in bringing their Wools into those parts as of such forein Merchants as came to buy the same he placed his Staples at Exon Bristal Winchester Westminster Chichester Canterbury Norwich Lincoln York and Newcastle for the Kingdom of England Carmarden for Wales at Dublin Waterford Cork and Tredagh for Ireland and enacted That no English Irish or Welchman should transport this stapled Commodity no not by Licenses if any such should be granted on pain of Confiscation during the King's Pleasure Lastly he allured over hither divers Flemings which taught our Nation the making of Cloth who are now grown the best Cloth workers in the World and to encourage them in that Art in the 27 of his Reign it was by Statute enacted to be Felony to transport hence Wools unwrought Now when England had thus for some time enjoy'd the Benefit of these Staples he removed the same to Callais which he had then conquered and which he desired to inrich From hence they were at several times and occasions removed now to one now to another Town in Belgium and still happy was that Town in what Country soever where the said Company keep a House for their Traffick and Residence the Confluence of all People thither to buy infinitely enriching it Antwerp for a long time enjoy'd their Company till upon some Discontents between Henry VII and Maximilian Arch-Duke they removed thence but at their Return again they were received by the Antwerpians with the Solemn Processions Princely Triumph sumptuous Feasts rare Banquetings and Expressions of much Joy and more Love here they continued till the Surprisal and Sack of this Town by the Spaniards Anno whence by reason of their Wrongs and hard Measure there received they removed into two places one to Middleburgh the other to Stoad afterward from Middleburgh to Delph and from Delph now to Rotterdam where they have lately seated themselves with many Immunities granted them and a Palace appointed them for their Residence the other from Stoad by some Vicissitude of Change is now placed at Hamburgh where also they have many Privileges and the said Company being now inlarged and all new Drapery comprised therein they intend to implant more Factories in other places and this is the most antient of all our Societies which is observed to be governed beyond Seas in the said places by a Deputy and certain Assistants and in England by a Governour Deputy and certain Assistants Sir Thomas Moulson Kt. and Alderman being the present Governour to whose Worth and Government I ow this Acknowledgment as being a Member of this so antient and worthy a Society Barbary Merchants their Original and Ruine The next to these are the Barbary Merchants which had their Original in Henry VII's time being indeed the Age wherein our Nation did begin by Imitation of the Portugals and Spaniards to discover new Regions and this flourished and continued till the End of Queen Elizabeths Reign wherein it fell whenas Civil Wars were hot in Morocco and Fez amongst the Pretenders to that Empire Levant Merchants and their Original Out of whose Ashes about that time did rise the Levant Company or Turky Merchants and by their Discoveries and Trade first made the Traffick into the Seigntory of Venice and then to the Dominions of the Great Turk including as then within their Privileges the East-Indies Navigation which was then known to them only by Land and to the Portugals by Sea since East-India Merchants and their Original which the said Indies are raised to a great and eminent Company and by themselves incorporated imploying in a joint Stock a great Capitol by which 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 now supply our Land and by their second Transportation many other Countries with those rich Commodities which Venetia Tuuky Arabia Egypt Persia China and India yield and is found governed in England by Sir Maurice Abbot Kt. and Alderman and by Mr. Henry Garraway Alderman the former Governour of the East India Company and the latter of the Turky Company to which are joined certain Committees and Assistants to whose Worth and Government I here ow this Acknowledgment as being now both a Member and intrusted with a particular Charge in both the said Companies Moscovia Eastland Greenland French and Spanish Merchants and their Originals Other Countries and Companies in the latter end of Queen Elizabeths Reign and some in the beginning of King James's Reign have been discover'd settled and continued as to the Northward the Moscovy Company the Eastland Company the Greenland Company and of late days there is erected a Company for France governed here by Sir James Cambel Kt. and Alderman to whom also I ow this Acknowledgment as being a Member thereof and now there is in agitation a Parent for a Company for Spain of which also when confirmed I may intitle my self a Member These Companies then and Societies besides others not at all incorporated encouraged by sundry Privileges granted unto them govern themselves by settled Acts and Orders under certain chosen Governours Deputies and a select number of Assistants which have been found to be so profitable to these Kingdoms by exporting the Native Commodities thereof by setting the Poor to work by building of many brave Ships and by importing of sundry Necessaries both for Use and Ornament that the Benefit thereof cannot here be certainly expressed But one particular in the Levant Merchants may in part demonstrate what great Benefit the rest do produce for it was found That in our last Voyage to Cales and to the Isle of Rhee they were the Owners of 20 great Sail of Ships that served in both those Voyages and it is probable that they are Owners of 30 Sail more which one with the other may contain 12 or 13000 Tuns of Burthen and which may have for further Defence 1200 pieces of Ordnance at the least and imploy about 4 or 5000 Sailors yearly besides Porters Weighers Bargemen Lightermen Carmen which cannot be less than 2 or 3000 Persons more and they are found if Report may gain credit to pay his Majesty by way of Customs and Imposts 50000 l. yearly partly outwards by their Exportation of Cloth Tin and other Commodities partly inwards by the Importation of Silks Cottons Galls Grograms Spices Drugs Currants and other Levantine Commodities This being then briefly to shew the Benefit of a well governed Trade and the Profits arising thereby to the Common-wealth I leave it to others to consider the general Good accruing to this Island by all the rest of the said Companies and Societies of this Kingdom and come in the next place according to my Method to handle the other principal Parts of Traffick comprised in this City and generally of all this Kingdom The Coins of this City and Kingdom are partly of Gold and partly of Silver as in other
Oyls that a Milroe of Oyl shall cost the first penny so much will the Tun of Oyl stand in clear aboard of all accustomed charges But for as much as this Rule holds only in Thollon I will insert the particulars thereof how it is found to accord with our Measure and Weight in England because it is a Staple and most requested Commodity and the principal Commodity that this Countrey doth afford The common measure then is a Scandal and of which it is found that 4 Scandals make 1 Milroe every Scandal being 4¼ Gallons English and 31½ l. Averdupois 1 Milroe is 17 Gallons English and is 126 l. English 2 Milroes is a Charge which is 34 Gallons or 252 l. English 4 Charges makes a Butt which is ½ a Tun or 126 Gallons English and hath been found to make 1008 l. Averdupois The Custom hereof is a Crown of 3 l. Tur upon every 100 Milroes and every Crown is accounted 5 Florius or 60 Sols For Wine Wine is here sold by the same Milroe as above is said Almonds are sold by the Cargo of 300 l. Marselia Weight For Corn. Corn is sold by the Muyd and Mynots 24 Mynots make a Muyd and 1 Muyd is about 8½ quarters English Commodities of Provence Provence doth afford many Commodities for Merchandising which hence is transported into several Countries as first Oyl as above made and gathered in November and December shipt for England Spain and Italy Also great quantity of Wools for Clothing bought up in May June and July by Milanois Ginoese Piedmontois and Montpelerians which commonly bears 14 in 16 the 100 foul and being washed and cleansed there is lost in the cleansing and clearing sometimes the one half thereof Also great quantity of Scarlet-grain and powder of Grain gathered in the Heaths and Fields by the poor people and brought by them to the Lords of their Territories from the month of May to the month of August and is worth green about 5 in 6 l. tur per l but being dried diminisheth at least â…” thereof Also Almonds are here in great abundance found growing gathered in September and October called as is before noted Provence Almonds for distinction sake and are commonly worth from 12 to 15 Crowns the Cargo Also here is yellow Wax in good quantity bought in October and November worth commonly from 40 to 50 l. per cent Also here is Honey bought in November and December worth commonly about 22 in 23 Cro the Cantar besides which here are many Bed-Coverlets and Wastcoats made and quilted of Sattin Taffeta and Callico and hence dispersed into several Countries To conclude there may be laden in Thollon Marsclia and generally throughout all Provence from 1500 to 2000 Tuns of Oyl yearly about 400 Quintals of Almonds about 1800 to 2000 Quintals of Wooll about 200 Quintals of Honey and but little Wax as being for the most part spent in their own Countrey principally in their Churches Customs paid in Provence The Customs upon all Commodities of the growth of France pay in the Exportation but a small acknowledgement but all other Commodities pay 5 per cent but for Spices and all other Commodities that are brought in from the Levant there is lately placed thereon throughout all Provence a Custom of ten per cent and thus much for Thollon CHAP. CXXXI Of Marselia and the Trade thereof Marselia and the Trade thereof THE principal seat of Trade in Provence is Marselia famous for the great concourse of Merchants and for the Commerce that it maintaineth with Turkie Barbary Spain France Italy Flanders and England it is commodiously situated on the Mediterranean Sea enjoying an excellent Haven and a reasonable Road for Shipping of all sorts it wanteth to make it a perfect course for Exchanges which here is supplied by the current of Lions and governed only thereby to which place each Fair some Partidoes are made not by the rules of other places but by the rule of interest from the date of the Bill to the time of the next succeding Fair there It vents from England some Baies Clothes Lead and Tin Pilchars Herring white and red and yearly about 2000 in 3000 Tuns of Newland-fish which the English bring thither and they also supply it with Muscovia Commodities as African Hides above ten thousand pair yearly Tallow 2000 Quintals Wax 1000 Quintals besides other Commodities of England as Calve-skins Hides Salmon and some fish It affordeth not any Commodity to be sent abroad save some Oyls Wines Woolls Almonds and Verdigreece and all others are hither imported from other Countries as such as Alexandria Aleppo Acria Constantinople Naples â—…gorn or the Coasts of Spain do yield the main support of their Trade is the plenty of Spanish Rials and the licence here for Exportation which is the only means whereby the Trade of Turkie is preserved to them for from hence I have seen 100 thousand Rials of â— shipâ— publickly upon a small Vessel of 160 Tuns for Scanderoone which hath been thence returned in rich Silks Drugs and Spices But of late days their success in Trade hath proved so bad and their losses by Pirats so great and so many that the Town and Merchants have lost much of their former splendour and same their great Vessels are now become small Barks and the great Merchants of Lions Paris Limoges Taures and other parts of France who had here their Factors for to continue this Trade have recalled them after the sustentation of great losseâ— the payment of great Sums for the maintenance of their Ambassadour in Constantinople and especially the late inhansement of their Moneys which is the ruine and overthrow of all Câ—…merce whatsoever In this place I resided for some years and therefore will note briefly what I observed needful to my present subject Coins in Marselia The Moneys current and the Accounts kept accord in all particulars with Paris sometimâ— alteration is found in Coins by means of the great Trade and that because both Italian and Spanish Coins are here current these become sometimes a Merchandize and are requested and inhansed according as occasion for Transportation doth require which is more in Winter that in Summer by reason of their general voyages made into Turkie from September to Match and commonly not after Weights in Marselia The Pound of Marselia is 16 ounces and 100 l. is the Quintal 300 l. or three Quintals make with them a Cargo The 100 l. in Marselia hath been found to produce in these Cities following In London 88½ l. Venetia sotile 134 l. Venetia gro 84¾  Sicilia 50 l. Lisbon 79 l. Florence 114 l. Anvers 86 l. Lions 95 l. Sevil 88 l. Malaga 24 Roves Dantzick 104 l. Aleppo 18½ R. Ditto Silk 19¾  Tripoli 211  Ditto Barbar 762  Baruti 175  Alex. Zera 416  Scio 1110  Constantinople 745  Acria 146½  Babylonia 125½ M. Balsara 36  Weights agreed with other
Standard likewise is their Yard or Ell according to the Standard by Law Their Measure is a Bushel for all Grain and Salt to be measured imported containing 28 Gallons water-measure their ancient standing measure The places for venting these Commodities are in the Straights Spain France and other foreign parts beyond the Seas The prices are commonly on Pilchards 7 8 or 9 s. per thousand 30 35 or 45 s. per Hogshead The Measures used in the publick Market for Corn are a Bushel containing 20 Gallons the half Bushel 10 Gallons the Peek 5 Gallons the Gallon agrees with the Winchester Gallon Salt is sold in the publick Market by the Gallon and it is a good Country for victualling of Ships The quantity of Shipping or Barks belonging to the place are but few and in number seven they were many more but are taken and lost The Burthen of these are from 60 tuns to 20 Tuns divers other Vessels of forein parts do frequent the Road yearly and Port likewise The Trade they drive with forein Nations are the Commodities formerly expressed out of this Port exported with great quantities of Tin which this Country round about us affords and that the best in England which we usually export The Commodities imported or usually expended on the place or parts adjacent are great quantities of Salt at least 10000 bushels of Salt yearly with all other sorts of Commodities being small quantities The manner of taking Pilchards and Herrings is by Nets the other Fish by Hooks they likewise use great quantity of Netting and Rope yearly for their Fishing craft which cost them great Sums of Money The Season for taking of Pilchards is between the first day of July and the first of January following The Herrings they take from Michaelmas to Christmas following The other Fish are taken in the Summer The quantity of Boats belonging to the place are about 60 the Men a great number imployed to Sea in Ships and at least four hundred Men all the Fishing-season are imployed about the Pilchard-catching and Herring-fishing And for the better encouragement of Trade there might be a Mould erected from the Castle whereon the Colours stand in the Map towards the Church which hath been profer'd to be done for 3000 l. which if done would be the preservation of many thousand pounds per Annon and many Mens Lives who by extremity of Weather and contrary Wind are forced this side the Lands-end having no place else to preserve themselves unless they can get the Harbour of Milford which is 32 Leagues from this place being the only place on this North side for preservation of Ships General Blake when he beleaguer'd the Island of Scilly which lies 13 Leagues from this place was put off by a Storm from the Island of Scilly with his Fleet which came into this Road and here anchor'd with his Fleet till the Storm was over which continued five days in Safety it is a good Road and with good Ground-tackle a Ship may safely ride with all Weather This Bay is from the Lands-end 5 Leagues and from the Lands-end to Scilly is 8 Leagues The Inhabitants of this place are poor and have often made it their Request to have a Mould erected for the greater Safety of Ships that come here But by reason of the late Troubles and through the negligence of such as were intrusted for the prosecuting thereof it has been neglected which if erected Ships of 300 tuns might be secured within the Mould at any time and then it would be one of the best dry Peers in England Devon 2. The second is Devonshire no less rich in Veins of Tin and withal beautified with many more Towns and good Havens than the former Exon being the principal Town and an Inland City but Datmouth and Plimouth the best Havens this last being from a poor fishing Village become a fair Town by reason of the Castle and Commodiousness of the Haven and the rather it is to be mentioned as giving birth to Sir Fruncis Droke Kt. who in our Fathers days accomplished so many notable Exploits at Sea and was the chief Glory of that Age for Navigation Dorset 3. The third is Dorsetshire Dorchester being the chief Town and Weymouth the chief Haven Somerset 4. Somersetshire is the fourth happy in the fruitful Soil rich Pastures Multitude of Inhabitants and Commodiousness of Havens the chief Towns are Bridgwater next Bath famous for those medicinal Baths there found and lastly Bristol incompassed with a double Wall feateâ— on the River Severn beautified with many fair private and publick Buildings and next to London and York it is preferred to all other Cities of England but in Amplitude of Traffick Shipping and Eminence of Merchants next to London it self and else in my opinion second to none Of Taunton The Town of Taunton being a Corporation governed by a Mayor and 24 of the Society is situate in a very fruitful Valley between 2 Hills one of the Hills is 4 miles off the Town on the South the other 2 miles distant from the Town on the North. In the Town are 2 Parish Churches St Mary Magdalen and St. James and in these Parishes are 700 Dwelling-house and upward being fully inhabited and very populous through which Parishes runneth a great River of Fresh-water called Tone into which run divers small Rivulets before it comes to the Town this Town is incompassed round within 5 miles with 32 Parishes which are very populous Market-towns near it are Bridgwater a Haven Market-town 7 milâ—s off Chard a Market-town 8 miles Wellington a Market-town 5 miles Stoy a Market town 9 miles Wilvescome a Market-town 7 miles Ilminster a Market-town 8 miles from this Town In the Town there are 32 Mercers and Drapers also Smiths Shoe-makers Wool combers Weavers Fullers Goldsmiths and Taylors with others of manual Occupations of which there are a considerable Number the chiefest Commodities that it affords for Merchandize being at present mixt Serges and white Serges in the Town and places adjacent made of clean Wool out of which are sent to London and other places every week 700 pieces and upward the Town was furnish'd with Wool in former times from Ireland but now little comes from thence by reason of the Wars but at this instant what this fruitful Valley being full of Pasture doth not afford is supplied with Wool from the North viz. Buckingham Oxford Warwick and Leicester shires Besides here is made a sort of Bays called Taunton Bays for making of which Serges and Bays aforesaid are kept at work weekly 8500. The Yard Ell and Bushel are according to the Standard and Measure of Winchester The Measure in the Market for Corn is the Peck 4 Pecks to the Bushel which is 8 Gallons agreeing with Winchester In the Town is no Port but 17 miles from the Town North is a Port called Minhead with a sure Key where may ride 30 Ships of 60 Tuns and downward also another Port 12 miles
7 1 19 0  3 22 15 12 21 ½  1 23 7 8 10 ¾  1 13 20 16 8 ¾  0 23 15 4 5 0  Pieces of Silver 23 15 21 5 0 13  11 19 22 14 12 6 ½ 4 17 13 20 1 0  2 8 18 22 0 12  0 18 22 7 8 4  0 9 11 3 16 2  0 4 17 13 20 1  To know the goodness of Gold or Silver upon the Touch-stone by comparing it unto certain Wires or Needles of Gold and Silver of several allays which is approved by Pliny Book 33. Chap. 18. before the way of Trial by Essay by Fire for that there are many casualities in the practice of making Essays by Fire and the other by the Touch is visible to the Eye Those Needles or Wires to be made of four sorts First they be made of Gold and Silver Second of Gold and Copper Third Of Gold Silver and Copper And fourth Of Silver and Copper The three first sorts are only for the Trial of Gold and the last for Silver Let there be 24 Needles of Wires made of the several mixture or allays following The 1 of 24 Carot that is of fine Gold 2 23 Carot of fine Gold and 1 Carot of Silver 3 22 2 4 21 3 5 20 4 And so still 1 Carot worst till you have but one Carot of fine Gold and 23 of Silver all marked of what fineness each Needle or Wire is of Also there may be made the like of the other two mixtures viz. of Gold and Copper likewise of Gold Silver and Copper For the making those Wires or Needles for Tryal of Silver let the mixture or Allay be as followeth The 1 of fine Silver 2 11 ounces of fine Silver and 1 ounces of Copper 3 10 2 4 9 3 And so till you have 1 ounce of Silver and 11 ounces of Copper all marked of what fineness it is The use of these several Needles is if you desire to know the goodness or fineness of any Ingot or piece of Gold or Silver touch the said Ingot or piece upon your Touch-stone and by it touch such of your Needles as shall be most like the touch of your Ingot which will better appear being wetted with your tongue and that of your Needle the Gold or Silver Ingot or Piece is best like unto of that finess it will be found to be Sheweth the Fineness or Goodness of divers several Coyns of Gold and Silver and the Rates of certain forein Pieces of Gold and Silver not current as the â—…nce is worth in the Kings Mints here in England Old Moneys  Carots gr Double Ducates the Essay 23 2½ Reysers Rials 23 3¾ Crusados Short-Cross 22 3 Crusados Long-Cross 22 1½ French Crown 22 0½ Half Suffrants or old Crown 21 3 Pistolets of Spain 21 3 Milres 22  Philippus Crowns 17 3 Flemish Angel the better sort 22  Flemish Angel the worse 18  Old Portuguez 23 3 The old Spureal 23 3½ The old Noble 23 3½ The old Angel 23 3¼ The George Noble 23 3 The Salute 23 3 The Angel with the Gun-hole 22  The great old Sovereign weight 18 d w. 23  The old Crown of Hen. 8th 21  The old Sovereign of Hen. 8th 22  The great Sovereign of Hen. 8th 20  The half Sovereign of Hen. 8th 20  The Edw. Sovereign 21  The Eliz. Sovereign and Crown 22  The French Noble   The Unicorn of Scotland   The Philippus Real 23 2 The old French Crown 22 2 The Flanders Rider 23 2¾ The Guelders Rider   The Cullen Gulden   The Flanders Noble 23 2 The Golden Lion 23  The Ducat of Castile 23 2½ The old Andreas Gulden 18 3 The Philippus Gulden 15 3 The Ducate of Valence 23 2¾ The Hungary Ducates of several sorts 23 2½ The Ducates of Rome Bullen and Millain 23 2 The Barbary Gold 23 2 The double Pistolet with the Picture of a King crowned on the one side and Arms on the other side dated 1578 21 3 The 2 double Pistolets with the Picture of a King Crowned on the one side and Arms on the other 21 3¼ The double Pistolet with an Image like an Apostle on the one side and Arms on the other dated 1566. 23 1¼ The double Pistolet with a Spread-Eagle Crown'd and Arms in a Scutcheon with 2 Letters S. R. 23 3 The Fineness or Goodness of certain Coins of Silver  oz. pw A Dollar with 4 Hages and 4 Peeps over and 4 Crowns over the Peeps and an Emperor on the other side dated 1577. 8 18 A Dollar with 3 Horns in a Scutcheon and two Crests and a Horseman on the other side 9 19 A Dollar with a Ramping Lion and a Spread-Eagle on the other side 9 18 A Dollar with a Lion a Scutcheon in his foot and a Spread-Eagle on the other side 9 17½ A Dollar with a Mans Body to the Waste and on the other side Arms and two Crosses 9 14 A Dollar with the Picture of the Duke of Saxony and a Head of both sides and over the Head two Swords across 10 17 A small piece of Money with Scripture and the other side a Mans Head 10 10 A Dollar with a Cross and a Crown dated 1569 10 18½ A Dollar of Maximilian with a Spread-Eagle and the Picture of the Emperour dated 1569 10 12½ A Dollar with a Cross and a Crown dated 1569. 10 14½ A Dollar with three Scutcheons and Arms with the Picture of our Lady on the other side 10 18 A Dollar with three Scutheons and Arms in them and a Cross with Arms on the other side 10 18 A Dollar with three Scutcheons and Arms and a Spread-Eagle on the other side dated 1549. 10 18 A Dollar with a Spread-Eagle and a Crown over his Head and the Picture of a Man on the other side 1573. 10 15 A Dollar with an Arms and Picture of a Man dated 1549. 10 14 A Dollar with 3 Scutcheons and Arms in them and a Spread-Eagle with a Talbotshead dated 1549. 11 2 A Dollar with three Crowns and a Spread-Eagle a Phillippus Dollar of the baser sort 6 16 A Dollar with three Crowns and a Spread-Eagle 10 14 A Dollar with a Ramping Lion on the one side and a Lion in a Scutcheon and half a Man on the other side 8 18 A Dollar with a Hart and the Arms in a Scutheon 10 12 A Dollar with a Wild Man holding a Candle in his hand and a ragged Staff on the other side 1571. 10 14 A Dollar of the same and like Superscription 10 13 A Dollar with the Image of the Duke of Saxony and his Arms. 10 15 A Dollar of the same with like Superscription 10 12½ A Dollar with a Lion in the Scutcheon and half a man over the Lion and a Ramping Lion on the other side 9  Spanish Moneys A Spanish piece of Money with a sheaf of Arrows
knowing readily how to make his Calculations in all Contracts how the one weight doth advance of the other or what the one may want of the other making his Accompt of concordancy allowing or deducting where he finds the discrepancy arising by overplus or either by a want in the one or in the other Two manners of weighing in use Now for the manner of weighing in general so far forth as ever I have observed hath been noted to have been done two several ways that is either by a Beam or by a Romant or Stalier By Beams the weight by Beam I hold the best and justest performed with leaden brass or iron weights provided the same Beam be good and even both empty and laden with one equal weight and this is seen to be the common custom of weighing in England Netherlands and in many other places and Countries By Stalier The weight by Stalier which is used in Turkey Barbary and Italy and sundry other Countries I hold not so sure for thereupon is marked all the number of weights that may be weighed thereby which by the help of a small counterpoise removed to several stations supplies sometimes the place of a pound and sometimes the place of 100 pound wherein is oftentimes found great deceit which by the buyer and seller is carefully and heedfully in those places to be both prevented and avoided To abbreviate the labour of weighing Now if with a Beam one would abbreviate a long labour with a small time and pains and weigh much with few weights his weights must be made by an augmentation doubled as by pieces of 1 lib. 2 lib. 4 lib. 8 lib. 16 lib. 32 lib. and 64 lib. making in all 127 lib. with which all sums under that number may be comprehended and weighed and some exercised in great affairs by single weights tripled have gone further and procured 1 l. 3 l. 9 l. 27 l. 81 l. c. and thereby with little labour have performed very weighty and great business but I leave this to the ingenious and to him that shall fancy this method and manner of weighing Weights authorized by the Magistrate In all Cities then and places of Traffick there is found a weight as I said authorized by the Magistrate which to alter or diminish is ever held a capital crime this weight thus setled in every place and City of Trade is reputed the Standard of the place by which as well the Inhabitants as Strangers do make their bargains and contracts and without which many bargains cannot be made and perfected Weigh-house and therefore partly to avoid scruple and doubt and partly to do justice to all men and partly to decide all controversies incident in weighing there is in the most eminent Cities a publick Weigh-house set up and appointed where every man may repair unto either for necessity of weighing or tryal of his weights and which is authorized by the Prince as a rule for all men that shall have occasion to make use thereof in the said places serving sometimes as the Beam whereby his Customs and Duties are paid him Weigher sworn the Master Overseer or Weigher being ever sworn and deputed to do justice and right in his weighing not only between man and man but if need be between the Prince and the Subject By which weights the weight of this Book is calculated This Weight accounted thus the common and received Standard of Cities and Countries is it upon which as near as I could possible I have in all these following places made my Observations and from thence raised not only the agreement thereof with other neighbouring places and Cities but also with that which we call our Haberdepou weight of England wherein with all industry I have laboured to find out the truth and certainty thereof which as subject to error by reason of the diversity I must refer to the future trial of the better experienced concluding this point with a way and method invented by unequal weights to accord the weights of any two known places or Cities which briefly is thus performed A way to accord the weight of any two places Prepare a Ballance as exactly made as is possible that a very little thing may cause them to incline one way or other likewise prepare of the one place the just pound the half pound the ¼ the ½ the 1 16 the 1 â—8 the 1 64 the 1 1â—… and the 1 123 part of that pound if it be possible until you judge it to be sufficient then take the just pound weight of the other place and put it into one of the Scales of the Ballance and in the other Scale put such weights as may justly counterpoise the pound weight of that place as for example Say that the half the ¼ the 〈◊〉 and the 1 238 part of the pound of the first place do justly counterpoise the pound weight of the other place then by consequence it followeth that 128 lib. 64 lib. 32 lib. and 1 lib. that is in all 255 lib. of the first place do justly weigh 256 lib. of the other place Again say that the 1 lib. the â…› 1 â—… 1 â—… of the first place do justly counterpoise the pound weight of the other then I infer thereby that 512. 64. 〈◊〉 2. and 1. that is in all 579 lib. of the first place do justly weigh 512 lib. of the other place by which the calculation may be made both to the hundred and to the pound therefore the further search and consideration thereof I willingly here omit and refer the same to the curiosity of the more ingenious CHAP. VII Of Accounts and Account-keeping in general observed in this MAP of COMMERCE Accounts necessary in the Map of Commerce ALl rational Negotiators and Traders in general will grant That this Map of Commerce would appear to be very imperfect if it should want the due Rules and Observations whereby Accounts are in all Cities of Commerce ordered and kept which though found in themselves to vary in several Kingdoms and places as having oftentimes a dependency and sometimes concurrency with the Coins and Moneys of each Kingdom yet in all places they are not found to have the like agreement together Accounts kept diversly in divers Cities and Countries Some Countries being observed to keep their Accounts and the denomination thereof in imaginary Coins such as neither that Country not Place hath either proper Coin or Money that hath any affinity therewith as by daily practice is seen used in Venice by the Ducate of lire 6â…“ in Florence by the Crown of Gold of lire 7½ and as in England it is used in those antient Accounts kept in some Offices for the Revenues of the Crown by the name of Marks of which we find not at this day any proper Coin or Money in use Again it is seen by experience that one and the self-same place affordeth several denominations in their
common coin is the Rappen munts whereon is stamped a Crow Six of these Rappens of Basil make a plapart or three cretzers and 20 plaparts or 60 cretzers make a common guilden and 3 pfening make a cretzer At Zurick it is found that 6 pfenings make a shilling and may be worth a penny sterling and 3 pfenings make a sickerling two great finfers of Basil and one little finferlin makes a bats of Basil and in like manner 5 finferlins make a bats and 5 finfers 2 bats But my work were endless to run through the particular coins current and stamped in every particular place of this Empire therefore this shall suffice for a taste of the variety and whosoever carrieth any Merchandise into these Countries let him be sure to know the true worth of the monies he receiveth for the same lest he prove in conclusion a loser by his Trafick CHAP. CCVII. The Weights of Germany reduced to the 100 l. of London Weights in general of Germany reduced to the 100 l. of London THe next thing in order to be handled is the Weights and Measures of the Cities of Trade in this Empire which I have in part touched already upon the principal Towns the rest or as many as have come in my collections I shall here insert the more ingenious and better skill'd may add the rest And first for the weight which here I have reduced to the 100 l. suttle of London the which is found to yeild in   l. The 100 l. of London doth make in Noremberg 88 Collen 89½ Constance 88 Ausburg 91 Spiers 88 Heidelberg 92 Lipsick 92 Friburg 92 Silesia 116 Vlm 92 Vienna 81 Statin 91 Erford 81 Ipsburg 81 Salsburg gross 79 Ditto small 108 Lubeck 92 Botsen 133 Costuts 92 Misen of 16 ounces l. 96 Of 12 ounces the l. 142 Of Merchants weight 92 Munchen 91 Wessel 91 Saxony in general 96 Norlingen 91 Frankfort 92 Breslow 116 Canoli 83 Domstreder 92 Regenberg 83 Loosen 141 Offen 92 Basil 92 Pastow 83 Hamburg 92 Copenhagen 92 Basil 92 Zurick 94 Walloons country 104 CHAP. CCVIII Of Measures of Germany reduced to the Measures of London Measures of Germany HAving done with their Weights in general I will do the same for their long Measures in general which I will reduce to the 100 Yards of London and note that the same hath been observed to have produced in these Cities of Germany Embden 163 ells Lubeck 160 ells Munster 80 ells Collen 160 ells Erford 218 ells Frankfort 169 ells cloth Jenferr 80 stables Noremberg 160 ells For Silk 138 ells Vienna for linen 103 ells Ditto for Silk 113 ells Prague 148 ells Ditto for Silk 160 ells Vlm 160 ells Ditto for Woollen 128 ells Lipsick 160 ells cloth Ossenbrigâ—… 84 ells Breme 163 ells Hamburg 163 ells Basil 167 ells Bautson 148 ells Ditto for Silk 160 ells Halle 178 ells Misen 160 ells cloth Ditto for Silk 138 ells Offnes long measure 159 ells Ditto short measure 173 ells Zearech 155 ells Statin 141 ells Ocermond 141 ells Wismar 157 ells Gripswald 163 ells The rest I willingly omit for brevity sake and refer these to the trial of the better experienced CHAP. CCIX. Of the Trade in general of Germany The general trade of Germany THe particular Trading of several Cities being thus observed it will not be amiss a little to look into the Trade in general of Germany and therewith also the Navigation of this Nation by which we find that in all Countries almost the same is principally maintained The Cities then found on the Sea-coast on the North-side of Germany have very great ships yet more fit for great stowage and burthen than either for sail or defence and therefore oftentimes to this end fraighted by the Netherlanders Neither can I attribute much commendation to the German Mariner for those Seas in good part and the Baltick Sea altogether are found free of pirates and piracies which is the chief reason why their Ships are found in the general to be so ill armed either defensive or offensive and in one thing they concur with the Dutch to the shame of the Christians profession that their is never found any Prayers used aboard their Ships neither morning or evening contrary to the laudable custom and godly exercise of our English Mariners who constantly use Prayer and Psalms at least four times in four and twenty hours which is at the setting of the four quarterly watches of the day and night These Maritime Cities are for the most part either Hans-Towns or free Cities because they enjoyed of old in all neighbour Kingdoms great priveleges of buying any Commodities as well of Strangers as Citizens and of selling their own to either at pleasure and to bring in or carry out all Commodities by their own Ships with like immunities equal to Citizens in all the said Dominions and no less prejudicial to others than advantageous to themselves and in London they were wont to dwell together in the house called the Still yard and there enjoyed these and many other privileges which now for many years have lain dead partly by reason the English found not these or the like privileges in these free Hans-towns and partly by reason they have found it more commodious to make use of their own shipping as in these days it is found they do Notwithstanding all this yet it is observed that the Germans in general apply themselves very industriously to all Traffick by land but the free Cities on the Sea coasts do but coldly exercise it by Sea Beer being found to be spent and exported amongst themselves in an incredible measure and quantity with an extraordinary gain and therefore noted for one of the prime commodities of this Empire bringing profit not only to private men but also to Princes and to free States there being no Merchandize in the World that more easily finds a buyer in Germany than this for other Commodities it is observable that Germany sends into Italy Linens Corn and Wax it sends into England Bords Iron Diaper Rhenish Wines and Noremberg wares which can hardly be called commodities into Spain they send Linens Wax Brass Copper Cordage Masâ—s Gun-powder and this is their principal Exportation Now for their Importations Italy returns them Silks of all kinds England Lead Tin and woollen Cloths and Spain returns them Spanish Wines Fruits Oils Salt some Woolls and other commodities I formerly noted That the English had their Staple at Embden the Count whereof used them well and courteously but Wars growing between England and Spain the place grew dangerous for them for their Goods were taken and themselves made Prisoners even in the mouth of the Harbour whereupon they removed to Hamburg where being oppressed with new impositions and being denied the exercise of their Religion they removed also thence and setled their Staple at Stoad Then also our English had their Staple at Dantzick in Prusen for the Kingdom of Poland but when the
Stone of 10 l. being the small Stone and a Stone of 21 l. accounted the great Stone and it hath been observed that the 10 l. of London Averdupois bath yielded here incirca 92 l. Measures of Stetin The common Measure in the use for length is called the Ell as the usual denomination thereof in all the East parts and the 100 Yards of London hath been observed to produce here about 141 Ells. And thus much shall serve to have said of these Cities which I have entitled under the Names of Pâ—land and Eastland though in themselves acknowledging several distinct Princes having taken that liberty to my self in my first method rather narrowly to observe the maritime Shores and the principal Cities seated thereupon though acknowledging divers Sovereigns than precisely to follow the limits and bounds of Princes Dominions according to the largeness and extent of their Command and Power CHAP. CCXXXI Of the Weights and Measures of Eastland to that of London NOW forasmuch as there may be many other eminent Cities of Trade which in particular I have willingly omitted to handle therefore according to my observed order I will contract them here and shew how the Weights and Measures of London do agree and are found to accord together The agreement of 100 l. London to divers of Poland And first I find it observed that the 100 l. of Averdupois in London doth make in these Towns following viz. in  l. Straelsont as I said 88 Stetin 92 Revel 116 Dantzick 116 Conixburgh 120 Rhiga 116 Thoren and Narva 116 Cracovia 120 Elbin 120 Wild 116 Agreement of the 100 yards London to divers of Poland And thus much shall serve for the Weights in general of Eastland and for the Measures take here the same Observations made upon 100 Yards of London which produceth in  Ells. Embden 163 Hamburgh 162½ Bremen 163 Lubeck 160 Munster 86½ Ossenbridges 84 Wismar 156½ Conixburg 166½ Riga and Kevel 166½ Rostick 158 Gripswald 163 Donim 163 Stettin 141 Dantzick 163 Ocermond 141 Melluine 161 Narva 166 Arsâ—… CHAP. CCXXXII Of Corn-Measures of Eastland reduced to that of other Countries Corn-measure in Eastland THis Country is above all other Commodities abounding in Corn which hence is transported into all parts of Europe it will not be amiss to see what Observations have been made upon the Measure thereof here in use and concurrent with other places Schepels 60 in Dantzick make a Last and 4 makes a Mud which is the Skip-pond of 340 l. as you find it there noted Werpes 61 make a Last in Emden or 15½ Barrels of 4 Werpes Schepels 90 make a Last in Hamburg Schepels 96 make a Last in Lubeck Schepels 96 make at Fameren a Last Schepels 96 make a Last in Hileger-Haven in Denmark Barrels 42 make a Last in Copenhagen Barrels 36 make a Last in Ebeltorffe donie Quarters 10½ make a Last in London but in lading of Ships Quarters five are accounted for one Tun lading With the agreement thereof with other Countries Now let us see how these respond together and how these agree with the Last of Corn in Amsterdam upon which I find these notes and that the same maketh in Danzick 56 Schepels Embden 55 Werps Hamburgh 85 Schepels Lubeck 85 Schepels Fameren 78 Schepels Hylegher 80 Schepels Copenhagen 23 small Barrels Eboltorff 23 Barrels Sweden 23 Barrels Conixburgh 6 7 of a Last for the 6 Lasts are 7 at Amsterdam Melvin 17 21 of a Last Stetin 6 7 of a Last Rhiga 42 Loops Rostick and Mechburgh measures of Lubeck Antwerp 37½ Vertales Brussels 10½ Muden and differing in all places of Brabant Middleburgh 40 Sacks 41½ to the Last in Zealand Rotterdam Delph 87 Achtellins Gronninghen 33 Muddes London 10¼ Quarters and 5 Quarters to a Tun. CHAP. CCXXXIII Of the Trade in general of Poland and Eastland Of the Trade in general of Poland and Eastland HAving thus surveyed the Trade of this Country in some particulars it will not be amise to look upon it in the general The Revenues both of the King and Gentlemen is here esteemed but moderate and scarce sufficient to maintain a plentiful Table and to exchange with Merchants for Wines and Spices which they yet much covet as also they do forein Stuffs of Silks and Cloth I have noted that this Kingdom aboundeth with Beasts as well wild as tame and yieldeth excellent Horses not great but quick nimble and stirring it aboundeth also in Flesh Fowl and Water-Fish and in all kind of Pulse and Grain it is found also towards the Carpathian Mountains of Hungary to have some Mines of Gold and Silver of Iron and Brimstone it yieldeth also in abundance plenty of Honey found in hollow Trees besides the Husband-man's Hives it yieldeth moreover Wax Flax and Linen Cloths made thereof Hemp Pitch of both kinds Masts for Ships Boards and Timber rich Furs Salt digged out of the Earth Amber Soap-ashes and Rice in abundance which hath made Dantzick famous throughout Europe No marvel then if Merchants bring unto them Silks from Italy Cloth from England Wines from France and Spain and the very Spices and Drugs from India since they not only sell then at good prices but also bring thence such precious and staple Commodities Poland it self is found within land and Prussia with their immunities subject to this Kingdom is sound to have the principal Traders therein inhabiting yet have they but few Ships using Strangers to export their Commodities For the rest of the Polanders they are observed to live content with their own and not by way of Merchandizing to stir much abroad yet are they not rich because they want the abovesaid Commodities which the proud Gentlemen and Nobility of these Countries buy dear and will have though brought from far unto them and they are noted to have so little Gold and Silver as despising all in respect of it they sell the rich Commodities of their Country at a low rate especially those which are for daily Food and thereby made unfit to be exported The People themselves are not much addicted to Traffick into remote Regions nor to travel far out of their own Countries yet in imitation of other their Neighbours they sometimes Trade with their rich Furs into other Countries of whom I have observed some to come to Constantinople rather making a ranging Voyage than coming with intent to Trade and Reside Wherein they cannot be much blamed in regard that they have in plenty all things that naturally are wanting to mankind if they can be contented therewith but the Inhabitants of Pomerland East Country c. are observed to be more ingenious and far more addict to Traffick and Commerce and have some Vessels sitter for transport and carriage than for warfare but yet most proper for their gross Commodities and large Stowage however their Winter-colds depriving them of almost half the years Traffick the other half wherein their Seas are navigable cannot make them any
but few Cities fortified either by Walls or Bulwarks save some principal places Frontiers or such like It hath many goodly modern Buildings Canes and amongst the rest many Canes for Merchants Strangers to abide Canes Besesternes and Besesternes for them to make sales of their Commodities in it hath also many goodly Mosques or Turkish Churches and that anciently of Santa Sophia converted to their irreligious Devotion is not the least though only the now standing Chancel of the first Building near which is the Grand Seignior's Place in the very point of the Angle incompassed for three-Miles in Circuit with a high Wall and fortified with many hundred pieces of Ordnance This City is the common Mart of all Commodities of this Empire receiving and distributing what either comes or goes the Merchants of London about 1586 here began to have some Trade and break the Ice by their Land-Travel hither through Hungary afterwards it was settled by the benefit of the Sea and the first English Ship that came hither was about 1585 with an Embassadour to reside who obtained here such favour by the recommendation of Queen Elizabeth that her Subjects in their Treaty and Capitulations had many Immunities and Privileges granted them and amongst the rest a Toleration of their Religion freedom to their Persons and Estates and that their Customs should only be three in the hundred out and three in whereas all other Christians there Resident paid 5 per cent Since which time the English have here driven a great Trade under Protection of divers Embassadours that have here resided which have had their Election Salary and Maintenance from a society of Merchants Incorporated in England under the Great Seal first by the said Queen Elizabeth and confirmed afterward with new Privileges by our deceased Soveraign King James and lastly by our present King Charles under the Title of Merchants of England trading to the Levant Seas wherein was at first comprehended the Eastern-Indies the Dominions of the great Turk and also the Seigniory of Venice this Company deriving their Original from the Company of Barbary Merchants which about this time by reason of the Civil-Wars of Morocco and Fesse began to decay and within a short time came to nothing and who afterward searching more advisedly into the Trade of these Eastern-Countries this Company settled a Consul in Aleppo and a Vice-Consul in Tripoly the then principal Seat of Syria with the Titles of Syria and Cyprus also they placed another Consul in Chios intitled of Scio Smyrna and the Arches as another Consul since in Argier and another in Tunis and the last in Petras in Morea strengthned with command from the Port and Durane of the Grand Seignior not only for their peaceable living but also for the quiet enjoying of these Privileges granted unto them as above is said Commodities found in Constantinople The Commodities that this place at first affordeth to our Nation and which hence in those days were brought into England were Grograms Camlet Mohair Persia Silk Gold in great quantity Carpets Anniseeds Cottons Galls some Pepper Indico and other Spices which now by the benefit of our East-India Trade we send thither in far greater abundance than ever we had them thence and those are yet the common Staple Commodities of this Country Commodities sent from England to Constantinople The Commodities which at first this Company did send to Constantinople were Lead Tin and principally a sort of blue Kersies called Hampshire and Stoplist and some few Cloths of Suffolk Furs of Martins Coney Fitches Sables and such and now those Kersies are altogether out of use and converted into Cloths of Suffolk Gloucesters Coventries and the like which they send in colours died and drest to the number of eight or ten thousand Cloths yearly and now we also supply their Markets with Indico Pepper Cloves Moces Nutmegs Ginger Calicoes and other East-India Commodities Accompts in Constantinople The Merchants here residing keep their Accompts as almost is accustomed over all Turkey in Dollars and Aspers whereof 80 Aspers is accounted a Dollar and though in Merchandise it doth pass at 90 100 or 110 or 115 Aspers as I have known it yet the standard of the Dollar in Accompts alter not of 80 Aspers to a Dollar nor of the 120 Aspers to a Sultany Coins current in Turkey The Coins Current in Constantinople are those proper to the whole Empire which is principally the Sultany in Gold which agrees with the Hungar Venice Checquin and Xeriff of Barbary passing for 120 Aspers and the Dollar of Germany the Rial of ⅜ Spanish passeth for 80 Aspers so that the 1½ Rial of ⅜ is a Sultany of Gold howbeit of late days Silver is found more plentiful and Gold more scarce so that the said Sultany Hungar or Checquin is worth 1½ Dollar and 10 12 or 13 Aspers more or less as the same is demanded and sought after also here are found other Dollars both of Italy and Germany to pass for a considerable value as the Lion Dollar at 75 Aspers and the German Sesetine at 70 Aspers c. and in fine most sort of Current Coins in the World if found good Silver find here a real price in payments of Merchandise Weights in Constantinople The Weights used amongst Merchants are these A Grain is the least 4 makes a Quillat A Dram is 16 Grains of which all the Weights of these Countries are Composed An Yusdrome is 100 Drams and is 1 l. sotile Venice or 72 Mitigales here A Lodero is 176 Drams about 132 l. Averdupois 19½ Ounces An Oak is 400 Drams which is near 2 l. 12 Ounces or 10 Ounces Loderos 100 is accounted to be 42 Oaks and called a Quintar which Quintar is accounted to be 118 in 120 l. suttle English A Batman is 6 Oaks which is 2400 Drams or 16⅓ l. English By which weight Silk is here bought making 10 great l. ⅔ Ounces per Batman Batman 7 and Oaks 2 makes a Quintal which is 120 l. English Loders 13 and Drams 112 makes a Batman all Silk is sold by the Batman and yet weighed by the Lodero so also is Grogram Yarn and other Commonities sold by the Oak yet weighed by the Lodero To bring Loderos into Oaks To bring therefore Loderos into Oaks do thus posite you have 14 Loders and would know how many Oaks it produceth First multiply your 14 Loderos by 44 which produceth 616 then cut off the two last Figures for the C. will remain 6 which is Oaks then multiplying the 16 you cut off by 4 and it makes 64 which is Drams and so your 14 Loders is 6 Oaks 64 Drams And so do of any other Sum given Drams 720 are accounted Rotolos of Silk and other Commodities in Aleppo according to the Custom in sale of that Commodity which is to be noted 700 680 And this Dram is 16 Killats A Mitigal is 1½ Drams which is 24 Killats
Corn. The chief Cities herein are Candia the Metropolis Canea Rhetmio Sitta Suda a brave Harbour and Suda not to be â—gotten being the best Harbour in all these Seas and capable to receive 1000 Sail of Ships Coins current in Candia The Coins of Venice is here current with little difference and their Accounts kept as there and â—nce a year the Gally grosses from Venice come hither to furnish the Inhabitants with all those Conâ—…ities which Nature hath denied them of and which other Germany Italy France or England can afford them Weights in Candia There is here used two Weights or two Quintals as in Venice a suttle and a gross quintar which is found thus to agree with the said City of Venice 100 l. gross of Candia is 110 l. gross Venice and 118 l. English 100 l. suttle of Candia is 114 l. suttle Venice and 76 l. English 100 l. gross of Venice make here about 90 l. gross 100 l. suttle of Venice make here about 86 in 87 l. suttle Measures of Candia There is here also used two Picos a Cloth Pico and a Silk Pico 100 Braces Cloth in Venice is 〈◊〉 in Cloth 106 Picos 100 Braces Silk in Venice is here also 100 Pico Silk which by observation hath made in London inches Of Wines Maskaâ—els are here sold by a Measure called the Mestach 100 Mestach of clear Malvoise makes 24 Quarts of the Begonso Measure in Venice or 21 of the Sechio Measure which is in England Gallons Cerigo To proceed then in the Ionian Isles I find next Cerigo which is plentiful in Marble and out of the Castle of the chief Towns of this Isle was Helena the Wife of Menelaus stoln by Paris where during my abode here the Castelan did shew me and lodged me in the Chamber whence as be would have me believe she was ravished but if it were so her Lodging I 〈◊〉 confident was better than mine for a soft Board was my best Bed and God knows with what sorty Coverings and Appurtenance Strival The Strophades or Strivali are the next giving only a poor livelihood to some few Greek 〈◊〉 or Friers Cursalari And the Cursalari noted only as silent Spectators to the Battel of Lepanto fought in Anno 1571. near them Corfu Then Corfu the Key of the Venetian State being in the centre of their Dominions by Sea of which a word by the way CHAP. CCLII Of Corfu and the Trade thereof Corfu and the Trade thereof THis Island having the principal Town of that name is now reputed to be one of the Bulwarks of Christendom and the Key of the Venetian State and is a reasonable fruitful â—…d especially in Wax Honey Wine Oyl and some other Commodities Their Moneys and Accounts as in Venetia Weights in Corfu Their Weights is two as in Venice a suttle and a gross pound and Quintar which thus is found to agree together 100 l. suttle of Corfu makes suttle Venice 133 l. and 90 l. London 100 l. gross of Corfu makes gross Venice Measures in Corfu Their Measure in Corfu is a Brace which is English inches of Corn. Their Corn measure is a Moija which is 4 Delegators which is 1½ Staio of Venetia and in England is Gallons Wine Wine is sold by the Jar 4 whereof makes a Quart in Corfu which makes of the Sachio measure in Venetia 6 Sechis and Jars 2 and â— makes one Quart Venetian in Wine which is in England Gallons Salt Salt is sold by the Moyetta 1000 whereof makes in Venice 23 in 24 Moya incirca and in London Bushels Saint Mauro Then comes in view Saint Mauro where stood a Temple famous for curing unfortunate Lovers but the Medicine was by casting themselves headlong into the Sea and so I imagine they may be cured in any Country else whatsoever the chief Town is S. Mauro inhabited 〈◊〉 Jews only There resteth yet of note in these Seas Ithaca the Islands of Ithaca now called Val de Cemâ—… being 50 miles in compass Zephalonia and North-East from the Island of Zephalonia being 66 miles 〈◊〉 compass and wherein are found the Towns and Havens of Argusto Guiscardo and 〈◊〉 Zant. and on the South-East thereof is the Island of Zant or Zacynthus about 40 miles 〈◊〉 compass fortified with a strong Castle on the East-side which commands the Town 〈◊〉 Zant and the Harbour thereunto adjoyning the Trade whereof I here for brevity 〈◊〉 comprise together CHAP. CCLIII Of the Island of Zant Zeffalonia and Ithaca and the Trade thereof Zant Zeffalonia and the Trade thereof HAving before treated of these Islands and their fituation I now come to the 〈◊〉 thereof as found at the times of my being there which was in Anno 1619. and 〈◊〉 1624. with the needful Observations remarkable thereupon Commodities of these Islands The Commodities that these three Islands do yield for Merchandise are Honey Wax Oylâ—… Wines and Currans of which last here is found growing such abundance that some year the English have laden here 3000 tuns and upwards besides what the Dutch French and other Countries do export and is computed to yield to the Inhabitants 300000 〈◊〉 incirca yearly c. and to the Seigniory of Venice for Custom which is hereon very great 40000 Chequins Currants in Zant Zeffatonia and Theaca Of these Currants Zeffalonia doth yield the greatest quantity but is commonly the smallestâ— and least esteemed Zant doth next yield a lesser proportion but a better and larger sort 〈◊〉 Ithaca vulgarly Theaca doth commonly produce the best and fairest but withal the fewest 〈◊〉 quantity The Commodities that this place doth vent coming from England is little some Clâ—… Perpetuanos Serges Lead and Tin and some Fish of Newfound Land also some Herrings and Pilchards but the principal Commodity brought hither is Rials Spanish with which these Currans abovesaid are usually provided and bought and no other Commodity is so welcome amongst them Coins current in Zant c. Their Moneys current are those of the Seigniory of Venice as being under their Government and especially the Rials Spanish which is hither by the English brought in great quantity and also by all such other Nations as have occasion for this Fruit. Accounts in Zant c. Their Accounts are kept by the Islanders as in Venice but by the Merchants Strangers here resident in Dollars which are those Rials of 8 8 and Gassets 80 to a Dollar Weights of Zant c. Their Weight is the Pound of 12 Ounces and the Quintar is 100 l. and found thus to agree with Venice and other places 100 l. suttle of Venice makes here 63½ l. in these Islands 100 l. gross of Venice agrees with the common 100 l. thereof The Pound suttle in Venice makes here 7 Ounces 1 Sac. 16 per Cent. Currans are here bought by the 1000 l. which by the computation of Concordancy specified
by the neighbouring Shires Mam Cimbri the Mother of Wales as having of all food and other provision necessary to preserve the life of man out of which is yearly sent 3000 head of Cattel to supply the wants of other Countries adjoyning together with a good quantity of Corn Butter Cheese c. the same had in times past 300 Towns and Villages Beaumares now it hath but one of consequence remaining called Beaumares commodious for Trade as commanding a fair safe and capacious Haven and Road to which as being the place of my birth I owe this grateful remembrance Jarsey Jarsey is the next in compass 20 miles the chief Towns are St. Hillary and S. Mollo abounding in sheep c. Garnsey Then Garnsey 20 miles distant from Jarsey rich in good Harbours the chief Town is St. Peters Wight The last is the Isle of Wight being 20 miles long and 12 broad the principal Towns being Yarmouth Newport and Bradring it is well fortified and strengthned against all foreign attempts whatsoever There be also some other petty Islands round about this Shore but I will pass them to come to those of greater note and consequence which are Ireland and Great Britain the last Isle and place both of this my Travel and Traffick CHAP. CCLXIII Of Ireland and the Provinces thereof Ireland and the Provinces thereof IReland standeth West of Britain containing in length 400 miles and in breadth 200 miles enjoying this prerogative by nature That no venomous Serpent will either live here if brought from other Regions nor yet doth naturally breed here It is divided into 5 Provinces which according to my former method I will in order touch and see what Towns of Note they contain Munster 1. Munster is the first wherin is found the Cities of Limrick seated on the banks of Shanâ—… 2 Cork 3. Kingsale and 4. Waterford the first ground that ever I trod on out of my native soyl being about 13 or 14 years old and then began to be employed by my Parents in trade of Merchandising Connaught 2. Connaught is the second Province the chief Cities are Dunratty and Galloway the third City in Ireland both for fairness largeness and for pleasant dwellings and situation Vlster 3. Ulster is the third Province the chief Towns are Dundale 2. Dungannon 3. Armagh an Archbishoprick 4. Dongal and 5. London-Derry lately built and peopled by the City and Citizens of London Meth 4. Meth is the fourth the chief Towns are Kelly 2. Thim and lastly Tredagh a fine Town where also I resided in these my younger years of Travel and first employment in Traffick Lempster 5. Lempster is the last Province wherein is found the Cities of Mareaburg Philips-Town Kildare and Dublin of the Trade whereof a word CHAP. CCLXIV Of Dublin and the Trade thereof Of Dublin and the Trade thereof DUblin is seated on the Liffe being the Metropolis of Ireland and the residence of the Lord Deputy for the King of England who is Sovereign here it being also an Archbishoprick and an University Commodities of Ireland The Commodities the Country doth afford for Merchandise are these first the Country abounds in Cattle each affords Tallow and Hides in great abundance which is hence exported to Spain France and Italy also Salmon is here caught good store in July August and September which is salted and exported and in Summer the quantity is so great in some parts of this Island that the Servants do covenant with their Masters they must not feed thereon but certain days in the week Herrings are here also caught and accounted the best as also Pilchards in August September and October and thence vented to Spain France and into the Streights of Gibraltar here is also some Butter Cheese Pipe-staves Calves-skins and other Commodities of late days prohibited to be exported by the Laws of the Kingdom Coins of Ireland The Coins of this Kingdom in the standard carrieth a concurrence with those of England which also here are current for the value as being subject to one and the same Scepter yet in distinction of the true and real worth are found thus entitled The pound of Ireland consisteth of 20 shillings Irish yet in sterling is accounted but 15 shillings The shillings by this account is but 9 d. sterling and the 6 d. Irish is 4½ d. sterling Exchanges of Ireland Here is also an Exchange found and practised but not for any foreign part saving England and principally London and Bristol commonly running at 8 d. upon the pound and when most at 12 d. per l. which is 5 per cent Weights and Measures as in England Dublin and in general all Ireland hath the Measures and Weights of England in use in their Traffick and agreeing therewith in all particulars I need not insist further therein Now a word of the Trade in general of Ireland as it is found observable in these days Of the Trade in general of Ireland The daily conversation of the English Nation and the late impartial and found administration of justice in this Country hath redeemed this Island from the jaws of Barbarism wherein it was ready to fall and suffer a ruin and since by little and little peace being firmly established hath brought the Inhabitants to a desire of inriching themselves and this desire hath so well been seconded by their industry that I may say it hath brought store and plenty into their dwellings which hath hitherto met with so good a success that whereas few years past this Country was with all necessaries supplied out of Englands and Scotlands abundance it now returneth that courtesie and contributeth some years not only to the wants of both but to the wants of Spain France and some other adjoyning Countries for now it is found that the Earth and Seas add to the Inhabitants labour and pains as first the Seas and Rivers in their season afford them great plenty of Cod-fish Hake fish Pitchards Herrings and these of both the largest best and in abundance which they take kill and salt and so disperse as a Merchandise into France Spain England Scotland and other Countries Then the Earth yeilds them a good breed of Cattel especially Sheep and Oxen in such store that they have thereof in great abundance as also of Hides Woolls Tallow Butter Cheese and Beef and the Wool they by Manufactures convert into Cloth Mantles Ruggs Frises and Yarn whereof it is reported that there cometh yearly to the Town of Manchester in Lancashire to be there woven into Stuffs at least two hundred thousand weight fine and coarse besides which the bowels of the Earth yeild them Lead Iron and Tin and by their own industry they have many other Manufactures as also Pipe-staves Wax Honey Furs Hemp Linen Cloth Salt and some others all this considered what should want here to make them eminent Merchants but shipping and skill in the Art of Navigation and
6½ quar 64 l. 23 26 yards All sorting cloths of divers Shires of 6½ quar 60 l. 24 26 yards Broad-cloth Taunton Bridgwater and Dunst 7 quar 30 l. 12 13 yards Broad and narrow of Yorkshire of 4 quar 30 l. 24 25.  Devonshire Kersies and Dossens of 4 quar 13 l. 12 13.  Check Kersies strait and plain Grays 4 quar 24 l. 17 18.  Ordinary Penistens or Forests 5½ quar 28 l. 12 13.  Sorting Penistons of 6½ quar 35 l. 13 14.  Washers of Lancashire and others   17 l. 17 18.  Tin in England See further the said Statute for the manner of making of all the said woollen Cloths and orders for Workmen with the viewing searching and all other needful circumstances there and thereunto belonging for further direction whereto I refer you As for Tin which is also one of the Staple Commodities of this Kingdom many good orders are enacted for the true casting and assay thereof and is accounted as the Princes peculiar Commodities farmed to certain Merchants who have the sole preemption thereof and thereto belongeth a peculiar weight called the Stannery weight the hundred thereof making 120 l. suttle Averdupois as I said before Lead in England Lead is also one of the Staples of this Island known throughout all the parts of the World and is in England sold likewise by a particular weight called the Foder which is 19½ hundred of 112 l. to the hundred and making suttle pounds 2184 l. For other the Staple Commodities of England I need not further insist referring the same to the search of the Inquisitor at his own leisure I have already noted that sundry Commodities are in England weighed and measured by sundry and distinct Weights and Measures the principal thereof being of Silver and Gold I have already shewed the Standard of our English Coins and shewed how the same agreeth with other places then of Salt Wine and Corn which in the next place I mean here to shew and withal demonstrate how the same holdeth correspondency with other Countries which in the most Cities I have omitted as purposely intended here to be inserted by it self as reducing all others to the City of London Corn measure with other Countries Corn then as the most necessary Commodity is sold as I have shewed before in England by the Quarter accounting 5 Quarters for one Tun lading ordinarily though otherwise 10¼ Quarters is a Last of Corn and this Last then of Corn doth make In Embden 55 Werpes whereof 61 made a Last there or 15½ Barrels of 4 Werpes In Hamburg 83 Schepels whereof 90 make a Last there In Lubeck 85 Schepels whereof 96 make a Last In Dantzick 56 Schepels whereof 60 there make a Last the 4 Schepels make one Muid which is the the Skip-pound of 340 l. In Fameran 78 Schepels whereof 96 to the Last In Haleger haven in Denmark 80 Schepeli 96 to the Last In Copenhagen 23 small Barrels whereof 16 to the Last In Ebbetroffe Danick 23 Barrels whereof 36 to the Last In Nelbogge 23 Barrels whereof 42 to the Last In Sweden 23 Barrels In Conixburg 6 7 of a Last the 6 Last are 7 at Amsterdam In Millan 17 21 of a Last In Statin in Pomerland 6 7 of a last In Riga 42 loops In Antwerp 37½ vertules In Bruxels 10½ mudden and differ in all places in Brabant In Gant 4 muds 7 halsters of 12 to 1 mud is 55 halsters In Bruges 7½ hoots In Bunkirk 18 raisere water measure In Middleburg 40 sacks is 41½ to the last in all Holland In Dort 28 sacks In Rotterdam and Delf 87 achtelings In Schoon haven 88 achtelings In Erchusen Horn Medenblick 42 sacks In Groeningen 33 muds In Tenel 58 loops In Calais 18 rasiers In Rouers 20 to 30 mines every mine is 4 bushels In Rachel 128 bushels 4 to every sestier In Bourdeaux 38 boiseaux whereof 33 to the last In Sevil 54 hanegas a last is 4 cahis of 12 haneg as In Lisbon 225 alquieres whereof 240 to the last or 4 moyos of 60 alquiers to the moyo and so in all the Islands of Portugal In Venice 32 stares In Genoua 23½ minas In Sicilia 38 medinos of 6 moyos In Paglia 32 cara 36 timans In Cyprus 40 medinos of 2 cipros In Amsterdam a last and it is observable here that Corn is found so far to differ in Goodness that the Measure of this place will weigh of East-land wheat 156 l. of French wheat 180 l. of Suilia wheat 224 l. and of Africa 236 l. and this last of Amsterdam is 27 moyos or muddens each mudden is 4 schepels or every last is 29 sacks and each sack 3 achtelings so that a last may be said to be 108 schepels or 87 achtelings Measures of Salt compared with other places Now for as much as Salt is not a native Commodity of our Country we must borrow the Original of the Measure thereof from those places which produce the greatest quantity or from those Cities which hold the principal Staple thereof It will be necessary then we bring it to tho great hundred of Zealand which is accounted for 4 small hundred and because it is best known in all places they measure their Salt with barrels 18 barrels to a last and 7 last to the bâ—…drea which is 126 barrels In Armuyden in Zealand they reckon 8â— weighs for one hundred every weigh is 11½ sacks every sack 4 measures and 15 weighs of Browage Salt make the great hundred The sack of Salt of Armuyden being 122 small barrels for the 122 sacks shall be my Computation and it maketh In â—rewâ—ge 4 7 parts of one hundred of 28 moyos and 12 sacks to the Moyo also by charges or loads ten loads to the hundred and 48 moyos or moys to the last of 21 barrels In Lisbon 25 moyos In Sâ— Mary Port 28 moyos In Saintubal 20 cays In Calis 22 cays In Saintlucar 21 cays In Gant 108 sacks or barrels In Antwerp 144 vertels of 24 to the last and 6 last to the hundred and the white Salt is measured with a lesser measure of 12 upon 100. In Dunkirk 92 water measures or 104 land measures In Ostend 98 measures In Damme and Axiels 102 measures In Bruges 104 measures In Ypres 144 measures In Rotterdam 100 whereof 6 make 1 mud of 18 to the 100. In Amsterdam Utrecht Druenter 102 schepels In Calais 130 barrels 19 to the last but 20 by Fraighting In Rouen and almost all France 6½ muys In Hamburgh 7 lasts whereof 80 barrels make 100. In Denmark 6 â— lasts In Sweden 111 tuns or barrels 16 to the last In Emden 100 barrels 14 to the last In Lubeck 7 lasts of 18 barrels In London 7½ lasts of 18 herring-barrels but by weight 11½ In Venice and Prian 70 mose Measures of Sea-coal compared with â—other places Pit-coal is a Commodity peculiar
likewise of our own Natural Wealth might advance much yearly to be exported unto Strangers and if in our Rayment we will be prodigal yet let this be done with our own Materials and Manufactures as Cloth Lace Embroderies Cut-works and the like where the Excess of the Rich may be the Employment of the Poor whose Labours notwithstanding of this kind would be more profitable for the Commonwealth if they were done to the use of Strangers 6. The Fishing in His Majesty's Seas of England Scotland and Ireland is our Natural Wealth and would cost nothing but Labour which the Dutch bestow willingly and thereby draw yearly a very great Profit to themselves by serving many places of Christendom with our Fish for which they return and supply their Wants both of Forein VVares and Mony besides the multitude of Mariners and Shipping which hereby are maintain'd whereof a long Discourse might be made to shew the particular Manage of this Important Business Our Fishing Plantation likewise in new-New-England Virginia Greenland the Summer Islands and the Newfoundland are of the like Nature affording much VVealth and Employments to maintain a great number of Poor and to increase our decaying Trade How some States have been made Rich 7. A Staple or Magazine for Forein Corn Indico Spices Raw-silks Cotton VVool or any other Commodity whatsoever to be Imported will increase Shipping Trade Treasure and the Kings Customs by Exporting them again where need shall require which course of Trading hath been the chief Means to raise Venice Genoa the Low-Countries with some others and for such a purpose England stands most commodiously wanting nothing to this Performance but our own Diligence and Endeavour 8. Also we ought to esteem and cherish those Trades which we have in remote or fax Countries for besides the Increase of Shipping and Mariners thereby the VVares also sent thither and receiv'd from thence are far more profitable unto the Kingdom than by our Trades near at hand As for Example suppose Pepper to be worth here two shillings the Pound constantly if then it be brought from the Dutch at Amsterdam the Merchant may give there twenty pence the Pound and gain well by the Bargain The Traffick to the East-Indies is our most prefitable Trade in its proportion both for King and Kingdom We get more by the Indian Wares than the Indians themselves A Distinction between the Kingdoms Gain and the Merchant's Profit but if he fetch this Pepper from the East-Indies he must not give above three pence the Pound at the most which is a mighty Advantage not only in that Part which serveth for our own use but also for that great Quantity which from heence we transport yearly unto divers others Nations to be sold at a higher Price whereby it is plain that we make a far greater Stock by Gain upon these Indian Commodities than those Nations do where they Grow and to whom they properly appertain being the Natural VVealth of their Countries But for the better understanding of this Particular we must ever distinguish between the Gain of the Kingdom and the Profit of the Merchant for although the Kingdom payeth no more for this Pepper than is before supposed nor for any other Commodity bought in Forein Parts more than the Stranger receiveth from us for the same yet the Merchant payeth not only that Price but also the Freight Ensurance Customs and other charges which are exceeding great in these long Voyages but yet all these in the Kingdoms account are but commutations among our selves and no Privation of the Kingdom 's Stock which being duly considered together with the Support also of our other Trades in our best Shipping to Italy France Turky the East-Countries and other places by Transporting and Venting the Wares which we bring yearly from the East Indies It may well stir up our utmost Endeavours to maintain and enlarge this Great and Noble Business so much importing the Publick Wealth Strength and Happiness Neither is there less Honour and Judgment by growing Rich in this manner upon the Stock of other Nations than by an industrious Increase of our own Means especially when this Latter is advanced by the Benefit of the Formers as we have found in the East-Indies by sale of much of our Tin Cloth Lead and other Commodities the Vent whereof doth daily increase in those Countries which formerly had no use of our Wares 9. It would be very beneficial to Export Mony as well as Wares being done in Trade only it would increase our Treasure but of this I write more largely in the next Chapter to prove it plainly 10. It were Policy and Profit for the State to suffer Manufactures made of Forein Materials to be exported Custom-free as Velvets and all other wrought Silks Fustians Thrown Silks and the like it would employ very many poor People and much increase the Value of our Stock yearly issued into other Countries and it would for this Purpose cause the more Forein Materials to be brought in to the Emprovement of His Majesties Customs I will here remember a notable Increase in our Manufacture of Winding and Twisting only of Forein raw Silk which within 35 years to my knowledg did not employ more than 300 People in the City and Suburbs of London where at this present time it doth set on work above fourteen thousand Souls as upon diligent Enquiry hath been credibly reported unto His Majesties Commissioners for Trade And it is certain that if the said Forein Commodities might be Exported from hence free of Custom this Manufacture would yet increase very much and decrease as fast in Italy and in the Netherlands But if any Man alledge the Dutch Proverb Live and let others live I answer that the Dutchmen notwithstanding their own Proverb do not only in these Kingdoms encroach upon our Livings but also in other Forein Parts of our Trade where they have power they do hinder and destroy us in our lawful course of Living hereby taking the Bread out of our Mouth which we shall never prevent by plucking the Pot from their Nose as of late Years too many of us do practise to the great Dishonour of this Famous Nation We ought rather to imitate former times in taking sober and worthy Courses more pleasing to God and suitable to our ancient Reputation 11. It is needful also not to charge the Native Commodities with too great Customs lest by endearing them to the Strangers use it hinder their Vent And especially Forein Wares brought in to be Transported again should be savoured for otherwise that manner of Trading so much importing the Good of the Commonwealth cannot Prosper nor Subsist But the Consumption of such Forein Wares in the Realm may be the more Charged which will turn to the Profit of the Kingdom in the Ballance of Trade and thereby also enable the King to lay up the more Treasure out of his yearly Incoms as of this Particular I intend to write more
briefly run over the Shires of England it will be necessary I should here add the like cursory View of Wales comprehended under the Government of England and included within the same Limit and omitted to this place as having parts of the said Kingdom which I find to be in number these Anglesey 1. Anglesey I account the first which is toucht amongst the Islands being esteemed a County of Wales Beaumaries being the principal Town of the County Flint 2. Flintshire is the second plentiful in Corn and Pasture famous for the Spring of Holy Well called here St. Winifreds Well and Flint Town being the chiefest of the County Denbigh 3. Denbighshire is the next affording some Mines of Lead wherein are found Wrexham that boasts of its Holy Tower and Musical Organs and Denbigh the chief of the County Canarvan 4. Canarvanshire is the next antiently called Snowden Forest before that Wales was reduced to Counties wherein are found the high Hills the Alps of Britain also Aberconway a strong and fair little Town Bangor the Seat of a Bishop and Canarvan the chief of this Province Famous for the Birth-place of Edward II. the first Prince of Wales of English Blood Merioneth 5. Merionethshire is the next a mountainous Country affording notwithstanding good Pasture for Cattel The chief Town is Balla tho poor yet principal of these Mountaincers Montgomery 6 Montgomeryshire is the next having its chief Town of the same Name Cardigan 7. Cardiganshire is the seventh and hath the Town of Cardigan for the chief of the County Pembroke 8. Pembrokeshire is the eighth Pembrâ—… is the chief Town and here a long Neck of Land makes a Haven called Milford Haven than which Europe hath not a more noble more safe and more large with many Creeks and safe Roads wherein 1000 Sail may ride out of sight one of another and made more famous by the Landing of Henry VII Caermarden 9 Caermardenshire is the next abounding in Corn Sheep and Pit-Coal Caermarden being the chief Town Glamorgan 10 Glamorganshire is the next Cardiff is the chief Town having a commodious Haven for Shipping Monmouth 11 Monmouthshire is the next wherein are found Chepstow and Monmouth the last is glorious in giving Birth to Henry V. Conqueror of France Brecknock 12. Brecknockshire is the next Brecknock being the chief Town Radnor 13. Radnorshire is the last wherein is sound Radnor the chief These are in brief the Shires of Wales Commodities of England To observe now my former Method having thus particularly survey'd the Continent let me now search into those Commodities which England in general affords for Merchandize and is thence exported into forein Regions as being the principal Motives of Trade in all Kingdoms which it produceth several ways First by Manufactures it yieldeth Woollen Cloths of all sorts broad and narrow known and called by the name of several Shires also Perpetuanos Bays Says Scrges Cottons Kersies Buffins Mocados Grograms Sattins Calimancas Velvets Plâ—shts Worsteds Fustians Durances Tukes and infinite others there is made in this Island yearly 250000 Cloths by computation and by this may be guess'd the Quantity of the resâ— of other sorts also Furs and Skins as Coney-skins Squirrel-skins Fitches Calf-skins Hides and sundry others Also it produceth by Mines out of the Earth 1. Tin 1200000 l. yearly Lead 800 Foders yearly Allom 800 Tuns yearly Copper 500 Tuns yearly Iron of all sorts 800 Furnaces daily set on work besides Ordnance of Iron and such like Sea-coal yearly Chaldrons Salt Tuns also all manner of Grain Oats Pease Barly Rye and Wheat in great plenty also Linen Cloth all Iron Wares Tallow Leather Glass and Glasses of all sorts Venice Gold and Bilver Train-Oyl Salmons Pilchards and Herrings Hake Conger and Haberdine Hops Wood Butter Cheese Beer Salt-petre Gun-powder Honey Wax Alabaster and some other Stones Wools Woolfels Yern Yernsey c. and to conclude many other good and rich Commodities is here found Beauty of England The Beauty and Wealth of this Kingdom is demonstrated in 325 Rivers 8 thereof being great and navigable for some Miles whereon are found 857 Bridges 30 Chases 55 Forests 745 Parks here are also reckoned 26 Deanries 60 Archdeaconries 504 Dignities and Prebends 5439 Parochial Benefices besides Impropriations and Vicarages and the whole divided into 6 Circuits for the Administration of Justice into 22 Episcopal Dioceses for Ecclesiastical Discipline and into 2 Archbishopricks under whom the rest are subordinate and lastly into 40 Shires over each of which is yearly a Sheriff appointed who is to assist the Itinerary Judges in executing Justice and to gather in the King's Amercements and these Shires are divided into Hundreds and these Hundreds into Tithings and to conclude in England are found 145 Castles 9527 Parishes besides Chappels whereof 585 are Market Towns and 22 Cities the principal whereof are these 1. Oxford 2. Cambridge both being Universities 3. Exeter in Devonshire 4. Norwich in Norfolk 5. Bristol watered by Severn accounted the second for Trade in this Country 6. York on the River Ure accounted the second City for Beauty and Greatness in England and lastly London under which I will comprise the Trade of this whole Island CHAP. CCLXX. Of London and the Trade thereof London and the Trade thereof LOndon the Metropolis of England the prime City of Trading this day in the World is pleasantly seated on the River Thames which divideth it into two parts her Circuit may be 8 miles wherein are found 122 Parish Churches with the Palace of the King the Houses of the Nobility Colleges for the Study of the Laws and divers other stately publick Edifices and may contain 400000 People Merchants of London Here have their Residence the rich and most eminent Merchants of this Island whom divers Princes of this Kingdom have incorporated into several Societies and Companies partly to encourage their Endeavours and partly in reward of the Discoveries of those Countries and Regions whereof they take their Name and by the Power and Immunities granted them do make Acts and Orders for the Benefit of Commerce in general and of their Companies in particular Merchants Adventurers and their Original and places of Residence The antientest of which Companies have had their Original and Continuance since Edward I. his Reign called the Company of Merchant Adventurers grounded at first upon the Exportations of Wool only as the prime and Staple Commodity of this Kingdom since which it is grounded upon Clothing into which this Wool is now converted for he at the request and being in league with the Cities and Towns in Flanders made Bruges which was then the greatest Mart of Christendom the Staple for his Wools where it continued for 15 years whenas by some Discontent with the Flemings and by experience seeing what the Benefit of these Staples were removed them from Bruges to England and for the ease as well of his Subjects