Barselona

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of Barselona, and the Trade thereof.

BARSELONA is seated on the Mediterranean shore, and entering into that Golfe which is so terrible to Navigators. In these parts called The Golfe of Lions, it hath a reasonable commodious and safe Harbour, and the Citizens doe winterly enlarge and lengthen the same by adding to their Moulde, that shippes of burthen may come within the same: what I observed here Anno 1618. I will briefly declare.

Their monies current in Merchandise, besides the Riall of Castile, is a Liver which passeth heere at 20. sold. and a Duccat of Gold of Castile is worth 24. sold. of the said money, and the soldo is twelve Deniers of that money, wherein they are found to keepe their Ac∣counts.

Their Cantar is a 100. lib. which is English 92. lib. or thereabouts, and hath made by observation in

• Florence—123. l.
• Genoa—130
• Valentia—106 〈◊〉
• Marselia—104
• Venetia Sotle—140

Their Measure is a Canne consisting of eight Palmes and hath beene found to make three Braces in Florence, and in England found to produce 1 〈◊〉 Yards English, and in Naples hath been found to make 6⅓ Palmes.

Corne is sould by a Measure called the Quarter, one Salmo is foure Quarters, sould alwayes free of all Customes, 2½ Quarters making a Carga or loade, which is accounted 360. li. as is that Carga mentio∣ned aforegoing in Valentia.

Woolles are sould by the Rove, which is 30. li. making 26▪. li. of Venetia grosse, whither the same is commonly transported, and in Florence 36. lib.

All grosse goods are sould by the Carga, accounted 3. Kintars, which is 440. li. sutle of Venetia, and 278. li. grosse there, which is 372. li. in Florence, and hath beene found to make English 300. lib. Haberdepois.

In this Province lieth also Tortosa a fine small Citie, but the prin∣cipall of the Inhabitants being accounted as Moores were some yeares before my being here banished this Country, and therefore most places lies waste, and many Villages are here along found without inhabitants, and the grounds to want laborers.

The next Province is Arragon, wherein is Tarragon, a fine and hansome Citie, but by the banishment of many of the inhabitants, as above is said, now made poore: in my being there in 1618. I found it most to consist in making of silke, here bought and car∣ried to Valentia to be wrought: The principall Citie hereof is Sa∣ragosa, which should challenge a more particular relation, as being commodiously seated for traffique on the bankes of the River of Ebro, but being an Universitie, it were too great an honour for an inland towne to produce famous Schollers and em inent Merchants, yet in the currant coynes, it is observed to rule as in Valentia: and because there is found practised here a great Exchange, I have in∣serted the same by it selfe, Chapter 292. in the end of this tract, with all circumstances thereunto apertaining. And these are all the principall Cities of traffique found at this day comprised with∣in the Kingdome of Spaine.