sed Edward to reflect; and the greater part of the English
barons came to the aid of Walter de Manny. "Sirs," said the king, "I
would not be all alone against you all. Go, Walter, to them of Calais,
and say to the governor that the greatest grace they can find in my sight
is that six of the most notable burghers come forth from their town,
bare-headed, bare-footed, with ropes round their necks, and with the keys
of the town and castle in their hands. With them I will do according to
my will, and the rest I will receive to mercy." "My lord," said Walter,
"I will do it willingly." He returned to Calais, where John de Vienne
was awaiting him, and reported the king's decision. The governor
immediately left the ramparts, went to the market-place, and had the bell
rung to assemble the people. At sound of the bell men and women came
hurrying up hungering for news, as was natural for people so hard-pressed
by famine that they could not hold out any longer. John de Vienne then
repeated to them what he had just been told, adding that there was no
other way, and that they would have to make short answer. On this they
all fell a-weeping and crying out so bitterly that no heart in the world,
however hard, could have seen and heard them without pity. Even John de
Vienne shed tears. Then rose up to his feet the richest burgher of the
town, Eustace de St. Pierre, who, at the former council, had been for
capitulation. "Sir," said he, "it would be great pity to leave this
people to die, by famine or otherwise, when any remedy can be found
against it; and he who should keep them from such a mishap would find
great favor in the eyes of our Lord. I have great hope to find favor in
the eyes of our Lord if I die to save this people; I would fain be the
first herein, and I will willingly place myself in my shirt and
bare-headed and with a rope round my neck, at the mercy of the King of
England." At this speech, men and women cast themselves at the feet of
Eustace de St. Pierre, weeping piteously. Another right-honorable
burgher, who had great possessions and two beautiful damsels for
daughters, rose up and said that he would act comrade to Eustace de St.
Pierre: his name was John d'Aire. Then, for the third, James de Vissant,
a rich man in personalty and realty; then his brother Peter de Vissant;
and then the fifth and sixth, of whom none has told the names. On the
5th of August, 1347, these six burghers, thus apparelled, with co