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. CCXXVII.

Of Rhiga and the trade thereof.

RHIGA is the principall Citie of Livonia, or Liffland, * 1.1 seated neere the Emboseure of the river Dunia, strengthened with an exceeding strong wall, many Ordnance to defend it against all enemies, and bor∣dering upon the Liffeland sea: it was formerly the chiefe residence of the Tentonick Knights, and then and now rein∣forced by the Garison of Dunmund, accounted one of the impregna∣ble fortes of this Northerne clymate, where all shippes entring are searched, and pay a certaine Toll, or Dutie: the inhabitants curious for the preservation of their libertie, acknowledge the King of Po∣land for their Protector, to whom they pay a yearly contribution, but else are governed by their owne ancient lawes and priviledges which they enjoyed from the Knights their old masters, at the resig∣nation of this countrey to that King.

The commodities of this Countrey for merchandising and expor∣tation, * 1.2 is Corne, and graine of all sorts, Hempe, Flaxe, Hony, Waxe, Rosen, Tarre, Horses, and all sorts of rich Furres, as Martins, Ermins, Sables, Bevers, and the like, not wanting any necessary for nourish∣ment save Wine and Oyle, which forraine nations doe bring them.

The weight in use is the pound, 20 pound whereof makes a Lispound, * 1.3 and 20 Lispound makes a Ship-pound, and 12 Ship-pound being 4000 pound, is accounted a Last of Rie both here and at Nerva, and the 100 pound of London hath been observed to make here 116 pound.

The measure is the Ell agreeing with the Ell in use in Revel, Co∣ninxburgh, * 1.4 and Nerva, 100 yards London making 166½ in circa.

The coines and accounts differ not much here in value from the * 1.5 others before mentioned, yet found to differ in appellation: for the Rix Doller, and the Marke Lupes is here all one, which makes two Swedens or common Markes, and one Sweden is 8 Lups shillings: one Lups is 2 shillings, one shilling is 12 pence, and one peny is two hellers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rhiga and the trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of Rhiga.
• * 1.3

  Weights of Rhiga.
• * 1.4

  Measures of Rhiga.
• * 1.5

  Coines in Rhiga.