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Abr. Fl. ex Edw. Hall in Hen. 8. fo. xliiij, xlv.

The citie of Tornaie on all sides be|sieged.

¶ The king of England lieng afront before Tor|naie, caused his great ordinance to be planted round about the citie, and diuerse trenches were cast, and rampiers made, and the lord Lisle and the lord Wil|loughbie were appointed to mainteine the ordinance with their bands, and the earle of Kent was lodged before the gate called port Ualencien; so that the ci|tizens could not issue out, nor no aid could come in. The ordinance dailie beat the gates, towers, & wals, which made a great batterie: and a few Englishmen assaulted the port coquerell, but they were too few in number; and if they had béene more in number, they had taken the towne, as the Tornasins confessed after. The citizens of Tornaie considering their e|state came togither to councell, and there the prouost said in effect as followeth.The prouosts words to the townesmen.

Friends and bretheren of this noble citie, I cannot too much praise your truth and fidelitie to your souereigne lord the king of France; considering how manfully you haue defen|ded this citie since the beginning of this siege.

But alas! although it be written on the gates gra|uen in stone, Iammes ton ne a perdeu ton pucellage, that is to saie; Thou hast neuer lost thy maidenhed: yet if this citie had not béene well furnished and euer at the daie appointed sure of rescue, it could not haue continued. Now you see that rescue faileth, our gates be rased, our towers beaten downe, our chiefe tower like to fall, so that if this perilous siege continue, or else if our enimies assault vs, we be not able to de|fend vs: wherefore now, all these things considered, I would know whether you will treat with the king of England or abide the chance. Then they which at the last councell cried War, war; now cried Peace, peace: yet all were not agreed. Then one wise man said, Sirs if the towne be assaulted once againe with a great number, suerlie it will be taken: you saw the experience at the last assault, and then consider if it be taken by force, who is there that can saie he is sure of his life: but by intreatie, the king of England is so mercifull that we may fortune to saue both life and goods.

Then finallie all agréed to treat.

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