doubt the French would retaliate
in every succeeding siege. The other nobles and knights joined their
entreaties to those of Sir Walter Manny, and the king finally consented
to yield in some degree. He demanded that six of the most notable
burghers of the town, with bare heads and feet, and with ropes about
their necks and the keys of the fortress in their hands, should deliver
themselves up for execution. On these conditions he agreed to spare the
rest. With these terms Sir Walter Manny returned to Sir John of Vienne.

The governor left the battlements, and proceeding to the market-place
ordered the bell to be rung. The famished and despairing citizens
gathered a haggard crowd to hear their doom. A silence followed the
narration of the hard conditions of surrender by the governor, and sobs
and cries alone broke the silence which succeeded. Then Eustace St.
Pierre, the wealthiest and most distinguished of the citizens, came
forward and offered himself as one of the victims, saying, "Sad pity and
shame would it be to let all of our fellow-citizens die of famine or the
sword when means could be found to save them." John of Aire, James
and Peter De Vissant, and another whose name has not come down to us,
followed his example, and stripping to their shirts set out for the
camp, Sir John of Vienne, who, from a late wound, was unable to walk,
riding at their head on horseback. The whole population accompanied them
weeping bitterly until they came to the place where Sir Walter Manny was
awaiting them. Here the crowd halted, and the knight, promising to do
his best to save them, led them to the tent where the king had assembled
all his nobles around him. When the tidings came that the burghers of
Calais had arrived, Edward issued out with his retinue, accompanied by
Queen Philippa and the Black Prince.

"Behold, Sire," Sir Walter Manny said, "the representatives of the town
of Calais!"

The king made no reply while John of Vienne surrendered his sword, and
kneeling with the burghers, said, "Gentle lord and king; behold, we six
who were once the greatest citizens and merchants of Calais, bring you
the keys of the town and castle, and give ourselves up to your pleasure,
placing ourselves in the state in which you see us by our own free-will
to save the rest of the people of the city, who have already suffered
many ills. We pray you, therefore, to have pity and mercy upon us for
the sake of your high nobleness."

All present