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. Geography rectified, or, A description of the world by Robert Morden.

Caffa, a considerable City and Sea-Port in Crim Tartary, upon the Eastern side of the Peninsula East of the City of Crim; supposed to be the Cavum of the Antients. It is a flourishing Mart, and furnished with a large and capacious Haven: Heretofore possessed by the Genoese, who (saith Dr. Heylin) by the Help of this Port and the Plantation they had in Pera, on the North Side of Constantinople, engrossed all the Trade of the Euxine Sea into their own hands. In 1475. it was taken by Mahomet the Great; ever since it has been in the hands of the Turks, and though by them much ruin'd, is still the principal Place in that Demy-Island. The Turks govern it by a Bashaw they send thither; and although the Tartars can possess themselves of it when they please, yet they chuse rather to leave it in his hands than to take it into their own. The Venetians have often sollicited a free Commerce with it for the Benefit of its Commodities: but the Port has constantly refused to suffer their Vessels to pass into the Black Sea for Reasons of State. They reckon about 4000 Houses of Mahometans, Tartars, and Christians; whereof some Latins, Greeks, and some Armenians, to the Number of about 800, who are obliged to wear a Distinction from the rest in their Bonnets.