CHAP. CXIX. Of Barcelona, and the Trade thereof.
* 1.1BArcelona is seated on the Mediterranean shore, and entring into that Gulph which is so terrible to Navigators, in these parts called The Gulph of Lions. It hath a reasonable commodious and safe Harbour, and the Citizens do winterly enlarge and lengthen the same by adding to their Mould, that Ships of burthen may come within the same: what I obserred here Anno 1618. I will briefly declare.
* 1.2Their Moneys current in Merchandize, besides the Rial of Castile, is a Liver which passe•• here at 20 sold. and a Ducate of Gold of Castile is worth 24 sold. of the said money, and the soldo is twelve Deniers of that money, wherein they are found to keep their Accounts.
* 1.3Their Cantar is a 100 l. which is English 92 l. or thereabouts, and hath made by obser∣vation
| In | Florence | 123 | l. |
| Genoa | 130 | l. | |
| Valentia | 106 | l. | |
| Marselia | 104 | l. | |
| Venetia Sotle | 140 | l. |
* 1.4Their Measure is a Can consisting of eight Palms, and hath been found to make th•…•… Braces in Florence, and in England found to produce 1⅜ Yards English, and in Naples 〈◊〉〈◊〉 been found to make 6⅜ Palms.
* 1.5Corn is sold by a Measure called the Quarter, one Salmo is four Quarters, sold always 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of all Customs, 2⅓ Quarters making a Cargo or load, which is accounted 360 l. as is that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mentioned aforegoing in Valentia.
Woolls are sold by the Rove, which is 30 l. making 26 l. of Venetia gross, whither the same is commonly transported, and in Florence 36 l.
All gross Goods are sold by the Cargo, accounted 3 Kintars, which is 440 l. Sutle of Ven•…•… and 278 l. gross there, which is 372 l. in Florence, and hath been found to make English 3000•• Averdupois.
* 1.6In this Province lieth also Tortosa a fine small City, but the principal of the Inhabitants •…•…∣ing accounted as Moors, were some years before my being here banished this Country, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therefore most places lie waste, and many Villages are here along found without Inhabit•…•… and the Grounds to want Labourers.
* 1.7The next Province is Aragon, wherein is Tarragon, a fine and handsome City, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the banishment of many of the Inhabitants, as above is said, now made poor: in my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there in 1618. I found it most to consist in making of Silk, here bought and carried to Ir∣lentia to be wrought: * 1.8The principal City hereof is Saragosa, which should challenge a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 particular relation, as being commodiously seated for Traffick on the banks of the River 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ebro, but being an University, it were too great an honour for an inland Town to prod•• famous Scholars and eminent Merchants; yet in the current Coins, it is observed to rule as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 V••dentia: and because there is found practised here a great Exchange, I have inserted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 same by it self, Chapter 292 in the end of this Tract, with all circumstances thereunto appe••∣taining. And these are all the principal Cities of Traffick found at this day comprised 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Kingdom of Spain.