CHAP. LXVIII. A View of the City Naples, and the Trade thereof, together with the Weights, Measures, Coyns, Cu∣stoms, &c.

IN Describing the Trade of this City from whence the Kingdom takes its Name, I shall lay down what is found of value or Merchantable throughout the Pro∣vince.

The City of Naples is a fair City and accounted 7 Miles in compass, formerly called Parthenope, and is now Governed by a Vice-Roy to the Behoof of the King of Spain, and yieldeth divers Mettals brought from adjacent Mines; likewise Saffron, Raw and wrought Silk, Oyls, Anniseed, Brim∣stone, Argals, Corn, Cattle in abundance and other things of value; for which they receive out of England Bays, Says, Serges, Cloath, Lead, Tinn, Herrings, Pilchards, and Newland-Fish. There is found like∣wise the growth of Spain, Portugal, and many East-Indian Commodities, and it was formerly a City of great Traffick. The Page  213 Country generally abounds in Mulberry-Trees, and other pleasant Fruit-Trees.

The Weights of this City, and conse∣quently of the whole Kingdom, are the Roto∣lo and Cantar, 100 of the former making the latter, which is accounted 196 pound English Averdupois Weight, as likewise in Goeta they have a Cantar, by which all Gross Commodities are weighed which is reckoned 254 pound of Leghorn.

The Measure of Length is the Cane di∣vided into 8 Palms, nine of which Palms make the Auln of Lyons, and the Cane is 18 ½ English inches.

The Concave Measures of Naples are the Salmo and Staio, by which they Measure Oyl, Wine, Corn, &c.

The Customs are for some Commodities 2 ½, for other 4 ½ per cent. more or less, as the Vice-Roy gives order to these that are appointed to receive them, the King of Spain receiving yearly for Customs upon the Oyls of Gallipoly, adjacent to this Kingdom one hundred thousand Ducats.