The English knights, knowing the determination of the king on the subject, were forced to tell him that no possibility existed of conditions being granted, but that the king demanded their unconditional surrender, reserving to himself entirely the right whom to pardon and whom to put to death.
The governor remonstrated on the severe terms, and said that rather than submit to them he and his soldiers would sally out and die sword in hand.

Sir Walter Manny found the king inexorable.

The strict laws of war in those days justified the barbarous practise of putting to death the garrison of a town captured under such circumstances.

Calais had been for many years a nest of pirates, and vessels issuing from its port had been a scourge to the commerce of England and Flanders, and the king was fully determined to punish it severely.

Sir Walter Manny interceded long and boldly, and represented to the king that none of his soldiers would willingly defend a town on his behalf from the day on which he put to death the people of Calais, as beyond doubt the French would retaliate in every succeeding siege.