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
For setting aside the Worship and Service of God which is only fit and proper to Divines and Church-men the person and purse of the Merchant supplies in a fair measure all the other parts before-mentioned for first the Merchants Navigation and Traffick is seen to supply the City with Corn Grain Cloth c. and all manner of Provision both for back and belly delight and ornament tending either to pleasure or need and this way he performs the part of the Husbandman and Shepherd His Traffick is seen to supply the City with Arms Armour and all manner of Ammunition either offensive or defensive and thus far he performs the part of Souldier His Traffick likewise is seen to bring Riches into the common Purse by Customs Imposts and such Duties and thereby may be said to perform the part of the wealthy and most eminent thereof He is seen by his wisdom travel and experience abroad to be able oftentimes to sit at the Stern of the Cities Government punishing the vicious rewarding the virtuous and herein he performs the part of a Senator and Counsellor neither yet is he wanting in many other particulars to perform the duty of a good Patriot and Citizen not comprized within any of these aforesaid limits for his Traffick is seen to improve the Countries Commodities to set the Poor and Needy on work to invent new Fabricks Stuffs and the like to plant foreign Colonies to setle Peace and Amity amongst Princes to build warlike Ships to train up Seamen and to make the City and place of his abode famous and eminent by sundry other means which I could exemplifie if need were in this place and which at present I willingly omit Now then if the Merchant and the Art of Merchandizing be so excellent and consequently necessary in a City and bringeth with it so many benefits and commodities how happy then is that City where many notable and well-govern'd Merchants are found to reside and where their care of their own profit is so necessarily interwoven with the care of the Common-wealth's and its good that to themselves and to their Country their labours and adventures do bring in thus mutually not only a commodity but also an honour but to the matter All Cities and Towns are not found in themselves proper for Commerce and Traffick nor yet all of them fit residences for Merchants What Cities are found fit for Trade and Commerce therefore it is seen by experience that Trade hath settled it self principally in two sorts of Cities and Towns and in such first the Inhabitants by Inclination and then Foreigners and Strangers by Conversation are observed and noted to have planted themselves and established a Trade therein Two sorts of Cities of Traffick Traffick then residing and abiding principally in two several sorts of Cities and Towns by daily observation are found to be such as these the first is the Maritime and these are they that have their situation on the Sea-Shore or Coast or upon navigable Rivers and Streams and the second are they that have their situation within some Continent and may be called Land-Towns and Cities distant both from Sea and River And though that in both these Trade and Commerce is observable to be settled and driven yet the manner and common form of this Trade is found to differ much as being both of them proper to two several sorts of Traffick and Negociation Sea-Towns of Trade what The Trade observed then to be driven in Sea-Towns or Cities seated on Navigable Rivers is noted to subsist principally by Navigation and by the easie Transportation of Merchandize by that commodiousness from one place to another which is indeed the most proper and customary way whereby Traffick is in these days seen to be maintained and preserved for in many places thus situated it is noted that eminent Merchants do reside who by reason of this Neighbourhood of the Sea and consequently of Navigation do hold a correspondency and Trade from one fit place to another over all the known parts of the habitable World Importing the Commodities of all other Countries and Exporting the native Commodities of the place it self and of this sort is Masilia Amsterdam Genoa Venetia Sevil Lisbon London and many others c. Land Towns of Trade what But the Trade observed to be driven in Inland Towns and Cities subsists by carriage of Commodities by Land which in some places is done by Carts in some by Camels Caravans Mules Horses c. as is at this day seen practised in many great Cities of the World as at Aleppo in Turkey at Spahan in Persia at Agra in the Mogul Country and such other who enjoy neither the benefit of Rivers nor yet the commodity of the Sea it self by many miles distance yet therein are oftentimes found residing many Merchants of great eminency and an ample Trade is discerned therein as may be seen in this following Tract And sometimes to add some furtherance to this their want some of these have a Sea-Port or Haven as the nearest whereto Ships from other parts do come in and do there both land and relade as occasion requireth in which nature is Alexandria to Aleppo Combrone to Spahan and Sindy to Agra Towns of Trade in Manual Arts and Fabricks Besides which I might here add a third sort of Cities where yet Trade is noted to be settled differing from both the former and which cannot be comprised within either of the limits and these are such as subsist by some excellent or curious Manual Arts or Fabricks as is Norimberg and others in Germany Rouen in Normandy Florence in Italy and Norwich in England and some others whose Trade subsists by the benefit of Nature producing of it self special or needful Commodities for Traffick as doth Burdeaux by Gascoin Wines Zant by Corrants Smyrna by Cottons Gilan in Persia by raw Silk Ivisa by Salt and the like and where these are joined by situation proper for Traffick to the former they are found to be far more absolute eminent and compleat as shall be discerned also in this following Tract Cities of Trade mentioned in the Map of Commerce These are then the Cities and Towns which generally in this Map I handle relating as near as my observation and reading will permit me the Commodities that the place doth naturally afford for Merchandize and the Commodities the same is noted properly to vent together with the time when the same is either sent out or brought in the quantity how much with all other such circumstances as are thereunto belonging Five places in a City depending upon Trade Moreover it is to be noted that in all Cities and Towns of Traffick there are always found five particular places that only have a being and dependency upon the Trade thereof The Burse or Exchange The first place is it where Merchants and Tradesmen do assemble and meet at certain hours and limited times of the day to
Elephants Teeth which yields not any Commodity else save Elephants Teeth to procure which it is supposed 5000 are yearly slain in these Kingdoms Caffaria Capharia hath nothing famous in it Cape Bona Spei save that famous and noted head-head-land Cape bona speranza discovered by the Portugals in Anno 1497. Manicongo Manicongo was discovered by the Portugals 1486 and by them then converted to the Popish Religion which the Inhabitants soon forsook as peradventure seeing that that Religion was made the Cloak of their Conquest yielding yearly 30000 Slaves in sale to the Portugals which they carry to Brasile to work in their Silver Mines the Trade of the principal of these it is fit I should in this place more particularly handle CHAP. XXVIII Of Mosambique and the Trade thereof Mosambique and the Trade thereof THe Sea-coast affording the prime places of Traffick known to our Countreymen in this large Tract of Land before-mentioned and especially from Cape-bona-esperanze to the entrance of the Red-Sea which now cometh to be handled it will not be fitting I should wholly omit the Trade thereof before I have better surveyed the same together with those Towns of Traffick as are found to be there most eminent and therewith relate the manner how and the matter whereof this Trade is here maintained and preserved I will then include the Trade of this whole Coast under the Title of Mosambique as being the principal Town of Negotiation found alongst this shore having Soffola on the one side thereof and Quiloa on the other side all which being fortisied by the Portugals the first Christian Discoverers thereof give yet that liberty and freedom to the Country Inhabitants and others to exercise the same that would and considering their manner of Traffick it is seen plentifully stored both with the native Commodities of the Coast it self and of the In-land Countries there are here found the Towns of Cuama Sena Macava Brava Melinda and others along this shore seated some on the Coast of Abex and some on the Coast of Melinda but Quiloa for the commodiousness of the River and the passage into the Main Continent having but a short cut into the Lake of Zaflan in which there ariseth a great River that runneth into Nilus and so to Cairo and therefore the same is accounted the principal City for eminency and concourse of people though for Traffique this and the rest give place if the Spanish Relations be true to Mosambique wherein is found the first Fortress that was built by the Portugals on this Coast and Seas Mosambique then is not only the name of an Island but also of a Kingdom seated between Monomotapa and Quiloa the Island is sound to have a pretty Town seated upon it and together with the Islands of Saint George and Saint Jacob makes a large fair and secure Haven for Ships of the greatest burthen fit to receive and harbour all Vessels that come and go both to and from India to Christendom and although this Island nor Kingdom are not very great yet they are very rich and most abounding of all the Countreys of this Coast of Mosambique the Island whereon the Town is situated is inhabited now by two manner of People Christians and Mahometans the Christians account themselves Portugals or of the Portugal Race who are the keepers of a strong Castle seated therein from whence also all other their Castles and Forts seated in this Tract are supplied with their necessaries Soffola especially Soffola where the richest Mine of Gold of all this Coast lieth and there the Portugal Ships do use to harbour in Winter-time when they are not able to sail either backward or forward otherwise to accomplish their desired Voyage and there likewise the Indian Ships are accustomed to take in Victuals and fresh Water and by the only discovery of this place the Portugals first found out the way to India for here they met with Pilots that were able to instruct them in the manner of the Navigation of these Seas and were expert in the Maritime Coasts thereof they have no sweet Water in the Town nor in the Castle though it be imagined to be the strongest in India but have many Cisterns round about it wherein a years Provision of Water is ever found which they fetch from the Continent from a place called Cabasar The Captain of Mosambique the greatest Merchant The Captain of this Castle is still sound to be the greatest merchant here for he keeps a Factor in Soffola and another in Quilola and yearly sendeth Barks for Trade alongst the Coast who commonly for some good service performed hath this place and Command assign'd him for three years which is conceived to be worth 400 thousand Ducates and afterwards he is to go into India and upon his own charge to serve there at the Command of the Viceroy for the King of Portugal other three years and then may depart for Spain if he please besides whom none may hence trade for India but the Inhabitants Portugals and who are also enjoined to be married men for such as are unmarried may not stay here by special priviledg from the King granted to those that inhabit here to the end that the Island should be peopled and thereby kept safeguarded and maintained and for this immunity they are only bound in time of need to defend the Castle and are accounted as the Garrison thereof though it is found that the Governour and his family only lieth therein and the Townsmen by turns having the warding and watching thereof committed to their charge and trust Navigation of India Their Navigation is hence into India but once a year which is in the month of April and continueth till the midst of September because that throughout the whole Countrey of India they must sail with Monsons which are certain current constant winds which have a setled course of blowing throughout the year whereby they make their account to go and come from the one place to the other and in thirty days they may sail from Mosambique to India and they are then forced to stay in India till the month of August when as then the wind or Monson cometh again to serve them for Mosambique and this Coast in every which year the Captain abovesaid hath ever a Ship for his own account going and coming into India Commodities of the Coast of Mosambique As for the Commodities which this Countrey and Coast are found principally to afford to the Merchant for Transportation it is chiefly Gold for near Soffalla is a very rich Mine and within the Land the samous Mine of Angela the richest in the World is said to be seated beside the rich Mines of Monomotapa where in a River running thereby is found Sand of Gold in great plenty which is accounted the finest and best and called by the Portugals Bolongorn Oroâ—mpo The Kings of Portugal great Merchants The King of Portugal having ever a
Trade of moment here the Trade driven here by the Dutch not worthy consideration besides which this Town is found to be the great Magazine of all Persia India and Arabia Commodities the Merchants whereof come hither in great Troops and Caravans with their Camels laden with the rich Wares of those several Countries and make their returns in the Commodities of Europe above named which they buy and barter with the English French and Venetians which here have their residence as aforesaid To conclude then the Trade of this place and to omit nothing that I have judged proper for the demonstration thereof I will insert the Observations made here by experience in the weights and measures of this place with the weights and measures of some other places of Trade in the Levant The agreement of the Cantar of Aleppo with other places It is before noted that in Aleppo there is but one Quintar accounted as the common Cantar of the place by which all Commodities are both bought and sold yet it is to be noted withal that from this Quintar are many other Cantars derived varying according to the custom practised in the weight of some special Commodities as I have before likewise noted now this Cantar consisteth of 100 Rotolo's the common Rotolo here which is also accounted 600 drams though as I have there observed several Commodities are weighed by a several Rotolo some consisting of 600 some 680 some 700 and some 720 drams therefore to explain this point it hath been observed that the common Cantar of Aleppo containing 100 Rotolo's and each Rotolo containing 600 drams have made in these Countries following The 100 Rotolo of 680 drams is in Naples 633 l. 6 l. 8 ounces Venetia sotile 720 l. 7 l. 2 ounces 2â…” saob Venetia gross 456 l. 4 l. 9¾ ounces Florence 626 l. 6 l. 3½ ounces Genoa sotile 624 l. 6 l. 10 ounces Sicilia 691 l. 6 l. 10â…” ounces Millan 662 l. 6 l. 7½ ounces The agreement of the 100 Pico's of Aleppo with other places I have noted the measure here in general for all Commodities to be the Pico in Cloth thâ— 100 Pico's has been found thus to concord with other Countreys have made in 100 Pico Venice Cloth 94 braces Venice Silk 100 braces Florence 107½ braces Genoa 28 1 â— Canes Millan 81 braces Sicilia 31 Canes 1 Palm And thus much is what I conceive needful to have said concerning the Trade of this famous City of Aleppo CHAP. LXIII Of Tripoli and the Trade thereof Tripoli in Syria and the Trade thereof THE next and last of note in this Countrey is Tripoli and to distinguish it from that in Barbary commonly called in Syria it hath in former times been a fair Town and injoyed a fair and common Harbour and now ruin'd and hath as I said before of late days been accounted for the Port and Scale of Aleppo where our Ships ever laded and unladed but since their removal to Scanderone it is of little Commerce some Venetians are here found to reside and who pick out hence some small Trade with the Inhabitants of the Countrey who afford them Silk here growing some Cotton Yarn and Cotton Wooll some Drugs Corn and other Commodities Weights of Tripoli Their weight agrees with that of Damasco which is Rotolo 100 and is a Cantar Damascino which is Venetia sotile 600 l. gross 380 l. which this way should be English 402 l. but it hath been found to yield 416 l Averdupois drams 52 is an ounce Ounces 12 is a Rotolo which hath been found to be 4 l. 2 ounces of Averdupois and ounces 8 is an Oak which hath been observed to make out 42¾ l. Averdupois Measures of Tripoli Their measure being a Pico is somewhat less than 27 inches English Coins in Tripoli Their Money is generally the same with all Turkey but thus accounted Aspers 2 is a Medin Aspers 40 is ¼ R. â— Aspers 160 is a R. â— Aspers 140 is a Dollar Lion Aspers 240 is a Sultany And thus much shall serve for Tripoli in Syria CHAP. LXIV Of Palestina and the Cities thereof Palestine THE next Countrey in order is Palestina having on the East Euphrates on the West the Mediterranean Sea on the North Phaenicia and on the South Arabia this Countrey hath so often changed its name that it hath been called by six several names 1. Canaâ—… 2. The Land of Promise 3. Israel 4. Judaea 5. Palestina and lastly the Holy Land and noâ— divided into four parts Galilea Judea Idumea and Samaria Galilea In Galilea is not found any City either of Note or Trading though in times past it was samous for many as Bethsaida the Birth-place of Peter Andrew and Philip and Nazareth second to none where the Virgin Mary was saluted with those joyful Tydings by an Angel Jordan In this Countrey ariseth the two Spring-heads of Jordan Jor and Dan of which two that united River doth derive its name Samaria Neither doth Samaria now afford any City of Commerce though many notable places were there found in the flourishing days of the Israelites Idumea Idumea is also destitute of Trading though it have the commodious Sea-Port Joppa in 〈◊〉 where our Western Pilgrims are seen to land and foot it to Jerusalem where also in time past Jonah took shipping to fly to Tarsus and where Peter lying in the house of one Simon 〈◊〉 Tanner was in a Vision taught the Conversion of the Gentiles here also was Gasa where the Persians did hoard up in the greatness of their Empire the Customs and Tributes of their Westen Dominions take what I find in Trade here worthy observation CHAP. LXV Of Gasa and the Trade thereof Gasa and tho Trade thereof GAsa hath been more famous and beautiful than now it is and renowned through Europe both for a good Sea-Port and a good defence to the Western Christians in their Waâ—… here against the Saladin and Soldans of Aegypt and for a good Seat of Trade but all these good things were too good for those Nations that have since been Masters thereof for the goodness of the Port is spoiled by Rubbish the goodness of the Walls ruin'd by the Wars and the goodness of the Scale in Trade decayed by the neighbouring Towns situated upon this Coast It is seated in the bottom of all the Mediterranean Sea and sees yet a little Trade by the benefit of a Creek capable to receive small Vessels wherein the Venetians and French pick out some Trade with their ready Money It is a Station common to those Caravans that by Land travel from Damasco Aleppo or Constantinople to Cairo and so back again and these Caravans keeping their settled times of progress and regress are the cause of some Traffick here maintain'd The barrenness of the neighbouring Desarts drive some hither to inhabit which makes the Town to be better peopled than otherwise it happily would be thereby enlarging the Commerce
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
Trade As it is very commendable to know what is to be done by others in their Places So it were a great shame to be ignorant in the Duties of our own Vacations THE Love and Service of our Country consisteth not so much in the Knowledge of those Duties which are to be performed by others as in the skilful Practice of that which is done by our selves and therefore my Son it is now fit that I say something of the Merchant which I hope in due time shall be thy Vocation Yet herein are my Thoughts free from all Ambition although I rank thee in a Place of so high estimation for the Merchant is worthily called The Steward of the Kingdom 's Stock by way of Commerce with other Nations a Work of no less Reputation than Trust which ought to be performed with great Skill and Conscience that so the Private Gain may ever accompany the Publick Good And because the Nobleness of this Profession may the better stir up thy Desires and Endeavours to obtain those Abilities which may effect it worthily I will briefly set down the excellent Qualities which are required in a perfect Merchant 1. He ought to be a good Pen-man a good Arithmetician and a good accomptant by that Noble Order of Debtor and Creditor which is used only amongst Merchants also to be expert in the Order and Form of Charter-parties Bills of Lading Invoices Contracts Bills of Exchange and Policies of Ensurance 2. He ought to know the Measures Weights and Monies of all Forein Countries especially where we have Trade and the Monies not only by their several Denominations but also by their Intrinsick Values in Weight and Fineness compared with the Standard of this Kingdom without which he cannot well direct his Affairs 3. He ought to know the Customs Tolls Taxes Impositions Conducts and other charges upon all manner of Merchandize Exported or Imported to and from the said Forein Countries 4. He ought to know in what several Commodities each Country abounds and what be the Wares which they want and how and from whence they are furnished with the same 5. He ought to understand and to be a diligent Observer of the Rates of Exchanges by Bills from one State to another whereby he may the better direct his Affairs and remit over and receive home his Monies to the most advantage possible 6. He ought to know what Goods are prohibited to be Exported or Imported in the said Forein Countries lest otherwise he should incur great Danger and Loss in the ordering of his Affairs 7. He ought to know upon what Rates and Conditions to Freight his Ships and Ensure his Adventures from one Country to another and to be well acquainted with the Laws Orders and Customs of the Insurance-Office both here and beyond the Seas in the many Accidents which may happen upon the Damage or Loss of Ships or Goods or both 8. He ought to have Knowledg in the Goodness and in the Prices of all the several Materials which are required for the Building and Repairing of Ships and the divers Workmanships of the same as also for the Masts Tackling Cordageâ— Ordnance Victuals Munition and Provisions of many kinds together with the ordinary Wages of Commanders Officers and Mariners all which concern the Merchant as he is an Owner of Ships 9. He ought by the divers Occasions which happen sometimes in the Buying and Selling of one Commodity and sometimes in another to have indifferent if not perfect Knowledg in all manner of erchandze or Wares which is to be as it were a Man of all Occupations and Trades 10. He ought by his Voyaging on the Seas to become skilful in the Art of Navigation 11. He ought as he is a Traveller and sometimes abiding in Forein Countries to attain to the speaking of divers Languages and to be a diligent Observer of the ordinary Revenues and Expences of Foreign Princes together with their Strength both by Sea and Land their Laws Customs Policies Manners Religions Arts and the like to be able to give account thereof in all occasions for the Good of his Country 12. Lastly Although there be no necessity that such a Merchant should be a great Scholar yet is it at least required that in his Youth he learn the Latin Tongue which will the better enable him in all the rest of his Endeavours Thus have I brieflly shewed thee a Pattern for thy Diligence the Merchant in his Qualities which in truth are such and so many that I find no other Profession which leadeth into more wordly Knowledge And it cannot be denied but that their Sufficiency doth appear likewise in the excellent Government of State at Venice Luca Genoua Florence the Low-Countries and divers other Places of Christendom And in those States also where they are least esteemed yet is there Skill and Knowledg often used by those who sit in the highest Places of Authority It is therefore an Act beyond rashness in some who disenable their Counsel and Judgment even in Books printed making them uncapable of those Ways and Means which do either Enrich or Empoverish a Common wealth when in truth this is only effected by the Mystery of their Trade as I shall plainly shew in that which followeth It is true indeed that many Merchants here in England finding less encouragement given to their Profession than in other Countries and seeing themselves not so well esteemed as their Noble Vocation requireth and according to the great Consequence of the same do not therefore labor to attain unto the Excellency of their Profession neither is it practised by the Nobility of this Kingdom as it is in other States from the Father to the Son throughout their Generations to their great increase of their Wealth and maintenance of their Names and Families There is more Honour and Profit in an Industrious Life than in a great Inheritance which wasteth for want of Vertue Whereas the Memory of our richest Merchants is suddenly extinguished the Son being left rich scorneth the Profession of his Father conceiving more Honour to be a Gentleman although but in Name to consume his Estate in dark Ignorance and Excess than to follow the Steps of his Father as an Industrious Merchant to maintain and advance his Fortunes But now leaving the Merchant's Praise we will come to his Practice or at least to so much thereof as concerns the bringing of Treasure into the Kingdom CHAP. II. The Means to enrich this Kingdom and to encrease our Treasure ALthough a Kingdom may be Enriched by Gifts received or by Purchase taken from some other Nations yet these are things uncertain and of small Consideration when they happen Forein Trade is the Rule of our Treasure The ordinary Means therefore to increase our Wealth and Treasure is by Forein Trade wherein we must ever observe this Rule to sell more to Strangers yearly than we consume of theirs in value For suppose that when this Kingdom is plentifully
Estate they seem not the same People Those Princes which willingly support the Dutch would as resolutely resist the Spaniard for who knows not that the Condition of those Provinces was mean and Turbulent under the Spaniards Government which brought rather a greater Charge then a further Strength to to their Ambition neither would it prove over difficult for the Neighbour Princes in short time to reduce those Countries to their former Estate again if their own safety did require the same as certainly it would if the Spaniard were sole Lord of those Netherlands but our Discourse tends not to shew the Means of those Mutations otherwise than to find out the chief Foundation of the Hollander's Wealth and Greatness For it seems a wonder to the World that such a small Country not fully so big as two of our biggest Shires having little natural Wealth Victuals Timber or other necessary Ammunitions either for War or Peace should notwithstanding possess them all in such extraordinary Plenty that besides their own wants which are very great they can and do likewise serve and sell to other Princes Ships Ordnance Cordage Corn Powder Shot and what not which by their industrious Trading they gather from all the Quarters of the World Much Policy but little Honesty In which courses they are not less injurious to supplant others especially the English than they are careful to strengthen themselves And to effect this and more than hath been said which is their War with Spain they have little Foundation besides the Fishing which is permitted them in His Majesty's Seas being indeed the Means of an incredible Wealth and Strength both by Sea and Land as Robert Hichcock Tobias Gentleman and others have published at large in print to them that list to read And the States-General themselves in their Proclamation have ingeniously set out the Worth thereof in these words following Part of the States Proclamation dated in the Hague 19. July 1624. The great Fishing and catching of Herrings is the chiefest Trade and principal Gold Mine of the United Provinces whereby many Thousands of Households Families Handicrafts Trades and Occupations are set on work well maintained and prosper especially the Sailing and Navigation as well within as without these Countries is kept in great estimation Moreover many returns of Money with the Increase of the Means Convoys Customs and Revenues of these Countries are augmented thereby and prosper with other words following as is at large expressed in the said Proclamation set forth by the States-General for the Preservation of the said Trade of Fishing without which it is apparent that they cannot long subsist in Sovereignty for if this Foundation perish the whole Building of their Wealth and Strength both by Sea and Land must fall for the multitude of their Shipping would suddenly decay their Revenues and Customs would become small their Countries would be Depopulated for want of Maintenance whereby the Excise must fail and all their other Trades to the East-Indies or elsewhere must faint So that the Glory and Power of these Netherlands consisteth in this Fishing of Herrings Ling and Cod in his Majesty's Seas It resteth therefore to know what Right or Title they have thereunto and how they are able to Possess and Keep the same against all other Nations The Answer to these two Questions is not difficult For first It is not the Netherlandish Author of Mare Liberum that can intitle them to Fish in His Majesty's Seas For besides the Justice of the Cause and Examples of other Countries which might be alledged I will only say that such Titles would be sooner decided by Swords than with Words I do believe indeed that it is free for the Fish to come thither at their Pleasure but for the Dutch to carry and carry them away from thence without His Majesty's Licence I harbour no such Thought There may be good Policy to connive still and so long to permit them this Fishing as they are in perfect league with England and in War with Spain But if the Spaniards were Masters of the United Provinces as heretofore it would nearly concern these Kingdoms to claim their own Right and carefully to make as good use thereof for Increase of their Wealth and Strength to oppose that Potent Enemy as now the Netherlanders do and are well enabled for the same Purpose By which particular alone they are ever bound to acknowledge their strong Alliance with England above all other Nations for there is none that hath the like good Means to lend them such a Powerful maintenance Fishing and Money compared Nor were it possible for the Spaniard if he had those Countries again to make a new Foundation with the Power of his Money to increase his Strength either by Sea or Land to offend these Kingdoms more than he is now able to perform with the Conveniency of those Provinces which he hath already in his Possession for it is not the Place but the Employment not the Barren Netherlands but the Rich Fishing which gives Foundation Trade and Subsistence to those multitudes of Ships Arts and People whereby also the Excises and other publick Revenues are continued and without which Employment all the said great Dependences must necessarily disbandon and fail in very short time For although I confess that store of Mony may bring them Materials which they altogether want and Arts-men to build them Shipping yet where are the Wares to Freight and Maintain them If Mony then shall be the only means to send them out in Trade what a poor number of Ships will this employ Or if the uncertain Occasions of War must support them will not this require another Indies and all too little to maintain the Tenth Part of so many Ships and Men as the Hollanders do now set on work by the Fishing and other Trades thereon depending But if it be yet said that the Spaniard being Lord of all those Netherlands his Expence of the present War there will cease and so this Power may be turned upon us The Answer is that when Princes send great Forces abroad to invade others they must likewise increase their Charge and Strength at Home to defend themselves and also we must consider that if the Spaniard will attempt any thing upon these Kingdoms he must consume a great Part of his Treasure in Shipping whereby the Means of his invading Power of Money and Men to land will be much less than now it is in the Low-Countries Nor should we regard them but be ever ready to beard them when our Wealth and Strength by Sea and Land might be so much increased by the Possession and Practice of our Fishing of which particular I will yet say something more where occasion shall be offered in that which followeth And here in this Place I will only add that if the Spaniard were sole Lord of all the Netherlands he must then necessarily drive a great Trade by Sea to supply the
of Traffick stand in his Road the limits and bounds of Kingdoms the disposition of the Inhabitants the alteration of the Climates the Laws of those several Regions the Commodities that those Countries do afford for Merchandizing the plenty and scarcity thereof and lastly how they are supplied with forein Wares and Merchandizes either by Lands Seas or navigable Rivers and all these besides many other needful lessons may be hence learned and observed which laid up in memory both in the course of his life and traffick may in after-times much profit and advantage him The benefit reaped thereby being thus briefly expressed the thing it self challengeth in the next place to be handled which according to my skill and insight I shall succinctly touch so far as is needful to my present purpose Geography demonstrated Geography in brief then is an Art that doth demonstrate by rules in a flat level or Plano the whole Sea and Earth and the division thereof setting down by a certain method the limits and extents of Countrïes Provinces and Dominions of Princes the situation of Cities Towns Hills Rivers Woods c. The bounds of Seas Capes Islands c. All which is performed and expressed by apt lines numbers and parts of the Heavens and lastly it giveth rules to know the distances of the said places either in leagues or miles from one Country City or place to another all which being also necessary to be known by the Merehant I will in few words declare the same Maps and Cards First then to make the same more evident the ground of this Art is ordinarily demonstrated and best expressed in Maps and Cards which do comprize both the Earth and Waters of which making one entire body the Cosmographers do environ with five Circles the first is the Equinoctial then the two Tropicks and lastly the two Polar Circles thereby dividing the whole which now we call the World into five Zones two whereof are found to be cold two temperate and one extreme hot all which in these our days are found to be habitable contrary to the opinion of some ancient Cosmographers of which Circles and their particular parts divisions demonstrations and descriptions it will not be unproper I should briefly handle as an entrance into this work and for the better understanding of what is to follow hereafter The use of Maps and Cards in general Every Map or Card then for the most part is commonly traced with two sorts of lines or circles that is Meridians and Parallels Meridian the Meridians are either Right or Circular lines passing through both the Poles of the World and are imagined to be drawn right up and down from the head to the foot of the Map and called Meridians because that when the Sun cometh to touch any of those lines it is mid-day to those that dwell under the same Parallel And Parallels are either right or circular lines imagined to be equally distant one from another which do cross the aforesaid Meridians with right Angles and in the very midst of these Universal Maps and Cards are most commonly drawn from head to foot a right line which signifieth not only the first Meridian but also the Axletree of the World Poles Artick and Antartick the upper end of which line is call'd the Pole-Artick or the North-Pole and the nether end is called the Pole-Antartick or the South-Pole Equinoctial and this line is crossed in the very midst betwixt the two Poles with another great circle or rather right line called the Equinoctial because that when the Sun cometh to touch this line or circle the day and night is equal throughout the whole World the one half of which line towards the right hand sheweth the East part and the other half towards the left hand sheweth the West part of the World so as those two lines the first Meridian and the Equinoctial do point out the four Quarters of the World East West North and South from whence the four principal winds do blow between which winds are set down in all general Maps and generally in all Sea-Cards the other division of the winds which as not much pertinent to my present purpose I willingly omit Further It is to be noted that both the Equinoctial and the Meridian Circles or Lines are divided each of them into 360 degrees so as every quarter of them containeth 90 degrees and in the Equinoctial are set down the degrees of Longitude which is the length of the World round about from West to East and from East by West home again The first degree whereof beginneth where the first aforesaid Meridian crosseth the Equinoctial in the very midst of all Universal Maps in general and so proceedeth Eastward unto the number of 180 degrees which is as far as you can go Eastward for from thence by reason of the roundness of the Earth you must needs turn back again Westward until you come to the 360 degrees which is the last degree of Longitude and endeth where the first degree beginneth Moreover In the said first Meridian are set down the degrees of Latitude that is breadth of the World both in Nor hern and Southern for from the Equinoctial to the North-Pole are contained in the aforesaid Meridian 90 degrees and that is called the North Latitude and from the Equinoctial to the South-Pole are contained in the said Meridian other 90 degrees which is called the South Latitude and in most Maps the Equinoctial Line is divided and crossed with 18 Meridians on each side of the first Meridian dividing the Equinoctial into 36 several distances every distance containing 10 degrees and every degree containeth 60 Italian miles of length Circles Artick and Antartick Again betwixt the Equinoctial and each of the Poles are drawn certain Circles or Lines which as I said before are called Parallels of which most commonly it is found that four are pointed with red Ink signifying the four lesser Circles the highest towards the North-Pole is called the Circle-Artick which is 23½ degrees distant from the Pole and the lowest towards the South Pole is call'd the Circle-Antartick which is also distant 23½ degrees from the Pole 2 Tropicks 1 Cancer 2 Capricorn and as touching the other two red Circles the one lying betwixt the Circle-Artick and the Equinoctial it is called the Tropick of Cancer and the other lying betwixt the Equinoctial and the Circle Antartick that is called the Tropick of Capricorn and each of these two Tropicks is distant from the Equinoctial 23 degrees 2. 8. ½ which is the greatest declination of the Sun for betwixt these two Tropicks the Sun continually maketh his course and returneth mounting never higher than the Tropick of Cancer nor descending never lower than the Tropick of Capricorn for which cause some do set down in their Maps betwixt the said two Tropicks an overthwart line signifying the Ecliptick line under which the Sun continually walketh Five
considerable though not the biggest being not above six or seven miles long lying in 15 Degrees Latitude it had once a fair Town called Riblera but sackt and burnt by Sir Francis Drake Anno 1585. and afterwards in Anno 1596. by Sir Anthony Sherley it run the same fate it is at present pretty well Inhabited and hath a convenient Harbour called the Pry secured by a Castle where Ships may ride with its leave in safety they have some quantity of Sugar Sweet-meats and Coco-nuts being their chief Commodities which they exchange for such Commodities as they want for Cloathing as Cloth Stuffs of several sorts Linnens Hats and the like They have very large and good Cattel which they sell at easy rates about 25 s. aplece also Horses of excellent shape and metal but they are Contrabando Goods and not to be dealt in without leave from the Governour under no less penalty than forfeiture of Ship and Goods if he get you in his Command but by Graruities and a particular Trade with him small numbers are sometimes admitted to be carried from thence Ocknam's brave attempt If I should silently pass over the attempt of one John Ocknam a follower of Sir Francis Drake in his Worlds Incompassment in this place I should much wrong the honour due to so much worth This Man as Mr. Hackluit hath it with 70 Companions in a Creek a little above these Towns drew on shore his Bark covered the same with boughs and leaves and so leaving it marched over with his Company guided by some Negroes until he came to a River which ran into the South-Sea which by relation and Mercator's Maps may be Tomobonda or the Creek of Ventura where he cut down Timber built him a Frigat entred the South-Seas went to the Isle of Pearls lay there 10 days and there inteicepted in two Spanish Ships 60000 pound weight of Gold and 200000 pound weight of Silver in Ingots with divers other rich Commodities and after that returned safely again to the Main Land where rowing up the same Stream where his Frigat was built he was discovered by some feathers pluckt from certain Fowl they had kill'd for their Provision which swam upon the River down the Current and though by this means he was taken and returned not into his Countrey nor yet his hidden Vessel yet it is an Adventure that deserves a Remembrance from all such as are Lovers of their Countreys Honour and it is held in admiration by the Spanish Writers that have made mention thereof Andalusia Nova Andalusia Nova is the second the chief Cities are Santa Margarita and Santa Sperita Nova Granada Nova Granada is the third the chief City is Jungia a pleasant and strong Town directly seated under the Aequator the next is St. Foy an Archbishops See and a Court of Justice Cartagena Cartagena is the fourth accounted a fruitful Soil but therein is found a Tree that whosoever toucheth doth hardly escape poysoning the chief City is Cartagena which our Country-man Sir Frances Drake in Anno 1585 surprized where besides inestimable sums of Moneys he took with him from hence 240 pieces of Ordnance Guiana second Province Guiana is the second Province directly situated under the Equinoctial Line and is the fruitfullest part of Peruana The Inhabitants in Winter-time dwelling in Trees for fear of Inundations on which they built many pretty Villages and artificial Mansions it is watered with two goodly Rivers the one hath the name of Orinoque or rather Raliana borrowing the same from Sir Walter Rawleigh who first of all to any purpose made a plenary Survey of this Countrey with the Commodities and situation thereof in An. 1595. and found this River navigable for great Ships of burthen 1000 miles and for Boats and Pinnaces 2000 miles The other River is called Orellana or the Amazons discovered 1543. the which is found navigable 6000 miles and 200 miles broad at the entrance into the Sea Manoa the golden City The chief City of this Country and if Spanish Writers may herein be believed the chiefest City of the World is here found and called Manoa or as Diego Ordas the Discoverer called it el Dorado or the golden from the abundance of Gold both in Coin Plate Armour and other Furniture which he there saw This Discoverer or Traveller for by that name the truth of his wondrous Relation may be the better considered is said to have entred into the City at Noon and to have travelled all that day and the next also until night through the Streets hereof before he came to the Kings Palace which peradventure was the policy of those people as I have seen it to be in Constantinople in Anno 1621. when as the Duke of Avarascah coming with a great Train in Embassie from the King of Poland to Sultan Osman the then Great Turk after his unfortunate Expedition to Poland caused him and his whole Train to be led a whole afternoon through the most eminent Streets of that City when he first entred the same and so to his appointed Lodging whereas an hours easie walk to him that bad known the direct way would easily have served the turn perchance imagining this a fit way to demonstrate to the Embassadour the beauty and vastness of that City together with his own Greatness in ostentation and to recover that Honour and Repute which he had a little before lost by the Insolencie and Cowardise of his Souldiers in his said Expedition thither Peru the third Province The third Province is Peru which above all others in America abounds in Gold and Silver the Mine whereof in divers places is better stored with Metals than with Earth the chief City whereof is St. Michael the first Colony the Spaniards placed there and fortified by Piscaro a famous Spanish Captain who subdued the Countrey took the King thereof prisoner and had for a ransom for his Liberty and Life a house piled up on all sides with refined Gold and Silver in estimation about ten millions which when he had received most perfidiously contrary to his Oath and Promise slew him by which appears the wonderful Riches of this Countrey Besides which the Soil is luxuriant in all manner of Grain fortunate in the Civility of her Inhabitants frequency of Cities and salubrity of Air and abundantly stored with that Herb Tobacco from hence brought first into England by Sir Francis Drake's Marriners in Anno 1585. Râ—…la Plâ—ta In this Countrey is also now found that famous River called of Plate being 150 Miles broad at the Embesheur and above 2000 Miles long and on this Stream is found certain Fig-trees the part towards the River bearing Fruit in Winter and the other part thereof towards the Land bearing fruit in Summer Brasilia the 4 Province Brasilia is the fourth affording a Soil fat by nature and always flourishing yielding great store of Sugars and wonderful rich in Mines and hence our Red-wood which
English so that their 84 l makes 100 l. Sutle and 94 l. or Rotolos is 112 l. English according to the custom of Valentia in Spain from whence it is conceived they have drawn this original of Weights they are observed to have two several Weights the proportion being 10 l. of the small making 6 l. of the gross But here sundry Commodities are found to be weighed by sundry Cantars as Iron Lead Yarn and all Woolls are weighed by a Cantar of 150 Rotolos of the Rotolos above specified Raisins Figs Butter Honey Dates Oyl Soap by the Cantar of 166 Rotolos abovesaid Almonds Cheese Cottons by the Cantar of 110 Rotolos Brass Copper Wax and all Drugs by the Cantar of 100 Rotolos And Flax is weighed by the Cantar to contain 200 Rotolos Gold Silver Pearls and Gems are weighed by the mitigal which is worth there 9 doubler and is 72 gr English and the soltany chequeen or hungar weighs 52 gr English being accounted equal to Angel Gold and worth in England circa 3 l. 11 s. per ounce Troy Weight or thereabouts Measures of length They use in Argier two picos or measures the Turkish and Morisco the Morisco pics being the measure of the Countrey and is ¾ of the Turkish by which is sold all Linnen only The Turkish pico is divided into 16 parts and every ⅜ part is called a Robo and is 〈◊〉 part of an English-yard which with the allowance of an inch according to our custom in England hath been found to make 1½ picos turkisco and by which all Silk Stuffs and Woollens are sold in this place Dry Measures Their dry measure is called a Tarrie which heaped up as they use it is 5 gallons English and so hath it been found to produce in Corn Salt and some such Commodities Accounts in Argier They keep their accompt in doubles and ossians and some in soltanies and aspers the coins of Barbary 4 doubles making an ossian and 50 aspers making a double Customs of Argier Their Customs are here 10 per cent as in Tunis and paid upon the Commodity according to the value sold and permission given to land and if not sold to be shipt again free of all duties as I said before in the Kingdom of Tunis Clearing of a Ship in Argier And it is to be noted a Ship entring here and Anchoring must either land her Sails or her Rudder for prevention of running away without licence which must be obtained in Duano which is the common assembly of the Bashaw who is Commander for the Grand Seignior and of the principal Moors of the Kingdom and City and then paying these duties with licence she is dismissed viz. to the Kaiffa 28 doubles to the Almaine 31 doubles to the Captain Anchorage 15 doubles to the Bashaw 8 doubles to his Chiouse 4 doubles to his Almin 8 doubles to his Chouse 4 doubles to the Bashaw Sorman 2 doubles to the Druggerman 8 doubles to the Sackagie 8 doubles to the Consuls duty 42 doubles which in all make 162 doubles And so much shall serve for Argier now I sail along the Coast and observe some Maritime Towns of note there seated CHAP. XVII Of ORAN and the Trade thereof Oran and the Trade thereof ORAN is seated upon this Shore also and of late in possession of the Spaniards whose immunities to such as come hither to reside have made the place noted for some Traffick especially for the Commodities of this Countrey which hence are transported into Spain and Portugal such as are Horses Wax and some years Corn in a great measure as I have noted before Coins of Oran The Coins current of Barbary and which pass currently here are those indifferently named before and the Coins of the opposite shores of Spain The Weights in use in Oran It is found they have here four several weights First A quintar of 5 roves of 20 l. to a rove which is 100 l. or rotolos Secondly A quintar of Spices of 4 roves of 25 l. per rove which is 100 rotolos Thirdly A quintar for Corn every quintar being only 6 rotolos And lastly A quintar for Cotton-wool every quintar being 15 rotolos the 100 l. of London makes in the first 90 rotolos in the second 133 rotolos in the third for Corn 48 rotolos and in the last 58⅜ rotolos Measures of Oran The Measures of ORAN are found to be principally two the one being the pico Morisco the proper measure of the Countrey agreeing with the measure of Argier before mentioned and the other the Vare of Spain here used in Cloth Silk and such like by the Spaniards CHAP. XVIII Of UNA and the Trade thereof Una and the Trade thereof UNA is also seated upon this Coast and dependeth for the most part in matter of Trade upon the inland Inhabitants affording for Transportation the common Commodities of Barbary and by reason of the situation little known to our Nation therefore I shall the more briefly pass over the same Coins of Una The Coins before mentioned are here current only with little alteration as also the same is found to be in Bona anciently Hippona the seat of St. Augustine that learned Father in Cola Tabaracha Bugia Constantine and other Towns of Trade upon this Coast therefore I will omit the repetition thereof having all a reference in Trade one to the other Weights of Una But in weights they much differ for here is found in use three several Quintals composed of one l. or Rotolo one for Cotton-wool another for Spices and the third for Corn thus agreeing with London The 100 l. of London makes 63 Rotolos for weight of Wool The 100 l. of London makes 72 Rotolos for weight of Spices The 100 l. of London makes 91 Rotolos in the weight of Corn. All which is to be observed by him that trades into this Port in the sale of these and the like Commodities Measures of Una The measure of length is here the pico Morisco which generally is used in all Commodities and contains 26 inches English circa CHAP. XIX The Trade in general of ARGIER and TUNIS The general Trade of Argier and Tunis THough these two Kingdoms of TUNIS and ARGIER do afford many fair Towns according to the manner of this Countrey yet it is not found that the same doth produce many Merchants of quality or of great consideration This tract of Land is found at present to belong to three several Inhabitants the Moors as Proprietors enjoy the principal part and these are found within themselves to acknowledge several Sovereigns which not seldom are at variance sometimes amongst themselves sometimes with their neighbours and because of the liberty given here for entertainment and protection to all Nations not only these Towns do harbour Levents which we call Pirates and they call natural Turks but also Christians of all Countreys which hence with robberies infest these adjoyning
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
proper that I enlarge when I come to speak of Aleppo which is seated in Syria as I shall shew hereafter CHAP. XLIII Of Pamphilia Lycia and Caria Pamphilia Lycia and Caria ALL these have not any thing now worthy note in them conducing to Trade and Merchandizing save the abundance of those Goats upon whom grows that Wooll whereof is made the Chamlets and Grograms of which I shall have cause to speak more at large when I come to treat of the Trade of Angora and in the interim it is to be noted that these Provinces having lost their former names are now known to us by the name of Garamania and are at this present under the command of the Grand Signior CHAP. XLIV Of Ionia and the Cities thereof Ionia and the Cities thereof Ephesus IOnia is the next Province wherein is that ancient famous City of Ephesus much ruined from its ancient recorded beauty famous for the direction of an Epistle by Saint Paul to the Inhabitants hereof famous also for the Temple of Diana and lastly famous for the burial of St. John the Evangelist who went here alive into the grave But this City is now become a poor Village and retains no monument of her pride that I could find in Anno 1624. but a porch of a Graecian Church of black Marble wherein is excellently engraven the life of our Saviour Christ much admired by all Artists Smyrna But now the only City of Trade in this Province is Smyrna one of the places that strove for the birth of Homer and wherein was found one of those Churches whereto St. John dedicated his Revelation seated in the bottom of a Bay or Gulph known to our Seamen by the name of the Gulph of Smyrna and where there is a Consul resident for the English as also for the French and Venetians to protect their Merchants and Trade where in Anno 1619. in matter of Traffick I noted these things CHAP. XLV Of Smyrna and the Trade thereof Smyrna and the Trade thereof THE principal Trade of this City was within these few years transported hither from the Island Scio where the Consuls abovesaid had their residence and from thence are intitled Consuls of Scio and Smyrna but by reason that scale both for sales and investments had then a dependency upon this it was found more proper and less chargeable to remove their abode and warehouse hither and by that means this became the principal Port the goodness of the Harbour much furthering the same being both under the command of the Grand Signior and within these latter years much inriched by the trade of English French and Dutch the Venetians drive great trade here under French Colours still Commodities of Smryna The Commodities that are found here to abound and that are hence transported into other Countries of Christendom are Cotton Woolls which in great plenty grow in the adjoining Plains of this City also Galls for Diers Anniseeds Cordovants Wax Cotton and Grogram Yarn Cute Carpets Grograms Chamlets Mâ—hairs and some Fruits and Drugs raw Persia Silk is likewise hither brought by Land from Persia and all other Commodities found in Turky or of that growth is here to be had and the Commodities here vended from England are Cloths of Suffolk Essex and Glocester Kersies of Yorkshire and Hampshire Lead Tin Callicoes Pepper Indico and other Spices which within these late years we had formerly from this and other places of Turkie and which now by the commodity of the East-India Trade and Navigation we carry to them and from Venice is brought some Cloth Paper Silks Velvets c. and from France some few Cloths and Paper c. great store of Bullion which never returns into Christendom more carried the greater part by the Armenians and Persians to their native Countries and there melted down into a light Standard The Coins of Smyrna and Accompts The Coins current of Smyrna are those of Constantinople and generally those of all that Empire which I shall shew when I treat of that City and for that cause here omit it and their Accounts they also keep here in the same nature with them and therefore refer you to that place in both these Particulars Weights usual of Smyrna The Weights of Smyrna and Scio for they agree both in one is the Quintar which contains 100 Rotolo's or 42 Oaks and every Oak being 400 drams and every Lodro being 176 drams and the pound Averdupois hath been found to be 148 drams and the Quintal of 42 Oaks above-said which produceth 119 l. English but in many Commodities it is found to answer but 117 l. so that in circa 9¼ drams is 1 ounce English Averdupois They have here in use two Measures one for Linnen and another for Woollen but because they nearly agree with Constantinople I will refer the same to that place Measures of Smyrna and Scio Customs of Smyrna and Scio by the English The Customs paid by the English here and throughout all Turkie by virtue of their Capitulations with the Great Turk is only three per Centum and oftentimes the Custom house of Scio and of Smyrna is in one mans hands and though by their Capitulations it is so agreed that those Goods that have once paid Custom in one port should not pay any more being thence Exported to any other place of his Dominions and that Commands have been granted to that end by the Grand Signior at several times yet the justice of that Countrey is so defective in this particular that the Commodities landed in Smyrna and paying their three per Centum and afterward transported to Constantinople pay there again another three per Centum or compound with the Customer which somtimes is done at 1½ per Centum and sometimes at less By Venetians and French Note that here as in all parts of Turkie the Venetians French and Dutch pay five per cent two per cent more than the English which is grounded upon their Capitulations with the Emperour Port-charges of a Ship The Port-charges of clearing a Ship in Smyrna is paid in Commodities of our Country and was to that end thus at first regulated but since converted into payment by mony as to the Cadie who is to have five Pico of Venice Cloath and a bundle of Cony-Skins for a vest which in the infancy of our English Trade was here found to be much requested The Cadies Servant to have 3½ Pico English Cloath The Cadies Caya to have 3 Pico of Ditto The Cadies Scrivan to have a Chicquine in Gold The Cadies Pages to have 2½ Dollars The Mosur Eashaw to have 1½ Pico Cloth The Cadies Janisaries to have a Chicquine All which Charges amount in circas to 68 Dollars To conclude The Trade of this Port is most noted for the abundance of Cottons which hence is transported to England France Holland and Italy estimated yearly to be about 20000 Quintals and is found here to
for all other Commodities I will begin with the Sear which varies here in several parts of this Country A Sear of Surrat is 18 Pices weight of Copper money which is 13â…“ ounces Averdupois A Sear of Agra called the Sear Acoberg is 30 Pices which is 22 ounces Averdupois A Sear of Agra called the Sear Janquery is 36 Pices being the common Sear of all India and double the Surrat Sear which is 26â…” ounces A Sear of Puttana and Ganges is 37 Pices and those that have made a strict calculation have found that 22 common Pices makes 16 ounces Averdupois They have also in use in these Countreys two Maunds A Maund small of Surrat is 40 Sears of Surrat and the said Maund is 33 l. Averdupois But they have for some Commodities another Maund in Surrat about 27 l. Averdupois A Candil of Surrat Cambaia c is 20 of the said Maunds Sears 40 makes a small Maund of 33 l. English Sears 40 great make a great Maund of 54 3 â— l. English and some have observed it to be 55 l. English and this is the Maund of Agra Amadever In Amadever this difference is found in the said weight A Maund is 40 Sear which is 18 Pices and 33 l. English And the 100 Maunds of Amadever is 63 Maunds of Agra For Gold Silver Musk Civet Bezoar-stone they have another weight which they call the Toll being 12 Masses and is 7 d. 16 grain Troy weight in England as hath been observed both by the English and Portugal Merchants It is not to be questioned but that this so large tract of Country must admit of more diversity of Weights which I am inforced to pass over in silence by reason of my ignorance and refer what is here omitted to the better experienced Measures in Cambaia Surrat Agra and Mogul's Country There is used in these parts two common measures and both called a Covato a short and long Covado The short Covado of Surrat Cambaia c. used in the sales of many Commodities as Linnen and Silk is 27 inches English The long Covado of Surrat used for woollen cloth is 35 inches But in Agra Labore Dilly Brampore c. the ordinary and common Covado is found to hold 32 inches and called in some places of this Country Elahy At Puttana they have a Covado of 38 inches and by the observation of some it hath been found that 1 â— 3 Covado of Puttana is 5 Covado's of Agra which makes four Yards English And note That in all the Moguls Country they use no concave measures for any grain or liquid commodities but sell the same by weight in the same nature as they do all ponderous and massie commodities They measure their ground and days journeys by a measure which they call a Corso which is one thousand five hundred Geometrical paces and is accounted in common estimation of our late Travellers a mile and a half English Lahore In this tract and belonging to this Prince are many famous Towns of Trade the chiefest is Lahore famous for the Indico there growing and prepared and for that admirable High way to Agra of twenty days journey beset on each side with Mulberry-trees and whence there departeth yearly above twelve thousand Camels laden with Spices to Hispahan which are brought hither from India Amadabar The next principal town is Amadabar famous in these parts for the great trade and excellent situation thereof as being the most eminent City of the Gusurates Tutta Neither is Tutta here to be forgotten though an Island Town yet seated on the famous River of Indus and having dependency and belonging thereunto Lowribander and that excellent Port of Lowribander three days journey distant from it on the shore commonly intituled the Coast of Sindie wherein it hath been observed by our European Navigators that Ships may safely ride without receiving harm by the Worms which do much hurt in SURAT and all alongst the coast of India CHAP. XCI Of GOA and the Trade thereof Goa and the trade thereof GOA is the Metropolis of India I mean of those that are under the command of the Portugal or Spaniard where the Viceroy Archbishop and the King his Consul and Chancery do reside here is also the Staple of all India Commodities whereto Merchants of Arabia Armenia Persia Cambaia Bengala Pegu Siam Malacca Java Molucco China and of sundâ—y other Countreys do resort It is seated in an Island of three miles circuit but is but little distant from the firm Land the Port is capacious of good Ships but if they exceed 200 Tuns they unlade short of the Town a place called Bardes well built with fair houses both publick and private after the Portugal manner and hath in it many Cloisters Churches and Priories but is not fortified with any walls but the contrived and continued buildings of the houses serves both for the defence and inclosure in the heart of the City is a Street called the Leilon where a daily assembly is made from 7 to 9 in the morning not only of Merchants from all parts but also of Gentry and during the said hours the said Street is replenished with all Commodities and Merchandize from all the afore-named Kingdoms set forth in manner of our Fairs in England which daily is thus practised and wherein the rich Commodities of those Countrys are vended and put to sale besides which there are particular Streets where the native Indians do dwell together being found to be here great Merchants and for the most part inhabit near together especially such as are found to be of one and the same Art and Profession being bound by the strict Laws of this Country every man to marry within his own and the same Trade and to bring up likewise their children in their own and the same Profession which law being strictly observed giveth great perfection to all Arts here practised Their Winter begins here the last of April continuing till September and is called Winter not for the cold but for the continual rains that are found all this time the rest of the time is accounted Summer which is without rain and the pleasantest of all other seasons upon this Coast Commodities of Goa The Commodities natural of this place are not observableâ— the Island small and the firm Land plentiful in Palm trees Cocus and the like the City is the common Staple for all India Commodities brought hither by others and here bartered and exchanged for other but of it self not affording any of note or consequence Coins current in Goa They have here two sorts of Moneys a good and a bad and therefore in all contracts they are as well to bargain for the money that is to be received as for the commodity that is to be sold but because this place is neighboured with sundry great Nations that traffick hither it will be fit I should inlarge my self a little further on this subject The
and Gold for rich Perfumes and the Wood Sapon used by Dyers also here is Camphora in great plenty Bezoar Stones and Gold in some measure good store also here is found Diamonds Nutmegs and some other Spices which the Country of it self affordeth for the maintenance of the Trade thereof Coins current in Siam and the Coast The Coins here current as I am informed are these following The first is a Tail which is worth 4 Ticals or seventeen shillings ten pence or eighteen shillings sterling A Tical is accounted 4 Mass or 4 s. 4 d. incirca sterling A Mass is accounted 4 Copans about 13 d. sterling A Copan is accounted 750 Cashe or 3¼ d. sterling A Tail is 16 Mass and accounted worth 14 Rials of Eight Spanish And 20 Tail is a Cattee worth 48 Rials of â— Spanish And 1 Tail of Siam is worth 2 Tails of Japan Coins at Pattana And note that in Pattana and elsewhere on this Coast Coins find little alteration in current prices and rates except upon some extraordinary occasions when some of these Species are sought out and provided by Merchants to transport into other places where the same do turn them better to benefit And note that at Pattana A Mass is as above worth 4 Copans A Copan worth 4 Conderies A Conderie is 100 Cashe which is 800 Cashe which is 50 more than at Siam as is above-mentioned The Measures and Weights are not come to my knowledge So leaving Siam and the Trade of this Coast I shall repair to Malacca inhabited and fortified by the Portugals and of great consequence in these parts CHAP. XCVII Of Malacca and the Trade thereof Malacca and the Trade thereof MAlacca is the next Country to the afore-named Siam seated between the Coasts of Siam and Pegu upon the utmost bound of a long tract of Land on which is found the City of Malacca in obedience to the Portugal and conquered by them 1511 and accounted the most profitable command of all India next after Ormus which of late they have lost and of Mosambique It is commodiously seated on the River Gasa which is here 10 miles broad as some write and is accounted the Staple for all India and China Commodities and hath a very great Traffick to China Moluccos Banda Java Summatra and all the Islands bordering thereabouts as also to Siam Pegu Bengala Coast of Chormandel and other the parts of India whereby many Ships are found daily to be imployed coming in and going out there lading and unlading selling buying and bartering the Commodities of these Countries together the Country affording of it self no Commodities to preserve Trade but all other Countries afford to this by reason of its proper situation for Trade their native Commodities a Ship or two coming hither yearly from Lisbon to traffick which thence departeth 30 days sooner than the rest for India and is at her return found commonly the richest that frequent these Countries Monsons at Malacca And here it is observable in Navigation that the Monsons or Trade winds here continue West and North-west from the end of August to the end of October and in November begin the Northerly and North-easterly winds which blow till the beginning of April and from Mâ—… till the end of August the South and South-west rule according to which the Trader hither must direct his Trade and course and take the proper season both for his coming and going When Albuquerk the Vice-King of Portugal took this City finding it inhabited and frequented by Merchants of sundry Nations he established Magistrates for both the Ethnicks Moors and Christians with appeal only reserved to the highest Sovereign the Conquerour one remarkable passage in this conquest I cannot omit which was That an Inhabitant of this place of eminent note in this City fighting naked in defence of himself and of his native Country was found to be wounded with many deep and wide wounds but on his arm be wore a chain whereto was fastened the bone of a Javan Beast called a Cabal by virtue whereof notwithstanding all those wounds which were many and large he lost not one drop of blood but when that chain was taken from him his veins suddenly and at once emptied themselves both of blood and life together The riches and greatness of the place may by this particular then happening be considered when as the King 's Tenths in the Sack thereof come to 200000 Ducates of Gold the Soldiers and Adventurers satisfied besides the concealed and pilfered booty there found and shared by them Coins of the Ciâ—y Malacca The current Coins are not as yet come to my knowledge therefore I refer the same to the better experienced Weights used in Malacca The Weights here common in use as far forth as I have collected is the Cattee Bahar and Pecul wherein I find the Observations made hereupon to disagree some making but one Bahar to be here in use and some two sorts of Bahars as thus One Bahar to be 100 Cattees of Malacca and each Cattee to be 4½ Cattees of Cantar and Couchin-china which is 21 l. English which thus estimated must be 590 l. English A second Bahar they account to be 200 Cattees of Malacca which here are 302 China Cattees and thus estimated the same should be 400 l. English Again They have a weight called the Pecul which is 100 Cattees of China and makes 132 l. English but if this observation be found true by trial the Cattee must be more than 21 l. English which I refer to the better experienced this is the late observation of some of our Merchants trading into these parts but by the observation of the Portugals I find the weight to be thus Weights of Malacca In Malacca they say are two sorts of weights used a great and small which is composed of the Bahar A Bahar great weight is 200 Cattees or 3 Pices One Pice is 66â…” Cattees A Cattee is 26 Tails A Tail is 1½ ounce Lisbon weight And by this great Bahar they weigh Pepper Cloves Nutmegs Sanders Indico Allum Sanguis Draconis Palo Dangula Camphora and many other Commodities The small Bahar is also 200 Cattees A Cattee is 22 Tails A Tail is almost an ounce â… Portugal weight And by this small Bahar they weigh Quicksilver Copper Vermilion Ivory Silk Musk Amber Lignum Aloes Tin Lead Benjamin Verdet and other Commodities c. Again Some observe that a Tail of Malacca is 16 Masses And 10¼ Masses is an ounce Averdupois and 1½ ounces is 16 â— Masses by which Masses they sell Bezoar Stones and some other Commodities I should here proceed to survey the Trade of this remaining Tract and Coast especially that of Cambaia Couchin-China and others but little having fallen into my hand of the Trade exercised there I willingly omit the same and next proceed to look only upon the Traffick of China it self and then to the Islands belonging to Asia CHAP. XCVIII Of China
respond with the City of Venice and other places Rotolo's 100 of Cyprus make sotile Venice 780 l. and of gross 480 l. which by this computation should be about 522 l. English But I imagine this is accounted the Cantar of Famagusta which is 8 per cent greater than that of Aleppo which deducted being 42 l. there resteth 480 l. Averdupois the weight rendred of Aleppo so that Rotolo's 21 incirca make 100 l. gross and Rotolo's 13½ do make 100 l. sotile and Rotolo 1 is 7½ sotile or 4 l. 8 ounces gross of Venice weight Weights of Cyprus compared with other placos Again I find these observations made on the weights of Cyprus for Cottons viz. 100 Rotolo's of Cyprus Cottons hath made in Venice 750 l. which is 30 l. less than the aforesaid notes which are meant of Famagusta and hath made in Naples 671 l. Bolonia 627 l. Montpelier 678 l. Barcelona 564 l. Sevil 589 l. Paris 448 l. Marseli 567 l. Genoa 710 l. Florence 656 l. Milan 678 l. Avignon 570 l. Bruges 555 l. Rome 631 l. London 506 l. The truth whereof I refer to the trial of the experienced Measures of Cyprus Measures of length are here two forts first the Pico by which is sold all woollen Cloth and Silk accounted 26½ inches and the Brace by which is sold Linnen being 1 16 longer than the Pico abovesaid The 100 Pico's rendring in Venice 125 Woollen Braces and 116 of Silk Braces Of Wine Wine is sold here by the Cuss 7 Cusses make 6 Fetches of Venetians which is a Candie Barrel so that a Cuss and a half and a Zant jarre are of one and the same bigness Of Oyl Oyl is sold by the Rotolo which weighs 2½ Oaks which is accounted for 1000 drams Of Grain Grain is sold by a measure called the Moose which weigheth 40 Oaks and 2½ Mooses or 100 Oaks make one Staio in Venetia Of Salt Salt is sold by the Moose 1000 Mooses here of Salt make 14 Mooses in the account of Venetia Also some Grain is sold by the Coffino 100 whereof making 24 in 25 Stera's of Venetia which is Bushels English Island Rhodes seated amongst the Isles Archipelago In this part of Asia following the opinion of Authors is the Island of Rhodes seated formerly the habitation of the Knights of St. John now a Beyque of the Turks and where for the commodiousness of the Port there is maintained a Squadron of his Gallies yearly imployed to clear and protect those Seas matter of Trade presenting here I have here willingly omitted and placed the same amongst the Islands of the Archipelago to which place I refer the Reader and who desires to see further thereof CHAP. CIX Of the Trade in general of Asia as it is found at this day Of the trade in general of Asia TO conclude then the Trade and Traffick of Asia in general it is comprehended within a few principal Cities thereof as first in the Grand Seignior's Dominions in Aleppe Smyrna Constantinople Alexandria Balsara and Baruti and Damasco in Persia Dominions in Scirus Ormus Casbin Gilan and Hispahan and in India and these Coasts at Goa Malacca Siam Pegu Cochin Calicut Mesulapatan and the Islands of Java Japan Summatra Molucco's in Tartaria in Astraca Capha Sarmacand and Cambalu c. The Turkish Nation affords not many Merchants of note yet some are found that from Constantinople do drive a Trade by Sea to Venice Cairo Trapesond Capoa and some few other places and some again that with Caravans by Land drive a Trade from Aleppo Damasco and Aegypt to the Red-Sea and to Mecha but these I may more properly account Arabians than natural Turks who in general have been esteemed in times past and yet are more industrious and better vers'd in manual Arts than in the mystery of Merchandizing but now they have all well near lost that attribute and wholly addict themselves by reason of their Grand Seignior's tyranny to no further Trade than what necessity doth for the most part compel them therefore not much worth here further consideration But those several Nations inhabiting the large Coast of India Persia and these abovementioned Islands are found to be more addicted thereto and of greater eminency and are found by their Traffick and Commerce to have raised to themselves Estates in these Countries equal to many of our European Dukes and greatest Earls whereof the Gusurats and Canarins the frugal and proper Inhabitants of India are accounted the chiefest and principal occasioned partly by their excellent subtilty in accounts and numbring and partly by the late Navigations and Commerce of the Europeans Arabians and other remoter Nations amongst them who bring them for the most part no other Commodity but Plate and Silver in Rials of ½ which they there exchange for the rich Commodities of India as their Cloves Maces Nâ—…megs Pepper Diamonds Emeralds Rubies Pearls and such other the precious Wares of these Countries The Persian Nation challenge also a large share in this Trade of Asia occasioned by their excellent and industrious Fabricks and their natural plenty of raw Silks which from them is abundantly transported and spread over all the world and their sumptuous adorning and curiosity of living drawing to them by exchange the Riches and Commodities of India and China and other places The Arabians as possessing a great part of Asia may not here be omitted amongst which are found many eminent Merchants not only trading by Camels with Caravans from Turkie into Aegypt and other places and into the Red-Sea but also from Aleppo to Babylon Balsara and so to the Persian Gulph and also by Sea not only on the Coast of Siâ—dy India Chormandel Siam Pegu and the Islands aforesaid where many Mahometan Princes are found to bear rule but also at Suachem Melinda Brava and Quiloa and many other parts and Ports of Africa Neither amongst all these above-mentioned Nations which are found in the general to afford Merchants of Eminency and Note and to have a Country for particular residence to themselves and where their Princes do bear Sovereignty are the Nation of the Jews to be omitted or forgotten who though by the Curse of the Almighty are scattered and dispersed as it were over the face of the whole Earth and are permitted with some limitations and restrictions their abode in several Countries paying for their liberty and freedom of residence and Commerce both great and large annual Contributions in sundry places yet by their ingeniousness in Trade and their expertness in Arts and their subtilty in the valuation of Princes Coins and their Skill in Accounts they are found in all these afore-named Countries to be both eminent and rich Merchants trading as well by Land as by Sea through all these afore-named Countries and by their Craft and Art raising to themselves eminence and great Estates thereby I should here give a share of this Asian Trade to the Chinoese Tartarians and other
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-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
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-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