THE ANCIENT PROVINCE OF THE PERCHE 25 



of this old manuscript we find the following interest- 

 ing paragraph: 



"The Raising of Colts and other Animals. — 

 Money enters the province by the following channels: 

 the sale of colts, fat cattle and sheep, butter, poultry 

 and eggs which are taken to the Paris markets. As 

 the province of The Perche is only three days from 

 Paris (by road), there is no difficulty in transport- 

 ing supplies. The wool which the sheep produce is 

 also a great help. All this brings in more than 

 10.0,000 pounds a year. The majority of the inhabi- 

 tants work at plowing and cultivating the land. ' ' 



The document also tells of big fairs and markets 

 at Mauves, Logny, Regmalard and Belleme, and 

 three important market days every week at No gent: 

 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, We quote again: 



"Mauves is another large borough admirable for 

 the fertility of its soil and its situation. The Huisne 

 nearly surrounds it to make an island. This is a very 

 ancient town to judge from its deeds. Mortagne has 

 four fairs a year, and markets every Wednesday 

 and Saturday. The Lord of the Manor (Seigneur) 

 of Nogent has the right to hold two fairs a year. 

 [But he did not do so, we learn, as he was content 

 with his three market days a week. — Ed.] The 

 women and girls spin flax and wool at home, for 

 the manufacture of cloths at Nogent and Mortagne." 



According to the dictionary of de la Martinier, 

 published in 1768, The Perche was well peopled at 

 that date, and a great business was done in wheat 

 and cattle, the grain being transported to Alengon 

 and Brittany by horses. The chief manufactures at 

 that time were textiles produced at Mortagne and 

 Nogent. These were carried to Paris, Eouen and 



