Cardinals sēt to intreat of peace.
They depart.
The French K. returneth into France.
The conditions of the surrender of Calis.
In this meane while came two cardinals frō pope Clement, to treat a peace betwixt the two kings, wherevpon commissioners were appointed, as the dukes of Burgoigne and Burbone, the lord Lewes de Sauoie, and the lord Iohn de Heinault, otherwise called lord Beaumont, on the French part: and the earles of Derbie and Northampton, the lord Reginald Cobham, and the lord Walter de Mannie, on the English part. These commissioners and the legates (as intreators betwéene the parties) met and communed thrée daies togither, but agréed not vpon anie conclusion, and so the cardinals departed; and the French king perceiuing he could not haue his purpose, brake vp his host and returned to France, bidding Calis farewell. After that the French king with his host was once departed from Sangate, without ministring anie succour to them within the towne, they began to sue for a parlée, which being granted, in the end they were contented to yéeld, and the king granted to receiue them and the towne on these conditions; that six of the chéefe burgesses of the towne should come foorth bareheaded, barefooted, and barelegged, and in their shirts, with halters about their necks, with the keies of the towne and castell in their hands, to submit themselues simplie to the kings will, and the residue he was contented to take to mercie.
Six burgesses of Calis presented to the king.
The quéene obteined their pardon.
This determinate resolution of king Edward being intimated to the commons of the towne, assembled in the market place by the sound of the common bell before the capteine, caused manie a wéeping eie amongst them: but in the end, when it was perceiued that no other grace would be obteined, six of the most wealthie burgesses of all the towne agréed to hazard their liues for the safegard of the residue, and so according to the prescript order deuised by the K. they went foorth of the gates, and were presented by the lord Walter de Mannie to the king, before whom they knéeled downe, offered to him the keies of the towne, and besought him to haue mercie vpon them. But the king regarding them with a fell countenance, commanded streight that their heads should be striken off. And although manie of the noble men did make great intreatance for them, yet would no grace be shewed, vntill the quéene being great with child, came and knéeled downe before the king hir husband, and with lamentable chéere & wéeping eies intreated so much for them, that finallie the kings anger was aswaged & his rigor turned to mercie (for
Flectitur iratus voce rogante Deus)
so that he gaue the prisoners vnto hir to doo hir pleasure with them. Then the quéene commanded them to be brought into hir chamber, and caused the halters to be taken from their necks, clothed them anew, gaue them their dinner, and bestowing vpon ech of them six nobles, appointed them to be conueied out of the host in safegard, and set at libertie.