Moscow

Sources from old books

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

Mosco is the Metropolis of all this large Kingdom, to which the Emperour some years past repair'd, most fit for the Government of so large an Empire, as accounted the midst of all his Dominions. It is pleasantly seated on the River Mosca, running into Tanais, where it loseth its name; and passing Assaw, disgorgeth into the Palus Meotis, and so into the Euxinus. About fifty years past it was esteemed ten miles in circuit, and in its height of Greatness then burnt by the Tartars wherein 80000 Persons were consumed, and since reduced to five miles compass, beautified with 16 Churches, some of Stone, some of Timber and Earth, and with the Palace of the Great Duke situate in the very Heart thereof, enriched with the Branches of two Rivers for Use and Ornament, which water two strong Forts that defend the place. * 1.2At the Abby of St. Nicholas the Patron of this Country upon the River of Dunia, or Obby, the English Merchants use to land, and thence disperse themselves to Smalensko, Novograde, hither and into all other parts of this vast Empire, amongst whom they find kind entertainment, and by the Favour of the Prince have larger Immunities granted unto them than to any other Nation, their trafficking attributed to the never dying Fame of Queen Elizabeth, in whose days the Trade was here first settled, and to the plausible Behaviour of the English Merchants in general.

The Merchants here are observed to keep their accounts in several manners; some as the English, by Rubbles and Pence, or as the Inhabitants term them, Muskofkins, 200 whereof making a Rubble, which is accounted two Rix Dollars. Some again, as the Dutch and other Nations, by Rubbles, Grevens, and Muskofkins or Pence, accounting 20 pence to a Greven, and 10 Grevens to a Rubble, which is most in use here, this Rubble being found an imaginary Coin, and not real.

The Current Money here is a Capeck, in value a Stiver Flemish, and somewhat more than as English Penny; for 10 Capecks is a Greven, which the English call 12 pence sterling, because that 10 Grevens is a Rubble, which is 10 shillings sterling. Three Capecks they call an Altine, by which name all Receipts and Payments are made in bargaining and Contracts, 33 Altius and 1 Capeck making a Rubble.

At Archangel is sound practised amongst the Merchants an Exchange for Moneys, rising and falling, according as the Russ Moneys are observed to be plentiful or scarce; the English sometimes among themselves giving 11 shillings, and 11 shillings 6 pence sterling in England for the Rubble here; and the Moneys commonly taken there in August to be paid in London the last of December following.

The Weight of Moscovia common in use is the Pood for fine Goods, and the Bercovet for gross Goods, the one being derived from the other.

By the Pood is weighed Silk, Bever-wooll, Yefts, &c. and is accounted for 40 l. Russ weight: and 3 Pood hath been observed to make 112 l. English, which by this computation should make 37⅓ l. Averdupois, and all Goods there bought by the Pood is 10 per cent. Loss in England.

By the Bercovet is weighed Tallow, Hemp, Cable, Yarn, Coil or Lard-ropes, and all gross Commodities, and is a Russ Ship pound: 10 Poods makes a Bercovet, which makes 300 l. suttle Averdupois, so that all Goods being bought there by the Bercovet or Ship pound is hell 10 per cent. Profit: for commonly the English Merchants reckon the over-weight to pay the Freight of some Goods so bought.

The Measure in Length here generally used is called an Archin, being a Brabant Ell and ½ a Nail, or something more than ¼ of an English Yard, reckoned by the English Merchants there resident two per cent. more, and may be incirca 28 inches, so that the 100 Archins may produce in London 77 in 78 Yards, and the 100 Yards be here 128½ Archins, or thereabout.

The Native Commodities of this Country in general I have already nominated, it will not be amiss I should particularly view them, and the ordinary Rates they carry in price, together with the Marks whereby their Goodness and Quality is discerned.

Their most precious Commodities and Merchandize hence exported by forein Nations are their rich Furs; the principal is the Sables, bought commonly by the Timber, which contains 40 Skins, which must be large and well-colour'd, and are found of all Prices as in Goodness, from 15 to 200 Rubbles the Timber.

Black Fox-Skins are known amongst all Northern Merchants for the richest Fur in the World, and is here found in great store, bearing a Price as in Largeness and Growth, from 5 to 200 Rubbles apiece.

Oter-Skins are here found plenty, by reason of the many Rivers of this Country, accounted the Region of Springs and Streams, sold by the Timber of 40 Skins, from 5 to 40 Rubbles the Timber.

Minikins are sold by the Timber of 40 Skins, and commonly sold about 6 Rubbles the Timber.

Martins are also sold by the Timber of 40 Skins, about 15 Rubbles per Timber, rising as found in richness of Hair.

Ermins sold also by the Timber of 40 Skins, about 2 Rubbles per Timber.

Grawert or Squirrels sold by the thousand, as in Goodness, from 14 to 30 Rubbles the thousand.

Red Foxes by the 10 Skins, at 10 or 15 Nobles the 10 Skins.

White Foxes by the Piece, about 5 Altins the piece.

Dun Foxes by the Piece, about 40 Altins the Piece.

Sable Rands sold by the Pair, from 2 to 6 Rubbles the Pair.

Bever-wooll is a Staple Commodity also of this Kingdom, and sold by the Pound about 2½ Rubbles per Pound.

Bever Wombs also by the Pound, being a thin Skin and well grown, is commonly worth 1½ Rubble per Pound.

These are the ordinary Furs which their Northern Climate affords for Merchandize, the next found are these.

Yellow Wax is here found made by the Industry of the Bee and hands of Man, in great abundance, sold by the Pood, which is 40 l. here; the hardest and best colourd bear Price here commonly about 4 in 5 Rubbles the Pood.

Tallow is sold by the Berquet, which is 10 Pood, being clean, white and hard, about 7 in 8 Rubbles the Berquet.

Tar is sold by the Hogshead, being thick, as the best is commonly worth (…) per Hogshead of (…) Gallons English.

Train Oyl is sold by the Barrel, which is half a Hogshead, and discerned by its Clearness without Grounds, and of a whitish Colour, about 4 Rubbles per Barrel, of (…) Gallons English.

Hemp is sold by the Berquet of 10 Poods, being clean and green, bears price commonly from 3 to 5 Rubbles the 10 Pood.

Flax is sold by the Bercovet; the bright Silver-colour is held the best, commonly about 7 Rubbles the Bercovet.

Cable Yarn is sold by the Bercovet, and being well spun round and not too much twisted, from 67½ Rubbles the Bercovet.

Coyls or Tard Ropes by the Bercovet, about 7 Rubbles the Bercovet: where note, That the English and other Nations hither trading, buy here great quantity of Hemp, and spin it out here into Yarn, to save the charges of Fraight: every 1000 Poods do cost about 100 or 110 Rubbles Charges; and, if the Hemp prove good, there is found near ¼ Loss; if bad, so much more, and worth, being in Cable Yarn, as I said above, from 6 to 7½ Rubbles the Bercovet.

Dried Cow-hides, being large and weighty, are sold by the 100 Hide, worth from 40 to 44 Rubbles the 100.

Red Evits by the Pair, at 2½ Rubbles per Pair, and sometimes sold by the Pood, at 40 Rubbles per Pood: And note, That the White are commonly worst esteemed by ⅕ in price.

Losh-hides are sold by the Piece, the largest and not worm-eaten is the best, from 6 Grevens to 5 Rubbles the Piece, as in Goodness.

Duck-Feathers sold by the Pood, as in Goodness, from 3 to 5 Rubbles the Pood.

Caviare is also a principal Commodity here sold by the Pood, and commonly worth 40 Altines the Pood.

Coarse Linen is made here in great quantity, sold by the 1000 Archins of ½ Yard, and ¾ the broad from 15 to 20 Rubbles the 1000 Archins, as found in Fineness.

Some other Commodities this Country affordeth, which I omit, as of no great consequence.