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congregation of disjointed elements, like those of the country and the kingdom itself, ignorant or jealous of each other.

The town of Calais, before which Edward encamped with the determination to reduce it, was not one of those fortresses close to whose walls it was easy to bring the battering engines of the time. It was easily surrounded with water, and defied the military science of those days. Edward therefore prepared to starve out the garrison, and he began by building for himself and his army a town, still called Villeneuve, between Calais and the camp round it. He even established markets there, well supplied from England and from Flanders. Jean de Vienne, a Burgundian knight, commanded in the town for the King of France, and seeing Edward's purpose, he first sent out seventeen hundred people, in order to make his provisions last. Edward allowed them to pass, after keeping them some time in sufferance. The siege of Aiguillon had been raised in the south by the Duke of Normandy, who returned to Paris; and the Earl of Derby, seizing the opportunity to take the field, reduced St. Jean d'Angely and Poitiers. He might have held this town as long as he liked, says Froissart, for there was no one to resist, and the whole country, to the Loire, trembled; but the English chief abandoned it, and retired to Bordeaux, to take ship for Calais.

Edward spent the entire winter in the siege, and in endeavouring to bring the Flemings to lend their zealous co-operation. On the death, at Crecy, of the count, who had been so obnoxious and tyrannical, and after the previous murder of Arteveld, the Flemings were induced to receive Count Louis, a youth of sixteen. Being so young, he was in the hands of the burgomasters and the Flemish magistrates. There ensued intrigues for marrying the youth, the Duke of Brabant desiring to make his daughter Countess of Flanders,

and Edward putting forward the same proposal for his daughter Isabella. The towns of Flanders favoured the English match. Count Louis dared not openly object: he therefore affected acquiescence, and even met the English king and queen, and arranged all the preliminaries of the marriage; then taking advantage of a hawking excursion, the young count put spurs to his horse and escaped to Paris.

Philip had spent the winter in the levy of money from all classes, the clergy included, so much so, that even the court chronicle breaks into lamentations, and almost anathematizes the greed of officials, whilst expatiating upon the distress of the people. There were also symptoms of disaffection. Paris itself had shown discontent when the English approached so near, and when it was proposed to destroy the suburbs in order to the defence of the city. There was every reason indeed for extraordinary efforts and unusual levies, and the three orders of the north assembled in Paris granted Philip money and aide at this time. The object was to relieve Calais, which Edward kept closely blockaded, not only by the English fleet outside, but by means of a large wooden castle, mounting pringalles and bombardes, which commanded the harbour, and prevented any vessel from entering.

During the fine months of spring, Philip was disturbed from the relief of Calais by the Flemings, who marched in great force as far as Aire and St. Omers, and obliged him to repair with haste to Arras. As they retreated, the French king brought his army towards Calais. The inhabitants were gladdened to observe, by moonlight, the relieving army occupy a hill south of the town, and bordering on the sea. Robert of Avesbury mentions that Philip desired to assault the besiegers of Calais along the sea, both from north and south, but that the Flemings held their camp on the

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north. He offered them most advantageous conditions, such as the restitution of French Flanders, if they would remain neutral. These offers, it is very probable, were what induced the Flemings to withdraw from the investment of Aire; this set Philip at liberty to approach Calais with the aim of relieving it. But it does not appear that they at all aided in the siege of that town more than by the transport of provisions from Ypres and Bruges to Edward's army. To attack Calais from the north, however, would have been dangerous in case of repulse, as the return towards Arras would have been cut off by both English and Flemings. There remained, therefore, but to force a way either along the coast south of the town, or over a bridge which crossed the marshes. This was held by the Earl of Derby, one of Edward's bravest captains, whilst the road along the sea was commanded by the English vessels, well provided with bombards and other engines for throwing missiles. The militia of Tournay undertook to assault and capture a strong tower which the English had erected on the downs. In this they succeeded, though with considerable loss. But when the town was reconnoitred by the marshals, they reported that it was impossible to advance farther, or reach the English, without a great loss of men.

Philip, in disappointment, then despatched four gentlemen to challenge the King of England, and to represent that the King of France had come for the purpose of combating, but that he could not get near enough for that purpose; he begged the King of England, therefore, to facilitate the encounter of the armies. Edward desired them to reply for him to Philip, "that he had been there a year, and had expended large sums in order to take Calais; that it was not his fault if Philip had not come sooner; that now he was on the point of taking the town, he would not stir till he had done so, nor abandon the advantage of his position. The King of

France might find out a way for the attack as he CHAP.

could."

Two Papal legates then intervened between the parties, and sought to bring about a peace, which was manifestly impossible, as long as the fall of Calais remained undecided. During the three days that the negotiations lasted, the English strengthened their position, and deepened the ditches before them. Whereupon Philip dispersed his town militia, and withdrew with his knights to Amiens. The people of Calais, seeing the retreat of the King of France, compelled the governor to demand a parley. Sir Walter de Manny came to them, and they asked to surrender on condition of the garrison being allowed to withdraw. Manny replied that the king would not grant such terms; they must surrender unconditionally. Jean de Vienne, the governor, replied, that for all the ills they had suffered, they were prepared to endure still more, rather than that the smallest or the humblest should be sacrificed. Manny then went to the king, who was fixed in his resolve to grant no terms. This brave officer remonstrated against such severity as certain to occasion reprisals. "Walter," said the king at last, "go and tell the commander of Calais, that the only favour he shall have is, let six of the most eminent citizens come to me with cords round their necks, their feet bare, and the keys of the city in their hands; with them I will deal as I please, and will spare the rest."

Jean de Vienne, the governor of Calais, on receiving this message, caused the bells to be rung, and the citizens to assemble in the square. He then informed them of Edward's proposal, which occasioned many tears and lamentations. At last a noble citizen, Eustace de St. Pierre, came forward and said, "Nobles and great, it would be a terrible thing to let the people perish by famine, or by other means. I have great hope of protection from Our Lady, were I to die for my towns

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men. So I offer myself to be the first to go." "I will bear him company," exclaimed John of Aire. "And I," cried James of Wissant, one of the wealthiest of the town. His brother, Peter Wissant, came next, and then a fifth, and then a sixth.

Jean de Vienne, mounted on horseback, for he could not walk, led forth the six citizens, and begged of Walter de Manny to save them, which Manny promised to do his best to accomplish. When they were brought before the English king, there were none present, knights, counts, or barons, that did not weep; but the king regarded them angrily, and said "they must die." All present besought the monarch to have mercy, especially Sir Walter Manny, who said, "Sire, you have the reputation of nobleness; do not lessen it, nor let men find any villany in you. For such would men deem your cruelty to be, were you to cause these honest townsfolk to be slain." The king for answer made a sign that the executioner should advance. Then the queen came to throw herself at the king's feet, being at the time moult enceinte, and said, "Gentle sire, since I passed the sea I have made of you no request. Grant me this, in the name of the Son of Mary, and for love of me,-pardon for these men." king regarded her, was a moment silent, and then said, "I wish, lady, you were elsewhere; but as it is, I cannot refuse you. Do with them according to your pleasure." The queen thereupon brought the six citizens of Calais to her chamber, took the ropes from their necks, fed them, presented them with six nobles each, and dismissed them in safety.

The

Thus did Calais fall into the hands of England a year after the battle of Crecy. Edward, according to Walsingham, spent a month in the town, ordering and for

The words of Froissart are: Adonc guigna le roy, which might certainly indicate that he winked in

such a way as to imply that he was not serious in his determination to have them slain.