d the
governor "I have been intrusted by my sovereign with the command of this
town: it is almost a year since you besieged me; and I have endeavored,
as well as those under me, to do our duty. But you are acquainted with
our present condition: we have no hopes of relief; we are perishing with
hunger; I am willing therefore to surrender, and desire, as the sole
condition, to insure the lives and liberties of these brave men, who
have so long shared with me every danger and fatigue." [*]

Manny replied, that he was well acquainted with the intentions of the
king of England; that that prince was incensed against the townsmen of
Calais for their pertinacious resistance, and for the evils which they
had made him and his subjects suffer; that he was determined to take
exemplary vengeance on them; and would not receive the town on any
condition which should confine him in the punishment of these offenders.
"Consider," replied Vienne, "that this is not the treatment to which
brave men are entitled: if any English knight had been in my situation,
your king would have expected the same conduct from him. The inhabitants
of Calais have done for their sovereign what merits the esteem of every
prince; much more of so gallant a prince as Edward. But I inform you,
that, if we must perish, we shall not perish unrevenged; and that we
are not yet so reduced but we can sell our lives at a high price to the
victors. It is the interest of both sides to prevent these desperate
extremities; and I expect that you yourself, brave knight, will
interpose your good offices with your prince in our behalf."

Manny was struck with the justness of these sentiments, and represented
to the king the danger of reprisals, if he should give such treatment to
the inhabitants of Calais. Edward was at last persuaded to mitigate the
rigor of the conditions demanded: he only insisted, that six of the
most considerable citizens should be sent to him to be disposed of as he
thought proper; that they should come to his camp carrying the keys of
the city in their hands, bareheaded and barefooted, with ropes about
their necks: and on these conditions he promised to spare the lives of
all the remainder.[**]

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 146.

** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 146.

When this intelligence was conveyed to Calais, it struck the inhabitants
with new consternation. To sacrifice six of their fellow-citizens to
certain destruction for signalizing thei