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. CLXXV.

Of Lucca, and the Trade thereof.

LUCCA is the principall Citie of this Republique, and is pleasantly seated on the River Serchio, in * 1.1 compasse about 3. miles in a plaine, the walles be∣ing adorned with trees, makes the Citie appeare to the Traveller to be in a Wood, till approach∣ing neere the bulwarkes, give testimony of her strength, and that these trees are planted upon the walls where the Citisens in summer walke for shade: it doth wholy consist upon the Fabriques heere made of Silke, such as is Damasces, Sattins, Taffetaes, &c. which hence is vented into for∣raine countries, which are all sould by the pound waight, according as is accustomed in Italie, and as for other matters in trade what I observed in 1619. is thus.

Their accounts are kept divers waies, some in Livers, Sold and Deniers of Picholi, as in Florence, 12. Deniers to a Sol, and 20. Sol to * 1.2 a Liver; some againe in Crownes, Sold and Deniers of gold, of Livers 7½. per Crowne, accounted by 12. and 20. as is abovesaid, but Silkes are sould by so many Duccats the pound, so that to reduce Duccats into Crownes, the number of Duccats is to be multiplied by foure, and divide the proceede by 71. adding what may rest with the Duccats, and they shall be Crownes of 7½. Livers.

Note that to bring Duccats of Florence, or as they tearme them Piastres, of seven Livers the Duccat, into Crownes of gold of Florence, of 7½. per Crowne, divide by 15. and substract the quotient from the summe divided, and the remainder is the demaund.

Againe, to bring Crownes of gold of Florence, of 7½. into Duccats, of 7. Livers divide by 14. and the quotient added to the summe divi∣ded will answere your desire.

Againe, to bring Livers of Lucca into Crownes of Lucca or Duccats of Florence, take the summe of Livers, and adde as many more unto them, the product being divided by 15. then the same are Crownes of Lucca of 7½. Livers, I say, Livers for Crownes and Duccats of Flo∣rence, of 7. Livers per Duccat, for that the Crowne of Lucca and duccat of Florence, re•…•…all one in valew, but in the Liver of Lucca and in that of Florence, is some difference, because the Liver of Florence is 7½. per

cent. greater then that of Lucca. Note also that 75. Bolonius make a Florence duccat of 7. Livers, and 79. Bolonins make a Lucca duccat, by which they account in sale of Silke.

The Crowne is commonly thus charactered	C.
The Piastre or Duccat is thus	D.
The Liver is thus	L.
The Sol is thus, and the Denier	d.

Their Monies common is that of Florence currant, called Bolonini, the Crowne of gold is 7. Livers, 10. Sol in Picoli as at Florence. * 1.3

The Ducatone is worth 7. Livers, and is called the Crowne of sil∣ver, but the Exchanges is made by Ducatons, Solds and deniers as more fully doth appeare in the 283. Chapter of Exchanges practised in this Citie, to which in that particular I referre you.

They have in Lucca two waights, one of the Ballance waight, whereby all goods are bought and sould, and the other whereby * 1.4 Merchants doe pay the customes by, wherein is about 12. percē. diffe∣rence. The Ballance pound is 12. ounces, 100. li. whereof hath made in Lions 72½. li. the customers pound is also 12. ounces, 100. li. there∣of hath rendred in Lions by triall 81. li.

The ballance 100. hath made in Florence 97. li.

The measure of Lucca is a Brace, which is 23. inches of London, * 1.5 and two Braces have made an Alne of Lions, and vpon this 100. Bra∣ces hath been made these observations, that it rendereth

In

London	50. Ells
Antwerpe	83 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Frankferd	104⅙.
Dansicke	69⅙.
Vienna	72½.
Lions	50⅙. alnes
Paris	47½.
Roven	43½.
Lixborne	50. Vare
Civil	67½. Vare
Madera	51 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Vare
Venetia	90. Braces
Florence	102. Braces
Millan	115. Braces
Genoa	240⅓. Palmes

Silkes have been thus sould in Lucca: * 1.6

Damasces were sould at 4. Duccats and 18. Sold the pound.

Sa•…•…tine were sould at 4. Duccats and 14. Sold the pound.

Rich Taffeta sould at 4. Duccats 16. Sold the pound.

It is heere to be noted that in Lucca there is paid ¼. more for the colours then for blacks, therefore the custome is to adde for the colours

that are in the parcell ¼. to the Weight reducing them all to one weight and price, as if they were all blackes; where also is to bee observed, that Crimsons and Carnalions pay 10½. Livers over and above the ¼. before mentioned, but being mixt with other colours, and that either the ground or the flowre (as in Damasces) bee of another colour, then they pay but the halfe of 10. Livers besides the above mentioned ¼. or fourth in Weight.

Moreover for the most part of those silkes made here, they are generally reduced to 7. braces per li. either Saitins, double Taffetaes, or Damaskes, and if they passe 7. braces, they are held advantage∣able to the Buyer in the Measure, if under 7. braces they are held the richer, and lesse advantage to the Buyer, the principall obser∣vations may bee collected to lie in the richnesse of the colour, and the goodnesse of the silke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lucca, and the trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  Accounts in Lucca.
• * 1.3

  Monies in Lucca.
• * 1.4

  Weights in Lucca.
• * 1.5

  Measure in Lucca.
• * 1.6

  Account of sale of silkes in Lucca.