In French, the English Channel is called "La Manche", meaning this part of a shirt or coat
The story of the Leopards of England in the Channel Islands is difficult ... of the 
aforesaid Islands that all those of those Parts who from now shall ... de la Manche 
et de Calvados, de la Bibliorheque Nationale du Bureau des .... date from 1523 to 
1830, each of which is sealed with the so-called seal of 1472.