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.

* 1.1THE Dukedom of Florence containeth the greater part of Tuscany, and now may be said to be comprehended under the Signiory of the Great Duke, with the Republick of Pisa and Siena, the principal marine Port whereof is Leghorn, which may be accounted the best and one of the greatest Towns of Trade in all the Mediterranean Seas, not only thus continued and preserved by the Industry of the Inhabitants alone, but of other Nations, which by reason of the great Immunities and Privileges of this place, and the freedom given to Strangers and Mer∣chants, and principally because all sorts of Merchandize may be here landed free of all Customs, Duties and Imposts, this Scale is grown to that height, that it is famous throughout all the Mediterranean and Ocean Seas.

In this Republick, I find only four Cities of Consequence that challenge in matter of Commerce my Observation, which is, Florence it self the principal City of this Dukedom; next Siena, then Pisa, and lastly the above mentioned Town of Leghorn.

* 1.2These Countries afford for Merchandize, some Marble, Rice, Wines, Oils, quantity of Silks, both raw and wrought in Stuffs, famous for their Fabricks throughout Europe, as Satins, Taffa∣ties, Velvets, Grograms, Plushes, and the like, called commonly of Florence. From England is here vended, Pepper, Cloves, Maces, Indico, Callicoes, as being East-India Commodities, and Lead, Tin, Cloth••, Bays, Serges, Perpetuanos, as Native, and the English also bring hither

Herrings white and red, pickled Salmon, Newland Fish, Pilchards, Calves-Skins, and many other Commodities.

* 1.3The Duke of Florence hath ever been found to be a great lover of Merchants and Merchan∣dizing, and is conceived to be at this day the greatest Merchant in Europe, forgetting not that his Ancestors did raise themselves by Traffick to the greatness and height he now doth hold; and to this end is found in Leghorn a Stock properly running in Trade for his Account, which is imployed in Traffick, as occasion of Profit upon Merchandize doth present it self.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Florence, and the Provinces thereof.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of Tuscany.
• * 1.3

  The Duke of Florence, a great Mer∣chant.