain to do in any Countrey whatsoever by which means they are come now to that height that tho by nature they want all things yet by Industry and Merchandising they not only supply their own Defects but also many of their Neighbours Wants and Necessities as I could instance in sundry particulars Neither must I omit one Custom here used and not found I think elsewhere in the World that whilst the Husband sports idly at home their Women are oft-times seen to be the Merchants and in some Provinces here sail from City to City to compass their Affairs abroad as they for the most part are found to manage it at home for in their Shops they sell all and take account of all and it is no reproach to the Men to be never enquired after in these Businesses of Trade who take Moneys of their Wives for daily Expence and gladly so pass their time over in Idleness Now for as much as Bruges hath been the City where in time past this great Traffick was cohabitant it will not be amiss a little to look back upon it and those Times and see the Glory of it in its Lustre then and the Decay thereof in its Ruine now The ancient Staple of Bruges It is recorded by Jabobus Marchantius That Ludâ—vicus Crossus Anno 1323 granted a Staple to Bruges which his Son Malanus confirmed which Staple was a Privilege of staying all Forein Commodities in the place except the Seller and Bringer chose rather to return whence they caine The original of Burses of places of meeting for Merchants which in England is now termed the Exchange This City hath an eminent Market place with a publick House for the meeting of all Merchants at Noon and Evening which House was called the Burse of the Houses of the â—…tinct Family Bursa bearing three Purses for their Arms ingraven upon their Houses from whence these Meeting places to this day are called Burses in many Countries which in London we know by the name of the Royal-Exchange and of Britains Burse Fifteen Nations in the height of this Trade had each their several Houses or Colleges here namely the Merchants of England Scotland France Castilia Portugal Arragon Navar Catalonia Biscaia the Hans Towns of Germany as Lubeck Hamburg Rostock Dantzick Riga Revel and divers other Cities Then the Merchants of Venetia Florence Genoua Lucca Millan and others Now then these Nations having by this means each here a Residence supplied this City of Bruges with the particular Commodities of their Countries as first the Italians they brought Camlets Grograms Thread of Silk Silver and Gold and Cloths made thereof also Jewels Wines of Candia Allom Brimstone Oyls Spices and Drugs of all sorts which they had by their Trade of Egypt India Arabia and Grecia 2. The French brought Salt Wines White and Red Paper Linens and some Oyls The English Wool Lead Tin Beer and some Woollen Cloths for Veils for Women used in those days 4. The Scots brought Skins of Sheep and Conies and such like 5. The Spaniards and Portuguese brought Grain for Scarlet Die Gold Silver Raw Silk some Drugs and Spices 6. The Germans Danes and Pollacks brought Honey Wax Corn Saâ—…petre Wools Glass Furs Quick-silver Rhemsh Wines Timber for building and the like And 7. Flanders yielded to these Horse Cattel Butter Cheese Herrings and other Sea fish VVoolles and Linen Cloths Tapestry of great Beauty and Variety excellent Pictures and other Manufactures And by this great Concourse of Nations Flanders gave the name to all the Netherlands To increase yet this Trade Bruges Anno. 1414. got a Privilege That they who were Free of that City by Gift Buying Birth or Marriage should be free from all Confiscation of their Goods which exceedeth the Privileges of any other City in the Netherlands for those of 〈◊〉 having the like yet lose it upon any Force offer'd to the Prince This Trade thus continued till the year 1485. when it began to decay partly by the Narrowness and Unsafety of the Port of Sluce and the River leading from thence to Bruges and partly by the Fame of the large and commodious River Sceldis
respect of their great Prerogatives as in coining of Moneys and knowing no Lord but ruled by the Imperial Laws for which they acknowledge and pay a Contribution yearly to the Emperour whom they account their Protector and these are found to be about 60 in number Principalities The third are such as are held by inheritance by some Princes as are Heidelberg Vienna and others of which are accounted in this Empire incirca and may be called Principalities There is also found in this Empire conducing to Traffick besides the lesser four great navigable Rivers that enrich these Hans-Towns Imperials and Principalities communicating the Commodities of one City to another and at last to the Sea-Ports where the same is last of all vended into forein Kingdoms Danubius The prime whereof is Danubius which in running 1500 Miles doth receive above 60 navigable Rivers and disgorgeth it self into the Euxine or Black-Sea Rhyne The second is the Rhyne running 800 Miles through Germany and Belgia disgorgeth i◠self into the German Ocean Albis taking in Albis which is accounted navigable for 400 Miles and some others and is the third River of this Countrey Adera The fourth is Odera running 300 Miles in length issueth out in the Baltick-Sea Besides which there are many others of note as Weser Emse and others in themselves found to be great Rivers enriching divers parts of this Countrey tho far inferiour to the former East-Frisland Lastly this Empire is found to contain 20 large Provinces which by reason of my little Insight therein I will cursorily pass over and refer the same wherein I am defective to the better learned East-Frisland is accounted the first Province wherein are found the Cities of Oldenberg Ammerdam and lastly Emden which for its former eminency in Trade I cannot so slightly pass over without a word of the Trade thereof CHAP. CLXXXIII Of Emden and the Trade thereof Emden and the Trade thereof EMden hath been in times past of far greater Trade than now it is It was for some years the Seat of the English Merchant-Adventurers but the Civil Wars about Religion raised between the Citizens and their Count was in part the cause of the Decay of the Trade thereof This City lies in the utmost border of the Empire and only divided by the River Emse from the Netherland and by an Inland Sea from West-Frisland being one of those Provinces In Summer it is found a pleasant City but in Winter as if drowned in the Seas and all the Fields cover'd with Water makes it to appear as an Island in the Waters As for the Moneys current and Form of Accounts kept here by Merchants I omit that to the place of the Coins and Accounts of Germany in general but noted hereafter In the mean time it is to be observed that the Weights and Measures in use are these Weight of Emden The common Weight of Emden is the Pound of the Quintal or 100 l. makes in London Measure of Emden Their common Measure of Length is an Ell wherewith they measure Linnen Woollen and Silks in general the 100 whereof hath been observed to make in London 48½ Ells and the 100 yards of London to have made there about 162 or 163 Ells. Corn is here measured by the Werp 55 Werps make 10 Quarters of London or a Last of Amsterdam but 61 Werps is here a Last consisting of 4 Werps great of 15½ Barrels the Werp Westphalia Westphalia is next containing in it self a large Tract and producing those Acorns in abundance which feed their Swine and which affords those Gammons which are accounted so excellent a Dish The Northern part of this Country is Bremen wherein is found the Town of Breme as the principal then Clappenburgh Exenburgh belonging to the Duke of Saxony Then Collonia wherein is said to be the Bodies of the three wise Men which came from the East to worship our Saviour And this belongs to the Bishoprick of Collen Here is also Warendorp and some others belonging to the Bishop of Munster and Boport Engers Coblents and Triers belonging to the Bishop of Triers of the principal of which a word passando CHAP. CLXXXIV Of Breme and the Trade thereof Breme and the Trade thereof BReme is one of the Hans-Towns so called for the Freedom of the Traffick here practised strongly fortified five miles distant from the Sea the River Visurge serving to convey all Commodities hither as running through the City Ossenbridge near which lies that small but well known Town of Ossenbridge noted for the great quantities of narrow Linen Cloth that is hence conveyed to England and other Countries It is reported that in this City the Custom was first raised in swearing and inhansing new Comers by Bread and Salt and of infranchising them into their City by paying a certain Mulct or Fine in good Liquor to the rest of the Company which is now a general received Custom in all the Hans-Towns of Germany and become part of the Traffick thereof Weights of Breme The common Weight of Breme is the Pound of ounces the 100 l. whereof hath rendred in London pound Measures of Breme The common Measure for Length is the Ell which agrees with the Ell above mentioned in Emden But in Ossenbridge it is found that the 100 yards London make 84 Ells there incirea and the 100 Ells of London is here in Ossenbridge about 105 Ells. CHAP. CLXXXV Of Collen and the Trade thereof Collen and the Trade thereof COllen commonly for distinction called in Latin Colonia Agrippina is a very fair City whereto is found great Concourse of Merchants near to this City did Caesar with incredible Expedition make a Bridg over the River Rhyne near which the Town is at present situate which more terrified the barbarous Enemy than the Report of his Valour The Archbishop of this City is the second Especial Elector of the Empire and Chancellour of Italy Here ' us said are the Bodies of the three Wise-men which came from the East to worship our Saviour vulgarly called the three Kings of Collen whose Bodies were translated by Helena the Mother of Constantine unto Constantinople and from thence by Eustorfius Bishop of Millan transported to Millan finally brought hither by Rinoldus Bishop of this place Weights of Collen The common Weight of Collen is the Pound of the 100 l. whereof hath been observed to have made in London 110 l. Measures of Collen The common Measure of Length is the Ell here in use the 100 Ells whereof have been observed to make in London 60 Ells. Exchanges of Collen Here are great Exchanges practised in this City as proper and fit thereunto by reason of the rich Bankers and Merchants that are found here to reside the which I have largely declared in Chap. 290. of Exchanges of this place in the end of this Work wherefore it will be here needless to insert the same
hereof in Frankfort and Heidelberg with which it is found to accord Measures of Lipsick Lipsick hath two Measures one for VVoollen and the other for Linen 14 per cent difference For the 100 Yards of London doth make in VVoollen Commodities 100 Ells and in Linen 140 Ells. Accounts and Exchanges of Lipsick The Merchants here account by Marks of 32 gross and the gross being 12 heller but they exchange by Florins of Breslow 30 to have posito in Noremberg 32 Florins and in Vienna 34 Florins CHAP. CXCVIII. Of Wittenberg and the Trade thereof Wittenburgh and the Trade thereof WIttenberg is seated on a plain sandy Ground accounted an University wherein they proverbially say A Man shall meet nothing but Whores Scholars and Swine which shews that the Inhabitants have little Trade as living for the most part by the Students and peradventure by the Flesh of Swine and Women but by what Weight and Measure the same is propertioned to them I am to seek therefore refer the same to the next Merchant that shall have occasion to make his Observation thereupon CHAP. CXCIX Of Dresden and the Trade thereof Dresden and the Trade of Saxony DResden is a fair Town and strongly fortified in which the Elector of Saxony keeps his Court it is famous for the magnificent Stables and Armories which the Duke keeps here in a continual readiness the River Elve divides the Town into two parts the new and the old which is very strong both by Art and Nature and accounted the strongest modern City in Germany the Inhabitants are much addicted to Trade and the River doth much further their Endeavours but Nature affording them a rich Soil takes away much of their edg for it is ever found that the barren Soil affords the Inhabitants the greatest encouragement Their Weights and Measures are Weights of Saxony Dresden Misen and all Saxony are found to have three VVeights and the 100 l. of London made of Zigostatica or the Princes weight 96 l. of 16 ounces made 92 l. of Merchonts weight of 16 ounces and 144 l. of the common weight of 12 ounces Measures of Saxony Their Measures of Length are two agreeing with Lipsick above-mentioned on which I need not further insist Brunswick Brunswick is the eighteenth Province wherein is Brunswick the principal City secondly Wolfiabolt where the Duke commonly resideth thirdly Alberstade then Lunenberg and some others of less note CHAP. CC. Of Brunswick and the Trade thereof Brunswick and the Trade thereof BRunswick comprehends in one five several Cities and is a Free Imperial Town strongly fortified in some Places with two and in others with three Walls and incompassed with the River Ancor the Inhabitants are found addicted to Trade in the Morning but their Intemperance at Night takes away all Thoughts thereof they are great Husband-men the Earth answering their Labours which yields them Plenty of Corn both for their own and their Neighbours Wants the Earth yielding them rich Reward to their Labours and their Afternoons hours spent in Good-fellowship makes me imagine there may be some Trade amongst them which in particular I permit the Reader in silence to conceive CHAP. CCI. Of Lunenburg and the Trade thereof Lunenburg and the Trade thereof LUnenburg is a Free Imperial City over which the Duke of Lunenburg challengeth a Superiority it is found to be fairly built of Bâ—ick and well and strongly fortified for its Safeguard and Defence with deep Ditches and thick Mud Walls Salt Fountain in Lunenbur It is most famous for the natural Fountain of Salt here found over which is built a spacious House that contains fifty two Rooms and every Room hath eight several Cauldrons of Lead wherein is boiled eight Tun of Salt daily the Profit whereof is divided into three several parts one part to the City one to the Duke of Lunenburg and another to a Monastery and some other adjoining Earls their Trade is not otherwise of very great consequence Hassia The nineteenth Province is Hassia wherein are found the Cities of Dormstade Marburg an University and some others Veteravia Veteravia is the twentieth Province wherein are the Cities of Friburg Hanau Dullinburg Nassau Catzenbogen and some others of lesser note CHAP. CCII. Of Friburg and the Trade thereof Friburg and the Trade thereof FRiburg is of round Form inviron'd altogether with high Mountains Silver Mines of Friburg having within it many Vaults and Caves to go under ground through which the Citizens go out of the City by night to work in the Silver-Mines found in those adjoining Hills and at certain hours are called back by the Sound of a Bell their Work is for the most part by night and their Rest is by day and their Residence is noted to be more under ground than above in their Houses the Profits thereof belong half to the Citizens and half to the Elector to whom the Country appertaineth Weights of Friburg The Weight in use in Friburg is the Pound of which are made three several Quintars one of 100 l. another of 120 l. and a third of 132 l. agreeing with Frankfort Heidelberg and Lipsick as before Measures of Friburg The long Measure is the Ell which is inches London In this Tract are also comprehended the three Imperial Cities of Stoad Hamburgh and Lâ—beck which acknowledging no Sovereign being Free and Hans-Towns I shall here touch and first of Stoad CHAP. CCIII Of Stoad and the Trade thereof Stoad and the Trade thereof SToad is an antient City and one of the Free Cities of the Empire and one of those Sea-Towns which from the Privilege of Trassick with their Neighbours are called Hans-Towns it is commodiously seated for Traffick upon the River Elve in which Stream they maintain certain Buoys to guide the entring Ships the English Merchant-Adventurers had for a while their Residence here forced thereto by the discourteous Usage of the Hamburghers and before their Arrival this Town was so poor that they sold the Privilege of Coining Moneys and some other such Rights to Hamburgh by whose Company they grew rich not without the Envy and Impoverishment of the Hamburghers who often attempted tho in vain by Naval Force to forbid the arrival of the English at Stoad whom as they had griev'd having their Seat with them as well by Exactions as prohibiting them the free Exercise of their Religion so then having seen and smarted for their Error they never left till partly by fair means and partly by Threats they labour'd their Return which afterwards was performed and where at this day they hold their principal Court and Residence The present Trade of Stoad is but small depending much upon the Privilege they have in Pre-emption and choice of the Rhenish Wines passing by their City They keep their Accounts by Pounds Shillings and Pence but they have Grashes Ortals and Dollars as I shall shew hereafter Coins of Stoad
which they have since fully performed to the great Encouragement of such as shall follow them CHAP. CCXVI Of Norway and the Cities thereof Norway and the Trade thereof NOrway is bounded on the North with Lappia on the East with the Dofrine Mountains on the other parts with the Seas The chief Commodities of this Country are Stock-Fish Rich Furs Train Oyl and Tackling for Ships as Masts Cables Deal-board Fir and the like Towns are here thin and the Houses therein poor and miserable Nidrosia The chief of those that are is Nidrosia the Archbishops Seat of Norway Iceland and Groenland Bergen one of the 4 antient Marts of Europe The second is Bergen one of the four ancient Mart-Towns of Europe the other three being London in England Novograde in Moscovia and Bruges in Flanders and all these but London are decay'd for this Bergen hath yielded to Wardhouse Novograde by reason of the Charge of Navigation through the Baltick into the Northern Passage hath given way to St. Nicholas and Bruges being deprived of her Traffick by Antwerp it is now also removed to Amsterdam for the Hollanders by blocking up the Haven but especially by keeping of Bergen up Zome have such a command over the River that no Vessel can pass or repass without their License Finmarch But to proceed Finmarch also appertaineth to this Kingdom and both to the Dane the chief Cities are Saman secondly Hielso both Sea-towns Woodhouse but the principal is Wardhouse seated in the very Northern End of all the Country being a Town of little Trade but great Concourso of Shipping that this way are bound for Moscovia which must needs touch here and it is so called as seated in a little Island called Ward Weights of Bergen In Bergen in Norway the Common Weight is a Pound the 100 l. of London hath been found to make here 92 l. but weighing with a Sling as they do is found to be very uncertain The Measure is The particulars of the Trade of this Country here necessarily to be handled I am inforced to omit by reason of my Ignorance therefore intreat the better experienc'd to supply my Defect therein CHAP. CCXVII Of Swethland and the Trade thereof Swethland and the Trade thereof SWethland is bounded on the East with Moscovia on the West with the Dosrine Hills on the North with the Frozen Seas and on the South with the Baltick Seas Commodities of Sweden The Commodities that this Country affordeth for Merchandize are Lead Copper and Silver drawn out of their Mines and it aboundeth also with Hides of Bucks Goats and Oxen Tallow Tar Malt Barly Rich Furs and the like It containeth five Provinces Lappia Bodia Finland Gothland and Sweden of all which a word Lappia In Lappia I find not any City of note being cold and comfortless Bodia In Bodia are the Towns of Vireis and Helsinga Finland In Finland are many strong Towns populous and rich Albo and Narve both of great Strength also those two strong Cities of Veburg and Ruiallia which cost the Swebes 100000 Crowns yearly the keeping by nature defending his own and offending his Enemies Territories Gothland In Gothland stands the chief City of this Kingdom Stockholm seated in the Waters after the manner of Venice and the Residence of the Swedish King next Lodusia a Town of great Traffick then Waldburg and Colmar two impregnable Cities Sweden In Sweden are the chief Cities of Upsal a Bishoprick Nicopea a Sea-town of good Strength and Copperdole most famous for its abundance of Brass which is here in such plenty that there are found 400 Brass Pieces in the Castle of Stockholm under which I will comprehend the Trade of Sweden CHAP. CCXVIII Of Stockholm and the Trade thereof Stockholm and the Trade thereof BEcause I intend upon the general Trade of Estland to handle some particular Cities belonging to the Crown of Sweden therefore I shall be the briefer upon the Trade of this City of Stockholm the Metropolis of this Kingdom Stockholm then being the Residence of this King whose Arms of late were so prevalent in Germany is accounted famous in these Northern Regions for the great Concourse of Merchants and Traffick here daily practified seated in watry Marshes after the manner of Venice and supposed to be built upon Piles and therefore bears in their Language some Construction thereof which not improperly may bear in our ancient English the same sense It is situate in part upon the Lake of Meller and in part upon the East-Sea out of which the great Trade of Shipping to this place doth come and enter by a deep and narrow Channel spacious and commodious for Ships of the greatest Burthen but the Fort of Waxholm on one side of the Passage and the Fort of Digne so fitly seated opposite to the same in the narrowest of the Gut and Streight command the whole Channel and guard the Lake and City and no Vessel is suffered either to go in or out but here have their Congé and Admission It is besides fortified with a strong Castle wherein are found for the Defence thereof 400 Pieces of Brass Artillery and for the Beauty thereof it is adorned with many goodly private and publick Buildings the King's Palace being more renowned for its Antiquity than the stately Structure thereof Commodities of Stockholm The Commodities for Transportation found in this City are principally Iron Steel Copper Wire all sorts of Grain Lead and other Minerals also Honey Wax Tallow Hides brought from Mosco and the like which is hence dispersed into all parts of these Northern Climates Coins current in Swethland The Moneys generally current throughout the Kingdom of Sweden is the Dollar which is divided into Marks and 8 Marks make a Dollar and this Mark is divided into Clippings so that two Clippings make a Mark and a Clipping is accounted for 9½ Stivers Flemish and by this Dollar they exchange with other neighbouring Countries and it is valued in sterling Money at Weights of Stockholm The Weight in use here is the Pound and the 100 l. of London hath produced here 116 l. They have here also two Ship-pounds one proper to this Place which is 320 l. of this Weight and the other is 340 l. The proper Ship-pound of Dantzick is 34 Stones as in the Chapter of Dantzick appears and this Quintar or Pound is found to agree with Narva Riga Revel Danizeck and some Towns of Trade in the Baltick Sea Measures of Stockholm The common Measure of Length here used is the Ell and is the same in all Sweden except some principal Towns of this Tract hereafter noted and the 100 Yards of London doth produce 1â—â—½ Ells but note That in Barrow in Sweden this Ell is found to be very uncertain for the Bigness of a Man's Head is measured about with a Rope and this they account for an Ell so that here a great Head
may be some benefit to a Merchant for by this Rule the greatest Loggerhead shall have consequently the largest Measure Of Corn. Corn is here sold by a Measure called a Loop 23 Loops make a Last in Amsterdam or 10 Quarters in London CHAP. CCXIX. Of Moscovia and the Trade thereof Moscovia and the Trade thereof MOscovia is bounded on the East with Tartary on the West with Livonia Lituania and part of Sweden on the North with the Frozen Ocean and on the South with the Caspian Sea the Turks and Palus Mâ—…otis Commodities of Moscovia This Country affordeth for Merchandise Furs of many sorts Flax Hemp Whales-grease Honey Wax Canvas Ropes Cables Caveare Astrican Hides Tallow Raw-hides and Bulgars Famous Rivers of Moscovia The many Rivers that are found to be in this Country do much further Trading in general Fâ—st Tanais which disburtheneth it self into Palus Moeotis Secondly Dunia which entreth into the Scythian Seas at the Abby of St. Nicholas where our English since the Discovery of the Northern Passage use to land and disperse themselves into all parts of this vast Empire Thirdly Boristhenes that entreth into Pontus Euxinus Fourthly Onega which openeth it self into the Balâ—…k Sea And lastly Volga which with no less than 70 mouths disgorgeth it self into the Caspian This Empire is divided into nine principal Provinces which together with the chief Towns thereof I shall only touch Novograde Novogradia is first the chief Town being Novograde seated on the Dunia and once one of the four ancient Mart-Towns of Europe now of late decayed since the Discovery of the new Passage unto the Town of St. Nicholas by the River Obye. Plescovia Plescovia is the second wherein is the City Plescove the only walled City in Moscovia and yet of no great Eminence Veladomira Valadomira is the next having also a Town of that Name Rhesen Rhesen is the fourth wonderful plenty in Corn that neither can Birds fly nor Horses run through it for thickness the chief Town Rhesen was the Metropolis of Russia it is the first part of Moscovia abounding in Grain Honey Fish and Fowl without number Servia Servia is the fifth the chief Towns are Staradab and Pativola Permia Permia is the sixth the chief City â—s Sickwiardley abounding in Stags Candora Candora is the seventh Petrosa Petrosa is the eighth in both these Countries the Inhabitants do live under ground and have for half the year together perpetual Day and the other half perpetual Night as situated beyond the Arctick Moscovia Moscovia is the ninth Mosco and so named of the principal City Mosco being about five miles round having therein 16 Churches of which the one half are made of Wood and Dirt as most of the Houses are the Emperours Palace standeth in the midst and is fortified with 3 Bulwarks and 17 Turrets continually guarded with 25000 Souldiers This is the most populous Province of all this great Empire for it extendeth 2000 miles in Length Smalensko Besides these there are yet some petty Provinces wherein are found the Towns of Smalensko then Toropiers next Colopigrod Landiskron and some others of lesser note which I willingly omit till my Observation be better The Trade of the English was begun here in the time of Queen Elizabeth of England and Basiliades King of this Country about the year 1575 and within 10 years after it was perfectly setled and because the Trade of Moscovia is confined to a small Circuit in these vast Dominions it will not be improper that I comprehend the same under the Title of the Metropolis of this Kingdom Mosco CHAP. CCXX Of Mosco and the Trade thereof Mosco and the Trade thereof MOsco is the Metropolis of all this large Kingdom to which the Emperour some years past repair'd most fit for the Government of so large an Empire as accounted the midst of all his Dominions It is pleasantly seated on the River Mosca running into Tanais where it loseth its name and passing Assaw disgorgeth into the Palus Meotis and so into the Euxinus About fifty years past it was esteemed ten miles in circuit and in its height of Greatness then burnt by the Tartars wherein 80000 Persons were consumed and since reduced to five miles compass beautified with 16 Churches some of Stone some of Timber and Earth and with the Palace of the Great Duke situate in the very Heart thereof enriched with the Branches of two Rivers for Use and Ornament which water two strong Forts that defend the place St. Nicholas At the Abby of St. Nicholas the Patron of this Country upon the River of Dunia or Obby the English Merchants use to land and thence disperse themselves to Smalensko Novograde hither and into all other parts of this vast Empire amongst whom they find kind entertainment and by the Favour of the Prince have larger Immunities granted unto them than to any other Nation their trafficking attributed to the never dying Fame of Queen Elizabeth in whose days the Trade was here first settled and to the plausible Behaviour of the English Merchants in general Accounts in Moscovia The Merchants here are observed to keep their accounts in several manners some as the English by Rubbles and Pence or as the Inhabitants term them Muskofkins 200 whereof making a Rubble which is accounted two Rix Dollars Some again as the Dutch and other Nations by Rubbles Grevens and Muskofkins or Pence accounting 20 pence to a Greven and 10 Grevens to a Rubble which is most in use here this Rubble being found an imaginary Coin and not real Coins current in Moscovia The Current Money here is a Capeck in value a Stiver Flemish and somewhat more than as English Penny for 10 Capecks is a Greven which the English call 12 pence sterling because that 10 Grevens is a Rubble which is 10 shillings sterling Three Capecks they call an Altine by which name all Receipts and Payments are made in bargaining and Contracts 33 Altius and 1 Capeck making a Rubble Exchanges of Archangel At Archangel is sound practised amongst the Merchants an Exchange for Moneys rising and falling according as the Russ Moneys are observed to be plentiful or scarce the English sometimes among themselves giving 11 shillings and 11 shillings 6 pence sterling in England for the Rubble here and the Moneys commonly taken there in August to be paid in London the last of December following Weights of Moscovia The Weight of Moscovia common in use is the Pood for fine Goods and the Bercovet for gross Goods the one being derived from the other By the Pood is weighed Silk Bever-wooll Yefts c. and is accounted for 40 l. Russ weight and 3 Pood hath been observed to make 112 l. English which by this computation should make 37â…“ l. Averdupois and all Goods there bought by the Pood is 10 per cent Loss in England By the Bercovet is weighed
many times relieve fruitful Provinces in time of casual Dearth into which Granaries under a great Penalty no Man may carry either Fire or Candle lighted by a Law enacted amongst them The City is compassed with one Wall yet contains three several Cities governed by three distinct Senates out of which one chief Senate is chosen to govern the whole City and according to the Roman Superstition they have St. George for their Protector whose Red Cross they carry in their Flags as doth also England Genoua in Italy and the Island Saio in the Arches the City is seated about one English mile from the Baltick Shore the Port being call'd Dermind where the Ships of Burthen do ride to lade and unlade their Commodities and the City being acknowledged a Free Town is permitted to coin Moneys which as I find observ'd I shall note here together with the Weights and Measures here in use Accounts in Dantzick Their Accounts are kept here in sundry manners the common being by Polish Guilders of 30 Gross and 12 d. to a Grosh But Merchants buy Commodities here by the great Mark of 60 Gross and by the lesser of 15 and also by the Dollar of 35 Gross of 3 Stivers the Grosh Coins current in Dantzick Their Moneys current being thus accounted 1 great Mark is 2 Polish Guilders 1 Polish Guilder is worth 2 lesser Marks 1 lesser Mark worth 15 Grosh and the Grosh 18 d. Besides which they coin Hungarian Ducats of Gold as they do in Poland and they have 2 Coins in Gold called a Milres and half a Milres each Milres is 3 Dollars and 2 Soslins 36 Polish Grosh are here a Dollar Weights of Dantzick The Weight in use here is the Pound for fine Goods the 100 l. in London making here 116 l. Besides which they have a Skip pound and a Lis-pound thus distinguished 16 Mark pound are a Lis-pound and 20 Lis-pound make a Skip-pound by the small Stone of 24 l. for Spices c. But they have also a great Stone to weigh gross Wares as Flax Wax and the like of 34 l. whereof 10 l. to the Skip-pound of 340 l. Measures of Dantzick The Measure for Length of this City is the Ell the 100 whereof makes in London about 49 Ells and the 100 yards of London do here make 162 or 163 Ells incirca The Measure of Beer is the Fat which contains 180 Stoops and is accounted 81 Stoops of Antwerp The Measure of Corn here is the Last which contains 61 shepels 56 whereof make a Last in Amsterdam or 10¼ Quarters of London 4 shepels make a Mud which is the Ship-pound before-mentioned of 34 l. Accounts in Estland Merchants for the most part throughout all Estland are found to keep their Accounts in Floriâ—… or Guilders and in Groshes and Deniers accounting 12 Deniers to the Grosh and 20 Grosh to the Guilder or Florin CHAP. CCXXV. Of Elbin and the Trade thereof Elbin and the Trade thereof ELbin a small yet a fair City and of late days compassed with Walls grown great and large by the Trade and Residence of the English Merchants who since upon some Grievance and Discontentment are hence removed In this City lies the Gross of the Trade of Prussen especially for all the gruff Goods of that Dukedom it once appertained to the Testonick Knights but now to the Kings of Poland and whom for the present the Citizens acknowledge for their Protector and otherwise it yields him but little Obedience being of it self a Free City from this City towards the North-east is a Channel that runneth up to Conixburg the Seat of the Dukes of Prusland by which all Commodities are transported and conveyed from one to the other Weights of Elbin The Coins current and the manner of their Accounts here kept I have touch'd before and the Weight in use here is the Pound 40 whereof make a stone and 10 stone of 40 l. make the Ship pound which is 400 l. and is 350 l. of their great Weight and the 100 l. of London hath been found to make here 120 l. The Last of Wheat is here accounted for 5200. Measures of Elbin The Measure of Length in use here is the Ell and the 100 yards of London are found to make here 163 Ells. There are also in this Tract found for eminent Cities of Trade Conixburg Stetin Straelsond Reuel Riga of which a word or two and first of Conixburg CHAP. CCXXVI Of Conixburg and the Trade thereof Conixburg and the Trade thereof COnixburg vulgarly called Queensburg and in Italian Mount Royal is the Metropolis of this Dutchy seated upon an Inlet of the Baltick Sea and washed with the pleasant River Fiegol it is found to have an Academy for Sciences and well stored with Merchants from all the Northern parts of the World and here the Merchants of Prusen keep their Factors for the vending of their inland Commodities Upon this shore is also found in some quantity that excellent Amber which the Inhabitants call Berstein which in English may be translated the Burning Stone of which some Writers make three sorts the first coming from certain Gummy Trees the second made by Art of Gold and Silver and other ingredients and the third this sort coming naturally from the bottom of these Seas which for six Months are frozen up and deny the Sea-man and Merchant the use of Navigation Weights of Conixburg The Monies and Accounts here in use are mentioned before and the common Weight used amongst Merchants is the Stone containing 40 pound and 10 Stone makes a Ship pound of 400 pound and the 100 l. Averdupois of London doth yield here about 120 l. or 112 l. besides which they have also the Ship pound of Dantzick in use for some Commodities of 350 l. but this Weight is to be avoided by the Strangers as being ever accounted too favourable to the Citizens Measures of Conixburg The common Measure of length is the Ell here for all Commodities measureable the 100 Yards of London hath made here by Observation 166½ incirca And thus much shall suffice to have said of this City from whence proceeding I come next to Rhiga and Revel two eminent Cities in this Tract CHAP. CCXXVII Of Rhiga and the Trade thereof Rhiga and the Trade thereof RHiga is the principal City of Livonia or Lissland seated near the Embosure of the River Dunia strengthened with an exceeding strong Wall many Ordnance to desend it against all Enemies and bordering upon the Lissland Sea it was formerly the chief residence of the Teutonick Knights and then and now reinforced by the Garrison of Dâ—…mund accounted one of the impregnable Forts of this Northern Climate where all Ships entring are searched and pay a certain Toll or Duty the Inhabitants curious for the preservation of their Liberty acknowledge the King of Poland for their Protector to whom they pay a yearly Contribution but else are governed by their
own ancient Laws and Privileges which they enjoyed from the Knights their old Masters at the resignation of this Country to that King Commodities of Rhiga The Commodities of this Country for Merchandizing and Exportation is Corn and Grain of all sorts Hemp Flax Honey Wax Rosin Tar Horses and all sorts of rich Furs as Martins Ermins Sables Bevers and the like not wanting any necessary for nourishment save Wine and Oyl which foreign Nations do bring them Weights of Rhiga The Weight in use is the Pound 20 pound whereof makes a Lis-pound and 20 Lis-pound makes a Ship-pound and 12 Ship pound being 4000 pound is accounted a Last of Rie both here and at Narva and the 100 pound of London hath been observed to make here 116 pound Measures of Rhiga The Measure is the Ell agreeing with the Ell in use in Kevel Conixburg and Narva 100 yards London making 160½ incirca Coins in Rhiga The Coins and Accounts differ not much here in value from the others before-mentioned yet found to differ in appellation for the Rix-Dollar and the Mark-Lups is here all one which makes two Swedens or common Marks and one Sweden is eight Lups-shillings one Lups is two Shillings one Shilling is twelve Pence and one Peny is two Hellers CHAP. CCXXVIII Of Revel and the Trade thereof Revel and the Trade thereof REvel is nothing inferiour for Trade to Rhiga situated on the North of the Balâ—… Seas famoused in these Northern Countries for the safety and commodiousness of the Haven it is well stored of Merchants that frequent the place for the Traffick of the Commodities thereof nominated in the aforegoing Chapter The Inhabitants stand much upon theâ— antient Privileges granted them by their old Masters the Teutonick Knights and acknowledging the King of Swedeland for Protector to whom they yield obedience the keeping of which cost him 100000 Crowns yearly as naturally defending his own and offending his Neighbours Territories This City in one thing hath a larger freedom than Rhiga and is the same as in Lubeck for coining of Moneys which they do four square yet are bound to stamp the same of the same worth and value as the current Coins of Poland therefore I shall not need further to insist thereupon Weights of Revel Their common Weight is a pound their Ship-pound is 400 l. and the 100 l. of London make here 116 l. Exchanges of Revel There is found some Exchanges practised in these parts by the Mark Swedens of 16 s. and by the Mark-Lups of 32 s. c. Measures of Revel Their common Measure of length is the Ell agreeing with that of Conixburg and Râ—… the 100 Yards London making by computation incirca 166½ Ells here Narva also seated 〈◊〉 this Tract agreeth in Weight and Measures with Revel therefore I shall not need to inâ—… further thereupon CHAP. CCXXIX Of Stralsont and the Trade thereof Stralsont and the Trade thereof STralsont lies also in this Tract and is found seated on the Baltick Sea opposite to the Island of Raugi where the late King of Sweden first landed in his Invasion of the Empire it is now subject to the Duke of Pomeran and in whose cause it hath endured long and streight Siege but being well and strongly fortified by suffering it overcame and 〈◊〉 now accounted a famous Mart in these Northern parts for Grain Pitch Tar Rosin Honey Wax Hides Tallow and the like Here passeth in Merchandize the Moneys of Norâ—… Denmark Sweden and Germany of all which I have spoken and the Duke hath also a pecular Coin which is stamped in equal value to the Imperial Dollar as above is said Weights of Stralsont The Weight of Stralsont is the Pound 10 whereof is accounted for a Stone and 16 for a Lis-pound and the 100 l. in London hath produced here about 88 in 89 pound Measures of Stralsont The Measure of length is the Ell and is found to agree with the Ell of Statin as is shewed hereafter Julin I must not here omit a word in memory of the antient City of Julin seated in the Dutchy and which once was the principal City of Trade in all this Sea for here the Vandâ—… Saxons Muscovites Polonians Swedes English Danes and Germans had their several Quartes of residency for Commerce and all the Commodities of these Countries were brought â—ither by these Nations It is noted that the Inhabitants were the last of all these Northern People that imbraced the Christian Religion by reason that being in the height of their prosperity perceiving the Gospel of Christ to thrive and increase in all their Neighbouring Territories strictly prohibited that no Stranger whatsoever here resident should embrace the same nor that any should as much as mention any new Religion unto them but in these latter days their great Traffick is lost and they are become Religious according to the Superstition of that Religion they use and since have suffered much by the vexation of the continual Waâ— of the Danes and appears now for the most part ruined where I leave it and pass thence to the next Town of Pomeran CHAP. CCXXX Of Stetin and the Trade thereof Stetin and the Trade thereof THIS Stetin is the capital City of Pomerania situate upon the River of Oder in a pleasant and delightsome Soil and carrieth in these Northern Regions that Renown that from hence the Dukes of Stetin in Pomerland have their appellations The City abounds in all Commodities for Merchandize that the Neighbouring Countries afford and of it self it yieldeth to Merehants the Commodities common to Prusen Sweden and Polonia For its defence it is strengthned on all sides with Ramparts Ditches and good Artillery the River of Oder is beaâ—tified with many useful and necessary Bridges the one whereof is purposely made to lead to the Granaries and Store-houses where the Corn and Grain either for Store or Exportation is laid up and where their Arsenals are seated in which their warlike Provision is kept and where Vessels of all sorts both for Sea and River is seen daily to be fabricated beside the several Churches and Colleges that adorn this City the Duke's Palace must be accounted as the principal Ornament built of that Art and Sumptuousness that it gives not place to the most excellent in Italy in fine Stetin is not to be accounted the least of the Hans-Towns and tho' the Prince be daily there Resident yet it proveth no way prejudicial to the Privileges thereof Commodities of Stetin The Commodities of this City are for Merchandizing such as all the East Country affordeth viz. Tar Pitch Rosin Honey Wax Hides Grain and all kind of Furs Weights of Stetin The Weight of this City is divided into two kinds derived from the Pound weight here in use the Quintar is accounted 112 l. of this place and that is the first and the second is the Stone which is also of two sorts as a
sold by a measure called the Liver and weigheth 7½ l 20 whereof is found to make a Candy Barrel which must hold 15 Gallons English which should be 112½ l. Averdupois Of Corn. Corn is here sold by the Bachel whereof 9 and ⅖ hath been noted to make in England 8 Bushels Winchester measure From Petras it will not be improper that I trace the Dalmatian shore and survey the Cities seated on the Maritime Coast and found in the Gulph of Venice purposely omitted in the Chapter of Dalmatia as more proper to this place and then proceed to the rest of the Grecian Provinces CHAP. CCXL Of Catarro and the Trade thereof Catarro and the Trade thereof THough in this Tract Rhagusa and Spalato be the principal Cities of Trade known to our Merchants of London yet now coasting this Dalmatian shore it will not be improper that I take a general view of such eminent Cities of note as are observable in this Tract the next of consequence being Catarro seated in a Gulph bearing the name of the City enjoying a commodious Harbour and safe from all Winds but not enjoying any great Trade by reason of the too near neighbourhood of Rhagusa yet the place doth afford for Merchandise which is Exported to Venetia and to other places in that Gulph Wax Honey Tar and Pitch or Rosin some Minerals or colours for Painters Tallow and Candles Cordovants and Sheep-skins Figs Almonds Nuts and some other Commodities for Victual Moneys in Catarro The Moneys here and generally throughout all this Coast are those current in the State of Venetia and the Dominion of the great Turk of which more is said in its due place Weights in Catarro The Weight here used is the Pound and the 100 l. here is in Venetia suttle 133 l. as hath been observed and may be about 90 l. English and the said Pound is 16 Ounces And the said 100 Pound of Catarro hath made in Sicilia 127 Pound and the 100 Pound of Sicilia hath made here 78 Pound and the gross Salmo of Sicilia hath made here 4 Stares the 100 Pound of Catarro hath been also observed to yield in Linsano and other parts of Pulia 117 Pound Measures of Catarro The Measures of Catarro are From Catarro I will take my passage to the next City neighbouring the most important being Sebenico CHAP. CCXLI. Of Sebenico and the Trade thereof Sebenico and the Trade thereof SEbenico is also found on this Shore and seated upon the River of Cherca abutting on the Gulph of Venetia and having a commodious Harbour lockt from all dangers of Winds by sundry small Islands Caprano and Standica being the principal Tina a fair City lies upon this River more into the Land which adds to the Trade of this place and were it not for the continual Piracy of Rovers upon this Coast and especially amongst these Islands the Trade thereof would doubtless increase daily and grow by reason of its commodious sicuation to a great height yet notwithstanding this difficulty it affordeth for Merchandise exportable Was Honey in great plenty Tallow Hides and Cheese excellent Oil of Olives and strong Waes Figs and some other Fruit. Weights of Sebenico The City of Sebenico is found to have two several weights commonly in use the one for the weighing of fine Goods and the other for gross Goods The first being called the suttle Hundred consisting of 100 Pound is in England 80 Pound Averdupois The second called the gross Quintar of 100 Pound doth also produce in London 128 Pound Averdupois Measures of Sebenico The measure of length in use is the Pico which is accounted to be about 23 Inches English and is about 10 per cent less than the Cloth Brace of Venice This Note hath been made between the weight of Venice and Sebenico 100 Pound suttle Sebenico is suttle in Venetia 120 Pound 100 Pound gross Sebenico is gross in Venetia 120 Pound 100 Pound suttle Venice is suttle in Sebenico 83 Pound 100 Pound gross Venice is gross in Sebenico 83 Pound 1 Pound suttle in Venice is in Sebenico 10 Ounces 1 Pound suttle Sebenico is in Venetia suttle 14 Ounces 2⅖ Sases And so leaving Sebenico I come to Scutary CHAP. CCXLII. Of Scutary and the Trade thereof Scutary and the Trade thereof SCutary is accounted the Metropolis of Albania and situated upon a Lake called the Lake of Scutary or Scodra through which the River of Boiano runneth and so to the Sea near the Gulph of Lodrin and includeth in the Gulph of Venetia but being now as the other Cities of this Tract in subjection to the Grand Seignior the Trade thereof is much decayed and City ruin'd from its ancient splendour and beauty yet the Industry of the Inhabitants doth afford some Silk also Wax Honey Hides Cordovants and some other Skins for Merchandise Weights of Scutary In Scutary is used two sorts of Weights a gross and a suttle the gross hundred of 100 l. is in England 108 l. incirca Averdupois by which all the gross Commodities are weighed and the suttle hundred by which all fine Commodities are weighed is English 64 l. and it hath been observed the 1000 l. suttle Venice hath made here gross 664 l. and the 1000 l. gross here in Scutary hath made in Venice 1600 l. Measures of Scutary The measure of length here in use is the Pico observed to accord with Venice thus The 100 Braces of Cloth hath made here 112 Pico and the 100 Braces of Silk in Venice hath made 106 Pico which in England must be accounted for 27 Inches Of Grain All sort of Grain is sold by the Stare not only in Scutary but also in Boiano seated on the mouth of this River and the 100 Stares make in Venice 66⅜ Stares which is in England accounting by this Computation every three Stares of Scutary to make two Stares in Venice And thus leaving Scodra with this short Survey with the applause due to it for its excellent situation and strength I hence pass to Valona or Avalona CHAP. CCXLIII Of Valona and the Trade thereof Valona and the Trade thereof VAlona is also a fair commodious City seated on the Shore between the Cape of Languetta and the Cape of Caurion and is opposite to the Cape of Otranto and accounted the entrance into the Gulph of Venice and though it be in subjection to the Turks who are not always found Friends to Traffick yet by the Industry of the Inhabitants it affords for Merchandise to be Exported Raw Silk Powder of Berry or Grain for dying of rich colours Wax Honey Rosin Cottons Carpets Cordovants some Salt fish which they call Sarrache and other such Commodies in good quantity Weight of Valona The Weight here is the Pound of which the Quintar is composed being 100 l. which hath been found to produce in England 88 in 90 l. Averdupois and hath made in Venice from whence I gather my
20 Mitigals of Gold is 3 Ounces English A Checquin Sultain or Hungar is 18 Killats or Charats Rotolos 3½ and 20 Drams in Aleppo is a Batman in Constantinople four hundred Drams making an Oak consisting of four Yusdromes or Pounds ten Ounces to the Yusdrome and ten Drams to the Ounce and hereby I have estimated near forty eight Drams to sixteen Ounces Averdupois Where note That here as in Aleppo several Commodities are sold by a several Oak as there by several Rotolo as the Oak of Saffron is here 120 Drems and no more and so in others Weights of Constantinople with other Countries Now having considered this weight in it self let us consider it as it is found to agree with other Cities of Trade which may best be done upon the 100 Loderos as the known Beam here the Oak and Batman and Rotolo being feigned and compounded thereof 100 Loders in Constantinople make in In Sergamo 160 l. In Cronia 163 l. London 120 l. and found by often trial but to be 117 and 118 l. Aleppo 242 â„¥ Ditto Silk Rot. 252 â„¥ Tripoli Suria 294 â„¥ Tripoli Barbaria 140 l. Baruti 236 â„¥ Alex. Zera 56  Alex. Forfori 125 l. Rhodes 22 â„ž Acria 196  Babylonia 168¾  Balsora 48â…“  Millan and Verona and Mantua 163 l. Lucca 157 l. Genoa 160 l. Florence 151 l. Venice suttle 176 l. Venice gross 112 l. Cairo 123 Rot. Cyprus 25½ Rot. Corfu 112 l. Larta and Cattaro 132 l. Rhagusa and Spallato 146 l. Messina gross 62 Rot. Sicilia suttle 69 Rot. Naples and Puglia 60 Rot. Ancona 148 l. Rome and Balonia 146½ l. Measures of Constantinople The measures of length in Constantinople used in Trade are three and are called Picos the first is the Cloth Pico four whereof hath been observed to make three Yards English and is about 26½ Inches and if heedfully noted twenty seven Inches very near The second is the Grogram or Chamlet Pico containing 24 Inches and observed to make 24 Pico 16 Yards English The third is the Linen Pico which is only the former doubled and note That in the measâ—ring here of all Commodities of length here is no allowance made nor given in courtesie as the Inch is Overplus in England but the said Picos are found to be made of flat Iron and to more allowance given than the thickness of the Pico at the end which commonly exceeds not the thickness of an English Shilling Corn measure Corn's sold by a measure Concave called the Killow and weigheth about 20 Oaks and it hath been observed that 8â…” of a Killow is a London Quarter and doth make a Salmo in Legern and 5 Killows in Zant make 6 Bushels English Wine and Oil. Wine and Oil and almost all liquid Commodities is sold by a Meter which makes 8 Oaks and is accounted â…” of a Gallon English Note That in Constantinople all Fuel to burn Fruit Fish Flesh and for the most part all Commodities are sold by weight and very few by the Concave measures which is a good benefit to the Provident Observe That Scio doth agree with these Measures and Weights and so also should Smyrna by the Observations of Merchants some years past but some difference is now found peradventure crept in by the abuse of the Weighers and the falshood of Beams and this difference is found more gross upon Cottons and Galls than upon any other Commodity which may proceed both from the foulness of the first and the greenness of the latter which I refer to the reformation of the more judicious Customs of Constantinople The Customs paid in Constantinople are divers as the Italians and other Franks and Jews pay upon all Commodities both Outward and Inward 5 per cent The Turks themselves are free from all Customs The English and Dutch pay 3 per cent Inward and as much Outward upon all Commodities and this is paid in Species and not in Money except that the Merchants do compound as oftentimes they do with the Customer that an indifferent rate be made upon the Commodities and upon that rate is 3 per cent taken accordingly Miseteria Note That over and above this Custom paid by agreement and Capitulation of Forein Princes for their Subjects there is paid upon all ponderous Commodities a Duty of 1½ per cent and upon all measurable Commodities is paid 1 per cent and these Customs are called Miseteries and ever paid between the Buyer and the Seller the Turk if happening to be either is ever exempted which Duty both by the Buyer and Seller is paid to the Brokers who repay it to the Farmer thereof and both â…• for the Collector and is a Rent setled for the maintenance of an Hospital founded by Sultan Achmet as hoping by this new Custom levied upon Strangers and thus disposed of to charitable uses to gain Heaven at the charges of Christians Gallattae Opposite to the City of Constantinople is the City Gallatta formerly Cornubisantum and in times past belonging to the Genoese who in the declining state of the Grecian Empire were Possessors of this City and many other in this Empire both of great Trade and Consequence which are now in the possession of the Grand Seignior between which a River now runneth wherein all shipping find both a safe and convenient Harbour and in which all the Westerâ— Christians either English French Dutch or Venetian Merchants have their common Refidency intermixt with Grecians Jews Armenians and some few Turks where also is placed a Custom-house opposite to another on Constantinople side Emine both commonly farmed by one and the self same Emine or Farmer who is the Receiver of the Grand Seigniors Customs which are found commonly payable the one half in Aspers of 80 Aspers to a Dollar and the other half in Sultanies of Gold or otherwise as the Farmer and Merchant can agree for and compound the same The Government of the English in Constantinople I have shewed before how that the Company of English Merchants incorporated by the name of the Society of the Levant Company in England do elect and nominate an able and skilful well qualified man in Merchants affairs who with his Majesty's consent and approbation resideth here as Legier Embassador to protect both the said Companies Factors and their Estates here in matter of Trade whose charges and salary is paid and defrayed wholly by the said Levant Company and for the honour of the English Nation and as necessary to his Port and the said Companies Traffick through the Grand Seigniors Dominions they are found also to maintain at present and to pay Salary to 6 Consuls in six several places of this Empire and to wait upon these and their Factors they give pay to 40 Janizaries 20 Druggermen or â—…terpreters 6 Secretaries 3 Ministers besides sundry other needful Officers Mr. Alderman Garaway at present being Governor and Mr. William Cockaine Deputy to whom I owe this
in this Tract should be suttle English 1070 l. which is gross of London 9 C. 26 l. bâ—t either by the deceit of Weights the falshood of staying or the fraud of Factors it commonly produceth not so much by 2 or 3 per Cent. and this mischief is increased to that height of late years that it is found oftentimes to produce but 9 C. gross or about 1020 l. sutcle English but let them that are herein guilty endeavour to amend it in the future for their Credit sake for the 100 l. gross Venice is never found to yield less than 107 or 106 in England and what is found wanting thereof to their principals cometh by all probability by their default Measures in Zant c. Their Measure is the Brace and found to be twofold in use the long Brace being for Cloths Linens c. agreeing with the Cloth Brace in Venice and found to be 27 〈◊〉 English and the short Brace for Silks to be 6 in 7 per Cent. Of Oyls the lesser Oyl is sold by a Measure called the Liver and should weigh 13 l. English 10 whereof makes a Candis Barrel Of Wines Wine is sold by a measure called a Jar 3½ is a Candia Barrel Of Corn. Corn is sold by the measure called a Bechelo 3 whereof is a Staro and weighth 44 l. and 5 Killows make 6 Bachellos which Bachello hath been observed to be in England Gallons and a Moya of Corn here makes 2 Staro in Venetia and 7 Jars of Wine here makes 3 Quarts in Venetia Customs of Zant c. The Customs of these Islands some few years past upon Currans were small till the Venetians perceiving the Trade of that City to decay thought to augment the Revenues by the Customs of the Fruit of these Islands which accordingly they have effected for seeing the English to cover the same unmeasurably which at first the vulgar judged they used in the dye of their Clatbs or which was worst in the feeding of their Swine and finding on a time sundry Ships of burthen laden therewith and ready to depart their departure was stayed till the Merchants were compelled to pay 5 Ducats which is 25 s. sterl the 1000 l. upon which the English Merchants made complaint in England thereof to his Majesty deceased and for the taking away that Custom it was thought fit to put as much more here in England thereupon by way of an imposition which hath been found to be so far from gaining a remedy that the same continues in England contrary to the first intent and the State of Venice hath added 10 Ducats more to the former as imagining England cannot subsist without this Commodity at what charge or discommodity whatsoever yet it is now levied with this proviso that the Currans be laden in a Vessel that doth come hither purposely to lade them but if she landeth her outward fraight in Venice or the â…” thereof and then cometh hither she is freed thereof as I have shewed in the Trade of that City CHAP. CCLIV Of the Islands of the Adriatick Seas and the Trade thereof Adriatick Islands THE Islands found in these Seas are many as Absirtides secondly Cherso Vegea Grissa Iaesica Cursola Brassia Lissa and Zara all the rest are small and appertaining to the Seigniony of Venice Commodities The Commodities that hence are exported for Merchandise is Wood for Fuel Wines Grain Cattel and some Oyls CHAP. CCLV. Zara and the Trade thereof Zara and the Trade thereof ZARA being for the goodness of its Harbour conceived one of the best of the abovesaid though small in circumference yet most commodious for Trading therefore I will note what is observable therein and make it the principal of the rest to which the Trade of all the others may be reduced Moneys of Zara. Their Moneys I account the same as used in Venice and the Dalmatian and Sclavonian Coins are here passable by reason of their situation which is bordering all along that Continent Weights of Zara. Their Weights are two a gross and suttle as is used in Venetia but found thus to agree together 100 l. suttle of Zara is Venetia suttle 120 l. English 80 l. 100 l. gross of Zara is Venetia gross 120 l. English 128 l. 100 l. suttle Venetia is gross 83 l. Zara. 100 l. gross Venetia is gross 83 l. Zara. Measures of Zara. Their common Measures of length is a Brace 29 inches London the 100 Braces Cloth in Venice makes here 112 Braces and the 100 Braces Silk in Venice is here 106 or 107 Braces most of the other Islands concur with this in Weight and Measure Now sailing hence and getting out of these Islands into the Mediterranean Seas in which surveying the most erninent of the European Isles therein contained I find in the first rank the Islands of Sicilia Malta Cursice Sardinia Majorca Minorca and some others now coming to be handled and first of Sicilia CHAP. CCLVI. Of Sicilia and the Cities of Trade thereof Sicilia and the Cities thereof SICILIA anciently for its fertility in Corn accounted the Granary of Rome is held to be 700 Miles in compass and is beautified with sundry Rivers and Cities which I shall handle in order as my method requireth Commodities The Commodities exported hence for Merchandise and here abounding are Wines Oyls Honey Wax Saffron Sugars Salt Alloms Coeals Agats and some other Gems and wonderful fruitful in all sorts of Grain also it hath some Mines of Gold and Silver also good quantity of Silk is here made which is exported both raw and wrought into divers Fabricks Mount Hibla here is also famous the Hill Hibla for Bees and Honey Mount Aetna and Mount Aetna for its continual burning and evaporating of Flames Division into 3 Provinces The Country is divided into three Provinces the first is Vall is de Notto wherein the City of Syracusa stands once containing 22 Miles in circuit and the Metropolis of the Island and some others The second Province is Masara wherein is the Cities of Montreal second Gergenti and Palernâ— now the chief Cities of Sicily whereto I will reduce the Trade of this part of the Island CHAP. CCLVII Of Palermo and the Trade thereof Palermo and the Trade thereof PALERMO anciently Panormus and a Colony of the Phoenicians is now the chief City of Sicilia and the Seat of the Spanish Viceroy Don Ferdinando de Castro being Viceroy at my being here in 1619 from whom I and my Company received so much honour that I cannot without ingratitude forget in this place to commemorate his Nobleness the City is situate on the West Cape of the Island and is beautified with large Streets and delicate Buildings strong Walls and magnificent Palaces and Temples here I found a Dutch Gentleman attendant upon the said Viceroy who was intitled the English Consul from whom I gathered these my Observations in the Trade of this Place
manner of keeping their Accounts I have noted but Moneys finding some variation and diversity by reason of Trade I will briefly touch the same First then Coins current in Messina A Crown of Gold of Italy is worth 14 Taries A Crown of the place they account 12 Taries A Tarie as in Palermo 20 grains is 2 Carlins An Ounce is as in Palermo 30 Taries A Grain is 5 Pecolies A Florence Ducat did pass for 11 Taries 4 gr A Ducat of Camera of Rome for 12 Taries 6 gr A Ducat of Carlins of Naples for 10 Taries 16â…” gr A Crown of Mark is 12 Taries A Livre of gross of Venice is 3 Ounces 21 Taries 1 gr One Pound gross of Avers is 1 Ounce and 10 Taries Marvedies 29½ of Spain is one Tarie And a Pound Sterling is here Note The Weights of Messina are found to be two the first being the gross Cantar whereby is weighed all manner of Food Flesh Caveare Fish Tonnies Cheese c. which is noted to be 10 per Cent. greater than the second Cantar and hath produced by computation Pound English 196 in 198 Pound and the smaller Cantar contains as the former 100 Rotolos of 30 Ounces or 2½ Pound Siciliano doth agree with the sum mentioned in Palermo as being the common Weight of all the Island and accounted as I said before to be 173 Pound but found by experience of some English Merchants 184 Pound which I refer to trial and they account 20 Pesos to make a suttle Cantar and 22 Peso the Gross which is the general Cantar of Palia Measures in Messina Their Measures is the same as mentioned in Palermo which is the Cane divided into 8 Palms for length and the Salmo divided into 16 Tomolos for Corn and so forth as I have more at large handled under the Chapter of Palermo as serving for great use to the Merchants that traffick in the Mediterranean Seas Customs of Messina All Stuffs of Linen or Woollen measurable of this Kingdom selling or not selling pay at Messina 6½ per cent All Commodities of weight from without the Kingdom selling or not selling pay at Messina 3 per cent Removing from Ship to Ship pays 3 per cent or 3¼ all Merchandise that is conveyed out of the Kingdom at the Port of Messina pays 6â…“ per cent Fairs of Messina unless at the Fairâ—… when as some Commodities pay less than some others so that Silk then pays only 3 per cent I have noted an old printed observation between London and Messina to be thus which I refer to the trial That the 100 l. of Palermo is in London 172 l. the 100 l. of Messina in Silk makes Silk weight in London 43½ and the Rotolo of Palermo hath made in London 1 l. 9 conces the 100 Yards hath made 44½ Canes and that the Cane hath made in London 2¼ Yards or Ells 1½ Goad of Freezes and Cottons and thus I will leave this City and Island and sail to Malta Malta Malta is the next Island of note in these Seas famoused more by the Knights the now possessors than by any Traffick that is found therein it is the place where St. Paul suffered Shipwrack and where he shook the Viper from his hand into the flame which yet the Inhabitants would perswade Travellers hath left some virtue and reliques thereof behind him which I refer to the relation of others it aboundeth in Cotton-wooll Oranges Limons Citrons Honey Wax and some other fruits the Towns of note are Valetta Saint Hermes and Malta and some others Corsica Corsica is the next and seated opposite to Genoa to whom it belongeth being 300 mile in compass Bastia is the chief City and the residence of the Genoese Governour with a commodious Haven and a strong Garrison the principal Ports for Shipping are Saint Florence in the Northern part and Saint Boniface in the South the Commodities thereof are Oyls Figs Raiâ—…s Wates Honey Wax Allum Boxwood Iron good Horses and fierce Mastives little other Commâ—ities it affordeth not their weights and measure agreeth with Genoa Sardinia Sardinia is the next and accounted 550 miles in circuit and subject to the Spaniard divided into two parts first Cape Luggudory towards Corsica and secondly Cape Cagliares towards Africk Commodities of Sardinia It affordeth for Merchandise Corn in good plenty and Oyls in a reasonable manner but abundance of all sorts of Cattle as appeareth by the great abundance of Hides and Cheese which in an homely manner is made here and hence dispersed through Italy Spain and other Countries there is here many Towns such as is Bossa Santa Reparata Alquilastro and lasty Callary the Metropolis of which a word together with the Trade thereof CHAP. CCLIX Of Callary and the Trade thereof Callary and the Trade thereof CAllary is the principal City of this Island opposite to Africk the Seat of the Spanish Vice-Kings enjoying a goodly Haven and much frequented by Merchants and is an Archbiâ—…p's See and well stored with eminent Citizens Monies of Callary Their monies are generally the monies of Valentia in the Kingdom of Spain but they have proper to the Island some Copper or black monies to which the Ducates and Livers of Valentia are reduced and their Accounts are kept in the same manner as in that City Weights in Sardinia The common weight is the Pound consisting of 12 ounces 160 l. thereof being their Quinter is English 88 in 89 l. and in Marselia 101 l. in Florence 125 l. circa Measures of Sardinia Their common measure is a Vare and a Brace the Vare found to agree with Valentia and Brace with Florence the first used in Cloth and Linen and the latter in Silks c. Further observations of the Trade of this Island have not come to my hand therefore I will hence sail to the next Islands which are those of Majorca and Minorca CHAP. CCLX Of Majorca and Minorca and the Trade thereof Majorca and Minorca and the Trade thereof MAjorca is seated also in these Seas 300 miles in circuit and 30 miles distant from the Continent of Spain the principal City is Majorca an University and the Seat of the Spanish Viceroy Minorca is nine miles distant from Majorca and 150 miles in compass wherein is Minorca and Java the principal Towns but Mahon therein is found to be an excellent Port able to contain 500 Sail of very great Ships in safety from all weathers whatsoever Commodities of Majorca c This Country affordeth for Merchandise Corn Wines Oyls this last being the principal Commodity of this Country which the English do here lade above 500 Tuns yearly and sometimes more and hence exported by them if the Spaniard have not otherwise occasion for it for his own use for from hence Provisions are made for all the Eastern and Western Navigators Monies in Majorca Their Monies have reference to those current in Spain and principally
a desire to imploy their Talents in foreign Countries which yet is not seen to be perfected amongst them Nature having to this end fitted them with many goodly Ports and navigable Rivers and will in time I hope fit them with an inclination to second by their endeavours what is so plentifully bestowed by her upon them which by little and little may be brought to pass by the conversation and direction of the civiliz d English that daily are seen to come and reside amongst them and thus leaving Ireland and my good wishes to the increase of her Traffick I hence pass over to Scotland a part of Britain and view the present Trade thereof CHAP. CCLXV. Of Scotland and the Provinces and Cities thereof Scotland and the Trade thereof SCotland is the Northern part of Britain and separated from England by the River Tweed and Salway and the Cheviot hills extending from thence to the other which being a Kingdom and varying in the manner of Trade from England I have thought good here to insert by it self Commodities of Scotland The Commodies that this Country affordeth for Merchandise are coarse Cloths Freezes Fish salted Hides Tallow Lead Ore some Grain Feathers and other Commodities as Sea-coal Allom Iron c. This Country is divided into two parts the High-land and the Low-land and the same into several Sheriffdoms or Provinces in which are found these Towns of consequence CHAP. CCLXVI. Of Edenburg and the Trade thereof Edenburg and the Trade thereof FIrst Edenburg wherin is seated the King's Palace and the Court of Justice consisting principally of one street of a mile in length whereto doth lead many other petty Lanes making the whole near three miles in circuit the second Town is Glascow an Archbishops See and an University the third is Saint Andrews in Fife honour'd with many Prerogatives fourthly Sterling then is Perth Aberdeen Dondes Saint John's Town and some others of lesser note Monies of Scotland Their current monies in Merchandise is the proper Coins of that Kingdom both in Gold and Silver which are usually found to be in Gold In Pieces of 22 shill sterl Pieces of 11 shill sterl Pieces of 5. 6 d. sterl Pieces of 2. 9 d. sterl Pieces of 4. 4⅜ d. sterl Pieces of 1 shill 1½ d. sterl Pieces of ½ the ¾ and ⅛ thereof Pieces of 9. 6 d. being ⅔ of the 13 d. ½ sterl One Mark   Pieces of ½ which is 4½ d. being ⅓ of the abovesaid Again 13½ d. sterl is a Scotch Mark. or 13 shill 4. d. Scotch 6⅔ is a Scotch Noble 6 shill 8 d. 20 d. sterl is 1½ Mark Scotch or 1 Pound Scotch of 20 shill 20 shill sterl is 18 Scotch Marks Besides which are here found current the Coins of England and he that would see further into the intrinsic value and weight of these Coins either of Silver and Gold must have recourse to a Proclamation set out by our Sovereign King James deceased dated in 1609 which will also shew their conformity to the Coins of England in weight and goodness and the current value and estimation thereof through this Kingdom Exchanges in Scotland Here is practised for England an Exchange for monies as is done upon the Scotch Mark for 12 pence sterling in London c. Accounts in Scotland Their Accounts are now kept several ways some following the custom of England by sterling pounds shillings and pence and some by their own ancient manner also in pounds shillings and pence Scottish 20 pence sterling being their pound 13½ being their Mark and pence Scottish of which they had some black or Copper Monies as Babaes esteemed by them for six pence whereof two made a penny sterling Placks which they esteemed for four pence and three of them made a penny sterling and lastly pieces called Hard-heads esteemed by them at 1½ pence but eight of them made a penny sterling mony and some of these are yet current amongst them Weights of Scotland They have in general as is also the custom of England but one weight for weighing of their Merchandise and for buying and selling throughout the Kingdom which is the Pound of 16 ounces 100 of which pounds makes their Quintal which is found to make in London and all throughout England 108 l. Averdupois and the 100 l. London sotile is found to render here 92 l. incirca or the 112 l. to give 103½ l. or thereabouts Measures of length 120 for 100. Their common measure in length for Linens Cloth Silk or Stuffs is an Ell common in use throughout Scotland which is about 4 per cent differing from our English Yard as being greater so that whereas we allow 36 inches to the Yard by Rule their Ell may make incirca 34½ inches it having been observed by Traders hither that 75 Yards in London or Ells 60 Ells hath made here 72 Scotch Ells but in their hundred by tale in measure they account six score or 120 for 100. In other measures of Corn Coal Salt or liquid measures of Beer Ale Wines Oyls and such like imitate the better experienced to supply my defects therein for I hasten now towards England and so to London the City of my abode and the end of my present labours and by the way will observe That the Inhabitants of this Country are much addicted both to Trade and Navigation and have many good helps and furtherances there both by the natural and artificial Commodities of this Country and the good Ports of the same so that in brief I may conclude this Kingdom to be more addicted to Traffick and Navigation than the Irish and yet not so much as the English which yet by the gracious aspect of our Sovereign is seen daily to increase and may in time come to a greater perfection CHAP. CCLXVII Of Britain and the Provinces thereof Britain and the Provinces thereof HAving now set my foot upon the happy shore and run through the Trade of most of the greatest known Cities of Commerce and Traffick in the World give me leave to survey the distinct Ports of this Kingdom that I may not do less to our own than in this Tract I have done to other foreign Countries Britain then the Queen of Islands is found to be in circuit 1836 miles extending it self comprehending England Wales and Scotland as of one entire Island which we now know by the name of Great Britain 800 miles being divided into 3 parts as into England and Wales whose Trade we have now in hand and Scotland whose Traffick we have already declared CHAP. CCLXVIII Of Wales and the Trade thereof Of Wales and the Cities thereof WAles then being the second part of this division is bounded on all sides with the Seas except the East where it is separated from England by the River Dee and a line drawn to the River Wie but by some by Clauda Offa or Offa's ditch or more proper by interpretation Offa's
briefly run over the Shires of England it will be necessary I should here add the like cursory View of Wales comprehended under the Government of England and included within the same Limit and omitted to this place as having parts of the said Kingdom which I find to be in number these Anglesey 1. Anglesey I account the first which is toucht amongst the Islands being esteemed a County of Wales Beaumaries being the principal Town of the County Flint 2. Flintshire is the second plentiful in Corn and Pasture famous for the Spring of Holy Well called here St. Winifreds Well and Flint Town being the chiefest of the County Denbigh 3. Denbighshire is the next affording some Mines of Lead wherein are found Wrexham that boasts of its Holy Tower and Musical Organs and Denbigh the chief of the County Canarvan 4. Canarvanshire is the next antiently called Snowden Forest before that Wales was reduced to Counties wherein are found the high Hills the Alps of Britain also Aberconway a strong and fair little Town Bangor the Seat of a Bishop and Canarvan the chief of this Province Famous for the Birth-place of Edward II. the first Prince of Wales of English Blood Merioneth 5. Merionethshire is the next a mountainous Country affording notwithstanding good Pasture for Cattel The chief Town is Balla tho poor yet principal of these Mountaincers Montgomery 6 Montgomeryshire is the next having its chief Town of the same Name Cardigan 7. Cardiganshire is the seventh and hath the Town of Cardigan for the chief of the County Pembroke 8. Pembrokeshire is the eighth Pembrâ—… is the chief Town and here a long Neck of Land makes a Haven called Milford Haven than which Europe hath not a more noble more safe and more large with many Creeks and safe Roads wherein 1000 Sail may ride out of sight one of another and made more famous by the Landing of Henry VII Caermarden 9 Caermardenshire is the next abounding in Corn Sheep and Pit-Coal Caermarden being the chief Town Glamorgan 10 Glamorganshire is the next Cardiff is the chief Town having a commodious Haven for Shipping Monmouth 11 Monmouthshire is the next wherein are found Chepstow and Monmouth the last is glorious in giving Birth to Henry V. Conqueror of France Brecknock 12. Brecknockshire is the next Brecknock being the chief Town Radnor 13. Radnorshire is the last wherein is sound Radnor the chief These are in brief the Shires of Wales Commodities of England To observe now my former Method having thus particularly survey'd the Continent let me now search into those Commodities which England in general affords for Merchandize and is thence exported into forein Regions as being the principal Motives of Trade in all Kingdoms which it produceth several ways First by Manufactures it yieldeth Woollen Cloths of all sorts broad and narrow known and called by the name of several Shires also Perpetuanos Bays Says Scrges Cottons Kersies Buffins Mocados Grograms Sattins Calimancas Velvets Plâ—shts Worsteds Fustians Durances Tukes and infinite others there is made in this Island yearly 250000 Cloths by computation and by this may be guess'd the Quantity of the resâ— of other sorts also Furs and Skins as Coney-skins Squirrel-skins Fitches Calf-skins Hides and sundry others Also it produceth by Mines out of the Earth 1. Tin 1200000 l. yearly Lead 800 Foders yearly Allom 800 Tuns yearly Copper 500 Tuns yearly Iron of all sorts 800 Furnaces daily set on work besides Ordnance of Iron and such like Sea-coal yearly Chaldrons Salt Tuns also all manner of Grain Oats Pease Barly Rye and Wheat in great plenty also Linen Cloth all Iron Wares Tallow Leather Glass and Glasses of all sorts Venice Gold and Bilver Train-Oyl Salmons Pilchards and Herrings Hake Conger and Haberdine Hops Wood Butter Cheese Beer Salt-petre Gun-powder Honey Wax Alabaster and some other Stones Wools Woolfels Yern Yernsey c. and to conclude many other good and rich Commodities is here found Beauty of England The Beauty and Wealth of this Kingdom is demonstrated in 325 Rivers 8 thereof being great and navigable for some Miles whereon are found 857 Bridges 30 Chases 55 Forests 745 Parks here are also reckoned 26 Deanries 60 Archdeaconries 504 Dignities and Prebends 5439 Parochial Benefices besides Impropriations and Vicarages and the whole divided into 6 Circuits for the Administration of Justice into 22 Episcopal Dioceses for Ecclesiastical Discipline and into 2 Archbishopricks under whom the rest are subordinate and lastly into 40 Shires over each of which is yearly a Sheriff appointed who is to assist the Itinerary Judges in executing Justice and to gather in the King's Amercements and these Shires are divided into Hundreds and these Hundreds into Tithings and to conclude in England are found 145 Castles 9527 Parishes besides Chappels whereof 585 are Market Towns and 22 Cities the principal whereof are these 1. Oxford 2. Cambridge both being Universities 3. Exeter in Devonshire 4. Norwich in Norfolk 5. Bristol watered by Severn accounted the second for Trade in this Country 6. York on the River Ure accounted the second City for Beauty and Greatness in England and lastly London under which I will comprise the Trade of this whole Island CHAP. CCLXX. Of London and the Trade thereof London and the Trade thereof LOndon the Metropolis of England the prime City of Trading this day in the World is pleasantly seated on the River Thames which divideth it into two parts her Circuit may be 8 miles wherein are found 122 Parish Churches with the Palace of the King the Houses of the Nobility Colleges for the Study of the Laws and divers other stately publick Edifices and may contain 400000 People Merchants of London Here have their Residence the rich and most eminent Merchants of this Island whom divers Princes of this Kingdom have incorporated into several Societies and Companies partly to encourage their Endeavours and partly in reward of the Discoveries of those Countries and Regions whereof they take their Name and by the Power and Immunities granted them do make Acts and Orders for the Benefit of Commerce in general and of their Companies in particular Merchants Adventurers and their Original and places of Residence The antientest of which Companies have had their Original and Continuance since Edward I. his Reign called the Company of Merchant Adventurers grounded at first upon the Exportations of Wool only as the prime and Staple Commodity of this Kingdom since which it is grounded upon Clothing into which this Wool is now converted for he at the request and being in league with the Cities and Towns in Flanders made Bruges which was then the greatest Mart of Christendom the Staple for his Wools where it continued for 15 years whenas by some Discontent with the Flemings and by experience seeing what the Benefit of these Staples were removed them from Bruges to England and for the ease as well of his Subjects
current Advices of those places To conclude then by what hath been said may be clearly discerned the present Height and Amplitude of our English Commerce and the Greatness of Englands Navigation the Continuation whereof my Devotions shall ever second and my Prayer shall be That neither our fained Friends nor yet our froward Foes may ever have just Cause to rejoice at the Decrease nor least Diminution thereof Having thus happily ended my Peregrination and drawn out the utmost Bounds and Limits of this my Map of Commerce and concluded there the Manner and Matter of the general and particular Traffick of most of the eminent Cities and Countries of the World I will now cast anchor and finish in this place my Voyage till the next fair Gale offers and presents it self to imbark my Time and Pen in the Survey and Calculation of the Exchanges of Europe as at this day they are seen practised amongst the Merchants of Christendom FINIS EXCHANGES CHAP. CCLXXIV Of Exchanges in general and of the Method and Manner thereof and how calculated in any Place in Christendom Exchanges in general I Have in the Tenth Chapter of this Map of Commerce shewed That to make this Treatise absolute and compleat the Method and Manner how all Exchanges are framed and calculated is perfectly to be known and learned and there also declared the Necessity of this Knowledge with all Circumstances depending thereupon Now by reason that I have in all the afore-mentioned Cities of this Map wherein either Custom Time or Commodiousness of Trade Exchanges of Monies have been setled and where the said Exchanges are daily used and practised omitted the Form Manner and Calculation thereof together with all the particular Circumstances requisite and necessary to the Explanation of this Mystery of Exchanging I have in this place thought good to allot iâ— as worthily meriting a peculiar Discourse at large by it self which here I conceive it most proper to be inserted and because that my Experience in the Exactness required may not be peradventure sufficient to lead me through in every particular Point and needful Circumstance I have therefore judged it no blemish to my Knowledge to be instructed by those excellent and judicious Bankers Geo. Baptista Zucetta a Merchant of Genoua and Claudio Boiero a Merchant of Lions whose Endeavours herein are worthy Commendations and whose laborious Presidents and preceding Labours where I find my self defective in this Task and Labyrinth I willingly follow What are places of Exchanges Places in use and those as are apt for Exchanges are such where Merchants in some fit and competent number do meet and are assembled for the Benefit and Behoof of Trade and Negatintion which at this present day are observed to be many yet withal are noted not to be so firmly setled but that the same admits sometimes an Alteration and Change varying according as the due occasions of Commerce and Traffick in that place requires either by the Decay of Trade there or by the Increase of the Trade of another Place more fit and proper thereunto Some Cities are the Staples of Exchanges Some Places again are observed to be if I may so term it the Staples of Exchanges and yet notwithstanding have their dependence upon the Exchanges of other places and which else are not found to comprehend any other manner of Traffick having only certain Times or Fairs setled and confirmed by the custom of Exchangers in which and to which Bills of Exchange are either dated expired or renewed in which nature and of which sort Placentia is accounted the most notable for all Italy and other places where indeed Exchanges are found to have a certain kind of Being yet acknowledgeth its real Existence from other Places and Cities Besansin in Burgundy Spossa in the River of Genoua Camberay in Piedmont and some others were in former times observed to be of this kind whose Exchanges did totally depend upon the Partidos of Exchanges made in other Countries and these sometimes of such as had the same Concordancy in the Current Coins of the Exchange and sometimes a Discrepancy The Exchanges of some Cities depend upon the Exchanges of some others And for as much as it is observed That some other Cities where no set Exchanges are sound sometimes challenge by the necessity of Traffick and Commerce a Course of Exchanging with these or the like places and yet have none setled therein then and in such cases is it seen that the Metropolis or principal Cities of these Countries prescribes both the Rule Rate and Condition thereto as if Vicentia Verona or Padua would frame an Exchange with Placentia it is observable That the Rate of Venice in which Estate these said Places are sound to be and who have their Moneys of one and the self same Goodness and Value give the Rule Rate and Condition thereto So in Pavia Como and other Towns in England as in the City of London the principal of that Island so have the Cities of France their Rule from Lions all Places of Flanders from Antwerp and so have the like in other Places and Countries The chief Cities of Exchanges Now for as much as Exchanges are not found current in all places Exchangers Bankers and Merchants have setled a common Course of Euchanging in some certain particular and principal places which are observed in these days chiefly to be these For Italy 13. Rome Genand Millan Naples Barry Messina Bollonia Venice Florence Lucca Lechy Palermo Bergamo c. For France 3. Paris Lions Rouen c. For Spain 6. Valencia Barcelona Alcala Saragosa Sevil. Medina del Campo For Portugal Lisbon only For Flanders Antwerp only For England London only For Germany 5. Vienna Neremberg Colonia Augusta Frankfort c. Besides which some others of lesser note are observed to have an Exchange current but by reason that in most of the principal Points they have a dependency upon some of these and a concordance with them they are by most Authors neglected and therefore shall be by me here wholly omitted Many Cities practice Exchanges by one and the same Monies c. In the next place it is considerable That many of these before-mentioned Cities are found to practise their Exchanges in one and the self-same Moneys Coins and Denominations as do Lachy and Barry which are included in Naples as Naples it self Palermo and Messina comprehended in Sicilia Valencia Saragosa and Barcelona in Catalonia Sevil Alcala and Medina del Campo in Castilia Frankfort Noremberg Colonia and Augusta in Germany and some others What Exchange is c. What thing this Exchanging is properly in it self found to be as also what a Bill of Exchange is and the due Ceremonies and strict Rules thereof together with the Commodiousness Necessity and first real Intent of the same I have shewed in the 10 Chapter which briefly here may not unproperly be defined by the Word it self as it is aptly expressed in our English
of Commodities and of weight ibid. Coins of sundry Countries used in Traffick of Merchandizing 5 Coins made of Silver and Gold ibid. A Capital crime to debase or alter any Princes Coin ibid. Cargos in weight what 6 Cain the Inventer of Weights and Measures 8 All Cities of Trade have sworn and publick measures ibid. Of Commodities used in Merchandizing and the knowledge thereof 9 All Commodities are either natural or artificial ibid. All Commodities known by the Sensce ibid. All Coins brought into one by exchanging 10 Castella aurea 13 Chilo ibid. Cuba ibid. Caffaria 27 Cape bona speransa ibid. Carro 29. and the Trade thereof 31 Casir in the red Sea 29 Captus ibid. Caffa in the Euxine Sea ibid. Cilicia and the Cities thereof 42 Colloso 46 Cappadocia and the Cities thereof 51 Celosyria and the Cities thereof 61 Colcos 67 Caldea and the Cities thereof 69 Cabin and the Trade thereof 76 Cusestam 77 Cusan and the Trade thereof 78 Caramania ibid. Carriage of Commodities by Caravans 81 Capha and the Trade thereof containing the Coins Weights Measures and Accounts thereof 85 Cathay and the Provinces 86 Cambalu and the Trade thereof 87 Cannor 88. and the Trade 92 Cambaia 88 Canora ibid. Camboia ibid. Cauchinchina ibid. Cambaia and the Trade thereof 90 Chaul and the Trade thereof 92 Cochin and the Trade thereof ibid. Calicut and the Trade thereof ibid. Coast of Cormandle and the Trade thereof 93 Custom in India for debtors 94 China and the Provinces thereof 98 Commodities of China ibid. Cloves in abundance in Molluccos 103 Celebs Island and the Trade thereof containing Coins Weights c. thereof 107 Cyprus and the Trade thereof containing Commodities Coins Weights Measures 108 Cartagena 114 Castilia and the Trade thereof containing Exchanges Coins Weights Measures 116 Catalonia 118 Callais and the Trade thereof 132 Champaign ibid. Callabria and the Trade thereof 140 Crema and the Trade thereof 157 Cremona and the Trade thereof 166 Como and the Trade thereof 167 Cambray 179 Charlemont ibid Collen and the rade thereof 185 Cleveland ibid. Coins in general of Germany 206 Coins of Stoad Hamburg and Lubeck ibid. Coins of Embden Breme Edenburg Brunswick Mainburg Lipsick Vpper Germany Bohemia Switzerland ibid. Copenhagen 210. and the Trade thereof 211 Candroa in Moscovia 219 Cracovia and the Trade thereof 223 Coninburg and the Trade thereof 226 Corn-measures of Eastland reduced to that of sundry other Countreys 231 Croatia 236 Corono and the Trade thereof 239 Catarro and the Trade thereof 240 Caranto anciently Corinth a samous Mart in Morea 245 Constantinople and the Trade thereof 247 Coos Island 249 C 〈◊〉 ia Island and the Trade thereof 251 Cerigo Island ibid. Cursolari Islands ibid. Corfu Island and the Trade thereof 235 Corsica Island 258 Callary and the Trade thereof 259 Capre Island 261 Cadis or Gades ibid. Conaught in Ireland 263 Four Circuits in Wales 268 Cornwal 269 Cambridgshire ibid. Cheshire ibid. Cumberland ibid. Canarvanshire ibid. Cardiganshire ibid. Caermarthenshire ibid. Six Circuits in England ibid. Cities of Exchanges in Europe 273 Collen Exchanges 290 The Captain of Mosambick the greatest Merchant of that Coast. 28 D. DEscription of Countries conduceth to the description of Cities 1 Division of the World into four parts ibid. Distance of places how found out ibid. Duty of building a Ship belonging to the Shipwright 2 Duty of Ships provision belonging to Owners and Out-readers ibid. Duty of sailing a Ship belonging to Navigators ibid. Duty of Imploying of Ships belonging to Merchants ibid. Denarius how called 5 The best way of Accounts is by Debtor and Creditor 7 Divers Countreys have a diversity in their measures 8 Decaying Commodities what 9 Damietta 29 Damascus and the Trade containing the Coins Weights Measures Commodities thereof c. 62 Derbent 73 Dellia 88 Dieu and the Trade thereof and of that Coast and the Commodities 89 Damain in India 92 Customs in India for Debtors 94 The Dutch Forts and Trade in Amboina Islands 103 Denia and the Trade thereof 118 Dolphine 127 Duke of Florence a great Merchant 159 Dry measures of several Cities in the Levant Seas compared 161 Dukedom of Millan 164 Dunkirk 179 Doway ibid. Delph ibid. Dort ibid. Danubius River 182 Dresden and the trade thereof 199 Denmark and the Provinces 210 Dithmar in Denmark ibid. Dantsick and the trade thereof 224 Dacia and the Cities thereof 235 Dalmatia 236 Delos or Delphos 249 Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland and the Trade thereof 264 Four Dioceses in Wales 268 Devonshire 269 Dorsetshire ibid. Darby-shire ibid. Durham ibid. Denbighshire ibid. Declaration of The Table of Exchanges 274 DoubleVsance what 299 Account of Discounts used in Lions and elsewhere 305 Days and Nights differ according to the Latitude 1 E. Aequinoctial what 1 Europe and its bounds Latitude and Longitude ibid. Eclipse of the Sun and Moon when seen ibid. Exchanging the third manner of Commutation 2 Exchanging drawn into a profitable Art and the reasons thereof ibid. Things considerable in Exchanging ibid. Esterlin moneys in England 5 Of Exchanges in general used by Merchants 10 The Excellency of a Bill of Exchange ibid. The Exchanger rectifieth the disorders of Mints and the necessity of Prices ibid. Estotiland 12 Aethiopia and the Provinces 26 Elephants Teeth 27 Aegypt and the Provinces 29 The Trade of Aegypt in times past ibid. Aegypt weights compared with others 34 Euphesus 44 Eolis the first Merchants 46 Ephrates 54 Three Excellencies in Casbin 76 Exendu and the largeness thereof 87 The English the last Traders into India 107 English Consul at Cyprus 108 Europe and the Kingdoms thereof 110 Escurial 115 English subjection at Blois upon the River of Gerond 124 English Hall in Rouen for Wool 126 East-Frisland 182 Embden and the trade thereof 183 Elsmore and the Trade thereof 212 Elbin and the Trade thereof 225 Epidaurus 245 Epirus 246 The English the greatest Traders of any Christians into Constantinople 247 Mount Aetna in Sicilia 256 Elba Island 261 Edenburgh and the Trade thereof 266 Essex 269 East-India Merchants of London their original 270 Eastland Merchants their original ibid. Of Exchanges in general with the method and manner thereof as practised in Christendom 273 Exchanging places ibid. What Exchanges are c. ibid. Declaration of the Table of Exchanges 274 Of the Exchanges of Placentia 276 The Exchanges of Lions Paris 277 The Exchanges of Rome 278 The Exchanges of Genoa 279 Exchanges of Millan 280 Exchanges of Venice 281 Exchanges of Florence 282 Exchanges of Lucca 283 Exchanges of Naples 284 Exchanges of Leccy 285 Exchanges of Barry 286 Exchanges of Palermo 287 Exchanges of Mesina 288 Exchanges of Antwerp and Collen 289 Exchanges of London 290 Exchanges of Valentia 291 Exchanges of Saragosa 292 Exchanges of Barselona 293 Exchanges of Sevil Alcala Medina del campo in Castilia 294 Exchanges of Lisbon 295 Exchanges of Bolonia 296 Exchanges of Bergamo 297 Exchanges of Frankfort Norimberg Augusta Vienna 298 How the Rates and
Prices in Exchanges are setled amongst Merchants 300 Of Examples upon Exchanges practised at Lions and how the same are calculated 302 Examples of the Exchanges of Lions with the profit of the presits thereof as interest upon interest 304 Certain and incertain prices in Exchanges what 323 Examples of Exchanges in Rome and how the same are calculated 325 Examples of Exchanges in Naples and how the same are calculated 342 Examples of Exchanges in Genoa and how the same are calculated 360 Examples of Exchanges practised in Venice and how to be calculated 368 Examples of Exchanges practised in Placentia and how calculated 382 Questions of Exchanges in Placentia 399 Examples of Exchanges practised in Florence and how calculated 400 Exchanges practised at Millan and how the same are to be calculated 410 Exchanges practised at Palermo and Mesina and how to be calculated 419 Exchanges of Barselona Sevil Lisbon Valentia and Saragosa and how the same is calculated 426 Examples of Exchanges practised in Antwerp and how calculated 435 Examples of Exchanges practised in London and how calculated 443 The Excellency of the Palm Tree 30 F. FLorida 12 Fishing in New-found-land ibid. Fess and the Provinces thereof 20 The City of Fess with the commodities moneys weights measures and customs thereof 21 The manner of farming the Pepper in India by the Portuguese 92 The Fortune of Siam and Pegu 96 Firando and the Trade thereof 101 France and the Provinces thereof 122 French not addicted to Trade 127 Foreign Weights compared with the Weights of Lions 129 Farara and the Trade thereof 144 Florence and the Cities of that Dukedom 159 Florence and the Trade of that City 160 Flushing 180 Franconia 186 Francfort and the Trade thereof 191 Fountain of Salt in Limburg 201 Friburg and the Trade thereof 202 Fionia 210 Fincria ibid. Finmark 216 Finland in Siden 217 The French Nation the Third eminent Traders into Turky 247 Fromentary 261 Frisland 262 Flint 269 French Merchants of London their original 270 Florence Exchanges 282 Francford Exchanges 298 Fairs and Marts what 299 Fairs in Lions when 324 Examples of Exchanges used in Florence and how calculated 400 Exchanges of Florence with Lions 401 Of Florence with Placentia 402 Of Florence with Venice 403 Of Florence with Rome 404 Of Florence with Naples 405 Of Florence with Antwerp 406 To reduce Crown of 7 Livers in Florence to Crown of Gold of 7½ l. 407 Terms of payment of Bills of Exchange in Florence 408 Orders and Commissions in Exchanges practised in Florence 409 G. GEography dilightful profitable and necessary to Merchants 1 Geography demonstrated in Maps and Sea-cards ibid. Gold and Silver the most excellent of Metals 5 Nova Granada 13 Guiana ibid. Goaga 25 Genin and Benin and their Trade with their customs coins weights measures and manner of accounting ibid. Gordion 46 Gallacia and the Cities thereof 50 Grogram Trade ibid. Galelia 66 Gasa and the Trade thereof 66 Georgia 67 Gedrosia 78 Gombrone and the Trade thereof 80 Ganges the famous River 88 Goa and the Trade thereof containing the commodities coins weights and measures 91 The greatness of China 98 Granado and the Trade thereof 113 Geneva and the Trade thereof 136 Genoa and the Trade thereof 174 Guelderland 178 Gante 179 Graveling ibid. Groining 180 Germany and the Provinces thereof 182 Grats 194 Gorlits 195 Germany accounts and coyns 206 Gothland in Sweden 217 Grecia and the Provinces thereof 238 Galipolis or Calipolis 246 Gallata 247 The Government of the Trade of the English into Constantinople ibid. Groanland 262 Garnsey Island ibid. Glocestershire 269 Glamorganshire ibid. Greenland Merchants of London their original 270 Genoa Exchanges 279 Genoa Exchanges and how calculated 360 Exchanges of Genoa with Placentia 361 To reduce Livers of current money into Livers of Gold in Genoa ibid. Exchanges of Genoa with Lions 362 Of Genoa with Millan 363 Of Genoa with Venice 364 Of Genoa with Naples 365 Orders and Commissions in Genoa 366 Terms of payment of Bills of Exchange in Genoa 367 Galetta in Tunes 15 Granatins or Moro francos ibid. H. HUndred weights what 6 Hispaniola 13 Hispahan and the Trade thereof containing the commodities coins accounts weights measures thereof and Persia 81 The Hollanders the second Traders into India 107 Holland 179 Henalt ibid. Harlem ibid. Hans-Towns in Germany 182 Hidleberg and the Trade thereof 189 Helvetia 191 Hasia 201 Hamburg and the Trade thereof 204 Holfatia 210 Hungaria and the Cities thereof 234 The Hollanders the least Traders into Turkey of the Western Christians 246 Mount Hibla in Sicilia 256 Hebrides Isles 262 Hampshire 269 Hartfordshire ibid. Huntingtonshire ibid. Herefordshire ibid. HalfVsance what ibid. I. A Merchant should know the form of Intimations and Protests 2 Impositions upon Goods 4 An Instrument to find out the argreement of measures in any two Cities or Places 8 Jucatan 12 Isles of Salomon 13 Isles of Baccalos ibid. Island of Beriquen ibid. Jamaica ibid. Island St. Thomas 37 Islands Canaries and the Trade thereof 38 Island Tarceras or Asores 39 Ionia and the Cities thereof 44 Jordan the River 65 Idumea ibid. Judea ibid. Jerico 66 Jerusalem ibid. Jasques in Persia 80 India and the Provinces thereof 88 Islands of Asia and their Trade 100 Islands of Japan and their Trade containing their coyns weights measures c. 101 Island of Silon and the Trade 102 Inhabitants of Silon excellent and rare Tumblers and Moris-dancers ibid. Islands of Moluccos and the Trade 103 Islands of Java and the Trade 104 Jacetra baptized Batavia ibid. Japarra and the Trade thereof ibid. Jambe and the Trade thereof 105 Isle of France 126 Italy and the Provinces thereof 137 Imperial Towns in Germany 202 Juitland in Denmark 210 Julin an ancient Mart 229 Illyria 236 The Trade of the Islands seated in the Ionian Egron Mediterranean and Adriatick Sea 248 Ithecca and the Trade thereof 252 Ivisa Island and the Trade thereof 261 Iscia Islands ibid. Island 262 Jarsey Island ibid. Ireland and the Trade thereof 269 Ingland and the Cities thereof 269 Levant Merchants of London their original and splendour 270 Ignorant Exchangers censure the judicious if varying from the custom of Exchanging 273 Dates of Exchanges in Lions which may serve for the rate of Interest in any other place 303 Interest paid upon Rebate 304 K. The King's Beam or Weigh-house 3 How a Merchant may have a knowledge in all Commodities 9 The Kingdoms now in subjection to the Grand Seignior 67 Kent 26 Kings of Portugal great Merchants into India 28 L. Latitude how accounted 1 The Longitude of a place how to be found out ibid. The Latitude of a place how to be found ibid. Latitude and Longitude found out by the Meridians ibid. Lucay Islands 13 Lybia and the Provinces 24 Lydia 46 Liconia and the Cities 52 Lahoare 90 Lawibander ibid. Lisbon and the Trade thereof containing coyns weights measures and customs of Portugal 117 Locrams 125 Limosin 127 Lions and the Trade thereof 128
Dantzickers under pretence of the Suevian war exacted of them a Dollar for each woollen-cloth and as much proportionably upon all other commodities and afterwards though the war being ended yet would remit nothing of the same and withal forbad the English by a law decreed to live in Poland the commodities whereof were only sold there lest they should learn the language and find out the mystery of that trade and Country And lastly when as they exacted as much weekly of an Englishman dwelling in their City as they did of a Jew dwelling there amongst them the English thereupon made agreement with the Senate of Melvin for a 11 years to pay them six gross for each cloth brought in and accordingly for all other goods and to pay as much more in the City of Kettle to the Duke of Prusen for his giving them free passage to Melvin and so by this means they setled their Staple in Melvin whereupon the Dantzickers being offended with the Citizens of Melvin and the Hamburgers no less with those of Stoad procured all the free Cities by a publick writing to out law not only Melvin and Stoad for receiving the English to the common prejudice of the rest but also Ceningsberg the seat of the Duke of Prusen and the free City of Lubeck for favouring the English in this their course and for permitting them being strangers to sell their goods to any other than the Citizens of each several City But how these difference came afterward to be reconciled and their Staples removed thence I have shewed in other places Trade of Prusen And being now entred to speak of the Trade of Prusen a German Province but of late years annexed to the Crown of Poland which of it self is of great importance it will not be amiss to inlarge my self upon some particulars thereof The English then are found to bring thither great quantity of Tin Lead and woollen cloths and other commodities and to bring thence hard and liquid Pitch Hemp Flax Cables Masts for Ships Boards and Timber for building Linen Cloth Wax Mineral Salt which in Poland they dig out of pits like great Stones and the same being put to the fire is made pure and being black his colour is more durable and less subject to giving again than our boyled Salt Also they bring thence Pine Ashes for making of Sope commonly known to us by the name of Sope-Ashes and Corn in great quantity yet the English are found seldom to have need of their Corn for the use of England which many times of their own they transport to other Nations but they buy it as the free Cities do to transport it to other Countries which the Low country-men do also buy as well for themselves as to serve Spain and other Countries therewith so great a quantity thereof is hence dispersed into all parts of Europe Amber Amber is also brought from thence but not gathered neither at Melvin nor Dantzick as some imagine but on the Sea-side of Koningsperg where as I said the Duke of Prusen holds his Court and so all along the coast of Curland where howsoever it lies in great quantity on the sands of the Sea it is as safe as if it were lockt up in Ware-houses since it is death for any to take up the least piece thereof and being only by the law accounted to be the proper commodity of the Duke to whom the same appertaineth And this being as much as I have thought requisite to handle concerning the Trade of Germany in general or of the Imperial Cities and Heâ—…-Tomns in particular I will proceed to the next Kingdom which in order is Denmark and to the principal Cities and particular Trade thereof CHAP. CCX Of Denmark and the Provinces and Cities thereof Denmark and the Provinces thereof DEnmark hath on the East Mare Balticum on the West the German Ocean on the North Sweden on the South Germany This Country doth afford for Merchandize Fish Tallow Hides and having abundance of Oxen 50000 are said to be sent hence yearly to Germany also Buck-skins Armour of all soâ—…s furniture for shipping Boards such as Wainscot Fir-wood c. This Kingdom now contains Cimbrick Chersonese the Islands of the Baltick and part of Sâ—…dia and first this Chersonese is divided into four Provinces Alsatia Alsatia is the first wherein are found the Cities Niemunster and Bramsted and is the title of the second Son of Denmark Dithmars Dithmars is the second Province wherein are found the Cities of Marn and Meldâ—… the Inhabitants of this last is esteemed so wealthy that they are said to cover their houses wich Copper Slesia Slesia is the third wherein are of note Sleswick 2 Gottorp and 3 Londen a Haven Town Jutland Jutland is the fourth the Towns of note are Rincopen 2 Nicopen 3 Holn and 4 Arhausen Baltick Islands The Baltick Islands are 35 in number but of them 4 are sound to be of principal note 1 Sâ—land 2 Fionia 3 Bornholm and 4 Fimeria of which a word Seeland In Seeland is found thirteen Cities Copenhagen the chief whereof is Haffen the Kings Seat and the only University in Denmark known to other Nations by the name of Copenhagen that is Mercaâ—…rum Portus or the Merchants Haven Elsinour Secondly Elsinour standing on the Sea-side in which Town the Merchants that have passed or are to pass the Sound do pay their Customs to the King And thirdly Rochilt the Sepulchre of the Danish Kings between this Island and the firm land of Scandivonia is the passage called the Sound towards Muscovia which did formerly yield unto this King a great yearly profit but now much decayed since the English found out the Northern passage into Russia This Sound is in breadth 3 miles and commanded oâ— Scandia side by the Castle of Helsenburgh and on this Island by that of Cronburg both Castles of good defence Fionia In Fionia is found eight Towns the principal whereof Osel Scomberg and others Bornholm In Bornholmia is a principal City Bornholm Fimeria In Fimeria is found the City of Peterborn and is the Island in which that famous Mathematician Ticho Brabe built an artificial Tower wherein he studied the Mathematicks and wherein are still reserved many of his rare Mathematical Instruments Scandia Scandia is the last part of this Kingdom lying part of it on this side and part beyond the Artick Circle so that the longest day in the more Northern part is about three months the Kingdoms of Norway Swetland and part of Denmark the part of it belonging to Denmark is divided into three Provinces 1 Halandia 2 Schona and Blesida Halandia In Halandia is Halaneso Scania In Scania is the City of Londis a fair Haven Falsgerbode and the Castle of Elsimbourg one of the Keys of the Sound before mentioned and the Seas are here said sometimes so to abound with Herrings that Ships are scarce
able with wind and Oar to break through them and the Country is the pleasantest of all Denmark Blesida In Blesida is found the City of Malmogia and the strong Castle of Colmar against the Sweedlande◠The principal Trade of this Kingdom is contained in Copenhagen and Elsinour therefore under the title of these two I will comprehend the Traffick of this Kingdom CHAP. CCXI. Of Copenhagen and the Trade thereof Copenhagen and the Trade thereof COPENHAGEN is the Seat of the Kings of Denmark in Winter and may be interpreted the Merchants Haven on the East-side is the Kings Palace or Castle which bordereth on the Sea shore where the Haven is found to be the Sea being not far distant from the North side thereof the City is of a round form affording little beauty as being but meanly built of wood and clay and the Castle of stone Here are found some Merchants yet for the mostipart of no great eminence for the Country affordeth no rich commodities that may allure others thither or serve to be transported to other regions whereby a gain may be expected The Coins of Copenhagen The Monies of this Kingdom commonly current is the Dollar and shilling two Danish shillings make one Lubeck shilling and 66 Danish shillings accounted for a Rix Dollar which is five shillings Sterling Accounts in Denmark Their accounts are kept by marks of 16 shillings Danish Their exchanges are here practised by the Rix Dollar above mentioned the common current Coin of these Countries Measures and Weights c. Their Measures and Weights I will briefly observe by themselves and therefore hasten to Elsinour CHAP. CCXII. Of Elsinour and the Trade thereof Elsinour and the Trade thereof ELSINOVR of it self is but a poor Village but much frequented by Sea-men by reason of his neighbourhood to that straight Sea called the Sound where the King of Denmark hath laid so great Impositions upon all Ships and Goods coming out or going into the Baltick Sea as this sole profit surpasseth far all the Revenues of his Kingdom the strong Castle of Cronburg lies in this Village upon the mouth of this straight to which on the other side of this narrow Sea in the Kingdom of Norway another Castle is opposite called Elsburg which two are the keepers of this Straight that no Ship can pass in or come out of the Baltick Sea without their leave and consequently without due payment of this Imposition On the South side of Cronburg Castle is the largest Road for Ships toward the Baltick Sea where the King is said to have his lodgings which cannot choose but be a delectable prospect to all men but especially to him for Ships go in and out here by Fleets of a hundred and he is certain that none do pass either way but according to their burthen and loading adds somewhat to his treasury The Haven is able to contain a great Fleet for it hath Cronburg Castle on the North side the Castle of Elsburg on the East side and Seeland the chief Island of the Kingdom on the West side and the Island Fimeria or Whern on the South side in which I noted before that Tycho Brahe the samous Mathematician had his residence The Danes conceive this Island to be of such importance as they have a Fable That Henry the seventh of England offered for the possession of it as much Scarlet Cloth as would cover the same with a Rose Noble at the corner of each cloth If any such offer were made doubtless the wildom and judgment of that Prince knew how to make that Island being fortified peradventure to return him his charges again with good Interest but it is not credible by reason that it cannot benefit a foreign Prince whole Territories heth out of the Sound by which he must needs enter those before mentioned Castles commanding the entrance though it might prove more beneficial to some Prince bordering upon the Baltick Seas and to whom the Sea is open for passage CHAP. CCXIII. Weights in general of Denmark reduced to that of London Weights in general of Denmark NOw for the Weights of this Kingdom they are found to differ in many places so many as have come to my hand I have reduced to the suttle hundred of London which suttle hundred is found to produce in these Cities of Traffick and some others adjoyning  l. Aldar 87 Copping ham 92 Cracou 119 Dantzick 116 Hamburg 92 Wilde 116 Elsinour 92 Lubeck 92 Melvin 120 Revel 116 Rhiga 116 Stacar 108 Stralsont 88 Bergen Norway 92 Where it is to be noted that generally in Copenhagen and in most parts of Denmark they hare a great and small hundred one of 112 pound to the hundred and another of 120 pound to the hundred accounted twelve stone of ten pound to the stone Also they have a Skip-pound 32 stone of ten pound the stone or 20 Lispound of 16 mark pound is a Skip-pound and 20 times 16 pound is 320 pound CHAP. CCXIV. Measures in general of Denmark reduced to London Measures in general of Denmark AS I have done with their Weights so I will proceed with their Measures reducing then to the hundred yards English and makes in  Ells. Arsnis 166⅔ Breme 162½ Breslow for cloth 148 Ditto for Silks 160 Connixborough 166 Lubeck 160 Munster 80 Ockermond 141½ Revel 166 Rhostick 158⅓ Wismar 157¾ Dantzick 162½ Doinin 163 Embden 163 Gripswould 163 Hamburg 163 Melvin 162 Narva 166 Ossenbrighs 84 Rhiga 166 Statin 141½ And thus much shall serve to have said for the Measures of this Country whereto I have added the Measures of some other the adjoyning eminent Cities of Trade and Commerce CHAP. CCXV Of the Trade in general of Denmark Of the Trade in general of Denmark TO conclude the Trade of Denmark driven by the Inhabitants is not great their Country partly not affording Commodities for Merchandize and their Seas I mean principally the Baltick not being for many Months in the year navigable for Frost The Inhabitants are frugal in Food and Apparel and therefore not much addicted either to Silks or Spices and the great Traffick and Concourse of other Nations through the Sound that furnisheth them with all Necessaries makes the Inhabitants less desirous to sail abroad to fetch the same at the first hand Stock-fish and other Salted Fish they send into forein Countries and so also they do their Oxen and Cattel in great Quantity besides the Commodities which the Country doth naturally afford mentioned in the former part of this Country's Description neither have I heard any great fame of their Navigations or Mariners which principally sail Northward and little to the Southward tho otherwise it is conceived that next to the English their Vessels are the strongest built to indure the Blasts of the colder Climates and the Scorchings of the warmer Regions yet of late days I have understood they have undertaken some new Discoveries and Trade to the East-Indies