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. CXCI.

Of Frankfort, and the trade thereof.

FRANKFORT is a free Citie of the Em∣pire, famous for the common Assemblies here * 1.1 of the Electors for the choyce of the Emperour, and for their two annuall Faires, as also for ma∣ny Parliaments of the Empire held here. It is sea∣ted upon the Mane, which runneth through the same, dividing the Citie into two parts, which is united by a goodly Bridge. It is strongly incompassed

with a double wall, and is seated in a large plaine, the streets nar∣row, and the houses built of Timber and Clay: here is in this towne Sanctuary for Bankerouts for the space of foureteene dayes, which is never without some guests and company, from some one adjoy∣ning Citie or other. And if in those foureteene dayes they cannot compound or escape, then by all wiles they will get out of the priviledges thereof, and entring in againe, begin their fourteene dayes over againe; and thus some are found to doe for sixe mo∣neths, or a yeare together. There is found in their Marts or Faires, a great trade and concourse of Merchants, but it is principally fa∣mous for Bookes, which from all parts of Europe are brought hither, printed and dispersed hence, the towne consisting much upon printing, and other manuall Arts. The weights and the measures in use are

The weight of this place is the pound of 16 ounces, of which is * 1.2 made three severall hundred, or quintals, which agreeth with that of Heidelberg before mentioned; and as that also with London, Lip∣sicke, Friburgh, Vlme, Iffan, Isuff, Basle, Costute and Domstetter, holding also in each of the sayd towns, the sayd concordancie, therfore here need no further repetition.

Frankefort is found to have two severall measures for length, the Wollen & the Linnen ell, differing about 2 per cent. so that the 100 ells * 1.3 for Linnen here, gives in London 48 ells, and the 100 ells in Wollen gives about 49 ells London: and the 100 yards of London readers here of linnen 169 ells, and of wollen 168¾ in circa.

The Exchanges here practised are great, which I have handled in the Chapter 298 at large with all due circumstances. * 1.4

The sixt Province is Helvetia, wherein are contained the thir∣teen Cantons of the warlick Switsers, preserving their liberties by their valour, notwithstanding their potent neighbours. The chiefe of their Cities is Zurich, 2 B•…•…l, an Vniversitie, 3 Constance, famous for the Councell here held in anno 1414. 4. Berne, 5. Vpbaden, the or∣dinary place for the common assembly of the said Cantons, 6 Lu∣cerne, and others, and of the trade of the principall of these, a word in passing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Frankfort and the trade ther∣of.
• * 1.2

  Weights of Frankfort.
• * 1.3

  Measures of Frankfort.
• * 1.4

  Exchanges of Frankfort. Helvetia.