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. CXXXIX. Of Naples, and the Trade thereof.

* 1.1NAPLES the Metropolis of this Kingdom, once called Parthenope, and now Neapolis, fortified with fo•• strong Castles in possession of the Spaniards, Castle Capedna, Castle Ermo, Castle Ov••, a•…•… Castle Novo. It venteth out of England, Baies, Saies, Serges, Fustians, Lead, Tin, Pilchu•• Newland-fish, red and white Herring, some Cloth and other Commodities; it consisteth m•…•… of Gentry, few eminent Merchants Natives are here found; the Taxes laid upon Merch••∣dises being so great, that it ruines all Commerce, yet what I observed here in Anno 1619. I shal•• relate.

* 1.2The current Coins of Naples where then,

A Ducate of Gold large is worth in Naples 11½ Carlins.

A Ducate of Carlins is worth only ten Carlins, so that 100 Ducates of Gold, are worth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ducates of Carlins.

One Ounce is worth six Ducates.

A Ducate of Carlins is worth five Tarries.

A Tarrie is worth 20 grains

A Carlin is worth 10 grains.

* 1.3Their accounts are kept in Naples by Ducates, Tarries and Grains, five Tarries making a Du∣cate, and twenty Grains a Tarrie; but these are accounted Ducates current, every 110 Duc•• current, make 100 Ducates of Gold.

* 1.4The Weights of Naples are the Cantar and the 100. Their Cantar of Naples is 100 R••∣tolos, which is 2 l. 9⅔ ounces Naples, and by which they weigh all their gross goods, which is in Florence 32 ounces, and 285 l. and is 196 l. Averdupois. But the 100 l. hath been obse•…•… to produce.

in Florence	90	l.
in Rome	93	l.
in London	71	l.
in Lions	68	l.
in Venetia	106	l.
Ditto gross	82	l.
1. l. suttle is in Venice suttle	15¼	ounces.
1. l. suttle is in Venice gross.	9	ounces. 58

Note, That in Gaeta is used another Quintar for some Commodities gross goods, which hath been found to render in Legorn 254 l. and in Naples all gross goods are weighed by the great Cantar, and all fine goods by the hundred.

* 1.5Their Measure is a Cone divided into 8 Palms, which is in Florence after the opinion of some 3⅜ Braces just, and it hath been observed in the measure of these two places, That 46 Braces of Sattin made at Naples: 12¼ Canes, so that in Stuffs the Cane of Florence, makes in Naples 8 ••/32 Palms, and consequently Braces 48⅔ made in Naples 13 Canes 3 Palms.

Nine Palms of Naples are in Lions just two Aulns, so that of the Cane makes English 81½ inches by rule, which is somewhat more then 2¾ yards English, without the inch, and some have sound it to be 2½ yards: 12 Canes in Naples have made in Lions 21 Aulns, so that 1¾ Aulns have made a Cane in Naples.

* 1.6Many Commodities are sold by the Salmo, and 16 Tomolos is a Salmo, which Tomolo is two Statios of Florence, and in England (…) Gallons.

* 1.7Oyl in Calabria is sold by the Migliot, which is 132 ounces or 11 l. and it requires 2¾ Mig∣liots to make a Staio of Naples.

Note, that four Salmo in Oyl in Naples have made 40 Staios, which are in Venice 40 Mars, which are in England (…) Gallons.

But Naples is more famous amongst Bankers for Exchanges, than amongst Merchants for any eminent Trade, therefore it is needful I annex the Exchanges thereof, according to the custom practised in this place, which you shall find in the 284 and 343 Chapters at large, with all circumstances thereunto belonging.

* 1.8The Customs of this Kingdom do differ upon several Commodities, as some pay 2½, some 4½ per cent. and some more and some less, according to the will of the Vice-King here, commanding for the King of Spain, which by the Merchants is more precisely to be learned.

* 1.9The next Province is Abdruzzo, wherein is Salerne, famous for Physick here taught; next Rhegium, opposite to Messina, and in that Vare; * 1.10the next Tarento, where grow great quantities of Olives, and whereof Oyl in abundance is made.

* 1.11The next is the Province of Otranto, wherein is found Brandusie, the most famous Havens in these Seas Otranto and Gallipoli, affording great abundance of Oyls and Cattel; which last pay for Tribute to the Spaniards 100 thousand Ducates yearly; and for the Oyls they are known to us by the name of Apulia Oyls, being the last Province comprised in this Countrey, and the former Cities standing in Calabria, it will not be amiss to insert two or three words of the Trade thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Naples and the Trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  Coins of Naples.
• * 1.3

  Account keep∣ing.
• * 1.4

  Weights of Naples.
• * 1.5

  Measures in Naples.
• * 1.6

  Corn, &c.
• * 1.7

  Oyl.
• * 1.8

  Customs of Naples.
• * 1.9

  Abruzzo.
• * 1.10

  Tarento.
• * 1.11

  Otranto.