The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-28
A SCRAP FROM HISTORY.

Edward III. after the Galtl8 OF CrcsSy,
in the year l347, leid siege to Calais.
He had fortified his camp in so impr. :.
nable manner, that all the efforts of
France proved Intellectual to raise the
siege, or throw succors into the city.
The citizens, under Count Vienne, their
gallant governor, made All admirable do
fence. France had now put the sickle
into her second harvest, since Edward,
viii, ii;s sicioEions army, sat down before
the town The eyes OF al Europe we'c
inteE.. on the issue at length famine
did more for Edward than arms. After
suffering unheard of calamities, they re.
solved. to attempt the enely's camp.
They boldly sailed forth the English
Joined battle; and after n long and des.
perate engagement, Count FieDne was
taken prisoner, nnd the citizens who sur
vived the slaughter retired within their
gates. The command dcvolving upon
Eustace st. Pierre, man of mean birth,
but of exalted virtue, he offered to capt.
uate with Edward, provided he permit.
ted him to depart with life and liberty.
Edward, to avoid the imputation Of
cruelty, consented to spare the bulk Of
the plebeians, provided they delivered up
to him six Of their principal citizens,
with halters about their necks, as victims
of due atonement for that spirit Of rebel
lion with which they had infamed the
vulgar. When his messenger, Sir Wal.
ter Mauny, delivered the terms, conster::
nation and pale dismay were impressed
on every cuuntenance. TO long and
dead silence, deep sighs and groans sue.
ceeded, till Eustace Sc. Pierre, getting
up to little eminence, thus addressed
the assembly -"My friends, we are
brought to great straits this day. We
must either yield to the terms of our
cruel and unsparing conqueror, or give
up our tender infants, our wives and
daughters, to the bloody and brutal lusts
of the violating soldiers. Is there any
expedient left, whereby we may avoid
the guilt and infamy of delivering up
those who have suffered every misery
with you, on the one hand-or the desc.
lation and horror Of sacked city on the
other7 There is, my friends, there is
one expedient left-a gracious, an excel
lent, godlike expedient! Ia there any
here to whom virtue is dearer than life2
Lat him offer himself an oblntion Tor
tho safety Of bis people! He shall not
fail of blessed appreciation from that
the salvation of mankind p
ocsued. Each man looked around for
tho example of that magnanimity and
virtue, which all wished to approve in
themselves, though they wanted the res.
olution. At length, ST. Pierre resumed
-"I doubt not but there are many here,
as ready, nay more jealous of this mar
tyrdom, than can be though the sta
tion to which am raised, by the cap.
tivity of lord Vienne, imparts right to
be the frat in giving my life for your
sakes. give it freely-I give it cheer.
fully. Who comes next?" Five others,
equally patriotic, soon followed his ex.
ample. These six self devoted victims
then went out of the town bare. footed,
with halters about their necks, and pro.
sented the keys to Sir Walter. He took
the prisoners into his custody then or
dered the gates to be opened, and gave
charge to his attendants to conduct the
remaining citizens, with their families,
through the camp OF the English.
Before they departed, however, they
desired permission to take their last
adieu Of their, delirerers. Wha, part.
ing What a scenel They crowded,
with their wives and children, about St.
Pierre aud his fellow prisoners. They
embraced-they clung around-tkey fell
PROSTATE before them. They groaned,
they wept aloud-and the joint clamor
of their mourning passed the gates of the
city, and was heard throughout the
English camp. The English, BY this
time. were apprized Of what passed with
In Calais. They heard the voice Of 10.
mentation, and their souls were touched
with compassion. Each of the soldiers
prepared portion of his own victuals,
to welcome and entertain Inc half fnnl.
ished inhabitants; and they loaded them
with Us much,as their present weakness
was able to bear, in order to supply them
with sustenarice by the way. At length
st. Pierre and his fellow victims appear.
ed under the conduct OF Sir Walter and
q guard. All the tents Of the English
poured from all parts, and arranged
contemplate, to admire this little band
of patriots as they passed. They bowed
down to them on all sides. They mur.
INJURED their applause of that virtue,
which, they could not but revere, even
in epemies !; and they regarded those
ropes which they had voluntarily assum..
ed about their necks, as ensigns of great.
or dignity, than that of the British gar.
tar. y :Isiss Is iis.1 4, /. g;ESs g>ss
Asaoon as they reached his presence.
5st Mauny,n says the monarch, "are these
the priacips .inhabitants of Calais ~
sThey arr" says Mauny-''they are not
only the principal men Of Calais-they
are the principal men of France, my
lord, If virtue has any share in the act
of ennobliugn aWere they delivered
{ peaceably p saye Edward. "Was there
no resistance, no commotion among the