Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-26

mirable defence. Day after day the
English effected many breach, which
they repeatedly expected to storm by
morning; but when morning appear
ed, they wondered to behold new
ramparts nightly raised, erected out
of the ruins which the day had made.
France had now put her sickle into
the second harvest, since Edward.
with his victorious army, sat down
before the town. The eyes Of all
Europe were intent upon the issue.
The English made their approaches
and attacks without remission; but
the, citizens were as obstinate in re-
pelling all their efforts. At length
famine did more for Edward than
arms. After the citizens had devour-
ed the lean carcasses Of their half
starved cattle, they tore up old found
ations and rubbish In search Of ver-
min; they fed on boiled leather and
the weeds of exhausted gardens; and
morsel Of damaged corn was ac-
counted matter of luxury. In this ex-
tremity, they resolved to attempt the
enemy's camp. They boldly sailed
forth; the English joined the battle,
and after a long and desperate en-
gagement, Count vienne was taken
prisoner, and the citizens who surviv-
ed the slaughter retired within their
gates. On the captivity Of their gov
ernor, the command devolved upon
Eustace Saint Pierre, the mayor of
the town, a man Of mean birth, but
Of exalted virtue. Eustace soon found
himself under the necessity OF capitu-
lating, and offered to deliver to Ed
ward the city. with all the possessions
and wealth Of the Inhabitants, provid-
ed he permitted them to depart with
life and liberty. AS Edward had lone
since expected to ascend the throne
Of France, he was exasperated to the
last degree against these people,
whose sole valor had defeated his
warmest hopes; he therefore deter
mined to take an exemplary revenge,
though he wished to avoid the imputa-
ton of cruelty. He answered by Sir
Walter Mauny that they all deserved
capital punishment, as obstinate
traitors to him, their true and noble
sovereign; that, however, In his won't
ed clemency he consented to pardon the
bulk of. the plebeians, provided they
would deliver up to him six OF their
principle citizens, with halters about
their necks, as victims Of due atone
ment for the spirit Of rebellion with
which they had infamed the common
people. All the remains Of the desc
late city were convened in the great
square, and like men arraigned at q
tribunal from whence their was no ap-
peal, expected with throbbing hearts,
the sentence Of their conqueror. When
Sir Walter had declared his message,
consideration and pale dismay was
impressed on every face: each looked
upon death as his own inevitable lot;
for how should they desire to be saw
ed at the price proposed? Whom had
they to deliver up, save parents,
brothers, kindred or valiant neigh
bors, who had so often exposed their
lives In their defence? To long and
dead silence, deep sighs and groans
succeeded, till Eustace Saint Pierre,
little eminence, thus ad-
dressed the assembly: my friends
and fellow citizens, you see the con-
dition to which we are reduced; We
must either submit to the terms Of
our cruel and ensnaring conqueror,
or yield up our tender infants, our
wives and chaste daughters, to the
bloody and brutal lusts Of the No-
lating soldiery. We know what the
tyrant intends by his precious offers
of mercy. 1t does not satiate his
to make us merely miser-
able; he wou'- also make us crimi-
nal; he woul4 make US contemplate;
he will grant us life on no condition
save that Of our being unworthy OF
1t. Look about you, my friends,
and fix your eyes on the persons
whom you wish to deliver up as the
victims Of your own safety. Which
of these would you appoint to the
rack, the axe, or the haulter? Is there
any here who has not watched for
you, who has not fought for you,
who has not bled for you? VINO,
the length Of this inveterate
siege, has not suffered fatigues and
miseries a thousand times worse than
death, that you and yours might sur
vive to days Of peace and prosperity?
Is 1t your preservers, then, whom you
would destine to destruction? You
will not, you cannot do 1t. Justice,
honor, humility, make such treason
impossible. Where, then, Is our re-
source? Is there any expedient left,
whereby we may avoid guilt and in
fanny on one hand, or the desolation
and horrors Of a sacked city on the
other? There is, my friends, there Is
one expedient left; gracious, an ex-
cellent, a god-like expedient! Is there
any here to whom virtue is dearer
than life? Let him offer himself an
oblation for the safety Of his people!
he shall not fail Of a blessed appro-
bation from the Power who offered up
His only Son for the salvation Of man.
kind"
He spoke, but an universal silence
ensued. Each man looked around for
the example Of that virtue and mag
nanimity In others, which all wished
to approve in themselves. though they
wanted the resolution. At length st.
Pierre resumed:
1T had been base in me, my fell
w-citizens, to promote any matter
of damage to others which I myself
had not been willing to undergo in my
own person. But held 1t ungener-
GUS to deprive any man Of that pre-
ference and estimation, which might
attend first offer on so signal an oc-
casion; for I doubt not but there are
many here as ready, nay, more zeal
GUS for this martyrdom than can be,
however modesty and the fear Of i'm
hold fhan