"him that his Mafter was greatly exafperated against the townfmen of Calais for "their obftinate refiftance, through which " he had loft a great number of valuable fubjects, and therefore he was determined to take exemplary vengeance on them; nor would he receive the town under

24 men

*any restrictions to his anger." "Confider," returned Vienne, "that brave are entitled to better treatment. Can your King condemn in us that fidelity and courage which he would hexpect from his own fubjects in the fame

fituation? Can fo gallant a Prince as Edward wish to treat with severity the inhabitants of Calais, for a conduct which in the eyes of the unprejudiced 24 merits immortal honour? far be it from him; but if his determination is unalterable, let him know that we will not perish unrevenged: that fortitude which has hitherto fupported us through fo "many difficulties, will enable us to defpife death, or any punishment he is able to "inflict:

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"inflict: we with not however for these "extremities," and recommend ourselves,

courteous Knight, to your interceffion in "our behalf."

Sir Walter, ftruck with the juftice of thefe fentiments, and the noble manner in which they were delivered, reprefented to the King, on his return, the lofs that muft unavoidably arife from driving fuch determined perfons to defperation. His arguments prevailed, and Edward was at laft perfuaded to mitigate the rigour of his demands he only infifted, that fix of the moft confiderable citizens fhould be fent to him, to be difpofed of as he thought pro per; that they fhould come to his camp barefooted, and with uncovered heads, hav ing ropes about their necks, and carrying the keys of the city in their hands on thefe conditions he promifed to fpare the lives of all the reft.

6i

This

This determination afforded an oppor tunity for an exertion of the trueft heroifm that ever graced any age or nation. When the inhabitants of Calais were informed of this rigorous exaction, their confternation was inexpreffible: though each had bravely ventured his life, and borne all the inconveniencies of hunger and fatigue when it was the common lot, when fupported by. example, and urged by emulation, yet, where could be found a few fo truly pa-. triotic as to foar above their fellow-citizens,. and to facrifice their lives for the public benefit? A folemn filence fpoke for a few. moments the weaknefs of human nature, and the force of that innate principle, the love of life. At length one of the chief Burghers, Euftace de St. Pierre, whose name the Hiftorian has recorded, and whofe public fpirit Fame will perpetuate to latest ages, stepped forth, and declared himself willing to encounter death for the fafety of his companions. The facred flame in an inftant fpread from breast to breast, and the

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number

number required voluntarily offered themfelves. No fooner were the victims felected and prepared for the facrifice, than they were led to the English Monarch's tent.

Recollection of the many brave fubjects he had loft from the dangers of the sea, and the change of feafons to which they had been expofed during fo long a fiege, rendered Edward's heart infenfible to the voice of humanity, and he ordered them to be led away to immediate execution. In vain did the Prince of Wales, in whose breaft mercy fat enthroned with valour, entreat his Father to fpare his emaciated pri foners, whofe prowess was no longer to be dreaded, and whofe virtues deferved a gentler fate. Edward continued inexorable, and put a stop to his Son's folicitations by reminding him, that in the determinations of a Monarch, when a public example is re quired, Mercy must fometimes give place to Justice, The Prince reluctantly yielded to his Father's decifion, and drew back in

filence,

filence, whilst the tear of pity trickled down his cheek.

The King now repeated his nod of condemnation, and the Officers were on the point of leading the virtuous fufferers to a conclufion of their woes, when the Queen, who had hitherto fat in breathlefs expectation, threw herself on her knees before his Majefty with a Mother's fondness fhe wished to yield the merit of their prefervation to her Son, and had only aided his petition by diffusing a fupplicating tendernefs over her lovely countenance; but no fooner did the perceive that his intreaties were unavailing, than in an instant she was proftrate before her Husband, befeeching him, in the moft pathetic terms, to moderate his rigorous fentence: "It is the

first request I have made to my Lord," fhe cried," fince I braved the dangers of "war for his glory, and the perils of the

fea to fhew him my duty and love let "me not therefore be denied." Edward, unable