The present state of England. Part III. and Part IV. containing I. an account of the riches, strength, magnificence, natural production, manufactures of this island, with an exact catalogue of the nobility, and their seats, &c., II. the trade and commerce within it self, and with all countries traded to by the English, as at this day established, and all other matters relating to inland and marine affairs : supplying what is omitted in the two former parts ...

CHAP. LXXXI. A View of Strasburg, and the Trade thereof.

STrasburg is an Imperial free City, Seat∣ed upon a fair Plain, about a furlong from the River Rhine, over which they have lay'd a Bridge, and a Channel cut which conveys Ships and Boats to the City, which is 8 Miles in compass, adorned with many stately Buildings; and amongst the rest a Cathedral, whose Steeple is for cu∣rious Architect accounted one of the 7 Wonders of the World, and by Reason of the Generosity of the Inhabitants towards Strangers, there is great resort thither, especially of Lutherans, Calvinists, &c. but above all it abounds in Handicrafts or Ar∣tizans

who find great incouragement, and by their Labour is the common Stock improved; tho since its falling into the Hands of the French King, they have not proceeded with such Alacrity as formerly, by Reason of the little assurance they have of keeping what they acquire by their La∣bour.

The Commodities Traded for hither are Linnen Cloath, Iron, Diaper, Rhenish Wine, Copper, Wax, and Hemp, for which they receive out of England Tinn, Lead, and Woollen Cloath; out of Spain Fruits▪ Wines, Oyls, Salt, and Wool; and out of Italy Silks, both Raw and wrought.

The Weights are two, viz. the Gross and Suttle, where upon Tryal it has been found, that the 100 pound Suttle of London has made Incirca 70 in 71 of the Gross of Stras∣burg, which Gross Weight is 16 Ounces to the pound, and the Suttle but 12 Ounces, by the latter of which all Indian Com∣modities are weighed, as Nutmegs, Cloves, Cinnamond, Drugs of all sorts, Indicoes and rich Dies. The Measure of length is the Ell, which is about 38 English Inches; as for Concave Measures they use but few, and those the same with other Cities of the Empire, of which anon I shall have occasion to speak.

The currant Coyn is the Bobemico, Gross, or Blaphace, which is 3 Crutfers, one Crutfer being 2 pence, one penny 2 Hel∣lers, and one Heller 2 Orchines. And in these Coyns all the Accounts are kept.