As these simple but truly heroic words were spoken a burst of weeping and blessing arose from the crowd, women pressed forward and fell at the feet of the worthy citizen, and Raymond said in his heart: 

“Sure if the King of England could but see it, there is more chivalry in yon simple merchant than in half the knights who stand about his throne.”

It is seldom that a noble example is thrown away upon men.  Hardly had the burst of weeping died away before two more men, brothers, to judge by their likeness to each other, mounted the steps and stood beside St. Pierre.  He held out his hand and greeted them by name.

“My good friends Jacques and Peter de Wisant, we go hand in hand to death, as we have gone hand in hand in other ventures of another kind.  And hither to join us comes our good friend Jehan d’Aire.  Truly if we march to death, we shall march in good company.”

The full number was soon made up.  Six of the wealthiest and best known of the citizens came forward and stood together to be disrobed and led before the King.

But Raymond could bear the sight no longer.  With a bursting heart he hurried through the crowd, which made way wonderingly for him as he moved, and went straight towards the gate by which he had entered, none hindering his path.

“It is the blessed saint who came amongst us in our hour of need,” said the women one to another, “and now perchance he goes to intercede with the mighty conqueror!  See how his face is set towards the gate; see the light that shines in his eyes!  Sure he can be no being of this earth, else how could he thus come and go in our beleaguered city!”

The guard at the gate looked with doubtful eyes at the stranger, and one man stood in his path as if to hinder him; but Raymond’s eyes seemed to look through and beyond him, and in a clear, strange voice he said: 

“In the name of the Blessed Son of God, I bid thee let me pass.  I go upon an errand of mercy in that most Holy Name.”

The man fell back, his comrades crossed themselves and bent the knee.  Raymond passed out of the gate, scarce knowing how he had done so, and sped back to the English camp as if his feet had wings.  With that same strangely rapt expression upon his face, he went straight to the lodging of the Prince of Wales, and entering without ceremony found not only the Prince there, but also his royal mother, the gracious Queen Philippa.

Bending his knee to that fair lady, but without one thought beyond the present urgent need of the moment, Raymond told all his tale in the ear of the Queen and the Prince.  With that power of graphic description which was the gift of his vivid imagination and deep sense of sympathy with the needs of others, he brought the whole scene before the eyes of his listeners the crowded marketplace, the famine-stricken people in their extremity and despair, the calm heroism of the men who willingly offered their lives to save those of their townspeople, and the wailing multitude watching the start of the devoted six going forth to a shameful and ignominious death on their behalf.