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. 276.

The Use of the Table of Exchanges.

THe Method being thus understood, the use thereof * 1.1 is easily comprehended, which by three examples, I shall illustrate and make plain, where by the way, it is to be noted, that in the exchanging of any sum of moneyes whatsoever, the rates me ntioned in this Table, are not observable, save onely for the example sake, and for instruction in the contract, that may be made thereupon, but the rate agreed upon, and by which the exchange is conditi∣oned by both the giver and taker, is the true and firme rule, wher∣by the question is to bee wrought, notwithstanding for the first Example, wee will propound a question by a contracted price, ac∣cording * 1.2 to the currant rates mentioned in this said Table, and that from Naples, a Merchant would exchange Ducat. 738. 4. 10. with Placentia, and the price of the exchange, shall be that which is mentioned, in the Table of Naples, with the towne of Placentia, where it is found, that Naples exchangeth with Placentia at Graines 133 for a Crowne.

By these three numbers in the Tables mentioned, I work thus then by the Rule of Three, saying, if 133 graines, give 1 Crowne, how ma∣ny doe 738 Duc. 4. 10. give, and working Arithmetically accor∣ding to the said Rule, it makes 555 Crownes 11, 3. of Marke in Credit to be given in Fiera of the said Placentia.

〈 math 〉〈 math 〉 For a second Example, I will propound, that Naples would exchange 500 Duc. with Placencia at Sold. 18. 2. d. &c. This exam∣ple * 1.3 considered, will not bee found to differ from the former, save that in the former Naples gave the lesser or broken number, and in this, Naples gives the whole and intire number, nowithstanding which the rule is not found to differ, as in other the like questi∣ons in simple exchanges, wherein is to be observed that Sol. 18. and Den. 2. of Valentia, are paid for 1 Duccat of Naples, and by that price and rate, I would know, how many Livers of that Money of Valentia the proposed summe of 500 Duc. in Naples come unto, and by that which we find in the Table by the same Rule of Three, I say, If one Ducat is worth 18 sol. 2 Den. How many shall 500 be worth, and by working the question, it makes 454 livers, 3 s. 4 d. And so much Credit will 500 Duc. of Naples give at the price a∣fore mentioned, thus. 〈 math 〉〈 math 〉

All other Exchanges have their resolutions as these two for∣mer, but yet sometimes it is true, some accident may interpose, * 1.4 which may cause the questiō to have a double working, as if I shold say, that Genoa would Exchange with Venetia Crownes 1000 of Li∣vers 4. to Livers 7 lib. 10 Sol. of that money, and the Credit is required in Duccats. Now then because the simple Exchange gives the money in Livers, you must make another reckoning to reduce the same into Ducats; but yet for all this, neither in this, nor in any other case, would I have but one account made, the which may bee done by the rule multiplied: I say then, if 1 Crowne bee worth 7. 10. Den. and that 6 s. 4 Den. is worth one Ducat, how many Ducats will a 1000 Crowns make? and by working the que∣stion, it will bee found to make 1209 Duc. 13. 6 d. for credit,

which from Genoa will be produced by a thousand Crownes in Ve∣nice, the question being well observed, it will bee found to bee wrought in this manner. 〈 math 〉〈 math 〉

It is to be noted, that in what place soever the Moneyes are ac∣counted by Livers, Sol. and Den. or as we say, in England by Pounds, shillings, and pence, it is accounted by 20. and by 12. be∣cause that Sol. or shil. 20. make a Liver, or Pound, and 12 deniers or pence makes a Soldo or Shilling, the same rule also holds in those places, whose greatest moneyes are imaginary and faigned, or who keepe not this orderly succession, as are the Ducats of Ca∣talonia, of Castilia, of Rome, and of Portugall, also those Crowns, who have no proper parts, also the Ducatons in what countrey soever, and the F•…•…orins in Germany, all these I say, which ought to succeed in 20, and 12. That is, in Solds, and Deniers, or Shillings and pence, and each of the other sorts of moneyes shall be accounted accor∣ding to the property of that countrey, and as shall bee signified, in the front of the following table of that place, amongst which there are some which are commonly resolved, by the more principall of their owne moneyes, as the Exchange of Sicilie with Catalonia, Castilia, Portugall, Brabant and England, and howsoever they make their Exchange, either by the Sicilian Florin, or by the Duccat, notwithstanding the parcell is resolved in Ounces, Tarins, Graines and Picholes, which is throughly declared in the follow∣ing Tables.

And lastly, for as much as the termes and daies of Bils of Ex∣change, are found in many countries, to differ in length of time, and are limited of divers daies, and that the rates, rising and falling of Exchanges have a course set by a continuall meeting of Exchan∣gers, and their opinions in equality of value, I have thought good to insert the same with some other needfull circumstances of this Art of Exchanging, at the end of the Tables, to which I refer the learner, where also he shall find at large, how most of these Exchanges, are cast up, and reckoned from one place to another, and now I will proceed to the Tables themselves, as I find them calculated by the said Geo. Bapt. Zucetta, and others following him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The use of the Table of Ex∣changes, by three Exam∣ples.
• * 1.2

  First Exam∣ple.
• * 1.3

  Second Ex∣ample.
• * 1.4

  Third Exam∣ple.