Looking at the Burghers

The city council discussed the demand—Why, and Who, and How.  For eleven months the port of Calais, France had been starving.  This war between France and England had been going on too long.  Why are the kings so cruel? Generations have grown used to bombardments, starvation, fear, worry and this blockade around our city.  When will it end?

I, Eustache de Saint Pierre am weary.  My business is ruined.  My wife has died.  My own mother, once again is a mother to her own grandchildren.  I am tired:
tired of the heaviness of an empty stomach,
tired of hearing the thin hungry cries from babes,
tired of looking at malnourished children,
tired of people slowly staggering aimlessly along,
I am just plain tired of living. 
Can death be worse than living like this?

We have surrendered to the English and appealed for mercy.  The enemy has demanded that six burghers, prominent citizens of Calais, give up our lives to save the people of Calais. We are to walk barefoot, in our underwear, with nooses around our necks, and carry the keys to our property.

Thus here we stand:

Eustache de Saint Pierre
Jean d’Aire,
Andrjeu d’Andres,
Jean de Fiennes,
Pierre de Wissant
Jacques de Wissant.

No one looks around to see our loved ones’ eyes, or the anguish in each others’ eyes.  Our slumped shoulders follow our slow, dragging footsteps, walking dutifully towards the enemy. 

This is what the people see, not the inner conflict between life, death, the need to save the city.  We must die so that the rest may live.  But this is not a proud, triumphant procession with heads held high into martyrdom.  We burghers are afraid….but resigned. 

We do it, regardless.       Il faut le faire.