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THE LIFE OF SIMON DE MONTFORT
EARL OF LEICESTER
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY OF HIS TIME
BY
GEORGE WALTER PROTHERO
CHAPTERS
PREFACE
If the attempt to go over ground already trodden by a
historian of the power and learning of Dr. Pauli should carry with it an
appearance of presumption, I may plead by way of excuse, and, as I hope, of
justification, that in the first instance I had thought of confining myself to
the office of a translator, and of asking permission of Dr. Pauli to reproduce
his history in English. But as I went further into the history of the period, I
found myself unable to agree with many of his conclusions, while the necessity
of fuller treatment in certain portions of the subject, especially the
constitutional aspect of it, forced itself upon me. I therefore began to study
the history of De Montfort’s time afresh, and the present volume is the result.
I have no fear of being charged with any wish of
superseding the work of Dr. Pauli, or any others which may be the fruit of
conscientious toil, for it is generally admitted by historical scholars that
the student can derive nothing but benefit from carefully studying the views
even of a large number of independent writers on the same subject. I trust,
therefore, that the following pages may be found to contain matter, not to be
found elsewhere, which may deserve the attention of the historical inquirer.
As regards the personal life of Simon de Montfort I
have been able to add but little to the admirable account of Dr. Pauli. Still
even here I have seldom relied on my predecessor, but have based my conclusions
almost entirely on the records of the time. I say this however with no idea of
casting a veil over my obligations to this eminent historian. The readers of
this volume cannot fail to see the value which his work has for me.
The other book to which I owe most is, I need scarcely
say, the ‘Constitutional History of England’ by Professor Stubbs; and here,
again, if it should be necessary to anticipate any charge of not acknowledging
my obligations, I may say that the portion of my book which has special
reference to the constitutional struggle was written before the second volume
of Professor Stubbs’ work appeared. In that part of the volume some of my
conclusions involve a slight dissent from his views; but it was with hearty
satisfaction that on reading his pages I found I was in the main in agreement
with the greatest of living authorities. My obligations to him are, however,
not only such as appear on the surface: I cannot sufficiently express my
gratitude for the invaluable aid he has given me, especially in the correction
of the sheets as they passed through the press. My best thanks are also due to
Dr. Hort, to the Rev. H. R. Luard, and to Mr. Henry Bradshaw, for their kindly
assistance and encouragement.
The references in the notes to Risk. Chron. are to the
Chronicle of Rishanger, edited by Mr. Riley for the Master of the Rolls; those
to Rish, de Bellis, &c. are to the other Chronicle attributed to the same
author, edited by Mr. Halliwell for the Camden Society.
Kings College, Cambridge
January 1877.
CHAPTERS
I. Introduction
1. Rise of Parliamentary Government
2. The Great Charter
3. Early Years of Henry III
II. Family and Early Life of Simon de Montfort
III. Parliamentary History, 1232-1249
IV. Simon de Montfort in Gascony
V. Parliamentary History, 1249-1257
VI. The Position of Parties in 1258
VII. The Revolution of 1258
VIII. The Reaction
IX. The Barons’ War
X. The Government of Simon de Montfort
XI. The Last Year
XII. Conclusion
& Miracles
of Simon de Montfort
CHARACTER OF SIMON DE MONTFORT.
‘Erat signidem, &c.’ Risk, de Bellis, &c., 6. 7.
He was indeed a mighty man, and prudent, and circumspect; in the use of arms and in experience of warfare, superior to all others of his time; commendably endowed with
knowledge of letters; fond of hearing the offices of the church by day and night; sparing of food and drink, as
those who were about him saw with their own eyes;
in time of night watching more than he slept, as his more intimate friends have
oft related. In the greatest difficulties which he went through while handling
affairs of state, he was found trustworthy, notably in Gascony, whither he went
by command of the king, and there subdued to the
King’s Majesty rebels beforetime
unconquered, and sent them to England to his lord the King. He was moreover
pleasant and witty in speech, and ever aimed at the reward of an admirable
faith; on account of which he did not fear to undergo death, as shall
be told hereafter. His constancy all men, even his enemies, admired; for when
others had sworn to observe the Provisions of Oxford, and the most part of them
despised and rejected that to which they had sworn, he having once taken the oath, like an immoveable pillar, stood firm, and neither
by threats, nor promises, nor gifts, nor flattery could he be moved to depart in any way with the other magnates from the oath which he had
taken to reform the state of the realm. He commended himself to
the prayers of the religious, and humbly, as with brotherly affection,
he begged to be allied with them, in the pouring out of prayers to God for the state of the realm and
the peace of the church; and he was constant in
supplication that divine grace might keep him spotless from avarice and covetousness of earthly things, knowing for a surety that many in
those days were encumbered by such vices, as the issue of things afterwards made clear. To the religious and other prelates of the church,
commended by honesty of life, he showed all due reverence; deserving to be called the
perfect disciple of a perfect master; having been instructed in all good discipline, inasmuch as he clung with
hearty affection to the blessed Robert, once Bishop of Lincoln, and gave his
children to be brought up by him, and did many things by
his wholesome advice. And the said bishop is related to have enjoined upon the
Earl, for the remission of his sins, that he should take upon himself that
cause for which he fought even unto death; declaring that the peace of the English church could never be secured without the temporal
sword, and constantly affirming that all who died in her and for her should
receive the crown of martyrdom. It is related by trustworthy persons, that the
bishop once placed his hands on the head of the Earls firstborn son, and said to him, “My dearest son, thou and thy father
shall both die on one day and by one hurt, for the cause of justice”. And of what sort was the life of
the Bishop, the miracles, done by the grace of God at his tomb, sufficiently declare. And the Earl, like a second Joshua, worshipped
justice, as the very medicine of his soul.
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