The merchants map of commerce wherein the universal manner and matter relating to trade and merchandize are fully treated of, the standard and current coins of most princes and republicks observ'd, the real and imaginary coins of accounts and exchanges express'd, the natural products and artificial commodities and manufactures for transportation declar'd, the weights and measures of all eminent cities and towns of traffick in the universe, collected one into another, and all reduc'd to the meridian of commerce practis'd in the famous city of London / by Lewis Roberts, merchant.

CHAP. VIII. Of Measures in general used in Merchandizing, and comprehended in this MAP of COMMERCE.

* 1.1THe next material point here handled, is the Measures in general, used in all Kingdoms and known Cities of Trade, by means whereof a certain way and method was found out and invented to distinguish and order by Rule the length and breadth of all Commodities measura∣ble, especially accustomed in all manner of Fabricks, either, Linen, Woollen, Silks, or other Stuffs; and this is observed also (as in Weights,) to have a special prerogative in many Bargains and Contracts, where either buying or selling of things measurable is subsistent and in use; being grant∣ed to be a fundamental point of all the Traffick and Commerce of the Universe; for thereby as by weights many Commutations are regulated, many Accounts are framed, and profit and loss is also thereby found out and distinguished: It is also estimated to be one of the Standards of Kingdoms and Cities; * 1.2and therefore (as well as Weights) carrieth with it the Approbation and Authority of the Sovereign Magistrate; and therefore to add or detract therefrom, is ever in all Countries held punishable, and accounted a capital Crime.

* 1.3The Measures of length are found so diversly to vary, that every City and Province is noted almost to have as well a distinct Measure as a distinct Weight, which in themselves oftentimes are found much to differ; and some particular Cities are observed by custom to have divers Measures, for divers sorts of Commodities, as it is seen practised by example in the City of Lon∣don, where the Yard is accounted the common Measure for Cloth and Wollen, and Silk, &c. the Ell accounted the common Measure for Linnen, and the Goad for Frizes, Cottons, and the like, which in many other Countries is also observable. * 1.4And as for Measures in the general, It is a re∣ceived Opinion, that the first Measure that was to this end invented was the Cubit, agreeing as some imagine with the half Ell, the which divided into four parts or quarters, and every quar∣ter into four inches; peradventure this was in those times a general Rule to all Nations: but Time and Traffick have since given to every Countrey a particular Measure, and therewith a peculiar Law of measuring, which contains a succinct length by it self, which at this day we see practised through most parts of the known World in several ways: and thus diversity of Places gave also diversity of names to their Measures, such as are the Ell, Yard, Goad, Fathom, Cane, Auln, Brace, Pico, Stick, Palm, Vare, Covado, and the like.

* 1.5But Invention by the help and assistance of time, growing more perfect and absolute, and finding that neither Weight nor yet this Measure could extend it self to all Commodities used in and by way of Merchandize; the Art of measuring of solid Bodies became to be hence produced, as we see it in use in the measuring of Timber, Stones, and such like Commodities; neither yet was Commerce satisfied herewith; * 1.6for the ingenious Merchant found it still defe∣ctive, and therefore to have it yet more perfect, invented the Art of Concave Measures, that should serve as well for dry as for liquid Commodities, as it is seen practised at this day for Grain, Rice, and such like commodities; and for Oyls, Wines, Waters, Liquors, and such like commo∣dities, setting by this way by Art and Invention, in most of these commodities, a concordance of Measure with Weight, as in other commodities was set a Concordance of Weight with Mea∣sure: but for as much as this knowledge in the general is of it self too capacious and large to be particularly handled, as the subject requireth, I have been therefore constrained to confine my self to Measures of length only, as being the most necessary part of this MAP of COM∣MERCE, yet so as I have not omitted the rest, where they have fallen within the compass of my observation; and if I have therein been found defective, the vastness of the Subject may plead my excuse.

* 1.7He then that intendeth by way of Traffick to make use of this Tract, must as well be skill'd in Measures, (as I have observed) as he ought to be in Weights; for he must not only readily know his own Measure as it stands, and is found to be in it self in use, but also the Measure of that place whereto he bendeth his Trade and Negotiation, allowing or deducting by Addition or Substraction where the overplus or want doth challenge a part, to make a due proportion of both, and be so well versed therein, as that all Measures may be to him as one Measure, by a true calculation of the length or the shortness thereof.

* 1.8Again, It is found by the observation of the Merchants, that in all Countries and well-go∣verned Cities, there is for the reiglement of things measurable, instituted a publick Measurer, Authorized by the Sovereign Magistrate, who is sworn to decide all Controversies that happen in and about the Art of measuring; to whose honesty and faith is intrusted this publick mea∣sure, and to which all Merchants and Traders may in time of need and difference repair and

have recourse unto, and by which in many places it is seen that Princes do receive their duty of Customs upon Commodities measurable; and by this common, known, and received publick measure, I have made my Observation in all places, and as near as I could, not only rectified the same in the Agreement thereof with other neighbouring Places and Countreys, but also with our own use in England: and therefore to conclude this Point, I have here inserted the Form of an Instrument, easie to be made, and purposely invented to accord the Measures of any two known Places or Countreys, whether they be Ells, Vares, Yards, Canes, or any other Measure whatsoever.

[illustration] diagram of an instrument to accord the mea∣sures of any two places.

An Instrument to find out the agreement of Mea∣sures in any two Cities.

First then, Learn the order and custom of Measuring of all those sorts of Commodities in both Places which you would inquire after, then prepare a smooth streight Board, Plate, or such like, and draw upon the same a straight line of the length of the Measure in one of the Places with his allowance of Measuring, either an Inch or Shaftnet, or such like; which for Example, I will demonstrate in this Figure, AB. First then, Divide the line AB into four equal parts, which is CDE, and divide the quarter of AC into 250 equal parts and num∣ber them from 10 to 10 upwards, making the Print C the 750 part; for the number of parts contained in the other three empty quarters.

Then mark upon the line AB the length of the Measure of the other Place, with his allowance, which is for Example from B to F, be∣ing just in the 900 parts; therefore 900 of those Measures in the first Place, make just 1000 of those Measures in the other Place: but if the Measure of the other Place be longer than the Measure of the first place; as for Example: If it were from B to G, then take the di∣stance of AG with a Compass, and set one foot in C, and extend the other towards A, which for Example doth come to rest in F, be∣ing 150 parts from C; therefore then 1150 Measures of the one place makes just 1000 of the other, by which you may calculate to a lesser proportion; and this is as much as I conceive needful to insert concerning the knowledg of Measures in general, and proceed to the next, which is the knowledg in general of Commodities used by the way of Merchandizing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of Measures in general.
• * 1.2

  False Mea∣sures punish∣able by the Magistrate.
• * 1.3

  Divers Countreys have divers Measures.
• * 1.4

  ••ain the first Inventor of Weights and Mea∣sures, Jose∣phus.
• * 1.5

  Measures of solid Bodies.
• * 1.6

  Measures of dry and li∣quid Com∣modities.
• * 1.7

  All Mea∣sures to the Merchants must be as one Measure
• * 1.8

  All Cities of Trade have sworn and publick Measurers.