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. CCXLVII.

Of Constantinople, and the trade thereof.

CONSTANTINOPLE, the seat and residence of the great Turke, is situ∣ated * 1.1 upon the streame that passeth from the Euxine seas, to the Meditorra∣nean, and thereby reaping the benefit of all that the winds can convey thi∣ther, both from the black and white seas, as they terme them: It is not more commodious for Merchandise, than for to be the head of an Empire, affronting Asia, and behind it Europe, whereof it is accompted the uttermost limit, estee∣med to be 20 miles in circuit, and comprehending 700000 living soules, as some have conceived, which would grow innumerable, did not the grand Signiours armies yeerely, and the plague once in three or foure yeeres sweepe away abundance of them.

It was first built by Pausanias, a Lacedemonian captaine, 660 yeeres before Christ, and by him called Bisantium, afterward ruined by •…•…everus, and in Anno 313 reedified by Constantine the Great, and made the seat of his Empire, and by him beautified and adorned with mag∣nificent buildings and curious ornaments, and called Constantinople, then it fell into the hands of the Latins, from them to the Grecians, and lastly, in 1453 to the Turkes, who now command it, upon which some have made this observation: That the first Emperour of the Latins who commanded it was a Baldwin, and so was he also, that lost it, also that it was built by a Constantine, the sonne of a Helena, a Gregory being Patri∣arch and lost by a Constantine, the sonne of a Helena, a Gregory being Patri∣arch, and as it was gained by a Mahomet, so have the Turkes a Prophesie, that a Mahomet shall lose it.

The City is formed in manner of a triangle, or more fitly, as we see the composition of a Harp, having its two largest angles borde∣ring on the seas upon a point that stretcheth it selfe into the sea, and the third, which is the least part incompassed with a strong tripled wall, incompassed with dry deepe ditches for defence, and stengthened with sundry towers now daily ruined, for the Turkes hold but few cities fortified, either by walls or bulwarkes, save some principall places, frontiers, or such like.

It hath many goodly moderne buildings, and amongst the rest, many Canes for Merchants strangers to abide; and Besesternes for * 1.2 them to make sales of their commodities in, it hath also many good∣ly * 1.3 Mosces, or Turkish Churches, and that anciently of Santa Sophia con∣verted to their irrelegious devotion, is not the least, though onely the now standing Chancell of the first building, neere which is the grand Signiors Palace, in the very point of the angle incompas∣sed for 3 miles in circuite with a high wall, and fortified with ma∣ny 100 peeces of Ordnance: this city, the common mart of all com∣modities of this Empire receiving and distributing what either comes or goes; the Merchants of London about 1580 here began to have some trade, and brake the ice by their land travell hither through Hungary; afterward it was setled by the benefit of the sea; and the first English ship that came hither, was about 1585, with an Em∣bassadour to refide; who obtained here such favour by the recom∣mendation of Queene 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, freedome to their persons and estates, and that their customes should onely be 3 in the hundred out, and 3 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 Mainte∣nance from a society of Merchants incorporated in England under the great Seale: first, by the said Queene Elizabeth, and confirmed af∣terward with new priviledges by our deceased Soveraigne King Iames: and lastly, by our present King Charles under the Title of Merchants of England, trading the levant seas, wherein was at first comprehen∣ded the Easterne Indies, the dominions of the great Turke, and also the Signorie of Venice; this company deriving their originall from the company of Barbary Merchants, which about this time, by reason of the civill warres of Moroco and Fesse, began to decay, and with∣in a short time come to nothing, and who afterward searching more advisedly into the trade of these Easterne countries, this Company setled a Consul in Alleppo, and a vice Consul in Tripolie the then princi∣pall seate of Syria with the titles of Syria and Cyprus: also they placed another Consull in Chios, intitled of Scio, Smirna, and the Arches: as another Consull since in Argier, and another in T•…•…, and

the last in Petras in Morea, strengthened with command from the Port and Durano of the grand Signior, not onely for their peaceable living, but also for the quiet enjoying of these priviledges granted unto them as above is said.

The commodities that this place at first affoorded to our Nation, and which hence in those dayes were brought into England, were * 1.4 Grograins, Chamblet, Moher, Persia silke, Gold in great quantity, Car∣pets, Aniseeds, Cottons, Galles, some Pepper, Indico, and other spices, which now by the benefit of our East India trade, we send thither in farre greater aboundance than ever wee had them thence; and those are yet the common Staple commodities of this countrey.

The commodities which at first this company did send to Constan∣tinople, were Lead Tin, and principally a sort of blew Kersies, called * 1.5 Hampshire, & Stoplists, and some few clothes of Suffolk, Furs of Mar∣tins, Cony, Fitchos, Sables, and such: and now those kersies 〈◊〉〈◊〉 altoge∣ther out of use, and converted into clothes of Suffolk Glosters Coven∣tries, and the like, which they send in colours dyed & drest, to the number of eight or ten thousand clothes yearly; & now we also sup∣ply their markets with Indico, pepper, cloves, maces, antmegs, ginger, ca∣licoes, and other East India commodities.

The Merchants here residing, keepe their accounts as almost is accustomed over all Turkie, in Dollers and aspers, whereof 80 aspers * 1.6 is accounted a doller and though in merchandise it doth passe at 90, 100, or 110, or 150 asp. as I have knowne it; yet the standard of the doller in accounts alter not of 80 asp. to a doller, nor of the 120 asp. to a Sultany.

The coynes currant in Constantinople, are those proper to the whole Empire; which is principally the Sultany in gold, which agrees * 1.7 with the Hungar, Venice, Ch•…•…quine, and Sheriff of Barbary pas∣sing for 120 asp. and the doller of Germany▪ the Rial of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spanish pas∣seth for 80 asp. so that the 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rial of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is a Sultany of gold; how beit of late dayes silver is found more plentifull, and gold more scarce, so that the sayd Sultany, Hungar or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is worth 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doller, and 10, 20 or 30 asp. more or lesse, as the same is demanded and sought after: also here are found other dollers, both of Italy and Germany, to passe for a considerable value, as the L•…•… doller at 75 asp. and the Germane Ses•…•…ine at 70 asp. &c. and in fine, most sort of currant coins in the world, if found good silver, finde here a reall price in pay∣ments of merchandise.

The weights used amongst Merchants are these,

A Graine is the least, 4 makes a quillat. * 1.8

A dram is 16 graines, of which all the weights of these countries are composed.

An Tusdrome is 100 drams, and is 1 l'sotile Venice, or 72 mitagales here.

A Lodero is 176 drams about 132 l'haberdupoit 19 ℥

An Oake is 400 drams, which is neere 2 l' 12℥. or 10℥.

Loderot 100 is accounted to be 42 Oakes, and called a quintar; which quintar is accounted to be 118 in 120 l' sutle English.

A Batman is 60 akes, which is 2400 drams, or 16⅓ l' Engl. By which weight silke is here bought, making 10 great l' 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ℥ per Batman, Batman 7 and Oakes 2 makes a quintal, which is 120 l' English. Lode•…•… 13 and drams 112 makes a Batman: all silke is sold by the Batman, and yet weighed by the Lodero; so also is Grograine yarne and other * 1.9 commodities sold by the Oake, yet weighed by Lodero. To bring therefore Loderos into Okes, doe thus, posito, you have 14 Loders, and would know how many Okes it produceth; First multiply your 14 Loderos by 44, which produceth 616: then cut off the two last fi∣gures for the C. will remaine 6 which is Okes: then multiply the 16 you cut off by 4, and it makes 64, which is drams, and so your 14 Loders is 6 Okes 64 drams, and so do of any other summe given.

Drammes

• 720
• 700
• 680

are accounted Rotolos of silke and other commodities in Aleppo, according to the custome in sale of that commoditie which is to bee noted: and this dram is 16 Killats.

A Mitigall is 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Drams, which is 24 Killats 20 Mitigals of gold is 3℥ English.

A Chicquine Sultanie or Hungar is 18 Killats or Carats.

Rotolos 3 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 20 Drammes in Aleppo is a Batman in Constantinople, foure hundred Drammes making an Oake consisting of foure Yus∣dromes or pounds, ten ounces to the yusdrome, and ten drammes to the ounce; and hereby I have estimated neere fourtie eight drams to sixteene ounces haberdupois. Where note, that here (as in Alep∣po) severall commodities are sold by a severall Oake, as there by se∣verall Rotolo, as the Oake of Saffron is here 120 drams, and no more; and so in others. * 1.10

Now having considered this weight in it selfe, let us consider it as it is found to agree with other Cities of trade, which may best be done upon the 100 Loderos as the knowne beame; here the Oake, and Batman and Rotolo being fained and compounded thereof.

London	120 l' & found by often triall but to be 117 & 118 l'
Aleppo	24 2℥
Ditto silke ℞	25 2℥
Tripoli Suria	29 4℥
Tripoli Barbaria * 1.11	104 l'
Bar•…•…ti	23 6℥
Alex. Zera	56
Alex. Forfori * 1.12	125 l'
Rhodes	22 ℞
Acria	19 6
Babylonia	16 8¾
Balsora	4 8⅓
Milan, and Verona,
and Mantua	163 l'
Lucca	157 l'
Genoa	160 li.
Florence	151 li.
Venice sotle	176 li.
Venice grosse	112 li.
Cairo	123 Rot.
Cyprus	25½ Rot.
Corfu	112 li.
Lorta and Cattarro	132 li.
Rhigusa and Spallato	146 li.
Mesina grosse	62 Rot.
Sicilia sotle	69 Rot.
Naples and Puglia	60 Rot.
Anchona.	148 li.
Rome and Bolonia	146½ li.

The measures of lengtth in Constantinople used in trade, are * 1.13 three, and all called Picos: the first is the Cloth Pico: foure where∣of hath been observed to make three yards English, and is about 26½ inches, and if heedfully noted, twenty seven inches very neare.

The second is the Grograine or Chamblet Fico, containing 24 inches, and observed to make 24 pico 16 yards English.

The third is the linnen pico, which is onely the former dou∣bled: and note that in the measuring here of all commodities of length, here is no allowance made nor given in curtesie, as the inch is over-plus in England; but the sayd picos are found to bee made flat of Iron, and no more allowance given than the thick∣nesse of the pico at the end, which commonly exceeds not the thick∣nesse of an English shilling.

Corne is sold by a measure concave, called the Killow, and weigh∣eth about 20 Oahes; and it hath been observed, that 8⅔ of a Killow is * 1.14 a London quarter, and doth make a Salmo in Lighorne; and five Killows in Zant make 6 Bushels English.

Wine and Oyle, and almost all liquid commodities is sold by a me∣ter, * 1.15 which makes 8 Oakes and is accounted ⅔ of a gallon English.

Note that in Constantinople all fuell to burne, fruit, fish, flesh, and for the most part all commodities are sold by weight, and very few by the concave measures, which is a good benefite to the provident. Observe that Scio doth agree with these measures and weights; and so also should Smyrna by the observations of Mer∣chants, some yeares past; but some difference is now found per∣adventure

crept in by the abuse of the weighers, and the falshood of beames; and this difference is found more grosse upon cottons and galls, than upon any other commodity which may proceed both from the foulenesse of the first, and the greennesse of the later, which I referre to the reformation of the more judicious.

The customes paid in Constantinople is divers: as the Italians, and * 1.16 other frankes and Iewes pay upon all commodities, both outward and inward, 5 per cent.

The Turkes themselves are free from all customes.

The English and Dutch pay 3 per cent, inward, and as much out∣ward, upon all commodities, and this is paid in species, and not in mony, except that the Merchants doe compound, as oftentimes they doe, with the customer, that an indifferent rate be made upon the commodities, and upon that rate is 3 per cent. taken accordingly. * 1.17

Note, that over and above this custome paid by agreement and ca∣pitulation of forraine Princes for their subjects, there is paid upon all ponderous commodities a duty of 1½ per cent. and upon all measureable commodities is paid 1 per cent. and these customes are called Miseteries, and ever paid betweene the buyer and the seller, the Turke, if hap∣pening to be either, is ever exempted, which duty, both by the buyer and seller is paid to the Brokers, who repay it to the Farmer thereof, and both 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the collectour, and is a rent setled for the maintenance of an Hospitall founded by Sultan Achmet, as hoping by this new custome levied upon strangers, and thus disposed of to charitable uses to gaine heaven at the charges of Christians. * 1.18

Opposite to the City of Constantinople, is the City Gallatta, for∣merly Cornubisantium, and in times past belonging to the Genoes, who in the declining state of the Grecian Empire were possessors of this City, and many other in this Empire both of great trade and consequence which are now in the possession of the grand Signiour, betweene which a river now runneth, wherein all shipping finde both a safe and convenient harbour, and in which all the Westerne Christians, either English, French, Dutch, or Vendian Merchants have their common residencie, intermixt with Grecians, Iewes, Armenians and some few Turkes, where also is placed a custome-house opposite to another on Constantinople side, both commonly farmed by one and * 1.19 theselfe same Emine or Farmer, who is the Receiver of the Grand Sig∣niours customes, which are found commonly payable, the one halfe in aspers, of 80 aspers to a doller, and the other halfe in sultaines of gold, or otherwise, as the Farmer and Merchant can agree for, and com∣pound the same.

I have shewed before, how that the Company of English Mer∣chants * 1.20 incorporated by the name of the society of the levant Compa∣ny in England, doe elect and nominate an able and skilfull, well qualified man in Merchants affaires, who with his Maiesties consent

and approbation resideth here, as Leger Ambassadour, to protect both the said Companies Factors, and their Estates here in matter of trade, whose charges and salary is paid and defraied wholly by the said Levant Company, and for the honour of the English Nation, and as necessary to his Port, and the said Companies traffique through the grand Signiours Dominions, they are found also to maintaine at pre∣sent, and to pay salarie to 6 Consuls in 6 severall places of this Empire, and to wait upon these and their Factors, they give pay to 40 Ieni∣saries 20 druggermen, or Interpreters: 6 Secretaries: 3 Ministers, be∣sides * 1.21 sundrie other needfull officers. And for the government of this trade in England, they have a Governour, who is alwaies yeerely chosen in London, and is ever one of the most eminent of the said Company, then a Deputy, and thirdly a Husband, in which last, the said Company have for some yeeres honoured my employment, and thought my paines worthy their acceptatic•…•…, and these in consideration of their care, have a yeerely courtesie or gratuity for their paines: also to these is added a Secretarie, accomptant, and some other offi∣cers receiving salarie, and for the better regulating of this trade, and as assistants to the above said, they have a Treasurer, and 18 Committies yeerely chosen, and are ever the greatest traders, and the most eminent of the said Societie, and commonly the deepest interessed in the generall trade; and in this nature hath it conti∣nued since the first erection and incorporation of this Society in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1585, by Queene Elizabeth, whose love to her Merchants pro∣tured them in Turkie many priviledges, and granted them in Eng∣land the immunities aforesaid. Now for the levying and supporta∣tion of this charge annually thus happening, and for the raising of the present that is given to the grand Signiour, at the change of every Ambassadour, there is levied a lanto upon the Merchandise, ei∣ther imported or exported, in or out of Turkie, upon the members * 1.22 of the said Company, which in England is called by the name of im∣positions, and in Turkie, by the name of consoledge, which the said Company doe impose upon themselves, and set the same either higher or lower, as their occasions and necessitie of their charge doth re∣quire, and these are the most eminent of all the Merchants Christians that traffique hither.

The second eminent traders into this city, are the Venetians, and * 1.23 the subjects of that Signiory, to protect whom, and for reasons of estate, because of their neere neighbourhood, that Common wealth maintaines here an Ambassadour, commonly intitled the Bailo, toge∣ther with 10 Consuls in sundrie parts of the grand Signiours domini∣ons, together with 60 Ienisaries, 30 druggermen, and sundry other of∣ficers, which are all paid and defraid out of the office of Cottinio, in Venice, from whence also issueth all avenies, and other losses and charges that happen for the preservation and maintenance of the

trade of Turkie, or the liberties and immunities granted thereto throughout all the Grand Signiors Dominions.

The third eminent traders into this Citie, are the French, and * 1.24 the subjects of that crowne: to protect whom, and also for preser varion of amitie setled between them, that King maintaineth here an Embassadour, together with twelve Consuls, dispersed into sundry parts of this Empire; together with 80 Ianisaries, 34 Drug∣germen, and sundry other Officers, all payd and defrayed out of the Coffers of the French King, who willingly contributeth the charge for the ease of his Merchants, and hath but small leviations upon them for the same.

The fourth and last is the Dutch Nation, who in some manner are * 1.25 found to have some traffique hither; to which end that State main∣taineth in this City an Embassadour, whom they intitle their Orator, besides whom they have onely three Consulships, twelve Ianisaries, ten Druggermen, and some other Officers dispersed through the Grand Signiors dominions, whose charge is borne by the state of the Merchants of that nation, trading hither at a tanto per cent, and not by the purse of the sayd provinces.

Besides these, some small trade is driven here by the subjects of the King of Poland, as also by the subjects of the King of Hun∣gary, and by the Emperours subjects; who each of them have here their Embassadours: but the trade thereof is of so little conse∣quence, and subject to such change and variation by reason of the warre and peace, which sometimes is truely observed, and some∣times againe as little regarded, that it merits no great considera∣tion in this place.

As for the traffique driven here out of Armenia, Moscovia., Tar∣taria, Egypt, Georgia, Persia, and other Countries of Asia, and Affrica, I passe them over in silence, having handled them particularly in those severall kingdomes; to which I referre the reader.

Now the trade of other Nations hither I have noted, it is not unproper I should give a touch of the trade of the inhabitants of * 1.26 this Citie into other places: foure sorts of people are found hence to use a traffique such as are the native Greekes, Turkes, the Arme∣niant, and the Iewes. The Iewes bend much of their trade into the land, as to Adrianople with English Clothes, Tinne and Spices, brought hither by other nations: To Angora for grograines, Mohers, and grograine yarne: to Salonica and other Cities in Peloponnesus for silkes and other manufactories. the Armenians drive most of their trade into Georgia, Armenia and Persia for raw silkes, galles, and some drugges; and carry thither Clothes, Tinne, and other Eu∣ropean commodities, and Rials of silver. The Turkes bend their traf∣fique to Venice with grograines and Chamblets, and other commodi∣ties

of Dalmatia and Slavonia; and thence returne Sattins, Velvets, and some Wollen clothes, and Venice gold: then to Mecca, Damasco, and Cairo, with European commodities; sometimes by sea, but oftner by land; and bring thence Iems, Spices, Drugges, and Callicos, and other Indian commodities. The Greekes for the most part found to bee either shop keepers, and so cannot be tearmed Merchants; or else Mariners, which saile to Capha, to Da•…•…ius, to the Arches, Cyprus, and Alexandria; and these are noted to drive some small trade, that it merits not here any further observation.

Having thus as briefly and succinctly as I could, handled the trade of the maine continent of Europe; and being come to this Citie of Constantinople, one of the most eminent and fairest Cities, not onely of Europe, but also of the whole world, whose trade I have also duely & yet briefly related: It is now high time for me to looke homewards; and so leaving this famous Citie, saile downe the Thracian Bosphorus to the Hellespont, leaving in view and sight on Europe side the once famous Galipolis, the late Station for the * 1.27 Grand Signiors Gallies; whose materials either for the matter or for the manner of traffique, differs not from this used in the Citie of Constantinople it selfe, though otherwise it yeeldes to the Merchants for transportation good quantitie of raw Hides, sheepes wooll, Ani∣seeds, and some other commodities; and taking aboord me one qua∣lified here who according to the custome of the place supplies the roome of generall Consull for all westerne nations, I saile with him to the Castles of Sestos and Abidot, the now keyes of this sea and sayd Citie, famoused by the ancients for the sad and disastrous love of Hero and Leander; where staying three dayes to cleare my Vessell, according to the manner of each that would depart hence, discharging 101 Dollers 6 aspers to the Custome-houses of Con∣stantinople and Galatta, and to the Captaine of these Castles, and here 124 Dollers 54 aspers more, I and my ship are cleered & dis∣charged hence: and being freed, and my sailes flowne, I begin to descry the Arches, and there survey what Ilands of note and conse∣quence I finde in those seas, leaving behinde me the maine conti∣nent of Europe; and having thus performed my land-travaile, and fully discovered and layd open the traffique and commerce thereof I am called upon in the next place, to survey the trade of the princi∣pall Ilands comprehended under this part of the world Europe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Constanti∣nople, and the trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  Canes.
• * 1.3

  Besesternes.
• * 1.4

  Commodities found in Con∣stantinople.
• * 1.5

  Commodities sent from Eng∣land to Con∣stantinople.
• * 1.6

  Accounts in Constantino∣ple.
• * 1.7

  Coines currant in Turkie.
• * 1.8

  Weights in Constantino∣ple.
• * 1.9

  To bring Lode∣ros into Oakes.
• * 1.10

  Weights of Constantinople, with other Countries.
• * 1.11

  500 Loders in Constanti∣nople make in
• * 1.12

  In •…•…ergams 160 li. In Crom•…•… 163 li.
• * 1.13

  Measures of Constantino∣ple.
• * 1.14

  Corne measure
• * 1.15

  Wine & Oyle.
• * 1.16

  Customes in Constanti∣nople.
• * 1.17

  Miseteria.
• * 1.18

  Gallata.
• * 1.19

  Emin.
• * 1.20

  The governe∣ment of the trade of the English in Cō∣stantinople.
• * 1.21

  M^r. Alderman Garaway at present being governor, and M^r. William Cockaine De∣puty, to whom I owe this gratefull ac∣knowledge∣ment, as to those who have lent me their ready furthe∣rance in this worke.
• * 1.22

  The English nation the greatest tra∣ders into Turkie of Christians.
• * 1.23

  The Venetians being the se∣cond.
• * 1.24

  The French being the third,
• * 1.25

  The Dutch be∣ing the last and least.
• * 1.26

  The trade of the citizens of Constantino∣ple.
• * 1.27

  Galipolis.