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. CLXXXII. Of Germany, and the Provinces thereof.

* 1.1HAving briefly run through Flanders, and the United Provinces, and reduced the Trade thereof into two principal Cities, that is to Antwerp for Flanders, and the other Pro∣vin••es subject to the Spaniards; and to Amsterdam for Holland, and the other Cities subject to the States. I must be constrained in a manner to use the same method in the Survey of the Trade of Germany, reducing their Traffick of the lesser to the greater Cities; the greatest being also not much known to our Nation for any Eminency this way, as being in-land, to which our English (whose Traffick principally consists at Sea, and consequently in Maritime Towns) have but little knowledg of, though otherwise eminent, as being far distant from it. * 1.2Ger∣many then is bounded on the West with France and Belgium, on the North with Demnark and her Seas, on the East with Prussia, Poland, and Hungary, and on the South with the Alpes.

* 1.3This Country doth afford to the Merchant for Transportation many notable Commodities, as Silver, Copper, Tin, Iron and Lead, by their Mines; Corn, Wines, Allom, Quick-silver; Arms of all sorts, divers Manufactures, as Linen, Woollen, Silks, &c. and sundry other Commodities.

* 1.4Three sorts of Cities are said to be contained in this Empire; the first are those that are called Hans-Towns, which are such as enjoy large Privileges and Immunities, and are thought to be about 72 in number, and for the most part are found either to border upon the Seas, or be seated upon great and navigable Rivers, being for the most part rich, and of reasonable Commerce and Trade, or famous and noted for some one particular Art, Fabrick or Manu∣facture.

* 1.5The second sort are called Imperial Cities, and accounted free in respect of their great Prerogatives, as in coining of Moneys, and knowing no Lord, but ruled by the Imperial Laws; for which they acknowledge and pay a Contribution yearly to the Emperour, whom they ac∣count their Protector, and these are found to be about 60 in number.

* 1.6The third are such as are held by inheritance by some Princes, as are Heidelberg, Vienna, and others, of which are accounted in this Empire incirca (…) and may be called Princi∣palities.

There is also found in this Empire conducing to Traffick (besides the lesser) four great na∣vigable Rivers, that enrich these Hans-Towns, Imperials and Principalities, communicating the Commodities of one City to another, and at last to the Sea-Ports, where the same is last of all vended into forein Kingdoms.

* 1.7The prime whereof is Danubius, which in running 1500 Miles, doth receive above 60 na∣vigable Rivers, and disgorgeth it self into the Euxine or Black-Sea.

* 1.8The second is the Rhyne, running 800 Miles through Germany and Belgia, disgorgeth i•• self into the German Ocean; * 1.9taking in Albis, which is accounted navigable for 400 Miles, (and some others) and is the third River of this Countrey.

* 1.10The fourth is Odera, running 300 Miles in length, issueth out in the Baltick-Sea. Besides which there are many others of note, as Weser, Emse and others, in themselves found to be great Rivers, enriching divers parts of this Countrey, tho far inferiour to the former.

* 1.11Lastly, this Empire is found to contain 20 large Provinces, which by reason of my little Insight therein, I will cursorily pass over, and refer the same wherein I am defective to the better learned. East-Frisland is accounted the first Province, wherein are found the Cities of Oldenberg, Ammerdam, and lastly Emden, which, for its former eminency in Trade I cannot so slightly pass over without a word of the Trade thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Germany, and the Provinces.
• * 1.2

  Germany bounded.
• * 1.3

  Commodities of Germany.
• * 1.4

  Hans-Towns 72.
• * 1.5

  Imperial Cities 60.
• * 1.6

  Principalities.
• * 1.7

  Danubius.
• * 1.8

  Rhyne.
• * 1.9

  Albis.
• * 1.10

  Adera.
• * 1.11

  East-Frisland.