CHAP. CLXVIII. Of Mantua, and the Trade thereof.
* 1.1MAntua hath some other Cities of quality subject thereto, but being debarred from the Sea, and environed with potent Neighbours that hinder the Commerce thereof; I will therefore reduce what I have collected more-worthy to the City of Mantua it self, which is a very fair and strong Town, environed on three parts with a Lake of good breadth, and with a strong Wall on the rest; through this Lake runneth a River that leadeth into the Po, which is a famous stream in these parts, and much enricheth this Country, and furthers the Trade of this Dutchy.
* 1.2The chief Commodities of this Dukedom are certain Fabricks of Silks, such as are Taffetaes, Sattins, Camlets watered, and the like.
* 1.3Their Accompts are kept in Livres, Sols, and Deniers, 12 Deniers make a Sol, and 20 Sols a Livre, 5 of which Livres make a Ducate of Gold large 9. 12 Sol making a Ducatoon of Man∣tua, or 115 Sols of Millan, which is accounted (…) Sterl.
* 1.4They weigh in Mantua by a Peso, and by the 1000 l. 25 l. being the Peso, and 100 l. the Quintal, which hath made in Venice Suttle 108 l. and Venice Gross 66⅔ l. in Florence 98 l. and in London by Observation of some, 71 l. Averdupois.
* 1.5Their Measure of length is the Brace, which doth agree with the Cloth-brace of Venice within a small matter.
Corn is sold by the Staio, 100 whereof are in Venetia 40 Staios, and 1 Staios weighs about 80 l. of Mantua weight.
* 1.6In this Dukedom is also Aste, where is yearly kept a great and notable Fair for many sorts of Merchandise, where many Immunities are granted to Merchants, during the time that the said Fair doth continue, and is held in the beginning of September: and thus much I have observed of this Dutchy.