Rhiga

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of Rhiga and the trade thereof.

RHIGA is the principall Citie of Livonia, or Liffland, seated neere the Emboseure of the river Dunia, strengthened with an exceeding strong wall, many Ordnance to defend it against all enemies, and bordering upon the Liffeland sea: it was formerly the chiefe residence of the Tentonick Knights, and then and now reinforced by the Garison of Dunmund, accounted one of the impregnable fortes of this Northerne clymate, where all shippes entring are searched, and pay a certaine Toll, or Dutie: the inhabitants curious for the preservation of their libertie, acknowledge the King of Poland for their Protector, to whom they pay a yearly contribution, but else are governed by their owne ancient lawes and priviledges which they enjoyed from the Knights their old masters, at the resignation of this countrey to that King.

The commodities of this Countrey for merchandising and exportation, is Corne, and graine of all sorts, Hempe, Flaxe, Hony, Waxe, Rosen, Tarre, Horses, and all sorts of rich Furres, as Martins, Ermins, Sables, Bevers, and the like, not wanting any necessary for nourishment save Wine and Oyle, which forraine nations doe bring them.

The weight in use is the pound, 20 pound whereof makes a Lispound, and 20 Lispound makes a Ship-pound, and 12 Ship-pound being 4000 pound, is accounted a Last of Rie both here and at Nerva, and the 100 pound of London hath been observed to make here 116 pound.

The measure is the Ell agreeing with the Ell in use in Revel, Coninxburgh, and Nerva, 100 yards London making 166½ in circa.

The coines and accounts differ not much here in value from the others before mentioned, yet found to differ in appellation: for the Rix Doller, and the Marke Lupes is here all one, which makes two Swedens or common Markes, and one Sweden is 8 Lups shillings: one Lups is 2 shillings, one shilling is 12 pence, and one peny is two hellers.

1692. The gazetteer's, or, Newsman's interpreter by Laurence Echard.

Riga, a great, strong, rich, and populous City of Swedeland, the M. of the Pr. of Livonia, in the Pr. of Lettenland; an A. and an Hance Town, sub. to the K. of Swed. It stands by the Baltick Sea, at the Mouth of the R. Dwina (where is an excellent Haven) 30 m. N. of Mittaw, 120 N.E. of Memel, 250 S.E. of Stockholm, and 320 al. N.E. of Warsaw. Lon. 45.34. Lat. 56.54.

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Riga, Rigen, a City of Livonia; called by the Inhabitants Riig: one of the Hanse Towns, great, strong, rich, and populous; being the Capital of Livonia, and an Archbishops See. It has a large and safe Haven at the Mouth of the River Duna, (where it enters the Baltick Sea;) seven German Miles from Mittaw to the North, twenty nine from Revel to the South, and forty eight from Vilna; in the Borders of Curland. Built by Albert the Third, Bishop of Livonia, in 1196: others say in the year 1186, by one Bertold an Abbot. In the year 1215, it was made an Archbishops See by Pope Innocent III. and the Metropolitan of all Livonia, Prussia, and Curland. A great while the Seat of the Masters of the Knights of the short Sword in Livonia, and afterwards of the Grand Master of the Teutonick Order in Prussia; who divided the Sovereignty and Administration of Justice with the Archbishop in this City, till the Reformation, which excluded both of them. In the year 1561, it willingly submitted to the Crown of Poland. In the year 1605. it was in vain besieged by Charles IX. King of Sweden; nor had he better success in the second Siege, in 1609. Charles Gustavus Adolphus, his Son, in the year 1621, took it; and ever since the Swedes have possessed it: neither were the Moscovites, sitting down before it some years ago, able to take it. It is seated in a spatious, pleasant, fruitful Valley; a quarter of a League over; fortified to Land with six Regular Bastions, Counterscarps, Palisadoes, and Half-Moons by the Swedes in the year 1633. Its Traffick with the English, Dutch, Germans, and Moscovites, is so great, that it has almost as many Ships as Houses; and so abounding with Provisions, that an Ox may be bought for three Crowns. Their Religion is the strict Lutheran, and no other allowed: they speak both the Curland and Sclavonian Tongue; tho they generally understand the High Dutch too; their Publick Acts and Statutes being expedited in that letter Language. Thus far Olearius. Long. 47. 57. Lat. 57. 35.