The merchants mappe of commerce wherein, the universall manner and matter of trade, is compendiously handled. The standerd and currant coines of sundry princes, observed. The reall and imaginary coines of accompts and exchanges, expressed. The naturall and artificiall commodities of all countries for transportation declared. The weights and measures of all eminent cities and tovvnes of traffique, collected and reduced one into another; and all to the meridian of commerce practised in the famous citie of London. By Lewes Roberts, merchant. Necessary for all such as shall be imployed in the publique affaires of princes in forreigne parts; for all gentlemen and others that travell abroad for delight or pleasure, and for all merchants or their factors that exercise the art of merchandizing in any part of the habitable world.

CHAP. CCXVI.

Of Norway and the Cities thereof.

NORWAY is bounded on the North with Lappia, * 1.1 on the East with the Dofri•…•…e mountaines, on the other parts with the seas.

The chiefe commodities of this Countrey is Stock∣fish, * 1.2 rich furres, traine Oile, pitch, and takling for ships, as masts, caples, deal-boards, firre, and the like.

Townes are here thinne, and the houses therein poore and mi∣serable. * 1.3 The chiefe of those that are, is Nidrosia, the Arch-bishops seat of Norway, Iseland, and Groinland: The second is Bergen, one of the foure ancient Mart townes of Europe; the other three being London in England, Nomgrade in Moscovia, and Bridges in Flanders; and all of these but London are decayed, for this Bergen hath yeelded to Wardhouse; Nouegrade, by reason of the charge of navigation through the Balticke into the Northerne passage, hath given way to Saint Nicholas, and Bridges being deprived of her trafficke by Antwerpe, it is now also removed to Amsterdam, for the Hollanders by blocking up the haven, but especially by keeping of Bergen up Zome, have such a command over the river, that no vessel can passe or repasse without their licence. But to proceed: Finmarch also appertaineth * 1.4 to this kingdome, and both to the Dane: the chiefe Cities are Saman, secondly Hielso, both Sea-townes, but the principall is Wardhouse, * 1.5 seated in the very Northerne end of all the countrey, being a town of little trade, but great concourse of shipping, that this way are bound for Moscovia, which must needs touch here, and it is so cal∣led, as seated in a little Iland called Ward.

In Bergen in Norway the common waight is a pound, the 100 li. of * 1.6

London hathbeene found to make there 92 li. but weighing with a sling, as they doe, is found to be very uncertaine.

The measure is

The particulars of the trade of this Countrey, here necessarily to be handled, I am inforced to omit, by reason of my ignorance, therefore intreat the better experienced to supply my defect therein.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Norway, and the cities thereof.
• * 1.2

  Nidrosia.
• * 1.3

  Bergen, one of the 4 ancien•…•… Marts of Eu∣rope.
• * 1.4

  Finmarke.
• * 1.5

  Wardhouse.
• * 1.6

  Weight in Bergen.