Calais

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Calais, a Town and Sea Port of France in that part of Picardy which is called the Re-Conquered Country, since it was taken from the English. Some Authors think it is the Portus Iccius of the Ancients; but Mr. Sanson says, That Boulogne was that Portus Iccius. This Town as several others had its Name from the Country its in, which was called Caletes, and some say, reaches from the Mouth of the Seine to that of Aa. Its assured that Baldwin the IV. called Fairbeard, Count of Flanders, begun the Building of the Port of Calais; and that Philip Count of Boulogne, one of the Malecontents that joyn'd together against the Regency of Blanche, Mother of St. Lewis, surrounded it with a Wall, it being but a simple Borough before. Edward III. King of England, beat the French out of it in 1347. after he had lain before it Ten or Eleven Months. The English held it for 210 years, and brag'd that they had the Key of France hung at their Girdles, until the Duke of Guise retook it after a Siege of 9 or 10 days in the beginning of 1558. Queen Mary resented the loss so much, that its thought she Died of Grief for it, saying not long before her Death, That if she were open'd they should find Calais at her Heart. The Arch-Duke Albert of Austria, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, made himself Master of this Town in 1596. but it was delivered two years after to Henry IV. by one of the Articles of the Peace of Veruins. When the Duke of Guise took it, it was defended by Three Bastions, and had a Fourth towards the South, where the old Cittadel was; and since it has been more Regularly Fortified, and now has Nine great Royal Bastions, besides that of the Cittadel, and many other Works, all covered with Stone, and round it are many Forts, so that it is one of the strongest Places of the Kingdom. It has a double Ditch, very large and deep, through which runs the River of Hames, and several other small Rivulets that come from the Neighbouring Bogs, and discharge themselves into the Ditch: There is no coming into the Town but by this Bog, and a Causey called Pont de Nieville, and no entrance into the Port without coming by the Fort Risban. This Port is divided in two Parts; one whereof is called Caldegray; the other, the biggest of both, is defended by Two Motes covered with Stone; part of the River runs through the Town; and of the other side there is a Channel which makes it very convenient for Traffick. Calais is no great Town, but is mighty Populous and well Built, the Streets are fair and straight, the most considerable is that that begins at the Gate of the Lands side, and reaches to the Port; it passes through the great place where the Town-House is, and near the Palace of the Auditory and the Watch Tower. It has besides, several fine Buildings, Magnificent Churches and Monasteries. Calais in Latin, Caletum, gives its Name to the Channel between it and Dover, which is thought to be but 7 Leagues over, and is called the Streight of Calais. In 1416. Sigismond Emperor of Germany coming into England to Henry V. and seeing and considering well the Importance of Calais and Dover, laid two of his Fingers upon his Eyes, and said, Brother, Keep those Two Towns as carefully as you would your Eyes. The Duke of Guise (saith Dr. Burnet) came before this Town the First of January 1558, when there was not above 500 Soldiers, and 200 Men fit to bear Arms in it, though King Philip had given the Queen notice before that the French had a Design against it. The greatest Defence of the Town was in Newnam-Bridge Fort, a Mile from it to the Land, and in Fort Risbank, which Commanded the Haven; but the Governor not daring to weaken his Garison, sent no Supplies thither, so that they were taken without any Opposition. Then the Enemy drew the Water out of the Ditch, which was about the Town and Castle, and passing it, assaulted and carried the Castle by Storm, it being the less guarded because thought Impregnable. The Governor tried several times to retake the Castle, but could not; and having lost 200 of his best Men, the 7th of January he yielded the Town also, when it had been 210 years in the Hands of the English. Philip had offered to put Men into it, and it was refused by the Jealous English, who for want of Money were then not able to Man it themselves. Thus far Burnet in that year. Papier. Mass du Chesne.