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. CLXIX.

Of Florence, and the Cities of that Dukedome.

THe Dukedome of Florence, containeth the greater * 1.1 part of Tuskany, and now may be said to be com∣prehended under the Signorie of the great Duke, with the Republique of Pisa and Sienna, the princi∣pal marine port wherof is Leghorne, which may be accounted the best and one of the greatest townes of traae in all the Mediterranean Seas, and not onely thus continued and preserved by the industry of the inhabitants alone, but of other Nations, which by reason of the great immunities and priviledges of the place, and the freedome given to strangers and Merchants, and principally because all sorts of Merchandise may bee heere landed free of all customes duties and imposts, this scale is growne to that height, that it is famous throughout all the Mediterranean and Ocean Seas.

In this Republique I finde onely foure Cities of consequence that challenge in matter of commerce my observation which is, Flo∣rence it selfe the principall Citie of this Dukedome; next Siena, then Pisa, and lastly the abovementioned Towne of Leghorne.

These Countries affoords for Merchandise, some Marble, Rice, * 1.2 Wines, Oyles, quantitie of Silkes, both raw and wrought in stuffes, famous for their fabriques throughout Europe, as Sattins, Taffetaes, Velvets, Grograines, Plushes and the like, called commonly of Flo∣rence. From England is heere vented Pepper, Cloves, Maces, Indico, Callicoes, as being Eastindia commodities, and Lead, Tinne, Clothes, Bayes, Sayes, Serges, Perpetuanes as native; and the English also bring hither Herings white and red, Pickled Salmon, Newland-fish, Pilchards, Calveskins and many other commodities.

The Duke of Florence hath ever been found to bee a great lover of * 1.3 Merchants and Merchandising, and is conceived to be at this day the greatest Merchant in Europe, forgetting not that his Ancestors did raise themselves by traffique to the greatnes and height hee now doth hold; and to this end is found in Leghorne a stocke properly running in trade for his account, which is imploied in traffique as oc∣casion of profit upon Merchandise doth present it selfe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Florence and the Provinces thereof.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of Tuscame.
• * 1.3

  The Duke of Florence a great Mer∣chant.