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. XCI. A View of Greece and of the Trade there∣of, Comprized in the Trade found at the famous City of Constantinople, to∣gether with the Weights, Measures, Cu∣stoms, and Coyns thereof.

GReece famous for being once Mistriss of the Vniverse, is bounded on the South with the Ionian Sea, on the North with the Mountain Hemus, on the East with the Hellispont, Aegean Sea, Propontis, and the Thracian Bosphorus, and is Ferti∣lized by these considerable Rivers; viz. Ce∣phius, Erigon, Alicmon, Sirmon, Alicus, and Nisus, and is divided into 8 Principal Pro∣vinces, viz. Peloponnesus, Achaia, Epirus, Al∣bania, Macedonia, Thessalia, Migdonia, and Thracia, all of them replenished with Cities of note; but seeing their Trade Cen∣ters in Constantinople, thither I shall re∣fer it.

The famous City of Constantinople, once

the Seat of the Roman Eastern Empire, and now of the Ottoman Emperor, for the most part is Seated upon a large Stream, that passeth from the Euxine to the Medi∣terranian Sea, commonly called the Black and White Seas, so that by such means Ships from either Sea have a free passage, which causes a quicker return then otherwise could be made, by Reason from one part or other the Wine rarely fails: It Fronts likewise Asia, receiving most of the Commodities by Sea and Land that are found in that large quarter of the World, and stands as it were the Bulwark of Europe, lastly founded by Constantine the great, and made the Seat of the Roman Empire as aforesaid, being taken after a long Siege by the Turks Anno 1453, who ever since have possessed it, it being Build∣ed in a Triangle, having the 2 large Angles Bordering on the Sea, and the other stretch∣ed into the Land, and is incompassed with a Triple Wall, upon which are divers Towers, and the Walls themselves Guard∣ed by deep Ditches, and Cannons all a∣long the works to the Sea; the Buildings for the most part are very stately, but especially the Grand-Signeours Pallace, on the point of the Angle, being surrounded with a Wall of 3 Miles in compass, and

strong works furnished with great and small Artiliry.

This City is the common Mart for all Commodities of the Empire, receiving & dis∣persing inwards and outwards the growth of each Province: And hither the Merchants of London first began to Trade Anno 1586, and in a short time found such incourage∣ment upon Queen Elizabeths sending an Ambassador to mediate on their behalf; that they soon obtained to be incorporated by the said Queen, and growing in Trade, were confirmed by King James, with an Augmentation of their Priviledges, and then by King Charles the first, under the Title of the Merchants of England, Trading in the Levant Seas, or Levant Merchants, up∣on whose account a Leiger Ambassador re∣mains at Constantinople, to protect the Com∣panies Factories, and take care that right be done them, who before his departure from England, is always approved of by his Majesty, but himself and retinue have their charges defrayed by the Company, which Honourable trust now remains in the right Honourable the Lord Shandois, they have likewise several Consuls to protect their Factories throughout the Empire, who keep Janizaries, Druggermen or Interpreters, Secretaries, and Ministers,

with other the like necessary attendants in Sallary, being permitted free exercise of Religion: And hither it is at present that the English are found the Principal Trad∣ers, tho the Venetians, French, and Dutch, by sundry devices have indeavoured to in∣sinuate themselves, into the good opinions of the Turkish Merchants; who are ac∣counted 4 kinds, viz. the Native Greek, the Turks, the Armenians, and lastly the Jews. The chief Commodities found here are Grograms, Mohairs, Chamlets, Persian-Silk, wrought and unwrought Gold, Car∣pets, Anniseeds, Cumminseeds, Cottons, Galls, Pepper, Jndico, Nutmegs, Cinamon, Mace, and Drugs, these last being the Commodities of the East-India's, are brought cheaper and better from thence, therefore not Traded for by the English at Constan∣tinople, but rather carryed by them thither, and exchanged for the Growth of the Em∣pire, as likewise Lead, Tinn, Cloath, Furs, as Martins, Cony-Skins, Sables, Titchues, and the like; at the change of every Am∣bassador, the Company make a present to the Grand-Signeour, which is levyed by the Company themselves by way of im∣position, the like are the French, and Dutch obliged to do upon some occasion, and for the support of their Factories and Ambas∣sadors.

The Accounts are kept in Dollars and Aspers, a Dollar being computed 80 Aspers, tho sometimes in way of Merchandise 100 Aspers are accounted to the Dollar, and and 120 Aspers to the Sultany.

The Coyns currant in this City, and consequently throughout the Empire are the Sultany of Gold, agreeing with the Venice Chequin, or is as aforesaid 120 As∣pers, the German Dollar, the Ryal of 8/8 Spanish, currant at 80 Aspers; the Lyons Dollar is currant at 75 Aspers, the German Sesetine at 70 Aspers, and indeed any Coyn if found good Gold or Silver is currant in Constantinople, and most parts of the Empire; a Policy used to procure plenty of Coyn, for the maintainance of the Jan∣izaries and others, in pay of all Nations.

The Weights are the Grain, 4 of which make a Quillat, a Dram which is 16 Grains of which all greater Weights are composed by Multiplication: as a Yursdrome is 100 Drams, and found to be 1 pound Sotile of Venice, or 72 Mittigals: a Lodero is 176 Drams, or 19 ½ Ounces Averdupois: an Oake is 400▪ Drams accounted 2 pound 11 ½ Ounces: 100 Lodero's are accounted 24 Oaks; and compose the Quintar of Constan∣tinople, which has been found to render be∣tween 118 and 120 pound English Suttle.

A Batman is 6 Oaks, or 16 ⅓ pound Eng∣lish, by which all Silks are bought, and according to these all other Weights of the Empire are regulated.

The Measures of Length are the Pico's, which are 3. The first for Cloath which is accounted 26 ½ Inches.

The second for Grograms, Chamlet, and such like, containing 24 Inches, so that 24 of these Pico's are found to make 16 Eng∣lish Yards. The third is the Linnen Pico, which is the former doubled. To none of these is any advantage allowed as in Eng∣land.

The Concave Measure is called the Kil∣low, by which for the most part Corn is Measured, 8 ⅔ of which are observed to make the London Quarter, Wines, Oyls, and almost all Liquids are sold by the Me∣ter, weighing 8 Oaks, and is about ⅔ of an English Gallon, as indeed most Commodities are sold by Weight.

The Customs payed by the Italians, French, and Jews, outward and inward are 5 per cent. the Turks themselves pay nothing, the Eng∣lish and Dutch pay 3 per cent. inward, and the like outward, which is payed in Specie, unless the Merchant does compound with the Customer for money; and further it is to be observed, that, besides these Customs,

there is by agreement payed 1 ½ per cent. up∣on all pondrous Commodities, and 1 up∣on all Measurable Commodities, which is to be defrayed between the buyer and sel∣ler, but if a Turk be one, his part is remit∣ted, and this is levyed for the Maintain∣ance of a Hospital founded by Sultan Ach∣met, which duties are farmed by an Emine or Farmer call'd the Grand-Seigenors re∣ceiver, and are most commonly payed the one half in Aspers, of 80 Aspers to the Dollar, and the other in Sultanies of Gold, or otherwise as the Merchants and Cu∣stomer can agree. And thus having at large described the Trade of this great City, I shall proceed to take a View of the Islands of note, lying in the Egean, Ionian, Mediterranian, and Adriatick Seas.