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To the no lesse ingenuous, then really industrious Gentleman, Mr. LEWES ROBERTS, Merchant; and one of the COMMITTEES for the East-India COMPANY:
Vpon his Booke intituled, THE MERCHANTS MAPPE OF COMMERCE. With an Ani∣madversion to the Reader, and Allusion to the time of the first Impression, being the beginning of this present Yeare; MDCXXXVIII.
HAd I (by frequent Traffique on the BVRSE)
Beene verst i'th' notes of Mercantile Discourse,
In proper Accents heere I might set forth
Some faire Expression of Thy pregnant WORTH;
Or rais'd a TROPHEE to Thy vertuous NAME,
Of equall PARR, to Thy Deserving FAME:
But, (having onely touch'd APOLLOS Lyre)
Grant me yet roome amongst this numerous Quire:
And, (as I am) accept of what I bring,
A Posie meane for such an Orient RING,
A RING for every MERCHANT meet to weare,
Though vast in Compasse, as the Orbique Sphaere:
Thy Booke I mean, the MAP OF faire COMMERCE,
That takes Circumference ore the UNIVERSE.
Where first, (as to the life) I finde displaid * 1.1
Due Method, and materiall forme of TRADE;
The STANDERDS value secondly, injoynes
Of PRINCES to observe their currant COINES: * 1.2
The third, COINES reall, and imaginarie,
Accompts, Exchanges; and wherein they varie: * 1.3
Fourthly, COMMODITIES for Transportation, * 1.4
The various sorts of every severall NATION:
Fifthly, of TOWNES and CITIES eminent, * 1.5
Their Weights and Measures to the full extent:
Lastly, reducing all to One, (by This) * 1.6
LONDONS COMMERCE, our faire Metropolis.
Rare MERCHANT of the MVSES! may I call
Thee Merchant? or Great FACTOR Generall?
This Proofe piece of Thy Service for the rest,
May well oblige Them to Thy deare behest;