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CHAP. CLXXIII. Of Legorn, and the Trade thereof.
* 1.1LEgorn is situated on a sandy Plain, close to the Sea-side, it hath an inward Mould where the Grand Duke of Tuscany's Gallies are kept, and some small Vessels permitted to Ride, and is accounted the strongest modern City in the Mediterranean Seas, purchased not many years past for 120000 Ducates of the Genoese, by the Duke of Tuscany, who re∣edifying, or rather building a new City to the old, new fortified and walled the same, giving safe Conduct to all Men of what quality and degree soever to live here, so that at the first it was a Sanctuary for all Thieves, Pirats, Murtherers, and wicked Rascals; and because here was also granted a liberty in Conscience, the Town was also stored with all Religions: but as the City became populous, and Merchants being granted a freedom in Customs, the place became in a short time to be filled with Inhabitants; and to add to these Immunities, there were Dwellings for seven years given to any that would come hither to reside, and all such should be free from all Arrests or Punishments for Acts committed in all other Countries, of what nature soever they were found to be; and by these means at first, and since by the incouragement of the Great Duke of Tuscany, it is become one of the principal Towns of Trade in all those Seas, and is properly accounted the Scale of the Florentine Dominions. In matters of Commerce it is ruled by Pisa and Florence, which are the principal Cities of this Dutchy, and which yield the Commodities that drives the Traffick of this place; the principal Notes that I observed at my being in this place in several Voyages, are as followeth.
* 1.2Their Accompts are kept in Livres, Sols and Deniers, 12 Denters to a Soldo, and 20 Soldo accounted to a Livre, which is Nine Pence Sterling.
* 1.3Their Monies are those of Florence, which current is the Ducate of 10½ Julios, or of seven Livres, which is five Shillings three Pence Sterling, and a Scudo or Crown of Gold is 7½ Li∣vres, and one Crown of Gold, in Gold, or as they say, De Oro in Oro, is 8 Livres.
Also Note, That 12 Craches make a Livre, which is 9 d.
8 Craches make a Julio, which is 6 d. Sterling.
5 Quadrins make a Crache, ••0 Quadrins a Livre.
3 Quadrins make a Sol.
Mote, That the Craches are ½ Silver, and the Quadrine Copper.
To bring Ducates of Florence of seven Livres the Ducate into Crowns of Gold of Florence of 7½ Jul. per Crown, Divide by 15, and Subtract the Quotient from the sum divided, and the remainder is your demand.
Again, to bring Crowns of Gold of Florence of 7½ Jul. into Ducates of 7 Livres, divide by 4, and the Quotient added to the sum divided will answer your desire.
There is ever found between the Monies of Florence and the Money of Legorn, a Lagio, which being both subject to one Prince is conceived by some, that the same may be removed by Merchants if they would endeavour it, but they that are well versed in the Trade of this place hold the contrary Opinion, therefore I will omit the Reasons given on both sides, and advise him that hath Monies in Florence, and is resident in Legorn, to make the best use there∣of, and take the benefit of the Lagio as the current rate will permit him, till the business may be better rectified, and the Controversie by an equality may be decided and determined.
* 1.4The Weights are the same as in Florence, the Pound 12 Ounces, and the Quintal is 100 l. which is English 75 l. but some Commodities are found to be sold by the Quintal of 150 l. which is 113 l. English, and some by a Quintal of 160 l. as Fish, Woolls, and which is 121 l. English, the English 112 l. making about 147½ l. of this place.* 1.5
Note that 150 l. is here a Kintar of Allom, and is 113⅞ l.
151 l. makes a Kintar of Sugar, is 114⅓ l. English.
1••0 l. makes a Kintar of Fish, is 121½ l. English.
100 l. is a Kintar of all other Commodities, and is 75 11/12 l. English, and is 108 l. in Genoua.
* 1.6The Measure of this place is the Brace, 4 Braces making a Cane, 50 Canes is 200 Braces, and found to agree with the English; 1 Brace of Florence is 23 Inches English (of 12 to a Foot) so that 100 Braces makes ••0 Yards, 48 Ells.
Their Corn and Salt measure is a Stare, 3 Stares is a Sack, and 3⅔ Sacks is a Salmo: or 41 Stares is a Salmo, and this Salmo i•• accounted a London Quarter.
Also they have another Measure called a Maggio, which is 8 Sacks or 24 Stares is a Maggio, and a Stare of good Corn hath been noted to weigh 50 l. in Legorn.
* 1.7From England is vended here Bays, Says, Serges, Cloths, Perpetuanoes, Lead, Tin, Calves-Skins, Hides, Oistracan-Hides, Salt, Salmon, Pilchards, Cavear, Herrings, Tallow, also Pep∣per, Ginger, Mace, Cloves, Nutmegs, Indico, and such Indian Commodities.