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. CCLXIX.

England and the Cities thereof.

ENgland is the principall part of Britaine and now the last in my labours, bounded on the East with the Germane, on the West with the Irish, on the South with the British Oceans, and on the North with Scotland, as is afore mentioned. The Orna∣ments of this Country hath in times past beene expressed unto us by this verse,

Anglia, M•…•…ns, Pons, Fons, Ecclesia, Famina, Lana. England is stord' with Mountains, Bridges, Woll, With Churches, Rivers, Women beautifull.

But these are not the commodities that Merchants looke after, therefore I will shew you in his proper place, those commodities which England doth naturally afford for merchandise, and in the meane season, it will not be improper that I runne over the Pro∣vinces of this kingdome, and the rein see what particulars may be gathered out of each, conducing other to traffique, or to the honour and commoditie of the Country, and thereto adde also the Provinces of Wales, purposely omitted for this place. The Provinces or more properly the shires of England and Wales, ac∣cording to Cam•…•…en, whom I gladly follow in this description, are these.

The first is Cornewall, in it self a barren and mountanous coun∣try, but the bosome thereof incloseth rich mines of Tinne, which for the excellence thereof, is famous throughout the world, also therewith is digged gold and silver, and a certaine stone is found upon the earth of it selfe transparent, and naturally formed into angles and points, which if found in forraine countries, would be held admirable: here is also upon this coast taken Pilchards and Herrings in great abundance, which the inhabitants do salt and dry in the smoake, and so transport into France, Spaine, and Italie, to good advantage: the sea-coast is beautified with many Townes, and Havens, capable of many ships, Famouth being the chiefe, and here is found that famous Mount Michael, by the in∣habitants called Cana, which hath for many ages beene noted for its steepenesse and antiquity.

The second is Devonshire, no lesse rich in veines of Tinne, and withall beautified with many Towns and good havens then the former, Ex•…•… being the principall Town, and an inland Citie, but Dartmouth and Plimouth the best havens, this last being from a poore fishing village▪ become to be a f•…•…ire towne, by reason of the Castle and commodiousnesse of the haven, and the rather it is to be mentioned, as giving birth to Sir Francis Drake, Knight, who in our fathers dayes accomplished at Sea so ma∣ny notable exploits, and was the chiefe glory of that age for Navigation.

The third is Dorsetshire, Dorchester being the chiefe town, and Waiemouth the chiefe haven.

Somersetshire is the fourth, happy in the fruitfull soile, rich pa∣stures, multitude of inhabitants, and commodity of havens: the chiefe townes are Bridewater, next Bath, famous for those me∣dicinall Bathes there found, and lastly Bristoll, incompassed with a double wall seated on the River Severne, beautified with ma∣ny faire private and publike buildings, and next to London and Yorke it is preferred to all other Cities of England, but in ampli∣tude of traffique, shipping, and eminence of Merchants, next to London it selfe, and else in my opinion second to none.

Wiltshire is the fifth, altogether an inland Country, the chie∣fest towns are Malmsbury, famous for the cloths of wooll made here, Salisbury for the Bishopricke, and Wilton of old, the chiefe of this County, now a little village.

Hampshire is the sixth, wherein is found the little faire City of Southampton, Winchester the pleasant, and Portsmouth the onely now Garison towne of England.

Barkshire is the seventh, wherein is found the towne of New∣bery, famous for clothing, and Windsore for the Kings Castle, and where the ceremony of the Knights of the Garter is solemnised.

Surry is the eighth, wherin is seen O•…•…lands and Richmond, two beautifull & stately Pallaces, belonging to the Kings of England.

Sussex is the ninth, Chichester being the chiefe City, & R•…•…ie the chiefe sea town.

Kent is the next, rich in Medows, Pastures, Groves, Apples, and Cherries, wherin is found seated the Cinque Ports, Deptford, the Kings yard for the building of his ships, Rochester the seat of a Bishop, •…•…ltham and Greenwitch, two Palaces of the Kings, Dover a famous Sea Port, and one of the Keys of this Iland, and lastly, Canterbury, the prime of this County, and the seat of the Arch∣bishop and Metropolitane of all England.

Glocestershire is the 11, the principall Townes are Tewksbury, famous for Cloth-making, and Glocester the chief of the Coun∣ty, here are also found the famous Hils of Cotswold, upon which great flocks of sheep are found to feed, yielding that excellent Wooll, so much esteemed amongst all nations.

Oxfordshire is the 12. which is a fruitfull County, both in corne and pasture, and wherein is found Woodstocke, a house of the Kings, and an inclosed Parke with a stone wall, imagined the first in this land, and Oxford, an Vniversay famous through the world, and chiefe of this Iland.

Buckinghamshire is the 13. wherein is found the good towns of Ailsbury, S•…•…nistratford, and Buckingham, the principall of this County.

Bedfordshire is the next, and shewes the towne of Bedford for the first of this County.

Hertfordshire is the 15. wherein is the stately house of Theo∣balds, a house of the Kings, Saint Albans, a faire through-fare, and Hertford the principall of the County.

Middlesex is the 16. wherein is found the Kings Palace, Hamp∣ton Court, and London, the prime Citie of this kingdome, and the Chamber of the Kings of England, so famous abroad in forraine Countries, that it needs no mans commendation: it is beautified with sundry Colledges, for the study of the Municiple lawes, with the Churches of Westminster and London, besides divers o∣thers, with the Hall of Westminster, where the Parliaments ex∣traordinary, and Courts of Chancery, Kings Bench, and other Courts are ordinarily kept, with the two Pallaces of White Hall and Saint Iames, with an Exchange or Burse for Merchants to meet in, with a sumptuous and wonderfull Bridge of free-stone, besides many other excellent private and publique edifices.

Essex is the next, abounding in pasturedge, corne, and saffron, and in which is found Chelmsford the chiefe towne, Colchester, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and others abounding with •…•…ayes, sayes, and other new dropery, and lastly, Harwich, a safe haven for ships.

Suffolke is the next, which affords quantity of butter, cheese, and cloths, known by the names of Suffolke cloth, wherin is found S. Ed•…•…ds B•…•…y, and Ipswich, which hath a commodious haven.

Northfolke is the 19. a large champaine Country, abounding in C•…•…ies and Sheepe, affording the two good haven townes of Linne and Yarmouth, and Norwich, the first of the County,

which deserves to be numbred amongst the chiefest Cities of England.

Cambridgeshire is the 20, which is found to abound in corne, and wherein is seene the Vniversity of Cambridge, and Ely fa∣mous for being the seate of a Bishop.

Huntingtonshire is the 21. the chiefe towne being Hunting∣ton.

Northamptonshire is the 22. abounding in corne, Peterborough being here the seate of a Bishop, and Northampton the chiefe Citie.

Leycestershire is the 23. abounding in corne, Leicester the chiefe towne is more famous for the antiquity, then for the beauty thereof.

Rutlandshire is the 24. and accounted the least County in this kingdome, Vppingham being the chiefe towne.

Lincolnshire is the 25. rich in corne and pasture, abounding with fish and fowle; Lincolne once a great City, is yet the greatest in this County.

Nottinghamshire is the 26. wherein is Nottingham, the chiefe towne, and the Forrest of Sherwood, feeding many fallow and red Deare.

Darbishire is the 27. the chiefe City is Darby, famous for the Ale thereof; in this County are also many Mines of leade, and other minerals.

Warwickshire is the 28. wherein is found Warwicke, the prime City, and Coventry a faire walled City, and accounted the fairest inland City of this Iland, wherein now great quantity of cloth is made.

Worcestershire is the 29. wherein is found the City of Worster, famous now for clothing, and the seate of a Bishop.

Staffordshire is the 30. which affordeth Salt-pits, and Wels, and Coals, taken out of the earth, stone, and Lichfield being the principall Towns of the County.

Shropshire is the 31. wherin is found Ludlow, of more beautie then antiquity, honour'd with a Councell and Court of Iustice for Wales, and a Palace for the Princes therof, Shrewsbery the chief of this County, much inriched by their trade for Cottons and Fri∣ses, with their neighbours the Welsh, whom yet notwithstanding they greatly affect not.

Cheshire is the 32. abounding in pastures, and in excellent Chee∣ses hence transported throughout England, it hath Chester for the chief City seated on the River Dee.

Herefordshire is the 33, and boasteth to be for its fertility and abundance of all things the first Shire in England, Hereford is the chiefe Citie, and Le•…•…ster justly boasteth of the sheeps wooll, feeding in those grounds, with which no part of Europe can e∣quallize.

Yorkeshire is the thirty fourth, and the largest County of all England, abounding in corne, pasture, and meadowes, yeelding clothing by the industry of the inhabitants in abundance; Yorke being the chiefe City, and the second in England, and the seate of an Archbishop, here is a Court of Iustice held for the neighbou∣ring Marches, according to that of Ludlow; in this County is also the towne of Hull, seated on the River of Humber, where are found Merchants of good quality, and here is also the Castle of Scarborough, where in the adjoyning sea is the great fishing found annually for herrings.

Richmond is the 35. in which is found mountaines to yeeld plentifull leade, pit-coales, and some brasse, and the chiefe City of this County is called Richmond.

The Bishopricke of Durham is the 36. pleasant in Meadowes, Pastures and Groves, and aboundeth in sea coales, which is digged out of the earth, Durham is the chiefe City.

Lancashire is the 37. wherein is Manchester, an old towne in∣riched by the industry of the inhabitants, by cloth of linnen and woollen, the City of Lancaster being the first of the Shire.

Westmerland is the 38. the chiefe towne is Kendall, famous for making of cloth of wooll.

Cumberland is the 39. affording Mines of brasse, and some veines of silver, and blacke leade in abundance, Carlile being the principall towne, here are found apparent ruins of that wall which the Romans built, to keep out the Picts from making in∣cursions upon the Britans, being as it seemes, then so poore, as they cared not to subdue them.

Northumberland is the 40. wherein is found the sea towne of Newcastle, which affords such abundance of seacoale, that the same is thence transported into many kingdomes of the world: here is also Barwicke, one of the strongest fortified townes of England, formerly strengthened against the incursions of the Scots, by a strong garrison of souldiers, and now dismissed by the happy union of England and Scotland.

Having thus briefly run over the shires of England, it will be necessary I should here adde the like cursorie view of woolles, comprehended under the government of England, and included within the same limit, and omitted to this place, as being parts of the said kingdome, which I finde to be in number these.

Anglesey I account the first, which I have touched amongst the Ilands, being esteemed a County of Wales, having Beawma∣ris for the principall town of the County.

Flintshire is the second, plentifull in corne and pasture, famous for the Spring of Holy Well, called here S. Winifreds Well, and Flint towne being the chiefest of the County.

Denbishire is the next, affording some mines of leade, wherein is found Wrexham that boasts of its holy tower, and musicall Or∣gans, and Denbigh, the chiefe of this County.

Carnarvanshire is the next, anciently called Snoden Forrest, be∣fore that Wales was reduced to Counties, wherein is found the high hils, the alpes of Britaine, also Aberconwaie, a strong and faire little towne; Bangor the seate of a Bishop, and Carnarvan the chiefe of this Province, famous for the birth place of Ed∣ward the second, and the first Prince of Wales of English bloud.

Merionethshire is the next, a mountainous Country, affording notwithstanding good pasture for cattell. The chiefe towne is Balla, a poore towne yet principall of these Mountenars.

Montgomeryshire is the next, having the chiefe towne of the same name.

Cardiganshire is the seventh, and hath the towne of Cardigan for the chiefe towne of the County.

Pembrokeshire is the eighth, Pembroke is the chiefe towne, and here a long necke of land makes a haven, called Milford Haven, then which Europe hath not a more Noble, more safe, or more large, with many creekes and safe roades, wherein 1000 saile may ride out of sight one of another, and made the more fa∣mous by the landing of Henry the seventh.

Caermardenshire is the next, abounding in corne, sheepe, and in pit coale, Caermarden being the chiefe towne.

Glamorganshire is the next, Cardiffe is the chiefe town, having a commodious haven for shipping.

Monmouthshire is the next, wherein is found Chepstow and Mon∣mouth, the last glorious in giving life to Henry the fifth, Conquer•…•… of France.

Brecknockshire is the next, Brecknocke being the chiefe towne.

Radnorshire is the next and last, wherein is found Radnor for the chiefe towne. These are in briefe the shires of Wales.

To observe now my former method, having particularly thus surveyed the continent, let me now search into those commodi∣ties which England in generall affords for merchandise, and is thence exported into forraine Regions, as being the principall motives of trade in all kingdomes which it produceth severall waies. First, by manufacturies it yeeldeth, woollen cloths of all sorts, broad and narrow, known and called by the name of se∣verall shires, also Perpetuanes, Bayes, Sayes, Sarges, Cottons, Ker∣sies, Buffins, Mocados, Grogram, Sattins, Calimancaes, Velvets, Plushes, Worsteds, Fustians, Durances, Tukes, and infinite others; there is made in this Iland, yearely 250000 clothes by compu∣tation, and by this may be guessed the quantity of the rest of o∣ther sorts, also Furres and skins, as Cony skins, Squirrell skins, Fitches, Calfe skins, Hides, and sundry others.

Also it produceth by mines, and out of the earth, 1 Tinne

1200000 li. yearely, l•…•…de, 800 fodres yearely, aliome 800 tunnes yearely, Copperes 500 tunnes yearely, Iron of all sorts, 800 fur•…•…aces daily set on worke, besides Ordnance of Iron, and such like, sea coale yearely () chaldrons, salt, () tunnes, also all manner of graine, Oates, Pease, Barley, Rie, and Wheate in great plenty, also linnen cloth, all iron wares, Tallow, Leather, Glasse, and Glasses of all sorts, Venice gold and silver, traine oyle, Salmons, Pilchards, and Herrings, Hake, Conger, and Haberdine, Hops, Wood, Butter, Cheese, Beere, Salt-peter, Gun∣powder, Hony, Waxe, Alablaster, and some other stones, Woolles, Wolfills Yarne, Yernsey, &c. and to conclude, many other good and rich commodities is here found.

The beauty and wealth of this kingdome is demonstrated in 325 Rivers, 8 therof being great and Navigable for some miles, whereon is found 857 Bridges, 30 Chases, 55 Forrests, 745 Parkes, here are also reckoned 26 Deanries, 60 Archdeaconries, 544 dignities and Prebends, 5439 Parochiall benefices, besides Im∣proprtations and Vicaredges, and the whole divided into 6 circuits for the administration of Iustice, into 22 Episcopall Dioces for Ec∣clesiasticall discipline, and into two Archbishoprickes, under whom the rest are subordinate: and lastly, into 40 shires, over each of which, is a yearely Sheriffe appointed, who is to assist the Itine∣rary Iudges in executing Iustice, and to gather in the Kings a∣mercements: and these shires are divided into hundreds, and these hundreds into tithings, and to conclude, in England is found 145 Castles, 9527 Parishes, besides Chappels whereof 585 are market Towns, and 22 Cities, the principall wherof are these, 1 Oxford, 2 Cambridge, both being Vniversities, 3 Excester in De∣vonshire, 4 Norwich in Norfolke, 5 Bristoll watered by Severne, ac∣counted the second for trade in this Country, 6 Yorke, on the River Vre, accounted the second City for beauty and greatnesse in England; and lastly, London, under which I will comprise the trade of this whole Iland.

Notes

• England and the Cities therof.
• Cornwall.
• Devon. 2.
• Dorset. 3.
• Somerset. 4.
• Wiltshire 5.
• Hampshire 6.
• Barkshire 7.
• Surrey 8. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Sussex 9.
• Kent 10.
• Glocester 11.
• Oxford 12.
• Buckingham 13.
• Bedford 14.
• Hertfordshire 15
• Middlesex 16.
• Essex 17.
• Suffolke 18.
• Norfolke 1•…•…
• Cambridge 20.
• Huntington 21.
• Northāpton 22.
• Leicester 23.
• Rutland 24.
• Lincoln 25.
• Nottingham 26.
• Darby 27.
• Warwick 28.
• Worcester 29.
• Stafford 30.
• Shropshire 31.
• Chester 32.
• Hereford 33.
• Yorkshire 34.
• Richmond 35.
• Durham 36.
• Lancashire 37.
• Westmerland 38
• Cumberland 39.
• Northumber. 40
• Barwick.
• Shires of Wales. Anglesey 1.
• Flint 2.
• De•…•…igh 3.
• Car•…•…van 4.
• Merioneth 5.
• Montgomery 6.
• Cardigan 7.
• Pembrock 8.
• C•…•…marden 9.
• Gla•…•…gan 10.
• Monmouth 11.
• Brecknock 12.
• Radnor 13.
• Commodities in England.
• Beauty of England.
• Six Circuits.