By the Rev. W. H. Jones. 



153 



Calais formed part of the possessions of England, it is singular to 

 remark the continually shifting policy observed respecting that 

 Town. In 1348 it was established as the foreign Staple of England ; 

 in a few years afterwards the Staple was removed from Calais alto- 

 gether. In 1363 it is again the Staple, — five years only pass away and 

 it ceases to be so. Early in the reign of Richard II. the staple ia 

 once more at Calais, but in the 14th year of his reign it is again 

 removed. In 1423 (2 Henry VI.) it is re-established at Calais, 

 and that town was not only confirmed as the foreign staple, but a 

 protecting statute made it felony to carry wool elsewhere. On the 

 termination of the wars of the Roses and the accession of Edward 

 IV., we have a renewed confirmation of Calais as the staple con- 

 currently with the appointment of sundry towns in England, the 

 privilege of exporting wool to France being at the same time taken 

 away from aliens. The foreign staple seems, from this date, to 

 have remained at Calais, until, in the reign of Mary, the town 

 ceased to belong to England. 



Similar observations may be made with regard to the privileges 

 granted or denied, from time to time, to the merchants who traded 

 in these staple articles. In the 2 Edw. III., the trade was thrown 

 open to all, — natives, denizens, or foreigners : in the 11th year of 

 the same reign, the ports were closed to all and no wool permitted 

 to be carried out of the kingdom. In the 15th year there is a 

 re-establishment of free-trade ; in the 27th foreigners or aliens 

 may export wool, but natives are strictly forbidden to do so ; in the 

 43rd the privilege is again conceded to all. Shortly afterwards, in 

 14 Rich. II., the foreigners are again favored at the expense of 

 the native merchants. In a little more than 70 years, after several 

 enactments limiting the exportation of wool to Calais, except under 

 licences specially granted by the Crown, followed shortly by 

 another by which all licences whatsoever are withdrawn, we have 

 an Act of opposite tendency by which, 2 Edw. IV., aliens are 

 prohibited altogether from exporting wool. So unsettled seem, at 

 the first blush, to have been the notions that prevailed as to the 

 policy by which the interests of England would be best consulted. 



At this distance of time it is hardly within our power to unravel 



