The danger of Calais roused Philip from the panic which had followed his defeat, and with a vast army he advanced to the north.  But Edward’s lines were impregnable.  The French king failed in another attempt to dislodge the Flemings, and was at last driven to retreat without a blow.  Hopeless of further succour, the town after a year’s siege was starved into surrender in August 1347.  Mercy was granted to the garrison and the people on condition that six of the citizens gave themselves into the English king’s hands.  “On them,” said Edward with a burst of bitter hatred, “I will do my will.”  At the sound of the town bell, Jehan le Bel tells us, the folk of Calais gathered round the bearer of these terms, “desiring to hear their good news, for they were all mad with hunger.  When the said knight told them his news, then began they to weep and cry so loudly that it was great pity.  Then stood up the wealthiest burgess of the town, Master Eustache de St. Pierre by name, and spake thus before all:  ’My masters, great grief and mishap it were for all to leave such a people as this is to die by famine or otherwise; and great charity and grace would he win from our Lord who could defend them from dying.  For me, I have great hope in the Lord that if I can save this people by my death I shall have pardon for my faults, wherefore will I be the first of the six, and of my own will put myself barefoot in my shirt and with a halter round my neck in the mercy of King Edward.’” The list of devoted men was soon made up, and the victims were led before the king.  “All the host assembled together; there was great press, and many bade hang them openly, and many wept for pity.  The noble King came with his train of counts and barons to the place, and the Queen followed him, though great with child, to see what there would be.  The six citizens knelt down at once before the King, and Master Eustache spake thus:—­’Gentle King, here we be six who have been of the old bourgeoisie of Calais and great merchants; we bring you the keys of the town and castle of Calais, and render them to you at your pleasure.  We set ourselves in such wise as you see purely at your will, to save the remnant of the people that has suffered much pain.  So may you have pity and mercy on us for your high nobleness’ sake.’  Certes there was then in that place neither lord nor knight that wept not for pity, nor who could speak for pity; but the King had his heart so hardened by wrath that for a long while he could not reply; than he commanded to cut off their heads.  All the knights and lords prayed him with tears, as much as they could, to have pity on them, but he would not hear.  Then spoke the gentle knight, Master Walter de Maunay, and said, ’Ha, gentle sire! bridle your wrath; you have the renown and good fame of all gentleness; do not a thing whereby men can speak any villany of you!  If you have no pity, all men will say that you have a heart full of all cruelty to put these good citizens to death that of their own