CHAP. VIII. A view of Scotland, and the Trade thereof in General, together with the Coyns, Customs, and Increase of that Ancient Kingdom.
SCotland (by Reason of it's continuing a distinct Kingdom for so many hun∣dred Years, even till the happy Union by King James, and indeed does yet in most things, unless the Prerogative Royal) is thought worthy to be Treated of seperate∣ly, tho indeed, the North part of Brittain, and only seperated from England by the Rivers Tweed, Salway, and the Cheviot-Hills. Page 44 It's chief City is Edenburg, which contains the Kings Pallace, the Courts of Justice, & con∣sists of one great Street, of a Mile in Length; into which all the Petty Streets and Lanes open. The next chief Cities and Towns are Glasgow, (the See of an Arch∣Bishop, and an University) St. Andrews, Sterling, Perth, Aberdeen, Dondes, St. John's Town, &c.
The currant Money consists of Gold and Silver, and are as followeth.
- Pieces of twenty two Shillings Ster∣ling.
- Pieces of eleven Shillings Sterling.
- Pieces of five Shilings six pence Ster∣ling.
- Pieces of two Shillings nine pence Ster∣ling.
- Pieces of four Shillings four pence ⅜ Sterling.
- Pieces of one Shilling one half penny Sterling.
- Pieces of nine Shillings six pence, be∣ing ⅔ of the thirteen pence half pen∣ny. One Mark.
- Pieces of four pence half penny Ster∣ling.
Page 45But note that thirteen pence half penny Sterling, is accounted a Scotch Mark, or thirteen Shillings four pence Scotch; six-pence three-farthings, a Scotch Noble, ac∣counted six Shillings and eight pence; twen∣ty pence Sterling is accounted a Mark and a half Scotch, or one pound Scotch, of twenty Shillings Sterling is eighteen Scotch Marks; so that Strangers unacquainted with their Money hearing them discourse about it think them far Richer then they are.
They have other Pieces of Copper Mo∣ney of small Value, as Babaes, Bodles, hard Heads, and the like; but indeed they have Principally the money of England, which is currant in that Kingdom, and of late have abounded in Silver. The chief Commodi∣ties of the Country are Cloath, Free∣zes, Fish, Hides, Salt, Lead Ore, Tallow, Grain of all sorts, Feathers, Iron, Allum, Seacoal, commonly called Scotch-Coal, and are divided into two parts, viz. The Highland, and Lowland, which are divided into Sherifdoms, and Fifes.
They have an Exchange in imitation of •urs at London, but especially used for the Exchange of monies with England.
The keeping of their accounts, divers ways; some keep them according to the Method of England, others according to the Page 46 Ancient use and Custom of their own Na∣tion, which is in Marks valuable as a∣foresaid.
Their Weight for weighing Merchandise is but one, and with that they buy and sell throughout the Kingdom; it contains sixteen Ounces to the pound, and one hundred of those pounds make their Quintal; which in England is one hundred and eight pounds Averdupois; and one hundred pound London Suttle Weight makes ninety two of theirs, or one hundred and twelve English one hundred and three and a half of Scotch; their Measures for Linnen, Stuffs, Cloath, or Silk, is the Ell which is wanting of ours, inso∣much that it differs from our Yard four per cent. that is, four Yards in a hundred Ells, so that seventy five Yards, or sixty Ells English make seventy two Scotch, but in Tale to every hundred they Reckon six-score. In Measure for Corn, Coals, Salt, Wine, Beer, Ale, Oyl, and the like, they come near at one with ours.
Their Navigation is but small, for the most part Trading with England, and Ire∣land, yet are they a People frugal and much bent to improve the growth of their Country.
And thus having taken a view of Scot∣land, and the Trade thereof I must pass Page 47 over into Ireland the third Diamond in the British Diadem.
