Alicante

Sources from old books

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

ALICANTE seated on the Mediterranean shore, as Mallaga, Almeria, and Cartagena are, is of late yeares become (by reason of its commodious Roade) to bee the Scale of the Citie of Valentia, where the principall Merchants thereof reside, and have here their Factors and Respondents that negociate their affaires for them: it affords Wines, Resins, Licoris, Soda Barillia, basse ropes, Soapes hence called Alicant Soapes, Aniseeds, and such.

The Monies are those of Valentia, see there farther.

Merchants keepe their Accounts here in Livers Solds and Deniers; twelve Deniers make a Soldo, twenty shillings a Liver, which is ac∣counted to be five s. Sterl. as the Soldo three pence, and the Denier a farthing.

Their knowne 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 grosse Commodities are weighed by 24. l. to the Rove, and foure to the Quintall, the Cargo making 280. l. Haberdepois, and the Quintall making 96. l. in England.

All Sugars, Drugges, and Tinne is weighed by a small Quintall which is 120. l. of twelve ounces to the pound, which is about 18. or 20. per centum, lesse than the English 112. l.

Soda Barillia carryed hence to Venetia to make Glasses, and to Marselia to make hard Soape, hath beene found to make a Cantar 133. lib. of Province: but because this diversity of Weights may seeme troublesome to bee understood, observe this generall Rule, 96. li. of 18. ounces is 144. li. of 12. ounces, and is the great Quin∣•…all 80. li. of 18. ounces is 120. li. of twelve ounces and is the small Quintall; the difference found is 16. li. of 18. ounces per libram, and 24. li. of twelve ounces li. from the great to the small Quintar.

Their common Measure is a Vare, which is ⅙ lesse than the En∣glish yard.

Their Wine Measure is a Cantaro, which is about 12. quartes English.

Their Corne Measure is a Caffise, about 3. bushels English.

Their Custome is 11. Deniers per centum Liver, which is 4½ per cent. and is payable 8. Deniers to the Duana, and 3. Deniers Sisa, which •…s paid as well by the buyer as the seller, and as often as any goods •…re either bought, sold, or bartered, so often is the said Custome paid by buyer and seller 9. per cent. see Valentia farther.

The next is Castile, the most prevalent Province of all Spaine, and whence the Spaniards 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 Citie of Sego∣via, whence comes our fine Segovia cloth, made by Wools that first * 1.9 had their originall from our English Sheepe. Secondly, Valiadolid, an University, which yeelds no commodity but English papisticall Fugitives. Next Burges, famous as contending with Toledo for the Primateship of Spaine. Next Salamanca, the most famous Academy of all Spaine; these are in Old Castile. In New Castile are found these Cities, first Madrid the seate of the Kings of Spaine, and from a late Village become a populous and large Citie. Secondly, Alcala. Thirdly, Alcantara. And lastly the Escuriall, built by Philip the Se∣cond and which cost foure millions the structure. In this Tract, I have not observed any eminent Citie of Trading, yet because the whole Country of Spaine in generall hath in many things a depen∣dency upon the rules and orders in matter of Trade belonging hereunto; I will therefore to shorten my Worke as well in the succeeding as in some preceding Townes give you a touch of the Trade hereof under the Title of Madrid or Castile.

1695. Thesaurus geographicus a new body of geography by Abel Swall and Tim. Child.

Alicante, Alone, is a Sea-port Town, wherein a very great Commerce is maintain'd for Wine, and all other kinds of Fruits which the Country affords. It stands on the Foot of a Mountain, on which a strong Castle is erected, at the distance of 42 Miles North-east of Murcia, and 60 South of Valencia. The Road is extremely convenient for all sorts of small Vessels, in regard that this Haven not being very deep, cannot receive those of a larger size.