When Edward the Third had besieged Calais for a year, the good town
which had held out so long was obliged to surrender, for there was no
longer anything to eat in the city, and the folks said: "It is as good
to die by the hands of the English as to die here by famine like rats in
a hole." So they sent to tell the king they would give up the town to
him. But Edward the Third was so angry with them for having resisted him
so long, that he said that they should all be hanged. Then Edward the
Black Prince begged his father not to be so hard on brave men who had
only done what they believed to be their duty, and entreated him to
spare them. Then said the king--

"I will spare them on condition that six citizens, bare-headed and
bare-footed, clad only in their shirts, with ropes round their necks,
shall come forth to me here, bringing the keys of the city."

And when the men of Calais heard this, they said: "No; better to die
than live a dishonoured life by giving up even one of these our brothers
who have fought and suffered with us." But one of the chief gentlemen of
Calais--Eustace de S. Pierre--said:

"It is good that six of us should win eternal glory in this world and
the sunshine of God's countenance in the next, by dying for our town and
our brethren. I, for one, am willing to go to the English king on such
terms as he commands."

Then up rose his son and said likewise, and four other gentlemen,
inspired by their courage, followed their example. So the six in their
shirts, with ropes round their necks and the keys of the town in their
hands, went out through the gates, and all the folk of Calais stood
weeping and blessing them as they went. When they came to the king, he
called for the hangman, saying--"Hang me these men at once."

[Illustration]

But Queen Philippa was there, and though she was ill, she left her tent
weeping so tenderly that she could not stand upright. Therefore she cast
herself upon her knees before the king, and spoke thus:--

"Ah, gentle sire, from the day I passed over sea I have asked for
nothing; now I pray you, for the love of Our Lady's son Christ, to have
mercy on these."

King Edward waited for a while before speaking, and looked at the queen
as she knelt, and he said--"Lady, I had rather you had been elsewhere.
You pray so tenderly that I dare not refuse you; and though I do it
against my will, nevertheless take them. I give them to you."

Then took he the six citizens by the