King Edward now marched against Calais. He was particularly anxious
to take the place: first, because it was a favorite resort of
desperate pirates; secondly, because such a fortified port on the
Strait of Dover, within sight of the chalk cliffs of England, would
give him at all times "an open doorway into France."
After besieging it for nearly a year, the garrison was starved into
submission and prepared to open the gates. Edward was so exasperated
with the stubborn resistance the town had made, that he resolved to
put the entire population to the sword. But at last he consented to
spare them, on condition that six of the chief men should give
themselves up to be hanged. A meeting was called, and St. Pierre, the
wealthiest citizen of the place, volunteered, with five others, to go
forth and die. Bareheaded, barefooted, with halters round their
necks, they silently went out, carrying the keys of the city. When
they appeared before the English King, he ordered the executioner, who
was standing by, to seize them and carry out the sentence forthwith.
But Queen Philippa (S236), who had accompanied her husband, now fell
on her knees before him, and with tears begged that they might be
forgiven. For a long time Edward was inexorable, but finally, unable
to resist her entreaties, he granted her request, and the men who had
dared to face death for others found life both for themselves and
their fellow citizens.[1] Calais now became an English town and the
English kept it for more than two hundred years (S373). This gave
them the power to invade France whenever it seemed for their interest
to do so.
[1] Froissart's "Chronicles."