itself, and more in accordance with the totality of facts. However that
may be, whether it were actual powerlessness or want of spirit both on
the part of the French army and of the king, Philip, on the 2d of August,
1347, took the road back to Amiens, and dismissed all those who had gone
with him, men-at-arms and common folk.

When the people of Calais saw that all hope of a rescue had slipped from
them, they held a council, resigned themselves to offer submission to the
King of England rather than die of hunger, and begged their governor,
John de Vienne, to enter into negotiations for that purpose with the
besiegers. Walter de Manny, instructed by Edward to reply to these
overtures, said to John de Vienne, "The king's intent is, that ye put
yourselves at his free will to ransom or put to death such as it shall
please him; the people of Calais have caused him so great displeasure,
cost him so much money, and lost him so many men, that it is not
astonishing if that weighs heavily upon him." "Sir Walter," answered
John de Vienne, "it would be too hard a matter for us if we were to
consent to what you say. There are within here but a small number of us
knights and squires who have loyally served our lord the King of France
even as you would serve yours in like case; but we would suffer greater
evils than ever men have had to endure rather than consent that the
meanest 'prentice-boy or varlet of the town should have other evil than
the greatest of us. We pray you be pleased to return to the King of
England, and pray him to have pity upon us; and you will do us courtesy."
"By my faith," answered Walter de Manny, "I will do it willingly, Sir
John; and I would that, by God's help, the king might be pleased to
listen unto me." And the brave English knight reported to the king the
prayer of the French knights in Calais, saying, "My lord, Sir John de
Vienne told me that they were in very sore extremity and famine, but
that, rather than surrender all to your will, to live or die as it might
please you, they would sell themselves so dearly as never did men-at-
arms." "I will not do otherwise than I have said," answered the king.
"My lord," replied Walter, "you will perchance be wrong, for you will
give us a bad example; if you should be pleased to send us to defend any
of your fortresses, we should of a surety not go willingly if you have
these people put to death, for thus would they do to us in like case."
These words cau