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. V.

Of the Monies and Coynes of sundry Countryes, used in generall in the traffique of Merchandize.

AMongst all the diversitie of Mettals which GOD * 1.1 the Creator hath shutup in the closet and concavitie of the earth, none is accounted more singular and excellent than silver and gold, of which the commu∣nication and Commerce of mankind, have framed and invented the use of money and coine, which mo∣ney and coine, may be properly termed to be the universall measure of all things in the world, and though that thus naturally and ori∣ginally they be but mettals, and so to be in themselves accounted, yet in value and estimation, the monyes and coines made thereof are to us (as all things) for they are to us, (converted once to this use) as meate, cloth, house, horse, and generally what other thing soever man hath els need of; and thereby it is evident and manifested that all things are obedient and in subjection to monyes; and that by this devise, a meane was found out and invented, whereby one thing should be to Merchants as all, and therefore men thrust forward by * 1.2 naturall inclination and worldly judgement, chose to this end and use at first, the thing that was found most durable, proper, and ma∣niable, which they onely observed best to be mettall; and amongst all mettals gave silver & gold the preheminence in the invention of monyes, which of their owne nature was thus observed to be most durable, and incorruptible, and of which wee find as well in these our times as in times past, most Princes of the world to make their currant coines of, between man and man in trade of Merchandize. I denie not but in the innocency of those golden times of old, when * 1.3 neither silver nor gold was put to this use, there was yet a traffique found, and a Commerce practis'd amongst mankinde, which may be imagined did not then extend it selfe to buying and selling in that same nature, as now it is in use since the invention of Monyes, but onely to a trucking, exchanging, and bartering, and that onely for things necessary to back and belly, to feed and cloth, and so to pre∣serve life; but these times worn out by a more acute age, and men laying to themselves a foundation of soveraigntie and greatnesse, the stronger still depriving the weaker, and riches thereby becoming

desirable, this mysterie crept up, and was admitted, and therefore from these two mineralls was found out a bodie, which once autho∣rized by power of the Magistrate, had a predominancie over all earthly things, and by which was squared out and leveld (as by an indifferent measure) all things appertaining to mankinde, the a∣bundance thereof brought with it the abundance of honour, atten∣dants, necessaries, and superfluities, so that he that had most in his possession, was accounted of, as being the most eminent and grea∣test personage in the eye, rule, and esteeme of the world.

But to come to the present times, though in the general through∣out all Europe, it is now found that Coines and Monies, of silver and gold (as is afore observed) is onely in use, and that all Commerce and traffique is principally drawne and maintained thereby; yet is it noted in this Map, that all Nations have not yet submitted their judgement to the prerogative of these two mineralls, but retaine still in use some other things serving in their stead and place; for first in the Ilands of Porto Ricco, Saint Dominico, and in many pla∣ces * 1.4 of America, they have in use small peeces of Lether, currant for Coines amongst them, not that they want silver and gold, for they injoy it in greatest abundance, but want the use and invention thereof; as of late dayes it is found to be established there by the * 1.5 Spanyard, as with us in Europe. Neither was this onely the custome of these parts alone; for it is observable, that in Peru, and else∣where, where the greatest plentie of silver and gold was found out and digged, it was never put to this use by the Inhabitants them∣selves.

Diverse yet in this kind to this day is the custome of Coines and Monies that are used and goeth currant throughout the world; for beside the aforesaid use whereto these mettals have beene put, as to be thus imployed, the common Standard to rule all trade and commerce, and the estates as well of the Prince as subject in Europe and many other parts of the world: those Nations that have beene de∣fective in this poynt, and that have not valued these mettals as the Europeans doe, have yet found out some particular thing or mat∣ter, whereto they have by a nationall and unanimous consent, (as it were) attributed this power to have a maine stroake in their ne∣gotiation and traffique, and wherein their wealth is found princi∣pally to consist.

In sundry parts of Africa, they use for their small coines a kinde * 1.6 of shells as currant amongst them, though their greatest payments be made either in sand of gold, which they terme Tiburin, or in In∣got. The same is the use this day also in the kingdome of Tombuto, and other adjoyning Countryes.

In other places of that Continent, they use Iron for their coine, * 1.7 their smallest peeces being an ounce waight; and this is seene pra∣ctised in Massa, and other kingdomes also thereabouts.

In the kingdome of Congo is taken up along the Sea-shoare, great

store of shell-fishes, differing from the former used in Tombuto, cal∣led * 1.8 Lumaches, which they distinguish male and female, the shell whereof is there accounted a coine, and wherewith they use to buy both silver and gold, but with silver or gold either in masse or coine, can they not buy any other thing needfull whatsoever.

In Melinda, they have little balles of glasse, in manner of our red beads, which come to them from Cambaia, and other places, * 1.9 and these are their coines and monies; and with them gold is neither found to be of account nor esteeme.

In some places of Cathaie, their money is a kind of paper stamped, * 1.10 and in some other Salt baked into small cakes, for the excellent use and scarcitie thereof, passeth currant as coines amongst them.

In Pegu their money is called Ganza, and is made of copper and leade, which every man may at his pleasure both coine and siampe * 1.11 that is able; for gold and silver is accounted as a Merchandize a∣mongst them.

In Bengala their small money is a fruit resembling the Almond, * 1.12 which passeth currant from man to man in traffique. And in the Iland Sumatra, it hath been observed, that the sculls of their slaine * 1.13 enemies was accounted their greatest treasure, with which they buy and barter; and he is the richest man that hath the greatest number thereof in his house. And lastly, in many places of India they use pepper and Cocos nuts in liew of money; and the same pas∣seth * 1.14 currant for coine in many places of India: and to conclude, it may be observed throughout this MAP of COMMERCE, that though silver and gold is not the mettall generally in use for the coining and stamping of money throughout all the world; yet these other things specified, cary with them in matter of commerce in these places the like efficacie and power.

To proceed then, Budelius, Varro and sundry Authors writing * 1.15 upon the originall of moneys, and upon the excellencie of this predominant pointe of traffique; affirme that all coines in the ge∣nerall have been nominated by their severall and distinct names. 1. Moneta, 2. Nummus, 3. Pecunia; the reasons given thereof are * 1.16 these: First, Moneta is said to have taken that name, and is deri∣ved a Monendo, which is to admonish and warne the people of the name of the prince, vel Nummi nota, and of such a signe or marke impressed thereupon, thereby alluding to the saying of CHRIST, Matthew 22. Where the Pharises brought him a penny, he thereupon demanding whose image and superscription that was? and they answered Caesars; then said he unto them, give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and unto GOD the things that are GODS.

Secondly, Nummus is said to take its name as some will have it à Numerando vel Nomine, of the name of the Prince stamped upon * 1.17 it, as a Duccat is said from Ducatus, or as some say from Numa Pompilius the Romane King, who is said to be the first that 1900.

yeares past, commanded moneys to be made, whereof ever since after his name every piece of money is called Nummus; or againe, as some hold, it is derived from Nomos, which signifieth a Law, and implyeth as much as such a Prince, or such a common wealth hath ordained money, from whom it hath taken a certaine price and valew.

Thirdly, Pecunia is derived à Pecude. of cattle, sheep, and Oxen; * 1.18 wherein was said to consist the wealth of the ancients, and where∣on the figure thereof was stamped; and is construed to be all manner of living Creatures, wanting the forme of Man: and some hold that the name of money signifieth, not onely money numbred or told, but also all things that are contained in the World; aswell moveable as immoveable, liquid as solid; and in generall all things whatsoever men have upon the earth.

From these three names and kinds grew first amongst the Ro∣manes a particular distinction, and nomination of the quality of the species, as they were currant in worth and esteeme amongst them: for they had then in use certaine moneys of copper, aswell as the others of silver and gold: and because every piece of the silver was in valew ten pieces of the copper, it was called Denarius; * 1.19 and because every piece of gold was worth 10. pieces of silver, the same was also called Denarius; and thus for distinction sake, other Nations in their coines in after ages followed their example; and our English moneys came to have the apellation of starling, and to be distinguished into pounds, shillings and pence, as some say from the esterlins that were in times past the masters of our minte, and the refiners of our coines, which yet holdeth this name, and by * 1.20 which the same is knowne throughout all Europe. But to con∣clude this Chapter, however coines and moneys came at first to have their originall and names, and however the same came to be distinguished, and of what mettall soever the same is in these dayes found to be made of and framed; yet when once the same is allowed by the publike authority of the Prince and So∣veraigne Magistrate, it is held a capitall crime in all * 1.21 Countries, either todeface, mend, alter, or any waies to debase the same; and therefore most justly (the circumstances considered) doe the coines of Princes currant in all their Countries challenge a principall part and interest in the Universall commerce of the World.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Silver & gold the most ex∣cellent of mettalls.
• * 1.2

  Coines made of Silver and Gold.
• * 1.3

  Bartering and exchanging before the use of gold and silver.
• * 1.4

  Severall sorts of moneys in use in severall Countries.
• * 1.5

  Moneys of le∣ther in S. Do∣minico, &c.
• * 1.6

  Moneys of shels in Tom∣buto.
• * 1.7

  Of Iron in Massa.
• * 1.8

  Of Lumaches in Congo.
• * 1.9

  Of Glasse beads in Me∣linda.
• * 1.10

  Of Salt and Paper in Ca∣thay.
• * 1.11

  Of Gansa in Pegu.
• * 1.12

  Of Almonds in Bengala.
• * 1.13

  Of sculls of dead men in Sumatra.
• * 1.14

  Of pepper and Cocos in India.
• * 1.15

  Moneys called by 3. severall names.
• * 1.16

  Moneta.
• * 1.17

  Nummus.
• * 1.18

  Pecunia.
• * 1.19

  Denarij.
• * 1.20

  Esterlin mony of England.
• * 1.21

  Coines deba∣sed or altered is a capitall crime.