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. CCLVIII.

Of Messina, and the trade therof.

THe last Province of this Kingdome and Island is Mona, wherin are Cities of Nicosia in the * 1.1 Midland, Milaso on the North Promontory, and Messina in the face opposite to Reggio in Calabria, which fare hath in times past been accounted to be very dangerous by reason of those anciently accounted perils, Scilla and Charybdis, the one a Sand, and the other a Rock, opposing each other at the entrance thereof, now not so much feared by our Seamen by being more expert: this towne is the most eminent towne of trade in all this Island, and inhabited by many Mer∣chants, which the benefit of the Haven doth much further, and the commodiousnesse of the situation, and the privileges and the immunities of the yeerly Fairs much augmenteth.

The Commodities proper hereto, as also to the whole Island, as also the manner of keeping their Accounts, I have noted, but Monies finding some variation, and diversity by reason of trade, I will here briefly touch the same, first then

A crown of gold of Italie, is worth 14 taries. * 1.2

A crown of the place they account, 12 taries.

A Tarie as in Palermo, 20 graines, is 2 carlins.

An Ounce is as in Palermo, 30 taries.

A Groine is 5 pecholies.

A Florence duccat did passe for 11 taries, 4 gr.

A duc. of Camera of Rome, for 12 taries 6 gr.

A duc. of Carlins of Naples, for 10 taries 16⅔ gr.

A crowne of Marc{que} is 12 taries.

A liver grosse of Venice is 3 ounces, 21 taries, and 1 gr.

One pound of grosse of Anvers is 1 •…•…ance and 10 taries.

Marvedes 29½ of Spaine, is one tarie.

And a pound starlin is here ()

The weights of Messina is found to be two, the first being the * 1.3 grosse Cantar, wherby is weighed all manner of food, as flesh, cavier, fish, Tonnies, cheefe, &c. which is noted to be 10 per cent. greater then the second Cantar, and hath produced by com∣putation pound English 196, in 198 pound, and the smaller Can∣tar contains as the former 100 Rotolos of 30 ounces, or 2½ pound

Sicilano, doth agree with the summe mentioned in Palermo, as being the common weight of all the Island, and accounted (as I said before) to be 173 lib. but found by experience of some Eng∣lish Merchants, 184 lib. which I referre to triall, and they ac∣count 20 pesos to make a sotele cantar, and 22 peso the grosse, which is the generall Cantar of Palia.

Their Measures is the same as mentioned in Palermo, which is * 1.4 the cane divided into 8 palmes for length, and the salmo divided into 16 tomelos for corne and so forth, as I have more at large handled under the Chapter of Palermo, as serving for great use to the Merchants that traffique in the Mediterranean Seas.

All Stuffs of Linnen or Woollen (measurable) of this King∣dome, * 1.5 selling or not selling pay at Messina 6½ per cent.

All Commodities of waight from without the Kingdome, selling or not selling pay at Messina 3 per cent.

Remmoving from ship to ship pays, 3 per cent. or 3¼, all Mer∣chandise that is conveyed out of the Kingdom, at the Port of Mes∣sina, pays 6⅓ per cent. unlesse at the Fairetime, when as some * 1.6 commodities pays lesse then some others, so that Silke then pays only 3 per cent.

I have noted an old printed observation between London and Messina to be thus, which I referre to the triall, that the 100 lib. of Palermo is in London, 172 lib. the 100 lib. of Messina in Silke makes silke weight in London 43½, and the Rotolo of Palermo, hath made in London, 1 lib. 9 ounces, the 100 yards hath made 44 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Canes, and that the Cane hath made in London 2 1/4 yards or Ells 1 1/2 goad of Freezes and Cottons, and thus I will leave this City and Iland, and sail to Malta.

Malta is the next Island of note in these Seas, famoused more * 1.7 by the Knights the now possessors, then by any traffique that is found therin, it is the place where Saint Paul suffered shipwrack, and where hee shook the Viper from his hand into the flame, which yet the inhabitants would perswade travellers hath left some vertue and relickes therof behinde him, which I referre to the relation of others, it aboundeth in Cotton-wooll, Oranges, Le∣mons, Citrons, Hony, Waxe, and some other fruits, the townes of note are 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Saint Hermes, and Malta and some others.

Corsica is the next, and seated opposite to Genoa, to whom it * 1.8 belongeth being 300 miles in compane, Bastia is the chief City, and the residence of the Genoese Governour, with a commodious Haven and a strong Garrison, the principall Ports for shipping, are Saint Florence in the Northern part, and Saint Boniface in the South; the commodities therof are, Oiles, Figs, Reisins, Wines, Hony, Wax, Allom, Box-wood, Iron, good Horses, and fierce Mastives, little other Commodities it affordeth not, their weights and measure agreeth with Genoa.

Sardinia is the next, and accounted 550 miles in circuit, & sub∣ject to the Spaniard, divided into two parts, first, Cape Luggudory * 1.9 towards Corsica, and secondly Cape Cagliares towards Afrique, it affordeth for Merchandise corne in good plenty, and Oiles in rea∣sonable manner, but abundant of all sorts of cattle, as appeareth * 1.10 by the great abundance of Hides and cheese, which in an homely manner is made here, and hence dispersed through Italie, Spain, and other Countries: there is here many towns, such as is Bossa, Sainta Reparata, Alquilastro, and lastly, Callary the Metropolis, of which a word: together with the trade therof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Messina and the trade ther∣of.
• * 1.2

  Coines cur∣rant in Messi∣na.
• * 1.3

  Note:
• * 1.4

  Measures in Messina.
• * 1.5

  Customes of Messina.
• * 1.6

  Faires of Messina.
• * 1.7

  Malta.
• * 1.8

  Corsica.
• * 1.9

  Sardinia.
• * 1.10

  Commodities of Sardinia.