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. CLXVIII.

Of Mantoua, and the Trade thereof.

MANTOUA hath some other Cities of qua∣lity * 1.1 subject thereto, but being debarred from the Sea, and invironed with potent neigh∣bours that hinder the commerce thereof, I will therefore reduce what I have collected note worthy to the City of Mantoa it selfe, which is a very faire and strong Towne, in∣vironed on three parts with a Lake of good breadth, and with a strong Wall on the rest, through this Lake run∣neth a River that leadeth into Poe which is a famous streame in these part, and much enricheth this Country, and furthereth the Trade of this Dutchy.

The chiefe Commodities of this Dukedome is certaine fabriques * 1.2 of silkes, such as are Taffataes, Sattins, Chamblets watered, and the like.

Their Accounts are kept in Livers, Sold, and Deniers, 12. Deniers making a Sol, and 20. Sols a Liver, 5. of which Livers maketh a Duc∣cat * 1.3 of gold large 9. 12. Sol making a Duccaton of Mantoa, or 115. sol of Millan which is accounted () sterl.

They waigh in Manto•…•…a by a Peso, and by the 100. li. 25. li. being * 1.4 the P•…•…so, and 100. lib. the Quintall, which hath made in Venice sutle 108. li. and V•…•…nice grosse 66 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib. in Florence 98. li. and in London by observation of some 71. li. haberdepois.

Their Measure of length is the brace, which doth agree with the cloth brace of Venice within a small matter. * 1.5

Corne is sold by the staio, 100. whereof are in Venetia 40. staios and 1. staio weighes about 80. li. of Mantoa waight.

In this Dukedome is also Aste, where is yearely kept a great and notable Faire for many sorts of Merchandise, where many immuni∣ties * 1.6 are granted to Merchants, during the time that the said Faire doth continue, and is held in the beginning of September, and thus much I have observed of this Dutchie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mantoua, and the trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of Mantou•…•….
• * 1.3

  Accounts in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  Waights in Manto•…•….
• * 1.5

  Measures in Mantoa.
• * 1.6

  Aste a Faire.