Sivill

Sources from old books

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

Of Sivill, and the Trade thereof.

SIVILL is accounted the fairest Citie of all Spaine, in compasse sixe miles, invironed with beautifull Walles, and adorned with many stately buildings; as Pallaces, Churches, and Monasteries; one whereof is endowed with 25000. Crownes annuall rent. The river Baetis divides it into two parts, yet joyned by a stately Bridge: from hence the Spaniards set out towards the Westerne India, and hither returne againe to unlade the riches of those Westerne parts of the world, which principally are found to bee Silver, Tobacco, Ginger, Cottons, Sugars, Brasill, and Ferinand Bucquewood, and some Drugges. Here is 30000. Genets maintained continually for the King of Spaine his service; and the Trade of this place is of that greatnesse, that some are of opinion, the Customes of this Towne onely is wo•…th unto the King halfe a million of gold yearely; and the Archbishop of Sivill is held so rich, that his rent amounts to 100000 Crownes yearely, and hath under his Jurisdiction 2000 small Villages, and consequently, in his whole Diocese 2000. Benefices, besides Frieries, Nunneries and Hospitals, and esteemed the next in degree to him of Toledo: the rarities of this place I willingly omit as well knowne to our Nation.

In Sivill, Madera, &c. the Merchants keepe their Accounts by Marvides, of which 375. are esteemed to make a Duccat of Exx^o of 11. Rialls, every Riall being 37. Mal. and so is but 374. Mal. But our English there resident keepe their Accounts in Rialls of 34. Mal. the Riall.

Their currant monies are these,

A Duccat of Gold of Sivill is worth 375. Marvides accounted 5. s. 6. d. Ster.

A Riall of Castile is worth in Sivill 34. Marvides. and is so worth throughout all Spaine, which is accounted 6. d. Sterling. money.

A Dobra currant is worth of Carlin money 〈◊〉 Marvides; every 1000. Dobras are 80. V. 888. Marvides, and is accounted in Merchandise 71. Mar. and is worth in Valentia at even hand 4. Sold. 7. Den. 1/10 of Valentia money without charges of Exxch.

A Dobra of Castile is worth 375. Marvides, or is as above a Duccat of Gold.

A Castiliane of Merchandise is worth 485. Mervides, about 7. s. Sterl. Vide monies in Castile currant in all Spaine.

Their Exx^o. are made upon the imaginary Duccat of 375. Mar. payable in banco with five per centum, which is the Bancos salary, or without the banco to bee paied without the same; and this Duccat is commonly tearmed Ducato de Oro, or de Peso; and is worth, as above, 375. Mervides. In Sivill they make their payments as following, if you say in Ducate di Oro or ae Castilia upon banco, those are then paid in banco without losse at all, but if you say to bee paid in so many Duccats Doro in Pistolets forth of banco, they will pay in the said money; but if it be said to pay in Carlins, it will cost, and sometime ¼ per centum losse. But because I have at large in the Tract of Exchanges in the Chapters 294. and 426. treated of the Exchange of this place, therefore I will (to avoid repetition) referre the Reader thereunto for further and ampler satisfaction.

There is used in Sivill three Weights or Kintars: as first, the smaller which comprehends 112. l. of foure Roves of 28. pounds a Rove.

The next is of 120. l. of foure Roves of 30. l. to a Rove.

The last is the great, of 144. l. of 4. Roves of 36. l. a Rove, which last is accounted the common Kintar of Sivill, upon which these observations have beene made, which for the certainety I referre to triall:

100. l. in Sivill have been found to make in

• London—102. l.
• Marselia—113
• Venetia Sotile—152
• Venetia Grosse—96
• Sicilia—56½
• Lisborne—90 ½
• Florence—129½
• Antwerpe—98
• Lions—97
• Dansicke—117
• Genoa Grosse—100

Woolles of Sivill is commonly heere bought about Michaelmas, and they pay ½ ready money, ⅙ at Christmas, and have from March to May for payment of the rest, of which heere is great quantity provided.

Silke is bought at Almaria, commonly worth 28. Pesanti the l. Morisco, which is 18. s. Florence, for which place it is bought, and this it will cost 1020. Mar. the said pound which is 30. Rials, which is performed betweene Iune and October, the best time being from Iuly to August by reason of the heate, for after that the weight of silke will encrease.

And as for other Commodities heere found besides Wooll and Silke, it cannot properly bee said to bee the Commodities of the place, but for the most are comprehended under the naturall Commodities imported from the West Indies, of which this is the principall Port and Scale in Europe, and as a Countrey intirely challenged by the Spaniards.

Their common measure in Sivill is the Vare, which hath beene observed,

The 100. Vares to make in

• London—elles—74
• Anvers—123
• Frankford—154
• Dansicke—102
• Vienna—107
• Lions—a.—75
• Paris—al.—70
• Genoa—Pal.—336
• Roven—al.—74
• Lisborne—V.—74
• Madera—Br.—76
• Venetia—133
• Lucca—148
• Florence—151
• Millan—170

Oile is bought here by the Rove, 64. Roves is in Venita one Miara, 40. or 41. Roves makes a Pipe, a Rove is 8. Somer, a Somer is 4. Quartiles, and a Quartile is ⅙ of a Stoope of Antwerpe, and 2. Pipes or 81. Roves is 25. or 26. Florence Barrels, or 252. Gall. Gallons of English measure, but Sivill gage is accounted but of these Pipes 236. Gallons, at 118. Gallons the Pipe.

Corne is measured and sold by the Caffise, which is 28. Staos of Florence, and makes Bushels English ()

Note that S. Lucar is the Sea Port of this Citie, whereto all shippes of burthen doe first come and there lade and unlade, and where the Officers of the Custome-house doe come aboord to take notice of the goods both landed and laden for the Citie of Sivill, where the Custome-house is,

The Customes of Sivill are great, and arise upon some goods to 10. 15. 20. and upon most to 25. per cent which I must referre to the better experienced; onely it is noted by some that have treated of the Kings of Spaine's Revenues, that the Custome-house yearely of this Citie doth yeeld him, as I said before, halse a million of Gold.

To proceede, in the precinct of Corduba lies Andalusia, wherein I finde Sivill to be seated. Secondly Granado, wherein the Citie of Granado, Mallaga, and Almaria principall Cities are situated: and lastly, Estremadura, wherein I finde onely Merida for a Citie of note, but not of Trade: therefore a word of the two former, Granado and Mallaga, better knowne to the English.