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. VII.

Of Accounts and Account-keeping in generall, observed in this MAP of COMMERCE.

ALL rationall negotiators, and traders in generall will * 1.1 grant, that this Mappe of Commerce would appeare to be very imperfect, if it should want the due rules and observations whereby accounts are in all Cities of commerce ordered and kept, which though found in themselves to varie in severall Kingdomes, and places, as having of∣tentimes a dependency, and sometimes concurrency with the coines and moneys of each kingdome; yet in all places they are not found to have the like agreement together. Some Countries be∣ing observed to keep their accounts, and the denomination there∣of in imaginary coines, such as neither that Countrey nor place hath either proper coine or money, that hath any affinitie there∣with, * 1.2 as by daily practise is seene used in Venice by the duccat of lire 6⅕; in Florence by the Crowne of gold of lire 7½; and as in Eng∣land it is used in those ancient accounts, kept in some offices for the revenews of the Crowne by the name of Markes, of which wee finde not at this day any proper coine or money in use. Againe, it is seene by experience, that one and the selfe same place, affoordeth severall denominations in their accounts, and divers wayes are used in one and the selfe same Citie and Countrey therein; as in some

Cities of Italie, some are observed to keepe their accounts in lire, soldi, and denari; and some againe in the same place in Crownes, or scudi, soldi and denari; as the like in England is noted, some as be∣fore observing their rules of accounts in markes, and pence, and some, and those the most usuall and common, in pounds, shillings, and pence, starling; the which is necessarily both duely to be lear∣ned, and truely to be knowne, and understood, by such as shall have occasion to make use of, and exercise the art of Merchan∣dizing, and this Mappe of Commerce.

Now for the methode used in keeping these accounts, every * 1.3 Countrey and Nation are observed to frame to themselves, waies meanes and rules, whereby the same is performed and perfitted, and have for the most part every Countrey a peculiar forme by themselves. The generall knowne methode and best forme is by the laudable and excellent way of Debitor and Creditor, first in∣vented in Italie, and now generally practised by most part of the * 1.4 eminent Merchants of Europe, received for the most absolute, best, and truest methode of accounts that hitherto hath been found out and invented, which here to set downe would challenge a Vo∣lume by it selfe; yet such is the necessitie of this knowledge, that every Merchant should by the rules of his profession, be well ver∣sed and seene therein; the grounds whereof being universally knowne and daily taught, I referre to my good friends, Master Raphe Handson, and Master Valentin Markham, who are both ex∣cellent, and excellently learned therein; concluding this place with 4. principall rules required, and not to be omitted by such * 1.5 as have to doe, and practise accounts in Merchandizing.

First, it is required that in his account-keeping, he write all and singular the passages thereof, and thereto belonging, with all cir∣cumstances * 1.6 of time, price, and other conditions, in every bargaine, contract, adventure, receipt of goods, sales, &c. in which though there should afterward appeare an errour, either by disorderly charging, or by over or under charging, yet it will easily at a second view be both corrected and amended.

Secondly, It is required that he never come behind hand with * 1.7 his accounts, by letting the same run over-long, for being daily fi∣nished the trouble will be nothing, but being a while neglected, a man is still found to be the loather and loather to goe in hand therewith, and thus growing more loath every day than other, when necessitie constraineth him, either he is inforced to mumble them up to his owne prejudice, or to cast them off, and to neglect them altogether to his owne shame and undoing.

Thirdly, It is required, that he keepe them, just, true, and perfect, and not to falsifie any parcell, matter, or thing, nor yet interline * 1.8 or shuffle one matter with another, but to set every thing (either appertaining to himselfe, or to any other) plainly, directly, and orderly downe.

Lastly, It is required, that he be well skild in the art of Arith∣metique * 1.9 and numbering, which indeed is the principall steppe to this art of accounting, and the first degree of this Mappe of Com∣merce, without which knowledge, let none dare to intitle him∣selfe a Merchant, nor expect a benefit from this Worke. For the skill whereof I referre the learner, to the judicious, and excellent A∣rithmeticians of this Citie, and so proceed to the next generall point of Commerce, which is Measure.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Accounts ne∣cessary in the Mappe of Com∣merce.
• * 1.2

  Accounts kept diversly in di∣vers Cities & Countries.
• * 1.3

  The methode used in Ac∣counts is di∣vers.
• * 1.4

  The best is by way of Debitor and Creditor.
• * 1.5

  Foure rules re∣quired in an Accountant.
• * 1.6

  1 To write all, and all circum∣stances.
• * 1.7

  2 Not to suffer his accounts to out-run him.
• * 1.8

  3 To keep them true and per∣fect
• * 1.9

  That he be a good Arith∣metician.