CHAP. CXV. Of Alicant, and the Trade thereof.
ALicant, seated on the Mediterranean Shore, as Malaga, Almeria, and Cartagena are, is of late years become (by reason of its commodious Road) to be the Scale of the City of Va∣lentia, where the principal Merchants thereof reside, and have here their Factors and Respon∣dents that negotiate their Affairs for them: it affords Wines, Raisins, Licoris, Soda Barillia, Basse ropes, Soaps, hence called Alicant Soaps, Aniseeds, and such.
The Moneys are those of Valentia, see there farther.
Merchants keep their Accounts here in Livers, Solds and Deniers; twelve Deniers make a Soldo, twenty shillings a Liver, which is accounted to be five shillings ster•• as the Soldo three-pence, and the Denier a farthing.
Their known great Weight is a Cargo, which is 10 Roves of 24 l. and of 36 l. to the Rove: the Rove of 24 l. being 18 ounces, and the Rove of 36 l. being twelve ounces, by which is sold Pepper, Rice, Almonds, Cloves, Spices and other Commodities of value.
All gross Commodities are weighed by 24. l. to the Rove, and four to the Quintal, the Cargo making 280 l. Averdupois, and the Quintal making 96 l. in England.
All Sugars, Drugs, and Tin, is weighed by a small Quintal, which is 120 l. of twelve oun∣ces to the pound, which is about 18 or 20 per centum less than the English 112 l.
Soda Barillia carried hence to Venetia to make Glasses, and to Marselia to make hard Shap, hath been found to make a Cantar 133 lib. of Provence: but because this diversity of Weights may seem troublesome to be understood, observe this general Rule, 96 l. of 18 ounces is 144 l. of 12 ounces, and is the great Quintal; 80 l. of 18 ounces is 120 l. of twelve ounces, and is the small Quintal; the difference found is 16 l. of 18 ounces per libram, and 24 l. of twelve ounces l. from the great to the small Quintal.
Their common Measure is the Vare, which is ⅙ less than the English yard.
Their Wine Measure is a Cantaro, which is about 12 quarts English.
Their Corn Measure is a Cassise, about 3 bushels English.
Their Custom is 11 Deniers per centum Liver, which is 4½ per cent. and is payable 8 Deniers to the Duana, and 3 Deniers Sisa, which is paid as well by the buyer as the seller, and as often as any goods are either bought, sold, or bartered, so often is the said Custom paid by buyer and seller 9 per cent. see Valentia farther.
The next is Castile, the most prevalent Province of all Spain, and whence the Spainiards entitle themselves Castilians, and to which all the other are united, either by conquest or intermarriages; it is divided into the New and Old, in which is first the City of Segovia, whence comes our fine Segovia Cloth, made by Woolls that first had their original from our English Sheep. Secondly, Valladolid, an University, which yields no Commodity but English Papistical Fugitives. Next Burges, famous as contending with Toledo for the Primateship of Spain. Next Salamanca, the most Famous Academy of all Spain; these are in Old Castile. In New Castile are found these Cities; first Madrid, the Seat of the Kings of Spain, and from a little Village become a populous and large City: Secondly, Alcala: Thirdly, Alcantara: And lastly the Escurial, built by Philip the Second, and which cost four Millions the Sructure. In