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. CCIX. Of the Trade in general of Germany.

* 1.1THe particular Trading of several Cities being thus observed, it will not be amiss a little to look into the Trade in general of Germany, and therewith also the Navigation of this Nation, by which we find, that in all Countries almost the same is principally maintained. The Cities then found on the Sea-coast on the North-side of Germany, have very great ships; yet more fit for great stowage and burthen, than either for sail or defence; and therefore of∣tentimes to this end fraighted by the Netherlanders. Neither can I attribute much commenda∣tion to the German Mariner, for those Seas in good part, and the Baltick Sea altogether, are found free of pirates and piracies, which is the chief reason why their Ships are found in the ge∣neral to be so ill armed, either defensive or offensive, and in one thing they concur with the Dutch to the shame of the Christians profession, that their is never found any Prayers used aboard their Ships, neither morning or evening, contrary to the laudable custom and godly exercise of our English Mariners, who constantly use Prayer and Psalms, at least four times in four and twenty hours, which is at the setting of the four quarterly watches of the day and night. These Maritime Cities are for the most part either Hans-Towns or free Cities, because they en∣joyed of old in all neighbour Kingdoms, great priveleges of buying any Commodities, as well of Strangers as Citizens, and of selling their own to either at pleasure, and to bring in or carry out all Commodities by their own Ships, with like immunities equal to Citizens in all the said Do∣minions, and no less prejudicial to others, than advantageous to themselves; and in London they were wont to dwell together in the house called the Still yard, and there enjoyed these and many other privileges, which now for many years have lain dead; partly by reason the English found not these or the like privileges in these free Hans-towns; and partly, by reason they have found it more commodious to make use of their own shipping, as in these days it is found they do.

Notwithstanding all this, yet it is observed, that the Germans in general apply themselves very industriously to all Traffick by land, but the free Cities on the Sea coasts do but coldly exer∣cise it by Sea; Beer being found to be spent and exported amongst themselves in an incredible measure and quantity, with an extraordinary gain, and therefore noted for one of the prime commodities of this Empire, bringing profit not only to private men, but also to Princes and to free States, there being no Merchandize in the World that more easily finds a buyer in Germany, than this: for other Commodities, it is observable, that Germany sends into Italy Linens, Corn and Wax; it sends into England Bords, Iron, Diaper, Rhenish Wines and Noremberg wares, which can hardly be called commodities; into Spain they send Linens, Wax, Brass, Copper, Cordage, Mas••s, Gun-powder: and this is their principal Exportation. Now for their Importations, Italy returns them Silks of all kinds; England Lead, Tin, and woollen Cloths; and Spain returns them Spanish Wines, Fruits, Oils, Salt, some Woolls, and other commodities.

I formerly noted, That the English had their Staple at Embden, the Count whereof used them well and courteously, but Wars growing between England and Spain, the place grew danger∣ous for them: for their Goods were taken, and themselves made Prisoners, even in the mouth of the Harbour; whereupon they removed to Hamburg, where being oppressed with new impositi∣ons, and being denied the exercise of their Religion, they removed also thence, and setled their Staple at Stoad.

Then also our English had their Staple at Dantzick in Prusen, for the Kingdom of Poland, but when the Dantzickers under pretence of the Suevian war, exacted of them a Dollar for each woollen-cloth, and as much proportionably upon all other commodities; and afterwards, though the war being ended, yet would remit nothing of the same; and withal, forbad the English, by a law decreed, to live in Poland, the commodities whereof were only sold there, lest they should learn the language, and find out the mystery of that trade and Country: And lastly, when as they exacted as much weekly of an Englishman dwelling in their City, as they did of a Jew dwelling there amongst them, the English thereupon made agreement with the Senate of Melvin for a 11 years, to pay them six gross for each cloth brought in, and accordingly for all other goods, and to pay as much more in the City of Kettle to the Duke of Prusen, for his giving them free passage to Melvin; and so by this means they setled their Staple in Melvin: whereupon the Dantzickers being offended with the Citizens of Melvin, and the Hamburgers no less with those of Stoad, procured all the free Cities by a publick writing to out law not only Melvin and Stoad for receiving the English to the common prejudice of the rest, but also Ceningsberg, the seat of the Duke of Prusen, and the free City of Lubeck, for favouring the English in this their course, and for permitting them being strangers, to sell their goods to any other than the Citizens of each several City. But how these difference; came

afterward to be reconciled, and their Staples removed thence, I have shewed in other places.

* 1.2And being now entred to speak of the Trade of Prusen a German Province, but of late years annexed to the Crown of Poland, which of it self is of great importance, it will not be amiss to inlarge my self upon some particulars thereof. The English then are found to bring thither great quantity of Tin, Lead, and woollen cloths, and other commodities, and to bring thence hard and liquid Pitch, Hemp, Flax, Cables, Masts for Ships, Boards, and Timber for building Linen Cloth, Wax, Mineral Salt, which in Poland they dig out of pits like great Stones, and the same being put to the fire, is made pure, and being black his colour is more durable, and less subject to giving again than our boyled Salt. Also they bring thence Pine Ashes for making of Sope, commonly known to us by the name of Sope-Ashes, and Corn in great quantity; yet the English are found seldom to have need of their Corn for the use of England, which many times of their own they transport to other Nations; but they buy it as the free Cities do, to transport it to other Countries, which the Low country-men do also buy as well for themselves, as to serve Spain, and other Countries therewith, so great a quantity thereof is hence dispersed into all parts of Europe.

* 1.3Amber is also brought from thence, but not gathered neither at Melvin nor Dantzick, as some imagine, but on the Sea-side of Koningsperg, where, as I said, the Duke of Prusen holds his Court, and so all along the coast of Curland; where, howsoever it lies in great quantity on the sands of the Sea, it is as safe as if it were lockt up in Ware-houses, since it is death for any to take up the least piece thereof, and being only by the law accounted to be the proper commodity of the Duke, to whom the same appertaineth. And this being as much as I have thought requi∣site to handle concerning the Trade of Germany in general, or of the Imperial Cities and He•…•…-Tomns in particular, I will proceed to the next Kingdom, which in order is Denmark, and to the principal Cities, and particular Trade thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The general trade of Ger∣many.
• * 1.2

  Trade of Pru∣sen.
• * 1.3

  Amber.