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. XCIV. A View of Zant, Zeffalonia, and Ithaca, together with their Trade, Commodities, Weights, Measures, Coyns, &c.

THe Commodities that these Islands prin∣cipally afford are Honey, Wax, Oyl, Wine & Currans, being Subject to the Signeo∣ry of Venice; and hither it is that the Eng∣lish Trade for Currans, now being of great use; and from whence they yearly bring 3000 Tuns or upward, which at first they bought for small matters, but the Veneti∣ans seeing that Fruit so much coveted, be∣gan to inquire into the use they were put to, the which when they found, and there∣upon imagined the English could not Sub∣sist without them, the better to recover the lost Trade of Venice; that State im∣posed a Tax of 5 Ducats upon every 1000 Weight, which is since Augmented, not∣withstanding the Custom payed in England

with this Proviso; that the Currans be laden in a Vessel that comes purposely to lade that Commodity, but if She Landeth her outward Fraight in Venice or ⅔ part thereof, and then goeth to Lade at any of these Islands, the Customs then are mo∣derated.

For the Growth of these Islands; the English Merchants Exchange Cloath, Per∣petuano's, Serges, Lead, Tinn, Herrings, Newland-Fish, and Pilchards, tho the great∣est Trade is for Spanish Ryals; all the o∣ther money currant amongst the Islanders, being the same with that of Venice. The Natives keeping their Accounts as in Venice, tho Merchants Strangers often keep theirs in Dollars, which are those Ryals of 8/8 and Gassets 80 to the Dollar.

The Weight is the pound of 12 Ounces, 100 of which pounds make the Quintar, and agrees with Venice, thus the 100 pound Suttle of Venice make but 63 ½ pound of these Islands, and the Gross hundred of Venice renders but the common 100 pound. Currans are bought by the 1000, which 1000 Weight is reckoned to make 1070 pound English, tho of late by the careles∣ness of the Factors, or defraud of the Island∣ers, it is found much less.

The Measures of Length are the two Brac∣es,

the long and the short, the long is for Woollen and Linnen Cloath, and the short for Silks, the former being found 27 Eng∣lish Inches, and the latter to be 6 in 7 per cent. lesser.

Oyl is sold by a Measure called the Li∣ver, and is computed to weigh 13 pound English, 10 of which make a Candia, Bar∣rel. Wine is sold by the Jar 3 ½ of which make the Candia Barrel. Corn they sell by the Bechelo 3 of which are accounted the Starro, and should weigh 44 pound, &c.

The Customs raised upon the Commo∣dities of these Islands yearly, are between 40 and 50000 Chequins of Gold; which are the Income of the Signory of Venice.

The Islands found in the Adriatick Sea are Absertides, Cherso, Vegea, Grissa, Leli∣va, Cursola, Brassia, Lissia, and Zara, which yield Wine, Corn, Oyl, Cattle, and the like; but enjoy at this Day little or no Trade, except Zara the chief of them. And therefore I shall pass them over, and enter the Mediterranean, to take a View of the Islands Seated therein.