“I will not do otherwise than I have said,” answered the king.  “My lord,” replied Walter, “you will perchance be wrong, for you will give us a bad example; if you should be pleased to send us to defend any of your fortresses, we should of a surety not go willingly if you have these people put to death, for thus would they do to us in like case.”  These words caused Edward to reflect; and the greater part of the English barons came to the aid of Walter de Manny.  “Sirs,” said the king, “I would not be all alone against you all.  Go, Walter, to them of Calais, and say to the governor that the greatest grace they can find in my sight is that six of the most notable burghers come forth from their town, bare-headed, bare-footed, with ropes round their necks, and with the keys of the town and castle in their hands.  With them I will do according to my will, and the rest I will receive to mercy.”  “My lord,” said Walter, “I will do it willingly.”  He returned to Calais, where John de Vienne was awaiting him, and reported the king’s decision.  The governor immediately left the ramparts, went to the market-place, and had the bell rung to assemble the people.  At sound of the bell men and women came hurrying up hungering for news, as was natural for people so hard-pressed by famine that they could not hold out any longer.  John de Vienne then repeated to them what he had just been told, adding that there was no other way, and that they would have to make short answer.  On this they all fell a-weeping and crying out so bitterly that no heart in the world, however hard, could have seen and heard them without pity.  Even John de Vienne shed tears.  Then rose up to his feet the richest burgher of the town, Eustace de St. Pierre, who, at the former council, had been for capitulation.  “Sir,” said he, “it would be great pity to leave this people to die, by famine or otherwise, when any remedy can be found against it; and he who should keep them from such a mishap would find great favor in the eyes of our Lord.  I have great hope to find favor in the eyes of our Lord if I die to save this people; I would fain be the first herein, and I will willingly place myself in my shirt and bare-headed and with a rope round my neck, at the mercy of the King of England.”  At this speech, men and women cast themselves at the feet of Eustace de St. Pierre, weeping piteously.  Another right-honorable burgher, who had great possessions and two beautiful damsels for daughters, rose up and said that he would act comrade to Eustace de St. Pierre:  his name was John d’Aire.  Then, for the third, James de Vissant, a rich man in personalty and realty; then his brother Peter de Vissant; and then the fifth and sixth, of whom none has told the names.  On the 5th of August, 1347, these six burghers, thus apparelled, with cords round their necks and each with a bunch of the keys of the city and of the castle, were conducted outside the gates by John de Vienne, who rode a small