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CHAP. CCL.
Of Rhodes, and the trade thereof.
THE same of this Iland and Citie is suf∣ficiently knowne through Europe; and * 1.1 the valour of the ancient Knights the masters thereof sufficiently restified, in the defence thereof; it now (in matter of traffique) by reason of the commodious harbour and situation dai∣ly increaseth, and many Merchants Christians are found to frequent the place by day; but must by night get lodging in the suburbs, so fearfull are the Turkes of the losse or sur∣prisall of this place, which cost them so much blood in the gai∣ning.
This Citie is a Mart for most of the commodities of the Arches, as of Corne, Wines, Oyles, Rasins, Wax, Honey, Cordivants, some cotton * 1.2 woolls, and yarne and stuffes made thereof, as Dimitties, Vermilion, and as also some Damaskes and other stuffes of silke, &c.
Their accounts are kept in aspers, onely amounting by increase, after the manner of the great Turkes treasures, to hundred and * 1.3 thousand, and so to Loads or cargo, which is 100000 aspers.
Their Movies is the same as throughout Turkie, all other coines being rather esteemed here as a commoditie than a coyne: for they * 1.4 rise and fall according to contract, so that in all bargaines here, the price of the money by the buyer as well as the price of the commo∣dity by the seller, must be agreed upon.
Their weight is a Rotolo: the quintar is 100 Rotolos, which Roto∣lot 100 doe make in England 536 l', and by consequence the Rotolo of * 1.5 Rhodes is haberdupois 5l' 6℥. in circa, and hath made in Venice 800 l' sotle, and 506 l' grosse by observation; and in Genoa hath made 762 pound sotle, in Florence 701 pound, in Rome 676 pound, in Rhagu∣sa 666 pound.
Their measure is a Cone which is about 84 inches English. Other * 1.6 notes have not come to my hands, therefore from hence I will saile to Candia, anciently Creete.