whilst he remains there and then having chosen one to his mind he contracts with her friends for her use for the said time at an easie rate which done he bringeth her to his house or lodging and she serveth him willingly in all his affairs both by day and night as both his slave and wife but then he must take care that during that time he keepeth not company with any other woman for so he might incur a greater danger and peril of his life by the Law of the Countrey Now when the time of his residence is expired he payeth the Parents of the Maid the price agreed for and departeth quietly away and she returneth with credit to her friends being as well esteemed of as ever she was before and if afterward this Maid chance to marry though with the principallest of the Countrey and that the aforesaid stranger should again return hither to trade he may again demand his wâ—man and he shall have her by the Law of the Countrey without the resistance of her husband or any shame unto him and she remaineth by the stranger as long as he abideth there and he travelling from thence she goeth home to her husband again which amongst them is held for a most sure and inviolable Law and Custom Coins current in Pegu. The Coin current here and throughout all this Coast is called Gansa which is made of Copper and Lead and is not the proper money of the King but every man may stamp it that will and that is able because it hath its just value in stuff and materials there is much counterfeiting of this Coin but it is soon discerned by the Brokers Tellers of Money who readily spy it out and therefore not passable nor will it be taken by any with this money Gansa you may buy Gold Silver Rubies Drugs Spices and all Commodities and no other Money is current amongst them This Gansa goeth by a weight called a Biso and this name of Bise goeth for the account of the weight and therefore a Bise of a Gansa is accounted by strangers there trading ½ â„ž 8 â— or 2 s. 6 d. sterling and albeit that Gold and Silver as all other Commodites do rise and fall yet this Bise never altereth in value or estimation Every Bise maketh a hundred Gansaes of weight and so it doth come to pass that the number of the money is Bisa Martaven In this Countrey is also seated the Town of Martaven a place of great Traffick and the last of this Coast the Inhabitants whereof are wonderful expert in making of hard Waâ— which hence is dispersed throughout India and into many places of Europe here is also made those great earthens Jars or vessels which serve them to keep Water Oyl or any other liquor and are much used in India and aboard their Ships in stead of Cask Barrels and such Vessels and throughout all these Countries are called of the name of the place Maatavanas and in some places by the Portugals Benajos CHAP. XCVI Of Siam and the Trade of the Coast thereof Of Siam and the Trade of the Coast thereof UNder the title of Siam I will comprehend the City of Tenaserim a famous Town of Traffick and the Metropolis of a Kingdom also Pattana another City on this Coast not far distan from Siam it self being a place where the English Merchants have a residence and hold a Factory and lastly Siam as the principal and as one upon whom the rest have a dependency both in matter of Government and Trade This City then of Siam some years past as appears by relation of that worthy Merchant Ralph Fitch and others was the prime of all these and the neighbouring Regions but being for twenty one months besieged by the King of Pegu who after four months march incompassed it with a million and four hundred thousand Souldiers at length by means of treason and not of strength gained it drove the King thereof to that desperation that he poisoned himself with all his wives and children The fortune of Siam and Pegu since which time it hath obeyed several Princes and been subject to sundry Masters according to the various chance of war and of this Country which in one Age is seen here so diversâ—y to alter into sundry shapes for a petty King which now commands one only Town or Province in a few years comes to be a great Emperour over several Kingdoms and peradventure that great Emperour who now commanded so many several Nations within few years after is glad to rule over a small Province City or Island which the Princes of Pegu and Siam have of late years to their great grief found too true by experience The City of Siam is yet notwithstanding the former suffered calamity a place of great Traffick not only hence to Couchin-China Macau Cantor Malacca Cambaia and the Islands Summatra Borneo Banda and others by Sea but also is much augmented by the inland Trade thereof partly to Martavan Tenaserim and others which are seated on the same Land but as seated on the back-side thereof and as enjoying thereby the Commodity of another Sea but the same is found proper for Trade by its own commodious situation River Menan being on the banks of that great and famous River Menan which runneth hither through or rather thwarteth India arising in the lake of Chiama as they term it at least 22 degrees from this City where it issueth into the Sea and is here found about the month of March so to over-swell his banks and the neighbouring Country that it covereth the earth for 120 miles in compass and therefore the Inhabitants are said to retire themselves during this Inundation to the upper part of their houses so purposely made to avoid the inconveniency of the waters every house then having a Boat or Frigot belonging thereto by which means they converse together and traffick as on dry shore till the said River return to her wonted Channel again The Kings of this Country as indeed of all these Regions are for the most part Merchants who gave the English admittance to trade and residence here about 1612 upon whom he bestowed also a fair House for their abode and Ware-houses to lay up their Merchandize where since for some years they have continued but of late years have left it off and discontinued upon the little benefit this Scale and Country afforded them Commodities of Siam and Pattana The principal Commodities of this City and Coast are Cotton Linnens of several sorts and that excellent Wine or distilled Liquor called here by the name of Nipe made of Cocos or India Nuts and hence transported into all parts of India and the adjoining Regions here is also great quantity of Benjamin and of Lac wherewith the hard Wax is made that is brought hence into sundry parts of the World also that costly Wood called by the Portugals Palo Dangula and Calamba which being good is weighed against Silver
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
Goa is 1 Pecul and 132 l. â…˜ English nearest So that the difference as already said which ariseth in the Pecul from 130 l. 15 32 parts of a pound to 132â…˜ and 133 l. English is by weighing by the Ballance or Stilyard the Stilyard or Dotchen making more the Ballance less The Covid or Maccao is rather a very small matter more than less than 3 quarters of our Yard and 2½ Inches or more rather 29 Inches â… of an Inch nearest which Covid is used by the Portuguez The Chinese have another Covid or Measure consisting of between 14 11 12 of an Inch and 14 6 7 of an Inch which is divided into 10 parts and each of those are subdivided into 10 other parts The Covid or Measure of the Chinchoses a Province of China bordering upon the Province of Canton and Eastward of Maccao is but just 12 Inches of our measure and is the â…˜ parts of Chinese Covid or Measure nearest As for Coins there is none in the Southern parts but if you buy any thing after you have agreed for it you cut off of the Rial of Eight so many Mass Condreens c. as you agree for and so weigh it by the Dotchen which every one carries about him Having thus done with the main Continent of Asia and cursorily surveyed the particular Trade of some of the most eminent Cities of the Kingdoms therein contained being constrained by reason of the remoteness of these places and want of better information to let the same pass not so perfect as otherwise I could wish for and desire I shall willingly in what is here by me omitted crave the advices of the better experienced and that they would add by their knowledg and trial what is either here defective or altogether left out and thus leaving the Continent according to my method I will in brief run through some of those Islands which merit observation and survey the Trade thereof as amply as my Adviso's will give me leave CHAP. C. Of the Islands of Asia and the Trade thereof Islands of Asia and the Trade thereof THE Islands of Asia are either in the Oriental Seas as Japan Zeilan Moluccoes Javas Summatra Barneo the Philippines and others or in the Mediterranean Sea as Rhodes Cyprus c. of the Trade whereof a word before I conclude this Commerce of Asia CHAP. CI. Of the Island of Japan and the Trade thereof Island of Japan and the Trade thereof JApan is situated over against Canton in China having in length 600 miles but narrow in breadth in some places 90 and in some but 30 miles it obeys 66 several Sovereigns the King of Tense holding the principal authority commanding 50 of the 66 above mentioned Kingdoms every King Lord and Master having full power and authority over the goods and lives of the subjects servants and children subject unto him It was discovered by the Portugal Anno 1542. and since is much frequented by Jesuits who in great numbers have settled themselves here and are found to exercise Trade and Commerce as cunningly and subtilly as any Jew elsewhere in the world Their chief Towns are Osacaia Bunguin Meaco and are the principal Ports frequented by Merchants Strangers the Commodities of this place and Islands is Silver in some good measure digged up here and carried hence by Merchants to China to exchange for Silks and principally Rice which is found here growing in such abundance that the King or Emperour draweth Two millions of Ducates yearly out of that which is gathered from his own Possessions which he hath received at his own Demesne Firando and at Firando one of the Islands of Japan the English have setled a Factory for Trade in 1613. by Captain Sari's labour and industry The civil Wars that continually vex these Islands hinder an exact survey of the materials whereby their Trade is driven yet so far as I have collected I will here insert Coins current in Japan Their Moneys current for the most part through these Islands are thus termed and with some small difference have this value Their Silver Coins current is a Tail a Mass and a Condery A Tail is a â„ž of 8 â— or 5 s. sterling or â…› Tail of Siam and this Tail is 10 Mass or 100 Conderies A Mass is 10 Conderies or 6 d. sterling And in some places the â„ž â— â— passeth for 74 Condories only and no more Their Gold is coined into two small Barrs of two several sorts the one is called an Iehebo worth about 15 in 16 Mass of Silver the other is called a Coban worth from 60 to 68 Mass which may be valued from 30 s. to 34 s. sterling The Wars that continually vex this Country is the cause of this unconstant rate and price thereof Weights in Japan The Weights in use in Japan is the Pecul and the Cattee A Pecul is 10 Cattees A Cattee is accounted by some 21 ounces and by some 20¾ ounces Averdupois so that a Pecul is about 130 or 131 l. English Measure of length in Japan Their Measure of length is an Incken or Tattamy which is 2½ yards English 25 yards being 12 Tattamies Measure of Rice and Grain in Japan Their measure for Rice is thus accounted A Gant is 3 Cocas being as much as three English Ale-Pints An Ickgoga is 100 Ganta's One Ickmagog is 1000 Ickgoga's One Managoga is 10000 Ickmagogs CHAP. CII Of Zeilan and the Trade thereof Island Zeilan and the Trade thereof ZEilan lieth in the gulph of Bengala in length 250 and in breadth 140 miles found so fruitful that the grass groweth and the trees bear fruit all the year long without intermission it is commanded in chief by the great Mogul the principal Towns are Zeilan the Metropolis of the Island and Columbo fortified by the Portugals and as it is conceived commanding over the best harbour in India Commodities of the Island Zeilan For Commodities it hath many and almost all things that are found in India through all the several Provinces and places thereof first it hath Nutmegs Cloves and Pepper-Trees good store and the best Cinnamon in all India which is here had and found growing in whole woods and hence dispersed into all parts of the World also it affords all kinds of precious Stones except Diamonds as Saphirs Rubies Topazes Spinals Granati also a plentiful fishing for Pearl yet not accounted so good as at Bareim by Ormus it hath likewise Mines of Gold Silver and other metals also Iron Flax Brimstone Ivory bones and sundry other Commodities Adam's Hill the Zeilans Paradise Here is also a Hill of that great height that the Inhabitants hold it the highest in India and call it Adam's Hill upon which they say Paradise stood and that Adam was there created whose foot-steps if they may be believed do remain yet ingraven there in the Rock and go not out but the Inhabitanis being most active in their bodies may be
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
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
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
it doth also make our other Trades much greater than they were for in this manner the Ten Thousand Bags of Pepper which this Year we have brought hither from the East-Indies should be valued at very near Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds whereas all this Pepper in the Kindom's Accompt cost not above Fifty Thousand Pounds because the Indians have had no more of us although we paid them extraordinary dear prices for the same All the other Charges as I have said before is but a Change of effects amongst our selves and from the Subject to the King which cannot impoverish the Common-wealth But it is true That whereas Nine Thousand Bags of the said Pepper are already Shipp'd out for divers Forein Parts These and all other Wares Forein or Domestick which are thus transported Outwards ought to be cast up by the Rates of His Majesty's Custom-mony Multiplyed by Twenty or rather by Twenty Five as I conceive which will come nearer the Reckoning when we consider all our Trades to bring them into a Medium 3 ly We must remember that all Wares Exported or Imported by Strangers in their Shipping be esteem'd by themselves for what they carry out the Kingdom hath only the first Cost and Custom And what they bring in we must rate it as it is worth here the Custom Impost and petty Charges only deducted Lastly There must be good notice taken of all the great Losses which we receive at Sea in our Shipping either Outward or Homeward bound For the Value of the one is to be deducted from our Exportations and the Value of the other is to be added to our Importations for to Lose and to consume doth produce one and the same Reckoning Likewise If it happen that His Majesty doth make over any great Sums of Mony by Exchange to maintain a Forein War where we do not Feed and Cloath the Soldiers and provide the Armies we must deduct all this Charge out of our Exportations or add it to our Importations for this Expence doth either carry out or hinder the coming in of so much Treasure And here we must remember the great Collections of Mony which are supposed to be made throughout the Realm yearly from our Recusants by Priests and Jesuits who secretly convey the sâ—me unto their Colleges Cloysters and Nunneries beyond the Seas from whence it never returns to us again in any kind Two Contraries which are both pernicious therefore if this Mischief cannot be prevented yet it must be esteem'd and set down as a clear Loss to the Kingdom except to Ballance this we will imagine that as great a Value may perhaps come in from Forein Princes to their Pensioners here for Favours or Intelligence which some States account good Policy to purchase with great Liberality the Receipt whereof notwithstanding is plain Treachery There are â—et some other petty things which seem to have reference to this Ballance of which the said Officers of His Majesty's Customs can take no notice to bring them into the Accompt As namely the Expences of Travellers the Gifts to Ambassadors and Strangers the Fraud of some Rich Goods not entred into the Custom-House the Gain which is made here by Strangers by Change and Re-change Interest of Mony Insurance upon Englishmens Goods and their Lives Which can be little when the Charges of their living here is deducted besides that the very like Advantages are as amply ministred unto the English in Forein Countries which doth counterpoize all these things and therefore they are not considerable in the drawing up of the said Ballance CHAP. XXI The Conclusion upon all that hath been said concerning the Exportation or Importation of Treasure THE Sum of all that hath been spoken concerning the Enriching of the Kingdom and the Increase of our Treasure by Commerce with Strangers is briefly thus That it is a certain Rule in our Forein Trade in those Places where our Commodities exported are over-ballanced in value by Forein Wares brought into this Realm there our Mony is under-valued in Exchange and where the contrary of this is performed there our Mony is over-valued in Exchange and where the contrary of this is performed there our Mony is over-valued But let the Merchant's Exchange be at a high Rate or at a low Rate or at the Par pro Pari or put down altogether Let Forein Princes enhance their Coins or debase their Standards and let His Majesty do the like or keep them constant as they now stand Let Forein Coins pass current here in all Payments at higher Rates than they are worth at the Mint Let the Statute for Employments by Strangers stand in force or be repealed Let the meer Exchanger do his worth Let Princes Oppress Lawyers Extort Userers Bite Prodigals Wast and lastly Let Merchants carry out what Mony they shall have occasion to use in Traffick Yet all these Actions can work no other Effects in the course of Trade than is declared in this Discourse For so much Treasure only will be brought in or carried out of a Common-wealth as the Forein Trade doth Over or Under-ballance in value And this must come to pass by a Necessity beyound all resistance So that all other Courses which tend not to this End howsoever they may seem to force Mony into a Kingdom for a time yet are they in the End not only fruitless but also hurtful They are like to Violent Floods which bear down their Banks and suddenly remain dry again for want of Waters Behold then the true Form and Worth of Forein Trade which is The great Revenue of the King The Honour of the Kingdom The Noble Profession of the Merchant The School of our Arts The Supply of our Wants The Employment of our Poor The Improvement of our Lands The Nursery of our Mariners The Walls of the Kingdoms The Means of our Treasure The Sinews of our Wars The Terror of out Enemies For all which great and weighty Reasons do so many well governed States highly countenance the Profession and carefully cherish the Action not only with Policy to Increase it but also with Power to protect it from all Forein Injuries Because they know it is a Principle in Reason of State To Maintain and Defend that which doth Support them and their Estates FINIS These Books following are Sold by Tho. Horne at the South Entrance of the Royal-Exchange LONDON HVdibrass Compleat in 3. parts the Author Samuel Butler 8 vo Lex Mercatoria Compleat with all the Books of Merchants Accompts fol. Boyer's French Dictionary 4 to Idem in 8 vo Toriano's Italian Dictionary fol. Oldham's Poems compleat 8 vo The Perfect method of Merchants Accompts by John Collins fol. Plutarch's Lives in 5 Vol 8 vo by several Hands Morals in 5 Vol. 8 vo Grand Cyrus in 10. Vol. a Romance 12 o. Arch-Bishop Tillotson's Works fol. Pools Annotations on the Bible 2 Vol. fol. The Works of Sr. William Davenant fol. Dampiers Travels in 2 Vol. 8 vo Letters written by a Turkish Spy in 8 Vol. 12 o. Charon of VVisdom in 2 Vol. 8 vo Bp. Burnet's History of Reformation 2 Vol. fol. Exposition on the 39 Articles fol. Anatomy of an Horse fol. Sr. John Chardin's Travels into Persia fol. History of the Kingdom of Syam fol. Coles Dictionary English and Latine 8 vo Cambden's Britannia fol. Montaign's Essay ' s 3 Vol. 8 vo Aesop's Fables by Sr. Roger L'Estrange fol. Idem by Dr. W. Pope 8 vo Baker's Chronicle of England fol. Lord Bacon's Essay 's 8 vo Misson's Travels in 2 Vol. 8 vo Hales Contemplations 8 vo Lock on Human Understanding fol. Wing's Art of Surveying Land fol. Sturmy's Mariners Magazine fol. History of the Council of Trent fol. Wiseman's Chirurgery fol. Dr. Scots Christian Life all the parts compleat 8 vo English Gardner 4 to Lasselâ—'s Travels into Italy 8vo Dafforn's English Merchants Companion 4 to Evelyn of Medals fol. Dryden's Translation of Virgil fol. Book of Rates of the Customs 12 o. Horneck's Crucified Jesus 8 vo Great Law of Consideration Best Exercise Systema Agriculturae fol. Compleat Gardner 8 vo Charnock's VVorks 2 Vol. fol. Taylor 's Life of Christ fol. Cases of Conscience fol. The VVorks of Ben. Johnson fol. Lives and opinions of the Ancient Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius 2 Vol. 8 vo Gage's Survey of the West-Indies 8 vo Buccaneers of America 8 vo History of Don Quixot in 2 Vol. 8 vo Bible in Italian by Diodati fol. Sr. William Temples VVorks 8 vo Common-Prayer in Italian 12O Gordon's Geographical Grammar 8 vo Playford's Singing Psalms 8 vo Boyle's Seraphick Love 8 vo Also Bibles and Common-Prayer Books in all Volumes and Sea Charts likewise Bills of Lading in English Italian Spanish Portuguese Dutch and French And Setts of Books for a Merchants Compting-House of the best Paper and Binding
new Offices being daily hatched up and maintained by the chief Customers and Farmers not only to the detriment of Merchants and of all Trade in particular but also to the prejudice of the Sovereign and all Traffick and Commerce in the general Custom differs in many respects These Customs then as I said before are noted not to be paid in all Countries alike for they are found to differ in divers regards the principal whereof I have observed to be these In regard of place First They are found to differ in regard of Places and Kingdoms as a far greater Custom is paid in Spain and generally throughout the King of Spain's Dominions than in France Italy Turkie and in some other places In regard of Cities Secondly Some difference is also found in regard of times as in priviledged Towns enjoying free Fairs Marts and Markets as is seen observed by custom and long use in Rouen Beaucair Franckford Messina and other places where the Customs are then and at that time little or else nothing or far less than at all other times of the year besides In regard of time Thirdly Somewhat again in respect of Cities enjoying a more peculiar priviledge and continued freedom in Trade in sundry Kingdoms where little or no Custom is paid upon any Commodity whatsoever either during a year after the Importing of the Goods or for certain limited time or months as it is seen in Legorn Marsilia and in many other Free Cities and Hanse-Towns c. In regard of Commodities Fourthly Somewhat again in regard of Commodities as is seen in England and many other places elsewhere where some Commodities are higher rated in the Custom than other some some paying after the rate of 5 per cent some 10 some 15 and some 20 per cent and some yet more and some less In regard of Weight Fifthly Somewhat again in respect of the Weight as is seen in Rouen by the Vicont in Lions by the King's Beam in Stockholm by the Merchants weight and so in other places where there is used a large weight in favour of the Merchants to pay their Custom by and another lesser to buy and sell withal Strictness for not paying of Customs All these things and many others as necessary to this Commerce must be truly learned for ignorance herein is not pardonable and is ever a prejudice to him that is found to exercise Trade for the rigour and strictness practised in sundry Countries herein against Merchants is extream whereas these Customs are not duly and truly to the utmost satisfied and paid In Russia Denmark Sweden As the first in Russia Denmark and Sweden the Law is That if a Merchant do not declare all his Goods in the Custom-house which he either Importeth or Exporteth but concealeth some part thereof all the rest of that Commodity being of the same kind are forfeited to the Prince without favour or redemption In Spain's Dominions In Spain and generally throughout all the King of Spain's Dominions the Commodities concealed are only forfeited unless they be prohibited or as they term it Contrabanda Goods and then all is lost In England Scotland and Ireland In England Scotland and Ireland the like for there the Goods concealed are only forfeited but yet they may be had again upon Composition for the Officer that maketh the seisure hath power by a License sued forth to compound for the one half which is his part and if no intention to defraud the King appear in the fact the Barons of the Exehequer will deal favourably with the Merchant for the other half which is the King 's and if a Merchant cannot for want of a Factory make a direct or perfect Entry he may declare his Goods in the Custom-house at sight and taking up the same it may be either weighed or measured opened and perused by an Officer and then afterward the Custom may be satisfied accordingly without further danger And if the Merchant would again ship out those Goods so brought in by him he may do it by Certificate free of Custom for 13 months and have the Impost thereof returned to him again provided the property hath not been during that time altered There is also by way of Tares granted to the Merchant in the Custom-house 5 per Cent. upon all Commodities either weighed or measured and allowances upon Wines and Oyls for leakage and upon Clothes Kersies and such like one in ten for wrappers with many other limited Observations which are found published in His Majesties Declaration before the printed Book of Rates for Customs in England c. In Germany France Italy Netherlands In France Germany and many places of Italy and in the Low Countries the Goods concealed are only forfeited but the same may be afterwards compounded for wherein the circumstances will in some places be considered and the manner how the Error grew and whether it appear to be done with a set purpose or not In Constantinople Smyrna In Constantinople Smyrna and many places of Turkie the Goods concealed are not at all forfeited but are to pay double the imposed Custom if taken and then to be again restored I have noted that the Rates of the Customs are found to alter in sundry Countries as in Spain and Portugal is paid upon divers Goods 10 per cent upon some 20 and 25 per cent In Turkie is paid by the English only 3 per cent but by all other Christian Nations 5 per cent and the same is not there paid nor satisfied in Money as in other Countries but in species and in kind except compounded for before-hand and so by a value reduced into Moneys so also it is in some Countries more and in some less sometimes settled upon the hundred in value and sometimes upon the piece and in China and some places of India it is noted that in favour of this Duty the Tessel and Ship is measured in length and breadth and depth and so by a certain rule and sum the Custom is levied accordingly upon all sorts of Goods aboard her without distinction alike in bulk Impositions upon Goods Besides this Duty of Custom paid in most Cities by Merchants as I have shewed there is another Duty like to this which is called by the name of Imposition because the same is imposed upon some certain and particular Commodities and not in general as Customs are upon all the which also is not alike rated upon all Wares for though they be found now to be much of the same nature as Customs are yet originally they are conceived to be nothing but Custom strained beyond a fair proportion and are imposed oftentimes more for the inriching of some private Courtier than for the profit or benefit of the Sovereign and which in themselves are found to be very heavy excessive and burthensome upon some particular Commodities and therefore as there is a necessity in the payment thereof so is
and all other circumstances thereof Neither yet must his knowledge rest it self here upon the consideration of the meer goodness of Commodities but must also extend it self to the consideration of the true worth and value thereof both in the price and in the esteem and also know how the same is both requested and spent and how Imported and how exported either for Use or for Ornament from one Countrey and place to another together with the due circumstances of Times and Seasons when this Vent or Sale presenteth and when the same is out of use and not demanded also when sign of plenty doth offer it self and when of scarcity when of rising and when of falling what Commodities in themselves naturally are friends and sympathize in the Shipping and will indure packing binding and stowage together and which again have a secret antipathy and will perish and consume each other all which circumstances I have at large handled in a Tract which I have called The Merchants Magazine which I may hereafter publish if I find this my Labour prove acceptable to Merchants Merchants should reduce this knowledge of Commodities to profit Moreover all Merchants endeavouring to obtain this exquisiteness should not be satisfied with a naked skill and knowledge in these Commodities thus belonging to other mens Professions but their main scope and aim should be to make this knowledge and skill profitable and beneficial unto them as by Exporting the superfluous Commodities of one Countrey at a plentiful Season of either Harvest Recolto or Vintage to another place or Kingdom where either nature scarcity the curiosity pride sloth or necessity of the Inhabitants challengeth a supply or stand in need of which must be done with many advised circumstances First In that consideration must be had as well to the place as to the time as well in the Importation as in the Exportation and to the property and fitness of both the place and time for all Commodities are not transportable at all Seasons nor yet every Season fit for every Commodity some Commodities require Winter and cold Seasons for Transportations and some again require Summer and warmer weather and in the fitness of the place a judicious Eye is to be had and the same to be done with a great deal of providence and circumspection observing well the nature and the property of the place whither the same is to be Imported and whence Exported and not as that Dutch Merchant is said unfitly to have done that carried Fish to Rame at Easter or Shooe-horns and Hats to Constantinople or as we commonly say Coals to New-Castle where great quantities are daily digged up and vented thence to all parts of the World Merchants should know how to preserve all commodities And for as much as Merchants find not at all times a present Vent and Sale for their Commodities according to their mind and to a contented profit therefore their knowledge must yet extend it self so far as that they know how the same is both to be preserved and kept from either spoyling or perishing for Experience shews that almost every several Commodity doth demand almost a several and different way of preservation and keeping that the same may continue and hold its prime vertue worth and goodness both in colour substance and beauty and also know what may be opposite thereto and incident either to spoil hurt harm or prejudice it for first some Commodities are observed to be best preserved dry as is seen in some sorts of Spices Drugs Sugars raw Silks and such like and these require a dry close Ware-house or Magazine for stowage thereof some are found to be best preserved by lying close without air or vent as some Wines some Fruits and such like and some are observed to be best preserved by moisture and no air as Tobacco Civet Musk Verdigreese and such like and so in some other Commodities which do also differ in respect of the place some Commodities requiring low and close Cellerage and some high and airy Ware-houses c. all which things are considerable in the housing and keeping of Wares and Commodities and necessary to be known lest that by ignorance a damage be sustained in staying for a Market or a fit or more proper season for the sale and vent thereof Merchants should know how to better their Commodities Neither is it sufficient that a Merchant do know how to preserve his Wares and Commodities in their first splendor goodness and virtue but their skill must extend if possible to give it new vigour life strength and beauty being either by casualty or time dead or faded dying or perishing which though in some Commidities it may in some sort be performed yet in all Commodities it is a matter not only unprobably but utterly impossible to be in any manner of ways effected for this only secret if any where it were to be learned would prove a most profitable knowledge and worth the learning and a Mystery that would too soon enrich Trades-men and Merchants Yet some such there be their Arts-Masters who before they will throw away their Goods when either they are in part decaying or totally perishing will try many ways and conclusions to rectifie the default and defects thereof sometimes by Commixrures Compositions and helps adding excellent good to the very worst or sweet to four or one colour to another as is imagined is too oftentimes practised by the Art of the Vintuer in his old perished or pallid Wines Others again by changing the Objects turning one Die into another as it is conceived is daily practised by Mercers and others by new dying of spotted Stuffs and Silks many such ways being practised which the ingenious head and hand of the Arts-man hath found out and invented to save preserve maintain and sometimes to vestore a Commodity that is wasting and perishing which I refer to those that are more skilful therein How a Merchant may have knowledg in all Commodities Now the last point resting to conclude this Chapter is to shew briefly how this knowledge first spoken of in Commodities may be gained and acquired which doubtless is best done by Experience the true Mother of Knowledge and this Experience is best gotten by often viewing the same and heedfully marking the Qualities and Properties thereof and especially the best and principal of each sort that a man would be expert in to which end it is ever good to procure and keep Patterns and Samples and thereby so imprint the very Idea thereof in a man's mind that at the sight of the like or equal the same may instantly be known and discerned Merchants to write down their Observations upon Commodities and the sooner to obtain this knowledge a man that would learn must be very inquisitive of men of Experience that are able to instruct in the Commodities required and learn from such what is the principal notes requisite thereunto either in their colours goodness substance
much as shall in you lie you shall procure your fellows and other work-men to do the like IV. You shall neither buy nor sell any Garble dust light Pepper or other unlawful thing which shall be taken out of any Spices Drugs Wares or other Merchandizes so long as you shall continue in service or work with your Master that now is or with any other who shall hereafter use or occupy the Office of Garbler neither shall you cause or procure any other to buy any part thereof And if you shall know any person that shall buy sell put to sale or convey out of the City or Liberties thereof any Spices Drugs Wares or Merchandizes Ungarbled which ought to be Garbled Or which shall buy or sell any Garble dust powder light Pepper or any other thing within the said City or Liberties thereof you shall with as much speed as conveniently you may inform your Master thereof V. You shall not at any time hereafter so much as in you shall lie suffer to be delivered or consent to the delivery of any Spices Drugs or other Merchandizes which shall be Garbled before the same shall be sealed with the usual Seal of the Garbler accustomed for the same VI. You shall know no person to mix any Garble dust light Pepper or powder with clean Spices Drugs or Merchandizes but you shall with convenient speed inform your Master thereof VII You shall not enter into any work or labour touching the Office of your Master the Garbler until your said Master or in his absence his chief Clerk or chief Servant by him appointed or to be appointed in that behalf shall have knowledge thereof and give order touching the same And all other things appertaining to the due execution of the Office of Garbler to be performed by you as a Servant or Work-man you shall truly honestly dutifully and faithfully perform and execute without partiality or favour malice or evil will to any party So God you help The accustomed and usual Rates of all Spices and Drugs Garbleable Pepper by the bag not exceeding 200 three quarters ij s. 00 Pepper exceeding 300 by the bag ij s. vi d. Cloves by the pound 00 ij d. Wormseeds by the pound 00 ij d. Maces the 100 weight iv s. 00 Nutmegs the 100 weight iij s. vi d Cinnamon the 100 weight ijs viij d. Ginger the 100 weight 00 xij d. Anniseeds the 100 weight 00 viij d Cumminseeds the 100 weight 00 viij d. Corianderseeds the 100 weight 00 viij d. Carrowayseeds the 100 weight 00 viij d. Fennelseeds the 100 weight 00 viij d. Almonds the 100 weight 00 viij d. Rice the 100 weight 00 viij d. Dates the 100 weight 00 viij d. Onion-seeds the 100 weight 00 viij d. French Barley the 100 weight 00 viij d. Galls the 100 weight 00 viij d. Cochincel the pound weight 00 ob Indico the 100 weight 00 ivd. Argal the 100 weight 00 vi d. Licorice the 100 weight 00 iij d. Saunders the 100 weight 00 iij d. Long-pepper the 100 weight ij s. viij d. Spignal the 100 weight ijs 00 Gallingal the 100 weight 00 viij d. Turmerick the 100 weight 00 xvi d. Setwel the 100 weight 00 xii d. Cassia sistula the 100 weight ij s. viij d. Guiney pepper the 100 weight iv s. 00 Senna the 100 iv s. 00 Bayberries the 100 weight 00 viij d. Erius the 100 weight 00 xii d. Stavesacre the 100 weight 00 viij d. Calamus the 100 weight 00 xviij d Fenugreek the 100 weight 00 viij d. Cassia-lignum the 100 weight ij s. viij d. Grains the 100 weight 00 viij d. Mastick the 100 weight 00 xviij d. Frankincense the 100 weight 00 xii d. Gum Arabick the 100 weight 00 xii d. Rhubarb the 100 weight 00 xii d. Scamony the 100 weight 00 xii d. Olibanum the 100 weight 00 xii d. Hermidacles the 100 weight 00 xviij d. Gum-lack the 100 weight 00 xij d. Tobacco the pound weight 00 iv d. Sal-Armoniack the 100 wt 00 xviij d. The Use of the Alnegers Office The Antiquity of Wooll in this Kingdom hath been beyond the memory of Man that accustomed use hath always been observed to make it the Seat of our wise and learned Judges in the sight of our Noble Peers within the place where all wholsom Laws are established for the good Government of this Kingdom so that no Kingdom whatsoever can speak so happily of this benefit as this Realm who findeth it the rich mans Increase and the poor mans Comfort who in former times suffered the Transportation thereof unto a more ingenious Nation which made far greater benefit by their labour than those whom God had freely sent it unto That it is this time the glory of our Traffick and maintenance of our poor many hundred Thousadds depend wholly on the same whose bread is gained by these imployments it affords Rayment nay rich Robes for the greatest Princes and also warm clothing for the meanest personages and no part unprofitable or deceitful in it but often abused by the wicked practices of deceitful people The Antiquity of the Alneger Before the making of Cloth within this Land the Alneger was ordained who exercised that Office upon all Cloths coming from forein parts to measure and try them where they were put on Land as only measurer appointed for a long time his Authority was carried by Proclamation before any Parliament was holden 2 Edw. 3. 14. his Fee was not then given him but allowance from the Lord Treasurer and Barons of Exchequer according to his pains and care his charge was to see all Cloths of assise marked and those not of assise and defective to be taken into his hands for the King although in the presence of any Maior Bailiff or other Magistrate wherein his credit and trust reposed by the King was explained Whilst true making of Cloth endured in reasonable manner it was most credible in all parts and so much desired that forein Merchants did usually come into this Realm to fetch them away but since deceit crept in hath grown greater and increased every day the Trade still declining from bad to worse and now to worst of all What maketh those now to refuse our Cloths being brought to their own doors which before time earnestly sought it at ours Falshood The Clothier complains of his dead sales the Merchant complains of his losses all but falshood Bad Wares are the breeders of bad Debts and desperate hazards wherewith both Merchants and makers are extreamly punished when defective Cloth is made the owner is often inforced to barter for as bad a Commodity a Hilding for a Jade or to deliver out that sweet Herb Thyme but receive a back burden of the bitter Herb Rue so here is an adventure increased The Law was effectually provided for the search in all points that in every place where Cloth is made and sold persons appointed for the search thereof that it be according to the Law and
sort is much made use of for guilding the old ones being accounted the best The Silver Coins are of two sorts viz. the Spanish Ryal of 8 â— and the Asper of this place which latter notwithstanding hath some mixture of Brass in it and of late years they have been so falsified by the Jews that at present they are called in which cannot but occasion a great detriment to many Accounts Their Accounts are commonly kept in Dollars or Ryals of 〈◊〉 and Aspers Exportation of Money Exportation of Money is sometimes limited viz. such a quantity at a shipping as the Dey pleases and often prohibited yet seldom is this Prohibition so strict but by means of a Present you may transport what you please yet take this observation That the Dollars here are generally lighter than in other parts the reason supposed to be the Jews clipping of them Weights Their common Weight is a Cantar or 100 pound being about two pounds bigger than our 112 pound of England So that their pound weight hath been found to make near 16 ounces Troy and produces in Ligorn the common Scale of passage from Christendom 150 pound This Cantar contains 100 pounds each pound is divided into 16 ounces and each ounce into 8 Tamins And hereby is weighed all sorts of Commodities except Silver Gold Pearl c. which are weighed by a Carot Weight and Mitigals as shall be shewed in another place more convenient In weighing of Cloves 5 pound per Cantor is usually allowed for Tret and for Nutmegs and Pepper 5 pound per cent for Tret and Bag together Measures of length Their Measure of length is the Pike whereof there are three sorts the first being call'd the Cloth-Pike that 's 26½ inches English by which are measured all sorts of Woollen Cloth and Stuffs By the second termed the Silk-Pike which is a gray or 1 18 part less than the Cloth-Pike are measured Silks Sattens Velvets and the like By the third sort which is called the Linnen-Pike is measured only Linnen and Dimity c. and is ¼ part less than the Silk-Pike Dry Meaures Their dry Measures are 1. The Coffice which contains about ten English bushels and doth commonly hold out 5 Sacks of Ligorn and somewhat better Secondly The Weab 18 whereof make a Coffice And thirdly The Saw 12 whereof make a Weab Liquid Measures Their liquid Measure is of two sorts viz. the Wine-Meetar and the Oyl-Meetar the latter whereof being just twice as big as the former contains near five English Gallons Commodities The principal Commodities that this place doth afford are Hides Wool Wax Honey Oyl Corn Dates Raisins Anniseeds Estrich Feathers and Spunges c. The Commodities vended here are English and Venice Cloth Lead Shot Deal boards Perpetuanoes Latten-Plates Sea horse Teeth Cloves Pepper Ginger Saffron Cinnamon Nutmegs Tartar Allum Spanish Wool Sassaperilla Cocheneel Gold-thread di Genoa Cotton Yarn and Wool French Canvas Gumlock Madder Iron Wire Iron of Bilbo Genoa and Venice Paper Damask and Satten of Luca c. Customs The Custom of this Countrey upon all Commodities imported excepting Lead Shot and Iron which pay no Custom at all is 9 per cent upon the real value sold whereof lest the Merchant should defraud the Customers a Broker hath been formerly appointed continually to attend on the Merchants to keep an exact account of what Goods they receive and sell and to what value But of late years this hath been discontinued confiding as it should seem more in the English than heretofore they were wont Yet still there are Officers appointed to take an Account of all Goods come ashore in general and before you can expose them to sale an exact Account of every Commodity in particular Other charges of Goods Imported besides freight of which there is no certain rate are about 8 per cent more viz. 2 per cent Gonsolage 5 per cent Provision and Brokerage and about 1 per cent for petty charges Customs on Goods Exported excepting Hides Wax and Wools which pay no Custom is 5 per cent Contra-banda Commodities All Edible things as Corn Pease Beans Oyl Butter Honey Dates c. and the like are Contra-banda Commodities Yet not seldom by the help of Presents License may be procured for Transportation thereof Importation of all Goods is allowed of To conclude This place is of no great importance for Commerce vending but a small quantity of Goods wherewith having for some years past been glutted this Market being soon over-cloyed hath been found to yield little benefit to the late Traders and less encouragement to the English Factory whom if more than one house be setled this place will even starve if they be honest for no great quantity of any Commodity is to be provided CHAP. XVI Of ARGIER and the Trade thereof Argier and the Trade thereof Tremesin ARGIER contains only two Towns of note Tremesin once the principal of a Kingdom and Argier the principal now of this Countrey not found to be very spacious in its self but strong and of late much fortified inriched not only by the labour of the Moors banished out of Spain but also by the spoils of many Merchants of all Nations brought thither as the retreat and receptacle of all Turkish and Moorish Pirates which do much infest the Mediterranean Seas and of late years have found the way out of the Straights of Gibraltar into the Canary Islands and into sundry other Countreys bordering upon the Ocean In it are accounted eighty thousand souls the utmost part of them living by Piracies Merchandizing is not much in use in this City yet some of the Inhabitants are found to detest this common ill-gotten Gain by Piracy and Theft and these are observed to maintain some Trade with other Nations along the Coast What points necessary thereto according as I noted there in 1619. I shall here set down and first their Commodities vended thence to forein parts are such as followeth Commodities of Aâ—gier The Commodities this Kingdom affords is Barbary Horses Estrich Feathers Honey Wax Raisins Figs Dates Oyls Almonds Castile Sope Brass Copper and some Drugs and lastly excellent Piratical Rascals in great quantity and poor miserable Christian captives of all Nations too too many God give them comfort patience and release in due time if it be his Blessed Will Coins of Argier Their Coins passing current here in Trade is the Double which is accounted to hold correspondence in value with the English Shilling or rather two Spanish Rials single Four Doubles is 1 â„ž â— 8 called there an Osian Five Doubles and 35 Aspers is a Pistolet of Spain Seven Doubles is accounted a Sultany or Chequeen the common piece of Gold found current in all Barbary Fifty Aspers is accounted to make a Double and these are the usual Coins passable in all this Coast belonging to this Kingdom Weights of Argier The 100 l. or Rotolos here is 120 l.
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
name Fisidet is the second which giveth name likewise to a Province the third is Massa the principal of a Province abounding in Amber Alarach is the fourth fortified and kept by the only Garrison of this Countrey The fifth is Taradant in times past the second in this Kingdom and the principal for Traffick ruined by the late Wars whereunto yet the resort is commonly made by many English and French for Commerce The sixth and last is Morocco the Metropolis of which a word according to my intended Method CHAP. XXIII Of the City MOROCCO and the Trade thereof City of Morocco and the Trade thereof MOROCCO is the chief City of this Kingdom and in times past was accounted the Metropolis of all Barbary as once containing one hundred thousand housholds but now inferiour to Fesse in beauty spaciousness and populousness it is strongly walled about and within adorned with many private and publick Edifices the chief being the Castle or Arsenal and the Churches or Moschs one whereof is bigger though not so beautiful as that of Fesse seated in the midst of the City and built by Hali their King augmented 50 fathom in spaciousness by Abdullmumen and Mansor his Son with many exquisite Pillars brought from Spain he also covered the same with Lead and made a Cistern of the same greatness as this Temple was to receive the Rain-water that came therefrom besides which he made therein a Tower of Masonry in form of the Roman Colossus equal in height to the famous Tower in Bolonia which being ascended the Hills of Asaffi being 130 miles distant may be easily discerned The Castle is also very large and strong of the bigness of a reasonable Town in the midst whereof is a Temple which hath a Tower whereon is fixed a Spindle of Iron passing through three great round Globes made of pure Gold and weighing 130 thousand Barbary Ducates which is 58500 l. sterling which divers Kings have gone about to take down and convert into Money but have all desisted by reason of some strange mis-fortune that hath been inflicted on them so that the common people imagine they are kept by a Guard of Spirits They have here also a Burse for Merchants which is now taken up by Artisans the late Civil Wars having eclipsed the glory of the famous Trade that was seated in this Countrey which in its former splendour was found to have several Streets for several Artsmen and no one Artsman permitted to make his abiding but amongst those of his own Profession Commodities of Morocco The Commodities of this Kingdom are the same as in the Kingdom of Fesse spoken of before save that the same abounds more in Sugars especially in Taradant where divers Merchants are found to reside purposely for that Commodity from whence it is Exported into other Regions Coins of Morocco The Coins current is also the Xeriff common with Fesse and all these parts of Barbary and by some called the Ducate of Gold having eight divisions or parts esteemed to be about nine shillings and four pence sterling each â…› worth fourteen pence sterling Weights of Morocco They are found here to have two several Quintals one that doth accord with the Quintal of Fesse specified formerly and the other which doth agree with the Quintal of Sevil which may be seen more at large in the ensuing Tract and there it may be observed how the same doth agree with the weight of London and other places besides which it is observable that sundry Commodities are weighed by this Quintal yet comprehending more or less Rotolos according to the custom in sale of that Commodity which the Merchants must learn to know Measure of Morocco The Measure of length here is also Covado agreeing with that of Fesse as you shall find in the Chapter before touched Customs of Morocco The Customs of Morocco are the same as specified in the Kingdom of Fesse at the entrado 2 per cent by the Subject and 10 per cent by the Merchant stranger Barbary Merchants But the Civil Wars have given a period to that famous Traffick here maintained by the Barbary Merchants of London which from this Kingdom had its original and which flourished in the days of Queen Elizabeth the faction dissention and banding for this Kingdom and Fesse overthrew that Company The Original of the Turkey and East-India Company from whose ashes and dissolution arose the Society of Merchants trading into the Levant Seas known by the name of the Turkie Company which now we find to be grown to that heighth that without comparison it is the most flourishing and most beneficial Company to the Common-wealth of any in England of all other whatsoever into whose Patent was at first inserted the Eastern-Indies as only proper to their Navigation which within few years after being by way of Turkey better discovered and gathering thereby new strength it was in the beginning of King James's Reign incorporated a Society by it self and for incouragement to Adventurers in consideration of the length of the Voyage and of the great charges and dangers incident thereto it was permitted that all men of what Quality and Profession soever might be Adventurers therein and be admitted thereunto contrary to the Custom and Priviledge of the Turkey and said Barbary Company and of all other Societies of Merchants who admit not any to be a Member thereof but such as are meer Merchants and none others The Trade general of Barbary The Trade of these Countreys by reason of their discontent is almost come now to nothing every Town and Province for the most part acknowledging a several Sovereign and where Peace and Unity is wanting Trade must decay Some good Ports these two Kingdoms are found to enjoy for Traffick as Tituan within the Streights Tangier and Ceuta at the Streights mouth Larache Maxinara Sali the old and new a second Argier and sure receptacle for Pirates lately reduced to better conformity with the English Subjects by the valour of some English under the fortunate and happy conduct of Captain William Rainsborough to whose worth Powe this particular remembrance Assasse Mogador and Santa Crux with some others and lastly Taradant the only Mart of all these Countreys seated upon the River of Sens Taradant in a spacious Plain between the Mountain Atlas and the Sea abounding with Sugar and all other kind of Provision the good regard and continual abode that Mahomet Xeriffe one of their late Sovereigns made in this place hath greatly augmented and ennobled this Town the Observations upon the present Trade thereof I am constrained by reason of my ignorance to refer to another hand CHAP. XXIV Of Numidia and Lybia and the Provinces thereof Of Numidia and Lybia NUmidia hath on the East Aegypt on the West the Atlantique Ocean on the North Atlas on the South Lybea It will not be material to relate the Provinces for in them are found but few Towns by reason
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
squared out proportionably and every Street is drawn out to a line so that every Gate yields a free prospect through the City to the opposite Gate beautified on each side with stately Edifices and Houses for the Honourable of this Country In the midst of this City is a sumptuous Palace wherein the Grand Cham resideth with all his Queens and Children and wherein is placed a Bell which is tolled at certain hours of the Evening after which may no man stir out of doors until the beginning of the day following the largeness rarities curiosity and richness of this Palace the partitions allowed his Queens and Lodgings appointed for his Children and their daily Attendants and the Order Beauty and Manner thereof I willingly omit as not pertinent to my present purpose Without this City Walls are accounted 12 Suburbs of 3 or 4 miles long adjoyning to each of the aforesaid 12 Gates and here all Merchants Strangers and Foreigners do abide each Nation having a several Cane or Store-house where they both lodge and exercise their Merchandize and traffick one with another for the Commodities of these several Countreys The confluence of Merchants here cannot choose but be wonderful seeing it is reported that the City is so populous that the Cham maintaineth 5000 Astrologers here daily besides many thousands of Souldiers both of Horse and Foot that 12000 Horse is accounted but as his ordinary and daily Guard Exendu and the largeness thereof besides which the near neighbourhood of Exendu the principal place of the Grand Cham seated not many days Journey hence where Merchants are not permitted to enter is built in a four square figure every side extending eight miles in length within this Quadrant is another whose sides are six miles long and within that another of four miles square which is accounted the very Palace it self and between which several walls are found Walks Gardens Orchards Fish-ponds places for all manner of Courtly and Military Exercises and also Parks Forests and Chases for all manner of Pleasures and Game and the infinite number of Attendants and Servitours that of necessity is required to wait upon so great a Prince with the Officers thereto belonging cannot but much increase the Trade and Commerce of this City and place As for the Trade of this City of Cambalu and generally of all Tartaria it is observed that the Countrey though in a large Tract extending it self upon the North Ocean yet by reason of the long continued colds and frosts the Inhabitants have but little benefit thereof however it may be conceived that the Molucco's Japans and other Islanders thereabout in the season of the year have here a great Traffick and that hence these Tartarians are furnished with the Spices of India the Gems of Pegu and Bengala and peradventure with other the Drugs of Arabiaâ— but upon the Caspian Sea they are the Masters of many good Sea-Ports besides Astracan which of late they have lost to the Muscovite as Zahaspa Cosmi Melmesuach and others by which is conveyed to them the Silks Tapestries Carpets Arms and excellent Manufactures of Persia and in the Black-Sea besides Capha now in subjection to the Turks they enjoy the brave Ports of Curaropo Asow and others serving to convey unto them the Commodities of Turkey Trabesond Podolia Walacia and other Countreys bordering upon the famous River of Danubius Now for the other parts of this large Empire it bordereth on the one side with Muscovia with whom it is now in peace though not seldom at debate from whence by the benefit of Traffick which I find observed not to be of any great consequence they have rich Furs and other the Commodities of this Country But where it bordereth upon China which is for a very large extent of ground by some Author accounted 400 leagues the common report of the strict Laws and Customs of that Nation to debar entrance to all Strangers should perswade me of little Traffick that way yet I find it observed by some late Travellers whose Relation herein is questionable That the City of Cambalu receiveth yearly thence by way of Traffick 10000 Carts laden with Silks and Stuffs of the China Fabrick the truth thereof I refer to the censure of the Reader Coins current in Cambalu and through Tartaria of the bark of Mulberry-trees As for the Moneys current in this large Territory I find it to be diversly made yet neither of Gold nor of Silver coined but of the middle Bark of the Mulbery Tree which being made firm and cut into divers and round pieces great and little they imprint the King's mark thereupon and from this mean Stuff the Emperour causeth a huge mass of Moneys to be yearly made at Cambalu which sufficeth for his whole Empire and no Man under pain of death may coin or spend any other Money or refuse it in all his Kingdoms and Dominions whereby it cometh to pass That Merchants often coming hither from far and remote Countreys bring with them Gold Silver Pearl and pretious Stones and receive the King's Money for them and because the same is not current in their Country they therewith buy in this Empire other the Commodities here found which they carry hence away with them the King also payeth his stipends Officers and Armies with the said Moneys and buyeth whasoever else he needeth with the same so that no Prince in the World can exceed him in Treasure which is at so easie a rate provided and procured Of Coral polished Besides which I find it observed in some parts of this large Country subject to some subordinate Kings in subjection to the Great Cham that they use in some places pieces of polisht Coral in stead of Money and in others they have certain twigs of Gold in lieu of Money which is distinguished by weight into several parcels without stamp or character and this is accounted in matters of consequence Of Salt in Loaves hardned but they have a lesser Coin if I may so term it made of Salt which they boil in Caldrons for a certain time which congealed they make into lumps like our Peny-loaves which being made solid is signed with the Prince's Stamp and passeth thus current amongst them and wherewith they provide themselves of all necessaries In some others I find also that they use Porcelan for Money and weighed pieces of Gold for in some Countreys of this Empire Silver Mines are not found and they give in proportion one ounce of Gold for five ounces of Silver neither is it found in many places of this Country that they have the use of Letters therefore the Merchants make their Contracts and Obligations in Tallies of Wood the half whereof the one keepeth and the other the other half which being aftetwards paid and satisfied the said Tally is restored not much unlike the custom of Tallies in England And thus much shall serve to have said of the Trade in general of this Country the strange Customs
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
32 l. per Rove which at Lisbon is 5 Quintals great 480 Aracoles Whereby it may be discerned that as Sevil hath given the weight to the West-Indies discovered by the Spaniard so hath not Lisbon but in part given the weight to the East-Indies who had amongst themselves there an eminent Trade and consequently their Weight and Measure peculiar to themselves before the Portugal discovered the same Measures of Spain reduced to 100 yards in London As for the Measures of both these Kingdoms as I have done with the Weight in reducing it to the London 100 l. suttle so will I reduce the Measures thereof to the 100 yards of London which rendereth in The 100 Yards of London is in Castilia 111 Vares of 4 quartos and every quarte 2 Palms Toledo 111 Vares Cades 108 Vares  Ditto for Silk 148 Ells.  Andalusia 109 Vares  Aragon 57 Canes  Saragosa 44 Canes  Morocco 181 Covad Both these of 12 to oâ—… Cove Cap dalgier 141 Covad Sivilia 109 Vares  Granado 109 Vares  Barcelona 57 Canes  Valentia 97 Canes  Lisbon 82 Vares  Ditto for 109 Vares  Ditto for Silk 96 Covades  CHAP. CXXI Of the Trade in general of Portugal and the Kingdom of Spain Of the Trade in general of Portugal and Spain THE Navigations and discoveries of the Spaniards and Portugals into the East and West-Indies though they carried to the world at first the specious colours of Piety and Religion by planting their Superstition in these Heathen Countreys yet Ambition and Profit was doubtless the secret design of their intendments Portugal whose Kings first sought those unknown Regions of the East-Indies and seeking discovered and discovering in part conquered presently made strict Laws and Prohibitions for any of his Subjects to trade for certain the richeâ— Commodities thereof but himself and thereupon settled his Contrataction-house in Lisbon where those Commodities should be sold weighed and delivered and these bargains being made by Commissioners appointed by him were first from them called Royal Contracts and thus for a long time it continued till his Subjects having made further and ampler discoveries of those Regions for their better incouragement and to induce his People to those Navigations be permitted them afterward an ampler and larger liberty of that Trade reserving certain particâ—lar Commodities only to his own use and benefit neither did it otherwise appear in the camage of those who were discoverers of the West-Indies which we find to be the Spaniards see though there wanted not fair and plausible demonstrations of winning the Souls of those pooe People yet by millions they were slaughtered butchered and slain making a devastation in thâ— Countrey of those innocent Inhabitants as if there had been no way to the eternal life of the Soâ— but by a present death of the body aiming thereby as may be conjectured particularly at the possession only of their Estates which by many deaths and torments was drawn from theâ—… and converted to their own and their Soverains Treasury as appears to the scandal of their Religion and of their King in sundry of their own Authors published in many Languages These two Countreys then thus discovered and thus by rapine gotten and settled and since united together under one King have afforded the present matter of Trade of all Spain and Portugal which before that time afforded not any Commodities almost whereby Trade might be as much as discerned much less maintained and now Lisbon for the East and Sevil for the West-Indies is become the Staple for all the rich Commodities those two Countreys do afford and so continued till England and Holland by their late Navigation shared with them in the â—…fick and riches thereof which yet are seen to be but as petty branches coming from the principal channel but the West-Indies affording to them great quantity of Silver by the Mines thereof which now is found so abundantly plentiful in the world may be called indeed and in effect their best Commodity which ever since its first coinage they have maintained in its prime weight and sineness which many of their Politicians have gone about at several times to inhanse as if it would have proved a great benefit to their Common-wealth but wiser judgments have discovered that the raising of these moneys in Spain would prove altogether prejudicial to that State for all these Commodities that are brought to them which for the most part they stand in great need of being necessary either for back or belly would soon vanish did not these their moneys allure and attract them and contrariwise it may be hence imagined and I think granted that what other Princes soever doth inhanse his Silver or the moneys of his Countrey it must needs prove to his own proper prejudice and the Spaniards gain because they raise and inhanse a Commodity which is not theirs really but transported to them at second hand by Merchants and others and of which though happily possessing some small Silver Mines of their own yet the gross is still his so far forth as his quantity and abundance exceedeth theirs As for the other Commodities which those Countreys afford ours and many other Nations were with the same from Alexandria and Venice at first supplyed and then hence but now having found the way to the Spring head we daign not to buy of them at the second hand except such of which their Princes reserve to themselves a peculiar interest either by farming the same to their Subjects or keeping the same in their own hands or by excluding all other Nation from the Trade thereof and these we and others are constrained to have from them in which number may be accounted Sugars Tobacco Ginger and some other Drugs and the Commodities of the West-Indies in general Now for the Inhabitants both of Spain and Portugal they are in general lovers of Merchandizing and Traffick neither so much despising it as the French nor yet so much addicted thereto as the Italians yet more willingly adventuring their Estates at Sea than them who herein are found to distrust the Providence of Almighty God in a lawful calling and prefer their own wisdom and providence on Land before the protection of the Almighty at Sea And as they are well-wishers to Trade so are they found in a large measure to practise it in such Cities as occasion and Commodities do either present or permit for both in Sevil and Lisbon are found Merchants of great eminency but yet are such as for the most part bend their Traffick into both the Indies and no where else except peradventure a little to Antwerp in Flanders and into Naples and Sicilia in the Mediterranean Seas and which seldom are noted to adventure their estates or have any Factors resident but where their King is Chief and Sovereign The Raw Silks Wines and Fruits of this Kingdom are the prime Commodities of import it now yields as also Olives Raisins Figs Almonds
Turin the principal City where the Duke of Savoy holds his Court and Residence and because in these latter years of War between England and France our English Factors from Marselia fled hither for succour entertainment and protection which they bountifully had of the late Duke I must not pass over the Trade thereof without remembrance nor be unmindful of that bounteous welcome they found at his Highness hands CHAP. CXXXIV Of Turin and the Trade thereof Turin and the Trade thereof TUrin being the capital City of Piedmont having Nisa and Villa-Franca for Sea-ports hath had many furtherances to make it a great City of Traffick for the Duke at several times but lastly at the coming of the English hither from Marselia made a Cavidal or stock for Trade of 300000 Crowns wherein he caused many of his Nobles to enter and become Partners but when the Stock was made and published in England and in other Countries this Dukedom was not found to give vent to any Commodities of consequence some Fish and Calve-skins excepted wherewith to invest the said Stock notwithstanding he gave commandment that the English should be kindly entertained both at Nisa and Villa-Franca and appointed certain Lodgings and Ware-houses for them and their Wares but Peace ensuing shortly after with France the Factors again returned to Marselia with due acknowledgment of their Royal entertainment the main obstacle in Trade here being the too near neighbourhood of Genoa the rich and of Legorn the free which neither of the two Towns formerly mentioned can equalize Coins of Savoy The Moneys commonly current in Savoy are the Moneys of Italy and France as neighbouring and the Florin of the Countrey accounted three Sold. Turnois which is 3½ d. English Their 100 l. makes in London about 82 l. and 77 l. in Lions and in Venetia gross 66. in 67 l. in Florence or Pisa 135 l. Accounts in Savoy Their Accounts are kept in Livers Sold. and Deniers as in France but in Nisa they account by Florins and Grosses a Crown of Sold. of France is 4 flor 2 gross Their Measure is a Ras both of Cloth and Silk which is half an Auln of Lions and 23 inches English by the Rule This Country affordeth for Merchandize Rice and Corn in abundance and some Silk wrought here and some other Commodities but of no great consequence nor worthy mentioning therefore I will forbear to treat further of this Dukedom and end my French Commerce Weights of France reduced to London 100 l. Before I leave France and therewith Savoy who do in all things partake with the Garb and manner of the French and till I enter into Italy having thus surveyed some particular Towns of eminency therein It will be worthy notice to collect the Weights and Measures of such as we have omitted and so view the general Trade of France which I will begin in the Weights and reduce the same to the 100 l. suttle of London which is observed The 100 l. of London hath made in Paris by Kings-beam 89 l. Diep  91  Burgoin  91  Roan by Vicount 88   by ordinary weight 92   weighed by the same and account 4 l. per cent over   Avignion  312 l. Calais  107   by Merchants weight 88   English Wooll weight 110  Marselia  112  Aquimort  98  Mirabel  98  Abbeville  91  Bourdeaux  91  Lions by ordinary weight 107   by Silk-weight 98   by Customers weight 90  Tholouse  112  Montpelier  112  Rochel  112  Ditto by small weight 115  Genoa  98   by great weight 82  S. Anthony  123  Calsada  98  For further instruction here I may refer the ingenious to the large Work of Monsieur Savâ—na who hath comprized all the Trading of France into a Volume of too great a buâ—k for me to peruse it more accurately Measures of France reduced to the 100 yards of London In like manner to abbreviate my labour you will see that the 100 Yards of London make in these Towns following In Rouen 77½ Aulns Avignion 80  Orleans 48 Canes Marselia Silk 48  Ditto for woollen 44¼  Paris Rochel 78 Aulns Lions for Linnen 80  Ditto for Silk 115 Aulns Provence 48 Canes Geneva 80 Stabs Nants Abbeville 110 Aulns And so for the most part the same are found through all France the abovesaid places only excepted CHAP. CXXXV Of the Trade in general of France The general Trade of France FRom the particular Trade of the Cities of France let us view the Trade in general of this Kingdom and we shall not find it of any great consequence for here it is found that the Gentlemen do not meddle with Traffick because they think such Traffick ignoble and base and so unfit for them which error the French no less dearly buy than do some English to which Kingdom of late days they have in some sort blowed over that opinion though some of the better judgments of England are reformed in that point and find it a most worthy Excellent and profitable Calling but as the French are found to neglect Merchandizing so aâ—… they less studious in their Navigations than their neighbours either Spaniards Dutch or English which I imagine proceeds not out of a desire to attempt or courage to perform but because they abound with all things both for plentiful food and rich attire and if they want any thing strangers gladly bring it to them allured by four principal Commodities which do much enrich the Inhabitants which is Wines Linnens Salt and Corn being the prime Commodities of that Kingdom yet it is found that the Marselians Trade and Navigate in Egypt Aleppo and Constantinople and the Normans and Britains into England Spain Ireland and Netherland in time of Wars they have also some small Vessels at Sea more fit for piracy and theft than for any great War of moment and their success hath been so ill in their Colonies in America that it hath quite disheartned them from seconding their attempts Three Cities here carry the greatest fame in Trade Marselia for the Levant Rouen for the English Channel and Rochel for he Ocean this last subsisting by the growth of their White and Claret Wines of Bourdeaux Roan by their petty manufactures of Cards Pins Combs Paper and Canvas and Marselia by the Trade of Turky wherein are found Factors that do imploy the Estates of many Merchants resident within Lions and other inland Towns of France which gives life to most of their Traffick and Navigation in these parts Now it is to be observed that England brings them Newland fish Herrings Pilchers Lead Tin Cloths Kersies Cottons or Fâ—…zes and have in return Wines from Bourdeaux Oils and Almonds from Marselia and Pepper Canvas Buckrams from Rouen and Locrams from Morlais the
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
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
Stone of 10 l. being the small Stone and a Stone of 21 l. accounted the great Stone and it hath been observed that the 10 l. of London Averdupois bath yielded here incirca 92 l. Measures of Stetin The common Measure in the use for length is called the Ell as the usual denomination thereof in all the East parts and the 100 Yards of London hath been observed to produce here about 141 Ells. And thus much shall serve to have said of these Cities which I have entitled under the Names of Pâ—land and Eastland though in themselves acknowledging several distinct Princes having taken that liberty to my self in my first method rather narrowly to observe the maritime Shores and the principal Cities seated thereupon though acknowledging divers Sovereigns than precisely to follow the limits and bounds of Princes Dominions according to the largeness and extent of their Command and Power CHAP. CCXXXI Of the Weights and Measures of Eastland to that of London NOW forasmuch as there may be many other eminent Cities of Trade which in particular I have willingly omitted to handle therefore according to my observed order I will contract them here and shew how the Weights and Measures of London do agree and are found to accord together The agreement of 100 l. London to divers of Poland And first I find it observed that the 100 l. of Averdupois in London doth make in these Towns following viz. in  l. Straelsont as I said 88 Stetin 92 Revel 116 Dantzick 116 Conixburgh 120 Rhiga 116 Thoren and Narva 116 Cracovia 120 Elbin 120 Wild 116 Agreement of the 100 yards London to divers of Poland And thus much shall serve for the Weights in general of Eastland and for the Measures take here the same Observations made upon 100 Yards of London which produceth in  Ells. Embden 163 Hamburgh 162½ Bremen 163 Lubeck 160 Munster 86½ Ossenbridges 84 Wismar 156½ Conixburg 166½ Riga and Kevel 166½ Rostick 158 Gripswald 163 Donim 163 Stettin 141 Dantzick 163 Ocermond 141 Melluine 161 Narva 166 Arsâ—… CHAP. CCXXXII Of Corn-Measures of Eastland reduced to that of other Countries Corn-measure in Eastland THis Country is above all other Commodities abounding in Corn which hence is transported into all parts of Europe it will not be amiss to see what Observations have been made upon the Measure thereof here in use and concurrent with other places Schepels 60 in Dantzick make a Last and 4 makes a Mud which is the Skip-pond of 340 l. as you find it there noted Werpes 61 make a Last in Emden or 15½ Barrels of 4 Werpes Schepels 90 make a Last in Hamburg Schepels 96 make a Last in Lubeck Schepels 96 make at Fameren a Last Schepels 96 make a Last in Hileger-Haven in Denmark Barrels 42 make a Last in Copenhagen Barrels 36 make a Last in Ebeltorffe donie Quarters 10½ make a Last in London but in lading of Ships Quarters five are accounted for one Tun lading With the agreement thereof with other Countries Now let us see how these respond together and how these agree with the Last of Corn in Amsterdam upon which I find these notes and that the same maketh in Danzick 56 Schepels Embden 55 Werps Hamburgh 85 Schepels Lubeck 85 Schepels Fameren 78 Schepels Hylegher 80 Schepels Copenhagen 23 small Barrels Eboltorff 23 Barrels Sweden 23 Barrels Conixburgh 6 7 of a Last for the 6 Lasts are 7 at Amsterdam Melvin 17 21 of a Last Stetin 6 7 of a Last Rhiga 42 Loops Rostick and Mechburgh measures of Lubeck Antwerp 37½ Vertales Brussels 10½ Muden and differing in all places of Brabant Middleburgh 40 Sacks 41½ to the Last in Zealand Rotterdam Delph 87 Achtellins Gronninghen 33 Muddes London 10¼ Quarters and 5 Quarters to a Tun. CHAP. CCXXXIII Of the Trade in general of Poland and Eastland Of the Trade in general of Poland and Eastland HAving thus surveyed the Trade of this Country in some particulars it will not be amise to look upon it in the general The Revenues both of the King and Gentlemen is here esteemed but moderate and scarce sufficient to maintain a plentiful Table and to exchange with Merchants for Wines and Spices which they yet much covet as also they do forein Stuffs of Silks and Cloth I have noted that this Kingdom aboundeth with Beasts as well wild as tame and yieldeth excellent Horses not great but quick nimble and stirring it aboundeth also in Flesh Fowl and Water-Fish and in all kind of Pulse and Grain it is found also towards the Carpathian Mountains of Hungary to have some Mines of Gold and Silver of Iron and Brimstone it yieldeth also in abundance plenty of Honey found in hollow Trees besides the Husband-man's Hives it yieldeth moreover Wax Flax and Linen Cloths made thereof Hemp Pitch of both kinds Masts for Ships Boards and Timber rich Furs Salt digged out of the Earth Amber Soap-ashes and Rice in abundance which hath made Dantzick famous throughout Europe No marvel then if Merchants bring unto them Silks from Italy Cloth from England Wines from France and Spain and the very Spices and Drugs from India since they not only sell then at good prices but also bring thence such precious and staple Commodities Poland it self is found within land and Prussia with their immunities subject to this Kingdom is sound to have the principal Traders therein inhabiting yet have they but few Ships using Strangers to export their Commodities For the rest of the Polanders they are observed to live content with their own and not by way of Merchandizing to stir much abroad yet are they not rich because they want the abovesaid Commodities which the proud Gentlemen and Nobility of these Countries buy dear and will have though brought from far unto them and they are noted to have so little Gold and Silver as despising all in respect of it they sell the rich Commodities of their Country at a low rate especially those which are for daily Food and thereby made unfit to be exported The People themselves are not much addicted to Traffick into remote Regions nor to travel far out of their own Countries yet in imitation of other their Neighbours they sometimes Trade with their rich Furs into other Countries of whom I have observed some to come to Constantinople rather making a ranging Voyage than coming with intent to Trade and Reside Wherein they cannot be much blamed in regard that they have in plenty all things that naturally are wanting to mankind if they can be contented therewith but the Inhabitants of Pomerland East Country c. are observed to be more ingenious and far more addict to Traffick and Commerce and have some Vessels sitter for transport and carriage than for warfare but yet most proper for their gross Commodities and large Stowage however their Winter-colds depriving them of almost half the years Traffick the other half wherein their Seas are navigable cannot make them any
and Island Accounts in Palermo and all Sicilia Their Accounts are here kept by Ounces Taries and Grains One Ounce is 30 Taries One Tarie is 20 Grains Moneys current in Sicilia Their Moneys are also Ounces Taries and Grains accounted one Ounce to be 30 Tariâ—s which is 5 Florins of Carlins 12 the Florin One Tari to be 20 Grains and is 12 Sol. 6 Den. small Money One Tari to be two Carlins One Carlin to be 10 Grains and is 12 Livres One Grain is 6 Picholies and is 7½ Den. Money Siciliano One Poncto is 8 Picholis A Ducat of Gold is worth 13 Taries Note that for the Money which they pay by Bills of Exchange they give allowance 1½ per Cent. for bad Money Weights in Palermo It is to be observed that throughout all the Kingdom of Sicilia there is but one Weight in use only in Messina excepted which I shall shew in its due place now this Weight of Sicilia in general is the Rotolo 30 Ounces which is 2½ l. Sicilian 300 Rot. making the Cantar which 100 l. hath been observed to have made in London 173 l. circa Some have found it to yield 148 l. English or properly in gross to say 1 C. 2 Quarters 4 l. incirca and in Venetia suttle to have produced 260 l. or Venice gross 163 l. circa and hath been found to render in Florence 225 in 230 l. but yet by the calculation I made it should be but 221 l. just it is in Rhagusa 218 l. in Cattarro 78 l. Alexandris Zera 83 Rot. ditto Forfori 185 Rot. in Damasco 43½ Rot. c. Measures of length Their Measure of length is the Cane which is in London about 80 or 81 Inches by the Rule which is 2¼ Yards English this Cane is divided into 8 Palms which is about 10 Inches the Cane making 3 Cloth Braces in Venetia Of Corn. Corn which is the prime Commodity of this Place and Kingdom is sold by the Salmo of which there is the gross Salmo and the general Sicilian Salmo which is the small Salmo upon which general salmo these Observations have been made and that the same is found to agree thus with these Countries In Rhagusa staro 3â…• Dalmatia staro 3¼ Ancoma somma 1½ Ricanati somma 1â…” Rimine staro 1½ Bolonia corbe 3½ In Andalusia 5 Fanegos In Portugal 22½ Alquiers In Florence 11¼ staios In Avignon 5 sesteros In Venetia 3 staros and 1 quarter In Pisa 11 18 staros Bergamo staro 13. Millan mesni 4â…› Genoua measure 2â…“ In Ferrara staro 9. In Tripoli cafesie 15. In Tunis cafesie 15. Alexandria ribebe 1 l. 1. Candia measures 14. Corfu mosie 2â…“ Catarro staro 3¼ Verona minali 7 quastero Vicentia staro 9¾ Padua staro 9¾ Treviso staro 3. Modena staro 3 5 7. Parma staro 6½ Mirandola staro 3 5 7. The gross Salmo of Palermo and Sicilia hath been observed to make in Spalatto staro 4. Rhagusa staro 3â…“ Segnia quart 12. Arbe staro 4. Istria staro 4. Padua staro 12. Vincentia staro 12. Ferrara staro 11. Forli staro 3 quaterroli 14 Bollonia corbe 4â…“ Mantua staro 10. Cremona sommas 2. Bergamo staro 16. Verona minali 8 11½ quarteroli Brassia sommas 2â…” Millan Mesini 5 1 9. Florentia staro 14. Wherein I have been somewhat the larger by reason of the general use of this measure in the Lewant Note that both the gross and general Salmo are divided into into 16 Tomelos and that the gross Salmo is greater than the general Salmo about 17 per Cent. and observe that the ordinary charge of Corn here bought is 3 Taries and 15 Grains the Salmo but if Corn be above 18 Taries per Salmo it pays also a new impost which is per Salmo Of Salt Salt is also sold by the Salmo which in Trappano is made in great quantity where at my being here I observed to be as great as 3 ordinary Salmos of Corn divided also in 16 Tomelos which made Sicilia weight about 7 Cantaros Of Oyls Oyl is here sold by the Cantaro which is 2¾ Barrels of Florence and hath made 180 l. English Customs of Sicilia The Custom of the Island is commonly 9 and 10 per Cent. but Fish and other Commodities for food pays 12 per Cent. Exchanges Palermo is also a place of great Exchanges which briefly at my being there did run thus with other places always noting that all Bills coming from abroad pay one Carlin per ounce to make good Money and they exchange by Ponctos as I have noted elsewhere With Naples and they give in Palermo 160 Pomutos incirca to have in Naples a Ducat current and their Account is made as in the particular of Naples is expressed With Rome They give in Palermo 26 or 27 Carlins to have in Rome a Ducat de Camera With Valentia They gave in Palermo 6 Taries accounted and 1 Carlin per Ounce more to have in Valentia 10 Sold. 3 Den. and a Crown of 12 Taries is 20 Solds and a Ducat of 13 Taries is there estimated for 21 Sold. With Messina With Messina and Syracusa and other places of the Kingdom they exchange with the Crown and the same Moneys This note of Equality or Par I also learned here for current For Valentia Sold 9 dc 10¾ per Florin For Barselona Sol. 11 d. 3â…– per Florin For Majorca Sold 14 d. 10½ per Florin and for the aforesaid places they consider the interest to him that takes by Exchange at the rate of one Carlin per Ounce which they recover accordingly for the other particular Circumstances thereof I refer the Reader to the end of this Tract where the Exchanges of this Place and Messina is largely handled and as the same may more amply there appear in the Chapters 419 420 421 422 423 424 and 425. with all particular Circumstances whereto I desire to be referred for better satisfaction And in the next place survey the Trade of Messina the second eminent City of Traffick in this Island CHAP. CCLVIII. Of Messina and the Trade thereof Messina and the Trade thereof THE last Province of this Kingdom and Island is Mona wherein are the Cities of Nicosia in the Midland Milaso on the North Promontory and Messina in the face opposite to Reggio in Calabria which fare hath in times past been accounted to be very dangerous by reason of those anciently accounted perils Scylla and Charybdis the one a Sand and the other a Rock opposing each other at the entrance thereof now not so much feared by our Sea-men by being more expert this Town is the most eminent Town of Trade in all this Island and inhabited by many Merchants which the benefit of the Haven doth much further and the commodiousness of the Situation and the Privileges and Immunities of the yearly Fairs much augmenteth The Commodities proper hitherto as also to the whole Island as also the
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-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
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
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
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
likewise of our own Natural Wealth might advance much yearly to be exported unto Strangers and if in our Rayment we will be prodigal yet let this be done with our own Materials and Manufactures as Cloth Lace Embroderies Cut-works and the like where the Excess of the Rich may be the Employment of the Poor whose Labours notwithstanding of this kind would be more profitable for the Commonwealth if they were done to the use of Strangers 6. The Fishing in His Majesty's Seas of England Scotland and Ireland is our Natural Wealth and would cost nothing but Labour which the Dutch bestow willingly and thereby draw yearly a very great Profit to themselves by serving many places of Christendom with our Fish for which they return and supply their Wants both of Forein VVares and Mony besides the multitude of Mariners and Shipping which hereby are maintain'd whereof a long Discourse might be made to shew the particular Manage of this Important Business Our Fishing Plantation likewise in New-England Virginia Greenland the Summer Islands and the Newfoundland are of the like Nature affording much VVealth and Employments to maintain a great number of Poor and to increase our decaying Trade How some States have been made Rich 7. A Staple or Magazine for Forein Corn Indico Spices Raw-silks Cotton VVool or any other Commodity whatsoever to be Imported will increase Shipping Trade Treasure and the Kings Customs by Exporting them again where need shall require which course of Trading hath been the chief Means to raise Venice Genoa the Low-Countries with some others and for such a purpose England stands most commodiously wanting nothing to this Performance but our own Diligence and Endeavour 8. Also we ought to esteem and cherish those Trades which we have in remote or fax Countries for besides the Increase of Shipping and Mariners thereby the VVares also sent thither and receiv'd from thence are far more profitable unto the Kingdom than by our Trades near at hand As for Example suppose Pepper to be worth here two shillings the Pound constantly if then it be brought from the Dutch at Amsterdam the Merchant may give there twenty pence the Pound and gain well by the Bargain The Traffick to the East-Indies is our most prefitable Trade in its proportion both for King and Kingdom We get more by the Indian Wares than the Indians themselves A Distinction between the Kingdoms Gain and the Merchant's Profit but if he fetch this Pepper from the East-Indies he must not give above three pence the Pound at the most which is a mighty Advantage not only in that Part which serveth for our own use but also for that great Quantity which from heence we transport yearly unto divers others Nations to be sold at a higher Price whereby it is plain that we make a far greater Stock by Gain upon these Indian Commodities than those Nations do where they Grow and to whom they properly appertain being the Natural VVealth of their Countries But for the better understanding of this Particular we must ever distinguish between the Gain of the Kingdom and the Profit of the Merchant for although the Kingdom payeth no more for this Pepper than is before supposed nor for any other Commodity bought in Forein Parts more than the Stranger receiveth from us for the same yet the Merchant payeth not only that Price but also the Freight Ensurance Customs and other charges which are exceeding great in these long Voyages but yet all these in the Kingdoms account are but commutations among our selves and no Privation of the Kingdom 's Stock which being duly considered together with the Support also of our other Trades in our best Shipping to Italy France Turky the East-Countries and other places by Transporting and Venting the Wares which we bring yearly from the East Indies It may well stir up our utmost Endeavours to maintain and enlarge this Great and Noble Business so much importing the Publick Wealth Strength and Happiness Neither is there less Honour and Judgment by growing Rich in this manner upon the Stock of other Nations than by an industrious Increase of our own Means especially when this Latter is advanced by the Benefit of the Formers as we have found in the East-Indies by sale of much of our Tin Cloth Lead and other Commodities the Vent whereof doth daily increase in those Countries which formerly had no use of our Wares 9. It would be very beneficial to Export Mony as well as Wares being done in Trade only it would increase our Treasure but of this I write more largely in the next Chapter to prove it plainly 10. It were Policy and Profit for the State to suffer Manufactures made of Forein Materials to be exported Custom-free as Velvets and all other wrought Silks Fustians Thrown Silks and the like it would employ very many poor People and much increase the Value of our Stock yearly issued into other Countries and it would for this Purpose cause the more Forein Materials to be brought in to the Emprovement of His Majesties Customs I will here remember a notable Increase in our Manufacture of Winding and Twisting only of Forein raw Silk which within 35 years to my knowledg did not employ more than 300 People in the City and Suburbs of London where at this present time it doth set on work above fourteen thousand Souls as upon diligent Enquiry hath been credibly reported unto His Majesties Commissioners for Trade And it is certain that if the said Forein Commodities might be Exported from hence free of Custom this Manufacture would yet increase very much and decrease as fast in Italy and in the Netherlands But if any Man alledge the Dutch Proverb Live and let others live I answer that the Dutchmen notwithstanding their own Proverb do not only in these Kingdoms encroach upon our Livings but also in other Forein Parts of our Trade where they have power they do hinder and destroy us in our lawful course of Living hereby taking the Bread out of our Mouth which we shall never prevent by plucking the Pot from their Nose as of late Years too many of us do practise to the great Dishonour of this Famous Nation We ought rather to imitate former times in taking sober and worthy Courses more pleasing to God and suitable to our ancient Reputation 11. It is needful also not to charge the Native Commodities with too great Customs lest by endearing them to the Strangers use it hinder their Vent And especially Forein Wares brought in to be Transported again should be savoured for otherwise that manner of Trading so much importing the Good of the Commonwealth cannot Prosper nor Subsist But the Consumption of such Forein Wares in the Realm may be the more Charged which will turn to the Profit of the Kingdom in the Ballance of Trade and thereby also enable the King to lay up the more Treasure out of his yearly Incoms as of this Particular I intend to write more
fully in its proper Place where I shall shew how much Mony a Prince may conveniently lay up without the hurt of his Subjects 12. Lastly In all things we must endeavour to make the most we can of our own whether it be Natural or Artificial and forasmuch as the People which live by the Arts are far more in number than they who are Masters of the Fruits we ought the more carefully to maintain those Endeavours of the Multitude in whom doth consist the greatest Strength and Riches both of King and Kingdom For where the People are many and the Arts good there the Traffick must be greater and the Country rich The Italians employ a greates Number of People and get more Mony by their Industry and Manufactures of the raw Silks of the Kingdom of Cilicia than the King of Spain and his Subjects have by the Revenue of this rich Commodity But what need we fetch the Example so far when we know that our own Natural Wares do not yeild us so much profit as our industry for Iron-Oar in the Mines is of no great worth when it is compared with the Employment and Advantage it yields being Digged Tried Transported Bought Sold Cast into Ordnance Muskets and many other Instruments of War for Offence and Defence wrought into Anchors Bolts Spikes Nails and the like for the use of Ships Houses Carts Coaches Ploughs and other Instruments for Tillage Compare our Fleece-wools with our Cloth which requires Shearing Washing Carding Spinning Weaving Fulling Dying Dressing and other Trimings and we shall find these Arts more profitable than the Natural Wealth whereof I might instance other Examples but I will not be more tedious for if I would amplifie upon this and the other Particulars before-written I might find matter sufficient to make a large Volume but my desire in all is only to prove what I propound with Brevity and Plainness CHAP. IV. The Exportation of our Monies in Trade of Merchandize is a Means to increase our Treasure THis Position is so contrary to the common Opinion that it will require many and strong Arguments to prove it before it can be accepted of the Multitude who bitterly exclaim when they see any Monies carried out of the Realm affirming thereupon that we have absolutely lost so much Treasure and that this is an act directly against the long continued Laws made and confirmed by the Wisdom of this Kingdom in the High Court of Parliament and that many places nay Spain itself which is the Fountain of Mony forbids the Exportation thereof some Cases only excepted To all which I might answer that Venice Florence Genoua the Low Countries and divers other Places permit it their People applaud it and find great Benefit by it but all this makes a Noise and proves nothing we must therefore come to those Reasons which concern the Business in Question First I will take that for granted which no Man of Judgment will deny that we have no other Means to get Treasure but by Forein Trade for Mines we have none which do afford it and how this Mony is gotten in the Managing of our said Trade I have already shewed that it is done by making our Commodities which are Exported yearly to over-ballance in value the Forein Wares which we consume so that it resteth only to shew how our Monies may be added to our Commodities and being jointly Exported may so much the more increase our Treasure We have already supposed our yearly consumptions of Forein Wares to be for the Value of Twenty hundred thousand Pounds and our Exportations to exceed that Two hundred thousand Pounds which Sum we have thereupon affirmed is brought to us in Treasure to ballance the Accompt But now if we add three hundred thousand Pounds more in ready Mony unto our former Exportations in Wares what Profit can we have will some Men say although by this Means we should bring in so much ready Mony more than we did before seeing that we have carried out the like value To this the Answer is that when we have prepared our Exportations of Wares and set out as much of every thing as we can spare or vent abroad Mony begets Trade and Trade increaseeth Mony It is not therefore said that then we should add our Mony thereunto to fetch in the more Mony immediately but rather first to enlarge our Trade by enabling us to bring in more Forein VVares which being sent out again will in due time much increase our Treasure For although in this manner we do yearly multiply our Importations to the Maintenance of more Shipping and Mariners Improvement of His Majesties Customs and other Benefits yet our Consumption of those Forein VVares is no more than it was before so that all the said Increase of Commodities brought in by the means of our ready Mony sent out as is afore written doth in the end become an exportation unto us of a far greater Value than our said Monies were which is proved by three several Examples following 1. For I suppose that 100000 l. being sent in our Shipping to the East Countries will buy there one hundred thousand Quarters of VVheat clear aboard the Ships which being after brought into England and housed to Export the same at the best time for vent thereof in Spain or Italy it cannot yield less in those Parts than two hundred thousand Pounds to make the Merchant but a Saver yet by this reckoning we see the Kingdom hath doubled that Treasure Remote Trades are most Gainful to the Common-Wealth 2. Again this Profit will be far Greater when we Trade thus in remote Countries as for Example if we send one hundred thousand pounds into the East Indies to buy Pepper there and bring it hither and from hence send it for Italy or Turkey it must yield seven hundred thousand pounds at least in those Places in regard of the Excessive charge which the Merchant disburseth in those long Voyages in Shipping VVages Victuals Insurance Interest Customs Imposts and the like all which notwithstanding the King and Kingdom gets 3. But where the Voyages are short and the VVares rich which therefore will not employ much Shipping the Profit will be far less As when another hundred thousand Pounds shall be employed in Turky in raw Silks and brought hither to be after Transported from hence into France the Low Countries or Germany the Merchant shall have good Gain although he sell it there but for one hundred and fifty thousand Pounds and thus take the Voyages altogether in their Medium the Monies Exported will be returned unto us more than Trebled But if any Man will yet object that these returns come to us in VVares and not really in Mony as they were issued out The Answer is keeping our first Ground that if our Consumption of Forein VVares be no more yearly than is already supposed and that our Exportations be so mightily increased by this manner of Trading with ready Mony as
Our Human actions ought especially to be considered in their ends Thus may we plainly see that when this weighty Business is duly considered in its end as all our Humane Actions ought well to be weighed it is found much contrary to that which most Men esteem thereof because they search no further than the beginning of the VVork which missinforms their Judgments and leads them into Error For if we behold the Actions of the Husbandman in the Seed-time when he casteth away much good Corn into the Ground we will rather account him a Madman than a Husbandman but when we consider his Labours in the Harvest which is the end of his Endeavours we find the VVorth and Plentiful Increase of his actions CHAP. V. Forein Trade is the only means to improve the Price of our Lands IT is a common saying That Plenty or Scarcity of Mony makes all things Dear or Good or Cheap and this Mony is either gotten or lost in Forein Trade by the over or underballancing of the same as I have already shewed It resteth now that I distinguish the seeming Plenties of Mony from that which is only substantial and able to perform the VVork For there are divers VVays and Means whereby to procure plenty of Mony into a Kingdom which do not Enrich but rather Empoverish the same by the several Inconveniencies which ever accompany such Alterations As first if we melt down our Plate into Coin which suits not with the Majesty of so great a Kingdom except in cases of great Extremity it would cause Plenty of Mony for a time yet should we be nothing the Richer but rather this Treasure being thus altered is made the more apt to be carried out of the Kingdom if we exceed our means by excess in Forein Wares or maintain a War by Sea or Land where we do not Feed and Cloath the Soldiers and supply the Armies with our own Native Provisions by which disorders our Treasure will soon be exhausted Again if we think to bring in store of Mony by suffering Forein Coins to pass current at higher rates than their intrinsick value compared with our Standard or by debasing or enhancing our own Monies all these have their several Inconveniences and Difficulties which hereafter I will declare but admitting that by this means plenty of Mony might be brought into the Realm yet should we be nothing the Richer neither can such Treasure so gotten long remain with us For if the Stranger or the English Merchants bring in this Mony it must be done upon a valuable Consideration either for Wares carried out already or after to be Exported which helps us nothing except the Evil occasions of excess or VVar afore-named be removed which do exhaust our Treasure for otherwise what one Man bringeth for Gain another Man shall be forced to carry out for necessity because there shall ever be a Necessity to ballance our Accounts with Strangers although it should be done with loss upon the rate of the Mony and Confiscation also if it be intercepted by the Law How we must get Treasure to make it our own The Conclusion of this Business is briefly thus That as the Treasure which is brought into the Realm by the Ballance of our Forein Trade is that Mony which only doth abide with us and by which we are enriched so by this Plenty of Mony thus gotten and no otherwise do our Lands improve For when the Merchant hath a good dispatch beyond the Seas for his Cloth and other VVares he doth presently return to buy up the greater Quantity which raiseth the Price of our VVools and other Commodities and consequently doth improve the Landlords Rents as the Leases expire daily And also by this means Mony being gained and brought more abundantly into the Kingdom it doth enable many Men to buy Lands which will make them the Dearer But if our Forein Trade come to a Stop or Declination by neglect at home or injuries abroad whereby the Merchants are impoverished and thereby the VVares of the Realm less issued then do all the said Benefits cease and our Lands fall of Price daily CHAP. VI. The Spanish Treasure cannot be kept from other Kingdoms by any Prohibition made in Spain ALL the Mines of Gold and Silver which are as yet discovered in the sundry Places of the World are not of so great Value as those of the West-Indies which are in the Possession of the King of Spain Who thereby is enabled not only to keep in Subjection many goodly States and Provinces in Italy and elsewhere which otherwise would soon fall from his Obeisance but also by a continual War taking his Advantages doth still enlarge his Dominions ambitiously aiming at a Monarchy by the Power of his Monies which are the very Sinews of his Strength that lies so far dispersed into so many Countries yet hereby united and his Wants supplied both for War and Peace in a plentiful manner from all the parts of Christendom which are therefore Partakers of his Treasure by a Necessity of Commerce wherein the Spanish Policy hath ever endeavoured to prevent all other Nations the most it could The Policy and Benefit of Spain by the Trade to the East-Indies For finding Spain to be poor and barren to supply itself and the West-Indies with those Varieties of Forein Wares whereof they stand in need they knew well that when their Native Commodities come short to this purpose their Monies must serve to make up the reckoning whereupon they found an incredible Advantage to add the Traffick of the East-Indies to the Treasure of the West For the last of these being employ'd in the first they stored themselves infinitely with rich Wares to barter with all the parts of Christendom for their Commodities and so furnishing their own Necessities prevented others for carrying away their Monies Which in Point of State they hold less dangerous to impart to the remote Indians than to their Neighbour Princes lest it should too much enable them to resist if not offend their Enemies And this Spanish Policy against others is the more remarkable being done likewise so much to their own Advantage for every Ryal of Eight which they sent to the East-Indies brought home so much Wares as saved them the disbursing of five Ryals of Eight here in Europe at least to their Neighbours especially in those times when that Trade was only in their hands but now this great Profit is failed and the Mischief removed by the English Dutch and others which partake in those East-India Trades as ample as the Spanish Subjects It is further to be considered that besides the Disability of the Spaniards by their Native Commodities to provide Forein Wares for their Necessities whereby they are forced to supply the want with Mony they have likewise that Canker of War which doth infinitely exhaust their Treasure and disperse it into Christendom even to their Enemies part by Reprisal but especially through a necessary Maintenance of
those Armies which are composed of Strangers and lie so far remote that they cannot feed cloth or otherwise provide for them out of their own Native Means and Provisions but must receive this Relief from other Nations The effects of different Wars concerning Treasure Which kind of War is far different to that which a Prince maketh upon his own Confines or in his Navies by Sea where the Soldier receiving Mony for his Wages must every day deliver it out again for his Necessities whereby the Treasure remains still in the Kingdom although it be exhausted from the King But we see that the Spaniard trusting in the Power of his Treasure undertakes VVars in Germany and in other remote Places which would soon begger the richest Kingdom in Christendom of all their Mony the want whereof would presently disorder and bring the Armies to Confusion as it falleth out sometimes with Spain it self who have the Fountain of Mony when either it is stopp'd in the Passage by the force of their Enemies or drawn out faster than it flows by their own Occasions whereby also we often see that Gold and silver is often so scant in Spain that they are forced to use base Copper mony to the great Confusion of their Trade and not without the undoing also of many of their own People But now that we have seen the Occasions by which the Spanish Treasure is dispersed into so many places of the VVorld let us likewise discover how and in what Proportion each Country doth enjoy these Monies for we find that Turky and divers other Nations have great plenty thereof although they drive no Trade with Spain which seems to contradict the former Reason where we say that this Treasure is obtained by a Necessity of Commerce But to clear this point we must know that all Nations who have no Mines of their own are enriched with Gold and Silver by one and the same means which is already shewed to be the Ballance of their Forein Trade And this is not strictly ty'd to be done in those Countries where the Fountain of Treasure is but rather with such Order and Observations as are prescribed For suppose England by Trade with Spain may gain and bring home Five Hundred Thousand Ryals of Eight yearly if we lose as much by our Trade in Turky and therefore carry the Mony thither it is not then the English but the Turks which have got this Treasure although they have no Trade with Spain from whence it was first brought Again if England having thus lost with Turky do notwithstanding gain twice as much by France Italy and other Members of her general Trade then will there remain Five Hundred Thousand Ryals of Eight clear Gains by the Ballance of this Trade And this Comparison holds between all other Nations both for the manner of getting and the Proportion that is yearly gotten But if yet a Question should be made whether all Nations get Treasure and Spain only lose it I answer No for some Countries by VVar or by Excess do lose that which they had gotten as well as Spain by VVar and want of VVares doth lose that which was its own CHAP. VII The Diversity of Gain by Forein Trade IN the course of Forein Trade there are three sorts of Gain the first is that of the Common-wealth which may be done when the Merchant who is the Principal Agent therein shall lose The second is the Gain of the Merchant which he doth sometimes justly and worthily effect although the Common-wealth be a loser The third is the Gain of the King whereof he is ever certain even when the Common-wealth and the Merchant shall be both lofers Concerning the first of these we have already sufficiently shewed the Ways and Means whereby a Common-wealth may be Enriched in the course of Trade whereof it is needless here to make any repetition only I do in this Place affirm that such happiness may be in the Common-wealth when the Merchant in his particular shall have no occasion to rejoice As for Example suppose the East-India Company send out one hundred thousand Pounds into the East-Indies and receive home for the same the full value of three hundred thousand Pounds Hereby it is evident that this Part of the Common-wealth is trebled and yet I may boldly say that which I can well prove that the said Company of Merchants shall lose at least Fifty thousand Pounds by such an adventure if the returns be made in Spice Indico Callicoes Benjamin Refined Saltpeter and such other bulky Wares in their several Proportions according to their Vent and Use in these parts of Europe For the Freight of Shipping the Insurance of this Adventure the Charges of Factors abroad and Officers at home the Forbearance of the Stock His Majesties Customs and Imposts with other petty Charges incident cannot be less than two hundred and fifty thousand Pounds which being added to the Principal produceth the said Loss And thus we see that not only the Kingdom but also the King by his Customs and Imposts may get notoriously even when the Merchant notwithstanding shall lose grievously which giveth us good occasion here to consider how much more the Realm is enriched by this noble Trade when all things pass so happily that the Merchant is a Gainer also with the King and Kingdom In the next place I affirm that a Merchant by his laudable endeavours may both carry out and bring in VVares to his Advantage by Selling and Buying them to good Profit which is the end of his Labours when nevertheless the Common-wealth shall decline and grow Poor by a Disorder in the People when through Pride and other Excesses they do consume more Forein VVares in value than the Wealth of the Kingdom can satisfie and pay by the Exportation of our own Commodities which is the very Quality of an Unthrift who spends beyond his Means Lastly the King is ever sure to get by Trade when both the Common-wealth and Merchant shall lose severally as afore-written or jointly as it may and doth sometimes happen when at one and the same time our Commodities are over-ballanced by Forein Wares consumed and that the Merchant's success prove no better than is before declared But here we must not take the King's Gain in this large sense for so we might say that his Majesty should get although half the Trade of the Kingdom were lost we shall rather suppose that whereas the whole Trade of the Realm of Exportations and Importations is now found for to be about the Yearly value of Four Millions and a half of Pounds it may be yet increased Two hundred thousand pounds per Annum more by the Importation and Consumption of Forein Wares By this means we know that the King shall be a Gainer near Twenty thousand pounds but the Common-wealth shall lose the whole Two hundred thousand Pounds thus spent in Excess And the Merchant may be a Loser also when the Trade shall in this
manner be increased to the Profit of the King who notwithstanding shall be sure in the end to have the greatest Loss if he prevent not such Unthrifty Courses as do impoverish his Subjects CHAP. VIII The Enhancing or Debasing our Monies cannot Enrich the Kingdom with Treasure nor hinder the Exportation thereof THere are three ways by which the Monies of a Kingdom are commonly altered The first is when the Coins in their several Denominations are made currant at more or less Pounds Shillings or Pence than formerly The second is when the said Coins are altered in their Weight and yet continue currant at the former Rates The third is when the Standard is either Debased or Enriched in the Fineness of the Gold and Silver yet the Monies continue in their former Values In all occasions of want or plenty of Mony in the Kingdom we do ever find divers Men who using their Wits for a Remedy to supply the First and preserve the Last they fall presently upon altering the Monies for say they the raising of the Coins in value will cause it to be brought into the Realm from divers Places in hope of the Gain and the Debasing of the Monies in the Fineness or Weight will keep it here for fear of the Loss But these Men pleasing themselves with the beginning only of this weighty Business consider not the Progress and End thereof whereunto we ought especially to direct our Thoughts and Endeavours A Notable service for Spain For we must know that Mony is not only the true measure of all our other means in the Kingdom but also of our Forein Commerce with Strangers which therefore ought to be kept Just and Constant to avoid those Confusions which ever accompany such alterations For first at Home if the common Measure be changed our Lands Leases Wares both Forein and Domestick must alter in proportion And although this is not done without much Trouble and Damage also to some Men yet in short time this must necessarily come to pass for that is not the Denomination of our Pounds Shillings and Pence which is respected but the intrinsick value of our Coins unto which we have little reason to add any further Estimation or Worth if it lay in our power to do it for this would be a special Service to Spain and an act against our selves to indear the Commodity of another Prince Mony is the measure of our other means Neither can these courses which so much hurt the Subjects any way help the King as some Men have imagined for although the Debasing or Lightning of all our Mony should bring a present Benefit for once only to the Mint yet all this and more would soon be lost again in the future great Incoms of His Majesty when by this means they must be paid yearly with Mony of less intrinsick value than formerly Nor can it be said that the whole Loss of the Kingdom would be the Profit of the King they differ infinitely for all Mens Estates be it Leases Lands Debts Wares or Mony must suffer in their Proportions whereas His Majesty should have the Gain only upon so much ready Mony as might be new Coined which in comparison would prove a very small matter All the ready Mony in this Kingdom is esteemed at little more than one Million of Pounds for although they who have other Estates in Mony are said to be a great Number and to be worth Five or Ten thousand Pound per Man more or less which amounts to many millions in all yet are they not possessed thereof all together or at once for it were Vanity and against their Profit to keep continually in their hands above Forty or Fifty Pounds in a Family to defray necessary Charges the rest must ever run from Man to Man in Traffick for their Benefit whereby we may conceive that a little Mony being made the measure of all our other means doth Rule and Distribute great matters daily to all Men in their just Proportion And we must know likewise that much of our old Mony is worn light and therefore would yield little or no profit at the Mint and the Gain upon the Heavy would cause our vigilant Neighbours to carry over a great Part thereof and return it presently in pieces of the New Stamp nor do we doubt that some of our own Country-men would turn Coiners and venture a Hanging for this Profit so that His Majesty in the end should get little by such Alterations Yea but say some Men If His Majesty raise the Mony great store of Treasure would also be brought into the Mint from Forein Parts for we have seen by Experience that the late raising of our Gold ten in the Hundred did bring in great store thereof more than we were accustomed to have in the Kingdom the which as I cannot deny so do I likewise affirm that this Gold carried away all or the most part of our Silver which was not over-worn or too light as we may easily perceive by the present use of our Monies in their respective qualities And the Reason of this Change is because our Silver was not raised in proportion with our Gold which still giveth advantage to the Merchant to bring in the Kingdom 's Yearly Gain by Trade in Gold rather than in Silver Secondly If we be inconstant in our Coins and and thereby violate the Laws of Forein Commerce other Princes are vigilant in these Cases to alter presently in proportion with us and then where is our hope Or if they do not alter what can we hope for For if the Stranger-merchant bring in his Wares and find that our Monies are raised shall not he likewise keep his Commodities until he may sell them dearer And shall not the Price of the Merchant's Exchange with Forein Countries rise in Proportion with our Monies All which being undoubtedly true why may not our Monies be carried out of the Kingdom as well and to as much profit after the raising thereof as before the Alteration But peradventure some Men will yet say that if our Monies be raised and other Countries raise not it will cause more Bulloin and Forein Coins to be brought in than heretofore If this be done it must be performed either by the Merchant who hath exported Wares or by the Merchant who intends to buy off our Commodities And it is manifest that neither of these can have more Advantage or Benefit by this Art now than they might have had before the Alteration of the Mony For if their said Bulloin and Forein Coins be more worth than formerly in our Pounds Shillings and Pence yet what shall they get by that when these Monies are Baser or Lighter and that therefore they are risen in Proportion So we may plainly see that these innovations are no good means to bring Treasure into the Kingdom nor yet to keep it here when we have it CHAP. IX A Toleration for Forein Coins to pass currant
here at higher Rates than their Value with our Standard will not encrease our Treasure Merchants do or ought to know the Weight and Fineness of Forein Coins THE discreet Merchant for the better directing of his Trade and his Exchanges by Bills to and from the several Places of the World where he is accustomed to deal doth carefully learn the Parity or equal Value of the Monies according to their Weight and Fineness compared with our Standard whereby he is able to know perfectly the just Profit or Loss of his Affairs And I make no doubt but that we Trade to divers places where we vent off our Native Commodities yearly to a great Value and yet find few or no Wares there fitting our use whereby we are enforced to make our returns in ready Mony which by us is either carried into some other Countries to be converted into Wares which we want or else it is brought into the Realm in Specie which being tolerated to pass currant here in Payment at higher rates than they are worth to be Coined into Sterling Mony that seemeth very probable that the greater Quantity will be brought in but when all the Circumstances are duly considered this Course likewise will be found as weak as the rest to increase our Treasure First the Toleration itself doth break the Laws of entercourse and would soon move other Princes to perform the same acts or worse against us And so frustrate our hopes Secondly If Mony be the true Measure of all other means and Forein Coins tolerated to pass current amongst us at higher rates than they are worth being compared with our Standard it followeth that the Common-wealth shall not be justly distributed when that passeth by a false Measure Thirdly If the Advantage between ours and Forein Coins be but small that will bring in little or no Treasure because the Merchant will rather bring in Wares upon which there is usually a competent Gain And on the other side if we permit a great Advantage to the Forein Coins then that Gain will carry away all our Sterling Mony and so I leave this Business in a Dilemma and fruitless as all other courses will ever prove which seek for the Gain or Loss of our Treasure out of the Ballance of our general Forein Trade as I will endeavour yet further to demonstrate CHAP. V. The Observation of the Statute of Imployments to be made by Strangers cannot Increase nor yet Preserve our Treasure TO keep our mony in the Kingdom is a Work of no less Skill and Difficulty than to augment our Treasure For the Causes of their Preservation and Production are the same in Nature The Statute for Employment of Stranger 's Wares into our Commodities seemeth at first to be a good and a Lawful way leading to those ends but upon the Examination of the Particulars we shall find that it cannot produce such good Effects The Vse of Forein Trade is alike to all Nations For as the Use of Forein Trade is alike unto all Nations so may we easily perceive what will be done therein by Strangers when we do but observe our own proceedings in this weighty Business by which we do not only seek with the vent of our own Commodities to supply our wants of Forein Wares but also to enrich our selves with Treasure All which is done by a different manner of Trading according to our own Occasions and the nature of the Places whereunto we do Trade as namely in some Countries we sell our Commodities and bring away their Wares or part in Mony in other Countries we sell our Goods and take their Mony because they have little or no Wares that fit our turns Again in some Places we have need of their Commodities but they have little use of ours so they take our Mony which we get in other Countries And thus by a course of Traffick which changeth according to the Accurents of time the particular Members do accommodate each other and all accomplish the whole Body of the Trade How Forein Trade is destroyed which will ever languish if the Harmony of her health be distempered by the Diseases of Excess at home Violence abroad Charges and Restrictions at home or abroad but in this Place I have occasion to speak only of Restriction which I will perform briefly There are three ways by which a Merchant make the returns of his Wares from beyond the Seas that is to say in Mony in Commodities or by Exchange But the Statute of Employment doth not only restrain Mony in which there is a seeming Providence and Justice but also the Use of the Exchange by Bills which doth violate the Law of Commerce and is indeed an Act without Example in any place of the World where we have Trade and therefore to be considered that whatsoever in this kind we shall impose upon Strangers here will presently be made a Law for us in their Countries especially where we have our greatest Trade with our vigilant Neighbours who omit no care nor occasion to support their Traffick in equal Privileges with other Nations And thus in the first place we should be deprived of that Freedom and Means which now we have to bring Treasure into the Kingdom and therewith likewise we should lose the Vent of much Wares which we carry to divers places whereby our Trade and our Treasure would decay together Secondly If by the said Statute we thrust the Exportation of our Wares more than ordinary upon the Stranger we must then take it from the English which were injurious to our Merchants Mariners and Shipping besides the hurt to the Common-wealth in venting the Kingdom 's Stock to the Stranger at far lower rates here than we must do if we sold it to them in their own Countries as is proved in the third Chapter Thirdly Whereas we have already sufficiently shewed that if our Commodities be over-ballanced in value by Forein Wares our Mony must be carried out How is it possible to prevent this by tying the Stranger 's hands and leaving the English loose Shall not the same Reasons and Advantage cause that to be done by them now that was done by the other before Or if we make a Statute without example to prevent both alike shall we not then overthrow all at once The King in his Cuostms and the Kingdom in her Profits for such a Restriction must of necessity destroy much Trade because the diversity of Occasions and Places which make an ample Trade require that some Men should both Export and Import Wares some Export only others Import some deliver our their Monies by Exchange others take it up some carry out Mony others bring it in and this in a greater or lesser Quantity according to the good Husbandry or Excess in the Kingdom over which only if we keep a strict Law it will rule all the rest and without this all other Statutes are no Rules either to keep or procure us Treasure Lastly To
said Mony which in this Discourse upon all occasions I think I have repeated near as often as Malines in his Books doth make the Exchange to be an essential Part of Trade to be Active Predominant Over-ruling the price of Wares and Monies Life Spirit and the Worker of Admirable Feats All which we have now briefly expounded and let no Man admire why he himself did not take this Pains for then he should not only have taken away the great Opinion which he laboured to maintain of the Exchange but also by a true Discovery of the right Operation thereof he should utterly have overthrown his Par pro Pari which Project if it had prevailed would have been a good Business for the Dutch and to the great Hurt of this Common-wealth as hath been sufficiently proved in the 12th Chapter Now therefore let the learned Lawyer fall chearfully to his Books again for the Merchant cannot put him down if he have no more skill than Admirable Feats when they may be so easily known and done in the Course of Trade Well then if by this Discovery we have eased the Lawyer 's Mind and taken off the Edg of his admiration let him now play his Part and take out a Writ of Error against the Par pro Pari for this Project hath misinformed many and put us to trouble to expound these Riddles Nay but stay a while can all this pass for currant to slight a Business thus which the Author saith hath been so seriously observed by that Famous Council and those worthy Merchants of Queen Elizabeth of Blessed Memory and also condemned by those French Kings Lewis IX Philip the Fair and Philip de Valois with Confiscation of the Banker's Goods I must confess that all this requires an Answer which in part is already done by the Author himself For he saith that the Wisdom of our State found out the Evil but they missed of the remedy and yet what Remedy this should be no Man can tell for there was none applied but all Practice and Use in Exchange stand still to this Day in such Manner and Form as they did at the time when these Feats were discovered for the State knew well that there needed no Remedy where there was no Disease Well then how shall we be able to answer the Proceedings of the French Kings who did absolutely condemn the Bankers and confiscated their Goods Yes well enough for the Bankers might perhaps be condemned for something done in their Exchanges against the Law and yet their profession may still be Lawful as it is in Italy and France itself to this day Nay we will grant likewise that the Banks were banished when the Bankers were punished yet all this proves nothing against Exchangers for Kings and States enact many Statutes and suddenly repeal them they do and undo Princes may err or else Malines is grosly mistaken Maintenance of Free Trade p. 76 77 78 79. where he setteth down 35 several Statutes and other Ordinances enacted by this State in 350 Years time to remedy the decay of Trade and yet all are found defective only his reformation of the Exchange or Par pro Pari is effectual if we would believe him but we know better and so we leave him I might here take occasion to say something against another project of the same Brood that lately attended upon the Success of this Par pro Pari as I have been credibly informed which is the Changing and Rechanging here within the Realm of all the Plate Bullion and Monies Forein or Sterling to pass only by an Office called The King 's Royal Exchanger or his Deputies paying them a Peny upon the Value of every Noble which might raise much to their private Good and destroy more to the publick Hurt For it would decay the King's Coinage deprive the Kingdom of much Treasure abridge the Subjects of their just Liberty and utterly overthrow the Worthy Trade of Goldsmiths all which being Plain and Easie to the weakest Understandings I will therefore omit to amplisie upon these Particulars CHAP. XV. Of some Excesses and Evils in the Common-wealth which notwithstanding decay not our Trade nor Treasure IT is not my Intent to Excuse or Extenuate any the least Excess or Evil in the Common-wealth but rather highly to Approve and Commend that which by others hath been Spoken and Written against such Abuses Yet in this Discourse of Treasure as I have already set down affirmatively which are the true Causes that may either Augment or Decrease the same So is it not impertinent to continue my negative Declarations of those Enormities and Actions which cannot work these Effects as some Men have supposed For in redress of this important Business if we mistake the Nature of the Malady we shall ever apply such Cures as will at least delay if not confound the Remedy Let us then begin with usury which if it might be turned into Charity and that they who are Rich would lend to the Poor freely it were a Work pleasing to Almighty God and profitable to the Common-wealth But taking it in the Degree it now stands how can we well say That as Vsury Increaseth so Trade Decreaseth For although it is true that some Men give over Trading and buy Lands or put out their Mony to Use when they are grown Rich or Old or for some other the like Occasions yet for all this it doth not follow that the Quantity of the Trade must lessen for this Course in the Rich giveth opportunity presently to the Younger and Poorer Merchants to rise in the World and to enlarge their Dealings to the Performance whereof if they want means of their own they may and do take it up at Interest So that our Mony lies not dead it is still Traded How many Merchants and Shopkeepers have begun with little or nothing of their own and yet are grown very Rich by Trading with other Mens Mony Do we not know that when Trading is Quick and Good many Men by means of their Experience and having credit to take up Mony at Interest do Trade for much more than they are worth of their own Stock by which Diligence of the Industrious the Affairs of the Common-wealth are Increased the Monies of Widows Orphans Lawyers Gentlemen and others are employed in the Course of Forein Trade which themselves have no skill to perform We find at this present that notwithstanding the Poverty we are fallen into by the Excesses and Losses of late times yet that many Men have much Mony in their Chests and know not how to dispose thereof because the Merchant will not take the same at Interest although at low Rates in regard there is a stop of Trade in Spain and in France whereby he cannot employ his own Means much less other Mens Monies So that for these and some other Reasons which might be alleged we might conclude contrary to those who affirm that Trade decreaseth as Usury increaseth for they rise
and fall together In the next Place We hear our Lawyers much condemned the Vexation and Charges by multiplicity of Suits do exceed all the other Kingdoms of Christendom but whether this proceed from the Lawyer 's Covetousness or the Peoples Perverseness is a great Question And let this be as it may I will enquire not farther therein than our present Discourse doth require concerning the Decay of our Trade and Impoverishing of the Kingdom Sure I am that Suits in Law make many a Man Poor and Peniless but how it should make us Trade for less by one single Peny I cannot well conceive For although amongst the great number of them who are Vexed and Undone by Controversies there be ever some Merchants yet we know that one Man's Necessity becomes another Man's Opportunity I never knew as yet a Decay in our Trade and Treasure for want of Merchants or Means to employ us but rather by excessive Consumption of Forein Wares at home or by a Declination in the Vent of our Commodities abroad caused either by the ruinous Effects of Wars or some alterations in the times of Peace whereof I have spoken more fully in the Third Chapter But to conclude with the Lawyers I say that their Noble Profession is necessary to all and their Cases Quillets Delays and Charges are mischievous to many these things indeed are Cankers in the Estates of Particular Men but not of the Common-wealth as some suppose for one Man's Loss becomes another Man's Gain it is still in the Kingdom I wish it might as surely remain in the right Places Lastly All kind of Bounty and Pomp is not to be avoided for if we should become so Frugal that we would use few or no Forein Wares how shall we then vent our own Commodities What will become of our Ships Mariners Munitions our poor Artificers and many others Do we hope that other Countries will afford us Mony for All our Wares without Buying or Battering for Some of theirs This would prove a vain Expectation it is more Safe and Sure to run a middle Course by spending moderately which will purchase Treasure plentifully Again the Pomp of Buildings Apparel and the like in the Nobility Gentry and other able Persons cannot impoverish the Kingdom if it be done with curious and costly Works upon our Materials and by our own People it will maintain the Poor with the Purse of the Rich which is the best Distribution of the Common-wealth But if any Man say that when the People want Work the then Fishing Trade would be a better Employment and far more Profitable I subscribe willingly For in that great business there is means enough to employ both Rich and Poor whereof there hath been much said and written It resteth only that something might be as well effected for the Honour and Wealth both of the King and his Kingdoms CHAP. XVI How the Revenues and Incoms of Princes may justly be raised NOw that we have set down the true Course by which a Kingdom may be enriched with Treasure In the next Place we will endeavour to shew the Ways and Means by which a King may justly share therein without the Hurt or Oppression of his Subjects The Revenues of Princes as they differ much in quantity according to the Greatness Riches and Trade of their respective Dominons so likewise is there great diversity used in procuring the same according to the Constitution of the Countries the Government Laws and Customs of the People which no Prince can alter but with much difficulty and Danger Some Kings have their Crown-Lands the first Fruits upon Ecclesiastical Livings Customs Tolls and Imposts upon all Trade to and from Forein Countries Loans Donations and Subsidies upon all necessary occasions Other Princes and States leaving the three last do add unto the rest a Custom upon all new Wares transported from one City to be used in any other City or Place of their own Dominions Customs upon every alienation or sale of live Cattel Lands Houses and the Portions or Marriage Mony of Women Licence-mony upon all Victualing-Houses and Innkeepers Head-mony Custom upon all the Corn Wine Oyl Salt and the like which Grown and are Consumed in their own Dominions c. All which seem to be a Rabble of Oppressions serving to enrich those Princes which exact them and to make the People Poor and Miserable which endure them especially in those Countries where these Burdens are laid at heavy rates as 4 5 6 and 7 per Cent. But when all the Circumstance and Distinction of Places are duly considered they will be found not only necessary and therefore lawful to be used in some States but also in divers respects very profitable to the Common-wealth First there are some States as namely Venice Florence Genoua the Vnited Provinces of the Low-Countries and others which are singular for Beauty and excellent both for Natural and Artificial Strength having likewise rich Subjects yet being of no very great Extent nor enjoying such Wealth by ordinary Revenues as might support them against the sudden and powerful invasions of those mighty Princes which do inviron them they are therefore enforced to strengthen themselves not only with Confederates and Leagues which may often fail them in their greatest need but also by massing up store of Treasure and Munition by those extraordinary courses before-written which cannot deceive them but will ever be ready to make a good Defence and to offend or divert their Enemies Neither are these heavy Contributions so hurtful to the Happiness of the People as they are commonly esteemed For as the Food and Rayment of the Poor is made dear by Excise so doth the Price of their labour rise in proportion whereby the Burden if any be is still upon the Rick who are either idle or at least work not in this kind yet have they the Use and are the great Consumers of the Poors Labour Neither do the Rich neglect in their several Places and Callings to advance their Endeavours according to those times which do exhaust their Means and Revenues wherein if they should peradventure fail and therefore be forced to abate their sinful Excess and idle retainers what is all this but happiness in a Common wealth when Virtue Plenty and Arts shall thus be advanced all together Nor can it be truly said that a Kingdom is impoverished where Loss of the People is the Gain of the King from whom also such yearly Incoms have their annual issue to the Benefit of his Subjects except only that part of the Treasure which is laid up for the Publick Good wherein likewise they who suffer have their safety and therefore such contributions are both Just and Profitable Yet here we must confess that as the best things may be corrupted so these taxes may be abused and the Common wealth notoriously wronged when they are vainly Wasted and Consumed by a Prince either upon unworthy worthy Persons such as deserve neither Rewards nor Countenance
maintain his Estate and defend his Right that will not run himself into Poverty Contempt Hate and Danger must lay up Treasure and be thrifty for further proof whereof I might yet produce some other Examples which here I do omit as needless Only I will add this as a necessary Rule to be observed that when more Treasure must be raised than can be received by the ordinary Taxes it ought ever to be done with equality to avoid the Hate of the People who are never pleased except their Contributions be granted by general consent For which purpose the Inventions of Parliaments is an excellent Policy of Government to keep a sweet Concord between a King and his Subjects by restraining the Insolency of the Nobility and redressing the Injuries of the Commons without engaging a Prince to adhere to either Party but indifferently to favour both There could nothing be devised with more judgment for the common Quiet of a Kingdom or with greater care for the Safety of a King who hereby hath also good means to dispatch those things by others which will move Envy and to execute that himself which will merit Thanks CHAP. XVIII How much Treasure a Prince may conveniently lay up Yearly THus far we have shewed the Ordinary and Extraordinary incomes of Princes the Conveniency thereof and to whom only it doth necessarily and justly belong to take the Extraordinary Contributions of their Subjects It resteth now to examin what proportion of Treasure each particular Prince may conveniently lay up yearly This business doth seem at the first to be very Plain and Easie for if a Prince have Two Millions yearly Revenue and spend but one why should he not lay up the other Indeed I must confess that this Course is ordinary in the Means and Gettings of Private Men but in the Affairs of Princes it is far different there are other circumstances to be considered for although the Revenue of a King should be very great Forein Trade must give proportion to a Princes Treasure which is laid up yearly yet if the Gain of the Kingdom be but small this Latter must ever give Rule and Proportion to that Treasure which may conveniently be laid up yearly for if he should mass up more Mony than is gained by the Over-ballance of his Forein Trade he shall not Fleece but Flea his Subjects and so with their ruin overthrow himself for want of future Sheerings To make this Plain Suppose a Kingdom to be rich by Nature and Art that it may supply itself of Forein Wares by Trade and yet advance yearly 200000 l. in ready Mony Next Suppose all the King's Revenues to be 900000 l. and his Expences but 400000 l. whereby he may lay up 300000 l. more in his Coffers yearly than the whole Kingdom gains from Strangers by Forein Trade who sees not then at all the Mony in such a State would suddenly be drawn into the Prince's Treasure whereby the Life of Lands and Arts must Fail and Fall to the ruin both of the Publick and Private Wealth A Prince whose Subjects have but little Forein Trade cannot lay up much Mony So that a King who desires to lay up much Mony must endeavour by all good means to maintain and increase his Forein Trade because it is the sole way not only to lead him to his own ends but also to enrich his Subjects to his farther Benefit For a Prince is esteemed no less powerful by having many rich well affected Subjects than by possessing much Treasure in his Coffers But here we must meet with an Objection which peradventure may be made concerning such States whereof I have formerly spoken which are of no great Extent and yet bordering upon mighty Princes are therefore constrained to lay extraordinary Taxes upon their Subjects whereby they procure to themselves very great incomes yearly and are richly provided against any Forein Invasions yet have they no such great Trade with Strangers as that the Over ballance or Gain of the same may suffice to lay up the one half of that which they advance yearly besides their own Expences To this the Answer is that still the Gain of their Forein Trade must be the Rule of laying up their Treasure the which although it should not be much yearly yet in the time of a long continued Peace and being well managed to advantage it will become a great Sum of Mony able to make a long Detence which may End or Divert the War Neither are all the Advances of Princes strictly tied to be massed up in Treasure for they have other no less necessary and profitable Ways to make them Rich and Powerful by issuing out continually a great Part of the Mony of their yearly Incomes to their Subjects from whom it was first taken as namely by employing them to make Ships of War with all the Provisions thereunto belonging to build and repair Forts to buy and store up Corn in the Granaries of each Province for a Years use at least aforehand to serve in occasion of Dearth which cannot be neglected by a State but with great Danger to erect Banks with their Mony for the Increase of their Subjects Trade to maintain in their Pay Colonels Captains Soldiers Commanders Mariners and others both by Sea and Land with good Discipline to fill their Storehouses in sundry strong Places Munition for War ought to be kept in divers Places of the State to prevent the Loss of all by Treachery in one Place and to abound in Gun-powder Brimstone Salt-petre Shot Ordnance Musquets Swords Pikes Armours Horses and in many other such like Provisions fitting for War all which will make them to be feared abroad and loved at home especially if care be taken that all as near as possible be made out of the Matter and Manufacture of their own Subject which bear the Burden of the yearly Contributions for a Prince in this Case is like the Stomach in the Body which if it cease to digest and distribute to the other Members it doth no sooner corrupt them but it destroys itself Thus we have seen that a small State may lay up a great Wealth in Necessary Provisions which are Princes Jewels no less precious than their Treasure for in time of need they are ready and cannot otherwise be had in some places on the sudden whereby a State may be lost whilst Munition is in Providing So that we may account that Prince as poor who can have no Wares to buy at his need as he that hath no Mony to buy Wares for although Treasure is said to be the Sinews of the War yet this is so because it doth provide Unite and Move the Power of Men Victuals and Munition where and when the Cause doth require but if these things be wanting in due time what shall we then do with our Mony The Consideration of this doth cause divers well-governed States to be exceeding provident and well furnished of such Provisions especially those
Granaries and Store-Houses with that famous Arsenal of the Venetians are to be admired for the Magnificence of the Buildings the Quantity of the Munitions and Stores both for Lea and Land the Multitude of the Workmen the Divernty and Excellency of the Arts with the Order of the Government They are rare and worthy Things for Princes to behold and imitate for Majesty without providence of competent Force and Ability of necessary Provisions is un-assured CHAP. XIX Of some different Effects which proceed from Natural and Artificial Wealth IN the latter end of the Third Chapter of this Book I have already written something concerning Natural and Artificial Wealth and therein shewed how much Art doth add to Nature but it is yet needful to handle these Particulars apart that so we may the better discern their several Operations in a Common-wealth For the effecting whereof I might draw some comparisons from Turky and Italy or from some other remote Countries but I will not range so far having Matter sufficient herein Great Britain and the Vnited Provinces of the Low-Countries to make this Business plain Wherefore in the first Place we will begin with England briefly and only in general terms to shew the Natural Riches of this Famous Nation with some principal Effects which they produce in the Disposition of the People and Strength of the Kingdom If we duly consider Englands Largeness Beauty Fertility Strength both by Sea and Land in multitude of Warlike People Horses Ships Ammunition advantageous situation for Defence and Trade number of Sea-Ports and Harbours which are of difficult access to Enemies and of easie out-let to the Inhabitants Wealth by excellent Fleece-wools Iron Lead Tin Saffron Corn Victuals Hides Wax and other natural Endowments we shall find this Kingdom capable to sit as Master of a Monarchy For what greater Glory and Advantage can any powerful Nation have than to be thus Richly and Naturally possessed of all things needful for Food Rayment War and Peace not only for its own plentiful use but also to supply the Wants of other Nations in such a measure that much Mony may be thereby gotten yearly to make the happiness compleat For Experience telleth us that notwithstanding that excessive Consumption of this Kingdom alone to say nothing of Scotland there is exported Communibus annis of of our own Native Commodities for the Value of Twenty two hundred thousand Pounds Sterling or somewhat more so that if we were not too much affected to Pride monstrous fashions and Riot above all other Nations one Million and an half of Pounds might plentifully supply our unnecessary wants as I may term them of Silks Sugars Spices Fruits and all others so that Seven hundred Pounds might be yearly treasur'd up in Mony to make the Kingdom exceeding Rich and Powerful in short time But this great Plenty which we enjoy makes us a People not only Vicious and Excessive wastful of the Means we have but also improvident and Careless of much other Wealth that shamefully we lose which is the Fishing in his Majesty's Seas of England Scotland and Ireland being of no less consequence than all our other Riches which we Export and Vent to Strangers The fruits of Idleness which are Englands common reproaches among Strangers whilst in the mean time through lewd Idleness great multitudes of our People Cheat Roar Rob Hang Beg Cant Pine and Perish which by this Means and Maintenance might be much increased to the further VVealth and Srength of these Kingdoms especially by Sea for our own Safety and Terror of our enemies The Endeavours of the Industrious Dutch do give sufficient testimony of this Truth to our great shame and no less peril if it have not a timely Prevention For whilst we leave our wonted honourable Exercises and Studies following our Pleasures and of late years besotting our selves with Pipe and Pot in a Beastly manner sucking Smoak and drinking Healths until Death stares many in the Face the said Dutch have well-near left this Swinish Vice and taken up our wonted Valour which we have often so well performed both by Sea and Land and particularly in their Defence although they are not so thankful as to acknowledg the same The Netherlanders Ingratitude The sum of all is this that the general Leprosie of our Piping Potting Feasting Fashions and Mis-spending our time in Idleness and Pleasure contrary to the Law of God and the Use of other Nations hath made us effeminate in our Bodies weak in our Knowledg poor in our Treasure declining in our Valour unfortunate in our Enterprizes and contemned by our Enemies I write the more of these Excesses because they do so greatly waste our Wealth which is the main Subject of this whole Book 's Discourse for all Christendom to admire and fear if we would but add Art to Nature our Labour to our Natural Means the neglect whereof hath given a notable Advantage to other Nations and especially to the Hollanders whereof I will briefly say something in the next-Place But first I will deliver my Opinion concerning our Cloathing which although it is the greatest Wealth and best Employment of the Poor of this Kingdom yet nevertheless we may peradventure employ our selves with better Safety Plenty and Profit in using more Tillage and Fishing than to trust so wholly to the making of Cloth for in times of War or by other occasions if some Forein Princes should prohibit the Use thereof in their Dominions it might suddenly cause much Poverty and dangerous Uproars especially by our Poor People when they should be deprived of their ordinary Maintenance which cannot so easily fail them when their Labours should be divided into the said diversity of Employments whereby also many thousands would be the better enabled to do the Kingdom good Service in occasion of War especially by Sea And so leaving England we will pass over into the Vnited Provinces of the Netherlands As Plenty and Power do make a Nation Vicious and Improvident so Penury and Want do make a People Wise and industrious Concerning the last of these I might instance divers Common-wealths of Christendom who having little or nothing in their own Territories The Hollanders Improvement and Industry do notwithstanding purchase great Wealth and Strength by their industrious Commerce with Strangers amongst which the United Provinces of the Low-Countries are now of greatest Note and Fame For since they have cast off the Yoke of Spanish slavery how wonderfully are they improved in all human Policy What great means have they obtained in defending their Liberty against the Power of so great an Enemy And is not all this performed by their continual Industry in the Trade of Merchandize Are not their Provinces the Magizines and Store houses of Wares for most places of Christendom whereby their Wealth Shipping Mariners Arts People and thereby the Publick Revenues and Excise are grown to a wonderful Height If we compare the Times of their Subjection to their present
down the steep descent which often proves the loss of those that travel that way The Port belonging to this place is open lying to the Northward where Ships may ride in 14. fathom water within call of the shore secured by two little Forts in both are 14 or 15 Guns two of Brass the rest of Iron and constantly guarded by 16 Souldiers apiece who are paid by the King of Spain besides the Inhabitants adjacent which are about sixty Families are ready in Arms upon beat of Drum to secure the place which are usually alarm'd upon the approach of any Ship Within half a mile of this Port are several Plantations of Coquo some belonging to the Indians but most to the Spaniards their Masters for whom they work three days in the week and the rest of the time for themselves Moneys The Moneys is the Piece 〈◊〉 and parts thereof Weight Their weights is the Livre or Pound which is divided into 16 ounces of which Livre they make the Rove containing 25 Livres 4 Roves makes a Kintal one Kintal is 106 pound Averdupoise Measures Their long Measure for all Commodities is the Vara which is two per cent bigger than that of Sevil in Spain 104 of these Varas make 100 Yards in London The Measure for liquid Commodities is the Quartilia containing one and a half of that of Sevil called the old Quartilia and is about the Winchester Quart The measure for Corn Salt c. is the Hanake bigger than that of Sevil as 100 to 170. The Commodities for Exportation The Commodities here for Merchandize are first Neat Hides dried sent from hence at least 30000 Hides yearly esteemed the largest and best in all the West-Indies brought hither on Mules from the adjacenr Countreys within 150 miles distant are sold here by the Hide of which are threesorts Bull Hides being the largest and best sold from 14 to 20 Ryals the Hide Oxe Hides sold at 2 Ryals less Cow Hides never sold for above 8 Ryals a piece All sorts of these Hides are sold very cheap up in the Countrey in many places not above 4 Ryals the Hide Tallow shipt 1000 Roves yearly they kill their Cattel for the skin and Tallow and the fat between the skin and the flesh of which they make a kind of Oyl or Butter which serve them instead of Butter for many uses as frying fish c. the flesh of the Beast being of no value is left for the Fowls of the Air and wild Beasts to feed on The next Commodity here in plenty is Coquo sent hence in seed between 12 and sixteen thousand Hanakes yearly sold here sometimes by measure and other while by weight 110 pound going to the Hanake sold from 10 to 1◠pieces of Eight the Hanake The manner of planting Coquo is as we plant Fruit-trees which bear in four years after planted comes to be as large as our Apple-trees and last as long bears fruit all the year is commonly gathered after every full Moon but in greatest plenty in June July August and January The Coquo groweth in a Cod about the bigness of an Indifferent Cucumber in which is contained from 14 to 20 seeds of Coquo about the bigness of an ordinary Bean. Here is transported of Tobacco 500 Potaco's yearly the Potaco is 100 Pound called Governation Tobacco because growing within the Government of this place sold for here about six pieces of Eight the Rove Goat-skins 3 or 4000 yearly Sarsaparilla Wheat Sugar Indico of which great quantities have and might be made but at present neglected for that of late years they find a greater benefit by their planting of Coquo Commodities Imported The Commodities they stand in need of from other Nations are all sorts of Clothing Wines Strong-Waters Oyl Almonds Raisins of the Sun Olives Capers Estamenia's a kind of Serge of Ampudia and Toledo Silk Stockings Ribonds Raxa's a kind of Cloth of Castile of English Commodities Serges all kinds of Norwich Stuffs all sorts of Stockings and indeed no Stuffs in England wearable but are here saleable also Saffron Copperas Allom Brimstone all kinds of French and Holland Linnen all kinds of Silks Customs The Custom is 1 Ryal upon a Hide 4 Ryals upon a Hanake of Coquo for all Tobacco registred 12 Ryals upon the Potaco but usually compounded for with the Governour for half and other Commodities of smaller value they compound with the Governour as well such as are Transported as Imported excepting such as are Registred and then at the will of the Customer Their Trade They prohibit Trade with all Nations but their own upon the penalty of being Traytors and loss of Goods yet the Dutch of late years do put in here under pretence of wanting Provisions and to water which together with Bribes procure a Trade with them This place hath no shipping of their own but visited from the Havana Cartagena and St. Domingo with about six Ships yearly and many from Spain which are loaden hence with the Commodities of this place and in lieu thereof supply them with the Commodities of their own and Foreign Nations The Trade of America by the Spaniards To give here a small touch of the traffick of this new World is the principal scope of my intention but being shut up from the eyes of all Strangers we must be content till time produce it more apparently to live in ignorance true it is that the Countrey abounding in Mines of Silver and Gold and the soil rich in bringing forth all Fruits that from Spain have been hither transplanted adds every day an increase to their present Traffick the special matter here sought out for is Gold and Silver the Loadstone that attracts all Merchants to adventure hither and in their Mines the Inhabitants are set continually to work living poorly and undergoing thus the punishment of their ignorance and pusillanimity in suffering themselves to be so easily overcome and so basely subjected out of which Mines the King hath the ⅓ part of all extracted which in the Emperour Charles the Fifth's time amounted but to five hundred thousand Crowns of Gold yearly but since it hath been found that the Kings of Spain have had thence sometimes ten sometimes fifteen and sometimes seventeen millions of Gold yearly The Merchants carry thither Spanish Wines Woollen and Linnen-Cloth and other Merchandizes of Europe and if report may gain credit do make returns thence above one hundred profit for another in Spices Sugars some Drugs and in Gold and Silver Ingots in great abundance as well for the accounts of private Machants as for the account of the King himself so that it doth appear in the Records kept in the Custom-house of Sevil that in these seventy-four years last past there hath come from this India into Spain two hundred and sixty millions of Gold which hath been the mover of all those Broils and Wars that have been set afoot in Europe by the Kings of Spain
it being affirmed without contradiction that by means thereof Philip the Second during his reign did spend more than all his Predecessors being in number sixty-two that have reigned before him in this Kingdom before they shook off the Roman yoke for he alone spent more than an hundred millions that came out of this India This Country also giveth employment to many Ships of great burthen to carry their Sugars Ginger Cottons Fernandbuck and such other Commodities that are here found daily to increase by the industry of the Spaniards which by good Government may come in time to a great heighth and had not the Sword of these Blood-suckers ended so many millions of Lives in so short a time Trade might have seen a greater harvest and a more profitable crop by their industry and labour It will not be further useful for me to insist upon other particulars of Traffick in this Continent in matter of Coins of Weights and Measures for in all these they follow the Rules observed in Sevil where the Rendezvous of those Ships are made that go and come into these parts and so leaving this new discovered Division of the World I will cross the Main Ocean and with a somewhat better Survey I will observe the needful Occurrents of Trade in AFRICA my Second Part of this Model and of the World OF AFRICA AND THE Provinces and Cities of Trade THEREOF CHAP. XIV Africa and the Provinces thereof AFRICA I make to be my second Division of the World which is found to be a Peninsula almost incompassed round having the Red Sea on the East the Atlantique Ocean on the West the Southern Ocean on the South and the Mediterranean on the North and where the Sea is defective to make it a compleat Island there is a little Isthmus of 20 leagues that tieth it to Asia which sundry Princes in former ages intended to trench through to have the benefit of both those Seas united but have desisted as finding the Sea in the Red Sea Gulph to be higher than the Land of Aegypt by nature all flat level and plain and so might thereby overflow and drown all Aegypt Divided into eight parts Africa is at this day usually divided into eight parts which are 1. Barbary 2. Numidia 3. Lybia 4. Negrita 5. Aethiopia Interior 6. Aethiopia Exterior 7. Aegypt and 8. The Islands thereof Barbary 1. And first Barbary is now divided into four Kingdoms which are first Tunis second Argier third Fesse and fourth Morocco the Commodities these Countries send abroad I shall speak of when I come to these particular places CHAP. XV. Of TUNIS and the Trade thereof Description of Tunis THE Kingdom of Tunis contains sundry Cities of Trade viz. Bona Biserta Tripolis Africa and which is the principal the City of Tunis it self Which is situate near unto a Lake some seven miles in length and not much less in breadth extending almost to the Castles of Goletta whereby this Port commonly called the Port of Goletta is strongly guarded being about eight miles distant from this City Near unto which was seated that famous City of Carthage who contended with Rome for the Mastery of the World and challenged the priority in Africa as Queen and Supreme Lady thereof not only seen in here Ruines and known by her vast extent And from whose ashes sprung up Tunis which is almost 4 English miles in circuit within the Walls and with the Suburbs will make in compass about 7 miles The Streets being generally very narrow it is exceeding populous as appear'd by that terrible devastation in the year 1643 and part of 44 wherein there died of the Plague in the space of about 15 months if Vox Populi may be credited no less than one hundred thousand persons And yet so great a multitude in a year or two after were scarcely missed The natives are for the greater part Moors and Andaluzes which are of the Race of those Moors which by thousands were banished from Spain who profess the Mahometan Religion Government The great Turk is acknowledged for their Protector who every three years and sometimes oftner do send hither a Bashaw who representing his person is as it were a Vice-Roy sent by him to recover in his Tribute from the Moors of this Countrey and to pay off his Janizaries which are about 400 in number And these keep in subjection the whole City and some adjacent Towns the Government chiefly appertaining to the Dey or Captain General for so the word doth import who is chosen by the Turks There is also a Duan or Council of State who consult about the affairs of the whole Kingdom yet have not absolute power to determine of any thing without the consent and approbation of the Dey who rules them as he pleases Buildings Their Houses being built of Stone are for the most part made after a square form and flat at the top there being a Court-Yard in the midst for the conveying of light into the adjacent rooms Some few of their Houses are magnificent and their Churches generally th◠small are superficially beautiful which are held to be so sacred that none that are not Musselman that is true Believers according to the Mahometan account are permitted to set foot therein if they do there is no remedy but they must either turn from or burn for their Religion This Kingdom is much bettered and inriched by the labour of the Andaluzes who have here built many Cities and Temples according to their superstitious use planted Vines Oranges Limons Figs Dates Almonds and Olives and thereby have much peopled and prosited the whole Countrey Port. The Port is found to be very safe and secure excepting only when a wind blows hard which makes a great Sea and withal so large that many hundred Sail may ride at Anchor the ground likewise being very good Coins The Coins passable here are of three kinds of metal viz. Gold Silver and Copper Those of Gold are usually but of three sorts namely the Sultany which commonly passeth at 90 Aspers 52 whereof go to a Spanish Dollar or Ryal of 〈◊〉 the Venice Chickeen at 2 Ryals of 〈◊〉 of Spain and the Spanish Pistolet at 3¼ Ryals of 〈◊〉 But these Gold Coins do vary much in their value according to mens necessities and the plenty and scarcity thereof Sultanies have passed sometimes at 100 Aspers apiece for a long while together Likewise the Spanish Pistolet hath been at 3½ and the Venice Chickeen at 2¼ Ryals of 8 ◠The reason why these do often rise so high is principally the Mahometans going to Mecha to visit the Sepulchre of their false Prophet who for their light carriage are very inquisitive after Gold But they chiefly desire Sultanies which in divers places go current for 2 Ryals of 〈◊〉 a piece Sometimes also they enquire after Spanish Pistolets but seldom or never after Venice Chickeens for they are not passable in those parts Yet this last
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