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. LXXXVIII. A View of Moscovia, and the Trade there∣of, reduced into the Trade of Mosco, the Principal City of that large Domini∣on.

MOscovia is bounded on the West with Lituania and Livonia, on the East with Tartary, on the North with the Fro∣zen Ocean, and on the South with the Cas∣pian Sea, the Ottoman Empire and Palus Maeotis, and is Branched with many large and Navigable Rivers, as Tanais, Duino, Boristhenes, Onega, and Volga, and is divided into 9 Provinces, as Novogradia, Valadomi∣ra, Plescovia, Rhesen, Servia, Parmia, Can∣doria, Petrosa, and Moscovia; from whence all the Country takes its Name.

These Provinces abound in Corn, Cat∣tle, Furs, Hides, Flax, Hemp, Whales, Grease, Canvas, Ropes, Cavier, Tallow, Honey, Wax, Venison, Flax, Hemp, and Fish. The Trade being begun by the English about the Year 1575 in general, tho before some Vessels of Private Mer∣chants had Traded thither, and found out the Commodities since so much sought af∣ter;

and upon the increase of Trade in these parts, a Society of Merchants in London, are incorporated by the Name of Muscovia Merchants, having setled a Facto∣ry at Archangel.

Mosco the Metropolis of Moscovia, is Seated on the River Mosca, which falls in to Tanais; this City is reckoned 6 Miles in compass, and is for the most part the imperial Seat, being much Beautifyed since it was Burnt by the Tartars, upon their invading the Moscovite Empire; and here the English Merchants find kind enter∣tainment, unless in Troublesome times, as of late it happened upon the murther of the Czar, in which general Calamity ma∣ny suffered in their Goods; but now things are again reduced to a quiet and setled con∣dition, so that Trade again begins to Flo∣rish, the Country affording great store of Furs, as Beaver, Otter, Sables, White, Black, Red, and Dun Fox-Skins, with many others of the like nature; which are sold by the Timber, Weight, or Tale, be∣ing highly valued of late by the Natives, who perceiving the desire Merchants have for them, learn thereby to set prices on them accordingly.

The Merchants Accounts are kept here Divers ways, as those of England in Ru∣bles

and Pence, called by the Natives Mus∣kofkins, 200 of which make a Ruble, which is rated at 2 Rix Dollars, the Dutch by Rubles, Grevens, and Muscof∣kins, 20 pence being accounted to the Gre∣ven, and 10 Grevens to the Ruble which is only an Imaginary Coyn.

The currant money is the Capeck worth a Stiver Flemish, and something more in value then an English penny, 10 of which make a Greven, whi••h is worth 12 pence Sterling, and the Ruble 10 Shillings Ster∣ling, 3 Capecks is called an Altine, by which name all receipts of Bargain, and contracts are made, 33 Altines and one Capeck making the Ruble.

At Archangel there is exchange practised, and the price of monies Russ as the Plenty or Scarcity will allow, for sometimes the Rubles in exchange pass for 11 Shillings 6 pence Sterling, the Receipts being in August, to return in London about the lat∣ter end of December.

The Weight most in use is the Pood, by which all fine Goods are weighed, as Silk, Beavor, Wool, and the like; but for Gross Goods they have a Weight cal∣led a Berzovet accounted 10 Poods or the Russ Ship-pound computed to be 360 pound Averdupois, so that all Goods bought by

this Weight, are accounted to be 10 per cent. profit, so that many have reck∣oned the Goods so bought to pay the Fraight with over Weight; and all Goods bought by the Pood are reckoned 10 per cent. less.

The Measure of Length is called the Archin, and is accounted 28 English Inch∣es, so that the 100 Archings are suppos∣ed to produce Incirca 78 Yards of London Measure.

Oyl they sell by the Barrel, each Bar∣rel being accounted ½ a Hogshead, and Tar by the Hogs-head; as for Concave Measures I observe, they are but rarely in use by way of Trade, by Reason of the small quantities of Commodities the Empire affords, that are proper to be Measured thereby. Therefore I shall put a conclusion to the Trade of Moscovy, and proceed to a View of Poland.