CHAP. CXLV. THE K.ING- OF ENGLAND RE- PEOPLES CALAIS. /J^HUS had the ftrong town of Calais been be-fieged by king | Edward of England, as you have heard, about St, John's day, in Auguft, in the . . year not one mentions it. Avefbury, an Englifhman and contemporary, who is very particular as to all tbe circumflances of the fiege of Calais, is equally filent Villani alone goes even beyond Froilfart ; for be fays, that Edward intended lo hang all the citizens of Calais : and he adds, they were all forced to abauden the town Diked, all but their fhirts. This falfehood fhould render tbe other parts of his recital doubtful. • FrohTart, an ' hiftorian and poet, and who has too often ex-panded over hiftory the privileges of poetry, has only embroidered a little what truth offered him. Wlieo the Calefians faw the retreat of Philip, they (truck the lag which was flying on the great tower : John de Vienne ordered the gates to be opened, and left the town mounted on a fmall hackney, for he had been wounded. The warriors wlio accompanied him held tbeir fword* pointed to the ground ; and many of the citizens followed with halters rouud their necks, aud with their heads and feet bare. Edward kept, as prifoners, the governor, fifteen knights and fome citizens ; but he did not feud them to England, until he had loaded them with prefents : he hafieiied to difiribute food among the inhabitants who had remained in the town. We only fee, in all thefe circum fiances, the humiliation of the inhabitants, wifhitig by it to affc'ét the conqueror, and the generofity of the prince. - " ' Froilfart' fjppofes that the queen of England was melted into tears at die fate of thefe citizens, condemned by her huiflband, aud tlmt ihe humhled herfelf fo as to. call herfelf at the ieet of the inflexible conqueror, to obtain their par- don; 2-