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. CLIX. Of Florence, and the Cities of that Kingdom.

* 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.

The Estate of the Great Duke of Tuscany, and the Trade thereof.

Cosmi the Second, was the first Duke of Florence that had the Title of Great Duke of Tusca••y conferred upon him, being crowned in the Court of Rome, with that Title given to him and his Heirs for ever, by Pope Pius the Fifth, in the year 1570. Since which, the Great Dukes Successors have desired of succeeding Popes, the Title of King, but it hath been always ob∣structed by the Kings of Spain, who would indure no King in Italy but himself, and refused by the Pope as too Lordly a Title.

This Duke and his Predecessors, have ever been found to be great Lovers of Merchants and Merchandizing, knowing that his Predecessors raised themselves by Traffick to the greatness he now doth hold.

His Territories are separated on the East, from the Lands of the Church by the River Pisco, on the West, from the Commonwealth of Genoa by the River Macra; on the North, from Romandiola, and Marca Anconitano by the Appenine Hills; are bounded on the South, by the Tyrrhenian Sea, being about 260 Miles in length, and in some places as much in breadth. The Country between Florence and Leghorn (being about fifty Miles) is full of spacious Fields, and fruitful Valleys, here and there a pleasant Mountain equalizing them for fertility, abundantly furnished with all sorts of delicious Wines, and beautified with many delicate Cities and Towns, and in a word, plentifully stored with all the Benedictions of Nature: The Inhabitants profess the Reman Catholick Religion, and are governed by the Civil Law. The Great Duke•• Dominions may be fitly divided into four Parts, viz. The Cities and Territories; first of Florence, 2. Pisa, 3. Siena, 4. and lastly, the Islands situated in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The Estate of Florence, taketh up the North Part of the Great Duke's Dominions, being bounded on the South by the Territories of Pisa and Siena, and on the North with the Appenine Hills, so called from Florence, the principal City for Beauty and Trade within this Territory. Nicholas Machiavel (that unhappy Man) was once Secretary to the Duke of Florence; who but for publishing that which was frequently practised by Princes, hath intailed an edium upon his Name (for ought any knows) to all Posterity. But to our Business next to be handled, which is the Description and Trade of Florence.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Florence, and the Provinces thereof.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of Tuscany.
• * 1.3

  The Duke of Florence, a great Mer∣chant.