Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ... commerce Calais had practically no native industries. The produce of corn-growing districts was absorbed in feeding the garrison and civil population, and even such common necessaries as timber and ordinary provisions seem to have been transported from England. A scanty source of profit was provided by the gathering and preparation of mint, which was used for medicinal purposes. The King used to name the receiver of the produce of this industry, as, for instance, in 1446, when a certain Richard Vernon was appointed. More important was the herring trade. The process of salting herrings, invented by William Benchelens of Barsliet in 1416, enabled herrings to be sold at long distance from the scene of their capture, and the convenient situation of Calais rendered it an important centre for this industry. Beer-brewing was also important. The presence of so many beer-loving English soldiers rendered it a necessity, and beer-houses were numerous throughout the town. So indispensable was beer to the garrison that Wentworth, in a despatch to Queen Mary in 1558, excused himself for not having opened the sluices and let in the sea upon the besieging French on the score that he feared" infesting the water wherewith we brew" with salt water.1 1 Archaologia, vol. liii., p. 312, where other instances are given of the importance of beer-brewing. I But the true commercial importance of Calais lay in the fact that it was the vent for English trade. For 200 years the commercial history of Calais is practically the commercial history of England. For military purposes Calais was the " gate into France"; from the standpoint of commerce Calais was a gate out of England. That without the Staple Calais would have lost half its importance is undisputed, and...
