part thereof again with them 7. If Cities and Market-Towns be impoverished and depopulated for want of Trade the Kingdom may then be obnoxious to its Enemies upon all occasions For these use to be the Fence and Bulwarks of a Country insomuch that in some other Countries they are so far from admitting of Tradesmen to live in Villages that their Gentry do not live there but in the great Cities and Towns by which means they have greater Towns than we generally have and most of their Towns are walled and so are not only able to resist an Enemy but also upon all occasions to succour and save those that shall fly unto them Furthermore the Kings of England have been always furnished with men for their Wars out of the Cities and Market-Towns of this Kingdom and the greater Trade there is in any place the more people commonly there are in that place Therefore it concerns this Kingdom to have Trade promoted and encouraged in Cities and Market-Towns that so we might have people enough at all times to resist an Enemy that shall oppose us Besides poor and beggerly Cities and Market-Towns are a very great disparagement to a Country but the contrary is a great honour For what more graceful to a Kingdom than the many rich and wealthy Cities and Towns therein for this reason as well as for all those already mentioned all Persons that are of publick spirits should do all they can to advance them by encouraging of their Trade and no one way can do it more effectually than to suppress those that do take their Trades from them And as Shop-keepers in Villages are a very great injury to Market-Towns in the Country even so are they to the City of London that have since the fire set up in Covent-Garden and on that side of the City by which means many of the Houses and Shops are not tenanted and those which are the Rents of them are exceedingly fallen and all this is for want of the Trade that they had formerly Now considering what a renowned City that is both for Government for Trade and for stately Edifices that it 's thought there is not the like in the whole World and considering the great charge that they have been at in the rebuilding of it it is very requisite that they should be encouraged as much as may be and that their Trade should not be taken may by such ways and means as these are Now there are some Trades whose Commodities are such that it would be very little more trouble for any one to go into the City to buy them than to go to Covent-Garden such as Woollen or Linnen-Cloth Stuffs or Hangings for Rooms or Plate or the like If then all such Trades were prohibited from setting up on that side of the City it would presently fill their Shops and Houses with People and their City with Trade I had thought to have treated here how the Shop-keepers are inconvenienced to get in their small debts which cannot be done any way without putting the People concerned to three times more charges than the debts are which is likewise a great hinderance to the poor as well as unto them but this I shall omit CHAP. XVI Of Pedlars and petty Chapmen THese are such that do proffer Wares to sale by Retail either by crying it in Cities and Market Towns or by offering it from door to door all about the Country and which do greatly add to the number of Shop-keepers for they carry their Shops at their backs and do sell more that way than many Shop-keepers do in their Shops which is not only a prejudice unto them but if they are suffered will in time be the utter ruine of all the Cities and Market Towns in England for of late there is not any Commodity to be named and that can be any way ported but that the Pedlar doth carry all about the Country to sell that people after awhile will have little or no occasion to come to the Cities or Market Towns for any thing This also was not wont to be formerly and ought not to be now as will appear if it be considered how much in these following particulars the Shop-keepers are beneficial to the Commonwealth of this Kingdom and in how few of these the Pedlars are beneficial unto the same 1. The Shop keepers do bear a very great proportion in all the Taxes of this Kingdom whether Parochial or National but the Pedlars do pay but little or no Taxes at all and if in Taxes they were to bear no more proportion than the Pedlars it may be quaeried whether or no Taxes might be so easily gathered 2. The Shop-keepers do bear likewise all manner of Offices whether Parochial or National which are very expensive unto them but Pedlars bear no Offices at all 3. The Shop-keepers do pay great Rents for the houses that they live in which are more certain Rents to the Gentry than their Lands but the Pedlars pay little or no Rent at all for most of them do lye in Barns And if the Rents should fall in Cities and Market Towns in England as they do in most places especially in the City of London they are never like to be rais'd again by Pedlars 4. The Shop-keepers do keep good Houses and do relieve the Poor at their doors spending abundance of meat and other of the Farmers Commodities in their Families for which they do always pay ready money But the Pedlars are so far from being beneficial to the Commonwealth in this particular that they are burthensom unto the same for they beg the most part of their Victuals and the Country people when the men are in the Field and there hath been none at home but Women and Children have been forced to relieve them for fear of being mischieved by them 5. They and their Families do wear out abundance of Cloths which doth promote the Trade of the Nation but it is very little advance of any Trade that the Pedlars do make herein for their Cloths do differ little from Beggars and did they wear better yet they could not wear out much because few of them have Families to do it 6. The Shop-keepers Trade is esteemed creditable enough for the preferment of the best mens Sons in the Kingdom next unto the Nobility but so is not the Pedlars Trade for surely sufficientmen would disdain to have their Sons Pedlars and to wander about the Country like Vagabond Rogues as they do 7. The Shop-keepers being sufficient mens Sons and being soberly and religiously Educated they come to have for the most part of them such principles in them that they detest to use any indirect way in their dealings And if they had not this inward principle yet the consideration how prejudicial any such thing would be unto them in their Trades by reason of their fixed Habitations doth make them to do that which is right and just in their dealings But neither of these can rationally sway
is that no person do set up any Shop-keeping Trade unless they be made Free of the same And if any should plead that it might be lawful for one man to use anothers Land as his own for a Livelihood he would presently be accounted a Leveller and a ridiculous Fellow And certainly no less can he be accounted that should argue it might be lawful for one man to use anothers Trade For this Trade is bought with the Parents Money and the Sons Servitude and intended for a future livelihood for the Son in the same manner as Land is bought by the Father and setled upon the Child for his future Livelihood and comfortable subsistence CHAP. XV. Of petty Shop-keepers living in Countrey Villages THis is another thing that as well as Pedlars doth greatly increase and add to to the number of Shop-keepers and doth likewise contribute towards the ruining of the Cities and Market-Towns in England and which was never wont to be formerly for now in every Countrey-Village where is it may be not above ten Houses there is a Shop-keeper and one that never served any Apprentiship to any Shop-keeping Trade whatsoever and many of those are not such that do deal only in Pins or such small Wares but such that deal in as many substantial Commodities as any do that live in Cities and Market-Towns who have no less than 1000 l. worth of Goods in their Shops for which they pay not one farthing of any Tax at all either Parochial or National Certainly all men must needs apprehend that if this and Pedlars be suffered that Cities and Market-Towns must needs be impoverished because then there will be little occasion I say to bring the Countrey people to them the which hath happened in a very great measure already for in some places there is not a fifth part of the money taken by the Shop-keepers as was formerly and in many places not half and in some particular Trades there is as may be made appear 25000 l. stock made use of less than there was heretofore And there are these several reasons following why it is necessary that Market-Towns and Cities should be encouraged and upheld in their Trades 1. Because the People that do live in Cities and Markets-Towns do depend wholly upon a Trade for the maintenance both of themselves and their Families and if their Trade be taken from them by such ways as these are they will be at a very great loss to know what to do because they were never bred to any thing else yet so it is not with those that deal in Villages who have been bred in some other way and they have or may have some other way of living besides the Shop-keeping-Trade 2. Because if Cities and Market-Towns be impoverished then the general part of the People of this Kingdom will lose that necessary conveniency before-mentioned for the preferment of their Children And this one reason that when many Parents have been at great charge in placing forth their Children to Trades in Cities and Market-Towns and the Children have faithfully served out their full time that after all they are but little the better for it because Pedlars and Shop-keepers in Villages such that never served any Apprenticeship to any Shop-keeping-Trade do intercept a very great part of the Trade from coming to them 3. This will be a great means to depopulate not only the Cities and Market-Towns but also the whole Kingdom for when men can find little or no incouragement in their Trades then they will endeavour to transplant themselves into other Countries where they may have better encouragement by which means we shall lose our People whereas in the Opinion of many wise Men we do already want more People in England than now we have there being very great numbers that have gone not only into our own Plantations but into Holland and setled there 4. If Cities and Market-Towns be impoverished and depopulated then there will not be raised out of them that proportion of all manner of Taxes as now there is so that the burthen hereof will be the heavier upon Lands and Revenues in the Countrey And it will be a very great diminution of all those standing Taxes that the Cities and Market-Towns do bear the only or at least the greatest proportion as they do in the Excise of Beer and Ale for little is gathered any where else and the Farmers of the Excise are always sensible of the ebbing and flowing of Trade whose Excise doth ebb and flow accordingly And then if Cities and Market-Towns grow poor the Chimney-money will never increase thereby The gatherers of this Tax are able to give an account what multitudes of Paupers are exempted by Certificates in Cities and Market-Towns in England and yet notwithstanding there be many do pay who had need also to be exempted 5. If Cities and Market-Towns be impoverished and depopulated of their wealth and rich Inhabitants for want of Trade the great and numerous poor that are in most of them will want to be relieved which is a burthen that doth lie very heavy upon them already for in some Market-Towns there are many that are not worth much above a hundred pound stock which do not pay less than ten shillings a year towards the relief of the poor which is such a burthen that if it lay upon the Countrey Farmer it would much weaken him in the paying of his Rent Now if the poor should not be relieved what can be expected but that swarms of them would go into the Countrey for relief as already they do in many places and when the ruder sort cannot get enough by begging they will be pilfering and stealing So that the consideration of these poor and the many younger Brothers that will be out of any way of living with the like contingencies will administer just occasion to any wise and intelligent Person easily to presage the misfortunes and miseries that will hereupon necessarily ensue throughout this Kingdom 6. If Cities and Market-Towns be impoverished and depopulated for want of a Trade then what will the Countrey-man do to have money for all his Commodities as his Butter his Cheese his Cattel his Wool his Corn and his Fruit the Shop-keepers in the Country-Villages will yield but little help in this case and the Pedlers much less It is manifest that the People living in Cities and Market-Towns consume all these Commodities of the Farmers and do help them to ready money for the same by which means they have wherewith to pay their Rent and serve their other occasions and it is impossible for them to subsist but by this way So that in all reason this kindness ought to be reciprocal and when it is so it is the better for both for it cannot be supposed that Tradesmen in Cities and Market-Towns should ever hold out to buy the Farmers Commodities and help them constantly to money for them if they should always go home and lay out little or no
is a greater vanity For such think they oblige you in doing you the honour to eat up vour Cheer which to them which fare sumptuously every day is scarce look't upon as extraordinary so that instead of accepting your civility they resent it as an affront that it was no richer and what shall be indeed profusion in you will be lookt upon but as the Wrens pissing in the Sea to them But what I have here said of entertainment I intend not of such as are accidentally Guests Persons that come to visit in kindness For unto such as these entertainment is due and ought to be free and proportioned to the quality of the Persons concerned with that heartiness and plenty as may abundantly speak for you that they are welcome And in very deed such intercourses as these are necessary to preserve a mutual Friendship and keep alive the remembrance or that Kindred and Relation which otherwise like unremoved Legs would grow into the Earth which at first begat them But what House soever you keep when Friends are with you let your ordinary and private fare be never costly but such as though the best in its kind yet plain and wholsome to fortifie Nature and nourish not to tickle the Palate For the Bit that one eats makes no Friend For to please the dainty Tooth is an expensive humour and doubles that charge which House-keeping bringeth while the sauce is more than the Meat and 't is as dear to Cook a Dish as to provide it And verily the vanity of some deserves our wonder who are of that Heliogabalian Stomach to which nothing doth relish which is not dear and fancy Fish most when farthest from shore then onely loving Pease when they are scarce to be had and Cherries when they are ty'd on Sticks In buying provisions be your own Caterer wherein at least you may have this convenience that you may please your self Beside however faithful your Servant may be so that he lets down no gnats without a strain you cannot expect that he should part with your Coyn with that care and difficulty as you would your self whose dayly feeling how mech provision doth pinch makes wary and hard to be drawn to expence But be chiefly advis'd not to run on the Score for you may be assured that with great advantage you may take up Money at Use to pay ready down For there 's none of them all but reckons how they forbear and will be sure to be allow'd not only because they must stay for their Money but trust there being nothing so certain in the World as that which is present You will also find that a true Proverb That the best is best cheap For besides that in flesh there is much the less quantity of Bones for the weight where they are covered almost twice of the thickness in all other things you 'll find much the less waste because that which is the good goes down without Scraps while parings and refuse go a great way in what is not Servants making no scruple to cast that to the Dogs which they are soon apt to think is not good enough for themselves Be you also assur'd that the best of Servants must be over-lookt for it is rare to find those who will not make waste And as it is fit they should have to the full their Meat being a great part of the wages of their work So are there few but do labour under fulness of Bread and none that consider of what they would be glad when they come to keep a poor house of their own In your buying Provisions you 'll find it the best to go to their Fountains for the farther from thence so much the dearer There being no second hand but so licks his own fingers as what while he hath his gains the Commodity is inhanc'd and that which is his livelihood must be what you give more than he paid 'T is also best to buy by the great All Chapmen complying much sooner for much than for a little their gains by so much the more considerable and their put off the greater But then must your Expenditor be wary and so give out the store which you have provided as remembring the place to spare is never at the bottom besides the much more easiness to lurch the greater quantities where a little taken is not discern'd for which cause it is not safe to trust a Servant at an whole heap there being very few of that Integrity as then to keep their hands from picking when none can witness that they did prevaricate or if they be such it is not safe to tempt with opportunity CHAP. VI. Of the Trude of LONDON TO go about to demonstrate the great necessity and benefit of Trade in General in a Common-wealth or City were but In re non dubia uti oratione non necessaria in a matter which is undoubted to use a needless Harangue it being certain that Wealth and Riches which are acquired by Traffick and Industry are Subsidia Belli Ornamenta Pacis the Supports of War and Ornaments of Peace by which the wants of one place are supplyed by the plenty of another and the indigence of the Poor relieved by employments from the Rich there being such a general dependance of one Calling upon another from the highest to the lowest that they cannot well subsist without the mutual aid of each other in which is manifest the infinite Wisdom of the Sovereign Disposer of all things who has order'd Humane Affairs to so due and regular a subordination to each other and so necessary a Concatenation among themselves that by a perfect Symmetry or Simphony of Parts they conclude in a perfect Harmony of general good to Mankind which Superlative Blessing should be improved to mutual Advantage and the Glory of the Supream Author of it CHAP. VII Of the Corporations of London THE other Traders in London are divided into Companies or Corporations who are as so many Bodies Politick Of these there are Twelve called the chief Companies and he that is chosen Lord Mayor must be free of one of these Companies which are 1. Mercers 2. Grocers 3. Drapers 4. Fishmongers 5. Goldsmiths 6. Skinners 7. Merchant-Taylors 8. Haberdashers 9. Salters 10. Ironmongers 11. Vintners 12. Clothworkers And if it happen that the Lord Mayor Elect is of any other Company he presently removes to one of the Twelve All these Companies have Assembly-places called Halls which are so many Basilikes or stately and sumptuous Palaces worthy to be view'd by all Strangers It hath been the Custom of our Kings to Honour some of these Companies by taking their Freedom thereof and the present King was pleased to be made Free of the Company of Grocers and the present Prince of Orange was not long ago made Free of the Company of Drapers Each Company or Mystery hath a Master annually chosen from among themselves and other subordinate Governers called Wardens or Assistants These do exactly correspond
with the general Government of the City by a Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council who are selected out of these several Companies so excellent a harmony there is in this Government These Corporations or Bodies-Politick have all their stately spacious Halls as was said with Clerks and other Ministerial Officers to attend them when they meet to consult about the Regulation of their respective Societies and for promoting publick Good and advancement of Trade and Wealth as also when they meet at their sumptuous and splendid Feasts And in this London surpasseth all other Cities CHAP. VIII The Oath of a Freeman of London YE shall Swear That ye shall be good and true to our Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second and to the Heirs of our said Sovereign Lord the King Obeysant and Obedient ye shall be to the Mayor and Ministers of this City the Franchises and Customs thereof ye shall maintain and this City keep harmless in that which in you is Ye shall be contributary to all manner of Charges within this City as Summons Watches Contributions Taxes Tallages Lot and Scot and to all Charges bearing your part as a Freeman ought to do Ye shall colour no Foreigners Goods under or in your Name whereby the King or this City might or may lose their Customs or Advantages Ye shall know no Foreigner to buy or sell any Merchandize with any Foreigner within this City or Franchise thereof but ye shall warn the Chamberlain thereof or some Minister of the Chamber Ye shall implead or sue no Freeman out of this City whilst ye may have Right and Law within the same City Ye shall take none Apprentice but if he be Free-born that is to say no Bondmans Son nor the Son of any Alien and for no less term than for seven years without fraud or deceit and within the first Year ye shall cause him to be Inrolled or else pay such Fine as shall be reasonably imposed upon you for omitting the same and after his terms end within convenient time being required ye shall make him Free of this City if he have well and truly served you Ye shall also keep the Kings Peace in your own Person Ye shall know no Gatherings Conventicles or Conspiracies made against the Kings Peace but ye shall warn the the Mayor thereof or lett it to your Power All these Points and Articles ye shall well and truly keep according to the Laws and Customs of this City to your power So God you help c. CHAP. IX The Particular Advantages of London with Respect to Trade SOme of the Advantages of this great City is by the goodly River of Thames which opening Eastward towards Germany and France is much more advantageous for Traffick than any other River in England and it may be said without vanity that no River in the World can shew a braver sight of Ships than are commonly to be seen like a floating Forrest from Black-Wall to London-Bridge which in continual Voyages import all sorts of Goods either for need or ornament and Export our Superfluities to the extraordinary Advantage of all sorts of People high or low Another Advantage that London hath is its being situate so far within the Land that iâ— is plentifully supplied with all necessary provision from the Country at easie and indifferent Rates and the Manufactures of the respective Counties which the City disperses to Markets beyond Seas in recompence the Country is supplied by the City with all sorts of necessary Merchandizes wanting there c. Insomuch that London is a large Magazine of Men Money Ships Horses Ammunition of all sorts of Commodities necessary or expedient for the use or pleasure of Mankind It is the mighty Rendezvouz of Nobility Gentry Courtiers Divines Lawyers Physitians Merchants Seamen and all kind of excellent Artificers of the most refined Wits and most excellent Beauties For it is observed that in most Families of England if there be any Son or Daughter that excels the rest in Beauty or Wit or perhaps Courage or Industry or any other rare Quality London is their Pole-Star and they are never at rest till they point directly thither which vast confluence besides being the Kings Chief and Imperial Seat where Parliaments and the Principal Courts of Justice are held where the in as or Colleges of the Municipal Laws are Stated wâ—th the great Houses of the Nobility and Ministers of State must needs bring a vast Advantage and Increase to Trade besides the most Exquisite Ornament and Gallantry that any place in the World can shew CHAP. X. Of the Foreign Trade of London AS to the Trade of London into Foreign Parts we have almost prevented our self by what is delivered before we shall therefore only add that England abounding with many rich and useful Native Commodities as Woolen-Cloths of all sorts Broad and Narrow called by several Names in several Shires also Perpetuanoes Bays Says Serges Cottons Kersies Buffins Mocadoes Grograms Sattins Tabbies Callimancaes Camlets Velvets Piushes Worsteds Fustians Durances Tukes Crapes Flannels and infinite others Furs and Skins as Conney-skins Squirrel-skins Fitches Calve-skins Hides c. Mines as Tin Lead Allom Copper Iron of all sorts Sea-Cole Salt c. All manner of Grain as Oats Pease Barley Rye and Wheat in great plenty c. Also Linnen-Cloth Flax Hemp c. All Iron Wares Tallow Leather Glasseâ— of all sorts and Glass Venice-Gold and Silver Train-Oyl Salmons Pilchards Herrings Hake Conger Haberdine Cod Ling Hops Wood Butter Cheese Beer Syder Saltpetre Gun-powder Honey Wax Alabaster and other Stones Wools Woolfels Yarn Fullers-Earth Saffron Liquoras c. And many other good and rich Commodities too tedious to be enumerated The Merchants of London do yearly Export great quantities of such of these Goods as are not prohibited to Foreign Markets and make good Returns and bring to supply the Kingdom a great deal of Treasure and rich Commodities from all parts of the World to the enriching of themselves unspeakable benefit of the Nation and Credit of the English in genetal who are generally as fair Dealers as any in the World and of as active and undertaking Souls and the principal Seat or Emporium of this great Trade is the great and famous City of London CHAP. XI Of the Trade of London into the Countrey OF this we need say but little it being so universally known to the whole Land the Londoners using to supply all the Trading places of the Kingdom especially on great Fairs to which they resort in great numbers and afford their Goods at the best hand to their own and their Countreys great benefit and in requital the adjacent Counties supply the City with all manner of Necessaries for Food Hay Fuel c. insomuch that Strangers have admired at the prodigious plenty of all sorts that are to be seen in the great and well-furnished Markets of Leaden-Hall Stocks Milk-street New-Gate Clare South-Hampton St. Albans Westminster Hungerford and Brooks with several others so that here
such Victuals as is convenient for the same Feast 4. No Butter shall be sold but according to the Weight for the time of the year allowed 5. No Poulterers shall deceivably occupy the Market to sell any stale Victuals or such as be Poulterers of this City for to stand in strange Cloathing so to do under pain of Forty shillings and the forfeiture of such Victuals Forty shillings 6. No Hucksters shall stand or fit in the Market but in the lower place and the ends of the Market to the intent they may be perfectly known and the Stranger-market-people have the preheminence of the Market under pain of Three shillings four pence if the Hucksters disobey the same 7. No unwholsom or stale Victuals shall be sold under pain of Forty shillings and forfeiture of the same Victuals CHAP. XX. Of the Coal-Market AT the Head of Billings-Gate Dock is a square Plot of Ground compassed with Posts known by the name of Roomland which with the adjacent part of the Street hath been the usual place where the Ship-Masters Coal-Merchants Wood-mongers Lighter-men and Labourers do meet every Morning in order to the buying selling delivering and taking up of Sea-Coals and Scotch-Coals as the principal Market This Coal-Market was kept on Great Tower-Hill in the time of the Cities late Desolation CHAP. XXI Of the Corn-Market UPon Bear-Key between Sab's Dock and Porters-Key is the usual place or chief Market for Corn which is bought and sold there every day but principally Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays which are the Market-days where great quantities of all kind of Grain are bought and sold by small Examples commonly called Samples whether it be lying in Granaries or Ships and it viz. Bear-Key is the principal place where the Kentish and Essex Corn-Vessels do lie CHAP. XXII Of the Fish-Market THe Fresh Fish-Market is kept at Billings-Gate Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays CHAP. XXIII Of the Merchants of LONDON MErchandizing may be said to be an Art or Science Invented by Ingenious Man-kind for the Publick Good and Profit of all supplying as was said the Native wants of one place by the abundance of others that do not consume their own Growths Products or Manufactures Such as Negotiate and Traffick this way are called Merchants The things sold or exchanged are Two First Wares or Goods and Secondly Moneys or Coyn which are usually Contracted or Bargained for three ways First When Goods are Exchanged for Goods that is so much of one Sort for like value of another and this is called Bartering usual here in old times and in many places of America Asia and Affrica in these days but in process of time Men finding it too difficult and troublesom to carry about them all things thus Bargained and Truckt for from place to place invented a common Standard or Measure that should countervail and be in value as all other things and be accounted in Payments Satisfaction and Equivalency to all others and this is called Money of Gold Silver or other Metals This use of Money is as old as Abraham but it was not then Coyned but only in Pieces unstampt and since by Authority of Princes it was divided into great and small Pieces and into several and distinct Parts and Denominations and Stampt or Coyned with several Characters denoting the true Weight and Value of the same This was done first by Servius in Rome of Brass whereon was Imprinted the Image of Sheep and Oxen betokening the Wealth and Riches of those days Ten of those Pieces made a Denier or Penny and were called by Latins Denarii This was the Original of Money which afterward came to be Coyned of Silver and Gold Secondly The second way is of Goods for Money and this is termed Bargaining or Buying and Selling This facilitates Merchandizing and to prevent the Inconvenience and Danger of the Carriage of Money about a Man another Medium was found and that was Thirdly Exchanging which is of the giving of so much Money in one place to one who should cause it again to be repay'd in another place by another for him In all Exchanges there is concluded two Payments two Places and four distinct Persons viz. He that payeth in one place and receiveth in another and he that receiveth in the one place and payeth in the other and so no man can remit except there be another to draw nor can any receive except there be another authorized to pay The first of these ways was taught to Mankind by necessity the Second was sound out to facilitate the First and the Third to facilitate the Second Thus was the Original of Exchanges to accommodate Commerce which was first practised without benefit or loss or any other consideration they using to pay the value of the very Sum received but in time it came to be considered that the Party paying loses time and runs a hazard and therefore it was held reasonable that he should have some benefit Hence Exchanges are converted to an Art or Mystery Moneys being remitted for benefit without so much respect to the end of its Original Institution In the first sort the Merchant ought to know the Commodities delivered and received the present value of both the Quality Viz. whether lasting or perishable the Property viz. whether of Natural growth or Artificial And lastly the Quantity Viz. whether plentiful or scarce and in few Lands In the second sort the same things are necessary and also a knowledge how the Things are Bought and Sold whether by Weight as ponderous Goods by Concave or long Measures as Commodities of Length or such as are Solid or Liquid A knowledge of Weights and Measures of the fineness goodness and currant value of Money c. A Merchant is to know what to bargain for how to bargain when to bargain and with whom which comprehends the knowledge of the Commodity Weights and Measures proper Seasons and Credit of the Party bargained with In the third sort there is necessary a knowledge of the fineness goodness and currant value of the Princes Coyn where the Remitter and Party receiving abide a knowledge of the currant Rate of Exchanging of the Par or value for value both according to the Standard of the Country and according to the Valuation of the currant Coyn there passable Then of the Vsance of the Place and a knowledge of the Drawer and Receiver As also the due manner and form of making of all Legal Intimations Protests and other such needful Instruments Circumstances and Observations as are requisite upon default of payment according to the strict and solemn Rules required in a Bill of Exchange These General Heads are not to instruct Merchants but to give a kind of a view of this Noble Calling to others that are Strangers to it More particularly in this Famous City is a great number of Merchants who for Wealth for Stately Houses within the City in Winter and without in Summer for rich Furniture plentiful Tables honourable Living for great
Estates in Money and Land excel some Princes in some of our Neighbour Nations a great many of whom have frequently born the Dignity of the Chief Magistracy of the City and have been bountiful and very liberal Benefactors to the Publick and other Pious Vses The Merchants of London have been by divers Princes of this Kingdom Incorporated into Societies and Companies to encourage their Endeavours and in reward of the Discoveries of the Trade of those Countries whereof they take their Name they have Power and Immunities granted them to make Acts and Orders for the benefit of Commerce in general and of their Companies in particular The Ancientest of these called the Merchant Adventurers have had their Original and Continuance since Edward the First grounded at first upon the Exportation of Wooll onely the Prime and Staple Commodity of England but now upon Cloathing into which the Wooll is converted That King removed the Staple out of Flanders and allured over some Flemmings which taught the English to make Cloth so that they are now the best Clothiers or Clothworkers in the World And to encourage them he Enacted in the Twenty seventh of his Reign by Statute that it should be Felony to transport Woolls unwrought This Staple was afterwards removed to Calice to inrich it afterwards to Antwerp Middle-borough Stoad Delph Rotterdam and Hamborough It now includes all Drapery and is govern'd beyond Sea by a Deputy and certain Assistants and in England by a Governour Deputy and certain Assistants Stow says that the Company of Merchants called the Staple were Incorporated by Edward the Third but the Merchant Adventurers by Edward the Fourth The Company of Merchants of Levant termed Turkey Merchants were Incorporated by Queen Elizabeth and had their Charter confirmed and enlarged by King James They first made Discoveries into the Traffick of the Seigniory of Venice and the Dominions of the Great Turk having then the Priviledges of the East-Indian Traffick the Navigation to us then unknown by Sea but the Portugals knew it Now there is a great and Eminent Company that manage the East-India Trade and by themselves Incorporated in Queen Elizabeths time Anno 1600. Imploying a joynt Stock they have a great Capital or House called the East-India-House by the said Trade and Stock they have built many Warlike Ships and brought all those Indian Commodities to our Homes which before were brought to us by other Nations both which Companies viz. the Levant and East-India now supply our Land and by their second Transportation many other Countries with those rich Merchandizes which Venetia Turkey Arabia Persia China and India yield these have their respective Governours to which are joyned certain Commissioners and Assistants The Company of Merchants of Russia were Incorporated by King Edward the Sixth and their Charter confirmed and enlarged by Queen Elizabeth as also the Company of Merchants of Ebbing the East-Land Company the Green-Land Company the Spanish Company the French Company of New Adventurers the Company of French Merchants There is also the Merchants of Virginia Bermudas or Summer Islands the Affrican or Guiney Company c. These Companies besides others not at all Incorporated being encouraged by sundry Priviledges govern themselves by setled Acts and Orders under certain chosen Governours Deputies and a selected number of Assistants which have been found to be so profitable to these Kingdoms by Exporting the Native Commodities thereof by setting the Poor on work by building of many brave Ships and by Importing hither of sundry Necessaries both for Use and Ornament that the benefit thereof cannot here be certainly expressed But for a taste I shall transcribe one Instance from Mr. Lewis Roberts in his Map of Commerce written near Fifty years ago about the Levant Company in particular It was found says he p. 295. that inour last Voyage to Cales and to the Isle of Rhee they were the Owners of Twenty great Sail of Ships that served in both those Voyages and it is probable that they are Owners of Thirty Sail more which one with the other may contain 12 or 13000 Tuns of burden 1200 Guns at least and about 4 or 5000 Saylers yearly besides Porters Weighers Barge-men Lighter-men Car-men which cannot be less than 2 or 3000 more and they pay above 50000 l. yearly Customs to the King partly by Exportation of Cloth Tin and other Goods and partly by Importation of Silks Cottons Galls Grograms Spices Drugs Currans and other Levantine Commodities which shews the great benefit of a well govern'd Trade And we may well estimate if it were so then that 't is much greater now and that the benefit of these and the other Societies belonging to this City and Kingdom is mighty considerable CHAP. XXIV Excellent Directions to all Merchants how to keep their Books of Accounts after the most Accurate manner 1. Money paid WHen you pay any Money to any body make the Person Debitor and the Account of Cash Creditor 2. Money Received For Money received make the Account of Cash Debitor and the Person of whom it is received Creditor 3. Goods bought for ready Money When Goods are bought for ready Money make the Account of Goods Debitor and Cash Creditor 4. Goods sold for ready Money When Goods are sold for ready Money make the Account of Cash Debitor and the Goods Creditor 5. Goods bought at time When Goods are bought at time then make the Account of Goods Debitor and the Person of whom they are bought Creditor 6. Goods sold at time When Goods are sold at time then make the Account of the Person Debitor and the Goods Creditor 7. Goods bought one part at time and the rest for ready Money Goods bought one part for ready Money and the rest at time must be divided in two parts namely First the Goods must be made Debitor for the whole Sum and the Person to whom they are bought Creditor Secondly as much as is paid in ready Money you must make the person Debitor and Cash Creditor 8. Goods sold one part for ready Money and the rest at time Goods sold one part for ready Money the rest at time First you must make the person Debitor for the whole Sum and afterwards the Goods Creditor then you must make the Cash Debitor for so much as you receive in ready Money and the person Creditor for the rest 9. Money paid for Goods before it be due When you have bought any Goods at time and afterwards you agree with the Person which sold you the Goods to pay your Money before it be due with rebating or discount then you must make the Person Debitor as followeth viz. To Cash for so much as you pay him and to profit and loss for the Rebatement or allowance for the Discount 10. Goods sold in Barter for others When you sell Goods in Barter for others then you must make the Goods which you receive Debitor to the Goods which you deliver Receive before you write and write before you pay And so a
Duke of York but the King by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England constitutes the Post-Master-General From this General Office Letters and Pacquets are dispatched On Mondays To France Spain Italy Germany Flanders Swedeland Denmark Kent and the Downs On Tuesdays To Holland Germany Swedeland Denmark Ireland Scotland and all parts of England and Wales On Wednesdays To all parts of Kent and the Downs On Thursdays To France Spain Italy and all parts of England 〈◊〉 Scotland On Frydays To Flanders Germany Italy Swedeland Denmark â—and Kent and the Downs On Saturdays â—all parts of England Wales Scotland and Ireland Letters are returned from all parts of England and â—land certainly every Monday Wednesday and Fryday from Wales every Monday and Fryday and from 〈◊〉 and the Downs every day but from other parts 〈◊〉 uncertainly in regard of the Sea A Letter containing a whole sheet of Paper is convey'd 80 miles for 2 d. two sheets for 4 d. and an Ounce of Letters for 8 d. and so proportionably a a Letter containing a sheet is convey'd above 80 miles for 3 d. two sheets for 6 d. and every Ounce of Letters for 12 d. A sheet is conveyed to Dublin for 6 d. two for a shilling and an Ounce of Letters for 12 d. This Conveyance by Post is done in so short a time by night as well as by day that every 24 hours the Post goes 120 Miles and in five days an Answer of a Letter may be had from a place 300 miles distant from the Writer Moreover if any Gentleman desire to ride Post to any principal Town of England Post-horses are always in readiness taking no Horse without the consent of his Owner which in other Kings Reigns was not duly observed and only 3 d. is demanded for every English Mile and for every Stage to the Bost-Boy 4 d. for conducting Besides this Excellent convenience of conveying Letters and Men on Horseback there is of late such an admirable commodiousness both for Men and Women of better Rank to travel from London and to almost all the Villages near this great City that the like hath not been known in the World and that is by Stage-Coaches wherein one may be transported to any place sheltered from foul Weather and foul ways free from endamaging ones Health or Body by hard jogging or over-violent motion and this not only at a low price as about a shilling for every five Miles but with such velocity and speed as that the Posts in some Foreign Countries make not more Miles in a day for the Stage-Coaches called Flying Coaches make forty or fifty Miles in a day as from London to Oxford or Cambridge and that in the space of twelve hours not counting the time for Dining setting forth not too early nor coming in too late CHAP. XLVII The several Rates that now are and have been taken for the Carriage of Letter Pacquets and Parcels to or from any of His Majesties Dominions to or from any other Parts or Places beyond the Seas are as followeth that is to say  s. d MOrlaix St. Maloes Caen Newhaven and places of like distance Carriage paid to Rouen Single 0 6 Double 1 0 Treble 1 6 Ounce 1 6 Hamburg Colen Frankfort Carriage paid to Antwerp is Single 0 8 Double 1 4 Treble 2 0 Ounce 2 0 Venice Genoua Legorn Rome Naples Messina and all other parts of Italy by way of Venice Franct pro Mantua Single 0 9 Double 1 6 Treble 2 3 Ounce 2 8 Marseilles Smirna Constantinople Aleppo and all parts of Turky Carriage paid to Marselles Single 1 0 Double 2 0 ¾ Ounce 2 9 Ounce 3 8 And for Letters brought from the said places into England Single 0 8 Double 1 4 Treble 2 0 Ounce 2 0 For Letters brought into England from Calais Diepe Bologne Abbeville St. Omers Amiens Montrel Single 0 4 Double 0 8 Treble 1 0 Ounce 1 0 Rouen Single 0 6 Double 1 0 Treble 1 6 Ounce 1 6 Genoua Leghorn Rome and other parts of Italy by way of Lyons Frank pro Lyons Single 1 0 Double 2 0 ¾ Ounce 2 9 Ounce 3 9 And of Letters sent Outwards To Bourdeaux Rochel Nantz Orleans Bayon Tours and Places of like distance Port paid to Paris Single 0 9 Double 1 6 Treble 2 3 Ounce 2 0 For Letters from those Places in England Single 1 0 Double 2 0 ¾ Ounce 3 0 Ounce 4 0 And Letters sent outwards to Norembergh Bremen Dantzick Lubeck Lipswick and other Places of like distance Port paid to Hamburgh Single 1 0 Double 2 0 ¾ Ounce 3 0 Ounce 4 0 Paris Single 0 9 Double C 6 Treble 2 3 Ounce 2 0 Dunkirk Ostend Liste Ipres Cambray Ghent Bruxels Bruges Antwerp and all other parts of Flanders Sluce Flushing Middleburgh Amsterdam Roterdam Delph Hague and all other parts of Holland and Zealand Single 0 â— Double 1 4 Treble 2 0 Ounce 2 0 All Merchants Accompts not exceeding a Sheet Bills of Exchange Invoyces Bills of Lading shall be allowed without Rate in the price of the Letters and also the Covers of the Letters not exceeding 〈◊〉 Sheet to Marseilles Venice or Legorn towards Turky The said Office is managed by a Deputy and other Officers to the Number of seventy seven persons who give their actual Attendance respectively in the dispatch of the Business Upon this Grand Office depends one hundred eighty two Deputy-Post-Masters in England and Scotland most of which keep Regular Offices in their Stages and Sub-Post-Masters in their Branches and also in Ireland another General Office for that Kingdom which is kept in Dublin consisting of Eighteen like Officers and Forty five Deputy-Post-Masters The present Post-Master-General keeps constantly for the Transport of the said Letters and Pacquets Between England and France two Pacquet-Boats Flanders two Pacquet-Boats Holland three Pacquet-Boats Ireland three Pacquet-Boats And at Deal two Pacquet-Boats for the Downs All which Officers Post masters Pacquet-Boats are maintained at his own proper charge And as the Master-piece of all those good regulations established by the present Post-master-General for the better Government of the said Office he hath annexed and appropriated the Market Towns of England so well to their respective Post-Stages that there is no considerable Market-Town but hath an easie and certain Conveyance for the Letters thereof to and from the said Grand Office in the due course of the Males every Post Though the Number of Letters missive in England were not at all considerable in our Ancestors days yet it is now so prodigiously great since the meanest People have generally learnt to write that the Office is Farmed for above 40. rather 50000 l. a Year CHAP. XLVIII The Rates and Orders of Coach-men BY an Act of Paliament made in the Fourteenth Year of our Sovereign Lord King CHARLES the Second It is appointed That no person or persons after May 1. 1662. shall presume to drive except Stage-Coaches or let to Hire by the hour or day or
at Wisbich Worcester Pomfret April Easter-monday at Oney in Bedforshire Gainsborough Easter-tuesday at Daintry in Northamptonsh Godmonchester Schole in Norfolk St. Edmondsbury on Wednesday at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire on Friday in the same Week at Darby on Saturday at Bicklesworth the 2 at Hitchen Rochford Northfleet the 7 at Darby the 9 at Billingsworth Bicklesworth the 22 at Stabford the 23 at Ipswich Harbin in Norfolk Northampton Sapsar in Hartfordshire Charing Hinningham Tamworth Bury in Lancashire S. Bombs in Cornwal the 27 at Dunmow in Essex Oakham in Rutlandshire Buckingham Darby the 29 at Tenderden in Kent Pleet the 30 at Beverly a week together May. The first day at Havevel in Essex Layton-buzzard in Huntingtonshire Rippon in Yorkshire Reading Maidstone Toxford in the Clay the 3d. at Elstow in Bedfordsh Noneaton in Warwicksh Thedford in Norfolk Chelmford in Essex Waltham-Abby Hinningham Rochdale Bramyard the 7th at Newton in Lancashire Beverley Oxford the 10th at Rochester Dunstable Magfield in Suffolk on Rogation munday at Reach on Ascention-day at Thaxted Beverly Rippon Sudminster Bishops-stratford S. Eeds Wickham in Lancashire Middle-Wich in Cheshire Chappel-frith in Derbyshire on Whitfon-Eve at Skipton in Craven on Whitson-monday at St. Ives Rygate in Surry Bicklesworth Bradford Agmundesham in Buckinghamsh on Whitson-Tuesday at Newmarket on Wednesday at Royston on Thursday at Odehil in Northamptonshire the 26th day at Lenham the 29th at Crainbrook June On Trinity-Eve at Rowel Kendal on Corpus Christi at banbury Bishops-stratford St. Eedes Coventry Newbury the 9. at Maidstone the 11 at Breme in Norfolk Bardfield in Essex the 17. at Hadstock the 23. at S. Albans Deerham in Norfolk Shrewsbury the 24 at Halson in Suffolk Barnwel beside Cambridge Bedford Colchester Bumford Reading Windsor Halifax Hardford Beverly Haselinden the 26 at Bristol Derby the 27 at Burton on Trent Folstone the 28 at S. Pombs in Cornwal the 29 at Peterborough Ashwel Sudbury Stebbing in Essex Benington in Hartfordshire July The 1 2 and 3 days at Congelston in Chesh the 7 at Royston Burntwood the Munday after at Fodringham the 11 at Partney for Horses the 20 at Uxbridge Coolidge Woodstock Barkway the 22 at Ickleton Bicklesworth Norwich Colchester the 25 at Audly-end beside Walden Reading August The first day at Bedford S. Eedes Dunstable Feversham Wisbich Bicklesworth Stoni-stratford the 10 at Blackanâ—ore Harple in Norfolk Thaxted in Essex S. Ives Bedford Banbury Farnham Brainford the 15 at Cambridge Huntington Dunmow Luton Northampton the 24 at London Sudbury Norwich Oxford Northallerton Dover Beggars-bush Burton the 29 at Halson in Suffolk Harlow-bush in Essex Watford September The first day at S. Giles in the bush on Thursday and Friday next before the 8 day at Sandbach in Chesh the 7 8 9 and 10 days at Woodbury-hill in Dorsetsh the 7 at Ware the 8 at Huntington Bury in Lancash Partney Wakefield Northampton and Sturbridge-fair belonging to Cambridge begins the 14 at Râ—ppon for Horses Waltham-Abbey Chesterfield in Darbishire Richmond the 21 day at Marleborough Bedford Baldor S. Edmondâ—â—ury Holden in Holderness Braintry Bracklymaiden Malden the 29 at S. Ives Basingstoke Market-deeping Shelford in Bedfordshire Bishopstratford Malden for Horses Stow in Lincolnshire Thursday after at Banbury October The second at Salisbury the 6 at Havent in Hampsh Maidston Coolidge Gayworth by Lin S. Faiths the 8 at Bishopstratford Harborough the 9 at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire the 13 at Windsor Colchester Gravesend the 18 day at Ely Bishops-hatfield Barnet Banbury Thirst Burton on Trent the 21 day at Saffron-Walden the 23 at Bicklesworth the 28 at Newmarket Dis in Norfolk Wakefield Richdrle in Lancashire November The first day at Chelmsford the 2 at Epping-Kingstone on Thames Padamhasson in Suffolk the 6 day at Newport pond Bedford Hartford the 11 at Lodden in Norfolk Lenton in Nottinghamshire Hempton in Norfolk Fockingham in Lincolnshire Bridgstock in Northamtonsh Marleborough the 17 at Spalding in Lincolnshire Harlow Lincoln Hide Northampton the 19 at Horsham in Kent the 20 at S. Edmondsbury Ingerstone in Essex Heath the 23 at Sandwich the 30 at Boldoc Bareford Kolingborough Maidenhead Warrington Rochester December The 5 at Pluckly the 6 at S. Eedes Woodstock Spalding Norwich in Cheshire at Exeter Senock in Kent Arundel Grantham the 7 at Sandhurst the 8 at Northampton Clitheral in Lancashire Huntington Malpas in Chesh the 29 at Canterbury Salisbury FINIS An Alphabetical Table of the whole Book A. ADvantages of London with respect to Trade Pag. 22 Assurance what it is Pag. 75 An Alphabetical Account of all the Carriers Waggoners and Stage-Coaches that come to London Westminster and Southwark from all Parts of England and Wales with their respective Days of going out Pag. 125 Arts Glory or The Tradesmans Practical Arithmetick Pag. 135. A perpetual Almanack Pag. 160 C. COmpleat House-Keeper or Directions to all Tradesmen for the cheap Ordering their Domestick Affairs Pag. 14 Corâ—orations of London pag. 20 Coal-Market pag. 61 Corn-Market ibid. Customs Subsidies and Impositions paid upon Commondities pag. 83 Commodities of all Countries whereby Commerce is maintained pag. 91 Cities and Market Towns in England and Wales with the Distance of one City and Market-Town from another with an account likewise in what County each City and Town lies and their respective Market-Days very useful for all Tradesmen in their travelling upon the Road from Town to Town and from City to City and likewise in their directing all their Post-Letters and Parcels and upon many other Accounts besides pag. 107 The several Rates that now are and have been taken for the Carriage of Letters Pacquets and Parcels to or from any of His Majesties Dominions and to or from any other Parts of Places beyond the Seas pag. 163 The Rates and Orders of Coaâ—hmen pag. 166 The Rates of Car-men pag. 168 Orders for Car-men pag. 171 D. DIrections for the well managing a Trade p. 3 Directions to young Shop-keepers in their first setting up p. 8 Directions to Merchants how to keep their Books of Accounts after the best manner p. 68 Directions to all Merchants and other Dealers giving them light into the Method for Entring of Goods inwards or Outwards at the Custom-House how to get Bills of Lading Signed together with the Coyy of a Bill of Lading p. 71 Discount what it is p. 81 Docks what useful to know concerning them p. 95 F. FOreign Trade of London p. 24 Fish-Market p. 62 Factors and Commissions p. 79 Fees of the Chief or Head-Searcher and of His Majesties Five Vnder Searchers in the Port of London Foreign Coyn reduced to English Money p. 100 The Valuation of Foreign and English Gold p. 155 An Account of the Principal Fairs in England together with the Month Day and Place where they be kept more exactly than heretofore for the Vse of all Citizens and others that go to Fairs p. 176 I. INdustry and Trade in General p. 1 A Table of Interest p. 157 K. KIngs Reigns p. 175 M. LAws of the Maâ—ket p. 60 Merchants of London p. 62 Money and Gold p. 98 Hebrew Money ib. English Money and Gold ib. How the Merchant should mark he Goods that go beyond Sea together with a Discourse concerning Freight and the great Vsefulness of a Publick Notary p. 146 How every honest Merchant or Dealer should according to Law get in what is justly owing to him either by shuffling Tradesmen in the City or dishonest Corresâ—ondents in the Country p. 149 Directions to Merchants and other Dealers how to discover all counterfeit Coyn and bad Money of great Vse in the receiving of great Sums of Money Together with the Valuation of Foreign and English Gold and Silver p. 152 O. OAth of a Freeman of London p. 21 P. PEtty Sho-Kerpers living in Country-Villages p. 38 Pedlars and Petty Chapmen p. 44 Of the Post-Office p. 161 R. RVles to be observed in buying and selling Commodities p. 11 S. SHop-keeping Trades in the Kingdon p. 33 Standard for Sterling-Money in England p. 99 T. TRadesmen directed in the cheap ordering of their Domestick Affairs p. 14 Trade of London p. 19 Trade of London into the Country p. 25 Trades being in Companies p. 26 Tradesmen breaking the real Cause of it p. 29 Table of Accounts ready cast up for the sure and ready buying of any Commodities whatsoever either by Number Weight or Measure p. 48 Table for buying and selling and thing by the Hundred p. 58 Table for finding out the Day of the Month for ever p. 71 Tale of Goods something useful to know about it p. 104 Table of Expences and Wages shewing by what you spend or pay by the day what it comes to by the Week Month or Year p. 106 A Comâ—leat Tide-Table p. 158 The Terms and their Returns p. 159 W. WEights Measures and Numbers what useful to know concerning them p. 102 Orders for Watermen p. 173 ADVERTISEMENT BOOKS lately Printed for J. Dunton VIZ. I. THE Pilgrims Guide from the Cradle to his Death-Bed in a pleasant new Allegory To which is added The Sick-Man's Passing-Bell with 50 ingenious Treatises besides To which is annext an impartial Treatise concerning Devils Apparitions Ghâ—sts of Dead Persons Hags Wizards Withchâ—â— and their Imps with the manner how persons become Witches Illustrated with 8 Copper-Plates II. The Travels of True Godliness By B. Keach Author of War with the Devil in a new Allegory To which is now added 5 new Cuts together with True Godliness's Voyage to Sea III. The Progâ—â—ss of Sin or The Travels of Vngodliness in a Pleasant Allegory likewise Both written by the same Author IV. The Continuation of the Morning Exercise in Octob. 1682. By 31 Reverend Divines in the City of London