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. CCLXVIIII.

Of Wales, and the Cities thereof.

WAles then being the second part of this divi∣sion, is bounded on all sides with the seas, except the East, where it is separated from * 1.1 England by the River Dee, and a line drawn to the river Wie, but by some by Claud Offa, or Offas ditch, or more proper by interpre∣tation, Offas Hedge or Rampire, beginning at the influx of Wie, into Severne, reaching unto Chester for 84 miles, where the River of Dee entreth into the Sea.

The Country is in many places mountainous and barren, yet able of its selfe to subsist without assistance of any neighbour∣hood, partly by the industry of the inhabitants, and partly by the plenty of some of the shires thereof, the most fruitfull affor∣ding supply to others that are found the most barren & deficiēt.

The commodities which this Country doth yeeld and vent abroad for merchandise, are first cattell in abundance, bred in ge∣nerall through the whole Country, waxe, honey, herrings white * 1.2 and red, butter and cheese in great plenty, woolles also in some measure; also this Country is well stored with Mines of Silver, Lead, Lead •…•…are, Cole, and some Tinne, Milstones and good quar∣ries of freestone for building, Hides, Calfeskins, Frises, Baies, some linnens, and great quantity of cottons, knowne by the name of welsh Cottons and plaines, which in Oswestry, seated in Shropshire, is every Munday (as the common •…•…rie of all Wales) vented in great abundance, and thence dispersed throughout England, and so thence is shipped and conveyed to supply the defects of Normandy, Britaine, and Picardy, and of late have found a cur∣rent vent in Spaine, Turkie, and other countries: therefore I would incourage my countrymen to goe on in their manufactures of woolls seeing that nature hath done her part to give them the materials, their industry must be added, and that will soon bring forward the art, and all these conjoyned, will bring a benefit for a reward of all, and to all of them.

Wales is found at this day to containe 4 circuits for the admi∣nistration of Iustice, 1 Fl•…•…t, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shires being the first, •…•…nor, Glamorg•…•…, and Breck•…•…cke shires being the * 1.3 second, Cardigan, C•…•…then, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shires, being the third, Meri•…•…, Ca•…•…narvan, and the Ile of Anglesey, the fourth,

also to containe 4 Diocesse for Ecclesiasticall discipline, and these comprehended in twelve shires, wherein is also found 1 Chase, * 1.4 13 Forrests, 36 Parkes, 99 Bridges, 230 Rivers, 1016 Parishes, wherein are noted to be 56 market townes, being no Cities, and in them 41 Castles, and 4 Cities, being the seats of so many Bi∣shops, as 1 Saint Davids in Pembrokeshire, 2 Bangor in Carnar∣vanshire, 3 Assaph in Flintshire, 4 Landaffe in Glamorganshire: Lastly, the inhabitants are accounted men of faithfull carriage one to another, most especially in a strange Country, and to strangers in their owne, and use a peculiar language that hath remained without alteration or commixture with any other in the world, from the originall thereof to this day.

And lastly, to their everlasting praise and commendation, have for many yeares valiantly withstood all their enemies by their owne proper valour, and being joyned to the Crowne of England, have beene found to be true and loyall to the same, and have so continued in all amity, love, and faithfulnesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of Wales and the Cities therof.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of Wales.
• * 1.3

  Foure Circuits in Wales.
• * 1.4

  Foure Dio∣ceses. Twelve Shires.