r valor in a common cause,
appeared to them even more severe than that general punishment with
which they were before threatened; and they found themselves incapable
of coming to any resolution in so cruel and distressful a situation. At
last, one of the principal inhabitants, called Eustace de St. Pierre,
whose name deserves to be recorded, stepped forth, and declared himself
willing to encounter death for the safety of his friends and companions:
another, animated by his example, made a like generous offer: a third
and a fourth presented themselves to the same fate; and the whole number
was soon completed. These six heroic burgesses appeared before Edward in
the guise of malefactors, laid at his feet the keys of their city, and
were ordered to be led to execution. It is surprising that so generous
a prince should ever have entertained such a barbarous purpose against
such men; and still more that he should seriously persist in the
resolution of executing it.[*] [7] But the entreaties of his queen saved
his memory from that infamy: she threw herself on her knees before him,
and with tears in her eyes begged the lives of these citizens. Having
obtained her request, she carried them into her tent, ordered a repast
to be set before them, and, after making them a present of money and
clothes, dismissed them in safety.[**]

* See note G, at the end of the volume.

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

The king took possession of Calais; and immediately executed an act of
rigor, more justifiable, because more necessary, than that which he had
before resolved on. He knew that notwithstanding his pretended title to
the crown of France, every Frenchman regarded him as a mortal enemy: he
therefore ordered all the inhabitants of Calais to evacuate the town,
and he peopled it anew with English; a policy which probably preserved
so long to his successors the dominion of that important fortress. He
made it the staple of wool, leather, tin, and lead; the four chief,
if not the sole commodities of the kingdom, for which there was any
considerable demand in foreign markets. All the English were obliged to
bring thither these goods: foreign merchants came to the same place in
order to purchase them: and at a period when posts were not established,
and when the communication between states was so imperfect, this
institution, though it hurt the navigation of England, was probably of
advantage to the kingdom.

{1348.} Through the