The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-09-02
Eustace's hands hung listlessly

"My friends, can it be that you thinl
thus of me ?n then strength cam,
back to him. "If / am 5rave,n b.
cried, sis not that the very reason
that / should be ready to die to save
others? If / am noble, shall moi
be willing? Ny beloyed fellow-citi
zens, death can only come to US once
and is it is given to one or two to die
for the good of others, do we need
to grudge such honor? No, no;
am joyful, and glad to go. Here
am, and who will follow 2" and he
stood forth in the midst Of the hall
In very few minutes, animated
by his noble example, FIVE Others
Joined him.
/ Oh, what a saeri6cel Must it be
Must these brave, good men devote
themselves to death, only to satisfy
the cruelty and revenge of their an
CRY conqueror +?
The six men spoke together in 9
How, earnest voice, and then Eustace
de st. Pierre turned to the Assem-,
bly,.
"Sirs, it is our earnest request he
said, chat no farewells be taken oi
US. We beg that our wives and
children may be kept ignorant of this
till all is over. We are strong to
die; but-but-" and he faltered, "let
everything be made as smooth and
easy as possible for our leaving the
city quietly and st once. Let us
spare our families"
They then took off their outer gar
ments, their shoes and socks-they
must go barefooted; a rope was tied
round each noble neck, and they stood
ready.
The door Of the hall was thrown
open, and the six men went dow be-
tween their friends and fellow-citi-
zens. A great sad cry rang through
the air as they stepped outside, but
there was something in the perfect,
solemn quietness of these good men,
and the hands they stretched toward
the mrltitude, as if be eaching for
bearance, that brought hushed ST.
lence over that great, grieving CT ovid.
Eustace de st. Pierre walked first,
with the keys of the town in his
hand, bis handsome face calm and
grave, as at all times; the other FIVE
followed, pale, yet firm and upright.
THUS they marched through the
midst of the people, till they came to
the great gates Of the city, which the
worn soldiers threw back slowly,
and in fear, terror and distress, for
they knew they opened them to-the
proud and angry English king.
The men walked firmly and I'M
dauntedly over the space between
their city and the English army to
the spot where the impatient Edward
sat, surrounded by his victorious gen.
erals and captains.
"Ha, ha - cried the victorious En-
glish king. $50, sirs, they come at
lastl" and be looked 6ercely toward
the six brave men who, without trem-
bling or faltering, advanced to him,
and all bent low as Eustace placed
the keys in the kings hands, with
the words:
1--WE deliver the keys of our below
ed city irto the hand of the king of
England, and we beseech mercy for
our fellow-citizensn
"Mercy l' cried Edward, stamping
his foot-"mercy Begone with you
for your insolencel NY men are
even now ready to seize you and hang
you up on the highest trees around
as warning to those who dare with
stand England's power p and be was
turning angrily away, when another
and softer voice close beside him cri-
ed, suddenly:
"0h, mercy, mercy, great sovereign
Show mercy to those brave men p
A beautiful lady had come forth
from the tent behind Edward, and
stood listening to all that passed; and
now her gentle and good heart touch
ed, she-the only one that ever dared
stand between Edward and his fierce
anger-she begged in pity for them.
Edward started back impatiently
at the sound of her gentle voice.
"This is no place for Queen, mad
am,n he said, as be bowed and mo-
toned that she should withdraw.
"Ah, my king, ! cannot !" she cried,
with clasped hands. "What have
these brave men done that l see them
here as criminals; their feet bare, and
ropes around their necks !? What
have they done but loved their little
city, as you love your own great
country, and defended it as bravely
as you would do? Why take their
lives for such conduct, as you, sire,
cannot but admire in your heart, and
hope to see initiated by all your own
people ?"
"Queen Pbilippa !" said the king,
angriIy, ''such entreaties on the be-
half of an enemy becomes you not;
l cannot grant your prayer, and will
not. / must request you TO retire,
madam. Remember who you are"
But this brave and good queen
was not to be daunted. She knew
her power.
"0h, my husband !" she cried, as
she fell down before him and cIasped
bis steel-clad arms, "see, see, | kneel
to you, /, your queen. before all the
army, before the enemy. before these
brave men; and / beseecb you, Ipray
you, do not sully your life by an act
of such cruelty and revenge 1t viii
but satisfy momen.ary feeling of
anger, and then it will be a life'sI
misery and regret that you so un-
Justly took away the lives of six Of
the bravest and best hearts that ever
beat in any land ~
But the king remained stern and
silent.
"Oh, remember the power that is
yours, my lordl You may send JOY
and peace in the hearts of these poor
mems wives and mothers and chill
dren; yeu may call gratitude on you
from all this great city; love from
your soldiers, who see you gracious
and merciful in the hour of triumph;
and you viii keep your own soul pure
and unsullied from fearful act of in