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. CCLXIIII.

Of Dublin, and the trade therof.

DVblin is seated on the liffe, being the Metropolis of * 1.1 Ireland, and the residents of the Lord Deputy for the King of England, who is Soveraigne here, it being also an Archbishopricke and an Vniversity. The commodities the country doth afford for mer∣chandise, * 1.2 are these, first, the country abounds in cattell, each af∣fords tallow and hides in great abundance, which is hence expor∣ted to Spaine, France, and Italy, also Salmon is here caught good store in Iuly, August, and September, which is salted and expor∣ted, and in summer, the quantity is so great in some parts of this Iland, that the servants doe covenant with their masters, they must not feed thereon but certaine daies in the weeke. Herrings are here also caught, and accounted the best, as also Pilchards in August, September, and October, and thence vented to Spaine, France, and into the straights of Gibralter; here is also some but∣ter, cheese, pipe slaves, Calve-skins, and other commodities of late daies prohibited to be exported by the lawes of the King∣dome.

The coines of this Kingdome in the standard, carrieth a concur∣rence * 1.3 with those of England, which also are here current for the value, as being subject to one and the same Scepter, yet in di∣stinction of the true and reall worth, are found thus intituled.

The pound of Ireland consisteth of 20 shillings Irish, yet in sterling is accounted but 15 shillings.

The shilling by this account is but 9 d. sterling, and the sixe pence Irish is 4½ d. sterling.

Here is also an Exchange found and practised, but not for any * 1.4 forraigne part, saving England, and principally for London and Bristoll, commonly running at 8 d. upon the pound, and when most, at 12 d. per li. which is 5 per cent.

Dublin, and in generall, all Ireland, hath the measures and * 1.5 weights of England in use in their trassique, and agreeing there∣with in all particulars, I need not insist further therein.

Now a word of the trade in generall of Ireland, as it is found observeable in these daies.

The daily conversation of the English nation, and the late un∣partiall and found administration of justice in this country, hath * 1.6 redeemed this Iland from the jawes of barbarisme, wherein it was ready to fall and suffer a ruine, and since by little and little, peace being firmely 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 successe, that wheras few yeares past, this Coun∣try was with all necessaries supplied out of Englands and Scot∣lands abundance, it now returneth that courtesie, and contribu∣teth some yeares not onely to the wants of both, but to the wants of Spaine, France, and some other adjoyning Countries, for now it is found that the Earth and Seas addes to the inhabi∣tants labour and paines, as first the Seas and Rivers in their sea∣son affords them great plenty of Cod-fish, Hake-fish, Pilchards, 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, Spaine, England, Scotland, and other Countries.

Then the earth yeelds them a good breed of cattell, especial∣ly sheepe and oxen, in such store, that they have thereof in great abundance, as also of Hides, Woolles, Tallow, Butter, Cheese, and Beefe, and the Wooll, they by manufacturies convert into Cloth, Mantles, Rugges, Frises, and Yarne, whereof it is reported that there commeth yearely to the town of Manchester in Lancashire, to be there woven into stuffes, at least two hundred thousand weight fine and coarse: besides which, the bowels of the earth yeelds them Lead, Iron, and Tinne, and by their owne industry they have many other manufacturies, as also pipe-staves, waxe, honey, furres, hempe, linnen cloth, salt, and some others: all this considered, what should want here to make them eminent Mer∣chants, but shipping and skill in the Art of Navigation, and a de∣sire to imploy their talents in forraine Countries, which yet is not seen to be perfected amongst them: nature having to this end fitted them with many goodly Ports and navigable Rivers, and will in time I hope fit them with an inclination to second by their endeavours, what is so plentifully bestowed by her upon them, which by little and little may be brought to passe by the conversation and direction of the civilised English, that daily are seene to come and reside amongst them: and thus leaving Ire∣land, and my good wishes to the increase of her traffique, I hence passe over to Scotland, (a part of Britan) and view the pre∣sent trade thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of Dublin and the trade ther∣of.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of Ireland.
• * 1.3

  Coines of Ireland.
• * 1.4

  Exchanges of Ireland.
• * 1.5

  Weights and Measures as in England.
• * 1.6

  Of the trade in generall of Ireland.