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.