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.

To his honoured friend and Kinsman, Mr. LEVVES ROBERTS, Merchant.

HOw ere our ruder Countrey-men despise The Mysteries of Trade and Merchandise; With whom 'tis counted Learning but to know The price of Runts, how Sheepe and Cattell goe: Such as (for COINE) doe onely understand That which with them doth passe from hand to hand: And as for Weights and Measures, find no ground For any other thanthe Yard and Pound: So as thy BOOKE, to these that judgement lacke, Seemes of lesse use then an old Almana•…•…ke: How ere (I say) their ignorance incline To make wast paper of this Worke of thine; Yet please t'admit one from thy native Clime, And of thy Blood too, to speake truth in Rime. A verse protects not falshood, and a Lye Is not excus'd by being good Poetrie; That's but to sinne more wittily, and be Guiltie of a more quaint impietie: Such praise You'd scorne; and (though the vice of Time Make Sin in prose, but Courtesie in rime) Your better thoughts would ne'r with patience brooke That any damne himselfe to praise your BOOKE. Ile then bring no fain'd Eulogies t'invite The thrifty Buyers colder Appetite; Or (like a begging Prologuist) forespeake A faire Applause, for feare the Author breake: No thy Composures farre transcend that fate, And scorne alike the Vulgars love and hate.

They that (like Thee) refus'd no paine or toyle With forreigne Trade t'enrich their Native soile, And (like discreet Camelions) can comply With each Mans humor for Commoditie: That have read Kingdomes over, and can tell What Men, for Letters put together, spell; And understand too even the most perplext And hidden meaning of that darker Text: These and these onely are allow'd to bee The equall Iudges of thy BOOKE and THEE. And sure Thy merit cannot want it's meed; For doing well's rewarded in the deed.

M. E.

To my honoured friend and Cousin, Mr. LODO∣VVICKE ROBERTS Merchant, upon his BOOKE.

STeel'd was his Courage, and undaunted Minde Who first spread Sailes to catch the nimble winde; Culling the stately Pines from lofty Woods, To cut a passage through the raging Floods: The hazard of this Enterprize did make Thee this laborious Taske to undertake; To make that way familiar, which before Was full of doubt; that where feare kept the doore Security might enter, and men now Through Neptunes field safely might drive their Plough Our English Merchants justly may stile thee, Not onely Typhis, but their Mercurie: For, how each Countrey doth to others prize The value of its Native Merchandize; What profit such COMMERCE to us may bring, Their Rites, and how the Image of our KING In forreigne Climates is preferd before Exotick Princes, stampt in the same Oare, Thou in this little VOLVME dost contrive; That Merchants seeing them (through perspective) Discharge their Factors; for thy BOOKE alone Seemes a sole FACTOR for our NATION. CAMBRIA rejoyce; hereafter thou maist write, I bore the MAN, who lent the World this light.

F. H.

To my loving and much honoured Cousin, Mr. LEVVES ROBERTS Merchant, upon his MERCHANTS MAPPE of COMMERCE.

MY praise is bootlesse, and to discommend Is fitter for a Slanderer then a Friend; For my small judgement in this Art of Gaine Makes both my verdict and my Censure vaine:

Yet I've perusd thy BOOKE, and there have seene A Worke of wonder; and though have not beene Farr from my Native home; yet now I find The Worlds worth clos'd within thy knowing Minde; I see the Riches of each Countries soyle By this thy Art brought home, without our toyle; I find the Rarities of each Place and Towne Brought to our view with ease, and thou hast drawne All forreigne COINES to Ours, and ours to theirs; Their Weights and Measures too, to us appeares All but One thing; thy most industrious hand By this thy skill, ha's crowned thus this Land With strange Outlandish wealth, which shall commend Thy worth to after Times; and I, thy friend And Kinsman, glory shall that this thy Fame Hath thus rais'd up a WORKE t'outlive thy Name.

ROBERT ROBERTS of Llanvair in Anglesey.

Ad Ingeniosum exactissimi hujus operis Authorem, D^m Lodovicum Roberts, Merca∣torem Londinensem.

MVltatuo (fateor) debentur carmina Libro, Qui dedit ingenij tot monumenta tui. Siste pedem, nec vade for as Mercator ad Indos: Huc ades, his paucis discere multapotes. Spargitur his folijs nummus peregrinus, et Aurum, Argentum, Aes, varijs sculptamoneta modis. Aspicerem, legem, placidâ brevitate docentur, Artificis, patriae, gloria, fama, decus. Vade Liber, plausuque volent (Lodovice) labores: Primadabunt merit is praemia digna tuis.

Ad LECTOREM.

QVisquis eris (Lector) Librinè supprime laudem, Ingenuum dices, si legis artis opus. Qui flocci pendes, tentes componere tale. Da sibi quod tibivis: Lector, Amator eris.

GVLIELMVS ROGERS.

To the eminently deserving Author, Mr. LEVVES ROBERTS.

TWere needlesse sure to fixe a Poem heere To draw the taken READER in by th'Eare; 'Tis cheape to praise the Author; we commend No worth i'th Worke by that, but love toth' Friend; And (by an open way of Flattery) make The Worke approved for the Authors sake: So, (though we loath) the thick-lipt Nurse wee kisse For the Babes sake, that by her nourish't is. Thy Genius, that first stampt a worth on This, Above its Reader, or its Praiser is; And we may make a doubt, whether best takes, The Coine thou speak'st of, or the Coine thou makst; And live indebted, that thou hast brought hither To us, the Trade of all the World together: And (as i'th' Worlds MAP spacious Kingdomes lie Deciphered by small Atomes to our eye) So the great Worth in every Page by Thee Exprest; is richer then a MONARCHIE. Live, live to Fame; and may its truth to You Make mee a POET and a PROPHET too.

THO: BEEDOME.

Ad clarissimum virum D. Lodovicum Roberts Civem Londinensem, linguarum modernarum artisque Mercatoriae scientissimum; Chartam Mercatoriam edentem.

QVid dignum Lodovice tibi, quid pectorepromam, Quo possim merito solvere digna tuo? Carmina quid canerem, dulces imitantia Musas? Carminasunt Libris inferiora tuis. Laudibus eveherem? tua pura modestia pellit: Notaloquor. Laudes respuis ipse tuas. Desistam meliùs. Reliquos tu pande labores. Laus Chartae Mercis nulla sat esse potest.

HENRY GARTHWAITE.

To his worthy Friend, and loving Fellow∣servant, the AVTHOR.

TIs an old custome that this Age hath got, To praise their friends in print, Ile praise thee, not Because I am thy friend; onely Ile tell The World, the WORKE which thou hast done so well Speakes both thy worth and praise; it cannot misse, Those that are not thy friends must needs praise this; This thy COMMERCE, Child of thine Industrie, Joyning both POLES in neere affinitie, Nurse of thy Countries honor, and by which Onely, all Kingdomes of the World grow rich; And (by the Currant of a mutuall Trade) Thou shewst how happie all the Earth is made. Let others praise Thee; yet in the degree Of Vertue, live belov'd by W. B.

Ad charissimum Fratrem D^m Lodovicum Roberts Civem Londinensem.

QUas Phoebus merces terris adspersit Eois, Et quas occiduis aspicit ipse locis: Quicquid produxit Zephyrus, tu quicquid et Eurus, Antiquus quicquid et novus orbis habet, Collig is in fascem: numismata millia centum; Mille tibi merces; cambia caecapatent. Perge beare tuos foeliciprole cerebri, Utraquevix tant as India jactat opes.

TASSS.

To my ever loving friend M^r LEWES ROBERTS Merchant, upon his MAP of COMMERCE.

CAll up the ancient Bards and let them praise This Brittaines skill not known in former dayes, For then Astraea fled and left the land, But now's return'd with Ballance in her hand, And teacheth out of Roberts new found treasure, To know the World throughout by Weight and Measure. First then lets weigh the man, weigh his good will, Then weigh our words, so shall we speake none ill.

Charles Fetiplace.

To his friend Mr. LEWES ROBERTS MERCHANT.

SOme Merchants travaile without rest, From North to South, from East to West, To gaine their wealth; which home they bring To fill their chests; or with full wing Profusely spend it here in pleasure, With health, time, credit and their treasure. But thou, experience having taught, That what is buried comes to naught, Here largely shewes by course of Trade, The Merchants MAP, COMMERCE to ayd; And so by spending gathers more Than they that basely hide their store.

Ralph Hanson.

To his much Honoured friend Mr. LEWES ROBERTS Merchant, upon his MAP of COMMERCE.

1.

WHen that the portall of this goodly frame Was first presented to my greedy eyes, (Before I saw the Master-builders name) Me thought it was a promising Frontispiece: And then desires did kindle in my brest, To enter further and to view the rest.

2.

But looking longer on that beauteous Porch, I spied insculp'd on the outside building, The Authours name, that like a burning torch Did set on flame my pristine ardent longing: By that the builder of the worke I knew; How could I then but thirst for further view?

3.

I crav'd admittance, 'twas a needlesse suite, (The Arts (they say) are called liberall;) Assoone as entred I was strucken mute, And made my moane to th' Muses severall: They promis'd ayde; but yet when I had done, They said 'twas lighting tapers to the Sunne.

4.

Loe here I met with many sacred Arts, Which keepe their Courts and usuall residence; At Ox and Camber those two famous Marts, Partaking most of their munificence. These franckly sent this Architect a piece, To beautifie his curious Edifice.

5.

Me thought I saw them sadly to lament The adverse fortune of so brave a Wight, That was not to their learned mansions sent, Ne'r could his Starrs have wrought him worser spight: But yet to conquer their malignities, Th'enricht his Thesis with their dignities.

6.

Here did I see with strange variety The great Colosse of the terrestriall Globe, Brought by the Art of rare Geographie, Within the compasse of a paper robe; So rich the forme and so compendious, As strucke amazement in my wondering Muse.

7.

I further look'd and saw with admiration Th'exact composure of two matchlesse lights, They serve not onely for the contemplation Of men Merchantile, but of Gentile spirits; The one descries the paths of merchandize, The other shewes Exchanges mysteries.

8.

I've read of Drake and Martin Forbesher, Whose manly faces all the Poles did see, With others famed for the Globes surrounder, Their worths have sweld the Worlds great History: I honour much those Heroes memory, Asmuch I loathe the staine of flattery.

9.

But my opinion freely Ile expresse, And thinke that none will judge it Heresie; That of the World in this MAP of COMMERCE, This age shall finde more rare discovery: For here that Massy Ball and all its traffique At once is seene, as through a perfect optique.

10.

Goe on (brave wit) and let the World possesse Some further fruit of thy wel-tempred braines: Though Critiques snarle, it matters not a rush; Honour and thankes attend thy matchlesse paines. The unborne Babe that shall a Merchant be, Shall honour in this worke thy memory.

I. H.

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;

For, of Thy equall sure no AGE can boast, That bringst Us Traffique home from every Coast; Rat'st the Commodities, the Coines, the Measures; And sum'st (in fine) a very Masse of Treasures. Go on, and prosper in Thy faire Designes; May these elaborate and experient Lines Add to those honourd PAIRE of CITIE-SAGES, That shall receive them to their PATRONAGES.

Meane while, (and to transmit my free Applause READER, to Thee (without collaterall cause) Of th' AVTHORS Worth; not hereby to prefer This MERCHANTS MAPP, (as do's the Stationer, For his owne private profit) but for Thine, To whom Our AVTHOR do's His Worke resigne) This I infer; It ha's no PRESIDENT For THEORIE; and to make equivalent Thy practique Part; the Author here bequeaths A VOLVME, not more continent of Leaves, Then various fruitfull Matter; which his toyle Ha's brought Thee home from every forreigne Soyle; And (as deepe speld in GEOGRAPHIQVE Arts) Ran smooth division o're the WORLD in Parts; Searching the bowels of each Kingdomes STATE: And not alone of TRAFFIQVE there relate; But Customes, Habits, Strength, and Government, Deckt in so new HISTORIQVE Ornament; That heere Thou mayst with ease and pleasure see The Rate and State of every MONARCHIE.

Nor need'st Thou yet demand for whom is made This faire Commerciall MAPP, this Mapp of Trade: To All 'tis needfull; specially for Those That most for Travaile shall themselves dispose; Or those who would employ or them or theirs Ith' publique way of PRINCES great Affaires; Or any, who for private RECREATION, Make (by conceit) continuall Transmigration: In fine, (and chiefe) for All that exercise Ith' spacious WORLD the Art of MERCHANDISE.

Since now, for generall Good (as't may appeare) This HARVEST comes i'th' entrance of the YEARE; (As to so MANY usefull;) Many bee The future BLESSINGS shall be shour'd on THEE: Yea, All (in part) Thy LABOVRS to requite) Blesse that New-YEARE brought this new WORKE to light.

MATHEW RHODES.

In praise of my friend the Author, and his BOOKE. To the READER.

IF thou would'st be a States-man, and survay Kingdomes for information; heres a way Made plaine, and easie: fitter far for thee Then great Ortelius his Geographie.

If thou would'st be a Gentleman, in more Then title onely; this MAP yeelds thee store Of Observations, fit for Ornament, Or use, or to give curious eares content.

If thou would'st be a Merchant, buy this Booke: For 'tis a prize worth gold; and doe not looke Daily for such disbursements; no, 'tis rare, And should be cast up with thy richest ware.

READER, if thou be any, or all three; (For these may meet and make a harmonie) Then prayse this Author for his usefull paines, Whose aime is publike good, not private gaines.

Iz. Wa.

SAMUEL VVILLIAMOT, to his ever honour'd Brother in law the Authour.

THis learned Issue of thy teeming Braine Cals me not UNCLE; yet let me obtaine The Nurses usuall freedome, to embrace it, And shew it my best love, though 'twill not grace it For though new borne, it speakes as if it were The Sonne of Mercurie, or Vlysses Heyre. Thy worth to praise, were fitter Homers Quill Then my rude Verse; yet here accept my will.

S. WILLIAMOT.

To my ever loving friend Mr. LEWES ROBERTS Merchant, upon his MAP of COMMERCE.

THough many know much; yet we seldome finde Spirits so free, and profitably kinde, T'impart what or the industry, or sweat Of a whole Life-time, could observe, or get; Like cunning STATISTS enviously prone To keepe all Secrets of their Art unknowne; Out of a feare that some (lesse-witted) may (Meeting their Rules) become as wise as they. But friend, thy Candor's such, I dare acquit Thee of that malice, by thy labour'd Writt: And must commend thy judgement too, in this, That fix'd thy Fame on such a Piramis, As, (but the WORLD) 't had mist a Basis, great And vast enough, whereon to plant its seat: And, (if my Word may passe) this glori's Thine, Men sayle by all MAPPES, but must thrive by Thine.

W. Lewis.

To his deare Brother in law, Mr. Lewes Roberts, Merchant, on his MAP OF COMMERCE.

SHould I write in thy praise, it would bee thought Friends will commend, although the Worke be nought; No, I will leave it to each READERS mind, To judge the WORKE as hee the worth shall find: And if they say this MAPP is not done well, Bid him that blames it, bring its parallel.

R. HILL.

To my most deare Father Mr. LEWES ROBERTS Merchant.

A Fathers love may well excuse The weaknesse of my Infant Muse, Yet ('mongst the rest that praise thy Pen) As last admit mee say,—Amen.

GABRIEL ROBERTS.

Notes

• * 1.1

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• * 1.2

  2.
• * 1.3

  3.
• * 1.4

  4.
• * 1.5

  5.
• * 1.6

  6.