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. CXCI. Of Frankfort, and the Trade thereof.

* 1.1FRankfort is a Free City of the Empire, famous for the common Assemblies here of the Ele∣ctors for the choice of the Emperour, and for their two annual Fairs, as also for many Parliaments of the Empire held here. It is seated upon the Maene, which runneth through the same, dividing the City into two parts, which are united by a goodly Bridge. It is strong∣ly incompassed with a double Wall, and is seated in a large Plain, the Streets narrow, and the Houses built of Timber and Clay: here is in this Town Sanctuary for Bankrupts for the space of 14 days, which is never without some Guests and Company, from some one adjoin∣ing City or other: and if in those 14 days they cannot compound or escape, then by all wiles they will get out of the Privileges thereof, and entring in again, begin their 14 days over again; and thus are found to do for six Months or a Year together. There is found, in their Marts or Fairs, a great Trade and Concourse of Merchants, but it is principally famous for Books, which from all parts of Europe are brought hither, printed and dispersed hence, the Town consisting much upon Printing and other manual Arts. The VVeights and Measures in use are,

* 1.2The VVeight of this Place is the Pound of 16 ounces, of which are made 3 several Hundreds or Quintals, which agree with that of Heidelberg before-mentioned; and as that also with London, Lipsick, Friburg, Ulm, Iffan, Isuff, Basle, Costute and Domstetter, holding also in each of the said Towns the same Concordancy, therefore here needs no further Repetition.

* 1.3Frankfort is found to have two several Measures of Length, the Woollen and Linen Ell, differ∣ing about 2 per cent. so that the 100 Ells for Linen here, gives in London 48 Ells, and the 100 Ells in Woollen gives about 49 Ells London: and the 100 Yards of London renders here of Line•• 169 Ells, and of Wollen 168¼ incirca.

* 1.4The Exchanges here practised are great, which I have handled in Chapter 298. at large, with all due Circumstances.

* 1.5The sixth Province is Helvetia, wherein are contained the 13 Cantons of the warlike Switsers, preserving their Liberties by their Valour, notwithstanding their potent Neighbours. The chief of their Cities are Zurick. 2 Basil, an University. 3 Constance, famous for the Council here held Anno 1414. 4 Berne. 5 Upbaden, the ordinary place for the common Assembly of the said Cantons. 6 Lucern, and others, and of the Trade of the principal of these, a word in passing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Frankfort, and the Trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  Weights of Frankfort.
• * 1.3

  Measures of Frankfort.
• * 1.4

  Exchanges of Frankfort.
• * 1.5

  Helvetia.