… of politeness. The Royal Exchange, at the heart of the City of London, was a place for merchants and traders to gain information and solicit business. Described as ‘the glory of merchants’, merchants, tradesmen and brokers came together in … an ‘ichnographical draught’ of the Royal Exchange that marked out the different merchant ‘walks’ on the map as well as information on meeting times. The significance of what was called ‘exchange time’ was reflected in the fact that the … to hear commercial news and negotiate deals, and the social interactions necessary for this had a key role in the formation of a merchant’s credit. 14 . Natasha Glaisyer, The Culture of Commerce in England, 1660-1720 (Rochester: …