customers both of the Stonors and the Celys (for they are mentioned in the letters of both) were Peter and Daniel van de Rade of Bruges.  Thomas Howlake on one occasion reports a sale of four sarplers of fine Cotswold wool to them at 19 marks the sack, with a rebate of 4-1/2 cloves on the sack of 52, and adds:  ’Sir, an it please you, as for the foresaid merchants that have bought your wool, [they] be as good as any that came out of Flanders and for that I have showed them the more favour and given them the more respite of that.’[58]

The staplers, however, did not do business at Calais alone, but rode also to the great fairs at Antwerp, Bruges, and the country round.  ‘Thomas Betson,’ writes Henham to his master, ’came unto Calais the last day of April and so he departed in good health unto Bruges mart the first day of May.’[59]

But so bifel this marchant on a day
Shoop hym to make redy his array
Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare,
To byen there a porcioun of ware—­[60]

only it was to ‘sellen’ a portion that Betson went.  He himself writes Sir William:  ’Liketh it you to wit that on Trinity even I came to Calais and, thanked be the good Lord, I had a full fair passage, and, Sir, with God’s might I intend on Friday next to depart to the mart-wards.  I beseech the good Lord be my speed and help me in all my works.  And, Sir, I trust to God’s mercy, if the world be merry here, to do somewhat that shall be both to your profit and mine.  As yet there cometh but few merchants here; hereafter with God’s grace there will come more.  I shall lose no time when the season shall come, I promise you....  And, Sir, when I come from the mart I shall send you word of all matters by the mercy of our Lord.’[61] At the fairs Betson would meet with a great crowd of merchants from all over Europe, though often enough political disturbances made the roads dangerous and merchants ran some risk of being robbed.  The English traders were commonly reputed to be the best sellers and customers at the fairs of Flanders and Brabant, though the Flemings sometimes complained of them, and said that the staplers made regulations forbidding their merchants to buy except on the last day, when the Flemish sellers, anxious to pack and be off, let their goods go at insufficient prices.[62] The author of the Libelle of Englyshe Polycye boasts proudly of the custom brought by the English to these marts: 

But they of Holonde at Calyse byene oure felles,
And oure wolles, that Englyshe men hem selles... 
And wee to martis of Braban charged bene
Wyth Englysshe clothe, fulle gode and feyre to seyne,
Wee bene ageyne charged wyth mercerye
Haburdasshere ware and wyth grocerye,
To whyche martis, that Englisshe men call feyres
Iche nacion ofte makethe here repayeres,
Englysshe and Frensh, Lumbards, Januayes [Genoese],
Cathalones, theder take here wayes,
Scottes, Spaynardes, Iresshmen there abydes,