The merchants mappe of commerce wherein, the universall manner and matter of trade, is compendiously handled. The standerd and currant coines of sundry princes, observed. The reall and imaginary coines of accompts and exchanges, expressed. The naturall and artificiall commodities of all countries for transportation declared. The weights and measures of all eminent cities and tovvnes of traffique, collected and reduced one into another; and all to the meridian of commerce practised in the famous citie of London. By Lewes Roberts, merchant. Necessary for all such as shall be imployed in the publique affaires of princes in forreigne parts; for all gentlemen and others that travell abroad for delight or pleasure, and for all merchants or their factors that exercise the art of merchandizing in any part of the habitable world.

CHAP. CCXX.

Of Mosco and the trade thereof.

MOSCO is the Metropolis of all this * 1.1 large kingdome, to the which the Em∣perour some yeares past repaired, as most fit for the government of so large an Empire, accounted the midst of all his dominions. It is pleasantly seated on the river Mosca, running into Tanais, where it loseth its name, and passing Assow, disgorgeth it selfe into the Palus Meotis, & so to the Euxine. About fiftie yeares past, it was esteemed ten miles in circuit, and in its height of greatnesse then burned by the Tartars, wherein 80000 persons were consumed, and since reduced to five miles compasse, beauti∣fied with 16 Churches, some of stones, some of timber and earth, and with the Palace of the great Duke situated in the very heart thereof, enriched with the branches of two rivers for use and ornament, which water two strong forts that defend the place. At the Abby of S. Nicholas the Patron of this country upon the river of * 1.2

Dunia, or Obby, the English Merchants use to land, and thence dis∣perse themselves to Smalensko, Novo groad, hither and into all the o∣ther parts of this vast Empire, amongst whom they finde kinde en∣tertainment, and by the favour of the Prince, have larger immu∣nities granted unto them than to anyother nation, their traffiquing attributed to the never dying fame of Queene Elizabeth in whose dayes the trade was here first setled; and to the plausible behaviour of the English Merchants ingenerall.

The Merchants here are observed to keepe their accounts in seve∣rall * 1.3 manner; some, as the English, by Rubbles and pence, or as the in∣habitants terme them, Muskofkins, 200 whereof making a Rubble, which is accounted 2 Rix Dollers. Some againe, as the Dutch, and other nations, by Rubbles, Grevens, and Moskofkins or pence, accoun∣ting 20 pence to a greven, and ten grevens to a Rubble, which is most in use here, this Rubble being found an imaginary coyne, & not reall.

The currant monies here is a Capecke, in value a stiver Flemish, and * 1.4 somewhat more than an English peny: for ten Capeckes is a grevene, which the English call 12 pence sterlin, because that ten grevens is a Rubble, which is 10 shillings sterlin. Three Capeckes they call an Al∣tine, by which name all receipts and payments are made in bargai∣ning and contracts, 33 Altines and one Capecke making a Rubble.

At Archangel is found practised amongst the Merchants an Ex∣change * 1.5 for Monies, rising and falling, according as the Russe Monies are observed to be plentifull or scarce: the English sometimes a∣mong themselves giving 11 shillings, and 11 shillings 6 pence sterlin in England for the Rubble here; and the monies commonly taken there in August, to be paid in London the last of December following.

The weight of Moscovia common in use is the Pood for fine goods, * 1.6 and the Bercovet for grosse goods, the one being derived from the other.

By the Pood is weighed Silke Bever-wooll, Yefts, &c. and is accoun∣ted for 40 pound Russe weight: and three pood hath been observed to make 112 pound English, which by this computation should make 37⅓, pound haberdupois, and all goods there bought by the pood is 10 per cent. losse in England.

By the Bercovet is weighed Tallow, Hempe, Cable-yarne, Coile, or Lard-ropes, and all grosse commodities, and is a Russe Ship-pound: 10 poods makes a Bercovet, which makes 360 pounds sutle haberdu∣pois, so that all goods being bought there by the Bercovet or Ship-pound is held 10 per cent. profit: for commonly the English Mer∣chants reckon the over-weight to pay the fraight of the same goods so bought.

The measure in length here generally used, is called an Archine, * 1.7 being a Brabant ell and ½ a nayle, or something more than •…•…of an English yard, reckoned by the English Merchants there resident two per cent. more, and may be in circa 28 inches, so that the 100 Archines may produce in London 77 in 78 yards, and the 100 yards bee here 128•…•… Archine, or thereabout.

The native commodities of this countrey in generall I have alrea∣dy * 1.8 nominated, it will not be amisse I should more particularly view them and the ordinarie rates they carry in price, together with the particular markes whereby their goodnesse and qualitie is discer∣ned.

Their most precious commodities and merchandise hence expor∣ted by forraignenations, are their rich Furres, the principall is the Sables, bought commonly by the Tymber, which containes 40 skins, * 1.9 which must be large and well coloured, and are found of all prices, as in goodnesse, from 15 to 20•…•… Robbles the Tymber.

Black Fox skins is knowne amongst all Northerne Merchants for the richest Furre in the world, and is here found in great store, bea∣ring * 1.10 price as in largenesse and growth from 5 to 200 Robbles peece.

Otter skins are here found plenty, by reason of the many rivers of * 1.11 this countrey, accounted the region of springs and streames, sold by the Tymber of 40 skins, from 5 Robbles to 40 Robbles the Tymber.

Minikins are also sold by the Tymber of 40 skins, and commonly sold about 6 Robbles the Timber. * 1.12

Martins are also sold by the tymber of 40 skins about 15 Robbles the * 1.13 tymber, rising as found in richnesse of haire.

Ermins sold also by the Tymber of 40 skins, about 2 Robbles per * 1.14 tymber.

Grawerte or Squirrels sold by the thousand, as in goodnesse from 14 Robbles to 30 Robbles the thousand. * 1.15

Red Foxes by the 10 skins, at 12 to 15 Nobbles the 10 skins. * 1.16

White Foxes by the piece about 5 Altins the piece.

Dun Foxes by the piece, about 40 Altins the piece,

Sable rands sold by the paire, from 2 to 6 Robbles the paire.

Bever wooll is a Staple commoditie also of this kingdome, and sold by the pound about 2•…•… Robbles per pound. * 1.17

Bever Wombes also by the pound, being a thin skin & well grown, is commonly worth 1½ Robble per pound.

These are the ordinary Furres which their Northerne clymate affoords for Merchandise, the next found here are these.

Yellow Wax is here found made by the industry of the Bee and hands of man in great aboundance, sold by the pood, which is 40 * 1.18 pound here, the hardest and best coloured beares price here com∣monly about 4 in 5 Robbles the pood.

Tallow is sold by the Berquet, which is 10 poode, being clean white * 1.19 and hard about 7 in 8 Robles the berquet.

Tarre is sold by the Hogshead, being thicke as the best is common∣ly * 1.20 worth () per Hogshead of () gallons English.

Trayne oyle is sold by the Barrel, which is halfe a hogshead, and discer∣ned * 1.21 by its clearnesse without grounds, and of a whitish colour a∣bout 4 robble per Barrel of gallons English.

Hempe is sold by the berquet of 10 poods being cleane and greene * 1.22 beares price commonly from 3 to 5 Robles the 10 pood.

Flax is sold by the Bercovet the bright silver colour is held the best, * 1.23 commonly about 7 robbles the Bercovet.

Cable yarne is sold by the Bercovet, and being well spun, round and * 1.24 not too much twisted from 67½ robble the Bercovet.

Coyles or Tard ropes by the Bercovet about 7 robbles the Bercovet: * 1.25 where note, that the English and other nations hither trading, buy here great quantity of Hempe, and spin it out there into yarn, to save the charges of fraight: every 1000 pood doth cost about 100 or 110 robbles charges; and if the hempe prove good, there is found neere •…•…losse, if bad, so much more, and worth, being in Cable yarne, as I said above from 6 to 7•…•… robbles the Bercovet.

Dryed Cow-hides being large and weightie, are sold by the hun∣dred * 1.26 hide, worth from 40 to 44 robbles the hundred.

Red Evits by the paire at 2½ rubbles per paire, and sometimes sold * 1.27 by the pood, at 40 robbles per pood: and note that the white are com∣monly worst esteemed b•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in price.

Losh hides are sold by the piece, the largest and not worm-eaten * 1.28 is the best, from 6 grevens to 5 rubbles the piece, as in goodnesse.

Duckes feathers sold by the pood, as in goodnesse from 3 to 5 rubble, * 1.29 the pood.

Caviare is also a principall commoditie here sold by the pood, and * 1.30 commonly worth 40 Altines the pood.

Course Linnen is made here in great quantitie sold by the 1000 Ar∣chine * 1.31 of ½ yard, and ¼ the broad from 15 to 20 robbles the 1000 Ar∣chine, as it is found in finenesse. Some other commodities this coun∣trey affoordeth which I omit, as of no great consequence.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mosco and the trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  S. Nicholas.
• * 1.3

  Accounts in Moscovia.
• * 1.4

  Co•…•…nes currant in Moscovia.
• * 1.5

  Exchange at Archangell.
• * 1.6

  Waight of Mescovia.
• * 1.7

  Measures in Moscovia.
• * 1.8

  Commodities of Moscovia.
• * 1.9

  Sables.
• * 1.10

  Black Fox.
• * 1.11

  Otters.
• * 1.12

  Minikins.
• * 1.13

  Martins.
• * 1.14

  Ermins.
• * 1.15

  Squirels.
• * 1.16

  Foxes red and white and dun.
• * 1.17

  Bever.
• * 1.18

  Bee Wax.
• * 1.19

  Tallow.
• * 1.20

  Tarre.
• * 1.21

  Traine.
• * 1.22

  Hempe.
• * 1.23

  Flax.
• * 1.24

  Cable yarne.
• * 1.25

  Coiles.
• * 1.26

  Cowe hides.
• * 1.27

  Evyts.
• * 1.28

  Losh hids.
• * 1.29

  Feathers.
• * 1.30

  Caviar.
• * 1.31

  Linnens.