Rhiga

Sources from old books

1700. The merchants map of commerce by Roberts, Lewes. CHAP. CCXXVII. Of Rhiga, and the Trade thereof.

* 1.1RHiga is the principal City of Livonia, or Lissland, seated near the Embosure of the River Dunia, strengthened with an exceeding strong Wall, many Ordnance to desend it against all Enemies, and bordering upon the Lissland Sea: it was formerly the chief residence of the Teutonick Knights, and then and now reinforced by the Garrison of D•…mund, accounted one of the impregnable Forts of this Northern Climate, where all Ships entring, are searched, and pay a certain Toll or Duty: the Inhabitants curious for the preservation of their Liberty, acknowledge the King of Poland for their Protector, to whom they pay a yearly Contribution, but else are governed by their own ancient Laws and Privi∣leges, which they enjoyed from the Knights their old Masters, at the resignation of this Country to that King.

• 1.2The Commodities of this Country for Merchandizing and Exportation, is Corn, and Grain of all sorts, Hemp, Flax, Honey, Wax, Rosin, Tar, Horses, and all sorts of rich Furs, as Martins, Ermins, Sables, Bevers and the like, not wanting any necessary for nourishment save Wine and Oyl, which foreign Nations do bring them.

• 1.3The Weight in use is the Pound, 20 pound whereof makes a Lis-pound, and 20 Lis-pound makes a Ship-pound, and 12 Ship pound being 4000 pound, is accounted a Last of Rie both here and at Narva, and the 100 pound of London hath been observed to make here 116 pound.

• 1.4The Measure is the Ell, agreeing with the Ell in use in Kevel, Conixburg, and Narva, 100 yards London making 160½ incirca.

• 1.5The Coins and Accounts differ not much here in value from the others before-mentioned, yet found to differ in appellation: for the Rix-Dollar, and the Mark-Lups, is here all one, which makes two Swedens or common Marks, and one Sweden is eight Lups-shillings, one Lups is two Shillings, one Shilling is twelve Pence, and one Peny is two Hellers.