Page 186
CHAP. CXXXII. Of Calais, and the Trade thereof.
* 1.1CAlais formerly was the great Staple for the Woolls of England, and settled here A•…•… 1347. by Edward the Third, to make good his Conquest after eleven months siege, b•…•… afterward it was hence removed, and this place lost by Queen Mary, Anno 1557. after 20•• years possession of the English, and was by our then Kings of England ever called the Key th•…•… gave their Armies entrance into France; the place is not now of any great noted Traffick, though it and Bullen be accounted the best Maritime Ports in Picardy, opposite to Dover, from whence this is seven leagues distant.
The Coins here current are those in general of France.
* 1.2The Weights here in use are three.
First is the Weights proper of the Town, the 100 l. whereof is in London about 92 l.
The second is called the Merchants Weight, the 100 l. whereof make in London 113 l. and the 100 suttle of London is here 88 l.
The third is called the English Wooll hundred, or Staple hundred, 100 l. whereof is in Lon∣don about 89 l. or 90 l. about 3 per cent. different from the Town-weight.
The Measures used here is the Auln, and makes in London (…) inches.
* 1.3The next is Champaign, wherein is Rhemes the principal City, where the Kings of France are anointed, and where there is a College for the entertainment of the English Fugitives, Jesuits I mean.
* 1.4The next is Burgundy, famous for Dijon, which is notable through France for good Mustard, a note worthy our Tukesbury.
* 1.5The next is Bress, Chastilion being the principal City, and the last that I shall handle appe••∣taining to the King of France, or under his Government.
* 1.6The next in order according to my Method is the Franche Comte, the principal City thereof is Besanson, which in time past strove for precedency of Trade with Lions, but being an In∣land Town she hath lost that honour, the Inhabitants of this Countrey bringing home great and more honourable Titles, as famoused abroad for good Soldiers, known by the name of Walloons, and now is under the command of Spain. The Exchanges of Placentia was once here seated from Cambray, but the Merchants being not well used, returned to Placentia.
100 l. Besanson is 112 l. English.
* 1.7The next is Lorain, the principal City is Nants, yielding plenty of Corn and Wine, store of fresh-water Fish and Salt, and famous in that it was the Dukedom of Godfrey, Surnamed of Bulloign, which won Jerusalem from the Saracens, and was the first Christian Crowned Kitz of that Kingdom: And now to Savoy, as partaking with the French in the Trade as well as in their Garb.